Louis-Joseph Tellis was a Toronto Police officer. On visiting his precinct, I was made aware of his spirit and his caring by everyone who met him, among his colleagues and those who at some time or other met him. When, I learned that Lou was a go-getter and an achiever, I was not surprised one bit. But I did realize that Lou, while growing up had been watching and listening to me on the quiet. A lot of me rubbed off on Lou, but he never said a word about it. I was always talking to him about duty and honour, and had unconsciously instilled these values in my son. Now I know why he told me, that he was a Chip off the Old Block.
Lou served his country and community with distinction without asking for any privileges. Perhaps his background played an important part in his life. His grandfather was a Major in the British Army. I was brought up in an army camp, and I could never shrug it off, no matter how hard I tried. My life had been one in which we served without complaining or expecting any privilege. Thus, I had unconsciously given these traits to my son, Lou. Since, the army was part of my life, I could never be lacking regimentation or behave in a manner unbecoming of my station in life, because I accepted them as my duty.
Louis-Joseph Tellis had been in the Army cadets and upon reaching 18 years of age, decided to enlist in the Canadian Forces. Off he went to Gagetown (Oromocto), New Brunswick for training in February, 1990. After training, he went with the Dragoons, from there he went on to the PPLI. He was one for tanks and got into the armoured corps and ended up in Bosnia. Lou loved the Army, and I suppose he did so because of Grandfather. He was very proud to be from a military family and he felt that it was his life’s chosen career. He excelled in marksmanship and was awarded a medal as a marksman. I could not have more proud of my son Lou, because he brought back thoughts of my own father, his grandfather. After serving in the army, Lou decided to join the Metropolitan Toronto Police, and entered the Police Academy, where he passed his passed the exams without much ado.
When I hear people like Justin Trudeau, who think that they have some special privilege because his father was a prime minister of Canada, I think of arrogant snobs. Why, even Pierre-Elliott Trudeau was an arrogant snob and an insufferable boor to boot, who did nothing, but was full of self-praise for himself, rather than willing to serve his country during World War II. Add to this the way in which he altered the very fabric of Canada and made it unrecognizable. My son Louis-Joseph, on the other hand, who was the same age as Justin Trudeau, served his country without expecting any privileges, and was dedicated to it. I, too served my country in a very different way by joining the Merchant Navy and carrying out duties that I, as an individual, felt were needed. Therein lies the difference in both my son Louis-Joseph Tellis and Justin Trudeau, a son of privilege.
Before asking for any privileges, Justin Trudeau should first serve his country in a tangible way and then he can say, I have done my duty. Not sit there in an office with luxury all around him, expecting to be recognized because his father was a former Canadian prime minister. I taught my son Lou basic values that I held, by making a positive contribution to my community without expecting a return. I asked for nothing and gave my all, because of my dedication to the very freedoms that created a stable democracy for all of us to live under. Do I want any medals, for something that I felt was my duty? Certainly not! That was also the view of my late son Lou. He served in the Metropolitan Toronto Police with honour and dignity, without asking for anything, because he saw it as his duty.
The words of the Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso to the Roman Senate have a bearing here. Those words were echoed in 1960 by U.S. President John F. Kennedy during his inauguration speech: “Ask not what you country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country?” Those words have the same meaning today, as they did then.
I am very proud to have been the father of Police Constable Louis-Joseph Tellis, because he emulated me and that is something that every father wishes their children would do, but it does not always happen that way. Yet, we wish as fathers to think that somehow we have played a very important part in raising our children to hold standards and values that are still looked up to, in an ever-changing world. And before they have passed on, wish we that we could have given them much more than just praise.
