Canada Day, And Every Day

Today, in honour of Canada Day, I’d like to share a piece written by my grandfather, an Italian immigrant — and one of the proudest Canadians I’ve met.

My grandfather loved this country deeply, and appreciated how welcoming it was to newcomers. He co-founded an organization dedicated to helping fellow immigrants meet, make connections, and find work and opportunities in their new land. He instilled in all of us the importance of lending a welcoming hand to those who have given up so much, left everything, in the hopes of accessing what we take for granted every day.

Many of the families I’ve been privileged to serve through my own volunteer efforts are immigrants — people whose stories of what and who they left behind will stick with me forever. Without fail, they comment on how there is something about the Canadian spirit that feels like home; a sentiment beautifully captured by my grandfather in this piece, featured in The Toronto Star in 1967 as part of Canada’s Centennial celebrations:

From the very dawn of your existence, Canada, you have opened your arms to the people of many lands.

From every corner of the world, you have welcomed people to come and share your bounty.

To build.

To grow.

To contribute.

To meet the challenge of a new and fresh world in a vast land of honest freedom and opportunity.

And many of us did travel from afar to your shores, and with us we brought our dreams and desires.

And you opened your arms.

Today, we are growing with you,

we are building for you,

and at times, we are also creating on your behalf for the happiness and prosperity of our fellow Canadians.

YES! You made us Canadians!