Miss Teen Saskatchewan

In a previous blog, I talked about Melissa who had qualified to enter into the Miss Teen Saskatchewan pageant. Last night I went to Saskatoon to watch her compete. I have always thought of myself as someone who isn't "into" beauty pageants and often thought they were just a waste of time. One certainly feels differently when there is someone you know competing! The contest was very well organized, choreographed and all the girls did an excellent job showing the judges what they could do. It was exciting to watch and I could feel the nervousness and tension of the girls. Melissa made into the finals and so will be going to Toronto this summer to compete in the Miss Teen World competition. Many members of her family were on hand to watch her receive her tiara and sash. Her family beamed with pride at the lovely young lady Melissa has become. I know she will have a wonderful experience in Toronto. Watching a princess evolve . . . it's a good thing!

A Blog Inspired By A Friend

As my blog turns over to an unbelievable 5000 hits, I am still amazed that other people find what I write interesting. I have always enjoyed writing, but it never occurred to me until recently that I could just write for “no reason”. I loved writing essays in university and it has been my job over the years to write speeches for people I worked for and to compose advertising and newsletters. So, who or what inspired me to write just for fun? My friend Anna-Marie began a blog a couple years ago. As I read her wonderful blog, it occurred to me that I might like to start one too. I thought it over and decided I would write a blog called “Through Rose Coloured Glasses” and that it would be a very positive blog and I would write about things that would make people happy. As I wrote my blog and more people began to read it, I began to receive positive comments. I was surprised – and encouraged. I really didn’t know that I could “just write”. A few months after I began my blog, I read that a Creative Writing class was being offered at SIAST. Writing a blog gave me the confidence to sign up for the class. It was a wonderful experience. The instructor is a published author and is an exceptional teacher. She provided all her students with guidance and advice which helped us become more confident in our writing skills. As I took her class each week, I was again struck with wonder that it was ok to write just for the fun of writing. I wonder why, after all these years, this had never occurred to me? A few weeks after the creative writing class was over, I was given the opportunity to write a weekly column for one of our local papers. More than a little leery and very nervous, I accepted. I also call that column “Through Rose Coloured Glasses”. I agonize over each column – especially those first few issues. Each week, I write, delete, re-write, and change topics several times before sending in my final draft. I worried that the editor or the readers would not like the column. I was anxious to hear what people thought of it – anxious and worried. However, to my surprise, the response from readers has been incredible. I am amazed that other people read what I write! Total strangers have taken the time to e-mail me or stop me (having recognized me from the picture that accompanies my column) to tell me how much they enjoy it. I can’t believe that something I enjoy doing so much brings happiness to other people. None of this might have happened at all if Anna Marie hadn't started a blog. So, thank you Anna Marie for being my inspiration. You have no idea what you have brought into my life. Having a friend who inspires you and changes your life . . . it’s a good thing!

O Happy Canada

As Canadians, we have always taken pride in being nice. We like that the world thinks we are polite and kind. It’s our image and we have come to think of it as our birth right. Well, now there has been an actual study which places us at the most tolerant in the developed world! (Like we needed a study to tell us that!). The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development issued their latest edition of “Society at a Glance”. This publication contains the information gathered from analysis of social and economic indicators among the 34 member countries. Canadians have the highest community tolerance of minority groups (which include ethnic minorities, migrants and gays and lesbians). The average tolerance level is 61%, while Canada scored 84%. See, we ARE nice! The OECD study also found that Canadians have the second highest rate of positive experiences behind Iceland. This includes feeling well-rested, being treated with respect, smiling and being happy. Canadians have always known we are nice – now we have a study to back it up! Being a nice, polite and happy Canadian . . . it’s a good thing!

Violet McNaughton

How is it possible that we have heroes in our own backyard that we know so little about? Violet McNaughton was born in 1879 in England and immigrated to Canada in 1909. She married and lived near Harris. She was a leader in women’s issues, farm issues and co-operative movements. Motivated by the dire living and working conditions on the prairies, she dedicated herself to improving the lives of women and children. She organized the Saskatchewan Women Grain Growers (WGG), one of the most radical groups in Canada at the time because of the class and gender of its members! She worked tireless for the woman’s suffrage movement. She also led the WGG’s campaign to have more trained midwives, nurses, doctor and hospitals. The WGG advocated to have these service be affordable and in close proximity to farm families. Because of their strong campaign, legislation in 1916 allowed for the establishment of union hospitals, municipal nurses and doctors. This led to way to many hospitals opening in rural Saskatchewan. From 1919 to 1923, Violet was the president of the Inter-provincial Council of Farm Women and the Women’s Section of the Canadian Council of Agriculture. By the 1920’s, she was one of the most influential people in Saskatchewan Grain Growers Association. She helped to organize the Wheat Pools, the Saskatchewan Egg and Poultry Pool and the newspapers, the Western Producer. In 1925, she became the women’s editor of the Western Producer, a position she kept until 1950. Violet McNaughton is truly a home-grown Saskatchewan hero who fought hard to improve the conditions of her peers and those who would come after her. Learning more about the women who changed our world . . . it’s a good thing!

