Saturday 6 February 2010

Was there ever any doubt as to what 'C' would be?

My home and native land...

I get a bit choked up when I think about Canada.  I am immensely proud of being Canadian.  Yes, I am aware that I no longer live there, but that does not diminish my love for the True North, Strong and Free one bit.  I still follow my Leafs online (thanks to Phill); anxiously peer at the TV when a Canadian team is playing anyone, in any sport; and whenever possible, go see Canadian teams play versus Kiwi teams (and cheer obscenely loudly!)

My parents moved to Canada nearly 34 years ago now, and Canada has been good to our family.  They landed in Toronto with very little money, a young son and baby on the way.  I am proud to hold the distinction of being a first generation Canadian, and the first one in both Mum and Dad's families to be born there.  It's a story that is commonplace in my parents' generation - they immigrated to another country, worked (very) hard and gave their children an excellent start in an exceptional country.  I don't mean to sound blase about the whole thing -  I think it's absolutely incredible actually, and I'm thankful each day that my parents made that difficult choice, and that it turned out so spectacularly.  Both Navaz and I have made very good lives for ourselves, and it is mainly due to our parents' decison to move to Canada.  Being the people we are, I'm sure we would have done equally as well if we grew up anywhere else, but it was a lot easier because of where we did grow up. 

I could go on for hours about the natural beauty that spreads across the entire country; the multiculturalism, of which we are immensely proud; the opportunities Canada has afforded myself and my family; the people I've met; the busy buzzing hum of Toronto... the list goes on... and on... and still carries on... but I think that most of you reading this are those of my friends and family from Canada - therefore, you know exactly what I'm talking about. 

As Bono said: "The world needs more Canada."

Thank you to my Mum and Dad for moving to Canada 34 years ago (and to all Mums and Dads who did the same thing for their children) and thank you Canada for being so good to us.

6 comments:

Faiza said...

There was never any doubt! WOOT!

sheba said...

another proud canuck over here! [who pointed all things canadian to EVERYONE i knew when i lived across the border...wonder if that was annoying?]

Anonymous said...

Faiza - No doubt! :)

Sheba - I can ask Phill if it's annoying, because I do it constantly.

Alison said...

I feel immensely proud of our homeland too. People seem to think that because I chose to move away and am not itching to move back, I'm unpatriotic. But that's not true. I can't imagine being anything but Canadian and that will never change wherever in the world I live. We'll be up late during the Olympics and hosting Olympic watching parties with our international group of friends (I'm not letting them in the door unless they are wearing at least one item of red clothing). Yay Canada!

Anonymous said...

Al - I'm considering getting On Demand so I can record the Canada vs US hockey! :)

I'm so excited for the Olympics - hopefully we'll do well!

isleworth said...

When I was a boy of five, my parents moved to Canada from London, England to the tiny (then) mining town of Rouyn-Noranda in northern QC, about 450 miles north of Toronto. Imagine the shock that was to my equilibrium! I grew up here as a Canadian, went to school here, worked here, travelled to every province and territory and I am, like you, proudly Canadian. I am also proud of my birth heritage and, to this day, have two current passports, one Canadian, the other British. Canada has been a wonderful place for me to have spent most of my life. Like you, no matter where I am in the world, Canada is always home and it is always nice to come back to.

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