meaning they would undertake the toughest tasks and fulfill
their duties. They proved their worth in their first major battle:
the 1915 battle of Yores—and the Germans carried out the first
poison gas attack in history during this fight. Canadian soldiers
had to urinate into cloths and put them over their mouths in order
to avoid exposure to the poison gas. After a brutal and almost
impossible battle, the Canadians held the line and breakthroughs
by German soldiers were avoided, but it came with the cost
of 6500 of those either killed, captured, or wounded. Canada
had never experienced such carnage and tragedy before this,
but they would relive it again during the battle of Vimy Ridge
in 1917—Canada’s most celebrated military victory. During this
battle, 100,000 Canadian troops overtook German forces and
captured the ridge until it could be defended again. More than
10,500 Canadian soldiers were killed and wounded in battle.

CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Our country has also been on the forefront in producing clean
and renewable energy. According to Natural Resources Canada,
we are a world leader in producing and using renewable energy
resources which provide nearly 19 percent of Canada’s total
main energy supply. The most important renewable energy
source for us is hydroelectricity or moving water which makes up
59 percent of Canada’s electricity production. Canada is also the
second largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world and the
seventh largest producer of renewable energy in the world as of
2018. Our home and native land is also in the top 10 countries
for their use of green energy sitting at eighth place according to
a 2017 Clean Energy Canada report.

RAILROADS MADE CANADA POSSIBLE

The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and Canadian National
Railway (CNR) are a series of transcontinental railways that
run through all of Canada. The development of these railways
was essential to expanding Canada as a nation and allowed
Canadians to be independent enough to not rely on their
American or British counterparts. They were revolutionary at the
time for transportation. These railways helped to industrialize
Canada as well as open and connect new markets and made
more demand for technology and other resources. In fact, if it
weren't for these railways Canada may not have existed at all.
Many provinces only agreed on confederation under the basis
that they would be included in the railway path to connect all of
Canada, but it wasn’t an easy feat. The construction of the 2000-
mile CPR railway took 14 years to complete, a countless amount
of money, and many lives were lost in the grueling and often
dangerous process of tunneling through Canada’s mountains
and laying rails on cliffsides. Railway workers were also subject
to bear attacks, forest fires, and thick and dense woods while
building the railway. The railway allowed for tourism, strength in
wartimes, transportation, and ultimately Canada’s independence
trom Mother Britain.

There are many reasons to celebrate or to criticize Canada,
but people from all around the globe immigrate here for a
reason. Canada has had its fair share of controversy, but we can
acknowledge these past atrocities while also celebrating our
true north strong and free.

 

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Canada is also the second largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world
and the seventh largest producer of renewable energy in the world as of 2018.

 

Illustration by Athena Little