I’ve never really been much of a flag person. I didn’t grow up in houses that flew Canadian ones, and the patriotism I was taught growing up was a more quiet and understated version that stood in obvious contrast to America’s preferred way of celebrating its greatness. I’m not even sure I believed that Canada was “great” growing up — just that it was where I was born, where I was being raised and where I wanted to spend the rest of my life.

I still do. But that quiet appreciation of Canada’s advantages has been replaced by a more overt and deliberate form of patriotism — and yes, it includes the massive maple leaf flag I now fly on the front of my house. That’s partially a response to the separatist debate consuming my province right now and my family’s desire to make our choice there extremely clear. But it’s also a deliberate visual reminder to my son that we value what this country has to offer and refuse to take that for granted. 

That’s been a luxury I’ve had for most of my life. I grew up in a country that was getting progressively more tolerant and inclusive, one that benefited from its economic and security relationship with the United........

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