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FAVA Fest Redux
The local film society shows that a small budget doesn't mean a small production, and proves it with a screening of celebrated works.
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The local film society shows that a small budget doesn't mean a small production, and proves it with a screening of celebrated works.
Meet Sister Annata Brockman. In a petite frame standing no more than four-foot-ten, she has eyes that sparkle with a life well lived and a warmth that envelops everyone she encounters.
Sister Annata has had a remarkable career. She received an education few women of her generation would have dreamed of and went on to become a pioneer in the field of education. Last year, the Edmonton Catholic School Board named a school after her. At age 84, despite her difficulty walking after breaking both her legs last New Year’s Eve, the “officially retired” nun drives about the city, counselling the sick, the elderly and the dying.
In her eyes, Sister Annata is simply carrying out the work that is her calling from God.
On Sept. 28, 2011, a monument was unveiled on the Alberta Legislature grounds recognizing Sister Annata Brockman and the Sisters of over 70 orders for their service in Alberta in the past 150 years. The Sisters were the first to open hospitals, orphanages and schools in Alberta.
LESLEY: In your career as an educator, you led by example. You have two undergraduate and two master’s degrees.
SISTER ANNATA: I was the first woman to get a master’s in educational administration at the University of Alberta, so I was the only woman in a class with 23 men. But during holidays, when others were with their families, I was in the library doing research. So I had already done my thesis proposal, on the topic “Transiency and Test Achievement,” when the men had not even thought of a topic. After that, the other students would come to me for advice, so I got along really well with my brothers. It was a wonderful, wonderful experience.
LESLEY: What do you think your impact was over 21 years as a principal in the Catholic school system?
SISTER ANNATA: At that time, only girls were allowed to take “home ec.” in schools and only boys were allowed to take industrial arts, or “shop,” they used to call it. But I had some girls who wanted to take industrial arts and some boys who wanted to take home ec. So I called the Catholic School Board and I told them that I really believed that these people should be able to take what they have a talent in. That year, they allowed our school to change that rule and, the following year, that choice was given to students in the whole Catholic school system.
I really believed that each person has a potential … so I thought that in my dealings with students, I would try my best to bring the best out of them. I used to tell students, even at lower grades, “Maybe someday, you'll find a cure for cancer or you'll find a cure for the common cold.”
LESLEY: How did you react when you found out the Catholic school board was going to name a school after you?
SISTER ANNATA: I couldn’t believe it. I was most grateful, but I’m always aware that there are so many others who deserved that honour just as much as I did. And I believe, too, that it's not me. It’s you — every human I've had any contact with who has been part of my life, has been part of shaping who I am. So I can't ever say it's "my" school. It's "our" school. Everyone who's ever influenced my life in any way, they're part of that school.
LESLEY: You were the last member of a religious order to serve as a principal in the Catholic school system. But after you retired, you began another phase of your life as Pastoral Associate Minister at St. Joseph's Basilica, where you worked for 23 years.
SISTER ANNATA: I didn't think anything could be better than being with my students in the school and the teachers, but when I got to the Basilica, you reach into the depths of a person's being. … Lots of times I would be there until 9 o’clock at night, and I know three distinct occasions where if I hadn’t opened the door, someone would have committed suicide. They saw the light in my place and they made up their mind that if whoever was there didn't answer the phone, they'd keep walking. And on three occasions, before they left my office, they handed me their suicide note.
LESLEY: At St. Joseph’s, you also organized weddings. But one in particular really stood out …
SISTER ANNATA: Father Mike did all the prep for the Gretzky wedding, but I was there for the rehearsal. On that Saturday when they got married, there was all sorts of media around wanting to get a glimpse of the bride, but Janet [Jones] didn't want anybody to see her before Wayne did. I was the only one who knew which door she was going to come to. Even the priests didn't know. As I was waiting at the door, some of the media were waiting there too, and I said, “Oh, are you waiting for someone?” They thought Janet would come in this door and I said, “You know that we have doors on the other side on Jasper Avenue as well.” So they all took off and Janet came right as they were running around to the other side.
Lesley MacDonald is the producer and host of the Global Woman of Vision series. Stories can be seen the first Monday of every month on the News Hour at 6 p.m. on Global Edmonton and online at GlobalTVEdmonton.com.
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