Oh, Canada
Emie Lamoureux // October 28, 2011
On Monday, October 24, the University of King’s College held a memorial for former student Alex Fontaine. Alex took his own life two years ago. The memorial was initiated by his parents, Fred and Elizabeth Fontaine, and his sister, Katharine, to invoke social change. Guest speaker for the event was Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
It takes a person with great strength of character to balance the gravity of the situation that inspired the event with a positive message, but Mme. Jean was the right person for the job. In her speech, she addressed important issues prevalent in Canadian culture, such as the use of both official languages, poverty, and students’ influence on social change. She also spoke of what it means to be Canadian.
Canada is perceived throughout the world as a “land of opportunity” where you can live your life to the fullest. As a Canadian, I take an immense amount of pride in my nationality. When I travel outside the country, I am proud to say the words “I am Canadian”.
Yet, beneath the surface, there are cracks.
For example, as Mme. Jean mentioned in her speech, there are over 3000 aboriginal communities in Canada that have no running water. Why is it that a country so rich with resources cannot provide basic quality of life for our own people? Mme. Jean’s exact words were “This is not an aboriginal problem, it is a Canadian problem”.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my country. Canada has done a great deal of good globally. It’s wonderful to hear of and see our country providing aid to other countries. However, Mme.Jean raised the idea of Canadians helping Canadians. If we as members of this great country can help others abroad, it should be natural for us to aid our own country, to contribute to positive social change in our own communities.
Mme. Jean’s message was strong, inspiring, and succinct: that we as Canadians must realize, young or old, we have a responsibility to contribute positively to other nations, but to our own country as well. If we become stronger as a country, we will be in a better position to aid those in need outside of Canada.
I know she inspired me to do my best.
