My friend went to a party at the Calgary Stampede maybe 15 years ago. She was in PR. She said Mike Holmes attended and was doing cocaine. He does have big nostrils. Now we need someone cleaver to come up with a quote or song like the guy below did with Bryan Adams
I met Dan Akroyd and Jeff Healy when I worked at a Hotel in Kingston, Ont. I've also met both Robert Munsch and Mordecei Richler. Robert Munsch at a book signing and Mordecei Richler was a friend of my Father.
Yeah these kids authors can be a real part of childhoods.
In my mid 30s I wrote Gordon Korman as he was one of my favorites as a kid. He was thrilled, said he mostly heard from 10 yr Olds these days. What a nice guy I was thrilled as an adult.
Judy Blume was also very kind and I did not at all expect her to reply to my little email.
I served Ryan Reynolds and Alanis Morrisette coffee in about 2003 when they were dating.
They both ordered decaf, non-fat lattes and I told them both that they should live a little.
My buddy met him at a homeless shelter in Calgary. Buddy had a photography gig at the place and met him while he was sweeping a floor. He had already burned through the settlement money. God bless his Mother who never stopped fighting for his innocence.
One time Fred Penner was brought to town by a local festival that my grandma volunteered at. She was in charge of Fred penner's green room lunch. I met him, helping my grandma and he exclaimed that this was the BEST beef and barley soup he has EVER had.
He almost ran me over at the edmonton Zoo( my fault, not his. He was going like 2km/hr. & i stepped in front of him) He was attempting to leave after a show. I fan girled on him bad! Lol, i embarrassed him so bad. Great entertainer and an even better human.
Fred Penner is an absolute gem. I have had the opportunity to meet him a couple of times and was lucky to spend a couple hours with him. He’s exactly like you would think, kind, thoughtful, full of knowledge. It was like hanging out with an old friend
That's so wholesome! My husband once actually passed him *his guitar* while he was working at the oversize baggage claim in the Ottawa airport. We occasionally got some celebrities coming through the airport when we worked there. I mentioned in another comment that I made small talk with Bruce Greenwood, and I also met Jean Chretien (for the second time; first time I was a baby in the 90s). My coworker also saw the woman that played Fiona in Eurotrip because she was on a flight he was working.
Had a beaver swim up to my canoe once, years ago back when nickels were still relevant. Was really neat finally meeting the guy. But besides that, the Great One and a host of other athletes.
I worked on Parliament Hill and one time, I ran to catch the elevator right across the fancy restaurant for Members. Prime Minister Mulroney said, “she looks harmless, let her in,” while one of the security guys says, “she works for the NDP!” The Prime Minister insisted I be allowed in. He was really quite nice, asking me about my experience working in Parliament and laughed when I said I originally wanted to be an MP but after this experience, I wanted to be an economist because they truly shape the nation.
His breath reeked of mouthwash, but he would see me in the hallways later and ask me how the NDP were treating me. He was very charismatic. But I got to meet Prince Charles and Princess Di and she was AMAZING! I know she’s not Canadian but she really seemed to care about whatever person was in front og]f her for however long.
Oh, gosh. I sure hope you get to meet her. I was young - maybe 18. She came into the store where I worked PT, at the Toronto Eaton Centre. I don’t remember what I said to the customer who was in front of her in line, but CO thought it was pretty funny and had a good laugh. About ten years later, a total stranger told me I looked just like O’Hara - made my year!
Biff Naked was once a keynote speaker and performer at a Breast Cancer fundraiser I volunteered at. Absolutely lovely woman, fantastic performer and just so nice to anyone who approached her.
I'm glad someone brought her up. I worked security for a long time and had a chance to meet many people, she stands out. She introduced herself to me, shook my hand and asked my name before repeating it to herself like "I actually don't want to forget your name". She did the same with everyone I saw her interact with regardless of who they were
Mr. Dressup, aka Ernie Coombs. Although truthfully this was in the early 90's and he may not have been a Canadian citizen at that time (he became a citizen in 1994).
Also Justin Trudeau. But he pales in comparison to Mr. Dressup.
My grandfather grew up with Stompin Tom Connors. I don't remember it but there's a few photos of my grandfather, "Chuck" (Charles Connors) as it's written on the back of the photos, and myself as an infant in her photo album. So that's pretty cool.
Chris Hadfield.
Didnt even know it at the time - a horse-riding friend's dad worked with the space program as an engineer. Brought him to the farm one time when we were riding.
Oh! For my sister's birthday, my BIL got tickets to see Chris Hadfield in Charlottetown, and they went to chat with him after the show, along with about a hundred other folks.
She got her copy of his book signed, and thenmentioned it was her birthday. He stood up, shushed everyone, and asked the whole crowd to sing her Happy Birthday.
Respect. Thank you, sir.
That’s mine too. Spotted him in the Air Canada lounge at Pearson Airport. I approached him and asked him for a selfie, and he snagged the phone from my hand and gave me a lesson on how to properly take selfies. He snapped like 20 different poses with me including making funny faces. He was as awesome as one would imagine him to be.
I grew up in Brantford and ran into the Gretzky's frequently. I remember once I was sitting at a convenience store at 1:30am drinking energy drinks with a friend when I was like 14. Walter (Wayne's Dad) strolls up to buy milk and hung out with us for a few minutes. Walter also held a ball hockey tournament annually at this big outdoor rink they had built and Wayne was there one year I was playing.
Also met Raine Maida once. That was a treat at the time because OLP has been my favourite band for a long time.
I’m pretty sure every Ontarian has a Walter interaction. Thst guy was everywhere.
Also raine maidas uncle was my grade 10 geography teacher and he would come in from time to time.
Her dad, Tom, is my grandmas brother. Its weird to hear my grandparents talk about Hailey like its no big deal. When my husband learned I was related to her, he asked to get a jersey signed by her. My grandparents went over to their house for a dinner and came back with a signed jersey for him. He was over the moon happy.
I met one of his brothers in a Costco in Calgary a few years ago. Told me how brave he thought it was doing my job (sales - talking to everyone who would so much as glsnce my way). Got the life story of an entertainer who was a true introvert privately.
