The Great White North is anything but. It is a colourful palette of diversity yet singularity of thought. Of freedom, peace, respect for all and of course the extreme politeness. Being uniquely Canadian by saying sorry when someone bumps into you. Even the BBC has written a story on how Canada can teach the rest of the world to be nicer.
There is an endless list of reasons why I love Canada. I love our nation’s colours. From the patriotic red of fall maple leaves to pale green of the Northern Lights. I love the beautiful blue lakes, valleys, coastal cliffs, great plains, beaches and even the arctic tundra. I love that we can enjoy a variety of vacations within our very own country.
Whether we live together in confidence and cohesion; with more faith and pride in ourselves and less self-doubt and hesitation; strong in the conviction that the destiny of Canada is to unite, not divide; sharing in cooperation, not in separation or in conflict; respecting our past and welcoming our future ~ Lester B. Pearson Former Canadian Prime Minister & Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Canada Day message from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Love the fact that we can talk about the weather and hockey with strangers and friends alike. And checking the wind-chill in the mornings. And making sure everyone has buckled up before driving out that too with my headlights on during the day. It makes me feel safer …. and Canadian.
I love how there is a story behind every star. From Justin Bieber, Ryan Reynolds to Russell Peters and K’naan. I love how the rest of the world thinks of us living like Eskimos. Or on a farm in the wilderness, watching the dog run away from home… for hours. Or making a snowman every single day.
I love the free health care and education, the year-long maternity leave, the long weekends and ever-rising taxes and horrid cell phone plans. I love getting all excited at the mention of Canada be it on American TV or an Urdu or Punjabi movie. And going to an Atif Aslam or Junoon concert in Toronto, and getting all nostalgic. Telling the wonderful childhood stories of ‘back home’ with misty eyes to our kids while they are busy texting on their cellphones.
I love how we acknowledge and celebrate diverse cultures and religion, and greet each other with open arms. Canadians aren’t only polite, we are incredibly humble too.
I love Timbits, poutine, beavertails, maple syrup, smarties, Kraft Dinner and even canola oil. I love all this and more. Canada, in my opinion, is surely the best country in the world, and I certainly don’t want to live anywhere else. I was not born here but choice brings me here….It’s home.
The year 2020 has confronted us with several challenges, including COVID-19 which has exposed the basic premise of how health systems were designed, not only in Canada but across the globe. We are also witnessing human rights movements and the need to recognize the rights of people of Black, Indigenous, Brown backgrounds, and other minorities. Our multicultural identity and diversity puts us in the best position as compared to other countries to reflect upon these realities, and emerge as an exemplary country.
I am South Asian, you maybe any race or religion or ethnicity, we are all Mainstream Canadian.
Happy Canada Day!
Cover Photo: Dmytro Balkhovitin/Shutterstock
