7:51AM – In a little under three hours Leftantler and I will be standing in front of a judge, swearing the oath and becoming Canadian citizens. It’s something I’m very excited about but at this moment, it feels more of a time for reflection.
It was approximately seven and half years ago we returned from spending Christmas and New Year in Toronto and Montreal. On our return we contacted a lawyer and so started the process of emigration to Canada. We arrived almost five years ago, save a couple of weeks.
There has been a whole drama of events in all that time, as I am sure there will have been for every new Canadian citizen. For me it feels like it’s not about the story we’ve already written and lived through, it’s about the new one just about to begin.
11:25PM – Over the last five years or so since arriving in Vancouver I’ve been to a number of hockey games. One of the traditions I really like is that before each game the Canadian National Anthem is sung. I have always stood, removed my hat and listened.
I never sung with everyone else feeling it inappropriate for a non-Canadian. I did however marvel at the reaction of my fellow fans. Whether clearly wealthy, or less so, whether young or old, male or female. All would hit pause, stand, remove their hats and sing and often really belt out the National Anthem.
Today I sung this Anthem for the first time. The Anthem of a country that has allowed me to become a part of what it is and what it will become. I feel immensely proud to say I am Canadian.
Needless to say, my singing of the first two lines of the National Anthem was pretty much a total disaster!
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