Originally published in TEACH Magazine, 75 Years of the Canadian Citizenship Act Special Issue, 2022
By Nikita Griffioen
What does it mean to be Canadian? For me, that question has several different answers.
In a personal sense, my identity as a citizen of Canada is tied to my love and appreciation of nature. I’m lucky to live in British Columbia, where the mountains, desert, forest, and ocean are both my home and my playground. The indescribable beauty of living here cannot be explained so much as it must be experienced. From scaling the Stawamus Chief on a weekend, to taking a dip in the Salish Sea, or avoiding rattlesnakes in Nk’Mip desert on a hot August day, the province’s beauty is unparalleled (even our licence plates proclaim it—“Beautiful British Columbia” can be seen on every car).
Nikita Griffioen currently teaches in Abbotsford, BC. When she’s not in class, you can find her traveling, snowboarding, surfing, reading, or making art.
