Love Lives Here

It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength. - Maya Angelou

Peterborough, along with most of southern Ontario and points beyond has just exited a lengthy and lovely heat wave - summer's last hurrah. Although the following images are from earlier in the recently-ended season, some of them express the recent heat and the current mood of the area, in more than one way.

This Saturday is Yom Kippur - the holiest day of the year for observant Jews. And it will be on this date that a lowlife who bears a swastika tattoo on his chest, will lead a white supremacist rally in our beautiful city. It is under the guise that they are protesting our Prime Minister Trudeau and illegal immigration. Make no mistake that these are nazis who also oppose legal immigration, and any skin colour other than white. A large counter-protest in the form of peaceful, solidarity events called Love Lives Here will also take place throughout the weekend. That's the Peterborough I know and love. I feel certain that messages of anti-hate will far outweigh those of the "the deplorables," but it's still all so unsettling and disturbing.

The photos are from a couple of summer day trips to Cobourg - where all of the beach pics were snapped, as well as Port Hope, Warkworth and Campbellford. The shore of Lake Ontario reflects the sizzling days of the past couple of weeks, and some of the various signs echo the prevalent mood around town at all times but especially during this particular week. For variety's sake, I'm going to alternate scenes and signs - some of which are welcoming in nature and some simply humourous. All which make up the fabric of my Canada.


Welcome to the lovely port Cobourg, Ontario. Boats were everywhere and so were people. This was the early August long weekend.






This image goes back to June - an attention-grabbing Fathers' Day ad.






On the beach, a sand sculpture competition was happening as part of celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary.






This sign was outside of a more mom-friendly type shop - but didn't want to exclude others - no matter your order of preference.






A pair of protective arms keeping her safe from the cold water of Lake Ontario.






Here's closer look at that crane fly you might have noticed in the previous sign photo.






Despite the really cold lake water, some thought it best to charge right in.






A coffee shop reminding customers why their daily dose of caffeine is so essential.





Others preferred to wade in while texting or perhaps prepping for a selfie.






These are the signs I like to see in my city. In my country. In my world.






The road home provides a pretty vista.






And signs at home in Peterborough help to restore faith.






May love, acceptance, inclusion and respect always soar above bigotry and hate.

Canada is like a bird, it likes to soar freely. ~ Unknown