Brief Encounters

Happy Canada Day everyone. So what is a celebration in Canada. It depends. I live in the nations capital so we have a HUGE celebration downtown at the Parliament buildings, the whole downtown area really is blocked off and there are concerts and then a huge fireworks celebration. I have to say, if any Canadians get the chance to go, it’s an amazing experience even to only have once. I’m not exactly a flag-waver patriot (oh wait, I have a Canadian maple leaf tattooed on my ankle, maybe I am) but it is rather awe inducing to hear 60,000 people singing Oh Canada at the top of their lungs in front of the Parliament. *sniff* Makes ya proud.

Anyway, most large cities have celebrations and fireworks in some central park or location. I am in Vancouver (probably getting ready to board a plane as this posts), so I’m not sure what we’ll be doing today, but definitely seeing what Vancouver has to offer in the way of fun.

Here are a couple of little Canada-related videos. Flippy Cat is quite amusing in the first one.

This was a poem that was created by a slam poet for our Olympic games in 2010.

Probably one of the most successful ad campaigns in Canada. It was kind of the first blatantly flag-waving and I think surprised a lot of self-effacing Canadians. It spawned tons of variations, from serious to mocking. It’s not a great video but the only one I could find.

For those of you out celebrating today, celebrate safe and have a wonderful Canada Day and I hope some day all of our friends from around the world will be able to come and visit our fair country. You are always welcome.