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It was a clear crisp Halloween evening in October 1990. My son, Jordan,
was only three years old. This was his first Halloween. He was dressed as
a clown wearing an outfit it took his mother hours to make. As we went down
familiar streets, from door-to-door in safe Yarmouth, I noticed that many
houses were in darkness, the lights were off and people were not in the
Halloween mode. Many of the owners I knew. They were old and alone. I
shrugged it off to apathy.
We went up to the door of a little home. The lights were on inside the
house, but none were on outside. My son knocked. No response. He knocked
again. Still no response. After a while, movement was heard from inside
the home. I saw a curtain in the window to the right of the door part.
An elderly, and very worried face peered out. She went to the door and
again peered at us through the glass barrier between us. She scanned the
area around us for other intruders. Eventually, she unbolted the door.
Again, she scanned us briefly, gave us a few treats and we were on our way.
She went back inside, locking the door.
I will always remember that lady. How worried and fearful she looked. She
was living alone and I am convinced that she was frightened of us. My son
and I spoke of this on the way home. It was at that point I decided
something had to be done to make Halloween fun again for both young and
old. Vicious pranks and a night of fear had to come to an end. The next day
in school I spoke to my students about it. They agreed something should be
done. But what? Over the next several months, the concept of the "All
Saints" (I credit my wife Carol Anne with the name!) was born. It was
to be a marriage of youth and the elderly for one night each year.
Today, the All Saints symbolize youth contribution to their communities.
It gives the good teenagers (99.99% of all young people) to show their
respective communities that they can make a contribution. A positive
meaningful contribution to their communities.
So to you, Jordan Christian Langille - my son, I dedicate this project. For unless you had gone to that one house, remained so persistent at the door, I am convinced this remarkable program would have never evolved.
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