Mother’s Day weekend is upon us and it brings back many memories. My mom, Jeannie had always wanted to travel to London, Ireland and Scotland. When we found out she was very ill, we planned a trip of a lifetime for her. In the picture shown, we are in a restaurant in London, enjoying some special one-on-one time. Mom, I always referred to her as “The Mom,” passed away just a few months later. I miss chats with her, and not just on special days like Mother’s Day. There are times when it feels like I’ve had the air knocked out of me when something comes up that I want to share with her, or a question comes to mind that only she could answer.

When I was considering what direction I wanted to go in with my life or even was trying to make a difficult decision she had this saying that really helped me as a young adult. “You can do and be anything you want. I’ll be proud of you no matter what you do.” I took that to heart and have pretty much lived my life by it. I’ve also passed that message on to my own kids, who picked it up and ran with it, and now they are passing it on to their own kids. I will add here that while we had a fantastic relationship, I’m well aware that my brother, Tim, was the “golden boy” – he could do no wrong in her eyes. I’ll save the stories about me being the apple of my father’s eye for closer for Father’s Day, though, ha!

I’m so proud of my kids, and their kids and enjoy every family gathering. Thinking of our family get together’s, it occurred to me that some of the people I’ve interviewed over the years aren’t always home for all of the holidays and special days families usually spend together. So, I thought it would be fun to chat with a few of the moms who have raised people who have become household names for many of us.

I chatted with Anna Weatherston, Jennifer Sampson and Caroline Heringer.  

Jennifer Sampson – Alex Sampson

I’ve interviewed Alex Sampson a few times and am still in awe of his story. Alex was meant to hit the big time even sooner than he did; it was the closing down of everything during the pandemic that held him back. And even then, only slightly. He already had a huge following on Tik Tok and Instagram and signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV before joining the Warner Records roster in 2023.

But it was the 19th season of “America’s Got Talent” in 2024, when Alex performed his song, “Pretty Baby” that he became a household name as well as accomplishing what many fail to do: impress Simon Cowell. Alex may not have gone all the way with the show, but I feel like the masses knew he was on his way to find his success. Alex enjoyed a successful tour to promote his 2024 album, “Hopeless Romantic.” If you’ve seen Alex and his girlfriend, Lily, in the “Silver Jeans” ads all over social media lately, it just proves he’s truly everywhere.

It all started in Atikokan, just down the road a couple of hours West of Thunder Bay. Alex’s Mom, Jennifer, shared, “Alex has sung ever since he could talk and used to answer us in song. By eight years old, he was entering school talent shows singing in church and was a part of our local glee club.” She says the family knew Alex was heading in the direction of a musical career when he started singing on social media and started gaining a lot of attention at 12 years old.

Family life with Alex always included music and friends, Jennifer says he always had “One Direction” and “Owl City” playing, and he loved to be outside, riding his bike, playing volleyball, jumping on the trampoline and swimming or gaming with his brother and friends. “His favourite thing to do was working in his studio his dad set up for him singing and creating. They were always jamming out playing music and singing. The early days were amazing, and I think were normal from back yard campfires to hanging out with family and enjoying life.” Jennifer says her boys always got along so there was no sibling rivalry; in fact, Alex couldn’t have better support than his brother, Simon, and dad, Darren. They are so proud of him, she says “Simon can sing too, but he chose a different path; except when he goes to Alex’s concerts, he usually ends up on the stage with the mic in his hand.”

For Jennifer, the most surreal moment of Alex’s rising stardom happened looking out a plane window on their first trip to Los Angeles. She said “I do remember our first trip to LA looking down from the plane seeing all the city lights thinking wow that’s a lot of people! Also being at a studio and thinking there is more people on this street than our home town.”

Even though Alex lives in Los Angeles, Jennifer says staying close is easy. “FaceTime is a wonderful thing; we cook together, watch movies, and play games,” she says. Family time and comfort foods are what Alex looks forward to when he is home in Atikokan. Jennifer shared a few of his favourites: “Chicken wings, snack plate for movie night and chicken noodle soup with a tuna sandwich with cheese and pickles on the side. Oh and banana cream pie!”

