It's my anniversary in Canada - a Memoir

Today’s important for me.  And since it’s July 1, it’s an important day for Canada too.  It’s Canada’s 146th birthday and it also marks exactly 25 years to the day that I arrived on Canadian soil for the first time and became a landed immigrant.

I was 22 when I arrived here.  I was fresh-faced, naïve and full of energy.  I’d created a decent life for myself in South Africa, had a girlfriend – left her behind.  Came to Canada – with very little other than an incredible work ethic and my Dad, who’d left South Africa a year or two before me.

Today, while I am still full of energy, I’m not that naïve – and well – my face – I’ve got a touch of grey here and there.  I have my health and a gorgeous family.  I have a lot.

Make no mistake, it has not been easy – nothing worthwhile ever is, is what I tell my kids – pretty much daily – but it’s been ever so gratifying.

I arrived at Pearson Airport on July 1, 1988.  The guys at customs were eating some Pizza from a company called “967-1111” – and were astounded when I asked what “967-1111” was? (This was in the days before 10 digit local dialing even existed).  That I had no idea was a sure tell I was new to Toronto.

Well, I settled in to life in Toronto.  I got a summer job at Sam The Record Man (remember him?) and started moving and shaking – so to speak. I was making $5.75 an hour – I’ll spare the details.

My defining moment of 1988 summer was seeing the Amnesty Concert at Maple Leaf Gardens.  I had no money to buy a ticket ($60 for a ticket in the nose-bleed section), so I scammed my way in.   Five music icons took the stage – The Boss, Sting, Tracy Chapman, Youssou N’Dour and Peter Gabriel.  I felt the warm and salty sting of my tears run down my flushed cheeks during Biko and Chimes of Freedom – 2 anti-apartheid songs – made even more poignant now as Nelson Mandela clings to precious live in Johannesburg.   I only wish him and the Rainbow nation well.

In November 1991, I met Karen Pinchuk, the woman I would ultimately marry in 1994.  Almost 19 years later – we’re going strong.

We’ve two kids – Jason (almost 16) and Amanda (12) – two cats, two cars and a white picket fence … it’s all good. 

It’s a time for reflection now – and 25 years to the day later, here’s four quickies as to what I’ve learned:

• Don’t expect anything to be easy – and the extension to that is the harder it is to accomplish something, the more worthwhile it is
• Learn to laugh at yourself, ‘cause you will screw up
• Embrace the weather – Canadian weather is generally nothing to love, especially coming from South Africa’s warm and balmy climate.  That said, quit the belly-aching about our cold winters.  If you hate them that much, then go someplace else --- no-one is forcing you to be here
• Live in the present and the future – never the past.  This one’s a biggie.  Can’t tell you how many times I have hears fellow South Africans commiserate about “Remember when …”  Those days have come and gone babe!

You know, it’s strange.  I lived in Johannesburg for 22 years.  It gave me the best of everything – an awesome country, but I never felt I belonged.  It saddens me – and to a degree is worrying.  On the other hand, I feel I belong here – in Canada – some days that worries me – most days it doesn’t.  But one thing for sure – I never take my love of Canada for granted – and appreciate this wonderful country – not on some days, or even every other day – but every single day.

And you know what I am going to do right now?  Kick back – pour myself a nice cold beer, enjoy the company of family and friends, sing Oh Canada a few times and salute the country that’s been my happy home for the past quarter century.