Apparently, Calgary schools have had to take in almost 4,000 refugee and immigrant students over the past two years, which has caused the boards to complain about the drain on resources of all kinds this has caused. Well of course it's a drain because we cater ridiculously to nonsensical refugee demands. Hello! You're refugees who have been admitted to the greatest country in the world and you complain!!??
Give me a break. The only solution is integration into Canadian society. But because this is "Canada", the tail wags the dog, hence they don't have to, while the rest of us bend over backwards to accommodate the newcomers.
"Many are coming from really difficult circumstances," said Ms. blah-blah, CBE supervisor for English-language learning. "Being in a refugee camp, they have likely missed a lot of school, so there are a lot of gaps in their learning," she blabbed on. "Or, if they have been in school, it likely looked a lot different in that they had limited access to books or computers, they may have only attended once a week, or they were in a room with 50 other kids of all different ages and levels," she opined.
From a supposed English "expert", her language and grammar skills are abominable. This woman typifies what is wrong with Canada's "open arms" policy. Sad. And Trudeau persists in copying his mother's unsuccessful "hippy" outlook on life. "Sunny ways" are killing this country.
I remember a young girl coming into our grade eight class as a Hungarian refugee in the fifties. She spoke not a word of English, yet didn't receive language counselling or emotional help. That was her problem. No, she just sat there, fitted in and absorbed it all. But she did so brilliantly and I bet had a very successful career in whatever she eventually did.
"Forget about India and forget about England. You're a Canadian now," B's grandfather counselled when the family arrived in Canada as refugees from the glory days of The Raj and subsequently Britain. There was no help, other than what the bullies in the schoolyard doled out in the form of beatings until he lost his English accent and spoke "Canadian". It worked and would still with other refugees, were it not for the bleatings of our hapless leaders.
Monday, February 27, 2017
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Not our cup of tea
Yesterday, we headed off on a planned four-day vacation to Emerald Lake Lodge in Field, B.C. We drove back today, three days ahead of schedule. Just not for us. Why? Because if you don't ski, hike or snowshoe, forget about Emerald Lake.
As you can imagine, we do none of the above. There is no WiFi (not that I really care), no TV, no radio and absolutely nothing electronic. I felt a bit adrift. And what else upset me were the other guests. My standards were constantly assaulted by the appearance of those around me. It was jeans, sweat pants and baggy shirts as I sat there "dressed" for the occasion. And what did I hear from the diners ordering at the table behind us? "Can I have the gluten-free, lactose-free, vegetarian menu please." "I am sorry, we don't have a specific menu like that," the server said to the female slob ordering. And I mean SLOB! "But we can accommodate all that," she helpfully added. Please.
B and I adventurously ordered the multi-fare, wild-game platter just to experience the elk, caribou, deer and duck on it. It was definitely "gamey", but hey, I don't normally cook that at home, so I wanted to taste it. Not bad.
On line, Emerald Lake looked gorgeous and it was. Spectacular, serene and silent. But there was nothing for people like us to do. Sitting silently in our cabin after dinner last evening, I said to B, "What will we do tomorrow?" He had no clue. "Let's go home," I said. We did.
We drove home and stopped in Lake Louise for lunch. Now, that's more my style. Dear readers, if you don't live on the doorstep of the Rockies, this is what you are missing:
As you can imagine, we do none of the above. There is no WiFi (not that I really care), no TV, no radio and absolutely nothing electronic. I felt a bit adrift. And what else upset me were the other guests. My standards were constantly assaulted by the appearance of those around me. It was jeans, sweat pants and baggy shirts as I sat there "dressed" for the occasion. And what did I hear from the diners ordering at the table behind us? "Can I have the gluten-free, lactose-free, vegetarian menu please." "I am sorry, we don't have a specific menu like that," the server said to the female slob ordering. And I mean SLOB! "But we can accommodate all that," she helpfully added. Please.
B and I adventurously ordered the multi-fare, wild-game platter just to experience the elk, caribou, deer and duck on it. It was definitely "gamey", but hey, I don't normally cook that at home, so I wanted to taste it. Not bad.
On line, Emerald Lake looked gorgeous and it was. Spectacular, serene and silent. But there was nothing for people like us to do. Sitting silently in our cabin after dinner last evening, I said to B, "What will we do tomorrow?" He had no clue. "Let's go home," I said. We did.