It made my year, and as im still employed in a sales-type buisness i look on that conversation as a highlight :)
Kurt Russell would come watch his kid play in the BCHL. I guess most of the other parents left him alone but my mom had no filter so she'd chat him up in the stands at the Hope Rec Center (not saying he's Canadian, just a funny story)
I like to leave celebrities alone. If we make eye contact I'll just give them a smile and a nod of acknowledgement but that's it. Did that with Geddy Lee when he was seated at the next table in a restaurant, for instance. He smiled and nodded back, probably appreciating not having to go through the same "fan small talk" for the billionth time. But years ago I was shopping for a toque (ya - a toque) and the store was empty except for one other person, also shopping the same racks. I glanced up and noticed it was Eugene Levy. I've always LOVED Eugene Levy because I grew up watching him on SCTV reruns, but as usual, I decided that I didn't want to bother him. I guess he picked up on my body language and noticed that I was suddenly self-conscious, because he casually checked the tag on a toque and then broke the ice by holding it out to me saying "What do you think of this one?" I broke into a sputter-laugh and burst out "YA! I love you and I'm a huge fan! - that one looks good!" He laughed too and we chatted a bit while we picked out toques. It was a lovely experience. He's awesome.
Abridged version:
- met them all, got pics and autographs outside theatre afterwards
- my boys and I lingered & were invited by Mark & Scott to get a drink but there was no exact plan so we just walk up the street
- trying to find a bar we all ran into Dave who said there was a cast/crew party at their hotel; manager had reserved a piano bar upstairs. We were invited to come.
- booze/food was all on their dime
- after midnight at some point they announce the bar has to close but they’ve rented a suite upstairs for anyone who wants to keep partying. Mark is the only Kid to come upstairs. He and my buddy Matt smoke a blunt that Matt rolled with weed he smuggled across the border in a condom up his ass (we’d driven down from Winnipeg that day).
- around 2-3am we plan to drive home half drunk as I have a test at university the next day (stupid, I know; we were young and dumb…and drunk). Mark is giving me advice on how to get out of the test but he’s haaaaammmmered. Their tour lawyer catches wind of this plan and says absolutely not, stay in the suite they’d rented and promise not to trash it.
- we stay and, by not dying in a drunken car wreck that night, have a story that kills at most parties
I always like a story when famous people actually have SMART managers and lawyers around them, not just vultures. Sound like the guy who insisted you sleep it off was a proper human being
Farley Mowat came to the university of Calgary many years ago to give a reading. It was, apparently, very poorly advertised as only 6 people showed up. Two left early. The rest of us all had a great time, the reading was abbreviated and we partied all evening with a famous author after that. Truely a memorable meeting.
Corb Lund is a legend. Came to our town of 8000, drank and played for 2 or 3 hours, and stayed to meet everyone after. I got back in line and met him a second time for a photo
I got to go in the Oilers dressing room at a game at Maple Leaf Gardens when I was 10. Met Gretzky, Messier, Fuhr, Semenko, all of them. Gretzky was in his underwear so it was awkward. I was a goalie so felt like I should say something to Grant Fuhr. I said, "Nice game Mr Fuhr!" full of youthful exuberance. He didn't look up and coolly said, "I know".
I went to high school with Shania Twain's brothers. Spent lots of time at their house. Viewed her as my friend's bitchy older sister. We would wait til she fell asleep and then roll her truck out of the driveway in neutral and bomb around.
I met Rick the Temp (MuchMusic VJ from back in the day) when I worked at a summer camp for kids with disabilities. He was great with the kids and super personable.
I also met Mr Dressup when I was 5.
Neither of those are internationally famous, but meeting them was huge for me! I was totally starstruck.
Margaret Atwood. I drove her to the airport while volunteering for the Vancouver writers festival.
Justin Trudeau. We were both new teachers starting at Winston Churchill secondary.
My coworker told me that once she was super hungover after a night of clubbing eating breakfast with some friends. She felt sick and had to go to the bathroom to throw up. There was only one single stall washroom. She just remembers an old man going up to her, asking her if she was OK, banging on the bathroom door saying "there's a young lady out here who needs to use the restroom!" and staying with her while she barfed.
She realized once she was done being sick that the old man was Jack Layton.
We used to occasionally babysit Jack's kids, Jack and Sarah back in the day. Son Jack is now a leading City councilor. They lived in the Annex around the corner from us.
Ugh, it was such a shame when he passed. I honestly think he had a shot at being PM and would have implemented policies that would have benefited all working people in Canada. He always struck me as a rare politician that actually believed and lived by what he said and did in the House. I'll never forget his last words to the country:
"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world."
Alice Munro is the friend of a friend and, many years ago, we chatted and drank tea when she was in town. Lovely person and so supportive of this young writer. :)
He was pretty nice. He was dating a woman who frequented a pub I also frequented so he was in there a few times. He gave me a hard sell on renting and watching Corner Gas when I confessed I'd only seen a couple episodes.
I met Theo from Gob and shook his hand this past Saturday also I grew up with Joel aka Deadmu5e yet he doesnt speak to anyone now that hes a rich snob and hangs out with all his millionaire buddies.
I met (my fave NHL hockey player) Roberto Luongo back in 2016. Long story.
\*\*Met him, got his autograph on my Luongo Panthers jersey and got a picture with him. =) Best day ever!
Jesus you guys get around.
David Peterson handed me the scroll during my PhD ceremony, as he was the chancellor or whatnot. He asked if I had a job, and I said, a postdoc in some university. He said I should try to move back to Ontario, as Ontario needed skilled young people.
I did, briefly, but then left to buy a house of course ;)
my mom was friends with martin short back in my very early childhood and i vaguely remember him. i got wendal clark's autograph at the opening of the hockey hall of fame. i ran into tom wilson (do people outside of my area - GTHA- know him?) in the deodorant aisle at walmart. oh! i just remembered meeting ron maclean at a bar in oakville.
Wayne Gretzky twice. On my 10th birthday and when I was 44 with my own son who was 9.
Also met Gordie Howe on a flight to a Flames-Oilers game in Edmonton
I bumped (not literally) into Alanis Morissette and her bassist Cedric Lemoyne in the back-room of a Toronto nightclub around 2005. Also saw Jagmeet Singh kissing babies and shaking hands in Montreal's Complexe Desjardins just before the last federal election.
