In every corner of the country, including here in Elgin Middlesex, “elbows up” has become a unifying refrain as Canadians grapple with a trade war and threats to our sovereignty. Never in my lifetime have I seen such solidarity and unified resolve toward any one issue or concern. That solidarity has become a beacon of hope for all of us in this volatile time.
We need hope. We need it more than ever as we stare down the prospect of a prolonged trade war that threatens the livelihoods of so many of us. The uncertainty has become paralyzing, and we are seeing this play out at boardroom tables and kitchen tables across the country. Corporations and organizations are pausing production and laying off workers, and at home, families are having tough conversations about financial security and well-being.
One of the consequences of this paralysis and uncertainty is a sharp decline in charitable giving since the holidays. I’m hearing this from United Way colleagues across the country and local nonprofit leaders alike. All of them are expressing a deepening concern for their ability to maintain services with limited resources and for a rapid unravelling of our social service safety net.
I worry that as our collective gaze is focused on the actions of our neighbours south of the border, we’re losing sight of our neighbours struggling TODAY on our city streets. The issues we collectively face as a nation will only serve to deepen the persistent challenges of homelessness and poverty we are already grappling with. We need your help reinforcing that safety net, one stitch and one donor at a time.
The power of community buoys my optimism in these challenging times. Every day, I see individuals uniting for good. Whether it be donors, volunteers, or frontline workers, people are showing their commitment to helping our most vulnerable and improving community conditions for all of us. The act of giving – of helping – gives us a sense of purpose and agency and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Rooted in hockey, “elbows up” is a perfectly Canadian rallying cry that speaks to the need to protect our collective future. I’d like to suggest adding another sports-themed call to action that speaks to the local love we can show TODAY: “dig deep”. Dig deep and give what you can. Every volunteer hour and every financial contribution, no matter the size, can change a life: right here, right now. Unite with us, and make it happen.
Elbows up and dig deep, my friends.
Topics : News
