There are many places in the world that I want to see. My bucket list is a mile long! Some of those places are right here in this incredible country, while others are scattered around the globe. But no matter where my travels take me, Canada will always be home.

I feel incredibly fortunate to live in Canada. Like every country, we have our challenges, but when I stop and look at the bigger picture, I realize just how much we have to be thankful for.

Our country is enormous. We have rugged coastlines, towering mountains, rolling hills, sparkling lakes, rushing rivers, fertile farmland, and yes…land so flat you can watch your dog run away for three days. Every province has something unique to offer, and I doubt I’ll ever see it all.

We are blessed with natural resources that many countries can only dream of. We have hardworking people who keep our farms, businesses, hospitals, schools, and industries running every day. We have a public education system that gives children the opportunity to learn regardless of their family’s income, and a healthcare system that means no one has to decide between receiving medical care and paying the mortgage.

Is either system perfect? Not even close. Both need improvement. But I never want to lose sight of how fortunate we are to have them.

Canada’s history is something we should both celebrate and learn from. There are moments that make me proud and others that are heartbreaking. We can’t change the past, but we can acknowledge it, learn from it, and continue working toward something better.

Canada has always been shaped by people who came here looking for a better life. My grandmother was a war bride from the First World War. Today, immigration continues to bring talented, hardworking people who contribute to our communities, strengthen our economy, and help care for our fellow Canadians. They have chosen Canada as home, and I hope we never lose our ability to welcome people with kindness.

One experience has stayed with me for years. While on an Alaskan cruise, I noticed someone holding a Nova Scotia flag to gather a tour group together. Naturally, I wandered over and asked what part of Nova Scotia they were from. They smiled and said they weren’t from Nova Scotia at all. They were from Israel. When I looked puzzled, they explained that they didn’t always feel safe displaying their own flag while travelling, so they carried a Nova Scotia flag instead. I’ve never forgotten that conversation.

As Canadians, most of us can travel almost anywhere in the world and proudly tell people where we’re from without giving it a second thought. That is a privilege that many people simply don’t have.

BUT, Canada isn’t perfect.

We have poverty. We have homelessness. We have racism. We have communities that still lack clean drinking water. We have political disagreements, healthcare challenges, housing shortages, and people who are struggling just to buy groceries.

But we also have millions of good people. We have neighbours who shovel each other’s driveways, volunteers who coach kids’ sports teams, people who donate to food banks, firefighters who answer calls in the middle of the night, farmers who produce food, healthcare workers who care for strangers, and countless people who quietly make their communities better every single day.

One of the things I’m most grateful for is the opportunity to be part of that. I’ve spent my entire life involved in 4-H. I’ve volunteered with sporting organizations and community groups. I’ve participated in community theatre, musical groups, agricultural fairs, and agricultural organizations. Those experiences have introduced me to lifelong friends, taught me valuable skills, and allowed me to give back to my community.

I didn’t have those opportunities because I’m special.

I had them because I live in Canada.

So yes, there are many places in the world that I still want to visit. I hope I get to see many.

But when every trip is over, I’ll always be happy to come home.

Because, despite all of our imperfections, I’m proud to be Canadian.