Thriving in my generous society

Re: “Get facts right before calling Quebecers ‘thinskinned’ ” (Lucinda Chodan, March 30)

As a person born in Quebec, I’ve managed to thrive by reading, writing and speaking French.

I worked for the transit commission for 32 years. A lot of my buddies left in 1976 because of the language situation, but my anglophone friends who learned French have been successful in Quebec.

And no one can convince me that Quebecers are not a giving society. As a volunteer at a French high school for 19 years, I found myself surrounded by others who gave their time to improve the lives of students.

For 28 years, there has been a Christmas food collection in my neighbourhood. The generosity of donors has been overwhelming. More than 25 families are fed with the truckloads of donated food.

I am sure I am not the only one who has observed this. Quebecers are not the type to show off about how they help others. Perhaps this province’s religious tradition has helped teach us it is not right to brag. Ron Fitzsimmons, Montreal