As the majority of immigrants settle in and around Canada's largest cities and a large number of young adults continue to leave small towns to pursue higher education and job opportunities, there are fears that some of the country's rural villages will disappear completely.

But Harper encouraged Canadians to be confident about an even brighter future.

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper shakes hands with spectators during Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, capital of Canada, July 1, 2009. Canadian celebrated their country's 142nd birthday on Wednesday. [Xinhua]

Canada is "a strong and resilient" nation, "We will soon have a chance to showcase Canada to the world," Harper said in his speech, referring to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver-Whistler.

Meanwhile, Canada's Governor General Michaelle Jean hailed the country's youth, saying the youth "are in fact our most powerful antidote against inaction and indifference."

"Through our youth, we will come to embody, within our borders and beyond, the Canada we still dream about, whose full potential we hope one day to realize," she told an applauding audience.

(Xinhua News Agency July 2, 2009)