Happy Canada Day!
As Point2 is a Canadian company, everyone around here is gearing up for our nation's birthday tomorrow.
Being a girl born and raised on the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada, each Canada Day is also a great reminder of why I love this country so much:
Hockey. We love it, we're good at it (recent Olympic wins come to mind), and since we have ice for the majority of the year, the popularity of the sport is not surprising. One day I will see my Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup again...one day...
Nature. There are people who think I'm turning into a hippie, but I really love just being immersed in nature. Canada has some of the most gorgeous forests and wildlife you've ever seen. We're known for our majestic moose, and believe me, when you see one up close, their sheer size and agility takes your breath away.
Wide Open Spaces. Drive a few miles out of Saskatoon and you will suddenly find yourself completely and utterly alone. Although I love the people and rush of the city, there is still a part of me that loves being completely alone with nothing and noone for miles. You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl!
Winter. As much as scraping an inch of ice off the windshield in the morning gets annoying, and as much as shovelling through months of seemingly unending snow drains the spirit, winter is one of the best times of the year. There is a magic that exists on those frosty nights when the world is sleeping, your every breath freezes your lungs, and the snowflakes dance through the chill in the air...
Comedy. Canadians will be the first people to make jokes and laugh at themselves, especially when it comes to stereotypes, eh? ;)
The Maple Leaf. It may be just a leaf off a tree, but seeing the mighty maple leaf, a national symbol of all Canadians, makes me smile and swell with pride. Our flag is a cheerful red and white with a giant red maple leaf in the middle, looking slightly like someone standing there with arms open wide for a hug. The symbolism captures the friendliness of our nation, I think.
Pride. Canadians are proud to be Canadians, regardless of what anyone says about us. We're a happy, polite, slightly zany nation of people...and we're darn proud of it.
Oh Canada, I stand on guard for thee.
Tanya
~ Tanya Spilchak, Education Coordinator