Rachel Anne in Parliament: update

As some of you may know from knowing me, or from reading my blog, about two months ago (my goodness time flies) I was recognized in Parliament by my MP for Glengarry, Prescott, & Russell: Mr. Pierre Lemieux.  Mr. Lemieux (who is a very classy guy) spoke about a national award I had won for an art piece I made for the Historica-Dominion Art From Memory Challenge that was inspired by a Canadian veteran, Mr. Fraser Muir (who I finally recently got to speak with and he is a delight!).

Anyway, I haven't gotten my copy of the video yet so I can't upload it, but I do have some links to Mr. Lemieux's speech (which I watched on C-Pac and broke into tears, cause you know, I'm cool like that).

So........ please check out the Press Release, the Official Hansard (did you know Hansard transcripts are so named because it was Luke Hansard and his descendants who compiled these reports until 1889; thank you Dictionary.com), and the Video (which is on the top right side of Mr. Lemieux's official website).  Hopefully once I head home next week I'll be able to get the digital copy of the video and post it myself.

No idea what I'm talking about? Catch the original post here and a second update here.

Hope you enjoy!

Below are photos of "Security Blanket" taken by the amazing talented Jeff Crawford (graduate of the New Brunswick College of Craft & Design's photography diploma, freelance photographer, and photo technician at NBCCD).
Check out Jeff's website here.




Front view of piece




Close up of screen print text & image




The bottom had 3 pockets sewn in so viewers could write letters of gratitude and leave them for the veteran who inspired this piece, Mr. Muir, or for veterans in general




My own letter of thank you sitting in the pocket



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Parliament Update!

Last Friday, March 4 my parents were guests in the Parliamentary Gallery in Ottawa while Pierre Lemieux spoke about an award I was given, last November, from The Historica Dominion's Art From Memory Challenge.
Unfortunately I couldn't make it to attend also (a bit of a long walk from New Brunswick), but my parents stood in my place.  They had an absolutely wonderful time, and were taken to lunch in the Member's Cafe by Mr Lemieux and his assisstant.  They also had a tour of parliament that included the library and my mom said it was just amazing!
I watched his speech live on CPAC on my lunch break between classes and am not ashamed to say I burst into tears when he acknowledged my parents.  I have nothing but the utmost respect for Mr. Lemieux.  He spoke so well and is just such an all around classy guy.  I'll post a video of the event (the whole 1 minute!) as soon as I receive it.
This was such a huge honour and highlight of my career.  I should have thrown caution to the wind and just found a way to make it home, but oh well! Life lesson learned - sometimes you just need to be spontaneous and go for it!
A big thank you so much to everyone who helped make this happen, it was just so touching and exciting!

Mr. Lemieux (left) with my parents (middle & right) in the Member's Cafe