Pop Quiz: Is this Saturday, July 1, 2017 Canada’s 150th birthday?
Sorry, did you say “yes?” Wrong!
Our sesquicentennial – a sesquicentennial is the 150th anniversary of a significant event – is a phenomenon Canada is now talking about more than the US talks about President Trump. This Saturday we celebrate the anniversary of Confederation, which took place in Prince Edward Island in 1867.
Lucky guy that I am, I’ve met a lot of Canadians this week who have told me why they think it’s cool to be so. (And if you’re not Canadian, read on: what I’m about to say has meaning that’s borderless.)
Among my favourites reasons: that we don’t have an orange-skinned leader; equality; diversity; our four dramatic seasons; the term “eh”; healthcare the world can be envious of; our good manners; our natural resources; Terry Fox; John Candy; that Canadians have a true “we” mentality – not just when it’s time to wave a flag, and, as one Canadian so aptly put it: “food” and, in particular, poutine, a major source of cool, as my research reveals.
Cheese curds or not, Canada and Canadians are inarguably blessed.
Nothing makes celebrating any milestone extra meaningful, rich, and enjoyable than stilling yourself for just a quiet 10 minutes some time ahead (ideally) of celebrating, to allow the real meaning of why you will raise a glass, dance off your ass, decorate, eat too much, and hug thy neighbour to fill you up with endless positive emotions.
I encourage you to make Saturday one to never forget by getting conscious. I did it when I got married, I do this when celebrating Pride, and always ahead of someone else’s celebration before I head to add my energy to it:
- Find some quiet space
- Get centered. This means no digital devices, music, TV, or other distractions. Close the door and put a sign up: “Prepping for 150” – so no one disturbs you.
- If you have monkey brain, quiet it by doing a body scan from toes up to scalp, paying attention to how your feet and hands lie, your breath, your butt touching whatever you’re on, etc. until you feel grounded.
Now, think about the celebration itself. In this case, our country: where you’ve been in Canada, and where you still have yet to go. Allow the faces of Canadians you know to come forth – both here and gone – and let yourself consider and reflect on what authentically makes you proud of Canada. Visualize our flag flying.
As inevitable ideas and inspirations fill your mind, note them in a journal or piece of paper. When July 1 hits, refer back to your notes at the top of the day – or make time to do the above first thing Saturday if you’re too busy until then – and then steal moments throughout our sesquicentenial to re-connect your mind with the thoughts you enjoyed earlier.
Saturday afternoon in the 2pm ET hour I get to join the likes of Mike Duffy, former Prime Ministers Paul Martin and Kim Campbell and plus Bob & Doug MacKenzie in conversation with broadcast legend Arlene Bynon Saturday afternoon on her special SiriusXM Canada Talks show, live from Prince Edward Island, the cradle of Confederation.
So, along with hearing what other Canadians have to say this week, I’ve been thinking a tremendous amount about why I’m proud to be Canadian, especially ahead of joining such Canadian luminaries in appreciation.
For me, a proud gay Canadian man turning 49 next month, I keep returning to the LGBT Canadian narrative, thus far; I am old enough to have witnessed the awful and the glory.
There are chapters of horror, like the Cold War “Fruit Machine” taxpayers funded so our government could root out nasty homosexuals, but more than such shameful blights, we own a wealth of triumphant LGBT history that exemplifies Canada’s on-going reputation as a leader in human rights, a country that has no business in the bedrooms of the nation, to paraphrase a clever, dapper dude who once dated Lois Lane and Barbra Streisand.
What about you? Why are you proud? I encourage you to know what and why you are celebrating this weekend, but most of all, I wish you a wonderful, proud 150.
– A version of this appears today in PostMedia’s 24 Hours, where I write the weekly column, Spirit & The City.
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