ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A6 | SPORTS | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021
Austin Duncan wins IMCA Canadian Rookie of the Year Dillon Giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca Austin Duncan has won the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) Canadian Rookie of the Year award in just his first year of racing. The Charlie Lake driver had the most points of any IMCA rookie driver in Canada, and had the third most points of all modified drivers at the Taylor Speedway this year. Austin had spent the past couple years helping his younger brother Russell Duncan, himself driving in the IMCA Modified class for the first time, as a mechanic. Heading into this season, Austin decided to step behind the wheel, not knowing just how successful he would prove to be. “I’ve never raced any kind of car in my life, it’s pretty exciting to win Rookie of the Year,” Austin said. “I was nervous going into the season, but it was the most fun I’ve ever had.” Austin edged out his brother by just four points, not just for Rookie of the Year, but for third place in Canada overall. Taylor Speedway’s Johnny Beaumont was the IMCA Canadian champ. Austin beat Rus-
sell by 14 points in the Taylor standings, also for third place. The brothers raced each other hard all year, not afraid to bump one another and never shying away from a fight. “We were bumping each other all the time. We went at each other every race. It was lots of fun, the first year in modified for both of us, and we had each other to lean on,” Austin said. Austin not only drove at Taylor Speedway, but went to Drumheller for a weekend to pick up some more IMCA Canada points. It was tough racing at a different track. We had some car issues but learned a lot as well,” Austin said. For anyone interested in racing, Austin can’t recommend it enough. “It’s definitely nerve-wracking at first, but everyone is really supportive, and once you’re behind the wheel everyone is really kind. There’s nothing like it,” said Austin. Austin plans to continue with the sport, and learn more about car setup. Taylor Speedway driver Dean Bell also won a IMCA Canada award, finishing third in the A Modified Class.
KARLENE DUNCAN PHOTOS
Above: Austin Duncan with one of the many trophies he took home during the Taylor Speedway season. Below: Austin Duncan, left, battled brother Russell Duncan all season to see which brother would win IMCA Canada Rookie of the Year.
DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTO
Ben Ross looks to break out up field during a U13 FSJ Soccer Club house league game at the futsal pitch, October 6.
Fort St. John Soccer Club looking for volunteers The Fort St. John Soccer Club is looking for parents and soccer fans to help out with this year’s indoor soccer season. The indoor season began this week, October 4, with teams playing at the Kid’s Fieldhouse Arena and the futsal pitch at the Fort St. John Curling Club, but more coaches and volunteers are needed. “We are urgently looking for vol-
unteers for our program. Currently, we do not have enough adults to run our program,” the Soccer Club wrote October 3 in a Facebook post. People can volunteer to be a coach, assistant coach, manager, or to help run the vaccine passport checkpoint. “For the younger kids, ages 5 to 7, we have older kids coach them, but need a responsible adult there as a
manager, to take attendance and oversee the team,” club president Darren Snider said. Coaches and assistants are relied on to sit on the bench with the team, make substitutions, and manage the game. “Having two coaches on the bench is always better than one,” Snider said. If you’re interested helping out,
contact contact coachfsjsc@telus. net, or Samantha Loeppky at technical.fsjsoccer@gmail.com. Criminal record checks are required. “We’ve had some people step back from coaching and volunteering during the pandemic, and we’re doing our best to get back into the flow of things and build the base back up,” said Snider. — sports@ahnfsj.ca
NPSS Grizzlies: Girls Volleyball, Kane Schreiner finish in first place By Jaclyn McNicol
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Kane Schreiner, winner of NPSS Athletics’ 2020 award for Outstanding Athletic Achievement, started the 2021-22 cross country season with a win at Beaverlodge.
