CANADA!

As Canadians we are a nation of immigrants living in one of the most glorious countries in the world. Everyone including my 1st Nations brothers and sisters came from somewhere else.

 

Because we are a nation of nations it is vitally imperative that we honour and respect the inherited cultures of all with whom we share this land for all are equal under the law and in the eye of God.

 

“Colour Me Canadian!” ©PJ Yukon 1995 youtu.be/Wt-17HBMRmM

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Remembrance Day 2020: As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II we honour and salute all who have served and those who continue to serve and I am honoured to share the following poem "Private Braun Scott Woodfield".

 

Private Braun Scott Woodfield ©pj johnson 2005

Read more: https://www.yukonpoetlaureate.com/canada-day/

Private Braun Scott Woodfield ©pj johnson 2005

Read more: https://www.yukonpoetlaureate.com/canada-day/

Private Braun Scott Woodfield. 1981 Victoria BC - 2005 Afghanistan

 

Private Braun Scott Woodfield

 

they say his comrades 

called him Woody

he’d been awarded three medals

and his next venture

would have been search and rescue

because 

‘that’s just the kind of guy he was’

 

the tattoo on his shoulder said:

“Made in Canada”

 

on thursday afternoon

somewhere in afghanistan

an armored vehicle swerved

to avoid another vehicle 

and rolled

and today a father fights his tears

as another piper plays amazing grace

 

and another flag-draped coffin

makes its way across the tarmac

 

they say he chose 

to serve his country

his mother should be proud

he was only 24

she tells the regiment

“you’re all my sons now,

all my boys.”

 

she gave them her son

they gave her a flag

he is everybody’s son now

 

©PJ Yukon 2005

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Canada Day 1995

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shortly after I was invested as poet laureate on Canada Day 1994 I was commissioned to compose a song to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the RCMP in the North. I was honoured to perform it as a welcome to the R.C.M.P. Musical Ride on their inaugural visit to the Yukon in 1995 and again in 2017 when they returned to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday.
 
“Colour Me Canadian” is a song of Canada that celebrates and reflects our diversity.
 

Colour Me Canadian
 
i am the red man
i am the white man
i am a french canadian man
i am a métis lady
i'm a mi'kmaq man
i am a preacher
i am a teacher
i am a proud acadian
but you can colour me canadian
canadian!
 
from the west coast
to the east coast
of this great land
from the arctic tundra
to newfoundland
i am a soldier
i am a senior
i am the farmer in the field
i'm the yukon valley
the canadian shield
 
oh say can't you see-
it's the maple leaf in me
flying free over me
from sea to sea to sea
and you can colour me canadian
yeah you can colour me canadian
canadian!
 
i am a fisherman i'm a veteran
i am the RCMP
from the grand banks
to the prairies
to the beaufort sea
i am an immigrant
i am an inuit
i am the spirit of this land
but you can colour me canadian
canadian!
 
dis ne peux-tu voir
la feuille d'érable en moi
volant. libre.
d'un océan à un océan, à un ocean
en moi sont les couleurs de mon pays
les couleurs du canada
 
i am the red man
i am the white man
i am a french canadian man
i am a métis lady
i'm a mi'kmaq man
i am a preacher
i am a teacher
i am a proud acadian
but you can colour me canadian
en moi sont les couleurs de mon pays
canadian!

 

©PJ Yukon 1995

 

 

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In 1985 I was invited by former Yukon Commissioner Doug Bell to visit his office and sit at his desk to sign a copy of my first little book “I Sing Yukon” that was sent to Her Royal Highness the Princess Anne. Commissioner Bell later received a message from the palace thanking ‘Mr P. Johnson’ for the book.

 

It’s not every day you get to see your name on Buckingham Palace stationary. And it wasn't there on January 8 1985 either. No one gets my name right.

 

A tuneful take on the art of being Canadian.

 

"canadians, canadians "   ©pj johnson  4 April 1996

 

oh, canadians, canadians

we're ever so polite

when the chips are down

and we're on the ground

we'd sooner switch

than fight

 

oh canadians, canadians

we're all so flippin' nice

if you knock us down

we'll apologize

not flippin' once

but twice

 

oh canadians, canadians

neurotic as can be

with a slab o' land

that's bleedin' grand

but no

identity

 

oh canadians, canadians

our true love strong and free

we salute the mighty

maple leaf

and godbless

GST

 

oh canadians, canadians

in a land of endless wealth

though we call her home

it's a fact well-known

we're all from somewhere

else

 

oh canadians, canadians

no matter what you say

we'll finish off

each utterance

with a most distinctive

"Eh?"

 

oh canadians, canadians

when all is said and done

though we hem n' we haw

n' we navel-gaze

we're a heckova lotta

fun!



Read more: https://www.yukonpoetlaureate.com/canada-day/

A tuneful take on the art of being Canadian.

 

"canadians, canadians "   ©pj johnson  4 April 1996

 

oh, canadians, canadians

we're ever so polite

when the chips are down

and we're on the ground

we'd sooner switch

than fight

 

oh canadians, canadians

we're all so flippin' nice

if you knock us down

we'll apologize

not flippin' once

but twice

 

oh canadians, canadians

neurotic as can be

with a slab o' land

that's bleedin' grand

but no

identity

 

oh canadians, canadians

our true love strong and free

we salute the mighty

maple leaf

and godbless

GST

 

oh canadians, canadians

in a land of endless wealth

though we call her home

it's a fact well-known

we're all from somewhere

else

 

oh canadians, canadians

no matter what you say

we'll finish off

each utterance

with a most distinctive

"Eh?"

 

oh canadians, canadians

when all is said and done

though we hem n' we haw

n' we navel-gaze

we're a heckova lotta

fun!



Read more: https://www.yukonpoetlaureate.com/canada-day/

--------------------------------------------------------------------

A tuneful take on the art of being Canadian.

 

"canadians, canadians "  

 

oh, canadians, canadians

we're ever so polite

when the chips are down

and we're on the ground

we'd sooner switch

than fight

 

oh canadians, canadians

we're all so flippin' nice

if you knock us down

we'll apologize

not flippin' once

but twice

 

oh canadians, canadians

neurotic as can be

with a slab o' land

that's bleedin' grand

but no

identity

 

oh canadians, canadians

our true love strong and free

we salute the mighty

maple leaf

and godbless

GST

 

oh canadians, canadians

in a land of endless wealth

though we call her home

it's a fact well-known

we're all from somewhere

else

 

oh canadians, canadians

no matter what you say

we'll finish off

each utterance

with a most distinctive

"Eh?"

 

oh canadians, canadians

when all is said and done

though we hem n' we haw

n' we navel-gaze

we're a heckova lotta

fun!

 

©PJ Yukon 4 April 1996