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: Hi, I have a really good friend whose brother opened a new restaurant. A bunch of us went there one evening for dinner and we didn’t like it. The service was slow and the food was not good at all. I know Carol is going to ask me what I thought and I… Read more »
Ellen Fairclough, (1905-2004) was the first female to serve in the Canadian Federal Cabinet. She was born in Hamilton Ontario and before entering politics she was trained as an accountant. Fairclough ran for federal office as a Progressive Conservative in 1949, but was defeated. She ran again the following year and won the by-election. During… Read more »
Dear Barb: My husband and I recently separated because he “discovered” he’s gay. We have shared custody of our two little boys age three and five. Everything was fine for the first while, as my ex kept his lifestyle away from the boys, but recently he has met a partner and they are planning on… Read more »
Isabel Janet Macneill was born in 1908 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and died in1990. She began her career with an interest in design, and attended Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Following her graduation in 1926, she attended Nova Scotia College of Art (1928) and then Heatherley’s Art School in London, England. However, her… Read more »
Dear Barb: My best friend Sue used to be so nice and now she’s a bitch! We used to do all kinds of stuff together like skiing, going on vacations, running and spending time with our other friends. Now she ignores us and spends all her time with her possessive boyfriend. When I try to… Read more »
Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau, born April 24, 1975 in Montreal, Quebec. Although she is the wife of Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, she is also an accomplished individual in her own right. She first came in contact with the Trudeau family when she was a classmate of Justin’s younger brother, Michel. Sophia was the only… Read more »
I still remember the feeling when I came home to Grandmas’ house after an evening out with friends. The kitchen was softly lit with an under-the-counter fluorescent bulb, displaying a neat and orderly the kitchen. I could hear the low murmur of the television in the next room and I knew Grandma and Grandpa were… Read more »
Dear Barb: I am writing in response to your column from a couple of weeks ago from Dana. I was in a similar situation and I told my friend that I saw her boyfriend on a dating website. When she confronted her boyfriend, he said that he must have forgotten to take it off and… Read more »
Addie Aylestock was born 1909 in Glenallen Ontario and died 1998. In 1951 she became the first ordained black woman in Canada. Early in her life Addie began working as a domestic but felt a desire to help others. Initially her intention was to attend Medical Missionary College in Toronto then work in Africa; however,… Read more »
Dear Barb: I just started university and It’s my first time living away from home. I share a two-bedroom apartment with another girl, Shannon, who I met through a mutual friend. She seemed really nice so I didn’t see a problem. Boy was I wrong; She’s more like the roommate from hell! First, She’s a… Read more »