Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to recognize National Grandparents Day which took place on September 14.
Started in 1978, Grandparents Day is held the first Sunday after Labour Day.
Grandparents Day is an opportunity for Canadians, young and old, to recognize the important role that grandparents and seniors have played in all our lives.
This is a day that all Canadians should be able to appreciate, for even though we may not have grandchildren, we have all had grandparents.
Grandparents Day is a family day for many Canadians but it does not have to be only for families. On Grandparents Day we should also bear in mind the shut-ins and the elderly in nursing homes who are unable to be with their families, or those who do not have any families.
Perhaps most important is that Grandparents Day can signify a loving spirit that lives within us throughout the year, a spirit of love and respect for all our elders.