Admission to Janine’s House (June 17)

“From age seven I was the only anglophone, adult or child, Janine permitted inside the house. Yet extreme poverty was not the cause of her reticence. As I stood awkwardly on her threshold for the first time, she made the situation plain. ‘Outside, we’re polite. We speak English in Port or with city folks. But in the house, it’s only French. That’ll go for you, too, Robbie.’

“My face must have betrayed alarm.

“‘It’ll be hard for you, but it’s not your fault. So we’ll break the rules a little. You can use as much English as you want, but you’ll hear nothing but French…

“‘… Don’t worry. We won’t expect much. You’re Hank’s friend and you’re a good boy. That’s enough. And now, no more English from me.’

“…I stepped forward, and Janine’s promise held true. From that day on, I ran in and out as freely as any of the other youngsters. And I gained admission to an utterly unexpected world.”

Providence Point, p. 14

That opportunity was a gift that never ceased giving. For today’s urban-dwelling Canadians, multiculturalism above all reflects harmonious relations among newcomers from all over the globe. And that’s surely a blessing. But what Robbie discovered was a different form of cultural richness: the vibrancy of a state established by two coequal founding nations.

Have you encountered that kind of social complexity in Canada or elsewhere? There’s no doubt it can be a prime source of satisfaction in life. Give it thought as you read through Providence Point.

And in the comment box below, why not describe an example that seems especially meaningful to you?

(Illustration generated by AI)