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This past weekend was an exciting one for Grizzlies Athletics with most teams competing. First up were the varsity volleyball teams traveling to Whitecourt to compete in their first formal tournament of the year, October 1 and 2. The varsity girls volleyball team showed how teamwork and composure can create success in tight matches. The girls played strong all weekend, going undefeated to the finals. It was an exciting three-set final against the host team, Hilltop Chargers. Jillian Stone and Avery Hucker played vital roles in executing skills to push the varsity girls to win the tournament. Coach Alexandra Bacso said she is proud of the girls for implementing what they practiced and demonstrating poise and perseverance this weekend. The varsity boys started slow, dropping the first two sets to GP Vanier. In game 2, the boys brought the intensity as they won both sets against the host team Hilltop. The final match on Friday was an exciting battle against Athabasca. The team started to drop points, but they fought their way back into action for each point. Un-
fortunately, Athabasca was able to complete the push for the win. The boys finished third in their pool for the round-robin. On Saturday, the boys competed in the Tier 2 division against Peace High, and demonstrated a solid first and third set. Peace High won the match and Tier 2 Division. Overall, the varsity team gained momentum and progressed in a positive direction this weekend. The junior girls volleyball team traveled to Dawson Creek for an exhibition weekend, playing three games. The girls demonstrated skills they have been working on in practice and, in competitive spirit, won two of the three matches this weekend. The team continues to improve each chance they get. The cross country team was in Beaverlodge on Saturday. Kane Schreiner and Ronin Laurie finished in first and third place respectively in the senior boys category. At the same time, Elanor Copes took third place for the senior girls. Congrats to all the runners who competed! Next up: The cross country team is in Dawson Creek on Oct. 16. Varsity volleyball is in Grande Prairie, Oct. 15 and 16.
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | SPORTS | A7
Thankful, but wanting more
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had quite the Thanksgiving last weekend. Football, two days worth of dinner and more stuffing than I could ask for, and spending time with family. But, I can’t help but wish I had a little bit more. The Toronto Blue Jays were supposed to be playing in the American League Divisional Round last weekend. There’s no better way to escape heated arguments among family members than by throwing on a high stakes baseball game that everyone cares deeply about. Unfortunately, though the Blue Jays won their last three games of the season, they missed out on a chance at the playoffs by one game. They lost one game too many to the New York Yankees. Thanks for nothing, Jays. That’s not really how I feel though. Watching the Blue Jays turn on the jets in the final month of the season, erase a six game gap separating them from the wildcard spots, and break the franchise home run record was absolutely thrilling,
DILLON GIANCOLA and just what I needed. I struggled to accept the reality of summer coming to an end once more and winter being right around the corner, but the Blue Jays’ ultimately doomed run lit a fire that kept my heart burning until I turned my furnace on in October. As much as I want to be defiant, I’m thankful for this Blue Jays team. They are right up there with the 2015 Jose Bautista bat-flip team for best Jays squad since 93, and part of me fears this might be the best Jays team for years to come. They had the fifth best run differential in the entire MLB, but failed to grab one of the 10 playoff spots. They still provided weeks of entertainment, only they did it a month earlier than I would have preferred. I feel that way about lots of things in our world today. This summer was pretty awesome. I did
CANADIAN PRESS PHOTO
George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays hit a grand slam in the final game of the season. Unfortunately, it was too little too late for the Jays.
everything I wanted to do and more (which never happens), and have more tomatoes from my garden than I have room for in my house. I embraced the loosening of restrictions to the fullest, and I’m thankful we had those two months to enjoy life a little more fully. I just wish we had a little more of that. Then there is the current societal landscape. On the surface, it seems like we have quite a bit more re-
strictions than in the summer, but in reality, things are still pretty great, at least from my perspective. It’s so great that school sports are back in session, and junior hockey players are able to get a feel for that level before they age out. But, the U18 Canadian National Women’s Hockey Championships were already cancelled. I’m hoping the same doesn’t happen for the upcoming BC Provincial Triple-A Girls
Volleyball Provincials set for Dawson Creek in December, or the figure skating competitions and swim meets the local clubs have been so longingly hoping for. That’s out of my control, just as the play of the Blue Jays, or the team re-signing Marcus Semien, is out of my control. But if things do get worse, for the Jays and world alike, I’ll still be thankful all the same. sports@ahnfsj.ca
DILLON GIANCOLA
Above: Dean McLeod throws a draw during men’s league action at the Fort St. John Curling Club, October 6.
ROBERT OGILVIE ELEMENTARY
The Robert Ogilvie Elementary cross country team braved the cold fall weather for a race at Surerus Park, October 4, with students from other Fort St. John elementary schools.
