Carla was born and raised in the West Kootenay region of BC, and is now settled in Calgary, Alberta following a dozen years living in England. Her British husband and their son keeps her on her toes, but she is currently on the final stretch of completing her BA in English through AU. In her free time, she spends as much time outdoors as she can by hiking, biking, gardening and geocaching.
Besides writing for The Voice, she loves to share her passion for words by being a Little Free Library steward in her community.
Carla’s favourite topics to write about are hobbies, current events and popular culture.
Geocaching is now one of the most popular hobbies around. It requires minimal equipment, is a great way to get some exercise, and can be enjoyed by the entire family pretty much all year long. Best of all, there is the promise of finding a prize at the end! The simple explanation of geocaching is… Read more »
This holiday season will be unlike any other I’ve experienced. You see, my Mom passed away suddenly just after Thanksgiving. The weeks that followed were a whirlwind for me; travelling to my hometown in rural British Columbia, funeral planning, making sure my Dad was doing okay and had some support, and also trying to navigate… Read more »
Once again, December has crept up on us without notice. Finding the perfect gift to give us as “adult students” can be a challenge for our loved ones. We want to receive something a bit special and creative, yet practical to help us on our learning journey. So here are some gift ideas that you… Read more »
The interest in craft brewing and small-scale wine production at a commercial level has also led to a surge in brewing beer and making wine at home. Creating one’s own alcoholic beverages dates back centuries in human civilization. Both beer and wine are created from the simplest of ingredients, but the magic is the science… Read more »
I have a confession to make: I am 40-something years old and I have never had a driver’s licence. When I disclose this fact, I always brace myself for people’s reaction in case they say what I sometimes feel; “Are you kidding me? Anyone can get a licence from a cereal box! And cars nowadays… Read more »
Think of dreary, grey skies. Now picture brightly coloured kites floating and flicking in those same dreary skies. doesn’t the thought alone cheer you up? Kite flying has been around in some form or another since the earliest kites were developed and used in China over 2000 years ago. Through history, kites were seen more… Read more »
There is no doubt that TED Talks are a modern phenomenon. What began in 1984 as a single conference showcasing Technology, Education, and Design is now a global franchise that embraces a variety of topics. The accessibility and popularity of TED has been attributed partly to TED.com, launched in 2006. Anyone with an Internet connection… Read more »
What was once the domain of ladies of a certain age has become?gasp!?trendy. In the past decade crochet, knitting, needlepoint, and other needle-based activities have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, especially among the younger generations. It is difficult to give an exact reason for the renaissance, but it may have something to do with reconnecting… Read more »
Awareness of the environment and concerns with the mass-production of our food has led to a large increase in the number of people who raise their own food, not just by vegetable gardening or fruit cultivation, but also taking it a step further and keeping animals on their property. Keeping backyard chickens for egg production… Read more »
Last week, a small article appeared in the Globe and Mail. If you didn’t manage to see it, the link is here. The article provides a brief overview of Alberta universities, including Athabasca. It does not provide any in-depth reporting on individual schools. Despite the assertion in the opening paragraph that “choosing the school that… Read more »