Posted on March 10, 2016 under Faces in the Crowd with no comments yet

 

The long and winding road took her and her husband from Mumbai, through Delhi, Zambia, Atlanta and Bangkok, and finally to a small town in rural, Nova Scotia, a place they now call home.

Meet Jyotsna Jain.

She was born in the outskirts of Mumbai, India in the suburbs of Kalyan. She was raised in a small industrial township in Baroda, Gujarat where an oil refinery employed people from every part of India and everyone knew everyone else in a very multi cultural environment.  Like many in her newly adopted town of Antigonish, the people of Baroda celebrated life with lots of cultural events.

She completed her undergraduate studies in political science followed by a Master’s degree. She was a sports enthusiast and played competitive basketball in high school and university and even participated at Nationals.  Then, as now, she recognized the importance of being a team player.

They moved to Antigonish 6 years ago when her husband, Anuj, took a position teaching microfinance at the renowned Coady International Institute. It took a while to adjust but, according to Jyotsna, “We decided that this was a place where we could settle down for the long haul.”

It didn’t take long for Jyotsna to immerse herself in the community. She has an easy way with people.  She’s friendly and outgoing, compassionate and a good listener.  She started volunteering with ACALA and says that this was a turning point for her.  She now teaches at ACALA where she helps new immigrants with English language skills.  She raves about People’s Place library as a space that is welcoming to all, especially new people to the area.

She is a familiar face at the Antigonish Art Fair and Cultural Connections (International Pot Luck).

Jyotsna is a passionate “foodie”. “Cooking is therapy for me.  When I’m alone in the kitchen, I’m completely at peace with myself.”  She loves to cook and dreams someday of opening a restaurant.

She sees Antigonish emerging as a cultural hub. It wouldn’t be a surprise to her or anyone else to see new businesses and places of worship spring up.

This quiet, thoughtful and caring person is “no plain Jain”.

Posted on March 7, 2016 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet

“Dreaming of Spring”

 

What is it about one’s home town that tugs at the heart?

Most of us, especially those of us who grew up in small towns, couldn’t wait to leave town once we finished school. Many of us felt that we needed something bigger, more exciting, more sophisticated than a town with a half a dozen traffic lights.

Then we travelled afar , sometimes by choice and other times by necessity and as we aged ,came to the realization that the old home town wasn’t so bad after all.

I say these things because of the overwhelming response to my new feature, “Faces in the Crowd.” I routinely hear from ex-Antigonishers in different parts of the world. You can tell that they would love to be back having a slice of Wheel pizza, attending the Highland Games or watching a St.F.X. sporting event. Faces in the Crowd is a way for people to keep in touch with home and I am so happy that it brings you pleasure to see some old familiar faces.

By the way, please feel free to send me names of people you think should be profiled. Let’s face it… everybody has an unique and interesting story.

Have a wonderful week.

Posted on March 3, 2016 under Faces in the Crowd with 2 comments

 

She started as a go-fer at the Moonlight Restaurant when she was in high school, and ended up managing the place … forty three years on and counting.

Meet Claire DeWolfe-Dickson.

It was only a few steps from Victoria Street to the Moonlight, and Johnny Joe spotted a winner back in the early 70’s when he hired Claire to go to the bank, fetch mail and do all manner of odd jobs. Her only previous employment had been the July and August she worked in the library at the new Antigonish Regional High School under the guidance of Sarkis Hamboyan.  There’s not a lot of student traffic in the library during the dog days of summer!

She was a bright student, earning a scholarship to X, but it just didn’t feel right. She continued to work at the restaurant at the urging of Anna Joe.  “Come and work until you figure out what you want to do with your life.”  The answer was right in front of her.

She had a passion for motorcycles so it is not surprising that her future husband was an enthusiast as well. Their bikes had names: Raven and Virgil.

It seems like anything with wheels got Claire’s undivided attention. She and Marshall became “mud boggers” and would arrive home after many hours in the woods, mired in grime after a long session of four wheeling.

Just recently, the duo bought their very own transport truck, trailer and loader; joining the ranks of the self- employed at an age when many people start to gear down.

On one memorable shift at the restaurant, then-Premier Rodney MacDonald and Angus “Tando” MacIsaac were in for a bite. A precocious young boy and his mother approached the Premier.  The lad asked him, “Have you ever considered voting Liberal?”  Claire and the boy’s mother joined in the chorus of laughter that followed.

Claire has been plagued with inflammation of the joints since she was eight, but that hasn’t slowed her down. A self-professed night hawk, it is not unusual to find her cooking next day’s supper at 3:00 a.m.

When the Moonlight changed hands in 2001, she was central to the agreement. The new owners insisted that she stay.

Retirement is not imminent … and Claire’s legion of loyal patrons couldn’t be happier.