The record, 26 février 2020, mercredi 26 février 2020

[" T H E V O I C E O F T H E E A S T E R N T O W N S H I P S S I N C E 18 9 7 T H E They called her the \u2018Fearless Princess\u2019 Page 4 $1.00 + taxes PM#0040007682 Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Locals stand in solidarity with the Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en First Nation Record Staff A total of 22 projects have been selected for the third edition of Sherbrooke MNA Christine Labrie\u2019s \u201cCitizen Investment Fund.\u201d As in the past two editions, the project offers up a portion of Labrie\u2019s discretionary funds to the community organizations at work in the Sherbrooke riding that are selected by the population through a voting process.\u201cThe descriptions of the 22 projects submitted are already online on my website, so I invite the public to consult them now to discover all these great initiatives,\u201d Labrie said.\u201cOrganizations will also showcase their projects as kiosks, so questions can be asked on the spot.\u201d Citizens will be able to vote on the projects Saturday, March 14, from 1 p.m.to 4 p.m.at the Centre multi Loisirs just off Galt Street West.Each resident of the riding is entitled to vote on their ?ve favourite projects and assign them TAYLOR MCCLURE By Taylor McClure Special to The Record Yesterday morning a group of masked protesters made their way to the train tracks located behind the Familiprix in Lennoxville to set up a railroad blockade in solidarity with the Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en hereditary chiefs in British Columbia.By the end of the day, Sherbrooke Police of?cers (SPS) were in the process of dismantling the protest and identifying those involved.According to SPS spokesperson Martin Carrier, the protest began at around 9 a.m.on Tuesday when a group of 19 protesters established a blockade along the train tracks on Samuel-Gratham Street in support of Canada\u2019s Wet\u2019su- wet\u2019en First Nation.The two train tracks are owned by the Canadian Pa- ci?c Railway and the St.Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad (Quebec).The blockade was a part of a nationwide movement in response to the TransCanada Coastal GasLink Pipeline project.The protests are concerning the location and construction of the Labrie up for round three of citizen investment fund CONT\u2019D ON PAGE 3 CONT\u2019D ON PAGE 5 Page 2 Wednesday, February 26, 2020 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Ben by Daniel Shelton The Record e-edition There for you 24-hours-a-day 7-days-a-week.Wherever you are.Access the full edition of the Sherbrooke Record as well as special editions and 30 days of archives.Renew or order a new 12-month print subscription and get a 12-month online subscription for an additional $5 or purchase the online edition only for $125.00 Record subscription rates (includes Quebec taxes) For print subscription rates, please call 819-569-9528 or email us at billing@sherbrookerecord.com 12 month web only: $125.00 1 month web only: $11.25 Web subscribers have access to the daily Record as well as archives and special editions.Subscribing is as easy as 1,2,3: 1.Visit the Record website: www.sherbrookerecord.com 2.Click e-edition.3.Complete the form and wait for an email activating your online subscription.Weather TODAY: 60% CHANCE OF FLURRIES HIGH 2 LOW 1 THURSDAY: SNOW OR RAIN HIGH 1 LOW -8 FRIDAY: CLOUDY HIGH -5 LOW -12 SATURDAY: CLOUDY HIGH -7 LOW -14 SUNDAY: CLOUDY HIGH -3 LOW -13 Using funds Left as a legacy by rub- ber-glove pioneer Neil Tillotson on his death in 2001, the Neil And Louise Tillotson Fund was created in 2006 by his widow Louise through the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation as a way of strengthening and supporting local community projects throughout Northern New Hampshire and the greater Coaticook region.Based on the simple philosophy that people should, \u201cbe humble, be creative and be kind,\u201d the fund distributes more than $3.5 million US annually to with the goal of serving as, \u201ca catalyst for the region to move toward sustainable community and economic development.\u201d Since its creation the fund has given out more than $41 million in ?nancial support to hundreds of different organizations throughout the border region.In addition to the Neil and Louise Til- lotson Fund, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation manages the Louise Tillotson Teaching Fellowship, the Neil and Louise Tillotson Scholarship Fund, the Coaticook (Quebec) Region Fund, Hereford Forest Fund, Dixville Cemetery Fund and the Tillotson Guatemala Fund.The various Tillotson Funds work to: Revitalize population hubs and strengthen community gathering places; Enrich people\u2019s sense of place through connection to their communities and one another; Promote and enhance cultural and social assets throughout the region; Enhance the region\u2019s natural resources by promoting sustainable use of the region\u2019s forests, farms and waterways; and Address gaps in basic needs for underserved, low-in- come residents.The Tillotson Coaticook Region Fund was established to support broad charitable purposes in Coaticook and surrounding communities.The Fund intends to further its purposes by awarding ?nancial assistance grants, including in the following areas: basic needs and community safety net, health care, education, youth recreation, and programs and services for the elderly.Over recent yers it has contributed to everything from the purchase of new sports jerseys to the construction of new playgrounds or the creation of emergency student funds at local educational institutions.The Tillotson Coaticook Region Fund has two funding periods, one in the fall and one in the spring.This year\u2019s deadline for spring grants is this coming March 11.The Fund will accept grant applications for up to $10,000 from Canadian organizations serving Coaticook and surrounding communities, including nonpro?ts, registered charities, municipalities and others.The following activities, however, are generally not eligible for support: conferences, construction, cultural, advertising and marketing, salaries, grants to individuals, tourist, or religious programs (although faith-based organizations may apply for nonreligious programs) Applicants must provide a completed Tillotson Coaticook Region Fund Application Form and a project budget to tillotsoncoaticook@gmail.com or by mail to 294, Saint-Jacques Nord Street Coaticook QC J1A 2R3.March 2020 applications that are accepted will be awarded at an event on April 22.The Fall dealine will follow on September 9, 2020 , with those grants being awarded at an event on October 28.Anyone looking for more information on the Coaticook Region Fund is invited to contact Mike Everett at 819-821-1501 or at tillotsoncoaticook@ gmail.com More information on the Neil And Louise Tillotson Fund as a whole and on the other projects of the the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation can be found at https://www.nhcf.org/ The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund Hand-In-Hand Follow The Sherbrooke Record on Facebook and Twitter! sherbrookerecord @recordnewspaper The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Page 3 Local News \u201cWe had much more generosity from people than we were anticipating,\u201d the union representative said.\u201cThe response was immediate and very large.