Through the eyes of a two-year-old--Carolyn R. Wilker

This past weekend my husband and I had occasion to look after our two-year-old granddaughter— a blonde, blue-eyed child with a headful of “boing-boing curls” as author Beverly Cleary wrote of one of her characters.

I wrote back to a fellow editor, Leslie R., who had replied to one of my email messages that I had been busy looking after our grandchild who’s two. She wrote, “I can't imagine a more pleasant pastime than spending time in the magical world of the two year old.”

In a two-year-old, there is great enthusiasm for life, along with strong reactions to situations the chilld cannot master. Tasks that frustrate and spill over into tears or tantrums. At the same time, wonders of the world that we adults walk by without noticing, they pay full attention to, if only for a few moments. These things become part of her world, and “mine” and “me, too” are favourite words.

We took her to church. There was plenty to look at, music to move to, as well as a little bag of toys and treats to help pass the time. A fellow speaking with us afterwards, upon learning that she’s two, said “terrible twos,” but I answered, “It’s only terrible if you look at it that way.” I think he was partly joking, but it's true.

Having taught preschoolers and having had three of my own, I know there are many good moments— little arms wrapped around my neck for a juicy kiss or a hug, as well as their exuberance for life—that can be both exciting and exhausting. A two-year-old needs her routines, good food, enough sleep, and people around her who look out for her. And not just her parents. It includes grandparents, neighbours or any other people who care for her or about her. Eventually it will include her teachers in school and others in her community.

It brought to mind the saying, “It Takes a Whole Village to Raise a Child.” On an Internet search of what could well be a proverb, I found that the source is not easily tracked.

According to a discussion on H-Net among African Librarians in 1996, Gretchen Walsh stated that no one could find a source, but she wrote, “It’s a phrase that has really caught on.”

Other people have used the phrase, including Hillary Clinton. Another librarian, Greg Finnegan, replied, “Guy Zona in The Soul Would Have No Rainbow if the Eyes Had No Tears (Simon & Shuster, 1994), a book of Native American proverbs, attributes the quote to the Omahas, a Siouan-speaking tribe from Nebraska.”

Whoever coined that proverb was a wise person, reflecting that we are to look out for children around us. It’s a responsibility to watch out for the child who is not aware of certain dangers, use the teaching moments well, take the opportunity to show the child that you care for her. It’s also an opportunity to model good behaviour.

And so we did many things together this weekend: played with toys, ate meals, explored the library, read the same two books over and over, pretended to have tea, tried out every piece of equipment at the park suitable to her age. We blew bubbles, picked flowers and tiny tomatoes, and best of all, there were many hugs.

Editor/storyteller and speaker. Author of Once Upon a Sandbox
www.carolynwilker.ca

Stories that are food for thought for writers - Denyse O'Leary

You write mysteries? How about: Forensics: Even cat DNA can be used in forensic investigations

 Or: You can write truthfully about fear, but not in fear (Be honest about the real problems your characters would face.)

 Why paywalls won’t work for mainstream media. (For the same reasons as you can’t charge for seawater in the ocean.)

Wanna make your living as a musician? Or your teenager does? Read this first.

 Should you write to your favorite author? Advisory tales.

 Why you should care about the cataclysm in print media … even if you don’t write for them or want to. (Yes, it does affect us all anyway)

Seven Days Can Make One Weak (if you don't include Jesus in your day...)

 

by Glynis M. Belec

 
The nonsense started Sunday evening. I reached out to make myself a cup of tea while visiting my darling son's home. We were chatting about this that and the other and I suppose my attention was not on the task at hand. The scalding steam on my forearm bit like a vicious snake. I pulled back. Soon it started to sting...out came the ice. Next day - a nice bossy red area and a tingle to remind me of my foolishness. Couldn't you have warned me, God?
.

     Enter Monday. I had a ton to do and a student coming at 9:30. I arrived at my Dad's place around 7:15 am, planning on getting an early start. All began well. I woke Dad up, took out his clothes and readied everything for his morning care. I prepared ingredients for his evening meal - a chicken casserole would be on the menu. I took out the medication drawer, turned the stove to 325° and told Dad not to rush because I had a few things to do out in the garden. After pulling a few weeds and replacing some forlorn plants with some fresh geraniums, I thought I should pop in to see if Dad was up yet. Time was getting on. I opened the door and my mouth dropped. At first I thought it was shredded paper or something. Upon closer inspection I saw that Dad's oven door had exploded/imploded and the glass chards were all over the floor (and the carpet, and the chairs and the inside of the stove...) Dad was still sleeping and heard nothing. I cancelled my student and the day progressed nothing at all like I had planned. Couldn't you have stopped that from happening, God?

