There was a moment this week when Naheed Nenshi seemed ready to lose it. The strain of leading his city through its devastating flood finally seemed to catch up with him as he knelt outside Calgary’s emergency operations centre to accept a hand-made card from five-year-old Anna Selk.
“Dear Mayor Nenshi,” it read. “Thank you for keeping Calgary strong.” At this, his eyes glistened, his face drew tight, and the mayor paused to compose himself before thanking Anna and giving her a hug.
She was acknowledging his efforts in coping with the devastation wrought by the Bow and Elbow rivers. Wildly popular before the flood, Mr. Nenshi has begun to look like a folk hero.
Ismailimail 