Transplanted Canadian discusses differences between U.S. and his home

Episcopal Church of the Advent Organist Dr. Brennan Szafron grew up in Canada. On Friday, he presented a program about Canada to Mary Bramlett Elementary students. Episcopal Church of the Advent Organist Dr. Brennan Szafron figures it would take him 40 hours to drive from his home town in Canada to his present job in Spartanburg.

It was one of many facts and figures Szafron shared with Mary Bramlett Elementary students about the difference between life in Canada and the United States.

He split his childhood in Canada between his home town of Meosomin and Regina, which used to be named "Pile O'Bones" because the city was believed to sit on a burial ground site.

Szafron received his bachelor's degree in music from the University of Alberta in Canada. He then spent nine years studying the organ while earning a master's degree from Yale University and his doctoral degree in music from the University of Michigan.

Today, Szafron is the organist and choir master for the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Spartanburg.

"In celebration of different cultures being studied by students, his focus was on real life experiences of a Canadian and he shared his story by a pictorial slide show and through music as he played the piano," Mary Bramlett Elementary parent coordinator Lakesha Logan said.

Canada is the second-largest country in the world. Only Russia covers a larger area.

One of the main differences between Canada and the United States is how the country is organized. The U.S. is divided into states while Canada has territories called provinces.

"The territories in Canada get so cold in the winter that sometimes the temperature doesn't get above zero degrees," Szafron said. "The northwest territory is a great place for ice fishing."

English and French are both considered official languages in Canada.

Szafron, who speaks English and French, performed his country's national song "O'Canada" along with songs celebrating Canadian imports like maple sugar. Another catchy song featured all the names of the Canadian provinces such as Saskatchewan.

"I lived for several years in Ann Arbor when I was studying at Michigan. Ann Arbor is only 45 minutes away from Detroit, which is right across the river from Windsor in Canada," Szafron said. "One of the cool things about living in Michigan is that you can go along the Detroit River and watch both countries celebrate their independence days by shooting fireworks during the same week."

While he enjoys living in Canada, Szafron said he has made some adjustments to life in America.

"Canadians use many more coins for shopping than Americans," Szafron said. "In Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October. Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. This is something I had to get used to."