I don’t know about you, but lately, I’ve been feeling a little… off. There’s this tension in the air, this unspoken weight pressing down, and it’s hard to ignore. It’s not just about politics or policies—it’s about something deeper. It’s about relationships. It’s about who we are at our core.
I usually try not to talk too much about politics. It doesn’t always end well. But in today’s world, it feels impossible to avoid. How did we get here? How did we become so divided, not just as neighboring countries, but as people? When did listening become a lost art? When did “us vs. them” become the default setting?
Canada and the U.S. have always had that sibling dynamic. We bicker, we roll our eyes at each other, but at the end of the day, we’ve had each other’s backs. We’ve traded more than just goods—we’ve traded ideas, culture, friendships, and family. We’ve built lives that spill across the border like an easy Sunday drive. But lately? Lately, it feels like we’ve hit a rough patch. And it’s not just us.
Look at the world. War, chaos, and hate seem to be everywhere. It’s easy to feel like our moral compass has gone off course. We’ve lost something along the way—basic decency, empathy, the ability to see another person, even one we disagree with, as human first.
The decisions being made at the top ripple down, touching businesses, communities, even dinner table conversations. We’re feeling it in our wallets, in our choices, in the way we talk about each other. And that stings. Because we’re used to working things out, not working against each other.
But here’s the thing—through all of this, something has shifted in Canada. Something unexpected, but good. We’ve woken up. We’ve started looking inward, appreciating what we have, who we are, and what we stand for. Patriotism isn’t just about waving a flag on July 1st—it’s about recognizing the values we hold close. And if there’s one thing Canadians have done lately, it truly is standing together.
We’ve been reminded of our strength as a country. We’ve seen communities support local businesses, lift each other up, and make choices that reflect our values. We’ve realized that we don’t always have to look outside ourselves for leadership—we have it within us. We’ve started appreciating our industries, our resources and our people.
You can see it in the grocery stores. More and more, Canadians are choosing to honour Canadian-grown and Canadian-made products. It’s not just about saving money; it’s about supporting our farmers, our producers, and our economy. We’re paying attention to labels, choosing local brands, and recognizing the importance of food security. We’re remembering that we have some of the best agriculture in the world, and that keeping it strong means standing behind it with our purchases.
At our house, we put up a Canadian flag on our front step. And you know what? It feels good. It feels right. Not in an “us against them” kind of way, but in a quiet, steady, “this is home” kind of way. Every time I see it, I feel something solid in a world that often feels unsteady. A reminder that no matter what’s happening around us, we’re still here. Still strong. Still Canada.
I know things change. Leaders come and go, policies shift, and economies rise and fall. But what shouldn’t change—what can’t change—is our sense of who we are. Somewhere along the way, we let fear and division take up too much space. But we’re taking it back. We’re remembering that we’re the ones who help dig each other out of snowbanks, who stand up for fairness, who say “sorry” even when it’s not our fault (and let’s be honest, that one’s probably not changing).
So yeah, things feel off right now. But I don’t believe this is where the story ends. Not for us. Not for the people who live it every day, beyond the politics and the headlines. We’ve seen tough times before, and we’ve always found our way back. And this time, we’re doing it with an even stronger sense of who we are.
The world may feel uncertain, but Canada? Canada is standing tall.
And that’s something to be proud of.