I know that I often moan and groan about the life I left behind in Europe but every day I become more and more aware of the freedoms, rights, privileges and responsibilities that I have here in Canada.
Yes there are things that I feel are wrong, there are things lacking but when I balance that with what is right and what is here I am thankful that I have this country to call my home. July 1 - 1867: The British North America Act of 1867 takes effect as the Constitution of Canada, creating the Canadian Confederation and the federal dominion of Canada; Sir John A. Macdonald is sworn in as the first Prime Minister of Canada.
When I was a kid back in the middle of the last Century we celebrated Dominion Day and proudly waved Union Jacks. Today we celebrate Canada Day and even more proudly wave our own flag. Happy Canada Day!
After Friday's little teaser I don't honestly think there was a more Canadian way of celebrating our 145th Birthday but then the CBC played a Stompin' Tom Connors song; well what the hell can be more Canadian than Stompin' Tom?
In searching for a video of O Canada to celebrate the day I came across this version from the opening of the Vancouver Paralympics in 2010. I found it one of the more moving versions of our National Anthem. Unfortunately I wasn't able to convert it and trim out the commercials at the end - despite a morning spent attempting to eliminate everything after 04:41 - so I'll leave that up to you.
This remarkable performance of our National Anthem was a duet of sorts - it was sung by blind vocalist Terry Kelly from Newfoundland and - though it is not obvious from the video - signed by Mari Klassen from B.C. Truly from Sea to Sea.
We celebrated yesterday at the Embassy with a gathering of Canadians and friends from Rome and today we'll be celebrating with our good friends Marija, Daryl and their boys Tyler Vuk and Devin Ogi.
Happy Canada Day to all our friends everywhere! Bonne fête Canada!
