JohnParry.ca

Rosanna and I had long said that if the girls left home, we should also do so. So not long after I completed a strenuous but rewarding maternity leave replacement with a Tribal Council in Balmertown, Ontario, we sold our 5 bedroom house and moved to a 2 bedroom condo in Saskatoon. We are surrounded by family – Doris Jen (Paw-paw) Rosanna’s Mom and our daughters' only surviving grandparent: sisters Eva and Edna and their respective spouses Jim and Lorne; nephews Jason, Kevin (now in Boston and Montreal) Eric and Geoffrey, and niece Loren. Our extended family here includes Drs Ivan and Suzanne Jen and son Steven, Cindy and Hannah; while our “neo-family” comprises Chris, Gordon and their children (too complicated!) and Mireille and Wei Lee (honorary). So we settled down as empty-nesters.

However, fate had the last word. Four months after we moved to Saskatoon, Annie was on the telephone decrying her lot in Toronto; I flew to Toronto and together we drove her car 3000 km in 3 days just after Christmas; she claimed our spare bedroom. After a fairly slow start, Annie celebrates her five years here having earned a B.A. in drama, modelled, acted and won the coveted job of news 'anchor' on the local TV cable station. She now also has her own show 'Parry Perspective'; several segments can be seen at http://start.shaw.ca/Start/enCA/Local+Content/Saskatchewan/Saskatoon/ParryPerspective.htm

You can read about my career – employed on another page and volunteer below- but Rosanna’s is also very worthy of mention. In her last two years in Winnipeg she taught half-time, while building up her photography business. In Saskatoon she has concentrated on her photography, and has now shot 110 weddings. More detail and pictures at www.rosannaparry.com .

After ‘joblets’ in 2003 I spent 2004 unemployed and searching; at that time the economy had not yet turned our city into ‘Saskaboom’.

In 2005 Rosanna left for Toronto to help Esther succeed in her Fashion Design degree program. I took a demanding, poorly-paid but ultimately beneficial position; I travelled most of the province helping farmers prepare tax returns.

In April we were reunited; I spent the summer improving my golf, while Rosanna was back into her wedding season.

In September somewhat to my surprise I was offered a post as District Director of Rural Development in Swift Current, 300 km to the south. I found an apartment there, but in a week found a position for Rosanna – maternity leave replacement teacher – for French! Within another week she had won the job; 3 days later she started, and in 2 more weeks we moved upstairs; from our 1 bedroom to a 2 bedroom apartment.

We made good friends there, and were a little sad when our term jobs came to an end in spring; but glad to return to Saskatoon.

After another summer of weddings for Rosanna and golf for me, I won a position as Executive Director of a non-profit agency. (See careers in brief). In the last week of August, I represented Saskatchewan at the Canada Senior Games, where I won 2 silver and 1 bronze medal in swimming events.

My position has turned out to be very good for me, with a good balance of freedom and responsibility. It offers a variety of challenges, though not full-time.

In 2007 Esther moved in with us, and we sacrificed our living room to make her a - temporary - bedroom. She left soon after for six weeks in Costa Rica , working with disabled adults in a mission context, and staying with a host family. We survived 15 months as a family of four in a 2-bedroom apartment, and in 2008 Esther and Ann moved two blocks away to an apartment of their own.

I have served on various committees for these and other orgaizations and advised others.

John Parry