If you told me our next door neighbour, the most powerful country in the world, would be lead by a fascist authoritarian back in 2015 that attacked democracy and incited an insurrection, I would have laughed at you. Back in 2015, I could never imagine that would happen to the US. But it did. Good riddance to him and may he end up in jail one day for the crimes he committed.

Here in Canada, we must hold up our end of the bargain and never allow a fascist authoritarian to ever become the Prime Minister.

Jagmeet Singh prodded the Liberals to pass the Canadian Dental Plan together for Canadian households and held off an election until the LPC picked a new leader, in his last days as the NDP leader. It cost him everything. Thank you Mr. Singh for your service.

I became a Canadian citizen yesterday, and I was so full of pride that I felt compelled to share this moment with the wonderful people of my city, Kitchener. The response was incredibly warm, so I thought, why not share it with the wider Canadian family as well?

I carry vivid memories of those who showed me what it truly means to be Canadian. From my very first day in the country, at my duplex in Montreal, a young guy on a smoke break offered in French, to help carry my luggage upstairs. To my master’s supervisor who taught me not only machine learning, but also how to genuinely care for students.

To my former roommate who even after I moved out, continued to check my mail and proactively send updates so it never felt like a burden. To the grandpa down the road who never fails to say hello during my evening walks. To the people who held doors open for me, kind neighbors, and countless small gestures that meant a lot.

I remember it all like it was yesterday, and along the way, these experiences shaped who I am today. Now that I’m officially Canadian, I know how important it is to volunteer, help your neighbors, and embrace winter sports. What else would you recommend for a new Canadian?