Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Camping in Canada: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1937

Episode Date: July 23, 2026

In this 1937th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike shares a rare audio gem from 1981. It's Camping in Canada featuring Big Bird and Oscar.A version of this podcast without programmatic ads is available to all Toronto Mike'd Patrons at patreon.com/torontomike.Toronto Mike'd, an award-winning podcast, is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball, Ridley Funeral Home, Nick Ainis, and RecycleMyElectronics.ca.If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please emaail Toronto Mike at [e-mail]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I was young, we had this cassette called Camping in Canada. It was the gang from Sesame Street. Well, it was actually attributed to Big Bird and Oscar, both voiced by Carol Spinney. 23 tracks produced for the CBC by Bill Usher and all of them bangers. I had every word memorized. Camping in Canada was recorded and mixed at the Grasurer. Grange in Ajax, Ontario.

And that opening track, Aerodynamics, was written by none other than Mendelssohn Joe. And if you recognize the voice of Debbie, that's because it's Cree Summer. As I was saying, we had this cassette in 1981, and when I had kids of my own 20 years later, I wanted to share this audio with them, but I couldn't find a copy.

Then, in the early 2000s, I found a store in Saskatoon selling a vinyl copy, and I bought it, and I digitized it, and over the past 20 years or so, I've been sharing this MP3 with others searching for camping in Canada. They typically Google it and end up on Toronto Mike.com, where, of course, I wrote a blog entry about it. This is a rare one because it was only released in Canada. And it's my absolute pleasure to share this rare audio gem with you all. Please play it for a child in your life.

And enjoy camping in Canada. I know I do. Because it's dark down here. Oscar. What's that big bird? It's because I was speaking Fresemies Street who speaks Spanish. But that sounds. It sounds.

For instance. Listen to those just like my uncle chair. Okay campers. They my trash. Here's the cabin. Yeah, and I guess I didn't have to be afraid. They seem so... Pleasure hunt. Louise, isn't it time to get up? I'm so sleepy. I don't want... You big bird. You don't look like you're having a one. Or I should say.