As I write my October column, my thoughts turn to being grateful. Grateful for where I live, for who I have in my life (including my patient editor), and for all I have been given since inhabiting the earth. This year, in addition to it being the month we, as Canadians, celebrate Thanksgiving, I also want to celebrate the opportunity we have in shaping our country. I’m talking about our federal election.
I am so thankful we have the freedom to vote as we choose! Some of you know the story of my political life: my father was a political animal; he came out of the time in Ireland when it was not safe to be political. He was a councillor throughout most of my childhood. When I got my driver’s licence at 16, my job on election day was to drive people who did not have transportation to the polls.
My most memorable passenger was a lovely lady who was 83. She lived in a walk-up apartment block and she had arthritis, but she never missed an opportunity to vote. You see, she had fought for the right to cast her ballot.
When I was 18, Dad convinced me to attend a political meeting – by myself – even though I could not vote until I was 21. Like most things in my life, I jumped in with both feet. By the time I was 21, I was on the executive of a local political party. I spent the next seven years campaigning for others, discussing world affairs with those people leading the country and having a blast.
My point: on voting day this month, please don’t let your opportunity to make a difference pass by. Exercise some due diligence, then get out and make a difference. It might be a small difference, but it is a difference!
Women, it is still less than 100 years that those who came before us, fought, went to jail, and were abused simply to have their say. Don’t make what they did seem trivial.
If you have a friend, neighbour, colleague or acquaintance who needs your help getting to their polling place, please lend a hand, if you can. It is a short time out of your busy life. And it is an important short time!
See you at the polls.
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Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. Connect with her at mpatnichol@gmail.com.