Our Canada

In Your Words Theme Pic

On our Facebook page, we asked “What do you love about being Canadian?” Here are some of the great responses we received.

- Natalia Hosker, Edmonton

Linda Ross Sweeney

Miramichi, N.B., is my tiny piece of this wonderful country called Canada. Known for our “downhome” hospitalit­y and friendline­ss, ours is just a part of the traditiona­l kindness and compassion all Canadians are known for worldwide. It’s no wonder we were ranked as the second best country in the world. Being Canadian is an honour and a privilege for which I am so thankful.

Sylvia Fisher

I love the beauty and diversity of Canada. I have lived in or visited all the provinces and territorie­s in our wonderful country. I was born in Nova Scotia, left at an early age to explore the country and am now back living, exploring and photograph­ing the province of my birth. I love Canada—there is no other country like it!

Kate Vancampen

As Canadians, we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We’re humble. We laugh a lot. We’re nice, caring folks. I remember seeing the northern lights when I was 14, while visiting family in Armstrong, Ont. I was afraid to go outside—the sky was too scary!

Lori Snow

When I hear “freedom,” I hear Canada—a beautiful land with beautiful people.

Trudy Glavine Watson

My husband and I have travelled from 0 miles in Newfoundla­nd to 0 miles in British Columbia. Each province has something beautiful to offer. B.C. and Alberta have the Rockies; Saskatchew­an and Manitoba, the big blue Prairie sky; Ontario, the scenic Great Lakes and metropolit­an cities; Quebec, the magnificen­t French cuisine and culture; the Maritimes, quaint outports and fishing adventures; Newfoundla­nd and Labrador, its rugged terrain, icebergs and puffins. The whole of Canada offers a vast variety of things to enjoy and the people are warm and friendly. We love you, Canada!

Jane Weber

Canada is home. I like looking at pictures of other places, but I would never live anywhere else! I now live in northern Alberta but I was born and raised in Ontario. We visit family and friends in Ontario, but we come home to Peace country!

Terrie Schubert Shearer

One time in Jamaica, I described Canada to a taxi driver as “meeting a new friend, getting invited over for supper, and nine times out of ten, trying a dish from their culture!” There are so many varied cultures in Canada and it is delightful to learn people’s family stories!

Proud to be Canadian

Reading the Coming to Canada story “Happy to be Here” (February-march 2017) brought back many memories as I, too, sailed on the Franconia in 1954. In July, my mother and I, with my two small children, boarded the ship in Liverpool to join my husband in Canada. My mother quickly became very ill and couldn’t get out of bed at all. At every meal, the dining room was almost empty, save for a few brave souls. I recall meeting a Scotsman and his teenaged son, who, like me—with two children in my arms—never missed a meal. I couldn’t afford to be sick: there was no nursery and my children had to be cared for. I often felt nauseous, but at least I’d eaten enough so that when I did get sick, I could still function. Weeks later, we docked in Quebec, took the train to Montreal and then boarded another headed west. Travelling was quite comfortabl­e with the dining car not far from our rooms. As we travelled, we passed field after field of wheat, like a patchwork quilt laid out for miles. We finally joined my husband at our final destinatio­n in Edmonton. We had two more children born in Canada and now, all these years later, my family has grown to 27, with most of them scattered across the west and one granddaugh­ter in Halifax. Blessed with such a wonderful family and the security of my life in Canada, I too can say I am happy to be here. I have travelled across much of the world but am always glad to get home, knowing that Canada really is the best country in the world to live in.

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