March 07, 2009

JOHN PEARO
THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR
(Mar 7, 2009)

Much has been said and written about the Caledonia and Six Nations land dispute over the past number of years, and for the most part very little of it has been balanced or good.

True, there have been many difficult and sad situations that have deserved media attention, but the good that is present has often been overshadowed and muted by the media portrait of the bad in our communities.

Thus, I share the following story.

A week ago, a coworker of mine asked me to cover a shift for her as she had a function to attend. When I inquired as to the nature of the function, she told me. A close friend, a single mother of two young girls, had been diagnosed with acute leukemia. And family and friends were holding a fundraiser for her, as she was unable to work while undergoing inpatient treatments at McMaster University hospital. I agreed to take her shift, but also promised to look into other ways I might also contribute.

Over the next two days, I walked up and down Argyle Street in Caledonia visiting various businesses and asking for donations for the fundraiser. (I have only lived in Caledonia for seven months, so most of the businesses knew very little of me and nothing of the young woman in question.)

The request was if they could donate an item or a gift certificate that could be raffled or auctioned off at a fundraiser for a single young mother who was seriously ill with leukemia. Her family was in need and could they, in some small way, help.

Fifteen out of 16 Caledonia businesses that I approached generously gave, including one based in Hamilton. The gifts were often wrapped or presented exquisitely, and in one case a business included a financial gift for the family, while others provided more than one item to be auctioned. Even a phone call to my church in Caledonia bore the fruit of a cash donation for the family.

On the Friday evening, a couple of hours before my shift was to begin, I headed over to the fundraiser to poke my nose in and see how things were coming along. The band was playing, the people were dancing and the gifts from Caledonia, along with those from many others, lined the auction tables. I was able to meet with both the mother and aunt of the young woman who both, with tears in their eyes, expressed their gratitude for the kindness that had been shown to them. Earlier this week I was informed that the fundraiser did indeed meet its financial goal.

Did I mention that the young mother currently in hospital is native and comes from Six Nations?

It seems to me you can't legislate, negotiate or even bargain for love. You can only call it forth. And last month a small group of individuals from Caledonia heeded the call and helped out one of their neighbours.

It might not have the front page appeal of a stand-off, a tire fire or a road barricade, but it does shine a light - the light of love, friendship and compassion.

The people on the outside looking into our communities should know that the tide here is turning. People are drawing near to one another. And that at a grassroots level, kindness and togetherness, rather than bitterness and division are becoming the hallmarks of our relationships with each other.

We in Caledonia also have beautiful parks, a beautiful river, an abundance of recreational opportunities - along with wonderful people, artists, musicians, businesses, restaurants and churches in both communities.

We hope you'll come and visit.

John Pearo lives in Caledonia.