RAYS OF HOPE
Since the start of the pandemic here in my home province of Quebec, and indeed elsewhere in Canada and around the world, children have been creating rainbows and putting them on display for others to enjoy while out and about in the neighbourhood (when restrictions permit, of course). It wasn’t long before the rainbow became a symbol of hope for better days ahead—for everyone, kids and older folks alike.
With that in mind, we trolled through our submission files looking for images of Mother Nature’s very own rainbows and were absolutely amazed by all the wonderful photos we came across. A selection of the finest appear on pages 44 to 49—and let’s not overlook the stunning cover photo submitted by Anneliese Cusack of Winnipeg Beach, Man. It’s easy to see why one of nature’s most beautiful phenomena of all serves so well as a symbol of hope, prompting messages such as “It will all be okay” or, as we say here in Quebec, “Ça va bien aller.”
Hope and inspiration arise from many sources, the experiences of others who have overcome adversity to obtain a better life being a major one. By way of example, you need look no further than Harry Rusk of Carrot Creek, Alta., who overcame the loss of his family to tuberculosis in early childhood, barely surviving the disease himself, and, alone at 15, went on to become the first Indigenous performer in North America to play the Grand Ole Opry. Since then, Harry’s earned numerous awards and recorded 55-plus albums, to date. He describes his journey on page 28.
And then there’s the imitable Margaret F. Wort of Kelowna, B.C., whose zest for life at age 90 is an inspiration in itself. On page 26, you’ll find Margaret’s account of coming to Canada with her family in 1929 to build a better life. Like rainbows, it’s a poignant reminder that hope does indeed spring eternal.