Plenty of reasons to celebrate Canada

Re 17 reasons to love Toronto right now, July 1 Disappointed that the Toronto Star did not display at least a “Happy Canada Day” on the front page of the July 1 edition. Rather, it was reasons to love Toronto.

Really? You are read Canada-wide. There was not nearly enough content celebrating our great country. Lisa Spearin, Midhurst, Ont. Re Here’s Johnny!, July 2 While I share the excitement of Leaf Nation over this coup in acquiring John Tavares from the Islanders, and I think your headline is very clever, I must say I disagree with your priorities.

For me, our wonderful country and our character as a nation are more worthy of a banner headline than the glorification of another over- paid sports star — even if his arrival will be a terrific boost to the Leafs. Pam Tomasevic, Mississauga On July 1, I walked down to a big, beautiful park on Lake Ontario. I saw a kaleidoscope of skin colours and people wearing everything from bikinis to niqabs, shalwar kameez to shorts and tees. I heard a symphony of languages which I couldn’t understand, but the laughter I could.

The sun sparkled on the lake, the park was clean and everywhere were images of the maple leaf.

I was surrounded by the smiling, happy faces of families from all over the world who had come together to celebrate one thing: Canada. No politician’s speech, parade or fireworks display could have made me prouder or more grateful to be Canadian. Bobbi MacDougall, Mississauga