Encounter-KSToronto
Canada's Walk of Fame
~ Complete Coverage from your Kiefersutherland24.net webmaster ~
June 4 - 9, 2005
Your fearless Kiefersutherland24.net webmaster is boldly going where, well, many have gone before but I have never gone before. My own 24 like tour, travelling the some 2,700 miles from Victoria, BC, Canada to Toronto, Ontario to bring you coverage of the induction of Kiefer Sutherland (A.K.A. Jack Bauer) into Canada’s Walk of Fame.
Prologue:
(Think of it like the introduction to Season 4 on the Season 3 disk.)
June 03, 2005
The following takes place 15 hours before leaving for Toronto:
While at work I get a call from a girl that I’m meeting in Toronto for the event. She has just missed a phone call with a 416 (Toronto) exchange. Instead, my other friend got the call. They are offering us 4 tickets to the $625-a-ticket gala, for free. I don’t really believe the news since, well, honestly, I’m a pessimist. But she insists it’s a go, we need black clothes (Great, that means shopping when I should be packing.) I go home from work at midnight and crawl into bed dreaming of Kiefer and what objects I may forget as I pack in a hurry tomorrow.
While at work I get a call from a girl that I’m meeting in Toronto for the event. She has just missed a phone call with a 416 (Toronto) exchange. Instead, my other friend got the call. They are offering us 4 tickets to the $625-a-ticket gala, for free. I don’t really believe the news since, well, honestly, I’m a pessimist. But she insists it’s a go, we need black clothes (Great, that means shopping when I should be packing.) I go home from work at midnight and crawl into bed dreaming of Kiefer and what objects I may forget as I pack in a hurry tomorrow.
June 04, 2005
The following takes place 2 hours before leaving for Toronto:
Packing still incomplete I find myself at my local mall trying to find something black to wear that I might use sometime in the future. I make a snap decision and am in and out of that baby in about half an hour. Not bad for someone who loathes shopping all together.
The following takes place between 4:00pm and 5:00pm (Pacific Time):
I leave my house and have a family member drop me off at the ferries, a 40 minute drive. I plan to walk on and catch a PCL once I’m there to get me to the airport. Never been to YVR before but it should be fun once I get there. I’ll be arriving very early but it’s safe this way, I don’t want to miss my flight. Besides, my carrier is known to be less than reliable and I don’t want them moving the flight up on me and going without me. I find myself in the midst of 3 tour busses of people that speak no English and a team of some sort from a school on the mainland. The ferry terminal is a disaster, nowhere to sit and a line up for the washroom. Using my Jack Bauer instincts, I realize that there are other terminals and they MUST have washrooms. I sneak down into a different terminal and use the washroom there: No line-up. Before boarding the ferry I run into someone I know…
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 5:00pm and 6:00pm:
The person turns out to be a friend of mine from school. We board together and get in line to buy my bus ticket. The urge to start yelling in a Jack Bauer style passes and I stand in line like a normal person. I then face another line up to get dinner. Chicken strips and fries for 8 bucks? PLUS a drink? That’s it, WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR?!?! And do they want a business partner ‘cause damn, that’s highway robbery. I take my meagre and old chicken strips, undercooked fries and syrupy Coke and have a seat. The ferry rolls out late and I find myself finishing up my chicken and fries by the top of the hour.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 6:00pm and 7:00pm:
My friend and I discuss my other passion, music and teaching, for the remainder of the ferry ride. The ferry makes damn good time because 
we dock in Tsawwassen (pronounced sah-wah-sun) at :45 after the hour. Why can’t the trip be that short when we’re on time? I board my PCL (Pacific Coach Lines) bus, #6748 and drop my bag on the seat next to me. I just start to get comfy when the exceptionally nice driver comes on the intercom and tells those of us airporters are not to get too comfy, we have to change busses on the other side. He must have smelled that I just took my shoes off and wanted us off. Anyway, 
back on the shoes go, I may interrogate him later about this. Boat docks, off we go, I lug my heavy bags onto the ‘Airport Shuttle’ i.e., the bus that is too old to make it any farther than that, and cram my 6’2” frame into the 1970’s style old-school seats. New bus number 6734. Amazing what a difference 14 numbers can make. I manage to pick the only seat that’s behind a seat that’s reclined, and it’s stuck that way. No legs for me. Oh, by the way, if the blonde girl that was in front of me is reading this, I’m sorry, I couldn’t help hitting your seat that much, I’m just too tall. After a stop where the blonde girl gets off (a casino) we make our way to the airport. I enjoy my IPod in this time and try not to think about what might happen if I get lost in Toronto. The bus stops at International Flights, I’m looking for Domestic. Everyone else gets off so I do too. To my chagrin, domestic is down the way, I can see it from the bus exit. Good thing I got off. I enter into YVR and am right away lost. I can’t find the carrier so I ask the nice girl at the help desk. She tells me where to go but when she sees my flight documents tells me this flight is going into Calgary.