     Tuesday morning - 5:30am. I woke up with a wretched pain in my chest that knocked me for a loop. I had to take two shots of nitro before it subsided. But it did subside. My sweetheart brought me a cup of tea. I laid in bed for 20 minutes feeling sorry for myself. Haven't I been through enough, God?

     

Wednesday was a sad day for me. My lovely little Japanese student, Wakana, was in my
classroom for the final time. She and her host family are heading to Nova Scotia for a vacation and then she will be returning to Japan next week. I am going to miss her terribly. Why did you only introduce me to Wakana for such a short time, God?

Thumbs up!

     Thursday I was in a hurry. Haste makes waste 'they' say. I scoffed sensing some impending doom if I didn't put the safety cover on my brand new Pampered Chef slicer. Sure enough...that little voice was one of warning which I chose to ignore. The result? I cut off the tip of my right thumb. I tried to control the bleeding myself but ended up at the local clinic with a thumb bandage the size of a peach. Seriously, God? What would it have taken you to just give me a reminder rather than allowing my foolishness to bleed all over the place. You know I had a ton of things to do.

     Today is Friday. The one hour trip to the dentist for Dad's 10 o'clock appointment this morning should have been uneventful. It was, until the phone call. "Did you forget your Dad's appointment?" Cheryl asked. It was 10:45 and we still had 10k to go. I had written down 11 instead of 10? I was convinced I was told the wrong time, but I had no proof. Knowing my mind these days, I was likely the guilty party. I mumbled my apologies praying we were not going to be moved to another day and listened. God, why couldn't you have prompted the dentist office to call me yesterday to remind me of the appointment time.

Tomorrow is Saturday. Maybe I will stay in bed...


        An attitude of gratitude changes the course of events

•  Thank you Jesus for allowing me to spend time chatting with my son - what's a little red mark?

•      I am grateful that Dad did not get up early on Monday as he usually does. He would have been sitting in his chair close to the stove, having breakfast.

•      I am grateful that I already have an appointment arranged next Monday afternoon with the cardiologist. I am also thankful that I am upright, filled with the joy of Jesus and loving each day without restriction.

•      Thank you that I had the privilege of working with Wakana these past few months. As I worked with her teaching her English, I thought about the wonder of words and the power of 26 letters. I also tried sushi for the first time and loved it!

•      Dad's implants will be fine. After Dad was finished, Dr. K told me to jump in the chair (I had told him about my filling that had fallen out) and he fixed my problem - no charge. I didn't have any freezing and he did an amazing job. What a nice dentist.

•      I'm thinking the sun will shine tomorrow...

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
                               

   

A Kindness Done, but not Forgotten (Peter Black)

Oops! I missed posting on my appointed date last week, so I'm squeezing in the following piece (a true story) for the August holiday weekend. It's adapted from my column of a couple of weeks ago, and will likely be included in my next book-- a collection of those articles.

It was quite late that night when Norman was called to the police station. Someone had suggested to the attending officer that he call a Mr. Clarke—my brother-in-law Norman.

He was ushered into a room where, huddled in a corner, cold and shivering from a soaking in the rain, was a young black man. His dark eyes couldn’t conceal his fear and uncertainty. He was alone, a stranger in a foreign country and an unfamiliar culture.

This occurred many years ago in Oxford, England. Norman wasn’t a social worker, but a chef in a university college . . . and a caring man. The young fellow had arrived from Africa, to study at the university, but knew no-one. Although his fare and tuition were sponsored, no other resources were provided; no food nor money, and nowhere to stay.

The officer released Daniel into Norman’s care, who took him to his home. After a warm meal and a bath, the youngster stepped into some dry clothes and slept in a warm bed. Thus began a new relationship, an extended stay and a new beginning. He soon began referring to Norman and my sister Chris as "Uncle" and "Aunty." 

