WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CANADIAN

(I won’t be pushy about this at all……)

Canada is a well made quilt with a hundred colours, warm, sturdy and utilitarian. We are not all that glamorous, but we love our lands and our neighbours.

Our heritage has a little war in it, but not much. We usually fight other people’s battles or try to keep peace.

On the whole we are respectful, modest, a little bashful even, but we have kept our country great by not being braggarts, bullies, adventurists or plain silly. Yes, we tried to annex a Caribbean destination onto Nova Scotia. But we just couldn’t help it. Have you ever been to Halifax in winter?

Our achievements are kindness, tolerance, acceptance and forgiveness. As a country we possess all the qualities you would want in a friend or a family member.

Let’s truly remember that being a Canadian comes from the heart. Our skin colour, what we wear, what we do for a living – these things are all unimportant. Being one of us, and belonging in a Canadian’s company is easy. Love this place, love your fellow countrymen, and be loyal to the principles of sharing and generosity we hold dear. We are all Canadians by choice, from a hundred and forty countries, and with our hands outstretched to new neighbours and friends.