Today, I’m reflecting on what it means to call this country home.

I am a settler and a third-generation Canadian. My maternal grandparents came to Canada from England in the 1940s in search of opportunity and a better future for their family. My paternal grandparents are of French, Acadian, and Québécois ancestry, with roots that stretch back generations. Like so many Canadians, my family’s story is one of migration, resilience, and hope.

Canada is a country shaped by many peoples and many histories. It is home to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, whose stewardship of these lands extends back since time immemorial. It has also been built by generations of immigrants, refugees, workers, farmers, tradespeople, caregivers, artists, and labourers whose contributions are woven into the fabric of our communities – often without the recognition they deserve.

We can celebrate Canada while also telling the truth about our history. The legacy of colonialism, residential schools, broken treaties, and the ongoing inequities experienced by Indigenous Peoples are not chapters that have closed. Reconciliation requires more than words – it requires listening, accountability, and meaningful action. Important progress has been made, but much work remains to fully implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and advance justice for Indigenous communities.

For me, being Canadian is not about pretending our history is perfect. It is about believing we are capable of learning from it and building something better together.

Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. No matter where our families began, we all benefit when we choose respect over division, kindness over fear, and neighbourliness over indifference.

As someone running to serve the City of Hamilton, those are the values I hope to bring to public life: compassion, honesty, service, and the belief that strong communities are built when people show up for one another.

Canada is still being written by all of us. My hope is that we continue writing a story that is more just, more inclusive, and more hopeful for the generations that follow.

Happy @Canada Day #HamOnt #CDNPoli #ONPoli

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