Blogging at the Century mark!

As the Hollies iconic offering states, "The road is long, with many of winding turns. That lead us to who knows where, who knows when?" With this post being my 100th, my arrival at the century mark signals the completion of a long "road" that took me on a variety of "winding turns" as I investigated the world according to my perspective. Since announcing that the mark would signal the fulfillment of a goal, some have urged that I reconsider, explaining my words have been a source of comfort or entertainment for them in these strange times. I am resolute in my desire to take a break ... perhaps only for the summer months ... so the notes of support have sparked thoughts of a future return to the blog platform in the not so distant future. To those that have taken the time to reach out with your words, I thank you for your support.

Attaining a goal, regardless of size, always brings with it a rewarding feeling of accomplishment. Although the goal morphed from it's inception, the crystallization provided focus that made the final leg of the journey more significant, not much different than the "home stretch" on a run or bike ride. I confess that pride resonates strongly within my chest with the realization of something that started awash in trepidation over how my thoughts would be greeted. Once I broadcasted for all to read, and the feedback, I am content with the job that was done.

Having stated that, there are still things to say. There are memories that have not yet been shared, experiences not yet recounted, noteworthy events not yet itemized, and they will serve as the fertile grounds that will germinate future posts. If you are a faithful reader, the expose of those writings will have to wait, and I apologize for the anticipation that announcement may conjure. The longer I ponder what I have not yet shared, the more those thoughts birth others, creating an expanding list of future posts.

So, the question that may be asked is, "What have you learned?" 

I have learned that I have led a blessed life that was full of things worthy of sharing.

I have learned that I made some solid choices over the years, leading to sources of great joy.

I have learned that I am capable and competent and had much to offer those around me.

I have learned that I have been gifted vast amounts of love and connection, both familial and in friendship.

I have learned that there is far more to life than the accumulation of material gains.

I have learned that I am content with my station in life and how I see the remainder playing out.

I have learned that I am never too old to learn new things, a fact that is both uplifting and exhilarating.

I have learned that the source of my contentedness is, and always was, internal rather than external.

I have learned that while my passion for service was feverous, I am content to step back to a support role.

I have learned that I'm more of a "glass half full" type, and I find wonderfulness all around me.

I have learned that there are things I am passionate about that need to be brought to the front burner.

As I alluded in a previous post, the task at hand will be learning how to properly format a series of writings into a form that will be easier to bind into a keepsake, along the lines of a "Chicken Soup for the Soul" format. I erringly thought that it was a simple task but, once again, that wonder of the Internet has provided me pause. It won't be daunting, but it will take time and effort. In the end, what materializes is yet another challenge ... another mountain to climb ... another step outside the comfort zone. My end product is clearly envisioned and the task to see it through to completion is my new focus. 

I will again implore those that read this to entertain thoughts about venturing into this forum for your own mental wellness. While it can be intimidating to share thoughts on subjects that you fear may cause reactions in either direction, the very act of penning the draft and editing for clarity in both message and intent is a process that brought me great satisfaction and happiness. I would wish those same feelings and emotions for you!

Thanks to all who read this post. 

Thanks even more to all who have read some of my posts. 

To the few that can attest to reading each of the 100 posts I have shared, I would love to repay that effort with the reading of your 100. 

Thanks ... And continue to stay safe!

It's all about choices!

I saw this image on Social Media and it struck a chord with me. I am continually amazed by people who cannot see (or actively choose not to see) that common sense, fact based, tried and true practices are the way to manage this Covid-19 pandemic. With so many cities making public policies surrounding the mandatory wearing of masks in public places, the hue and cry from a segment of the population has reverberated in the hilltops about how their rights are being trampled is so much bull crap that the I get my cackles up. 

Yes, you have rights. 

What about your responsibilities?