we dock in Tsawwassen (pronounced sah-wah-sun) at :45 after the hour. Why can’t the trip be that short when we’re on time? I board my PCL (Pacific Coach Lines) bus, #6748 and drop my bag on the seat next to me. I just start to get comfy when the exceptionally nice driver comes on the intercom and tells those of us airporters are not to get too comfy, we have to change busses on the other side. He must have smelled that I just took my shoes off and wanted us off. Anyway, back on the shoes go, I may interrogate him later about this. Boat docks, off we go, I lug my heavy bags onto the ‘Airport Shuttle’ i.e., the bus that is too old to make it any farther than that, and cram my 6’2” frame into the 1970’s style old-school seats. New bus number 6734. Amazing what a difference 14 numbers can make. I manage to pick the only seat that’s behind a seat that’s reclined, and it’s stuck that way. No legs for me. Oh, by the way, if the blonde girl that was in front of me is reading this, I’m sorry, I couldn’t help hitting your seat that much, I’m just too tall. After a stop where the blonde girl gets off (a casino) we make our way to the airport. I enjoy my IPod in this time and try not to think about what might happen if I get lost in Toronto. The bus stops at International Flights, I’m looking for Domestic. Everyone else gets off so I do too. To my chagrin, domestic is down the way, I can see it from the bus exit. Good thing I got off. I enter into YVR and am right away lost. I can’t find the carrier so I ask the nice girl at the help desk. She tells me where to go but when she sees my flight documents tells me this flight is going into Calgary.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 7:00pm and 8:00pm:
“Calgary?” I ask, she confirms and I start rummaging in my bag for my hacksaw. They told me Toronto. She tells me to take it up with the 
people on my carrier, they should be here at 11:00. Oh, and by the way, your flight now leaves at 1:30, not 11:55. “Oh, now nice for me.” I put the hacksaw away and decide to save it for the people at the flight desk. This is their problem. I booked Toronto, dammit, that’s what it says on my papers. Looking around the airport is an interesting event, there’s a Starbucks, Tim Horton’s and other assorted food places, gift shops that close at 8 (a lotta good that does me) and apparently laptop plug-ins. I decide to watch a movie only to find that I can’t find any plugs. I ask nice lady again and she directs me down around the corner. I go there and the guy with the cleaning supplies tells me that he has no idea what I’m talking about. “Tell me where the plug is!” He still doesn’t know so I’m resolved to wondering around. I go downstairs and find a dingy café with nothing interesting in it except a view of a few planes. I see an Air Canada plane taking off and wish I was on it. Don’t care where it’s going. As I type this chapter I can smell stale Harvey’s fries and am listening to an arcade machine challenge me every few minutes. I might have to go and break its leg to keep it quiet. 8:50pm – Man decides to play some video games, a racing one. After loudly getting into the seat with a groan he plugs some coins in and goes to town. I can hear him racing. Good thing I didn’t join him, I’d kick his ass.
people on my carrier, they should be here at 11:00. Oh, and by the way, your flight now leaves at 1:30, not 11:55. “Oh, now nice for me.” I put the hacksaw away and decide to save it for the people at the flight desk. This is their problem. I booked Toronto, dammit, that’s what it says on my papers. Looking around the airport is an interesting event, there’s a Starbucks, Tim Horton’s and other assorted food places, gift shops that close at 8 (a lotta good that does me) and apparently laptop plug-ins. I decide to watch a movie only to find that I can’t find any plugs. I ask nice lady again and she directs me down around the corner. I go there and the guy with the cleaning supplies tells me that he has no idea what I’m talking about. “Tell me where the plug is!” He still doesn’t know so I’m resolved to wondering around. I go downstairs and find a dingy café with nothing interesting in it except a view of a few planes. I see an Air Canada plane taking off and wish I was on it. Don’t care where it’s going. As I type this chapter I can smell stale Harvey’s fries and am listening to an arcade machine challenge me every few minutes. I might have to go and break its leg to keep it quiet. 8:50pm – Man decides to play some video games, a racing one. After loudly getting into the seat with a groan he plugs some coins in and goes to town. I can hear him racing. Good thing I didn’t join him, I’d kick his ass.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 9:00pm and 10:00pm:
Had enough of the video games talking to me, off to find something else to do. In an effort to find a plug for the laptop I head back upstairs and away from the talking video games. Over towards International Departures I find a plug near a seat. It even has a luggage cart nearby and a sleeping person down the row. Hmm, this is like University all over again. I get setup to find that I am across the way from a child’s play place. I hate children but oh well, beggars can’t be choosers. I turn on a Kiefer b-movie called “After Alice” and get comfy, turning up the volume so I can’t hear the kids. I find I’m able to surf the net here as well, time to check the email. The online flight information has my flight time moved again, this time back to :35 after midnight and still to Toronto. Here’s hopin’ the online one is right. I’m about ready for a beer but I’ll have to suck it up and settle for watching Kiefer drinking in the movie.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 10:00pm and 11:00pm:
Still watching Kiefer B-Movies. Thankfully, the children have departed. After having had enough and really needing to use the restroom I check my flight again to find it’s miraculously changed to Toronto from Calgary. I decide to get my boarding pass so I stand in line. The people holding up the line also speak zero English, the girl running the counter is losing patience. They finally pass through after she gives a few tries at trying to explain ‘Carry-on’ to them. I drop my own carry-on on the scale and it’s 12 kilos, the limit is 5. Out go my Toronto Lonely Planet guide, map book and clipboard. We compromise at 7kg, she lets me on with that. The rest goes in my regular luggage. If they lose that then I’m not getting around Toronto, I haven’t had a chance to really look at it yet. I watch it go and she tells me that there’s no food on the flight, I can get some and bring it. Also, there are no window seats but I did get one at the front of the plane with a little more leg room. I run to Subway after getting the pass and scarf down 6 inches of sub. I pack it up and toss it in my bag, time for security. This section should be subtitled, “Men with gloves” because that’s all I saw. You know, it’s kinda scary because we all know that gloves are associated with. Thank god there was none of that, but I did have to pull my laptop and IPod out of my bag to scan separate. They ran a cool chemical test on it and then gave it back to me, but not before one of the MWG’s tried to get me to give him my U2 Special Edition IPod, funny guy. Plus, they confiscated my hacksaw and other assorted Jack Bauer paraphernalia.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 11:00pm and 12:00am:
I leave the MWG area and to find myself isolated walking down a big hallway. It’s just following to the gate now, 50C. I get there and there’s a terrible TV program on. I read for a bit and then pull out my laptop. The killer part of this is the plane is sitting outside the window, I can see it. Why can’t we get on it? Anyway, back to Kiefer B-Movies. I watch more of After Alice while I check my email and do a post on the 24 forum. Bor-ring. Are we there yet?
