What does it mean to be Canadian?

To be Canadian means more than simply living in Canada. In Canada we stand up for what we believe in and respect others opinions. The extreme weather conditions, our ethnic cultures, our neighbourly lifestyle and our democratic government are what it means to be Canadian. We view ourselves as being hardworking individuals who like to say “eh” a lot. We can’t live without our poutine and Tim Horton’s coffee and donuts! Others view us as living in igloos, saying "eh" a lot, being overly nice, being good at hockey and mispronouncing words such as "house", or "about", which come off as "aboot, or hoose". Blizzard, storm and freezing have become a part of our daily word choice but we continue to be optimistic about the future. One thing we Canadians have in common is that we experience severe weather conditions. This makes us stronger and tougher. Canadian society is based a lot on diversity. We are full of different nationalities and encourage them to grow. We respect other cultures and their cultural beliefs because we are an accepting nation. Our personalities and values influence us greatly because they make us who we are and who we are becoming as individuals. Our values come from people around us and our families. Personalities are developed throughout the years and are influenced by our parents from what they teach us.