If you are considered a Senior Citizen right now, I completely feel your pain because your generation taught my generation some really good stuff. If you're an old fart like me and my generation, you were raised to understand that every right comes with a responsibility ... no "IFs", "ANDs" or "BUTs". If you're a little younger than me, you might perhaps have missed that particular teaching since you grew up in the "I need to get mine" era, but don't be thinking I'm letting you off the hook. It's a common sense idea that everyone should understand. If you're significantly younger than me, you have no excuse because this is an integral concept presented in Civics and Careers, and you had to pass that credit to graduate from high school. Whichever the case applies to you, you should know better.

As the graphic states, you can't have it both ways. You can't choose to not wear a mask or not socially distance yet demand that you can go anywhere or be anywhere you wish. You always have a choice but each one you make comes with a consequence, some good and some bad, but they are always present. Your right to choose is shared by those who service or goods you wish to enjoy since they enjoy the right to choose not to serve you. Your rights DO NOT permit you to berate, belittle or bemoan the fact that your desires have been denied. Your responsibility is to follow the guidelines set before you as the parameters for service, or by choosing not to follow, your responsibility is to accept your choice of not accessing that service.

"But I read about the dangers of mask wearing on Facebook ... Instagram ... Twitter!" 

Borrowing some wisdom from the Internet again, this information, evidenced based rebuttal of some disinformation being spread was posted by a doctor named Sean Robinson. While I cannot personal confirm the professional credentials of Dr Robinson (here's his Twitter), the links to information he provides are solid. 

For anyone who has seen this flyer going around from those who are opposed to mask wearing, here's a friendly point by point rebuttal:
1. No it doesn't. Surgeons and other healthcare providers wear masks all day long. Could you imagine how often they'd be passing out if surgical masks actually decreased oxygen intake? Surgical and cloth masks are completely permeable to air particles because they're so tiny. Even when we have sick patients in the ER lately we've been having them wear a surgical mask to protect others, and we watch how their oxygen saturation levels don't change one bit.

2. Almost true. If you were to wear an airtight mask like an N95 all day long, there are some studies that show a mild increase in blood Carbon Dioxide (CO2). However, surgical masks and cloth masks are much more permeable, and definitely aren't skin tight around the edges, so most, if not all of the CO2 you exhale is leaving your face immediately. The take away from this is that you shouldn't be wearing an N95 mask anyway, as they need to a) be properly fitted and b) be reserved for high acuity healthcare professionals.

3. Not true, because it depends on part 1 being true.

4. I would love to know what studies they're referring to about "triggering retroviruses". First of all, part of their argument in part 4 is that wearing masks weakens your immune system, which based on part 1 they claim is due to lack of oxygen. Since the above isn't true, and masks don't weaken your immune system, there is no reason to expect latent activation of retroviruses. The three retroviruses that can affect humans are HIV, HTLV1 and HTLV2. If anything, people who have these viruses need to do everything they can to avoid infectious agents, so they should DEFINITELY be wearing masks.  

5. First of all, the virus is 125 nanometers, (Proof), but that's minutiae. More importantly, the virus does not float around on its own. It travels on respiratory droplets. When we speak, we release droplets that are around 1-10 micrometers, aka 10-100x larger than the virus itself. (Proof). Cloth masks will not stop the transmission of all droplets, but they will stop some (49-85%) Proof), which is still way better than a bare face, just like seatbelts won't prevent all car accident deaths, but they certainly have reduced them. The partial efficacy of masks is why it's so important to continue with other measures like physical distancing and hand-washing.  

6. They may finally be right about something. No large, rigorous studies of public masks use in real-life scenarios exist. COVID-19 is unprecedented, and still brand new. The time and commitment it would take to undertake such a large scale study would take years, and while I hope we have it down the road, right now it's just not feasible. But that doesn't mean there is no research at all. What we can do is look to other sources of evidence that support the efficacy of mask wearing. For example, during the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, 28% of those who became infected were wearing masks, vs 59% of people who did not get infected. This doesn't prove that masks prevent infection, but it certainly supports the hypothesis. (Proof). We don't have all of the evidence, but we certainly have enough to support the idea that wearing a mask is safer than not, and until that's proven otherwise, why shouldn't we be choosing the hypothetically safest option?  

