Lots of people moving to the Pontiac! Why Pontiac? A recent poll has shown that Quebec is the least likely province to move to. Maybe it has to do with our heritage? Our Pioneers came from many different countries, including England, France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, many of which spent a generation or more in the Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York area before moving to Ontario, Quebec, and finally Pontiac County. Without the help of some of our First Nations people who had survived the cold, diseases and wilderness, many would have perished. Early settlers worked very hard turning a wilderness into a wonderland and the largest fights occurred on the early hockey rinks, but usually all . . .
celebrated together after at the same tavern. Just during my lifetime more immigrants (we all came from somewhere), chose Pontiac County. Hungary, Ukraine. Russia, Italy, Mexico, India, Holland, Pakistan, South American countries, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and I’m sure that you could include a few neighbours from other locations.
We celebrate Oktoberfest, Saint Patrick’s Day, many various religious holidays, suppers and dances where neither culture, language, nor the color of your skin matters. I am amazed that some of our recent citizens of the county can speak four or five languages. Our grandkids are now watching Japanese cartoons with English sub-titles, but often turn off the sub-titles and just listen to Japanese. When I asked my granddaughter why she wanted to learn Japanese she answered that she wanted to learn a language that the teacher didn’t know. Some of our graduates from high school have secured teaching positions in Japan, Taiwan, China, etc. China now has the largest English-Speaking population in the world! The world has now accepted English as the language of science, trade, Hi-Tec, and invention. The sharing of various skills from all over the world, skills passed down by our First Nations people. Working together to clear the forest, till the land, market timber, pass on education, help each other through sickness, broken bones, and helping get the next generation into the world were all jobs that required skills that many people had to share.
A walk around the many cenotaphs and in the numerous churches of our county reading the many, many names of those who fought and died in the various world wars and serious skirmishes to save our freedom, capture and return countries like Holland and France from the hands of a dictator to their own democracy; reminds us of the ultimate sacrifices that brave men and women of our county have given for us.
So why should we advertise in our county and our businesses that we can speak English? Because many people from all over the world and in the county next door, and some of my own relatives believe that everything in Quebec is French only. Some are even reluctant to visit our county because they are afraid of being stopped by the Quebec police who they think cannot or will not speak English. Pontiac’s businesses and tourism is losing out on many potential visitors and customers. One of our most recent families to choose Pontiac to build and live in, had explored all of Canada and most of the world before moving from South Africa. Our own family can trace our roots to France, England, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, four states, other parts of both upper and lower Canada before choosing Pontiac County to call home. Be proud of your heritage and pass it on to your family!
Chris Judd is a farmer in Clarendon on land that has been in his family for generations.
gladcrest@gmail.com
