I remember Alia Hogben
I was especially impressed by her fervour for Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and how it was a guidepost for women of all communities and origins, but much more so for Muslim women, who had to deal with family pressures and those of a wider society still uncertain about how they should respond. She was practical and direct on this issue when I twice saw her speak frankly to Muslim audiences. She believed strongly that one could best be a good Muslim by being a good Canadian.
My colleagues and I were pleased as punch when she was named to the Order of Canada; its motto, 'desiderantes meliorem patriam,' translates as 'they desire a better country,' and this truly applied to Alia.
Austin Cooke, Ottawa
Sheema Khan's beautiful obituary of Alia Hogben mentioned all of the big and important events in Ms. Hogben's life. I remember her for a small one.
Our church sponsored a family of refugees from Afghanistan. They arrived and settled down in Kingston, but we soon found that they had brought some family feuds with them. In particular, the conflict between some wanting to maintain all the old way of life, and others wanting to become true new Canadians. I needed a neutral counsellor and remembered the many wonderful columns Alia had written for the Kingston Whig-Standard, offering sage counsel. I contacted her and explained the problem. Within days she arrived, listened to us in detail, and suggested how to approach the family. It worked, and we saw a feuding family settle happily – now some 20 years ago – into Canadian life.
Thanks, Alia.
Peter Gower, Kingston
To submit a memory about someone we have recently profiled on the Obituaries page, e-mail us at obit@globeandmail.com.
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