Today, on Remembrance Day, Canadians across the nation are honoring those who served and gave their lives to protect our fundamental values of freedom, democracy and human dignity. The honour and duty of service and even the ultimate sacrifice of one's life for country was deeply ingrained in the national ethos during earlier world wars. Yet contemplating our veterans’ service and sacrifice feels increasingly at odds with the direction of our current divided and hyper-individualistic culture.
The rise of individualism and secularism has profoundly shaped modern Western society, transforming many social, political, and economic structures, often for the better. An emphasis on personal autonomy, self-expression, and individual rights has helped enhance freedoms, human rights, innovation and economic prosperity. But an increasing hyper-individualism and moral relativism has also ushered in social isolation, the weakening of communal bonds, personal identities defined by materialism over values and political polarization. A broad societal decline in religious and spiritual life has removed important resources and protective factors for mental health, particularly among younger generations. Perhaps it’s no surprise there is an increasing existential crisis of modernity, characterized by many people feeling alienated and detached from fully participating in their communities and civic life.
A counter-balance to these head winds was an event I had the honour to attend with my husband Dimitri last Saturday evening to celebrate Preston and Sandra Manning. Originally pigeonholed as a populist leader of Western-based, right-wing protest party, Manning ended up playing a pivotal role in reshaping modern Canadian conservatism. In 1998, Manning initiated the United Alternative movement, aiming to merge the Reform Party of Canada with the remnants of the Progressive Conservative Party. This effort led to the creation of the Canadian Alliance in 2000, which Manning unsuccessfully ran to lead. The Canadian Alliance eventually merged with the Progressive Conservative Party in 2003 to form the modern Conservative Party of Canada.
Manning's legacy and impact on Canadian conservatism has been profound. He successfully channeled Western Canadian discontent into a national political movement, introduced new conservative ideas to the Canadian political landscape, and ultimately paved the way for the unification of the right in Canadian politics. Manning is considered the founding father and defining intellectual influence of the modern Canadian conservative movement. His legacy can be seen in many current public officials, including the leadership of current Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the leader of the Official Opposition. Despite this political and thought leadership, Preston and Sandra cite the value of their lifelong relationships, their family and their faith as the most important parts of their lives.
For us at Heritage Trust, the concept of legacy transcends simply administering and transferring assets after death. Legacy means different things to different people but can be thought of as leaving behind a lasting impact on the world after one’s death, be it financial, cultural (ideas, movements, art) relational or biological (children).
In his speech at the event, Manning referenced many of the ideas he originally championed and that continue on today as part of the national political dialogue:
- That Canada is a great country worthy of our affection and service, not the denigration of its past nor indifference to its future;
- That there is such a thing as the common sense of the common people that deserves to be recognized, respected, and served via our democratic and parliamentary institutions;
- That as the second largest country on the planet by area, Canada is invariably a nation of regions – each having distinctive aspirations and concerns and each needing to be treated equally in law and in policy; and
- That it is ultimately the private sector that ought to be the engine of Canada’s economy, unburdened by over taxation and over regulation.
Manning also spoke of his fundamental belief that there is a spiritual dimension to life. Narrow modern rationalist perspectives fail to account for the full complexity of human experience. A pure secular perspective overemphasizes logic and reason at the expense of other ways of knowing and experiencing the world. Manning finds spiritual guidance and inspiration, not to mention political campaign inspiration, in the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth - the Honorable Member from Galilee as he calls him.
The true mark of great leadership and legacy is what happens after leaders leave the scene. Did they teach the next generation and set up those who came after for success? For Manning, the answer is a resounding yes. The Manning Center for Building Democracy has improved the knowledge and skills of innumerable future political practitioners. The Manning Foundation for Democratic Education, the C2C electronic magazine and its successor, the Canada Strong and Free Network supports Canada’s conservative movement by networking best practices and ideas pertaining to limited government, free enterprise, individual responsibility and a more robust civil society.
And most importantly of all, Manning referred to valued relationships that have endured over decades, not the least of which is 5 wonderful children, half a dozen long suffering in-laws, 14 grandchildren, and almost 58 years of marriage to Sandra who is his model of an extraordinary relationship person.
Irrespective of where you fall on the political spectrum, Preston and Sandra Manning are exemplars of living and leading a successful legacy, with warmth, humour and humility along the way. As we grapple with current political polarization and upheaval, Remembrance Day serves as a reminder of shared sacrifice and civic duty. I feel very lucky to have attended an evening to celebrate Preston and Sandra Manning this Remembrance Day weekend, who exemplify how to leave a legacy of service, impact and values that we can all seek to emulate in our own way.
Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada for trusts and estates and family law, she previously chaired the Canadian Bar Association Wills and Trusts Subsection (Vancouver).
Contact Nicole by email or phone at (778) 742-5005 x216.
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