Mail to Debbie & Donna

We get lots of mail from our visitors. Whether it be support of our initiative or different viewpoints about living in Canada…it is all good insight that we want to share with you. On this page you will read various mail that Debbie & Donna receive from visitors. Most will include a response or notes from Debbie or Donna.

Be sure to keep in touch by sending us an email when you have a comment or idea to share.

Thank you!
- Debbie & Donna

From Ann Douglas

Author of Book: Canuck Chicks & Maple Leaf Mamas: Women of the Great White North, http://www.canuckchicks.com.

Donna -
A friend just told me about your latest adventure. Congratulations to you and Debbie for taking on this lively and inspiring mission. I'd like to send you each an autographed copy of my latest book, CANUCK CHICKS & MAPLE LEAF MAMAS: WOMEN OF THE GREAT WHITE NORTH to enjoy while you're on the road.

From Terry in Alberta

Hi Donna and Debbie,
I spent an hour looking over your site and reading the stories, and I can say it was the best hour I have spent all day. I am sure I will be visiting often.

Do you really know what you have let yourself in for? This is one big country and I bet once you get started, you'll have a hard time stopping. It is a great country full of even greater people, and even though I have traveled a lot of it, I feel I have just scratched the surface.

I have always been interested in where people come from and why they have chosen to live and work where they are now. To me living in Canada means I never have to be jealous of anyone else because I know if I really wanted something different I could just do it, or get it. I feel your site will allow me to learn more about our country without leaving home.

Anyway good luck with your adventure, and it will be an adventure, and I hope you have nothing planned for the next six months. You know you could really do this job justice once you retire.

Donna’s reply:
Hi Terry:
Many thanks for your kind words and your insight! Do we know what we got ourselves into? I hope so! - it's hearing from Canadians like you, across the country who truly do have positive stories to share. Right now Debbie and I are financing this initiative ourselves and in order to move forward we will need the support of every Canadian who wants to share their story.

Stay tuned Terry! We are trying to connect with everyone we know who might be able to make this a bigger and more impactful initiative! Spread the word for us Terry, we want the world to know that Canada is the best place to live and work.

From Irene in Nova Scotia

I saw your call for opinions in today’s paper I am more comfortable writing this in the form of a poem. It may not be what you want but it's my observation over a number years, this is the Canada I love and always will ----- Irene

" CANADA "OH" CANADA
I've lived here over thirty years I've seen you quickly change
From an Eden in an unsure world to a land for me estranged
Your quiet strength has all but gone sophistication barely seen
CANADA " OH" CANADA you sold my every dream

My dream of a place where I could be safe and anger free
A place I felt that I could find at long last security
I chose your shores to raise my kids far from my native land
"CANADA "OH" CANADA you were once so grand

It saddens me to watch my dreams die before my eyes
It hurts my soul as I grow old to tell my children lies
My dreams they'd be "CANADIAN" and hold their heads up high
CANADA "OH" CANADA you let the best of you go by

For me you were superior to your neighbours to the south
Alas my kids don't see you now as I saw you in my youth
When I stepped on your fertile soil I was so sure about my choice
CANADA "OH" CANADA where is your patriotic voice

Alas my dream is over I guess dreams just never last
Greed has overtaken your basic values now the dye is cast
I will fondly remember how you were though my dreams are now a haze
CANADA "OH " CANADA I miss your tender loving ways .

Donna’s reply:
So many of us look back on what was with sadness - and I understand exactly how she feels. Each generation sees changes that removes something that was an important part of our past - most changes are done because we feel we are being more productive, more efficient.........but sometimes, we have just been thoughtless, not taking into consideration what the results will be over time.

This poem is a cry for a return to yesterday - and I think we know that we can never go back..........that we must always move forward.

Perhaps it's time to look back and learn from our ancestors.........

From Jack in Victoria

Dear Debbie and Donna:
I chose Canada 50 years ago. I won't go in to the reasons why I came, and why I stayed.

I will tell you that the Canada I came to was very different from the Canada of today. Since about the time of Louis St. Laurent, Canada has been going downhill. Particularly in the past 20 years, Canada's decline has been rapid, and accelerating. The decline is morale. I think that this decline in morale has been caused directly, and mostly, by successive governments and politicians. The latest crowd of Liberals in Ottawa, with Chretien setting the example, are corrupt. Not only corrupt, but bungling and incompetent as well.

On your Web site you taut the virtues of diversity. There is no merit in diversity. On the contrary, no people will rise above tribal squabbling, like the Arabs, unless unity prevails among the people.

