This feature will attempt to renew some acquaintances with those who called Carman and area home at one time or another. I have randomly selected people to answer questions of their past and present so the readers can be brought up to speed on their lives.
Q. Firstly let’s get familiar with you again. When did you live in Carman?
I was born in Carman (1976) and lived there until I graduated high school in 1994. I returned from Winnipeg for summers for the next few years after that.
Q. What did your parents do for a living?
Dorothy and Neil Strachan were teachers besides operating a Strawberry Farm with the Kennedys.
Q. What did you do for jobs as a student?
My first job was at my parent’s S&K Strawberries Farm (no surprise) but other jobs included working at the Carman Florists, for the town (promoting recycling and composting), at Knockabouts (where I developed an obsession with clothes shopping that is still alive and well today), and, after S&K closed down, I did some extra summer work at McGill’s U-pick, picking asparagus.
Q. What activities did you participate in as a student?
I feel fortunate to have been able to be involved in many activities while growing up in Carman. Here is a list: sang in the United Church and elementary school choirs, was a member of Jazz Band, Highschool dramas, was a member of the Graysville 4H-Light Horse and Pony Club, played softball, ringette, volleyball, badminton, basketball, ran cross-country and track and field, and was a member of Junior Jackrabbits (cross-country skiing).
Q. What got you to leave Carman and where?
I left for university (and attended the University of Winnipeg where I got my honours degree in Psychology)
Q. What was your chosen career after school?
After 13 years of post-secondary education, I became a professor.
Q. Did you move for the career?
Yes, I moved around for grad school, living in Toronto, Waterloo and Saskatoon. I took my first job (as a professor) at the University of Ottawa in Ontario.
Q. What do you do now?
I am currently a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management at the University of Manitoba where I have been since 2011.
Q. Did you meet your spouse here or where?
I met my spouse in Winnipeg.
10. Did you raise any children here or where? Names, where now and doing what?
I have two wonderful children: Bryn (15) and Griffin (12). Bryn was born in Ottawa and Griffin was born in Winnipeg where they have both spent most of their childhood.
Q. Do you have extended family living here?
My Uncle Charlie Froebe, Aunt Della and Uncle Ken Heamen, and second Cousin Murray Froebe and his family live in Carman.
Q. What passes your leisure time? Hobbies? Sports?
When I am not driving my kids to their sports, I run and do the odd road race (marathons, half marathons). My springer spaniel, Scout, is my faithful running partner. I love being outdoors (hence all the running).
Q. Have you travelled for leisure and where?
I have done some leisure travel (Africa, Prague) and I get to mix work with travel when I travel to conferences. These conferences have taken me all over North America and to a few places in Europe including Scotland, Ireland and coming up this summer, Austria.
Q. Any future plans? Do you have to do list?
I hope to do a walking trip in Europe.
Q. Do you ever return to Carman?
Yes, we love coming to Carman to visit my parents. My son still takes swimming lessons in Carman in the summer, and we always try to make it out to Carman Fair. We also enjoy coming to spend time on my parents Farm.
Q. What are some of your fondest memories of your Carman days?
I feel very lucky to have grown up in Carman. I have and memories of being a strawberry patch kid and having a free-range childhood on my parents’ property. I have fond memories of playing school sports. Top of the list would be running in the Roseisle Hills with the cross-country team. I believe those training sessions laid the foundation for my love of running and for the discipline it takes to run regularly. I have many fond memories of my schoolteachers, friends, and school activities. I think that growing up in a small town allowed me to sample a lot of opportunities and to feel a real sense of community.
Q. Any last words you wish to send to our readers?
When I tell people I am from Carman, everyone knows someone from Carman or has a Carman story. It is fun to learn about people’s connections to our town.
