What We Love About Canada | Canada Day Special 2026

Happy Canada Day!

In this special Canada Day episode of The Missing Middle Podcast, the team takes a break from focusing on Canada's challenges to share what makes them optimistic about the country's future. From housing reforms and immigration to education, community, nature, and Canadian values, each member reflects on what they love most about Canada and why they remain hopeful.

Topics covered:

• Housing reform and recent progress on zoning and development charges
• Canada's sense of community and belonging
• Education affordability and student experiences
• Immigration and Canada's multicultural identity
• Nature, cities, and public spaces
• Canadian humour, humility, and culture
• Canadian values, civic engagement, and democracy
• Why constructive criticism is a form of patriotism
• What gives Canadians reason for optimism heading into the future

What makes you optimistic about Canada? Let us know in the comments below. 

#CanadaDay #Canada #TheMissingMiddle #CanadaHousing #CanadianEconomy #CanadianValues

Chapters:

YouTube Chapters (8:52)

00:00 Why We're Talking About Optimism This Canada Day
00:40 Cara Stern: Summers, Housing & Reasons for Optimism
01:43 Sean Foreman: Canada's Secret Weapon is Humour
02:57 Kelly Hoban: An American's Perspective on Canada
03:52 Meredith Martin: Nature, Immigration & Hope
05:36 Sabrina Maddeaux: Canadian Values, Kindness & Common Sense
07:48 Mike Moffatt: Why Criticism Is Patriotism

Research/Links:

A History of Tommy Thompson Park

https://trca.ca/news/tommy-thompson-park-history/

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/