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Lorida Laurin, Québécoise

Lorraine (Burns) Good was born in Hotel Dieu Hospital in 1926 and grew up on Rideau Street and Raglan Road.

Her mother, Lorida Laurin, moved to Kingston at the age of fifteen, perhaps shortly after this photo was taken.

Lorraine told the story of her mother’s move to Kingston in a matter-of-fact way, but also with a bit of wonder:

Mom was from Buckingham Quebec. They were looking for women to work in the mill here because they were on strike. They sent  people looking for women to work, and my mom went to see them at the post office. So she volunteered to come, and she brought five of her friends with her. And all of the friends went home and she stayed!

Lorida didn’t speak any English when she arrived, and Lorraine herself spoke only French until she went to St. John’s School on Markland Street.

Lorraine’s daughter Maureen was there for the interview too. She remembers her grandmother as a very strong character, tiny as she was:

She was amazing. She did all her own wiring at home. She could fix anything! She didn’t need a man around for nothing. And she was 4 foot 9, 90 pounds. She was so strong!

Towards the end I asked Lorraine to recall her mother’s cooking. “She would make good spaghetti and meatballs,” she said, “and she made stew.” “And how about her pies?” Maureen asked. “Oh yeah,” said Lorraine, “she made good pies. But you make better pies. Granny was not a crust lady.” It was a sweet moment.

— Laura Murray

 

1 Comment

  1. Lori Burns

    I was so happy to see this article about my grandmother, Lorida Laurin (aka Laurie “Curly” Burns). She was a wonderful, loving, cheerful and giving lady who devoted a lot of time knitting and sewing clothes and toys to support the local Legions. She instilled the importance of giving in all of us.

    I remember Granny telling my sister Lisa and I about her experience working at the Mill on Cataraqui Street. Many years later, both my sister and I found ourselves working in the remodelled Mill, just steps away from my grandmother’s work station. How ironic is that?

    Thank you again,
    Lori Burns

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