Letters /Theme Pic Contributor Spotlight
DIANNE CRASWELL
Dianne makes her home along the southern part of New Brunswick in a community called L’etang with her husband Joey, daughter Hayley and their pets. She enjoys putting her creativity to use and has even had two greeting cards published by Hallmark Canada. She’s an avid lover of music and loves attending live events, such as Cavendish Beach Music Festival. She is a seeker of family adventures and enjoys travelling, both near and far. This has given her a lot of opportunity to expand her repertoire of photos, as one of her other passions in life is photography. Enjoy her photo essay Atlantic Bubble Adventures on page 8.
SANDRA SMITH
Sandra, along with her husband, Jared, two daughters and multiple pets, live on a small family farm in the Brandon Hills community outside of Brandon, Man. Growing up on a farm, Sandra learned to appreciate the outdoors from a young age. She enjoys camping, hiking, canoeing, horseback riding and spending time in the backcountry. Turn to page 20 to read her Our Travels piece on a family hiking trip in Whiteshell Provincial Park. Sandra has a passion for growing, preserving and preparing healthy food for her family. She works for the health region as a dietitian. Sandra was involved in the 4H program as a youth and is now active in 4-H with her daughters.
PAMELA POLE
A native of Australia, Pamela moved to Canada for the first time in 1953, shortly after a stay in England to savour the excitement leading up to Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. She and her husband-to-be, Charlie, a naval officer from Scotland, came over together on the Consuelo, two of only four passengers aboard the small cargo ship sailing from Middlesborough, England. After two years in Canada, their relationship hit turbulent waters and she returned to Australia, heartbroken and homesick. It was 12 years before she came back to Canada—and to Charlie—for the second time. And that’s where Pam’s story gets really interesting. Turn to Coming to Canada on page 24 to find out more.
ROLAND BRAZEAU
“Roly” was born in Mattawa, Ont., in 1945; soon after, the family moved to Timmins, Ont. His father, Henri, worked as a diamond-drill operator and his mother, Marie-anne (née Lépine), as a primary school teacher. His only sibling, Maurice, was born In 1948. After high school, Roly worked for a forest products company in Ottawa for 44 years, and then put in 24 more years at a local steel products firm. He and his wife, Patricia, were wed in 1989 and are now proud grandparents. In Showcase on page 38, Roly shares the remarkable story of his cousin, Gate Lépine, aka “the Singing Barman,” who recorded a gold record with Stompin’ Tom Conners.