By Emily Stonehouse
Over the past few months, the differences between countries have stood out like a sore thumb.
Constant comparisons, dichotomizations, polar opposites seen in real time.
We see this in the form of upper-level leadership; the actions of people in power leaving us baffled and numb, our brains not designed to understand how the universe has allowed this to happen. The good guys always win? Right? Right?!
As my team and I decorated Tim Hortons Christmas cookies this past week, as a part of their holiday campaign, the roots to Canadian pride started to take hold.
And yes, I know Tim Hortons is no longer a Canadian company. And it is important to connect the dots and trace where the funds trickle down from.
But the owners of our local Tim Hortons are very Canadian. Paige Chapman has memories of decorating Christmas cookies as early as nine-years-old, when her dad, also a store owner, would bring her into work. She worked her way up in the franchise, and is deeply committed to the organization, and the community she is now tied to.
There was a certain Canadian joy to that.
This past week, Prime Minister Mark Carney narrowly had his budget passed in a confidence vote, avoiding yet another election (I think we’re all a bit tired of those these days…)
And while the liberal government may not be everyone’s cup of tea, we can’t deny that we’re on relatively stable ground compared to our neighbouring country.
People often forget that the issues that are near and dear to home actually do not have a blue or a red flag attached to them. Concerns around shorelines, around road maintenance, around firefighting and police management and immediate taxations, those all happen at a municipal level.
Our community neighbours are the ones we need to be looking at. Running for council is no small feat, and we only hope it is done with passion and pride for the community that holds us near and dear.
I felt that pride while I (fairly poorly) decorated those holiday cookies. Tim Hortons invited a number of local organizations and community leaders to add little icing smiley faces for the cause. All proceeds from the cookies for the week went directly into the community. To camps, to food banks, to organizations that give back. Jean Munroe from the Minden Community Food Centre referred to the cookies as “a lifeline” during a time of major food security crisis.
The need has more than doubled, she said. Higher food prices, higher rent, higher cost of living. And minimum wages just not keeping up. We can point the fingers at all levels of government for those gaps that seem to keep appearing; gaping holes in the landscape of life.
But while we dwell and drudge through the challenges of life, I think there is value in seeing the goodness in the world, as well. The relative stability, the peace, the community camaraderie that floats to the surface this time of year, every year. This season has a way of showcasing the highs and the lows through a fluorescent light; the boldness and brashness of both exposed for all to see.
And there is dirt under the nails of many who call this country home. Skeletons in the closet and monsters under the bed.
But through it all, there are also cookies. And a community that shows up to add a little icing on a dreary November day.
And that, to me, is the Canadian way.