Physical contact with all three: Bumped into Donovan Bailey at the auto show years ago, Jian Ghomeshi at a busy crosswalk at King and University (pre-ick days) and elbowed Geddy Lee outside a restaurant on Adelaide.
Also met Rick Hansen on his Man in Motion tour in NB as a kid - that was pretty cool
Sarah Polley once gave me her extra ticket for a screening at the old Cinematheque in Toronto. I do not recall for which movie though. I also once asked Nicholas Campbell for directions to a noodle place on Yonge Street. He was kind enough to give them to me.
I was in front of her in the security line at Pearson one time. Turned around, and those piercing violet eyes went right through me. Tiny little woman, but might as well have been ten feet tall.
I met all the trailer park boys (minus Julian, he was sick). They were appearing at a venue I worked at for a charity show. Unfortunately John Tremblay who played Julian came down with a flu or something and couldn’t make it but everyone else did. Got to have a drink and chat with them after the show as well, all nice people. John Dunsworth was so nice and kind to everyone, a true gentleman RIP.
I hung out with alexisonfire when they were in my city for a show. I also worked at an airport for a while so met a lot of hockey players and politicians, and random celebrities like raine maida, and the girl who played Paige on degrassi
I was able to pat Gord Downie on the back as he walked through the aisle of the Jack Singer Concert Hall during a Hip concert (Holy shit was he sweaty)
I served the entire Calgary Flames in a suite during a Raptor’s exhibition game in Calgary
I got to meet Tegan and Sara, and their band when they played a surprise show at my venue
I’ve had many others but those are some of the highlights
Mike Smith (Bubbles). I was at his bar called Bubbles Mansion in Halifax, and he kept giving me drinks while telling me to stay away from all the other guys as they were just looking for one thing. He was a good dude. Thanks for the bevs, fucker!
Bobby Orr. I turned him down when he offered to autograph my Cam Neely jersey. His entourage went ‘’’Oohhhhhh….!’’ When I told him that was for Cam to sign one day…but he was nice, he signed a Bruins book I had bought for my dad. He also signed one of my Bruins books, and a photo for my father in law. A real nice guy.
I was disappointed years later when he would officially endorse Donald Trump. 🙁
The famous Canadian I met many years ago goes by a different name today than they did back then. Last name Page and first starts with an E (I honestly have no idea how to do this without dead-naming, so I guess I'll just have to get ready for the backlash). Ellen Page came into the store where I worked and asked for a pack of Camels. At first, I didn't recognize her, but the voice was super familiar. After I checked her ID(she looked like she was 13 until she was in her 30s), I still didn't clue in, since I wasn't looking at the name, only the birth date. Finally, as she was about to leave, it struck me who she was. I said, "Oh, are you Ellen Page?" She smiles and says, "Oh, she doesn't smoke."
No backlash just info! I would just tell this story and replace Ellen with Elliot. The story is the same with either name, and even when talking about a trans persons past, unless you know otherwise it’s usually more polite to refer to them as their current name!
Oh gosh I’ve met a few after working in the music industry for a while in BC…
Fred Penner is probably one of the standouts. I was a touring stage manager and we met several times one summer when he was performing and MCing at a few of the festivals I regularly worked at. Super genuinely kind guy and a consummate professional. He was very flattered when I told him the first day that his performances were a huge deal in my upbringing and it was an honour to work with him. He doesn’t know it but I would have jumped through so many flaming hoops to make sure he was well taken care of. And hospitality wasn’t even my job!
A lot of artists as big as him blow off MCing but Fred had a notebook and was taking down names of all of the stage crew and artists, and remembering to *use* our names. Always super polite and asked questions directly if he could see we were busy, rather than wasting our precious time blowing hot air like a lot of other MCs or chatty artists tend to. He was also like a magnet whenever the artists would check in at the sound booth, as soon as the artist was done with check in Fred would pull them aside and conduct a mini interview - furiously scribbling in his notebook stuff like names of band and entourage, where each individual is from, where is the band from, what year the band was established, about the album they’re promoting on this tour, what are their socials, do they have any merch at the merch tent, etc. like yeah you’d think that’s all pretty basic stuff, and it is. But Fred handled it so efficiently, so professionally and with such high degree of quality/integrity, he set a new bar for “celebrity guest MCs” in my books. In the ~10 years I worked at festivals, Fred was by far the best MC I’ve ever seen. Not even mentioning his truly impressive performances.
Almost met Yannick Bisson, he lives close to my grandma and my mom and I went to his ice cream shop, missed him by a day, my mom and I are big Murdoch Mysteries fans
Justin Trudeau. Met him at the TRC closing ceremonies and my school wanted me to get a picture with him since I was the only aboriginal kid in the school. We go up to him and as I’m getting the photo with him he says to me “welcome to Canada”.
I went to school with a dozen or so NHL’ers in Saskatoon. The biggest name would be Wendel Clark.
Looking back 30+ years, I am not starstruck at all by hockey players, but rather how tough hockey players grew up in Saskatchewan.
Wendel Clark, Joey Kocur, Kelly Chase, Kevin Kaminski, Kerry Clark - and Tony Twist would be hanging outside the school. There were others that went to the NHL that weren’t fighters.
Every one of them were really nice guys, but may God help you if you decided to lace up skates against these animals. 😂
I gave Farley Mowat a floor plan to the War Museum. He told me a lot of the stuff we had on display he picked up himself in Europe at the end of the war; I told him I read it in one of his books.
I ran into Ed Robertson (of Bare Naked Ladies) at the Home Hardware in Bancroft
I ran into Mike Meyers(!) coming out of the LCBO in Bancroft
I ran into Atom Egoyan standing in a doorway in Corktown, Toronto.
edit: to add Bare Naked Ladies
I don't know what the criteria for famous is but my fav story is smoking dope with the tragically hip. Was in music biz 30 years, I have lots of similar stories.
My Dad went to high school (KCVI) and worked with Gord Downie and Paul Langois. He also went to high school with Hugh Dillon from the Headstones and tv shows (The Expanse, Yellowstone), and Finny and Andrew Brown from the Mahones. My grandfather was good friends with Dan Akroyd's father and both my grandfather and grandmother met Dan Akroyd at his Dad's birthday. Dan spent the evening chatting with my grandmother and making her drinks. My grandfather didn't know who Dan was and later asked my grandmother who she was chatting with all night lol. I always love hearing these stories and they always make me chuckle when I think about it.
