magazine
Generations of Women in Action Canadian Co-operative Association Odyssey Showcase
DEBORAH DAVIS The Honourable
RONA AMBROSE Message of Hope
DR JANE GOODALL complimentary CAPITAL WOMAN 1 VOL 2 MAY/JUNE 2012
MAGAZINE
Third World Canada
PR E-R
EG I
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The Ottawa Women’s Credit Union La Caisse d’economie des femmes d’Ottawa
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CONTENTS
FEATURES
Message of Hope
14 DR JANE GOODALL
BY JOANNE LASKOSKI
Empowering Girls
18 RONA AMBROSE
BY SHERRI YAZDANI
Generations of Women in Action
22 Michaëlle Jean
BY JOANNE LASKOSKI
Ottawa Valley Chapter
26 Canadian Parks Photo by Renée Kimlova
ON THE COVER
Odyssey Showcase
and Wilderness Society BY Jennifer Gautreau
10 DEBORAH DAVIS
By Simone Davis
Canadian Co-operative Association
28 SARAH FELDBERG
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CAPITAL WOMAN MAGAZINE
BY JOANNE LASKOSKI
TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME TWO
IN EVERY ISSUE
6 FROM THE EDITOR
40 WHAT’S UP IN OTTAWA
9 FROM THE FOUNDER
42 MY VOICE
24 FEATURED ARTIST
Filmmaker: Andrée Cazabon
A Mother’s Gratitude
44 EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN
30 The ability in DISABILITY
Community Events
Can You Read This?
Juanita Snelgrove
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31 HOLISTIC HEALTH
The Art of Doing Nothing
32 LEGAL QUESTIONS
Human Trafficking by Another Name
33 6 KIDS AND STILL STANDING
Balance is a Moving Target
34 ABORIGINAL ISSUES
Missing Women... Sisters in Spirit
35 YOUNG, GIFTED AND FEMALE A Need for Dialogue
36 MONEY WISE
Empowerment Trip
37 A DISCERNING AGE
Life doesn’t magically become easier or simpler in one’s golden years
38 HEALTHY LIVING
clearskiesphotography.com
Spring into Action!
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From the Editor The month of May was named for the Greek goddess, Maia, an honorific name for older women and closely tied to the word meaning ‘mother.’ The Roman poet, Ovid, believed May was named for the majores, Latin for ‘elders,’ and June was named for the juniores, or ‘young people.’ How appropriate, then, that the May/June issue of CAPITAL WOMAN highlights the strengths of women and the importance of empowering today’s youth.
take care of ourselves. Mentally and psychologically. Spiritually. Physically. Without added guilt.
There is a common theme running through many of the articles in this issue: If women wish to see changes or do something different in our lives, it is up to us to initiate those changes.
Andrée Cazabon and Jennifer David both speak about the hope of healing our relationship with Canada’s Aboriginal people. It is a process. The Reconciliation that awaits Canada is ripe with hope because it is a nation building project.
Deborah Davis is nicknamed “the Force” for a very good reason! She had a vision to create a show which celebrates and pays tribute to Canadian music. Now A Musical Taste of our Canadian Heritage/Notre patrimoine canadien, une odyssée musicale is the longest running concert show in Canada. Our regular columnists, Wendy Knight Agard, Shannon Bagg and Kathy Smart remind us that we need to
The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, the Honourable Rona Ambrose and Dr Jane Goodall are powerful role models on the international stage with a shared belief that our youth will help to bring about positive change in our world. Chelby Daigle, our new youth columnist, agrees there is “a need for dialogue.” As the saying goes, not every woman is a mother, but every woman is a daughter. We are also wives, partners, lovers, sisters, friends, colleagues, supporters, critics, educators, mentors, nurturers... The shared history and bond of womanhood is strong. It is up to us to be the role models for our young girls and boys. It is up to us to provide them with hope.
This issue of CAPITAL WOMAN brings to mind a quote from Frances H. Burnett: “At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done, then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.” What are we waiting for?
Joanne Laskoski
Editor
j.laskoski@capitalwoman.ca
CAPITAL WOMAN staff at the delivery of our inaugural issue! From left to right: Renée Kimlova (Photographer), Joanne Laskoski (Editor), Shannon Kalyniak (Graphic Designer), and Del Andison (Founder/Publisher). Photography by Tim McKee
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CONTRIBUTORS VOLUME TWO
CONTRIBUTORS
SIMONE DAVIS
VICKY LAFORGE
JENNIFER GAUTREAU
WRITER
Photographer
WRITER
Simone has an honours English degree and a teaching degree from the University of Ottawa. She works as a supply teacher in the Ottawa area and part time in the communications and social media field. In her free time, Simone enjoys playing and coaching field hockey, biking and tennis.
Vicky Laforge, owner of Clear Skies Photography, is an Ojibway woman from a Northern Ontario Reserve called Nipissing First Nation. She learned her craft through schooling, tutorials, mentoring, and says her best teacher has been trial and error. She simply enjoys taking photos. clearskiesphotography.com
After a 20 year detour, Jennifer is pursuing a writing career. She is an information junkie and is happiest when discovering something new. Jennifer also loves exploring and old-school paper maps. Her frequent bouts of wanderlust have led her and her family on many jaunts throughout Ottawa and the Valley.
magazine
#609-327 Breezehill Avenue South Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 1R6 Telephone: 613.422.4259 Mobile: 613.612.0109 capitalwoman.ca
CAPITAL WOMAN magazine Founder/Publisher: Delila Andison Editor-in-Chief: Joanne Laskoski Design: Shannon Kalyniak In-house Photographer: RenĂŠe Kimlova
MAy/JUNE 2012
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It’s a monthly girl gathering at lululemon for young women living with and recovering from breast cancer. Live Laugh Learn is a one-of-a-kind and ongoing opportunity to connect with people you can relate to, while enjoying an evening of speakers, education, camaraderie and goodies.
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Our mission is to continuously pioneer cutting-edge breast cancer education, support and research that speak fearlessly to the unique needs of young (or youngish) women. Join the young women’s breast cancer movement.
