Our community showed up in force.

Last week, I had the honour of bringing greetings on behalf of our Mayor and Council to the graduating class of 2025, and it was a privilege I won’t soon forget.

The gymnasium was packed. Families filled the seats, the bleachers were brimming with community members, and the energy in the room was nothing short of electric. Graduation is always a special moment, a milestone that signals hope, growth and possibility. And this year’s class stood tall in every way.

The young women were radiant, poised and graceful. The young men carried themselves with quiet confidence and pride. You could see the excitement and nervous anticipation in their eyes. These are the faces of our future, and they did us proud.

Guest speaker Kirk Muspratt delivered a powerful address that resonated deeply. He shared a personal and heartfelt story that ended with a message as simple as it was profound: love and appreciate your family. It was the kind of reminder that lingers long after the applause fades. In a world that often rushes forward, that message grounded us.

Class president Ella McNeil gave an eloquent and commanding speech that reflected the spirit of her peers. She spoke with conviction, clarity and a confidence I certainly did not have at that age. Her words captured the pride, reflection and anticipation that come with crossing the stage into adulthood.

Our community showed up in force. As always, we stood behind our young people, cheering, clapping, smiling and yes, shedding a few tears. We are a small and mighty community and it is moments like these that show who we truly are.

Graduation night reminded me that the strength of any country lies first in its people. It begins in schools and gymnasiums, in families and neighbourhoods, in the small towns and quiet corners where character is shaped. It reminded me why I am so proud to be Canadian.

It also brought into focus something I often reflect on but do not always share publicly: I am a monarchist.

There is something profoundly moving about tradition, about the passing of time, and about institutions that outlast elected governments and shifting trends. Seeing our young people step into their future brought that feeling to the surface. We are part of a country grounded in a constitutional monarchy and full of promise. We honour our past while stepping into the unknown, just like those students did last week.

The monarchy, to me, is not about celebrity or nostalgia. It is about continuity, duty and service. It is about the values we uphold and the threads that tie our national identity together, across provinces, generations and political lines.

We live in a time where it is easy to be cynical, where institutions are questioned and torn down. But some things still matter. Some symbols still speak. And our connection to the Crown, through our shared history and constitutional structure, is one of those things.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s presence in Canada this week reminded me of the strength and stability that come with tradition. I watched the throne speech, and knowing it happened on Canadian soil, with our head of state standing in symbolic partnership with our elected leaders, gave me pause.

It reminded me of the balance we hold in this country: tradition and progress, roots and renewal, pride and responsibility.

So whether it is watching a class of young adults take their first step into adulthood, or knowing we are part of a nation that values continuity and connection, I am filled with gratitude.

We are a lucky country. And every now and then, it is good to stop, take it all in, and say it out loud.

From the graduates in our gym to the Crown that anchors our democracy, moments like these remind us what it means to belong to something greater than ourselves.