Book of Smiles - Bow Valley Learning

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Book of Smiles June 2016

Transcript of Book of Smiles - Bow Valley Learning

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Book of Smiles

June 2016

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This booklet was compiled by:

Debbie PenningaBow Valley Literacy Program Coordinator

[email protected]

© Bow Valley Literacy, all rights reserved

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

THE STORIES

Maria Barron - People’s Kindness Makes Me Smile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Tom Caslavsky - A Perfect Day: Making My Soul Smile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Patricia Germain - Maya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Kika Grandi - My Seven Best Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Kazue Hasiguchi Merry - The Best Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Mari Hirota - My Father Made Me Smile on My Special Day . . . . . . . . . . .14

Meena Khadka - Happiness in the Small Moments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Dora Lee - A Special Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Sueun Lee - Universal Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Sachiho Miller - A White Canvas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Naomi Mori - Language Lesson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Tamaki Okabe - Two Reasons to Smile: My Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21

Kate Ostashewsky - Tandem Skydiving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Renuka Ranasinghe - Peaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Dalva Silveira - A Memory that Brings a Smile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Grace Xin Zhang - The Good Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

A CELEBRATION OF LEARNING WITH OUR TUTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Table of Contents

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Acknowledgements

The Bow Valley Literacy Program is a program of the Bow Valley Learning Council, funded by Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education.

‘Book of Smiles’ was made possible by a generous donation from 100+ Women Who Care Rockies. Support from these dynamic and great-hearted women also helped make it possible for us to launch our Peer Tutor Program, Writers Circle and Pre-Be-ginner Class.

The Banff, Bighorn and Canmore Public Libraries provide space, support, encouragement and resources. It is always a pleasure to introduce Tutors and Learners to the many ways in which library use can enhance their learning partner-ships. Thank you to Michelle, Rose, Sarah and the amazing teams they lead. We would also like to offer our sincere appreciation to Karen for her faithful support of our ESL Conversation Group each week and to April for showing us how to make the most of our local library.

The BVLP is grateful for the support that Soroptimists International of Banff National Park have provided over many years.

This publication was also made possible by help and support from the following:

• Jenna Innes, whose proofreading skills were very much appreciated. Jenna understands the importance of maintaining the writer’s unique voice and edits accordingly.

• Banff YWCA Hotel, which continues to provide the BVLP with space for meetings, workshops and tutoring as well as connecting us with community partners and services. The BVLP was pleased to be invited to the YWCA’s 2016 Women of Distinction Awards, where Madeline Crilley was acknowledged for 25 years of service as Coordinator of the BVLP.

• Sally Garen at GoGo Graphics and Jay and Julia at UPS Store Canmore whose support made the production of ‘Book of Smiles’ possible.

• Café Books, where we had the chance to share ideas over cups and coffee and tea. Thank you for providing the space for us to dream up ‘Book of Smiles’.

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It is a great honour to introduce the 2016 Bow Valley Literacy Program learner publication ‘Book of Smiles’.

As the Executive Director of the Bow Valley Learning Council, I have had the privilege of working in partnership with Deb Penninga, the Coordinator of the Bow Valley Literacy Program, and, as a result, I have been able to meet many of our program volunteers and learners, many of whose stories you will find here in this book.

The hard work of the people who participate in the Bow Valley Literacy Program has resulted in 16 very personal stories. They are stories about family, animals, kindness, nature and the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Each of the stories made me smile as I read them. The stories are an inspiration. They give us each an opportunity to reflect on our own lives and what is important to us. They cause us to reflect upon the sources of our own joy.

The book you now hold in your hands is something to be proud of; it is a book that makes us all ‘smile’. I congratulate every person who was involved in this project over the past year and give thanks for their participation in our program.

Enjoy!

