Osgoode author finds new passion in writing

by Brandon Mayer

Members of the CUPE 2577 bargaining unit, which represents child protection workers and support staff at Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, began striking last week after bargaining for better wages and resources was unsuccessful.

The Union reports that workers have been “stretched thin by mounting workloads”, citing a desire to invest in services for vulner- able children as one major reason for the strike.

One of the specific issues leading to the job action is wages. Specifically, there has been concern that skilled and experienced workers can’t be adequately retained with the wages that are being offered. Bargaining has been taking place for over a year without success.

“When we talk about cases and workload, we’re really talking about children,” said Arlette Carrier, a child protection worker and CUPE 2577 President. “Every case is a child and a family who needs help. From the beginning of bargaining, we have been focused on getting the resources to ensure that help is there when it’s needed and I am incredibly disappointed that our employer refused to see the justice in our demands or the urgent challenges confronting families. We’re focused on keeping children with their families and we work with children who are at very high risk living with their families. This work takes time to build safety plans with the family and community, build relationships with parents, meet with children and families, and provide the critical sup-

“No case is ever just one thing,” said Jennifer Cromey, a family service worker with FCSLLG. “We deal with trauma, poverty, mental health challenges, addiction, violence, housing precarity and so on. Our worst fear is that we’ll miss something and a child will get hurt. That’s why we pick up our phones in the middle of the night and work weekends. But we can’t go on like this. Management’s choices have led to an exodus of staff. We’re working ourselves to exhaustion and children and families aren’t getting the support they need.”

Workers were picketing last week from Wednesday until Friday in both Brockville and Smiths Falls. A deal had not been reached as of the time of writing. Essential services have been provided during strike action to avoid the potential dangers to vulnerable children that a full withdrawal of services would cause.

by Brandon Mayer

It is not uncommon for new authors from the local area to join the writing scene, but one Osgoode author is unique in that writing a book is not something she was ever particularly interested in. Emily Leigh Curtis is the author behind “Jodi’s Story” – a new release fiction novel that promises to be hard to put down. Emily’s writing process is almost as interesting as the book itself.

“I have honestly never really been interested in writing,” said Emily. “I did like to do writing assignments in school and would make up little stories for my boys. I also wrote a lot of reports for work and one newspaper article. “Jodi’s Story”, however, just came to me at a difficult time, and her story wanted to be told. The first paragraph came to me while out for a walk and then it just started pouring out.”

For someone who admits to being previously uninterested in writing, it may surprise readers to know that Emily found writing the book to be the easy part! “It was so cathartic for me, and to see her story come to life was pure beauty,” Emily explained. “Holding a copy, a real copy of something I wrote in my hands was the most amazing feeling and accomplishment.”

The hard part? The logistics of publishing! “I have had many struggles with the book, mostly around trying to get it published, and trying to sell the book on a small budget,” Emily added. “Also, it was unnerving to know that my work was out there and people and others would read something so personal. The fear of judgement was very scary.”

Jodi’s Story explores themes of abuse, drug use, and societal failings. A description of the book available on Emily’s website reads in part: “With gripping imagery and stark detail, Jodi’s Story is one that needs to be told. Just trying to survive, doing whatever needs to be done, Jodi reveals the humanity that most people don’t want to consider.”

Emily’s inspiration for “Jodi’s Story” comes partially from a personal place. “I have struggled with addiction for the past eight years,” she revealed. “Finally, when things got really bad, I went into a treatment facility. There, I met very many people from many walks of life. All had trauma and we all shared the pain and struggles of our disease. It was there that Jodi came alive. Her story was a twist of a collective group’s experiences and stories.”

As is often the case, the local area helped inspire Emily’s book as well. “During one scene in the book, the character is taken back to what I picture is this area, and I thought it was important to show that good small town life could be such a safe haven,” said Emily. “One of the bad guys returns home to the safety of our community which was and still is remembered as a place of goodness before things went wrong.”

To learn more about Emily or “Jodi’s Story”, visit https://www.emilyleighcurtis.ca/. Purchase links to various retailers can be found by clicking the “Bookstore” link on the website.