once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it was wonderful to run my stage of the relay in my own neighbourhood of West Vancouver. On February 10 at 7:45 p.m., I ran along Marine Drive between 15th and 17th streets.
Three Canadian cities have played a role in my life: I was born and raised in Smuts, Saskatchewan; I raised my children and developed my teaching career in New Westminster; and now I am enjoying my retirement in West Vancouver.
My home town of Smuts was named by an executive of the Canadian National Railway after a British army officer when a railroad track was built from Melfort to Saskatoon. Although I called it home for almost 25 years and it was where I started my teaching career in a little one-room schoolhouse, I left town soon after I married only to return again as a visitor with my children for summer holidays. Like a number of other prairie towns, Smuts died out after train service was removed. The two grain elevators were closed, and the schools soon followed. This is the sad history of many towns and villages across Canada. Once the economic lifeblood of the community is removed, followed by the loss of townspeople, they quickly become ghost towns.
A number of years ago, someone reported the sighting of actual ghosts in Smuts. This report brought thrill seekers who caused a great deal of damage and vandalism to the old grocery store, the hotel, and to the church. Luckily, the teenage vandals were caught and punished. If there was an apparition sighted, it was most likely one of my cousins who lives in the neighborhood and who took on the responsibility of caring for the church. St. John the Baptist, a beautiful church considered a heritage site, can be seen like a beacon from miles around.
In the first chapter of my book, I recounted some early family memories. A family is the smallest unit of an organized community, and the need for solidarity and respect for each member means a willingness to cooperate. A family is a mini-community that is magically bonded together by ties of affection, loyalty, and mutual respect .
Of my 10 siblings, I am the only one still alive today. I think of my brothers and sisters fondly and consider myself fortunate to have loved each and every one of them. As the middle child in a large family, I occupied an excellent position to know and appreciate their different qualities and personalities.
This photo was taken at the 1986 Shawaga Family Reunion. Front row l to r: Mike, Steve, Matt, Jean Burdeniuk, Anne Korpan, John. Standing l to r: Olga Kotelko, Phyllis Gutiw, Kay Chomyn. Missing are dad and mom, of course, and eldest sister Mary Parchewsky and youngest brother Alex.
After my eldest brother Mike retired from farming, he built and operated a general store. He was an excellent manager. He became a successful entrepreneur in Saskatoon, buying older homes, refurbishing them, and reselling them. He lived to be 90 years and 4 months.
I always looked up to my eldest sister, Mary, who was a gracious lady. Everything that she did was a masterpiece, and cooking was her specialty. I thoroughly enjoyed working with her in her home and learning from her all that I now know about food preparation, sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Mary was also a successful entrepreneur. She demonstrated leadership, was a great mentor, and always had time to give advice and assistance. My interest in reflexology came from Mary. I miss her dearly.
Anne was great fun, and we shared a lot of laughs together. We always enjoyed shopping for bargains at garage sales and second-hand stores. She had a good eye for Canadian furniture and antiques of all sorts. Anne organized and hosted many great parties and was always a helpful friend.
Sister Jean was the great family seamstress. She loved to crochet and was good at creating new and different dress patterns for our mother and sisters. Jean liked to sew similar dresses for her and me. Once we attended a country barn dance dressed alike. I still remember
Three Canadian cities have played a role in my life: I was born and raised in Smuts, Saskatchewan; I raised my children and developed my teaching career in New Westminster; and now I am enjoying my retirement in West Vancouver.
My home town of Smuts was named by an executive of the Canadian National Railway after a British army officer when a railroad track was built from Melfort to Saskatoon. Although I called it home for almost 25 years and it was where I started my teaching career in a little one-room schoolhouse, I left town soon after I married only to return again as a visitor with my children for summer holidays. Like a number of other prairie towns, Smuts died out after train service was removed. The two grain elevators were closed, and the schools soon followed. This is the sad history of many towns and villages across Canada. Once the economic lifeblood of the community is removed, followed by the loss of townspeople, they quickly become ghost towns.
A number of years ago, someone reported the sighting of actual ghosts in Smuts. This report brought thrill seekers who caused a great deal of damage and vandalism to the old grocery store, the hotel, and to the church. Luckily, the teenage vandals were caught and punished. If there was an apparition sighted, it was most likely one of my cousins who lives in the neighborhood and who took on the responsibility of caring for the church. St. John the Baptist, a beautiful church considered a heritage site, can be seen like a beacon from miles around.
In the first chapter of my book, I recounted some early family memories. A family is the smallest unit of an organized community, and the need for solidarity and respect for each member means a willingness to cooperate. A family is a mini-community that is magically bonded together by ties of affection, loyalty, and mutual respect .
Of my 10 siblings, I am the only one still alive today. I think of my brothers and sisters fondly and consider myself fortunate to have loved each and every one of them. As the middle child in a large family, I occupied an excellent position to know and appreciate their different qualities and personalities.
This photo was taken at the 1986 Shawaga Family Reunion. Front row l to r: Mike, Steve, Matt, Jean Burdeniuk, Anne Korpan, John. Standing l to r: Olga Kotelko, Phyllis Gutiw, Kay Chomyn. Missing are dad and mom, of course, and eldest sister Mary Parchewsky and youngest brother Alex.
After my eldest brother Mike retired from farming, he built and operated a general store. He was an excellent manager. He became a successful entrepreneur in Saskatoon, buying older homes, refurbishing them, and reselling them. He lived to be 90 years and 4 months.
I always looked up to my eldest sister, Mary, who was a gracious lady. Everything that she did was a masterpiece, and cooking was her specialty. I thoroughly enjoyed working with her in her home and learning from her all that I now know about food preparation, sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Mary was also a successful entrepreneur. She demonstrated leadership, was a great mentor, and always had time to give advice and assistance. My interest in reflexology came from Mary. I miss her dearly.
Anne was great fun, and we shared a lot of laughs together. We always enjoyed shopping for bargains at garage sales and second-hand stores. She had a good eye for Canadian furniture and antiques of all sorts. Anne organized and hosted many great parties and was always a helpful friend.
Sister Jean was the great family seamstress. She loved to crochet and was good at creating new and different dress patterns for our mother and sisters. Jean liked to sew similar dresses for her and me. Once we attended a country barn dance dressed alike. I still remember
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