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 12:00am and 1:00am:
Continue to watch ‘After Alice’ and it finishes about 10 after 1. I hit the bathroom again and watch the workers and flight attendants do anything but things that look like they’re supposed to do. I see all kinds of people buzzing around on those little golf-cart things. Girls working at my flight desk ask one guy passing if he is training tonight. He’d better not be a training pilot on my flight, I’m walking to Toronto. I don’t see that guy again so when they call disabled, elderly and passengers sitting in row 1 – 3 I feel it’s safe to board, being in row 1. Boarding actually begins at 11:35 which is when we were going to take off – delayed again. As I stand in the tunnel screaming ‘We are running out of time!’ I finally get to board and sit down. Buckled in a ready for take off, we hit the air at about 10 to 1. For someone who hasn’t flown in a while I manage to make it all the way into the air to cruising level without needing the teeny white bag. The scenery is magnificent flying out of Vancouver at night, city lights are something else, unfortunately I am unable to see much out the window as the guy in the window seats head is in the way.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 1:00am and 2:00am:
That little screen comes down and they give info on where exactly we are and how fast we're going. I'd rather not know, I think. Near the end of
the hour the lights go off in the plane and they throw in the in flight movie ‘Hitch’. I have yet to see this movie and I realize that going to a city I’ve never been before to see Kiefer Sutherland is not going to allow me to sleep. I curl up under my jacket and attempt to catch some z’s with little luck. I do take some Coke from the flight attendant and very nearly spill it on the person next to me.
the hour the lights go off in the plane and they throw in the in flight movie ‘Hitch’. I have yet to see this movie and I realize that going to a city I’ve never been before to see Kiefer Sutherland is not going to allow me to sleep. I curl up under my jacket and attempt to catch some z’s with little luck. I do take some Coke from the flight attendant and very nearly spill it on the person next to me.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 2:00am and 3:00am (5:00am - 6:00am Toronto time):
The movie continues. I take notes, Jack Bauer will need some help meeting the right woman. I can give them to Kiefer when I see him.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 3:00am and 4:00am (6:00am - 7:00am Toronto time):
Soon, 'Hitch' is over (I highly recommend it) and Frasier comes on, unfortunately an episode I’ve seen recently. I try “Give me the tape!” to no avail. I watch 2 episodes that I’ve seen before. No sleep for this webmaster as people rush by constantly to go to the bathroom at the front of the plane. I just want to yell, "Sit DOWN!"
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 4:00am and 5:00am (7:00am - 8:00am Toronto time):
More TV shows, less sleep.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 5:00am and 6:00am (8:00am - 9:00am Toronto time):
We hit some turbulence as I try not to think about the season 2 plane crash episodes. White knuckle all the way watching that little screen that tells you exactly how fast you’re going and how far you are above the ground. I’d rather not know that we’re travelling at that ridiculous ground speed, don’t they turn those damn things off? Sunrise has occurred and we are solidly in time change zone. We are buckled in from just after 7 to we land because of the rough ride. People are up and about anyway to go to the bathroom. Gotta do what you gotta do I guess. My buttocks are thoroughly asleep after sitting there for 4 hours. We start to move towards landing. We hurtle towards the ground to land, I leave my stomach at 3,000 feet. We are about to land.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 9:00am and 10:00am:
Touchdown is successful, we survive and the flight attendants even turn to each other and frown saying ‘Nice landing.’ Yeah, tell that to my 6’ sub, lady. We get off the plane as a giant crew of people pushing and rushing. I follow the crowd after stopping at the washroom towards the luggage. I don’t have to wait long until thankfully I see my blue bag come tumbling down the ramp. I high tail it to try and find the right bus to get me to the hotel. I go outside and it’s already cooking in Toronto. I can feel it’s going to be a real scorcher, hot and humid. Ew. I see nothing even resembling a bus stop so I ask a nice tall man where to go. He’s not sure but says maybe upstairs. Up I go and soon I find myself at a bus stop with some other fliers. One of them tells his friend that he’s taking the 192, the same bus I’m taking, and then getting on the subway. I can follow him, he sounds like he knows what he’s talking about. While I scorch in the heat already I call my hotel roommate and tell her that the eagle has landed, we are a go. I’m here and should be at the hotel in about 2 hours. Check and check, I can check in when I get there. Soon the bus pulls up and me and subway man get on the bus. I try not to look too much like a tourist as I lay my eyes on Toronto for the first time.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 10:00am and 11:00am:
The bus goes through 3 terminals at the airport and onto the highway. A new experience, I didn’t know busses could go this fast. We make it to the Kipling station and buddy gets off. I do the same, it’s the end of the line, and I follow him down the stairs to the subway. Within minutes the train is there and I get on. Another new experience. In Vancouver there are SkyTrains, but no subways. They look just like they do on TV. Away I go looking for my stop trying to figure out on the teeny map which one is closer to my hotel. I take a guess and get off the subway but I run into another problem once I get to the surface, where am I? The map has little information as to which side of the street the subway stops on so I walk a block and think I know where I am. I find I don’t and end up circling the block in the heat with my bags for about 15 minutes until I can definitively figure out where the hell I am. Finally I roll into the hotel and get to drop my bags but there’s a big fat line-up with apparently a baseball team that can’t figure out their bill. I wait and soon recognize someone off the elevator, one of the girls I’m to meet. She heads down to the car and I just get my key when the others come down as well. They go off to mass and I find the room. I dump my stuff on the floor and take the best shower ever.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 11:00am and 12:00pm:
The shower quickly becomes monotonous, hot then cold, then hot again. Cheap hotel, I guess. I realize it’s been 12 long hours since I’ve eaten. I pull out the other half of the sub from the airport and try to determine if it’s good or not. The chicken and the Caesar dressing are questionable but I eat half of it anyway while I study the maps of Toronto and where I am going, the Elgin Theatre and Winter Garden at Younge and Queen Street East. Looking at the distance I decide to attempt to walk it. It’s nice out but hot and it doesn’t appear that far. At least this time I won’t have luggage to carry. The sub is soggy and I toss the rest of it. After sitting for a little while longer and looking at the amenities in the hotel I realize how tired I am. At 11:40 I crash at the hotel and take a short nap. Hey, even Jack Bauer gets a rest sometimes, but it’s usually from a knock on the head.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 12:00pm and 1:00pm:
