I am honoured to have been invited to be the guest speaker at one of Fanshawe College's Fall Convocation ceremonies on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
Dr. Rundle, distinguished guests, members of faculty, parents, and graduates:
I feel deeply honoured and, frankly, somewhat surprised but, mostly, very lucky to find myself before you today on this most auspicious occasion.
When I first was invited to speak to you, I immediately thought "They must have me confused with someone else". Many of my colleagues at McKenzie Lake Lawyers have implied the same thought. When proudly announcing the invitation to speak, I consistently heard responses like "Oh? Why would they have asked you?".
Frankly, I don't have the answer to that, but, if really pressed, I would have to say "it's just because I'm lucky".
The London community is rich with people who have experience and education. Many have an ability to communicate that far surpasses what I can offer.
With that in mind, I made sure not to question the invitation. I didn't want anyone to rethink the matter and choose someone more worthy. I simply accepted my good luck and welcomed this opportunity to appear in front of you today.
You see, I've been lucky all my life.
If you don't believe me, ask my law clerk who is in the audience today. Whenever I win a case I ought to have lost or extract a favourable settlement in a matter of dubious merit, Sandra is always sure to point out that it was not my diligent preparation or skills as an advocate that brought about the favourable result. It was just my dumb Irish luck.
I accept that as the truth.
I'm the 10th of 14 children. I learned early, mostly through my older siblings, that developing good communication skills and methods of cooperation was part of a good survival plan. ... I also learned from them how important it is to duck at the right time.
But I was blessed with parents that nurtured and fostered in me and my siblings an appreciation for formal and informal education .... for community work ... for charity ... and for the recognition of the inherent good in all of us.
And like all of you, I've been privileged to live in a country and a society that has allowed me the freedom to explore my potential.
20 years ago this month I had the good fortune to marry my wife, Angela, who's also in the audience today. Over the years, she has been my mainstay of support and encouragement. It was at her urging that I returned to school as an adult, first to Fanshawe College in the early '90s and then to UWO where I obtained my law degree.
Together, Angela and I are raising our three children. Julia is now 12, Conor is 10 and Maeve is about to turn 9. I'm very pleased that they are here today as well . .... We are very fortunate to be actively involved in our children's lives and to watch them as they grow into mature and productive members of society.... We know we are lucky and we are doubly lucky in that we can realize and appreciate just how very fortunate we are.
I've also been extremely lucky to work in a city like London where the practice of law is conducted in a civilized manner and where members of the bar treat each other with courtesy and respect. The fact that I have somehow landed in partnership with some of the very nicest people you might ever like to meet including many who also happen to be recognized as among the very best lawyers in the province and the country... and in some cases are globally recognized..., again speaks volumes about just how lucky I am.
And so, here I am, feeling very lucky again to be here at this great institution and to share with you in this very happy event.
We are here, first and foremost, to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of you graduates. So, let me begin by saying "congratulations" to each and every graduating student. Today marks a significant milestone in your lives and you should truly be proud of your accomplishments.
You, the individual students, clearly deserve the greatest accolades today on your graduation. You, more than anyone, know how hard you have worked and what it has taken to get you here.
Without losing sight of that, I suggest that accolades should also extend to a much broader base of people. .... I know many of you have already done so, but I ask you to think for a moment about all the people, the institutions and events that have brought you to the point at which you find yourself today.
There is an Irish expression "It is in the shelter of each other that the people live".
Graduation day may be one of those appropriate times to consider and to acknowledge all of those persons upon whose shelter you have relied in getting to this very important point in your lives.
Many of you have had to overcome obstacles, have had to work harder than others to get to where you are today. Perhaps some have had more help than others, but all of you have had help....or shelter....of some sort along the way.
In thinking about who has provided shelter, naturally our minds turn first to our parents and others who have provided us with the type of nurturing and guidance that families generally give. Likely, many of you are here today with those loved ones. They know, ...with or without you speaking the words... how grateful you are for their nurturing and for teaching you the values and the work ethic that has brought you to your graduation day.
Also, of course, are your teachers. The members of the faculty at Fanshawe College .... your high school... and even your grade school teachers have all had a hand in your academic success and your coming of age.
Your friends, classmates, teammates, coaches, religious leaders, and countless others with whom you have been involved in your life have given you shelter and helped you to become the people that you are today .
But there are others who may have been less directly involved in your lives but never the less have facilitated the success we are here to celebrate. I'm talking about the visionaries...
the politicians,
the soldiers,
the social activists,
the inventors,
the builders,
the volunteers,
and even the people who take the time to go out and cast their ballot at election time.
They are the people who,
motivated to work for the common good,
have provided us a country, a society, the technologies, the colleges and universities and the freedom to benefit from them that each of us enjoy and celebrate today.
We are all lucky because of them.
There are many, many cogs in the wheel. Without those cogs, the wheel is incomplete and things begin to slip.
My late partner, Angus McKenzie, was a great community leader and a huge cog in the wheel.
I have no doubt that many people in this room knew him and admired him greatly.
Unfortunately, Angus left us, all too soon, earlier this year. Angus was a mentor to many people and was full of sage advice on many issues.
One of his quotes was prominent on our firm website for many years. He said. "When a community has been good to you, you should give back to the community."
Angus lived that advice and the world is a better place for it.
My message to you is really Angus' message: You have an obligation as well as a great opportunity to use your talents,
your imaginations,
your time,
your charity,
and your newly acquired training and education to build our shelter stronger -- to do what others have done for you--
to participate in the process -- and make us all better for it.
I therefore urge you:
Be the visionaries;
be politically involved;
volunteer - even if only in very small ways;
exercise your conscience;
give back to your community.
You're lucky to have the chance.
Finally, graduates....I want to thank you for your time.
I join everyone gathered here today to wish you good fortune and great happiness as you move forward in your lives and careers.
