Canada is a country of remarkable landscapes and a country of remarkable people. Some of us were born here, some chose to make Canada home, and others’ families have always existed on this land. Our stories are different, our traditions are different, and the ways we experience home are different too.
This land has been home to First Nations and Inuit peoples since time immemorial and to the Métis Nation, whose people and culture emerged from this land. Theirs is not one story among Canada’s many; they’re the stories every other one on this land follows.
As another Canada Day passes by, it’s worth reflecting on what home really means. Home is more than just an address; it’s the place where we feel connected, where we find familiarity, and where we know we belong. Our families, cultures, life experiences, and opportunities all play a part of what shapes where we feel at home, but so does personality. It influences how we connect with a place and transform it from somewhere we exist into somewhere we belong.
Authentic Blues find home through meaningful relationships. It’s the familiar faces at the local coffee shop, the neighbours who stop to chat, the friends who become like family, and the opportunities to contribute to the community that all help transform a physical space into something more. Home is the place where people genuinely know and care about one another and can grow together.
Inquiring Greens find home by understanding the space around them; learning the stories behind the community; exploring local history; discovering hidden parks, museums, and walking trails; and figuring out what makes the place they’re in unique. The more they understand their surroundings, the more connected they become. They may have lived there for only a few months, yet somehow know why the oldest building downtown was built where it was or why there’s a four-way stop at the end of their street.
Organized Golds find home with familiarity and stability. They appreciate knowing which grocery store has the best produce, when the recycling goes out, and which routes avoid the most traffic. Discovering how local traditions unfold throughout the year and how their own align with them, grows that feeling of home. To them, there’s something reassuring about knowing the way things work and what to expect. As familiar routines take shape and annual traditions become part of life, a place gradually stops feeling new and becomes home.
Resourceful Oranges find home by experiencing it. They discover their community by trying the local restaurant everyone recommends, joining a recreational league, wandering through summer festivals, or taking the scenic route simply to see where it leads. That feeling of home grows as they take in their surroundings. Their favourite places often become home because of the memories they’ve created there, not because they’ve followed the same routine every day.
Whenever I’m travelling, I can’t help but think of the old folk song recorded by Leonard Cohen, Un Canadien errant. It captures the deep longing people can feel for a place they call home. The line that sticks with me; « Va dire à mes amis que je me souviens d’eux » (Go tell my friends that I remember them), reminds us that home isn’t just about geography. It’s about the people, memories, and connections that give a place meaning.
Canada Day means different things to different people. For some, it’s a day of celebration; for others, it’s a time of reflection. However we mark the occasion, it’s an opportunity to appreciate not only the country we share but also the many different paths that have brought us here.
Some families have always lived on this land, some arrived decades ago, and others are only beginning their Canadian story. As a country, our diversity, whether that’s geography, culture, or personality, is our strength. Wherever we come from, and whatever personality we bring with us, we all hope to find a place where we can belong. We don’t all build that sense of belonging in the same way, but understanding those differences helps us create communities where more people can feel at home.
Brad Whitehorn – BA, CCDP is a lifelong Introvert, and the Associate Director at CLSR Inc. He was thrown into the career development field headfirst after completing a Communications degree in 2005, and hasn’t looked back! Since then, Brad has worked on the development, implementation and certification for various career and personality assessments (including Personality Dimensions®), making sure that Career Development Practitioners and HR Professionals get the right tools to do their best work. Brad is also on the board of directors for the Career Professionals of Canada, and an advisory committee member with the Career Development Professionals of Ontario.
