Barbara Godin is a graduate of Athabasca University. She writes the “”Dear Barb” and the “Women of Interest” columns. As well, Barb has written many personal interest stories and enjoys connecting with others through her writing. She has been writing for The Voice since 2003.
Dear Barb: Recently, I began working at a small company doing administrative work for the summer. I’m halfway through my degree in business and looking forward to graduating. Most of my summer jobs have worked out well, but this one is challenging. My boss is in her early thirties and this is her first time… Read more »
Dear Barb: I look forward to reading your column as often as I can. Recently my younger brother was diagnosed with a mental illness. We always knew there was something different about him, but we hoped he would outgrow it. He seems to have gotten worse over the years, very unstable; some days he seems… Read more »
Dear Barb: My mother is 56 years old and was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. She was given approximately one year to live. She was completely devastated, as was our whole family. My aunt died three years ago from the same thing and it was an awful and painful death for her. Mom doesn’t… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi! I have just completed my first course at Athabasca University and did very well. The problem I have is, every time I tell people I am obtaining a degree through an online university, they respond by asking why I don’t go to a real university! They say I am wasting my time… Read more »
Roberta Louise “Bobbie” Gibb is the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon during the pre-sanctioned era, which included the years 1966 to 1971. She was not officially recognized at that time, as women were viewed as not being physically able to compete in events longer than one and a half miles. This did not… Read more »
Dear Barb: I am the oldest of three; my two younger brothers are away at university. Last week they returned for Mother’s Day, but one of my brothers refused to see or celebrate Mother’s Day with my mom. My mom and him have had issues for a long time, but now he doesn’t want to… Read more »
Dear Barb: Recently I prepared a large meal for eight people. The day before the dinner one of the couples cancelled and then on the day of two more people cancelled. Aside from the fact that I had spent days planning and preparing this meal, I ended up with a lot of leftovers, which I… Read more »
In 1946, Rae Chittick was elected president of the Canadian Nurses Association. Prior to this, for twenty-five years, she was a health educator at the Calgary Normal School. Miss Chittick was the president of CARNA from 1940-1942. CARNA is a professional organization for Alberta’s 37,000 registered nurses with the mandate of serving the public interest… Read more »
Dear Barb: I am the parent of a university student and I’m wondering what happened to manners! It seems for the most part today’s younger generation live by their own rules and are very inconsiderate of other people’s feelings. A lot of my son’s friends come over and barely look at me, even when they… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi, I got a strange call from a young lady who was claiming to be my daughter. She told me her mother’s name and where she lived. I did not recognize her name, although she did grow up in my old neighborhood. She wants to meet with me, but I’m reluctant. When I… Read more »