By Emily Stonehouse

It’s been a weird few years. I think we can all agree on that.

A pandemic and natural disasters and political fraught. And all of it, coming to us faster than we can even process; the information bubbling over the surface of our brains; some of it soaking in, while other points flash by before we even realize they’re in there.

I’m not used to us all getting along. I have felt anger over the closed-mindedness of politicians, of the decisions made by my friends, my neighbours, my family. It’s been more common to live in a place of strife than silk, conflict rather than comfort.

Until they bullied us.

When our closest partner, ally, and neighbours to the south decided to make our lives harder, threaten us, challenge us, we put our elbows up.

This is not a new term for many Canadians. It was originally coined by Mr. Hockey, our own Gordie Howe. “Unfailingly humble, generous and gentlemanly off the ice, Howe would wield his elbows like weapons when battling for the puck,” said the CBC.

And if that doesn’t describe Canada to a T, then I don’t know what does.

Last week, Mike Myers, (whose photo still hangs in the Kosy Korner) donned a “Canada is not for sale” shirt on Saturday Night Live. He then mouthed the words “elbows up”, to which Canadians went wild for. The battle cry they’ve been seeking.

Now it’s easy to look back and wish we could have united on other things over the years; perhaps we could focus on the many missing and murdered Indigenous women, the spike in rural poverty, environmental initiatives that will impact generations to come.

This battle cry has proven that we have the ability to join forces, to put our differences aside, and to stand up for what we know is right.

So now that we know we can unite, let us not falter. I’ve seen boycotts in the past written off as “cancel culture”, but this one seems to have taken hold. And while it’s not a black and white decision when it comes to buying Canadian, it can allow for an extra moment of thought and consideration.

Again, we always should have been buying local. Wherever and whenever possible.

It’s not until threats and challenges force us to put our elbows up, and fight.

But I’ve been wading the waters with trepidation. I’m not used to us all getting along. These past few years have been hard on many of us; the polarization of politics making our motives known.

But I do see this as an opportunity to celebrate and explore what we have. The foods we create, the destinations in our backyards, the rich and complicated and sometimes painful parts of our past, to heal towards pieces of our future. The threats of a power-crazed man claiming our land as his own is nothing new to Indigenous people, who have navigated the paths of oppression for longer than this country has been around. They also said that their land was not for sale. It never was.

We have to listen to those who have walked before us, and be mindful of who guides us forward.

Because we all want our country to survive.

I think we can all agree on that.