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| Meet the class of 2003 |
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| deenb4dunya |
| 12/10/03 at 13:55:24 |
| Feel free to scrolll down... important info is bolded :) Meet the class of 2003 Almost 1,000 e-mail messages later, nominations have closed and a Globe panel has decided that our second Nation Builder of the Year will be one of these 12 finalists. No, George W. Bush isn't one of them Saturday, December 6, 2003 - Page F4. Well, we are down to the final ballot. A month ago, The Globe and Mail invited readers to nominate candidates for its second annual Nation Builder award, which goes to the person who has done the most this year to make Canada a better place. This sort of description, as Globe editor Edward Greenspon noted at the time, usually applies to a political leader, but it is increasingly apparent that, "from large matters to small, citizens are not content to leave it all to their politicians." Our readers certainly agreed. Almost 1,000 responded with e-mail messages in support of hundreds of people they feel have made an outstanding contribution to the fabric of the nation. Okay, so several were fans of U.S. President George W. Bush, saying he deserved the award because he has "brought Canadians together in unprecedented ways" or reminded us "what it feels like to be Canadian." Others claimed to have come up empty. They complained that they had gone over the events of 2003 and, as one out it, "the sad fact is that there are no Nation Builders that come immediately to mind." But fear not. The remaining respondents have given the Globe panel charged with assessing he contenders much food for thought. Next week's Focus will announce the panel's choice as the successor to last year's inaugural winner -- high-tech renaissance man Mike Lazaridis, head of Research in Motion Ltd. (creator of the BlackBerry) and founder of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ont. But first here, in alphabetical order, are the panel's Top 12, with comments from some of the readers who nominated them. Who do you think deserves the nod? Clive Beddoe The president and chief executive officer of WestJet Airlines, for being an "inspiration to other Canadians with dreams of building something, for the incredible culture that he has instilled in his employees and for linking coast to coast with affordable fares that bring people together. He truly has made Canada a better place to live -- and I am not an employee of WestJet." --Harry Heck Canadian Forces For representing "Canada proudly for years in peacekeeping efforts around the world. They have suffered in their duties and need to be honoured for their devotion on behalf of all Canadians. We all derive a benefit and show pride in their efforts." --Wayne L. Martin Jean Charest The Premier of Quebec, for "stabilizing the political climate in Quebec (after almost a decade of PQ rule) and dramatically improving relations between the province and the federal government. He endured many years as leader of the Opposition in Quebec and is a positive and tireless proponent of Canadian federalism." --Joe Chapman Jean Chrétien The Prime Minister of Canada, because he "has done some good things that he deserves credit for. In March, Mr. Chrétien made the decision not to participate in the war in Iraq without a United Nations resolution. I think he deserves a standing ovation. No weapons of mass destruction have been found and the war has taken a huge toll on the Iraqi people. I am not pro-Chrétien but his decision not to participate I deeply admire." --Rachel Gutman Roméo Dallaire A former lieutenant-general and peacekeeper, because, as a recent article in the Charlottetown Guardian points out, "if there is a Canadian identity, Dallaire may have much to teach us about it. If our ideals are about equitable use of power, about consensus, about compassion, about confronting racism and about just doing our somewhat insecure community-minded best, no matter what, then Dallaire may embody our nation more than any other Canadian today." --Mark Gallant Paul Goss A cancer specialist, "for pursuing his idea that postmenopausal breast cancer, the predominant form of the disease, can be stalled, and perhaps even prevented. Dr. Goss has been a dedicated researcher whose recent clinical trials were stopped because of the fantastic results that showed improved life expectancy in his patients. There is not a woman alive who will not benefit from his skill and diligence." --Sue Dexter Andrew Leslie A major-general. "Admittedly, his duties in Afghanistan as commander of the Canadian contingent and deputy commander of the NATO force might make him more eligible as an Afghan nation builder -- he is contributing significantly to Canada's efforts to help rebuild that troubled nation. But he and his troops also represent Canada's most significant visible contribution to the global war on terrorism, which builds our nation by helping to ameliorate our relationship with the United States." --Ellis Barefoot Stephen Lewis The United Nations envoy for AIDS in Africa, because "he has been a wonderful ambassador and opened the eyes of many around the world to the horrors of AIDS. He has shown that Canada can help to alleviate the suffering and it is wonderful to know that we are doing something positive in this often chaotic world." --Melissa Kane Monia Mazigh The wife of Maher Arar, because "she demonstrated incredible strength and courage during her campaign to have her husband released. Through her dedication and efforts, Ms. Mazigh showed us that she could get the attention of government, act as her own personal lobby group, and see her efforts come to fruition, not only in her personal crusade to bring her husband home, but also in exposing the inadequacy of our foreign-affairs strategy. She reminds us that there is power in speaking out, and that we can hold people to account. For me, Ms. Mazigh symbolizes a nation of active citizens, playing a daily, positive role in civil society, and demanding that we live up to our own expectations of protecting life, liberty and the security of persons. It's exactly the type of nation I believe we need to build in order to thrive." --Laura Marr The Ontario Court of Appeal "The admirable validation by Chief Justice Roy McMurtry, Mr. Justice James MacPherson and Madam Justice Eileen Gillese of the equality, dignity and diversity that bind Canada together make me proud to be Canadian. I am currently studying law in the United States and it is the work of people such as these that helps me remain part of my nation even though I am far away. They also keep alive my desire to return to home." --Carley Andrews Mike Weir A champion golfer, because "he represents Canada in the world of golf as a true and humble gentleman -- and as goodwill ambassador for Canada wherever he travels." --Herbert Mitterboeck Gerry Zimmerman The fire chief of Kelowna, B.C., for being "everyman." He is "an ordinary man who was pushed to the forefront during testing times this past summer. He became a lifeline to those of us who followed the hourly and daily progress of this devastating fire. His dedication, compassion and humour gave all of us in the Okanagan hope. There were also hundreds of other volunteers, firefighters and forest workers who typify what 'being Canadian' is all about. We have survived this tragedy and have learned what community is." --Lynne Potter Honourable mention . . . "Can a newspaper be a nation builder? I think The Globe and Mail should be nominated because the way it presents information contributes directly to how we see ourselves and our place in the world." --Sheri South |
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