It’s hard to imagine a more fertile ground for stories and poetry than Alex Oeming’s childhood. He and his twin sister grew up in rural Alberta on a private zoo run by his father, a zoologist. Not just a petting zoo or hobby farm but a collection of well over a thousand species, many exotic.

Aleah Graff and a friend were at a local restaurant. When it came time to order their meals, the server took her friend’s order, then nodded toward Graff as she asked her friend: “And what would she like?” As always, Graff took the high road and politely ignored the unintentional slight. As someone with cerebral palsy, this was not new to her. She says, “My physical disability is quite visible but I am naturally quiet and introverted so it leads people to assume things about my cognitive ability