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Calgary, Thursday, January 17, 2008
I am delighted to be here with you today.
This centre bears the name of a great man, George McDougall.
Reverend McDougall had a hand in the efforts to colonize Western Canada, being both considerate of and respectful to those who called the land “home” long before the arrival of explorers, missionaries and coureurs des bois.
It is amazing to see how relevant Reverend McDougall’s thoughts remain today. In the 19th century, he wrote: “Shall a home be secured for the original proprietors? Or shall they be left to drink the bitter cup of poverty and neglect, and at last perish as a people?”
Such eloquent words speak volumes about Reverend McDougall’s sense of responsibility and commitment. What he says quite clearly is that he is not indifferent.
And his words are especially poignant today given that a growing and disturbing number of Canadians and Aboriginal Canadians are caught in a tragic cycle, trapped by poverty and lack of opportunity.
Too many end up on the street, lost, increasingly marginalized, hopeless.
As I prepare to meet with anti‑poverty organizations at the Mustard Seed Street Ministry, a centre offering services to Calgary’s homeless people, I find the same spirit of compassion and openness that characterized Reverend McDougall.
And I firmly believe that it is this pioneering spirit, driven by a need to act, that must inspire us to continue to build our society.
We have the opportunity to live in a prosperous country where each and every one of us can participate fully in improving the lives of our fellow citizens.
We have a duty to reach out to those most in need, those working through a difficult period or trying to find their place in the sun.
So reminds us Eve Elizabeth Keates, who helped to establish the Alix Food Bank and who is always ready to lend a hand or an ear.
Which brings us back to George McDougall’s vital and moral question: “Shall they be left to drink the bitter cup of poverty and neglect?”
No woman, no man, no child, regardless of origin, age, sex or beliefs, should be abandoned to fate.
And yet so many of our senior citizens find themselves alone and unable to care for themselves.
Fortunately, people like Ellen Morrell of Calgary are working to improve the quality of life for our seniors. With boundless energy, Ms. Morrell helped to raise over two million dollars in just three years for the construction of the Carewest Colonel Belcher Facility, a residence and care centre for our veterans.
The quality of life of seniors is also one of the many causes dear to the heart of Dory Rossiter of Lethbridge. Weather anchor for CTV Lethbridge, Ms. Rossiter has balanced her busy career with over 30 years of community service.
The three women receiving the Caring Canadian Award today are shining examples of commitment to their communities.
They all share a determination to act for the greater good.
Ladies, it gives me great pleasure to honour you.
For I believe that the true strength of a community lies in its citizens’ willingness to help one another.
Those of you we are honouring today are further proof of that.
Your acts of compassion, solidarity and community spirit deepen our sense of humanity.
You remind us that we can all have a positive impact and improve the world around us. Every initiative, every idea, every action, every word counts and can make all the difference.
Your actions help forge bonds of caring in our neighbourhoods, our communities, our cities, across our country and around the world. Bonds that are helping to shape our shared solidarities, our sense of togetherness.
You make us want to do better and challenge us to look after the needs of others. You dare us to stand up and fight the indifference and exclusion that pull so many into misery and despair.
These days, we may too often see solitudes multiplying, people alone, abandoned, and the defeatist, “everyone for himself” attitude triumphing, but you remind us that there are other ways of living together.
You are an inspiration to us all and to young people, who are following in your footsteps and also looking for ways to express their willingness to share.
Because of you, our long tradition of solidarity, lending a hand, and helping one another, begun by people like George McDougall, will continue to flow from heart to heart, generation to generation.
Thank you to each and every one of you. As I like to say, you show us so eloquently that our hearts should be as big and boundless as Canada itself!
On behalf of all Canadians, I thank you.