\u201d Union backpack project overwhelmed by generosity By Gordon Lambie Vicky Gagné, chair of the committee for the feminine condition with the Estrie regional chapter of the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec labour union told The Record that she and her colleague Bernise Martel were blown away by the support shown in a recent collection of personal hygiene products.Organized over the beginning of this year, the \u201cSacoches\u201d project was originally meant to supply a collection of prepacked bags of supplies to three local organizations working with women in need in time for Valentine\u2019s Day, but the call for donations yielded so many that only one of the three sets is now ready.\u201cWe had much more generosity from people than we were anticipating,\u201d the union representative said.\u201cThe response was immediate and very large.\u201d Although Gagné said that there was already an established tradition among union members of bringing back travel soaps and shampoos from conferences to give to people in need, the \u201cSacoches\u201d project was a new collaboration this year between her committee and the social delegates team, whose focus is speci?cally on helping people within their own environment.Part of what was so striking to Gagné about the campaign\u2019s overwhelming success is the fact that it was completely internal and involved no public appeal at all.\u201cIt was our ?rst edition so it was not clear how things would work out,\u201d she said, adding that although the focus right now is on getting the donations for this year sorted out and delivered to the groups who will distribute them, there will also be a process of re?ection on how to reorganize the campaign for next year.The bags are being prepared for local groups working with homeless women, women who have been the victims of abuse, and transgender women, and will contain items like toothbrushes and toothpaste, wet wipes, socks and mittens, deodorant, tea or hot chocolate, books, hand cream and lip balm, among other options.Gagné explained that the bags are to be distributed by partner organizations in a show of respect the women who might need them.\u201cWe want to uphold the con?denti- ality of these women,\u201d the union representative said.\u201cOur main goal was to offer some support in the hardest months of winter.\u201d Despite being overwhelmed, Gagné said that she feels very positively about the project, particularly in light of the fact that the idea has now been picked up by other regional groups within the FTQ \u201cThere\u2019s a snowball effect,\u201d she said, adding that the group is not opposed to the idea of opening the campaign up to a wider appeal next year, provided that a system is worked out to handle the volume of donations better.Labrie CONT\u2019D FROM PAGE 1 an order of preference.Children aged 5 to 17 are also able to cast votes, although they only get three choices.The projects that receive the most support will be given a grant up to the overall total of $25,000.It is also possible to vote at Labrie\u2019s riding of?ce (230 King West, suite 301) between 10 a.m.and 4 p.m.om March 16 to the 19.The full list and description of projects that can be voted on is available at https://christinelabrie.quebec/fonds-in- vestissement-citoyen/.It includes organizations such as Mon Shack, the École du Sacré-Coeur, PRO-DEF ESTRIE, l\u2019école primaire Brébeuf, the Maison de la famille de Sherbrooke, Naissance Renaissance, La Grande Table, École Mitchell-Montcalm, Commun\u2019Action Ste-Jeanne d\u2019Arc, the Centre Multi Loisirs Sherbrooke, the Maison des arts de la parole, REVE Nourricier, Les AmiEs de la Terre de l\u2019Estrie, Sherbrooke en transition, Accorderie de Sherbrooke, Festivals et Événements verts de l\u2019Es- trie, AQETA Estrie, Centre d\u2019intégration au marché de l\u2019emploi, Baobab café de quartier, JEVI Centre de prévention du suicide \u2013 Estrie, Pigments - Art Social, and Carnet Plein Air.Employment and training services available in Memphremagog Record Staff Up to 350 participants are expected to participate in the 12th edition of the Rendez-vous emploi & formation de Memphrémagog.The event will take place from March 10 to 27.Orientation Travail, a career counselling centre in Magog that organized the event with the help of a committee of partners and stakeholders, has adapted this year\u2019s activities according to the current needs of the job market.The upcoming 12th edition offers various activities and conferences aimed at job seekers and students, as well as employers confronted with a labour shortage.The program offers 16 activities, six of which are new this year.The organizing committee wishes to connect and attract job seekers from all directions, including clients far from the job market and diversi?ed clientele.Activities to better equip job seekers, students et employers In addition to activities to equip job seekers in their job search efforts, participants will be able to attend new workshops on different subjects such as standing out with employers in interviews and at job faire like the Salon Priorité Emploi Estrie.They can also get tips for starting a job on the right foot and keeping a job, group interviews, ways to deal with job search anxiety and many others.Students will be able to visit the Centre d\u2019education des adultes des Sommets to learn about their services and participate in an English workshop on summer jobs at Phelps Helps in Stanstead.Employers will have access to conferences that will address employee retention and the hiring of diverse clientele as a solution to the labour shortage.They will also be able to participate in a networking activity between talent recruiters and potential candidates.Partnerships continue to expand Seventeen partners make this event possible by getting involved in one or more ways, whether by organizing activities, by participating in the organizing committee, or by a ?nancial contribution.During the week of March 9, three activities will be offered to prepare people for their visit to the Salon Priorité Emploi Estrie.Two for job seekers and one for employ This 12th edition is aimed at the entire population of the Memphrem- agog MRC and the Estrie region.Over the course of three weeks, the players in the employment and economic sectors of the Memphremagog MRC will be highlighted.All the activities are free of charge.The program and details of the activities are available on the Facebook page of the event as well as on the websites of all our partners.Orientation Travail, a career counselling center, has been working in Magog since 1998 with job seekers and for the ?fth consecutive year has organized the Rendez-vous emploi & formation de Memphrémagog. Page 4 Wednesday, February 26, 2020 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record They called her the \u2018Fearless Princess\u2019 By Taylor McClure Special to The Record The story of Elizabeth Agnes Wiho- na Joy isn\u2019t widely known, but it sure is one for the history books.In December 1841, Joy was born in St.Armand West, a small village in the Townships straddling the Vermont border.Unsatis?ed with rural living, she was always looking for more out of life and seeking adventure while growing up.While her story starts here, life took her on many twists and turns and she ended up ?nding herself in a position that some only dream of; that of a princess and a heroine.Let\u2019s start from the very beginning.Elizabeth Agnes Wihona Joy was born to parents William Joy and Julia Willard on Christmas Day in 1841.In 1857, while in her teens, she left the family home to join a travelling circus and worked as their star equestrian.It wasn\u2019t until