Canadian Values

Trying to write this blog was a little difficult for me as i have never thought of this question before, what i value about Canada. All my life i have lived in Canada, so i don’t know what it’s like to live somewhere else, what their laws are like and what their quality of life is like. Although i have nothing to compare Canada to, i know it is one of the best places to live.

For starters we have a very good healthcare system that accommodates everyone. Canada “[provides] all residents [with] reasonable access to medically necessary services” to insure that everyone is well (Government of Canada 2018). Without a system in place like this we would all have to pay to see the doctor. Depending on the circumstances, like a flu shot or an accident, the person could go into major debt. We value our people by trying to make everything accessible, which is why we don't make people pay out of pocket for basic necessities like healthcare.

Another things about Canada that I value would be is that we are a global leader in innovation, diversity and tolerance. Canada is one of the most diverse places in the world, “One out of 5 people [canadian] is foreign-born” (Statistics Canada 2018). We welcome people with open arms and help them back onto their feet, if needed.

Speaking on innovation on “September 3 1928” Alexander Fleming, came into work one day and was looking through his petri dishes when he found something new(American Chemical Society 2018). Within one of the  petri dishes he made a living saving medicine, penicillin. To this day we still use penicillin as it is used to treat “bacterial infections, pneumonia and meningitis”(Omudhome 2018).

Although i never have lived anywhere other than Canada, i value everything that comes along with the title Canadian.

Works Cited

Admin. Bottle of penicillin. www.narberthallergy.com/think-children-allergic-penicillin-truth-may-surprise/. Accessed 6 July 2017.

American Chemical Society, editor. “Discovery and Development of Penicillin.” Chemistry for Life, www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/flemingpenicillin.html. Accessed 2018.

Canadian Flag. 2018. Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada#/media/File:Flag_of_Canada_(Pantone).svg. Accessed 2018.

Government of Canada. “Canada’s Health Care System.” GOvernment of Canada, www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/canada-health-care-system.html. Accessed 22 Jan. 2018.

Ogbru, Omudhome. “Penicillin.” Edited by Jay  W. Marks. Medicine.net, www.medicinenet.com/penicillins-injection/article.htm. Accessed 2018.

Statistics Canada, editor. “Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity in Canada.” Statistics Canada, www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-010-x/99-010-x2011001-eng.cfm. Accessed 22 Jan. 2018.

My Ancestry

My  family's coat of arms.

Throughout my life I have never really know about my past relatives and how they got to Canada but during my interview with my dad, I found out that my ancestors are British, Scottish, and Norwegian. While my ancestors were in Scotland, they had 2 hills named after them, “one in Annandale and one in Nithsdale” (Halliday). The reason behind the naming of the hills is because "they owned the land, they were one of the first settler in Annandale and [that fact they are] Scottish nobles" (Halliday). A pull factor that made my ancestors move to Canada would be a better quality of life, a fresh start, and an opportunity for new land.

My family is not sure when but they know that 4 brothers from the Halliday side of my family came across from Scotland by boat and settled in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. From there they have lived in Nova Scotia for multiple generations, with a few relatives moving around Canada to places like Newfoundland. Recently my dad’s generation was the first generation to have children outside of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

What Jigg's Dinner typically looks like

I think the beliefs of my ancestor's does not matter to me, but their traditions do. I love the fact that we still celebrate all the big cultural events like praying to St. Anthony for lost items, Old Father Time, Jiggs dinner, and St. Patrick’s day. I like how my family has kept all of these traditions plus more in the family for such a long time, and how they have adapted them into our times. I intend to pass these traditions onto my children in hope they will enjoy them as much as I do!

Works Cited

Coles, Terri. “Why Newfoundland Needs to Be Your Next Culinary Travel Destination.” Serious Eats, 2017, www.seriouseats.com/2014/09/newfoundland-cuisine-best-food-canada-travel.html. Accessed 8 Dec. 2017.

Hallliday, Chris. “Halliday Hill.” Blogger, 28 May 2011, hallidayofscotland.blogspot.ca/2011/05/halliday-hill.html. Accessed 8 Dec. 2017.

Interview. By Mark Halliday. Nov. 2017.

Pinterest. “Halliday Coat of Arms.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.ca/pin/486248091000630489/. Accessed 8 Dec. 2017.

Canada Day

Snow birds 2016

             Every year in the heart of Canada our Capital, Ottawa, throws a massive Canada day party on Parliament Hill, The Canadian Museum of History and Major’s Hill Park. At all of these locations and other locations around Ottawa have live music, fireworks, snowbirds and games simultaneously going on around the region. 

A tradition on Canada day would be the snowbird show, a group of highly skilled pilots, put on an amazing air show for the entire city. They fly from one side of Ottawa to the other a couple times, doing tricks/ stunts within the air. I had the opportunity for the past few years to watch the show and it was awesome! Although during Canada’s 150th anniversary, it was super rainy and cloudy but they performed. The fireworks went off and some citizens from the Ottawa community came together and put on a shows of their own in different areas, which was just as good as the actual show.

Fireworks on Parliament Hill 2017

   Another tradition that is always happening on Canada day would be fireworks. Every year, as soon as it gets dark enough they begin and broadcast the stage show but not the fireworks around Canada, because of how phenomenal it is. Canadians in Ottawa watch the show in shock as the fireworks are going off all around them, for tens of minutes on end. The show usually last around 20 minutes, but one the 150th anniversary the show was even longer! 

    I think that Canada day is important to our nation because it bring us together as a whole. We are all celebrating one common thing, that mostly doesn’t offend everyone. I find Canada day one of the most enjoyable events that occur because of the amount of things that are constantly going on. Whether you want to listen to music, do some crafts, play a game or visit some monuments around downtown Ottawa, there is always something for everyone to do. 

Works Cited

CBC News. “Canada Day 2017: What’s Happening in the Core of the Capital and on Parliament Hill.” CBC News [Ottawa], 27 June 2017.

Government of Canada. “Canada Day in the Capital Region 2017.” Government of Canada, www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/canada-day.html. Accessed 9 June 2017.

Halliday, Mark. Canada 149 Snowbirds. 1 July 2016.