Just returned from speaking at the 2011 ArtezInteraction Conference in Toronto which, although you might not know from the name, is a premier conference for Canadian Charities and non-profits interested in fund-raising online. You come back thinking that Canada is really ahead of us in all kinds of things: quality of ATM machines, affordable healthcare, sane and humane law making, reasonable gun control, financial system checks and balances (unlike all the rest of the Western world, Canada had no financial crisis because they have common sense limits on banks’ gambling with depositors money), and so on.
I think they are also ahead of us in attitude. If Paris has its picture in the dictionary next to: ‘Rude to Strangers’ Toronto is the antonym. I’m not the only one who thinks this, either. It’s usually the first thing out of anyone’s mouth who’s just back from Canada. Canadians don’t seem to take themselves as seriously. And most are simply old-fashioned gracious and polite. They are a little self-deprecating, but there’s no reason to be. They are as fresh and bright and interesting and sophisticated and AT LEAST as beautiful as we are any day. Definitely thinner.
And that’s just the women.
You might be able to tell that the folks at the conference liked my speech. Okay, I believe they did. But this little bit a gratitude is long overdue. I’m glad you won the hockey medal. I’m glad after all our political and social shenanigans south of the border, not to mention some of the Presidents we’ve stuck you with, you never seem to hold it against us when we come to visit.
Thanks for just being you. Bill Schley