I published this blog post for Canada Day 2020. Every word is still true.
It’s awfully good to be Canadian. I feel so lucky to have been born here.
There’s always something to complain about, often legitimately, but even so, we only have to look around or watch the news and we know we have it good.
This country is gorgeous. From the hoodoos in Alberta to the shorelines of Nova Scotia. BC’s rugged landscape and Newfoundland’s historic sites and relentless friendliness. Every province has its charms.
We’re patriotic without being boastful. When you’re great, you don’t have to shove it in people’s faces. We love our flag and belt out our anthem with gleeful – and in my case, off-key – voices.
You can always point to someplace that has it better in one factor or another. But for my money, overall, I’d rather be Canadian than anything else.
This weekend, let’s remember that while we might not agree with our leaders, we have democracy and the right to vote them out. We have problems – big ones that need fixing and some that have always needed fixing – but our fellow Canadians will keep putting pressure on those with the power to make those fixes. Ultimately, a country is made up of people and you folks are a pretty darn good bunch! Happy Canada Day!
Thank you Lisa,
Well said.
Happy Canada Day!
After running through the sprinkler, then having supper, I went for a walk with my 3 year old granddaughter. We went down the street, waving our flags & saying Happy Birthday Canada & Happy Canada Day to the neighbours we passed. I believe it doesn’t get any better than that, eh? We are so blessed in this country.
Amen. While public debate and commentary – the exchange of ideas and perspectives – are always welcome and are part of a healthy democracy, I am sickened as I witness the Americanization or Trumptation of our political voices. Erin O’Toole’s recent slogan, a direct MAGA rip-off, is a prime example. “Take Back Canada” is beyond misinterpretation – a dog whistle to the folks who miss the good ol’ days when “those people” as Don Cherry so famously put it, weren’t a part of our culture and we had all of the cultural diversity of a TV taping of the Tommy Hunter Show. In my lifetime anyway, Canada has prided itself (at least in theory) on emulating the image of a mosaic versus the US’ melting pot. I mourn for the civility that we are seeing slip away, day by day, tweet by tweet, as we slip further into the hateful muck. We are better than this. We just have to be.
I hope we are but I fear we are not. This era of hate disguised as free speech has unearthed an underbelly of ignorance and racism that will be difficult to change let alone forget. They live among us and they’re empowered. I’ll try to stay optimistic but let’s just say I’m enjoying isolation more than I thought I would!
Could not agree more! Although I’m a bit tired of Trudeau. Can’t wait for the next elections.
Thank you, Lisa. We are so lucky to live in this beautiful and already great country. Let’s bring back kindness and appreciation. ❤️
I’m with you, Nancy.