This week’s Journal comes at the intersection of a few milestones – some that we mark in these pages, others that we mark within ourselves.
Today, we recall the anniversary of the May 9 shooting in downtown St. Paul.
In telling the story of the anniversary of the shooting, two crystal-clear facts emerged, firstly, that a good man lost his life. The fact that Fr. Gilbert Dasna faced so much hardship, and left a country that was full of strife to come to a supposedly safe Canada – only to be killed exactly three years to the date of his arrival – is a loss that makes no sense. But his life and faith was an example for those that surrounded him and loved him, and continues to inspire them, and that remains a fact worth celebrating.
Secondly, there was the courage of the RCMP under fire. They put their lives on the line that day, and wave off any praise or any suggestion that what they did was heroic. Their duty is to protect, and they served that duty - we thank them now and forever.
Today, voters go to the polls to vote for a new government that they hope may represent their best interests. We hope this civic responsibility is one that eligible voters honour – people die for the right to vote in other non-democratic countries, and yet, this right is one that several people in Canada take for granted.
There is a real risk that this year’s election is not marked by resolve and informed opinion but by apathy. The four candidates running in this riding – Alberta NDP’s Catherine Harder, the Green Party’s Brian Deheer, the PC’s Darrell Younghans and the Wildrose’s David Hanson – have all made efforts and taken time from their personal lives to campaign, come out to forums and voice their party’s platforms. Now is your time to give one of these candidates your support with an X on a ballot.
No matter what the outcome, there will be new faces in the government, including here in St. Paul, eager to serve their province and the people. We wish these new MLAs good luck and good sense in this new endeavour.
As the song goes, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” As this next chapter unfolds, we think of those who are moving on, and wish them all the best in whatever comes, the next great adventure.
