Reaching ... for Canada

We do it every year – sit on a porch somewhere and have a drink to celebrate the closing of Canada Day. Sometimes, it’s at a camp up north where we help, but most often it’s just in our city, surrounded by friends and neighbours bent on being thankful for living where we do.  And as darkness descends we hear the sound of fireworks and cheers from public parks not far away, where thousands gather to “ooh” and “aah”at the explosions in the sky.  Occasionally, we can spot the rising and descending lights above the trees.

But yesterday was different.  It’s tough to collectively celebrate in a time of COVID-19 and social distancing.  Nevertheless, Jane and I went out on the porch to reminisce on the blessings of the land where we live.

As we were speaking of history, current challenges and the benefits of bringing up children in Canada, we began to hear explosions, nearby and not as powerful as in years past.  They increased in rapidity and we could sometimes hear clapping and cheers as neighbours – citizens all – had found news ways to rejoice in love of country.  In smaller parks or open spaces, they were doing what they could to keep the celebrations alive in ways that even the greatest pandemic of our lifetimes could not snuff out.

I recalled the observation of Charles Dickens: “In love of home, the love of country has its rise.”  That was it, I realized.  Unable to gather in parks or beachfronts, our community was sitting on porches or in backyards, taking patriotism into their own hands and making a masterpiece of it. We know, more than ever, our national failings, but our strengths are unmistakable and worthy of honouring. Which is just what we did - across the country and unscripted.

Jane and I stopped to listen to the crescendo of explosions and realized that this was a Canada Day like no other, a time when people, unable to gather, nevertheless found ways to make their own collective noise and celebrate across the darkness and distance.  Despite our challenges, we were proud of place even when we couldn’t come together to express it collectively.  We were reaching for Canada … and it reached back.  It was a magic moment – Canada in the air and in the heart.  It was an evening worth remembering and a community worthy of its finest moments.