How
Can You Tell Someone’s Canadian?
(Answer
Below)
a) They like to finish their sentences with, “Eh?”
b) You accidentally bump them and they say, “Sorry!”
c) You say you went to Timmy’s and they don’t ask,
“Timmy who?”
d) All of the above.
Celebrating Canada’s
Creation
Happy Birthday, Canada! It’s hard to believe you’re 150 years young. A
milestone called a sesquicentennial (SES-kwuh-sen-TEN-nee-yul).
In 1867, the British North American Act united four provinces to form the
Dominion of Canada and a new baby nation (now the world’s second largest) was
born! It took its name from the Iroquois word Kanata, meaning “village.”
Canada’s
National Flag
Until I was twelve, our nation proudly hoisted the
Canadian Red Ensign on its flag poles. Like the majority of Canadians at the
time, I saw no reason to change it. In fact, I’d already become quite attached
to this national symbol. But after much controversy, our leaders of the day
chose to replace it with the Maple Leaf. This simple, stark flag didn’t appeal
to me at first. But over the years it’s grown on me, and I now proudly display
it on Canada’s birthday and on my luggage whenever I’m travelling.
Celebrating
Canada 150 in Our Glorious Land
Our family plans to celebrate Canada’s 150th
birthday by taking advantage of Parks Canada’s free National Park pass to visit
the Canadian Rockies. I never tire of their majestic splendor.
I’ve
Been Almost Everywhere
One goal on my bucket list is to travel across our
glorious land. My son and I have taken three WestWorld Tours together. Our first
was to Churchill in 2014. On a Hudson Bay whale watching tour, we enjoyed a frolicking
pod of belugas. We also spotted some polar bears on the shore, although it’s
unusual to see them in the spring. During a tundra buggy tour, we adored a seal
sunning itself on a rock out in the Bay.
In 2015, we took our second tour to Victoria. It was
my third visit to this glorious destination. My son hadn’t travelled there
since he was three, so it was all new to him. We loved visiting the Butchart
Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, Craigdarroch Castle, and several other tourist
attractions.
In 2016, we travelled with WestWorld to Haida Gwaii.
With its unique flora and fauna, this archipelago is a fascinating destination
to visit. A couple of highlights were the Golden Spruce Trail and Balance Rock.
Counting up the Canadian communities I’ve visited was
fun and enlightening. I’ve been to many places in Saskatchewan, Alberta, British
Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario. I especially enjoyed travelling through the
Canadian Shield and the Canadian Tundra by train—two fascinating vistas.
Canadian
Places I Still Hope to Visit
Newfoundland and Labrador (especially
Newfoundland's historic Viking village, L'Anse aux Meadows, in honour of my
Viking ancestors, and Gros Morne National Park—both UNESCO World Heritage Sites);
PEI; Nova Scotia; Ottawa’s Parliament Hill & Parliament Buildings; Niagara
Falls, Ontario; Quebec; the Yukon and NWT (Whitehorse and Yellowknife).
Incredible
Canadians to Celebrate
Sir John A. Macdonald, Alexander Graham Bell, Dr. Frederick Banting, Laura
Secord, Tecumseh, Billy Bishop, Tommy Douglas, Terry Fox, Michael J. Fox, Rick
Hansen, Margaret Atwood, Alice Munroe, Roberta Bondar, Julie Payette, Chris
Hatfield.
Canadian
Principles to Celebrate
Canada ranks high in the international community
for its democracy, multiculturalism, civil liberties, economic freedom, freedom
of speech and religious freedom. US News & World Report’s annual “Best
Countries” survey ranked Canada the second best country in the world for the
second consecutive year and first in its “Quality of Life” category.
O
Canada!
Answer: (d) All of the Above
Photo Credits: ©
2017, Nina Faye Morey
