Never more proud of being Canadian than right now.

I’ve always been a proud Canadian -my parents immigrated here and as first gen born here I grew up during a time when assimilation was what I thought was key to survival. But what I realized as I got older, and especially after I had kids of my own, is that the gift that being in Canada allows me, is the gift of being allowed to celebrate our differences. Celebrate differences and appreciate them, while living in a democratic country that, more often than not (I’m not totally naive, I know we have our challenges…).embraces them.

This is flag day in Canada. Ironically I am not home to celebrate that, but if I were home I would wave that flag proudly, amongst all the Canadian snow that has just blanketed my fellow Canadians. I also watched some of the 4 nations hockey tournament today, and watched Team Canada and Team USA play.

3 fights in the first 9 seconds. And while I don’t condone violence, I have to admit that I did relish our Canadian guys pounding on the US players. Just for a tiny instant before I gave my head a shake. Ultimately Team USA won the game – but I was still proud of our boys.

I don’t like that the current environment brought us to this point. I hate that, as I have always considered Americans friends, and I still do. But the jokes and threats on our sovereignty have brought out a fierce patriotism – one that has always been there but now out in full force.