Addendum: Number 6 may be wrong after all. Here's a study comparing COVID-19 incidence in a masked country vs unmasked countries. (Proof). The incidence of COVID-19 was way lower in the mask wearing country. So there you have it, this flyer is wrong about everything.  

Thank you for your time, and when in doubt, wear a mask.
Sean Robinson, MD CCFP 

Just like many living in Barrie with phase three coming soon in full implementation, my wife and I have expanded our personal bubble to include our immediate families but that still poses an element of risk since all three of my brothers are still working and two have to interact with a large number of people, but the daily numbers posted by the Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit have been minimal, greatly reducing the chances of contact. Both of our mothers are doing what has been asked of them and we feel that they are more or less safe. I would assert that we are choosing wisely by wearing our masks in public places, especially ones where distancing is an issue, and we are cognizant of enhanced hygiene practices, so I feel that we are a part of the solution rather than the problem. The 2 hour ride home from the most recent visit to my MIL in Haliburton was spent discussing the anticipated pandemic-inspired modifications to our list of To Do's we had for retirement.

I confess to all that I am a rule follower. Having admitted that, I am also a fact checker. When those two things meet they don't always link up, usually resulting in some research, and only then can a decision be made about following the rule. I have to admit that I am continually irritated by those that obviously choose themselves and their needs over following rules, often resulting in curses and negativity being directed their way from the front seat of my truck, but if I'm out and about, I will weigh the options of a confrontation before opening my mouth. I don't avoid confrontations, but as the saying goes, "You can't fix stupid!" so more than 50% of the time, I surmise that the conflict will not be worth the trouble. Another opportunity for a well thought out choice. 

In the end, my wife and I are content with the knowledge that we are doing our part to deal with the pandemic, and we have placed faith in our fellow man/woman to do the same. Stay safe people!

Sliding into home plate

When I started writing this blog way back on the first day of school in September 2019, the aim was to record some thoughts about stuff that happened, stuff that I left an impression on me, and stuff I felt strongly about. I envisioned that I would find enough topics to maybe write a few posts ... silly me, I know I have a lot of opinions ... but my goal was to do something to celebrate the final year of my educational journey by recording those thoughts in a single place so that I could look back on them whenever the mood struck. 

This post will be #98 and I have decided that the final total will top out at 100 ... or at least take a "summer vacation" to recharge and refresh. I have maintained a Word document containing all of the posts, and on the advice of my former Barrie North mate Kevin Simms, I plan to print the posts and bind them into some type of book. The lure of cozying up with a wee dram sometime in the future, revisiting what was important to me during this year, is like a mouth-watering cinnamon dessert cooling on the kitchen counter.

Over my educational experience, I have been tasked with a variety of writing exercises, and if I'm honest, a low percentage made my personal enjoyment scale. Most were tolerable, some (graduating thesis) were painful, but a handful tickled my inner muse. I would guess that those last few were the impetus for this escapade. I can honestly admit that I have thoroughly enjoyed penning all of the posts, but the accompanying catharsis within the action was an added bonus. As always with artistic works, the favourite of the masses rarely matches the favourite of the artist, perpetually a source of intrigue as I scan the statistics available with the blogging program I am using. While mostly a whimsy of internal benefit, it is quite externally satisfying to receive positive comments about things I've shared.

I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by the task, once I had decided to venture down the path. While that may surprise some since I am well known for sharing my opinions, those that know me well will likely have had an inclination about my trepidation. Much like the "Little Engine" though, I gathered confidence with each writing, and that confidence gifted me with creative energy to "steam" straight ahead, achieving far more than I could have hoped for.

This is an exercise that I would encourage all of my friends and colleagues to investigate as they near the culmination of their own work journey. The ability to recount the good times, the tough times, the thrills, the disappointments and even the surprises of your years is truly good for the soul. In this day and age of Social Media, it is relatively easy to find a vehicle to share your thoughts, and for relatively little investment, other than time in front of your computer. It was the ever growing enjoyment, once I had made the decision to cap it off at 100 posts, that sparked producing a "hard" copy of all those thoughts would provide a source of comfort like a favourite blanket, warming the soul as I replay the enshrined memories.

