As Canada Day approaches, there鈥檚 the temptation to show the world some of the remarkable accomplishments, innovations and developments Canada has given the world.
It doesn鈥檛 take much effort to get quite a lengthy list.
The tomahawk, igloo, snow goggles and snowshoes were all developed by Indigenous people in Canada.
The egg carton, the paint roller, the walkie-talkie, the pager and garbage bags are Canadian inventions.
Medical developments have included insulin research, the artificial pacemaker and the electric wheelchair.
Because of Canadian winters, the rotary snowplough, the snowblower and the snowmobile were all invented in Canada.
In the world of sport, Canada has given the world basketball, hockey and five-pin bowling. The hockey goalie mask is also a Canadian invention. Instant replay, used in sports broadcasts was developed during a Hockey Night in Canada broadcast in 1955. Oddly, the Zamboni ice resurfacer, used at ice rinks around the world, was invented in California, not Canada.
The Canadarm, a series of robotic arms used on the Space Shuttle orbiters, is a Canadian invention.
Foods including poutine, the Nanaimo bar and the Hawaiian pizza are among Canada鈥檚 contributions to the culinary world.
Games from Canada include crokinole, table hockey and Trivial Pursuit.
And Superman, the iconic superhero, was created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born illustrator Joe Shuster. The city of Metropolis, where Superman lives, was modelled after Toronto.
While those are impressive inventions and developments, another has a greater significance.
The concept of human rights, as understood today, has a strong connection to Canada.
In 1946, John Peters Humphrey, a Canadian lawyer, was appointed as director of human rights for the United Nations Secretariat. He is one of the authors of the original Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This declaration was passed by the United Nations General Assembly on Dec. 10, 1948 and since that time, has been translated into 577 languages and dialects.
The document is significant. Its 30 articles include protection against torture, inhumane treatment, cruel punishment, slavery and servitude. It also covers freedom of religion and conscience, peaceful association, health care, the right to an adequate standard of living and many other rights.
While this declaration is non-binding, it has been used as a standard in human rights and in the quality of life worldwide.
It has also been used in international treaties, national constitutions and legal codes.
Canada has taken these principles to heart, and in 1982, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was signed. This replaced the Canadian Bill of Rights, from 1960.
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms includes fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, mobility rights, legal rights, equality rights, language rights and more.
Canada鈥檚 efforts in human rights go beyond words and documents. International studies repeatedly give Canada high marks for the freedoms enjoyed in this country.
In its Freedom in the World 2025 Report, Freedom Watch, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, ranked Canada fifth of 208 jurisdictions, with a score of 97 out of 100.
According to this report, most of the world鈥檚 population lives in countries that are rated partly free or not free.
The Human Freedom Index 2024, published by the U.S.-based Cato Institute and the Canadian-based Fraser Institute, ranked Canada in 11th place out of 165 countries, with high marks in all categories.
Democracy Index 2024, released earlier this year by the Economist Intelligence Unit from the United Kingdom, gave Canada high marks in civil liberties, in addition to strong marks in categories related to the functioning of its government and the country鈥檚 political culture. The country was ranked 14th out of 167 countries.
We鈥檙e not perfect, and there are efforts in place to improve the quality of life of all who live here.
There鈥檚 a lot to celebrate about Canada. This country鈥檚 commitment to human rights, at home and internationally, is one of the most impressive Canadian achievements.
John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.
