Happy Birthday, Canada!

In keeping with tradition, here is my eighth annual Canada Day post, a tribute to my beloved country using some of my favourite photos from the past twelve months. Enjoy! 

Oh Canada, my Canada,
A year has passed since your last birthday,
And much has changed in the world, not all for the better.

And yet I find peace and tranquility in your embrace:
Your trees, they shelter me,

Your birds, they sing to me,

Your rivers and lakes refresh me,

Your oceans fill me with delight

Your mountains, with awe:

Your beauty astounds me.

And even when things are chaotic

And barriers stand in our way 

We try to build bridges, not walls,

And to find light at the end of the tunnel,

We study the problem,

And consult one another.

We stand together,

And try to walk side by side .

Sometimes we go out on a limb,

Or stick our neck out 

Or even cry loudly so all can hear our voice.

Our challenges can be many 

But even if we feel threatened,
And our size on the world stage is small,

We must remember that even tiny drops of dew will nourish a plant,

And one small lily pad can soon multiply to cover a whole pond.

Together, we are strong,

And we can spread our wings and soar.

Oh Canada, we shall watch over you

and stand up for what we believe.

And no matter what befalls us,
We can still find beauty in an old mill town ,

We can find comfort with friends,

We can find things to smile about. 

We are a nation of four seasons,

And many cultures,

Of incredible beauty, 

A nation of workers,

and walkers,

and I hope that our nation's children will grow up to love you, Canada, as much as I do:

We are not perfect.
Our history is riddled with misdeeds and
though we are learning to reconcile,
We still need to act with more  compassion,

To do a better job of caring for the homeless and the hungry,

The sad and the weary,

Those struggling and those who need safe harbour.

And while some might think us reserved or shy,

We are resourceful,

Independent,

Fun-loving,

And kind,

And with those attributes, we can build community.

Oh Canada,

From sunrise 

To sunset, 

And all through the night,

We stand on guard for thee.

This is my Canada, 
And for all its faults,
I still believe...

I still believe...

I still believe...

I will always believe...

It is the best place on earth.

Happy Canada Day