Happy Canada Day

July 1 is Canada Day in our home and native land.  It’s the one day of the year when wearing white and red is the most fashion forward you can get.

Canada is not a nation of flag waving, in your face people.  That must not be interpreted however, as being a nation of non-patriotic people.  Or maybe we are, as we don’t often use the word ‘patriotic’ to describe ourselves.  If there is any doubt about our loyalty to our nation though, just watch us come together when a hockey tournament involves Canada. 

If you live in Canada, there is an excellent chance that your roots can traced to some other part of the world.  I too am originally from somewhere else, but I AM CANADIAN through and through, and I believe firmly and fiercely that this is the single best nation in the world to live in.  So in celebration of Canada Day, here is what Canada means to me:

Icebergs, seal pie and more moose than people in Newfoundland (yes, this is true)

Anne of Green Gables, red cliffs and jigging for cod in stinky fish trawler in Prince Edward Island

Walking on the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick

Peggy’s Cove, lobster and beautiful daughter-in-law from Nova Scotia

Belle vues et grand fromage de Quebec (J’adore le fromage)

Hot, humid summer days surrounded by family and friends in Ontario

Picnicking along the shores of the Assiniboine River in Manitoba

Flat-for-as-far-as-the-eye-can-see Saskatchewan, with beautiful blue skies above

Lake Louise, Jasper, Banff, Rocky mountains—God’s country, Alberta

High tea, smoked salmon, and David Suzuki in British Columbia

Northern lights and summer solstice in our north.

My Canada also includes: Tim Horton’s double doubles, beavertails in Ottawa, polar bear swims in January, naked cyclists in Toronto, canoeing in Algonquin, Mayors who should just go away, Rick Mercer, maple syrup, ice wine, prairie oysters, beavers, and universal health care. Thank you God for that one!

Sure, we have our issues (maybe that oil pipeline is not such a good idea?) but overall, we have it pretty good.  Just the fact that we can proudly display our flag when abroad is cause for celebration.  We are stereo-typed, made fun of, but in the end is anyone risking life and limb to leave here? I don’t think so.

So let the rest of world believe we live in igloos, that it snows all year, and that we eat nothing but donuts. Who cares! This is our land and we free to do as we please. So have your double double, swim, cycle, stuff your face with donuts.  At the end of the day, go home to your igloo and hug your husband or wife of whichever sex you prefer.  This is Canada people and we are way ahead of many so called ‘developed nations’.  Be thankful and be proud.

And just for Canada Day, will it kill you to wave a flag—the Canadian one that is!  

Happy Canada Day.