FOUNDER DELILA ANDISON
From the Founder All of us at CAPITAL WOMAN are grateful for the wonderful response to our inaugural issue! Thank you for your letters, emails and calls. While a testimonial page was created to reflect a cross-section of your responses, each response received is much appreciated and helpful in considering current and future content. When we were in the research stage of designing CAPITAL WOMAN, we often heard it was an experience akin to birthing a baby. That’s a bit of a stretch; however, with Mother’s Day around the corner, there is one common denominator worth mentioning: both magazines and mothers are storytellers. Their prima causa is to impart ideas and information and, if they hit the mark, some of that intelligence remains a positive and permanent memory. That is a considerable responsibility. How often do we find ourselves repeating our mother’s remarks and remedies? My own mother’s words continue to echo through my days. When a negative thought or word finds expression, I can hear her say, “Now, don’t water weeds!” As my siblings and I gained our independence, we’d breeze in from our busy lives, tell her we loved her and ask if we could do anything for her. Her response was a predictable, “No Dear, but pass it on!” This memory bank for each of us is often the launching pad for our own choices. Whether we decide to agree with our mothers and mentors, or to do things differently, it defines our path and our imprint on the world around us. James Allen introduced As a Man Thinketh in 1903, a classic model identifying the outcome of thought. Current quantum physics would say we “Mind our world.” Imagine what we can do each day we dedicate our thoughts to creating a compassionate civilization—one of hope and help! We can make an enormous difference. We can change the world! Pass it on… HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Warm regards,
MISSION CAPITAL WOMAN is a magazine dedicated to the women who live in Ottawa and its surrounding region ~women of all ages, ethnicities and lifestyles. Our mission is to provide both a sounding board and a safety net for her issues and aspirations; to feature mentors and models to inspire her as she pursues her hopes, dreams and goals; and to extend networks and resources to assist her in achieving a more beautiful, successful and fulfilling life. CAPITAL WOMAN shares in her search and celebrates her uniqueness and immense value ~ to herself, her family, her community, and the world.
We’re women helping women. We extend an invitation to each of you to join us in the journey.
Delila Andison Founder MAy/JUNE 2012
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DEBORAH DAVIS & Odyssey Showcase BY SIMONE DAVIS
D
eborah Davis has been nicknamed “the force,”and she’s okay with that.
avis is the creator and masterD mind behind A Musical Taste of our Canadian Heritage/Notre patrimoine canadien, une odyssée musicale, the longest running concert show in Canada and the only show of its kind in North America. Now in its twelfth season and fourth consecutive year at the Canadian Museum of Civilization Theatre, this artistically vibrant ninety-minute production celebrates and pays tribute to the history of music in Canada. It features fifty performers including musicians, lead and back-up singers, Aboriginal performers, contemporary, step, and highland dancers and actors. appy to wear many hats, Davis H is also the producer, director, and lead female vocalist of A Musical Taste. Sharing the show with audiences has been a dream of Davis’ for many years, but she knows it takes a team of dedicated professionals to make it such a success. She is quick to acknowledge the immense contributions of the entire team, particularly Peter Beaudoin, the musical director, who has supported her vision from day one. Her husband Louis—the
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self-proclaimed “roadie” and executive producer—and her two children, a lawyer and a teacher, are also major supporters. Since the first curtain opening twelve years ago, the production has been seen by more than 200,000 students, dignitaries, Canadians and tourists; was presented on Parliament Hill on Canada Day; and has twice been presented at the Governor General’s Excellence in Teaching History Awards Gala. From its grass roots start, the production has weathered various obstacles, both creatively and financially. Many people doubted it was possible to create a show that could portray the history of music in Canada. The creative difficulties required wide-ranging collaboration and research with musicians and historians; and finding unique ways to present history through music, song, dance, fashion and narration in a coherent ninetyminute bilingual presentation. Through the commitment of Davis,
the artistic team, and the major sponsor, TD Bank, the production continues to “roar” to life annually. “At Toronto Dominion Bank, we really focus on creating opportunities for young people. This is something that Deborah believes in as well,” said Cathy Jowsey, Manager, Community Relations of TD Canada Trust. Deborah was born and raised in Montreal. She moved to Ottawa in 1978, when her husband joined the federal government as a constitutional lawyer. They have resided in Ottawa ever since. Her entertainment career began in the late 80s when she left her job as an operational auditor to spend more time with her two children. She created her own children’s entertainment group, Choonga Changa, comprised of three musicians and Davis as the lead vocalist. The group presented concerts in Ontario and Quebec, including concerts for the Governor General, Prime Minster,
SINCE THE FIRST CURTAIN OPENING TWELVE YEARS AGO, THE PRODUCTION HAS BEEN SEEN BY MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS, DIGNITARIES, CANADIANS AND TOURISTS; WAS PRESENTED ON PARLIAMENT HILL ON CANADA DAY; AND HAS TWICE BEEN PRESENTED AT THE GOVERNOR GENERAL’S EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING HISTORY AWARDS GALA.
Photography by John Smith
Ottawa International Jazz Festival, and dozens of corporate clients. Davis created an original musical production accompanied by a ten-page teachers’ manual entitled What is This Thing Called Jazz?, a retrospective of the evolution of jazz in the context of American history. The production was presented at various schools in the Ottawa area and headlined the Ottawa International Jazz Festival’s Family Day for three years. It was in 1998 that Davis undertook the creation of A Musical Taste. “My aim was to show the history of music in Canada and the history of Canada through music in an entertaining way that students would find not only
educational, but also appealing, moving, memorable and inspirational. Most of all, I wanted to do justice to the subject in light of our tremendous heritage both on the musical and historical side… I wanted the students to feel a deep sense of pride in their Canadian heritage.” In addition to the production, she also created a comprehensive seventy-page teachers’ manual.
production as a whole. In 2000, after much perseverance, dedication, and belief in the project, Davis presented three shows at the Adult High School to teachers, students, principals, and parents. From that point onward, teachers were amazed and hooked into the project; they were in disbelief of Davis and her team’s success on making the history of Canada come to life through music.
