Party on Canada, party on

THE SPECTATOR’S VIEW

Dear Readers:

You are cordially invited to join us in the joyful and historic celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday. The time is July 1, 2017, all day and night. The place is wherever you are in Canada. From Vancouver Island to Baffin Island to Prince Edward Island and every city, town, village, farm, forest or lake in between, if you’re here, you’re in. From sea to sea to sea, everyone’s welcome. Citizens, landed immigrants, refugees and visitors lucky enough to be here at this moment — all have a place in the gala.

The occasion is Canada turning 150 years old — or young if you consider our glowing future.

The men, women and children who welcomed the creation of the Dominion of Canada — as it was then known — on that momentous July 1, 1867, could have never predicted how big and wonderfully that child of a nation would grow.

That Canada, with a population of just 3.4 million, included Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the southern portions of today’s Quebec and Ontario.

In the next 50 years, the new country expanded and grew to the north and west.

Railways were built to the Pacific Ocean, crossing prairies and mountains. New cities rose up. Newcomers streamed in.

In the 50 years after that, Canada fought two world wars, suffered through and overcame the Great Depression, experienced a population surge with the baby-boom generation and watched its economy boom, too.

More newcomers arrived. In 1965, we started flying our own Maple Leaf flag.

By July 1, 1967, the population had hit 20 million and jubilant Canadians partied heartily in our Centennial Year. But more changes were coming. Official bilingualism, official multiculturalism, open doors to newcomers from around the world, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the patriation of our Constitution: These were the major accomplishments of the late ’60s, the ’70s and ’80s.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing. Two referendums on Quebec independence nearly split us apart. But the Canadian willingness to talk and compromise held the country together.

To be sure, we have made mistakes and must still work to correct some of our errors.

At the top of the list is Canada’s First Nations who have too long endured racism, inequality, poverty and what, at times, amount to Third World living standards.

But Canadians are sincerely trying to set things right with Indigenous People, and even at 150 Canada is not a finished product. Whatever our regrets, we have much to be proud of. So please accept this invitation and celebrate with the 36 million Canadians living here today.

Food and refreshments will be served and will be as diverse as the partygoers.

Red and white attire is recommended but not obligatory. Wearing your favourite hockey jersey and waving a Maple Leaf flag are optional. There’s no need to RSVP. Simply set aside the country’s characteristic restraint and have a blast.

And you don’t need to bring a gift either. This country is the greatest gift any of us could receive.