March 03, 2004

 
“I am a Canadian”

 
It is now 30 years when we arrived in Canada from Kenya. My wife and myself landed     at the Toronto”™s Pearson Airport on March 3 1974. It was a dull afternoon with snow on the ground. Snow and cold were a new experience for my wife. I had earlier experienced the full blast of Canadian winter when I was first in Niagara Falls, Canada for a year in 1965/1966 on a United Nations Fellowship.

 
Lo and Behold! my half life span has been spent in Canada. Life in Canada had ups and downs. The most wonderful gift we got was the birth of our two children, the eldest being a daughter and a few years after that a son; both born in Niagara Falls.

 
Being a Civil Engineer, my job took me to few places, first in Niagara Falls, then to Montreal, back to Niagara Falls and then to Mississauga and finally to Deep River.

 
With our children we have traveled by car over most of Canada. First trip was from Deep River through Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia to Newfoundland and second trip was through the Prairie Provinces to British Columbia. The whole kaleidoscope of Canadian life has been experienced and savoured. The best place ”“ you guessed it ”“ it was Halifax by a unanimous vote.  

 
I think we have integrated well in the Canadian milieu with our participation in productive work but also having opportunity many times to contribute in different types of community work over the years. Our multiple community work has afforded us good friendship with many Canadians and we consider ourselves very fortunate to establish family relations with some of these friends.

 
Being of an East Indian ancestry was no bar for us in our weaving a new life in Canada.   Canada has perfected that quality of nationhood where each one is welcome to fully participate in the growth and success of the nation.   We are proud of Canada and the Canadian values of democracy, respect and equality for all.

 
With that I proudly say, “ I am a Canadian! ”

 
 
Pravin Shah