Ruthann

541 Days Road, Kingston, ON K7M3R8, CA

The Reclamation Project: The Value of Living Life at the Helm

Stories of life in an institution and the voices that closed them

Ruthann

I am a 62 year old woman who was diagnosed with learning disabilities as a result of my fontanelles closing at the age of 5 months (usually 1.5 years). I went to live with my foster parents when I was 1 year old and was adopted by them when I was in my teens. My parents chose to care for me at home and not have me institutionalized. My parents had 9 children, 3 biological and 6 adopted. Nancy Wallace-Gero and Ron, who’s stories are also included in this project, are my siblings.

I always had trouble with math at school, and there was never an opportunity to have any 1:1 help. I was put in the Occupational Program in grade 3. I graduated grade 8 and went to Highland Park HS, and was in special education classes throughout my time there. I took specialized vocational classes, studying horticulture for 4 years, yet the guidance counselor told my mom that I had absolutely no experience and no artistic ability to become either a horticulturist or floral arranger when I was finished school.

I had lots of friends at school. I wasn’t a loner but I would get stressed out from lots of bullying at school. I would rock myself to sleep in bed and would walk around the house suppressing my feelings until my mother would sit me down and talk to me.

After I finished high school, I went to a free Basic Job Readiness Training program to learn job skills. I had no help in gaining employment except for a short time working in a lab putting labels on urine bottles. I wanted further education but Highland Park HS had said I was “not Algonquin material”. My mom asked Ongwanada if I could get assessed. They did skills tests, math, English etc. that progressed in difficulty. It was determined that I had learning disabilities and wouldn’t advance. I went on ODSP for at least 10 years. I stayed at home and looked after my mom who had cancer. Three years after the passing of my mom, my dad then had cancer but I was limited in helping him so my older brother moved home to help. After both parents had died, I told my older brother that I would like to go work at the reception desk at City Hall, the last job I had before going on social assistance. He suggested that this wouldn’t work for me as it was primarily now automated and everyone was working with computers. He suggested that I go to college. Even though I told him that I was deemed to be “not Algonquin material” he took me to the college to look at their programs.

I looked at several brochures and decided that the Office Administration program would be best suited for me. In order to pass the prerequisite to be accepted in the course I had to do an exam in English grammar and typing. I rented a typewriter and taught myself to type and every night after supper would type from any article I could find. I said, “Practice makes perfect!” and persevered. I did the test and weeks later I received a reply. I was out cutting the grass (which I loved doing) and the mailman delivered a thick envelope addressed to me from Algonquin College. I immediately called my brother who told me to open it. I was thrilled to see that I was accepted to the program.

I graduated, with a C average. I got a job working at Gateway House, at a drug rehabilitation centre, as an intake worker. I would take people’s information when they registered and make a file and I was also responsible for the filing, answering phones and other clerical functions. I wasn’t on the payroll here and was eventually let go.

While I was at Algonquin, a government official administered a test on secretarial skills (once you passed the test with the require mark you didn’t have to do it again). I passed the exam with the required mark and my name was put into an inventory for any temp jobs that would come up. After I left Gateway house, I got a call from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for a typist position called OCE-02. I completed my interview and typing test, now with a spell checker. I left and didn’t think much about it. After I came home from dinner out I noticed a message on the answering machine from one of the managers that was holding interviews to please call them back the following week. I was hired for 6 months to work in a word processing office. With government cutbacks I was then hired as a term employee.

My brother had heard that one of his director’s managers was looking for a clerk so he took my updated resume in for me and gave it to the director who in turn gave it to the manager who was asking for the clerical help. My supervisor got a call and told me that the manager wanted to interview, but they had told the supervisor to have me go over my resume before the interview. I couldn’t find anything wrong with it and gave it to my supervisor to look at. My supervisor saw that it said I started in the government in 1909 instead of 1989!

I updated my resume and presented it at my interview and was hired as a term employee. Policy stated that if someone worked for 5 consecutive years as a term employee they had to be hired as a full time. My boss tried to make me a clerical assistant permanent CR-03 but, although the director agreed with the manager, he had to go through the proper channels and hold a competition. After 5 years of temp assignments I was hired as a permanent full time CR-03 in 1995. Later I passed a CR-04 competition and moved to a financial clerk position. I had previously failed my first attempt at the CR-04 position but they realized the failure was due to a mathematical error on their part. I was put in a job pool and then told that there were no positions available.

I then got a position in a pool at the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA). I was working on time sheets, and overtime/travel expenses that I would input into to a pay system. I ended up as a permanent CR-04 and then as an acting project officer working on the floor. I work in SAM unit (Systems Access Management), giving certain profiles and permission to border officials to do their job in various systems. 11 years ago, I was made permanent by appointment. I worked for a short time as a Senior Project Officer. I have had a very successful career. I have never had any problems at all on the job.

I got my drivers license in my late 30’s. I failed my first test because of my heavy foot and ended up going through a stop sign in the testing centre before going out on the highway. I bought my own car in 1989.

I hope to retire in one year. I will sit down with my financial advisor and crunch some numbers to see if I can retire then. I will also be able to retire early as I have lots of sick leave and vacation time to use up.

I was engaged at one time to a man named Michel. I was 39 and he was 32. He had just asked me to marry him but, unfortunately, he died. I have had some dates since but nobody special has come along.

I still have a best friend from her college days. We often go for dinner and went on a cruise 4 years ago to celebrate our 25 years of friendship. My friend had helped me to overcome some difficult obstacles while in college. She helped me to catch on to things when I didn’t quite understand, and helped me to settle down when I got frustrated.

I have good friends from my job now and from CRA. We go for lunches, and football games. I also have friends from my bowling league.

I have travelled with my cousin to Cuba for the past 3 years and have had many trips throughout the Caribbean. I fly to Windsor to visit my sister Nancy and have lots of visits with my family.

I look forward to my retirement and think about opening a doggy day care in the home I own with my brother Ron. I do a lot of house/dog sitting now and would like to continue this in my retirement.