their tour stop in Washington, however.that Joy started walking the tightrope and her talents really became noticed.She changed her stage name to Agnes Le Clercq in 1861.While visiting her sister in Washington, D.C.in 1862, following the breakout of the Civil War, she was touring a camp of military of?cers when she met a soldier from the Prussian aristocratic family named Prince Felix Constantin Zu Salm-Salm.Joy was known for her unique beauty, her wit, and her natural charm and Prince Salm-Salm quickly fell for her.While she could have any man that she wanted, Joy also fell for the prince.On Aug.30, 1862, they planned a secret wedding at the St.Patrick\u2019s Church in Washington and she of?cially became Princess Salm-Salm.It was the perfect love story.Following their wedding, she stopped working for the travelling circus and followed her husband in the war effort.He was a commander of a regiment and later became a Briga- dier-General.Joy became a nurse in the medical services of the federal army.She was a force in the hospitals and on the battle?elds, tending to the wounded soldiers.That is when she became known as the \u2018Fearless Princess.\u2019 At the end of the Civil War in 1865, Princess Salm-Salm was already actively looking for her next adventure.She came to ?nd it in Mexico, where the country was on the verge of a revolution, but she and the prince didn\u2019t realize what they were getting themselves into.A Civil War in Mexico between Emperor Maximillian and the President of The Republic of Mexico, Benito Juarez, was imminent.Prince Salm-Salm was designated Maximillian\u2019s Colonel and after two years of guerrilla warfare, the French troops withdrew and the fate of Mexico was left hanging.Throughout his time ?ghting in the Mexican civil war, Princess Salm-Salm received little updates about her husband and she was nowhere near the site of the war in Querétaro.After dreaming of her husband\u2019s death for three nights straight, she decided to travel across Mexico to try and convince him to surrender.She traveled mainly on foot and without any protection through enemy lines.She even tried to convince a military of?cer to provide a military escort to Quérétera.While he refused, he did send her to speak to President Juarez at San Luis Potosi.Upon arriving in San Luis Potosi, she told Juarez of her plan to have Emperor Maximillian and her husband surrender if the president would be willing to spare their lives.Before she was given an answer, the city of Querétaro fell about a week later in March of 1867 after being surrounded by 25,000 rebels.She quickly rushed back to Queréta- ro where she found Prince Salm-Salm and the Emperor taken prisoner in horrible conditions.She once again tried to negotiate the fate of the two men.The Emperor thought that since he surrendered that he wouldn\u2019t be executed, but both the prince and the princess knew that wouldn\u2019t be the case.She went back to President Juarez to ask for a delay in his impending court-martial to give her enough time to plan their escapes.To everyone\u2019s surprise, he accepted.To carry out her plan, she found prison guards she could trust-at least she thought.One Colonel Palacio didn\u2019t keep his word, which resulted in the princess being arrested and the Emperor sentenced to death.Juarez did however grant Prince Salm-Salm a pardon and set the princess free.Together, they ?ed back to the United States to New York before leaving for Europe in 1868 to the Schloss Anholt Castle in Westphalia, Prussia.She was welcomed by Prince Salm-Salm\u2019s family with open arms.Their adventurous life didn\u2019t stop there.The Franco-Prussian war broke out in 1870 and the prince and princess once again got involved with the war effort.Joy continued to work in ?eld hospitals and the Prince became a major.Unfortunately, on August 21, 1870, Prince Salm-Salm lost his life in the Battle of Gravelotte in France.Princess Salm-Salm never returned to live in North America after her husband\u2019s death, but it has been said that she occasionally found her way back to visit her family.She continued to work as nurse in the war and gained the upmost respect from the soldiers, even establishing her own ?eld hospital.She was rewarded with the Prussian Medal of Honor for her bravery.She went on to remarry a man named Charles Heneage but they separated not long afterwards.She moved to Karlsruhe, Germany where she passed away on December 12, 1912.Her last wish was to be buried in the family plot in Philipsburg but her wish was never carried out.She was buried beside her husband in Bonn, Germany.While this story sounds too wild to be true, she wrote a memoire titled \u2018Ten Years of My Life\u2019 that was published in Canada in 1875.The book documents some of her and Prince Salm-Salm\u2019s adventures.Many places in the United States have also claimed that Princess Salm-Salm (Joy) was born an America citizen.However, the St.Armand West Census of 1851 con?rmed otherwise as she is clearly listed as having been born in Canada along with ?ve other siblings.Elizabeth Joy is just one of the many interesting individuals woven in the history of the Eastern Townships and there are sure to be many other stories out there that will continue to surprise us.PICTURES FROM RECORD ARCHIVES The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Page 5 Nominations open for Prix À part entière awards for supporting people with disabilities Record Staff Presented every two years by the Of?ce des personnes handicapées du Québec, the Prix À part entière Award is given to honour individuals and organizations that contribute to increasing the social participation of people with disabilities.Nominations may be submitted in one of the following ?ve categories: - Individuals; - Not-for-pro?t organizations; - Municipalities, MRCs and other communities; - Educational institutions supporting educational success; - Businesses supporting the integration and employment retention of persons with disabilities.A total of $35,000 will be offered in bursaries.Winners in the Individuals and Non-pro?t organizations categories will receive a $10,000 bursary.The winners in the Municipalities, MRCs and other communities, Educational institutions supporting educational success and Businesses supporting the integration and job retention of persons with disabilities categories will receive a $5,000 bursary.The names of the ?nalists will be announced during the month of September.The winners will be invited to an of?cial ceremony at parliament in the fall of 2020.For more information or to apply online, visit www.ophq.gouv.qc.ca/prix- ape.CONT\u2019D FROM PAGE 1 pipeline on traditional unceded Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en territory.More recently, the RCMP enforced a court-injunction from the Supreme Court of British Columbia that granted the Coastal GasLink company access to the territory.Now, communities are rallying together to express their concerns regarding the construction of the pipeline and the actions of the RCMP by establishing blockades on train tracks across Canada.While the group of protesters in Len- noxville decided not to speak to media outlets on the matter, they did provide a pamphlet outlining the situation in British Columbia and why they chose to stand in support of the Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en First Nation.On Feb.20, the RCMP in British Columbia made an announcement claiming that they were pulling out of Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en territory.According to the pamphlet given out by the protestors, RCMP have continued surveillance and arrests of the Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en people.The Lennoxville blockade was a show of solidarity.Earlier in the day, Sherbrooke police on the scene attempted dialogue and discussion with the group to establish their demands but did so without success.A perimeter was set up by the SPS to contain the situation and they were hoping to resolve the protest in a peaceful manner.When The Record approached the group of protesters to ask how long they were planning on keeping the blockade, one individual responded \u2018as long as possible.