Get out we don’t need you anymore

BY: KATHY MCDONALD 

I was still basking in the afterglow of being re-elected by a huge margin as the Peel District School Board Trustee for Wards 3 and 4 in Brampton when my doorbell rang. I was deeply disturbed to find a senior who came to me in tears looking for somewhere to live. It appears that after asking this elderly lady to quit her job up north to take care of her grandchildren she is no longer need. You see they are now 12 and 8 years old and her services are no longer required. If I was not advocating for our youth and their education I would be advocating for the elderly. So, I am using this medium to educate seniors about their rights and elder abuse.

In Peel, we have an organization called Elder Help Peel. It’s located on 6 George Street. Elder Help Peel states on its website that it “Enriches the lives of Elderly Peel residents by offering information, education and supportive services in a welcoming and inclusive environment” At the heart of the organization is a stalwart of the black community Roman Aman. They can be reached by telephone at 905-457-6055 Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. This nonprofit organization is a true gem in the Brampton community.

While I was doing research on how to help this individual I came across an essay by my eldest son that I would like to share with the hope that we are reminded about the importance of family. I encourage all young people to remember all the sacrifices that your parents made for you when you were young. Please don’t turn your back on them when they are old.

“The family is the foundation of existence. It is the family that keeps an individual grounded and real. A strong family offers support and love through all stages of life. Without my family, my life would be incomplete. Although one receives schooling during the day, it’s family who prepares you for the journey of life along which I learned that no one can make you inferior without your consent (Eleanor Roosevelt). The family motto, black letters standing boldly against the yellow background, is posted by my pillow. Before I fall asleep at night, this is the last message that I read, encouraging me to be the best I can be despite life’s obstacles. However, most of all, this saying has helped me develop a sense of self.……I was 2 years old, in the festival of Carabram, a multicultural festival consisting of pavilions, each showcasing a different culture. I have played many roles in this festival including decorating, participating in vocal and instrumental performances, planning, researching and touring. My participation in this festival has deepened my love of my Caribbean and African heritage as I learned about their contributions to Canadian society. I am comfortable in my skin. I also learned about how they overcame hardships. This has strengthened my resiliency……

My dad has also played a large role in forming my identity. My father, a Trinidadian, never had the opportunity to learn the steel pan, his country’s national instrument, also the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20^th century. As a result, he pushed me to learn the native instrument at an early age. I learned not only how to play the tenor and double guitar pans, but I also learned about the story of Winston Spree Simon, the man who hammered the inside of an oil drum left behind by the British after WW2, creating an instrument that when hit would vibrate at different pitches. When I was in middle school, I noticed some friends who were underperforming academically. Thus, I introduced them to the instrument and to participate in Carabram. They could better appreciate their culture and which resulted in an increased self-confidence which resulted in a positive self-image. After their first steel pan performance, hearing the cheers of the audience, they realized something. They had potential. They had a skill. …..

My family made me the role model I am today. In February 2013, a 9^th grader during my first year of high school, I was disappointed that there were no mentions of Black History Month during February. The following year I founded the Black History Club. Our mandate would be to highlight the positive achievements of blacks in the community especially to a crowd of primarily white students. It would be important to expose these students, the next generation of leaders, to important roles blacks play in Canadian society. Next year in February I organized presentations, informative and engaging for the students. ….

Without my family, I would not have had the confidence to start these initiatives and pursue learning about my culture. I would not have been able to be an agent for change and help change the misconception of a people. If one is strong and confident one doesn’t have to feel inferior.”

So, there is the essay. I get goosebumps every time I come across it.  It would pain me to think that this son could be part of a plot to throw me out on the streets if I needed help. I have seen the aforementioned senior struggle in the snow morning and evening with her grandchildren. It behooves me that her family is kicking her out now that her “usefulness” has expired. Please journey with me as we strive to end elder abuse. Walk Good! Belle Marché