What a week. The Trump presidential inauguration, the world wide Women’s March, Prime Minister Trudeau’s family holidays under fire and our premier being called out by the New York times for her financial arrangements. As a result of the Times story, Ms. Clark says she’ll quit taking the $50,000 annual top-up from the Liberal Party. How about donating the $300,000 plus she’s collected already to some worthy cause?
Question. Did any Cariboo women participate in the Women’s March?
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Terry Issigonis passed away peacefully in Vernon earlier this month. Oldertimers will remember her as one of the more colourful Cariboo citizens, especially during her nine years on city council. Terry ran for council because she objected to the city’s plan to pipe raw sewage directly into the Fraser River. She won a seat on council, and Mayor Herb Gardner appointed her chair of the water and sewage committee. She took the challenge and the current lagoon system was the result.
She was outspoken, especially when she discovered inefficiencies in town operations, and she often challenged her colleagues (all male). Council meetings were often lively. She was also CRD rep for a time and made life interesting for the directors.
Terry had one unique talent that set her aside from the crowd and that was her ability to leg wrestle. For those who aren’t familiar with this sport, it involves two people lying on the floor, side by side, heads at opposite ends. Starting at a signal, they lock their touching legs and try to flip the other person over.
This was usually a male sport, and Terry competed with men. Only the brave or foolhardy took her on because she always won. The contests usually took place at private gatherings, but the word got around. It was quite a sight to see Terry, dressed to the nines in a stylish pant suit, flip dignified gentlemen over on their butts.
If this behaviour seems unseemly, remember the 70s were times of rowdy stampedes, the bull throwing contest and other “only in the Cariboo” events that are now considered socially incorrect.
Socially correct is not as much fun.
Diana French is a freelance columnist, former Tribune editor, retired teacher, historian, and book author.
