Happy Birthday, Canada! Every year, I love and appreciate this country more and more. As my city becomes a destination point for more immigrants each year, and I have the opportunity through work to speak to them, I realize how very fortunate I am to be Canadian. The young fellow working in a grocery store or the woman working at a fast food restaurant have lived through horrors that we cannot even begin to imagine. They, in turn, cannot believe the freedoms and the wealth that we have here. They are in awe of our social programs, our health care and our education system. Many cannot believe that anyone and everyone can go to school - girls and boys, rich and poor - and that is it paid for by the government, and that there is no tuition. We take so many of these things for granted! All four of my grandparents came from France to start a new life in Canada. Over the last couple years, I have found myself often thinking of their bravery and determination, and I am so thankful that they took the risk of coming to this new country so many years ago. I have such a good life here, thanks to these four risk-takers. Sometimes it scares me a little to think that a twist of fate could have led to my being born somewhere else. Many of us living in Canada are descendants of immigrants. On Canada Day especially, we should take the time to reflect on how fortunate we are that our ancestors decided to build their lives here. Being Canadian . . . it's a good thing, eh!
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