Inspiring Couple Days At Lourdes

        In my opinion, Romeo Dallaire was indeed the most powerful and influential recipient of the National Leadership Award. Being a man with a great deal of emotional, physical and mental pain from his time in Rwanda, he could have easily resided close to this subject while speaking to Lourdes. Instead of talking solely about the devastating time in his life, he gave us the option to educate ourselves about his past, wanting to bring upon more of an inspiring message for the future. His heartfelt speech touched my heart, encouraging our generation to travel to developing countries and to get some "foreign dirt on your boots." I am going on the 2015 mission trip to Nicaragua this January and am so grateful to have the opportunity to help the oppressed and less fortunate. Romeo Dallaire expresses that nothing is far away anymore and we are the generation without borders. It is our duty, as the affluent population to be humanitarians and to share our wealth. I had the privilege to meet with Romeo Dallaire and shared with him of my upcoming trip. He explained to me that travelling to these third world countries, enduring the daily struggles of the natives and spreading peace and community, is exactly what not only they need, but us as well. He stated that, "no human is more human than any other," and that we should all seek the respect for humanity. I left that assembly with only positive things to say and my head held high. I still cannot believe our school had the honor to meet such an amazing figure in history. He is the type of person we should all aspire to be like.

         The following day, our school followed the tradition of going to the Sleeman Centre for the Remembrance day Ceremony. Remembrance Day is a very special day for myself and my family, having two of my grandparents serve for Canada in WW2. I have heard Dr. Bill Winegard speak at Lourdes the previous years alongside my grandmother, but this year's speech spoke more out to me. Bill Winegard, similar to Romeo Dallaire, spoke to us as a generation that has the power to change the future. He strongly discussed the aftermath of war for the soldiers, struggling with mental heath issues, suicides and Canada's role in these tragedies. The Canadian government asks of its country to help fight in the war, but when their time is finished, these soldiers are left to battle their inner war on their own. I believe the Canadian government should support these soldiers and treat them like the heroes they truly are. They are risking their lives for others and our country, returning with physical and mental problems that should most definitely be addressed. The infamous remembrance day slogan, "Lest We Forget," is a phrase we should actually mean when saying. Winegard reminds us to remember the soldiers and to care for them. Even though war might not be a reality in our everyday lives, it was/is for them.