To the editor,
Re: Community connections drive votes, say profs, Oct. 24.
The professors have not done research about Bob Chamberlin if they think that he was a helicopter candidate. Chamberlin grew up in Nanaimo and as a single father raised his son here and grew attached to his FN roots here through drumming and singing. The Nanaimo-Ladysmith FN community is well aware of who Bob is.
So what is name recognition to Nanaimo-Ladysmith? Whitish, Christian, having a name with hierarchical status? Am I hitting all the right keys on ‘community’? And let us move on past just being objectified versions of ourselves, NDP canvassers are well aware of how thick racism and xenophobia is in this community from knocking on doors and having them shut. Nanaimo-Ladysmith and perhaps all Canada could benefit from a full enquiry into racism and xenophobia so that we don’t get bogged down by local and racial divides.
Chamberlin’s 25 years of experience with the environment and healing communities is what we didn’t feel ready for in this election, but we haven’t had a CV like that since the truly ‘helicoptered’ MP, Tommy Douglas.
Given the chance Canadians get beyond racism. Near the end of the election, Jagmeet Singh was deemed the person Canadians most wanted to see as prime minister.
Jacqueline Leitch, Ladysmith
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