Happy Canada Day! - a photo on Flickriver

Happy Canada Day!

This Canada Day is a very special one for me. It is my first such celebration living abroad, and it reminds me of how my ancestors arrived in Canada to begin with: some from France, some from Ukraine. From the town of Périgueux in the south of France in the second half of the 17th century, and from the small village of Ulychne near Lviv, Ukraine in 1903, among many other locations across the family tree. Canadian culture is established from is a rich cultural mosaic across the globe, including those indigenous to North America.

Today is a day to celebrate the birth of Canada as a nation, but I also believe it’s a day to celebrate the growth, change, and responsibility that Canada has showcased in recent years. I will not deny that the past can be painful; stories of slavery, residential schools, segregation, gender inequality, and countless examples of unequal rights for people because of their beliefs and orientations. We’ve come a long way, and the path forward continues in front of us. I am proud of the progress seen during the lifetime of my ancestors, and during mine.

As Canadian heritage is often associated with global origins, I remember moments in the past about how Canada has been a nation that makes the world a better place. One such example happened at the end of World War 2: Operation Manna. The Netherlands was occupied by the Nazis and they would not allow the transport of food into the region, forcing the entire population into starvation. Canadian Farley Mowat (later to become a famous writer) was among the allies who negotiated with the German commander-in-chief, Johannes Blaskowitz, to allow Avro Lancaster bombers to fly low over Nazi-occupied territory to drop bags of food. The promise was that they would be dropping only food, with the counter-promise that they would not be fired on. Countless lives were saved in this operation, which was later joined by the United States in Operation Chowhound.

Canada has long since been a keeper of peace around the world, typically finding ways to avoid conflict and ensure prosperity. Some of these projects were a mixed bag (like the road construction projects in Afghanistan), while others were remarkably successful, including UN efforts to bring peace to Central America post-Cold War. Now, the peacekeeping efforts are focused on Eastern Europe, where I also now call home; The border to Ukraine is a 350km drive from where we live. This is a much different approach to peace, however.

In 2014, Canada was helping Ukraine with non-violent aid: night-vision equipment, bullet-proof vests, and other protective gear. That changed this year, and here is a breakdown of what has been sent, when: ploughshares.ca/2022/06/canadian-military-aid-to-ukraine-.... On that list we can see meals, funding for satellite surveillance, gas masks, but most importantly: weapons and ammunition. This includes M982 “Excalibur” munition for the M777 howitzers that were sent, and I single this out as a specific thing I’m proud of.
You can read more about it here ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M982_Excalibur ). This is a GPS-guided precision artillery round that can be used “in situations where targets might be prohibitively close to civilians to attack with conventional unguided artillery fire”. Using this ammunition will save innocent lives. If the war must be fought, and it must, then strike the enemy with surgical precision. I sincerely hope Canada will send more alongside the replacement barrels for the artillery units.

The world dances a delicate ballet around this current existential conflict in Ukraine, careful not to trigger an even more catastrophic event. Prior to February 24th, Canadian Special Forces were training Ukrainian soldiers in their homeland. We’ve equipped them with the best tools to fight that we can provide. I know that the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada is proud of this, while simultaneously wishing for more to be done.

Some people might say “fighting a war is the opposite of peace”. If Ukraine stops fighting, it ceases to exist. The path to peace here is not an easy one. This Canada Day, I’ll be reflecting on all the ways that Canada has helped the world, including Ukraine. This includes during war, but also during peace. Canada's international assistance spending increased by 27% to CAD$8.4 billion in 2021. More is being done to make the world a better place.

Is it a perpetual shining example of how the world should work? No. You won’t find that anywhere, except maybe Northern Europe and New Zealand. Canada needs to get it’s act together about climate change, as an example ( climateactiontracker.org/countries/canada/ ). Political influence from the United States has also created a greater ideological rift in the nation, and I’ve never voted for a politician that I could truly trust. However, Canada is a great example of a country that can evolve and change to meet the needs of its people and the world.

While I have chosen to live abroad, I am Canadian. Happy Canada Day to all those Canadians around the globe. Let’s all try to make the world a better place.

Taken on: January 11, 2009

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Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, f/16.0, 1/125 sec, 67mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:	EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Aperture:	f/16.0
Exposure Time:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Focal Length:	67mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	-1 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 23.4 (Windows)
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