Before I forget: Canada turned 159 today.
Canada is an improbable country. It is the second largest country in the world, but basically just uniting the leftovers of the North American continent after the United States formed. A country of English, French, not to mention First Nations… smaller in number but living here already for millennia before European settlers arrived. A country that hosts quaint small towns that sometimes resemble the British countryside, but also a characteristic North American metropolis like Toronto, complete with skyscrapers and networks of freeways. Not to mention oddities, such as the downtown walled core of Quebec City, Vieux-Quebec.
A country that, when things mattered most, punched far above its weight. With only 11 million inhabitants at the time, Canada played a nontrivial role in World War 2, among them creating a massive navy: The Royal Canadian Navy became the third largest Allied naval force in the world by 1945. Canada also played a substantial role in the Manhattan project and hosted much of the production facilities of the world’s first nuclear weapons development effort, Tube Alloys.
And last but not least, a country that remained a constitutional monarchy. A country with leaders who remain faithful servants of an institution that, though it appears dated and archaic at times, consistently proves to be the best guarantor of liberal democracy, the best safeguard against democratic backsliding. There is a reason why constitutional monarchies dominate the top of Freedom House’s freedom index, Canada among them. It’s almost as if the country was governed by wise felines as opposed to us, silly hairless apes.
So happy birthday, improbable Canada!
To that I heartily join! Canada inspired curiosity since reading books like “Boys in the North” by Mayne Reid or journals of J.Franklin expeditions. The land of the two Languages, the largest Lakes, the most maze-like north territories and other mysteries. And yep, that unique role in being companion-adversary to mighty neighbor and at the same time a part of the Commonwealth. It’s role in the world always feels underestimated or perhaps it’s just not yet steaming full ahead, preferring to keep a low profile… for a time.
Bon anniversaire!
P.S. the picture is very nice – really, perhaps the cat at the helm perhaps is the only missing component! Perhaps Canadians will repent and make the proper amendments one day :)