With Mother’s Day so close, I asked Jennifer about any memories that have never left her, of the boys, and these are just the sweetest!  “At Christmastime, we always drove around the town at night, taking in all the beautiful lights and decorations. Simon would have been two, and I was eight months pregnant with Alex. Simon and I were holding hands and he looked up at me with the brightest eyes and said ‘Baby is gonna love these too, mom, I love you!’ Totally melted my heart. A funny one with Alex was probably when he was four years old and we were cuddling on the couch, just talking about life, and he says ‘I know exactly what my wife is gonna look like, mom.’ He started describing her to me and boy is she gonna look just like me! So darn cute.” Jennifer says she misses those little boys so much, but is proud to be the mom of the young men they are today. “They are both so caring, humble and have so much love to give the world. Love them with all I am.”

Alex is gearing up for another tour with a new album as we speak, and Mom is looking forward to travelling with the family to see him perform.  

Anna Weatherston – Katie Weatherston

Katie Weatherston’s mom, Anna, said her daughter’s always been a high achiever in sports, all the way back to kindergarten. “Katie excelled at every sport that she played. Many people commented about her high skill level starting from her kindergarten teacher who told me that she had never had a student with an exceptional skill level like Katie’s. A female hockey coach was amazed when she saw her play hockey at age 11. One person said to me ‘you will be going places with Katie’ when he watched her play.”

Anna says Katie’s love for hockey started when her brother Robert, joined a team when he was 8. He loved the Oilers and Wayne Gretzkky, and was inspired to play. Katie would go along to the outdoor rink practices, and the coach would let her go on the ice with the others. And that was it. “She was hooked. She would dress up in his hockey gear and play in our basement and then she told us. ‘I want to play hockey too!’  So we signed her up. First year she was in a league that just did skills and drills. One day I accidentally took her to the older kids time slot and the coaches let her stay. They played a game on the full ice. She was called on an off-side once, and only once. She never let it happen again. At the end of that hour she told me, ‘I want to play that kind of hockey!’  So we went to Neebing Hockey where they played three – minute shifts for each age group.” Anna says she’s not sure if Katie would have found her way to the game, had it not been for going to her brother’s games.  

Anna says they always knew Katie had special talents. “She played up on older teams and was still a stand-out player. She made Team Ontario for soccer and we were in Winnipeg for a tournament and the national coach approached us for her to go to a Team Canada Camp. She also made the Team Ontario hockey team. When they announced women’s hockey was going to be at the Olympics, I said Hey! Katie has a chance to be there some day! That’s what she wanted when she was young – to go to the Olympics!”

Katie’s strength and resilience were visible at a young age. “At 11, she started the season with about three games where she didn’t score a single goal,” Anna recalls. “She just kept playing hard and scored a hat trick in the next game.” That same determination followed Katie all the way to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. “As a freshman, she wasn’t getting a lot of ice time,” Anna explains. “Then, during one practice, she made a phenomenal move with her skates to snag the puck. That was the moment the coach started to see her talent. She got lots of playing time after that.”

Whenever things got difficult at a game, this was Anna’s simple and powerful advice: “Go and show them on the ice, Katie!”

Family time was always a priority at the Weatherston home and Anna says they did a lot of activities together—camping, fishing, skiing, tobogganing, ski-dooing, family gatherings and parties. There was never a lack of entertainment for Katie and her siblings. In their backyard, they played everything from baseball and street hockey to golf. Between the marbles, the trampoline, the swimming pool, and the sandbox, the yard was a world of its own and the driveway served as a court for basketball and tennis.

Katie earned her Olympic Gold Medal with Team Canada in 2006; she also won gold at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Winnipeg, four gold medals with the U-22 team in 2003 and 2004, and the Four Nations Cup from 2004-2008. Katie was chosen to be the final torchbearer in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay when it passed through Thunder Bay. In 2013, Katie was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. She graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Psychology and she also became a certified elementary school teacher. Katie is also a motivational speaker and through that, and her other activities, has impressed many students in her discussions about goal setting and healthy lifestyles. 

