As an immigrant who has chosen Canadian citizenship, I sometimes feel that Canada Day is more special to me than to someone who was born here. I did not come from a war-torn country where we feared for our lives, had no safe place to live or little food to eat. To be sure there were issues that concerned my parents and which contributed to their decision to uproot their entire family and move to Canada, but it was not a life or death situation. Rather, it was a choice my parents made, after much prayer, to give their family the chance to have every opportunity for a fabulous life.
It was just over 33 years ago that we arrived at Toronto International Airport on an uncharacteristically chilly June night. I can still picture us - Mum, Dad, five children and 33 pieces of luggage - standing outside the terminal waiting for our rides (definitely needed more than one vehicle to get us all to where we were going!). My first glimpse of Toronto was in the dark so I don't really remember much of it but by far the most enduring memory of the drive to our friend's home is a fragrant one as we passed the Dad's Cookie outlet in Scarborough. For years when I drove by that spot on the 401 I would roll down the window to catch a whiff of that welcoming aroma.
As a teenager trying to adjust to a new country, I experienced some frustrations and difficulties but it didn't take me too long to find my place here in Canada and to feel good about my new home. It was eleven years before I officially became a citizen. It had not been an issue to me before I became pregnant with my first child and I can't really explain why it became so important to me to be a citizen when she was born - but it was.
I took the process very seriously. I got the booklets and pamphlets and I actually studied them because I was told that I would have to go through an interview process during which I would be asked questions about Canada's history and political system. I can still remember poring over the pages and quizzing myself. I remember the tiny room where I sat with the judge to be questioned and the little court room in Barrie where we went for the ceremony. I remember trying to hold back tears as I sang the national anthem as a brand new citizen. I remember the celebratory lunch at Red Lobster and I definitely remember the pride I felt as I held my citizenship certificate and card as we drove home.
It is hard to adequately explain how I feel about the country of my birth and the country I chose but I am thankful for them both. I am thankful to my parents for sacrificing so much in order for their children to have the wonderful lives we currently have. I am thankful for the Canadian immigration system that accepted us. I am thankful for all the freedoms, privileges and benefits I enjoy as a Canadian citizen. I am thankful for all the opportunities I and my family have had, do have and will have because we are Canadian.
I am thankful to God for His blessings on Canada. I am grateful for those who proclaimed loudly and clearly back in 1867 that their intention was for God to be recognized as the foundation for our great country. I appreciate the freedom I have to give God praise for His many blessings to me and to our country and I am very grateful for those who have fought for us to have the privilege of continuing to acknowledge God's blessing on Canada every time we sing our national anthem...
God keep our land, glorious and free!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CANADA!
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