The first Canada Day I remember is July 1, 1967. I was about to turn seven-years-old and we were living in Nelson, B.C., my mother Shawn Lamb's hometown.
At that time Nelson celebrated Canada Day with some live music performed by musicians from a floating stage at Lakeside Park. We sat on the beach and listened as the evening light began to fade.
That year, mayor and council hiked up Elephant Mountain to Pulpit Rock, which was across the lake, and launched a fireworks show from there for the whole town.
I made a friend that day who has remained a lifelong friend. While we’ve gone on to live in different cities and towns - she as far away as Québec, myself as far as Winnipeg.
One thing we have shared is a love for Canada. We grew up enjoying Canadian literature, Canadian music and Canadian art, strongly influenced by our parents.
This week she celebrated her 65th birthday taking her two daughters on a trip to Haida Gwaii. There they were staying at the Copper Beech House Inn, owned and managed by Canadian writer, Susan Musgrave.
Last fall my sister introduced me the writings of Will Stener Ferguson, a Canadian travel writer and novelist. Travelling across the country through the pages of his book sparked my interest to visit areas I’ve never been to. His descriptions of places in rural Quebec and New Brunswick made me hope I get to see them with my own eyes some day.
Canada is so vast - it could take a lifetime to explore it.
First Nations culture has been prominent in many places I’ve lived such as Winnipeg, Prince Rupert and Williams Lake. Even though I was born in Alert Bay, B.C. because we left when I was only one-years-old, I will need to return there as an adult to see the First Nations culture there for myself one day.
So far in Canada I’ve been as far east as Quebec city, as far north as Stewart, B.C. as far west as the northern tip of Haida Gwaii, and south along the Canada/U.S. borders in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
My Lamb ancestors were Empire Loyalists that came into Ontario in the 1700s, having arrived in the Boston area from England in 1630. That's another aspect of Canadian history I need to learn more about.
With Canada Day falling on a Tuesday this year, it means we really can pause to reflect on what it means to us.
I hope it’s a day for family, community and relaxation to enjoy the freedom our country provides us.
Monica Lamb-Yorski
