Premier David Eby didn’t have a speech prepared for the opening of the Invictus Games in Vancouver. He hadn’t written anything down. He didn’t have a teleprompter. And just minutes before he was set to walk onto stage to address the packed crowd of thousands at B.C. Place stadium on Saturday, he ended up tossing out most of what he’d been mentally preparing to say anyway.
What followed was an emotional address directly to American service personnel about the shared bonds of the U.S. and Canadian militaries, and a spoken reminder that British Columbians loved and welcomed them even during a time of political strife.
“I was just thinking about how I could deliver that message, that we’re good neighbours and no matter what we’ll always be there for each other,” Eby said in an interview.
The speech went viral, amassing high views and high praise from those who saw it. At the time, it sparked American athletes to make heart shapes to Canadian athletes, who returned the gestures amid a standing ovation.
It came at a time of heightened political tension between the two countries, in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs against Canada and his demands it become the 51st state.
Eby said he’d originally had a different speech in mind.
“I had a bit of a structure in my head going into this and wanted to hit on the sovereign Canada, true north strong and free,” he said.
But then, sitting in the stands, he saw the wounded United States veterans, who compete in the Invictus Games, enter the stadium. Some Canadians have taken to booing Americans and their anthem at sporting events — and while that didn’t happen at the Invictus Games in Vancouver, Eby said he could feel the tension.
“I was like, man, they must be feeling so anxious about what kind of reaction they are going to get here,” Eby recalled. “And I thought that was so awful they’d feel that way.”
He ran a new idea through his head quickly in the 20 minutes before he was set to speak, right after Canadian singer Nelly Furtatdo finished her rendition of I’m Like a Bird.
“It just felt like a moment to speak directly to some Americans, which I’ve wanted to be doing, to say like we’re not mad at you, we love and respect you, and think you are great, and you are different and we like that and hopefully we’re still cool,” he said.
“This isn’t about you, it’s about politicians, so maybe we can take a step back in this moment.”
The unscripted moment is on brand for Eby. He dislikes reading prepared remarks, or taking notes. Most often, he freestyles when given the microphone.
“It’s always where I’m at my best,” he said. “I feel OK doing that.”
It’s also an incredibly risky approach for a modern politician, where the slightest misspeak can be clipped and exploited out of context on social media.
“There’s an element of risk as a politician in doing that,” he said. “But I find people really appreciate when you can be authentic and tell them what you’re thinking.”
The premier couldn’t see much of the reaction when he was in the spotlight. It was only after he went back to his seat that his wife Cailey told him he’d nailed it.
“Cailey was like, ‘Wow that was incredible,’ and telling me on the big screen you could see the athletes making hearts at each other across the way,” he said. “I didn’t see any of that.”
But he watched it again for himself on Sunday.
“It moved me when I saw that video of the athletes giving each other a standing ovation and sending over hearts,” he said.
“It’s an incredible moment that came truly from who they are and what they’ve been through together.”
Rob Shaw has spent more than 17 years covering B.C. politics, now reporting for CHEK News and writing for Glacier Media. He is the co-author of the national bestselling book A Matter of Confidence, host of the weekly podcast Political Capital, and a regular guest on CBC Radio.
