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- The Citizen Voices Team
Olympic Excellence
by Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean
The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will offer Canadians the opportunity to appreciate the deep sense of commitment and perseverance shared by our athletes, and to celebrate excellence.
Soon we will be awestruck by our athletes’ prowess. Their performances in each event will serve not only as proof of their talent, but also proof of their team spirit and determination, the result of years of hard work, training, discipline and often great sacrifice. Their pride and hope are also deeply felt by their coaches, supporters and communities. The excitement will electrify the entire country.
These Winter Games will showcase a welcoming Canada that loves to celebrate the beauty of its majestic landscapes, the wealth of its diversity, and the ingenuity, creativity and generosity of the women, men and young people who contribute to the vibrancy of its society. This will also be an opportunity to improve our society through an incredible range of citizen initiatives, actions and accomplishments that are as varied as snowflakes—the symbolic representation of the Order.
May the great celebration of friendship that constitutes the 2010 Games continue afterwards through invigorated dialogue, a new surge of local and global co-operation, and an irresistible willingness to act so that the forces of creation and peace triumph over the forces of terror and destruction.
4 Comments
and collin and mrs.geffs st.anthony school
Our people are people of Spirit and it is my dream for all Canadian citizens to make peace a priority in their lives to keep Canada a safe place for the young people to have a safe place to live in the future as they are our future leaders.
These games bring all the races of the world together and racism does not have a name here.
I am excited because my youngest daughter Nicole Richmond is at the Youth Gathering and will be in the forum tonight. I am a very proud mother...miigwetch-thank you- merci...
Hier, j'ai entendu la triste nouvelle suite au décès d'un des représentants olympiques de la Georgie. Une peine profonde m'a habitée et je crois qu'une médaille spéciale devrait être remise à cet athlète qui a donné sa vie pour représenter son pays. Tout athlète qui décède pendant leur entraînement ou lors des jeux devrait être honoré par une médaille bien spécifique à cette situation, tout comme une médaille de bravoure. J'espère que d'autres personnes partageront mon opinion. Bonne journée et merci de me lire.
Pierrette Léger
c/o Allison Brown
Special Assistant
I would first like to take this opportunity to commend your VANOC organization for a very good Olympic Opening Ceremonies. I can only imagine the tireless dedication and commitment your team has exhibited for the past seven years. As a Canadian, born and raised in this great country, our family is extremely proud that our nation once again has the privilege of hosting the Olympic Games.
From its inception, the Olympic Games are not only an athletic competition, but an opportunity to promote the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect. The Olympic family embraces all cultures and religions under a spirit of collective solidarity and peace. One would suggest, Canada would be the ideal nation to host such an event, as our country is a cultural mosaic of tolerance, understanding and respect for all. Canada is a country of immigrants such as yourself, who have built this nation and also allows each citizen to express their cultural identity freely. We are the country, that most embodies the Olympic spirit, and in which immigrant first suggest they would like to migrate to because of our values and policies.
Mr. Furlong, it was with this immense pride, that my family and I were looking so forward to the Opening Ceremonies last Friday. As a visible minority and someone who understands the sacrifices of our immigrant pioneers I envisioned an Opening Ceremony which showcased to the world, “the True Canada.” A Canada, which rightfully paid respect to the First Nations community, and to the two founding fathers of our nation, Anglophone and Francophone. But regretfully, your VANOC organization missed a significant chapter in our history since the early 1900’s; a picture in which immigrants from Europe, Asia and other continents came to this land of prosperity to “build this great nation.” Immigrants with little or no funds or education, working on the railroads or in mill towns with a sincere desire to settling in Canada. As we are well aware, many of these immigrants were subjected to different forms of discrimination and could only lean on “each other for support”, and these setbacks only made them more resolved in being Canadian. These pioneers have paved the way for each ethnic community and their sacrifices and contributions are recognized by our own federal government. For a second, let s just view Canada from a visitor’s point of view when he/she first lands at Vancouver International Airport. Immediately upon arrival, you observe many cultures, all working together and in harmony. In Canada, our federal policy of Multiculturalism fosters the promotion of cultural events, such the Chinese New Year, or Vasaikhi because this is our opportunity to celebrate, learn and educate fellow citizens.
I would suggest, the opening ceremonies should have included cultural items from various immigrants communities, each dressed in your their ancestral dress. (ex. Its a small world at Disneyland) I did not also see many visible minorities participating in the Opening ceremonies, or proudly portrayed in the background. For example, in the past, RCMP members from visible minorities have been stationed in key public positions to sensitively portray the “true image of Canada.” Lastly, and most disappointing of all, was the exclusion of any visible minority in the final flag bearer or torch relay. Please do not take this criticism to those outstanding Canadians who were given this privilege. Each of them has made our nation very proud and I do not dispute their contributions. However, I think in selecting these final role models, I believe your selection criteria overlooked the basic criteria, “do these selections represent our nation’s diversity.” If this question would have been asked by someone in the boardroom, then the names of Donovan Bailey and Daniel Igali would have never been omitted. They are both most deserving gold medalists and proud Canadians. But more importantly, they represent the “the dream of every immigrant Canadian, the ideal that Canada is the Land of Opportunity.” Some may reply to my criticism by stating that Daniel Igali participated in the Torch relay in Surrey, but this answer only further exposes the lack of sensitivity or understanding to ensuring diversity was displayed at the ceremonies.
In closing, please do NOT label my criticism as a protestor, grandstanding or dissatisfied with the games. Yesterday, my children and I proudly attended the Canadian Women’s Hockey Game at Canada Place because I wanted them to share the Olympic dream my parents provided my sisters and I in 1976. In that year, my mother and father saved hard earned money to travel by car across the country to experience these Olympics. My father drove 15 hours a day, because he wanted to watch the Opening Ceremonies at his cousin’s house in Montreal. Many years later, I felt the urge to attend the unity rally in Montreal, when it became apparent one of our founding provinces, Quebec, may separate. And today, my children and I proudly put up an 8 foot Canada flag on our front hedge as our neighbours honked their horns in approval. Similar to our parents, we try our very best to instil in our children that Canada is the best of both worlds, you are Canadian and you have the freedom to express your cultural heritage.
I would hope your organization may learn from this error in judgement. I also rightfully blame our ethnic members of your organization who fail to understand their responsibilities in conveying this inclusion of all cultural groups in the Olympic Ceremonies. Our nation is a cultural mosaic, and our diversity is our strength and frankly I am surprised in 2010 we need to continue educating our leaders on this Canadian Value. There is no shame or justifiable reason to not showcase this significant part of our Nation’s identity.
Sincerely
Sukhi Sandhu
Surrey, BC