Why I hate Christmas

So you like Christmas do you, or even love it? 

Tell me why? Is it because you spend thousands of dollars to light up your house and buy decorations, and buy extravagant presents for you family? 

Well.....this is exactly why I hate Christmas. Not because of the fancy lights or decorations. But because I work in retail, and I see and hear people complaining of the price of some stupid decoration that they don't even need, when I can't even put dinner on the table sometimes. 

Really people, when have we become so selfish? When did we feel the need to show off and waste billions of dollars every year on useless things when there are children in poverty one block down from you? 

And with the economic times that we are having, so many people are feeling that now. 

I would be happy to have a board game, just one board game, and get together with my family for one day with no chaos. Just spend that time with each other and be.....in the moment. Enjoying ourselves. With lots of laughter and food to fill our bellies.

To not have to stress for months before it and try to come up with the money to provide presents for my son and family, to not have to wonder about if it’s good enough for him.

What I would have given to be able to see my son’s eyes light up when he got that Christmas present from me, from “Santa”. Thankfully, I had my parents that were able to do that for him.

But many people don’t. They have to try to explain to their children after Christmas why Santa brought them a $20 present, while his/her school friend got an Xbox or Playstation. Does Santa not love them enough to do that? Have they been bad?

Maybe if we take out all the lights, decorations, even half of them. There really would be “Enough For All” in Canada and elsewhere.

Amber Cannon

My #yyc community....Why I love my 'hood Lincoln Park

I was asked by an MRU student today what makes our community different from others in Calgary?

I answered with, because we care about each other. We don't judge, we don't condemn, we don't live in hate or anger. We accept them for their religion, faith, ideas, and struggles.

We care for one another. We look after each other.

We are so culturally diverse. My next door neighbour from Nepal, next to them from Afghanistan, next to them a single mom from Australia, Rowena from the Philippines, Tangie from Nova Scotia, a lady who is an alcoholic.

We look out for one another. We don't shun people, we love them....through every thing they go through.

We drop what we're doing. We share our food, dreams, ideas, struggles, successes, and failures.

We look out for the kids. Instead of turning a blind eye to what they're doing and say in our heads "It's not our child, it's not our problem." We tell the child they are doing something wrong and educate them on it.

When a neighbour has a fire, we contact everyone we can to try and find the number for the person who lives in the unit.

We shovel our neighbours walkways and give them rides to places. We invite them into our homes for coffee, or just to sit and cry on the sofa, because we need someone to be there for us.

This is my #yyc community. And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Amber Cannon.

Halloween 2015

In my 8 years of living in my place, I have never seen so many children in my "hood" on Halloween night.

So this Halloween was fantastically phenomenal! Some of the local ladies decided to decorate the resource room for a spectacular haunted Halloween house for the kids.

With some funding from resources this would not have been possible.

With some teenagers volunteering, and armful of crafty, talented, resourceful people, they decorated. And turned the place into a wonderful area for young ones and older children, so all could enjoy.

Kids came, and played games. They got spooked, and scared, and laughed so hard!!!

I met a new neighbour, which would not have been possible if not for the haunted house.

I am so very proud of the hard work these girls have put in to make this a fantastic event for the kids. And the local teenagers for helping out. As well as some volunteers from the church.

I've never taken my son trick or treating in my neighbourhood. We are low-income, so we go to the middle-class houses for that. I know how hard it is for me to maintain food in my own house, let alone feed other people's children. And besides, candy and chocolate are a treat. A rarity in our lives.

So Thank You. For bringing fun back into the 'hood, and making it a great event to spend Halloween in the "hood".

It was fabulous! And Fantastic! Thank You!