\u2019 By around 2:30 p.m.SPS of?cers surrounded the blockade and gradually moved in.One by one the protestors were taken to a bus on site for identi- ?cation.By press time, the last of the protestors were being approached.There were no reports of violence.Those involved in the protest could face charges of mischief.Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en First Nation Liberal MPs defer call for immediate blockade debate at committee The Canadian Press Liberal MPs have temporarily thwarted an attempt by a Bloc Quebecois MP to immediately debate the ``Indigenous crisis\u2019\u2019 involving rail and road blockades across the country at a Commons committee.Bloc MP Sylvie Berube wants to call the Wet\u2019suewet\u2019en hereditary chiefs who oppose a major natural-gas pipeline on their traditional B.C.territory to testify before House of Commons\u2019 committee on Indigenous and northern affairs.Berube says the protests blocking rail and road traf?c in Quebec and across the country have caused a state of crisis and wanted the committee to immediately begin debate on her motion calling for a study of the matter.NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq and Conservative MP Jamie Schmale both agreed the issue is pressing and should be addressed and debated right away.But Liberal MPs would not waive the 48 hours of notice required for a motion to be debated, although they did agree to put it at the top of the agenda for a meeting on Thursday.Meanwhile, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says the federal government is still trying to ?nd an agreement on the hereditary chiefs\u2019 demands that the RCMP leave their territory, after leaving an outpost on an access road to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project. Page 6 Wednesday, February 26, 2020 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record EDITORIAL Bill 40 replaced the school boards with French and English service centres whose unpaid members will have little decision-making power other than to adopt Ministry of Education regulations.6 Mallory, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1M 2E2 FAX: 819-821-3179 E-MAIL: newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com WEBSITE: www.sherbrookerecord.com SHARON MCCULLY PUBLISHER (819) 569-9511 MATTHEW MCCULLY MANAGING EDITOR (819) 569-6345 GORDON LAMBIE ASSOCIATE EDITOR (819) 569-6345 SERGE GAGNON CHIEF PRESSMAN (819) 569-4856 JESSE BRYANT ADVERTISING MANAGER (450) 242-1188 DEPARTMENTS ACCOUNTING (819) 569-9511 ADVERTISING (819) 569-9525 CIRCULATION (819) 569-9528 NEWSROOM (819) 569-6345 KNOWLTON OFFICE 5B VICTORIA STREET, KNOWLTON, QUEBEC, J0E 1V0 TEL: (450) 242-1188 FAX: (450) 243-5155 PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS For print subscription rates, please call 819-569-9528 or email us at billing@sherbrookerecord.com ON-LINE SUBSCRIPTIONS QUEBEC: 1 YEAR 108.72 5.44 10.85 $ 1 2 5 .0 0 1 MONTH 9.78 0.49 0.98 $ 1 1 .2 5 Rates for out of Quebec and for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record are available.The Record was founded on February 9, 1897, and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Alta Newspaper Group Limited Partnership.PM#0040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record, 6 Mallory Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 2E2 Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA RECORD THE Québec\u2019s Bill 40 further undermines the province\u2019s English-language school system By Richard Bourhis Emeritus Professor , Department of Psychology, UQAM, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Faced with the recent elimination of Québec school boards, the association representing English school boards of Québec is invoking Article 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms about of?cial language minority education rights, and is planning a legal challenge.The bill did not affect the three Indigenous school boards in Québec.On Feb.8 at 3:20 a.m., the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) majority government led by Premier François Legault abolished the 60 French and nine English school boards across the province and transformed Québec\u2019s public and secondary school systems by forcing the adoption of Bill 40.The CAQ majority used closure to adopt Bill 40 with its 300 clauses, along with 160 last-minute amendments, after a parliamentary session that lasted almost 70 hours.These amendments included the immediate sacking of all 700 French school board commissioners to avoid litigation against the closure of their school boards.The bill also brought in changes to teacher training, forces cities to pay for lands required for new schools and impacts how parents can choose schools.Widespread opposition The CAQ passed Bill 40 despite opposition from the Liberal party, Québec Solidaire and the Parti Québécois, as well as from French- and English-language school boards, teacher unions, advocacy and parent groups, including some who have children with special needs.Opposition parties were frustrated that the CAQ government again used its majority to impose closure to adopt Bill 40.The same tactic was used to impose the law deregulating Hydro-Québec fees, reducing the number of immigrants accepted in Québec and to impose adoption of the controversial secularism law that prohibits teachers and other public workers from wearing religious symbols at work.In October, the English Montréal School Board ?led a legal challenge against the secularism law.When Education Minister Jean- François Roberge tabled Bill 40 last October, he justi?ed the move by saying it would save taxpayers $45 million over the next four years and provide more local school-based governance.In the lead-up to the bill, Roberge alleged that a government investigation showed the English Montréal School Board improperly awarded contracts and said he contacted police as a result.He appointed Marlene Jennings, a former Liberal MP, as trustee of the school board.Bill 40 replaced the school boards with French and English service centres whose unpaid members will have little decision-making power other than to adopt Ministry of Education regulations.Anglophones will be allowed to vote for such representatives within English service centres next November.Charter protection of language rights School boards for the English-speak- ing minority in Québec should be exempted from Bill 40, argues Joan Fraser, vice-chair of Alliance for the Promotion of Public English-language Education in Québec and a former senator.Francophones in New Brunswick and Ontario have highlighted their common cause with Québec anglophones in supporting the maintenance of their hard- fought school boards.The CAQ granted of?cial minority English school boards and their commissioners a 10-month transition period.Bill 101 revisited As a Québécois francophone and social psychologist, part of my research focus is the study of how dominant language majority groups and their national or regional governments treat their linguistic, ethnic and religious minority populations.The recent events harken to another law contributing to the systemic decline of the English school system in Québec.Bill 40 can be seen as a complement to the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101), adopted by the Parti Québécois government in 1977 to increase the status and use of French relative to English in Québec.The preamble of Bill 101 asserted that its pro-French legislation would be conducted in fairness while being respectful of existing institutions of the English mother tongue population, then constituting 13 per cent of the Québec population.Despite such assurances, Bill 101 undermined the English primary and secondary school system for the sake of protecting the 80 per cent French mother tongue majority of Québec.