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I have always been a proud Canadian and remember looking forward to the Dominion Day (that’s what it used to be called) holiday and fireworks as a child. I remember being in the choir at school and proudly singing the national anthem for various events.

In 1967 our school held special events and projects commemorating Canada’s 100th birthday. In June, just before the end of the school year, there was a special celebration and the choir, each of us dressed in red and white, sang “CA-NA-DA” and “A Place To Stand (Ontar-i-ar-i-o)”.

That summer my parents, sister, two brothers and I travelled to Montreal for Expo 67. We borrowed a converted truck/camper that was a prototype where there was an open area from the truck part to the camper part. We could sit comfortably in the camper and play cards while Dad drove. We stayed at various camp grounds that offered “hot” showers that were sometimes ice cold.

The world exposition was a perfectly timed salute to Canada’s 100th anniversary. There were 90 pavilions from around the world that presented endless dreams of what man and his world of tomorrow might look like. A lot of it is just a vague memory but I remember my parents keeping us close so we wouldn’t get lost in the large crowds from around the world. In one of the pavilions I was surprised to see two familiar faces – my aunt and uncle. What were the odds?

Now, 50 years later, I am married with two grown sons. My older son lives in Japan with his wife who loves Canada and would like to move here. We send them care packages twice a year with Canadian treats, clothes and souvenirs. My daughter in law’s birthday is July 2. I used to tease her that it was too bad her birthday wasn’t July 1. But then we figured out, with the time difference and depending on what time she was born, she may have been born on Canada Day, just not in Canada. Now, when we skype with them on her birthday, we celebrate her Canada Day birthday since it is July 2 there but July 1 here.

Theresa N – Triovest

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