Being a closet perfectionist, there is a portion of my soul that would have preferred reaching that 100-post benchmark within the boundaries of the school year, despite retiring at the halfway point. Having said that, it really wasn't solely about education, so hemming it into the constraints of an educational timeline makes little sense. I'll readily admit that there were times when I struggled to decide upon a topic that was worthy of publishing, but also admit that a few posts "died" on the editing table due largely to their passing fancy. 

I have discovered that in my personal case, recording details of memorable events when they happened would likely have resulted in quite a number more available topics since I have conformed to the stereotypical cloudy memory status of a person my age. The high school years are fairly clear, but the trials of the elementary classroom are like wisps of smoke, barely perceptible images much like the remnants of dream. I can recall hundreds of faces ... something that has been a talent for many years ... but the finer details of the day to day escape my recollection. Even the names become a challenge, often leading to, "I remember your face but your name escapes me. Sorry." conversations when I encounter a past student or colleague.

It behooves me to pay homage to those that have reached out during this 100-step process with their offering of thanks for the good feelings that reading my thoughts have brought them. As already stated, the intrinsic rewards of penning these thoughts was reward enough, but knowing that they shone spread light into the darkness is "icing on the cake" as it were. With sincere thanks, I applaud your tithings of support. 

Thanks for reading!

To quote Queen, "I want to ride my bicycle"

I confess to the world ... or at least those that choose to read these posts ... that I am a hypocrite. 

I have long entertained disparaging thoughts about my elders whom I observed pedalling their way around the city and accompanying countryside, adorned in spandex, odd helmets, and weird shoes. I confess to all that I have must apologize for the years of those thoughts because I have become one of those elders, although my wardrobe is not quite as trendy.

During my high school years, it was all about team competition and not a lot about exercise. As I transitioned to university, it was about performance, and intense training was a necessary component. Once active competition was left in my wake, I continued to stay active through my role as coach, jumping into drills with my players, boasting loudly when I bested them. As I "matured" so did my "Dad bod" and its accompanying midriff inflation and exercise was a chore that was oft neglected. It's only been in the last 10-15 years where I have actively chosen to embrace regular daily exercise, although I admit that the regularity has been dodgy at times. Most of my more recent efforts in the last 7 years were born from of fears of my own mortality, and although I envisioned myself as a runner, I still shunned the idea of pedalling around the townships as an exercise choice.

That all changed this spring when I suffered a slight tear to a meniscus in my knee, ironically while I was attempting to rekindle my love affair with running. I tore a meniscus in the other knee while I was playing football in university, so I was familiar with the discomfort, but this time the healing process was slow ... frustratingly slow. I knew that a low-impact form of exercise was in my future and biking offered all that plus more. Much like a high school crush, the intensity grew quickly, and I found myself longing to be out and about with more consistency. In a previous post, I confessed to a goal of 200 KMs a week, a benchmark I am extremely proud to say I have been successful in achieving. The great news is that my meniscus has healed sufficiently to allow my KMs to creep upwards without being hobbled afterward. The meniscus is still an issue, a subtle twist here or morning stair climb there serves as a reminder that isn't completely vanished. 

Like so many fanatics, I have discovered that biking is a covert money pit, as desires to deal with the annoying discomforts of the trade bringing with them a price tag that is often shocking. I have already shared stories of mishaps that led to mechanical fixes that took a chunk out of my credit limit, but now it's accessories and their perceived "need" that is nickel and dime'ing me to death. Having admitted that, I have not yet embraced the Spandex bedazzled fashion trends nor the clip-in shoes and their hundreds of dollar cost, but I feel that the slope is a slippery one, and I could arrive at that place sometime in the future. 

I will "fall on my sword" and publicly admit that I have become a cyclist. Despite the heat wave we are experiencing, I have ventured out into the hinterland of the surrounding townships to rip off a 40 or 50 KM ride, bluetooth earpods playing ... at safe levels ... my chosen tunes, thoroughly enjoying the experience ...

Wait! 

