More than 3,000 people showed up Tuesday to celebrate a big day -- Stephen Colbert Day -- in the normally quiet, working class city of Oshawa, Ont.
The American comedian/faux right-wing pundit couldn't be there himself to celebrate his eponymous day. But he sent along a taped message that played on the General Motors Centre's big screens in downtown Oshawa.
"This is a city I have admired ever since I learned of its existence recently," said Colbert in the message.
He then ordered the hordes of fans that showed up to turn Stephen Colbert Day into a wild party, naming several local pubs where the celebrations could continue into the night.
"I want this to be the biggest raver in Oshawa since last year's peony festival," he said to laughter. He then dug into a cake festooned with the words Happy Stephen Colbert Day.
Oshawa Mayor John Gray was also ate cake -- his own birthday cake decorated with a photo of Colbert.
"I feel very lucky to be born on Colbert Day," Gray told the crowd.
Among the festivities was a Colbert look-alike contest, free cake for guests, free Dr Pepper (Colbert's favourite soft drink), Colbert burgers for sale, and a hockey game between the Oshawa Generals and the Saginaw Spirit.
It was, after all, the OHL teams that began the whole mess that led to Stephen Colbert Day.
It all started when about two million Colbert fans inundated an online contest to name the Saginaw Spirit mascot. Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle was born as a tribute to Colbert, the host of "The Colbert Report" on the Comedy Network.
Colbert soon threw his support behind the squad and began trash-talking its rivals, especially the Oshawa Generals.
Colbert also took offence to the fans throwing stuffed teddy bears on the ice, an annual event to collect teddy bears to be given to charity. Colbert insisted it was an obvious attempt to taunt him because of his bear phobia.
After a public volley of taunts, Mayor Gray issued a challenge to Colbert on the eve of a recent showdown between the teams: if the Generals won, Colbert would have had to wear a Generals jersey for an entire show. If the Spirit won, Gray had to declare Colbert's birthday "Stephen Colbert Day" in Oshawa.
Colbert accepted the challenge but had another suggestion: he wanted "Stephen Colbert Day" to be declared not on his own birthday, but on Gray's - March 20.
And so here it is.
Gray said this kind of event boosts civic pride. "It makes everyone feel very proud that they're from here and that we can showcase the city," he said.
Though Colbert wasn't able to attend, no-nonsense hockey commentator Don Cherry sure did. Cherry, resplendent in a red crushed-velvet jacket, took the stage to honour legendary Boston Bruin Bobby Orr, whose birthday was also on Tuesday. Orr once played for the Oshawa Generals.
Cherry, true to form, called Colbert a "leftie pinko" and said if the comedian were a hockey player, he would be wearing a visor.
CTV's Tom Hayes emceed the event, along with KX96 FM's Morning Show hosts, Carolyn Ellis & Jerry Archer.
The GM Place event is being dubbed "Grin and Bear It." Tickets to the event cost $5, with all proceeds donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.
The winner of the "Stephen Colbert Look-A-Like Contest" will be crowned at the event and will receive a trip for two to New York City including tickets to an actual live taping of The Colbert Report, all courtesy of The Comedy Network.
The event also saw the grand opening of Prospects Bar & Grill, the General Motors Centre's two-storey restaurant that overlooks event action, as well as entertainment from comedian Darrin Rows and music by Two For The Show.
With a report from the Canadian Press
