As a native of the U.S.A. who has lived in Canada for over sixteen years, I’ve come to appreciate so much about the country. I’ve also come to accept Thanksgiving in early October – no mean feat for a ‘Merican! So in honor of Canadian Thanksgiving Day, I present the following…

I am thankful for Canada, a country where a three-month election is viewed as interminably long.

I am thankful for Canada, a place where coffee drinking is seen as an inalienable right and decaf is deemed sacrilegious.

I am thankful for Canada, a land of great natural beauty: vast forests, majestic mountains, thousands of lakes and rivers, and millions of Canadian women.

I am thankful for Canada, a country that produces more funny people per capita than any other nation in the world (You can look it up! I’m sure that statistic exists somewhere!)

I am thankful for Canada, where a moose may just be seen running down your suburban street (Hey, it happened in my suburb! It was on CBC and everything!).

I am thankful for Canada, a peaceful and harmonious land where people beat the crap out of each other on ice… while wearing sharp skates… and carrying big sticks.

I am thankful for Canada, where a young child can grow up to be Tragically Hip.

I am thankful for Canada, a land flowing with milk, honey and thousands of micro breweries.

I am thankful for Canada, the country that gave us the canoe and poutine and sometimes canoes full of poutine.

I am thankful for Canada, home of famous fictional characters like Wolverine, Deadpool and Pamela Anderson.

I am thankful for Canada, home of famous historical figures like Billy Bishop, Pierre Trudeau and Pamela Anderson.

I am thankful for Canada, where young men named Justin can grow up to be Prime Minister or dreamy pop star. Or possibly both.

I am thankful for Canada, a country so polite it makes the Brady Bunch look like the Kardashians.

I am thankful for Canada, where there is no “i” in “team” but there is in “Blue Jays Win! Blue Jays Win!”

I am thankful for Canada, the warmest place on earth that is famous for snow and ice.

I am thankful for Canada, a country that gave me my wife, my favorite Canuck.

I am thankful for Canada, my (adopted) home and native land!

Happy Thanksgiving, eh?