B.C. is hot and hazy and a little bit burned. We’ve got problems. We’ve got political divisions. No, British Columbia isn’t perfect, but there’s no place we’d rather be.
This Monday (Aug. 7) is B.C. Day, a long weekend that marks mid-summer. As far as holidays go, British Columbia doesn’t exactly get a fair shake on B.C. Day; the province is rarely the centre of attention when it comes to celebrating our holiday Monday. We’re much more likely to be out and about enjoying the long weekend for what it is than trying to wrap ourselves in the B.C. flag.
But there are good reasons for provincial pride; in fact, it’s as important as ever. We’re not far removed from an election and one of the necessary downsides of campaigns is they can be divisive and serve to underline our differences. Election-night results showed exactly that – we’re far from finding consensus about what we want from our political leaders and the direction they should lead our province.
Now that the election has been fought and (arguably) won, however, and the parties are moving forward, maybe British Columbians can do the same. While we can and should argue our differing opinions, there should be an acknowledgement that we share a similar desire of getting things right in our province, and for our province, and for all of us who live here.
Some of that renewal for B.C. can come in due time, but there’s no reason B.C. Day can’t be a rallying point that reminds us about all the things we like about living here and the common ground we share, literally and figuratively.
And while we’re celebrating the idea of B.C. this weekend, let’s appreciate Beautiful British Columbia, too, and be reminded that we’re not only citizens and residents, but also stewards. There are big and little ways in which we can try to protect the land from threats that we can and can’t control.
Hopefully some of that is so instinctual that we don’t even need to think about it this B.C. Day. Because if we’re here, having fun and happy on a holiday Monday, then maybe there’s no better way to honour B.C.
