THE LIVES OF OTHERS
It was the summer of 1967, a summer of excitement and pride across Canada, and there were few more exciting places to work than at Expo 67 in Montreal.
I had the privilege of being part of the Canadian Pavilion for the duration of the World Fair. I was to be a mounted rider with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Opening day began with exploding mortars and low-level fly-pasts by the Golden Centennaires aerobatic team. Since the plan called for us to be isolated from the public, our horse stand was in a large, elevated sandbox. The horses, however, quickly let it be known that the perch was not to their liking, so authorities hurriedly decided to bring us down into the plaza. This created a new problem. Because there was no separation from the public, we had to ensure that no toes were stepped on and that our horses didn’t spook. To do that, we had to decide when it was safe to let people close to us, and when it wasn’t.
One afternoon I noticed a boy, maybe ten or twelve years old, sitting quietly in a wheelchair outside the throng that was surrounding my horse. I carefully moved toward the boy, watching for clues from his parents in case I was getting too close.
I asked if their son would like to touch the animal. They nodded. My horse lowered his head and began gently nibbling the boy’s fingers. The broad smile on his face turned to uncontrolled, hearty laughter. I allowed it to continue for longer than normal before I turned to greet others. As I did I felt a pang of concern, because I saw both parents weeping as they moved away.
A couple of hours later I rode behind the pavilion to give my horse a chance to get a drink and stretch its back. I had dismounted and was beginning my chores when I saw the boy and his family coming toward me. Both parents were still noticeably emotional.
To my astonishment they told me that that moment in the plaza was the first time they had ever seen their son laugh.
They told me they were incredibly thankful to have discovered what could bring him joy.
Treats for horses were reserved for special occasions, and I figured no occasion could be more special than this. I dug out some horse treats and we all shared the boy’s delight as my horse gingerly picked them off the palm of his outstretched hand. I confess that I required a couple of minutes to regain my own composure before going back out front.
I had learned an important lesson that day. I learned what impact seemingly insignificant gestures can have on the lives of others.
Coldstream, British Columbia
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Aisen, Jeff, 57
Armstrong, Allison West, 41
Armstrong, Kurt, 98, 223
Arnal, Colette, 193
Avern, Ben, 257
Baltensperger, Brenda, 149
Bottos, Sister Trina, 52
Buchanan, Don, 293
Calderwood, Michael, 146
Campbell, Angus, 66
Cayley, Clare, 229
Chambers, Carl, 157
Chandler Allingham, Janet, 176
Cook, Mary, 261
Cowan, Jim,180
Craigie, Barbara, 277
Cross, Mark, 118
DeCourcey, Dawn, 195
de Pencier, North, 114
Drybrough, Vicki, 235
Dryden, Judy, 71
Everitt, Wendy, 127
Fairweather, Robert, 210
Fraser, Charlotte, 248
Friedland, Bob, 8, 43
Fry, Margreth, 168
Fuller, Rod, 3
Gallagher, Michael, 201
Glass, Cheryl, 130
Goddard, Peter, 238
Grout, Susan, 226
Gunn, Nancy, 104
Halstead, Peggy, 132
Hamilton, Margaret, 95, 135
Harper, Doug, 106
Haselden, Rollie, 89
Hay, Harley, 141
Haynes, Ian D., 47
Hembling, Dawn, 155
Henderson, Heather, 123
Hickox, Stuart, 287
Hughes, Anne, 263
Hutton, Sheila, 254
Ibarra, Diego, 63
Ickes, Tony, 120
Jackson, Matthew, 10
Jensen, Paul, 183
Johnson, Nigel, 93
Jones, Bryn, 60
Kelsall, Jill, 251
Koch, Maureen, 190
Leeper, Marlene, 217
Levine, Tyler, 165
McIntosh, Betty, 59
McNaught Marion, 245
Mehew, Willy, 20
Millar, Phil, 38
Miller, Betsy, 50
Mills, Terry, 178
Mittendorf, A.J., 116, 188
Mohamed, Islam, 25
Morrison, Jennifer, 79
Mosher, Al, 212
Nanders, Alan, 242
Nolan, Glenn, 91
Ogden, Mindy, 274
Olson, Barbara, 13
O’Neil, Bethanne, 36
Palmer, William LaMar, 284
Parker, Neil, 207
Perkins, Norm, 279
Perodeau, Ann, 185
Rakchaev, Cathy, 269
Raymond, Ruth, 76
Robinson, Susanne, 111
Sachno, Robert, 160
Sacks, Deena, 16
Schwartz, Sandra, 73
Smith, Maureen and Tony, 34
Smith, Steve, 282
Sutherland, Ann, 45
Sweetland, Leah, 173
Thomson, Margaret, 19
Tice, Jane, 290
Urquhart, Emily, 83
Vallis, Enid, 5
Vilches, Kala, 87
Walmark, Karyn, 205
Walsh, Leslie, 23
Walton-Roberts, Margaret, 220
Watson, Netty, 162
Watson, Sheila, 101
Weinhold, Martin, 151
Winterhoff, Thomas, 68
Wood, Irene, 31
Wotherspoon, Rod, 272
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