Katie had to retire in December 2009 due to multiple concussions and a resulting traumatic brain injury. While she still manages symptoms today, she hasn’t let them hold her back. Not. One. Bit. She’s a hockey trainer, real estate agent and motivational speaker. 

I found this quote that is so appropriate but cannot find who said it…but it’s a good one. “It’s not just about the game you played; it’s about the person you became while playing it. That person can do anything.” 

To wrap up our conversation, I asked Anna to share a sweet memory about her kids. She says they have a lifetime of memories, it’s impossible to choose just one. “We had a lot of fun watching our children participate in all of their activities,” she says. “We certainly miss those days. It goes by quickly.”

The memories are a whirlwind of different arenas: Robert was the grade five spelling bee winner and free throw champion who went on to a national bowling tournament; Michael was part of the first Canadian baseball team to win a major championship in Austin, Minnesota, and a junior tennis champ in his own right; and, of course, there was Katie’s historic rise to the Olympic podium and the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.  

But perhaps the most telling part of the Weatherston legacy isn’t found in the trophies or the gold medals. Despite their different paths in sports, all three of Anna’s children eventually found themselves drawn to the same calling. Today, Robert, Katie, and Michael have all graduated university with degrees in education.

The lessons learned in the backyard, on the rinks, and on the courts: the grit, the teamwork, and that constant encouragement to “go and show them” are now being passed down to the next generation. The Weatherstons didn’t just raise champions; they raised teachers.  

Caroline Heringer – Matt Skube

Matt Skube started in theatre right here in Thunder Bay before beginning a career in broadcasting, where he quickly established himself as a trusted personality. He then made his way to Ottawa where he dropped anchor and started a family, and became a household name and trusted voice. Then, opportunity called, so it was off to the Toronto area where he is now a freelance TV anchor and host working for TSN SportsCentre, CTV NewsChannel, CTV’s Your Morning, andBNN Bloomberg.  

Matt’s Mom, Caroline Heringer says he was always interested in sports, in theatre and in the ‘bigger world’ around him. And he knew what he wanted to do when he had to do a ‘careers’ project. “He chose to do his presentation on Sports Media Broadcasting. There was very little good info available – so we reached out to some people in the field and then created a ‘script’ for his presentation. From then onward – it seemed he might take a more serious look at possibilities. On his 16th birthday we actually arranged a tour of TSN in Toronto. I had Jennifer Hedger as a student in London Ontario for years – and she was able to arrange the ‘full tour’. Jay Onrait actually sat Matt down at the desk and had him do a ‘read thru’. He commented ‘That’s pretty good kid – most people aren’t able to do that on the first try’…we then walked in to the CFL panel where Matt Dunigan told Matt he ‘had a good face for radio.’ Seeds were planted that day….awesome tour – good fun – awesome possibilities

I asked Caroline, what childhood trait Matt still has when she sees him on tv. “Matt was a very emotional, enthusiastic, empathetic kid – passionate about many things, and he would verbalize continually what was going on. When he gets excited he speaks very quickly – as he gets totally into the topic – especially sports, space or kid stuff. You’ll notice him speeding up as the smile grows on his face – that’s his enthusiasm for life; and where mom encourages him to slow down, take a deep breath then carry on”

Before he had decided that broadcasting was where he would find a career, Caroline says everything was there, sports, sports and more sports. “He watched TSN over cartoons, always. He watched the Hockey World Juniors, Olympics, NHL, CFL, NFL, tennis, golf, soccer – all sports – even bowling if there wasn’t anything else on!! So – needless to say – sports were his life – inside and outside. He came home from JK in London Ontario and was very upset that he did not know who the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ were – because he just watched TVO and TSN in those days! So ‘sports’ was the ‘go to’ and as life unfolded the live theatre experiences early in life began to take hold as well.”

