Happy Canada Day

There are so many reasons that I love to celebrate Canada’s birthday.
Close to the top of those is the fact that it starts the 30-day countdown to my birthday.
Also, there are fireworks. Who doesn’t love explosions of light and colour?
This column is all about celebrating those things that are uniquely Canadian, the items that showcase our true north innovation.
I told my fellow reporter, Chris Fell, about my swell column idea.
He told me it would be a short column. I bet he’s an American in disguise.
In any case, he’s wrong. So get yourself an iced tea; the list of Canadian innovations is long and illustrious, like this column.
Unique fact number one. Canada’s weather. Of course, Canadians can hardly take credit for divine control of temperature, but they can be credited with some coping mechanisms that have become staples in life today.
For instance, the first air-conditioned and heated railway coach was invented by Canadian Henry Rutton.
The first electric streetcar heater was invented by Thomas Ahearn, who is also credited as the first person to cook an entire meal with electricity.
J.W. Butler, also a Canuck, invented Agrifoam crop cold protector, to compensate for clinging Canadian cold snaps.
This adaptation to atmosphere went to infinity and beyond for Canadian inventor Wilbur Rounding Franks, who is credited with the first invention of an effective anti-gravity suit.
If we can live in the great white north, we can live in space.
Of course, the sparse population and extra space for activities also called for entertaining innovations.
Remember the Heritage Moments shorts on TV? Specifically, the one about the guys throwing balls into peach baskets?
The story goes that James Naismith cut holes in peach baskets and mounted them on walls at either end of the gym to keep the active boys active all winter long. Basketball was born. Too bad the Raptors don’t remember that basketball is Canadian, and should therefore be dominated by Canadian teams.
Another indoor, winter busting activity born in Canada is five-pin bowling. For a while, every small town had a five-pin bowling alley, which was good for Canada, mostly because Canada was all small towns.
Imax movie inventors, Grahame Ferguson, Roman Kroiter and Robert Kerr were all Canadians who figured movies looked better in Imax.
Canadians Chris Haney and Scott Abbott, stuck inside on a winter day, or so it is said, came up with the idea for Trivial Pursuit. Now you know.
Of course, Canucks, being equal to all, didn’t limit entertainment to those old enough to eat solid foods.
Canadian Olivia Poole invented the Jolly Jumper.
Clever Canadians are also credited for the invention of an automatic postal sorter, the garbage bag, UV degradable plastic, newsprint, the goalie mask (another heritage moment), the walkie-talkie, the telephone, instant mashed potatoes, Canada Dry and the McIntosh apple.
Finally, health care seems to be at the forefront of every Canadian’s mind, especially given the unique system the nation boasts.
Barbara Bain, a Canadian woman, invented the Bone Marrow Compatibility test, Dianne Croteau invented the first CPR mannequin and Dr. John Hopps invented the cardiac pacemaker.
The list of innovators in the Glorious and Free doesn’t end.
Happy Birthday Canada – here’s to the clever Canucks.