Then you talk about cultural richness. Nonsense! How many people do you know who have absorbed into their lives more than one culture? I agree that there are so many different cultural identities in Canada? Yes, and all separate from each other, and none knowing anything about the others. Worse, they bring their 'cultures' to Canada and engage in hostility among themselves.

It's all very well for you to try to find what's nice about living in Canada. That is easily stated, and it has nothing to do with the politicians, who cheapen and debase everything they touch.

I guess your Web site gives you a goody-goody feeling, but to me it smacks of political correctness. How you can get our PM, of all people, to feature on your site is beyond me.

I wish you well nevertheless, and hope that other writers will let you know what is wrong with Canada.

Donna’s reply:
Hello Jack:
Many thanks for your email. I agree with you, Canada is certainly different today. The world has changed their moral standards - many of the rules and regulations from the days of Louis St. Laurent have gone by the wayside. Politicians since time began have had their good side and their not so good...........and it's always in the eye of the beholder. Jack, it has always been my philosophy to look at what's good in people before I concentrate on their faults. It keeps me sane and reasonably happy.

I know that I am often accused of looking at the world through "rose coloured glasses", but for me - I live in a country that offers me the chance to choose, who I vote for, where I live, what I do for a living, who I marry, where my children are educated and what I want to do in my retirement.

Canada is definitely not perfect, but compared to many other countries in the world - it looks pretty good! I am assuming that you are an action person, and that you are making an effort to correct the problems you see by taking a pro-active stance.

Action speaks louder than words - get involved - get elected - make a difference. You're right, we have lost many of the wonderful positive memories you and I both have, perhaps by working together we can refocus on those areas.

Thanks for your thoughts and your encouragement, we are just two women trying to bring to the attention of the rest of the world, what a truly great country this is..........including all (or most) of it's citizens!

Joan from Ottawa

Debbie -
WOW! What a passionate move! I will pass your email along to my friends and family members. I know the strongest support I can get is from my husband, who recently was invited by DND to Juno Beach, France. Coming home deeply touched by the experience and proud of being a Canadian. I was nearly moved to tears by his stories, such as the care takers of Vimy Ridge Memorial site invited him to turn on the flood lights on the great monument after dinner. He said it was the most emotional trip he has ever taken in his life.

But I would love to share with you my experience as a new Canadian coming from China only a few years ago. I fell in love with a Canadian first; through him I got to know Canada. Over the years, I learned to appreciate all the little things being a Canadian. Our 2-week trip to Atlantic Canada this June made me understand Canada more in depth both in geographical and social sense. I am ‘curing’ my ‘homesickness’ for PEI by watching Anne of Green Gables again and again!

Note from Debbie:
I recently interviewed Joan and her husband Brian and was very moved by both of their stories about why they choose to live in Canada. These stories will be posted on the Web site shortly.

Calum in British Columbia

I did not choose Canada, I was born here. What I did do, was choose Western Canada. In the far two western provinces there is more of a independent, self-reliant way of life. There is a dislike of big government with there wasteful, corrupt use of tax dollars (Ottawa).

There is more of a work ethic in Western Canada where if you are out of work, you go find another job. Thus a dislike of the love of government make work projects as in pogey, tags and building golf courses & fountains using public tax money. Their is a dislike here of leaving our children a $550.00 billion federal debt for our children and grandchildren to deal with along with a CPP pension plan which will never allow them to collect their fair investment into it. Do I have any love or affection for central and eastern Canada? Zero. And think about it. I grew up in Pembroke Ontario and left when I was 19 years old. If it was not for B.C. or Alberta I would either move to Australia or the USA

Debbie & Donna’s reply:
Calum,
Thank you for voicing your perspective. We are all proud of our country, and particularly from the perspective of the province we live in. Each section of Canada offers something different, and truthfully, there is bound to be something for everyone if you really get down to it.

We all choose based on our own personal preferences. Western Canada offers you what you need and want; and it's still part of Canada!

From Ron in Toronto

I read about your Web site in today's issue of the Toronto Sun Newspaper. You have both begun a marvelous project and I wish you every success.

We share similar thoughts, I have been trying to promote Canadian talent through my web site at www.talentedcanadians.com. My site is in its infancy and I have had positive feedback from individuals involved in the Arts and Crafts.

I will contribute a story of my Canadian experience. I am a sixth generation Canadian of English ancestry and there is no other place on this Globe I would rather be.

Thanks for taking this huge project on. Good Luck.

