A week of destruction, sadness and loss for Canada

	Why is Goderich called Canada's Prettiest Town? Legend has it that a relative of Queen Victoria once visited Goderich and told her what a beautiful town it was, whereupon Queen Victoria stated, "Surely that must be the prettiest town in Canada!"

A very sad day on Sunday for the town of Goderich.  A tornado ripped through the downtown core and obliterated almost the whole town square.  I'm not sure if you are aware of what the town square looked like before the tornado but to see it after the fact you would wonder if it is the same town.  Here are some pics of before and after.

Look at all the beautiful trees surrounding the court house

and after the tornado ripped through!

It is hard to believe when you see the damage is destruction throughout the town that only one person, a man working at the salt mines was killed.  I worked in Goderich for 6 months and visited there often when we lived in Kincardine.  A favourite place for us to go was The Bedford Hotel and eat at Paddy O'Neils.  Looks like it has been very badly damaged as well.

A look here will give you an idea through photos what damage has been done. 

Truly a very sad time for the Town of Goderich.

On another sad note we lost a truly great Canadian this week.  Jack Layton, leader of the NDP party in Canada.  I've never much been into politics but Jack Layton had a way of talking to Canadians and getting their attention.  In 2011 Layton became leader of the largest Official Opposition in 31 years—and the first formed by New Democrats. With 59 Quebec MPs, Layton’s team emerged not only as a credible government-in-waiting, but as a force for Canadian unity.

He had hopes and dreams of one day becoming Prime Minister aof Canada and I believe he could have done it!  Two days before Jack Layton passed away he wrote a letter to Canada, not just any letter but a very strong letter of love and encouragement for us to become better people and work towards a better Canada.  If you haven't already read the letter you can find it here.  Even during his last days he was thinking of Canada and her people.  We should find encouragement in his strength and work to make Canada a better place for all.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.