By Laurie Snider
Just this past Saturday, we as a country celebrated 150 years since Confederation. I thought that this was an appropriate time to take stock of the reasons I’m so grateful to be Canadian.
Often times, the rest of the world sees us as moose hugging, beer swilling, hockey playing caricatures who drink copious amounts of Tim Hortons coffee, while scarfing down pancakes smeared in gallons of maple syrup. While there’s a small measure of truth to this there are many more reasons to be thankful for this remarkable country.
For me there’s no better place to begin than the stunning vistas from sea to sea. No doubt about it, when beauty and variety were being handed out, Canada was at the front of the line. Not only are we the second largest country in the world but we’ve the world’s longest coastline, bordered by oceans, on three sides. We’re home to 10 per cent of the world’s forests and 20 per cent of the Earth’s fresh water, and we have an abundance of wildlife.
There are so many sites to see: glaciers, mountaintops, prairies, tundra, Canadian shield, oceans, lakes, rivers, world class cities and rustic towns. Our country’s so vast, most Canadians don’t ever have the chance to see it all. The family vacations we‘ve taken to explore the unique nooks and crannies across this great land, created the most wonderful memories. Epic road trips, Randy driving and me with an unending supply of maps, brochures and gems of trivia, offered unsolicited, to our bleary eyed children on route.
I believe one of our greatest attributes and strengths as a country, is that we’re a multicultural nation. In 1971, we were the first country in the world to make multiculturalism a policy. We’re living in a time where we’re witness to much hatred and opposition to people viewed as having unfamiliar cultures, ethnicities, races and religions. While not entirely immune, we’re a welcoming nation. I love that in Canada, diversity is viewed as an asset, something to be celebrated, not feared. In 2016 we admitted an amazing 46,700 refugees. Citizens in communities all over Canada raised funds, found housing, furniture and supplies and did their best to assimilate these newcomers into their communities. An outstanding accomplishment by all involved.
As an affluent, progressive country we’re so fortunate to have universal health care and accessible education. Our health services may not be perfect but I for one am thankful they’re there. The peace of mind knowing that my family and I have top notch health care available to us at a moments notice is uncomparable. We’re also the most educated country in the world with half of Canadian residents having college degrees. Watching other countries struggle with these issues is a great reminder not to take this unfettered access for granted.
Today, with hundreds of channels and social media platforms available to amuse us, my favourite is still CBC. Peter Mansbridge, my how I’m going to miss you. No matter how troubling the day’s news was, hearing it calmly delivered by Peter was always somehow reassuring. Stories delivered with professionalism and an even hand, lacking the ‘hair on fire’approach favoured by our neighbours to the south.
Canadians are also a clever bunch, and funny as heck. Randy and I are huge fans of Murdoch Mysteries and shows that poke fun like Rick Mercer, 22 Minutes and Still Standing. This humour is wily and wry, without the mean-spiritedness. It’s good natured fun, not taking things too seriously and being able to laugh at ourselves.
Great music is another source of national pride. We’re home to an incredible array of musicians from all genres. The Buble’s, Bieber’s, Lavigne’s and Dion’s are famous worldwide. I prefer the ones favoured in Canada, Tom Cochrane, Great Big Sea, Blue Rodeo and of course our beloved band The Tragically Hip. Last summer’s televised concert of their final show, watched by millions of Canadians, was a moving testament of our love for the band and how much they mean to us. It was such a Canadian moment, coming together to give the band a collective hug.
Finally, I’m grateful to the Indigenous peoples who were living in this great nation long before the arrival of any European settlers. First nations, Inuit and Metis peoples are such an integral part of the fabric of our nation. They’ve always been such careful stewards of the land and its animals. As a country we have many wrongs to right. Owning up to our mistakes and making amends will only make us stronger. I’m thankful we’re beginning to acknowledge the misdeeds of our past, so healing and reconciliation may begin.
Yes indeed, Canada is our exceptional home and native land. May she forever remain glorious and free!