Auer: ‘Fifteen years in Canada and grateful to be here’

the challenges we’ve faced in the last 15 years and especially through the recent years of the pandemic I’m grateful for just how free we are here and how good we have it.

My family and I recently celebrated 15 years of immigrating to Canada. More than anything else, I’m grateful. Through all

Do I complain about the government or use German swear words in full force when I pay my taxes?

Do I hold my breath when our ER closes again and hope there won’t be a medical emergency? Of course I do, but my gratitude outweighs that every time. Because I get to speak up and complain, something that people get killed for in other places. Because the fact that I’m paying taxes means I made money and can support my family. Because having access to healthcare is a privilege and the people who provide it are human too.

I’ve lived in several countries and there is no perfect system. There is always something to complain about, but until you consider what it would be like to live in other places (and pay 15% of your income for healthcare like we did in Germany) you really don’t know just how good you have it here. It’s easy to get swept up in negativity and drain your life energy by complaining and being angry all the time.

Here’s a challenge for you: pick three things you really care about and don’t get worked up about anything else. Become an advocate for those things rather than an

Passing Road

REFERENDUM

Merritt City Council last night passed a motion to draft a bylaw giving Council authority to proceed with a Spring referendum for upgrading of truck routes in the City. The referendum will ask voters to approve of the borrowing of about $300,000 to $400,000 to upgrade a number of roads which have suffered damage.