How Lucky we are: Celebrate Life in Canada all Year long.

The Toronto Sun
December 21st, 2007

This is the time of the year that most Canadians celebrate the holidays, regardless of their country of origin, religious background and culture.  Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza. Three Kings Day and St. Lucia day are just some of the religious and cultural celebrations that are held during the month of December.  It’s exciting to see multiculturalism and the spirit of giving come to life like this, especially for those of us who immigrated to this country from less-fortunate circumstances.  But I wonder if all Canadians realize just how lucky we are to live in this fantastic country that is rich with resources beyond many people’s wildest dreams.
I grew up in Scotland, and my first few Christmas’ occurred during the Second World War.  Interestingly, the Christmas we celebrate on December 25th wasn’t an official holiday in that country until 1964.  The main holiday – Hogmanay – was, and still is, a festival in early January.
In those days everything was rationed, from cigarettes to food, because of the war.  As a child, I was used to wearing a siren suit – the utilitarian outfit our parents would throw on us before they took us to the air raid shelter when the bombs were falling.  When one of our local soldiers returned, we put up welcome home banners and greeted them as they came down the street wearing their demobilization suits.  When we heard about someone dying in the war, we all pitched in to make a donation to the deceased’s family, usually something like a water jug and four glasses.  Many families didn’t have sets of dishes and glassware and used to drink out of jam jars.  The gesture was meant as a way of showing that the neighbours mourned with the family.
During the Christmas season we didn’t decorate trees.  I remember gluing bits of cardboard and making garland to string in the house to make it look festive.  On Christmas morning we’d got to mass early, then come home and open our stockings, usually to find an apple or an orange.  It’s funny, but I never realized we were poor until someone told me we were. I figured everyone lived the way we did because I had nothing else to compare with.  That’s one of the challenges today, when just about everyone has access to television and the media can see how other people live.  Until the war ended, we were a community under tremendous stress with limited resources, but we worked together and made it through.
For me, coming to Canada was a huge positive step in my life.  In fact, I often tell people that, as far as I’m concerned, I won the lottery that day.  There’s tremendous feeling of rejuvenation and opportunity here, which is why we have so many immigrants.  Their sons and daughters grow up here, work hard, take advantage of opportunities and become productive contributors in the professions and the trades.  I never tire of reminding Canadians how lucky we are to live here.
There’s a special feeling here during the holiday season, too, but there are also Canadians who are lonely, disadvantaged and require assistance.  As individuals and as a society, we owe it to them to help in whatever way we can.  My story of a war-ridden childhood is shared by hundreds of thousands of immigrants to Canada.  We must remember where we came from and do something positive for those in need.
My Canada is inclusive of everyone, and I’m proud to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!