Thank You, Pierre
You gave this nation style
and made it a better
place in which to live.
You made us proud
to be Canadians.
– Christine Chisholm
Tobermory, Ontario |
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Your responses:
To Mr. Trudeau, I wish to give my deepest thanks for giving my children a Nation worth beliving in.
Robert Gagnon and family
Vancouver Island, British Columbia
This is a note to convey my sympathies to the Trudeau family, Justin,
Sacha and Margaret, but also to tell a story about what Pierre Trudeau
meant to me and my family.
When my little sister was about three years old (she's 34 now), she
looked at the Prime Minister on TV and decided he resembled her own
daddy. Ever after that in our household, he became known as Daddy
Trudeau. That summer, my sister was worried about alligators in the
lake up north, and to allay her fears we simply told her "Daddy Trudeau
doesn't let alligators into Canada!" She unquestioningly believed it,
and happily went off to swim.
She put her faith in "Daddy Trudeau," as children trust in their father.
But Pierre Trudeau made us all feel safe, and proud, and courageous
and perhaps most of all, hopeful for this wonderful nation of ours. So
thank you, Daddy Trudeau, for giving us a Canada we could believe in.
You will be missed.
D. Smithers
Mississauga, ON
When the whole world walked and looked in one direction,
You had the courage to take a new path and dance to a different beat.
(That accounts for the pirouettes!)
Thanks for all the tomorrows.
Midha Bholi
Nepean Ont.
Canada and much of the free world has struggled with how to deal with the
recent waves of illegal Chinese migrants. Headline after headline have recounted how
these migrants have had to pay people-smugglers up to $50,000.00 so that they can make the treacherous and often fatal voyage to freedom. Many call for their
immediate deportation. Some call for their being allowed to stay. Even
fewer question what it is in these people's lives, how desperate are they,
that they would make such a liberty and life-threatening choice.
Thank you, Prime Minister Trudeau. Thanks to your vision of diversity and
tolerance, the likes of which we will never see again, I never had to make that choice.
Cary Chiu
Ottawa
Thank you,
with love,
Gail
Toronto
I was only a child when Mr. Trudeau was leading this country, but his impact on me was huge. My heart is full of sadness for the Trudeau boys, as they have lost a great father but Trudeau is what I think of when I think about this great country of ours. Trudeau represented what I believe my Canada to be. It is his visions that have filled my heart with pride, his love for the people that make me believe in Canada,
his footprints that have guided this country.
Thank you, Mr. Trudeau for your footprints, for they are now leading my children.
"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never ever the same."
Debbie Hall
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
I believe Mr. Trudeau was one of the best PMs we ever had. He brought Canada
into the last half of the 20th. Century kicking and screaming even if we did
not want it. We became recognized around the world. People were proud to
wear the flag on their nap sack or jacket etc. For that we owe Mr. Trudeau a
debt of gratitude. No other politician since has come close.
Charles H. Ryan
As a native Calgarian of immigrant parents, I thank you, Trudeau, for not only promising opportunities and good fortune, but opening doors and welcoming immigrants to Canada.
I never met you, but now realized you were instrumental in making "Fruitful living and happiness" for immigrants a dream come true.
Even though you are not here in body, your spirit has and will always endure, which is why your passing was just time for you to wear your slippers in "Heaven's Parliament."
You were for my people, all people and I thank you for making me proud to live in Multicultural Mecca of the world.
Wear those slippers proud, in Heaven's Parliament.
Bless you and your family,
Andrea Kissendal
Calgary, Alberta
You gave us every gift but the gift of years.
We hungered for more – but it was not yours to give.
We hung on your every word when questions needed to be answered.
We are Canadians, we still are unsure,
We are so young!
"What would Pierre Trudeau have to say about that?"
We thought you'd be there forever,
For in "your way" you gave us "Birth"
(a new generation of Canadians)
You surely were not done!
We felt sure we could call on you when we need to be reassured.
Now we must grow on our own
And remember that all too briefly
We had that "Greatest of Canadians" in our midst.
We will grieve our loss
But we will never forget you!
Caroline White
Toronto
My interest in politics began with you, Pierre Trudeau.
Thank you for inspiring me. You were the epitome of youth, a truly dynamic person. You put Canada on the world map and you made us so proud to be Canadian. I was fortunate to meet you on a few occasions and there is one thing that I have always remember about our introductions. Often when politicians are shaking your hand, they are looking at the next person in line. Not you. When you shook my hand you looked right at me and made me feel like I was the only person in the room.
