Happy Birthday Canada!

45 Replies

I first posted this when Canada turned 150 years old. I don’t think I could do anything better for this year. So, if it is familiar, my apologises. If it is new, please enjoy . .

The True North Strong and Free!

I am proud to be a Canadian. I live in a breathtakingly beautiful country from sea to sea to sea. We have forests and prairies, beaches and lakes, meadows and mountains. When I look up in the sky at night, I can see the stars shining brightly. (of course, I have to be outside the cities when looking up!) We are a people of explorers; deep thinkers and we are kind. No one makes better fun of us than we do ourselves. We love to laugh. We love to share and we love our country.

We have a reputation for being polite. Wow! If I’m going to be known for something, good manners are right up there at the top. I thank you for that. We have a reputation for honesty and compassion. We may not be known globally for our scientists but I would hazard a guess most of you have used something invented by a Canadian. Turn on any light bulbs lately? We don’t brag much. We don’t have to. Most Canadians don’t know what we have contributed to the world. But that’s okay. What is most important is that we did contribute. The world is a better place because Canada is here and I think Canada is better off being friends with the rest of the world. We make a good friend.

It’s not our way to blow our own horn but once a year we stand up and shout our pride. We are not perfect. We’ve screwed up as a country and individually.  Who hasn’t? Hopefully we will correct our mistakes and learn from them. I like to think we will. We are still a young country, still learning. But I think that is an important trait:  a willingness to learn.

In the greater scheme of things, we are probably no more than a baby. There’re places in the world, many of them, which have homes older than we’ve been a country. We have some catching up to do.

May my country grow old with wisdom and may her people learn to appreciate her. I do.

Our National Anthem (chorus)

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

 

Canada

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Canada  is a country in the northern part of North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering 9.98 million square kilometres (3.85 million square miles), making it the world’s second-largest country by total area and the fourth-largest country by land area. Canada’s border with the United States is the world’s longest binational land border. The majority of the country has a cold or severely cold winter climate, but southerly areas are warm in summer.

Canada is sparsely populated, the majority of its land territory being dominated by forest and tundra and the Rocky Mountains. It is highly urbanized with 82 per cent of the 38,069,456 million people concentrated in large and medium-sized cities, many near the southern border. One third of the population lives in the three largest metropolitan areas: Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Its capital is Ottawa, and other major urban areas include Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec City, Winnipeg and Hamilton.

Canada is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many other countries. Its advanced economy is the eleventh largest in the world, relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade networks. Canada’s long and complex relationship with the United States has had a significant impact on its economy and culture.

Canada is a developed country and has the tenth highest nominal per capita income globally as well as the ninth highest ranking in the Human Development Index. It ranks among the highest in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic freedom, and education.

 

A few Canadian inventions:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Canola

Pablum

Canadarm

Snowmobile

Ice hockey

Table hockey

Goalie mask

Insulin

Electron microscope

Plexiglas

Alkaline battery

Electric wheelchair

Am radio

Walkie-talkies

Telephone

Light bulbs

Zipper

 

 

I wonder what we’ll think of next?

 

 

 

45 thoughts on “Happy Birthday Canada!”

  2. Murphy's Law

    Happy Birthday Canada, you big, beautiful country! One of the best things about you is you are home to my dear friend Pam, who is one of your many treasures! 🇨🇦
    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  3. joylennick

    I so enjoyed reading your article, Pamela Thank you.. Happy Canada Day indeed! In 1957, at the time of the Suez crisis, my spirited husband whisked me off to Toronto to live. Being close to my family, I was reticent, but soon warmed to life and the people there. We were like kids in a sweet-shop! In the UK we didn’t have supermarkets,CH or Air con. We had tiny cars (if at all!) wore the same dress twice!, (Not husband!), & a sandwich was a sandwich, without embellishments.Oh the wide roads, the food and the space!. I was a secretary at Canadian Reinsurance, downtown; all welcomed except a French Canadian girl who took exception to my Englishness, but relented. We soon made friends, bowled, travelled (wow!) extolled the beauty of the countryside, those famous falls, et al. We worked our poor car ragged: Quebec,Montreal, parts of US, etc,.,& stayed for nearly two years, adventures aplenty…Homesickness attacked, so we returned to the UK where we lived happily,& had three sons. Expo in 1986 lured us to Vancouver & Van..Island for a fabulous visit. Canada is a beautiful, lush country & my memories are very happy ones. We are now retired in Spain.. Muchas gracias Canada!. Hugs xx

    Liked by 2 people

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      1. John W. Howell

        I worked on a farm in Sarnia, Ontario one summer in high school and learned the magic of Molsons and lemon gin. I also met Mr. Morning After who I learned to dislike while bailing hay in the 90 degree heat.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Jennie

    This is wonderful!!! Every person should stand up and feel proud for their country. You give me a lump in my throat for Canadiens. On a funny side note, whenever America’s National Anthem was played, our son immediately thereafter began singing “Oh Canada…” Really. He just assumed one followed the other. Gotta love hockey. One day I’ll tell you how he found the Stanley Cup, and how he drove Gordie Howe crazy. Go Canada!

    Liked by 3 people

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      1. Jennie

        Yes, he was right. They do! When he was a boy we were at a hockey tournament in Canada (one of many.) Gordie Howe was there, too. I don’t know if he was there to watch the tournament. We were eating breakfast, and he was sitting at the next table. Our son went over to talk to him and get his autograph. He drove Gordie crazy! Finally Gordie Howe said something like, “Is he always like this?” We still have the autograph. Those were the Wayne Gretzky days. Great hockey!

        Liked by 2 people

  9. Jennie

    Reblogged this on A Teacher's Reflections and commented:
    As America approaches a Fourth of July celebration, I am reminded in the best of ways that our neighbors and fellow countries share the same pride in their country. Everyone should feel proud about their Homeland. Pam is from Canada, and her post says it all.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  12. Darlene

    I am a proud Canadian living in Spain. I agree with everything you said. Someone recently asked me the difference between Americans and Canadians and I explained a couple of things then I ended by saying, “but we always have each other’s back!”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  17. tidalscribe.com

    I love to hear about Canada as we don’t hear enough about you all – you can guess which neighbour we do hear a lot about! But you are our Commonwealth Cousin. Thanks to Ancestry DNA I know I have lots of Canadian relatives – not sure if this is all down to my grandmother’s big brother emigrating! What a vast country with a small population. I have never visited, but thanks to my daughter-in-law’s sister my son and his family have had several holidays.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. quiall Post author

      We are a beautiful country with nice people, mostly. We are not perfect. But I like to think that we are the calm in the world the storm.

      Like

      Reply ↓

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