We are Canadian

We’ve just celebrated our country’s 155th birthday, depending on which province you’re in — Nova Scotia and New Brunswick joined Canada in 1867, P.E.I. in 1873, Newfoundland and Labrador in 1949 (better late than never) — and birthdays are always a good time to take stock of things. A time to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future, and to ask ourselves who we are as Canadians. What makes us different from each other, and which values do we share?

There is no doubt there are many differences between us, but increasingly we are seeing that as a positive and not a negative, as we recognize and celebrate the benefits of diversity and inclusion.

Are we a perfect country? No. Far from it. We have wounds to heal and hard roads to tread and lessons to learn, to be sure.

Do we sometimes feel overshadowed by our more populous neighbour to the south? Certainly.

But in that regard we can take solace in the words of Robin Williams, who once said that “Canada is like a loft apartment over a really great party.”

When that party goes off the rails, as it seems to be doing currently, it is comforting to think that we are the kind of place where people can catch their breath, escape the extreme fractiousness and find a moment’s peace.

If we have any doubt as to Canada’s reputation as a welcoming and largely safe and peaceful country, we have only to look to the thousands of refugees who move here every year, more than 8,300 to the Atlantic region alone in 2021.

Of course, this year we have seen many Ukrainian refugees come to our region, many of whom chose this country for the many things they can no longer enjoy in their own — freedom, peace, security, liberty of movement, the ability to find work, educate their children and care for the most vulnerable, expanses of untamed nature.

And we have welcomed them, not only with smiling faces, open arms and warm hearts, but with some of the practical supports they need to make a fresh start. In our response to them, we have tried to exemplify the best of what it means to be Canadian, and we can take pride in knowing that this country is still seen as a safe place to live.

As we move forward towards Canada’s next birthday, let’s hope that in another year we will have made progress on the road to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, taken steps to make our communities safer, more affordable and livable, acted to combat the climate crisis, done the work we need to be more understanding and inclusive, improved our health-care system, and celebrated those who do their best every day to make Canada a better place to live, including children, who give us so much hope and optimism for the future.

May we remain glorious and free.