\u2018Rights holders\u2019 schooling To neutralize the power of attraction to English compared to French, Bill 101 banned immigrant, allophone and francophone pupils from accessing English schools.Bill 101 stipulated that anglophone pupils could attend English schools as \u201crights holders\u201d only if one parent had spent most of their primary schooling in English in Québec, and later in Canada, following a Supreme Court ruling.In 1971, before the adoption of Bill 101, 255,205 pupils were enrolled in English primary and secondary schools in the combined public and private systems of Québec.By 2018, ministry of education data showed there were only 96,235 pupils left in the English school system representing only 37 per cent of the original 1971 baseline, a drop of 158,970 pupils.Such decline, due to the low birth rates of Québec anglophones, out-mi- gration and restrictions on access to English schools, forced English school boards to rule on painful school mergers and closures for anglophone pupils and parents.Such closures also had the effect of reducing the number of teachers, administrators and staff employed in such institutions, further contributing to the overall out-migration of Québec anglophones to the rest of Canada.Bilingual anglophones Education ministry data also shows that as planned in Bill 101, the number of allophones and immigrant pupils studying in the French school system increased to 91 per cent by 2018 (128,361) from only 15 per cent in 1971 (9,652), before Bill 101.These ?gures attest to the ef?ciency of Bill 101 in shifting allophone and immigrant pupils from the English to the French school system, thus contributing to the vitality of French in Québec.In July 2019, the education minister forced the transfer of a number of Montréal English schools to Montréal French school boards dealing with overcrowding, a situation caused by laws banning immigrants and allophones to go to English schools.English school boards contesting such transfers received support from francophone minority advocacy groups in Ontario and New Brunswick.English schools in Québec provide quality French teaching for their pupils within their French immersion programs.In 2011, 83 per cent of pupils in English primary schools were enrolled in French immersion classes, and at the secondary school level, the ?gure was 65 per cent.As pointed out in the Québec government\u2019s 2016 and 2018 reports of the Advisory Board on English Education, English school boards have contributed to the academic strength of Québec schools and supported the training of highly competent French-English bilingual anglophone pupils.Until now, English school boards represented the last level of governance still controlled by and for the English-speak- ing communities of Québec.In Joan Fraser\u2019s words, minority English school boards should be exempted from Bill 40, to echo the path taken \u201cby Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island as well as the Yukon Territory for minority French-language school boards when those jurisdictions changed the governance of their education systems.\u201d Maintaining English school boards in Québec is rightfully understood as important for legitimizing the maintenance of French school boards across Canada that contribute to Canadian linguistic duality. The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Page 7 Local Sports My last minute-trip to Washington State to take part in research on the catch and release physiology of steelhead has, in itself, been quite the treat.Who watches our ?sh and wildlife while we sleep?(1/2) It doesn\u2019t take much persuasion to convince anglers and hunters to share their personal opinions about wildlife and ?sheries management in their home province or state.We tend to be pretty critical of our provincial, state, and federal governments be- cause\u2014among other reasons\u2014we have a deep vested interest in the wellbeing of local ?ora and fauna.There\u2019s an old saying about opinions\u2014like other things, everybody has one\u2014but in reality, most of us don\u2019t have a name, face, or even an email address to associate with natural resource management.Kurt Steinke readily admits, and is aware of the fact that \u201cgetting [him] to talk about ?shing and hunting takes about as much provocation as the average person needs to pick up a twenty-dollar bill.\u201d As it happens, Kurt is also someone who watches our ?sheries while we sleep.My last minute-trip to Washington State to take part in research on the catch and release physiology of steel- head has, in itself, been quite the treat.Bonus chances to experience smelt dip-netting for the ?rst time, perform ?sh surgery, and have conversations with some of the kindest, most interesting, and\u2014of course\u2014?shiest individuals I\u2019ve met, have been icing on the cake.Among those aforementioned individuals is Kurt Steinke, who works as an electronics engineer at the Abernathy Fish Technology Center, just outside of Longview, WA.After our ?rst exchange, I felt compelled to talk hunting and ?shing with Kurt, and had a feeling that our conversation would yield more fascinating content than could be contained in just one article.Kurt admittedly has \u201call the zeal of a [hunting] convert\u201d and has seen the activity from both sides of the metaphorical tracks.Perhaps the most unique thing about Kurt\u2019s story, however, is that he \u2018converted\u2019 to hunting at the age of 50 years\u2014partly out of necessity\u2014after being diagnosed with Crohn\u2019s disease and being told frankly by his doctor to \u201cshape-up, or ship- out.\u201d Incidentally, hunting provided a solution to all three of Kurt\u2019s doctor\u2019s prescriptions: (1) limiting his fat-de- rived calories to less than 15 per cent, (2) increasing his physical exercise, and (3) halting any consumption of beef or mutton from the grocery store.After trying wild game and becoming a hunter, Kurt not only discovered the lean and delicious qualities of elk meat, but the amount of physical exertion, dedication, and connection to the local landscape that was involved in acquiring it.Kurt\u2019s enrollment in mandatory hunter education training led to more than his becoming licensed; it revealed how hunting was used to fund wildlife management in his state (via license sales and excise taxes), and how managers used hunting to \u201cmaintain the population at the maximum level that [wouldn\u2019t] damage the habitat.\u201d This complex and essential relationship between harvest and conservation has convinced Kurt and other like-mind- ed lovers of nature that \u201cthe biggest threat to wildlife is the loss of hunters.