About

Ladies and gentlemen, as I stand before you today, my heart aches with the weight of a story that many of us carry in silence—a story of dreams deferred and hopes shattered like the fragile layers of a perfect poutine, each ingredient representing a fragment of a broken heart. Imagine a community once vibrant and full of promise, now overshadowed by loss and despair, where laughter has been replaced by tears, and the streets echo with memories of what once was. Yet, midst this sorrow, we hold onto a flicker of hope, like the gravy that soothes and sustains us, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, unity and compassion can be the ingredients that heal and restore. Let us remember those we've lost, honor their memories, and vow to rebuild with the strength of our collective spirit—because in this shared pain, we find the resilience to forge a brighter future, one that rises from the ashes like a warm, comforting plate of poutine.