Laurie Harkin-Chiasson:
CLASS OF 1973
Colonel By High SchoolClass of 1973
Gloucester, ON
Laurie's Story
Laurie's family moved to a farm in Winchester, after grade 11. Though she had 1 year in Colonel By High School, through the shift system at Gloucester HS, she has never actually set foot in the building, as they moved the summer the new school was opened. She finished grade 12 & 13 at North Dundas District High School where she excelled with the school band. They won their category at the Ottawa Music Festival in 1973.
She worked for a year after grade 13 with a veterinarian, to pay her own way through college. She graduated Centralia College as an "Animal Health Technician" (now referred to as "Vet Tech").
She then set forth getting her pilot's license, puchasing her wonderful little 2 seater aerobatic plane, in 1981, called a Citabria. She flew recreationally for 35 years until a medical condition would not allow her to renew her pilot's license any more.
In that period she worked for Federal Health of Animals, obtained her milk grader's license and drove a large milk truck farm to farm. Then it was off to Westair Aviation, as head of flight dispatch. After working on her flight instructor rating, she started teaching one section of the Ground School.
She decided that she was more of an entrepreneur and started her own business. Though she is now retired she still has a small business, on a part time b...Expand for more
asis.
In 1981 she married Jacques Chiasson, whom she met at the airport...he was skydiving (he's a physics grad). They are still married and were never able to have any children. Laurie made up for that by nursing animals and always had a house full of them. She bred cockatiels for sale and nursed dozens of rescued animals. She still lives on her country property surrounded in dairy farms and loves rural living. She earned the nickname of "Coonie lady" by rehabilitating orphan racoons, for many years. She can no longer do this anymore, as when Racoon rabies crossed the border, it became illegal to continue.
She is also a weaver and spinner and is very active in the Ottawa Valley Weavers' and Spinners' guild where she teaches, on a regular basis.
Laurie is also active in the Valley Woodturners where she learned the art of wood turning on a lathe. She sells her creations at shows.
Laurie has always been an excellent writer and in 1993 she went back College (Algonquin) for a second time to take Screenwriting, (a small project was produced). She graduated with Honours. She continues to write in her spare time.
Laurie likes touring Canada and camping in their RV. She is active in a local book club which keeps her mind stimulated, thinking up her next adventure. She very seldom stops and is on the go all the time.
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