From Krakow, a most unlikely setting from which this post is written, I celebrate Canada Day. The holiday celebrates the creation of our nation in 1867, when the four founding provinces of Canada joined together. It formed a confederation, like that of Germany, which exists still today, governed by a dual structure of federal and provincial governments. With the railway, Canada as we know it today was slowly formed, creating an autonomous region peacefully as opposed to by war down south. However, it wasn’t until the First World War, that Canada earned its stripes, fully distancing itself from Great Britain.
In the last few years, Canada has enjoyed a strong economy through the recession, earning it international prestige. Notably, Icelanders had recently toyed with the idea of adopting the Canadian Dollar over the Euro or the USD. Tangibly, a third generation Canadian of Chinese origin, calculates a citizenship to be worth over $750,000. No wonder pregnant mothers from lesser countries are desperate to get in (http://www.torontolife.com/informer/columns/2014/05/20/jan-wong-canada-birthright-citizenship-nation-of-suckers/). Intangibly, the list is endless. And it is through travel that one understands the privileges afforded to Canadians by birthright. The value of feeling safe, of not having to lock away belongings in a safe, or not being afraid of being robbed at gunpoint. These benefits, we have taken for granted, and perhaps it should be. For Canada faces intractable challenges ahead – mainly uncompetitiveness, debt, separatism and a dependence on oil.
Plaque at staterooms at the Wawel Castle, Krakow
At the emblematic Royal Castle of Wawel in Krakow, the seat of Polish power for centuries, the first noticeable display thanks Canada for helping to safeguard the treasures during World War II. By the time the invasion of Poland set off WWII (and indeed, Poland was divided by the Russians and Germans by the Molotov-Ribbentrop act) the treasures of the Wawel were being clandestinely carted off through Romania, Malta, France, Great Britain and finally, Canada, where it stayed until 1961. Needless to say, given the proximity of this city to Auschwitz, the art would have been entirely destroyed. (I will add that as a Canadian student instead of a European one, I did not qualify for the discounted price). In many ways like this, the Canadians have earned tremendous respect for being unaffected by wars, and being a place of refuge for whatever that seeks it. For another example, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Tulip_Festival.
But for a peaceful nation, Canada punches above its weight in military action. As stated, Canadian military prestige was earned in WWI (for which we approach the hundred year anniversary of the start) through the Somme, Vimy Ridge, and Passchendaele. But it is probably most thanked for its participation in WWII, where it participated alongside the British and the U.S. on D-Day (for which we recently celebrated the 70th anniversary) and subsequently the liberation of Europe.
And although these accomplishments are old and mirror many American ones, the country has sustained itself in modern history, as a beloved country by most of the world, or at least not an entirely hated one. And this, in travel, becomes deftly obvious. The honour it is to hold a Canadian passport, though it is less useful than the British one we forfeited (http://www.movehub.com/blog/world-passport-power), is enough reason to celebrate Canada Day. So although I feel deceitful to claim any authority on Canada, writing from Krakow on July 1, I hope my feelings from abroad strengthen your nationalism from within.