Ashleigh Banfield's mom, Suzanne Holland, was just out of college when she married John Banfield in 1959. He was from an upper-class Winnipeg family and seemed destined for a promising career as an architect.
Ashleigh Banfield's mom, Suzanne Holland, was just out of college when she married John Banfield in 1959. He was from an upper-class Winnipeg family and seemed destined for a promising career as an architect.
Courtesy Ashleigh Banfield
Behind the perfect-looking family, Banfield says, there were problems. "Alcoholism had such a tight grip on my father that he twice went bankrupt. Out of necessity, my mother would eventually become the breadwinner," she says.
Behind the perfect-looking family, Banfield says, there were problems. "Alcoholism had such a tight grip on my father that he twice went bankrupt. Out of necessity, my mother would eventually become the breadwinner," she says.
Courtesy Ashleigh Banfield
Suzie Banfield, a housewife with four children and a home economics degree, entered the cutthroat, male-dominated world of residential real estate in the early 1970s along with her sister-in-law and a friend. Specializing in Winnipeg's toniest neighborhoods, the three business partners built one of the most successful firms in the city.
Suzie Banfield, a housewife with four children and a home economics degree, entered the cutthroat, male-dominated world of residential real estate in the early 1970s along with her sister-in-law and a friend. Specializing in Winnipeg's toniest neighborhoods, the three business partners built one of the most successful firms in the city.
Winnipeg Tribune/University of Manitoba
Banfield says her mother's parenting style was simple: tough love. "My three siblings and I constantly heard these mantras: 'No excuses. Don't complain. Get to work.' "By example, Mum taught us independence at a time when many people considered professional ambition in a woman to be a bad thing," she says.
Banfield says her mother's parenting style was simple: tough love. "My three siblings and I constantly heard these mantras: 'No excuses. Don't complain. Get to work.' "By example, Mum taught us independence at a time when many people considered professional ambition in a woman to be a bad thing," she says.
Courtesy Ashleigh Banfield
By the time Banfield entered seventh grade, her mother's real estate business was successful enough to afford tuition to Balmoral Hall, an elite private school for girls. Banfield says it wasn't long before her adolescent rebellion began and she was threatened with expulsion. "Fortunately, my mom read me the riot act and nipped my misbehavior in the bud. I ended up graduating at the top of my class," she recalls.
By the time Banfield entered seventh grade, her mother's real estate business was successful enough to afford tuition to Balmoral Hall, an elite private school for girls. Banfield says it wasn't long before her adolescent rebellion began and she was threatened with expulsion. "Fortunately, my mom read me the riot act and nipped my misbehavior in the bud. I ended up graduating at the top of my class," she recalls.
Courtesy Ashfeigh Banfield
In 1988, Banfield landed her first broadcasting job with CJBN-TV, a tiny station in a remote part of Canada. Her early career included a series of rapid promotions. But later, when there were disappointing setbacks, Banfield's mother offered a shoulder to cry on, followed by her admonition to "tough it out."
In 1988, Banfield landed her first broadcasting job with CJBN-TV, a tiny station in a remote part of Canada. Her early career included a series of rapid promotions. But later, when there were disappointing setbacks, Banfield's mother offered a shoulder to cry on, followed by her admonition to "tough it out."
Courtesy Asheligh Banfield
Banfield says her mom, now 77, "is still the glue that bonds our family." "She's a friend, a mentor and a boss. Without her, I am certain I would not be where I am," she says.
Banfield says her mom, now 77, "is still the glue that bonds our family." "She's a friend, a mentor and a boss. Without her, I am certain I would not be where I am," she says.
CNN