The joy in politics comes from those we meet along the way

There are 12 days left until the Ontario Election. If you haven’t signed up to canvass for Catherine McKenney, you should do so today. You can sign up here. 

I’ve been knocking on doors for Catherine this week, the weather has been cool, and the experiences have been warm.  

This week was the first time I’ve met a hawk on the doorstep. 

Yes, an actual Cooper’s hawk. That wasn’t a typo.

I was canvassing for Catherine McKenney on Riverdale Avenue, and heard a gasp of disbelief from a colleague two doors down from me.

She pointed to an injured hawk on the front doormat of a home. One of its wings was disjointed and maybe broken. We asked ourselves what we should do. 

I know enough about hawks to realize they aren’t to be trifled with. I’ve seen a few dive bomb for mice as I’ve ridden my bike on the country roads south of our city. 

So I fired off a few texts to people who might know what to do. My sister Andrea, a fellow animal lover, sent me contact info for the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre in Nepean, a non-profit devoted to helping our winged friends.

I called and spoke to someone who gave me the following advice: “Look, we will provide medical care to the hawk”, she said, “but we don’t have capacity to come and get the hawk ourselves. You will need to bring it to us.”

Alrighty then. Apparently I needed thick gloves, a blanket, and a box with a cover. 

After a futile attempt with a cardboard box, I found more capable gear from Andrea’s place which was nearby. By then we made contact with the resident of the home who was happy to have our help. 

So Andrea and I approached the hawk (she with a blanket, and me with a crate), and it scurried down the side stairs. As we moved still further, the hawk ducked under the fence into a neighbour’s backyard. 

“Feel free to go over there”, the resident said, “those folks won’t mind.” Over we went. 

The snow was deep enough that the hawk’s mobility was limited. Andrea tossed a blanket over the hawk, scooped it up, and brought it to me for the crate. 

Mission accomplished! 

I drove to Nepean and brought our injured friend to the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre. They happily took the hawk and gave me a slip to stay in touch. 

I can’t speak highly enough of how helpful and dedicated these folks were. This experience has inspired me to make a donation to the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre, and you should consider doing so too. 

You can also consult the Safe Wings Ottawa website for practical advice on what you can do to make your home as bird safe as possible. Building codes must also reflect these best practices. 

We can always act to help others. That’s the key lesson I draw at a time when many are worried about the rise of polarization, misinformation, and hatred.

The joy in politics (which still exists) comes from those we meet along the way. This is why I love knocking on doors in Ottawa Centre. 

Let’s keep organizing! 

My very best,

Joel

PS: Congratulations to the Carleton Ravens Women’s Basketball team who won the Capital Hoops championship last weekend, and remain undefeated! (20-0). They are defending national champions for the past two years, and showed us true grit.