That's a lie! 

I have resisted spending but I suspect that at least one pair of biking undershorts are in my future. My legs can handle the long rides but my hind end cannot and I'm told the shorts are the best solution. And my trusty steed has developed a few clunks that I would guess are important to get addressed, so a tune up and some shorts in my spending future. It's the trickle effect of purchasing that rubs me the wrong way with $50.00 here, $30.00 there, all curiously "great deals" on premium stuff, but I'm not sure that I really need top of the line. Since I'm such a newb, purchasing from Amazon or the like to save some money is harder since I can't physically see the item PLUS I feel strongly about supporting local business with my purchases, especially in this pandemic.

I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't. I think my money will stay local ... that's more important. 

If you see me out and about the local countryside, feel free to roll down your window and holler for a pull over. That happened on today's ride and I had a great catch-up with a high school football buddy named Ken Dube. It's not like I don't have the time and I'll reward you with a great conversation and a pretty terrific smile.

You know it Freddy "... I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike ..."

Shame! Shame, says I!

I've sat on this particular post topic for quite a long time. I was counselled NOT to write it while I was still actively employed with the Board for fears of how it would be received by Sr administration. Now that I am well into retirement, I certainly have less anxiety about "rocking the boat", although I don't feel that I am being insulting or derogatory. I feel that the time has come to say what has been eating away at my soul for 4 years ... 

The decision to close Barrie Central will rank as one of the greatest travesties of poor judgment in Barrie's history, in my humble opinion, and the true reasons for that decisions are a secret more closely guarded than the existence of a female Pope.

First, a little history, to set the table ...

For me, this whole affair starts on the first day of grade nine, way back in 1976. That was the day that I was introduced to the mystique that was Barrie Central. In those days, new students gathered in the Fisher Auditorium waiting for their name to be called as the grade nine homeroom teachers gathered their flock. As luck would have it, I was herded into a typing class, something I knew that I had not registered for. After discussing this with my parents, we decided to investigate a change, visiting guidance the next day. It would be revealed that there were TWO Stephen Porters, spelt the same way but with different middle names, in grade nine, at Central, both blondish hair, similar heights and we somehow got our timetables mixed up. Rather than this becoming an irritant, I thought it was pretty neat, and we laughed about it. It was the start of a 5 year running joke as we regularly got mixed up, even though we turned out to be radically different. The key was how calmly it was handled, even becoming the source of many wise cracks over those 5 years since we could easily pawn off responsibility for faux pas's as the other guy's issue. My teachers thought it was great fuel for digs at my expense ... something that would continue even when I joined them as staff.

Throughout my career as a BCC student, I was fully indoctrinated by the Central spirit, thanks largely to the many outstanding personalities that taught me, many of which I still maintain friendships with even now, 38 years later. As a retired BCC teacher, I share a weekly Zoom chat with many of them. Although I fully admit that I had only one high school experience to compare, I feel strongly that there was more to Central than teachers and students. There was a special feel.

Following graduation, life proceeded along its pleasing path, and following my decision to enter the teaching profession, a series of events aligned to offer an opportunity to return to Central as a member of the staff. After a successful interview, securing a position brought a sense of elation, not unlike winning a championship. While there was the expected awkwardness due to a number of my former teachers finishing out their own careers, we shared some laughs, reminisced, and settled into the business of creating another generation of Centralites. 

Those years were magical! There were many days I was truly embarrassed by the knowledge that I was getting paid to have that much fun. With all hubris, I feel strongly that anyone that has not experienced a working environment like that has missed out. The staff, both young and mature, were the personification of care, talent, energy, pride and passion. Through their influence, the BCC aura grow steadily in its students, like a majestic oak from an acorn. There was something radically different about Central ... I know this to be an absolute truth ... but it was really driven home when the planning for the 2016 Celebration Reunion as I discovered a deeper knowledge of the history of BCC and the wondrous accolades and accomplishments over its 174 history.

Getting back to the fateful decision ...

