Canada's Walk of Fame honours the best in Canadian talent in the field of entertainment, sports, literature, science and all walks of Canadian brilliance. This year's Canada's Walk Of Fame Awards are hosted by Howie Mandel who returns for a second time as the host of Canada's version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Mandel, who's a Walk of Fame inductee himself, says it's an honour to be invited back for a second year to entertain and award Canadians for their talent.
We spoke with the gracious host to see who he gets excited to meet at CWOF and what surprises are in store for viewers. Tune in this Sunday at 8.00 et/pt for all the highlights including a tribute by Justin Bieber to Drake, and performances by Chantal Kreviazuk, Stephen Moccio and Raine Maida.
Congratulations on being the host of CWOF for a second year in a row!
Yeah I was thrilled! It's very exciting but the most exciting thing was to be honoured myself in 2009. That was thrilling. I have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but Canada's Walk of Fame meant more to me because I was always cognizant of having to leave the country to make a living and get jobs. I felt like I wanted my people and my country to appreciate me. So when I got recognized, that meant so much more to me than anything else I've had done.
And then the following year to be asked to host it I thought 'WOW!' I just want to be a part of this. And I didn't know how it was received, and to be asked back, it was amazing! And it's just a thrill of a lifetime!
What was your sophomore year like hosting Canada's Walk of Fame? How does it differ from your first year?
My life is like a whirlwind. And when you watch the show you'll be able to tell and the beauty is that they allow me to just be me. I'm like a kid in a candy store, I'm thrilled to be a part of it, I'm thrilled to be meeting the people I'm meeting. I'm in awe of each and everyone of them that are being honoured.
To be at the event and have a front row seat facing it and be witness to it is even sweeter.
Who were you most excited to see from the Canadian Stars?
Well I'm a huge Guess Who fan so Burton Cummings is the man! To this day, I still listen to Guess Who music. I'm also a big fan of Russell Peters, he makes me laugh all the time. And Drake is going to be there! There isn't anybody that I'm not excited to see.
What surprises can viewers expect to see this Sunday?
You never know what's going to happen! I never plan, so if things go wrong or don't work out that becomes part of the evening. I don't really rehearse. I'll show up the day before so they show me where I have to stand.
And you don't get nervous?
Yeah! I live nervous but that's the fuel and that's what makes it exciting.
Why is the event important for Canadians?
I think it's about time that we toot our own horns. We certainly make a mark in this world and we've always been behind the scenes. And the rest of the world doesn't even know what we do and who we are. If you want the world to recognize you, you have to recognize yourself. So it is such an amazing event to at least embrace our own and acknowledge our own for the marks they've made in the various worlds they are in. Whether it be entertainment, science, sports.
Catch all the exciting performances and tributes on Canada's Walk Of Fame Awards. Sunday at 8.00 et/pt
_______
By: Lori Harito