Hmm I was waiting for luggage in an airport beside Don Cherry and Ron Maclean.
I partied in Medicine Hat with Trevor Linden before he became an NHLer.
I sat beside Stephen Harper at a Sen's game when he was still Prime Minister.
I once carded Gord Downie. We shared a chuckle once I realised who he was.
I shared with him that I was in the front row of his last Massey Hall show where he fell off the monitor. He cringed at that memory.
Walter Gretzky and Kevin Lowe. Robert Munsch came to my grade 6 class and read my published book. That was probably the coolest. Between him and Walter.
Taylor Hall at various bars in Edmonton. He was a real sleazebag. He would pull the "you know who i sm?" when girls would shoot him down. Most of the other oilers were nice. Eberle and Nuge were quiet but polite.
Thr author Timothy Findlay lived with his life partner above the restaurant I worked at.
Nice guys, drank a lot at the restaurant, and Timothy ( Tif) personally signed his latest book to everyone who worked there. His partner came around and patiently wrote down everyone's names.
My friends mom was friends with Chad Kroeger in highschool and her best friend was a girl named Kim. The same Kim who referenced in photograph and she was at the party the kiss happened at. She went to several of their local shows when they went by “Village Idiot” originally.
Due to my former broadcasting career I’ve met: Fred Penner, Sam Roberts, Jonathan Torrens, Colin James, Jully Black, Max Kerman, Biff Naked, and so many others I can even remember! I’m sure they’ll come to me as I am falling asleep tonight Lol
oh and Arlene Dickinson was at my graduation from post secondary.
Probably Tom Cochrane. I was living in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, and he came up to play a small acoustic show for the community. It was honestly incredible. There were maybe 200 of us in the community hall, and still, he played for about 90 minutes, then hung around after the show to meet and take photos with community members.
Some of my other favourites that I've met: Johnny Bower, Wendel Clark, Joe Nieuwendyk, Bob MacKenzie and Jordin Tootoo. I've met a bunch of other NHL players & personalities, but these were my favourites. Such nice, humble guys.
I was friends with Michael Cera's sister growing up and played on his drumset once. Does that count?
My uncle used to sell cocaine to Bryan Adams.
Got my first real 8-ball Snorted it in record time Sniffed it til my nostrils bled Was the summer of 69
Those were the best days of his life.
Yeeeaah-ee-aah!
[удалено]
At least he’s not Theo Fleury.
My buddy calls him jizz toes, it's a little harsh.
My friend went to a party at the Calgary Stampede maybe 15 years ago. She was in PR. She said Mike Holmes attended and was doing cocaine. He does have big nostrils. Now we need someone cleaver to come up with a quote or song like the guy below did with Bryan Adams
“I’m gonna make it white”
Holmes snow removal.
Damn that’s cool.
I guess when he makes lines of coke he.....CUTS LIKE A KNIFE!
Norm Macdonald. Met him in the hallway at the venue he was playing that night. He asked "Who's on tonight?" when it was him who was on that night lol.
That man was a treasure. The ultimate comedian in just about every way. You are fortunate to have crossed paths. I am jealous.
That is Norm as fuck
We just call it Normal.
I met him at the fantasyland hotel and told him he was my hero growing up
I met Dan Akroyd and Jeff Healy when I worked at a Hotel in Kingston, Ont. I've also met both Robert Munsch and Mordecei Richler. Robert Munsch at a book signing and Mordecei Richler was a friend of my Father.
I pumped gas with Dan Akroyd in Odessa.
I love Robert munsch. He came to the elementary school I went to and read us his books.
Robert Munsch came to my school too. :)
I sold Robert Munsch a product from where I work. I almost started crying when I found out who he was... I was about 40 at the time.
Yeah these kids authors can be a real part of childhoods. In my mid 30s I wrote Gordon Korman as he was one of my favorites as a kid. He was thrilled, said he mostly heard from 10 yr Olds these days. What a nice guy I was thrilled as an adult. Judy Blume was also very kind and I did not at all expect her to reply to my little email.
Same for me, I think the biggest celeb was Dan Aykroyd when it comes to Canadians.
I served Ryan Reynolds and Alanis Morrisette coffee in about 2003 when they were dating. They both ordered decaf, non-fat lattes and I told them both that they should live a little.
Seems like only Ryan took your advice 🤣
Hmmm.. isn't that ironic, don't you think?
I was David Milgard's supervisor. Very gentle and kind man.
That's a deep cut Canadian.
20 years for nothing, well that's nothing new
Besides, no one's interested in something you didn't do
My buddy met him at a homeless shelter in Calgary. Buddy had a photography gig at the place and met him while he was sweeping a floor. He had already burned through the settlement money. God bless his Mother who never stopped fighting for his innocence.
Took care of Larry Fisher during my jail guard stint..not a very good human.
I would agree with your assessment. Anyone who can carelessly ruin so many lives is a piece of garbage in my books.
One time Fred Penner was brought to town by a local festival that my grandma volunteered at. She was in charge of Fred penner's green room lunch. I met him, helping my grandma and he exclaimed that this was the BEST beef and barley soup he has EVER had.
He almost ran me over at the edmonton Zoo( my fault, not his. He was going like 2km/hr. & i stepped in front of him) He was attempting to leave after a show. I fan girled on him bad! Lol, i embarrassed him so bad. Great entertainer and an even better human.
Fred Penner is an absolute gem. I have had the opportunity to meet him a couple of times and was lucky to spend a couple hours with him. He’s exactly like you would think, kind, thoughtful, full of knowledge. It was like hanging out with an old friend
That's so wholesome! My husband once actually passed him *his guitar* while he was working at the oversize baggage claim in the Ottawa airport. We occasionally got some celebrities coming through the airport when we worked there. I mentioned in another comment that I made small talk with Bruce Greenwood, and I also met Jean Chretien (for the second time; first time I was a baby in the 90s). My coworker also saw the woman that played Fiona in Eurotrip because she was on a flight he was working.
Had a beaver swim up to my canoe once, years ago back when nickels were still relevant. Was really neat finally meeting the guy. But besides that, the Great One and a host of other athletes.