The first rumours of the ultimate demise, to the best of my memory, started up in 2007. It was right around then that there was talk of a sprucing up of the tired state that Central was in. When I joined the staff in '98, much to my delight back then, Central looked exactly as I remembered it. Of course, as I understand it now, that was a problem because it was a stark reality that little to no maintenance had been done for a lengthy time, and now it was a real need. Being an elderly build, I soon came to realize that there were potentially harmful issues with the way it was built, and the rumours of how much it would cost to fix were astronomical figures, leading to a declaration from the Ministry as "Prohibitive to Repair." The ugly truth is that regular maintenance would have alleviated much of the problem but that was "water under the bridge." 

As we closed out the first decade of the new millennium, more whispers filled the halls of something drastic being planned, and accompanying those whispers were insinuations spelling the demise of Central. I distinctly recall being bewildered that closing the school was being considered. I fully understood that buildings have a life and there comes a time when the cost of fixing outweighs the cost of replacing, but as 2010 slipped into 2012, the whispers centred around eradication rather than replacement. I distinctly remember the main argument being bandied around surrounded the aging heating system, its supposed danger of blowing up, and how replacing it would be completely cost prohibitive. That was all subsequently blown out of the water by a BCC Alum who specialized in heating systems with his insistence that an external heating system could be installed for 1/10 of the cost that was being proposed to replace the aging boilers.

When the official decision was delivered, I little bit of my soul was ripped out.

The now public decision was met with a tumultuous Red, Black and White WHY?

The most disturbing theory that was shared with me hinged on the Board needing money and the real estate that Central occupied had the potential to garner a hefty purse. While a plausible theory, in my mind it was bunk, an opinion that was supported with the completed deal that sold the property to a developer for a paltry $6.5 million. In the end, I was not privy to the money issues of the Board and had little understanding of the support required to accompany the millions coming from the Ministry, but a decision based solely on money did not sit well with me.

Another theory I was told was far more malicious, and focused on the personnel that found itself in influential positions within the Board when the decision was made. It was pointed out to me that when Innisdale was opened, many teachers at Central were forcibly moved to fill the vacancies at the new school, leading to seeds of pay-back at the heart of the closure. While I cannot personally refute this, I pray that there is zero truth to it, but there were some older alumni who were adamant that this was the case.

Another theory centered around the construction of a new high school in the south end of Barrie. This one had "more meat on its bones" since the distribution of students had shifted with the urban sprawl Barrie had experienced meaning there was a slow shift that decreased the need of a school in Central's locale. This redistribution, coupled with the gentrification of the traditional feeder neighbourhoods, created a need to redistribute the students. I had never fully understood the origins of this particular one since it had been a long serving tradition of the Board to bus students from all manner of areas around Simcoe County. Case in point, when I arrived at Central, students were bussed from Thornton, Lefroy, and Bell Ewert, to name a few, while students from Letitia Heights were split and only a small portion of them assigned to Central despite being only KMs away. In addition, When I arrived at Central in 1998, 8 different elementary schools fed into BCC. By the time the actual decision was made to close the doors, the Board had reduced that to 2 schools. Of course the population was shrinking!

One of the saddest theories ever shared with me was that the school was being closed with the fear of litigations surrounding the alarmingly high incidence of staff members who passed due to cancer. It was not a secret to the staff that there was asbestos used throughout the school but we were always assured that it was contained within the walls, making it not a threat. The group that shared with theory with me postulated that as the building aged, some of that asbestos was released, and some people were in a rush to mitigate the damage before a class action case was brought. Understanding that theory was well above my pay grade but I will tell you that I have lost a number of close friends to cancer that I taught with at BCC.

As the ink on the proclamation dried, a number of ludicrous theories popped up, but I didn't feel many contained validity worthy of note. 

