Last evening, Prince Edward Island lost a treasure. So many people today are feeling the loss of this wonderful, generous, kind, gentle man. 

I first met Wayne Bernard 15 years ago when I was working at Avonlea Village on Sundays doing weaving demos on a volunteer basis. It was Wayne who encouraged me to audition for a role at the Village. His encouragement helped me rediscover my love of theatre work. Watching Wayne interact with visitors to the Village was THE best lesson one could be taught about tourism. Each person was treated with respect and dignity. He shared stories about animals, about the Island, about life. His smile was the most genuine smile ever!

One bitterly cold night on the Cavendish shore, my sister and I came home to a door lock that was solidly frozen. No lock de-icer was going to help this problem. With winds howling and the beast that can be an Island winter night just waiting to freeze your fingers and toes, who is willing to come out to help? Yes, Wayne was there with all the tools needed. It was probably 20 minutes in this brutal cold that he worked on the door - and he kept telling us to wait in the car so we could stay warm. 

In this day where the news is filled with reports of inappropriate behaviour, his hugs were heartfelt, safe and cozy. His laughter was never malicious. The love and care he showed his animals was so rewarded with the love and affection they gave back to him.

​Tonight, look up to the heavens. That bright star you see in the December night sky over PEI is Wayne. Farewell, friend.

He was one of the lucky ones. He was hospitalised in England and was finally deemed well enough to be shipped back to a hospital in Halifax nearly 9 months later.
 
As a result of his injuries, his right shoulder had limited range of movement. This injury directly contributed to his death in 1929. His half-brother, Joseph Wilfred McEachern, was digging a well when he was overcome by natural gas in the well. John James went into the well to rescue his younger brother. Unable to pull them both out, he died alongside his brother, leaving behind a wife and 5 young children ranging in age from 3 to 9 years old.

His son, my uncle Gerard Joseph McEachern, was not lucky enough to return home. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. His plane was shot down over the North Sea on May 19, 1943. His name is recorded at the Runnymede memorial in Surrey, UK.  Just one of 20,000 airmen, 3,050 of whom were Canadians, whose bodies were never recovered.
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I am struck by the difference in these two photos. The youthful innocence in the photo on the left, and the weariness in the photo on the right.

I can't even begin to imagine what these two young men experienced: one in "The Great War" otherwise known as "The War to End All Wars", and the second in World War II, barely more than two decades later.

Wars continue to be fought. Young lives continue to be lost. Families continue to mourn. It is important to remember their sacrifice - not only on November 11th of each year, but every single day. If history does not teach the human race the necessary lessons, we are bound to be caught in a repeated cycle of bloodshed, loss and heartbreak until we do learn.

Earlier this evening, I went to a lovely networking event hosted by TIAPEI (Tourism Industry Association of PEI) and Meetings & Conventions PEI at the beautiful PEI Preserve Company in New Glasgow. I had a great time chatting with some folks I know well and others that I met for the first time. 

Of course, at events like this, the conversation will turn to the question of what you do for a living. Tonight, someone wondered why they should learn to knit or purchase locally made knitwear given the higher price point when there are so many cheap knitwear options on the market. Here are my thoughts...

1. Learning to knit has so many benefits. It keeps your mind active, helping to ward off what I'll call "aging brain syndrome". If you don't continue to learn and keep those brain cells active, they simply won't continue to work as well! It also helps to alleviate arthritis - keeping your hands in motion. It has been proven to reduce stress. Yes, you certainly can purchase a sweater for less than you can purchase the wool needed to make a lovely sweater. It's all about diving in and enjoying the creative process.

2. When you buy a locally-made sweater, you can learn about its "heritage". All of my knitwear and tartans are made from 100% Canadian wool. Why? Well, first and foremost, I want to support our hard-working Canadian farmers. I also can be assured of the welfare of the sheep who graciously provide us their wool. There are certain sheep farming practices that have been banned in North America that are still prevalent in other countries. I firmly believe that healthy and well-cared-for sheep will provide you with a much better quality of wool. And they are just so darned cute - how can you not want to make sure they lead a great life?

3. There are also serious environmental considerations. I choose to purchase wool that is dyed with environmentally friendly dyes and where wastewater from processing the wool is handled in a manner that is healthy for our water's ecosystem. I choose wool over man-made fibres which shed microfibres at each washing. These man-made microfibres are too small to be captured at water filtration plants and end up in our rivers and oceans, ultimately making their way into our food chain as they are discovered in our fish and other aquatic creatures. Another environmental consideration is one of logistics. What is the impact on our environment when we consume vast amounts of fuel shipping cheap sweaters made in factories in Bangladesh or Thailand? These clothes are not meant to be quality items - they are not made for longevity. The end result is that we find mounds and mounds of one-season clothing fabricated from man-made fibres in our landfills. This clothing is not biodegradable. It will still be in those landfills for future generations to "enjoy".

4. When you shop for locally made goods, you are supporting your local economy. You purchase a sweater from me. I purchase more wool from a local mill who sources their wool from local farmers. I'll celebrate a good month perhaps with an evening out, taking in a local theatre production and enjoying a lovely meal at a restaurant that sources its menu items from our local farmers and fishers. Local business owners - both small and large - contribute in so many ways: donations of items for fundraisers, volunteering time for local causes, donations of money to support food banks, cancer research,  Anderson House....the list is endless.

5. Last but not least is the issue of human rights. Here in Canada, we fight for higher minimum wage, public safety, health care, comprehensive education. We have safety nets such as employment insurance, workers' compensation benefits for workplace injuries, child benefits. Granted, you will not be living a grand lifestyle but programs such as these provide some level of financial security when needed. What is offered to those workers in factories churning out our cheap garments? An unlivable wage, unhealthy and unsafe working conditions. Oftentimes, child labour is the norm. They have no human rights - those workers are barely even considered human.

Is that inexpensive garment - bought on an impulse because it was such a good deal even if you only wear it a couple of times - really worth the price?

(Photo credit - Fleece and Harmony Woolen Mill, Belfast PEI)

So many people I know have posted "Me Too" as their social media status, indicating that they have been sexually harassed or assaulted. 
There are a number of occurrences in my life that remain as clear in my mind as if they occurred yesterday, even though some of these happened years ago.

• Taking a male co-worker with me to a real estate appointment in the country because I sensed something wasn't quite right. The male client answers the door wearing little more than a smirk which quickly changed when he realised I wasn't alone.
• Being on a business call with a male co-worker 40 years my senior and suddenly he pulls over to the side of the road and makes his move.
• Applying for a promotion for what I thought would be my dream job and being so thrilled to be called for an interview. Being told the job could be mine if I was interested - and then a hand is placed on my knee. Another woman landed that job and I am ashamed to admit that I wondered if she showed her "interest".
• Finding porn on my laptop after my boss borrowed it for the weekend.

The first time something like this happened, I was in my early 20's and was devastated. I thought we had come so much further than that. It was hard to believe that this kind of thing still occurred in the workplace - and with people you knew, respected and trusted.
Fast forward 40 years and it is still prevalent. 
I am thankful that, today, people are talking about it. That high profile people who behave in such a fashion are finally losing their jobs and their social standing.
​I am thankful that, for each battle I fought - whether I won or lost - my path has led me to where I am today. 
I am proud to state publicly "Me too" and to take a stand with others who are saying enough is enough. 
I am happy that every trial by fire provides an opportunity to rise from the ashes and forge a new and better life.