The one about… 🇨🇦
I’ve spent almost half of my life in Canada, and I’ve fallen so much in love with it.
From the minus-thirty-degrees Celsius winters in Winnipeg to the plus-forty-degrees Celsius blistering summer days in Vancouver.
From camping at Eleanor Lake to hiking the Grouse.
From tubing in Pinawa to getting married at Dundarave Beach.
I love all of it.
Canada has given me so much in the way of experience and relationships; I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t move here.
When I first moved here, Canada wasn’t so much of a popular destination for immigrants as it seems to be now. Countless times, I was the only Black person in classrooms and offices.
But over the years, this has changed. I’ve seen more and more people, who look like me, occupy spaces and fill seats in this country. Canada has opened its doors to people from all walks of life; it’s a true melting pot. And that has made this country so much better.
Thanks to its diversity and multiculturalism (which is part of its written law), Canada is one of the best countries in the world. It’s a grand experiment and example of how people with different cultures, beliefs, and languages can live peacefully together.
But there’s more…
Home to brilliant minds and hard workers, Canada has one of the fastest growing, industrialized economies. Our healthcare system is affordable and an absolute upgrade from what our southern neighbors have.
Plus, whether you’re staring at the Northern lights in Yellowknife or cruising through the Thousand Islands, you can never get enough of the beautiful sceneries and views that this country has to offer.
But for all the good that Canada has, there are areas where we can improve.
This country has ways to go when it comes to acknowledging and reconciling with its history of slavery of Black peoples and genocide of Indigenous peoples. In so many Canadian cities, incidences of anti-Asian hate and racism have increased recently.
About 235,000 Canadians are experiencing homelessness and many more are dealing with hidden homelessness. Our political ideologies are slowly becoming more polarized and we are seriously struggling to deal with the opioid crisis.
Despite our shortcomings, I believe we have what it takes to be an even better country. There is so much good in these lands and amongst our communities that can prevail over the bad. I’m proud of this country and grateful to be part of it.
Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦
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