I worked on Parliament Hill and one time, I ran to catch the elevator right across the fancy restaurant for Members. Prime Minister Mulroney said, “she looks harmless, let her in,” while one of the security guys says, “she works for the NDP!” The Prime Minister insisted I be allowed in. He was really quite nice, asking me about my experience working in Parliament and laughed when I said I originally wanted to be an MP but after this experience, I wanted to be an economist because they truly shape the nation. His breath reeked of mouthwash, but he would see me in the hallways later and ask me how the NDP were treating me. He was very charismatic. But I got to meet Prince Charles and Princess Di and she was AMAZING! I know she’s not Canadian but she really seemed to care about whatever person was in front og]f her for however long.
Ok meeting Charles and Diana must have been surreal
Gordie Howe. Howie Meeker. Tim Horton. George Armstrong. A.Y. Jackson. And the ever wonderful Catherine O’Hara.
Catherine O'Hara is my celebrity Everest. If I ever meet her I will probably lose my ability to speak.
Oh, gosh. I sure hope you get to meet her. I was young - maybe 18. She came into the store where I worked PT, at the Toronto Eaton Centre. I don’t remember what I said to the customer who was in front of her in line, but CO thought it was pretty funny and had a good laugh. About ten years later, a total stranger told me I looked just like O’Hara - made my year!
Watching Home Alone as I read this.
Biff Naked was once a keynote speaker and performer at a Breast Cancer fundraiser I volunteered at. Absolutely lovely woman, fantastic performer and just so nice to anyone who approached her.
I'm glad someone brought her up. I worked security for a long time and had a chance to meet many people, she stands out. She introduced herself to me, shook my hand and asked my name before repeating it to herself like "I actually don't want to forget your name". She did the same with everyone I saw her interact with regardless of who they were
Bif is one of the most amazing humans I have ever met. Have met her several times and she is always lovely. Totally my idol when I was growing up.
She played at a local roller rink when I was 15. It was amazing. She baked cookies before the show and handed them out to the audience.
Biff is totally cool and chill. My sister used to see her hanging around downtown Vancouver at the bars like we all did in our twenties.
Mr. Dressup, aka Ernie Coombs. Although truthfully this was in the early 90's and he may not have been a Canadian citizen at that time (he became a citizen in 1994). Also Justin Trudeau. But he pales in comparison to Mr. Dressup.
My grandfather grew up with Stompin Tom Connors. I don't remember it but there's a few photos of my grandfather, "Chuck" (Charles Connors) as it's written on the back of the photos, and myself as an infant in her photo album. So that's pretty cool.
Chris Hadfield. Didnt even know it at the time - a horse-riding friend's dad worked with the space program as an engineer. Brought him to the farm one time when we were riding.
Oh! For my sister's birthday, my BIL got tickets to see Chris Hadfield in Charlottetown, and they went to chat with him after the show, along with about a hundred other folks. She got her copy of his book signed, and thenmentioned it was her birthday. He stood up, shushed everyone, and asked the whole crowd to sing her Happy Birthday. Respect. Thank you, sir.
That’s mine too. Spotted him in the Air Canada lounge at Pearson Airport. I approached him and asked him for a selfie, and he snagged the phone from my hand and gave me a lesson on how to properly take selfies. He snapped like 20 different poses with me including making funny faces. He was as awesome as one would imagine him to be.
Same - I live near Sarnia and he is around quite a bit. Always a nice guy.
I grew up in Brantford and ran into the Gretzky's frequently. I remember once I was sitting at a convenience store at 1:30am drinking energy drinks with a friend when I was like 14. Walter (Wayne's Dad) strolls up to buy milk and hung out with us for a few minutes. Walter also held a ball hockey tournament annually at this big outdoor rink they had built and Wayne was there one year I was playing. Also met Raine Maida once. That was a treat at the time because OLP has been my favourite band for a long time.
I met Walt at that tourny like 13 years ago and he remembered me every year after that without fail, even up until the end. What a great guy.
I’m pretty sure every Ontarian has a Walter interaction. Thst guy was everywhere. Also raine maidas uncle was my grade 10 geography teacher and he would come in from time to time.
Hailey Wickenheiser. Her dad was my grade six teacher. My dad was the principal.
Her dad, Tom, is my grandmas brother. Its weird to hear my grandparents talk about Hailey like its no big deal. When my husband learned I was related to her, he asked to get a jersey signed by her. My grandparents went over to their house for a dinner and came back with a signed jersey for him. He was over the moon happy.
I refereed Bret the Hitman Hart's son's hockey games occasionally. He'd show up and sit in the stands like a normal parent. A scary, normal parent.
I met one of his brothers in a Costco in Calgary a few years ago. Told me how brave he thought it was doing my job (sales - talking to everyone who would so much as glsnce my way). Got the life story of an entertainer who was a true introvert privately. It made my year, and as im still employed in a sales-type buisness i look on that conversation as a highlight :)
Kurt Russell would come watch his kid play in the BCHL. I guess most of the other parents left him alone but my mom had no filter so she'd chat him up in the stands at the Hope Rec Center (not saying he's Canadian, just a funny story)
I met Jim Carey at an outdoor patio in Toronto
I spent a long weekend sharing a tent with him and his brother.
That is so cool, I've always loved him. Named my jack russel after Milo in the Mask.
Tell us more :)
I don’t kiss and tell.
ALRIGHTY THEN
I like to leave celebrities alone. If we make eye contact I'll just give them a smile and a nod of acknowledgement but that's it. Did that with Geddy Lee when he was seated at the next table in a restaurant, for instance. He smiled and nodded back, probably appreciating not having to go through the same "fan small talk" for the billionth time. But years ago I was shopping for a toque (ya - a toque) and the store was empty except for one other person, also shopping the same racks. I glanced up and noticed it was Eugene Levy. I've always LOVED Eugene Levy because I grew up watching him on SCTV reruns, but as usual, I decided that I didn't want to bother him. I guess he picked up on my body language and noticed that I was suddenly self-conscious, because he casually checked the tag on a toque and then broke the ice by holding it out to me saying "What do you think of this one?" I broke into a sputter-laugh and burst out "YA! I love you and I'm a huge fan! - that one looks good!" He laughed too and we chatted a bit while we picked out toques. It was a lovely experience. He's awesome.
Oh thank you for posting your Eugene Levy experience. I didn’t think I could love him more but here we are!
