Family Honor Presents First Programs in Canada!
"This was a great experience!"

That sums up the feelings of the Family Honor team of six men and women and two teenagers who journeyed to Alberta, Canada in mid-September to deliver back to back programs in two different cities, Okotoks and Airdrie. This journey marked the first-ever Family Honor programs presented in Canada.

The team included Thomas and Karen Provost and their daughter, Bernadette, a teen presenter; Steve Sabback and his son Zachary, who is also a teen presenter; Steve and Ramona Wach; and Mary Ann Fey, Family Honor's National Affiliate Director.

Family Honor's program for parents and their 10 - 11 year old, Changes & Challenges, was presented on Wednesday and Thursday night, September 19 and 20 in Airdrie, and then the team packed up and moved to Okotoks to present Real Love & Real Life - for parents with their 12 - 14 year old - on Friday night and all day Saturday, September 21 & 22.

There was much to tell about their Canadian adventure, but one of the things that impressed members of our team was that ".generally, the families were similar to U.S. families. They appeared to have the same concerns."

And the Canadian families also responded similarly to U.S. families in their reaction to the programs presented. Comments on Evaluation Sheets from parents included the following:

• "What a blessing this experience has been. I have felt like a hypocrite when discussing this with my kids in the past. I feel much better now. God bless you folks, you are an inspiration. Thank you."
• "Good info. Good to come with my daughter to a presentation, giving the opportunity to start conversations. Excellent presenters. Great to have teens as part of your team."
• "The presenters were approachable, down to earth people. Good variety of methods presented, liked their humor."
• "It gave me tools and a framework to discuss real life and real love with my child."
• "[I liked] The visuals and images that were created to help deliver the concepts of the program."

The adolescent participants were no less enthusiastic in their comments:

• "This was an amazing experience and I hope that the other girls like me get this same opportunity."
• "Talking with my mom and being in the teen groups."

When asked about the possibilities for a future Canada-based Family Honor team and local programs in Alberta, Mary Ann Fey, our National Affiliate Director, said: "Generally, program participants expressed a strong interest for Family Honor programs. They have the support of Bishop Henry, the Director of the Life and Family Resource office and two Directors of Religious Education and one pastor. Also there was a strong interest among the teens. Two teens already said they want to be teen presenters." Several parents also gave their names and contact info, requesting information on becoming a presenter.

And Ramona Wach mentioned that the Family Honor team was told that a group of parents would meet to discuss creating a Family Honor team in Okotoks.

The Family Honor team had high praise for the warmth of the Canadian people, the enthusiastic response of the families who attended the programs and the organizational ability of Dorothy Burns and Julie Kohler, our Canadian host contacts, calling them "awesome."

And what about the gorgeous scenery that served as a backdrop to their adventure? The team agreed that "The Canadian Rockies were an incredible experience of God's creation!"

A rainbow in Canada captured on film by
one of our presenters - a sign of hope for the future!

Family Honor presenter Thomas Provost (center) speaking
with a priest who came to one of the Canadian programs.