Canada just finished hosting one of the world’s most significant international events: the Olympic Games.

We don’t need to reiterate the importance and the spectacle that is the 17-day event that took place in and around Vancouver. The level of captivation among the 80 per cent of Canadians who tuned into the gold medal men’s hockey game speaks for itself.

Never before has Canadian unity been so apparent. Never before has the nation been so universally engaged in an ongoing event.

And going beyond just Canadians, for all intents and purposes, the Olympics are a time when some of the largest populations in the world collectively focus on a single city and country. The spotlight on Vancouver and Canada has rarely been brighter and with the ongoing Paralympics highlighting the accomplishments of individuals who have battled through some of life’s greatest challenges, the accolades from other countries should continue to pour in.

With that in mind, there has never been a better opportunity for Canada to bestow its most progressive virtues on the rest of the world, beyond the world of sport.

Granted, we are not perfect. Not by any means. There are certain features of this country that need work and are cause for concern. Mistreatment of our Native populations and our government’s often-apparent apathy towards the global environmental movement, are but two major issues that need to be examined and reformed for Canada to continue calling itself a global leader and advocate of progressive change.

But that said, Canada also has a lot to offer.

Universal healthcare, human rights, access to higher education and relatively low levels of unemployment are things that we, as Canadians, take for granted, but make us the apple of the eye for many in the international community.

And with that in mind, let’s use this post-Olympic aura that is resonating throughout the world as an opportunity to prove that Canada can be much more than a sports-enthused mecca of polite individuals with a liking for good beer.

The 36th G8 summit will take place in Huntsville, Ontario from June 25-27, 2010 and Toronto will also host the G20 meeting in the same month. These two massive international events and will be an opportunity for Canada to once again emanate its leadership capabilities to the international community.

With the world emerging from a global recession, Canada will now be looked at to not only provide leadership and stability for recovering developed countries, but also to offer assistance for those in need, particularly countries that have suffered from horrific natural disasters in Haiti and Chile.

Now is a time to hear the voices of those who have been previously oppressed and undermined. Now is the time to ensure that exemplary social welfare is made available beyond our borders.

Safe to say, 2010 is Canada’s year in the spotlight. It’s time to take advantage of this opportunity.

Vancouver has left a satisfying taste in the mouths of those who bore witness to the Games. Let’s ensure that the aftertaste remains equally pleasant.

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