I wake up from my short nap and call the girls. I get the gala-dress on and start to make my way out of the hotel again. Making sure I have my camera I head out down the street. Using my memory of my map study I walk down Bay to the theatre. Quickly the heat comes over me and I feel blisters welling up on my feet. These shoes made their debut at a wedding and have sat in the closet since then. I see a woman at a bus stop, ‘Hey, that’s a good idea.’ I check the map and see it’s close to where I need to go. It’s no GMC Yukon but it will do. I get on the bus and ride a few big blocks realizing that it was a good idea to take the bus, I never would have made it. My stop arrives and I get off the chariot and make my way to the Elgin.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 1:00pm and 2:00pm:
The heat really starts to set in now, the day is in the 30’s in Toronto. I really would like another shower now. I find what must be the place, the whole street is blocked off. There aren’t a lot of people around but I did find one of the girls from my hotel room. Apparently there are mixed directions, people being told to go here and there, line up at one end, line up at the other. No one really knows what’s going on. I go meet the others at the other end of the street, this is where some of them have been told to go. I go over to the Starbucks on the corner and grab a water. A departure from my usual coffee but water is on the menu right now since it’s so hot. Those at the other end of the theatre join the rest of us eventually as we realize that we must be at the right side. There really isn’t much to do in the heat except chat with other fans. We meet many new and interesting people, some of them 24 forumers, seemingly all of them there to see Kiefer and not anyone else. We stand for most of the hour until movement starts to occur.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 2:00pm and 3:00pm:
We are near the front and CTV personnel herd us forward and cram us in to zigzagged line-ups telling us to get closer together so they can get more people in. The emails we got told us to be ready to go at 2:30. The time comes and goes and we are not let out of our holding pen. Many of the people we meet are extremely nice. They are all very excited about the prospect of meeting Kiefer. There is an Italian couple that have come for this, we have all come a long way. Finally, 15 minutes before 3 we begin to move towards the red carpet walk. They check our ID to the list they have of names and let people through. We are the 3rd group in line and end up at the very end of the red carpet, right beside where the limos will pull up and let out the passengers. Quickly the girl in front of us starts to complain about the place that we are put in. She doesn’t believe that any of the stars will stop there to sign autographs. Those with me and I tend to agree with her and as they lead the rest of the people through we join a line going around to the other side. We end up stopping half way up the red carpet and we are happy with these spots.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 3:00pm and 4:00pm:
Once everyone is in we begin to discuss what might happen when the stars get there. We soon realize that we really are not n that good of a 
spot and probably would have been better where we were before. Oh well, not much we can do about it now. The CTV reporters start to hang around and one guy seems to be in charge of keeping the crowd interested. He asks where people are from and becomes very interested in our Italian friends. Kiefer paraphernalia is everywhere and it seems like it’s just Kiefer fans there with the exception of one visible Paul Anka fan. 24 box sets and t-shirts abound, I almost start to feel bad for the other inductees as it becomes apparent that Kiefer is going to steal this show. They have allowed the red carpet people to use the washrooms in the mall across the street but only until 4:00. They are warned constantly of the time and we take advantage of it at one point. When we come back we find that they are giving things out for a failed attempt at trivia. It just becomes frustrating when you know the answer but can’t yell as loud as the obnoxious people with voices that carry better. By this time we are all sunburnt, tired and hot. We just wanna see Kiefer.
spot and probably would have been better where we were before. Oh well, not much we can do about it now. The CTV reporters start to hang around and one guy seems to be in charge of keeping the crowd interested. He asks where people are from and becomes very interested in our Italian friends. Kiefer paraphernalia is everywhere and it seems like it’s just Kiefer fans there with the exception of one visible Paul Anka fan. 24 box sets and t-shirts abound, I almost start to feel bad for the other inductees as it becomes apparent that Kiefer is going to steal this show. They have allowed the red carpet people to use the washrooms in the mall across the street but only until 4:00. They are warned constantly of the time and we take advantage of it at one point. When we come back we find that they are giving things out for a failed attempt at trivia. It just becomes frustrating when you know the answer but can’t yell as loud as the obnoxious people with voices that carry better. By this time we are all sunburnt, tired and hot. We just wanna see Kiefer.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 4:00pm and 5:00pm:
We continue to stand around and watch the crew continue to set up. It feels pretty last minute since they are
Red Carpet: Click Image to View Larger
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putting signs up for the Walk right down to the wire. At 4:30 people start to show up but these are just the normal, average, run of the mill people that had $625 to spend on tickets to the gala. Mounties arrive in full uniform and are ready to be there for the show. Soon the first of the stars start to roll in. The first one I recognize is Alanis Morissette. She is extremely pleasant to everyone and stops to sign many autographs. Personally I could go either way on liking her or not. Also showing up before the hour turns was Daniel Lanois who is a musician and a producer that produced U2, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. The protocol seems to be that the stars get out of the limo and go right to where we would have been standing before we moved. They sign autographs and depending on how late they are and how much they care they move up to the stage right by the entrance to the theatre. Here they are interviewed and then taken around the other side (where we can’t see them). Here they unveil their plaques with the ‘star’ on it. Then they are free to do what they wish, come back to the fans or go into the theatre. Presenters and other people of interest are stopped on the red carpet and asked questions by the media. About this time I realize I should have done some more homework on this since I have no idea who most of these people are.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 5:00pm and 6:00pm:
