More of Our Canada – September 01, 2019

BRENDA DAVIS

Brenda was born in Nipawin, Sask.,

in 1965 to Ray and Doreen Herron.

The family subsequently moved to

Tisdale, where Brenda received her

education, worked for many years,

and still lives today. She has three

sons, Jason, Trevor and Chad, who also make their

home in Tisdale. Twelve years ago, Brenda was

offered the chance to work at Three Lakes Camp

in Jan Lake, Sask.,—the subject of this issue’s Our

Travels piece on page 20—where she is still employed

today. In her free time, Brenda enjoys photography,

scrapbooking, crafts and reading.

DERYK HOUSTON

Deryk is a Canadian artist of Scottish
descent residing in Victoria. In 1999,
he travelled to Iraq and witnessed the
devastating effects that war and sanc-
tions were having on the people
there. The experience profoundly
changed Deryk’s life and peace became the main focus
of his art, which subsequently became the subject of
an NFB documentary, From Baghdad to Peace Country.
See Cause for Applause on page 16 for one contributor’s
reaction to Deryk’s “Peace Sanctuary” natural art
installation near Hudson’s Hope, B.C., as well as an
update from Deryk about his past and current activities.

Love From Afar
I am writing to compliment you
on your excellent publication. My
niece, who lives in New Bruns-
wick, sent me a copy some time
ago and I enjoyed it so much that
she has continued to send me
issues on a regular basis. I enjoy
the stories about wildlife, as well
as the ones about how life in
Canada used to be “back in the
day.” There was one in particular
about the “old kitchen stove” that
I liked. My particular favourites,
however, are the stories about
the veterans. My sister Lillian
met, fell in love with and married
a Canadian airman during the
Second World War. After the war,
she travelled aboard the Queen
Mary to be reunited with her hus-
band George in New Brunswick.
Although both sadly have passed
away, we do have a wonderful
extended family in Canada. Your
magazine brings Canada closer,
so that readers from abroad, like
me, can enjoy and appreciate your
wonderful country.
Joan Shaw,
South Yorkshire, England

Happy Memories

Bonnie Sitter’s article about the

Farmerettes (April-May 2019)

brought back so many wonderful

memories. During the summer

of 1951, our group of gals left our

little town of Geraldton, Ont.,

to spend our summer holidays

picking fruit. At Grimsby we

were met by our farmer employ-

er, Mr. Smith, and taken to our

home for the summer, a Quonset

hut that housed four. Although

Mr. Smith expected us to get

our jobs done, he was also very

easy going—very much a father

figure—my first boss and one

that I will never forget! We took

full advantage of our free time,

hitchhiking around the coun-

tryside, and swimming in Lake

Ontario. Some of my memories

include taking a nap on a lad-

der on a cherry tree, how we all

hated peaches and their fuzz,

our first laundry day when none

of us knew how to run a washer,

eating enough cherries to swear

off them for life, eating enough

boiled cabbage to last a lifetime,

but most of all, the wonderful

camaraderie we enjoyed during a

never-to-be-forgotten summer.

Edith Sutherland,

Thunder Bay, Ont.

A Welcome Newcomer

I just read my very first copy of

Our Canada (April-May 2019)

and thoroughly enjoyed it. I

will be passing it along to other

residents in my building to enjoy

as well.

Delores Lowndes,

Guelph, Ont.

CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT

LETTERS

4 More of Our Canada SEPTEMBER 2019