'It's beautiful': B.C. man invites strangers into his home for Thanksgiving dinner
James Taylor never expected to be walking home with a bag full of groceries he didn’t buy.
“Six months ago, I was in a really bad place,” James says.
He experienced multiple losses in his family and was set to spend Thanksgiving alone.
“I know that it’s important to have people around,” James says. “And to feel loved and share good food.”
So he posted an invitation on a community Facebook page, offering to cook Thanksgiving dinner for four strangers who might be feeling the same way.
“Please don’t be alone,” James says. “Reach out.”
One of the people who accepted James’ invitation is Nicole Borthwick.
“I was relieved that someone would reach out,” Nicole says.
She’s temporarily away from her family and couldn’t feel more grateful to not be alone on Thanksgiving.
“It’s very heartfelt, very emotional,” she says.
And James’ post is proving to be very popular. More than 300 people responded, and he’s preparing to make dinner for more than a dozen of them.
“If I could fit everyone in my house I would. But I have such a small house,” James says. “I’m having three sittings, so I’m happy with that.”
To appreciate why James is so joyful about stocking his fridge and juggling so many small appliances in such a compact space, you need to know he’s been struck by lightning twice.
“I died and came back to life,” James says. “I know how precious that is, how lucky I am to have this second chance.”
And James is using his second chance at life to work as an Indigenous educator in schools, and practice sharing kindness daily.
“It is so important to share love,” he says.
Others seem to agree. People are offering James food even if they’re not attending the dinner. This morning, one stranger dropped off two pumpkin pies, and another just gave James a bag full of vegetables.
“I’m humbled,” James says.
And fittingly, James is also full of thanks.
“I have 12 to 15 new friends coming over,” James smiles. “It‘s beautiful.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Time limits were meant to speed up justice. They also halt hundreds of criminal cases
Supporters say the so-called Jordan ruling has sped up proceedings and strengthened Charter rights for prompt justice. But the legacy of Jordan is mixed, and some victims say the time limits work in criminals' favour.
How many criminal cases in each province or territory were halted by time limits?
A review of information provided by provinces and territories shows more than 400 criminal cases have been halted across Canada since the start of last year.
RCMP already 'on high alert' for potential wave of migrants after Trump election
Canada's federal police force has been preparing for months on a contingency plan for a potential massive influx of migrants across the border following Trump's promise of 'mass deportations' of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
Three charged in One Direction singer Liam Payne's death
Three people have been charged in relation to One Direction singer Liam Payne's death in a fall from his Buenos Aires hotel balcony last month, Argentine authorities said on Thursday.
Sparks fly as MPs question minister on pension implications of proposed election date change
Sparks flew at a parliamentary committee Thursday as MPs questioned Canada's democratic institutions minister about a widely opposed provision in electoral reform legislation that seeks to delay the next fixed election date by one week.
Oven to be removed from Halifax store where employee died: Walmart
Walmart says a large bakery oven will be removed from the Halifax store where an employee died last month.
NEW Advocacy group fights to save Alberta's wild horses from population control plan 10 years after cull
An Alberta advocacy group is pushing to save the province's wild horse population, 10 years after the government ordered a cull and amid a new plan to manage the animal's numbers.
'There is no electricity': Canadian travellers in Cuba urge caution in hurricane's wake
Cuba's power grid was knocked out by Hurricane Rafael, which ripped across the country as a Category 3 storm. In western Cuba, it toppled buildings and pushed 50,000 people to find shelter elsewhere. Cubans were already enduring rolling blackouts due to energy shortages.
America votes: How celebrities are reacting to Trump's decisive victory
Celebrities from Hulk Hogan to Ariana Grande are sharing their reactions to the U.S. election, which will see Donald Trump return to the White House.