Barbara Godin is a graduate of Athabasca University. She writes the “”Dear Barb” and the “Women of Interest” columns. As well, Barb has written many personal interest stories and enjoys connecting with others through her writing. She has been writing for The Voice since 2003.
If you enjoy reading Dear Barb, you can also purchase her curated collection, Dear Barb: Answers to Everyday Questions at her website, http://www.barbgodin.com.
Dear Barb: My boyfriend and I have been together for 3 years, we moved in together last year. We love each other, but he is so short tempered that we are never able to work through any problems. As soon as I bring something up that’s bothering me, he shuts me down and refuses to… Read more »
Dear Barb: I am in a bad situation and I need some advice. My sister and I did our DNA testing to, hopefully, trace our ancestors. Well, we got a big surprise. It turns out we are only half siblings! We don’t know what to do with this information. My parents have been together since… Read more »
February is Black History month and it is a time when Canadians celebrate the contributions made by Black Canadians who helped to make Canada the culturally inclusive nation that it has become. Portia White (1911-1968) was the first Black Canadian contralto singer to win International praise. Her voice was described by critic Edward Wodson of… Read more »
Dear Barb: My boyfriend never gets me anything for Valentine’s Day, not even a card. I don’t get him anything because he doesn’t get me anything. My friends all get flowers and chocolates and dinner out. I always feel bad when they tell me what they got and I have to say I didn’t get… Read more »
Dear Barb: I am dating an Amish man. We met many years ago as kids while we were growing up. His family tried to keep us apart, but we saw each other secretly and eventually they turned their heads. I believe they hoped if they stopped fighting this relationship that it would eventually just run… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi, I read your column often and I was waiting for one to come out about people’s struggles with dieting in the New Year. I am looking for a good diet since I need to lose about 40 pounds. It seems every time I hear about a great new diet, within a year… Read more »
Anne Innis Dagg was known as “the woman who loves giraffes,” and was the subject of a 2018 documentary by the same name. When Anne was three years old, she saw a giraffe for the first time at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, and it became her favorite animal—as she wrote in her memoir Smitten… Read more »
Dear Barb: Hi, I have been reading your column almost weekly and I finally decided to write in. For most of my life I have been an angry, some say vindictive person. I don’t feel I have been treated well by my family and because of my anger I rarely see them. None of them… Read more »
Dear Barb: I hate to bring up such a sombre subject, but, in December, my husband was diagnosed with stage four cancer of unknown origin. We were both devastated, but with the Christmas celebrations we managed to put the cancer out of our minds. Now that the holidays are over, we are faced with the… Read more »
Dear Barb: Happy New Year Barb! I have a dilemma, a family member I rarely see is getting married this summer and I received an invitation to the wedding. I was surprised to receive this since we rarely see each other or communicate. My wife and I don’t want to attend, but on the other… Read more »