World Kindness Day

Recently my nephew was heading out to work only to find his truck wouldn’t start; a frustrating way to start the day. To no avail, CAA tried to boost the battery so they had to send for a tow truck. While he was waiting for the tow truck multiple people stopped to offer help. One young man pulled over and with great enthusiasm ran over with his charger at the ready. My nephew’s face broke into a broad smile.

Why am I telling you this? Well today is World Kindness Day. Who knew there was such a thing? Isn’t every day a day to be kind? Of course that’s true. As I reflected further It occurred to me that this day presents a specific opportunity to celebrate and watch for the kindnesses around us every day. In this world of turmoil there are far too many opportunities to see the violence around us. Let’s intentionally watch for the kind actions of others today, reminisce on some of those kindnesses we have received and pat yourself on the back for those you have offered.

What started out as a frustrating morning for my nephew turned into a day of gratitude and joy due to the kindness of strangers. Let’s offer that same opportunity to transform someone’s day just by being kind.

-Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

Honouring Our Veterans

On November 11 each year we remember the men and women who have served in our armed forces.  We honour those who have given their lives to bring about peace in our world. On Remembrance Day, when I watch the ceremonies televised from the National War Memorial in Ottawa, participate in London’s solemn remembrance of our veterans, or listen to radio broadcasts of the stories and soul-stirring songs of World War Two, I am profoundly affected.   The aging veterans of WWII marching in Ottawa, wearing medals and berets, present a powerful image of the human costs of war.  In WWII, Canadian soldiers or their forefathers were likely to have immigrated from the British Isle or France. Canadians were united in fighting for their own country as well as for Britain and France.  WWII was our war fought by our citizens for our Country. 

Today our population is more diverse. Wars in far-off places are perceived as less relevant. Brigadier Romeo Dallaire took command of a lightly armed force of 2,500 troops in Rwanda in 1993.  When the situation worsened Dallaire’s urgent request to the United Nations headquarters in New York for more troops and was turned down. The murder of Rwanda’s president shortly afterwards initiated a war in which the Hutu populations exterminated the Tutsis; 8,000 persons were murdered, and 2,000,000 persons became refugees. Canadian Armed Forces have served as peacekeepers in Rwanda (1993-95), Cyprus (1964- 93), Afghanistan (2001-2014), The Bosnia-Herzegovina (1992-2010), Namibia (1989-1990), Mali (2018.2023).  Our military personnel have engaged in battles or assisted other nations by training troops, providing transportation, logistics, and stabilizing emerging countries. 

Today, conflicts in Africa, Afghanistan and the Balkans seem peripheral and less relevant to us. I was told by an officer who fought in Afghanistan that the war there seemed to accomplish nothing; there was little enthusiasm for joining in this venture. Many veterans of these wars have suffered greatly but their stories receive little public recognition. At home Canadian veterans of foreign wars and peacekeeping services do not “fit” in the culture of the Canadian Legion.  Participation in the many branches of this organization throughout Canada has declined significantly.  However, concern for our veterans, pride in their service to Canada, and a desire to honour them still flourish.

Romeo Dallaire’s open stories of his post-traumatic stress have taught us the terrifying price of war for our combatants. In London, Veterans’ Parkway honours our veterans and reminds us of their sacrifices. This year the Invictus Games for veterans wounded in war will take place in February 2025 in Whistler, BC.  These games validate the courage of our veterans, arouse pride, and instill hope. Let us continue to honour and thank our veterans in national and local memorial ceremonies, monuments, and public recognition.  May we work towards peace in all our relationships, and hope for a future that is free of wars.

“God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away”. Book of Revelations, 21:4

-Sister Patricia McKeon

Image: Unsplash/Ellie Pourreza @ellieeepr  |

Holding Different Perspectives - A Bright Hope for our Future

A story about my granddaughter Meredith.

Mer and I were in the car together coming home from her school day. She noticed a long stationary train with different box cars, most with some form of noticeable graffiti on the side of the cars. Mer shared the following:

“You know the people who take care of the train cars must be disappointed and frustrated because there is SO much graffiti. I can understand how people have a need to express themselves creatively and hope to have their work seen by others, but it makes a lot of work for someone else.”

Image: Debby Hudson@hudsoncrafted/ Unsplash

I was momentarily speechless as she went on to wonder out loud how you would remove graffiti. Mer had just turned 9 years old. In a world often divided and polarized, Mer seems to have an appreciation of and a willingness to hold, the different perspectives and needs within the same situation.

My first response to Mer was, “You know, not many adults today could hold and express both of those viewpoints.”

Mer and many of the youth today give me hope for a brighter future for everyone and everything.

-Sandy Bell-Cameron, CSJ Associate

Canoe Building Workshop

VISITING THE CANOE PROJECT

CHANIE WENJACK SCHOOL FOR INDIGENOUS STUDIES at TRENT UNIVERSITY

Our ongoing support and relationship continues with Trent University and their Indigenous Studies program.  Sisters Helen and Anne visited for a canoe building workshop in October.

On October 21, Sister Helen and I had the privilege of meeting a young canoe builder, Alex Labelle. He is a young man of 19 years who has learned to build birchbark canoes since he was four years old, under the mentorship of his grandfather, Marcel Labelle. The Sisters of St. Joseph have helped to fund this project in the spirit of reconciliation, recognizing and supporting the culture, knowledge and teachings of Indigenous and Metis peoples.

Labelle was invited to Trent to build the canoe by Lorenzo Whetung, the cultural advisor at the First People’s House of Learning (FPHL), and by Dawn Lavell-Harvard, the director of FPHL. The idea is to build a canoe that can be used by members of the Trent community and also to teach people the skills involved in constructing one.

Alex was constructing the canoe from Sept. 27 - Oct. 25, 2024, and students were invited to assist (no experience necessary), so why not us too? I had a moment of “getting a feel” for the shaving of wood slats. And in learning about the cedar root ties I had a “hands on” moment for what is involved in scraping the root and splitting it along the spine. Alex of course has done all the work of splitting the slats and soaking the roots in warm water. There was so much to learn about the parallels and interconnections of the canoe to the human body with its ribs and skin. Everything that holds it together is made from nature such as the bear grease, ashes and resin that make the sealant as well as the root used for ties and stitching.

The completion date might be moved back while the work continues and once completed there will be a naming ceremony. The name, not yet revealed, will be one that comes forth from the Spirit, as the canoe comes to life in a way similar to our own naming which indicates a certain spirit within us. We anticipate a launch ceremony before the winter arrival and the celebration of this new being. The birch bark canoe has played an essential role in the life of the original peoples and the opening of the waterways and lands to those who arrived later.

-Sister Anne Karges, CSJ

Read about Alex Labelle building a birchbark canoe in the atrium of Trent University’s Bata Library this fall.