In 1999, Davis began making cold calls to various schools in the Ottawa area to sell her proposed show on the history of music in Canada. Many teachers did not believe that such an immense undertaking could exist and doubted the possibility of the
“We have teachers who have been attending the production every single year since its inception over 12 years ago—many teachers make A Musical Taste a part of their classroom curriculum,” said Davis. As surreal and wonderful as Davis’ success feels, Davis continuously MAy/JUNE 2012
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I LOVE WORKING WITH YOUTH AND WITH SUCH A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE. I LOVE THE ENERGY, TALENT, AND PASSION THEY BRING TO THE TABLE. I WANT TO EXCITE OUR YOUTH ABOUT CANADA’S HISTORY—WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THIS THAN BY MAKING CANADA’S HISTORY COME TO LIFE IN A VIBRANT, DYNAMIC, AND COLOURFUL WAY…EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION HELPS TO CREATE THIS EXCITEMENT. faces the reality of what it is to struggle to succeed. Davis was raised by a single mother and is the youngest of four siblings. Davis says that being the youngest meant that if she wanted to be heard, she had to be the loudest and boldest. Her love and passion
for the arts—musical theatre in particular—was encouraged by her maternal grandmother, who introduced to Davis at a very young age her love for everything cultural, particularly opera. By listening to music, Davis found peace in a not-so peaceful upbringing. She
often escaped feelings of loneliness and sadness by humming and listening to music, and felt that music was the only way for her to cope and overcome the struggles that her family had to endure on an everyday basis. “Music allowed me to be free and express myself. I didn’t have to be Deborah—I could be Ella Fitzgerald, Barbara Streisand…I could be anybody I wanted to be.” On the professional side, she had to develop vocal, stage, and entrepreneurial skills while creating original productions. Davis now runs Odyssey Showcase from an office in downtown Ottawa with the help of office staff and volunteers. She makes it a point to work with and incorporate youth in every aspect of the project. For the past 12 years, Davis has mentored, coached, trained, inspired and provided an exciting work experience for students and young adults both on stage and in her office. “I love working with youth and with such a large group of people. I love the energy, talent, and passion they bring to the table. I want to excite our youth about Canada’s history—what better way to do this than by making Canada’s history come to life in a vibrant, dynamic, and colourful way… everyone involved in the production helps to create this excitement,” said Davis. There is rarely a moment when she is not thinking about the production; whether it be working with the wardrobe mistress, Micheline Mathé, to re-create and research costumes from different eras;
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CAPITAL WOMAN MAGAZINE
DAVIS IS A CREATIVE AND ENERGETIC FORCE WHO NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE AND INSPIRE EVERYONE WHO WORKS WITH HER.
Group shot from 2011. Photography by Alan Dean Photography
promoting the production on a local and national level (which has succeeded up until this point based mostly on word of mouth); or thinking of ways to tweak the show from year to year. This year, the show will be introducing a new component to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. In March 2012, the production was one of 24 projects from across Canada to receive federal government funding from the War of 1812 Commemoration Fund. The fund supports community-based projects to foster greater awareness and understanding among Canadians of the importance of this moment in our history. Davis is also working towards touring the show next year.
School of Fashion Design, the RCMP, the Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band, Afghanistan war veterans, dance schools, musicians, photographers, web and media designers, researchers, translators, teachers, historians, academics, and Aboriginal groups.
The cast and crew were pleased to return to the Canadian Museum of Civilization Theatre for four sold-out performances in April 2012. For more information on the upcoming June 12-15 programme, please visit Odyssey Showcase’s website: odysseyshowcase.org.
Part of ensemble from finale of production. Photography by Alan Dean Photography
Davis is a creative and energetic force who never ceases to amaze and inspire everyone who works with her. She is constantly creating new relationships to enhance the production, including collaborations with the Richard Robinson MAy/JUNE 2012
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BY NICOLA MAULE PHOTOGRAPHY BY RENÉE KIMLOVA
Message of Hope
0
ne of the world’s most respected and renowned scientists, pri matologist Dr Jane Goodall was at the Museum of Civilization on March 21 for an exclusive screening of her new documentary Jane’s Journey. With a career that began over 50 years ago, Dr Goodall has become an active environmentalist and humanitarian.
In 2002, Secretary-General Kofi Annan named Goodall a United
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BY JOANNE LASKOSKI
Nations Messenger of Peace. Jane, who turned 78 on April 3, tirelessly travels over 300 days a year to share her inspiring and optimistic messages of hope, individual responsibility and empowerment. When Jane first set up camp in Tanganyika’s Gombe Stream Game Reserve in 1960 to observe chimpanzees, the young secretarial school graduate from England could not have foreseen the path
CAPITAL WOMAN MAGAZINE
her future would take. “It was just one thing leading to another. The first was a dream as a child to go to Africa and help with animals and write books about them. That’s what I wanted to do. And everybody laughed at me because I was a girl and Africa was the ‘dark continent,’ and we didn’t know much about it; it was dark with mystery. But my mother never laughed at me. And she would say, ‘If you really want something, you work hard and
FEATURE JANE GOODALL
Jane Goodall made three revolutionary discoveries: chimpanzees were not vegetarians, they made tools (by stripping leaves from plant stems), and they used tools (by inserting stems into termite mounds to collect termites for food). The toolmaking observation turned anthropology on its head; until that time, the human species was defined as “man the toolmaker.” In a now famous quote, Louis Leakey wrote to Jane: “Now we must redefine ‘tool,’ redefine ‘man,’ or accept chimpanzees as humans.”
