Oliver Borr
Sept. 2025
 

When I was six, my family and I moved from England to Canada, and I never returned until I was 20 years old. As I sat for dinner one night, my cousin (who is considerably older than I) recounted how difficult it was for them when we left.

I realized I had never given it a second thought. I was so young when we left that I never contemplated the mess we left in our wake.

I was just… there. And then I wasn’t. My early life in England kind of felt like a dream I had once upon a time. A dream that I could only vaguely remember. One day, I just woke up and found myself living in Canada.

For a lot of us, that’s what the last 5 years have felt like.

Remember when we used to talk to each other? Remember when war was nothing more than a cautionary tale, reserved for history books and movies? Remember when we’d say “Never Again”, and actually believe it?

I do. Or at least I’m trying to.

In the last 5 years, COVID-19 has left us socially disconnected, war has become a reality, and “Never Again” is no longer a slogan, but a call to action.

We used to care about things. Recent years have become so eventful, we can’t help but to become apathetic. That’s how we’ve managed to cope in this new reality. That’s how we’ve been able to move forward.

But I see a different path forward. It involves looking back, in order to move forward.

After my aforementioned conversation with my cousin, I intentionally retraced my steps, and remembered how I got here. Since then, my familial connections have developed, I returned to England with my daughter to show her where I “came from”, and England has become a part of who I am, instead of a mere blip.

I looked back to move forward. Let’s do that.

I was recently hired by the Adas Israel and the HHA to be the director of community engagement. My vision for Hamilton is a vibrant, welcoming home where every person can find their place — to connect, to learn, to grow, to pray, and to engage in a way that feels right for them.

I intend to elevate this community upon the values that we’ve neglected in recent years. Connection, passion, and unity. We’ve become lethargic, but I see an energized community that connects everyone. We’ve become apathetic, but I see a passionate community motivated by mission. We’ve become fractured, but I see a united community rooted in belonging and acceptance.

I see a future in Hamilton that belongs to all of us. I’d love for you to be a part of it.