Ashley ButenschonExecutive DirectorBow Valley Learning Council

Foreword

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People’s Kindness Makes Me Smileby Maria Barron

What really makes me smile is the kind-ness of people. For instance, when I came to Canada I did not speak any English. I had to be in my friend’s shadow in my first years. I felt very vulnerable for not knowing English. I felt weak, sometimes a fool. I lost my confidence. I had to reinvent myself. It is hard not to be you, because you can´t express your feelings at 100% or say exactly what you want to say because you don´t have enough words to say it. The words have power and you lose your power when you try to communicate in your second language. Indeed, being in a vulnerable situation you become more sensitive, receptive, and more aware of people’s feelings and your own feelings too. You see and feel from a different perspective. You see people’s kindness.

In the first place, I saw patience. It is a very beautiful word when you really feel it. As a newcomer in Banff every situa-tion is very challenging when you don’t speak English well: buying something, getting information, giving information, or just interacting with people. In my opinion, everyone is very patient, whether in the library, the Town of Banff, the bank, the post office, the supermarkets, the schools - in every business in general. I do appreciate this gesture, because when you feel that someone has been patient with you, it is fantastic. You want to do the same. That makes me happy, and of course that makes me smile. Equally important, is generosity. Giving and not expecting anything in return but gratitude is amazing. All volunteers in Banff share their time in different ways. Smiling at everyone, guiding, listening carefully, and supporting us is very kind. All my gratitude goes to them. They are our sunshine on a cloudy day. Everyone knows that time is precious and giving away something so important is wonderful. They help us to adapt easier. That kindness creates powerful energy around our town; you feel great and of course that makes you smile. Similarly, there is respectfulness. I really love to live in a multicultural community. I have met people from many coun-tries. Everyone is very kind and respectful. I feel respect from others towards my own culture and my roots, and I do the same for everyone else. I believe in humanity. We learn from each other. I have made very good friends and learned a lot of things from them. I think that I am more open to everything and respectful of other cultures. That respectfulness is priceless and that makes me smile. Certainly, I miss my family and friends back in Mexico. I miss the music, the food, the beaches, and the sun. I miss my job. It has been a long time though; now, I feel that Banff is my home. I do not miss the corrupt government, the impunity, nor the violence. I suffer when my people back home are suffering. I like peace and justice and I wish everyone in the world could have this.

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A Perfect Day - Making My Soul Smileby Tom Caslavsky

If I could have a day to spend like I want or to do what I’m interested in, I would spend it on a walk in nature. I love to watch the sunrise light up the mountains and the forest. I love to watch how nature wakes up and how the animals feed themselves. Nature recharges my body with new energy from the trees, from the sun and from the fresh air. I want to just walk through the forest and to discover how each tree is different from the other ones. I want to collect mushrooms and wild berries. I want to make a fire in the evening when the sunset is coming and listen to the birds while I watch the flames going up and down. I want to collect herbs to make teas or to use for cooking. I want to fall asleep in the forest without a tent, to see the sky full of stars and feel the morning dew on my face.

I live in a beautiful place, surrounded by the amazing nature of the Canadian Rockies, so I have lots of possibilities to have many perfect days. I’m thankful to have a lot of these days.

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Mayaby Patricia Germain (and Maya)

I always smile when I arrive at my home because my dog greets me. The first thing that Maya wants is that I give her big hugs because she wants a lot of attention. To thank me, she barks and rolls over with her back paws up. In the same way, Maya likes doggy treats. She wants them over and over again. After, my dog wants to go outside to poop. Then, she asks for a doggy treat. Finally, Maya is ready for long “walkies”. I tell you this story because I love animals. I find that dogs feel how the master is. For example: if I’m tired, my dog will be tired. Also, the proverb that says “the dog is man’s best friend” is really true. My dog, Maya, protects me as if I was her baby. She wants always to be with me. The only thing that Maya doesn’t do is talk. You can see why my dog makes me smile when she greets me.

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My Seven Best Friendsby Kika Grandi

I am very lucky as I have seven grandchildren who make me smile. People smile at many things. For example, they smile at jokes, something funny and crazy situations, but the smiles that my grandchildren evoke are special and stir profound feelings in my heart!

I remember when my first grandchild made his first steps with me, alone, in Banff and when he was imitating the sound of a crow. How many smiles he gave me! And now, almost a teenager, he still makes me smile when he comes to me and says: “I have a problem Nonna. I like this girl but I do not know how to tell her! Shall I call her or invite her to a movie?” Time flies!

