He started catching Snider’s shows at Cheatham Street in San Marcos, Texas and marveled at small things about Snider’s on stage presence, like how cool it was that he played with no shoes on. To Canada, it was yet another way Snider’s style signaled freedom. "He blew my doors off, and the imperfections of his show were the best part. He was so free, I sometimes thought he and his band probably never practiced cause they were so ‘garage’." Back in those early days, Canada and then roommate/friend Jason Boland were starting to make their own way in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and always waved the Snider flag every chance they got. "We became so addicted to Todd’s songs that we had the whole Stillwater strip equally addicted to his music through the covers we did of his." So, after a few years, it was a surreal moment for Canada when he got to join Snider on stage for the first time. "We became friends at Cheatham Street. He asked me on stage one night to play a few songs, and he introduced me to the crowd. Todd was just as important to me as Mike McClure, and that was the first time I felt accepted by one of my heroes."
Over the proceeding years Canada’s friendship with Snider deepened as they shared stages, stories, laughs and advice. "The first time I truly felt like we (Cross Canadian Ragweed) could be ourselves in Nashville was when he came to see us at the Exit/In. He came in through the back door and was kind of mystified watching us do our ritual prayer circle before the show. He actually mentioned that one time on a record he did, he found humor in everything. He came on stage that night and sang ‘Late Last Night’ with us and I felt like king of the world. On another show at Larry Joe Taylor’s event in Stephenville, Texas, he said he would come out with us and do a song, but he wanted it to be the first song. I said that that was fine, just please don’t throw my harmonica out into the crowd. So, during the song he went to the front of the stage, looked me right in the eye, and tossed my harmonica out into the crowd. It was an awesome rock and roll moment."
It wasn’t always laughs and pranks, and Canada was grateful to find Snider there in times when he truly needed encouragement. "The biggest compliment I got from him a few years ago was when I put out a song called ‘Shut Up And Sing,’ and Todd agreed to be on the track. It was a song I wrote in anger about feeling like a trained animal expected to just perform. When I sent him the recording he said, ‘If you aren’t pissing people off, you’re not doing your job, brother.’ That was exactly what I needed to hear." Snider’s wisdom would continue to grow roots in Canada’s life including a conversation the two shared on the one subject that remained an open wound for years. "A few years ago, Ragweed was heavily on my mind, and I knew I needed to do some soul searching about how it all ended, and if we could ever do it again. Went to see Todd at Cheatham Street one night, unannounced, and admitted I needed some of his inspiration. He said, ‘you deserve a victory lap, and your kids deserve to see you do it.’ He always gave me advice when I needed it. The last communication I had with him was back in April after the Ragweed reunion shows. He sent me an email that said, ‘those boys have to be super proud of their dad.’"
Canada continues in his reflections about a man who meant so much to him. "Since discovering him in 1994 to 30 years later, he still amazes me with his music. Haggard, Tom Skinner…those losses were so hard for me, but this one…" Canada trails off choking back the tears that are overtaking him. "He was such an important part of the beginnings of my journey. Todd was a person who molded me. He gave me confidence before I even knew him and I felt overwhelming joy to know he was on the planet at the same time, and that I got to be friends with him. I have struggled for a lot of years not wanting to disappoint anyone with my songwriting. I can admit that now. This happening has reignited the songwriter in me. This tremendous sadness that he is gone is a wake-up call for me to get off my ass and not be afraid to write. I hope that he knew how many people took pages from his book. He made us all feel like we could do it."
