Once upon a time I had a fantasy that I would change the way Canadians looked at their own history. In my delusion, I believed I could make Canadians see their culture and their very privilege to be a citizen of this great nation in a way that made them appreciate, no, better yet, understand their history. Learn it. Know it. Honour it.
I thought maybe, just maybe, if I found a way to reach the next generation, especially as our country continues to grow and reshape its future, we would find room in there to honour the past and record the changes in a way that reflects our diversity, because Canada has been diverse since long before Confederation. Evolution of cultures is our history. It is a fabulous narrative. We are a nation that has never been stagnant and we aren’t about to start now.
But I got tired of student life, eating spaghetti out of a can and while I had all the passion in the world, I didn’t have the marks to be a super-star. I left my ideals for a paying gig and walked away from a career that seemed solely for the academic elite.
Now university seems so far away I can barely remember the events that sparked this battle, or changed that law. I once knew who came to parliament and what curve ball got them there. I understood what twist of fate made heroes out of ordinary men and women. Today, I can barely keep up with world events, much less participate in them.
That is why I appreciate Remembrance Day. It is the one day Canadians unite and it isn’t about hockey, election results or Olympic medals. On that day, we collectively take a moment to be grateful for the ground beneath our feet, the scenery that surrounds us and the right we have to stand in this time and place because we are free to do so.
Remembrance Day humbles us long enough to reflect on the sacrifices made to be where we are today. We connect because somewhere in our family histories, we knew someone in the World Wars, the faces in the faded photo albums, and the stories of their legacies. We revive our past. We honour it.
Today many of us have relatives who have served in the battles since the World Wars. We can all name someone who has come to Canada because of strife in their native land. They seek refuge here, among us, the lucky ones.
On Remembrance Day, we get it. We make the connection between past, present and future. We may not be bound by our history, but we admit we are shaped by it. Collectively, there is a sense of gratitude and respect. One day every year, we remember.
Nov. 11 reminds me that I am a history teacher with two amazing students. My job is to teach my own children what it means to be Canadian. They are the legacy of their great-grandparents, aunts and uncles who served in both World Wars, and their uncle who has served his country in active duty since. I can think of no better day to teach my children that history need not be repeated, but it must be understood. Through me they will learn to respect the people whose sacrifices guaranteed them a future. I pray that will inspire them to change their world. I owe every veteran that much. We all do.