Vicky Laforge: clearskiesphotography.com
you never give up. You find a way.’ The story of how I got there, it’s safe to say that I saved up my money by being a waitress when I got invited by a school friend. So that’s how I got to Africa. And then I met [paleontologist] Louis Leakey and he gave me this opportunity.” Jane’s observations of Tanzania’s chimpanzees would permanently alter our definition of “human.” Within the first four months, Jane
Wanting to give scientific weight to Jane’s research, Leakey arranged for her to enter into a Ph.D. program in ethology. Jane recalls, “I got to Cambridge University and he said, ‘We haven’t got time to mess with a B.A.,’ to go straight for my Ph.D. It was rather daunting.” Always extremely bright and motivated, by 1965 Jane was the eighth person to ever receive a doctorate from Cambridge without an undergraduate degree. When Jane first attended Cambridge in 1962, she had already collected 15 months of field data from Gombe. While at university she was shocked to find out that, according to departmental elders, she “had been doing everything wrong.” Jane used unconventional research methods by naming the animals in her studies, rather than numbering them. Numbering was a nearly universal standard at the
time, thought to ensure objectivity by removing the potential of emotional attachment to the studied subject. “It was thought that only human beings had personalities, minds and feelings. That was the first thing I knew was wrong and that it needed to change. The reason I knew it was wrong was because of a teacher I had as a child who taught me that animals do have personalities, minds and feelings— that was my dog, Rusty.” Jane was also the first researcher to develop a close bond with chimpanzees and unconventionally became, to this day, the only human ever accepted into a chimpanzee community. First approached by a grey-chinned male, which she aptly named David Greybeard, Jane was the lowest-ranking member of a troop for 22 months. Passionate and eager to discuss the evolution of her mission from protecting chimpanzees to protecting our precious planet, Jane modestly describes the next two decades of her life as “I happily went on to study chimpanzees.” And then I went to this conference in 1986 and realized that right across Africa, forests were going, chimps were vanishing. We had a session on conditions in captivity where there were heart-rending, secretly filmed MAy/JUNE 2012
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motherhood and the importance of it, the importance of family and the tremendous importance of early experience, especially the first couple of years of life.” Flo was the matriarch in the F-family of Jane’s studied Kasakela chimpanzee community. Dr Jane Goodall is a powerful role model and an inspiration to millions of people around the world. Her relentless schedule continues, speaking in schools and packed auditoriums about the world’s environmental crises, and bringing a message of hope. Hope that humans will ultimately make changes in the way we live and thereby change the harms we inflict on people, animals and the environment. Jane outlines her reasons for hope in her 1999 book with Phillip Berman, Reason for Hope: “(1) the human brain; (2) the resilience of nature; (3) the energy and enthusiasm that is found or can be kindled among young people worldwide; and (4) the indomitable human spirit.”
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videos of chimpanzees in medical research labs, training for the circus. So I left that four-day conference a different person. It was a wonderful life, going out, being with the animals, doing some analysis which I loved, writing papers, writing books, doing a bit of talking. What a life! And I left as an activist and since that day I have not been more than three or four weeks in one place. Four, only on the time when I tore a tendon on both ankles and so I had to be on crutches for four weeks. Otherwise it’s three weeks or less consecutively in one place, which makes it jolly hard to write books!
Jane believes that “encouraging and empowering young people, giving them hope, is my contribution to their future and, thus the future of our planet” and derives much of her energy from youth. In 1991, Jane and 16 Tanzanian students founded Roots & Shoots, a global environmental and humanitarian education program for youth.
It was after the scientific conference in Chicago that Jane recognized change needed to be made in the world, and that she needed to leave Gombe behind and begin her work of activism to conserve wild chimpanzees. When asked which females were inspirational in her life, she replies, “My mother was a tremendous inspirer. And the old female, Flo, who taught me so much about chimp
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It is Jane’s strong belief that partnerships between Roots & Shoots and other like-minded groups will unleash “a powerful force.” She acknowledges, though, that it is much harder to get Roots & Shoots going in developed countries as there are so many agencies vying for support. It’s like there’s a competition: World Wildlife Fund, Humane
Society, Free the Children. We need to understand that it’s all the same and we need to link together if we care about the future because nobody can do it alone. I don’t care who they are. One person can start something but I’m talking about joining forces. If they’re successful, then let’s get together. We’re not taking away. That’s what people don’t understand, that’s why partnerships are so hard. We are not taking away from your uniqueness. If their philosophy matches ours, every individual makes a difference every day, and if they can respect animals, people and the environment, we should break down the barriers between people of different nations and cultures, but also between us and the natural world so they become, for example, the ‘Humane Society, Roots and Shoots Program.’ They don’t change a thing, but they add, and by adding they become part of this family that is now in 130 countries. Roots & Shoots is flexible; and in different countries, in different religions, in different cultures, it will be a bit different and it will be flexible because it has got to grow on any soil where you put the seed. So all Roots & Shoots programs in different countries won’t be identical and we’re not telling you what to do. The kids get together, talk about the problems and decide what they want to do to help animals, people, and the environment [APE]. Roots & Shoots is just one of many programs launched by the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), which was established in 1977. The JGI now has offices in 23 countries; JGI Canada was established in 1994 (janegoodall.ca). Its current initiatives include support for integrated conservation and
FEATURE JANE GOODALL
DR JANE GOODALL IS A POWERFUL ROLE MODEL AND AN INSPIRATION TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. HER RELENTLESS SCHEDULE CONTINUES, SPEAKING IN SCHOOLS AND PACKED AUDITORIUMS ABOUT THE WORLD’S ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES, AND BRINGING A MESSAGE OF HOPE. HOPE THAT HUMANS WILL ULTIMATELY MAKE CHANGES IN THE WAY WE LIVE AND THEREBY CHANGE THE HARMS WE INFLICT ON PEOPLE, ANIMALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. development projects in both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, close to 600 Roots & Shoots groups, and the program for Aboriginal youth which is growing in strength. While in Sudbury on this most recent trip, Jane also met with First Nations elders and champions for youth in Aboriginal communities to learn more about the challenges they are facing, to discuss strategies for engaging Aboriginal youth, and to inspire them to take steps to protect their own precious natural heritage here in Canada. Jane is appreciative of JGI Canada, which continues to receive support from the Canadian government. “If the government is doing something good, the people should know about it. I think one of the problems today is that when a government does something bad, everybody is up in arms and they write letters. When the government does something good, nobody bothers. How many people write to say, ‘Thank you?’ They don’t do it. That is why I try to enforce with every group of youth I speak to, that if something happens that is good, write and thank whoever it was. It means so much.” Jane Lawton, Executive Director of JGI Canada, explains that JGI Canada “must match, dollar for dollar, all donations made by the Canadian public. This government support is fabulous leveraging, as all donations made by the public will be matched three times by the Canadian government.” Jane Goodall points out, “That’s the best way of raising money. This is
an opportunity to support something that is interconnected, it’s not just a conservation initiative. It’s all of that together, it’s been cleverly crafted to bring it all together, so it benefits people, the wildlife and the environment, and promotes sustainability.” The JGI received funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Of interest,” says Lawton, “is that CIDA does not actually provide money for conservation; they provide money for development, but through the process of working with JGI they are beginning to understand the importance of linking the two.”
