It has often been said that those who live in the province of Ontario are not as proud of their identity as those who live in other provinces.

We wanted to understand what an Ontarian identity meant to youth. So, at the very beginning of Hear Us Out: An Ontario Youth Challenge, we challenged young Ontarians to “Create a 5 line poem about why a prosperous Ontario matters to you”. Their responses were creative, heart-warming, and revealed just how much this province matters to its people. Here is a small selection of the submissions we received:

Acrostic Ontario– Alice, 17

ON June 7th, 2018, I seek

Validation of my human rights,

Otherwise known as access to a healthy environment;

There is no Planet B —

Eventually we may succumb to the Nation of Ford, D.

 

Ontario– Ravicha, 18

Ontario, the land of dreams and opportunity

Prosperity matters to me so that I can attend post secondary

So that I can voice my concerns and embrace my identity

So my family can lead a safe and healthy life with no fear of persecution

It matters to me so that our economy can grow and support new Ontarians

Prosperous Ontario– Abdulrehamn, 24

In a faraway land, Canada,

There is Ontario which lies on the great lake

Oh Ontario! the Land of the free,

Be prosperous for the sake of us all,

For our children, grandchildren, and generations to come 

Why a Prosperous Ontario Matters to Me- Fawzia, 14

It’s winter in Ontario and the soft breeze gust,

At sixty-five miles an hour at forty-five under,

You take a deep breath of the winter breeze and your nostrils become sealed

Yes, the weather here is remarkable,

So, I guess I’ll stay around

 

Prosperous Ontario (A Poem)- Gabby, 16

A land of beautiful lakes and stunning fall colours

Without our cultural mosaic, we would be much duller

I hope to call Ontario my forever home

A place of opportunity with parks to roam

Where equality is ensured, and love prospers

 

Prosperous Canada- Yusha, 14

A future where I know I can get a degree,

A place where nature and beauty is all I see,

Where I don’t worry about my future children’s safety,

Growing up in a place where we are free,

Is all why a prosperous Canada matters to me

This article is a “Hear Us Out” feature. Hear Us Out is an online advocacy initiative for Ontarians between the ages of 14-29 years old that aims to increase their political literacy, develop their advocacy tools, and engage them in the political process. The initiative was made possible by the Laidlaw Foundation. Learn more at http://hearusout.blnkpage.org/.