Readers Digest Canada Jun2020

DEVEHSAEOTLRWRYWETDSIOTASHY CANADA’S JUNE 2020
PAGE 8 MOST-READ
MAGAZINE
“I KEEP
PEOPLE REAL
SAFE.”
CANADIAN
—Cynthia
Rennie-Faubert, HEROES
INCREDIBLE STORIES OF
helping fight KINDNESS AND BRAVERY
COVID-19 PAGE 26

PM40070677 TINY GUY VS.

GIANT
GRIZZLY

PAGE 52

The SECRET to
Learning Anything

PAGE 38

The Cop Who
Wants a Gun Ban

PAGE 76

Justin ♥ Pierre

PAGE 60

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reader’s digest

CONTENTS

MIRCEA COSTINA/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO Features 38 52

26 perspective drama in real life

cover story Anybody Can A Scream in the Wild
Learn Anything
REAL CANADIAN Alone on a mountain
HEROES Why we’re all so much and pinned under a
smarter than we know. grizzly, Colin Dowler
Extraordinary stories of reached for a pocket
kindness, compassion BY JOHN MIGHTON knife and struggled
and full-on bravery. FROM ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL for his life.

BY ALI AMAD, EMILY LANDAU, 44 BY OMAR MOUALLEM
SARAH LISS, ROSIE LONG
DECTER, MEGAN JONES, memoir
LAUREN McGILL
In Search of Lost Fish
on the cover:
photo by richmond lam I spent my summer on
a Quebec lake, trying to
imagine my first catch
into existence.

BY MARNI JACKSON
FROM THE WALRUS

44 www.bookshq.net

rd.ca 1

reader’s digest

60 66 68

heart humour society

P.M. Dad Bottoms Up! My (Brief) Career as
a Food Courier
My father taught me a Reviews by a big-time
lot about leadership— connoisseur who has Delivery apps that bring
but mostly, he taught me definitely bought dinner to our doors are
how to be a good parent. and tasted all these convenient, fast and, as
fancy wines. I found out during five
BY JUSTIN TRUDEAU shifts, a lousy way to
FROM FORTY FATHERS: MEN TALK BY SUZANNAH SHOWLER earn a living.
ABOUT PARENTING
BY JASON McBRIDE
FROM TORONTO LIFE

76

editors’ choice

One Million Guns

After a mass shooting
on a downtown
Toronto street, a former
cop became one of the
loudest voices calling
for gun control. He’s
up against entrenched
lobbyists, slow-to-act
politicians and a surge
in firearm owners.

BY PATRICK WHITE AND
TOM CARDOSO
FROM THE GLOBE AND MAIL

60 TESSA LLOYD

2 june 2020 www.bookshq.net

(ILLUSTRATION) CLAYTON HANMER; (PORTRAIT) TANJA TIZIANA Departments Humour 8

4 Editor’s Letter 11 reader’s digest
Life’s Like That book club
6 Contributors
36 88 Ridgerunner
7 Letters As Kids See It
Each month,
16 Points to Ponder 75 we recommend
Laughter, the Best a new great read.
big idea
Medicine BY EMILY LANDAU
8 Talk Shop
87 90 Brainteasers
Just when we Down to Business 92 Trivia
needed it most, a 93 Word Power
Toronto storefront 13 things 95 Sudoku
provides afford- 96 Crossword
able, accessible 14 What Nurses
therapy. Want You to Know rd.ca 3

BY MALCOLM JOHNSTON BY ANNA-KAISA WALKER

ask an expert health

12 Should We Expect 18 Hard Knocks
More Wildfires
This Summer? How to spot, and
recover from, a
We ask Karen concussion.
Hodges, University
of British Columbia BY ANNA SHARRATT
ecologist.

BY COURTNEY SHEA

14

20 News From the
World of Medicine

BY SAMANTHA RIDEOUT

23 What’s Wrong
With Me?

A medical mystery
resolved.

BY LISA BENDALL

www.bookshq.net

reader’s digest

EDITOR’S LETTER

Everyday
Heroes

I t’s early spring and I’m writing this risking their own lives to help some-
from home, since our office, like one in need.
everything else, is closed (not for
Cynthia Rennie-Faubert, who

too long, we hope). We started work- appears on our cover, works as a nurse

ing on this month’s cover story long in the emergency room of Ontario’s

before Canadians began falling ill Cornwall Community Hospital. I find

with COVID-19. Then, as streets, malls her selflessness in the face of extreme

and arenas emptied out, the U.S. bor- circumstances, like that of medical

der closed, hand sanitizer became staff everywhere during this extraordi-

more precious than gold and social nary year, enormously inspiring. She’s

distancing became our new normal, unflappable. “I stay calm and think (PUPO) DANIEL EHRENWORTH; (SANITIZER) ISTOCK.COM/DNY59

stories of bravery and heroism sud- clearly by taking things one patient

denly took on special urgency. at a time,” she says. “And I couldn’t

They remind us how Canadians possibly do what I do without my

stay strong during a crisis. fearless co-workers.”

The heroes we celebrate, on

page 26, are everyday people

from across the country who

stopped a crime, saved a life P.S. You can reach

or stood for what’s good and me at [email protected].

decent. None of them woke

up that day expecting to be

a hero. Each person—and

one super dog!—acted out

of compassion and total

selflessness, in many cases

www.bookshq.net

4 june 2020

PUBLISHED BY THE READER’S DIGEST MAGAZINES CANADA LIMITED, MONTREAL, CANADA

Christopher Dornan chairman of the board
Brian Kennedy president and publisher
Mark Pupo editor-in-chief

deputy editor Lauren McKeon art director John Montgomery
executive editor, associate art director Danielle Sayer

digital Brett Walther graphic designer Pierre Loranger
senior editors Megan Jones, content operations

Micah Toub manager Lisa Pigeon
assistant editor, circulation director Edward Birkett

digital Robert Liwanag contributors: Ali Amad, Lisa Bendall, Derek Bowman,
contributing editor Samantha Rideout Cindy Boyce, Tom Cardoso, Natalie Castellino, Daniel
Ehrenworth, Ryan Garcia, Clayton Hanmer, Marni Jackson,
intern Rosie Long Decter Malcolm Johnston, Roderick Kimball, Susan Camilleri Konar,
proofreader Katie Moore Richmond Lam, Emily Landau, Sarah Liss, Rob Lutes, Jason
senior researcher Lucy Uprichard McBride, Lauren McGill, Kagan McLeod, Julia Mercanti, John
researchers Nour Abi-Nakhoul, Ali Mighton, Kevin Moran, Omar Mouallem, Christina Palassio,
Paul Paquet, Rebecca Philps, Darren Rigby, Julie Saindon,
Amad, Martha Beach, Anna Sharratt, Fraser Simpson, Courtney Shea, Suzannah
Veronica Maddocks, Showler, Lauren Tamaki, Tanja Tiziana , Justin Trudeau,
Beth Shillibeer, Suzannah Conan de Vries, Anna-Kaisa Walker, Nik West, Patrick White,
Showler, Leslie Sponder
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THE READER’S DIGEST ASSOCIATION (CANADA) ULC

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TRUSTED MEDIA BRANDS

Bonnie Kintzer president and chief executive officer
Raimo Moysa editor-in-chief, international magazines

VOL. 196, NO. 1,170 Copyright © 2020 by Reader’s Digest Magazines We acknowledge
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rd.ca 5

reader’s digest

CONTRIBUTORS

CINDY BOYCE JULIA MERCANTI

Photographer, Montreal Illustrator, Toronto

“Real Canadian “Bottoms Up!”
Heroes”
Mercanti enjoys mak-
Boyce fell in love with photography as ing illustrations that are cheeky, relat-
a kid, when she and her family would able and colourful renderings of peo-
flip through their photo albums ple, flowers and animals. Last year,
together. Since then, her work has she was commissioned by Toronto’s
been published in La Presse and Holt Renfrew to make a set of special
Trois Fois Par Jour. She co-authored holiday murals. It was her first time
Montreal L’hiver, a lifestyle and rec- creating such large images, and teach-
ipe book that she released last year. ing herself a new skill gave her a
Check out her photo of Montrealer confidence boost. See her work (on
Erick Marciano on page 33. a much smaller scale) on page 66.

