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September 8, 2021
Olga Gegolick, an Ageless Senior Tells the Story of Her Life Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent
Olga Gegolick was born in Hairy Hill in 1933 where she grew up on a farm with her parents, four brothers and one sister. “My earliest memory is my grandfather used to carry me to the road from the farm and I hated his moustache so he used to tease me about this. Till today, I still don’t like beards or moustaches and prefer a clean cut person. Also, I was a real tomboy growing up; I used to race with my brothers and I always won. I used to love to climb trees. I was very active and I liked to be with my father on the farm. I didn’t like to be in the house.
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We were poor when I was growing up. But I didn’t know another way and I thought of this as normal. We were happy with whatever our parents gave us. We had enough food and a couple of pieces of clothing, but we never had any toys. So, we invented our own games. But I remember how happy we were when our father came back from town and brought us some candy. As far as school went, I liked school and learning. The subjects that I was best at were biology and geography. I also had a lot of friends at school and got along well with most of my classmates. I liked good kids. I went to school at Shalka, Alberta from Grades One to Nine. Then from Grades 10 to 12, I went to school at Hairy Hill. After I finished school I went to work for four years at Singer Sewing in Vegreville which were the best years of Olga during our visit at Vegreville Centennial Library. my life! (Rosanne Fortier/Photo) I met my future spouse Walter when we were both hanging around Vegreville. I had a crush on him because he was good looking and nice. I was local jamborees. I like to sing country and western, folk, and all types of music. thrilled when he asked me out one day. I also volunteered a lot for long term We then got married. Married life was good but hard. Walter was a good man. But we were poor in the beginning as he just care facilities, Ladies Hospital Auxiliary, owned a quarter of land and we had to make payments on it and Royal Canadian Legion No. 39 Ladies on the combine and other farm equipment. I was working on the Auxiliary, and Royal Purple. I loved to field helping my husband from day one. I continued to help him volunteer and I enjoyed everything I did. My health now is good. I like to play all our married life. music and participate in floor curling. I “Walter and I had two sons; Sonny and Darrell. I enjoyed live in my own home on a farm in Hairy being a mother and my children turned out well. But Darrell passed away from cancer when he was just 19 years old. There Hill and I drive. “The advice I would give young people is nothing harder than this for a mother to face. It is awful to about life is enjoy yourself when you are lose a child,” Olga explained with a tear falling from her eye. young because you get old very fast. Do My husband passed away in 1985 and I never got remarried. I have three grandsons: Dustin, Dayton, and Davin who grew as much as you can; travel if you can up to be wonderful people and I also have eight great grandchil- afford to. I traveled for 26 years to Yuma, Arizona which I really loved. dren. “My wishes for the future is to bring “As far as hobbies, when I was younger there was no time to do this but when I joy to people’s lives through music and to became a senior, I played the guitar and continue to enjoy my family and my sang and continue to do this. I like to eight-year-old black lab, Buddy. I like to perform for Perogies and Jam and at the go for walks with my dog.”
Talk of the Town on how to be Successful in School Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent
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What should students do so they are successful in school? Melanie Tkachuk said what makes kids successful is having a support system that teaches them at home as well. “We as parents cannot expect that kids will learn everything they need to know in life from school. All kids do not learn the same way. We need to help them find what works for them and to have open communication with their teachers. Teach your kids about money starting at a young age, let them experience things in life and learn from their own mistakes from time to time, and most of all teach them compassion.” Jim McCormick’s advice was to do your best but don’t stress about grades. “The most important thing is to get that diploma. The person who finishes bottom of the class in Med. School is still called doctors. Employers rarely look at anyone who doesn’t have a diploma.” Christine Marie said students should
listen and learn. Char Paul said all local schools should have typing classes, and classes on how to do taxes, budgeting, accounting, politics, basic law, and students should be taught math the way the parents were taught math so parents can help them at home. “They also should not have phones. And just basic calculators should be allowed.” Bryan Maynard said students should answer questions the way the teacher wants to hear instead of what reality dictates. “School is about memorization and regurgitation. Critical thinking skills aren’t really taught in school. I help my son with that and with the knowledge to never take anything you’re told as 100 percent fact without questioning it.” Loriann Vincent said schools and parents need to teach kids about their mental health. Kids need to know what they’re feeling and how to deal with it. “I think doing this would help reduce the stress our kids feel,” Loriann mentioned.
