I was born and have lived my whole life in Canada; all of it in Ontario; and my childhood and youth in Northern Ontario. For those of you from the South, that is the big white portion of the province on the other side of your Ontario Road Map. I am a very proud Canadian and believe in my Country do or die. This does not mean my government, Mr Harper.
I am grateful for the basic freedoms and civil rights we enjoy here. I know Canada is not perfect. We have many of the social problems from which many other countries suffer; poverty, hunger and many of our Aboriginal peoples are lacking basic necessities. These are not problems that our easily solved and by no means will I attempt to solve them here.
I am not only a proud and grateful Canadian, I see myself as a privileged Canadian and human being. Because of the sense of multiculturalism that Canada has fostered, I do not see what can be called a "typical" Canadian. We are all Canadians but of different colours, creeds and ethnic backgrounds. What a marvellous opportunity, one that many other countries in the world cannot enjoy.
There are rural parts of our country that perhaps do not represent the diversity that is Canada. Nonetheless, if one travels to one of our larger cities, the plethora of cultures is endless. I can speak personally only of Toronto and Montreal since those are the metropolises I have visited, but I suspect that any of the major cities would be similar.
I can walk through Toronto and eat a different type of food everyday; Chinese, Japanese, Caribbean, French, Russian, Indian and fusions of any of these and more. There is an Italian Festival, Dragon Boat Races, Bonhomme Carnivale, and a St. Patrick Day Parade. Where else could one learn about just about any culture in the World and never have leave home. Many people complain about immigrants, and I suppose there are "good" immigrants and "bad" immigrants, just as there are good and bad natural Canadians. But let's all remember that unless you belong to the First Nations, we are all immigrants or their descendants. Instead of disparaging our differences, why not celebrate them.
I am overjoyed to be at a hockey tournament and see the various names on the back of the jerseys. There is a Gallagher, a Smith, and a Charbonneau. But also a Ma, a Fardi, a Rodriguez and a Caputo.
We are blessed to live here. It benefits all of Canada to celebrate the varied cultures that make up the Best Country in the World.