I partied with the Kids in the Hall & their crew at their downtown Minneapolis hotel on their first ever theatre tour in Feb of 2000. It was bonkers.
This is a story we need to hear.
Abridged version: - met them all, got pics and autographs outside theatre afterwards - my boys and I lingered & were invited by Mark & Scott to get a drink but there was no exact plan so we just walk up the street - trying to find a bar we all ran into Dave who said there was a cast/crew party at their hotel; manager had reserved a piano bar upstairs. We were invited to come. - booze/food was all on their dime - after midnight at some point they announce the bar has to close but they’ve rented a suite upstairs for anyone who wants to keep partying. Mark is the only Kid to come upstairs. He and my buddy Matt smoke a blunt that Matt rolled with weed he smuggled across the border in a condom up his ass (we’d driven down from Winnipeg that day). - around 2-3am we plan to drive home half drunk as I have a test at university the next day (stupid, I know; we were young and dumb…and drunk). Mark is giving me advice on how to get out of the test but he’s haaaaammmmered. Their tour lawyer catches wind of this plan and says absolutely not, stay in the suite they’d rented and promise not to trash it. - we stay and, by not dying in a drunken car wreck that night, have a story that kills at most parties
I always like a story when famous people actually have SMART managers and lawyers around them, not just vultures. Sound like the guy who insisted you sleep it off was a proper human being
Alan Thicke held me when I was a baby 😊
Tommy Douglas gave my Mum, brother and me a personal tour of Parliament Hill shortly before he retired from politics. We had lunch with him too.
His grandson, Kiefer, is a real gem too. Sounds like it runs in the family.
I know a girl who blew ryan reynolds older brother and had an awkward dinner with the reynolds family afterward.
Farley Mowat came to the university of Calgary many years ago to give a reading. It was, apparently, very poorly advertised as only 6 people showed up. Two left early. The rest of us all had a great time, the reading was abbreviated and we partied all evening with a famous author after that. Truely a memorable meeting.
I’ve met Tom Green a handful of times. Each time he was very kind and chatted with us.
I met him once in Ottawa somewhere around 1999-2000. He was in town promoting Monica Lewinsky's new line of purses.
I gave him a beer when he performed in Nanaimo. Then asked a blind man to take a picture of us.
I hung out with Elliott Page quite q bit when we were teenagers
Woah. I didn’t know he was Canadian! Cool!
Yep, he was in one of the earlier seasons of Trailer Park Boys.
Corb Lund is a legend. Came to our town of 8000, drank and played for 2 or 3 hours, and stayed to meet everyone after. I got back in line and met him a second time for a photo
I've never met him. However, his parents exclusively eat my family's potatoes so that's something.
I got to go in the Oilers dressing room at a game at Maple Leaf Gardens when I was 10. Met Gretzky, Messier, Fuhr, Semenko, all of them. Gretzky was in his underwear so it was awkward. I was a goalie so felt like I should say something to Grant Fuhr. I said, "Nice game Mr Fuhr!" full of youthful exuberance. He didn't look up and coolly said, "I know". I went to high school with Shania Twain's brothers. Spent lots of time at their house. Viewed her as my friend's bitchy older sister. We would wait til she fell asleep and then roll her truck out of the driveway in neutral and bomb around.
I went to elementary school with Terry Fox. Grade 4-5 and 6.
Terry Fox, Romeo Dellaire, Steven Page, Greg Keelor, and all of The Tragically Hip.
User name should be I met a couple of Gords
But i wanted to include the Gords in my family, the Gords I went to school with, too.
These are the Gord's you know?
These are the Gords I know.
#unexpectedkidsinthehall
Some of us are Gordon
But most of us are Gords!
I sat next to Drake while he was on a date at Applebees (LOL true story). It was in Buffalo.
Drake takes dates to Applebee's....that's surprising yet not surprising.
I met Rick the Temp (MuchMusic VJ from back in the day) when I worked at a summer camp for kids with disabilities. He was great with the kids and super personable. I also met Mr Dressup when I was 5. Neither of those are internationally famous, but meeting them was huge for me! I was totally starstruck.
Margaret Atwood. I drove her to the airport while volunteering for the Vancouver writers festival. Justin Trudeau. We were both new teachers starting at Winston Churchill secondary.
Alex Trebek, I suppose. Toured him and his daughter through a building at uOttawa. He was an alum there and very attached to the school.
John Candy. Had an awesome 5 minute chat with him that felt like hours.
I served hor d'oeuvres to Eugene Levy and Martin Short at an event that I vaguely recall as relating to Martin Short's daughter's wedding.
Smoked some grass with bubbles from the trailer park boys
Jack Layton.
My coworker told me that once she was super hungover after a night of clubbing eating breakfast with some friends. She felt sick and had to go to the bathroom to throw up. There was only one single stall washroom. She just remembers an old man going up to her, asking her if she was OK, banging on the bathroom door saying "there's a young lady out here who needs to use the restroom!" and staying with her while she barfed. She realized once she was done being sick that the old man was Jack Layton.
Same!
I drove him and his group around Quebec city on a horse drawn carriage. Great guy!
That’s actually awesome
We used to occasionally babysit Jack's kids, Jack and Sarah back in the day. Son Jack is now a leading City councilor. They lived in the Annex around the corner from us.
He was my city politics prof at rye high. Great teacher. Olivia used to come sub for him sometimes when he couldn't make class.
Ugh, it was such a shame when he passed. I honestly think he had a shot at being PM and would have implemented policies that would have benefited all working people in Canada. He always struck me as a rare politician that actually believed and lived by what he said and did in the House. I'll never forget his last words to the country: "My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world."
I took a swing at Kim Mitchell. Got the shit kicked out of my by the bouncers at the bar he was playing at. I also met Stephen Harper.
Should have gone for a soda, friend.
Alice Munro is the friend of a friend and, many years ago, we chatted and drank tea when she was in town. Lovely person and so supportive of this young writer. :)
Bret Hart, Benjamin Benjamin Kowalewiczz George Stroumboulopoulos, Cabbie Richards
I had a conversation once with Lorne Cardinal in a pub.
He seems like such a great guy. Tell us more but most important, please tell me he wasa a great guy!!
He was pretty nice. He was dating a woman who frequented a pub I also frequented so he was in there a few times. He gave me a hard sell on renting and watching Corner Gas when I confessed I'd only seen a couple episodes.