for the future, because if there’s no hope, then you give up.” “My big thing is the saying: ‘We haven’t inherited this world from our parents, we’ve borrowed it from our children.’ But can it possibly be right? If you borrow from somebody, what’s the goal? To get it back eventually. We haven’t borrowed anything; we’ve stolen. That saying may have been right when it was initially said, but it’s wrong. We haven’t borrowed anything. We haven’t even started to pay it back. We’re still stealing and that is what’s got to change.”
Goodall agrees. “And the children are getting it. Some of them are wise beyond their years. The Roots & Shoots program now has a youth leadership component to it. When we bring those young people with leadership qualities together... Wow! It’s incredible—especially 18 to 24. Let them build up their own agenda, and it includes things like human rights, animal rights, animal trafficking, HIV, AIDS, anti-stigma programs; it’s amazing what they come up with. They really want change.” Jane focuses on youth because “it’s their planet. So many I’ve met are depressed, angry or mostly just apathetic. They say they feel this way because they feel we’ve compromised their future and they can’t do anything about it. We have desperately compromised their future. And the main thing is to give them hope
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RONA AMBROSE EMPOWERING
GIRLS: our leaders of tomorrow BY SHERRI YAZDANI
I
n the span of less than a hundred years, Canada has made great strides in welcoming women into leadership roles in government. The federal election of 1921 was the first in which women had the right to vote or run for office. That election saw Agnes Macphail elected to Parliament. It is hard to imagine the barriers she faced in achieving that victory. Today, there are 69 women in the House of Commons, constituting 22 percent of our parliamentarians.
he impact and influence of T women in Parliament is an issue close to the heart of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and Minister for the Status of Women. During a keynote address at the Equal Voice Leadership Summit held earlier this year, the Minister stated:
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CAPITAL WOMAN MAGAZINE
Photo credit: House of Commons
FEATURE rona ambrose
“From the moment women stepped into the political arena, we changed the game—and I would suggest, for the better. When more women are involved in politics it naturally flows that priorities and policy decisions change. And they change in ways that benefit everyone.” Minister Ambrose agrees that today, more women are pursuing a career in politics. But she is quick to point out that it is not enough. Canada is still far short of reaching the widely recognized benchmark of 30% necessary for a critical mass of women parliamentarians. Women of visible minorities, as well as Aboriginal women are even further under-represented. According to the Minister, the fact that women are better represented in local government reflects the specific challenges of serving as a Member of Parliament, including the need to be in Ottawa. Local or regional level politics are more accessible to women, in light of the family responsibilities they often shoulder. Encouraging women and girls in
A group of young Toronto girls present Rona Ambrose, Canadian Minister for the Status of Women, with a signed banner of congratulations for making the new UN day—the International Day of the Girl Child—a reality. Minister Ambrose, Rosemary McCarney, President and CEO of Plan Canada, and Dr Chris Spence, Director of Education for TDSB, were on hand for a TDSB event to celebrate girls and women on International Day of the Girl Child. Photo credit: House of Commons
leadership and democratic participation is one of three key priorities of Status of Women Canada, along with ending violence against women and girls, and improving women’s and girls’ economic security and prosperity. Through the Women’s Program,
FROM THE MOMENT WOMEN STEPPED INTO THE POLITICAL ARENA, WE CHANGED THE GAME—AND I WOULD SUGGEST, FOR THE BETTER. WHEN MORE WOMEN ARE INVOLVED IN POLITICS IT NATURALLY FLOWS THAT PRIORITIES AND POLICY DECISIONS CHANGE. AND THEY CHANGE IN WAYS THAT BENEFIT EVERYONE.
funding is granted to projects which foster opportunities for women and girls to develop leadership and participate in decision-making. Recently, the Minister announced that funding had been granted to the Protegé Program, administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. This program, offered in select municipalities, will give young women aged 18-28 the opportunity to experience life in local politics through job shadowing and mentoring. According to the Minister, programs like this have been the most successful in
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IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW OLD OR YOUNG YOU ARE, YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IT, BUT YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL TO SOMEONE. ALWAYS KEEP THAT IN MIND, AND THINK ABOUT HOW YOUR ACTIONS AND YOUR VALUES REFLECT ON OTHERS—AND THAT YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHER WOMEN AND GIRLS. encouraging women to pursue political careers. But beyond this, we need to create opportunities for leadership and growth for even the youngest girls. To this end, the Minister was proud to lead an international campaign at the United Nations for the designation of an International Day of the Girl Child. Backed by the unanimous support of the House of Commons, Canada championed this initiative which was formally adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 19, 2011. Canada will mark the first International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, 2012. According to the Minister, there are many things that can be done to advance the girl child in Canada.