\u201d The aforementioned point bears resemblance to a conclusion that I arrived at recently in regard to \u2018environmentalism\u2019 as whole: broadly speaking, the biggest threat to nature is the loss of our vested interest in it.As a general rule, we do a poor job dealing with problems that we\u2019re unaware of, or don\u2019t really care about.Naturally, we care most about what\u2019s happening in our own \u2018backyards,\u2019 but only if we continue to spend time in them.Anglers and hunters know better than anyone how deep connections to the local landscape can be formed, and re-formed.There\u2019s little reason to believe that our resource management and conservation programs would have even a fraction of the funds required to continue operating if anglers and hunters suddenly ceased to exist.Not all forms of \u2018interest\u2019 can be relied upon for investment.It\u2019s nice having a name and face to associate with resource management and conservation, and I ?nd it comforting to imagine many other Kurt Steinke-like characters who advocate for wildlife and habitat across our continent.I asked Kurt if he thought that other people might be similarly predisposed to a life in the ?eld and stream and possess the same hunter\u2019s inclination as a younger version of himself.He offered the following response: \u201cyou get people who are compulsive shoppers, and it\u2019s the same instinct.\u201d It\u2019s generally agreed that environmental dissociation has an undesirable effect on conservation, but opinions tend to diverge when the conversation turns to possible solutions.Kurt correctly points out that we\u2019re in the midst of an extinction event that could rival several others that are bookmarked on the geologic time scale.I add, by noting how most of us are making no effort to nip the problem in the bud, and we both agree\u2014now in more serious tones\u2014that the piper always comes.Although Kurt has taken initiative in his own way, he\u2019s very aware of the extreme complexity of environmental problems and their corresponding solutions.\u201cIdeally we\u2019d all go back to being hunter-gatherers, BUT, you\u2019d have to reduce the human population by 90 per cent, and there aren\u2019t very many volunteers for that solution,\u201d says Kurt comically, and we both chuckle in agreement.To be continued\u2026 PHOTO CREDIT: ANDREW HOWARTH There\u2019s a funny story behind the framed picture on Kurt\u2019s of?ce wall, which involves his alleged physical resemblance to the depicted \u2018Nurd.\u2019 What\u2019s even more funny than the story, is the fact that Kurt couldn\u2019t help but point out and amend some erroneous digits in the depicted number Pi.Andrew Howarth On The Hook Page 8 Wednesday, February 26, 2020 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Death Death Death Death MADDISS, Jean Clara Passed away in Whitby on February 24, 2020 in her 96th year.She leaves behind her step-children Mary Jane (Greg) Baker, Daniel (Kathy) Maddiss, and Paul (Annette) Maddiss.Her grandchildren Peter (Sylvie), Sonia (Daniel), Cindy (the late Michael), Jody (Gary), Lindsay (Mike), Steve (Krista), David (Elizabeth) and great-grandchildren Nicholas (Amelie), Vanessa, Noemi, Vincent, Melanie-Lee, Lee-Anne, Ashlee Jane, and great-great grandchildren Tristan, Elios, Auguste, Elyse, Amelia and James.Predeceased by her husband Gerald, stepson Charles (the late Flore), stepdaughter Gail (Raymond) Gervais, parents Wesley Lowry and Pearl Haceltine, sister Ilena Burns (the late Ansell), brothers Harold, William (the late Gladys) Lyndall, twin sister Betty, in infancy and Edytha.As per her request, cremation has taken place.There will be neither visitation nor funeral service.A graveside service will be held at a later date in Eaton Cemetery in Cookshire-Eaton, Quebec.Condolences may be expressed online at www.wctownfuneralchapel.com.W.C.Town Funeral Chapel 110 Dundas Street East, Whitby ON PHONE: 905-668-3410 www.wctownfuneralchapel.com Dr.Ouida Ramon-Moliner (née d\u2019Abreu) 1929-2020 Ouida died peacefully, at home, on February 21, 2020 after 90 active and meaningful years.Born in Waterford, Ireland, Ouida wished, from an early age, to be an anesthetist and to have four children.She succeeded in that and in so much more.After training in medicine at Trinity College Dublin she immigrated to Canada in 1956 and met her husband, Enrique Ramón-Moliner, a neuroscientist.Together, they contributed to the exciting development of science and medicine in Quebec.They both joined the newly founded Faculty of Medicine in Sherbrooke (CHUS) in 1967 where she taught and worked until 1995.Ouida never really retired and long after ceasing to practice medicine, she continued to be a resource for the community, notably serving on the user\u2019s committee of the CHUS well into her 80\u2019s and by volunteering in many other ways.She enthusiastically supported local cultural and artistic activities until her death.As a pioneer in environmentalism, she naturally tended to reduce, re-use, and recycle before it was commonplace, acting locally but thinking globally.She leaves behind her loving family with seven grandchildren, many close friends and a whole community of people who were inspired by her boundless energy, commitment and determination to improve her corner of the world.A non-religious informal remembrance service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 201 Main Street, North Hatley, on Saturday, February 29th at 2 p.m.The family asks that donations in memoriam be made to local or national organisations working to preserve the environment such as the Massawippi Foundation.(massawippi.org) CASS FUNERAL HOMES PHONE: 819-564-1750 3006 College St., Sherbrooke QC FAX: 819-564-4423 www.casshomes.ca Poston, Rosalind Passed away unexpectedly at the Smiths Falls Hospital on Sunday, February 23, 2020 at the age of 83.Beloved wife and best friend of the late John Poston.Loving and devoted mother of William (Jocelyn) and Jim (Jeannine) and the late Jack Poston.Rosalind is also predeceased by her parents Gilbert and Wynne (nee Rimmer) Alsey as well as her brother James Alsey and her sister Patricia (nee Alsey) Rajotte.She will be sadly missed by her nephews Jacques, Gerald and Michel Rajotte, and Jeffrey Alsey, her nieces Debbie (nee Alsey) Hildreth, Karen (nee Alsey) McNeil, Nancy (nee Alsey) Davidson and Rowena Alsey as well as her extended family and friends in Smiths Falls area and in the Drummondville area in Quebec.Friends are welcome to gather at the Blair & Son Funeral Home, Smiths Falls, ON on Friday, March 6, 2020 from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m.There will be a memorial service at St.George\u2019s Anglican Church, in Drummondville, QC on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 11 a.m.Interment will take place at the Drummondville Protestant Cemetery.Following the interment, there will be a reception TBD at time of service.If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS), 253 Glenview Road, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 4S4.BLAIR & SON FUNERAL HOME PHONE: 613-283-2800 112 Beckwith St.N., Smiths Falls ON FAX: 613-283-6085 www.blairandson.com Bernice (Dollie) Wilkins (1927-2020) Our dear mom passed away on February 24, 2020.She was married to the late Osborne Wilkins and she leaves to mourn her sons Wayne (Solange), Warren (Nicole), Dean and her daughter Kathleen (the late David).Her mom and dad, Douglas Adam- son and Pearl Bush had seven children, Maxwell, Donald, Willis, Barbara, Marjorie, Evelyne and Thelma.Dollie was raised as an only