Reflecting on a Moment of Unity During the National Anthem

I am not a crier, but I was moved to tears by the hockey fans in Buffalo when the microphone failed during the performance of "O Canada" last week. With no hesitation, the crowd stepped in for the soloist, filling the arena with their voices and honoring their neighbo(u)rs to the north. To witness so many people come together for a tradition that wasn’t even their own felt both generous and profoundly respectful. And quintessentially Buffalonian.

I have the good fortune of being a dual citizen of the US and Canada. Born in Canada, I moved to Buffalo in my twenties and felt immediately at home. When I lived in Canada, I did have a steady diet of Channels 2, 4, and 7 and felt like Commander Tom and Irv Weinstein were personal friends. I understood lake effect snow, loved to cross the border at Fort Erie to shop at the indoor malls and even liked the tune “Buffalo’s talkin’ proud.”  So, moving to this city did not feel like a big leap. Yes, I had to learn how to pronounce 'Scajaquada', embrace four downs in football, and eat hot chicken wings with blue cheese (it wasn’t hard) but I never felt like a stranger in my new home. And, when the Leafs and the Sabres played against each other, I just cheered for both teams. It was oddly liberating. 

Upon meeting someone new, I am usually identified as Canadian by my (still) frequent use of the word ‘eh.’ But rather than being mocked by this trait, my new acquaintance will usually follow up with ‘Oh, my mom’s Canadian’, or ‘ I love to fish in Muskoka’ or ‘my kids play travel hockey and we go to Mississauga/Etobicoke/Toronto all the time (pronouncing all three cities like a longtime Ontario resident), or ‘ I miss Gord from the Tragically Hip’ … you get the drift.  It was always a positive remark where I feel included and not an outsider.

Our borders are so permeable that we learn things about each other by osmosis. My midwestern daughter-in-law (a recent Buffalo transplant and rabid cheerleader for this city) recently commented that Buffalonians are basically Canadian (weirdly, and prophetically she said this on the way to Tuesday’s hockey game with the microphone issue). That remark filled me with pride.

The current shenanigans of the politicians in Washington putting Canada and the US at odds politically and economically have made me fear Buffalo’s embrace of Canada would be eroded. Ha! What was I thinking? If there is one thing that defines a true Buffalonian, it is their stalwart loyalty. Especially when it comes to sports fans.

There is a reason that the crowd’s reaction at Tuesday’s playoff hockey game went viral: Everyone knew the tune, the words, and there was no awkward pause between the microphone cutting out and the crowd filling in. Of course, Buffalo fans would belt out the anthem! This is the city of good neighbors where people shovel your walk and push your car out of the snow without a second thought. But somehow this act, this lifting of voices seemed even more generous. This moment was about our shared humanity, the closeness, and the camaraderie that Buffalo has with Canada. The willingness of the Buffalo fans to step in and carry the anthem reflected a sense of community that transcends borders—a reminder that, in moments of uncertainty, people can unite to support one another. This act of kindness and solidarity resonated with me, showing that respect and empathy can be louder than any microphone.