Sunday is Canada's birthday.
That should mean more than it does in this country.
We only need to look south to our American neighbours to see how they celebrate the Fourth-of-July only three days later. In the United States it is a huge holiday easily rivaling Thanksgiving in terms of focus.
But here in Canada where we Canadians are noted for our rather laid back approach to celebrating our successes, Canada Day is rather subdued for most of us.
That is really too bad because Canada really does have a lot to be proud of, and a lot we should be eager to celebrate.
In terms of a place to live Canada rates rather highly no matter what criteria you attach to the list of countries you are making.
While we have made mistakes as a nation, the Japanese internments of the Second World War, the general handling of First Nations treaties to mention a couple of our glaring warts, we have generally done an admirable job of creating an inclusive society where the general needs of all are well met.
That is not to say more can't be done.
Yes there are homeless people in Canada. Yes there are those who have to turn to food banks all too often to eat. So yes we as a nation have more to do.
But that said what we have now is better than most.
In far too many countries of the world this editorial would be censured, if not flat out unable to be written at all.
In too many countries corruption still runs rampant.
In others the starving out-number those able to support their families with three square meals a day.
And perhaps most importantly when we are not satisfied in Canada and we want to affect change, we get to go to the election booth and vote to change things.
That is still something far too many people in this world cannot do.
Even between elections we can sound off for change in letters-to-the-editor (Yorkton This Week is always willing to publish local letters), or we can hold peaceful protests to rally public support and catch the attention of our politicians. Again those are things we take for granted and yet in many countries they are freedoms people only dream of.
So come Sunday we should take the day to take in an event like the one being held at the Yorkton branch of the Western Development Museum. We should gather as a community and celebrate just how fortunate we are to live in Canada.
Our forefathers worked hard to forge this nation, one where we expect freedoms, good drinking water, excellent health care, and yes even great hockey. They are among the many threads which we as a people have woven into something special. The result is Canada. Sunday let's all celebrate our collective accomplishment.
