The words “I’ll do it” and “I’ve got a plan” epitomize the amazing life of Ann Schulman, a 1965 graduate of the College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan.
As an oncology nurse she was not only nurse, but also the parents’ and children’s support. She knew what a family needed when facing a cancer diagnosis. She took meals to them; stranded families at times stayed in her home. “There wasn’t a young person and family that went through an experience of childhood cancer during three decades that didn’t know and love her.”
She also loved them and knew they needed more than medical care. She devised a plan that would become known as Camp Circle O’Friends—a camp for kids whose lives have been touched by cancer. For Ann this camp was crucial; she believed that these children needed to be like ordinary kids—to play in the sand and run in the woods. Their parents also needed a break and a place to send their kids where parents would know the children were safe. The camp recently celebrated its 19th year of operation.
Ann felt the sting of nearly losing a child herself when a car struck her son’s bicycle. He suffered a severe head injury. His plight as a head-injured adult drove her to a new workplace in 1987. She became executive director of the Saskatchewan Institute for the Prevention of Handicaps, where she spearheaded many programs for car safety restraints, shaken baby syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome. Her work led to the network of Adol-escent Wellness centres around the province.
Ann also had time for sports, starting as a poolside mom with her children’s swim team. She quickly rose through the volunteer ranks, culminating with her appointment as manager of the Canadian swim team for the Barcelona and the Atlanta Olympic games.
She received many honours and awards for her work, including induction into the SaskSport Hall of Fame and appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2003.
Ann’s son died in 2003. Two months later cancer took Ann’s life.
Mom often told us “it is better to make a bad decision than no decision at all; it is the journey of getting there that counts.”—Paula and Margot Schulman, 2006