Trio headed to WHL Cup Dillon Giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca A trio of hockey players who got their start in Fort St. John will have a chance to impress WHL scouts when he suits up for Team BC at the U16 WHL Cup, October 20 to 24. The rosters were announced October 6, with Cayden Lindstrom and Evan Gardner named to Team BC, and Caleb Hadland a member of Team Alberta. The WHL Cup, which takes place in Red Deer, will bring the best 2006born players in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba together. Each player will be eligible for the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, though the actual draft doesn’t take place until December 9. Lindstrom currently plays for the Delta Hockey Academy U17 Prep team, and is off to a tear, with six goals, nine assists, and 15 points so far in five games. Lindstrom played
for Delta’s U15 team last year, and previously suited up for the Bantam and U18 NEBC Trackers teams. Gardner, born and raised in Fort St. John, currently plays goalie for the Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U18 team. Hadland began his minor hockey career in Fort St. John, and plays for the Yale Hockey Academy U18 Prep team. He spent the previous two seasons with the Triple-A U15 Red Deer Rebels. Last season, a pair of Fort St. John and Delta Hockey Academy players, Caden Brown and Ethan Semeniuk, won the inaugural WHL Challenge Cup in Kent, Washington. The Challenge Cup is similar to the WHL Cup, except players got to take on top American WHL prospects. DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTO
At right, Cayden Lindstrom, seen here playing for the Bantam Trackers, has been named to Team BC for this year’s U16 WHL Cup.
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 | OP-ED | A11
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The Craft Night at the Seniors Hall was well attended, and as you will see from the picture, people were pleased with their creations, writes Ruby McBeth.
You don’t want to miss upcoming seniors events By Ruby McBeth
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ust a heads up for the next two in the Seniors Task Force MicroEvents series. Dinner and bingo will be on October 27 and on November 13 there is a live music performance. Phone 250-785-9697 to reserve a spot or email Savannah at szachary@ urbansystems.ca. The craft night at the Seniors Hall was well attended, and as you will see from the picture, people were pleased with their creations. LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD If you have watched Rust
Valley Restorers on the History channel or on Netflix you will have seen Avery Shoaf. He is the smiliest of the main characters and has an impressive laugh. Avery grew up on a farm in Cecil Lake and graduated from North Peace. The show is filmed in the Shuswap region and Avery helps to restore old cars. He does a good job of his role and I am sure you will enjoy the show as Lorne and I did. LAURA LEE LIFE PLANS A MOVE I was sorry to hear that Laura Lee Life is moving to Alberta, but pleased for her to be going to live near her
SENIORS HALL friend Marjo Wheat. They have been close friends since their two boys were in high school here. Laura Lee got a degree in agriculture from UBC in 1973 and worked at several places across Canada. It was while testing the milk at “Yogi” Jorgenson’s dairy near Dawson Creek that she met her husband Robert Life. They eventually settled in Aenofield and then later bought land up the highway where they raised their son. Laura Lee was active in the Rose Prairie WI until it
folded and then joined the Baldonnel WI. She was also a member of the Spinners and Weavers Guild. LEARNING THE LINGO This week’s word is “link.” When you are reading something on the web you will often notice text (words) that are coloured blue and underlined. If you click on this text, it will take you to another (related) site. The coloured word or words are called a link. It is short for “hyperlink.” ONLINE WILLS The provincial government is making it easier for people to write their wills.
Just google “BC government make a will week” to learn about it. There are many resources there to help you. The electronic wills part comes into effect at the beginning of December. QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward
Ruby McBeth lives and writes in Fort St. John.
