My mother and father and I immigrated here from Ireland in 1960. We boarded a ship out of South Hampton, sailed down the St. Lawrence and took a train to Vancouver.
My parents, in their early 20s, embraced Canadian life. Our introduction was charmed due to his teaching job that came with a house at St. George’s boys’ school.
My parents never looked back, loving Canada for our freedoms and liberal views.
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s establishment of the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms is the cornerstone of our values. It advanced our civil rights and our independence.
Beliefs and morals Canadians hold dear are praised around the world. We are the envy, and destination, for many.
Nonetheless we are not without our problems, and there’s a lot of work to do. Truth and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and helping those who feel disenfranchised from a constant evolving economy, balancing the need for green energy versus our reliance on oil production, housing inequality, an over-burdened health care system, and a looming recession causing record breaking inflation, just to name a few.
Meanwhile down in the scary states of America they celebrate their independence on the 4th of July. Recently there are developments down south that have upset so many of us.
In the aftermath of the mass shooting in Uvalde Texas that killed 21 students and teachers, some gun laws have actually loosened.
It’s now legal to carry a gun to your local TGI Fridays or movie theatre. Gun violence is rampant in the U.S. and access to automatic weapons continues with no barriers.
The most egregious development is the striking down of Roe versus Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. Women’s access to abortion and health is now in the hands of individual states, run by politicians.
Abortion under any circumstances will soon become illegal in many states. An abomination, which endangers predominantly the health of low income women.
Thankfully we are very different from our neighbours. Since 1988 Canadian women have access to a publicly funded abortion under our federal health act. Our gun laws are some of the strictest in the world.
On July 1st quietly or loudly celebrate this great country because there’s no place like home. “With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the true North strong and free.”
Happy Canada Day everyone!
Ingrid Abbott is freelance writer who can’t stop saying ‘eh’
