Rex and Antek (November 22)

“Rex had only just come back from a trial of several weeks of working with Antek in Toronto. He claimed to have taken well to the roofing trade, but the approach of winter was slowing demand …” Now he had time to return to the Bay, and “he required time to think. The challenge was to convince… himself that his future lay in the city. Leaving again for Toronto would mean the first Georgian Bay winter he did not follow from snow-fly to April thaw…

“While pondering his fate, he cycled from his home to the Point more often than before…

“Granny … said they shared morning coffee but hardly chatted at all. Mainly, they sat and looked over the water. He had no need to tell her what troubled him. She herself was already wondering if his connection with the Bay could survive a move south for the best part of the year.”

p. 170

So, Antek – a newcomer to Canada – was ready to welcome Rex – a newcomer to Toronto from up north – not only as a co-worker in his business, but also as a prospective husband for his daughter. It was a microcosm of the qualities required to make multicultural Canada strong: friendship, respect, skill-sharing, and trust.

Have you, too, noticed such national characteristics at work, either at other points in the novel, or in your own life? If you have, by all means leave a Comment.

(Illustration generated by AI)