child by her aunt and uncle William and Ethel Adamson.As per her request there will be no funeral service.Interment will take place in the spring.In lieu of ?owers, donations can be sent to the Osborne Wilkins Scholarship Fund c/o Richmond Regional High School, 375 Armstrong Street, Richmond Quebec J0B 2H0.CASS FUNERAL HOMES 295 Principale S., Richmond QC PHONE: 819-826-2502 FAX: 819-564-4423 www.casshomes.ca Death Death Death The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Page 9 Your Birthday WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 If you pitch in and help, the returns will be high.What you learn will help you achieve the lifestyle you want.Choose to do things your way and to explore what entices you, but don\u2019t jeopardize your reputation, integrity or meaningful relationships.Honesty rules.PISCES (Feb.20-March 20) - If you put your time, effort and energy where they count, positive change will take place.Focus on raising your pro?le, income and standards.Use your talent wisely.ARIES (March 21-April 19) - Share only what\u2019s necessary.Don\u2019t let anyone take credit for something you did on your own.Make lifestyle changes that will ease stress.Stick close to the people you love.TAURUS (April 20-May 20) - Participation will encourage new beginnings.Interact with people who are already doing what you want to do.Someone from your past will offer insight and valuable information.GEMINI (May 21-June 20) - Keep your purchases to a minimum.Focus more on your emotional well-being, moral standards and life circumstances.Romance is in the stars.CANCER (June 21-July 22) - Ask and you shall receive.Share information and ideas, and join forces with someone who is just as innovative as you are.Don\u2019t let personal matters interfere with business.LEO (July 23-Aug.22) - Travel, learn, explore and make adjustments that encourage you to do your best.Don\u2019t follow someone else when you know where you can make the most signi?cant difference.VIRGO (Aug.23-Sept.22) - Your quick response and eagerness to get things done will draw onlookers.Don\u2019t be shy; show off what you\u2019ve accomplished.You can have a big impact on others at this time.LIBRA (Sept.23-Oct.23) - Networking events will lead to interesting encounters.Your open and sophisticated nature will attract people who want to pick your brain.Don\u2019t give all your secrets away.Romance is favored.SCORPIO (Oct.24-Nov.22) - Keep moving forward until you are satis?ed with the results you get.Your drive, passion and power of persuasion will work wonders when you want something.SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec.21) - Travel, new adventures and personal gains are prominent, but don\u2019t go overbudget.Choose self-improvement over excessive behavior.Romance is encouraged.CAPRICORN (Dec.22-Jan.19) - Keep your distance from those who are dif?cult to get along with or who tend to put demands or pressure on you.Keep your life simple, your spending down and your opinions to yourself.AQUARIUS (Jan.20-Feb.19) - If you trust friends with your secrets, expect them to let you down.It is best not to depend on anyone if you want to get things done.Personal gain is within reach.WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 The re?exes of a tortoise By Phillip Alder Whatever else your feelings, you cannot argue that Woody Allen has written many amusing lines.I like this one: \u201cI\u2019m not a ?ghter; I have bad re?exes.I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys.\u201d Many bridge deals require rapid re?exes.Some declarers, when they need a misdefense to make their contract, will play very quickly.This is poor form, but it often works.However, when you are on defense, don\u2019t be hurried.Say that you want to take some time to analyze the deal.Rather than rely on speed, it is preferable for the declarer to play his cards deceptively so that a defender doesn\u2019t see the trap in time.Playing in four hearts, the ingenuous declarer wins the ?rst trick with dummy\u2019s club ace, draws trumps and plays a diamond to the king.True, against some opponents this will work.West will lead a second club.Then South can ruff and discard one of dummy\u2019s spade losers on the diamond queen.But against more sophisticated defenders, it won\u2019t succeed.East will play his two trumps in the order ?ve then two, trying to show a top honor in spades, and West will see that the club queen can wait.He will recognize the possibility of a discard and switch to the spade four at trick ?ve.As South knows East has the club king and is marked with a top spade (West didn\u2019t lead the spade ace or king), West must hold the diamond ace.A more deceptive approach is to lead dummy\u2019s diamond at trick two and put in the nine.If West falls for the trap, playing a second club, South can ruff out West\u2019s diamond ace and get his discard. Page 10 Wednesday, February 26, 2020 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Go grocery sho pping with diet itians.When you choos e products with t he Health Check symbol, it's like shopping with th e Heart and Stro ke Foundation\u2019s die titians, who eval uate every partic ipating product b ased on Canada' s Food Guide.www.healthche ck.org REALITY CHECK HERMAN ALLEY OOP ARLO & JANIS THE BORN LOSER FRANK AND ERNEST GRIZZWELLS THATABABY The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Page 11 Call Sherbrooke: (819) 569-9525 between 8:30 a.m.and 4:30 p.m.E-mail: classad@sherbrookerecord.com or Knowlton: (450) 242-1188 between 9:00 a.m.and noon CLASSIFIED Deadline: 12:30 p.m.one day prior to publication Or mail your prepaid classi?ed ads to The Record, 6 Mallory, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1M 2E2 275 Antiques WE BUY from the past for the future, one item or a household, attic or basement, shed or garage.We like it all, give us a call.819- 837-2680.290 Articles for Sale Make your classi- add a photo for $10.per day.Deadline: 2 days before publication.Drop by our of- Knowlton.819-569- com February with Richmond 50+ Club And a new month starts for the Richmond 50+ Club as February rolls around.Nineteen people gathered in the Richmond Melbourne United Church Hall for an afternoon of Military Whist on the 3rd.High score with 31 ?ags was earned by the table of Linda Badger, Shirley Beasley, Elizabeth Mastine and Jim Stevens.Two tables tied for low score but with the cut of the cards, the table of Bev & Ronald Jones, Shirley Noble and Donald Hughes took the honour of low score.A delicious lunch followed.More snow fell on Monday the 10th, so it was decided to cancel for that week.Continuing sunshine brought nineteen people out to enjoy a pot luck Valentine luncheon on the 17th.Everyone enjoyed the bountiful food and such a wide variety! Door prizes were chosen.Four cans ?lled with cookies and chocolates were given to Jim Stevens, Helen Gallup, Matty Ban?ll and Jeannine Lancaster.Three jars of jam were chosen by Norma Morin, Lori Grainger and Frieda Coote.After the dishes were done, eighteen stayed to play Military Whist.The winning table was that of Bev & Ron Jones, Jeannine Lancaster and Donald Hughes.Low score went to Linda Badger, Shirley Beasley, Elizabeth Mastine & one of the Dummy brothers.A sunny Monday, the 24th, found twenty people out for \u201c500\u201d and at the conclusion of a pleasant afternoon, top score was earned by Jeannine Lancaster with 5780 points, the runner-up with 4780 points was Ron Jones, and the low score was earned by Marie-Paule Pariseau.Once again, Bev Jones completed a 10-no- trump hand, amid