How to use a net worth statement
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ere is a simple and useful exercise that will give you some insight as to how you are doing financially: Track your net worth over time. Your net worth is your assets (what you own) minus your liabilities (what you owe). It’s very easy to set up a spreadsheet where you can track these things. The magic happens when you update your net worth statement once or twice a year. The key is to save your work, so you can see your progress over time. In our daily routines it can be easy to overlook all the incremental bits of progress that happen. Sometimes it feels like we are working hard and still not getting anywhere. But when you look back to where you were last year and the year before, now you can start to see the progress: the growth of your assets, and the reductions of your liabilities. Tracking your gains pro-
vides a nice bit of positive reinforcement. Tracking your net worth can also give some insight whether your spending decisions are consistent with your financial objectives. Perhaps your Great Goal in life is a comfortable retirement, but instead you find that you are consuming all your income. Updating your Net Worth Statement can illuminate that your retirement assets are not increasing at a satisfactory pace and allow you to refocus your spending priorities. There is no need to get hung up on the format. It doesn’t have to be fancy to be effective. We aren’t preparing audited financial statements here. Feel free to do it in the style that works for you. The important part is consistency. I use an Excel spreadsheet to list my assets in one column and my liabilities in another column. When I update the spreadsheet I put the current information
on a new tab, and name the tab with the date. Now all I need to do is to click on the appropriate tab to see what my finances looked like at various points in time. I separate my assets into short-term assets, such as bank accounts, and long-term assets, such as RRSPs and real estate. The short-term assets are available for me to use when I want, while the long-term assets are ones that are left to appreciate. With the spreadsheet it is easy-peasy to have subtotals for the short-term assets and the long-term assets, and an overall total for the combined assets. I will do the same with liabilities. Categorize them into short-term and long term, then use the spread-
sheet to find the subtotals and the overall total. At that point it’s a cinch to subtract my liabilities from my assets to come up with my net worth. Let’s face it, the last few years have been rough for a lot of people. Personal story: I have felt it too. The pandemic, the economic slowdown, the uncertainty. Life has felt like a real grind lately, and sometimes it feels like I am stuck in the mud, tires spinning, going nowhere fast. But this week I came across an old net worth statement, and I updated it. I realized that, despite the pandemic, I have actually made some pretty decent progress in my own financial situation. And that made me feel pretty good. This isn’t about my own financial prowess as much as it is a testament to paying yourself first. Every month I contribute to my RRSP, my TFSA, my kids RESP, and I pay extra on my mortgage.
Dr. Rahman
From the front page The Fort St. John Family Practice Associates Clinic welcomed the arrivals of Dr. Huria Zafar, Dr. Courtney Boyer, and Dr. Dennis Zhang. According to the clinic, Dr. Boyer completed her residency in Fort St. John last summer and has been sharing a practice with Dr. Glen Hamill. Dr. Boyer is an oncologist at the local cancer centre and faculty member for the Northern Residency Program, the clinic noted, with an interest in obstetrics, oncology, palliative care and medical assistance in dying. Dr. Zhang also completed
his residency in Fort St. John and has taken over the practice of Dr. John Breen. The clinic said Dr. Zhang has an interest in addiction treatment and provides services at the local opioid agonist therapy clinic. Dr. Zafar recently completed her residency in Prince George and has taken over the practice of Dr. Amber Husband, the clinic said. “We would like to welcome those patients of Dr. Breen & Dr. Husband to call or come in to the clinic to book an appointment to see Dr. Zhang or Dr. Zafar for your medical needs,” the clinic said.
“It is important to note you ARE NOT without a family doctor.” In September, Dr. A. Hakim Albiatly joined the North Peace Primary Care Clinic, the last of three new doctors recruited to that clinic since the spring. Northern Health said Dr. Albiatly brings more than 25 years experience in the medical field, as well as his family and five children. He is accepting new patients. “Dr. A. Hakim Albiatly is excited and honoured to provide his service to the welcoming community of Fort St. John,” Northern Health said in an announcement.
BRAD BRAIN
But I don’t think about these things very much because they all happen automatically. But since I don’t think about it, it is easy to lose track of it. When you update your net worth statement you get that fantastic reminder that you really are making progress, even if it doesn’t feel like it sometimes. Track your net worth over time. It’s great for positive reinforcement and it can keep you fixed on your financial objectives, which helps you achieve your Great Goals in life. Its simple and its useful and it doesn’t have to be fancy, just consistent. Brad Brain, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, TEP is a Certified Financial Planner in Fort St John, BC. This material is prepared for general circulation and may not reflect your individual financial circumstances. Brad can be reached at www.bradbrainfinancial.com.
