143 years young

A round of applause for our country, Canada.

There are many reasons why everyone should celebrate Canada's 143rd birthday tomorrow, but there's no limit as to how you should celebrate.

America has its Fourth of July party, which is highlighted by fireworks. Canada Day, however, has no central party theme, which is fitting since our country is so diverse. Whether it's a barbecue, parade, outdoor concert, carnival, or block party, Canada Day has a wide-range of celebratory events one can partake in.

So, whether you're planning a neighbourhood party, or whether you're party includes steaks on a barbecue, it's not important how you celebrate our country's birthday, as long as you do something to celebrate.

Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford, Jennifer Welsh, said, "Canada Day, like the country, is endlessly decentralized. There doesn't seem to be a central recipe for how to celebrate it - chalk it up to the nature of the federation."

That pretty much sums it up. Go west to Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, where farming is one of the key industry players, and you'll find numerous ways of celebrating Canada Day. Head a little further east to Ontario, you'll find a huge party in Ottawa. Further east in Quebec, you'll find there may be a totally different way of celebrating. Keep going east to the maritimes, and you'll find differences in the way Newfoundlanders and Labradorians celebrate compared to their neighbours in Nova Scotia, and P.E.I. Then, head north to Labrador, and you'll find Native people celebrate differently, too.

No matter how we celebrate, we all celebrate for the same reason - it's great to be Canadian, and it's great living in Canada.

Sometimes we may take things for granted. We can vote without worry of intimidation, without armed guards watching over our shoulder. The public can watch newscasts, or read newspapers that aren't government owned, where journalists have a right to free speech. Members of the public can voice their displeasure over government decisions without worrying about physical retaliation. We know we can walk down our streets and not come face to face with an armoured tank, or a soldier carrying a M16 rifle.

Yes, there may be things about our country that we would like changed, but in the grand scope of things, we have it great here. We're known as beer drinking, fun-loving, anti-war Canadians, who'll welcome total strangers into our homes.

A lot of people across the globe would kill for the freedoms we have, so when July 1 rolls around tomorrow, do what you can to celebrate Canada's birthday, and remember how good we have it.

info@ganderbeacon.ca