Posted on June 30, 2023 in
News & Events
O Canada! Our home and native land!
On the first of July (just a few hours from now), Canada will be 156 years old. As it is ‘July born’, its Zodiac sign is Cancer – it is therefore not a surprise that it has the world’s longest coastline. This year’s anniversary is special because just a few days ago, the country’s population touched the 40 million mark. This is a significant milestone for Canada with its historically low population, and attendant labour shortages.
96% of the population increase between 2022 and 2023 is attributed to immigrants. This underscores the hospitable nature of Canada. Hospitality – that’s also one major reason to celebrate this great nation – among many more reasons…
Polite People: From holding the door for strangers to saying sorry profusely or giving a drenched couple a lift home as well as other innumerable acts of kindness, Canadians are truly kind and polite people. We apologize so much that provincial legislatures had to enact the Apologies Act in 2009, to make apologies inadmissible in court!
Diverse Languages: Canada has two official languages: English and French, but there are also indigenous languages like the Inuktitut of the Inuit, and other languages like Cree and Bungi of other indigenous groups.
However, with the arrival of immigrants from many parts of the world, many more languages are becoming common on Canadian streets – Punjabi, Mandarin, Yoruba, Filipino, Arabic, etc.
Extreme Weather: Canada’s moniker – The Great White North – came about partly because of the breathtaking whiteness of its vast spaces (mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes) during its winters (which can last for up to six months in some parts of the country). Winter temperatures can drop below 40 degrees Celsius in some locations with the lowest ever at -63C.
Canada is also one of the few countries where you can see the magnificent Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). Yukon, Manitoba, and places like Jasper Park in Alberta, are some of the best locations to see this amazing wonder – there is the extreme and there is the extremely beautiful
The beauty doesn’t stop with Aurora as some of the loveliest tourist attractions in the world can be found here. From the annual Calgary Stampede in Alberta to the exhilarating Stanley Park in British Columbia, not to mention Toronto’s timeless Niagara Falls, Canada is a land of beauty and unforgettable experiences.
Entertainment: Look at this list: the invention of IMAX, the creation of Superman, Michael Bublé, Celine Dion, Drake, Justin Bieber, Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, James Cameron, Keanu Reeves, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling, Sandra Oh…
That’s a roll call of some of Canada’s finest in Hollywood and music. From James Cameron, the consummate director of record-setting box office movies like Avatar to chart-topping Grammy winners like Celine Dion, Drake, and Michael Bublé, Canadians have made, and continue to make, significant impact on popular culture.
Sports: Vancouver and Toronto are two of the 16 North American cities to host the 2026 Soccer World Cup – the biggest sports spectacle in the world. This mega event will put Canada at the centre of attention in the summer of 2026.
But while the world cup is still on the horizon, we can continue to celebrate one major Canadian contribution to global sports – basketball. In December of 1891, James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor invented the game to keep athletes indoors during winter. Naismith formalized the game with his 13 rules.
Canada’s contributions to the world transcend sports, entertainment, or academia. From the invention of insulin, to the snowblower (of course), the telephone, and so on, there is a trace of Canada everywhere.
These achievements should excite every Canadian as we wave our flags heartily and sing O Canada tomorrow, July 1, 2023.
O Canada! Where pines and maples grow…
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May Stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise
ABM College wishes all Canadians a happy Canada Day celebration. Do find time to join in the birthday celebrations across Canada – fireworks and all.
If you’re new to Canada, or simply looking to get ahead with a new career in the health, business or technology fields, then you should come to ABM College and get an education that will get you hired.
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