Their church congregation welcomed him warmly – it was a virtual United Nations (like the couple’s home!), with attendees representing various ethnicities and many countries of the world.

Some years after Daniel’s studies were completed and he was back in Africa, I was in the UK for my mother’s funeral /memorial. One night during my stay he telephoned from Africa to thank Chris and Norman for what they’d done and the love they’d shown. He was now in business and employing people. That was over nine years ago. It was welcome news, and decent of him to call.

Several years ago Norman and Chris returned to Scotland to live, and recently received another call from Daniel. He’s now married and is currently visiting the UK with his wife and three children, introducing them (uhh, "showing them off") to some of the friends he made there – especially to “Uncle and Aunty.” Currently, he’s  a banker in Nairobi, Kenya, and gives thanks to God for all that they did for him when he had nothing and didn’t know what to do.

And so, a week or so ago Daniel and family should have left Chris and Norman’s place to head back to England, before flying home to Nairobi.

I’m reminded of friends who welcomed us like family when we first came to Canada. Some became like grandmas and grandpas to our kids. They included us in their circle of love and made an investment in our lives. Whatever good may have been done in the places where we lived and served as pastors was in part due to their kindness.

And yet, kindness has continued to follow us, for during our time in Guide Country [an epithet for the readership of the newspaper], others of you also extended friendship and invested kindness in our lives, and therefore assisted us in fulfilling our calling.

We may never know this side of heaven how far a kind word spoken, a warm welcome given or a kindness done in Jesus’ name with love in our hearts, can go, when God blesses it. He will reward.

Jesus said, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Also, “. . . your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 25:40; 6:3-4).

Thank you! Many of you have been kind to us.

~~+~~


Adapted from original article published in P-Pep! column in The Guide-Advocate – July 25, 2013. His articles have appeared in 50 Plus Contact and testimony, and several newspapers in Ontario.

Peter A. Black is a freelance writer in Southwestern Ontario, and is author of “Parables from the Pond” – a children's / family book (mildly educational, inspirational in orientation, character reinforcing).

(Finalist -- Word Alive Press ISBN 1897373-21-X )

 

~~+~~

What Are You Passionate About? - Laura J. Davis

Opportunities abound for writers, but where do you thrive? Do you like to write short stories? Are you an expert at something that could benefit someone else? What are your interests? What do you read? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you start sending out samples of your writing to every agent/publisher in the country. It's always a good idea to write what you know and what you love.

For example, the very first story I ever wrote, while I was still singing, (for those of you who don't know my story, visit my website and click on About the Author for the details) was science fiction. At the time, I was heavily into Star Trek (still am, I can't help myself - deep down I'm a nerd, only now it's Dr. Who) and anything to do with end-times theories. When you put the two of those together you can get a great story. Unfortunately, when I put them together I got a convoluted mess. Why? Because I loved everything about Star Trek, but I didn't know an atom from a nanite. Descriptions and technical jargon were not my style. Science Fiction for me was not something I liked to read either. Tracking starships through space and describing in detail how a transporter worked was too tedious for me and I quickly got bored. If I was bored, my readers would be too. So, I gave up writing stories and stuck to songwriting. It was a good decision. I soon had my songs recorded by not only myself, but other artists. They received TV and radio time and when I received my first royalty cheque I knew I was doing the right thing. So, I put away my stories, concentrated on my songs, something I loved to do.

Jump ahead years later to the present. Taking a page from my past I now write about those things that I am passionate about and I take joy in. Mainly, biblical fiction and bible studies. I have two fiction books in the works right now and about four different bible studies. I am not bored and I absolutely love researching history, archaeological finds and most of all my bible. So if I enjoy all that and can take what I find, put it into a good story or a bible study I am satisfied. Hopefully, my audience will be too.

How about you? Do you write what you are passionate about or what you think everyone wants to read? If it is the latter, are you enjoying yourself? 

 


www.laurajdavis.com
www.interviewsandreviews.com
www.learningfromthemaster.com

Staying Alert Ruth Smith Meyer

The news so far this year has been full of tragedy—natural or that precipitated by human error or depravity.  The list is long—tornados, floods, wildfires, mass shootings, terrorist bombings, kidnappings and captivities.

