Posted on August 11, 2016 under Faces in the Crowd with no comments yet

 

“We have a passion and respect for the earth. We have always cared about the welfare of animals. We are caretakers.”

Meet Marianna van de Lagemaat and Aaron Padolsky.

At the age of two, Marianna and her family moved to Canada, arriving at Pier 21 in Halifax. Her parents met at a labour camp in Ukraine during the war. They moved to the Ottawa Valley where her father farmed and her mother eventually ended up teaching at Carleton University. After completing high school, Marianna moved on to Carleton to study languages.

Aaron was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba where he spent his childhood before moving to Ottawa to study Philosophy at Carleton.

They took a school sponsored bus trip to New York City in March of 1968 to visit art museums. They attended the St. Patrick’s Day parade and one of the politicians riding in the motorcade that day was Presidential hopeful Bobby Kennedy, who would be assassinated three months later in California. Aaron and Marianna struck up a friendship that has endured for nearly 50 years.

They went their separate ways after university but kept in touch. They reconnected in 1985 after the death of Marianna’s first husband. Over time Aaron became dad to Marianna’s two children. He had spent some time during the intervening years living in Nova Scotia and in 1986 the couple decided to make the move east. They spent five years in Port Bickerton before moving on to Country Harbor where they lived for the next 24 years. Antigonish was a frequent stopping place during those years.

They both had farming in their blood so it was not surprising that they acquired 2.5 acres of land and started raising animals … and caring for them. Marianna loved animals and besides tending to her own, she also boarded others, including a pregnant cow!

Aaron was well-known in the area for being the organist for both the United and Anglican churches in many communities.

When Marianna’s mother’s heath failed, they built a granny flat and she moved in with them. The onset of dementia was the impetus for Marianna and Aaron to start the Dementia Care Givers Support Group, operating under the auspices of the Alzheimer’s Society. When Marianna’s mom ended up as a resident of the R.K. Nursing Home, the couple moved to Antigonish.

As Aaron and Marianna prepare to relocate, friends and colleagues speak highly and fondly of them.  The organizations to which they loaned their time and energy are far too numerous to list, but it is certain that all of these groups will miss them terribly.   “They are truly remarkable people. It’s humbling to see such generosity; the amount of time, patience and genuine love for animals in need was inspirational,” says a member of the local SPCA.

Marianna and Aaron have become fixtures at the Antigonish Art Fair, generously donating their time and talents with a crowd-pleasing clown act. According to a member of the organizing committee for the Fair, “Arpo and his fellow clowns regularly show up to perform, most times unannounced. Audience participation is their hallmark. They have a tremendous rapport with children and adults alike.”

The long, harsh east coast winters and the call of family are taking them to B.C. where they will take up residence on Vancouver Island.

Margaret Mead, who studied many communities around the world, used to say that each was composed of residents and citizens. Residents were those who simply lived there, taking every advantage, while citizens were those who made the community work. A friend commented that “Aaron and Marianna are citizens in the best sense of the word. They will be missed. On the other hand, another community will soon benefit from their citizenship.”

“We would love to be able to take Antigonish with us… except the winters! We made so many connections and friendships during our time here.”

Our community is a better place because of these kind and gentle people. They leave behind many friends and fans who will miss them dearly… especially their four legged friends!

“All the world loves a clown” – Cole Porter

 

Posted on August 8, 2016 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet

The Dorval Dragon

 

Families.

You can’t live with them and you can’t live without them.

Families are very complicated entities as most of us are well aware. Especially big families. And let’s face it, many of us are baby boomers and grew up at a time when 6-10 children per family was quite common.

I returned home yesterday from a family reunion ( my mother’s side of the family ) in Montreal. I met some cousins I hadn’t seen in 40-50 years and a few I had never met. The weekend was pretty laid back and lots of time to reconnect, talk and eat… and eat some more! Tom and I tried to walk off the food walking 3-4 hours each day. It was also an excellent opportunity for my brother Don, the family historian, to add some new branches to the family tree. We danced, we sang and we laughed and there was the odd tear as we remembered family members who had died over the years.

A great family friend, Leo Purcell addressed the crowd and urged us to write down our family stories before they are lost forever. As loyal Week45 readers know, I have been doing this in a backhanded way for a number of years now. I read one of my stories from book #3 about a memorable trip to Montreal by train in the early 70’s. http://www.week45.com/the-habs-and-the-hab-nots/

Oh yes. I confessed to Betty that I have a crush on someone else (!) … my 99 year old Aunt Edith, a bright, warm, charming and engaging woman.

____________________________________________________________________________________

So, I arrive at the airport to discover that my flight to Halifax has been delayed 2 hours, certainly not a big deal but you know how you feel at the end of a busy weekend on the road… you just want to get home. I checked the departures board and saw that there was a flight going to Halifax leaving in 20 minutes. ( the good news ) The lineup up for security was quite long. ( the bad news ) I thought I’d give it a hook. My biggest fear was that they might weigh me after the truly enormous megaton breakfast I had consumed  an hour earlier. By the time I cleared security I had exactly five minutes to get to Gate 11 which was conveniently located somewhere near the border of Quebec and Ontario.