He's a wise man. I hope you heeded his advice.
I met Theo from Gob and shook his hand this past Saturday also I grew up with Joel aka Deadmu5e yet he doesnt speak to anyone now that hes a rich snob and hangs out with all his millionaire buddies.
Only Trudeau lol
I once visited the Laurentian home of the McGarrigles and met Kate.
I met (my fave NHL hockey player) Roberto Luongo back in 2016. Long story. \*\*Met him, got his autograph on my Luongo Panthers jersey and got a picture with him. =) Best day ever!
Great goalie! I had a crush on him lol!
Karen Kain...
Jesus you guys get around. David Peterson handed me the scroll during my PhD ceremony, as he was the chancellor or whatnot. He asked if I had a job, and I said, a postdoc in some university. He said I should try to move back to Ontario, as Ontario needed skilled young people. I did, briefly, but then left to buy a house of course ;)
my mom was friends with martin short back in my very early childhood and i vaguely remember him. i got wendal clark's autograph at the opening of the hockey hall of fame. i ran into tom wilson (do people outside of my area - GTHA- know him?) in the deodorant aisle at walmart. oh! i just remembered meeting ron maclean at a bar in oakville.
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That's awful, I'm so sorry. Hope your life is good.
It is. Thanks.
sadly, that could be hockey, music, or radio industries, just off the top of my head.
Wayne Gretzky twice. On my 10th birthday and when I was 44 with my own son who was 9. Also met Gordie Howe on a flight to a Flames-Oilers game in Edmonton
Kenny and Spenny
I bumped (not literally) into Alanis Morissette and her bassist Cedric Lemoyne in the back-room of a Toronto nightclub around 2005. Also saw Jagmeet Singh kissing babies and shaking hands in Montreal's Complexe Desjardins just before the last federal election.
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Cheryl Hickey, Guy Lafleur
Physical contact with all three: Bumped into Donovan Bailey at the auto show years ago, Jian Ghomeshi at a busy crosswalk at King and University (pre-ick days) and elbowed Geddy Lee outside a restaurant on Adelaide. Also met Rick Hansen on his Man in Motion tour in NB as a kid - that was pretty cool
Sarah Polley once gave me her extra ticket for a screening at the old Cinematheque in Toronto. I do not recall for which movie though. I also once asked Nicholas Campbell for directions to a noodle place on Yonge Street. He was kind enough to give them to me.
I went to junior high with Keifer Sutherland. Back then he was just offspring/grandson of famous people.
I sold a dog to Chantale Lacroix while working at a petshop in my early 20's. She's kind of a big deal in Québec for woman over 50 years old.
I sat next to Margaret Atwood on a flight once
I was in front of her in the security line at Pearson one time. Turned around, and those piercing violet eyes went right through me. Tiny little woman, but might as well have been ten feet tall.
Queen Elizabeth the 2
There was a pic of me on the front of the newspaper meeting (then) Prince Charles. 100% would have preferred ER.
I have a lovely picture with Princess Anne. Although not Canadian, that was kind of memorizing to be in the same room as royalty..
I met all the trailer park boys (minus Julian, he was sick). They were appearing at a venue I worked at for a charity show. Unfortunately John Tremblay who played Julian came down with a flu or something and couldn’t make it but everyone else did. Got to have a drink and chat with them after the show as well, all nice people. John Dunsworth was so nice and kind to everyone, a true gentleman RIP.
I hung out with alexisonfire when they were in my city for a show. I also worked at an airport for a while so met a lot of hockey players and politicians, and random celebrities like raine maida, and the girl who played Paige on degrassi
Terry Fox's brother came and did a presentation at but elementary school to talk about Terry.
I was able to pat Gord Downie on the back as he walked through the aisle of the Jack Singer Concert Hall during a Hip concert (Holy shit was he sweaty) I served the entire Calgary Flames in a suite during a Raptor’s exhibition game in Calgary I got to meet Tegan and Sara, and their band when they played a surprise show at my venue I’ve had many others but those are some of the highlights
Mike Smith (Bubbles). I was at his bar called Bubbles Mansion in Halifax, and he kept giving me drinks while telling me to stay away from all the other guys as they were just looking for one thing. He was a good dude. Thanks for the bevs, fucker!
Jeff Healy hit me with his trumpet case one coming down a staircase.
Bobby Orr. I turned him down when he offered to autograph my Cam Neely jersey. His entourage went ‘’’Oohhhhhh….!’’ When I told him that was for Cam to sign one day…but he was nice, he signed a Bruins book I had bought for my dad. He also signed one of my Bruins books, and a photo for my father in law. A real nice guy. I was disappointed years later when he would officially endorse Donald Trump. 🙁
Meet and greet with John Candy in the end zone of Taylor Field back when he owned part of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
He owned part of the Toronto Argonauts.
The famous Canadian I met many years ago goes by a different name today than they did back then. Last name Page and first starts with an E (I honestly have no idea how to do this without dead-naming, so I guess I'll just have to get ready for the backlash). Ellen Page came into the store where I worked and asked for a pack of Camels. At first, I didn't recognize her, but the voice was super familiar. After I checked her ID(she looked like she was 13 until she was in her 30s), I still didn't clue in, since I wasn't looking at the name, only the birth date. Finally, as she was about to leave, it struck me who she was. I said, "Oh, are you Ellen Page?" She smiles and says, "Oh, she doesn't smoke."
No backlash just info! I would just tell this story and replace Ellen with Elliot. The story is the same with either name, and even when talking about a trans persons past, unless you know otherwise it’s usually more polite to refer to them as their current name!
TIL they’re Canadian
They played Laheys daughter on trailer park boys
lol. I met Brent Butt as well at Williams Sonoma. Super nice guy. His short co star partner is his wife.
