Largely because of my commitment to Rambling once a week in The Lake Report, I try to keep up to date with the news of Niagara and beyond. But just last week, a national story jumped out at me that I had totally missed. It forced me to stop, reflect and perhaps even think a bit deeply.

Colleen Jones, a truly great Canadian, has passed away, after an incredible sports and broadcasting and personal life. Hers was a joyful life, and she has left a legacy of kindness. Love, joy and kindness.

Reading about her life has really affected me. Especially since last week in our local weekly paper, there seemed to be a lot of angst, and indeed a shortage of civility and respect. We have no shortage of issues that will affect our futures, but may I humbly and respectfully request that we all take a few deep breaths?

The tipping point for me, just after I read about the untimely passing of Colleen Jones, was the picture of the trash dumpster behind our local McDonald’s (“Stop dumping your trash at McDonald’s,” Nov. 27). It was accompanied by a rather harsh letter to the editor (“A letter to Santa, the nicest Canadian,” Nov. 27).

Since childhood, I have been interested in sports. Not just the major North American professional sports, but also minor sports played in many countries, by many athletic and talented sportsmen.

Let’s agree that people who don’t always strive to finish first in their chosen pursuit can be winners — if they try their best. As best I can recall, my parents never asked me how I finished. They always asked me how I tried.

This sporting philosophy was drilled into me by my mom and dad, both fine athletes. From Saskatchewan and northern Ontario, they were lifelong athletes and spectators. In Kirkland Lake, Winnipeg and wherever their lives took them, they were both skips at the local curling clubs. They won more games than they lost, and they enjoyed every one of those games.

They would have been huge fans of the late Colleen Jones. She was a two-time world champion and curled in the Tournament of Hearts 21 times. Then, nearly 40 years as a CBC host. A very personal life, and the obituary and comments about her from around Canada repeatedly mention certain wonderful words and character traits.

One of her co-workers during her long tenure at CBC described Jones as “always so damn fun. It was easy to forget she was famous because she was so down-to-earth. Always.”

So now I will ramble back to really famous athletes. Often, really rich athletes who decided to play the more popular sports here in North America. It would be silly, and a waste of time, to list their names.  I will mention just a few: Gretzky, Messi, Mboko, Matthews, McDavid, Henderson, Bichette …

OK, you catch my drift. They are so famous and make so much money.

Back now to Colleen Jones. Her childhood family environment in Nova Scotia, her natural talent, the coaching she received, her meticulous attention to detail, and her work ethic allowed her to achieve greatness in her chosen sport and career.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not complaining that I know so little about Colleen Jones. Or that I missed taking joy from her careers and life. That’s just the way life turned out.

Let me suggest we do two things.  Firstly, let’s expand our horizons a bit.  Or a lot.

And let’s be more respectful and civil here in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Let’s feel free to put our opinions and thoughts out there, verbally and in writing. Both formally and informally. I have been shocked by some of the things I have read and heard of late.

There are so many truly horrible things going on in our world. Let’s do our things to make things better.

Colleen Jones, Order of Canada, was a great Canadian, and she has been well recognized.

She was a high achiever, kind, loving, an optimist, a loving person.  So many more words could describe her.

Canada is a better country because of her.

My sincere condolences to her family and friends.

Love each other, and be respectful and kind.