Category: rants raves life & love

LIFE: Let’s Talk About Internalized Racism – Experiences of a Chinese Canadian

I have spent a lot of time lately reflecting on racism and trying to educate myself. I think I’ve finally figured out that I have “internalized racism”. If you’ve never heard the term before, don’t worry – I hadn’t either! In a society where racial prejudice thrives in politics, communities, institutions and popular culture, it’s difficult for racial minorities to avoid absorbing the...

Hunter’s Birthday: Get Hunter’s Special Squawk eBook FREE

March 21, 2017 is Hunter’s birthday. At 3 years old, I imagined that he would be happily toddling around, stringing words together in toddler-speak, and excitedly following his big cousin around to do what she does. He would get excited about eating birthday cupcakes, and would make a huge mess of his face, the table, and the floor as he...

What I’ve Learned from Greta

It’s 3am and you are fast asleep in your bed. You are abruptly woken by loud knocking on your door. You are disoriented and groggy as you try to get up. You smell smoke. You throw open the door. A 16-year old girl frantically tells you, “Your house is on fire! Your house is on fire!” Instead of leaping to...

LIFE: The Cracks in My Being

I expected that leading up to the second anniversary of my nephew Hunter’s death, I would be a bit less stable. I also expected that it would be easier than the first. After all, time is what heals wounds, right? I was making my way through life relatively okay, or so I thought. But then the day before the anniversary...

Hunter’s Special Squawk eBook FREE for a Limited Time

On August 22, 2017, our 5 month old nephew Hunter was killed in an arson that burned down his home. I will never forget the text message I saw from my husband that morning while I was at work. Running out the door to call and find out what was happening. My colleagues gathering around me as I cried and...

Hunter’s Special Squawk Kickstarter Campaign

It’s March 21, 2019. Today, my nephew Hunter would be turning 2 years old. He would be putting words together in short sentences. He would be running around as a chunky little toddler. My daughter would be happily taking his hand to go on adventures, teaching him the alphabet and reading books with him. Instead, we only have the memories...

“Justice System” is a Misnomer

Today we went back to court to hear the judge pronounce her sentence for the individual who set my sister-in-law’s house on fire, which killed my baby nephew Hunter. The crown and the defence had presented a joint submission at the last court appearance in December, when I read Hunter’s victim impact statement. When Angie read hers. When her brother...

LIFE: I Will Be Broken No Longer

I did something today. I stood up for myself. The individual who caused me great trauma over 1 year ago has once again been using me as an emotional and psychological punching bag. Today he did so in front of my daughter. For the first time, I called him on it to his face. I called him an asshole. In...

RANT: The Pro-Pipeline Truck Convoy Was Not Cool

As an environmentally-conscious person, living in the middle of oil country can be tough. Alberta’s economy depends so much on the oil and gas industry, and many people have struggled with losing jobs and not being able to provide for their families. This post is going to make me really unpopular with a lot of Albertans. Because – the pro-pipeline...

Life Without Justice: Hearing Hunter’s Voice

Today is our third attempt. The third time the sentencing hearing has been scheduled. The individual who set my sister-in-law’s house on fire and killed my nephew will receive his sentence. The first two attempts failed because the judge didn’t show up, and we were not notified until we arrived at the courthouse and got to the courtroom. So… the...