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The colourful short, which gives a creative nod to the original CBC TV O Canada signoff, has been gaining popularity on social media. It was first featured at Reel Canada’s National Canadian Film Day on April 19, when it was shown as a precursor to hundreds of Canadian movies that were shown at screenings across Canada and abroad. The film will also be featured the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.

Provinces and territories are represented by their unique Canadian pastimes, animals and landmarks. Also, a team of designers was assigned to each province and asked to research artists authentic to that region, and create animations inspired by their work.

“(The artists) were asked to research the art style of that province,” said Popowich. “Like who are some of the famous artists from that province, like the Group of Seven are from Ontario … we looked at their artwork and tried to be inspired by that and do an original piece on each province.”

The cinematic journey begins at Cape Spear in Newfoundland and Labrador with a whale jumping out the North Atlantic Ocean and transitions through the provinces, including a whimsical moment with Anne of Green Gables who chips a P.E.I. potato into the water with a golf club, all the way to the Arctic with a glimmering image of a Canadian flag amongst the northern lights.

Popowich said he was not only inspired by the energy and passion of the team behind the project, but also by the heartfelt comments he has received from people who are moved by the short.

“I was really pleasantly surprised by how emotional people were getting and how patriotic they were after watching it, and I hope it’s something that can continue even after this year, something that can be viewed in schools and movie theatres.”