Every organization, school, city, and town is invited to celebrate girls as agents of change within their families and their communities. It will be an opportunity to build girls’ confidence, expose them to different careers, provide opportunities for leadership, and help them understand human rights. Increasingly—and the reason that I pursue this—is that it is my sense that kids these days live in a global society, and they are so interested in what is happening on the other side of the world. So for them to learn about human rights and understand why it is that we went to Afghanistan to help girls go to school; why it is that we speak out about girls and women in Iran and why they
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are treated certain ways; for them to have a strong sense of what human rights mean, the fact that we have them here in Canada and they are protected…all that leads to a strong sense for little girls of their inner strength, and what they are entitled to. Furthermore, there is a large discrepancy in the opportunities available to our Aboriginal girls. That is something that as Canadians we always have to be aware of, and look for solutions to. That is another way in which Canada can focus domestically on issues we have here. Empowering girls to reach their full potential will help to ensure they are ready one day to step forward and take on positions of leadership. Until that time, Minister Ambrose has a message for both women and girls: “It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, you may not realize it, but you are a role model to someone. Always keep that in mind, and think about how your actions and your values reflect on others—and that you can make a difference in the lives of other women and girls.”
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Generations of Women in Action
Michaëlle Jean There’s something about our women condition that nurtures our spirit BY JOANNE LASKOSKI
A
t the Vancouver Peace Summit in September 2009, His Holiness the Dalai Lama declared that “Some people may call me a feminist... but we need more effort to promote basic human values—human compassion, human affection. And in that respect, females have more sensitivity for others’ pain and suffering.”
The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Canada’s Governor General from 2005 to 2010, would agree. “I see how women are a part of making the world a different place, a better place, everywhere. Why is it that, for example, after the [2010] earthquake in Haiti, when the emergency aid arrived, and it came time for food distribution, the humanitarian organizations, the United Nations, relied on women first? Because they knew that the women would do it properly, in a fair and very responsible manner. I see in our Aboriginal communities, with the horrors happening, the women are down to earth and I think that really the solution lies in their hands. I see that in Africa, I see that in Latin America, I see that in Asia. Everywhere I go, I see it. And the girls know it. They really know it. It’s not about overpowering the men or overpowering the boys, but there’s something about our women condition that nurtures our spirit.” I think the feminist revolution is about that, making the world a different place, and every right that women fought for wasn’t just for them; it made a difference for humanity as a whole. Freedom of expression, freedom in mobility, freedom of speech. Freedom. That’s what women ask for. Respect of their physical and psychological integrity, security, justice. Everything that women ask for is not just for them, it’s for the benefit of men and women.
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That’s why I like saying that women’s rights are human rights. This is something that we need to cultivate and communicate to our girls, but also to our sons. We need to achieve that, because we have to realize that we’re not there yet. Just think of situations that women are still confronted with in our world, including here in Canada. Look at poverty. It affects women first. The more you become socially aware the more you see that there are people suffering, there are issues that are very troubling and we can’t be indifferent. I think right away at school I thought it was important and I see my daughter doing that, having a point of view, and starting in that first environment to do things. I see my daughter coming back with pins saying, ‘Because I’m a girl’ or ‘We can make a difference.’ Sometimes she lectures me, ‘Make sure you do this. You’re going there, make sure you say that.’ She’s been doing that since she was very young. At six years old my daughter was really raising my attention to things and with that intensity of, ‘You must do something!’ During Mme Jean’s tenure as Governor General she carried out 40 state visits in just five years. These state visits often included intense programs, engaging in the ceremonial and also civil society activities and forums with women or youth. Although she was encouraged, at times, to refrain from speaking her mind for fear of creating a “diplomatic incident,” Mme Jean “could not stand, for example, in a national assembly in some countries, knowing there were horrifying things happening to women and not saying a word about it.” She found a way to make her point known.
FEATURE Michaëlle Jean
It’s not like you’re lecturing. You see what women are doing in those countries against some practices like sexual mutilation, what they are doing against rape used as a weapon of war. You see what some men too, working with women, are doing within the civil society, what grassroots organizations are doing in those countries. And then you praise those actions, you become an ally, you praise even that society for the existence of this vibrant social fabric and people in action against those practices. And, whoah!, you provoke something and you see that people receive it in a very positive manner and you can make a difference this way. I think this is what Canada has to continue to stand for in the world, because we are appreciated for this capacity of saying things, this courage. It takes courage. I think we must always find a way of making a difference in every position, in every office we occupy, in every space we’re in. There’s always a way of making a difference and participating in humanizing more humanity, making humanity more just. It was shortly after the creation of the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006 that Mme Jean addressed the National Assembly of Mali with such courage, applauding the country’s conference on female genital mutilation and the participation of the First Lady of Mali, Mrs Touré Lobbo Traoré. “Canada encourages Mali’s strategies to dissuade, to educate, to raise awareness, and hopes as you do that one day soon, Malian girls will never again be subjected to this torture.” Mme Jean recalls the physical reaction from the parliamentarians the moment she began speaking and the wave of shock which reverberated in Mali, “but the women, and the men working on their side about it, were so amazed.” I went to the Dogolan where 97 communities responded and gathered just to greet me. Some had walked three days and every community had a delegation who wanted to tell me what they were doing on every imaginable issue: land property, access to water, education, health, social actions. The majority were women, and some of them were former circumcisers, women who had practiced genital mutilation and now they were engaged in a campaign against it. And I said, ‘What made you change?’ And they said, ‘We realized the impact we were having on women’s health. Some young girls died in our hands. We were doing it to our daughters so we were doing it to ourselves. And it had been done to ourselves.’ Earlier in her career as the first black woman in the news at Radio Canada, Mme Jean was acutely aware of the influence she would have on young girls and women.
I saw how young girls captured something with my energy that spoke powerfully to them—and this idea that nothing should stop them, that everything is possible when you are determined, when you are confident. So it’s a conversation I continue to have with young people, specifically with young girls, where I see them so eager to take their space, fully, knowing that every dream is worth carrying out. But they know that the struggle will be there. It is there for them. Always. Why do we have to work ten times more? Why is it that we have a hard time saying no? Women are reliable because even when we don’t raise this issue with our girls, they know just from looking at us, mothers, our generation, that there’s always a struggle, that we are always in a situation where we have to prove ourselves. Which is wrong. We shouldn’t be in that situation. But I’ve experienced that even in the difference in salary when I worked as a journalist. There was a gap between women doing exactly the same work, and sometimes performing even better, but there was still that gap with our male colleagues. So we know that it’s an ongoing thing; that’s where we need to be constantly vigilant. It’s never over. Never take anything for granted. It will always be a battle. So what I say to girls is: be confident, go for it. Your vision, just from our experience as women, is necessarily different. There are no small endeavors and every gesture is important, every action can definitely be an action for change, and when I speak to young people this is something that I say to them: Start looking around you. This is how it all started for me at a very young age. Look around you and see how you can make a difference. And you can absolutely make a difference. Mme Jean on a visit to Martissant, a neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince, where life is difficult but where civil society is very active. September 2011.