The big stars roll in this hour, Kiefer included. I get an autograph by some guy I don’t know who really looked like he wanted to sign something. I find out later that he’s from Canadian Idol. I hate that show but I felt bad for the guy, I don't think anyone cared that he was there. Oh well. Lloyd Robertson comes in and walks right past us. He seemed very friendly but didn’t sign anything. Paul Anka rushes by and hardly stops for his fans, just occasional handshakes. Jason Bateman is presenting to his father in law, Anka, and he comes by as well. Michael Bublé (singer) shows up and is very very friendly, I get an autograph. Finally, what we’ve been waiting for, Kiefer arrives. I didn’t see him at first because Bublé was walking by and I was getting his autograph. When he left I noticed the mobbing at the end of the carpet I could see his blonde head walking and signing things. He brought his assistant, bodyguard, mother and sister. He appears to be a bit rushed by the CTV people, I think he might be late. His mom moves ahead of him as he signs autographs. His sister walks right in front of us. Kiefer takes the time to sign for lots of lucky fans. He smiles the entire time and, as usual, seems to have no problem taking the time to be with the fans. He looks great in a black suit with a yellow tie and glasses peeking out of his pocket. He is rushed to the interviews and set up on the upper stage with his mother. They are both interviewed and then he goes around and unveils the star. I lose sight of him during this time and we soon realize it’s our turn to go in, Kiefer was the last of the stars to arrive. We show our red carpet tickets and move up the same path the stars have taken ahead of us. It’s a strange feeling to be there. We go up tot he door and then split up, one of my friends had to go back and give a ticket to the wife from the Italian couple. Two of us wait in the entryway for them to get back. Soon they arrive with breathless news, they ran into Kiefer outside. I had thought that he’d already gone in but no, he was out there doing photos with people still. The girl from Italy told him that she just wanted to shake his hand. She got her wish and she was practically floating when we she came back. Once we were together we started to head in but found Kiefer on his way with his mom coming up beside us. We stopped and asked if he’d stand with his mom for a photo. He did and smiled and we then let him go. I wanted to ask him for an autograph at this point but it felt out of place. Outside would have been fine but in the theatre felt wrong, this is about him and his accomplishments, he doesn’t need us all over him. He goes in and we go upstairs to our seats. They announce the seating his commencing and the hoards of people come down from the wine and cheese upstairs. We are going up as they come down but I’m too enamoured with where we are to take in any more celebrities. We find our seats and soon the band starts up. They are on the mezzanine on our left and sound very good. All instrumental with no vocals. A girl that appears to be in charge of the live telecast came out and kept telling people to sit down and get ready counting down from 10 minutes until they go live. Just before the top of the hour she comes out and says that she’s going to want us all to cheer a lot when they start and when the commercials go in and out. She counts down and we all cheer thinking this is it. She stops us and says that it was just a dry run. Then we do it again.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 6:00pm and 7:00pm:
This time it’s for real, we cheer for the telecast this time. The show goes up and the band plays. Tom Green is the host and although I have my reservations about how appropriate he will be. I spend a lot of the night waiting for him to do something stupid. He’s good so far welcoming 
everyone pleasantly. He makes the gag about how they choose inductees by opening the phone book and picking someone randomly, finding Kiefer and then saying that he would have guessed he would be unlisted. During the intro there are images of Kiefer shown on the screens sitting with his mother. Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien is present as well as Bruce Cockburn, Michael Douglas, Gordon Lightfoot and lots of others. Michael Cohl gets his star first and the little man that comes out and talks about him is pretty funny. Cohl is a concert promoter that pretty much invented the way that concerts are run today, he also organized the SARS/Toronto Rocks concert. He gives his speech and we get our first chance at a commercial break. We all cheer as the band plays and then continues to play throughout what would be the commercials on the TV show. Alanis Morissette is the next one to get her official star. They show the video first and then she performs “Ironic” acoustically. For someone who has 
really gone off her music in the last few years it was quite enjoyable and reminds me what I originally liked about her music. She then receives the award from Cockburn who has a lot of really nice things to say about her. Another commercial and Tom Green comes back out. He talks about George Chuvalo and takes a dig at George Forman for the grill thing. Rex Harrington was next. His presenter appeared on the opposite balcony to the band, our right hand side. Harrington performed a wonderful dance and back to commercial we go. Once we get back Tom Green performs his own, ahem, 'interpretive dance' but it isn’t nearly as graceful as Harrington’s.
everyone pleasantly. He makes the gag about how they choose inductees by opening the phone book and picking someone randomly, finding Kiefer and then saying that he would have guessed he would be unlisted. During the intro there are images of Kiefer shown on the screens sitting with his mother. Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien is present as well as Bruce Cockburn, Michael Douglas, Gordon Lightfoot and lots of others. Michael Cohl gets his star first and the little man that comes out and talks about him is pretty funny. Cohl is a concert promoter that pretty much invented the way that concerts are run today, he also organized the SARS/Toronto Rocks concert. He gives his speech and we get our first chance at a commercial break. We all cheer as the band plays and then continues to play throughout what would be the commercials on the TV show. Alanis Morissette is the next one to get her official star. They show the video first and then she performs “Ironic” acoustically. For someone who has really gone off her music in the last few years it was quite enjoyable and reminds me what I originally liked about her music. She then receives the award from Cockburn who has a lot of really nice things to say about her. Another commercial and Tom Green comes back out. He talks about George Chuvalo and takes a dig at George Forman for the grill thing. Rex Harrington was next. His presenter appeared on the opposite balcony to the band, our right hand side. Harrington performed a wonderful dance and back to commercial we go. Once we get back Tom Green performs his own, ahem, 'interpretive dance' but it isn’t nearly as graceful as Harrington’s.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 7:00pm and 8:00pm:
