Tomorrow is Mother's Day in Canada.

I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all mothers, whether they are biological, adoptive, surrogate, grandmothers, aunts and older cousins, some form of mother that I have failed to mention, or simply mother figures to others.

To the biological mothers:

You carried us for months before we came into this world. The amount of change to your body and mind throughout that time is something that I, as a male, can't begin to imagine. It takes a deep mental and physical commitment to carry a child to term, and that's just the beginning of motherhood. As well, the process of childbirth, while a truly beautiful event, seems frighteningly painful. I don't know how you do it, but I'm grateful that you do. We wouldn't be here if it were not for you.

To all mother figures:

Caring for a child is one of the things that sets human beings apart from a large swath of the animal kingdom. It is instinctive, but takes as long to learn as it does for the children to grow to independence. It is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week job that requires patience, understanding, love and caring – and more often than not, the involvement of other parties, because it is so much work. Children are our future. We were all children once. Now, thanks to you, we have grown into the people we are today.

Thank you.