Donna’s reply:
Hi Ron:
Many thanks for your email. Debbie and I are delighted with the response from Canadians across the country - now we have to figure out how we can raise the awareness to groups like yours who should be recognized!

Are you already part of the CGTA Gift Show? www.cgta.org or the Toronto International Gift Show http://www.torontointernationalgiftfair.com/ Do you export the products? If so, do you have your products listed on the WIN Export Web site? Are all the Embassies and Consulates aware of your Web site and the products your produce?

I know the gift market inside out - it's possible we already know each other Ron. Do you have the Giftware Guides written for the USA , Britain or Germany? If not, I can tell you where to find them. It looks like We Choose Canada might become a "Tag Line" for products and services recognized for their quality in Canada and internationally! We might just end up showing Canadian companies how to build business everywhere!

From Gabrielle

Why aren't you 'wechoosecanada.ca', given that .ca is the domain suffix indicating you are primarily a Canadian site, while .com indicates that you are a primarily a commercial site?

Debbie’s reply:
Good Morning Gabrielle,
You raise a good point. We actually have both URLs www.wechoosecanada.com and www.wechoosecanada.ca for the reasons that you mention.

From Kevin in Ottawa

Hey Debbie,
It was great seeing you at Dom’s Canada Day party. Your We Choose Canada is a very innovative idea! Let me think of my story and send it to you. I know that I have a lot to be grateful for as a Canadian and living in Canada. I especially realized this after the events of September 11th. My story is at:
http://www.canada.com/national/features/september11/story.html?id=A5A6C4DF-3C32-4168-98C3-E921181CD2ED.

I am sure that We Choose Canada will be a raging success. I will spread the word!

From Elizabeth Howe-Hazard in Pembroke, Ontario

Donna Messer is a true human being, people who are true to themselves and to the world and who try to bring happiness and togetherness and leave a person better than they were is what the world needs. I applaud everything that www.connectuscanada.com is, what BusinessWoman Canada Magazine stands for, and what all people want to try to be - together in strength - together to make weakness a stepping stone to stronger links, a bridge to friendship, anchor a loose hold to fall into love.

Keep up the great work Donna and Debbie!

From Marie Tourchin in Grand Prairie, Alberta

I found information about your website “We choose Canada” reading an article published in the Grande Prairie Herald Tribune earlier this summer. I have logged on to it and read quite a few interesting stories that made me smile and feel also proud.

Mike Mulhern from Guelph, Ontario

Hi Donna - This was the first day I had time to look at www.wechoosecanada.com. What a great idea. With an RV and advance team, you could really get the country buzzing. Good luck with this!

From Maggie in Toronto

I have just finished reading 12 pages of your stories and find myself moved to tears.

I was born in Toronto, was raised in a village about 60 miles from here and returned to Toronto in my adult years to work and live. My Father was German and my Mother Scotish so I was brought up with British/European flare while at the same time fully immersed in Canadian life.

I cannot possibly do justice to the stories I have just read, but can only say that it is hearwarming to know that so many of my fellow Canadians feel about this country as strongly as I. I truly cannot imagine living anywhere else in the world so chose to stay in Canada, the country that I love.

When I travel, whether it be to Europe or the U.S., as I arrive back on Canadian soil I experience an overwhelming feeling of relief, security and safety - I am home again.

Am I a proud Canadian - you bet!! Never more proud then when we declined to take part in an unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war. The world needs countries like Canada who prefer to take a diplomatic stand and work with the International Community to solve issues such as Iraq. Sadly, the most powerful nation in the world prefers to solve problems on a unilateral basis, the rest of the world be dammed. I am thankful that we resisted the temptation and stuck to our guns. I believe that history will show that we made the right decision.

From Charlie Coffey, Executive Vice President, RBC Financial Group

When Donna Messer, publisher of BusinessWoman Canada Magazine shared her "We choose Canada" story on the web site (www.wechoosecanada.com), it made me think about my own Canada choices. And one choice is living in the extraordinary Kawartha area each summer at the Coffey Grounds cottage, appreciating "an unequaled quality of life" in nearby Peterborough and watching business, particularly women entrepreneurs, flourish in the area.

Since story-telling is a great part of experiencing the spirit of the Lakes, it's no surprise that one great story revolves around the Women's Business Network (WBN) and the significant leadership impact it's had in the region for forty-two years. The staying power shows, the networking value shows and the "We Choose Peterborough and the Kawarthas" campaign theme simply says the WBN's pride is showing too!

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