Today is Canada Day, a national holiday in Canada, honoring the birth of Canada as a country when the British North American Act came into effect in 1867 (originally called Dominion Day). Interestingly, Canada didn’t gain complete independence from the British Parliament until 1982, and the O Canada song didn’t become its national anthem until 1980. Growing up, I attended a Canadian French Catholic school, and history lessons were about the French Revolution, French and English settlements in Canada, the fur trade, and events that impacted Canada. In high school, the focus was on those occurrences that most influenced Canada’s quest for autonomy and British history. In the past, Canada Day was a quiet holiday. There were no parades. Perhaps a picnic outside. After all, there were still pictures of the Queen in school classrooms, mounted front and center. I remember singing God Save the Queen every morning.
So, I didn’t learn much about American History when I moved to the United States. At first, I was perplexed by the hoopla surrounding July 4th: flying the American flag, festivals, fireworks, parades, political speeches, family gatherings, and BBQs. What’s the big deal? It seemed so over the top. Why?
It got me studying American History: adopting the Declaration of Independence from British Rule, the signing of the Constitution, the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement. The major wars like the American Revolution, World War I and II, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and other events such as the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. Bit by bit, I began to understand the rich tapestry of my adopted country, and although I didn’t care much for the big firework displays, I started to appreciate why the celebration of independence meant so much.
Freedom: the power or right to think as one wants without hindrance or restraint; not being imprisoned or enslaved; the absence of external restrictions; the empowerment to make meaningful choices; and to live a life aligned with one’s values and intentions. Freedom to speak one’s mind. Freedom to do what one wants to do. Freedom to choose. Freedom to be an entrepreneur or a doctor or own a business or write a book.
So, this week, as Canada celebrates July 1st and America celebrates July 4th, I’m marking not only the privilege of being born and raised in Canada, and my choice to immigrate to America, but also the opportunity to have had and still have the priceless gift of freedom.
“Is freedom anything else than the freedom to live as we wish?” Epictetus (Greek Philosopher 135 AD)
Enjoy the Passage of Time.
Sharon
© 2025. Sharon Kreider. All Rights Reserved.
