VIUPoints: 5 Questions with Carol Matthews

Carol Matthews, former dean of Human Services and Community Education at Vancouver Island University (VIU), came to the Malaspina Theatre on Friday, February 9 to read from her new book, Minerva’s Owl – The Bereavement Phase of My Marriage, published by Oolichan Books. Part grief memoir, part love story, her book explores how bereavement after a long-term marriage can be experienced as part of an ongoing relationship.

Community leadership is a lifelong passion for Matthews, who was awarded the first Honorary Doctorate of Letters degree from VIU in 2008 and went on to receive the Order of BC in 2012 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013 for commitment to her local community. Another lifelong passion is writing and her articles have appeared in a number of educational and literary publications. This is Matthews’ sixth book; other books include a collection of short fiction and a cancer memoir. She maintains her connection to VIU as an honorary research associate, offering guest lectures and serving at times on committees or working groups.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background at VIU.

I came to Nanaimo from Montreal when my husband accepted a job at VIU as an instructor in English and Theatre at what was then Malaspina College. Initially I thought we were going to be here for only a year or two, but my husband loved Malaspina and his work here. I found it a difficult change at first, but I have come to think it is my good fortune to have made a life here. Certainly it was my good fortune to take courses at Malaspina, which helped me qualify as a Registered Social Worker. I worked as a social worker at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital part-time for a while, and then at Family Life, taking a break before going to graduate school to complete a degree in English. After teaching part-time and working in Community Education for a few years, I was fortunate enough to become an Associate Dean in 1988. Later I became Dean of Human Services and Community Education for several years. I’ve made many of my best friends through my work here, and am grateful for all the experiences I’ve had and for the people with whom I’ve worked.

Tell us about your book and what motivated you to write it. What message do you hope people will take from it?

I started writing about my bereavement for myself, not for publication, as a way of sorting out my thoughts and feelings about the terrible grief I was experiencing. It was good for me to write it. At first I felt vulnerable about sharing what was a deeply personal experience, but I became persuaded that it could be meaningful to others experiencing loss. A friend told me she thought the book was important not just for bereaved people but also for those who have not yet lost a beloved life partner as a meditation on paying attention and making sure to live hard and well together. I would be very pleased if that is so. The message I hope people will take from it is to pay attention to the time we have with the people we love.

If you could do something different what other profession would you do?

That’s an interesting question that is very hard to answer! I have liked being a community worker, a social worker, a student, a teacher, a consultant, a writer – and in fact I have enjoyed every job I’ve had. I have no complaints. But I wonder now if I mightn’t most have enjoyed being a musician. I was fairly serious about music when I was young, but I didn’t pursue it. However, I do still enjoy appreciating the music that others create and perform. Nanaimo is a good town for music and Malaspina/VIU has always made great contributions in this area.

What trait do you most admire about yourself?

An even more difficult question! I have many traits that I do not admire, but I guess I am most pleased with my curiosity, my interest in people and ideas. I continue to enjoy and learn from the world around me, even if I don’t always like all of it.

One of VIU’s values is access to education. What does this mean to you?

To me, it means a two-way street: not just having people come up the hill to the institution but also having the institution reach out to the community, responding to diverse learners with different interests and needs. From the earliest beginnings, Malaspina College and the Vocational School were rooted in community. I loved the open-door policy of Malaspina when we first came here, a policy that changed the lives of so many who had not previously had access to post-secondary education. I cherished the work of the Community Education staff and their commitment to accessibility through the years. I am delighted to see the way in which First Nations Elders, students and culture are being integrated within the institution, and I am pleased to see that access is being offered to youth who have been in care. I admire the way in which so many VIU faculty still continue to bring their knowledge and skills to various parts of our community. Of course, there is much more that can be done, but I do think this value is shared by the VIU community and progress continues. A downtown location could be a great help in this!

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