I am so proud to be Canadian, and I really can’t wait to get my bear bells on!

Olympic Bear Bell

Traditionally, in alpine ski races the spectators ring cow bells as the competitors race down the slopes.  I found a few reasons why this may be, these include: it’s easier than cheering, the cows aren’t wearing the bells in winter (in the European Alps) so you can borrow them, and they’re easy for competitors to hear (maybe for foggy days??).  I’m sure that there are many reasons why cow bells have become such an essential part of the race but this is Canada after all, where we’re not especially known for our cow bells, and it sounds like there is a new plan!

For Vancouver 2010 there is a slightly different ring in the air!  The Spirit of British Columbia committee and the Squamish First Nation group are hoping that instead of cow bells Canadians will embrace bear bells!  So far, a green wristband with three bells has been handed out to local fans in an attempt to get bear bells to be the noisemaker of choice for the Olympics!  The Spirit of BC Committee and Squamish First Nation group are joined by the district of West Vancouver, the city of North Vancouver and North Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain!

I think this is a brilliant plan!  I don’t really, fully ‘get’ the cow bell thing, but I am fully onboard for a crowd of bear bells during the Olympic and Paralympic Games!  I really hope I can get a hold of a green, three bell, set of bear bells to cheer our Canadians on and am really thrilled that the initiative has been taken to personalise or nationalize this world-wide phenomenon.

The Bear Bell Launch at Grouse Mountain today - photo from CTV by Devin Manky

If you know where to get some Olympic/Paralympic bear bells let me know!  I’d love to share this with all Canadians as well as all of our visitors!