I was fortunate enough to attend Alma College while in high school. It wasn't my first foray into meeting a world of people as I was well travelled at that point in my life. This was my first experience with living with the world. I credit this experience with building my foundation of acceptance of people.
I remember Maria from Zimbabwe. She escaped terror and war so she could pursue a much valued education in Canada. I remember the South American girls with their intelligence, sense of fun and fashion in the face of uniforms and really ugly shoes. I remember farm girls and high end city girls mixing and mingling and forging life long memories together. I remember the uptight and snooty girls too. We had ways of dealing with them. I smile at those memories.
Alma was 131 years old. A child by some standards, but not for my country. She was a high Victorian style edifice who held court over St. Thomas with dignity and grace. She was considered one of the top 10 endangered historic buildings in Canada. There have been battles over her future as she lay quiet and empty since the 80's.
Today she lies in rubble... teen arsonists finished what the government started.
I remember Maria from Zimbabwe. She escaped terror and war so she could pursue a much valued education in Canada. I remember the South American girls with their intelligence, sense of fun and fashion in the face of uniforms and really ugly shoes. I remember farm girls and high end city girls mixing and mingling and forging life long memories together. I remember the uptight and snooty girls too. We had ways of dealing with them. I smile at those memories.
Alma was 131 years old. A child by some standards, but not for my country. She was a high Victorian style edifice who held court over St. Thomas with dignity and grace. She was considered one of the top 10 endangered historic buildings in Canada. There have been battles over her future as she lay quiet and empty since the 80's.
Today she lies in rubble... teen arsonists finished what the government started.