Dr. Khandker
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A12 | OP-ED | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021
God chiselling my pride
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his summer while camping with my two teenage granddaughters, they decided I needed a facial makeover. As a means of escape, I shared with them how our society places such an importance on appearance while God is interested in working on the inside of us to change us into what He desires us to be. I explained that for that to happen we needed to cooperate and submit to His process. I shared the story of how the Lord dealt with my Pride. It started one day when a street person in Vancouver asked me for money for food and how I reluctantly gave him money after he agreed not to buy booze, but sadly I watched him go into the liquor store. As I drove away, I asked the Lord what we should do and “by coincidence” turned on the car radio and heard a message encouraging us to actually take the street person into a restaurant and not only feed them but sit with them as well. About a month later on a beautiful summer day, I finished lunch in Gastown and was walking back to my office dressed in a business
JOHN GRADY suit when I was approached by an older dishevelled man quietly asking for money for food. I politely suggested he go to the Union Gospel Mission where they fed street people when all of a sudden, like a bolt of lightning, he started joyfully yelling, “Oh you must be a Christian, you must be a brother, hallelujah, you love Jesus, Praise the Lord.” It was loud enough that people half a block away could hear him. I was getting a bit uncomfortable when I heard that still small voice reminding me of the question I had asked the Lord. I have learned when the Lord drops a nugget it is not time to debate, negotiate or pretend I didn’t hear or understand but it was time to obey. At that time there was a Dairy Queen on the north side of Cordova Street, so I asked my new friend if I could buy him lunch. He quickly agreed so we crossed the street where
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he still loudly kept up the Christian expressions including when we entered the restaurant, so everybody turned to look at this odd couple. I placed his order and found a table for him to sit and told him I would bring the order to him. He quietly asked, “Would you be too embarrassed to sit with me?” At that moment I realized the Lord was dealing with my Pride so I told the gentleman that I would be delighted. As I went to pick up his order and a coffee for myself, I quietly thanked the Lord for bring-
ing my Pride to light while repenting of it. When I sat down I noticed the man’s appearance had totally changed – his face was full of love, peace, and joy, with a glow on his face when he quietly but firmly said in a loving way, “I know you are a busy man running a business so please do not waste anymore time with me as the mission is accomplished and you need to get back to work. Thank you.” He had no way of knowing I owned a business, but I knew there was no point of arguing. In our walk with the Lord there are always exit or side
doors we can conveniently take to avoid the work He wants and needs to do in us but sadly we don’t want to allow Him full control. In truly following the Lord we need to give Him Lordship of our lives. This means we truly allow Him to guide us to where He wants us to be and what He wants us to do in spite of the circumstances. This story is one small example of His leading, hearing and obeying. He is faithful and loving wanting only what is best for us. John Grady lives and writes in Fort St. John.
The road to reconciliation is longer than just one day By A.M. Cullen
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hile wheeling my oneyear-old in the walk on Truth and Reconciliation Day last Thursday, one of the thoughts that kept circling back in my brain was how privileged I am to be born where I am, born when I am, and born who I am. Unlike so many indigenous families in our Canadian history, I’ve never had to worry about my children being taken away because society had placed a lower value on my culture and worldview. Looking down at my orange-cloaked toddler fidgeting in her stroller, I can’t help but think about all the privileges that are already stowed upon her. Privileges she’ll grow up to see as normalcy. IT’S TIME TO ACT Truth and Reconciliation Day, for me, is about remembering the injustices, recognizing the present inequities, and taking action in the future. If you haven’t read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, I strongly recommend it. One of the actions I want to take in the future, recognizing my white settler status, is teaching my children about their white privilege. It seems white privilege has become a dirty word in recent years. Just hearing it, many will automatically put up the defences. It’s uncomfortable to talk about, probably because it usually comes with a strong feeling of shame. Like Brené Brown arguing in her 2012 TED Talk, Listening to Shame, we “cannot talk about race without talking about privilege...and when people start talking about privilege, they get paralyzed by shame.” The key is to transform our perspective of shame into a vision of our vulnerability. And as Brown argues, “vulnerability is not weakness... [yes, it’s] emotional risk, exposure, uncertainty... [but is also] our most accurate measurement of courage.” It’s time to embrace that vulnerability around privilege and be courageous enough to talk about it. WHAT IS IS IT ACTUALLY? The term ‘white privilege’ is often misunderstood. Dr. BraVada GarrettAkinsanya, a clinical psychologist in Minnesota, defines it as “receiving advantages, benefits, and rights that are unearned but given to white people solely because of the color of their skin.” Living in a Western society that so strongly believes in meritocracy (the belief that if you