Here’s the big one, Michael Douglas is announced to come and present to Kiefer. Shirley is shown clapping and simply beaming. Kiefer mouths the words ‘Thank-you’ towards Douglas. Michael starts saying it’s an honour to take part in this ceremony and to salute this inductee, ‘my co-star Kiefer Sutherland.’ He continues ‘To watch the growth of an actor is really extraordinary, particularly to get a sense of what a renaissance man you are. I really had no idea about the calf roping and music companies and knowledge of history, both present and past, you are a joy to work with and to be able to call a friend. You are one of finest actors I’ve known and one of most generous actors I’ve known. It’s been a joy to work with you.’ He acknowledges the screen behind him as he comments ‘Let’s see some of his work over last few years.’ Kiefer’s clip runs as a 24 style count up, the first number seen is ‘38’ (Kiefer’s age). The voiceover, just not sounding the same since it wasn’t Kiefer, says, “The following takes place between 1966 and present day.” The numbers count up, 2 years. Narrator says that he was born a twin in London, England and moved to LA with his parents Shirley Douglas and Donald Sutherland. After they separated he moved with his mother to Canada. His mother was in the play ‘Virginia Wolf’ and they flash to Kiefer talking about how he, while watching the play, stopped watching his mother but was watching the character that she played. 16 years, 200 days. Kiefer started in ‘The Bay Boy’ which earned him a Genie Award. He is shown interviewed on Inside the Actor’s Studio and he is asked if the money he earned doing ‘The Bay Boy’ financed his trip to New York. He admits it did, he wanted to go there and work, ‘I saw Fame the movie.’ He went and auditioned for a part in a soap opera and he got it. He thinks the contract at the time was 150 thousand dollars a year which was huge money for the time, ‘I remember thinking, this is going to be easy.’ He doesn’t take the role and goes to Los Angeles instead. He auditioned for ‘Amazing Stories’ and was hired by Stephen Spielberg. He was the first person that hired him in the United States and that carried a huge amount of weight. Images are shown as movies 
like ‘The Lost Boys’, ‘Stand By Me’, ‘Bright Lights, Big City’, and ‘Young Guns’. It continues with clips from ‘Stand By Me’ and he and Julia Roberts in ‘Flatliners’. ‘Young Guns’ is shown before the number 21 comes up. Kiefer is talking about he and Emilio Estivez on the set of ‘Young Guns’ and how they had contests on draw and what they did with the guns. They got in a lot of trouble for it. The narrator says that he bought in Montana after his experience with horses. ‘Three Musketeers’ is shown and the narrator says that his love of riding contributed to his bad boy image. ‘A Few Good Men’ appears and Kendrick is on the stand giving his spiel about only knowing 2 authorities. The number is now 30 and they talk about Kiefer directing several daring films. Clips from ‘Truth of Consequences, NM’ and the clip from ‘Last Light’ where he attacks the woman in the visitors room. This clip seems to go on forever. 30, 288 days. A clip is shown from ‘The Glass Menagerie’ where he performed alongside his mother. The narrator continues saying that he volunteers with youth and he joins with his mother in defence of Medicare which was made a reality by his grandfather, Tommy Douglas of the New Democratic Party. The crowd applauds at this. 34. In 2001 he took on the role of Jack Bauer in 24, a TV series that tracks an explosive crisis through the minutes of a single day. The clip is shown where Jack kills Kingsey’s man in the finale of season 2 and the interrogation of Sherek from season 4. Kiefer’s voice comes over from an interview where he says, ‘We got incredible support from the media and we also had a core audience that just simply never left us.’ They show Kiefer winning a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award. Narrator says that he continues to shoot 24 and other movies. Kiefer talks about ‘Phone Booth’ and while the clip airs he says, ‘I came in and added my voice after and I thought, ‘Wow, I’m having the luckiest year imaginable. Here is this film that I already know is great and now I get to be in it.’ The clips end and they welcome Kiefer to the stage. Kiefer kisses his mother and gets up heading to 
the stage.
He is presented with the statuette by Douglas and Kiefer leans in and says something into his ear. Looking closely at the video he appears to also kiss Douglas on the cheek. I’ve heard repeatedly that Kiefer gets VERY nervous for this kind of thing, it may have been the nerves that caused that. He waves to everyone and looks all around, to all the seats, including up high. Suddenly those of us up on the balcony feel included, even though he probably can’t see anything! He gives a wave and starts, ‘What an amazingly humbling day. Michael, thank you for taking the time and saying those beautiful words.’ Someone from the balcony, not too far from us but I didn’t get a look at them, definitely on our left, Kiefer’s right, yells, “I love you Kiefer!” Kiefer looks up in the direction the voice came from and says back, “I love you too, I promise you, I love you too.” Why hadn’t I thought of this first? Kiefer continues, ‘One of the things the Canadian Walk of Fame asks all it’s inductees to do in preparation for this is to answer, at first thought are seemingly very simple questions. The first one was, Is Canadian Culture an exportable commodity and the second question was, What is cool about being Canadian? And finally, What was the most difficult thing for you to overcome in your career, and I remember thinking very clearly that I wanted to focus on the first two questions that dealt with being Canadian. That was easier said that done, I remember staring at a piece of paper and I came up with a few jokes such as, I can justify wearing a Speedo to a beach. But I wanted to give an answer that I really cared about, and I remember living with the questions for a few days and started to get very frustrated until I realized I had no problem answering the question but every answer I had led me to a more complicated and difficult answer and I felt that my words were too small and there was no way to articulate the joy and pride that I get from being a Canadian. This place that I come from has been nurturing, it has been kind and the people here have a genuine interest in all aspects of life and everything that it has to offer. It shows in our society and it shows in our art.' Kiefer’s voice is beginning to crack, either from the pressure or emotion of the moment. 'I can not tell you what a profound honour it has been for me, to be inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame. I share my congratulations with the other nominees…’ Here, Kiefer stutters. He can’t get his mouth around the words for a second and then admits, “I’m
sorry, I’m very nervous. When it’s personal like this, sorry…” The crowd applauds and cheers him on. After the applause dies down he continues, ‘I’d like to take just a moment to thank my mom who is here with me, Shirley Douglas, you are an inspiration.’ He blows her a kiss. ‘I’d like to thank my sister Rachel who is also here, my father who unfortunately could not be here because he is working. My family and friends who came a long way to be here and share this with me.’ He pauses again and takes one more look around the theatre, including the balcony and says, ‘Thank all of you, it is an incredible honour. Thank you all very, very much.’ With that, he goes to meet Michael Douglas and they walk off stage together. Well, as a Canadian, that was worth every penny it took me to get to Toronto and back. To see Kiefer Sutherland that worked up about a Canadian honour, well, I can’t even start. We used the cameras to record some of the speech and I’m glad we did because when I reviewed them at home from the TV broadcast, part of it was cut. If Jack Bauer only knew! It was all downhill from here and when we get back from commercial Gordon Lightfoot presents to Daniel Lanios who performs something, well, unusual. Tom Green comes out and intros Pierre Cossette’s video but not before joking that they are running out of time so Paul Anka and Cossette will not get awards tonight. The video runs and Cossette gets presented his award. He if a funny old guy, that’s for sure. The next award goes to Fay Wray and the video was created by a student. They ran a contest to see who would get to make the video. For those of you that don’t know, Fay Wray was the original screaming woman in ‘King Kong’.