And what about my three girls? I have to tell you that when I show up at their door it is a unison of thrilling voices. They call me “Nonna, Nonna” and they kiss me and hug me.

First of all, there is Maya who is the youngest one. She still sleeps in the afternoon, although it is so hard to put her to sleep! I start reading a book while I caress her forehead and after one, two, three books…she asks for more and more. It is never enough for her, but finally she falls asleep in my arms and she is a little angel who makes me smile.

Aria, my oldest, loves to be picked up at school for lunch. Today, when I surprised her and I entered her classroom, she jumped on me and everyone smiled!

And Gaby, the middle one, told me one day, out of the blue, that I am her best friend.

I also have to tell you about Marcus, who is my daughter’s eldest son. He was two years old when I took him skiing for the first time on the Magic carpet at Norquay. I could not take his skis and boots off because he wanted, “one more run and one more time, please.” He was so cute! All you could see was his boots and skis and then this little guy!

In conclusion, I have to say that I am blessed to have my grandchildren. They allow me to forget everything while I am with them. Yesterday, I was told that “Grandma, you are my best friend!” I hope I will hear this tomorrow and after tomorrow.

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The Best Medicineby Kazue Hasiguchi Merry

I love being outside. When I’m in the backcountry, I can feel the nature, breathe in the fresh air and see the beautiful views. That makes me happy and puts a big smile on my face. I do lots of outdoor activities. One of my favourite activities is rock climbing. When you go rock climbing, you need a partner unless you are free soloing, which I’ve never done. (Free soloing is a type of climbing which a climber performs alone without using ropes, a harness or other protec-tive equipment.) Whenever I go climbing, I always go with friends. Hanging out with friends and sharing fun times is very important. It always makes my life richer and happier. In the summer, I love to get out climbing as much as I can. It’s not always easy because I need a partner. It’s hard to arrange the same day off with friends. We normally go climbing for one-day trips. However, when we have more than two days off together, we sometimes plan for overnight trips or road trips, which I love the most. It doesn’t matter whether we go climbing, skiing or backpacking, I just love spending time outdoors. Although the trip itself is the best part, I love to make the meal plans. I love to eat. We try to cook good meals and we try to make a full course meal: an appetizer, soup, a main dish and dessert. I feel like I eat better when I’m on overnight trips. Great food and drink with friends always makes me smile. This is even better with great stories around a camp fire. I believe that a smile is the best medication for our health. A smile keeps sickness away. My dad used to say, “Keep smil-ing; a smile will bring you happiness.” I think it’s true. I’m so lucky to live in Banff where I can see the mountains I love every day. The beautiful views never get boring. As long as I’m around the mountains and have great friends to hang out with -- including my husband, of course -- I will keep smiling and be happy.

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My Father Made Me Smile on My Special Dayby Mari Hirota

On March 10th, 2006, my husband and I got married at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. The day before the wedding, my father and my brother came to Banff. For my father, it was his first time coming to Canada and he could not speak English at all. The only place he had travelled to in his life was Hawaii, a long time ago. He must have been intimidated by everything he had never seen before. My husband picked them up at the airport. My father had never met my husband before and when a big guy with a mustache came to him and said “Hi,” it must have been scary. On top of that, he had never been skiing, he had never ridden a chairlift and he had never been in -10 degrees Celsius weather in his life. To attend the wedding ceremony, my father had to come up to ‘The Top of the World’, quite a high spot at the ski hill, by chairlift in the cold weather. After the wedding, we went back to Banff and had dinner together. Then we went to the bar for the reception. By the time he came to the bar, I think he was exhausted; however, he stayed at the bar for us. Finally, it was time for the bride to throw the bouquet. All the single girls gathered in front of me and waited for me to throw the bouquet. I turned and threw my bouquet to the girls. My bouquet passed the girls and dropped on the floor, by my father. He grabbed the bouquet and lifted his hand high like he was on the podium, with a smile! Everybody in the bar laughed, but my father did not know why they were laughing. He had no clue what was happening. I explained to him why people were laughing and he finally understood why and smiled. I felt badly for him because he did not know anything about Canadian culture. I guess he was a little bit embarrassed, but he kept smiling during the reception. Unfortunately, my lovely father passed away three years ago. It’s very sad that he is not in this world any more. My father told us he would be coming back to Canada, with my mother next time. However, he passed away before his wish had come true. Still, every time my husband and I talk about memories of this event, this story always comes up and it makes us smile.