I place no allegiance to any of these theories. They were willingly shared with me by people in the same boat as me, grieving the decision and struggling to understand. To this day, I have yet to hear reasoning that rings with truth enough to satisfy the travesty of eradication. To eliminate all indications of Central from existence is the single biggest issue for me personally. With the tumultuous history that buildings housing Barrie Collegiate over its storied history prompting a number of different locations, I could accept having to move, but to close the school after 174 years with no plans to enshrine that incredible history will never be forgiven by this old alum. Many of the artifacts were donated to the Simcoe County Archives or given back to Central's passionate community for there own personal halls of fame, but with each passing year the memories of all that greatness gather so much dust, losing their shine slowly and surely. There will come a time in the not so distant future where generations of children will know the stories but have no tangible memories and that saddens me greatly. 

The Central staff are a crazy lot but we are really, really good friends!

I have had some acquaintances query me, "Why do you drone on about Central? Why not accept the fate and move on?" My response is consistent ... I have moved on BUT I also wish to keep the memories as vivid as I can, despite the years. You should know that many of the teachers, office staff and custodians make conscious efforts to stay in touch via Social Media or Email with messages of good will and glad tidings. We became great friends during our time together and we sincerely wish to stay connected. 

That single factoid should be seen as Central's greatest gift and most powerful strength.

It's all about meaningful connections ... staff to staff ... staff to student ... staff to parent ... and the knowledge that generations to come will not understand the power that those connections hold widens that hole in my soul a little bit more each passing year. 

"... and when I die, I'll be Central dead!"

I am Canadian!

With the way 2020 started, There were a few moments where I wasn't sure we would make it to July 1st! For my non-Canadian friends, July 1st is a national holiday and the annual celebration of all things Canuk, thanks to our nation's birthday of July 1st, 1867. Historically, there's a very brief overview of how Canada came to be CLICK HERE that gives you an understanding of the wide array of influences that are reflected in who Canadians really are in 2020.

One thing I know to be true, we are well respected throughout the world as friendly, humble, and generous. As a nation, IMHO, we love the the fact that we're viewed as the "nice kid on the block" and we love to poke fun at the Canadianisms that separate us from the rest of the globe. A quick Internet search will give you a long list of Canadian things that are unique to our nation (milk sold in bags, ketchup chips and KD), things that were created here (butter tarts, Nanimo bars, PB and even instant mashed potatoes), and even things that are often misunderstood about us (No, I've never tried whale blubber). The world looks at our flag and sees the Maple Leaf, but it might be a surprise to you the over 75% of the world's Maple Syrup is Canadian produced. If you're interested, the site mentalfloss.com has a page you might find illuminating ... CLICK HERE.

Jordan Wiberg, an Okanagan, BC musician who is better known as Clark W, produced a viral YouTube hit with his song dedicated to all that is stereotypically Canadian called “Up here, in Canada.” The song has collected millions of YouTube views since it's release, and is embraced by fun-loving Canuks from NFLD to BC and everywhere in between.

“I tried to include a broad spectrum of history, icons, sports and culture, all while injecting some of that classic self-deprecating Canadian humour,” explained Wiberg.

Celebrating our country's BDay will take on a decidedly different feel this year with the cancellation of things like the annual fireworks displays or the great family BBQs that take advantage of the national day off from work. There have been a number of ideas that have sprung up as replacements, all of them virtual attempts at celebration, and in true Canadian fashion, I will smile, clap, and appreciate them all, but my heart won't be in it.

If that's the worst that I have to deal with as the traditional summer starts ... who am I kidding, eh, retirement is a never ending summer ... then I'll be pretty far ahead of the game. I am deeply thankful to my parents for choosing to raise me and my brothers here (there was a decision made when my father was being recruited by hospitals in the US), and I am Uber proud to be a Canadian. I don't mind rocking the boat a little by drawing comparisons between how we have dealt with the Corona Virus pandemic and those of our neighbour to the south. You'll never find a more beautiful, picturesque, grand, or diverse looking country than Canada and I'm proud to tell you I've personally seen all 10 provinces ... I still need to work on the 3 territories.

