Happy Federal Holiday!

By Tamara Lee

I must aplogise for being late with my post; it's been a very indulgent weekend. Out in the 'burbs with my mom because I just haven't been away from my apartment quite enough these past 2 months.

But I've managed to sort of celebrate Canada Day for the first time in years. I was in Montreal for Jean Baptiste Day last weekend, the day many quebeckers celebrate as a national holiday, while many others use it as an opportunity to drink openly in the streets. Many businesses were closed. Few places in Montreal were not filled with music or blue-and-white face-painted revellers. It was sort of like Carnivale.

Canada Day in Vancouver, however, like most events here, is rather subdued. Perhaps that's the way it is everywhere in Canada, I don't know. I think there were fireworks somewhere and I'm sure many people watched them. I did not. But I didn't need to, either. The epitome of Canada Day in Vancouver, for me, was one of the first things I noticed upon my return to the city: the annual massive flag draped over the main Canada Post building, like the posties all shouting to the city: "We are not working today or tomorrow! Deal."

But all the stores were selling their wares (and most had Canada Day sales), and the restaurants were open, patios full to the brim with people intent on soaking up as much sun as possible on this historically very wet long weekend. I barely remember such a sunny Canada Day weekend.

Me, I celebrated Canada Day by going shopping with my mom, making a brief belini-on-a-patio pitstop before going home to bar-b-que wild BC salmon accompanied by new potatoes and corn on the cob. No red-and-white face-painting; no fireworks; no drinking in the streets.

Just a pleasant meal, al fresco, on the backyard patio with the woman who gave me life.

Sweet.