Barbara Lehtiniemi is a writer and photographer from Ontario. She’s a graduate of Athabasca University, having completed her Bachelor of General Studies degree in 2018.
A regular contributor to The Voice Magazine since 2013, Barbara is an occasional contributor to other publications including Maclean’s and MC2. Barbara writes in several genres, including non-fiction, fiction, and poetry. She’s grateful to The Voice Magazine for providing the opportunity to explore an array of topics and writing styles, and she remains dreadfully sorry for those awful haikus.
Barbara has a fondness for travel, used bookstores, everyday absurdities, and oversized wine glasses. Originally from urban Southwestern Ontario, she now lives on a windswept rural road in Eastern Ontario with her indulgent and supportive husband, Leo.
You can follow Barbara on Twitter @theregoesbarb, or contact her at blehtiniemi1@athabasca.edu.
There’s a saying, attributed to author and inspirational speaker Regina Brett, that states, “If we threw all our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s we’d grab ours back.” Whether it’s schadenfreude, self-improvement, or simply gratitude that our own problems are not worse, reading advice columns seems to be a pastime with universal appeal…. Read more »
Travel comes with risks at the best of times. Travelling during a pandemic adds an unsettling new dimension. It was with some trepidation that we booked flights to Canada’s west coast. We researched the airlines to learn what measures they were taking to keep passengers safe. In addition to disinfecting protocols, mandatory mask wearing, and… Read more »
Canadian students aged 30 or under can now register for the Canada Student Service Grant. The details of the grant program were announced June 25, and registration is open until August 21, 2020. The grant program is one of several relief measures for students first announced in April. Since many traditional summer job opportunities for… Read more »
Each time I glance at my AU parchment, hanging near my desk, I think back to the effort that went into earning my degree. And, inevitably, I think back to the money that went into it, too. When I began pursuing my degree, I assumed that I’d qualify for the same financial assistance that younger… Read more »
The holiday season brings comfort in tradition and ritual. At the heart of many celebrations, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and others, are patterns that have comforted us throughout our lives. The rituals, the food, the family gatherings. When someone has lost somebody special in their lives, whether a spouse, family member, or friend—even a pet—everyone… Read more »
Last week, we highlighted some logistical considerations to get you to Athabasca. This week, we share a few tips to get you through your big day. AU Convocation info. Make sure you know where you need to be and when. The more you know, the less you’ll stress! Read every page on AU’s Convocation site. … Read more »
Next month, hundreds of students—I mean graduands—will make the trek to Athabasca for convocation. For many, it will be the first time they’ve visited AU’s campus. For some, it may be the first time they’ve visited Alberta. I went to convocation in June 2018. It wasn’t my first trip to Alberta, but it was definitely… Read more »
Each time I glance at my AU parchment, hanging near my desk, I think back to the effort that went into earning my degree. And, inevitably, I think back to the money that went into it, too. When I began pursuing my degree, I assumed that I’d qualify for the same financial assistance that younger… Read more »
Are you ready for the elation, the emotion, the high fives, and the cheering crowds? Students who finish their AU degree requirements by April 30 are eligible to attend AU’s convocation ceremonies this June in Athabasca, Alberta. Will you be among the hundreds of excited graduands visiting the campus of Athabasca University for the first… Read more »
Current AU students, entrenched in the seemingly endless struggle toward their degrees, may think I’m crazy. But after finishing my degree at AU last year, I returned to take one more course. I’m not a sucker for punishment. I’m not turning into a career student. I just decided to take one course simply for the… Read more »