This entire essay moved me deeply. (I've got something in my eye...)
"Canada is imperfect. Its history is unfinished. Its promises are unevenly realized."
"But a country worth defending is not one that claims perfection. It is one that commits to improvement, to repair, to inclusion and to opportunity. One that understands itself as a project, not a trophy."
This, to me, is the essence of the place and its people: the unification of the awareness of our blessings, privileges and obligations with the courage to be honest with ourselves about what's not working and the work ethic that fixing those things demands.
I reflect often on the motto of the Order of Canada, which is: Desiderantes meliorem patriam, "They desire a better country." I think every one of us would do well to carry the spirit of the Order of Canada within us.
To embody that spirit has never been more important than it is now.
as Canadian as possible – under the circumstances.”
I’d forgotten this, thanks for reminding me.
Gzowski had a gift for uniting the country and exploring its diversity.
I met him in Calgary at a book signing once and being a smart alec I asked who was going to win the Grey Cup - Calgary or Toronto. He pondered then replied
Calgary just had the Olympics and was riding very high on civic pride as was the province which he mentioned. Then he talked about the challenges of Toronto and what the city faced. He finally wrapped up by saying “Toronto, Toronto needs the win, you guys will be just fine”.
We need more of that. Thanks for the memory and thanks for your well crafted essay
Corey, I’m in my late 70’s, worked in government and industry, lived and worked and visited every province and every territory in our great country…. You have brilliantly captured what it means to be Canadian. Thank you.
This is excellent. I especially appreciate your invocation of climate as one of the keys to our character. John Ralston Saul made a similar argument: that living in a place where the environment can kill you demands a level of collaboration and cooperation with each other that more temperate places don’t, and breeds character traits and habits shared by northern nations. We rely on each other not because we are somehow more caring; no, we rely on each other because we know that we cannot survive on our own. That is our strength, learned and passed on, and shared with all who choose this place as home.
That is very poignant, it's just too bad that only twenty-five to thirty percent of Canadians understand that. I inhabit a world of highly-paid blue-collar workers who don't know SHIT about their own country, and definitely do not care to learn. They don't even vote for the most part, don't know who their representatives are, don't know a goddamn thing. But are the very first to squawk, bitch, and whine about how things aren't the way they want.
Thank you so much, Corey, for this eloquent and moving summation of Canada and its aspirations, and why the country and those values are so important. What a wonderful essay. I especially love the reference to the competition by Peter Gzowski, and the winning answer, "as Canadian as possible- under the circumstances.". I am going to save this essay to refer to in the future.
Corey - it's not easy to capture these abstract notions, but you do so eloquently and precisely.
Every time I return home from travel, I feel hyper-aware of all these traits.
My son has been living in the UK for awhile, and during a Christmas visit home, he said he misses Canada's wilderness, widespread wealth, modern comforts, and vast space.
And he now sees Canada's unparalleled freedom and opportunity -- economic, social, creative, etc.
He said, What is better than the sound of skates on ice?
There are several resonant frequencies that tie us together, and that may be one of them, as I marvel at the microcosm of Canada skating on Ottawa's Rideau Canal -- every age, every ability, every ethnicity -- all moving towards no destination, just flowing on frozen water, soaking up what it means to live in this northern corner of the planet.
We are a nation of pragmatic dreamers, tough and sublime, and we will guard our peace and beauty with all we have.
Corey, this is magnificent. Inspirational, aspirational and on point. Beautiful, thank you for sharing
Man, Corey.
This entire essay moved me deeply. (I've got something in my eye...)
"Canada is imperfect. Its history is unfinished. Its promises are unevenly realized."
"But a country worth defending is not one that claims perfection. It is one that commits to improvement, to repair, to inclusion and to opportunity. One that understands itself as a project, not a trophy."
This, to me, is the essence of the place and its people: the unification of the awareness of our blessings, privileges and obligations with the courage to be honest with ourselves about what's not working and the work ethic that fixing those things demands.
I reflect often on the motto of the Order of Canada, which is: Desiderantes meliorem patriam, "They desire a better country." I think every one of us would do well to carry the spirit of the Order of Canada within us.
To embody that spirit has never been more important than it is now.
You have absolutely captured the history, complexity, and egalitarian promise that Canada holds for everyone allowed ho claim their space here.
We are different colours, spiritual beliefs, abilities and backgrounds.
But my Canada is a shared set of values that transcends our surface differences, rooted in basic decency, and generosity. Wonderful post!
Thank you, Corey 🇨🇦
as Canadian as possible – under the circumstances.”
I’d forgotten this, thanks for reminding me.
Gzowski had a gift for uniting the country and exploring its diversity.
I met him in Calgary at a book signing once and being a smart alec I asked who was going to win the Grey Cup - Calgary or Toronto. He pondered then replied
Calgary just had the Olympics and was riding very high on civic pride as was the province which he mentioned. Then he talked about the challenges of Toronto and what the city faced. He finally wrapped up by saying “Toronto, Toronto needs the win, you guys will be just fine”.
We need more of that. Thanks for the memory and thanks for your well crafted essay
This says it all. Should be required reading for every Canadian.
Thank You! A superb assessment of Canada.
Well said. Thank you.
Corey, I’m in my late 70’s, worked in government and industry, lived and worked and visited every province and every territory in our great country…. You have brilliantly captured what it means to be Canadian. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing. Thank you for caring. A wonderful piece that says it all.
Fantastic 👏👏👏
This is excellent. I especially appreciate your invocation of climate as one of the keys to our character. John Ralston Saul made a similar argument: that living in a place where the environment can kill you demands a level of collaboration and cooperation with each other that more temperate places don’t, and breeds character traits and habits shared by northern nations. We rely on each other not because we are somehow more caring; no, we rely on each other because we know that we cannot survive on our own. That is our strength, learned and passed on, and shared with all who choose this place as home.
Thanks for the inspiration.
That is very poignant, it's just too bad that only twenty-five to thirty percent of Canadians understand that. I inhabit a world of highly-paid blue-collar workers who don't know SHIT about their own country, and definitely do not care to learn. They don't even vote for the most part, don't know who their representatives are, don't know a goddamn thing. But are the very first to squawk, bitch, and whine about how things aren't the way they want.
Of course - this would be the 25-30% of voters who vote Liberal or NDP 🙄
No, it's people who don't vote at all.
Thank you so much, Corey, for this eloquent and moving summation of Canada and its aspirations, and why the country and those values are so important. What a wonderful essay. I especially love the reference to the competition by Peter Gzowski, and the winning answer, "as Canadian as possible- under the circumstances.". I am going to save this essay to refer to in the future.
Corey - it's not easy to capture these abstract notions, but you do so eloquently and precisely.
Every time I return home from travel, I feel hyper-aware of all these traits.
My son has been living in the UK for awhile, and during a Christmas visit home, he said he misses Canada's wilderness, widespread wealth, modern comforts, and vast space.
And he now sees Canada's unparalleled freedom and opportunity -- economic, social, creative, etc.
He said, What is better than the sound of skates on ice?
There are several resonant frequencies that tie us together, and that may be one of them, as I marvel at the microcosm of Canada skating on Ottawa's Rideau Canal -- every age, every ability, every ethnicity -- all moving towards no destination, just flowing on frozen water, soaking up what it means to live in this northern corner of the planet.
We are a nation of pragmatic dreamers, tough and sublime, and we will guard our peace and beauty with all we have.
I needed to read this tonight. Thank you.