like ‘The Lost Boys’, ‘Stand By Me’, ‘Bright Lights, Big City’, and ‘Young Guns’. It continues with clips from ‘Stand By Me’ and he and Julia Roberts in ‘Flatliners’. ‘Young Guns’ is shown before the number 21 comes up. Kiefer is talking about he and Emilio Estivez on the set of ‘Young Guns’ and how they had contests on draw and what they did with the guns. They got in a lot of trouble for it. The narrator says that he bought in Montana after his experience with horses. ‘Three Musketeers’ is shown and the narrator says that his love of riding contributed to his bad boy image. ‘A Few Good Men’ appears and Kendrick is on the stand giving his spiel about only knowing 2 authorities. The number is now 30 and they talk about Kiefer directing several daring films. Clips from ‘Truth of Consequences, NM’ and the clip from ‘Last Light’ where he attacks the woman in the visitors room. This clip seems to go on forever. 30, 288 days. A clip is shown from ‘The Glass Menagerie’ where he performed alongside his mother. The narrator continues saying that he volunteers with youth and he joins with his mother in defence of Medicare which was made a reality by his grandfather, Tommy Douglas of the New Democratic Party. The crowd applauds at this. 34. In 2001 he took on the role of Jack Bauer in 24, a TV series that tracks an explosive crisis through the minutes of a single day. The clip is shown where Jack kills Kingsey’s man in the finale of season 2 and the interrogation of Sherek from season 4. Kiefer’s voice comes over from an interview where he says, ‘We got incredible support from the media and we also had a core audience that just simply never left us.’ They show Kiefer winning a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award. Narrator says that he continues to shoot 24 and other movies. Kiefer talks about ‘Phone Booth’ and while the clip airs he says, ‘I came in and added my voice after and I thought, ‘Wow, I’m having the luckiest year imaginable. Here is this film that I already know is great and now I get to be in it.’ The clips end and they welcome Kiefer to the stage. Kiefer kisses his mother and gets up heading to the stage.He is presented with the statuette by Douglas and Kiefer leans in and says something into his ear. Looking closely at the video he appears to also kiss Douglas on the cheek. I’ve heard repeatedly that Kiefer gets VERY nervous for this kind of thing, it may have been the nerves that caused that. He waves to everyone and looks all around, to all the seats, including up high. Suddenly those of us up on the balcony feel included, even though he probably can’t see anything! He gives a wave and starts, ‘What an amazingly humbling day. Michael, thank you for taking the time and saying those beautiful words.’ Someone from the balcony, not too far from us but I didn’t get a look at them, definitely on our left, Kiefer’s right, yells, “I love you Kiefer!” Kiefer looks up in the direction the voice came from and says back, “I love you too, I promise you, I love you too.” Why hadn’t I thought of this first? Kiefer continues, ‘One of the things the Canadian Walk of Fame asks all it’s inductees to do in preparation for this is to answer, at first thought are seemingly very simple questions. The first one was, Is Canadian Culture an exportable commodity and the second question was, What is cool about being Canadian? And finally, What was the most difficult thing for you to overcome in your career, and I remember thinking very clearly that I wanted to focus on the first two questions that dealt with being Canadian. That was easier said that done, I remember staring at a piece of paper and I came up with a few jokes such as, I can justify wearing a Speedo to a beach. But I wanted to give an answer that I really cared about, and I remember living with the questions for a few days and started to get very frustrated until I realized I had no problem answering the question but every answer I had led me to a more complicated and difficult answer and I felt that my words were too small and there was no way to articulate the joy and pride that I get from being a Canadian. This place that I come from has been nurturing, it has been kind and the people here have a genuine interest in all aspects of life and everything that it has to offer. It shows in our society and it shows in our art.' Kiefer’s voice is beginning to crack, either from the pressure or emotion of the moment. 'I can not tell you what a profound honour it has been for me, to be inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame. I share my congratulations with the other nominees…’ Here, Kiefer stutters. He can’t get his mouth around the words for a second and then admits, “I’m
sorry, I’m very nervous. When it’s personal like this, sorry…” The crowd applauds and cheers him on. After the applause dies down he continues, ‘I’d like to take just a moment to thank my mom who is here with me, Shirley Douglas, you are an inspiration.’ He blows her a kiss. ‘I’d like to thank my sister Rachel who is also here, my father who unfortunately could not be here because he is working. My family and friends who came a long way to be here and share this with me.’ He pauses again and takes one more look around the theatre, including the balcony and says, ‘Thank all of you, it is an incredible honour. Thank you all very, very much.’ With that, he goes to meet Michael Douglas and they walk off stage together. Well, as a Canadian, that was worth every penny it took me to get to Toronto and back. To see Kiefer Sutherland that worked up about a Canadian honour, well, I can’t even start. We used the cameras to record some of the speech and I’m glad we did because when I reviewed them at home from the TV broadcast, part of it was cut. If Jack Bauer only knew! It was all downhill from here and when we get back from commercial Gordon Lightfoot presents to Daniel Lanios who performs something, well, unusual. Tom Green comes out and intros Pierre Cossette’s video but not before joking that they are running out of time so Paul Anka and Cossette will not get awards tonight. The video runs and Cossette gets presented his award. He if a funny old guy, that’s for sure. The next award goes to Fay Wray and the video was created by a student. They ran a contest to see who would get to make the video. For those of you that don’t know, Fay Wray was the original screaming woman in ‘King Kong’.
