When I first met Rosemary Healey around 15 December 1967 in Mexico City I knew nothing about Canada. She told me she was from New Dublin, Ontario and that Canada had a sexy prime minister called Pierre Trudeau. She told me she had lived in the province of Quebec and that I had to pronounce the name “Kebek”.

Shortly after we were married on February 1968 her sister Ruth came for a visit. I am almost sure she came to find out if I ate with a fork and knife.

In 1975 Rosemary informed me that we were moving to Canada as she did not think Mexico was a good place for our two daughters Alexandra and Hilary to grow up.

My first photography job in Vancouver happened in 1976 at the French CBC and from there I also worked for the English side. One day I returned from a job there and told Rosemary, “I feel Canadian today because I have found out that the province of Newfoundland is pronounced “Newfun-land”. I eventually became a Canadian citizen and I have been so glad that Rosemary insisted we move to Canada.

The first Canadian book I read was Pierre Berton’s Vimy Ridge and so I found out that Canada became a country at that battle in WWI. When I photographed Berton I thanked him for that.

When my granddaughters where little girls I often drove to their aunt’s home in Lillooet with Neil Young on my tape deck. Why?

I have photographed many singers that are Canadian, including Leonard Cohen. I believe that Cohen was more than a Canadian singer but almost universal. On the other hand I think Neil Young (although he holds a dual citizenship) defines for me what it is to be completely Canadian.

It was in 1972 that my high school class that I was teaching in Mexico City wanted me to listen to their music. I was completely ignorant. I was invited to a party and they played lots of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. I had no idea who they were and no knowledge of Neil Young.

Many years later all that changed when I heard Neily Young’s Ohio which is my favourite song of his.

Somehow going to Saturday’s Neil Young concert (6 September) with my two daughters and with friend Steven Drake cemented for me that journey that began with Rosemary on 15 December, 1967.

I am now 100% Canadian. I feel I fit in.