I Love Living In Canada!!
By Harland Lesyk
It would seem, that there is a segment of people who live in Canada who are not happy about many aspects of life here in Canada. This article is all about loving my country so those of you who think that we are not living a life that is the envy of most people in the world, then probably this article isn’t for you. I am one of those that tries very hard to see the “The glass half full” and below are listed some of the things I have found.
FACT: We are a friendly lot for the most part. Yes, absolutely we are. Canada has a great reputation for being a friendly and safe place to live and raise a family. Heck there are many Canadian comedians that have routines that make us laugh at our own politeness and apologetic nature.
FACT: Canada is one of the top 3 most popular countries globally and is ranked #1 for quality of life. Canada is the second-largest country in the world in its size, and its population is around 35 million people. The state of Texas has about 29 million people. I know that Canada is great because I have lived here my entire life almost exclusively except for about 4 years when I lived in some other countries.
FACT: We are a diverse Multi Cultural country boasting approximately 30 ethnic communities. No matter where you’re from, or the culture that you embrace, Canada is a desired location for people from the entire world to settle in. You’ll find Canada an inviting and accepting Country for you and your family no matter where you are from.
FACT: Let’s talk about wildlife and nature for a moment. If you love the great outdoors, then you’ll really love Canada. We have 10 million square kilometres of beautiful landscape, it’s like living in a postcard every single day of your life. From coast to coast you will find natural vistas that will simply take your breath away with an abundance of adventure that is the envy of every other country on earth.
FACT: Re Canadian schools and post-education. We have 100 universities, 15,500 elementary and secondary schools, Canada has 3 of the top 20 best student cities in the world. Students from around the world rank Canada the 2nd most welcoming country for international students, this info is from www.educcanada.ca if you would like to look further.
FACT: Canada is known globally as “The Land of Opportunity” I’ve had the opportunity to have lived in Africa, the USA and a handful of European countries. The common thought amongst ALL of my friends from these places is “Wow, are you ever fortunate to be from Canada. I’m going there someday”.
FACT: Canada is the easiest place to start a business in the G20. Canada’s ranks first among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries for its attractiveness to entrepreneurs thanks to its welcoming and robust business environment.
FACT: Canada is a great place to raise a family. According to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Canada is ranked the safest country globally for travel and features beautiful country properties and safe suburban communities. If country living isn’t your thing, then you’ll find comfort in knowing that Canada has some of the most beautiful and developed cities in the world. Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary are just a few great examples of organized, bustling urban areas that are exploding with commercial and industrial opportunities.
FACT: The healthcare system in Canada is a free and open system that’s paid for by the citizen’s taxes. Healthcare is free and available to all and takes away the stress of not being able to pay for expensive procedures and medical appointments. Yes, there are challenges in our health system, but I think it’s safe to say that we are still very fortunate to not have to worry that I’ll have to take out a second mortgage on my home if I need to be in the hospital for any length of time, let alone if I need a surgery.
FACT: The crime rate in Canada is low compared to other countries in the world. In 2020, there were 743 murders in Canada in total, I know, one is too many but compare that to the state of California. In 2020, they had 2,161 murders. This is in part is because the population in Canada is comparatively small for the size of the country, but I think it also has to do with its values that are inherently part of our DNA. Simply put, we are known as pretty nice folks.
I liked raising my kids in a place that we get to enjoy all four seasons, the way that nature intended us to, okay okay granted -30 isn’t much fun. The warmth of spring is special after a cold winter, but it’s during those cold months that we get to experience even more of nature’s beauty through the many diverse winter activities like skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing, along with the greatest sport in the world in my totally biased opinion …. HOCKEY. The frozen lakes convert into hockey rinks and the beautiful white covering becomes the foundation for sledding and making snow families.
To conclude. I absolutely love being Canadian. I am proud to the extreme. When I travel, I always feel welcome in the places I visit. When people ask where I am from, and I say I am Canadian, I say it with pride. Do we have a few things that aren’t perfect? You bet we do, of course we do, but in my very humble opinion I live in the best place on this planet. Yay Canada!!!!
