It is with relief and pleasure to report that everyone on our team have been vaccinated. That includes our newest member, Jaclyn Agueci (a formal introduction and more about her later).

Attached is a picture of myself and an army of volunteers who have together created and are managing one of Canada’s premier Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics. We call ourselves the “Orange Army” and I have never been prouder to be associated with such a dedicated and caring group of people. The vaccine rollout in our area has been particularly slow but this group of over 500 community minded volunteers have vaccinated over 16,000 Ontarians and are now poised to offer 3,000 – 4,000 “jabs” per week until the end of September.

I have been asked to share why I got the shot. For me, the answer seems obvious but for many it is not so obvious. I have a different view of where we are and why we all need to get both vaccination shots as soon as possible.

If my father was alive today, he would be 100 years old. He is a member of what I and many others consider the ‘greatest generation’. At age 18 he enlisted to fight against a world threat or what was then referred to as “the War”. He, like so many other men and women, enlisted despite anti-war protests, pending limitations to rights and freedoms and delusional conspiracy theories. Quite simply, he enlisted to protect his family, friends, community, and country. It was just the right thing to do.

Six years later, he returned home victorious due the bravery of his fellow countrymen and women, some who had made the ultimate sacrifice. This ushered in an unprecedented period of peace, prosperity, and health. We have enjoyed the benefits of this generation’s sacrifices both abroad and at home for over the last 75 years and now, for the first time, this is all threatened as we face an equally deadly and common enemy.

In no way am I suggesting that our fight can be compared to that of our parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. In my mind, they will always be the greatest generation. We can, however; come together once again to defeat this common enemy we call COVID-19 in the same spirit as they did so many years ago.

Yes, I got my shot. I have traded my father's bullets for two needles.  Like my father, I did this for my family, friends, community, and country. I also did it because it is the right thing to do. But I like to think I am, in a small way, honouring and helping preserve my parents' generations legacy of peace, prosperity, and health.

I hope you and your families are all safe and have had an opportunity to get your first shot.

Sincerely,

Gord