Caroline shared what it was like with four kids, who all had busy schedules. “If you can even imagine – we did not have cell phones ‘back in the day’ and Matt is the eldest, who all had crazy schedules with sports, dancing and activities. With coolers in the car/van, and our calendars in hand, we managed to survive with all the schedules. The kids were often told “If it’s not on the calendar – it’s not happening.” They became very good at planning, being ready and sitting through each other’s ‘activities’ from an early age. All family and extended family were supportive – all ‘hero’s’ for sure. It takes a village.”

Caroline says having four kids meant working hard to keep everyone grounded and on the right path, and a lot of trust. “My kids had so many household rules as little people (in the hopes of developing skills to figure life out later) so as they grew there were not many hard ‘no’s’ in their world – it was mostly encouragement to make their own decisions, looking at options, navigate it as best you can – and be ready for ‘natural consequences,’ I wanted to trust them with the values and lessons they were learning as kids.They all had regular household chores and personal responsibilities in life, and high expectations for behaviour. The hard ‘no’s’ early in life were a bit ‘nutty’- no sleepovers, can’t watch the ‘The Simpsons’ or ‘WWF’, turn your clothes inside out, right before putting them in the laundry and attend Church on Sunday. And – of course ‘use your words’ and if you have questions – ask me anything, and they did. Matt would be hard pressed to remember a ‘no’ that was necessary to keep him grounded. Really.”

I asked Caroline about what she would share with Matt when he just needed some mom advice. “Sometimes a mom just needs to be available to listen – to be present – and to allow your kid to ‘blow off steam’ regarding any life situation – without the advice or the ‘possibilities’ you are anxious to share. To listen – I hear you – as well as I ‘see you’ and ‘I love you’ unconditionally – gives your kid the inner strength and fortitude to carry on creating their best life, they know you are ‘in their corner’ and will always be there for them, it’s a solid foundation for your child in life. Reminding Matt that I love him and that he knows in his heart what is best – is my ‘advice’, I think”

So where did Matt’s deep rooted love for the spotlight begin? Caroline shared that it all started the moment he saw “Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” with Donny Osmond at an early age. 

I asked her how it was to watch Matt perform in theatre and now, to see him on television. Caroline said it was ‘easy’ to watch him and his siblings and cousins create their own ‘shows’ when they were young, but, as he grew she found it more challenging to see him on various ‘stages’. “I admired his guts and fortitude to just get out there and ‘give ‘er’ – sports, refereeing, umping, school band, reading at church, theatre productions at school and with community groups. I was often a bit anxious around possibilities of things going south; at the same time as being proud of work he had put in as well as the ‘performance’ he was giving – as a mom I guess – a mom rollercoaster – I wanted him to ‘be’ and ‘do’ his ‘best’ – the best that I ‘knew’ – and he did!! Now that he’s an adult, I’m a bit more relaxed but I do find it incredible to turn on CTV NewsChannel, TSN or Your Morning – and see him there!! But, now I see a kid who is doing what he loves – confident and happy. Love that! Mind you – I do make sure his tie is on correctly, check out the new suits he’s wearing and make sure he’s ‘ok’ when I tune in – it’s a mom thing – I’m sure. He gets the odd text with feedback too lol – the teacher in me…life’s adventure of learning.”

One thing Matt looks forward to at home is something Caroline says she grew up on and raised her own kids on. “Without question, it is the traditional turkey dinner – you know the one – 30 pound turkey, mashed potatoes, tons of homemade dressing, and even more gravy – alongside the veggies, buns and desserts, he loved it then – and craves it now. Love that!! You truly have no idea when your kids are small how ‘food’ impacts their memories and life. Matt of course also loved everything Thunder Bay back in the day, the church perogies, the persians, ham salad from ‘Brent Park’ store, you name it, he loved it, and always will. Guess the most important piece is, I love being Matt Skube’s mom – I love being Mom and Nana period – it’s such a great adventure!!”

These are only THREE moms of the amazing people that have come from our beautiful city. Every story unique and each path spreading in its own direction. Whether it’s a gold medal on the world stage, a new song that has fans screaming for more or being seen across the country on news and sports channels, it’s clear for these moms, the greatest win was the person their child became.