MALCOLM JOHNSTON OMAR MOUALLEM

Writer, Toronto Writer, Edmonton

“Talk Shop” “A Scream in the Wild”

An editor at Toronto Big personalities and

Life, Johnston has contributed stories big transformations make for the best

to Monocle, the National Post and the stories, Mouallem says. Several of

Globe and Mail. He’s won National his feature stories have been deemed (MOUALLEM) CURTIS COMEAU

Magazine Awards for his profiles of the best: he’s a three-time National

such sports figures as Josh Donaldson Magazine Award winner. His work

and Andre De Grasse. He also guest has appeared in The New Yorker and

lectures at journalism schools across Rolling Stone, among other publica-

Canada. Read his story about the tions, and he’s writing a travel mem-

Toronto therapy storefront Hard oir about Muslims in the Americas.

Feelings on page 8. Find his latest big story on page 52.

www.bookshq.net

6 june 2020

LETTERS

PUBLISHED LETTERS ARE EDITED FOR LENGTH AND CLARITY BEST FOOT FORWARD that the January/February 2020 edition
“The Walking Cure” (April 2020) really was one of my favourite issues ever. I
resonated with me. A few years ago, I really enjoyed the range of stories, and
struggled with arthritis, high blood the humour pages were priceless. I can
pressure and a dour outlook on life. My hardly wait for next month’s issue!
family talked me into joining them on — RUBY MAILANDER, Calgary
the Great Walk on Vancouver Island. A
walkathon, it requires travelling 63.5 IT’S THE SYSTEM
kilometres through mountains in one The article “The Broken Hearts Club”
day. I had to begin training many weeks (March 2020) left me disappointed. The
before the event to get into shape. The author notes that the patient who acted
daily strolls made such a difference. as a main source pursued medical care
My blood pressure went down, my twice from experts and was dismissed
mood improved and even my arthritis twice with inappropriate diagnoses.
pain seemed to diminish. Best of all, I Yet the article focuses on how we as
was able to finish the walkathon. These individuals can prevent our own health
days, I’m still walking. issues, rather than critiquing the glaring
— SHARON McGREGOR, Campbell problems within the health-care system.
River, B.C. The only way to address systemic issues
is to critique them often and vocally.
BIG FAN — LEE O’BRIEN, Toronto
I have subscribed to Reader’s Digest for
many years. I’ve never written to the
editor before, but I wanted to tell you

CONTRIBUTE FOR SERVICE TO SUBSCRIBERS Pay your bill, view your account
Send us your funny jokes and anecdotes, and if we publish one in a print online, change your address and browse our FAQs at rd.ca/con-
edition of Reader’s Digest, we’ll send you $50. To submit, visit rd.ca/joke. tact.

Original contributions (text and photos) become the property of The MAIL PREFERENCE Reader’s Digest maintains a record of your pur-
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[email protected], rd.ca

www.bookshq.net

rd.ca 7

reader’s digest

BIG IDEA

Just when we needed it most, a Toronto storefront
provides affordable, accessible therapy

Talk Shop

BY Malcolm Johnston

photograph by tanja tiziana

F ROM THE STREET, Hard Feelings making a difference, not a profit.
looks more like an independent Scowen wasn’t new to helping oth-
bookstore than a mental health
ers. Over almost 30 years, she held var-

centre. Shelves are lined with books on ious jobs assisting marginalized youth,

trauma, gender and sexuality, parent- and taught English to community work

ing and more. You can buy candles, students at Toronto’s George Brown

notebooks, teas and mugs. But past the College. At age 49, after a lifetime of

cheery receptionist wait three rooms practical experience, she enrolled in

reserved for counselling sessions. the graduate social work program at

Kate Scowen opened Hard Feelings University of Toronto. It was during her

in Toronto in 2017. Therapy in Canada studies that she landed on a plan to

can be prohibitively expensive for low- open her own counselling centre.

income and gig economy workers and According to recent findings from

anyone else without workplace bene- Statistics Canada, more than five mil-

fits. Scowen wanted to fill the gap by lion Canadians reported needing

www.bookshq.net

8 june 2020

Founder Kate
Scowen designed

Hard Feelings to
feel welcoming.

www.bookshq.net

reader’s digest

mental health care, but nearly half of access their services. (If longer term

that group said their needs were either treatment is required, a client and

unmet or only partially met. Often, peo- counsellor may agree to continue at

ple go without because they can’t afford the counsellor’s private practice.) The

care or don’t know where to get it. That point, though, is to tear down barriers

is where the Hard Feelings model—a to mental health care. Her counsel-

storefront anyone can access—fits in. lors all happily accept lower hourly

“I wanted to develop something based rates just to be involved, and dozens

on my ideal of how mental health sup- have joined a waiting list to offer ther-

ports could be offered,” says Scowen, apy at the centre.

“and that is with community, warmth While clients come from all over the

and innovation.” city, many live or work in the neighbour-

hood, which is one of the city’s most

FOR MANY economically and ethnically diverse.
CANADIANS, THE Some walk in off the street, attracted
by the friendly window displays and

HIGH PRICE OF curious to learn more. With the spread
THERAPY PUTS HELP of COVID-19, video sessions are avail-
able for clients, who have wanted to
BEYOND REACH. talk about challenges with stress,

often because of job loss. Many are

freelancers, gig workers or retail staff

Scowen recruited almost 30 coun- who were laid off or saw their income

sellors who treat a wide range of men- sources dry up during the outbreak.

tal health issues, including anxiety, Many clients also feel like they’ve

depression, substance abuse and anger found something special. When Max

management. In its first year, the clinic Mertens, a 29-year-old freelance jour-

served 342 clients. Last year, that num- nalist, was laid off in early summer

ber jumped to 424. Clients pay $50 to 2018, he was wracked with anxiety. He

$80 per session; the exact fee is recognized he needed counselling but

decided during the first meeting and also knew he was unable to afford it.

based on ability to pay. In comparison, Then he discovered Hard Feelings. “It

therapists elsewhere in Toronto often really helped,” he says, “to have a place

charge up to $125 per session, putting to vent for an hour.” After his 12 ses-

help beyond reach for many people. sions were finished, Mertens contin-

The emphasis is on short-term coun- ued seeing his therapist. Hard Feelings

selling—a max of 12 sessions. Scowen is an amazing place, he says. He only

says this guarantees more people can wishes there were more like it.

www.bookshq.net

10 june 2020

LIFE’S LIKE THAT I’m becoming the land-
lord of my own body by
refusing to fix anything
wrong with it.

— @I_ZZZZZZ

“We’ve all been there.” I love seeing people
panic at karaoke when
— @ELLE_HUNT they realize how long
and repetitive their song
is. It’s like their eyes are
asking, “Will I be singing
‘My Sharona’ forever?”

— @ISABELZAWTUN

First Date: Small talk, in a dark room where 9:30 Breakfast
12:30 Lunch
getting to know each no one’s allowed to talk 2:30-7:30 A constant,
immeasurable flow of
other. to me. increasingly horrible
snacks
Second Date: I explain — @CARAWEINBERGER 8:00 Dinner

why I don’t think outer — AMBER RUFFIN,

space is real. Injuries by Age comedian

There’s no third date, Age 5: I jumped off Him: I think we should
see other people.
usually. a swing. Me: I disagree. I think
we should break up and
— MARY BETH BARONE, Age 21: I jumped off both be alone.

comedian a bar table. — @GINNYHOGAN_

Age 38: Sleeping. I hurt Send us your original
jokes! You could earn $50
Family Therapy myself while I was and be featured in the
magazine. See page 7 or
My therapist just sleeping. rd.ca/joke for details.

referred to her therapist — @ABBYHASISSUES rd.ca 11

as my grand-therapist,

which is a lot to process. It’s been six months

— @CORIETJOHNSON since I joined the gym

and no progress. I’m

Cinematic Experience going there in person

I thought I liked seeing tomorrow to see what’s

movies, but it turns out really going on.

I just like eating candy — @_CAKEBAWSE

www.bookshq.net

reader’s digest

ASK AN EXPERT

Should We
Expect More
Wildfires This

Summer?