I believe we will never have another Prime Minister as great as you. Au revoir.
Betty Marsh
London, Ontario
On Nov 11, 1998, my father passed away. Two days later Michel was swept
to his death. My father's obituary, which I wrote, and news of Michel
appear on the pages of the same newspaper. I feel I must write something
now for Pierre.
As a son I grieved for my father, and although I am not a father, I grieved with Pierre for his son. Now almost two years later another fatherly influence has left my life. I saw Pierre once in Saint John, N.B. in 1968 with my friend Bruce who was 16 years old. I was 15 and we excitedly tried to keep up with the open convertible to catch more
than a glimpse of this man who would teach me so much about this great
country. I now live in B.C. and have travelled Canada coast to coast
many times, once in a school bus with other students in 1971. It was
part of a program set up by the Trudeau government to help students
experience this great land. Hey, we even got to meet French girls in
Quebec, a great incentive for practicing your French. On a personal
note, I have been battling cancer for the past few months. What I need
now, apart from excellent medical attention which I have been getting, is
strength, courage, willpower, a positive attitude, and maybe a bit of
luck. Thank-you Pierre, you have inspired me to strive for better
things, not to give up, to hope, and realize dreams can come true.
Joseph M. Price
White Rock, B.C.
I served in the military during the FLQ Crisis and was very proud to
have a strong leader during that time.
Thank you, Pierre.
Retired Sgt. Larry Leveille
Our Dearest Mr. Trudeau,
I would like to Thank you for your vision of Canada, United, Just and
Strong. I trust that one day soon we will be able to aspire to live
"ensemble" with the equality and peace you worked so tirelessly to
nurture. As Canadians we owe you alot. How does one begin to say good-bye to
truly, the Father of our Country?
Eternally Grateful,
Linda McPherson
Baie D'Urfé, Quebec
Thank you, Pierre Trudeau, for awakening a young woman's political conscience and pride of country.
I was a politically-apathetic university student when you came to the forefront in 1967. Your charm and passion for Canada motivated me to volunteer to work campaining in the election of 1968. I remember going from house to house handing out campaign literature for the local candidate (John Munroe, Hamilton) but all the while lauding your praises
and telling each resident they just had to vote for you for the good of our country!
Naive and idealistic maybe, but I know now as a somewhat
cynical and jaded middle-aged woman that the expectations of that innocent young student were well founded. You did make this
nation a better place in which to live. Your ideals made us proud to be Canadians. I loved you for your bravery and audacity and
devil may care attitude with the press and your opponents. You gave this nation style and removed the dull Canadian image as we
were perceived internationally previously. My only hope now is that all Canadians will have the courage to bring your dream of a united Canada, with rights for all ethnic groups and religions embraced as our only destiny. May the pain your
family has endured
now be at an end and may nothing but happiness be in their future. God bless you. I really think you have taken part of me with you and I must say, not begrudgingly.
Christine(Clewley)Chisholm
Tobermory, Ontario
Thank you for believing in one Canada. Our Rose may have fallen but the
petals will continue to flutter across this great land. Pierre, you
have left us with a legacy of greatness, of togetherness across this
country of ours, and of passion in one nation as a whole. In reading
other notes about you, they have made me realize positively that no
matter where we live in Canada we live by the principles that you have
taught us. With fondest love for you, Sacha, and Justin, and other
family members, and to all those across Canada who share the same
beliefs as Pierre's legacy lives on.
Jess H. and family
From one great sea to the other,
I thank you!
Dear Pierre Elliott Trudeau
You have given us the concept of a "Just Society" with "Equal Rights and Freedoms" for all individual Canadians whatever their ethnic or racial background may be. This has forged strength and pride in all Canadians. To know that as Canadians we honour the diversity, and come together in that belief has given us a true humanitarian legacy.
With your death, a part of those of us who grew up with you, has hallowed our continuing existence until we too join you in the yonder.
Canadians everywhere have expressed their love for you as a humanitarian, for your courage and your convictions, and they have admired your ability to communicate and rationalize your reasons.
No one doubts your most honest commitment to a better world.
Thank you,
Julf-Tammen D. Schwenke
Fredericton, New Brunswick
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