I did my best Usain Bolt impression and ran full tilt through a thick maze of bewildered travellers. The very last passengers had just been sent on their way as I breathlessly approached the ticket counter. The attendant was a bit overwhelmed and almost laughed at me when I asked about the possibility of getting a seat. “We are oversold.” Several of the Halifax bound customers on the later flight had the same idea. All of us turned heel to head back to hang out for several hours. But 4 of us decided to hang around. We weren’t officially on a standby list but I was fourth on the pecking list if an opening came up.

The flight attendants were nearly frantic as it was obvious that the cockpit was calling and wanting to close the doors. And then these magical words “ Paging the C. family of 4.” The plane was not full and they were trying to locate this family. It felt like “the faint hope clause”… for the 4 of us waiting patiently ( like a bull moose in rut ).

 If you are a golfer you understand that you never outwardly wish your opponent miss a game winning putt on the 18^th. hole. Inwardly you pray that your opponent,  right at that moment ,gets a serious case of the yips and misses. We didn’t want this poor family to miss their flight but we were salivating at the prospect. Just then , our hearts sank as a foursome came bounding down the hallway. And just when all hope seemed lost, they veered sharply and headed for Gate 5. “ Remove this family from the passenger list.” I don’t think I have experienced as much drama ( or joy! )  since the birth of our first child!

Have a great week.

P.S. Thanks to the Cowans, the Gara’s, the O’Flaherty’s, the  Mitchells , the MacDonalds and extended family and friends. It was a blast.

 

 

 

Posted on August 4, 2016 under Faces in the Crowd with one comment

ACALA – his home away from home

 

“I want to make movies; to enable vulnerable groups to have their stories told and their voices heard.”

Meet Abdullah (Dullah) Kafashe

It was not easy growing up in Kigoma, Tanzania. Poverty, corruption, disease and unrest were normal parts of everyday life. The genocide in neighbouring Burundi tragically affected Dullah’s extended family and he lost many relatives. His family protected those that they could. Two cousins rescued by his mother grew up in the safety of his childhood home.

Against staggering odds, Dullah completed high school and became a member of the Tanzanian National Basketball team. On the day that he was writing his national exams, his older brother, a police officer and key supporter of Dullah’s education, was killed tragically in a motor vehicle accident. He left behind three children who were then abandoned by their mother. Dullah’s family stepped in and have looked after them ever since.

Around this time he met a young woman, Maggie, from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, who was working in the nearby refugee camps. There was much suffering in the camps and Dullah volunteered his talents to make life a bit easier for the children there. It would be the start of his commitment to assist those less fortunate than himself.

When Maggie went back to Canada he decided to follow her.  He knew a vital step to becoming a Canadian was to improve his rudimentary English skills. The urban centres of Toronto and Montreal were described as immigrant-friendly and hosted a number of services for newcomers.  But these cities also posed challenges, as ESL classes had wait lists well over 6 months long. Then, one afternoon in Toronto while biking to work, Dullah was held up at gun point for the $10 he carried in his wallet. The cities no longer felt so welcoming.

Feeling overwhelmed, a timely solution came from the east coast.  Maggie’s mother mentioned that ACALA (Antigonish County Adult Learning Association) was accepting students. So this African Muslim immigrant left the diverse urban centers and took a risk – and a train – out Antigonish. The jump from urban anonymity to small town curiosity was immediate.  In a place where everyone wants to know your name and your father’s name and where you’re from he was immediately welcomed into the ACALA program.   Dullah dove into learning, enjoying the great instructors, classmates and content. One of the goals of ACALA is to promote literacy, networking and awareness. Dullah had found a home. “Lise Devilliers is the most instrumental  mentor I’ve had. She has made me the person that I am today.” praises Dullah.

The admiration is mutual. “Dullah is a very inspirational human being on so many levels. Because of his background, he has perspective which he shares willingly with other learners. He has a lovely and beautiful way of listening to those around him,” says Lise.

Following his success at ACALA Dullah was awarded a scholarship from the Coady International Institute where he earned a Diploma in Leadership. Juggling studies and family responsibilities, Dullah still found time to volunteer with L’Arche. Helping people is in his DNA.

In 2011, he packed his bags and joined Maggie in Salluit, a fly-in Inuit community. He arrived in January and was greeted by a treeless landscape, bitterly cold weather and 20 hours of darkness.  But also there to meet him was a people just as curious about this novel, tall African as he was about them. Dullah’s expressive personality, sense of humour, and personal experience dealing with trauma helped break down the cultural barriers. He became immersed in the community.  He took on numerous roles, from helping create a fitness center, coaching basketball, co-founding a running club, offering art and stained glass programs for teenagers at risk; to being a foster parent.

In 2015, he took a year-long program at NSCC and discovered a passion for film and video production. Dullah plans to use this new skillset in the future to give voice to those who have none. A recent highlight was filming a documentary about Salluit youth who travel to Hawaii to run in a half-marathon; a project that promotes health and resilience in Inuit youth.

“My journey has been difficult but I have met so many good people along the way. They have become my family in Canada. Antigonish is a very special place to me. It is such a positive community.”

Every time he returns home, his first visit is to Lise and ACALA. He updates her on his projects, dreams and plans – from personal to professional. He seeks her advice and attentive ear. Leaving the urban centres of Toronto and Montreal for the gifts and relationships so easily discovered in a small community was the best decision he could have made.

ACALA opened doors for him – and now he opens doors for others.