On this day in 2014, my dear friend Eliezenai Galvao, her husband Jean Douglas, and her two sons, Artur and Raul, became Canadian citizens. The ceremony was simple and powerful, with the judge reiterating the importance of our Canadian values of tolerance, and the embracing of diversity among our citizenry, in his welcome. The only thing more enduring than the respect and admiration I feel for this lady is my love for her, and for her family, especially her boys—both of whom have now graduated from the University of Toronto—whom I consider nephews of the heart. It was a proud day for me as a Canadian to be able to claim this wonderful family as fellow citizens. Oh, and it snowed—of course. Because Canada.
