Lately, I have been finding it easy to feel uneasy. It seems that too much of what passes for political discourse in the United States and, disturbingly and increasingly in Canada, rests on a foundation of lies and a fundamental misunderstanding of history and civics. That’s why education is so important. That’s why critical thinking is essential. That’s why considering one’s source of information matters so much.

I would like to offer the online Canadian Encyclopedia as a trusted source of information about Canada’s history, culture, politics, and important individuals. As one of the writers who contribute entries to the Encyclopedia, I can attest to its veracity.

Here’s how it works. One of its editors contacts me with an assignment. I research, write, and submit an 800 or 1,000-word entry on the person, event, or idea. It is then edited. It is then fact-checked. It is edited and fact-checked again. It comes back to me for more edits and my sign-off. Only then is it posted. If errors or omissions are discovered, it is amended.

I am proud to have written over 100 entries for the Canadian Encylopedia and in so doing played at least a tiny part in providing a trusted source of information that, hopefully, allows readers to engage more fully with their community, armed with knowledge, context, and truth.

Check some of the entries I have submitted here: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/author/john-boyko

Hopefully, some of the entries will stir your curiosity such that you will wander the site and find more of interest.

Then, let’s take a deep breath. My study of history gives me confidence that those spreading lies and sewing divisions based on lies and naked self-interest will go away. They always do. Husksters and demagogues and even dictators always fail and fall. Think about that. Always.

History neither moves in a straight line nor repeats itself. Rather, it moves as eddies in a stream, occasionally circling back, but always, eventually, moving forward. We need to be strong. We need to be diligent. But we’ll be okay.