"The first time the Blue Jays won a World Series, in 1992, the team's victory parade was held on the same day as a contentious national referendum. At play that day was a suite of potential constitutional changes that had Canadians, living through a period of economic strain, regional tension, and a growing distrust of political elites, questioning what kind of country they were living in."
"The referendum failed and paved the way for another, three years later, in 1995, that almost saw Quebec leave Canada altogether. Following the win, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney congratulated the Jays noting that, beyond it being a historic victory the team's playoff run united a nation behind you, capturing the imagination of Canadians from coast to coast. It was something Canada needed."
"This time there was no parade. The Jays lost 5-4 to the LA Dodgers in the early hours of Sunday in a heartbreaking Game 7, missing out on their first World Series title in 32 years. It would be too much to suggest that Canada needed the Jays to win in exactly the same way the country did in 1992. For one thing, there has since been another World Series win the following year, capped by Joe Carter's historic walk-off home run."
The Blue Jays' 1992 World Series victory coincided with a contentious national referendum and temporarily united Canadians amid economic strain, regional tension, and distrust of political elites. The referendum failed and led to a 1995 referendum that nearly saw Quebec secede. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney praised the team for capturing national imagination. The recent Jays lost 5-4 to the LA Dodgers in a heartbreaking Game 7, missing a title after 32 years. Subsequent Canadian sports triumphs include Joe Carter's 1993 walk-off and the Toronto Raptors' 2019 NBA championship. Canada's national mood remains fragile, with a growing separatist movement in Alberta and mixed economic indicators.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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