Inspirational Men & Woman

Nellie Carlson is an Elder and was born in Saddle Lake, AB - i know you would be asking what an Elder is .. they are actually native woman who raised in rank thru’ the years of all the good work they put into their community.  But for Nellie, she left the reserve (where they lived and grow up) .. in 1956 but returned as an Elder to help educate and motivate others in moving their lives forward.

A tireless promoter of native women’s rights and even founding member and President of Indian Rights for Indian Woman.. i bet she uses lots of office supply for her work.  After coming to Canada.. i found that the Elders around here are mostly woman.  The one in my town is also a woman.. and boy! her house is huge..!!  i wonder what kind of house .. Nellie Makokis Carlson lived in..??  anyhow.. she was presented with the Governor General Award in 1988, in commenmoration of the Persons Case.

Canada’s first weather girl was Judy Erola in 1953, working part time at the TV station and raising her kids as well.  Of course, it is much harder to work and have a family as there weren’t even  barcode scanner at that time in the grocery stores - so you can imagine how tough it had to be for Judy or just about every woman out there.

She was later appointed continuity director and the first woman broadcasting account executive in Sudbury.  A lot of first for this very strong woman eh..?  With the death of her husband in 1977, she entered into politics and won a nomination.  In 1980 she won a seat as MP, she was also the Minister of Mines, Minister for the Status of Women and Minister for Consumer and Corporate Affairs.  Also the first woman who was appointed to the powerful cabinet prioriies and planning committee on government policy.

In 1984 when she didn’t win the election, she accepted the position of President of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Association of Canada in 1987 and she held that position till she retired.  Being a woman myself, i can only wished that i can do 10% what Judy Erola had done - if a woman from her era can do all these.. so can I .. and that’s what I want to teach my daughter.

Alice Donahue is a teacher but not just an ordinary teacher. Why..?? because born in 1926, she graduated and got married but at that time if you are married, you are not allowed to be in any teaching jobs.. in the town of Athabasca.  But that didn’t stop Alice Donahue .. she taught 7 miles north  of the river.

There was no bridge and she had to travel by ferry, cage or crossed the ice and then walked 4 miles from a farm house and also traveled with her children on horseback just to get to school.  So you know who doesn’t need a  diet supplement eh… hahah!  Alice Donahue did something that not many woman would do during that time.

Eventually rules were changed and she began teaching within the town limits.  But if not for Alice Donahue.. i wonder if woman now.. would be able to teach..??  after being married..?? or if she had not persisted. .and preserved.. would she have done so much for the Red Cross, the historical society .. and the founding member of the Athabasca Archives.

Hilda Woolnough is known for being an artist first.. but she is also an activist and a teacher.  Born in England in 1934 - a year older than my own mother, she died in 2007.  Hilda is an order fulfillment person who migrated to Canada in 1957 and settled in Hamilton, Ontario.

Hilda is someone i admired a lot because she travelled the world .. and not only that she also aquired a Master’s in Fine Arts .. in graphic.. and was a great artist in many form of arts.  She also stayed in PEI .. very near to me ..  and taught and contributed to the island’s arts and culture.  I had the privileged to see some of her work.. when i was in the island.   She won many awards .. and one of them was for the contirbution to the arts in Prince Edward Island.

It was said that she was a driving force behind the Island’s The Phoenix Gallery, The Gallery On Demand, The Great George Street Gallery and the Studen Art Expo.   Her work is admired by many ppl and all over the world - including the Montreal Museum of Fine Art and The Art Gallery of Ontario.

Curling is something i learn when i came to Canada.. and only after coming to Canada.. i began to understand the game.. and grew to like it.. after watching it.  One of these curler - Sandra Schmirler - i came to like a lot after watching her play.  Known as the Queen of Curling..  but had grew up dreaming to be a hockey player.  I hear some of the curling teams uses AED but not Sandra Schmirder.

Sandra Schmirler is also known for winning her curling team the first ever gold medal in Nagono Japan in 1998 - now that I remembered .. when i was in Asia.. but at that time.. i didn’t know who she was.  She also won 3 Canadian and World titles and at the age of 36 she died after losing her battle with cancer.  I love her quote .. when she said.. her greatest accomplishment is giving birth to two lovely and healthy girls - because this is exactly how i feel .. when i had my daughter.. and carried her to full term.   After her death, a foundation was set up in her honor .. and it donates to Neonatel Infant Care Units hospitals in Canada.

Jean M. Auel is one of the world’s most esteemed and beloved authors. Her extensive factual research has earned her the respect of renowned scientists, archaeologists and anthropologists around the globe.  Latest book is Clan of Cave Bear Earth’s Ch1, wished we could use netbooks to read all her other books as well.  Currently residing in Oregon, USA - born in 1936, a year younger than my own mother.  I only started reading her books because my father-in-law was at it.

Born to a housepainter, Jean married a Auel (pronounced as owl” and have 5 kids herself.  She is also a member of Mensa since 1964, so you can imagine how smart she is.   Her books inspires me.. they are all good read, I have to say.  She has 5 books altogether and The Shelters of Stone left me wondering how Jean Auel would manage to weave all of the loose ends together: the issue of half-Clan, half-Others, Brukeval, the Clan couple Jondalar and Ayla met in Plains of Passage and the relationship between Others and the Clan, Marona and Laramar and all the other Zelandonii who disapprove or are jealous of Ayla, Durc, whether Ayla will become the First among the Zelandoni, Jondalar’s possessiveness, and whether Ayla and Jondalar will ever see the S’Armunai and the Mamutoi again. Those are a lot of things to weave together. It makes sense that she is working on two more books–one would have not been enough! I just reread the whole series and am really looking forward to the next book.