Proud to Be Canadian

All countries have their advantages and disadvantages. Canada is no exception, but being that it is the place of my birth, I will always love Canada. On my father's side, I am second generation born, and on my mother's side, I am an original Canadian. Her ancestors had been here long before the explorers discovered this great, vast country.

Like any other country, Canada has had its growing pains and will most likely continue to do so for years yet to come, but it's still one of the best places in the world to live. We are a free nation.

Canadians are well respected around the world and we have somewhat of a reputation as being too quiet and soft spoken, but of course, that's a generalization and not everyone is like that. But we are well known, worldwide, for being a country of peace, and peace keeping, and I appreciate that.

Canada is a very diverse country, geographically. We have oceans on either side and above us. We have innumerable fresh water lakes that might be the envy of a lot of other countries. Thus far, many of them have escaped the negative effects of the industrialized world. Many tourists flock to our out-of-the-way, wilderness areas to hunt or fish, or just to enjoy the untouched, pristine beauty and serenity of nature. Aside from the bigger city centers, we also have the advantage of having some of the cleanest, freshest air to breath.

Of course we have the majestic Rocky Mountains to the west. They might not be as high as the Swiss Alps or Mount Everest, but spectacular just the same. Being able to drive through the winding roads through these wonderful mountains, gives one such a sense of their magnitude and that surely there must be a God to have designed something so glorious.

The prairies, with its many rolling hills and valleys, to the Atlantic ocean crashing against the cliffs and rocks of the Maritime provinces are no less spectacular. Canada has such diverse, natural beauty from one end of the country to the other.

There is also diversity in cultures, as Canada has become a melting pot of immigrants from around the world. Many cities and centers around the country celebrate this diversity with festivals throughout the year, that showcase all the different customs, from dance to ceremonial dress to cuisine. It's like traveling and seeing the world, but staying in your very own community. Just about every nation around the world has contributed a bit of themselves to shaping this great country.

Aside from the vastness and natural beauty of Canada, there are numerous other advantages to living here. Even though our population continues to grow, there are still many places to live that give you plenty of elbow room. Having free education and medical care is also a huge advantage. Although we may pay higher sales taxes (and personal income tax) than other countries, it's a fair trade off if one is ever to find themselves in need of medical care. Everyone gets treated just the same, whether you have little income or are of a wealthier standing. Even giving birth to children doesn't become an out of pocket expense. No one sends you a bill for medical treatment on your way out of the hospital if you happen to have the misfortune of being there, whether it be for a broken bone, giving birth, to a temporary illness or even something more serious. We have one of the best medical care programs in the world.

On the lighter side, we have some of the prettiest money of any other country. It's so easy to dig into your wallet and find the denomination that you need for a purchase, just by color. Any purchase under $5 is a blue bill, purple for the $10 purchase, etc. There should never be any confusion that you gave the cashier the wrong denomination or that you absolutely have to check to be sure you'd received the correct change from THEM. It comes in handy when you find yourself rushed at the till.

I am proud to be Canadian, and I love my country Canada!