Giving Thanks for the Greatness of Canadians
Written by Annie Warner Donnelly, Oct. 4, 2025
Hello Everyone. Let’s think about this: There’s locked in each person the potential for greatness – to become devoted to a goal or an ideal, to become skilled, influential – and it is within these aspects of greatness that we can define Canadians.
Greatness is found in the hands of Canadians who nurture everything that will feed the people living in our nation and other nations too. It is found in the hands of parents who cradle their children and in the hands of children who cradle their parents.
Greatness is found in the hands of the those who mirror our world to us. Their creativity results in a variety of artistic expressions – images, music, words, concrete examples of our century’s innovations – preserved to help future generations discover their heritage.
Greatness is found in our architects who plan the multi-faceted buildings in which we live, work, and play, and in those who implement those plans. It is found in our researchers, our scientists and our entrepreneurs whose strategic thinking creates something that adds to the quality and enjoyment of our lives.
Greatness is found in the hands of our health care professionals; our educators; our spiritual leaders; our police and security officers; our firefighters; our pilots; the men and women of our Armed Forces; our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Greatness is found in our unsung heroes – the vast network of workers who keep our systems running; our machines repaired; our environment clean; our stores supplied with the products we need; our banking structure safe. There are many others we can mention.
Greatness is found in you. The future of our country is in your hands and mine. What we do today impacts our future and the future of those with whom we interact. If we are honest, we will treat others honestly. How we care for ourselves is how we will care for others. If we hold anger and unforgiveness in our hearts, that anger and unforgiveness will spill over into the lives of those around us. Releasing our words and actions into our society sends ripples through the lives of others just like the stone ripples the water when released into it. Will the ripples we create help or harm others?
The Canadian pace is one of steady progress toward a goal. Greatness is found in each person who tries a little harder, a little longer. Every one of us can help to unify Canada to meet common goals; to safeguard our traditions; to maintain a society in which each one is free to contribute and to chart a desired destiny; to conserve the vast resources Canada offers to its people and to the people of the world.
Yes, Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful, but perhaps it is also a time to consider how, as individuals, we can add to the greatness around us by releasing the greatness – devotion to a goal or an ideal, becoming skilled, influential – in us. May God help us as we see what we can do. Amen