What makes you proud to be Canadian?

[MountainRunner]

Okay folks, thought I'd start a new thread.  I've travelled to more than 45 countries, and it has only made me prouder to be Canadian.  (I guess I took some things for granted until I travelled.)

I'm wondering what makes you proud to be Canadian?

Here are some reasons why I love my country:

- that people from other countries respect Canadians and I am reminded of this every time I travel.
- clean air and water.  National parks.
- the Rocky Mountains.  I've seen the Himalayas and mountains of Patagonia.  They're not any 'better' than our Rockies.
- that we still have wildlife.  Bears.  Wolves.  Roaming free.
- watching families skating on a frozen pond even when it's -20.  (We're a hardy bunch.)
- the fact that we're so polite.
- we have a tolerant and law abiding society.
- our health care system (hey, at least we've got one!).
- Dawson City, Yukon - amazing history and larger than life men and women - their stories inspire me.
- the port of Victoria, BC (one of the prettiest and cleanest in the world to greet visitors - sets a good impression).
- our flag.  There's nothing else like it.  A maple leaf.  How cool is that?

I'd love to hear what makes you proud. 

 

[Crown-Loyal]

You named about all of them... for me personally i would have to say

1) Our History ie. peacefull seperation from britian, our war record...haven't lost one yet
2) The RCMP.....Icon of every nations police forces
3) The fact i can go to europe and be treated as an equal
4) Our akward democracy ( vote for lesser of two evils )
5) Womens and gays and imigrant rights ( everyone is equal in my eyes ) as long as you swear fealty to the crown 
6) The fact we still hold onto our ties with the crown instead of going presidential.
7) We have some of the best soldiers in the world ( not sucking up ) who can do well with crappy equipment ( so i have heard )
8) We can worship....or not worship any religion we want

im sure there is more but let someone else go. 

 

[MountainRunner]

Yup, I agree with all of yours. 
The history of the RCMP and the NWMP is a point of pride for sure! 

Sam Steele was quite a character, and it's amazing how Dawson City, Yukon was such a peaceful place compared to Skagway, Alaska, which was total chaos with gunfights and gangs like the one belonging to Soapy Smith....mainly because of the hard work of the NWMP to keep out Soapy and other badasses. (And the ban on personal firearms certainly helped to keep them out - I believe only 6 permits were issued in DC during the gold rush and Soapy was never allowed in because of his gun.)

Excepted from the following website, History of the NWMP: http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/carcross/nwmpolice_pages/nwmp_main.htm

"Tens of thousands of stampeders were on their way to the Klondike. The fact that the Yukon remained orderly during this tumultuous time was largely due to the presence of the North-West Mounted police. The NWMP were already established at Fort Herchmer in Dawson City when the hordes began arriving. The NWMP successfully shepherded the great flow of humanity from the mountain passes all the way to Dawson City. The force that had quelled the whiskey traders and rebellions on the Canadian prairies was not going to permit a repeat of the American Wild West in its jurisdiction.

....To ensure that law and order was indeed upheld in the bottlenecked mountain passes, the NWMP hauled machine guns  there to maintain order. The NWMP were charged with defending Canadian sovereignty on the main route into the Yukon. This was a key moment during the Klondike gold rush and a major trial of Canadian-American relations. At the time of the Klondike gold rush, no one knew the exact location of the boundary between Alaska and Canada. American stampeders who made up the bulk of those heading for the gold fields in Dawson, assumed that US territory extended over the passes to Bennett, reacted with indignation to Canadian customs collected at Bennett in November 1897. Alaskan officials laid claim to the communities of Lindeman and Bennett by registering a town site survey with the US government. Canada countered by sending two 20 man detachments of Mounted Police, each armed with a maxim machine gun and Lee Metford carbines, to the summits of the Chilkoot and White passes. They set up a customs post , hoisted the Union Jack and simply began collecting customs.

The US government sent 200 army troops to Dyea and their commander Colonel Anderson asked the NWMP to withdraw from the summits. They refused and both governments became alarmed at the potential for violence. In March Sam Steele and Anderson defused the situation by coming to a temporary agreement to recognize the summits as a temporary boundary. By May the US troop withdrew and the NWMP removed their machine guns."

 

[Crown-Loyal]

GREAT POST      that is a very intriguing tale from history. Unfortunalty the story of sam steele is one of Canada disregarding him. He was called one of the best commanders in the Boer War and Britian recognized that and gave him medals. Canada apparently mistreated him ( im not sure on the exact story ) but i remember watching it on tv. If my memory serves me right the government did treat him poorly and while he was alive never got the recognition that he deserved.... but he has it now as the icon of the RCMP.

My great grandpa was in the NWMP. I am trying to find out where he seerved and what he did but come up short. all i have is the some what reliable source that says he served 1899-1907
My grandpa was in the rcmp
my dad was rcmp auxiliary

so I am trying to keep the rcmp blood flowing in my families veins

 

[George Wallace]

....... Unfortunalty the story of sam steele is one of Canada disregarding him. He was called one of the best commanders in the Boer War and Britian recognized that and gave him medals. Canada apparently mistreated him ( im not sure on the exact story ) but i remember watching it on tv. If my memory serves me right the government did treat him poorly and while he was alive never got the recognition that he deserved.... but he has it now as the icon of the RCMP.

I don't know what history books you have been reading about the Boer War, but the one's I've read don't give the same picture of Sam Steele being one of the best commanders in it.  In fact, was he not relieved of command?

 

[Patrolman]

Veins is spelled with an E not A. The RCMP are quite particular when it comes to vocabulary and grammar. The vocabulary portion of the apptitude test is quite intense. You also have to be able to type at least 25 0r 30 words a minute without error as well. That includes capitalization and spelling. Good luck in your endevour!

 

[Crown-Loyal]

Veins is spelled with an E not A. The RCMP are quite particular when it comes to vocabulary and grammar. The vocabulary portion of the apptitude test is quite intense. You also have to be able to type at least 25 0r 30 words a minute without error as well. That includes capitalization and spelling. Good luck in your endevour!

I was told it was 18 words a minute by the recruiter. I definitly need to work on my spelling, first I  have to find me one of those programs that do it.

 

[PARAMEDIC]

not gonna get into the mushy and gushy ....simply this


We have timmy's...........rrrrroooollll up the rim to win.

lol

spring is here and its a balmy 0 degrees in toronto.
(who needs the weather network, we have Tims)