We ask Karen Hodges,
University of British
Columbia ecologist

BY Courtney Shea

illustration by lauren tamaki

The 2019 fire season in Canada was,

relatively speaking, a quiet one—at

least in B.C. Might that be a good sign

for this year?

Unfortunately, no. To make predic-

tions on the coming fire season, fore- However, when it comes to longer-

casters look at things like available fuel term patterns, if you look at the last 50

(dead wood), snowfall in the winter years in Canada and around the world,

and how quickly it gets hot in the we’re seeing a greater number of fires,

spring. These factors vary annually, so and they’re more severe. Mega fires—

while it’s true that last year was less the ones that burn more than 10,000

dramatic in Canada, that doesn’t mean hectares—used to be the exception,

anything for this summer. but that is no longer the case.

www.bookshq.net

12 june 2020

Why is that? How can I prepare if I’m heading out

The most significant factor is climate into the bush this summer?

change. The kind of prolonged hot Carry water and a shovel so that if some-

weather we’re now seeing creates the thing does spark, you’d have a chance

flammable conditions—dry vegetation of putting it out. Have an alternative exit

and soil—in which fires can thrive. Also, plan, particularly if you’re camping at

the vast majority of naturally started a dead end. The other thing—and this

fires are caused by lightning storms, can be hard because a lot of people seek

which increase in higher temperatures. out nature to unplug—is that it’s a good

idea to bring a cell phone or radio so

What are some common causes of that you have a way of learning about

blazes started by us? any impending danger.

The most frequent ones are sparks from

power tools, improperly discarded cig- IN KELOWNA, SOME
arette butts and leaving a campfire

burning. Then there is the fact that more WEEKS WE’VE HAD
humans are living in parts of nature WORSE AIR THAN NEW
where they didn’t before. The wildfires DELHI AND SHANGHAI.
in California are a good example of

that—new homes there are surrounded

by extremely flammable conditions.

Any other dangers to be aware of?

Is that nature’s way of telling humans Smoke is a big problem because it

to stand down? carries super-fine particulates (soot

Well, no, but it is an example of the and gases) that are hard for our lungs

challenges of balancing our activity to clear. These days, we are witness-

with the will of Mother Nature. In North ing a lot of smoke that persists in

America we have this misconception regions for months—and travels the

that all fires need to be fought, when planet. I live in Kelowna, and there

in fact fires play an important role in were weeks in 2017 and 2018 when

regeneration for most ecosystems. A our air was worse than that of New

few decades of fire suppression has Delhi and Shanghai.

fostered thicker forest growth, more

trees and, therefore, more connected I heard smoke from the B.C. fires

fuel. So now, if a fire starts anywhere made it all the way to New York City.

it’s going to burn through everything. I believe it. In B.C. we got a bunch of

This is another key factor in why large Siberian smoke. We’re talking hun-

wildfires are the new norm. dreds to thousands of kilometres.

www.bookshq.net

rd.ca 13

reader’s digest

13 THINGS 1 Nurses have been on
the front lines during
What Nurses Want the COVID-19 crisis.
You to Know They make up about
half of Canada’s health-
BY Anna-Kaisa Walker care workforce, and are
the largest group of
illustration by clayton hanmer regulated health pro-
fessionals. In remote
areas, they may be the
only health-care pro-
viders around.

2 Don’t assume a
nurse is always a she.
About 10 per cent of
Canadian nurses are
men—and in the past
five years, the growth in
male nurses was triple
that of female nurses.

3 Nurses don’t just
work in hospitals.
A growing segment
are now home health
nurses, who will shoul-
der much of the care of
Canada’s aging popula-
tion. Their goal is to
keep you healthy and
safe where you live.

4 With so many
elderly Boomers,
Canada will be short an
estimated 60,000 regis-
tered nurses by 2022.

www.bookshq.net

14 june 2020

The situation is espe- unintended harm—such difficult veins, stay
cially acute in Ontario, as an incorrect medica- hydrated, or ask for
where there are 20 per tion dosage. “If you have a heated blanket—
cent fewer nurses per any doubts about your warmth dilates your
100,000 people than the treatment, ask,” says veins, making them
Canadian average. Silas. “Any question is easier to poke.
worth asking.”
5 Unsafe staffing lev- 11 Ask medical staff
els put nurses at risk 8 Try not to talk to a for medication
of violence. “Sixty-six nurse while they’re before your pain gets
per cent of Canadian preparing your meds— really bad—if you wait
nurses say they’ve been one Australian study until you hit a 10 out of
physically assaulted at found that with every 10, it’ll be more difficult
work,” says Linda Silas, interruption, the rate to get under control.
president of the Cana- of mistakes went up
dian Federation of 12 per cent. 12 Bring extra layers:
Nurses Unions (CFNU). hospitals are kept
“Rates of abuse and 9 Squeamish about fridge-cold. Bacteria
harassment have crept needles? Speak up— thrive in warm, moist
up in the past decade.” even nurses can relate. environments, and air-
“I do 20 to 50 blood conditioning naturally
6 Got a grouchy draws and injections a dehumidifies the air.
nurse? Even the shift, but I hate having
most compassionate my own blood drawn,” 13 It’s not rude to
person can suffer burn- says Andrea Smith, an remind staff
out. In 2016, Canadian Ontario ER nurse. “I’ll to clean their hands.
nurses worked an esti- tell my patients I feel Studies show hand
mated 20.1 million the same way. By the hygiene —washing or
overtime hours accord- time I’m finished my sanitizing hands before
ing to the CFNU. story, the job’s done.” and after touching a
patient—is the most
7 10Medical errors are Even experienced effective means of pre-
shockingly common. nurses can have venting transmission
of hospital-borne infec-
According to the Cana- trouble starting an IV tions, and nearly half
of health-care workers
dian Institute for Health line. “Usually, we try aren’t fully compliant
with protocols.
Information, for every twice before asking
rd.ca 15
18 hospitalizations, one another nurse to help,”

patient will experience says Smith. If you have

www.bookshq.net

reader’s digest

POINTS TO PONDER

BY Christina Palassio

I KNOW A LOT OF US ARE I panicked before PHOTOS: (LANG) KATHY HUTCHINS/SHUTTERSTOCK; (O’NEILL) J. ARTACHO; (THISTLE) LUCIE THISTLE; (MIGHTY) YUNG YEMI.
CONFUSED AND HURTING one of my first public
FROM THE TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF SUFFERING readings, fearing
that the audience
IN THE WORLD RIGHT might spontaneously
NOW. DON’T LET THE BAD quiz me on great
works I’d never read.
NEWS DISTRACT YOU
FROM YOUR KINDNESS –Author Tom Rachman,

AND COMPASSION. IN THE GUARDIAN

–k.d. lang, ON TWITTER

I believe I’m a better scientist. I believe I’m a better administrator.
I believe I’m a better teacher. I believe I’m a better father and husband.

–Santa Ono, president and vice-chancellor of UBC, ON HIS LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION

THEY DIDN’T CALL ME I HAVE AN AUDITION FOR A ROLE
A REFUGEE WHEN I IN A MOVIE NEXT WEEK. I’M TO
PLAY A CUTTHROAT OWNER
ARRIVED IN TORONTO. OF AN ART GALLERY. TO
THEY CALLED ME A PREPARE FOR THE ROLE,
I’M BRUTALLY CRITIQUING
NEW CANADIAN. THEY ALL THE KNICK-KNACKS
HAVE BEEN TELLING ON MY BOOKSHELVES.
ME, “YOU ARE ONE DERIVATIVE AND AMATEUR!
OF US ALREADY.”
–Author Heather O’Neill, ON TWITTER
–Tareq Hadhad, Syrian
refugee and founder
of Peace by Chocolate,

TO GLOBAL NEWS

www.bookshq.net

16 june 2020

QUOTES: (LANG) JAN. 13, 2020; (RACHMAN) MARCH 1, 2019; (ONO) CBC’S IDEAS (JAN. 14, 2020); (HADHAD) JAN. 15, 2020; (O’NEILL) JAN. 31, 2020; (THISTLE) I learned how to read in jail, basically,
CBC NEWS (NOV. 27, 2019); (MIGHTY) THE GLOBE AND MAIL (SEPT. 17, 2019); (TAM) JAN. 29, 2020; (GIESE) JAN. 28, 2020. so I’m just going on instinct. I don’t
know any other way to write.

