As October closes, so will Women’s History Month. There are so many wonderful and terrifying stories of women as they worked through the centuries and became stronger showing the way for the women of today. Stories are told on both the big and little screen, through music and theatre and of course by storytelling from generation to generation.
This has been a month for me to reflected on the women in my life that have encouraged this career I’ve chosen. Many women that have been in my corner. From my broadcasting days I would say that Lisa Rendall will always have my heart. She was straight forward, strong and encouraging. Lisa and I remained friends until her death in 2011. I was on the air in Lacombe when her husband called to say she had passed. Lisa fought cancer like a true warrior, her strong personality would not bow down to anyone nor anything. To this day, I still want to pick up the phone to call her.
A radio career that took me through southern Alberta with successful stops in High River, Lethbridge, Taber, Red Deer, Stettler and Lacombe Alberta gave me a whole new army of women to call friends and be inspired by. Whether it was management roles they held down or were on the air with me. It was a confident, established and community minded group. Laurie Paxton, Gwen McTavish, Laurie Healy, Kristina Drapeau, Elsie Lowe, Sue Stevenson, Janice Claggett, Heather Weatherly, Sonia Sawyer Schaab, Kim Kay, these are just some of the women over the last forty years that have left an imprint on my career. Since returning to Regina, names from the past and present include: Wendy Sutherland, Joanne Gasper, Teresa Schellenberg, Jessica Postey, Teagan Witko, Shawna Winterhalt, Karen Broderick, Angela Prokop and many others that are in my heart and remain friends.
What they have in common is they are funny and firmly set in basic ways of keeping their feet on the ground. They are family and career focused giving their time to others. When I think of this group I have so many other women to be thankful for which of course includes my family. Sisters will always have your back, even if you do see things differently. Our mom was very encouraging as are all our relatives. Which I suppose is the reason why this Saskatchewan Association of Broadcaster Hall of Fame Induction hit in a very emotional way.
Over forty years of radio, from Regina to Alberta and back again I have always tried to put integrity first, but we all know that sometimes you can mess up! And having said that – we learn from mistakes and improve. Again, it sure helps when you have those that believe in you and lend an ear to listen to what you have to say. Whether woman or man, I have to thank so many for being there for me from my days in and out of the radio business. And trust me, there are lots of stories and history that haven’t been told.
P.S. Troy Schaab not only as a friend but great co-host; I will always “Go With Me On This!” on whatever you are asking!! Doug Alexander was a mentor without even knowing it. His passing, just like Lisa Rendall’s death still make me sad. In accepting the Hall of Fame entrance, trembling and weepy, I mentioned my dad and something he said to me – he always knew where I was if I was on the air. Safe! was probably what he was thinking! Mom knew all my friends and co-workers as they knew her. Family and friends are everything.
Comments