On Feb. 11, parliamentary leaders paused House of Commons proceedings to address the nation following the tragic mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. In his comments to the House, Pierre Poilievre’s words included a request for all Canadians to pray for the community and for the families, offering whatever support we can.

Canadians watched as political leaders seized the moment to unite in the face of this unthinkable tragedy. Throughout the weekend, a picture capturing that unity circulated widely in the media, showing political leaders and the governor general standing hand in hand.

Canada stands with the people of Tumbler Ridge.

Standing alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney and other federal party leaders, Pierre Poilievre described the moment as one of grace and unity in Canadian politics. “We all lead political parties,” he said, “But today there are no Conservatives, no Liberals, no New Democrats, no Bloc, no Greens. We are all, as we were on that plane together, mothers and fathers.”

“Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darkness of other people.” -Carl Jung

Long before clocks dictated our days and electric light chased the night away, human life moved in quiet partnership with the sky. Dawn called us gently into one another’s presence, while dusk invited us home again - to fires, stories, prayers, and rest. Darkness was not an enemy then. It was a dwelling place. We are now realizing that wellbeing does not come from constant brightness and striving, but from moving wisely and faithfully between light and dark.

We have become too binary in our thinking. Yes, there is a dark that is bad, that darkness makes a good metaphor for things like evil, sin and death. But we are not talking about that kind of dark. There is another dark: one that shelters, heals and is good. As Barbara Brown Taylor writes, “I wish I could turn to the church for help, but so many congregations are preoccupied with keeping the lights on right now that the last thing they want to talk about is how to befriend the dark… meanwhile, here is some good news you can use: even light fades and darkness falls – as it does every single day, in every single life – God does not turn the world over to some other deity.”

Our mistakes, our regrets, our willingness to feel the ache of this world – these, too, shape us into better loves of life and one another. After making friends with the dark, we can be moved to tender kindness for our friends when they have their dark times. Naomi Shihab Nye captures this truth in her poem Kindness:

First Nations that occupy what is now southern Manitoba entered into a treaty with the Crown in 1871 that promised each member a $3 annuity while allowing settlers access to more than 40,000 square kilometres of land.

The annuity was increased four years later to $5, where it has remained for more than 150 years.

Lawyers for Treaty 1 territory First Nations are in a Winnipeg court seeking billions of dollars in compensation for annuity payments they argue have lost all value,

The original treaty was negotiated by the Crown when it wanted to open up Manitoba to settlement, but “did not have the military resources to take the territory by force,” Michael Rosenberg, lawyer for representative plaintiff Zongidaya Nelson of Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation, told King’s Bench Justice Shane Perlmutter in his opening address Monday.

A search warrant granted on information that a residence was home to unauthorized firearms in Roseau River First Nation, saw officers from the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, the crime reduction enforcement unit and the RCMP emergency response team come up empty, but only in regard to their original purpose.

Instead of guns, police found drug paraphernalia in plain view.

A second search warrant was authorized, and investigators turned up 32 grams of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $3,000. Police also seized scales, mobile devices and packaging materials.

Three people were charged as a result.

Growing up without a television, computer, or cell phone may seem unusual today, but for me, it was the norm. Instead, my companions were books. Among my favourites was One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, a powerful novel written in the Soviet Union that, remarkably, still resonates today. It was this book that sparked my lifelong love of reading, a passion that continues even amidst the busy schedule of serving the people of Springfield-Ritchot.

In a world dominated by screens and digital distractions, it’s more important than ever to appreciate life’s simpler pleasures. Books, which have stood the test of time, offer a uniquely enriching experience. I’m always delighted to see students across Manitoba take part in I Love to Read Month, a celebration that reminds us all of the transformative power of reading.

Reading offers countless benefits, but three stand out to me. First, it builds a strong knowledge base. This may seem obvious, but it’s important to highlight. The information we absorb from books helps children grow into thoughtful, capable adults. Books are more than stories, they’re lessons waiting to be discovered.

Second, reading enhances our understanding of the world around us. It sharpens our comprehension and allows us to make sense of what we see, hear, and feel. Books broaden our horizons, nurture empathy, and allow us to experience perspectives far beyond our own.