–Author and academic Jesse Thistle, WHO WROTE

THE MEMOIR FROM THE ASHES

THEY USED TO SAY I am concerned about the
I’M TOO LOUD, BUT growing number of reports
THAT’S COOL NOW. of racism and stigmatizing
comments on social media
LOVE MY SKIN,
ALWAYS BEEN directed at people of
PROUD, GUESS Chinese and Asian descent
THAT’S IN NOW. related to coronavirus. It is
understandable that our fears
–Polaris Prize–winning increase during times like this.
hip-hop artist Haviah Mighty, However, we need to remember
that cohesion in our collective
IN HER SONG IN WOMEN COLOUR
efforts is important.

–Dr. Theresa Tam, chief public health officer

of Canada, ON TWITTER

I’m bored of straight politicians
trying to win queer votes just by

going to Pride. If they want to
prove they care about us, they
should have to mediate a fight
between a lesbian couple at an
Ikea on a Saturday and build all

the furniture after.

–Boys author Rachel Giese, ON TWITTER

www.bookshq.net

rd.ca 17

reader’s digest

HEALTH

Hard Knocks

How to spot, and
recover from, a concussion

BY Anna Sharratt S UMMER IS THE season for hiking,
bike rides and playing sports
outdoors. Unfortunately, it’s also
the season of concussions.

More than just a superficial head

wound, a concussion is an injury that

occurs when a person suffers a bump,

jolt or blow that causes the brain to

bounce around within the skull, where

it is suspended in cerebrospinal fluid.

According to a 2017 report in The Lan-

cet, 30 to 50 million people suffer from

concussions and other traumatic brain

injuries every year, and falls are the

most common cause.

The vast majority of concussions are

considered mild; these may result in a

headache and some fatigue, appearing

minutes to hours following the colli- ISTOCK.COM/ANDRESR

sion but resolving after 24 hours. A

more serious concussion can lead to

severe symptoms, such as nausea,

issues with balance or dizzi-

ness, vision problems, sleep

www.bookshq.net

disruption, irregular moods and sen- higher risk of dying from dementia

sitivity to noise and light. Most of these than the general public.

will subside in a week or two with rest, “We have a pretty good idea of what

reduced visual stimulation—avoiding happens to the brain in the years after

screens and reading—and a measured a concussion,” says Dr. Michael Grey,

return to one’s regular activities. How- a brain injury expert at the University

ever, some concussion symptoms can of East Anglia in Norwich, U.K. He

linger for months or years, hampering explains that a hard blow to the head

daily functioning. can lead to protein clumps around the

neurons that send brain signals, dis-

35% rupting communication between the
brain and the rest of the body. In fact,
OF TRAUMATIC any repeated head trauma—colliding
BRAIN INJURIES ARE with opponents while playing football
or trading blows while boxing—can
CAUSED BY FALLS. damage neurons over time.

For anyone who participates in rec-

reational activities in the summer, Grey

says the benefits still outweigh the risks.

Scientists have only recently begun Inactivity, he says, can lead to obesity

to scrutinize the long-term effects of and other health issues. He suggests

concussions—and their findings are practising sports as safely as possible,

troubling. A 2018 study published in keeping an eye out for signs of a con-

The Lancet Psychiatry found that a cussion and seeing a doctor immedi-

severe traumatic brain injury in one’s ately if any are present. Failing to treat

20s increased the risk of dementia 30 a traumatic brain injury immediately—

years later by 63 per cent; for people in particularly if it’s serious—can lead to

their 30s, that rise in risk is 37 per cent. a life-threatening blood clot, seizure

And, alarmingly, even a single mild or bleeding in the brain. In rare cases,

concussion raised the lifetime risk for swelling of the brain can cause death.

a person of any age by 17 per cent. Also, it’s worth noting that while hel-

For this reason, concussions have mets are recommended for cycling and

become a pressing topic, especially for many other sports, they protect users

athletes. A 2019 New England Journal only from fractures, not brain trauma.

of Medicine study of professional soc- When it comes to kids, “Try to put

cer players—who routinely head the them in clubs that take concussions

ball and collide with other players— seriously,” says Grey. “If in doubt, sit

showed that they have a 3.5 per cent them out.”

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rd.ca 19

reader’s digest

Many Seniors

News from the Overestimate How
Well They Can See
WORLD OF
MEDICINE
Vision decline can
sneak up on you so

gradually that you don’t

BY Samantha Rideout notice it. That probably

explains why 61.5 per

cent of the Swedish

seniors who got an eye

exam for an Acta Oph-

thalmologica study

hadn’t realized they’d

be able to see better by

starting to wear glasses

or by changing the

strength of their exist-

ing prescription. Parti-

cipants tended to know

their vision was sub-

THE PROBLEM WITH optimal if there was a
problem with their con-

HOMEMADE SUNSCREENS trast sensitivity (their
ability to distinguish

While it may sound like a fun project that’ll help you between an object and

better control what goes on your skin, making your its background) but

own sunscreen can leave you burned. American most of the seniors with

public-health researchers collected a random sam- impaired visual acuity

ple of 189 Pinterest pins promoting DIY sunscreen. (sharpness of vision)

Despite the posts’ claims, the great majority of the reported that they had

recipes would not offer adequate protection against good sight. The lesson:

ultraviolet rays. Coconut oil, their most commonly even if you don’t think

featured ingredient, has been shown to offer an your vision is deterior-

SPF (sun protection factor) of only 1 to 7—not nearly ating, you could still ADAM VOORHES

enough to prevent skin cancer. Commercial sun- benefit from visiting the

screens, which are regulated for efficacy and safety, optometrist regularly

are a more surefire bet. as you get older.

www.bookshq.net

20 june 2020

Don’t Make Pills A Popular Muscle
an Excuse to Drop Relaxant Can Cause
Good Habits Disorientation

A healthy lifestyle is key Commonly prescribed
for muscle pain and
to managing your car- heartburn, the drug
baclofen can build up
diovascular risk, even if in your body and make
you feel confused if
you’re also taking med- your kidneys aren’t effi-
cient at filtering it out.
ication for it. As a Finn- Alarm Clock Roughly a fifth of
seniors live with kidney
ish study that followed Sounds May function of less than 60
per cent. In a study from
over 40,000 people for Affect Morning Western University in
London, Ont., this
four years showed, it Grogginess group had a 1.11 per
cent chance of being
can be tempting to hospitalized for severe
confusion shortly after
substitute one for the The drowsy, still-half- starting a high dose of
baclofen (20 milligrams
other. The subjects who asleep feeling that can per day or more). For
seniors with the lowest
started preventative last up to a few hours kidney function, the
odds were one in 26. If
prescriptions for heart after waking is known anyone experienced
milder effects that
issues were more likely medically as “sleep didn’t land them in the
hospital, they weren’t
to cut back on exercise inertia.” Not only is it recorded. Bottom line:
You and your physician
and gain extra pounds. unpleasant, it can should take your age
and kidney health into
Obesity and physical impact your work per- account when consid-
ering this drug.
inactivity both tend to formance and put you
rd.ca 21
make it so that you need in danger if you need

higher doses of drugs— to drive a car. Research

increasing adverse side from RMIT University

effects in the process. in Australia asked

What’s more, “Even whether the sound you

if medication helps use to awaken might

patients decrease their influence how alert or

risk of cardiovascular groggy you feel. Partici-

events,” says lead pants who used

ISTOCK.COM/BILL OXFORD researcher Maarit Kor- melodic alarms (for

honen, “their risk of example, the Beach

other health problems— Boys’ “Good Vibra-

cancer, diabetes and so tions”) reported less

on—may still increase.” sleep inertia, compared

to beeping, buzzing and

other unmusical noises.

