July 1.  Or should I say 1 July?  Either way… today is Canada Day.  As has become our tradition since relocating here in 2005, we will spend the day and evening with a couple other families, savouring delicious barbecue and frosty beverages and sharing a few laughs while the kids run and run and run around the yard.  Later, we’ll make the trek to the riverfront for [what else?] the city’s fireworks display.  While it’s not of a similar magnitude to those we experienced while living in Boston, they’re ours just the same… quaint and humble, just like our town.  Besides, kids enjoy sky bound explosions of fire, large and small [adults do too in my opinion].

For whatever reason, I love Canada Day… not so much because of the events and fireworks or because it’s a holiday but because it serves as a reminder of the great country that it is.  A country marked by good people, whom are smart and humble.  Have you ever met someone who said “Those Canadians, what a bunch of arrogant SOBs…”?  Not likely.  It’s quite the opposite.  When I lived in the States and someone would pick up my slight (according to me) accent, the first thing they’d say after “Are you Canadian?” was usually “I love Canadians” or the simpler but more complimentary … “nice!”

So today, as your Canadian friends gather to celebrate “their day”, send them a text, write on their wall, or DM them to wish them a Happy Canada Day… or better yet, just say one word — nice!

Cheers.