Photo
Barbara Muir ©
Last year I wrote about the invasion of Ottawa, our nation's
capital by truckers in January, 2022. That did change Canada Day
certainly in Toronto. Before the right wing, anti-vaccination
(for COVID) truckers invaded Ottawa, Canada Day used to be a
very obvious celebrate-the-country holiday. Our street would be hung
with the Maple Leaf flags on almost every house. The Canadian
flag, angrily waved in the trucker invasion is still not popular in my
neighbourhood, but Canada Day had extra significance this year, as people
gathered in celebrations to reinforce the idea of Canada as a sovereign nation,
since Trump's threat to make us the 51st state. Canadians want to make it
clear that that's not happening.
And even though we aren't big on patriotism we are all proud of
many things about our country. Here's what I said before that still applies:
What I like about Canada:
"1. The people -- Canadians come from all over the world.
My own ancestors, great, and great, great grandparents
came from Italy, Scotland, Ireland, and France. My
husband is descended from Dutch and Indonesian
grandparents.
2. My city. Each time I come back to Toronto, after
visiting other countries, I notice how people are here.
At the bus stops we all hang out together. It feels
different from other cities in the world.
3. Our humour. Canadians are self-critical -- and
that is the core of our humour. And we're funny.
Our humour gets exported big time, especially to our
southern neiighbour where so many of the top comedians,
and comic actors are Canadian.
4. We're boring. We're allowed to be boring and
safe. We want good and happy lives, and it doesn't
matter if that means we live by routines.
5. No guns. (Or almost no guns). We don't think
it's cool to use/have guns. We don't have guns in
our houses, our cars. Guns are not cool here.
Criminals and hunters use guns. The police have
guns, but the general public detests gun violence,
and thinks guns are scary, and worse -- stupid and
senseless.
6. We say we're sorry. You know you're in
Canada when you bump into someone's cart
in the supermarket and the sorry fest goes on
for 10 minutes -- first you. "I'm sorry," then
the other person, "No I'm sorry" and that
continues.
7. Free health care. When relatives of mine
have gone through treatments for cancer, or
had surgery, or babies, or any kind of reason
to need healthcare -- it's free. Some doctors
charge a yearly fee -- maybe $300, but otherwise
healthcare is free.
8. We're a vast country. I've traveled from one
side of the country almost to the other, and there
is still so much to see, so many places I haven't been.
9. Our art -- it's exciting being an artist in Canada.
Although we're a young country, our art has a
distinctive quality. Canadian artists love this country,
and that comes out in so many forms -- in art, music and,
literature.
other countries might find that boring, but we don't.
are far from perfect. We are dealing with righting the
terrible mistreatment of indigenous people at residential
schools. We are not free from racism, or disturbing,
and violent acts. But in Toronto, where I live, violence is
not the norm. Many neighbours from every culture were out
wishing each other Happy Canada Day."
