LOOKING FOR ROLE MODELS

Well, we’ve seen the pictures and heard the hopeful and inspiring stories about Kamala Harris as the first woman VP in the U.S., who is also a woman of colour and how she can be a role model for young women of colour around the world.

I’m duly impressed! Now here in our own country, our governor general Julie Payette, a single mother who became an astronaut and has held the distinguished role of the Queen’s representative for more than three years has left in disgrace. Sadly, all was not well at Rideau Hall. My feelings when she took office was that she could be a role model for young single mothers, encouraging them to strive for all things good in their lives. How sad that she has had to leave office under very questionable circumstances. What was it that caused her and her best friend and employee to harass staff to the point where some quit, some sat in cars crying because of the degradation thrown at them?

While resigning was the right thing to do, how do we as a country already in crisis — immersed in a world-wide pandemic — get past this? I can only hope young women watching the news revealing the complaints, are able to see past the story and strive to be the best they can be in life and not indulge themselves in such unsavoury behaviour as Julie Payette did, just because you think you can (get away with it). Shame, shame!

Kathy Birt, Charlottetown

JUST A PROUD GRANDPARENT

So the writer voices disapproval of a local, "home-made" commercial in which small children appear with their grandfather, calling it "child exploitation" (Questioning the cuteness factor, Jan. 28). Child exploitation? No, just a proud grandparent showing off his family. Nothing to worry about, even if one has, admittedly, too much time on one's hands.

Frank Deziel,

Cornwall