Calgary, Monday, September 16, 2013

I am delighted to be back in Calgary, and to be here this evening among so many of this city’s great friends and supporters.

It was a pleasure to hear, once again, Oh Canada in Blackfoot. We were at the Siksika Nation this afternoon.

Even at the best of times, your kindness and generosity are important to the people of Calgary. But this year, that may be truer than ever.

The past few months have certainly been challenging for Calgarians, and indeed for many Albertans.

When it comes to the impact of last spring’s flooding, it is hard to know where to begin.

It would be even more difficult to know where to stop, so widespread was the damage and so remarkable the response. The way in which people in this city have come together and helped each other has been an inspiration to all Canadians.

Let me focus for a moment on the central role that the Calgary Foundation has played in supporting this community during the past few months.

The Foundation has been a rallying point for Calgarians. You have helped to catalyze the flood response, working together, working with partners, dealing with short term emergencies and planning for the long term.

In sum, you are at the centre of flood recovery and rebuilding efforts, and for that, we admire you so much.

With recent events in mind, it is apropos that we gather tonight to celebrate the vital city that is Calgary.

I had to laugh when I read the invitation to tonight’s event. In large font, it read:

Are you smart? Or caring?

And the punch line:

Either way you’re invited.

I’ll leave it to others to decide which of those categories I might fall into!

But, if you are both, you are certainly a member of the Calgary Foundation.

You are people who believe in the power of community—people such as you—understand that, in a democracy, everyone has something to give.

And because of that, we all have a responsibility to give back and to help out. We have a duty to share some of our good fortune with others. It is both the right thing to do and the bright thing to do.

In other words, it is the smart and caring thing to do. And both adjectives are important. You can’t have one without the other.

I think we all understand how being “smart” contributes to our well-being as individuals, communities and nations. Smartness, or intelligence, or creativity—however you wish to phrase it—helps us to make good decisions, to anticipate problems, and to innovate and generate solutions, thereby making our lives better.

But how does “caring” for others really improve things in our lives and communities? Isn’t it really just a “nice to have,” and yet another thing to do in our already too-busy day? Why is giving back not just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do?

I think the question is worth asking, because if we want to inspire a new generation of givers in Canada, we need to draw on our very best facts and arguments.

One bit of evidence comes from a recently released survey on global happiness sponsored by the United Nations. You may have heard about it: Canada placed 6th.

One of the survey’s most interesting findings was that six key factors account for fully three-quarters of the differences in happiness levels between nations.

Those factors include several we would typically expect to see: life expectancy, freedom, GDP per capita.

But there are also two key factors that relate directly to the level of “caring” in a country:

(1) the generosity of fellow citizens; and

(2) having someone to rely on in times of trouble.

Particularly after the events of the past few months, I think many Calgarians would agree that these factors are vitally important to the sense of happiness in this city.

And certainly, as friends and supporters of the Calgary Foundation, you know that caring for others is essential if Calgary is to be a truly vital city.

The same goes for the Canada of which we dream. What is true for your neighbourhood and community is true for our country as a whole.

I understand that one focus of your energies and resources in the days ahead will be on supporting young Aboriginal Calgarians to achieve their fullest potential.

This is a most worthy aim. Equality of opportunity is one of Canada’s most enduring values, and we can do better.

Together, we must ensure everyone in this country has the opportunity to succeed, according to their hopes and dreams.

I would like to thank all of the members, donors and community leaders who have come together tonight and throughout the year to support this city through this marvellous Calgary Foundation.

Yours is an essential contribution to Calgary, and to Canada, and for that, I am very grateful.

Have a wonderful evening.