Liberal leader Mark Carney was in Richmond this week, as a campaign stop for the April 28 federal election. I don’t want to express an opinion about who folks should vote for in the election, other than simply to say get informed and please vote, as I did in my last column, but I did think some of Carney’s comments were worth reporting, especially as they relate to things like Richmond, specifically, or education.
First of all, I didn’t know Carney’s parents were teachers.
“My parents were teachers,” he told the Richmond rally, which was held at the Sheraton Hotel on Westminster Highway, as Richmond News editor Maria Rantanen wrote in her coverage. Carney said his teacher parents taught him the values of hard work, caring for others and supporting each other, as well as playing hard and being ambitious but humble at the same time.
He brought up teachers a second time during his speech, saying he had met a teacher who told him they had asked their students, who were nine or 10 years old, to describe their dream for Canada. Some talked about clean air and water, others talked about a world free of poverty or one in which all people have equal rights.
“Their dream is our dream. That’s what we’re fighting for,” he said.
Still later, he talked about the “great city of Richmond,” as he called it, saying this city embodies the spirit of international cooperation that he wants to build among a group of like-minded countries that believe in “the free and open exchange of goods, services and ideas.”
He said Richmond is the gateway to the world and that the city will “play a central role in building the strongest economy in the G7.” He also talked about the importance of Richmond’s strong ties to Asia.
“The past, present and future of Canada are all right here,” he said. “The people of Richmond are keeping Canada strong.”
Carney was introduced by his wife, Diana Fox Carney, who talked about their first date, many years ago when they met at Oxford University. She was born and raised in Britain. He told her on that first date that he was committed to return to Canada and to enter the public service. She said “he needed to work a bit on his romantic side,” but, as they now have four children together, his earnestness obviously wasn’t too problematic for her.
Both Carney and his wife are born the same year I was – 1965 – which I was reminded of when he talked about how Canada is a mosaic rather than a melting pot. I remember learning that concept in elementary school, way back in the 1970s and ‘80s, but I’m not sure if it’s still taught today or not. It means people in Canada are not meant to blend in or assimilate, but rather to keep their culture alive and it will be celebrated here. We are not always completely successful at that, but it’s a worthy goal to keep in mind.
It was a thought-provoking gathering in what is perhaps a defining election for Canada in what appears to be an emerging new world order. We’re all along for the ride, so make sure you do your part to decide the outcome, whichever party you vote for.
Tracy Sherlock is a freelance journalist who writes about education and social issues. Read her blog or email her [email protected].
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