 Just this past week, as I write, after one of the hottest, most humid weeks in a while, the approach of a cold front presented the possibility of violent, destructive weather on a long weather front that stretched out across much of our fair land. It seemed that reporters, because of all that has happened so recently, were sensitized to the disastrous possibilities this could present .  Their voices were full of concern and if not fear, then a definite trepidation of what they may have to convey in a short while.  

In our area during the early seventies, there were a few years in a row that brought heavy snowstorms with whiteouts that came up suddenly and lasted for several days. During the first such storm the bus drivers were called in to one local school at noon  .  Before they could get away, the storm got too bad, so the school had not only most of their pupils, but teachers and bus drivers for two days and two nights before they could safely go home.  Close neighbours,  facing some danger of losing their way by even being out for a short distance, brought in food on snowmobiles, and the children slept on coats and whatever they could find to make themselves as comfortable as possible.  Several other places, school buses and their loads got stranded at farm houses along the way.  One farmer lost his way going from barn to house and expired in the snowdrifts not far from shelter. 

The next year, the storm came unexpectedly during the morning rush hour and many were stranded in their cars along the roads.  Again, there were some deaths. 

As always when such things happen, there were also many stories of miracles, near tragedies and the kindness of people as they reached out to help. That has occurred again in the recent happenings in the news. That is the encouraging thing about such crises. It brings out the best in people, selfishness self-interest is laid aside in order to alleviate the need of the victims. It also makes us all aware of how quickly things can change, how dear life is and how fragile. 

For years after those storms, when the weather looked in the least threatening, schools were closed and children were sent home early.  But gradually, people got tired of it all and accused school authorities and bus companies of crying wolf too easily.  They forgot the possibilities of tragedies and resented the disruption of regular routines.

We settle so soon into taking things for granted, going on with daily life and expecting it to go on like this forever.  We forget the serious snow storms and go driving in the winter without emergency kits or even proper clothing, we forget about floods and begin building in flood plains, or forget about rock slides and drive along highways without a thought.  We forget about the earth’s faults and build where earthquakes can have devastating results. 

It makes me think of 2 Peter 3:4—They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 

And Matthew 25:5 “The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.” 

Let’s stay alert!

Getting Unplugged - Eleanor Shepherd

We just spent two days in Detroit, on our way through to Chicago where my husband, Glen and I will be leading several sessions at a conference with The Salvation Army.  We left our home in Montreal on Thursday, and took the opportunity to visit family in the Toronto area Thursday and Friday.
Then on Friday evening we went to Niagara Falls, where we stayed with friends and managed to take in two plays at the Shaw Festival.  One was Major Barbara and the other Guys and Dolls.  We also visited the Falls.  On Sunday morning we worshipped with them in their house church.
On Monday, it was back to Toronto where I was able to have coffee with a long time friend and then on to Detroit, via Windsor.
In Detroit we spent one day at Greenfield Village, a huge reconstructed heritage village created by Henry Ford and half a day at the Henry Ford Museum.  It was all fascinating.
Leaving Detroit this afternoon, we arrived at South Haven on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, in time to enjoy a magnificent sunset over the lake.
So what it the point of this travelogue.  There is something that I have noted that is a result of our electronic attachment to our daily routine.  While we have been able to enjoy all of these things, that are not a part of our daily routine, at the same time, we have also not been able to leave our responsibilities behind.
When we stopped in Toronto on Thursday, we did not only spend time visiting with family, Glen also had a business meeting that he had to attend, so we were only partly relaxed, as this was on his mind.  As a result, I had to adapt my schedule to accommodate to his needs.  Then we were able to meet up with our relatives.
         In the midst of this, Glen also had a teleconference, so more time was spent with his ear to the telephone, while I was half focusing on our leisure activity. The reason we had to go back into Toronto on Monday, was for another business meeting that he had.

