Riding the Red and White Wave of Canadian Pride

We are living in strange times - even stranger than the pandemic I dare say. Even though we were dealing with a lot of unknowns, there wasn’t one specific person responsible for triggering global economic upheaval, personal financial uncertainty, shifting tourism decisions, fearmongering, immigration sweeps, fake news, canceling DEI initiatives and basically causing a sh*t show on a daily basis. However the one positive thing that has emerged from the orange ashes has been the swell of Canadian pride.

From the labeling of food products, clothing items and restaurants with Proudly Canadian stickers to the belting out of the national anthem at sporting events, Canada is rebranding itself. The question is: will this championing of Canadian unity continue long after the oval office changes hands (despite what the current president thinks about how long he can stay in power)? Don’t get me wrong, I love what is happening - it’s long overdue.

So here’s my idea, let’s create a government department that’s solely responsible for promoting Canadian pride and unity. Let’s offer better incentives for doing business with Canadian businesses. The Premiers are working on cutting the red tape and taxes on interprovincial trade - let’s speed up the process. We need to move away from relying on other countries for resources, products and services that we can provide for ourselves. More importantly, we need to stop letting other countries define us or make us feel like we need their stamp of approval before we appreciate ourselves, our talent and our achievements.

I have never had an identity problem. I’ve traveled from coast to coast, and still have so much of this country to see. I love Canada and all that I have benefited from living here and raising my family. I hope that Proudly Canadian is not just a slogan for the moment, but a mantra that becomes ingrained in every facet of our lives. Make America Great Again will never Trump Canada’s Red and White Maple Leaf Pride - Eh!