The Daffodil Pin

Do you know what the hottest accessory is for April this year? It is the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Pin! Everyone has one. They are very attractive with the Cancer Society’s yellow daffodil symbol re-styled onto a pin. They are available in many locations throughout the month of April and are sold by donation. The Daffodil has become the symbol of cancer research fund-raising in Canada. Each year, local branches of the Cancer Society sell live daffodils. This is the first year daffodil pins are being sold as well. How is it that this beautiful little flower became the symbol of solidarity in cancer research? I did a little research and discovered that the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days began in Toronto in the 1950’s. A group of volunteers organized a fundraising tea. They decided to decorate the tables with daffodils, thinking that the bright and cheerful flowers instilled hope that cancer could be beaten. These gatherings soon came to be known as Daffodil Teas. Volunteer Jackie Brockie worked at Eaton’s Store and arranged for Lady Eaton to host a Tea at the store. Over seven hundred women attended! Lane Knight, another volunteer, arranged for restaurants to give part of their proceeds to the Society on the opening day of the cancer canvass in 1956. Volunteers were on hand to give patrons a daffodil as a token of appreciation. When recipients tried to pay for the flowers, the Cancer Society realized that the sale of daffodils could generate revenue. The Daffodil Sale was a hit and has been held every April since then. The idea spread to other provinces and to the American Cancer Society. Today, the Canadian Cancer Society is the world’s largest purchaser of daffodils! So, wear your daffodil pin with pride this month, knowing that the tradition goes back to the days of your grandmother. Wearing a daffodil pin to show support for those who are facing cancer . . . it’s a good thing!

Melissa

The daughter of a friend of mine has qualified for the Miss Teen Saskatchewan pageant. Along with the desperate search for the perfect dress, the right shoes and the most flattering swimsuit, is the daunting task of fund-raising. Entering the Miss Teen Saskatchewan pageant is not without cost and contestants do a great deal of fundraising. We decided to host a fund-raising steak supper. Melissa and her mom Nicole called their family members, friends, and co-workers in their effort to sell tickets to the supper. We were expecting around sixty people. As the day drew closer, we began to suspect we would have more than sixty. Several of Nicole’s friends volunteered to help and soon we had over 100 tickets sold! Melissa is a fourteen-year-old girl with beauty and grace. What makes her beauty even more appealing is that she is very down-to-earth and friendly. How wonderful for her that so many people showed up to show their support. Hopefully this support will give her the extra confidence to win the pageant. Having friends you can count on . . . it’s a good thing!

Fashion Show With Heart

Last night, a very unique event took place in our city. Wesmor Community High School hosted a fashion show. While fashion shows are not unique, this fashion show was part of a wonderful program started by two teachers last year. Wesmor Community High School is located in an area where many low-income families reside. Many of the girls who are graduating cannot afford to buy new dresses for their graduation. Two Wesmor teachers decided last year that the girls should enjoy their special day which they have worked hard for and they should not have the stress and worry of how to come up with money to buy a graduation dress. The teachers began a dress-sharing program. Used dresses were donated by people throughout the city. Two local dress shops donated new dressers. The used dresses were cleaned by local drycleaners at no cost. The graduates buy the dresses for $25. The program presently has 75 dresses for students to access. This wonderful program gets students excited about graduating and helps them strive to work hard at school. They can look forward to their graduation without worrying about finances. Last night, the soon-to-be graduates took part in a fashion show in which they showed off the beautiful dresses in the dress-sharing program. Two young men who escorted the models were given free suits from one of the men’s clothing shops in our city. The models glowed with pride as they modeled the dresses. What a wonderful program the teachers have come up with! The graduates can truly enjoy their day and their beautiful dresses, knowing they can afford to have a wonderful graduation day. People coming up with unique solutions to everyday problems . . . it’s a good thing!