On the move!

So as you may have gathered I've moved. 

I miss Alberta but, despite having every other geographical form, one of the things it doesn't have is the sea.  I love the ocean and grew up spending summers near it in eastern Canada. Even Winnipeg borders Hudson Bay and has beautiful, enormous lakes where I spent my teenage years. Adelaide is bordered by the warm and clear Great Australian Bight (I always thought it was bite - it looks like someone took a nibble out of the continent) in the Indian ocean. I could cycle to the beach in 15 minutes.

Colourful Orca, Victoria

Browning Harbour, Pender Island

Living in Australia for 10 months made it hard to return to the cold, harsh northern climate. Not being able to venture outside safely as the sidewalks were icy and slippery for most of the winter was tough. Exercising in a gym had lost its appeal for me. I found it so much work just to get out of the house in sub-zero temperatures.

I'm still writing my doctoral dissertation and I was working part-time at the University of Alberta. But short-sighted and drastic budget cuts to post-secondary education have eliminated the possibility of an expansion of my role there. And for that matter, not much meaningful work in or around Edmonton in the foreseeable future. Even consultant friends, in the field for many years, are finding it difficult.

For the past few years, social justice and equity based work in Alberta felt like fighting an uphill battle against the conservative establishment.

So, I'm living in Victoria, British Columbia, in a temperate climate by the Pacific Ocean, in the shadow of the Olympic mountain range, where it seldom snows,  there is a social democratic government and protecting the environment is a priority. The sea will almost be at my doorstep and my new boss picked me BECAUSE of my values of collaboration, integration, inclusion and equity.  And to boot, my Mum and some of her family live here.

Roses on Pender Island

Vineyards outside Victoria

I'm only an hour and a half flight from Edmonton so can come home every second month when Keith and the girls (and you!) aren't visiting me. Keith will follow when the time is right.