Happy Canada Day, eh?

Maclean's Magazine published a Canada vs. America issue proclaiming "99 Reasons Why it's Better to Be Canadian: We're happier, fitter and richer and our kids are smarter too." You can read all the statistics in a July 8, 2013, edition of Maclean's.

Of course, I read this issue with glee. I am not competitive in my personal life, choosing to also praise and exhort others, but I have an ingrained, historically rooted compulsion to challenge the powerful country to the south of me. Perhaps it is a David and Goliath syndrome. Here is a list of why I love Canada. Some of  the stats come from Maclean's.

As Canada Day celebrates its 148th birthday, I celebrate Canada's triumphs. Next to the United States we might seem insignificant but remember,  looks are deceiving.

Lyrics O Canada (English version)

O Canada!Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

We are more popular than Americans; wearing a maple leaf on your backpack means people treat you well in other countries.

We say, "eh" at the end of sentences. This is a word which reaches out in agreement while the American word huh tacked on sentences sounds like the speaker is a dimwitted.

                                                                                                              capital hill

Canada has one square kilometre of land for every three people

We are funnier; many comedians are Canadian such as Wayne and Schuster, Lorne Michaels, John Candy, Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, Catherine O'Hara, Seth Rogen Jay Baruchel, Michael Cera....

Our banks are better- 4 of the top ten in the world are Canadian, the top U.S. bank is ranked 9th- the Citigroup
For our population, we break more Guinness world records.

Our government does not kill people; capital punishment was abolished in 1776 and no one has been executed since 1961. The States has 3,125 prisoners on death row.

Maple syrup

We are more fit with 35.9 Americans are obese and only 24.5 OF Canadians are overweight.

We live longer- an average of 3 years longer than Americans

Americans always make fun of us because we are polite; we always say. "I'm sorry" but researchers at the University of Waterloo say good manners boost happiness. Apologizing to the police for speeding results in an average drop of $51 in fines.

The wilderness -- we still have lots of it.

Our lobster tastes better.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Our roads are safer.

Fewer homicides per person and mass murders are rare

Our national animal, the beaver, is industrious and rugged

The salmon run

We lead in quantum computing.

Our judges are appointed not voted in.

We can read the cereal box and road signs in two different languages.

                                                    the east coast- the Maritimes

There is a whole T.V. channel dedicated to politicians bickering.

Place Names that come from Aboriginal languages

We have better skiing with more ski trails, longer runs and more snow on Canada's Whistler Mountain compared to America's Vail

We dominate hockey; it is Canada's game

We get more paid holidays. 23% of Americans get no paid time off. ALL Canadian workers get at least 2 weeks paid vacation + 9 paid public holidays

Newfoundland

Newfies - I love their accent and sense of humour. They are the salt of the earth

The north is a land of untouched beauty

Easy geography classes: we only have ten provinces and three territories

Excellent education system; our 15 year-olds score in the top 10 of 65 countries. American kids are #17.

MORE POOR KIDS GO TO UNIVERSITY- 54% OF LOW-INCOME KIDS GO TO UNIVERSITY COMPARED TO 30% OF POOR AMERICAN KIDS

Northwest Territories

Lots of immigrants -- this is the place people from all over the world want to come to!

Our Government apologizes for past mistakes!

The Queen and other Royals visit us

Our corporate taxes are lower

An almost peaceful history

Intelligent population

When spring comes, we appreciate it

forests

We know how to make good, strong, HOT tea

The weather is a legitimate topic of conversation and we ALWAYS talk about the weather

Toques

Coffee Crisp ... Only available in Canada!

the Rocky Mountains in the West

Affordable university tuition

Lots of fresh water!

We're less pushy than some other countries

We let everyone come here, and do their thing. Even if they wouldn't do the same for us.

Ketchup chips ... only in Canada.

Moose, Elk, Deer

Brown Bears, Polar Bears

So many rivers and lakes- I live in South- Eastern Ontario which is called the land of a thousand islands.

Great fishing, especially in fly-in camps up north

Majestic mountains

We have coasts on three oceans

Second largest country in the world

Largest prosperous country in the world

Freedom

Peacekeepers

Aboriginal people who have fought in all the wars, with an astounding war record

Official recognition of rights of Aboriginal Nations embedded in our national constitution

No one ever won between the French and the English: we just compromised!

Every landscape imaginable, all in one magnificent country

Enormous National Parks

Anne of Green Gables

Lots of hockey rinks, great outdoor skating rinks in almost every village, town and city. We even have one and our population isn't even posted

Car heaters that plug-in when it's cold. Even store parking lots provide plug-ins

Icicles- some extend for 3 to 4 feet from our roof.

Skating and hot chocolate

Beaver Tails

The longest skating rink in the world on Ottawa's canal

Sound of crickets

The sound of Canada Geese flying back from their holiday in the South

We spell colour and neighbourhood the right way

We are proud of our British roots

Aurora Borealis called the Northern Lights.

We love to make fun of ourselves

We love to make fun of people who don't know anything about us, especially Americans

Terry Fox was one of us

Gordon Lightfoot

Lenard Cohen

Arctic Rangers

The change of seasons

Incredible beauty

The tundra

Best opera house in North America is Toronto's Four seasons Centre built by Jack Diamond who built Mariinsky 11 theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia by invitation of Valery Gergiev

TIM HORTON'S makes the best coffee