The finalists are...
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Posted 3 years ago
We spent 30 days asking Canadians across the country to answer some tough life questions.
A panel of Sun Media judges deliberated and chose five finalists. Here they are, in their own words.
We'll put them to the test with six final problems and we need you to vote at canoe.ca/advicefor who you'd like to read.
Irene Finley
I am a proud, born and raised Edmontonian. At 48, I consider myself to be a (sometimes self-inflicted) survivor of the school of hard knocks.
I credit my successes in life in part to the basic morals, values and guidance of my loving, independent, open-minded mom, who never gave up on me through the rough times and is always there for me.
A life-long curiosity seeker and pursuer of knowledge, I'm a firm believer in the "do unto others" philosophy. I'm a voracious reader and advocate of the power of the verbal and written word, I maintain that a single positive sentence or paragraph offered at the right moment to an open mind, can change a life for the better.
With a nod to Dr. Seuss, I try to say what I mean and mean what I say.
I enjoy writing short stories, rants letters to the local editor at Sun Media, parodies and poems. I've been a single mom for the past 13 years, and have a daughter (17,) from a previous marriage, (whom I gratefully acknowledge is the opposite of the rebellious brat her mother was at that age).
I am now engaged and work full time as an accounts payable manager at a manufacturing company.
Nathalie Poulin
I've been writing for as long as I've been able to hold a pencil.
Born and raised in Ottawa, I am the proud mother of two, with a third on the way. I also have two kittens, a dog and one incredible life partner/ father of my children who supports us all, emotionally and financially. It's a hectic house, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I enjoy doing things to spice up my life that others may consider strange, and downright crazy, but I never let that stop me. Such activities include naked sledding and winter camping. I enjoy any kind of activity that makes me feel alive.
I love expressing my opinions in a way that I can help people to grow or challenge themselves in various ways.
I've always kept journals but a few years ago I stopped writing in my journals and started writing short stories. I loved that so much that I decided to start working on a novel.
I am truly honest in my nature, and find it impossible not to say what I am thinking. I never tip-toe around the issue. When it comes down to it, I can be sensitive in difficult situations and I have been told that I have a way of making other people feel at ease.
Anita Robeson
I was born in Winnipeg, Man., during a power blackout. At the age of five, I found myself in the dark again when I survived a car accident that claimed the lives of my mom, dad and only sibling. I was raised by my elderly grandparents.
I found refuge at school and solace in writing, and my Grade 5 teacher encouraged me to continue.
I left home at 18, graduated from university with a psychology degree, and moved to Ontario.
After a few false starts (working in retail, at a group home for young offenders, and a modelling agency), I spent 17 years in the corporate world before becoming a freelance writer.
I've been married and divorced twice with several other failed relationships in between. For such a smart cookie, I was making some dumb decisions when it came to my love life. But I learned from each mistake, and finally got it right. My partner Kevin is a divorced father of three, who lost his parents to cancer. We bonded instantly, and years later, we're still living happily in Toronto with our two kitties, Spider and Willow.
Admittedly, I can be rather blunt at times, but you can always count on me to tell the truth. I've certainly learned a few things over the years."
Robin Anderson
I am a mid 30s (but still feel 18) born and raised Alberta girl. I moved around a bit when I was younger, but have settled around the Edmonton area, and have had a good mix of country and city throughout my life.
I am an accomplished RN, spouse, step-mom (which is a much bigger accomplishment than being a nurse) and two-time cancer survivor. I come from a fairly large family that is multiracial and multi-opinionated.
I have helped bring new life into the world, and have held the hand of many finishing the race.
I have been writing for as long as I can remember, including short stories and poetry, and giving advice to others (whether they wanted it or not) since I was old enough to have an opinion.
People come to me with their problems because they know that I have most likely been through it, and if I haven't, I will research the problem and help them pass their own personal fork in the road.
Of course I add my own crazy wit to help soften the blow, because what you get from me is not always necessarily what you want to hear, but, as I have learned from my own personal experience, sometimes the truth hurts.
Rose DeShaw
I was born and raised in an isolated area in Alaska with a Métis-Appalachian heritage, in the shadow of majestic vistas and silence, but I love crowds and value every contact with others.
I now live downtown in Kingston, Ont. in a unrenovated, 200-year-old, semi-detached row house, entirely covered in vines. It briefly appeared in the first Tragically Hip video.
I swim every weekday morning from 7 to 9 at a community pool from which much of my inspiration comes.
Two mornings a week I hand out cookies and apple cider or lemonade down at the local credit union.
I've been variously an out-of-print bookseller, prison librarian and a filmmaker of short documentaries for cable television. I have had many short stories, essays and poems published. This year, I was shortlisted for the CBC literary competition. I also write songs.
Though I can no longer have a cat, at Christmas I have about 10 dog and cat carols on my website.
About another 150 of my songs are on the international songsite for the Raging Grannies with whom I am a cybergran. As well, I am the author of their gentle philosophy of non-violence and community concerns.