Read on because we need a new Governor General and I have the perfect candidate…

No matter how old one gets, these days it really isn’t that old. A good friend reached her 65th birthday this past week and I had to remind her that is simply the old 40 – she has a ways to get to the new 65 which is at least 80. But then as she was emailing me her thoughts, I was reading in our local paper of a lady getting her vaccination and she had just turned 109. At that point I had to phone my mother to tell her that she still had a ways to go, because she was only turning 104. That’s right, on Friday my siblings and I held a ZOOM conference call with our Mother (Mrs. Josephine Sinclair) as a way to celebrate her most recent birthday. Even though at times the connections were a bit ragged, we had a great conversation and it was good to see all the family on one screen. A family whose mother had passed away recently, donated a 40″ smart screen to the LTC in her honour; this enabled Mother to see all her kids in big pictures on the TV. A wonderful idea for a donation; and it provided a wonderful moment in all our lives.

I mentioned this for two reasons: to honour the matriarch of our line of the Sinclair clan; and to remind you that you are still pretty young. So get over your aches and pains and be active – best way to get beyond Covid-19 is to get doing things (even under cover of darkness). Oh, and while I am talking about matriarchs, I learned this morning that earlier this month a delightful woman who was matriarch of a family that ran the best roadside vegetable stand I’ve every stopped at (and it wasn’t just because they also sold really good ice cream cones). Mrs. Rita Balderston of PEI passed away earlier this month at the age of 100. She too was a gem. Makes me think that if you really want to be considered a gem, it wouldn’t hurt to live to at least 100!!

It’s almost the end of January. Hard to believe that we are that far into the New Year and still no Plan B for Covid-19. And really no Plan-B for the governing of Canada… However two different groups on Friday (independently) came up with a nominee for Governor General and I agree with both of them so I am going to name that individual and if you agree, send an e-mail to your MP and recommend that s/he bring the name forward on the floor of the House of Commons as well as making a recommendation to the Senate. This individual is a francophone woman, from Québec who has lived in PEI, Ontario and BC as well as la belle province. A long time civil servant who spent eight years as a Deputy Minister (including a lengthy period at Veterans’ Affairs) as well as considerable time in the Department of Transport including time running two different airports (took on the first one at the age of twenty-eight). This individual knows how to be pleasant and can manage people appropriately, understands protocol, is at ease with foreign dignitaries (when managing an international airport had to deal with visits by the Pope, the President of the USA, and the Queen). This person has served on Boards of Directors, taken executive education at both Queen’s and McGill, and has worked with not-for-profits. In addition this individual knows how to dragon-boat (which requires skills at team-work and heavy-lifting) and ski (which requires balance and the ability to function in solitary situations). I give you the candidate that will quickly erase the memory of her predecessor and recall the memory of David Johnson: Ms. Suzanne Tining.

And now I must go watch some NFL as I didn’t have the fun and pleasure of the CFL this year. Oh, by the way, Ms. Tining used to drive from PEI to Montréal for Alouette games and currently has season’s tix for the BC Lions (which necessitates driving over four hours for games) and has been to every Grey Cup since 2004 (except the 2006) so she also understands a core Canadian tradition — the Canadian Football League). Nominate now – nominate often. It may save the office and also provide an incredible role model for young women and people from humble beginnings. (If you don’t know your MP, you can go on the Government of Canada website and not only can you find the name, but also the e-mail address!!)

Have a great final week of January… I’ll be back!!

As always,
g.w.