PROUD TO BE A CANADIAN !!

In the news for the past couple of days, a marriage has taken place in Nova Scotia, Canada. Not really anything special but for the fact that one of the participants is a well known political figure. [In our neck of the woods].

Nova Scotia MP Scott Brison made history of a sort when he became the first federal politician to marry his same-sex partner, Maxime St. Pierre.

The wedding ceremony took place Saturday near Brison's country home in Cheverie, N.S., a town of 200. He is the MP for the Nova Scotia riding of Kings-Hants.

Guests described the ceremony as joyful and emotional.

"It's something we need to celebrate and we must be proud that Canada is showing the way," Liberal Leader [of Canada] Stephane Dion said after the wedding.
"I came first to celebrate love and happiness between two friends of mine, but if by my presence it helps a bit to reinforce a newly recognized right and to encourage other countries to do the same, I am pleased."

Former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna saw significance in the wedding.
"Everyone involved felt like they were part of a history-making event," said McKenna. "It seemed like a validation of a long process."

Former prime ministers [similiar to your presidents] Joe Clark and Paul Martin -- whose government passed same-sex marriage legislation -- and former Liberal cabinet minister Bill Graham were among the other political notables in attendance.

Quotes:

1) Mr. Brison has every right to keep his wedding private, says Halifax gay activist Raymond Taavel.
Mr. Taavel said that over time, oppo­nents of same-sex marriage are com­ing to see it’s not a big deal. “I think it’s just a matter of time that people relax about it and accept that it’s a fact of life."

2) Just up a two-lane winding road from where the wedding was taking place, Pat Eldridge of nearby Canning said she is happy for Brison .
"If they're in love and want to be together, then that's awesome," she said. "Love is hard to find."

3) Another resident who didn't want their name used said: "To each their own. Everyone's entitled to their own opinions and own way of life."

4) Local restaurant owner Doris Hagman, who is a friend of Brison', said she was surprised at how quiet it was.
"I'm absolutely supporting him in anything I can do for him,' she said.

Brison is an MP with a national profile, having sought the leadership of both the Progressive Conservative and Liberal parties.

The executive director of Egale Canada, a national gay and lesbian advocacy group, said the wedding marks an important milestone for gay rights in Canada.................
"It's extremely significant," Helen Kennedy said Saturday in an interview from Toronto."The more that we see people like Scott getting married, then it normalizes it in the mainstream, and hopefully there will come a day when it won't be an anomaly, and we won't care and Scott and others can marry just like anybody else does."

This reminds me of the time, about 12-15 years ago when I was talking to my mom on the phone from Toronto. [I'm from Cape Breton remember, so that's where she was]. It was a saturday and she said she didn't have much time to talk as she was getting ready for a wedding.
"Oh, who's getting married," I asked?

"Well, it's not really a traditional wedding", she replied, and said she was late and had to go.
I found out later that it was our next door neighbour's neice that was getting married and she was marrying another female.

It brought back memories because my mom was such a "with it" person, that she didn't see anything wrong with anything, as long as you were safe and it made you happy.

I miss her more with each passing day!!!