Canada, the true north strong and - wait, how does the rest of it go?
Over the past week, the last month rather, Canadians have shown their true form - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
In what seems like forever ago in a constantly evolving news cycle, we're only a week removed of a viral video that made national news of an intoxicated woman berating a group of men and shouting racist remarks, inside a Denny's at two in the morning in Lethbridge, Alta. The incident happened April 21, and the video was posted on Facebook and caught legs last week.
In the video that has surpassed 2.1 million views, Kelly Pocha of Cranbrook, B.C., constantly reminded the men that she was "a Canadian woman."
"You’re not dealing with one of your Syrian b--ches right now. You’re dealing with a Canadian woman. And I’m not going to be talked down to by you," she tells the group in the video.
"Go back to where you came from.”
After her identity was revealed, Pocha lost her job at the car dealership where she worked. She still hasn't apologized for what she said, and claimed one of the four men glared at her before the recording began, which was what sparked her outburst.
This video is a prime example of the ugliness in Canada. Our international stereotype is that we're over-friendly, apologize often, and bend over backwards to help others. That's probably the best stereotype an entire country can have. But even the word stereotype conjures up feelings of ignorance, as they are often used by those who don't know or don't care enough to know about a group of people.
Plain and simple, some people are racist. Whether it's as prominent here than other countries really shouldn't be a part of the conversation, because it happens. Ask anyone who faces racism daily if they care about the latest Stats Canada census that says 'x' amount of people are this or that. I'd be willing to bet they don't.
"You're dealing with a Canadian woman," she says repeatedly. Unfortunately, they were.
So let's talk about the good side of Canada.
An easy one for memory sake is the way the country bonded together over the Humboldt Broncos, helping raise over $15 million for the families of the victims in the bus crash (it's worth noting that not all donations came from Canada).
Lastly, let's talk about the new Canadians.
Last Friday, I got to stand in a courtroom and witness 34 immigrants from 11 countries become Canadian citizens. It's cheesy and cliche to say you could feel the joy in the room and in the air, but man, you could feel the joy in the room and in the air. There was an abundance of hope and optimism, it was infectious.
Leaving that room, it reminded me of how lucky I am to be born and raised in Canada. I felt so patriotic I wanted to line up some shots of maple syrup and throw on an episode of Bob and Doug McKenzie. It was hard not to get emotional.
It also provided ample opportunity to acknowledge the fact that these folks left entire lives behind, and everything they owned, to go through what can only be a tedious and lengthy process to be recognized in the eyes of the law as Canadians. That's pretty wild.
So unfortunately for Pocha and other bigots out there, these new families are have no intention to "go back to where you came from."
I, and hopefully the majority of your new brothers and sisters, say welcome home, and let's have a Canadian together sometime.