www.bookshq.net

reader’s digest

A New Treatment for When Summer
a Dangerous Infection Is SAD

As an ever-growing health threat, drug-resistant Seasonal affective dis-

bacteria are forcing medical scientists to look for order (depression linked

new ways of treating infections. For example, a to the time of year, the

growing proportion of people with cystic fibrosis light and the weather)

are getting an opportunistic bacterial infection is common during the

called Mycobacterium abscessus, which can speed winter months. But for

up lung-function decline and even lead to death. some people, it’s sum-

These bacteria can also be a scary problem for peo- mertime that brings

ple with other lung conditions, such as bronchiec- symptoms, which can

tasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. include low mood,

Resistant to many antibiotics, M. abscessus is very anxiety, agitation, poor

hard to eradicate. The current treatment, an appetite and insomnia.

aggressive antibiotic regimen that can bring seri- Scientists aren’t certain

ous side effects such as hearing loss, hasn’t always about the causes of

worked. However, a new combination of existing summer SAD. It could

antibiotics might just do the trick. be brought on by exces-

A team of British researchers mixed amoxicillin sive heat and long days

with imipenem-relebactam. This combination reli- that throw off your cir-

ably killed off M. abscessus in the lab, using doses cadian rhythms. A

that should be safe for patients. Their next goal is to peer-reviewed study

try it out in real life. If you’re struggling to beat this recently offered evi-

infection, “It’s worth discussing our findings with dence for an additional

your doctor,” says co-author Jonathan Cox of Aston possibility: sufferers

University in Birmingham. Bacterial samples from reported their mood

your body should be pre-screened before going worsening on days

ahead with the new with a high pollen

combination, to count, suggesting that

make sure they’re allergen exposure may

susceptible to the play a role. If you have

antibiotics. summer SAD, anti- ISTOCK.COM/FAHRONI

depressants, talk ther-

apy, allergy treatment

or keeping a regular

sleep schedule could

all help.

www.bookshq.net

22 june 2020

HEALTH

WHAT’S WRONG
WITH ME?

BY Lisa Bendall

illustration by victor wong

THE PATIENT: Sophie*, a 10-year-old girl Two weeks later, Sophie developed

THE SYMPTOMS: Intense abdominal a sharp pain in her right side—one that

pain and spine curvature became more intense when she moved

THE DOCTOR: Dr. Charles G. Stewart, or lay down. When she couldn’t get

pediatric emergency physician at comfortable at bedtime, her concerned

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, parents brought her to Chelsea and

London, England Westminster Hospital.

SOPHIE WAS AN active 10-year-old Sophie’s abdomen was examined for
who enjoyed playing netball in signs of appendicitis, but it felt normal.
her southwest London neigh- She wasn’t feverish. With only one
symptom to go on, making a diagnosis

bourhood. In early November 2016, was challenging, and her doctors

she picked up a mild cold virus from thought she might have simply pulled

her older brother. Although she felt a muscle while she was playing sports.

tired and sick for a couple of days, she Sophie was given acetaminophen—

appeared to bounce back. which seemed to lessen her pain

somewhat—and then was sent home.

*IDENTIFYING DETAILS HAVE BEEN CHANGED. Her parents were told they should

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rd.ca 23

reader’s digest

bring Sophie back for X-rays if she and instructions to come right back if

didn’t improve. she didn’t start feeling better soon.

The next few hours were wretched, At home, the abdominal pain only

recalls her mom, Joanne. “Sophie intensified. Sophie spent that night

couldn’t sleep at all that night, and curled up on the sofa, screaming in

medication couldn’t relieve the pain.” agony. She started shivering, and vom-

First thing in the morning, the family ited. “It was clear there was something

was back in the ER for more tests. seriously wrong,” says Joanne. The next

day, as the family rushed to get ready to

SOPHIE WAS BENDING go back to the hospital, Joanne noticed
OVER SIDEWAYS, something odd: Sophie was bending
over sideways and limping, as though

AS THOUGH ONE one leg were shorter than the other.
LEG WERE SHORTER Doctors in the ER could now see that
THAN THE OTHER.
Sophie was quite ill. She was pale, and
her heart rate was even higher. Her

C-reactive protein count—which can

signify inflammation—had quad-

But an abdominal ultrasound was rupled in two days. And, as Joanne had

completely normal, and a chest X-ray noticed, her standing posture was very

showed nothing more than a mild strange, with her right leg a bit bent

scoliosis, or curvature of the spine. as she leaned on her left side. She

That’s not uncommon in a girl who needed to be admitted. “We couldn’t

might be having a growth spurt. “It send the girl home again,” Stewart

was not thought to be significant,” says, “but we didn’t have a clear line

says Dr. Charles G. Stewart, who on what was going on.”

works in the hospital’s Department of A range of conditions, from bone

Paediatric Emergency. infection to leukemia, might cause

Sophie’s breathing rate and pulse Sophie’s spine to bend. But an ortho-

were slightly faster than they had been pedic team assessed Sophie and

the night before, but that could simply found nothing.

mean she was in more discomfort. The Finally, the doctors decided to con-

surgical consultants maintained that a duct a CT scan of Sophie’s abdomen

musculoskeletal injury was still the most to look for the source of the pain. This

likely cause of the pain. Sophie’s par- type of X-ray takes a series of detailed

ents weren’t convinced but didn’t know images as cross-sections. Fortuitously,

what else it could be. Once again, they one of these cross-sections caught the

were sent away with acetaminophen lowest portion of Sophie’s right lung.

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24 june 2020

That image provided the answer: lung inflammation may not show up
Sophie had pneumonia. well in the two-dimensional images.
The scoliosis was more telling—and
There’s no way to know how Sophie that was caused simply by the way
picked up this bacterial invasion; her Sophie was holding herself. “Without
immunity could have been down from realizing it, Sophie was adopting a
fighting her cold. As many as one in 20 posture to quell the pain of the pneu-
kids who see a doctor for abdominal monia,” says Stewart.
pain actually have pneumonia, par-
ticularly if the infection is in the lower Stewart adds that pneumonia symp-
lobe of the lung. And in fact, pneu- toms aren’t always predictable. “We
monia is the number 1 cause of child were tricked by this devious presenta-
mortality worldwide, especially in tion.” Nevertheless, he has sympathy
for the frustrated parents, who watched
AS MANY AS ONE IN 20 their child suffer without a diagnosis.
KIDS WHO COMPLAIN “I think a lot of people assume, in an
ABOUT ABDOMINAL age of AI and cloud computing, that
PAIN ACTUALLY HAVE medicine is easy, but it’s not.”

PNEUMONIA. Doctors started Sophie on intrave-
nous antibiotics but she developed
regions without adequate health care. fluid around her lungs and needed a
But it’s rare for abdominal pain to be chest drain. She went home two weeks
the only complaint. Pneumonia typ- later, and four months after that, she
ically causes coughing and wheezing. had recovered the energy to return to
It also comes with a fever, although school full-time. “We were just relieved
that can be suppressed if the patient that she was improving, without any
takes acetaminophen, as Sophie did. setbacks,” says Joanne.

Although Sophie had been given a Meeting Sophie has had a lasting
chest X-ray earlier, 27 per cent of these impact on Stewart. “I’ve referenced her
look normal in the early stages of many times with my junior doctors: in
pneumonia, says Stewart, because the absence of everything else, abdom-
inal pain with scoliosis should make
you think of a postural response to
pneumonia,” he says.

Canine Conundrum

What do dogs do on their day off? Can’t lie around—that’s their job.

GEORGE CARLIN, COMEDIAN

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rd.ca 25

COVER STORY

Real

HeroesCANADIAN

Extraordinary She Helps Care for
stories of COVID-19 Patients
kindness,
CYNTHIA RENNIE-FAUBERT,
48, CORNWALL, ONT.

compassion The speed of the coronavirus outbreak
and full-on in Wuhan worried Cynthia Rennie-
Faubert. As an emergency room nurse
bravery in Cornwall, she’d seen her share of

outbreaks, including SARS and H1N1, RICHMOND LAM

BY Ali Amad, Emily Landau, but nothing like this. She knew it was
Sarah Liss, Rosie Long Decter, only a matter of time before this new
Megan Jones and Lauren McGill virus arrived in her community.

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26 june 2020

reader’s digest

Cynthia Rennie-
Faubert screens

patients every
day for COVID-19.

