Celebrating Canada Day

One of the prompts at the Writer’s Workshop this week is “show us your red, white and blue”.  Since July 1st is Canada Day and I am Canadian, I’m dropping the “blue” and showing my maple leaf pride.  This post would normally go up on Thursday for the Workshop but I'm putting it up today for Canada Day and will link up on Thursday.

I realize that it is practically un-Canadian of me to be boastful about my country.  We are known for our quiet pride and self-depreciating humour when it comes to talking about our country but I have never been shy to say that I am a proud Canadian, proud Quebecer and proud Montrealer.   

Yeah, I'm boasting  ;)

Canada is known for its vast open spaces and natural beauty; its universal medicare; its citizen’s penchant for saying sorry and ending sentences with “eh”.  We are known for our love of hockey, maple syrup and poutine.   

We have given the world celebrities like Jim Carrey, Celine Dion, Tatiana Maslany, Justin Bieber (sorry!!), Ryan Reynolds (not sorry!), William Shatner (Montreal boy!), Michael J. Fox, Keifer Sutherland, Nathan Fillion, Mike Myers and so many more.  You’re welcome world.  There are many others who my American readers may not recognize like Rick Mercer, David Suzuki, Russell Peters, Brent Butt, Ron James and (again) so many more. 

  

We have harsh winters in many parts of the country and very hot summers and a population who can get much joy out of both.  I must say, though, that the heat and humidity have just kicked in here and I have found myself longing for a bit of snow as I lay in bed sweating.  Only a Canadian would say that, lol! 

We are known throughout the world as peacekeepers and are welcome everywhere we go.  I am very proud of my country’s reputation in international circles.  This doesn’t mean that I don’t recognize our weaknesses though.  Yes, we have stupid politicians just like anywhere else.  Yes, our medical and education systems are not perfect.  Yes, our government could use some streamlining.  All in all though, I’d rather be here than anywhere else. 

I’ll leave you with one of my favourite videos celebrating what makes us Canadian rather than just an extension of the US.  We tend to be the quiet neighbor to the north and get forgotten.  This was a commercial for Molson Canadian a while back that went absolutely viral.  Put your tongue firmly "in cheek" and enjoy  ;)

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians and Happy July 4th to my American friends!

Kathy