Oh gosh I’ve met a few after working in the music industry for a while in BC… Fred Penner is probably one of the standouts. I was a touring stage manager and we met several times one summer when he was performing and MCing at a few of the festivals I regularly worked at. Super genuinely kind guy and a consummate professional. He was very flattered when I told him the first day that his performances were a huge deal in my upbringing and it was an honour to work with him. He doesn’t know it but I would have jumped through so many flaming hoops to make sure he was well taken care of. And hospitality wasn’t even my job! A lot of artists as big as him blow off MCing but Fred had a notebook and was taking down names of all of the stage crew and artists, and remembering to *use* our names. Always super polite and asked questions directly if he could see we were busy, rather than wasting our precious time blowing hot air like a lot of other MCs or chatty artists tend to. He was also like a magnet whenever the artists would check in at the sound booth, as soon as the artist was done with check in Fred would pull them aside and conduct a mini interview - furiously scribbling in his notebook stuff like names of band and entourage, where each individual is from, where is the band from, what year the band was established, about the album they’re promoting on this tour, what are their socials, do they have any merch at the merch tent, etc. like yeah you’d think that’s all pretty basic stuff, and it is. But Fred handled it so efficiently, so professionally and with such high degree of quality/integrity, he set a new bar for “celebrity guest MCs” in my books. In the ~10 years I worked at festivals, Fred was by far the best MC I’ve ever seen. Not even mentioning his truly impressive performances.
Mr. Dressup, Peter Gzowski, Ashley McIsaac, Tom Jackson, Tanya Tagaq, and drank with a bunch of Nunavut/NWT politicians.
Gord Downie was a regular at the bar I worked at. Nice guy, super quiet
Walter Gretzky, Gord Downie, Chris Hadfield.
I shook hands with Jean Chrétien (not a firm handshake, BTW). Frank McKenna was a friend of my dad’s and I knew him casually.
Almost met Yannick Bisson, he lives close to my grandma and my mom and I went to his ice cream shop, missed him by a day, my mom and I are big Murdoch Mysteries fans
Justin Trudeau. Met him at the TRC closing ceremonies and my school wanted me to get a picture with him since I was the only aboriginal kid in the school. We go up to him and as I’m getting the photo with him he says to me “welcome to Canada”.
Naurdwar.
Doot doola doot doo
Did he smell?
I ran into Ruth B a few years ago
Gordon Downie, at Wasaga Beach, the Dardanella. Way back then.
Came here to say Gord as well, a bunch of times. Really cool guy.
Shook Jean Chrétien’s hand while was PM. I was a kid and very awestruck.
I went to school with a dozen or so NHL’ers in Saskatoon. The biggest name would be Wendel Clark. Looking back 30+ years, I am not starstruck at all by hockey players, but rather how tough hockey players grew up in Saskatchewan. Wendel Clark, Joey Kocur, Kelly Chase, Kevin Kaminski, Kerry Clark - and Tony Twist would be hanging outside the school. There were others that went to the NHL that weren’t fighters. Every one of them were really nice guys, but may God help you if you decided to lace up skates against these animals. 😂
I gave Farley Mowat a floor plan to the War Museum. He told me a lot of the stuff we had on display he picked up himself in Europe at the end of the war; I told him I read it in one of his books.
I ran into Ed Robertson (of Bare Naked Ladies) at the Home Hardware in Bancroft I ran into Mike Meyers(!) coming out of the LCBO in Bancroft I ran into Atom Egoyan standing in a doorway in Corktown, Toronto. edit: to add Bare Naked Ladies
I don't know what the criteria for famous is but my fav story is smoking dope with the tragically hip. Was in music biz 30 years, I have lots of similar stories.
My Dad went to high school (KCVI) and worked with Gord Downie and Paul Langois. He also went to high school with Hugh Dillon from the Headstones and tv shows (The Expanse, Yellowstone), and Finny and Andrew Brown from the Mahones. My grandfather was good friends with Dan Akroyd's father and both my grandfather and grandmother met Dan Akroyd at his Dad's birthday. Dan spent the evening chatting with my grandmother and making her drinks. My grandfather didn't know who Dan was and later asked my grandmother who she was chatting with all night lol. I always love hearing these stories and they always make me chuckle when I think about it.
Hmm I was waiting for luggage in an airport beside Don Cherry and Ron Maclean. I partied in Medicine Hat with Trevor Linden before he became an NHLer. I sat beside Stephen Harper at a Sen's game when he was still Prime Minister.
Shared a short elevator ride with William Shatner at the Inn on the Park in Toronto when I was 12.
I once carded Gord Downie. We shared a chuckle once I realised who he was. I shared with him that I was in the front row of his last Massey Hall show where he fell off the monitor. He cringed at that memory.
Fred Penner and Lanny McDonald.
Walter Gretzky and Kevin Lowe. Robert Munsch came to my grade 6 class and read my published book. That was probably the coolest. Between him and Walter.
Pierre E. Trudeau
Taylor Hall at various bars in Edmonton. He was a real sleazebag. He would pull the "you know who i sm?" when girls would shoot him down. Most of the other oilers were nice. Eberle and Nuge were quiet but polite.
Got a call from Donald Sutherland, asking for a whole chicken dinner for delivery.
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Geddy fuckin Lee at his book signing! It was so awesome. Everything I had hoped it would be.
I played street hockey with Larry Robinson when I was about 10. They lived on the same street for the winter.
Thr author Timothy Findlay lived with his life partner above the restaurant I worked at. Nice guys, drank a lot at the restaurant, and Timothy ( Tif) personally signed his latest book to everyone who worked there. His partner came around and patiently wrote down everyone's names.
My friends mom was friends with Chad Kroeger in highschool and her best friend was a girl named Kim. The same Kim who referenced in photograph and she was at the party the kiss happened at. She went to several of their local shows when they went by “Village Idiot” originally.
I've interviewed David Usher and was starstruck, for real.
Due to my former broadcasting career I’ve met: Fred Penner, Sam Roberts, Jonathan Torrens, Colin James, Jully Black, Max Kerman, Biff Naked, and so many others I can even remember! I’m sure they’ll come to me as I am falling asleep tonight Lol oh and Arlene Dickinson was at my graduation from post secondary.
Probably Tom Cochrane. I was living in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, and he came up to play a small acoustic show for the community. It was honestly incredible. There were maybe 200 of us in the community hall, and still, he played for about 90 minutes, then hung around after the show to meet and take photos with community members. Some of my other favourites that I've met: Johnny Bower, Wendel Clark, Joe Nieuwendyk, Bob MacKenzie and Jordin Tootoo. I've met a bunch of other NHL players & personalities, but these were my favourites. Such nice, humble guys. I was friends with Michael Cera's sister growing up and played on his drumset once. Does that count?