Ruth Bastin
I've worked for many years now as a 'troubleshooter' and initiator for the Ontario government, most recently with a number of First Nations to move them towards building their own Aboriginal children's aid society. I have also developed an Aboriginal education program at the local community college and autism school programs across all school boards in northern Ontario. My home base is Sudbury Ontario, but I work across the province.
I have two beautiful grown sons.
How interesting the journey—I came to Sudbury, Ontario, over thirty years ago with the caveat that we’d be here for 2 years max—and here I still am on my own for many years now, both beautiful sons relocated long ago. I fell in love with Northern Ontario—so many lakes, such great active community spirit and nature at my back door as you can see from the photo of my pooch—yup, that’s part of my backyard!
My work—in every incarnation—has been to be a part of bettering the lives of children—from my first career teaching little ones, through work to ensure integrated services and supports for all children, regardless of need, to great interest and work with and for First Nations—the latest, working with many Nations to establish their own Aboriginal children’s aid society. Second great love work-wise is governance and I continue to enjoy training boards of directors.
As soon as I heard John’s voice, my mind’s eye immediately went to the clarinet section with beautiful Doc Jones and music continues to be one of my great passions. My 170 year old piano moves with me each time I relocate and I try to get to every concert I can—eclectic are my interests—within hundreds of kilometres—though the urge to do so wanes with age.
I spent some interesting years with my father, whom I brought home to Sudbury after my mom’s death as he was in the throes of Alzheimer’s disease and I couldn’t bear to think of him in an institution—what an experience!! and my only regret is that I didn’t laugh more at the unbelievable situations we found ourselves in at the time.
Animals have been a big part of my life—from becoming enamoured with springers and showing them successfully, to changing streams once they started to become over bred—with new love being rough-coat collies. My beautiful Shiloh (with me longer than ‘life’ partner) died last year and I can’t bear to start anew—however, my vet has my number and knows to call when cats are unadoptable due to injuries, abuse or age—so yes, I’ve become not ‘that guy’ but ‘that old lady with the cats’!!!
Creating gardens is one of my great loves, though the ability to accomplish that too is slowing down as the vagaries of age and gravity weigh in.
My sisters graduated from MRHS in the 1950s and attended their 50th a few years ago—which they found wonderful—so I’m thinking this might be a good idea for the class of 64! See you there.
Cheers to all
Ruth
(As of late 2010, Ruth is living in Toronto, having accepted a post as a senior policy advisor on autism to the Ontario government. Ruth says she is torn between continuing to work on autism, a passion of hers, and returning to the quieter environment of Sudbury.)
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