The many reasons I love Canada

I know, I know. If you follow me on facebook you will know that I complain about the weather in British Columbia, Canada ALL the time. But I will say it here officially for the record that that is THE only reason I may at times not like Canada.

Here though are the reasons I DO!

1) We have UNIVERSAL health care!!!
2) Women can, if they want to, have up to ONE YEAR of maternity leave!
3) Women are treated fairly and equitably in the work force.
4) Our armed forces are used exclusively for the purpose of peace keeping.
5) Tim Horton's whole wheat carrot muffins.
6) The Royal Canadian Mounted Police wear the most fashionable red uniforms.
7) We have places with cool names like Tuktuyaktuk and Nunavut.
8) HOCKEY!
9) We get to say eh? at the end of all sentences.
10) One of our coins is called a loonie.
11) Newfoundland's very own Great Big Sea - just about the BEST band on the planet!
12) Multiculturalism.
13) Whistler, Banff, Lake Louise, the Niagara Falls and the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.
14) When people speak, politicians listen.
15) We have, hands down, the most beautiful National Anthem (writing this, for some strange reason, has, all of a sudden provoked in me a sudden need to play hockey).
16) Sebastian would kill me if I didn't mention this one, so here goes, #16 reason:  the resident orca pods of the Strait of Juan de Fuca (although the are not officially Canadian, we like to think of them as belonging to us).

But MOST of all, I LOVE Canada because it welcomed me with open arms, allowed me to become the doctor I wanted to be AND is the place where my children were born, thrive and learn among all other cultures free of judgment and in peace.

Happy 145th Canada!