On this Canada Day, we ought to reflect. Since the spring of 2020, our city and country has lived through challenges that none of us ever expected. Along the way, the power of hope and sacrifice has helped to keep us going.
Now, because of the efforts of governments, health and other frontline workers and the wider public, we seem to be moving past the pandemic towards much brighter days. More Londoners and Canadians are being vaccinated each day and that will continue throughout the summer. This means that life will begin to take on a more normal pattern, one that will allow us to reconnect with our community and the people who matter most to us.
While we are not there yet, the hard work has paid off and I want to thank every Londoner for doing their part. Please know that you can continue to count on myself and our office to provide any assistance you need during this time.
As we look forward, let us also take it upon ourselves to confront some of the key challenges facing Canada. In early June, four members of the Afzaal family were murdered because of their Islamic faith. This was an act of terrorism in our city. Canada remains a wonderful country but what is also clear is that many of our fellow citizens live in insecurity because of racism and hate.
Islamophobia is real and must be addressed. That is why the federal government supports calls for a national summit on this problem, one that will soon take place. We must also continue to stand up to all forms of hate including anti-Semitism, anti-Black, anti-Indigenous and anti-Asian racism.
And while governments have the primary responsibility in responding to these problems, all of us have a role to play. If you see hate and violence being advocated in public or online, recognize the obligation to report it to police.
Finally, the recent discovery of unmarked graves holding the remains of mostly Indigenous children in British Columbia and Saskatchewan forces us to reflect on the horrific legacy of residential schools in Canada. More mass burial sites will be uncovered to be sure.
For Indigenous Peoples, this is an ongoing trauma. On this issue, we have a choice: we can either look away or decide to do the work necessary to help in the process of reconciliation. We must choose the latter.
For the federal government, this means continuing to live up to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and continued engagement with Indigenous communities and their leadership.
Still, here too, the public can play a role. Let us strive to learn more about the residential school experience, what motivated it and what it has meant for Indigenous peoples. From there, a new path may open, one based on cooperation and understanding.
We live in an imperfect country, one filled with historic and persisting injustices. Despite this, Canada remains one of the best countries in the world. More than anything else, that has been made possible because of the Canadian people. In that spirit, we need to keep working together to build a stronger country for all Canadians. A country is built not in one moment but each day and we must seize every opportunity to do better.
| Mon: | 9:00AM-5:00PM |
| Tue: | 9:00AM-5:00PM |
| Wed: | 9:00AM-5:00PM |
| Thu: | 9:00AM-5:00PM |
| Fri: | 9:00AM-5:00PM |
| Sat: | Closed |
| Sun: | Closed |