We drove home and stopped in Lake Louise for lunch. Now, that's more my style. Dear readers, if you don't live on the doorstep of the Rockies, this is what you are missing:
 |
| Emerald Lake at dusk |
 |
| In the daytime |
 |
| The view from the Chateau Lake Louise. People skating and skiing on the frozen lake. Spectacular! |
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
The Forties "Scoop"
So, the latest law suit natives have been on about is the "Sixties Scoop", when native children were taken from their dysfunctional and/or abusive families and placed with other Canadians. Now, these people are suing the Canadian Government for millions because they were "deprived" of their heritage.
What heritage? Abuse, neglect, poverty?
Seriously.
I was part of the "forties scoop", when illegitimate children born out of wedlock were adopted by families wanting unable to have their own. Thank God I was taken from my birth mother and reared by the wonderful people who were my parents.
Should I sue the Ontario government and claim I was a victim of the "forties scoop"? The "culture" I was deprived of was one of white trash. My grandmother ran a boarding house and was on relief. Her mother was a native from the Tyendinaga Reserve. What a disaster that would have been! My other relatives worked on a production line for DuPont of Canada. Thanks to the "forties scoop", when I was adopted out and reared by fabulous people.
Should I sue?
What heritage? Abuse, neglect, poverty?
Seriously.
I was part of the "forties scoop", when illegitimate children born out of wedlock were adopted by families wanting unable to have their own. Thank God I was taken from my birth mother and reared by the wonderful people who were my parents.
Should I sue the Ontario government and claim I was a victim of the "forties scoop"? The "culture" I was deprived of was one of white trash. My grandmother ran a boarding house and was on relief. Her mother was a native from the Tyendinaga Reserve. What a disaster that would have been! My other relatives worked on a production line for DuPont of Canada. Thanks to the "forties scoop", when I was adopted out and reared by fabulous people.
Should I sue?
Monday, February 6, 2017
Why those flags?
The public funerals for the victims of the recent hate attacks in Quebec City had one outrageous and gaping oxymoron: the flags draped over the coffins of these "Canadians" were not Canadian. The coffins were draped with the flags of the countries from which these people had fled.
With the Prime Minister, the Premier of Quebec and the Mayor of Quebec City all weeping and standing in reverence, the coffins upon which they gazed sported Middle Eastern flags. Complete BS.
The Imam who spoke talked about the 17 orphans and six widows left behind. I thought about the 5,000 or so left to mourn the victims of 911. I know many readers will take offense, but I deal in logic -- a scarce commodity.
"I have been in this country for 42 years," said the Imam on television today, "and I feel completely Canadian." Really? The guy looked, was dressed and spoke as if he had just landed at Dorval five minutes ago. He was no more "Canadian" than an Imam in Liberia....or wherever. And this was the guy who had obviously approved the offensive flags.
Were these victims American, the President would not be standing reverently over foreign flags. He would be looking at the Stars and Stripes or he wouldn't be there at all.
"Canadian values" have morphed into any-values-anytime-anywhere -- depending upon who we are trying to placate and to whom we are apologizing at any given moment.
Please.
With the Prime Minister, the Premier of Quebec and the Mayor of Quebec City all weeping and standing in reverence, the coffins upon which they gazed sported Middle Eastern flags. Complete BS.
The Imam who spoke talked about the 17 orphans and six widows left behind. I thought about the 5,000 or so left to mourn the victims of 911. I know many readers will take offense, but I deal in logic -- a scarce commodity.
"I have been in this country for 42 years," said the Imam on television today, "and I feel completely Canadian." Really? The guy looked, was dressed and spoke as if he had just landed at Dorval five minutes ago. He was no more "Canadian" than an Imam in Liberia....or wherever. And this was the guy who had obviously approved the offensive flags.
Were these victims American, the President would not be standing reverently over foreign flags. He would be looking at the Stars and Stripes or he wouldn't be there at all.
"Canadian values" have morphed into any-values-anytime-anywhere -- depending upon who we are trying to placate and to whom we are apologizing at any given moment.
Please.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Who knew?
"See that guy in the next lane?" said E, the best female swimmer in the pool, pointing to someone we hadn't seen before. "Find out where he learned to swim like that. He looks like he has had professional coaching."
