November
22, 2014
To:
Editor, Globe and Mail (not published)
We're OK Canada
This last
weekend I visited Ottawa to see my son who is currently attending Carleton
University and works as a Page in the House of Commons. Coming from Western Canada and working
regularly in Toronto, I’ve had the chance to visit Ottawa before, and now,
after the events of October 22, 2014 and the sad death of Corporal Nathan Cirillo. As I drove up
the nation’s capital I wondered if the city had changed. Did the violence of
that fall day change the city, the people and as a result Canada?
I have occasionally visited Ottawa
since the time I was on a Rotary Club exchange in my last year of high school
and over the visits developed a little tradition. Regardless of the time of
day, I walk up to the Parliament buildings, wander over to the John A.
MacDonald statue and have a chat with stern looking founding father of our
country. I do this because I’m a proud and passionate Canadian. And it’s my way of acknowledging this fact.
On this trip, I went twice to
visit Parliament. The first visit was with my son in the evening after dinner.
Standing close to the confederation flame we agreed everything looked very
similar to pre-October 22. Other tourists were looking at the flame and glancing
at the Peace Tower. There was even a group of women, clearly tourists, chatting
with the RCMP officer. The second visit in the morning was my usual ritual to
Parliament and my chat with John A. While the police presence was visible, I
was free to wander around. It was exactly how I remembered it and how I believe
it should be. Free and open to everyone.
Perhaps more interesting to me was
who was there. I observed all ages, all shades of humanity and all engaged in
their personal journey to acknowledge how great a country we live in. Wandering
over the War Memorial, a similar scene was repeated over and over. And in some
instances hugs and tears were part of the moment.
Upon reflection I realized that no
matter where you live in this county, when the appropriate time and place
presents itself, you get the significance and you act. We understand the
sacrifices of Corporal Nathan Cirillo and many others before him made, we get
that being a police officer means you strap on a gun when you go to work and we
get the sacrifices many people make daily to move our country forward. Sure we are
all busy with life, but when it matters, we are there.
Canada is you, Canada is me,
Canada is us.
So, it’s with that last thought I
ask our federal political leaders from all parties to remember when you
deliberate on solutions to the events of October 22, 2014 please remember that
Canada is not determined by the actions of one, but rather the actions of all
of us. And that is something that would make Sir John A. MacDonald’s statue
smile, even on a cold winter day. It sure did for me.
