Wherever you are... Celebrate Being Canadian this Canada Day!

It is hard to believe that as we come together to celebrate this year's Canada Day, July 1st, 2020, most of us have been in some version of lockdown since mid-March, a three and a half month period that has at the same time devastated us and yet brought us closer together as a country.

I was asked last week why I thought Canada had, for the most part, been able to flatten the curve on COVID-19 and been recognized as one of the countries in the world that has managed the situation better than others. While we are a long way from being in the clear, my answer came easily: for the most part, Canadians do what we are told. When our Prime Minister said it was time to come home, we came. When our Provincial Premiers and Medical Officers said to stay inside, we stayed; and when we were told to social distance, we did it, we didn't like it, but we did it and continue to do so.

Without question, we are far from perfect, and there are those that definitely break or bend the rules, but by and large, we have worked as a country from Coast to Coast to Coast to help each other manage our way through this crisis.

I am always proud to live in Canada and have always been proud to be a Canadian, but never as much as I am this July 1st. There may not be large gatherings and parties this year, no parades or concerts, but from our homes and within our bubbles, we should all take the time to celebrate, raise a glass, and toast each other on a job well done so far.

This crisis is far from behind us. While we have cautious optimism, we must continue to pay close attention to guidelines and protocols and not let ourselves get lulled into a false sense of safety; I do not doubt our collective ability to do this.

Enjoy the summer, stay safe, look out for each other, and have a very Special and Happy Canada Day.

Glenn Mandziuk, TOTA President & CEO