My True North
Embracing Home in unsettled times
Welcome to Canada
Bienvenue au Canada
How often I’ve seen these words and taken them a bit for granted. Sure, they brought a sigh of relief, but that was often because it marked the end of a very long work day. Looking back, I can still feel that relief, and also the twinge of the deeper meaning—a recognition of that feeling of being home and what that represents.
Like most human experiences, being Canadian means something different to each of us. Being the Canadian-born eldest child of immigrants perhaps crystallized something more in my blood. My parents made a conscious choice to leave the familiarity of their English culture and family to make a life for themselves and their children, and my birth solidified their dream.
As a young woman, I had the opportunity to travel and work across Canada, and outside our borders. As a flight attendant for a national airline, I was 22 the first time as a crew member I stepped onto foreign soil from a plane with “Canadian” emblazoned on the fuselage. I remember feeling myself stand tall as I walked through a foreign airport for the first time with my crew, our bags proudly displaying the maple leaf for all to see. Travelling abroad made me truly appreciate all that I had as a Canadian.
My stops in places were often short; however, the glimpses of life outside what I’d grown up with awakened a sense of awe in the vast beauty and diversity of our people and our land, and the thread of connectedness woven throughout.
Growing up on the West Coast, I was used to seeing the ocean, but I can still remember the first time I stood in St. John’s and looked out over the Narrows and was struck by the magnificence before me. The rugged beauty of the rocks that seemed to part just enough to allow ships to enter the harbour and give a glimpse of the sea beyond took my breath away. The harbour itself was a memorable greyish blue-green, and the brightly coloured buildings along the neighbouring streets contrasted to create an indelible scene.
I remember a training flight from Vancouver to Edmonton where I was called into the cockpit and given the jump seat so that I could see the Northern Lights from the flight deck as we landed. I can feel the tears well up as I think about that now— I wonder if those pilots knew that their small gesture would be such a strong memory nearly 40 years later.
Flying into Saskatoon gave me an appreciation for the prairies that I otherwise wouldn’t have experienced as a “coaster”. I marvelled at how we could see forever as the horizon stretched over the golden landscape as it seemed to drop off the Earth.
Most of all I remember the people. The kindness and unassuming strength of spirit that I found wherever I went, as though woven through the hearts of all who call Canada home. The quiet pride of showing a visitor what made their corner of our country so special, and seeing this pride in their eyes as they looked out over their familiar landscape. The intensity of their love of their way of life and their place echoed through their stories, and made my experiences that much more meaningful and memorable.
Yes, our country and her people are incredibly beautiful. Is Canada perfect? Not at all. Like every nation we have black marks in our history, and looking back through our modern eyes we are appalled at the exploits of our past. And we know that awareness is the first stepping stone to doing better, and it seems we are on that path.
The world today is unsettled and a bit frightening, and I’ve never felt more proud to be Canadian. Isn’t it funny how a changing world and the actions of a person in power can ignite a fire in the hearts of a nation? Never have I witnessed such vocal pride in our country and our values. Never have I seen our usually polite citizens be so unapologetic in standing up to a perceived threat to our very existence. Never before have I seen what Canada stands for reflected across the diverse faces of our people.
So this Canada Day, I’m reminiscing about what I’ve seen and experienced in my travels across my country. I’m feeling prouder than ever to be Canadian, and to have the privilege of witnessing history in the making as we, as a country, stand up for ourselves like never before.
I am Canadian. Je suis canadienne. And today, this is something to be very, very proud of.
love this, thank you