Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

So here’s the thing. I read in the paper today, that wine imports from the U.S. are way down, about 94 percent, according to the LCBO. Hard to believe. Anyway, some folks might not think much of that, but to an old feller like me, who used to grow grapes and sell them to folks right here in Canada, who turned them into wine, it says a lot about the direction we’re heading.

But in saying that, maybe that drop isn’t such a bad thing, not if it gives folks a reason to start buying the wine made in our own backyards. The thing is, we’ve got farmers across this country working the land, tending vineyards, and keeping small wineries alive, and that kind of effort deserves more than just a nod. When you pick up a bottle that was grown and made right here at home, you’re not just getting something good to drink, you’re keeping fields in use, putting money in a neighbour’s pocket, and helping this country hold on to something real.

I spent a good portion of my life farming, building, and raising a family through years that taught you to stand on your own feet and lean on each other, when you had to. Back then, we didn’t need to look far for what we needed. What we used was built close to home, grown by someone you knew, and it lasted because pride went into making it. But…somewhere along the way, we gave that up for convenience, and now our shelves are full of goods made in places that don’t hold to the same values or standards. That’s not progress, that’s a problem.

If we want to turn this around, we need to get back to basics, and it starts with how we buy and who we support.

First, we should be choosing Canadian whenever we can, food, wine, tools, lumber, whatever it is. If we can grow it or make it here, that’s what we ought to be reaching for.

Second, when we do need something from outside, it should come from folks who still care about what they’re making, who put in the work to get it right, and who take pride in sending out something that lasts.

Third, we’ve got to think more carefully about the kind of people we’re welcoming in to help build this country. It shouldn’t be about where someone comes from, but about what they bring to the table … good trades, real skills, and a desire to make this place stronger, not just benefit from what’s already here.

We’ve been through tough times before, and we pulled through by sticking together, making do, and standing behind our own. There’s no reason we can’t do that again. The answers aren’t fancy or complicated. They’re plain as day. Support the people around you. Buy what’s built to last. And take pride in what we can still do with our own two hands, right here at home.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW