A Gal's Best Winter Friend

“Fill ‘er up?” The friendly gas attendant at my favourite filling station asks through frozen lips hidden behind a balaclava.  “Anything else I can do for you?” he asks.   I gratefully reply, “Maybe just some gas-line anti-freeze, please” to which I get the pleasant “You bet”, even as I notice ice crystals forming on his eye lashes.

This is a conversation which has, no doubt, taken place many times over the past couple weeks in Prince Albert,  as we experience a few of those never-ending days of deep cold.  On a bitterly cold winter day, when my gas tank hits the empty mark, I can think of no one I appreciate more than the friendly men and women who pump gas for me.  I have extended my appreciation to them other times in my column, but each cold snap reminds me how grateful I am.  As I dislike filling my own tank - even in pleasant weather - I always appreciate the employees at the filling station, winter and summer.  However, I am the most thankful when those arctic winds start blowing and the weather turns cold. It always amazes me how friendly and helpful the attendants are, even in frigid temperatures. They are great ambassadors for their employers. They always impress me with their smiles and pleasant personalities.  After all, I would let them pump my gas even if they were not nice to me!

I feel a little guilty when they find a moment to go inside to warm up while my tank is filling, and they stand by the door shivering from the cold, noses running and icicles forming from their eyebrows (but not guilty enough, obviously, to fill my own tank).  Even as they warm up, knowing they are heading back out into the cold in a few short minutes, they are still eager to carry on a friendly conversation, chit-chatting, fingers exposed through their flip-top mitts.  These are truly amazing people and we should not take them for granted.  If we do, we might have to brave the cold ourselves and pump our own gas.  I don’t know how many pairs of long johns, under-shirts, sweaters, gloves and scarves one would have to wear to be that happy working in cold weather, and I don’t want to know.  I am just grateful that someone else has figured out how to stay warm while handling a gas nozzle.

In these bitter days of cold weather, I extend a heartfelt thank you and offer up a high-five - through flip-top mitts, of course -  to gas attendants through-out Prince Albert for your much appreciated service and friendliness.  Who care about diamonds – you are a gal’s best friend!  Having friends you can count on to get you through the cold . . . it’s a good thing.

Happy New Year

 

As much as I love Christmas, once it is over I am anxious to have things return to normal.  Our tree is hauled away and all the ornaments and decorations are packed and put away before New Year`s Day.  It seems that once the big day is over, the things that were so beautiful the day before are now in the way and cluttering up the house. I carefully place each treasured ornament and decoration in its storage container, knowing I will enjoy them all over again next Christmas. Perhaps it is because New Year`s Day is all about a fresh start, new hopes and plans for the incoming year,  that I feel the need to clear the house of Christmas reminders.  Somehow it seems you shouldn`t start the new year by putting away last year`s decorations.  Maybe by doing this, it feels like two separate special holidays.  I guess I`m not really sure why I do this, but by the time we ring in the new year at our house, all evidence of Christmas is gone. 

I enjoy spending New Year`s Eve and day with family and friends.  There is no better way to welcome the new year than by spending it with people you love. Together, you say good-bye to the old year and share hope for the new year. 

2013 stretches out in front of us, a blank page not yet filled, full of promise and hope.  We make resolutions – some we keep, some are forgotten by the next day.  Each year we think this will be the perfect year.  And while each year may not be perfect after all, we need to reflect on and remind ourselves of all the good things in our lives.  We live in a country where we enjoy incredible freedoms and social programs, everyone has access to education and employment. We live in a society which, for the most part, values family and children.  We have relatively quick and easy access to medical help when we need it. We have time for leisure and to enjoy ourselves. We are so fortunate and rich in ways that people in many other countries can only dream about. 

            No matter how 2013 turns out, we should enjoy our good fortune and appreciate the many blessings we have. Be sure to make time to spend with family and friends.  Volunteer to help someone in need.  Make time for yourself.  Do the things you love to do. Sometimes we need to make our own happiness to have the perfect year.

            I hope you had a wonderful start to the new year with people you love and that 2013 brings you joy, happiness and health.  Starting off the year with a clean slate . . . it’s a good thing.  

The Magic

 

Christmas is my favourite time of year.  There is excitement in the air and goodwill.  I savour everything the season brings: the hustle and bustle of finding that perfect present, gift wrapping, decorating the house, trimming the tree and baking.  My favourite part of the holiday season is spending time with friends and family. Celebrating with the people I love has always made any holiday special, but is even more special at Christmas.  

This year, Christmas is more poignant, more precious because of the horror we have just witnessed when young children and their teachers were senselessly murdered in Connecticut.  I think we all feel the need to hug our children a little tighter and an increased, almost urgent desire to spend time with those we love.  As President Obama said, our hearts are broken for the families who will have a lonely holiday season and whose children they are no longer able to hug.  This tragedy has reminded us once again how fortunate we are to have family and loved ones to celebrate with.

  

This year more than ever, I will appreciate and enjoy the big, noisy family I share my holiday meals with.  I will listen with gratitude as laughter rings throughout the house while my heart will ache for those families whose homes are silent because their little one was so cruelly taken away.  How sad this Christmas will be for them, as will every other Christmas from now on.  

More than ever, I will enjoy that comfortable feeling that comes from being with family who know each other better than anyone else ever could – and still like each other!  I always marvel at the inter-generational exchanges and how age doesn't matter at a family gathering. We all have something in common: each other.  We are all so alike and yet so different from each other. That is the magic of family, and it becomes even more magical at Christmas.  The horrific event in Connecticut has taken away not only a family member, but the magic of the season for so many innocent families.  As you celebrate your good fortune with loved ones this season, take a moment to send loving thoughts to those who, rather than planning meals and opening gifts, are planning funerals and grieving.  And don’t forget to hug your children and your loved ones.  

To each of you, I offer my  best wishes for a very Merry Christmas.  May your holiday celebration be perfect and create wonderful memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Knowing how fortunate we are to have family and friends close by during the holiday season . . . it's a good thing.

A Woman of Distinction

Last night, the Prince Albert YWCA held its Women of Distinction award banquet at which they honoured five deserving women. One of the women they honoured, Lynda Monahan, holds a special place in my heart and I am so pleased she was chosen.

            Lynda was honoured in the Arts, Culture and Heritage category for her enormous contribution in the field of writing. A wonderful and passionate poet, two books of her poetry have been published. Both books, “A Slow Dance In The Flames” and ‘What My Body Knows” were nominated for a Saskatchewan Book Award. Her second book was also nominated for a World Guild Writing Award. Her work has been published in many magazines, including Grain, Fire, Amethyst Review, Other Voices and many others. Her poetry has been broadcast on both provincial and national CBS radio programs.

            Lynda does a great deal of work in the community. She has instructed special workshops at Prince Albert Youth Outreach Program and has facilitated a series of workshops for inmates at Pine Grove Correctional Centre and for at-risk youth in the Eagle Program. Lynda has worked with adults who have acquired brain injuries and their families, resulting in the book “With A Smile and a Tear: Family’s Story of Acquired Brain Injury”. She has completed a Saskatchewan Writers Guild ArtSmart youth mentorship program for young writers. Lynda has worked with our local schools, Commonweal, Canadian Mental Health Association and Prince Albert Foster Families. Through all of this, she still finds time to teach a Creative Writing class at SIAST. Through her work, Lynda has brought joy, healing and purpose to many lives.

            Lynda is a wonderful a passionate teacher and injects her love of writing to all who take part in her classes and workshops. She inspires all those she teaches into putting their thoughts and feelings down on paper. Under her guidance, her students develop the self-confidence they need in order to write and the bravery to show others what they have written. I know this first hand as I have been one of Lynda’s students. To be a student in one of her classes is to know that you are being led by a passionate teacher who finds good in everyone and, in fact, brings out the best in all her students. Lynda guides her students along with positive advice and encouragement.

            At the Women of Distinction award ceremony, many of Lynda’s past and present students were in attendance to see her receive her award. Their presence is evidence of what makes Lynda so special. It is an indication of the effectiveness of her teaching, the far reaches of her compassion and her calm, encouraging personality, that all who begin as students in her class inevitably come to consider her a life-long friend.

            Congratulations, my friend. Well done.  Deserving people receiving recognition . . . it’s a good thing.

 

 

One Hundred Days of Give Aways

Sometimes the simplest idea turns out to be the great idea.  My friend Barb has recently proven this to be true.  It all started when she decided to “de-clutter” her house.  Rather than simply pack up the belongings she no longer wanted and haul them away, she came up with the idea of having “100 Days of Give-aways”.  Every day for one hundred days, a new item is selected and a picture of it is put up on facebook.  The first person to claim it is the recipient.

            I have watched with interest as she has put up her daily choice.  Barb has offered everything from scrapbooking kits, to a set of glass candle holders to Christmas decorations.  As I watched the items being claimed on facebook and plans being made for pick-up or delivery, I began to realize what a great idea this is.  I didn’t know the half of it!

            One day Barb’s offering was a book I had been wanting to read.  I jumped at the chance to claim it and was successful.  What followed is what made me realize just what Barb had done with her little “100 Days of Give-aways” and how she had, perhaps unwittingly, created a social event with many of her friends.

            Barb and I tried to plan a day to get together for coffee or lunch so that I could claim my book.  There was not one day in that week that worked.  Either Barb was out-of-town or one of us was busy when the other was free.  It simply did not work, which is something that often happens in our busy lives when friends try to plan time together.  One day Barb emailed me to say that she would drop the book off to me at work that afternoon.  I emailed her back to say I would not be in my office that particular afternoon and asked if I could stop by at her house just before lunch to pick up the book and perhaps we could have coffee.  She said that wouldn’t work as she was still in her pyjamas.  I sent back a message to her asking if I could just stop in at her  house and she could slip the book to me through the door.  She laughingly agreed.

            So, it was that I found myself on Barb’s doorstep, admiring her many creations on her porch and knocking on her bright yellow front door.  Barb greeted me, in her pjs’s, book in hand.  We stood on the doorstep and talked for probably twenty minutes. After a great conversation, I walked away with my new book and realized what Barb had just done.  If she had not had had her “100 Days of Give-aways”, we would still be trying to arrange a time to get together.  Because of her inventiveness, we met, had a great conversation and renewed our friendship, even if it was only for a quick visit.  I realize that Barb is doing this with all of her friends who claim prizes – one day at a time for a hundred days!  Ingenious!  Plus, she is cleaning her house.  Everyone wins.

            When I opened my book to read it, there was a little “bonus” from Barb.  She had included a little crafted card (which she created herself, crafty person that she is) with a thank you for giving her item new life and for our friendship.  How perfect is that?

            Sometimes a simple little idea like de-cluttering your house turns into a unique way to renew old acquaintances and forces everyone to take a few minutes to talk to an old friend.  By my calculations, Barb has about eighty days left on her give-away, so who knows, we may slip in another twenty minute visit on her porch soon again.  Good ideas that turn out to be great ideas . . . it’s a good thing.

Remembrance Day

Although Remembrance Day falls on the week-end this year, I hope people will still take the time to attend ceremonies and acknowledge our veterans.   Remembrance Day is growing in significance every year, perhaps because we have a new group of veterans now – young men and women who have taken part in the war in Afghanistan.  Young people, who in the past may not have worn poppies, now do so with pride, respect and thankfulness. All generations are attending Remembrance Day Services in record numbers. We all feel the need to thank veterans, including our new veterans who have returned from Afghanistan or from peace keeping missions all over the world, in a way we never have felt before. Perhaps it is because of Afghanistan, the phenomenon of the Highway of Heroes and the death of our first female soldier that we have become more passionate about honouring our veterans.  For the third year now, students at St. Mary High School have met with and interviewed soldiers, and have recorded their stories in a book.  As the students learn of the sacrifices and horrors directly from the veterans, they come to realize how important it is to always remember and acknowledge what these brave soldiers gave to us.  Because of this project, the stories of our local soldiers are recorded and will continue to be passed on even after they are gone. 

It has been two year since the last WW I veteran died - they are now all gone. We have lost many of our WW II veterans.  It now becomes even more important to honour their sacrifices, and to never forget what they did for us. It is also important to show our gratitude to our young veterans who have fought in a different war. We must continue to teach our children that the many rights they now enjoy were fought for by very brave men and women. As we look at the suffering of people in countries that do not have the freedoms and rights we enjoy, we realize how very fortunate we are. Just as our parents and grand-parents were touched by wars, buried their soldiers and welcomed home those who survived, our generation is experiencing war and we are sending our own brothers and sisters, sons and daughters to fight.

Remembrance Day is the day to remember all the wars we have faced as a nation, to thank our soldiers and to reflect on how fortunate we are. Remembering and being grateful to the men and women in our armed forces - present and past -  is important every day, but never so important as on Remembrance Day.  Taking time to show our gratitude to our veterans and soldiers . . . it's a good thing.

 

A Gift to Cherish

 

One of my favorite pictures is that of my niece Jeridee around the age of three, sitting on a child-size easy chair.  She is wearing a red and white checkered shirt and denim overalls.  Her long brown hair is in two braids tied with red ribbons.  She has a huge smile on her face.  Every time I come across that picture, my heart melts all over again and I can't help smiling
back at the little girl in the picture.  Needless to say, she had me wrapped around her little finger from the day she was born and I held her in the hospital.  Jeridee and I share that special bond that aunts and nieces have.  Where have the years gone? 

This week, I was emailed a picture that has melted my heart once again – that of Jeridee’s little girl, who was born two weeks ago.  This little girl is dressed in pink, laying on a pink ruffled quilt with a pink head band on her little bald head.  I can’t believe that little girl with the braids in the picture is now a mother herself.  Time certainly does march on and life continues to move forward (sometimes too quickly).  

So it is that our family received the precious gift of another baby girl. Jeridee and her husband became the proud parents of Maelle Calixte.  This is their first child and it was not an easy journey into parenthood for them.  The end result, however, was worth the months of disappointment, frustration and sadness.  This little girl is perfect.

When Jeridee and her husband picked out the middle for their new daughter, they chose it because they liked it and it went so well with her first name, and because  both names are very French which appealed to the couple.  In one of life’s funny little quirks,  Jeridee was not aware that Calixte was the first name of her great-grandfather!  She was surprised when her mother told her this.  So, although it was not intended, little Maelle carries the name of her great-great grand-father and that shared name is now a connection between generations, a reminder of where we come from and who our ancestors are.  When she is old enough and sees pictures and hears stories of this ancestor who has the same name as her, she will feel the bond of family – even though that family member came and went many years before she was born.  We, the rest of her family, now have a reason to hang on to our memories of him, the pictures we have and the stories we know because suddenly it is important for her to know and we feel the responsibility of sharing this with her.  I never realized before this how a name can connect generations and encourage families to keep the memories alive of those no longer with us.  My sister ( Jeridee’s mother) and I have many memories of our grandfather which we will share with Maelle. 

As we welcome Maelle, this treasured gift, into our family and look forward to her future, we also look back into the past and acknowledge those who walked the path before us.  A new child in our family, a new reason to reflect on our ancestors . . .  it’s a good thing.

Vote Today!

Today is civic election day.  Make sure you cast your vote!  Our right to take part in a democratic election should not be taken lightly.  This is your opportunity to have a say in the way our city is run and managed.   If you are satisfied with the decisions of this Mayor and council, then get out and vote to keep them in power.  If you are not happy with the way things are being dealt with at the civic level, go to the polls and help elect new people into these positions.  As well, the Catholic School board and Saskatchewan Rivers School board elections take place at the same time.  Again, make your views known by casting a ballot.

            If you decide not to take the time to vote today, listen to the news and see what has happened around the world over the past couple years.  In the Middle East, South America and Africa, people have protested, demonstrated and have even been killed in their quest to gain the freedoms we take for granted.  They have put their lives on the line for the right to vote and the right to live in a democracy.  We have an influx of immigrants who have arrived in Prince Albert over the past few years.  If you have a chance to speak to new Canadians, ask them how they feel about their newly-found right to vote.  They will all tell you, some with tears in their eyes, how fortunate we are to live in a democracy where we choose our leaders and what a wonderful gift we have in the ability to vote for a federal, provincial and civic government every four years.  Most will also tell you they cannot believe how we take this freedom for granted. Rest assured they will be voting - they know far too well what it means to not have the opportunity to vote

            So, take a few minutes and exercise your right – and freedom – to mark your ballot.   Show your pride in living in a democracy by taking part in deciding who our leaders will be.        

During the last federal election, there was a movement called “Rock The Vote”.  It encouraged people, especially young people, to go out and vote.  Today, let’s Rock The Vote in Prince Albert and surrounding area.  Let’s increase the voter turn-out, which has been so low in recent civic elections.  This is your chance to make a decision that will affect our city and how it is run.  Having a say in who runs your city . . . it's a good thing!

Lily

Each year, we reflect on the things we are most thankful for as we celebrate Thanksgiving Day.  This year was no different – we all have so many things to be thankful for.  We live in a country where we enjoy the ability to work, worship and enjoy life.  The majority of us have access to good housing, clean water and plenty of delicious food.   However, our family had a reason to be even more grateful for our good fortune this year.

            My niece gave birth to a little girl three weeks ago.  Because her doctors had found that she had a major heart defect prior to her birth, Lily was born in Winnipeg where she could be close to specialists.  At only four days old, she was flown from Winnipeg to Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital where she underwent open heart surgery.  It was a difficult and lonely vigil for her Mom and Dad who were with her throughout her hospital stay.  It is gruelling to watch your child lay in a hospital crib and is even more difficult if you are far from home and without family close by to lend support.  Never far from our thoughts throughout that week, our family hoped for a quick recovery and prayed that her parents would be given the strength they needed to see this through.

            Lily proved to be a fighter.  Her doctors ordered sedatives for her so that she would remain sleeping during the crucial days immediately after her surgery, however Lily did not want to sleep.  She fought the effects of the drugs and was awake a great deal of the time.  She is a fighter and her true spirit showed through.  With youth and determination on her side, she began the process of healing.  Each day she became stronger. 

            Last week, she and her parents were flown back to Winnipeg where Lily will continue to recover in the hospital there until she is ready to go home.  So it was that our family enjoyed a special Thanksgiving Day knowing that our little girl is mending and will soon be home with her parents and big brother.  Sometimes the things you are the most grateful for are not the material things we work so hard for, or the items we buy for entertainment or relaxation.  Sometimes the life of a little girl placed in the hands of a medical community is the greatest gift of all and the one we are the most grateful for. 

            I hope your Thanksgiving week-end was perfect and that those you love were close by and safe.  Knowing that your loved ones are safe and well taken care of . . . it's a good thing!

Our Angel

This is a picture of my great-nephew, Ty, sitting with his Great-Grandmother, my Mom. We didn't know it at the time, but the pictures we took of Ty that night would be the last ones we would ever take of him. Yesterday, September 28, would have been Ty's 12th birthday. He has been gone for eight years. Ty was born on the anniversary of my Dad's death (Ty's great-grandfather). From the day he was born at Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto, Ty was special. When his Mom and Dad brought him home , he was fragile but determined to live. And live he did! To know Ty was to love him. Everyone who met him fell under his spell. There was something special about the little boy who fought so hard to live those first few months, and then lived so hard for the next three-and-a-half years. He became an active toddler, and fooled us all into thinking that everything was ok with him. He began pre-school and enjoyed playing with the other children, and going to school just like his big sister. Then, as suddenly as he had come into our lives, he left. I don't think any of us realized his impact until his funeral. The church was overflowing with people who came to remember him. He touched the lives and hearts of so many people. Perhaps Ty's entire reason for being here for those short three-and a half years was to remind us that there are angels and there is a heaven, and that sometimes angels come to visit us - but only stay for a short while. Although, for his family, letting him go was the most difficult thing to do, knowing that we were truly touched by an angel and we will see him again . . . it's a good thing.

Autumn Begins

During the past couple of weeks, we have witnessed the transformation of summer into fall.  The days are shorter, the nights are cooler and the leaves are beginning to turn colour.  Life seems to return to normal and routines are observed once again after the laid-back summer season.

Autumn was my Dad’s favourite time of year.  I never did agree with his choice of favorite season, as to me fall is a stark reminder that winter is coming.  I have to admit, however, it does have a beauty which must be appreciated. Walking or driving down tree-lined streets shimmering in gold and red is breath taking.  In gardens and backyards, the view turns from green to multi-coloured.  Bringing in produce from the garden, emptying flower pots and raking leaves are melancholy reminders to enjoy those last few days of beautiful weather before winter winds start to blow. 

 My vision of autumn is one of my dad raking leaves and stopping to lean on his rake to tell me how this is his favourite season. That picture of him is ingrained in mind forever.  He loved fall.  He enjoyed the change in weather from the hot days of summer to the crisp, clean air of autumn. Perhaps fall was the only season he really could take the time to enjoy.  As a farmer, spring was busy with calving and seeding, summer with all the demanding work of farming, fall with its tension-filled days of harvesting, and winters meant cold days of feeding cattle and getting things ready for spring.  Once harvest was completed, he had time to enjoy nature and to appreciate fall days.

 My dad died in fall. Today is the anniversary of his death. The day of his funeral, my older sister and I commented to each other how fitting it was his life ended in the season he loved.  As we buried him, red and gold leaves flew, and the air was crisp and clean.  Harvest was done.  Dad’s work was completed. 

Over the years since he passed away, autumn is the time of year I feel closest to Dad and when my memories of him are the strongest. As I rake leaves, clean flower beds and bring in the garden, my mind races back over the many fall seasons I enjoyed with him.  Without fail, every year when red and golden leaves blow across the yard and the air turns cool, in my mind’s eye I see Dad, leaning on his shovel wearing that old flannel-lined denim jacket, telling me that fall is his favourite time of year.  Having special memories for special seasons . . . it's a good thing!

An Angel In Our City

I attended a very special ceremony last week.  The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award was presented to Prince Albert’s only recipient,  Marie Mathers-Ross.  This award is being presented to deserving people across Canada to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. 

I have known Marie for approximately ten years and she has never ceased to amaze me with her generosity and commitment to helping others.  She has resided in Prince Albert since 1966.  Since then, many organizations and individuals in Prince Albert, and indeed, across Saskatchewan, have benefited from Marie’s extensive leadership skills, expertise and enthusiasm.   Marie continually gives of herself to her community. She volunteers a great deal of time and puts tremendous effort into everything she does. 

She works diligently with the Royal Canadian Legion, the Federal Prison Officers’ Club of Saskatchewan and the Federal Superannuates Association of Prince Albert and District.  She does so because she believes it is extremely important to honour those who have worked and sacrificed to permit us to have the quality of life we now enjoy.   Marie has also worked extensively with the St. John Ambulance and the Provincial Emergency Measures Organization.

Marie has always been a strong advocate for newcomers to our city.  She is fluent in English, French, German and Yiddish, which is beneficial when working with families who have chosen to make Prince Albert their home.  These skills and talents are also put to good use as a member of the Prince Albert Multicultural Association, the Prince Albert Housing Authority and the Welcome Wagon in facilitating their integration into our community.

Marie’s sharing heart, compassionate soul and commitment to the most vulnerable in our community has led her to work with the Prince Albert Food Bank, the Downtown Improvement Association and the Prince Albert Council of Women. Marie was very involved with Girl Guides and the Boy Scouts of Canada for over forty years.  She assumed many roles in the scouting movement. 

Marie has received many awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions throughout her lifetime.  She has been the recipient of the scout’s movement’s Good Service to Scouting and Medal of Merit.  She was honoured with the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal.  The Prince Albert YWCA’s Women of Distinction honoured her with the Lifetime Achievement Award.  She has received the Council of Women’s Certificate of Recognition of Women Leaders in Prince Albert.  As well, she has received the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal.

Throughout all of these years of service to her community, Marie was a wife and a mother of a large family. 

 The last few years have seen Marie struggle with health issues and surgeries, but still she continues to give of herself.  I have seen her come home from Saskatoon after a medical procedure and, rather than rest, head off to one of her many meetings.  She books her meetings and hours of volunteerism around her doctor appointments. 

As I watched Marie, her tiny frame sitting on the huge official chair at City Hall, it struck me again how one person can make a difference in the world.  I admire her strength in the face of the many struggles she has dealt with and her commitment to her community.  She understands how the actions of one person can change the life of another. 

Congratulations, Marie, on this well-deserved recognition.  You are truly an angel and we in Prince Albert are fortunate to have you working for us.  Special people receiving well-deserved recognition . . .  it's a good thing!

Labour Day

As we enjoy the extra day off this long week-end, I think it is important to remember the reason we observe Labour Day.  In Canada, we have celebrated Labour Day since the 1880’s and we have observed it on the first Monday in September since then.   This is a time to remember the sacrifices and vision of those who came before us and fought for many of the benefits we now take for granted – things like a forty-hour week, an eight-hour day,  sick leave and maternity leave. 

The labour unions were the first to advocate the “eight-hour movenment” – eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation and eight hours for rest.   Because of the efforts in this regard of the Toronto Trades Asssembly, made up of twenty-seven unions, our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, repealed anti-union laws and the first Trade Union Act was passed in 1873. 

Labour Day is very important to union members all over the world and is celebrated world-wide, although not all on the same day.  The majority of countries who celebrate Labour Day site  its origin as the fight for the eight-hour day and also celebrate all the other benefits gained over the years after that.  We now enjoy good working conditons and fair wages which contribute to a better way of life for all of us.

Even those who are not members of a union should appreciate the actions of organized labour that have led to all of us being treated fairly and with respect in the work place.  It was because of the pressure excerted by the members of organized unions that even non-unionized work places began to offer eight-hour days and forty-hour weeks.  We now enjoy many other benefits, no matter where we work and no matter if we are affliated with a union or not.

Many people see the Labour Day week-end as the end of summer and the start of the new school year.  People who have cabins at the lake often close down their summer place on this week-end.  And of course, in Saskatchewan, we cheer on our Riders in the annual Labour Day Classic against the Blue Bombers.  Parents often use this week-end to spend leisurely quality time with their children before the mad rush of school and extra-curricular events and sports begin.  Whatever your plans are for this week-end, I hope you enjoy it and have a wonderful time.  I also hope you take a moment to reflect on the reason we celebrate this week-end and to appreciate the lifestyle we enjoy because of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magical Garden

I recently had the opportunity to visit an amazing garden hidden behind a quiet residential street right here in Prince Albert. Joni Hladun has created a truly whimsical and magical world of plants, colourful flowers and unique decorations and ornaments. As a result, she has a little bit of paradise right at her doorstep.

 Since visiting Joni’s garden, I have been told there was a time when Prince Albert had a garden tour and that this garden was a favorite stop. Several others have told me they have visited her garden many times over the years. It would appear that I was one of the very few who were not aware of this beautiful yard.

 The magic begins as soon as you park your vehicle and walk onto the driveway. Plants, planters, decorations, stones and even a door transformed into a plant holder greet you as you walk toward the house. One hardly knows where to look first, there is so much beauty to take in. And that is only the beginning.

