Saturday, July 26, 2014

Upcoming Events

This time of the year brings about the planning and preparation of the fall events remembering and honoring Kelly-Anne. Being the 10th anniversary of her death marks a sad milestone. Already  ten years and so much has happened during that time frame. I won't begin to list the changes, challenges, the high and low moments, the bittersweet joy and the many tears. There are too many and now it is time to look at today and what the near future will hold for us.

Wednesday, September 10th at the Loyola Campus of Concordia University at 7:00 p.m. The Kelly-Anne Drummond Cup Rugby game between Concordia and McGill Women. All proceeds at the door will go to Women Aware/Femms Avertis, a respected Montreal association helping women who are victims of domestic abuse.

Saturday, October 18th at the Dollard Des Ormeaux Aquatic Centre at 7:00 p.m. The Fonds Kelly-Anne Drummond annual cocktail  fundraiser will be held. This year marking the 10 anniversary of the  foundation.there will be a special drawing of two free tickets any where in the world where WetJet travels. Other activities are being planning for that evening. Kelly-Anne 's fund will help competitive life guards to travel to competitions and for training. Competitive life guarding is the  only sport that saves lives.

For more information regarding these events, please send me a message through this blog.

More to come....

Friday, July 25, 2014

Facing the Devil

Last week to my surprise, I received a letter from the  National Parole Board stating that Kelly-Anne's murder  is asking for  a hearing to ask for day parole. At first I thought it was a mistake...but no he is allowed  to make application for  day parole starting this October. Imagine 10 years  and he is now allowed to ask to out  for the day. I am told that he has to  submit a plan or project...well I  can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve.

He has met his match. I too am preparing a presentation to the board as to why he should not be  granted day parole.  I will be asking alot of  questions and will be expecting answers.

I still can't wrap  my head around the fact that he is entitled to apply after 10 years. It seems  like yesterday that Kell was taken from us.

I have written in the past about how the privacy laws  protect the offender from us knowing about  any medical situations they may have. Interestingly written on the letter in  bold font was that any information that I send to the parole board will be shared with the offender. Such double standards.

And for at  least the hundredth  time, I repeat, offenders have more rights than the victims.

Has he changed,what has he done on the inside to warrant day passes? How can I be sure he won't harm anyone or run away? Many questions and concerns are quickly be written on my scratch pad.
But what I really want to know is has he acknowledged the fact that he is the sole person responsible for Kelly-Anne's death ?  Will he show  remorse with  crocodile tears on the day of the hearing?

Your answer is as good as mine...to be continued.

The Bloke

I happen to fall on a piece of information that I  had never known  before about Kelly-Anne. Many years back while she was competing with her friends in her beloved  life guarding, she  named herself The Bloke. At that time there were very few Anglophones in the mileu of competitive life guarding. On her team of four, she was the only anglo. I thought  it interesting, because Kelly-Anne had the personality to laugh at herself.  Shouldn't we all be laughing at ourselves sometimes? I know I do.

Kelly-Anne strived to be bilingual and spoke the French language very well. I was very proud of her accomplishment. I feel Kell sent a very powerful message to many : that there is always room for two languages. Language barriers never stopped her from doing what she needed to do. I feel the same way. Speaking French for me is so important. I spend most of my working day speaking French and am proud that I can do so.

I believe that we all need to be more opened to learning languages and it is still mind boggling to me to know that there are  Anglophones who  have lived their entire life in  Quebec and cannot communicate in French.

But mostly,Kelly-Anne was  not afraid to intergrate into a field that was mostly made up of French speaking athletes. Good for  her...now if  only the rest of the world would try to work together............

The Loving Aunt

Life is as it should be, busy and fulfilling. Working, trying to sell our home, and getting to know our granddaughter Paige  have all be exciting and challenging at the same time.  I realized last month when Paige  came  to visit that things have changed and that I am no longer 25 years old. I do not have the same strength to carry her around or the energy to run after her. Paige is now walking and she is quite good at it. She is growing up quickly and Jules  and I want to grasp  every possible moment with her. She calls  Jules "Ba Ba". She can't yet call him Grandpapa. Paige calls out to the cats by saying "Meow".  And me....well it is simply "mama".

The more I get to know Paige, the more I see Kelly-Anne in her. Paige shares so many similarities with her aunt. Paige loves to eat, has Kell's curly locks, loves to talk and  oh that smile and those beautiful  blue eyes.  We really have been  blessed ! Paige in her own  way has helped ease our pain. It is all about new life...new beginnings  and knowing that  God has put the soul of Kelly-Anne into Paige...what a gift we have received. Paige loves the pool.Kim started her off early at 4 months  with swimming lessons. She loves the water. I feel that I have been given this opportunity to relive the  childhood of my girls through Paige.

If Kelly-Anne were here to day...what would she say and how would  she be with Paige? It really is an easy answer...she would love Paige and be the best aunty to her....teach her to swim, sing, dance and to be silly!

We look forward to Paige's next  visit...new surprises, changes, and of course there is always a little gift here waiting for her.  It is exciting times for Kim, Joe and for us. Oh the joy we  feel  in this little 3 foot toddler...makes me smile each day.