A Very Political Family

A VERY POLITICAL FAMILY

This book illuminates a series of scenes, sketches and reminiscences from the 20th century journey of three-plus generations of what became a very political family.

The author, Vera Kristiansen (nee Sharko), grew up in a Russo-Ukrainian immigrant family on a homestead in the rural backwoods of northern Alberta. Struggling to resist the usual expectation for girls in this area, she set out to acquire a career and to travel until, at age 27, she met and married a young man from downtown Vancouver.

Finding herself an integral part of a three generation, Anglo-Danish family of farmer-labour political activisits, she quickly took her place alongside, sometimes leading, sometimes following, while juggling the raising of three children and household management on a woodworker’s wage. Both she and her husband, Lyle, went on to serve in elected office; she in Nelson, B.C., and he in Ottawa.

Interspersed throughout her narrative are numerous anecdotes, often amusing, of family, community, and political life, mixed with local and national events and some political and historical commentary.

verakrist@dccnet.com