Sunday, July 1, 2012

Celebrating My Canadian Home

A MERE 145 years old, Canada is a toddler in contrast to the ancient places around the globe. Ruled by the British prior to July 1, 1867, Canada gained more complete power only in 1982, without firing a shot, by attaining the legal rights to amend its own Constitution independently of Great Britain.

Amid the baby steps there were bumps and bruises. Growing pains and crises of identity are to be expected in this vast land as it evolves.

Giant steps were achieved when Lester Pearson was Prime Minster of Canada from 1963 to 1968. His minority government introduced the leafy Canadian flag we wave today as well as Universal Health Care and the Canada Pension Plan.


Without the watchful eye of its citizens a nation can easily slip and fall on the path to creating a kind and wise society where future generations can thrive. Some of the milestones achieved have slowly eroded and need to be restored to their best potential. What Lester Pearson said decades ago when Canada entered its Centennial year still applies today:

"... we are still a young nation, very much in the formative stages. Our national condition is still flexible enough that we can make almost anything we wish of our nation. No other country is in a better position than Canada to go ahead with the evolution of a national purpose devoted to all that is good and noble and excellent in the human spirit." - Lester Pearson

Visit Postcards From Penelope Puddle to view more BC scenes.

Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

4 comments:

  1. Between you and LB Pearson, this is a perfect description (with wonderful illustrations!) of our young nation's potential. Unfortunately, Canada is now in the hands of a warmongering, fear-peddling, citizen-stomping government. Can we survive these horrors, which Prime Ministers like Pearson and Trudeau could never have imagined? I like to think so.
    See you soon.
    Luv, K

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  2. Happy Canada Day, loved the pictures, a great post on Canada.

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  3. Happy Canada Day! I enjoyed the photographs and narrative.

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  4. I almost missed this one, Penelope! You have expressed your love and concern for your country most poignantly. Your Lester Pearson quote is perfect. What could be more beautiful and right than a national purpose that celebrates "..all that is good and noble and excellent in the human spirit."

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