Since my last post was about the leader we should have had, this one will be about the one we sadly had to let slip away.

Barack Obama at the Invictus Games with Prince Harry. 

Greeting the players

Being awesome

He brought his buddy Biden along as well

But don't think that all Obama is doing is showing up for photo ops, nothing could be further from the truth.

He is also still blowing people away with his words.

Courtesy of Thompson Citizen: 

Former U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday that closing borders won't create future jobs because what's changing industries like manufacturing are automation and artificial intelligence. 

Obama told a Toronto luncheon on Friday that the transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy happened over the course of 150 years, but that the technological revolution is happening in 20 years. He said it's hard for governments to catch up to the pace of disruption. 

Obama said over the next 25 years, advanced economies will have to confront the fact that there is not going to be enough high-paying full-time work as we traditionally conceive it. 

"You'll still see auto companies doing pretty well and you'll see us manufacturing the goods that we use in the United States or Canada, but you'll walk through those factories and they'll be empty because they'll be run by robots and AI," Obama said. 

"The biggest challenge that we face in terms of maintaining good manufacturing jobs in our countries come from automation, and that is going to accelerate."

After the speech at the $1,000 a plate gathering attendees were asked their impression of the former American President:

"He still has this incredible optimism about Canada, the U.S., the world, in spite of how challenging our times are right now. It's very good for us to hear that," Glenda Rissman said. 

Sharing a similar sentiment, Cynthia Dale said her "first takeaway is how inspiring it was and how ludicrously humble he is. He's so humble about what he did and what he continues to do."

One group of Canadian high school kids even skipped school to see him:

A group of high school students skipped class to see the former president. 

It was "an experience you can't get in school," Abby Mcclellan said. 

Ava De Pagter said she loves just "what he stands for; everyone should be equal. No matter the race or gender."

Yes, he is in fact one of a kind. 

And we were blessed that we had him for as long as we did.