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Happiness in the Small Momentsby Meena Khadka

Life is busy and there are many challenges. But, there are many things that make us smile and I want to say that the world is beautiful. We should enjoy every moment. Most of the time people chase the big things that they think will bring them happiness, but they miss the happiness they would find in the small moments along the way.

Going for a walk along the river, going for a hike in the mountains and stopping to admire the view can make you happy. One thing that makes me smile the most is a waterfall.

When I was living in India I only saw waterfalls in movies. I wasn’t sure if they were real because they looked white like milk. I wanted to see a real waterfall up close. I never thought I would see one.

Then I moved to Banff and I saw my first real waterfall. I went to Johnston Canyon with my family my first summer in Canada. I was very excited as I hiked along the beautiful trail to the falls but I was freezing and getting very tired. When I saw a series of small falls and then a big fall, it refreshed me and I went crazy. They looked more beautiful than I had ever imagined. We had planned to go only to the lower falls but we decided to carry on to the upper falls, even though it wasn’t an easy hike for me. It was an amazing moment in my life to see those waterfalls. After that, I went back many times and each time they looked more beautiful. This winter was the first time I saw a frozen waterfall with the water running behind the ice. Johnston Canyon always makes me smile.

Since then I’ve seen many more waterfalls. They were all amazing. One of my favorites is Takakkaw falls. We hiked Takakkaw falls to Twin falls and we saw many falls along the way. Each waterfall is different but they are all uniquely beautiful.

A waterfall is one thing that makes me smile. There are so many things that can make you smile too. We are all very lucky to live in the Rockies with beautiful mountains, rivers, waterfalls, birds, animals and amazing people. So we don’t need big things to make us smile. Small things can also make us smile. Keep smiling and be happy!

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A Special Timeby Dora Lee

I smile whenever I think about a vacation that I took to Vancouver Island. It was a very fun time that I spent with my daughter, son-in-law and two grandkids.

During the trip, we visited a couple of beaches and the kids played in the water, laughed and talked happily. We watched a flying show performed by eagles, hawks and owls in a place called ‘Raptors’ in Duncan. We visited the famous Butchart Gardens and wandered in Victoria’s inner harbor. We also canoed in the lake, played mini golf, tasted wine and ate at seafood restaurants.

All in all, we enjoyed the vacation home we stayed at very much. It sat on a one-acre wooded land and the backyard faced the ocean. We watched the spectacular sunrise and sunset almost every day. We spent a lot of time on the backyard balcony just relaxing and enjoying nature.

The memory of this special time always makes me smile.

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Universal Languageby Sueun Lee

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness - William Arthur Ward

I have realized that here, in Canmore, it is normal to smile at strangers on the street. In my culture, we don’t do that. If I visit Korea, and start smiling at people randomly on the street when I am walking along, they will think that I am insane and my mom will start to worry about her daughter being crazy.

It took me many years to understand the concept of ‘you smile at strangers on the street’. In fact, I am still trying to get used to it even though I’ve been here almost four years. At least now I know that it is a friendly gesture showing that you are willing to give someone else a bit of help if it is needed. Also, as they smile back at you, it makes your day lovely. When you’re smiling, no doubt you’re having a much better time than when you’re not. Smiling simply makes you feel better.

