Katari Righthand from the Siksika First Nation with Lexi 

It gives my great pleasure to  share the accomplishments of one of my grand daughters,  Lexi Hilderman. 

Recently she won, the 2021 Calgary Stampede Youth Poster Competition. 

Her artwork featured a young Fancy Dancer with rainbow ribbons flowing from her regalia, inspired by the image of a young woman named Katari Righthand from the Siksika First Nation. 

She said "I was drawn to her story and it became important for me to learn about her culture and to understand how she feels when she's dancing," 

In developing a relationship with Righthand and her family, Lexi learned that she was given the name Nààpiwa otó piim Akikowan (Rainbow Girl) in 2013 following the southern Alberta floods, representing the hope that comes after a storm. 

“I wanted to show her standing strong, looking forward with determination. To me this image is about optimism, and also a representation of youth carrying on their legacy and the legacy of the Calgary Stampede’s celebration of the arts, culture and community.” 

The Calgary Stampede Youth Poster Competition is a unique youth achievement program that provides talented young Albertans with the opportunity to showcase their talent on a world stage. Generously funded by the Brandon Flock Foundation, this program provides one of Canada’s largest art scholarships. As the winning artist for 2021, Lexi has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship and her artwork will now become part of Calgary Stampede history and distributed around the world.

Quotes were taken: from  https://www.calgarystampede.com/poster

Lynne Ann Hilderman's Birthday

 It was a great pleasure and gratitude for the ZOOM visit to celebrate my daughter, Lynne's birthday. We caught up on what everyone is doing. Lynne's family joined in, her husband Kerry, daughters Kaney, Lexi and Nikki. Her brothers, Mark, from Ontario and Leon  and Geni Stephenson, from North Carolina, also joined in.  

Arthur Bertrand's 80th Birthday

A group of family members of the late Ovide and Hughenna Bertrand got together on a ZOOM call to help celebrate Arthur's 80th Birthday. His sibling's Evelyn Pulver,Mission BC,  Lorraine Martin,Osoyoos BC. Lucille Fairley, Baldwinton Sask and David Bertrand, Gallivan Sask. were able to be part of the celebration. Other family participants were from Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia joined. It was great to be able to get together and catch up on what everyone was doing  and extend our hearth-felt greetings to Arthur.  We all sang Happy Birthday with off-tuned voices. 

 

 

In Memory of Clare Jeanne (Bertrand) McCarthy

It is with heart-felt sorrow the Bertrand Family will miss and remember another sibling of their family. 

Clare Jeanne, passed away in Nanaimo Hospital BC on  Saturday August 15/2020 at 2:30 pm.

With warm thoughts of my second sister, here is my tribute to her memory from my photo albums. I will always remember our conversations over the phone. She never could figure me out with the decisions I made in my life time. She would say to me "Lorraine you are different" 

1956 Gallivan School 

 1939 Bertrand Farm Gallivan SK 

Seated Clare Lorraine Evelyn  Standing Eileen Rutley Mary 

 1945 Evelyn and Clare Farm Yard 

1950 Clare with Lucille, Lorraine, Arthur,  

David in front with Nippy 

In the garden 

1953 Winter house yard 

1953 Evelyn Clare Lorraine 

Lucille 

Ready for Church 

Clare and Evelyn 

After Church 

1958 Wedding Day Lorraine and Del 

1181 James St. North Battleford SK 

Evelyn Lorraine, Clare, Mary 

Mill Bay BC  Moria and Chris' Wedding 

2007 Clare and Lorraine 

Gabriola Island 

2017 Victoria Clare with grandson David and Craig 

15 Year Anniversary

Randal and I celebrated our 15 year Wedding Anniversary at Spirit Ridge Lake Resort, Osoyoos, BC "The Bear, The Fish, The Root and The Berry Restaurant".  It was a beautiful evening with temperatures of 35 C. 

The Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation's approach to food is based on the creation stories of their culture. The four Food Chiefs are central: Skemxist (Black Bear), Ntytykxw (Chinook Salmon), Speetlum (Bitteroot) and Seeys (Saskatoon Berry) are legendary. 

Pacific pan seared Halibut with chestnut / pappardelle pasta / peas / chorizo / spinach / white onion veloute.  

Spruce glazed Wild Pacific Salmon / new potatoes / summer vegetables / lemon dressing.