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reader’s digest

A month later, it did. On February and front-line health-care workers

21, the federal government sent 129 remained at the greatest risk for expos-

Canadians from the Diamond Prin- ure. In Toronto alone, some dozen

cess, an infected cruise ship, for a nurses and doctors had tested positive

14-day quarantine at a Cornwall hotel for COVID-19. Tension was high. But

and conference facility that’s often Rennie-Faubert was confident her hos-

used in emergency situations. Rennie- pital could successfully manage the

Faubert, who works at Cornwall Com- virus. After all, they’re a team. Every-

munity Hospital, would help treat any one was taking turns working extra

passengers who fell ill. Some were shifts, making sure nobody burned

seniors—a population at higher risk of out. The trick, she says, is to stay calm.

heart disease, high blood pressure, and She reminds herself and others that in

diabetes, increasing the chance of med- most ways it’s just another day at work:

ical complications. “We’re looking after sick patients in

The hospital staff jumped into action, their time of need.”

increasing isolation measures and

stocking storerooms with infectious

disease supplies. Thankfully, all of the They Saved a Life
quarantined passengers soon passed at the Curling Rink

with a clean bill of health. But the virus JESSICA HOEKSTRA, 29, AND
proved unavoidable when, in March, ROY PENNER, 53, ST. ALBERT, ALTA.

the region confirmed its first positive

case of COVID-19. Neil McKay was in the middle of his

Screening potential cases was com- usual Tuesday curling game in St. Albert

plicated, not least because it’s possi- last December when he started to feel

ble for asymptomatic people to light-headed. The 70-year-old retired

spread the virus. “We don’t have the engineer is typically in good health, but

luxury of getting it wrong,” Rennie- as he stepped off the ice, he collapsed.

Faubert says. “We must assume any- Jessica Hoekstra was upstairs, working

one could have the virus.” On any her first shift at the curling club bar,

given day, her ER sees a wide range of when she noticed him fall. A licensed

cases, from car crash victims to heart practical nurse, she bolted downstairs

attack patients, and if a patient is unre- and quickly recognized that McKay

sponsive, for example, she can’t ask was in cardiac arrest. Hoekstra began

about their history. She can’t know if administering CPR immediately. “The

they’re infected. sooner you start, the more likely you

As of mid-March, Ontario had tested are to have a positive outcome,” she

more than 23,000 people for the virus, says. “Every second counts.”

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28 june 2020

Firefighter Roy Penner, who was
playing on the next sheet, rushed over
to assist with compressions, while
another patron ran for the building’s
defibrillator. After McKay’s rescuers
administered a shock, he regained con-
sciousness and was taken to hospital,
where he swiftly recovered.

Today, McKay remains friends with
the people who saved him and makes
sure to stop and chat whenever he
runs into them at the club. McKay
feels fortunate that so many know-
ledgeable people were on the scene.
“They’d probably say, ‘I was just doing
my job,’” McKay says, “But boy, did they
ever do a good one.”

She Donated a Kidney to When Scott Giles became sick Kate
Her Financial Adviser Kirkpatrick didn’t hesitate to help.

KATE KIRKPATRICK,
45, SHUBENACADIE, N.S.

helping Kirkpatrick get set up finan-

When Scott Giles found himself in need cially, Giles offered support and advice.

of a new kidney, Kate Kirkpatrick, a “I had no family here, so I’d ask him

customer at his bank, knew she wanted everything,” she says. “If I wanted to take

to give him hers. a vacation, I’d ask him where to go.”

Kirkpatrick and Giles had first met When her divorce was finalized, Kirk-

around 2005, after she’d moved to patrick cried in Giles’s office; when

Shubenacadie from Scotland after her kids needed bank cards, they knew

marrying a Canadian. But by the time exactly where to go.

she walked through the doors of After Giles had to take a leave from

Giles’s financial adviser office, her work to tend to his health, and it

SANDRA GILES marriage was dissolving, she had became clear that he needed a kidney

five-year-old twins in tow and she transplant to survive, she offered to get

was at her wits’ end. The two simply tested. In January 2018, they found out

connected, she recalls. In addition to they were a match.

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rd.ca 29

reader’s digest

Daring teenager
Sara Picard rescued a
woman from an assault.

www.bookshq.net

The donation process stretched out on himself, plunging it into his chest.
over two years, during which they Picard, not letting her fear show, urged
both underwent a battery of tests. the woman to run for safety while she
Today, Giles is off dialysis. Kirkpatrick stayed on the scene. The paramedics
didn’t start to process the magnitude who arrived minutes later weren’t able
of what she’d done until it was over. “I to revive the man.
didn’t think it was any different from
paying it forward at the Tim Hortons In the weeks after the incident,
drive-through,” she says. “I try to live Picard brought groceries to the wom-
life to the fullest, and it was a privilege an’s home, and joined the woman and
to help somebody do the same.” her three children for lunch. Picard
remains unfazed. “If I want to be a
She Saved a Stranger From social worker, I’m going to have to see
a Knife Attack things like that,” she says. “It was a
blessing in disguise that I was there
and able to help.”

SARA PICARD,
17, QUALICUM BEACH, B.C.

He Kept Seniors Warm
Sara Picard is the kind of teen who likes During a Cold Snap

to do the right thing. The Grade 12 Qual- AJAYPAL SINGH, 41, STRATHMORE, ALTA.

icum Beach student volunteers at the

soup kitchen, organized a successful When temperatures plunged to -35 C

coat-donation drive and plans to study in the tiny town of Strathmore this past

social work at Vancouver Island Uni- January, taxi operator Ajaypal Singh

versity. So when Picard spotted a man saw an opportunity to help his commu-

attempting to force a woman into a van nity. He figured there must be elderly

in a downtown parking lot last Novem- people afraid or unable to leave their

ber, she didn’t hesitate to help. homes to buy necessities because of

She instinctively shoved herself the extreme cold. Work was slow any-

between them and pushed the man— way, so he thought, Why not pick up

the woman’s ex-husband—away. In their groceries for them? Singh and his

response, he pulled out a hunting knife crew of five drivers encouraged patrons

and waved it wildly at them. The man to call in with their requests, like bread

then grabbed the woman, brandishing and milk, then delivered them to 25

the knife to force Picard away. That’s grateful locals—free of charge, minus

NIK WEST when Picard called 911. cost of the purchases. “One lady even

While Picard was still on the phone, hugged me after I brought her medi-

the man panicked and turned the knife cine she needed,” says Singh.

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rd.ca 31

reader’s digest

Taxi operator Ajaypal Singh runs a free close behind, sirens blaring. “There’s (SINGH) ROLFE JOHANNSON; (MARCIANO) CINDY BOYCE
delivery service for his elderly customers. something you don’t see every day,”
he thought.
This isn’t the first time Singh has
helped others out. Since last summer, As the speeding driver slowed in the
he has also offered free round-trip rides swirling snow, police closed the gap.
for people headed to the Strathmore Marciano saw officers exit their cars,
food bank. “The world is full of people guns drawn—exactly as the Honda
doing nice things like me,” he says. “This driver revved backwards and pulled a
is just how I play my part.” swift U-turn, accelerating toward Mar-
ciano and a busy crosswalk. Marciano
He Stopped a Speeding immediately thought of recent terrorist
Car From Plowing Into attacks on pedestrians in other cities
Pedestrians and made a split-second decision. “I
didn’t want that to happen here,” he
ERICK MARCIANO, 49, MONTREAL says. “I had to stop him.”

Skidding into the opposite lane, Mar-
ciano laid on his horn, warning pedes-
trians. Then he angled his SUV directly
into the Honda’s path. As the other car
raced toward his, Marciano pitched
himself out the door, narrowly escaping
the crash. Both vehicles screeched into
the intersection, but his heroic manoeu-
vre allowed a dozen passersby to flee.
The Honda driver was apprehended
and, miraculously, there were no major
injuries. “I did what I had to do,” Mar-
ciano says, and he would do it again—
even if he never did get that sandwich.

Last November, Montreal contractor She Rescued Her Lost
Erick Marciano was on his way to get Best Friend

an Italian sub when he noticed the CHILI, 3, ABBOTSFORD, B.C.

speeding Honda. Stopped at a bus-

tling downtown intersection in his Mordy, a white labradoodle, was once

own SUV, he watched as the car afraid of every knock on the door, says

zoomed through a red light, police Jared Palfrey, an IT consultant who lives

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32 june 2020

Erick Marciano used
his SUV to block the
path of a reckless driver.

