Canadian values

         The Canadian values can not be identified as one thing because we do not have one identity: Canada is a salad; not a melting pot. It is hard to categorize our identity because of its diversity: there is no one culture, religion, language, or values.

         To be Canadian means more than just being born to it, or choosing to live in it; it is more than fulfilling the Canadian stereotypes. Being Canadian means to have acceptance, and tolerance of others different from oneself even if it is opposing to one’s own beliefs. This is the main thing that will impact how we are seen. By not judging others by their differences equality is created. By having equality creates fairness in rights, and how we treat one another. Although these are the Canadian values they are not always followed. We can not expect a country to be perfect because people are not perfect.

         I do not believe there is a country that is Perfect because there is always something lacking. Setting that aside, I think based on quality of life Canada is the best. Canada is a safe country. It has free healthcare and this allows people to get their basic necessity of health for free. We have access to an education system for all people. Canada has a genuine belief in equal rights for all people and this slowly being accomplished. There are some problems: the wage gap, mistreatment of our indigenous people, and our high taxes.

         Canada is different from other countries because, although it is a newer country, it has its own traditions, values, and history. Canada is a country of acceptance and that is why many choose to immigrant rather than other places.           

         I am Canadian because I believe in all the values Canada has: equality, acceptance, tolerance, and fairness. I believe there are improvement that need to be made for our indigenous people, and their communities. There are too many people struggling in this economy, and employment but that is harder to fix.

        Overall I think Canada is an amazing country to live in, and I am proud to be Canadian.

       






"Canadian Values." Www.wikipedia.org, 5 Dec. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
     Canadian_values. Accessed 7 Jan. 2018.
Best Countries. www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/canada. Accessed 7 Jan. 2018.

Dutch Ancestry

My family heritage has shaped who I am in both my work ethic, and my personality. Both sides of my family has shown me the importance of hard work.

         Fun fact #1: My last name, De Brouwer, is dutch for the brew master; this mean the beer maker. There is still a dutch beer company today, in Lieshout, manufacturing this beer.

On my father’s side of my family we are dutch, and German. My great-grandfather (my grandfather’s father) died in first world war. I am German from my great-grandmother (my grandmother’s mother) who moved to Tilburg, Netherlands. My Grandfather on my dad’s side came over to Canada, in 1950 from Rotterdam, Holland; after the second world war. During the process of immigrating, he was writing his good friend, my Grandmother; and was telling her how good life in Canada was; then she came over, and they got married. They came over for the opportunities, and work. They settled in Lucan, Ontario, which had a growing Dutch community; they worked hard farming, and raising a family. When my dad was growing up, a tradition they had was a family member from Holland would spend a couple of months with them in Canada twice a year; Canada was like a second home to them. Although we do not have many transitions linked to my Dutch heritage, it has been passed on to me how to be a hard worker, and to value family. Both my grandparents, and parents are very hard workers; because of this I am too.

         Fun fact #2: my Nana’s uncle was killed by a bull.

On my mother’s side of the family we are very Canadian, going back till 1857; that makes me 6th generation Canadian. My Nana’s dad has a connection to Germany: his last name was Schroeder; her mother spoke french, but has no definitive connection to France. My Poppi on the other hand is from Newfoundland; his family can be traced back there until the 1800s; but Newfoundland was not part of confederation until 1949. When interviewing my Poppi, he gave me many interesting stories, but some of them are a little embellished. For example he told me he left Newfoundland because they push the old people on the ice for the polar bears to eat; or that he had a blind horse that they put in the mines; he had one leg; three wheels, and they called him Wheely. To clarify in Newfoundland they used horses in the mines, and they became blind; the rest is questionable. From these types of stories I have gained a bit of his sense of humour, and learned some true facts about my heritage.

      From both sides of my family I have very hard working people to aspire to be like: all of my grandparents had to work very hard to provide for their families, and give them opportunities they could not have. My parents are doing that for me; I hope to do that for my kids.

Works Cited

Butler, Barbara. E-mail interview. 14 Nov. 2017.

Butler, Richard. Telephone interview. 13 Nov. 2017.

De Brouwer, Cindy. Interview. 4 Dec. 2017.

De Brouwer, Richard. Interview. 4 Dec. 2017.

Ever since I first saw Die Hard, when I was 10 years old, my family has watched it every Christmas morning; we have held this tradition for six years.

Although this is not the most conventional Christmas movie, my family has built a tradition around it. Die Hard is an action movie, which just happens to take place on Christmas Eve, that is also: humorous, has excellent music, and famous one liners. After seeing this movie for the first time, we, as a family, started watching it around Christmas; now on Christmas morning. My parents introduced my sister, and I with great movies at a young age; now we both have specific movies we watch for certain occasions; this just happens to be one. This is one of many little traditions combined on Christmas morning: first we have to wait for everybody to wake up, or get woken up to go downstairs; then we open our stockings, and see what each other got; and lastly we watch Die Hard while my mom makes breakfast. For most families opening the presents in the morning is the high point to the day; for my family watching this movie, even if it is not a traditional Christmas movie, lets us spend time together doing something. Whether it is us looking at what gifts we received, or calling other relatives, to wish them a merry Christmas, watching this movie makes the feeling of Christmas last most of the day. We have little quirky things we do as a family; that is why I like continuing this tradition every year, so it sets us apart from a normal Christmas. I hope, when my kids come of age, that my own family might continue this little tradition, or come up with our own unique, special customs. Works Cited De Brouwer, Cindy. Interview. 25 Oct. 2017. 1988 Movie Poster Gallery Die Hard Poster. 19 Sept. 2010. Impawards.com, www.impawards.com/1988/die_hard.html. Accessed 27 Oct. 2017.