At first, when I came to Canada, I smiled whenever I needed help or if I didn’t know how or what to say in different situations. The power of smiling was greater than I thought. In 2012, I was struggling with finding an apartment because I didn’t have any co-signer or credit in this country at that time. I smiled at the staff person working at the property management company and hoped he could help me. It worked! He made an exception and let me pay six months’ rent in advance so I could establish credit here in Canada. That was how I got my place to live. Then, when I was looking for a job without language skills other than Korean, a chef offered me a job, saying, “You look positive so I will hire you.” That was how I got my first job in Canada. Most of the time, I use a smile to fill the gap created by awkward moments in a conversation and it works all the time.

Now, whenever I see newcomers, especially people who have a similar culture to mine, I try to explain to them how important smiling is. It is a small thing, yes. But this small and easy thing does make a difference. Smiling is a universal language. It is the language for which you don’t need to have an interpreter. It changes the mood in a positive way. So smile and see what happens.

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A White Canvasby Sachiho Miller

Growing up as the middle child of three sisters taught me diverse perspectives at an early age. Being right in the middle turned me into an independent, curious and open-minded person. I was interested in things that I had not known, places that I had never been, and was happy doing my own thing.

My parents were the biggest influences on and supporters of my life. They encouraged me in meeting new people, travelling to other countries, and learning different cultures. One day, my father told me about his secret of success in life. “Life is like drawing your dream on a big white canvas. Take control of what to draw on yours.” He went on to say, “accepting yourself and your differences, being empathic towards others, and taking responsibility will make your picture more colourful and meaningful.”

From time to time, I reflect on what my father said. Being away from family almost halfway around the world has not always been easy. There was a time when I looked back and thought of the life I might be living. Maybe that is what life is. At any time his words give me the courage to continue and that teaches me a lot about myself. My picture is only half done. Hopefully by the time I finish my drawing, it will become a beautiful piece of art.

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Language Lessonby Naomi Mori

When I met my friends one day, we talked about hair styles. One of my friends used be a hairdresser in Japan. He has cut some of my friends’ hair in Canada. My friends who had their hair done by him said he has very good technique. They liked their hair style so I really wanted to get my hair done by him too.

I said to him, “Please cut me!”

Right after I said this to him, everybody laughed. I should have said to him, “Please cut my hair!”

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Bubbles I have two children. They are Rina, 7, a girl and Hideto, 4, a boy.

Last Monday afternoon. Hideto said, “Let’s play bubbles Rina!” So, they went outside and started making bubbles. I was in the kitchen, and heard their excited voices. I looked outside but I only saw a rainbow of bubbles floating up in the sky.

That made me happy and my face was smiling.

Pictured: Rina, Hideto and Tamaki Okabe

The Rabbit Three years ago, we had a flood in June. We lost our house in Exshaw. After that we lived in Canmore for about four months. We stayed at the Coast Hotel for the last five weeks.

At the time my children were 4 and 1 ½ years old.

The children and I often went for a walk after supper. Many rabbits lived near the hotel. We walked on a paved trail with bushes close by. Rina and I found a rabbit on the side of the

trail. She said, “A rabbit is there Mama. Hey Hideto! A rabbit is there!”

When Hideto saw the rabbit, he called out, “It is cute!” He tried to touch it; one step closer and the rabbit hopped farther away. Another step closer and the rabbit was gone.

Hideto was small and his behavior was so cute. Rina and I smiled watching him.

Pictured: Hideto in 2013

Two Reasons to Smile: My Childrenby Tamaki Okabe

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Rina There are many times when my children make me smile. One day I asked them about their favourite activity. Rina said, “My most fun activity is skiing.”

She joined the ski race program at Nakiska. Her group is made up of six girls, ages 7 to 9. When their lessons started, Rina couldn’t make friends. But now, she says, “They are all my friends!”

They had a ski race in the middle of March. They had four races in total. Some girls wore racing suits, others the usual ski outfits, but all had racing bibs. All the girls had good races. Their skills had improved very much from the start of the season. Everybody was smiling.

Pictured: Rina at the ski race in March, 2016

Hideto

Hideto said, “I like swimming. It is the best.”

He took swimming lessons from the Red Cross program. I was surprised he said he likes swimming because he stayed in the first class, called Sea Turtles, three times. Also, he doesn’t like putting his face in the water. I saw a couple of his first swimming lessons and saw that his hair was dry when the lessons finished. I saw his head saying no to the instructor many times. But, he really liked the instructor and he was having fun with the group.

