A Very Political Family
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About the Book
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
About the Author
Vera (Sharko) Kristiansen grew up in a Russo-Ukrainian immigrant family on a homestead in rural backwoods northern Alberta. With a Grade 10 formal education she worked her way through business college to become a legal secretary, working in Edmonton and later Vancouver.
Travelling became a passion and she hitchhiked through Europe in 1956. After she met and married a young man, Lyle Kristiansen, from downtown Vancouver, she became an integral part of a three generation political family. Political events became an important part of their lives, both in Vancouver and in Nelson and West Kootenay. She served one term on School Board in Nelson.
In 1980 her husband was elected Member of Parliament for Kootenay West, which took them to Ottawa, and many other parts of the world. Many of her stories include her three children, Eric, Haida and Colin, and their antics.