Dear Blue Jays and Fellow Canadians,

Look, I'm going to be honest with you. I wasn't a baseball guy in 1993. I was 18, more interested in Doom than batting averages, and my idea of a good time involved rolling papers, not fly balls. But something happened over these past weeks. I watched you play with everything you had. I watched an entire country lean forward in their seats, holding their breath together. And in that 11th inning, when it slipped away by a single run, I felt it. We all felt it.

This one stung. Especially coming after Edmonton's heartbreak in the Stanley Cup playoffs. It feels like we keep getting so close, like we're knocking on the door and it won't quite open. That accumulation of almost-there can wear on you. It's heavy.

But here's what I'm learning as I work toward my PhD in Counselling Psychology: loss and disappointment don't erase what was built in the process. You gave us something we desperately needed. You reminded us what we're capable of when we show up for each other. You played with ❤️, grit, and refused to quit. You turned this renewed baseball fan into someone who actually cared deeply about every pitch, every at-bat, every moment.

I spend my days studying how people heal, how they move through hard things. And one thing I know is this: resilience isn't about never falling. It's about what you do after. It's about recognising that setbacks, even painful ones, are just part of a longer story.

I'm building this social network for Canada right now. Some days it feels impossible. The technical challenges, the resources needed, the weight of trying to create something that serves our country in a meaningful way. There are moments when I wonder if I'm out of my mind. But then I remember: hard things take time. Building something worth having requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to fail forward. What you did this series, what you're building as a team, it's the same process. This loss doesn't undo the foundation you've laid.

The teachings I've learned from First Nations wisdom remind me that everything moves in cycles. Seasons change. What feels impossible today becomes possible tomorrow. We're in a moment where a lot feels uncertain, where tensions with our neighbours to the south, or even the opposing dugout, make us question our place and our voice. But that's exactly when we need to remember who we are.

By next year, this space will be ready. A place where Canadians can connect, support each other, and rally behind this team without interference. Where our stories belong to us. It won't be perfect, but it will be ours. And I truly believe you'll be back. Stronger. Smarter. Ready.

See you next season!