*tick*tick*
The following takes place between 8:00pm and 9:00pm:
Green comes back out with an ominous looking cardboard box. Green’s unfortunate claim to fame was for humping a dead moose on TV. He 
starts talking about animals and carrying the box around. He wonders over to the ex prime minister and reaches in the box. He pulls out a tiny white and orange kitten and gives it to Jean Chrétien. Not quite what I expected, but I'm happy that it wasn't something ugly. We’re ready for the last presentation and it is Michael Bublé who begins to sing. He sings the song ‘My Way’ accompanied by the piano. He has written new words for the occasion to represent parts of Anka’s career. My personal favourite, “You made your mark, you made it strong. You made a fortune, with this song. Wish I had, your energy, and your Tonight Show, royalty.” He wraps it up congratulating Anka and leaving the stage. Jason Bateman appears on the side opposite the band so he can induct Anka officially. Anka does his own song with a big band kick. I really enjoy the horns being a saxophonist myself. A girl on the other side of the balcony tries the same trick with Anka as the other girl did with Kiefer yelling ‘I love you Paul!’. With this over Tom Green comes out one more time and bids us goodbye. The girls and I mill about and get ready to leave. We head down the front end of the balcony as the band still plays. I take a photo of them closer up, I felt they were very impressive. We see from where we are that Kiefer is still down there shaking hands. There aren’t that many people left down there and we take the chance to snap some photos of him from above with his mother and friends. Jude Cole is there, the other half of his Ironworks Music adventure. We take some photos and with the flashes going soon Kiefer himself is looking up at us. We wave and he waves back. A friend is wearing a t-shirt with a Kiefer Sutherland slogan on it and she tries to point it out to him. Unsure if he can actually read it or not from where we stand, he kisses his hand and blows us a kiss. Excited, we wave goodbye and go downstairs. On the way out there is a commotion with Chuvalo, the boxer. Some girls are having pictures taken with him. I pause and take a picture of him and then we are on our way. There are few people left in the building and we head out from the Walk of Fame Gala.
starts talking about animals and carrying the box around. He wonders over to the ex prime minister and reaches in the box. He pulls out a tiny white and orange kitten and gives it to Jean Chrétien. Not quite what I expected, but I'm happy that it wasn't something ugly. We’re ready for the last presentation and it is Michael Bublé who begins to sing. He sings the song ‘My Way’ accompanied by the piano. He has written new words for the occasion to represent parts of Anka’s career. My personal favourite, “You made your mark, you made it strong. You made a fortune, with this song. Wish I had, your energy, and your Tonight Show, royalty.” He wraps it up congratulating Anka and leaving the stage. Jason Bateman appears on the side opposite the band so he can induct Anka officially. Anka does his own song with a big band kick. I really enjoy the horns being a saxophonist myself. A girl on the other side of the balcony tries the same trick with Anka as the other girl did with Kiefer yelling ‘I love you Paul!’. With this over Tom Green comes out one more time and bids us goodbye. The girls and I mill about and get ready to leave. We head down the front end of the balcony as the band still plays. I take a photo of them closer up, I felt they were very impressive. We see from where we are that Kiefer is still down there shaking hands. There aren’t that many people left down there and we take the chance to snap some photos of him from above with his mother and friends. Jude Cole is there, the other half of his Ironworks Music adventure. We take some photos and with the flashes going soon Kiefer himself is looking up at us. We wave and he waves back. A friend is wearing a t-shirt with a Kiefer Sutherland slogan on it and she tries to point it out to him. Unsure if he can actually read it or not from where we stand, he kisses his hand and blows us a kiss. Excited, we wave goodbye and go downstairs. On the way out there is a commotion with Chuvalo, the boxer. Some girls are having pictures taken with him. I pause and take a picture of him and then we are on our way. There are few people left in the building and we head out from the Walk of Fame Gala.
*tick*tick*
After the gala - Click to view larger image
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June 07, 2005
With definitive intel that Kiefer will be on the set at 2:30 for ‘The Sentinel’ we head over to the same place the next day. We roll in at about 1:45 and meet 5 other girls who are there for the same reason. Some of the crew recognize us from the day before and are all smiles. We can’t figure out whether the stars will come in the front or the back, the block has houses back to back and this one can be accessed from the other side road, that's where they're loading stuff inside from. After waiting for a bit we decide to split off and two of us take the back, the other two take the front. I go to the back with another girl but we are only there a few minutes before the cell phone rings. Our buddy out front has Kiefer out there. We sprint around the block and arrive next to Kiefer and the others. I hand my camera off to my friend, last time I didn’t get a photo with him, I won’t make the same mistake this time. There is chit chat but with so many girls it’s hard to remember what was what exactly was said at each point. Photos were taken. Kiefer was very polite. He was there for a rehearsal today and just in a blue t-shirt and jeans. I notice that he sounds kind of stuffed up and ask if he’s sick, apparently his voice is just clearer on my TV because he’s not. I congratulate him on the Walk of Fame and tell him I’m from Victoria. I mumble something probably incoherent about how important of a Canadian he is, I don’t even remember it. I get a chance to take a photo with him and my friend does the taking. I see no flash so I tell her that it’s a no go, she has to take another one. While I stand with my arm around Kiefer I can’t help but notice he’s skinny, really skinny. It’s funny the little things you notice. We wait and there’s still no flash from my camera. Hey, I don't really mind standing there with my arm around Kiefer Sutherland. One of the other girls has one and we turn and face the other way for a picture. They snap one and I’m happy. I ask him to sign my Season 4 promo shot of Jack in the tunnel. He has to go for the rehearsal so after the autograph I again congratulate him on the Walk of Fame and he leaves. He gives the impression that he will come back after the rehearsal. We are left outside to chat with the crew some more and other nice people associated with the movie, including Kiefer’s bodyguard (really nice guy). Eva Longoria ignores us but that’s okay, I didn’t even know who she was until I heard she was filming with Kiefer. My buddies had to go and start to head home with a long drive ahead of them. It felt a little weird to wait around by myself after the other girls have left so I take off too, off to do my sightseeing in the rest of Toronto. What a day. What a week, what a trip.
From the set of The Sentinel - Click to view larger image
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