3rd World Canada PHOTOGRAPHY BY RENÉE KIMLOVA
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t’s difficult at times to discern whether Andrée Cazabon is a documentary filmmaker or an advocate. One thing is certain: she does both with intensity, heart and soul. “I’m always looking for ways for art to engage and transform,” states Andrée. “That’s what art did for me in my life—and what I want to keep doing.”
Sheila Copps sets the stage for her second act
AndrÉe
Cazabon 24
CAPITAL WOMAN MAGAZINE
ndrée is currently promoting A her fifth film, 3rd World Canada, but she prefers to talk about the issues. 3rd World Canada tells the story of how the remote Northern Ontario Native community of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (K.I. for short) struggles under third world conditions to support eight siblings after their three parents commit suicide. “Sometimes people tell me, ‘You have to talk about you as an artist and your art.’ And I say, ‘I would rather people worry about Reconciliation’ [bringing Canada’s relationship with Aboriginal Peoples and their rights forward]. As an artist, if I have the opportunity to expose people to issues they normally wouldn’t, I feel it’s my duty. I try as much as I can to make films about issues that should matter to us, but didn’t think it did until we hear the story.” he theme of Andrée’s films could T be called ‘heavy;’ she acknowledges, “They certainly are not light and humorous... although I wrote comedy in university. But my films have a lot of optimism. We all need stories to make sense of things, and walk us through it. We so easily tune out First Nation issues that I wanted to see what would happen if we made a film about First Nations people, a
FEATURE ARTIST ANDRéE CAZABON
As an artist, if I have the opportunity to expose people to issues they normally wouldn’t, I feel it’s my duty. I try as much as I can to make films about issues that should matter to us, but didn’t think it did until we hear the story. community... how as a community do you look after eight orphans? Then it’s hard to tune out because we need stories to make sense of injustice.” 3rd World Canada began as one of a series of six films on children’s rights issues; one of those films was on Aboriginal children. The moment Andrée landed in K.I. she knew she had to focus on the tragedy and the courage of the remote community. “We have such a huge opportunity before us to bring Canadians on board to end the third world and fourth world in our own backyard. How can we be living in the capital of Canada and never talk about First Nations issues? It’s odd, it’s like they’re invisible. One of the problems is that we have accepted that Aboriginal people should be invisible. Breaking that narrative is to ask ourselves, do we know how to say thank you or hello in an Aboriginal language? Do we have as much interest in their culture as we do with other cultures around the world? When we talk about embracing multiculturalism, do we mean everybody but them?” Andrée believes that in order to narrate a better future for Canada, we need to go back in history and make peace with the history that really was, and start to dream of a different future. “The first thing we should do is embrace the truth that we can do—that’s half the battle—then we can ask ourselves how. This is the awakening I am seeing: maybe I could be a part of the change necessary in my own country. Then the next step is to ask ourselves, do we want to truly be friends? We need to rebuild friendships and connections and bridges. For the communities in Northern Ontario, who don’t have clean drinking water (they can’t even put an ice cube in their glass), they feel so invisible to us. They wonder do we even see them? Do we hear them? Do we know they’re out there? There are 29 communities which make up ‘the forgotten north.’ We don’t even know where they are on the map.”
was cultural), discussions on the issues. The drum will be traveling with some of the teens in the film, and we’ll be inviting Canadians to get involved and be part of the change. I think it’s going to be very powerful to mix all these different art forms and to make the invisible, visible. We have a really good opportunity, thanks to a grant from Trillium, to talk about the things that need to be talked about in this country but in a hopeful way with respect and a lot of options. And just for the girls in the film, it’s about claiming their place and their voice.” Andrée is just as interested in creating the art, creating the platform and then stepping back to just be a moderator. “I think we are awkward, at best, around Aboriginal issues and sometimes we need translators and art that also translates for us and helps us make sense of it. And if it’s a film and a non-Aboriginal filmmaker...” Andrée’s quiet but strong voice trails off. “I’m really excited to play the role of being a bridge between two cultures. I’m still going through my own journey and learning.”
1st Nations children
growing up in 3rd World conditions
There is hope, and it is not too late. “One of the gifts we have in this country is that First Nations people are wanting, still after all these years, to have a friendship with us and to get to the other side. That’s remarkable.” One of Andrée’s goals with the fall tour for 3rd World Canada is to encourage every college and university to implement a Reconciliation project. “We want to create, through the film and K.I. community’s drum group (which was silenced for 100 years because it
A film by Andrée Cazabon Made in the proud Nation of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug
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Gatineau Park Sheila Copps sets the stage for her second act
BY DOSI COTRONEO
Jarrett feeding chickadees at Mer Bleue.
F
or many people in the Ottawa Valley, being close to natural spaces is taken for granted. It’s easy to jump in the car, head in any direction and spend the day hiking, swimming or cycling. Camping and heading to the cottage are summer rituals for generations in this region. But some of these places would not be what they are today if it weren’t for organizations like the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-Ottawa Valley Chapter (CPAWS-OV).
Run almost entirely by volunteers, CPAWS-OV works with different levels of government, industry, and other stakeholders to find solutions on conservation issues. They work on behalf of all Canadians to help ensure that our precious outdoor havens are protected. A main tenet is to promote education through awareness and experience. CPAWS-OV also believes that by getting outside and interacting in these vibrant areas, people become invested in wanting to preserve what we have.
