Happy Birthday Canada!
I'm writing from Ottawa at the super fabulous Fairmont Laurier, and today Canada is celebrating its 142nd Birthday.  We had a chance to watch the festivites as events are being held throughout Canada today, but especially here in Ottawa.

This is a bittersweet day for me.  My highlight of the day, came when I shook Prime Minister Harper's hand and was greeted with a wonderful handshake from the Governor General as well.  As Harper shook my hand, I greeted him with a 'Happy Canada Day', and he returned the favor to me as well, wishing me a 'Happy Canada Day' as well.  Ottawa is full of free concerts and other events today, but it certainly is cool seeing the Prime Minister of Canada on Canada Day.  That was the highlight for

me, today.

This is also a sad day for me.  My wife and I had one of the American National Passport books that are used for placing stamps and stickers into.  Well, Canada doesn't have such a book, and so I have used it during my travels across Canada as well.  Ottawa was hit with a rainstorm this afternoon and as we ran across the puddles in the streets, the passport book fell out of my pocket.  It held stamps from across Canada, as we have visited nearly every park, from Battle Harbour in Labrador, to Point Pelee in Ontario, to even the Pingo National Landmark in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories.  In the United States we've travelled from Dry Tortugas in Florida, to Roosevelt Campobello International Park, to Kenai Fjords in Alaska.  It was a book that symbolized our journey through the national parks and the incredible National Parks that both Canada and the United States have.  I'm not sure how to replace those stamps in that book, but I'll try my best to find a

way.

Canada, I do wish you a Happy Birthday today.  I have visited an incredible amount of Canada and its parks, people, culture

and cities.  Canada, you have a lot to be proud about and in a few days, United States, you too have a lot to be proud about

as well.  Stand tall, stand firm and smile.  We as Canadians and Americans live in freedom and for that, we should be truly thankful.

(but if you happen to have an idea of how I could recollect some of those stamps, someone please tell me... like I said, it is a bittersweet day).

-kai

About the photos:
1.  A proud Canadian lady in the crowds.
2.  Prime Minister Harper greeting the crowds (I shook his hand)
3.  Governor General Michaelle Jean
4.  Ceremonies with the RCMP ceremonial guard
5.  Inspection of the Ceremonial Guard by the Governor General
6.  Me.  In the rain.  People hiding for shelter under the roofs.  Just after this, I found out that my National Parks book

with stamps had fallen on the road, and was lost.  (photo by Naomi Petainen)
7.  Jets flying over Parliament.
8.  Centennial Flame at Parliament in Ottawa, Ontario.  (June 30th)
9.  Sarah McLachlan, practicing for the big concert on July 1st (photo from June 30th)
10. Cirque Fantastic Concept, practicing for the big concert on July 1st (photo from June 30th)