I was born and raised in Toronto and diagnosed with sensory-neural hearing loss in both ears at age 30 months. I started wearing body hearing aids soon after the diagnosis. My education started at age 4 in an oral deaf school where sign language was not allowed. Because I am hard of hearing, I was able to progress to the regular public school for grades 3 & 4 that was next to the deaf school. Eventually, I left the deaf school entirely and entered the public school system in my neighbourhood beginning at grade 5.
After completing high school, I started university and then attended Ryerson Poly-technical Institute for my Registered Nurses’ training. Later, I completed my B.Sc.N. at Laurentian University. For 35 years, I specialized in mental health and psychiatry in hospitals and communities having worked in Toronto, Victoria, Nunavut and The Pas, MB. I retired from nursing 5 years ago and still live in The Pas with my 4 cats and 1 dog.
I became involved with CHHA almost from the very beginning when I attended its first major conference in Toronto in 1983. While in Victoria, I was very involved with the Branch there and served on the Board of Directors during the 1990’s. Over the years, I have attended numerous National CHHA Conferences all over the country.
I am very pleased to be involved with CHHA once again, in Manitoba. Having meetings on Zoom has allowed me and others to participate.