Everything costs more. Political viewpoints are divisive. A few idiots are still vocal about denying others’ human rights. BUT WE GET TO LIVE IN CANADA!
Our country isn’t perfect but nothing is. It’s like that saying I love, “perfection is the enemy of good.” Last week, someone on social media referred to Canada as a “shithole country.” It didn’t make me angry, it made me laugh. Because it’s comical to say something so deeply stupid. Canada tries to get things right and even when it fails, it gets up and tries again.
Canada has it all. You want wilderness and calm lakes? Go north. Is it a European-style market stroll you’re after? Head to Montreal. Sick of winter and want a mild (if wet) season? Go west! Want an easier pace with amazing scenes and a lower cost of living? Head Halifax-ward. Camping, glamping, shopping, island-hopping, miles without another human in sight or crowds of people grooving to whatever you groove to – it’s all here.
We have mountains, lakes, and oceanfront. Trees as far as the eye can sees! Tech bros and retail and farming and food production and mining and real estate and oil and gas and construction. Health care that’s second to none and we don’t pay out of pocket for (most of) it. It’s the best mix of capitalism with social safety nets. We don’t always get it right but we get it better than most.
Our BFF is NFG
Unfortunately, the USA still thinks it can be Canada’s best friend. I think we can all agree that we unravelled that friendship bracelet at least a year ago. We don’t have to claim any one country as our top ally. Let’s shop around for someone loyal this time. We weren’t so confident when we settled on the US. Now we know our worth and we can afford to be a bit pickier. Hello, France. How you doin’?
Some Canucks are falling into the traps set by America’s political agendas but by and large, we are better informed than our southern neighbours. Most of us can still distinguish real news from the fake stuff. We look for the source and follow them down rabbit holes. We’re judgmental in the best way.
We took back our flag from those who dared to co-opt it for their own, narrow, little fight. This week, as we celebrate Canada’s 159th birthday, we’ll wave that flag proudly, immensely grateful that by some twist of fate and good fortune, we were born in Canada. Or we got to move and settle here. Because a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian no matter how it came about. Those of us who were born here didn’t earn the right to live here. We didn’t do anything special except emerge into the world on this soil. It could have happened anywhere. We are just so damn lucky that it happened here.