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reader’s digest

with his wife, Angie, and their six kids detective. Nothing worked. That is,
in Abbotsford. If someone came over, until Chili became head of Operation
Mordy would hide under the piano. Rescue Mordy.
The only creature he’s never been shy
around is Chili, a slobbery Cane Corso Three weeks later, following reports of
who belongs to Palfrey’s brother. The Mordy sightings, the Palfreys returned
two dogs were fast friends. to the woods with Chili in tow. When
unclipped from her leash, Chili bar-
The Palfreys panicked last August relled into the forest. In seconds, she
when Mordy bolted on a road trip trotted back out with Mordy at her
nearly three hours away from their heels. “We hugged and hugged and
home—and refused to answer desper- hugged this brave pup,” Palfrey says of
ate calls. Unwilling to give up on find- Chili. They also feted her with pres-
ing their dog, they camped out several ents, including her favourite bones.
times near the forest where Mordy ran As for Mordy: “He’s developed a cour-
away. They even paid $5,000 to a pet ageous streak.”

Chili helped find a missing pup He Defended a Family of
and bring him home. Campers From a Wolf

RUSS FEE, 37, CALGARY

Over 30 years of camping vacations, JARED PALFREY
Russ Fee had never experienced or
heard of a wolf attack. That changed
last August while he was camping
with his wife and two sons at Banff
National Park. At around midnight, Fee
woke to the sound of panicked voices
calling for help. He knew there was
another family with two sons, ages
five and seven, at the next campsite
over, and went to investigate.

As Fee approached, he caught sight
of an animal’s rear legs protruding
from a collapsing tent—legs too large
to belong to a dog. Fee ran up and
kicked the animal. Startled, it backed
out of the tent. Suddenly, Fee was

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34 june 2020

standing face-to-face with a wolf. “That friends had just celebrated with dinner

was a terrifying moment,” he recalls. at The Keg.

Matt Rispoli, the neighbouring dad, But within a few stops, two intoxi-

jumped out of the collapsed tent cov- cated men boarded the bus. One sat

ered in blood. Moments earlier, the down across from Meikle and tried to

wolf had bitten through the tent, punc- get a rise out of him. Meikle refused

turing his arm and tearing the material. to take the bait, but noticed the man

Both men shouted and threw rocks at had a knife. The antagonizer then began

the wolf to scare it away. hurling racist threats at another man,

The wolf backed off long enough for who, in turn, got up to exit the bus. The

the Rispolis to pile into the Fees’ van. antagonizer followed.

Since there was no cell service, Fee drove Concerned that he might use his

the family to a nearby hotel, where staff knife, Meikle delivered a kick to the

called 911. Rispoli, who only needed man’s solar plexus. A tussle ensued,

stitches, was grateful for Fee coming to during which Meikle and Shorting were

his family’s rescue. Park personnel euth- able to wrestle him off the bus. Out-

anized the wolf later that night—the side, Meikle sustained a stab wound to

rare attack was likely because the wolf the leg. Police arrived minutes later

was near starvation. and their attacker’s rough arrest shook

The Fees still keep in touch with both Meikle and Shorting. The man

the Rispolis over Facebook and even was Indigenous, and as Indigenous men

exchanged Christmas gifts last year. “It themselves, the pair couldn’t ignore

easily could have been my family who how this fit a pattern of police abuse

got attacked,” says Fee. “We were all against their community.

fortunate in the end.” “Not long after this,” says Meikle, “I

started thinking about what his story

They Helped Rehabilitate was.” Later, when his assailant appeared
Their Attacker in court, Meikle petitioned for a restor-
ative justice process—an approach

JONNY MEIKLE, 30, AND MATTHEW that prioritizes reconciliation and heal-
SHORTING, 29, WINNIPEG ing. Although the man received jail

time, the court agreed to use a restor-

Best pals Jonny Meikle and Matthew ative sentencing circle. Meikle later

Shorting were in a great mood when helped the man find housing.

they boarded a Winnipeg city bus in “It doesn’t take something bad hap-

November 2018. Meikle, a military pening to be a hero,” says Meikle. “The

veteran who served in Afghanistan, hero is the person who helps someone

was nearing a year of sobriety; the when they need it.”

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rd.ca 35

reader’s digest

AS KIDS SEE IT

“You think I’m scary? Have you seen the size of the dust bunnies under here?”

There’s going to be a My seven-year-old will be bigger and I’ll
point in my life when
my son looks up at me daughter, Kelsie, was be able to hear my
and thinks, “Gee, my
mom knows every- snuggling up in a warm favourite music better.”
thing!” Then he’ll get
to sixth grade math blanket on a snowy — SARAH TIESSEN, London
class, and I’ll say, “Well,
kid, this is where we winter day in London. SUSAN CAMILLERI KONAR
part ways.”
One of her favourite My three-year-old
— @HANNAHEINBINDER
CDs was playing, and grandson, David, was
36 june 2020
she thoughtfully visiting in March and

announced, “I can’t wanted to go skating

wait to grow up. When on the rink in the

I’m an adult, my ears backyard. As it had

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been warm the last few Sorry, I can’t come down for real dinner yet.
days, I said I didn’t I have to finish the fake meal my toddler is
know what shape the slowly cooking for me.
rink was in. “I think it’s

square, Oma,” he said. — @WALKINGOUTSIDE

— MARILYN BRUZZESE,

Bradford, Ont. he’s allergic to it. I My five-year-old

explained to her that wrapped a sausage

My sister was driving it’s weird because he’s around my finger

by the ocean with not allergic to cheese, and called it a Band-

her five-year-old, but Cheez Whiz gives Aid. Needless to say,

Charleigh. She said to him a rash. He added, he’sbecome my per-

her, “Look at how high “Maybe I’m allergic to sonal physician.

the tide is.” My niece the Whiz.” — @DAD_ON_MY_FEET

replied, “Wow, I guess — EMILIE GOSTEAU,

a lot of fish had to Saint-Jérôme, Que. My kid: Can you make

pee today!” me some tea?

— TRACY MUNDELL, I was cutting my three- Me: I think you’re old

Surrey, B.C. year-old’s fingernails, enough to make it.

and one was particu- Me, ten minutes later,

The little girl I’m larly hard to cut. “The cleaning honey off

babysitting just asked nail wants to stay with every kitchen surface:

me if I have a boyfriend. me,” he reasoned. Ok, you were right.

I said, “Not anymore,” — JULALUCK PHONGSA-NGA, — @RODLACROIX

and she said, “Boy- Calgary

friends are a waste of Eight-year-old: Mom, I

time.” Then she turned Our church was having want to study pastrami.

to her brother and told a bake sale, and I baked Me: Why, honey?

him, “You’re gonna be cookies. I arrived late, Eight-year-old: I’m just

a waste of time.” so I gave them directly super interested in

— @ITSMADIMAY to the priest. My three- the stars.

year-old son was with — @PRO_WORRIER_

On Boxing Day morn- me, and as we walked

ing, my seven-year-old away he asked, “Why Send us your original
son noticed my aunt did you give my cookies jokes! You could earn $50
putting Cheez Whiz on to God?” and be featured in the
her toast. He asked her magazine. See page 7 or
to be careful because — VIRGINIA RONAN, rd.ca/joke for details.

St. Cloud, FLA.

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rd.ca 37

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PERSPECTIVE

Why we’re all
so much smarter

than we know

Anybody
Can Learn
Anything

BY John Mighton FROM ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL

illustration by kevin moran

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rd.ca 39

reader’s digest

N program called JUMP Math (Junior
Undiscovered Math Prodigies) in my
apartment. The program’s methods,
which can be used by people of any
age, are easy to understand and apply,
and they reinforce confidence in your
abilities rather than assigning you to a
particular skill level.

