An ode to Brampton. I will not discuss my politics here. But let me tell you about Brampton because it has been in the news of late. Let me tell you about my home. Especially for those who live outside of the GTA, if you’re reading about this place, you need to know. 1/16

I’ve lived here for most of my life and I ride hard for Brampton. It is so SO easy to make fun of, take cheap shots at, and even hate this place, but I can tell you that Brampton is 100% one of the greatest cities in Canada. And this is NOT hyperbole. Let me tell you why. 2/16

When I was a child, Brampton was a mainly White suburb of Toronto. Today it's one of the most diverse cities in the country. Features a large South Asian community but is also large Black, West Indian, East Asian, South East Asian, White Indigenous and other populations. 3/16

BTW, so often we (me too) lump together ‘South Asian’, but this category itself is wildly diverse. Punjabi (Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim), Pakistanis (also a diverse group), Bengalis, Gujuratis, Tamils (Sri Lankans & Indians), Sinhalese, and scores of others I haven’t mentioned. 4/16

All of us live together. We celebrate one another’s holidays. We grieve together. My kids make cards for Eid and give them to our neighbours. Our neighbours give my kids chocolates for Diwali. We have a Christmas tree. We know about the importance of Land Affirmations. 5/16

There’s a majestic Gurudwara on Gore Road just up the road from the lovely Gore Mandir. There’s a beautiful spire belonging to a Masjid that soars into the sky at Hurontario and Sandalwood. The Church across from Brampton Civic Hospital is a sight to behold. 6/16

Rest of Canada? You TALK about ‘multiculturalism’. In Brampton, we LIVE multiculturalism. Every day. And we do it better than all of you. Even Toronto. We are simultaneously the greatest victory and struggle of multiculturalism. I say struggle cause we’re not perfect. 7/16

Lord knows anti-Black racism and all sorts of prejudice are rampant. We need to do better. I know all too well that many of the communal issues from the old world have come here BUT I also say South Asians here live better with one another than we do in the subcontinent. 8/16

There’s more. Brampton works. We are a centre of industry, transportation, manufacturing, and all sorts of services that the rest of the GTA relies on. Don’t let the subdivisions with identical, giant, houses fool you. This is a blue collar, hands in the dirt, city. 9/16

The type of down to earth Cdns that Canadians built their entire image around. Anywhere in Brampton, you’re 10 minutes away from an industrial park. 10/16

And you’re right. Traffic is horrible. Public transit isn’t great. Far from perfect. Substance abuse is a problem here. Drugs. Crime. Poverty. These are huge problems that this city faces. But here in Brampton, we do what we can with what we have. 11/16

When people complain about endless suburbs without personality, they mean Brampton. Sure. But those subdivisions with the identical looking houses are teeming with character. Those Tim Horton’s plaza parking lots are the homes to many memories for many people. 12/16

Alessia Cara, Michael Cera, Russell Peters, Sim Bhullar, Anthony Bennett, Rupi Kaur, Tory Lanez, Rick Nash, Justice Tulloch, Geeta Zaildar, and even me. Brampton has given Canadians more than you would expect for its 9th largest city. We are deeply ingrained in Cdn life. 13/16

Gage Park, Shoppers World, Ching Park, MacKay Pizza, Quality Sweets, Sonny’s Burgers, Giggling Tomatoes, Sweet Palace, Rajdhani Sweets, Garden Square, Heart Lake Conservation Area, Professor’s Lake. 14/16

Steeles Avenue, Bovaird, Queen Street, Main Street, Vodden, Kennedy Road, Sandalwood Parkway. All these places and streets give Brampton a character and life. For us, these words and places evoke specific memories (good and bad). 15/16

You can take your shots at Brampton. Much of that criticism is deserved. But without a doubt, not only is Brampton is one of Canada's great cities, it is also one of its most Canadian. Fin. 16/16