You know you're Canadian if (Repost from HERE)

You stand in "line-ups" or "queues" (in Victoria, BC) at the movie, not lines.
You're not offended by the term, "Homo Milk".
You understand the sentence, "Could you please pass me a serviette, I just spilled my POUTINE!
You eat chocolate bars instead of candy bars.
You drink pop, not soda.
You had a Prime Minister who wasn't fluent in either of the official languages (English & French).
You know what it means to be 'on the pogey'.
You know that a "mickey" and "2-4's" mean "Party at the camp, eh?"
You can drink legally while still a teen in some provinces.
You talk about the weather with strangers and friends alike.
You don't know or care about the fuss with Cuba, it's just a cheap place to travel with very good cigars.
If there is a social problem, you turn to your government to fix it, instead of telling them to stay out of it.
You get milk in bags as well as cartons and plastic jugs.
Pike is a type of fish, not some part of a highway.
You drive on a highway, not a freeway.
You know what a Robertson screwdriver is.
You have Canadian Tire money in your kitchen drawers.
You know that Mounties "don't always look like that."
You dismiss all beers under 6% as "for children and the elderly."
You know that the Friendly Giant isn't a vegetable product line.
You know that Casey and Finnegan are not a Celtic musical group.
You drive with your headlights on during the day. 

(since 1989, all new cars have been fitted with "daytime running lights").
You participated in "Participaction."
You've an Inuit carving by your bed, "What's good enough protection for the PM is good enough for me."
You wonder why there isn't a 5 dollar coin yet.
Like any international assassin/terrorist/spy in the world, you possess a Canadian Passport.
You use a red pen on your non-Canadian textbooks and fill in the missing 'u's from labor, honor, color. etc.
You know the French equivalents of "free", "prize", and "no sugar added", thanks to your extensive education in bilingual cereal packaging.
You are excited whenever an American television show mentions Canada.
You make a mental note to talk about it at work the next day.
You can do all the hand actions to Sharon, Lois and Bram's "Skin-a-ma-rinky-dinky-doo" opus.
You can eat more than one maple sugar candy without feeling nauseous.
You were mad at the CBC when "The Beachcombers" were taken off the air.
You know who "Relic" is/was.
You know what a touque is and you own one and often wear it.
You have heard of ... and have some cherished momento of ... Bob and Doug McKenzie.
You still sing the "Great White North" theme song with pride ... "coo-ooh-coocoo-coo-ooh-coocoo".
You know Toronto is NOT a province.
You never miss "Coach's Corner" during Hockey Night in Canada.
Back bacon and Kraft Dinner are two of your favourite food groups.
If you live in some of the colder Canadian provinces, your car has a cord and plug sticking out of the grill ... it's a block heater for those sub-zero (in Celsius) days.
You only know three spices: salt, pepper and ketchup.
You design your Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
The mosquitoes have landing lights.
You have more kilometres on your snow blower than your car.
You have 10 favourite recipes for moose meat.
Canadian Tire Store on any Saturday is busier than most toy stores at Christmas.
You live in a house that has no front step, yet the door is one meter above the ground.
You've taken your kids trick-or-treating in a blizzard.
Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled in with frozen snow and slush.
You think sexy lingerie is tube-socks and a flannel nightie with only 8 buttons.
You owe more money on your snowmobile than your car.
The local paper covers national and international headlines on 2 pages, but requires 6 pages for hockey.
At least twice a year, the kitchen doubles as a meat processing plant.
The most effective mosquito repellent is a shotgun.
Your snowblower gets stuck on the roof.
You think the start of deer season is a national holiday.
You head South to go to your cottage.
You frequently clean grease off your barbecue so the bears won't prowl on your deck.
You know which leaves make good toilet paper now that there are no more dollar bills.
The major parish fund-raiser isn't bingo, it's sausage making.
You find -40C a little chilly.
The trunk of your car doubles as a portable deep freeze.
You attend a formal event in your best clothes, your finest jewellery and your Sorels.
You can play road hockey on skates.
You know 4 seasons: Winter, Still Winter, almost Winter and Construction.
The municipality buys a Zamboni before a bus.
You understand the Labatt Blue commercials.
You perk-up when you hear the old theme from "Hockey Night in Canada".
You pronounce the last letter of the alphabet "zed" instead of "zee."
and ... 

You end some sentences with "eh," ... eh?