 When Joni opens the gate to the back yard, the scene is breath taking. Again you do not know where to look first. I found that when walking through the yard several times, something different caught my eye each time. You can find everything from angels to antique farm implements, mirrors to bird houses, ornaments of every kind, wonderful little hide-a-ways to sit and relax in and, oh yes, hundreds of plants. The greenery throughout the landscape represents every type of plant, shade-loving or sun-kissed depending on their location. Delightful flowers of every colour seem to smile up at you.

 This creative woman has taken every day objects and turned them into planters and unusual decorations. She has hung mirrors and paintings throughout her yard. The paintings are bright and cheerful images of flowers, which blend perfectly into the rest of the yard. There is a hammock under her one-hundred-and-twelve-year old tree. She has one-of-a-kind, commissioned iron-work birds resting among one of her flower beds. As well, there are fountains of bubbling water which add to the peaceful atmoshphere.

 This is a quiet and serene home. The garden is a peaceful and wonderful place. It feels like it is a world away from the busy street only half a block away. Joni has used her imagination to create a wonderful and unusual green space.

 I can only imagine how many hours and years have gone into the creation and upkeep of this yard and how much work it has taken, but for those of us who get to enjoy its beauty, we are very grateful.  Discovering a magical, whimsical garden . . .  it’s a good thing!

 

Forgiveness

Last week, we heard the sad story of the fifteen-year-old driver who collided with a train near Broadview.  The collision resulted in the death of his seven-year-old brother and eleven-year-old sister, as well as two friends, girls aged ten years and eighteen years. Such a tragic event and a sad loss of young lives.  One can only imagine the emotions the young driver is experiencing and the guilt and sadness he is surely feeling.

 My faith in human kindness and compassion has once again been validated upon hearing the father of the deceased ten-year-old speak words of comfort to the driver through the media.  How incredible that in his sorrow and heartache, this man who has just lost a young daughter, would find it in his heart to be concerned about the feelings and well-being of the driver.  Both parents spoke out to reassure this young man that they did not hold him responsible.  They said their daughter had died having fun with her best friends and that she had been having a wonderful summer holiday.  These wonderful people reached out to the driver with the message that  “with everything he’s going through with the collison, they wanted him to know they carry no hard feelings”. 

I wonder how many of us would be so compassionate after the loss of a child?  I think perhaps we would be too consumed with grief and bitterness to worry about the feelings of the driver. Would we want to lash out at the driver and blame him for killing our child?  Or would we be like these parents and consider that there is enough pain and sorrow and do what we could to ease the pain of a young man who will likely never totally overcome the guilt?  I think it is amazing these parents acted so quickly to reassure the driver of their faith in him and to tell him they did not hold him responsible.  To be so completely forgiving and concerned immediately after a personal tragedy is incredible.  I have no doubt this couple will work their way through their sorrow much quicker because of the love they have for others and because of their charitable act.  They will not have bitterness and blame getting in the way of their recovery. 

I think that out of this terrible event emerges the story we need to remember:  how one grieving couple reached out to offer words of comfort and support to a young man, and how they put their own grief on hold in order to give out that comfort and support.  I hope, as they do, that their words and actions will help a fifteen-year-old driver overcome his guilt and remorse,  and that he will be able to build a life for himself. Building a better world by caring for those around us . . .  it's a good thing!

My New Obsession

Most of my life, I have not been much of a fan of spectator sports.  Maybe I watched a little hockey, especially the play-offs, but I did not plan my activities around a NHL schedule like some people I know do.  I never really paid much attention to the Olympics, Major League Ball or even the Riders (gasp). 

Suddenly, a couple of years ago, that all changed.  I went from having no understanding of the game of football (or even wanting to understand it) to having Rider season tickets this year.  I now cheer every success and agonize over every loss.  Just like the majority of Saskatchewan people, I armchair coach.  Out of the blue, I get it!  I now know why people love football.  I wonder why it took me so long to find this out?

I began to suspect that perhaps I loved watching all sports when I found I could not stop watching the tennis championship at Wimblington a few weeks ago.  As I watched Serena Williams win, I realized that possibly I was doomed to spend future hours watching sports I had once found boring.