Twenty years later, 200,000 students

nothing comes easily to me. and educators in North America use

I’m a mathematician, but I didn’t JUMP Math as their main math instruc-

show much aptitude for math until I tion resource, and the program is

was 30. I had no idea, in high school, spreading into Europe and South Amer-

why I had to turn a fraction upside ica. And after teaching math and other

down when I wanted to divide by it, or subjects to thousands of students of all

why, when I wrote a square root sign ages, I am convinced that our society

over a negative number, the number vastly underestimates the intellectual

suddenly became “imaginary” (espe- potential of children and adults.

cially when I could see the number

was still there). At university, I almost over the past two decades, cognitive-

failed my first calculus course. Fortun- science researchers have discovered

ately I was saved by the bell curve, that our brains are plastic and can

which brought my original mark up to learn and develop at any stage of life.

a C minus. A variety of psychological studies—in

I often wish I was more like my sci- which people have been trained to

entific heroes, who seemingly could develop musical abilities that were

solve intractable problems in a blinding once considered to be innate (like per-

flash of inspiration. Now that I teach fect pitch) or to significantly improve

math at university and publish books their SAT scores (by becoming better

and papers on the discipline, I console at seeing analogies)—indicate that

myself with the thought that my strug- experts are made, not born.

gles to educate myself produced an I remember seeing newspaper arti-

intense curiosity about how we achieve cles and books about the remarkable

our potential. intellectual potential of children and

In 2000, during the final year of my the surprising plasticity of older brains

doctoral program at the University of as long ago as the 1990s. It strikes

Toronto, I persuaded some of my friends me  as odd, then, that although the

to start a free, after-school tutoring research has long been publicized, its

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40 june 2020

existence has done very little to change that country almost 40 per cent of stu-

the way that people think about their dents scored average or below.

own intellectual abilities or how they So while it would be a good idea for

are taught. North American educators to find out

When people complain about prob- how math is taught in top-performing

lems in North American education, they countries—as many people consis-

often speak as if those problems would tently have suggested—we might also

be solved if students in the United States want to find out how countries that

and Canada were able to perform as produce such strong students still

well on international tests as students manage to teach so little to almost half

from countries that achieve the highest their populations.

scores. For instance, Singapore is some-

times singled out in the media as having wide differences in mathematical

a superior educational system because achievement among students appear

their students do better on standardized to be natural. In the many schools I

math tests—like the Programme for have visited, on several continents,

International Student Assessment I have always seen a significant number

(PISA) test written by 15-year-old stu- of students who are two or three grade

dents in 80 countries every three years. levels behind by the end of elementary

school. In my home province of Ontario,

STUDENTS NEED TO where children do rather well on inter-
LOVE LEARNING FOR national tests, fewer than 50 per cent of
Grade 6 students met grade-level stan-

ITS OWN SAKE, NOT dards on the 2018 provincial exams.
BECAUSE THEY’RE However, in my work with children
AFRAID OF FAILING.
and adults, I have seen a great deal of
evidence that mathematical ability is

extremely fluid and that teachers can

produce dramatic improvements with

It’s worth looking at the results of very simple interventions. One example

these tests, but more for what they from Toronto is a Grade 5 class in which

reveal about our beliefs about children the teacher, Mary Jane Moreau, incor-

and their potential than for what they porated strategies from JUMP Math.

prove about education. In 2015, only This meant teaching concepts and skills

nine per cent of American students and in steps that were much smaller than

15 per cent of Canadian students scored the ones she normally followed, con-

at PISA’s highest levels, compared with stantly asking questions and assigning

35 per cent in Singapore. However, in exercises and activities to assess what

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rd.ca 41

reader’s digest

her students knew, giving frequent prac- reasons. They destroy our natural sense

tice and review, and most importantly, of curiosity and create negative mind-

building excitement by giving students sets and anxiety in learners—making

incrementally harder challenges where our brains function in the most ineffi-

one idea builds on the next. cient ways possible.

Before beginning the program, the Nurturing curiosity has impacts out-

average mark for Moreau’s students side of school, too. In “The Business

on a standardized test was in the 54th Case for Curiosity,” Harvard Business

percentile, with the lowest mark in the School professor Francesca Gino pres-

ninth percentile and the highest in ents evidence that curiosity produces

the 75th. After a year of JUMP, Moreau a wide range of benefits for organiza-

retested her students. The average score tions, leaders and employees. For

rose to the 98th percentile with the low- example, in a state of curiosity, we are

est mark in the 95th percentile. less susceptible to confirmation biases

This teacher was able to shift the bell (looking for information that confirms

curve in her class so dramatically our beliefs rather than evidence sug-

because she made all of her students gesting we are wrong) and to making

feel like they could accomplish roughly generalizations about people based on

the same things. In her classroom, their race or gender. As well, a culture

students worked to compete against of curiosity creates more open commu-

the problem, not each other. They got nication and better team performance,

caught up in the excitement of their since curious people will readily share

peers, and this excitement helped them information and listen more carefully.

to engage more deeply, remember what Many people believe, based on their

they learned and persevere in the face experience of learning math at school,

of challenges. They were encouraged to that it is a rigid and sterile subject that

learn and to love learning for its own stifles curiosity and leaves no room for

sake, not because they were afraid of creativity. But progress in mathematics

failing or wanted to be ranked higher has actually been driven by remark-

than other students. able flights of imagination. And I’ve

found, since I started JUMP 20 years

inequitable learning environments are ago, that when math is taught the right

extraordinarily unfair and inherently way, it is the subject in which learners

inefficient, too. They’re not good for any of all ages can most easily unlock their

learners—including the ones at the top true intellectual potential.

of the academic hierarchy—because EXCERPTED FROM ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL BY JOHN MIGH-
they train people to give up too easily TON. COPYRIGHT © 2020 JOHN MIGHTON. PUBLISHED BY
or to exert themselves for the wrong ALFRED A. KNOPF CANADA, A DIVISION OF PENGUIN RAN-
DOM HOUSE CANADA LIMITED. REPRODUCED BY ARRANGE-
MENT WITH THE PUBLISHER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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42 june 2020

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MEMOIR

In Search of Lost Fish

I spent my summer on a
Quebec lake, trying to imagine

my first catch into existence.

BY Marni Jackson FROM THE WALRUS

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reader’s digest

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rd.ca 45

reader’s digest

I don’t normally fish, but for the past two years I have been
trying my hand at it on a small lake in Quebec. Around this
privately owned body of water are a deep band of forest and
only three habitable structures, including the two-room cabin
that my husband, Brian, and I rent for a month each summer.
I’ve seen local fishermen drop their lines in Lac Catherine and
leave with one, two or even three small trout. I knew that,
technically, there were fish in the lake—fish that other people
caught. So I was happy when a friend of our son, an experi-
enced angler, showed up at our cabin one day. I would learn
his secrets, I schemed, and catch a fish at last.

Roberto was in his early 30s, a life- He talked about growing up in Bra-

long fisherman from Brazil, where, he zil and fishing with his father for dorado

tells me, they sometimes fish with and peacock bass, called tucunaré in

worms called minhocuçu that are three Portuguese. “One of the things I like

feet long. He arrived at our cabin with about fishing is how you don’t see the

his partner, Madeleine, their three- fish right away when you catch it,”

month-old baby, Celeste, and a large, Roberto told me. “You never know what

heavy tackle box that appeared to come you have on the line.” We also discussed (PREVIOUS SPREAD) MIRCEA COSTINA/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

a very close second to the baby in its bait. Or rather, I asked the question,

significance for Roberto. “Why worms?” Worms are universal,

That day, the sky was doing its usual he said, used around the world. “Fish

fandango, swinging between scowling that are carnivorous taste better than

grey and abrupt sunshine. The weather other fish,” Roberto explained. “Trout

had been dynamic for days, with great and salmon.”

piles of creamy cumulus clouds chased The rain fell again, and the tempera-

by angry dark thunderclouds. It rained ture dropped. The wind was whipping

often, and the rains came suddenly, up a latte froth on the lake. When I

tropically, as if a trap door had opened cast, the line danced before it dropped

in the sky. Then the sun would reappear into the water. “You can’t be thinking

and shine with single-minded intensity. about other things when you fish,” said

During one calm interlude, Roberto Roberto. “But, at the same time, it’s

and I took our chances in the canoe. relaxing. You have to be ready to catch

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46 june 2020