Check it Out: Where there’s no vision, the people perish
BY JOAN JANZEN
joanjanzen@yahoo.com
A woman was telling me about the day her grandson headed off to his first day at school. His dad talked to him before the big day, explaining that there were going to be many different types of children at school and he said, “You know, son, you need to be nice to everyone, no matter what they look like, or what colour their skin may be.”
The boy nodded in solemn agreement.
A few months later his mom was nearing the time to deliver his new baby sister. This time the little boy had a few words of advice for his dad. He said, “Dad, you know, we have to be nice to my baby sister, no matter what she looks like, and no matter what colour she is.”
As Canadians, we can learn a lesson from that youngster. No matter what may be happening in our country, we need to appreciate the beautiful nation we live in, and appreciate our fellow Canadians. Though the fireworks from Canada Day have lost their sparkle, and everything from fairs to festivals have been cancelled during 2020, we need to be grateful for all that we do have.
Paul Richardson wrote a book entitled “One Dominion”, which outlines Canada’s rich heritage and helps us to more fully appreciate our nation. Paul claims, according to every index, Canada is one of the best nations on the planet.
For one thing, we have a rich heritage, beginning at the convention at Charlottetown, when delegates from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI took into consideration the union of the British North American Colonies. The time was ripe to unite and join together upper and lower Canada.
At that time Leonard Tillie, the premier of New Brunswick read a quote, “He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth.” He proposed that Canada be called a dominion, and the Fathers of Confederation came into agreement. Consequently, the Dominion of Canada was born on July 1, 1867. This resulted in Canada’s constitution, the British North American Act. The Dominion of Canada included Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.
That was the foundation, and many others helped build our nation on that foundation. One of those individuals, who Paul mentions in his book, was Emily Murphy, Canada’s first female magistrate in the British Empire. She wanted women to be able to own land, and be recognized as individuals. Someone said her rulings weren’t valid, but after going through the court system, Emily came out a winner, and so did Canadian women.
Tommy Douglas was another Canadian who had a heart to serve people. He was known for starting our health care system. As a pastor during the Depression years, he saw people who couldn’t afford health care. Because he cared for people, he knew he had to do something about it. When he became Premier, he started Canada’s healthcare system, enabling all Canadians to have access to healthcare.
In his book, Paul tells stories that we don’t hear today, stories about Canadians who started schools and hospitals. People such as Oliver Mowat who was instrumental in forbidding child labor and instituting workplace safety measures. He ensured the vulnerable would be cared for and protected. Paul tells the story of three Toronto women, led by Elizabeth McMaster, who rented an 11-room house in downtown Toronto, set up six iron cots and opened a hospital for sick children, because they realized fifty percent of children under the age of ten years were dying. That was the birth of the Toronto Sick Kids Hospital, which is still open today. It was birthed out of a heart to care for, and serve people.
The author of “One Dominion” reminds his readers of the words etched on the Peace Tower which say “Where there’s no vision, the people perish”. Those words can en- courage us to not only appreciate what we have today, but to look beyond it, and have a vision for a brighter tomorrow, for our homeland - Canada.
You can contact me at joanjanzen@yahoo.com