I actually began to suspect this addiction two years ago when I became drawn into the Olympics.  I thought maybe it was because it was held in Canada or maybe because our Canadian  athletes did so well.  Then I decided I enjoyed it because I liked the winter Olympics, not the summer Olympics and I had just not realized that before.  Well, these past two weeks I discovered I love both the winter and summer Olympics, as I could not pull myself away from television, no matter which event was on.  I never thought I would find bicycle racing, swimming or beach volleyball so much fun to watch; or that I could be so excited to watch a Canadian win gold on the trampoline.  Who even knew that trampoline was a sport?  I was amazed at the level of excitement when Canada and USA played off in the women’s soccer semi-finals.  Each morning during the Olympics, I would turn on the television “just to see what was going on” and I would end up sitting on the edge of my chair through-out most of the day.  I think it really sank in how hooked I had become when I actually contemplated getting up a 3:00 a.m. to watch a live game.  All right, maybe not totally hooked because I did not get up in the middle of the night, but just the fact that I thought about it scared me a little. 

I could go on about other sports I once shunned and now love, but women’s water polo is about to start and I can’t miss a minute of it.

Finding out you love spectator sports after all these years . . . it’s a good thing!

           

           

Saskatchewan Day

I hope you are enjoying your Saskatchewan Day long week-end.  Most of us enjoy the extra day off at the beginning of August without really thinking about what it means to live in Saskatchewan and how fortunate we are.

While this summer has been tumultuous with sudden and heavy rainfall and an unprecedented number of tornadoes, we should remember how privileged we are that this is the exception and not our usual weather.  Our neighbors to the south face tornadoes every year.  We see them only a few times in our lifetime.   They are terrifying, to say the least, and I am very happy that we do not have to count on suffering the destruction and terror of these violent storms each and every year.

Along with summer, we have four very distinct seasons.  Most of us take these changes for granted.  There is a beauty in each season which people in non-changing climates never get to experience.  We have the opportunity to enjoy all types of sports and activities which change with each season.  I know of a woman who was born and raised in Hawaii and now lives here.  She absolutely refuses to visit her family during the winter because she loves the snow and doesn’t want to miss a minute of it.  She is always telling people we don’t realize how wonderful it is to have the different seasons.   Having grown up where the temperature is constant all year, she savours each change she experiences here as the seasons change.

Many of us who live here are descendents of people who have been in this province for generations, and we know how hard they worked to give us the life we now enjoy.  Many families around Prince Albert have received one-hundred year recognition for their family farms.  Farming has changed a great deal, but in this province, many farms stay in the same family generation after generation.
This summer, we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of medicare.  Many of us grew up under this plan and tend to take it for granted.  This year, there has been much attention on the struggles of T. C. Douglas and those who believed, fifty years ago, that everyone should have access to medical help without financial hardship.  It is hard to believe that anyone could ever have been against this ideal.  Today, Canadians demand its protection and consider it one of Canada’s greatest accomplishments.  The fact that medicare started right here in Saskatchewan is a testament to the sense of community and sharing that has made this province so great. 

Our winters may be too cold, our summers to short, and we may not be as sophisticated as some might wish us to be, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!  Happy Saskatchewan Day.  Taking time to remember what it is about Saskatchewan we love the most . . . it’s a good thing!

           

Aurora

The world is reeling from the news of the massacre at a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado.  The senseless death of twelve innocent people and the injuries of dozens more, all of whom were simply out to enjoy a movie, is almost beyond comprehension.   The fact, as we are now learning, that the killer must have planned this evil act for months and knew that many people would die by his actions is horrifying.  He left booby-traps behind in his apartment, putting at risk the lives of the police officers he knew would be entering his home.  The horror is intensified because this murderer apparently lived a normal life, had a university education, in fact excelled at college and was at the top of his class, and because he came from a middle-class family -  just like so many people we know and grew up with.  How is it possible for one person to hurt so many people in a calm and planned manner?

 Out of the ashes of this great tragedy, stories are emerging of ordinary people performing heroic actions.  We are hearing stories of people, true heroes, who risked or even gave up their lives to save another’s.  We already know of two men who threw themselves on their girlfriends to protect them, and lost their lives but saved that of their loved ones.  Mothers risked their lives to protect their children.  Total strangers helped each other as the horror played out all around them.  Ordinary people became super heroes.  The strength and compassion of the human soul was in great evidence that night.  That is the important element of this tragedy which we need to remember.  It was not “each man for himself”, people helped each other and in some cases put themselves in harm’s way to do so.  In the aftermath, the world has put a collective arm around the families who lost a loved one, have offered compassion and prayers for those who were injured and have given support to those who witnessed the terror and survived.  Each time another horrific assault like this one occurs, dozens of unlikely and ordinary heroes emerge.  Theirs are the stories we need to remember.

 Rather than lose faith and hope in mankind because of the cruel act of one man, let us marvel at the bravery and unselfish acts of those in that theatre, and at the compassion of so many others all over the world who offer prayers, support and love.  Finding hope, friendship and love in the face of great horror . . . it’s a good thing!