I’m not gonna lie to you, I’m very disappointed that there is absolutely nothing happening for Canada Day this year. Pick up a map of this regional area and randomly drop your finger on any given community and the result will be the same. Zilch. Nada. Events cancelled across the board.
It only took a couple of years into this job of mine for the events of July 1 to become a favorite assignment. I mean, what’s not to love about it? Getting paid to shoot pictures and video of communities celebrating the greatest country on Earth is a pretty sweet gig. The festivities are always fun; parades full of unique floats that always draw a crowd, a laundry list of activities and amenities for people to enjoy, and thunderous, crackling fireworks that routinely cap a memorable day.
But none of that this year. No, because a viral pandemic had to come and ruin it all.
But we all know that Canada Day isn’t about parades and fireworks at its very core. It’s about the pride we all feel in our maple leaf-shaped hearts that we live in such a magnificent country; a country that has taken monumental strides toward inclusiveness, equality, and understanding when it comes to the melting pot of humanity that spans Canada from coast to coast.
I take pride in my country, and while I know it’s far from perfect, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than right here on the Prairies in rural Saskatchewan. Why? It’s home, it’s familiar. It’s where people know me and I know a lot of the people. It’s where I can enjoy the ‘Best of Canadiana’. What are some of my favorite Canadian things, you might be asking? Well, let’s see…
Poutine: Yep, may as well get food out of the way right out the gate. Squeaky cheese curds sitting on a bed of fries that become melty and warm thanks to piping-hot beef gravy. I may have to do several laps around the neighborhood after enjoying a plate of it, but it’s worth it.
Maple leaf cookies: Okay, okay, so more food. Also known as ‘Canadian Oreos’. They’re great. ‘Nuff said.
Springtime in Saskatchewan: There’s something to be said for that period starting in late May/early June where it’s not quite spring but it’s not quite summer. It’s the heat of the summer months mixed with the blossoming and ‘greening up’ transitional period that comes with spring. Everything’s getting nice and green and lush, fields are looking a golden yellow, and we start to see the skies dance in their beautiful colours.
Lakes: Take your pick. Diefenbaker, Candle, Jackfish, Shell, Pratt. I have memories of all of them. Some are known around the country. Others have so much untapped potential, including Diefenbaker.
Landscapes: You’ll never see a more beautiful sky than on a vast, open prairie summer night, though there are certainly a few challengers to the title. I know people like to joke that there’s nothing to see on the Prairies, but there’s nothing really in your way, now is there?
‘Still Standing’: My favorite TV show about Canada. Comedian Jonny Harris and CBC cameras arrive in communities all across the country and put a spotlight on towns and villages that have seen struggles in the past, but have found a way to persevere and adapt to present day conditions. In other words, the show highlights communities that are, well, still standing. I’ve seen the show profile some very interesting towns, so much so that I want to go and check them out for myself. In that sense, the show provides a nice little tourism boost. I know ‘Corner Gas’ gets all the love as far as Canadian TV goes, but I always thought that show got a little too ‘sitcom-y’ in its later years and lost its spirit. In my humble opinion, ‘Still Standing’ is the best show on the air that highlights the spirit of true Canadiana in all its forms. I’m such a fan that I’ve already got two local communities in mind that I want to submit to the show for consideration. Fingers crossed…
Wherever you are on July 1, I hope you take some time to reflect on what it means to live in this country and celebrate it your way. Forget about COVID for just a second and think about Canada. Replace the one ‘C’ word for the other, because the other is so much better.
As for me, this Canada Day, I’m gonna keep things nice, simple, and very much Canadian. I’m going to enjoy some poutine, maybe a cold beer, and then head out to one of my favorite spots in order to sit and do some reading. A good meal in my belly, a good book in my hands and a good spot to enjoy it – what’s more Canadian than taking some time to enjoy the little things in life?
And yeah, at some point I’ll probably have a couple of Canadian Oreos for dessert.
For this week, that’s been the Ruttle Report.
