It's about having the courage to pursue truth



During the Great Provincial Deficit, a common hero, Marielle Rowan a.k.a. the Cinderella Woman* -- vied for a position among other greats in Canadian history like Viola Desmond**.

July 2008 a Civil Service Commission clerk was terminated from employment as a result of a mental illness break down due to a toxic work environment. Beaten-up and out-of-luck -- seemingly having hit rock bottom;  her career appeared to be finished as an unfair negative employment reference removed all chances to gain new employment.

Rowan was concerned about being able to pay tuition at Linden Christian School which she believed to be essential in raising her two sons. The school provides a pro-active learning environment that complements family values and principles.

Rowan Family Mission Statement 

1. God is #1,
2. Don't do anything you have to lie about,
3. Make faith a priority,
4. No bullying,
5. Watch your language,
6. Respect others,
7. Increase peace,
8. Be positive, true and kind,
9. Be accountable,
10. The things that matter are not even "things' at all.

The only thing that mattered to her--her family--was in danger.

She was forced to go on (un)Employment Insurance and every second cheque went to the school. Although the school would have reduced the tuition under the circumstances, a family decision was made prioritizing and separating 'needs' and 'wants'. The school definitely fell under the "needs" category and reducing funding to essential services did not align with the family's mission statement.

Deep inside, Rowan never relinquished her determination.

Driven by love, honor and an incredible dose of grit, she willed an impossible dream to come true. In a last-chance bid to help her preserve her family, her rights and the Constitution for those who could not speak out for themselves--Rowan never quit.

No one thought she had a shot. However Rowan, fueled by something beyond mere competition, kept winning unbeknownst to her opponents. By letting authorities continually beat on her in repeating rounds, she kept enduring, researching and documenting it all.

Suddenly, the victim became the mythic litigant. Carrying the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised, the vulnerable, the invisible, on her shoulders, Rowan rocketed through the ranks of government authority, until this underdog chose to do the unthinkable: take on the heavyweight champ of the province, the unstoppable Law Society of Manitoba, renowned for killing many a just cause -- denying access to justice.

It's about having the courage to pursue truth: 
A fact-based story as depicted in the blog, A Bullish Government. Read it.
*Adapted from Sujit R. Varma version of the movie "Cinderella Man " on IMDbPro.]

With God all things are possible.

** Viola Desmond -- Leaving a legacy of inspiration.
Nine years before Rosa Parks' historical stand for civil rights, a quiet Canadian by the name of Viola Desmond made an equally bold stand against discrimination. It took the Canadian and Nova Scotia government 65 years to admit to its egregious mistake and make things right. Rowan is in year 5. She's not #WINNING by government standards but never let it be said  that what she is building--a legacy of inspiration is not worth the struggle.  Click link for story and video: Viola Desmond - The Canadian Encyclopedia.