We remembered all the adventures we are having and projects we  work on. It is a blessing to have a good relationship during these senior years. 

My Landscaping

April is almost over and we have many colourful flowers decorating our Site at NK'Mip RV Resort. 

The lawn has been a field of yellow, which the bees have been enjoying. 

 We could not throw this out as it makes a prefect container, to been seen from the front of the trailer. 

Do you recognize it? 

I wintered this pot and add the colour in the spring. 

There are so many choices of flowers at the green house 

so I stick to the favourite. 

My herb pots 

A street of flowers in NK'Mip Resort 

White crowned sparrow have been hanging 

around in a  late-leafing tree

There are  large patches of what is known as "Puncher Vine" gracing the majority of the lawn. 

When the seeds are ripe they can be picked by our shoes, dog paws and bicycle tires making them flat.  

First Video Greeting

During this time of "Stay Home" time we find ourselves I am sending out my first video greeting. It is exciting to learn new technical things.  During these times I have to keep positive and look at all possibilities.  

March 2020 Experience.

What a sharp shift everyone around the world is experiencing!! What has taken our former lifestyle’s place is beyond our imagination!  What we had become so used to is no longer there for us. There are daily postings of  Stay Home, Wash Hands, Don’t Touch Your Face, Social Distancing, Wear a Mask, Self Quarantine, and others directives.

Once  Covid-19  started to spread, World Health Organization sent out directives of prevention and Health Canada followed suit.

This effected all service venues leaving only essential ones, (food suppliers,  drug stores,  post office, police, town maintenance, liquor store  and delivery business).  All  “hands-on” services were closed and social gatherings and meetings have been cancelled.

Here in Okanagan Valley of  British Columbia it effected us as well . As a resident of NK’Mip RV Resort all Snow Bird activities shut down on March 12,  bringing to a stop to anyone coming into the campground. The club houses were locked to everyone. The office  has shorter hours of business.. The Snow Birds are leaving so many sites are left  empty. Once was a very busy place is now very quiet.

Notice 

Social Distancing 

Barrier at Entrance 

Everyday we read about new rules. Every essential business now has Plexiglas barriers in front to the tills. In some places only one person is allowed in while the other customers have to stand outside 6 feet apart. Then when you get into the store you are not able to go to find the article you  plan to purchase. An employee will get the item for you for you too for pay for it and leave. There is no more browsing around.

The latest grocery shopping experience was different from the last one only week ago. The shelves are getting empty and lots if food are not available. We took a container of soapy water, hand towels and rubber gloves. We set an area up in  the trunk of the car to wash our hands before we entered the stores.  In one store the personal reusable shopping bags or the reusable packaging bags were not allowed.  A small box or the store’s plastic bags were supplied. In the other store we were told us we could not put the reusable shopping bag on their counter but in the cart or the lower shelf at the end of the counter. When we got home we unpacked the groceries out side, washed the food and packaged food before taking them into the trailer. Then rinsed them again before  putting them away. I am now getting the essential things delivered

Our “stay-home” life is spent on the computer. My life is now on ZOOM Calls which is the best way to see people and learn new things,  making meals and watching movies. I phone family and friends to see how they are doing.  I am developing new routine. I walk daily around the NK’Mip Resort and sit in the sun.

Desk Work 

Neighbours 

Vineyard ready for new growth

I am grateful for feeling safe in our limited environment.. How can it get any better than that? Better times are to come. Keeping optimistic.

Tribute to the memory of Mary (Bertrand) Fitzgerald.

With sadness I am writing this tribute to the memory of my oldest sister, Mary, who passed way today. Words are difficult to put on paper. She was born in 1929 and raised in  Cut Knife, Saskatchewan, in a small farming community of Gallivan.  Educated in a one-room school, married to her childhood sweetheart, John Fitzgerald and raised a family of 10 children. Her family meant a lot to her. Her children, grandchildren and great grand children made her days memorable. 

Mary not only cared for her family she also cared for her siblings. We always had a place to stay during our education. 

Standing: Eileen Rutley, (2nd Cousin) and Mary Bertand Seated: Clare, Lorraine and Evelyn Bertrand 

John Fitzgerald, Mary, Evelyn, Clare, Lorraine and Arthur Bertrand 

It was pleasure to visit with her on her 90th birthday a few months ago.