cheers.All enjoyed a delicious lunch.The date of the trip to the sugar camp in Valcourt has been set for Monday, March 23.Anyone wishing to go with the 50+ Club must register in advance \u2013 call Shirley Beasley at 819-839-1589 \u2013 to reserve your space.Submitted by Shirley Beasley and Jean Storry Look who is 80 \u2026 Ronald \u201cNellie\u201d Goodsell Happy Birthday!! Love your Kids & Grandkids WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 Today is the 57th day of 2020 and the 68th day of winter.TODAY\u2019S HISTORY: In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from exile on the island of Elba and began his return journey to France.In 1935, Adolf Hitler secretly ordered the Luftwaffe to be re-formed, in violation of the Treaty of Versailles.In 1987, the Tower Commission released its report on the Iran-Contra affair, rebuking President Ronald Reagan for not controlling his national security staff.In 1993, a truck bomb exploded in the parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000.TODAY\u2019S BIRTHDAYS: Victor Hugo (1802-1885), author; Levi Strauss (1829- 1902), tailor/inventor; William \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody (1846-1917), frontiersman/ showman; Tex Avery (1908-1980), animator; Jackie Gleason (1916-1987), actor/comedian; Tony Randall (1920- 2004), actor; Fats Domino (1928-2017), singer-songwriter/pianist; Ariel Sharon (1928-2014), Israeli prime minister; Robert Novak (1931-2009), columnist; Johnny Cash (1932-2003), singer- songwriter; Michael Bolton (1953- ), singer-songwriter; Erykah Badu (1971- ), singer-songwriter.TODAY\u2019S FACT: Levi Strauss, a Bavarian immigrant who went to San Francisco during the Gold Rush, made his ?rst pair of \u201cjeans\u201d out of canvas.TODAY\u2019S SPORTS: In 1935, an aging Babe Ruth was released by the New York Yankees and signed a contract to become an assistant manager and player with the Boston Braves.TODAY\u2019S QUOTE: \u201cMusic expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.\u201d - Victor Hugo, \u201cWilliam Shakespeare\u201d TODAY\u2019S NUMBER: 14 - age at which \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody began riding for the Pony Express, after answering an advertisement for \u201cskinny, expert riders willing to risk death daily.\u201d TODAY\u2019S MOON: Between new moon (Feb.23) and ?rst quarter moon (March 2).Datebook Find the right person for the job in advertising in our Career Section Many Record readers want a career change and are looking for a new job.Shouldn\u2019t your ad be in The Record\u2019s Career Section?For reservations or further information, please call RECORD THE 819-569-9525 OUR CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS! Call today today to place your classified ad! 819-569-9525 450-242-1188 YOU\u2019VE GOT IT.Somebody else wants it! Got something you no longer use?Sell it in the Classifieds! It may just be the perfect item to fill somebody else\u2019s need.819-569-9525 \u2022450-242-1188 classad@sherbrookerecord.com Page 12 Wednesday, February 26, 2020 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Wouldn\u2019t it be nice if your pet could do this?Order yours today at K9CLEAN.COM or call us at 236-668-4324 Cleaning up your dog\u2019s poop doesn\u2019t have to be gross or boring.K9 Clean Eco Poop Scoop Bags take the yuck out of cleaning up the mess.Award winning and Earth friendly! 100% biodegradable.Unique touchless system with built in poop scoop.Never have the squishy feeling on your fingers or risk having your fingers break through flimsy plastic poop bags again! WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020 Dear Annie: Recently, I went to a debate tournament where I gave speeches with other kids on laws that we wrote.When we got back our score sheets with feedback, I found a comment from a judge telling me to smile.I was very upset and angry.I\u2019m a high school girl, and this judge was a dad from another team at the event.The speech that I gave was a serious one.I was persuading my peers to reject an amendment I found to be a bad idea.When I told my parents, my mom told me about her experience with men telling her to smile.My dad asked if she found it sexist.But then, Dad won Mom to his side by saying that I was overreacting and needed to calm down.My father dismissed why I would feel upset.This all reminded me of a previous incident that occurred when I was 16.An elderly man saw me drop my ChapStick and grabbed it, calling me \u201csweetheart\u201d to get my attention until he touched my shoulder.Months later, I told my parents and mentioned I was a bit creeped out at being called sweetheart by a stranger.My father dismissively said I should be glad he didn\u2019t say the \u201cb\u201d word, as if my feelings didn\u2019t matter.Annie, I feel like I no longer trust my father with anything involving sexism and harassment.Am I wrong to be this upset and angry?- Upset Teen Girl Dear Upset Teen: You are not wrong to be upset or angry.Your feelings should always be acknowledged.The comment that the judge made to you to smile more could have been explained in greater detail.If he said it as a way to connect with the audience, to persuade more people to your side of the argument, then his comment could be appropriate.However, HelloGiggles contributor Karen Fratti wrote about the impact of men telling women to smile: \u201cEven in the most benign scenarios, it equates to asking a woman to change her behavior or appearance in order to ?t what you think is most pleasant.\u201d The incident you describe with the man calling you \u201csweetheart\u201d to get your attention was inappropriate, as was your father\u2019s dismissive comment that at least he didn\u2019t call you the \u201cb\u201d word.Regardless of your father\u2019s views on sexism, his views toward you, his child, should involve understanding and protection.He is offering neither and is instead perpetuating small moments of condescension.It sounds like he might do that to your mother as well.Sit him down and have a long conversation, sharing your perspective.Then listen to his.Smiling is a wonderful thing! But the standards for pleasantries should be the same, regardless of gender.Dear Annie: I have a similar situation as \u201cWhere Did I Go Wrong?\u201d It\u2019s with a close family member whom I adore.Repeatedly, I\u2019ve asked her to not discuss my family\u2019s sensitive issues with other family members or neighbors.(She has done both, many times.) I spoke to her after each incident, but she does not understand why it is such a big issue.Finally, I realized that she is a big gossip, does not respect boundaries and does not believe she is ever in the wrong.It has gotten to the point where I no longer share important information with her, and l limit my contact.Gossip is insidious, cruel and damaging.I hope the mother-in-law looks at her actions to see if maybe she is the issue.Thanks! - Toxic Gossip Dear Gossip: I\u2019m sorry to hear that this is impacting a relationship with someone you adore.It\u2019s not easy to step away from toxic gossip.Like quicksand, it has a way of drawing us in.Congratulations on making that move.And I hope you discover a new way to share with your loved one.\u201cAsk Me Anything: A Year of Advice From Dear Annie\u201d is out now! Annie Lane\u2019s debut book - featuring favorite columns on love, friendship, family and etiquette - is available as a paperback and e-book.Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information.Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.Dear Annie "]