O.P is a freelance reporter who now lives in New York, New York. She writes obituaries for the New York Times and works for a public relations firm, also centred in the big city. O.P. has deep roots in Western Canada. She graduated from Ross Sheppard High School in Edmonton before enrolling at the University of Alberta. In anticipation of the departure of her immediate family for the United States and the completion of her Arts degree in Political Science at the University of Massachusettts, she followed her passion for journalism when she was a night desk writer for Global TV Edmonton in 2005 and 2016.

O.P. always maintained a notorious interest in learning about serious issues Worldwide as a student and an aspiring journalist, both in Canada and the U.S.A. She lent her investigative talents to exploring the intricacies of Southeast Asia and South Africa after the completion of her degree at UMass. Despite her cosmpolitan, internationalist, interests that preoccupied this stage of her life, Canadian political issues and government affairs still seemed to beckon. When she returned to North America, for example, O.P. covered Canadian Parliament full-time for ipolitics.com and "freelanced" for the Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper.

The curious “two-tone” stone for this carving was found in and around the environs of the district of Homeglen, Alberta, in late Summer 2016. Like a few of her "sister stones" found in Project Y150 YEG-GA, the rock seemed to “bend” when some blistering cold Northern winds engulfed Rossdale during the beginning of January 2017. Given the carvings unique qualities and apparent ability "to bend and not break" under pressure, the sculpture seemed destined for cognitive journeys with O.P. Hence, soon after its completion, the piece was sent across the Canadian border towards that end. Uncertain Times YEG-GA is dedicated to the individual historical agency, accomplishments and contributions of female journalists, past, present and future, especially those of them who recall their formative years in Western Canada.

The Biggest Storm, Ever, Alert!?
New York, NY, March 14, 2017. 0° /-6°.

I'm a Canadian living in New York. Today, I am convinced that my dog Ruby understands just as much about Western Canadian snowstorms as most people in this city. New Yorkers always make a big deal of the snow, almost the same way people do in Toronto. But, to be fair, New York doesn't see many light, frequent days with snowfall. When snow arrives it is hardly subtle or forgiving because it can mean blizzards that dump ten inches or more on the city and leave roads impassable. So, comparing New York snowstorms with Canadian ones - and "Edmontonian snow" to be exact - is not as easy or as understandable as one might assume.

I remember when I lived in Edmonton it seemed to snow daily during the Winter. During a year New York, as I have learned, you can count the number of times it snows on one hand, maybe two. Meanwhile, I further recollect kids still would go to school when it snowed in Edmonton, while in New York kids stay home, people don't go to work, and flights are cancelled. That's what happened today, March 14, the day of "the Blizzard." I'm writing this from home, and thus, I am following a typical work-free, snowbound New York "vacation". Lest I seem to be somewhat indolent and seemingly non-Canadian, please be assured that I couldn't travel to work anyway. All of the "above-ground train lines" that I use for work were closed.

Links:

Please see the ABC News report "States of Emergency Across the Tri-State for Nor'easter", as found at: , Blizzard of 2017