A Moment of Pride and Gratitude

This week, I was asked by our director of technology to film a short 10-second video on why I’m proud to be Canadian. Ten seconds for me isn’t a lot of time, especially when you have a full heart, so I thought I’d take a few more moments here to share a little more with you.

I know many of you reading this are not Canadian, and I truly appreciate your time, but I hope you’ll indulge me for a moment.

You see, I came to this country as a first-generation immigrant more than 37 years ago. I arrived with hope, a lot of determination, and just enough belief that with hard work and community around you, anything was possible.

Canada gave me opportunities I’ll never take for granted. It gave me a place to grow, learn, and build a life — not just for myself, but for my family, my business, and now, in some small way, for others too. It gave me the chance to coach and support so many, something I feel deeply grateful for every day.

When I think about what makes me proud to be Canadian, it’s not just the landscape or the passport. It’s our kindness. Our togetherness. Our belief in community over competition, in helping each other rise, and in seeing difference as a strength, not a threat.

That spirit is something I see in many of you, not just my fellow Canadians, but my friends and colleagues all over the globe.  Because whether you’re north or south of the border, the values that matter most are the ones we carry into our businesses and our lives: Integrity. Compassion. Connection. Opportunity.

As we head into this short week, yayyyy, I want to take a moment to say thank you, for being part of my community, for showing up with heart, and for trusting me to be a small part of your journey.

Wishing all of my Canadian friends a joyful and proud Canada Day, and to all of my American friends, a wonderful and meaningful Fourth of July.