Last week's story about a group of American visitors whose Garibaldi Inn reservations and deposits taken for the Olympics apparently disappeared into thin air created an unanticipated furor.
And the outpouring of offers for accommodations may be the best sign so far that these Games will be a success.
When Tom Lynum of Stillwater, Minnesota called The Chief last week, his only desire was to get answers about the state of the motel, and to share his story in the hopes that the Olympic holiday he, his wife and the Draheim family had planned for two years could be saved.
The group got a landslide of media attention that left them puzzled, along with a deluge of sympathy that left them humbled.
Readers were appalled that these people received such shoddy treatment in their own hometown, and The Chief was inundated with emails and calls asking for ways to get in touch with the group so they could help out.
Once the story hit the provincial airwaves and newspapers, even more offers came in from all over the province.
The fact that these people's plight generated such a vehement reaction shows that, despite frustrations over travel restrictions and silly VANOC and IOC rules, Canadians will be damned if they'll lose their civility.
Now many of you -especially those who offered their homes - will shrug your shoulders, and say: "It's just common decency." But we may soon learn that Canadian decency is not all that common in other parts of the world.
Although there's no doubt the less decent among us will try to get a piece of the action any way they can, it appears there remains a strong majority willing to make up for our societal shortfalls.
And our collective Olympic experience will provide firsthand insight into our own elusive cultural identity as we interact with hordes of foreign tourists bringing a variety of customs, mannerisms and behaviours. It will certainly be a lesson in self-awareness.
It will also be a way to imprint a Canadian image onto other cultures - for better or for worse. Outside the country, the Canadian identity doesn't generate much passionate debate - ask to list our traits and what you get is pretty predictable: Answers.com defines our characteristics as "they like hockey and curling, say 'eh' a lot, are nice people and like maple syrup."
We have an opportunity to better define ourselves and add nuance to this "nice" reputation by taking personal responsibility for visitors when given the opportunity.
And if the recent outpouring of generosity toward complete strangers is any indication, the Olympic experience will be a positive one indeed.
- Sylvie Paillard
