It might not always seem like it, but most of us hit the jackpot because we're Canadian.
This country isn't perfect, and there is always progress to occur. For those who are of Indigenous descent, regardless of whether they live on a reserve, life has not been as easy as it has been for most of us, despite efforts to improve. Life isn't always easy for other groups in our country who still face discrimination far more frequently than they should.
We might not like the government that we currently have. Most of us down here are hoping that we'll have a new prime minister after the next scheduled election in October 2025.
But we live in an incredible, beautiful country. Every nation has its scenic spots – a simple internet search will show some of the visual majesty that each nation has to provide. But we're particularly blessed here.
We know Saskatchewan has all of these magnificent sunrises and sunsets thanks to the terrain in the southern part of the province, and many of us know about the dense forests and the sand dunes in the north.
But you'll find oceans, lakes, mountains, forests and so much more in our country. We are home to some of the most scenic drives and hikes in the world. It's a nation well worth exploring. Be sure to take your time, too; nobody has ever said "I wish I would have driven faster while travelling through Newfoundland."
We are also a nation with a great wealth of natural resources. We have the oil and gas. We have the minerals. And we have what we need to be a world leader in agriculture. It's vital for us to make the most of what we have, and to do so while respecting the environment.
We are a country with diversity in its residents. People come from all over the world to live and work in Canada. We have Indigenous people. We have those whose descendants were European settlers and whose roots in Canada can be traced back more than 100 years. We have second and third generation Canadians. We have people who have immigrated here from every continent and seemingly every nation on the planet.
One of the wonderful trends in southeast Saskatchewan in the past 20 years is we've had people come here from all over the world because of the opportunities in this region. These people have enriched our communities, workplaces and schools with their language and their culture.
We have democracy. As stated before, you might not like our present government. But when the next election rolls around, we'll have the opportunity to vote for change. We'll be able to go to polling stations, and soldiers won't be trying to influence our votes.
We can vote for change. We have lots of options for change. Or we can vote for status quo. And we can criticize the government or the opposition – within reason, of course.
We have an incredible history. Yes, there are some things that we certainly wish never happened, but we need to learn from those mistakes rather than erase or ignore them.
To borrow the cliché, Canada punches above its weight. This is a country that just eclipsed a population of 41 million people. But we have done incredible things through our Canadian Forces, both in times of combat missions and peacekeeping. We are a country that has thrived on the global stage, that has made great contributions in diplomacy, health, science, education, technology, the arts, music, sports and so much more.
So yes, we need to celebrate Canada Day. We need to celebrate the 157th birthday of this country that has given us so much – some more than others.
And while we might want to spend more time finding flaws rather than the positives with our country, its people and its history, we have to remember that there is no shortage of people in other countries who would gladly be here, because they know how great Canada is.
