Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom

Posted on July 2, 2025 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with no comments yet

Beautiful in red and white

 

“Oh, Canada,

Our home and native land”

I will openly admit my bias. I firmly believe that Canada is the greatest country in the world. Yesterday we celebrated Canada Day. By many standards, we’re a newbie, clocking in at a modest 158 years of age. Lately, my body feels like I have been around for every one of those celebrations! It’s great to sit around with friends on Canada Day and raise a glass to celebrate our good fortune.

I am luckier than most. I have travelled the country extensively with only the Northwest Territories, The Yukon, and Nunavut on my “to do” list.

Here is another excerpt from my upcoming autobiography:

This is the Reader’s Digest version of travelling across Canada.

Canada is a huge country. Over my lifetime, I have crossed the country, coast to coast, at least eight times by car. You can’t appreciate the breadth of the country, the second largest in the world, until you get behind the wheel of a car. Whether you travel from east to west or west to east, whichever way you slice it, it still measures around 5,800 kilometres. Coming from the east, you cross the border into New Brunswick near Aulac and proceed to drive through, the St.John River valley, past Fredericton, up to Edmonston and into Quebec. At Rivière de Loup, you head south past Levis and Quebec City, through Montreal, and cross the border into Ontario. If you push hard, you can make it to Ottawa from Antigonish in a day.

Ontario is a massive province, and it takes the better part of two days to get through it. There are different routes one can take through the province, but I usually went through Sault Ste. Marie and crossed the border into Manitoba at Kenora. It’s a hop and a skip across Manitoba, passing through Winnipeg, home of the famous Winnipeg Folk festival. The prairies are flat and endless and can be mind numbing unless the crops are ripening and then it can be quite stunning.

Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan, is rather nondescript. Lloydminster straddles Saskatchewan and Alberta. Travelling further west, you can see Calgary off in the distance even if it’s almost a full day away. The Rockies never fail to impress. There are several routes that will deposit you near Vancouver and all are spectacular. The don’t call it Beautiful British Columbia for nothing.

Why am I so partial about my country?

First of all, I feel safe here although lately a little less safe with the crazies running the United States government. There have been many presidents that I have admired and a few that I have been leery off, but I have never been frightened of one until orange top got his hands on the wheel. Whenever I travel abroad and touch down in Canada upon my return, I usually heave a sigh of relief.

Canada is a spectacularly beautiful country. It has everything. The landscape is ever changing. Oceans, lakes, rivers, mountains, prairies, we have them all.

And lots of trees!

If you are traversing the country and you’re pressed for time, you won’t get to experience these wonders. You’ll just zip along, stopping at service centers with their ubiquitous collection of the same fast food restaurants and gas bars.

In order to appreciate this country, one needs to take “the road less travelled”. How many of you have been to both Torbay in Nova Scotia and the Sooke Potholes on Vancouver Island?

We are recognized as a country of peacekeepers. Our motto could easily be, “Make love, not war”.

By and large, we’re friendly folks and we’ll go out of our way to help someone in need. We even “pay it forward” buying coffee for the people in the car behind us at Tim’s.

We have universal health care. With all the bumps and bruises I’ve encountered lately, I would surely be bankrupt if I was paying for medical services out of pocket.

Most of us know this already. We are very fortunate to live in Canada.

Let us raise a glass to Newfoundland Screech, maple syrup and poutine… and donairs!

“With glowing hearts, we see thee rise,

The True North strong and free,

From far and wide, Oh Canada,

We stand on guard for thee.

Have a great weekend.