January 14, 2017 · Updated 1:08 PM
On the Spot by Ken Herar
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun is someone who has experienced diversity
inside and out. It’s inspiring to see the head of our local government
sharing his life story that can change how we interact with each other
and emphasize that discrimination is not just solely based on skin
colour.
Having come from Paraguay to Canada with his family at the age of
three and a half, Braun has an amazing story to share. His family knew
little English as newcomers to Canada, and that made things difficult at
times as they settled in Abbotsford.
I had the opportunity to speak with him over the telephone and he was
happy to share stories that illustrate it wasn’t easy for them. He
recalls when his mother Margaret made his clothes for him when he was
about four and a half when they lived on Bradner Road, he was mocked by
other children for being different. Before moving to Brander Road, the
Brauns lived in a chicken barn for the first few months.
Braun also remembers running beside his father George while he was cycling, and a
car pulled up beside them and spit on his father and said, “DP (displaced person), go home.”
Braun has a lot of empathy for immigrants and refugees. As he puts it, “My parents came with no
money.” By the time Braun hit grade school, he was an athlete who excelled at softball,
soccer,
basketball and track and field. It was also at this time that he had
his first diversity experience in Grade 10. His coach, Harry, was South
Asian, and Braun has many fond memories of him.
Braun enjoys his visits at the Sikh temples, and members from the
community often ask why he hasn’t visited from time to time. He feels he
needs an invite and doesn’t want it to appear to be a political
gesture; otherwise, he attends on special occasions like Diwali, and
gave New Year’s greeting to all three temples.
There are things that can be done to make people in our community
more aware of diversity, says Braun, and it should be celebrated and
valued.
“When I hear of people in isolation, that bothers me because I know how I felt as a kid.”
With Abbotsford being the third most diverse city in Canada, here’s
an excerpt of what Mayor Braun said at his New Year’s greetings at the
local Sikh temples:
“Moving into a new year is both reflective and exciting. It’s a time
to reflect on the past year … to think about how we have been blessed or
been a blessing to others … to think about how we have fallen short,
what we have learned and how we have grown. It’s a time to also look
forward with excitement and hope for the new year … a new year that is
full of opportunities to serve and grow.
“This opportunity for us to have reflective moments is important – it
makes us grateful and humble. It helps us to appreciate our fellowship
with one another in a community like this, with our families, with our
neighbours. It helps us appreciate our faith and the comfort it brings,
but also the challenge it sets for us to serve each other and to live in
peace and harmony.
“We live in a city shaped by a diverse cultural fabric. This
diversity is who we are. It fosters a vibrant and complete community,
and it’s something we can all celebrate.”
A response to the above column was received. Name of the writer was left out due to confidently.
Dear Mr. Herar,
I
just read your article on Mayor Henry Braun and I want to thank you
for this insight into Mr. Braun. All too often when people reach
certain levels
of public stature, the real stories are obscured by gossip,
half-truths, and ignorance. Which is why I always try to give people
the benefit of the doubt and, whenever possible, get to know them in
person and decide for myself.
This
is especially true with the Mayor, for I work for the City Parks
department and there is so much gossip and misinformation (willful and
ignorant),
about the mayor. Also, too often, and this is true for myself, those
of us who have had to endure great obstacles and overcome hurdles in
life and have actually accomplished a lot, are reluctant, due to our
nature, to "toot our own horn".
Again, thank you for your excellent and inspiring article on Henry Braun.