"Excuse me," I said to him when he stopped. "Where are you from and where did you learn to swim like that?" "Montreal," he replied. "Actually, I was on the Canadian national swim team." Oh, now we get it. By this time, E had swum up and begun engaging him in "technique talk". Having almost none of my own, I just listened, trying to pretend I knew what they were talking about. This guy was amazing -- not only because he was from Montreal, where the men are so much more charming than your average Calgarian boor, but also because he was such an awesome (I hate that word, how about "humbling") swimmer. If E is impressed, that's a big deal, but being so much younger than I, she didn't have the nerve to interrupt his set and bug him with a bunch of questions.
"Did you swim with Victor Davis?" I asked, noticing his huge shoulders. "Yes and Mark Tewksbury and quite a few of the other greats. Then I became a coach." By this time, I was completely captivated. As he and E swapped techniques, I swam off, trying to impress him with my flip turns. Didn't work.
Just then, the other best swimmer in the pool arrived in his speedo -- the only guy who should be legally permitted to wear one at the Crowfoot Y, although a few others attempt it at their peril and our disgust. B was on a provincial team, so I introduced him to the national guy. It was a bit of a red-letter day for me, basking in the company of such fame and distinction. To top it off, I had even been invited to swim in the fast lane (which I never dare) by another good swimmer because...."I haven't seen you in a long time," he beckoned. "Why are you so late today?" he asked. "I was having sex," I lied. I thought he was going to drown, he was laughing so hard.
I love the pool and my pool buddies. We have a lot of laughs
"Excuse me," I said to him when he stopped. "Where are you from and where did you learn to swim like that?" "Montreal," he replied. "Actually, I was on the Canadian national swim team." Oh, now we get it. By this time, E had swum up and begun engaging him in "technique talk". Having almost none of my own, I just listened, trying to pretend I knew what they were talking about. This guy was amazing -- not only because he was from Montreal, where the men are so much more charming than your average Calgarian boor, but also because he was such an awesome (I hate that word, how about "humbling") swimmer. If E is impressed, that's a big deal, but being so much younger than I, she didn't have the nerve to interrupt his set and bug him with a bunch of questions.
"Did you swim with Victor Davis?" I asked, noticing his huge shoulders. "Yes and Mark Tewksbury and quite a few of the other greats. Then I became a coach." By this time, I was completely captivated. As he and E swapped techniques, I swam off, trying to impress him with my flip turns. Didn't work.
Just then, the other best swimmer in the pool arrived in his speedo -- the only guy who should be legally permitted to wear one at the Crowfoot Y, although a few others attempt it at their peril and our disgust. B was on a provincial team, so I introduced him to the national guy. It was a bit of a red-letter day for me, basking in the company of such fame and distinction. To top it off, I had even been invited to swim in the fast lane (which I never dare) by another good swimmer because...."I haven't seen you in a long time," he beckoned. "Why are you so late today?" he asked. "I was having sex," I lied. I thought he was going to drown, he was laughing so hard.
I love the pool and my pool buddies. We have a lot of laughs
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Unacceptable
The problem must have been with the screening process that allowed this female to be hired as a police officer when she was obviously unfit for the job. Today, she resigned publically in tears.
It was pathetic.
She claimed bullying, sexual harassment, nepotism and ostracization for her problems. I was not sympathetic, as I watched her cry on camera. If you join a fire or police department, be prepared to enter a male-centric environment. Don't cry, buck up and lean in. In fact, every working environment I ever entered had hitherto been male-centric and every one was replete with men who came onto women. It was sexual harassment at every turn. So what?!
I just said no. Sometimes.
Watching this woman cry and resign was a disgrace to those of us who always stood up and got the job done. By the way, we also earned lots of money doing it.
It was pathetic.
She claimed bullying, sexual harassment, nepotism and ostracization for her problems. I was not sympathetic, as I watched her cry on camera. If you join a fire or police department, be prepared to enter a male-centric environment. Don't cry, buck up and lean in. In fact, every working environment I ever entered had hitherto been male-centric and every one was replete with men who came onto women. It was sexual harassment at every turn. So what?!
I just said no. Sometimes.
Watching this woman cry and resign was a disgrace to those of us who always stood up and got the job done. By the way, we also earned lots of money doing it.
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