Lest you think it was only Glen who could not unplug, I also kept following the string of emails about some important events linked to my new position, and had a hard time keeping myself from becoming embroiled in the discussions.  However, I remembered that I had said to my colleague that I would leave him to make the decisions in my absence and I did not want to second guess him for the sake of our ongoing working relationship.
Not only are our iPhones keeping us anchored to our desks, even on vacation, we also have both brought our iPads and laptops.  Theoretically the reason for bringing these is to have them for the conference if we need them.  However, there is not a day that I have not been on my iPad.  Where do you think I am writing this?  That is right.  On my iPad.
The other excuse that I use for daily turning on my iPad, is that I keep the records for my daily intercession on it.  That is true.  However, when I have completed my intercession time in the morning, it is rare that I turn the iPad off right away.  I just check on a few things, and once again I am plunged into the concerns of my daily life.
While my laptop may be useful for the power point presentations for the workshops I will do at the conference, I have also found that when I turn it on, I realize that I need to delete files, to make room for additional information on it, and once again my mind become preoccupied with work.
Today, an interesting thing happened.  I did not have time to do anything on my iPad this morning after my prayer time.  I forgot to charge my iPhone last night and was afraid there would not be enough charge to look at my emails today.  Then my computer was in the trunk all day, so I could not open that either.  You know what happened?  I had a lovely day.  I was able to enjoy the company of my husband, who did not make any calls related to work. We sat by the lake this evening and watched the sun setting and only used the iPhone to capture the moment on the camera.  We both feel so much more refreshed this evening.  Now, as soon as I post this, I will try and unplug for the next few days.  I think I could even like it!

Word Guild Award
2011

Word Guild Award
2009

Life Lessons are Often Steps of Faith/MANN

Recently, while returning to Ontario from Alberta, I listened to an audio book by Richard Paul Evans, entitled, A Step of Faith. Evans has a skill of introducing his reader to the main characters various experiences as he walked across the United States, encountering and reflecting on lessons in life. In many ways, I identified with this book, as I thought about the past two weeks, renewing acquaintances, meeting new people, and enjoying more than one surprise of unexpected emotions. Each day offered life-lessons in some way.

Situations such as driving too late, making it difficult to find accommodations; eating too much late in the day risking loss of sleep; failing to keep the cooler stocked causing lack of healthy snacks continued to test our choices. These may seem like trite cause-and-effect situations, but they were vital to the peace and harmony of two people in the enclosed space of a van. In addition, I was often reminded of Dr. Phil’s repetitive question, “How’s that working for you?” after we’d made particular decisions or choices.

Exploring potential lessons of life through various encounters, relationships, weather conditions, even road-construction made the trip interesting in the midst of what might seem at times, tedious or mundane. Husband Doug, is an excellent driver and never shares this responsibly with me—probably easier for both of us.

A statement from A Step of faith resonated with me: “The strength of a friendship can be measured by the weight of the burden it is willing to share. To test it, just ask someone to help you move.” This short quote works in a variety of circumstances—you could change the last word “to travel across Canada, wallpaper a room together or give your wife driving lessons.” A valuable life-lesson in caring and supportive ways is being conscious of one another’s needs while traveling.

I was amazed at the similarities that I experienced in comparison to Richard Paul Evans’ character: travelling outside a group, staying with people or on our own, accepting assistance, acknowledging challenges, allowing surprises, and accepting the unknown and the unexpected. The routine of asking God for travelling mercies and God’s blessing at meal times was important in the midst of making choices on the walk without the usual familiarity of technology, favourite chair and the expected resources we have our fingertips. As the days and the miles disappeared behind us, our feelings of becoming a nomad increased and the familiarity of home faded as a new dependency of God’s care developed.

My purpose in going west was to introduce and promote a book set in this town where we had once lived. Life-lessons wove through my every day experiences as I renewed friendships, explored the prairie town, walked in the cemetery, talked to the people and sat on the church steps. Put together, it helped me to reflect on the many life-lessons these folks had initiated while encouraging and contributing to the book.

Acknowledging a lesson and unpacking it to carry us through the rest of the journey . . . is holy ground.

Blessings,

Donna 
A Rare Find: Ethel Ayres Bullymore - Legend of an Epic Canadian Midwife coming in mid fall
Aggie's Voice: The Victory Year coming in early fall

Stewards of the Earth—Carolyn R. Wilker

At Huron Natural Park

In our local newspaper, the Waterloo Region Record, on Wednesday, July 17, a columnist’s headline read, “We’re not big green bin users.” Jeff Outhit reported that our twin cities of Kitchener-Waterloo were #10 on a list of fourteen cities that run the green bin composting program. I wondered why that rate should be so low.

