Around the globe, Canadians are known as “The Nicest People in the World.” For the most part, this is the truth. I have met and known people from all over the world, and no group of people know better how to get along with others than Canadians.

I have often thought it might well be because Canada is, with the exception of our Indigenous population who exhibit the principle of respect to the utmost degree, a nation of immigrants. Immigrants are a rather special group of people who had the courage to leave their own lands, and travel thousands of miles to set up their homes in a rather large, cold country. Perhaps the warmth of the people of our land is directly proportional to the winter climes. If that is true, Global Warming is a terrible danger to our world! Canadians help their neighbours. They band together to stand up to cruelty.

There are many cultures that encourage gentleness, hospitality, honesty, generosity, capability, strength, and leadership, but because Canada is made up of such a diverse culture we can say that Canada is at the head of the list for all of these qualities. That being said, we appear to be in danger of adopting some of the worst attributes of others. When people in our community blame others for their problems, or blame the City or the police, when they are constantly angry and unwilling to look at anyone else’s possible solutions, we become endangered in our homes.

Over the past 40 years I have heard this often, and so I can say honestly: if someone tells you that the community and the police and the City administration won’t listen to you, question that statement. Perhaps that person is disruptive at every meeting and makes it impossible to disagree with them. Perhaps they are the problem, not the solution. We are all individuals with our own stories, knowledge base, and gifts to give the community in which we live. Please be Canadian, and ignore what you disagree with in your neighbour, and embrace your similarities – especially this holiday season.

My favourite Christmas carol was written during the American Civil War: “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” The last stanza ends:

_The Wrong shall fail
The Right prevail
With Peace on Earth
Good Will to Men!_

Peace be with you. Merry Christmas; Happy Hanukkah; a Happy, Holy, Ramadan; Eid al-Fitr; St. Nicholas Day; Eid al-Adha; Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe; St. Lucia’s Day; and, for our African American friends, Happy Kwanzaa! And, oh my goodness, please forgive me if I left out your special celebration day!