I was surprised that he passed Sea Turtles the last session. I thought that he would be in the same class again but he had improved in the last two lessons. He told me that he could swim alone with the float board because he knows how to kick.

The next session started in the second week of April. He had fun in the new group. I am looking forward to seeing him improve even more. I know he will have lots of fun and I will see his smiling face.

My Children’s Favourite Activities

Two Reasons to Smile: My Children

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Tandem Skydivingby Kate Ostashewsky

On my way to the aircraft my only thought was: “What do the hieroglyphics on my instructor’s leg mean?” I didn’t ask. First of all, I am not fluent in English, and I avoid talking whenever possible. It’s a bad habit, I know. I am like a dog: not so cute, but I have smart eyes. The second reason I kept silent: I didn’t notice, but it was there, a nice note in my empty skull:

“Dear Kate,

We had great time together, but it looks like you don’t need me anymore.

Take care!

Love,Your brain.”

This is why I was pretty happy when I sat in the aircraft. I enjoyed the flight. Just when the door opened I finally noticed it: my brain, where are you? Now I know that my spinal cord is much more loyal. I thought, “this guy behind me knows what to do.” I desperately hoped that he wanted to be alive.

So, it wasn’t an experience to do the skydiving; it was an experience to trust someone. I need to repeat it to understand what it was.

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Peachesby Renuka Ranasinghe

I moved to Banff 4 ½ years ago from Sri Lanka. I didn’t know anyone except my husband. I arrived in December. We arrived at night and there was lots of snow. I had never seen snow before. It was cold. I like snow, but not the cold!

After many months of winter we drove to Kelowna to the beach and we enjoyed the fresh cherries and peaches. We have been twice now to Kelowna in the summer. My baby loves peaches and cherries. He enjoyed playing in the sand and splashing in the water.

It really makes me smile remembering my baby eating a fresh peach and his face covered in fruit.

Pictured: Renuka, Nethum and Kasun at Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park

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A Memory that Brings a Smileby Dalva Silveira

I always smile when I remember my first experiences when I arrived in Canmore. One snowy morning, my daughter invited me to go up to Sunshine Village to ski. As I used to be a good roller skater in my teens in Brazil, she thought I would have enough balance to ski. On the contrary, I lost control and fell down on the hill. My daughter, who can ski very well, intervened and stopped my fall.

She said, “I am sorry!”

I answered, “You shouldn’t have done that!”

Fortunately, I didn’t get hurt. Today we laugh about this incident!

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The Good Lifeby Grace Xin Zhang

You wake up to the sounds of birds chirping, with the warm glow of the morning sun cradling your face. And you realize you are waking up in Banff, which is one of the dream places in your life. Fantastic, right?

I love Banff; it’s such a beautiful place, and it is very easy to make friends here. All of the people here have interesting experiences to share with me. Moving here was the best decision of my life.

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A Celebration of Learning with Our Tutors

Our TutorsCatharina

JudyDonnaLewis

Rae-AnnMary

SophieMadeline

AnnSamantha

NikolettMarilyn

MargaretMarleen

JeanBernadette

FayeJacquelineFemmeke

MarySarah

PatriciaLynn

AnkersmitArcherBalmainBentleyBilodeauBuckinghamClarkeCrilleyDaltondeKlerkDeliDuncan-WebbFeistFerguson-SteeleFinleyFontaineForbes-AndersonGaleHolthuisHuerlimann-ChristieJonesKarrasKatarey

LoriAnneli

TatianaNicoleKathy

MathiasSachiho

CatherineYuka

LaurelTamaraLesley

FrancesJody

LouiseErin

JeanElena

WilenaCindy

DeborahAimee

KernickKocherKuznetsovaLaliberteMcNeilMegenasaMillerMooreOzawa WhittinghamPatersonPryce-FisherRandalRawsonRoseneckSchulzSellersSlaghtVandakurovaWaechterWardWiggettWoo

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