Three true stories about Canada
It may be wise and helpful to pause for few minutes from the 24/7 doom and gloom media coverage of the last few weeks. Tariffs are coming ... going ... delayed ... doubled... up... down ... a recession is expected ... a soft landing ... a hard landing ... stock market crash ... correction ... bulls out ... bears in ...and more ... it has not stopped. A little “time out” may be good. Here are three stories that tell what Canada is all about, especially that we are preparing to elect a new Prime Minister.
About a lot of tulips... As Princess Juliana of the Netherlands who fled to Canada during the second world war was about to give birth, the Canadian Government declared the room in the Civic Hospital where the royal birth was to occur “extraterritorial” to ensure that the child would not be born a Canadian citizen but in Dutch territory. Four rooms were set aside and the hospital corridor was decorated with the Dutch flag. After the war ended in 1945, the Dutch royal family began sending thousands of tulips to Canada every year, showing an outpouring of gratitude for the Canadian kindness during such dark times. What a wise and kind decision to show our solidarity with our Dutch friends.
My take: While leadership skills and knowledge can be taught and learned through training and experience, character traits, which are the foundation of effective leadership, are often seen as more deeply ingrained and developed through life experiences and self-reflection. Mackenzie King was Prime Minister at the time and I assume he is the one who made the ultimate “extraterritorial decision”. He probably did not need to consult the “government manual” – if such thing exists - or asked a committee of PR experts for advice. No wonder he is the longest serving Canadian Prime Minister !
A special Hollywood Crew ... During the Iranian revolution of 1978, six American diplomats, with the help of the Canadian government, successfully escaped from Tehran using false Canadian passports in a covert operation known as the “Canadian Caper”. Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor and other Canadian diplomats sheltered the six Americans for several weeks, and the Canadian government and the CIA, devised the plan to help them leave Iran. The six Americans claimed to be Hollywood film crew scouting locations for a new science fiction film. Prime Minister Joe Clark and his government showed strong leadership and played a crucial role in facilitating the safe passage of the American diplomats out of Iran. The hostages were released on January 20, 1981, minutes after the inauguration of the new U.S. president, Ronald Reagan. Not a bad accomplishment on his first day as President!
My take: I love that story because it shows that alone we can do so little, together we can do much.
33’000 surprised guests ... Following the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and the closure of US airspace, over 230 flights carrying 33’000 passengers were diverted to Canadian airports. Transport Canada worked with US Federal Aviation Administration FAA to reroute incoming international flights to airports in Canada. Gander, in New Foundland and Labrador, with a population of about 12’000 people rallied to support nearly 7’000 passengers and crew after 38 planes were diverted. They offered accommodation, food and other assistance. No politicians were involved and with no planning and little resources, Canadians showed their kindness, compassion, resourcefulness, and their true friendship. President Bush offered a belated “thank you” to Canada and Jean Chretien, Prime Minister at the time, for helping Americans in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
My take: I love that story too because it demonstrate that going beyond the call of duty as a friend is in the DNA of Canadians.
I find a common theme from these three Canadian stories: While qualifications and experience are of course important, genuine leadership go beyond credentials. Great leaders across history have come often from ordinary people that showed wisdom, strong values and an ability to gain trust and inspire positive impact. Great leaders surrounds themselves with qualified people with experience rather than hire friends and play politics. They bring something extra to the standard leadership recipe.
Examples of great leaders across history include Mahatma Gandhi with his goat (no offense intended) that he took around with him on trips, including one to England, led the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule through nonviolent resistance. Abraham Lincoln's preserved the Union during the American Civil War and led the US towards the end of slavery. Winston Churchill is widely considered to have successfully rallied Britain and the allies to victory against Nazi Germany.
Today, Canada needs strong leadership and not just experience. Doing the right things and not just doing things right require fresh new leadership. As Canadians get ready to vote for a new prime Minister... a good advice is to “ Follow your heart but take your brain with you.” (+)
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