A Thankful Thanksgiving!

We're Canadian, so, of course our Thanksgiving is today!  Happy Thanksgiving to all!  

Canadian Thanksgiving corresponds to the harvest; we're further north, so it's earlier than the Americans.  Thanksgiving celebrations are a time of gathering, sharing food - aren't most holidays the same - but, also of being thankful for the blessings we have in this country.  Democracy, freedom of movement, freedom of religion, education for all, basic health care for all and a refuge for the disenfranchised, persecuted and freedom seekers of the world.  

Canada is seen as a predominantly peaceful nation - thank you Lester B. Pearson!  Mr. Pearson's military background probably served him well in his later choices and something not all politicians have had, putting many of them at a disadvantage, globally.  Before Mr. Pearson became our PM in the 1960's, he served as an ambassador, worked with the UN and his philosophical views convinced him of Canada's need to be a peaceful nation. Under his leadership, old age pension and national medicare became accessible to all Canadians. We also raised our current flag - the red and white everyone is so familiar for the first time in 1965.  

Our freedom is precious to us, but, probably is even more so to those who seek asylum in this country.  So, to the immigrants I pose this question.  What have you found in Canada?  Is it the nation of peace keepers you imagined?  Is the land of freedom that you sought?  

Are there flaws?  Most assuredly there are flaws. We are a nation of people who have, for the most part, come from elsewhere and today, we live in peace, but, for our first nation’s people, that peace has been more difficult to attain.  To our shame, we as a nation have treated them, and others, disrespectfully and as less the peace loving people we like to see ourselves.  But, we are moving forward, the disgraces of the past must be faced and the truth of it dealt with for healing happen. 

“Let the first act of every morning be to make the following resolve for the day:
- I shall not fear anyone on Earth. 
- I shall fear only God. 
- I shall not bear ill will toward anyone. 
- I shall not submit to injustice from anyone. 
- I shall conquer untruth by truth. 

- And in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone from here in Canada!

A Live-able Neighbourhood?

Are you living in a livable neighbourhood?  By this, I don't mean, is your house in a safe neighbourhood?  No, a liveable neighbourhood is what most of us lived in at one time over 30 years ago.  Unless you were in a rural area, you likely didn't have to drive to actually live in your neighbourhood.