#MOMLIFE work hard enough anyone can be as successful as anyone else), it’s easy to make the argument that white privilege doesn’t exist. But it’s the unseen privilege, the normalcy of ‘whiteness’ that proves that it very much does exist. There is a great 2014 article by Stephen Brookfield, Teaching Our Own Racism, that show just how engrained white supremacy is in our culture. As a white person growing up in the UK, he states that he “grew up in a world in which Whiteness, and all things White, was taken as the natural order of things...[which left him with] six decades of ideological conditioning into White Supremacy. “ It’s so normal, we don’t even see it most times. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN OUR TOWN? When Stephen Brookfield talks about “white supremacy,” he’s not referring to the white-hooded media depictions of the KKK, but rather how much the mantra ‘white is right’ inadvertently permeates in our culture today. Reflecting on my own experience as an example, I’ve only ever had white bosses, majority of teachers at all the schools I’ve attended and taught at were white, white people write the textbooks I studied, I was told to study white authors in our required reading in English class, our town’s RCMP detachment is made up of primarily white police officers, our six Fort St. John city councillors are white, popular films and TV shows have primarily white protagonists, we learn about primarily white history in our social studies classrooms – heck, the woman giving suggestions on how to parent in #MomLife is white. WHAT CAN I DO? So, we know it exists, but as parents what can we do? A common misconception is that all white people have it easy (we don’t) and that we should feel bad about our privilege (we shouldn’t) — but it is important to be consciously aware of it and how it impacts my life, my children’s life, and my community. REFLECT ON YOUR OWN PRIVILEGE I started by reflecting on my own privilege. I find better I understand it, the easier it is to talk about it with others. Peggy McIntosh, an American feminist and research scientist,
A.M. CULLEN PHOTO
A.M. Cullen: “Looking down at my orange-cloaked toddler fidgeting in her stroller, I can’t help but think about all the privileges that are already stowed upon her. Privileges she’ll grow up to see as normalcy.”
published a short but profoundly impactful paper in 1989, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, in which she created a list of conditions that “attach to somewhat more skin-colour privilege” (as opposed to other privilege factors) and can be used as an inventory to see how much privilege you in fact hold. An easy to read checklist version has been put out by ALSO Chicago and anyone can access it here. COLOUR BLINDNESS IS NOT THE KEY I also believe it’s important to not teach my children to ignore racial privilege by preaching about “colour blindness” or that “all lives matter.” Instead, I strive to recognize, be curious, and celebrate other cultures, values, and beliefs in my community. I want to be a role model and actively learn about them myself. While my kids are little, I plan to use metaphors to help better understanding. Dr. Abigail Gewirtz uses a great example in her book, When the World Feels Like a Scary Place, that people in charge like to plant the type of flowers they like best (maybe marigolds), rather than ones they don’t like as much (maybe pansies). If they’re never planted, pansies don’t have the opportunity to grow. When my kids are a little older, I want to start talking about real world events and utilizing the numerous
resources online to spark conversations. One of my absolute favourite YouTube videos that explains systemic racism in an easy and relatable way in four minutes is Systemic Racism Explained. ROAD TO RECONCILIATION IS LONGER THAN ONE DAY I know that in future, I will be taking opportunities, like Truth and Reconciliation Day (and many other days for that matter), to be vulnerable, learn more about the realities of our past and present Canadian history, and have these challenging discussions with my children. The road to reconciliation requires every Canadian to do their part and it can start by raising our children to recognize their privilege in order to be future advocates for our country’s long-standing inequities. I am thankful and humbled to live, write, and raise my children within the Treaty 8 territory on the traditional lands of the Dane-zaa peoples. And I would like to extend a special thank you to the Halfway River First Nation for gifting an orange shirt to my daughter. We’ll be wearing it for many years to come. A.M. Cullen lives and writes in Fort St. John. Are you parenting in the Peace? Send in your questions, topics, or suggestions for #MomLife to cover at momlife.ahnfsj@gmail.com.