Our daughter, Laura, lived in Guelph, Ontario, after graduating from college. In Guelph, it’s compulsory to sort the disposables. I’d seen this program going in Nova Scotia when we went to visit our friends. I couldn’t remember which item went in which bin, but our friends had it figured out.

When we first got the blue bin—for recycling glass, metal and paper—we had been putting out a bag or more of garbage each week. When we added the blue bin, our garbage quantity went down consistently to one bag or a bit less.

 We already had a backyard composter and there were limitations on what we could put in it. With the green bin program, we could compost even more waste, things like crackers, bread, meat scraps and chicken bones. With all the other recycling options, our garbage output each week was now only part of a bag.

In a conversation on facebook this week friends said that people didn’t want to deal with the mess of a green bin and that few neighbours put out their green bins on garbage day. Another said she feared flies and other crawly creatures that might make the compost their home, but that has never been a problem for us.

Family members who live in an apartment building say they are not allowed to compost where they live, but they want to be responsible citizens. So we acquired an extra bin and once a week they drop off a bag of compostable material and we put it out at our curb. I learned this week that it’s not necessarily the apartment building owners or even their caretakers who don’t buy into the program, as I thought, but that the region must still develop a plan to include apartment buildings.

If you put compostable materials in the garbage, it can smell there too. Why not use the bin and contain the smelly stuff there, then put it out on garbage day? The bonus is a cleaner world and compost for gardeners to haul away for their gardens and flowerbeds.

This discussion led me to write a letter to the editor of our local newspaper, the Waterloo Region Record. I received a call the same day to verify that I had written the letter, and upon confirmation, learned that my letter would be published.

My letter, published on Saturday, July 20^th, is less finger pointing than it is encouragement to give the green bin a try, like developing any new habit.

Children are being taught in school about recycling. There are signs in public places and on the bins on how to handle the varying types of waste. If the children can learn it, surely adults can take it seriously too. 

Garbage and landfill sites are filling up. What then? Truck our garbage somewhere else? Then we pay for fuel to haul it there. It might be that the region can still make the operations more environmentally efficient, such as doing all the recycling nearby.

 By myself, I can do only so much, but together, we can make a difference. We are the stewards of creation, given the responsibility to take care of this planet we call earth. If we work on taking better care of it, perhaps we can leave it in better shape for our next generations.Until then, be good earthkeepers.

A response to Sal’s “Creationist support of eugenics and genocide in the past” - Denyse O'Leary

I posted this this morning at Uncommon Descent, and it features the work of another Canadian  Christian writer, Jane Harris Zsovan:

Thanks, Sal, for excellent sleuthing of creationist who supported eugenics.

It’s surprising, on the face of it, that any creationist would adopt eugenics; that amounts to saying that God regularly makes mistakes about the sort of people he creates.

That’s entirely different from saying that God regularly creates people we wish he hadn’t. His choice doesn’t make them a mistake because the world is not organized mainly to please us. J.R.R. Tolkien touches on this theme with the character Gollum in The Lord of the Rings. Everyone hates Gollum for good reason, even himself probably. But …

Frodo: It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance.

Gandalf: Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.

And so it proved.

The same would apply to dealing out sterilization. Not all creationists got the memo, it seems.

This area was actually documented here at UD a couple of years ago, in our interview series (links appended below) with Jane Harris, author of Eugenics and the Firewall, about the eugenics-based compulsory sterilization program in the Canadian province of Alberta, a program that was not actually abolished until the early 1970s:

Eugenics was widely accepted by the business, academic, medical and political establishment. Preachers – in evangelical and mainline churches – even preached it from the pulpit. One exception: Roman Catholics. And they were ridiculed for their ‘backwardness’ in not endorsing eugenic theory. Also, the Conservative Party in Alberta was the only party to consistently refuse to support eugenics legislation in Alberta after it was introduced.

Most of the lay folk who spearheaded such programs across North America were probably, in some conventional sense, creationists. It is fortunate that most creationists were far more concerned with improving sanitation and medical care, which did far more for the health of the population than eugenics ever could.

Eugenics and the Firewall: Interview with Jane Harris Zsovan I
Eugenics and the Firewall: Interview with Jane Harris Zsovan II
Eugenics and the Firewall: Interview with Jane Harris Zsovan III