January 2006:
After returning to Canada in 1969, I remained in Ottawa (our nation's capital) for most of my life. I attended 2 years at the Unversity of Waterloo in Engineering then met my (now wife) on a summer work term in Ottawa. I finished my schooling here at the University of Ottawa in a Management Science program. I worked in a training development company, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a plumbing retail store; then joined Statistics Canada where I worked as an administrative officer, then on the national census program, followed by a short stint with justice statistics (all within Statistics Canada). Most recently I've completed a training program for economists and sociologists with Statistics Canada and began a secondment with the federal Department of Justice (my work there has touched on family law, and more recently on inclusive justice for marginalized populations, as well as sustainable development and social cohesion issues). I enjoy the work and staff, so I'm hoping to stay here permanently if they can work out the budget details. That's the "reader's digest" version of my school and work life.
I have been married for 26 years and have 3 children (Chris - 23 in 1st year of a graduate course in conflict studies, Tom - 20 in 2nd year at college (Marketing) and Jena - 18 in 1st year of university in psychology)...no need to pity me regarding the cost though because they are are all eligible for student loans which they don't have to start repaying until they start full-time work following their studies.
My wife (Carolyn) is an organist and choir director with a local church (The United Church of Canada), and is bookkeeping for another (United) church (she enjoys numbers as well as music).
My Mom passed away 2 years ago (cancer) and my Dad was been diagnosed with dementia this year. We have been arranging to set him up in a seniors residence (one step from a nursing home because he is still mostly lucid, though he forgets things regularly and has trouble writing and doing basic math). He is very sociable and gets along with the staff and residents in the facility. We just sold his home and are now facing the daunting task of emptying the place before January 17th.
My brother (Dennis) and sisters (Cindy and Shelley) all live in the area (which makes looking after my Dad a lot easier). You would never have had occasion to meet Shelley as she went to a convent school while we lived in KL. Dennis works as a manager for a high tech company and Cindy is a software designer for another high tech company. Shelley works with the local school board helping students with behaviour problems in the classroom.
Your (very old) friend,
Norm
