Summer in Canada is like that first bite of caramel popcorn—sweet, bold, and totally satisfying. The days are longer, the skies are brighter, and the air smells like sunscreen, lake water, and possibility. It’s the season of road trips, BBQs, laughter with friends, and, let’s be honest, satisfying all your snack cravings with some criminally good snacks.
But for me, summer also brings something a little deeper: reflection, gratitude, and growth—especially around Father’s Day.
Let’s rewind the reel for a sec. When I was arrested, it didn’t just shake up my life—it rattled my whole family. My relationship with my dad, in particular, took a hit. And you know what? That was fair. He had always shown up for me. He was kind, patient, and endlessly hopeful that I’d find my way. Even when I made some, let’s say, popcorn-worthy plot twists in life.
He was the one who encouraged me to read at Sunday Mass because he believed I had a voice worth hearing. (Spoiler alert: he was right—fast forward to today, and I get to travel across Canada speaking on second chances, entrepreneurship, and popcorn with a purpose!)
He also suggested that I work at the cemetery when I was in high school to keep me out of the underage drinking extravaganzas on the weekends. At the time, I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be landscaping around tombstones, but in hindsight, it was one of the most humbling jobs I’ve ever had. That experience taught me how precious life really is. Every name on a headstone was once a story—and I was just getting started on mine.
Even when I was behind bars, he showed up—literally. He visited me constantly and never stopped believing in my comeback. So this Father’s Day, I want to say thank you to all the dads, step-dads, bonus dads, uncles, and grandfathers who never give up on us—even when we’ve kind of given up on ourselves.