The growth of this country’s entertainment industry notwithstanding, it’s entirely natural for Canadian fame-seekers to feel the draw southward — can you blame a talented kid from Moose Jaw for moving to New York City if someone offers him a record deal?
While some Canucks were up in arms when celebs such as Jim Carrey discard their Canadian citizenship for flashy American passports, Canadians who make it big in the United States aren’t necessarily traitors.
What matters is whether they make an effort to keep their Canadian connections alive.
Canadian-born celebrities owe it to their fan bases and the communities they hail from to remind people of their origins. It’s also in their own interest to do so.
World-famous musician Neil Young — who lives in California but retains his Canadian citizenship — made his childhood hometown (Omemee, Ont.) the subject of his song, “Helpless.” In return, some Omemee locals established the Youngtown Rock and Roll Museum to boast their connection to this legend. If Young had been adamant about cutting ties with his home country, the residents of Omemee would probably have been less enthusiastic about founding a museum in his honour.
Famous Canadians should also think about how promoting their birthplace raises Canada’s credibility as a land of talented people. Shows like Second City Television and Kids in the Hall, which made no effort to hide the maple syrup flowing through the actors’ veins, made Canadian comedians sought after in the States.
Canadians talented enough to make it big in the United States deserve support from their home turf — provided they give a courteous tip-of-the-hat to our share of the continent now and again.