Columns

Lost & Found – Desert Island Masterpieces

Back when I was growing up in England, I was one of those sickly, pimply, anemic looking children who seem to catch every form of contagion going around. Bronchitis, walking pneumonia, measles, mumps, whooping cough, scurvy, ptomaine, toe jam, beri beri, yellow fever – you name it, and it’s a pretty good bet that I… Read more »

Dear Barb – More Updates

Readers, this is the second of two issues featuring updates to previous columns. Dear Barb: My fiancĂ© and I are planning our wedding. The problem is that my parents are divorced and both have remarried. I know tradition says my father should walk me down the aisle, but I don’t want to leave out my… Read more »

Canadian Fedwatch! News Across the Nation

A Tale of Two Provinces British Columbia and Saskatchewan both have the same problem. As our population grows older, there’s an increasing demand for health care professionals. Both provinces want to have more health care professionals available. Both provinces would also like to have them educated in their province rather than paying sufficiently high salaries… Read more »

From Where I Sit – Back on Track

In June 2003 it occurred to me that our baby girl Hilary would be leaving home to attend university. By this time Roy had been trucking into the United States for about a year and a half. At that point I had already been home and “semi-retired” for nearly two years. It dawned on me… Read more »

Women You Should Know – Pitseolak Ashoona

Pitseolak Ashoona (1904-1983) Pitseolak Ashoona was born in Nottingham Island in the Northwest Territories. She was raised on Baffin Island and became a renowned Inuit Canadian artist. Pitseolak grew up living a traditional Inuit lifestyle that is reflected in her extensive artwork. She and her husband raised 12 children, some of whom followed her artistic… Read more »

The Good Life – Seafood Watch

I generally don’t give a lot of credence to people who are always talking about the “good old days,” when children were supposedly more respectful, and life in general was seen as somehow better and safer. In my experience, that kind nostalgic nonsense is usually just a mask for some sort of narrow-mindedness, or a… Read more »

AUSU This Month

AUSU’s Website Has a New Look The AUSU website has a new look and navigation. Please stop by to take a look and let us know what you think. It’s possible that a few links may not be working as we go through and ensure the new menu system is updated, so please write webmaster@ausu.org… Read more »

Dear Barb – Updates!

Dear Readers, this week and next week I will include updates from previous columns. Thank you to the readers who took the time to update me on their situations. Dear Barb: I am a recently divorced mother of a 12-year-old daughter. I work full time and attend university part time. I have recently begun dating… Read more »

Canadian Fedwatch! News Across the Nation

Here Comes the Sun The province of Alberta will soon have a large-scale solar heating project (http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/media/newsreleases/2005/200520_e.htm), the first of its kind in North America. This project will apparently provide up to 90% of the heating costs of a community of about 52 homes and will serve as an example of just what can be… Read more »

Women You Should Know – Patricia Blondal

Patricia Blondal (1926-1959) Patricia Blondal was born in Souris, Manitoba. After graduating from the University of Manitoba, she became a broadcaster in Winnipeg. As an aspiring writer, Patricia had the good fortune of being a classmate of another famous Canadian writer – Margaret Laurence. After traveling throughout Canada and England, Patricia met and married Harold… Read more »