Sir JOHN A Stays

I am a supporter of the Sir John A MacDonald statue remaining at its main street location.

The Mayor has stated that the working group will not be examining the history of Canada, but rather focusing on the statue itself. With that in mind, the question becomes what does the statue represent to our community? Its original intent was to represent a moment in time where a young lawyer held a court case in the town of Picton. Little did we know that he would become an important political figure in the future building of our country.

History aside, lets examine our community. Prince Edward County has always been a welcoming community. Offshore workers have assisted our farming community in the harvesting of their crops for many years and continue to do so today. People of colour and different nationalities operate commercial businesses, restaurants and convenience stores within our towns and villages. We welcomed Syrian refuges providing them with a safe environment to rebuild their lives. We have a vibrant LGBQT community who have and continue to contribute to the well being of our community. We have welcomed them into our homes and social circles and celebrate their Pride activities.

We have a Police Force that should be the envy of others. They are truly connected to the community and provide equal justice to all. We have not witnessed any protests or marches accusing our force of injustice towards any minority groups. Do we have individuals that may exhibit racial tendencies? Like any community these people exist and must be dealt with on an individual basis.

We are good example of a community with a diverse population that has adapted to a changing landscape. Lets continue to build on our history of being a welcoming community and not join the “cancel culture train” that will surely set us back. If anything, lets use this moment to educate and teach that past history may not be what we envision todays world should be, but instead how we can learn from the decisions of the past to ensure a just future for all.

Time to build up – not tear down.