Tag: True North Strong and Free

An Open Letter to Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

Dear Prime Minister,

This pandemic has gripped Canada, like the rest of the world, in ways that have crippled and terrified many of us. And leadership is critical in a crisis. In a crisis, leadership can galvanize millions towards a positive outcome, leadership can unite and conquer. And sir, that is what you have done.

I am not a homegrown Canadian. I am of the imported variety, the kind one calls an immigrant, and having lived in multiple places over the course of my life, I have always been proud to be able to identify as a Canadian. However, no moment in time has made me more proud than I am right now.

Prime Minister, I know you have faced flack in the not-too-distant past, in the weeks, days and months, leading up to our Federal Elections last year, but most of us Canadians trusted you. And at this time, it is blatantly obvious that we were right to have done so.

No, not every decision you make will be agreed upon by all. It is the supreme challenge of a leader to receive the support of all his/her people. Still, in the last few days since this pandemic crashed into our airspace and came unwelcome to our doorstep, you have stood strong, you have been unfazed, unfazed by criticisms (and some really stupid questions asked by journalists during your daily address to the nation), unfazed by the doomsday tone of this virus, and unfazed by the collective chaos that is breaking around us.

Under your leadership and direction, Canada has emerged in the last 5 years as a no-longer-silent and firm leader of the free world. I am not old enough to call to mind the wisdom of time and the experience of history, but in my life as a Canadian, you are the only leader of this country who has put us back on the world stage as a force to be reckoned with. It is as a result of your no-nonsense and calm-and-collected leadership that our Canadian Olympics committee had the courage and wisdom to be the first to say our Canadian athletes would not be travelling to Tokyo for this summer’s Olympics. It is under your leadership that Canada has emerged as a major player in economics and trade. You have gone head-to-head with the “leader” of our neighbours to the south. You have stood your ground and stood up for us. No, you are not perfect. You have made mistakes, but you are human, and in these uncertain times, Prime Minister, we as Canadians are blessed and proud that you are our leader.

So, drown out the noise and the shouts of people who do not understand, drown out the bursts of stupidity that have been hurled your way, like you have so wisely done. We see you, we see what you are doing, and we feel stronger as a nation because we are led by you. And sir, we’ve got your back.

With gratitude,

A Proud Canadian

An Open Letter to the Canadian Women’s Soccer Team in Rio, Brazil.

Dear Canadian Women’s Soccer Team,

Today we watched with an ache in our hearts as we were defeated by Germany. It felt like 4 years ago at the London Olympics, when we came so very close, only to have the glory STOLEN from us. That was a devastating loss when the win SHOULD have been ours. It was a hard pill to swallow then, and remains a bitter memory even 4 years later. Still, you came back from that loss, and you were victorious for the most well-deserved Bronze ever.

We were hoping we could take back what we lost then, but that was not to be this time. And no, we are not disappointed. We are proud. Because, like then, today, you fought. You fought with your hearts, and you fought with your dignity intact. And you were brave. Oh so brave.

Captain Sinclair, as the captain of our team, you have always upheld the integrity of your players and the integrity of your country as a whole. You have battled on with courage, with determination and with compassion, even when battling with all those three was a superhuman feat. You have been the rock that your team leaned on when their sinew fell apart. You have been the boat that buoyed them to the shore. You have remained a model captain. A true star. The stuff of champions.

Coach John Herdman, you held our women together and galvanized them to come back for a Bronze that was their consolation prize 4 years ago. You brought them back this year for another fight on the world stage. We know they are in good hands with you.

Players on the team, we watched today as a nation, as your tears fell after you fought so hard. We cried with you, our tears mixing in with yours. But, we remain unwavering in our belief that you are a GREAT team. Not only in your talent and perseverance, but in your heart, where the real star lies.

And today, as the minutes collapsed into seconds and we as a nation watched hopes for that Gold Medal slip out of our hands, we remembered one thing, we remembered that, “With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the True North strong and free!”. So, with your ENTIRE country backing you, with the weight of our collective hopes pinned onto your very capable shoulders, we bid you the best as you take on the game for the Bronze Medal. And whether you come out with a back-to-back podium finish, or not, know this much, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU, because no matter how many times you get beaten down, you ALWAYS find a way to rise up and fight again. And in the words of Shane Koyczan, we know you have “what it takes”.

All the best, ladies. Your country stands behind you.

 

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