NCC GREENBELT
If you’ve driven along the Ottawa River on a sunny summer afternoon, you’ve seen the shared-use paths being put to good use. These paved paths run throughout the city and connect much of the Greenbelt. There are also some outstanding trails running through forests and marshes. On four of these trails, the Jack Pine Trail off Moodie Drive in the west end, and Mer Bleue’s Trails 50, 51 and 52 off Anderson Road in the east end, you can even have chickadees feeding out of your hand. Be sure to bring some bird seed and your camera as photo opportunities are always plentiful here.
GATINEAU PARK
Many outdoor enthusiasts can name a favourite trail in Gatineau Park, whether it’s the well-travelled loop off the Champlain Lookout or the quieter trails further north. A current family favourite is the short loop at the
CPAWS-OV works with different levels of government, industry, and other stakeholders to find solutions on conservation issues. They work on behalf of all Canadians to help ensure that our precious outdoor havens are protected.
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CAPITAL WOMAN MAGAZINE
FEATURE canadian parks and wilderness society
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Ottawa Valley Chapter
BY JENNIFER GAUTREAU
Dunlop Picnic Area near Old Chelsea. This can be a busy place on weekends but during the week it’s pretty quiet. My children have spent untold hours in the shallow stream near the parking lot, looking for crayfish and frogs. It’s a regular summer outing for us and we bring a lunch to eat at one of the picnic tables. The trail itself winds up and around a lovely waterfall. The sound of water bouncing over boulders and walking on carpets of pine needles can do wonders for eliminating stress. It’s a magical spot for my kids, a place I hope they’ll always remember.
ALGONQUIN PARK
Algonquin Park has captivated forest lovers for decades and I am no different. I was hooked from the first canoe trip I did in my previous life (before I had kids). The Highway 60 corridor is what most campers are familiar with, but the east side of Algonquin has a special place in my heart. Not far from Pembroke, this entrance to the park is less travelled and has fewer campground options. But it’s quiet and pristine. And it’s also home to the Jack Pine Trail (I must like pine trees a lot). The trail ends at the spot where Tom Thomson painted The Jack Pine, even though the tree is no longer there. It’s a short, easy walk from Achray Campground and a dip in the nearby shallow beach makes it even better. Gatineau Park and Algonquin Park are both wellknown, but there are also lesser-known areas that CPAWS-OV is working to protect. Some examples are the Dumoine River, the last undammed wild river in Southern Quebec and an old growth forest in the Wolf
Lake area of the Temagami Region. By fostering a spirit of cooperation, the volunteer network is trying to safeguard what most of us consider worth saving.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Gatineau Park and the Greenbelt are both managed by the National Capital Commission (NCC) and neither enjoys legal protection. Gatineau Park does not even have the distinction of being a true “park” like Canada’s many national and provincial parks, because there is no real legislation in place to ensure that Gatineau is maintained for future generations. As such, CPAWS is working hard to ensure that the NCC is more accountable for every decision that affects the area. If you love these natural places and want to get involved, check the CPAWS website: cpaws-ov-vo.org. There are many volunteer opportunities, letter writing campaigns and guided nature hikes. Your help can truly make a difference, even if you just go for a walk in the woods on a warm, sunny spring day.
Sarah Feldberg BY JOANNE LASKOSKI
S
arah Feldberg knows the benefits of co-ops. The Volunteer Coordinator for the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA), International Development Division, is a single, working mother with “the most awesome job!” She is quick to point out, though, that she is not actually a single parent. “I am a co-parent.” Sarah shares the responsibility of raising her three-year-old son with his father. “We decided to put our son first so right from the beginning we recognized that we are not going to work together as a relationship, but we are going to work together as a partnership. Our families are going to do this together and we
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are going to make sure that this kid is happy and knows he is loved.”
Canadian Co-operative Association on CCA’s projects in developing regions, and she travels to places such as Mongolia. She is often re-energized by her work. “My job is literally to talk to someone interesting and inspiring who just wants to give back and share their knowledge.” Volunteers are often recruited through CCA on-line posts for specific work and kept within the trade of co-ops and credit unions. Sara has also been contacted directly, particularly when a potential volunteer is nearing retirement from the work force and wishes to share experience and skill sets. “These are people who have led a full career and are now finally in a position to say, ‘I want to make a difference and I want to keep giving back.’ It’s all about finding that right fit, and ensuring the work our volunteers are doing is something that our partner needs or wants.”
A mother who thinks she is central There are diverse and interesting to her child’s life is not actually opportunities to volunteer interbeing fair to that child, Sarah nationally and domestically; the believes. “We need to recognize that first requirement is to be a member. a father is just as important and “To be part of a co-op or credit grandparents are just as important, union, all you have to do is walk and aunts and uncles, and other in and become a member; all of family members. Luckily, our two a sudden you’re given the exact families do have those same values same power as the CEO has. By and so it is great; it works out. And buying a membership, you have it means that I get that great balance the same voting rights but you also of being able to travel all over the have the same access to learning as world and then come back to spend everybody else there, you get more time with my son.” involved more quickly in an orgaSarah’s job is to recruit, train and nization. It can be intimidating to send volunteers overseas to work walk into an organization, wanting
CAPITAL WOMAN MAGAZINE
FEATURE SARAH FELDBERG
to help but not knowing how you fit. So it’s my responsibility to find the right fit for the person. If it doesn’t work for this organization, I feel it is my responsibility on a bigger scale to find them a place or suggest a place that fits for them. It is helping the community grow; either the small community of Ottawa or the international community.” The United Nations proclaimed 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives (IYC). The co-operative movement (including credit unions, agricultural co-ops, and consumer co-ops such as Mountain Equipment Co-op) represents over 1 billion people world-wide and contributes to economic and social needs and job creation. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared that, “Co-operatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility.” Sarah can see momentum continually building in many different areas all over Canada. “Our foundation is raising $12 million over four years in celebration of 2012. We encourage Canadians from credit unions and co-ops all over Canada to go on our website [canada2012.coop] and share what they are doing because it’s really all about the grass roots level of people in their own communities choosing to do something incredible.” As a result, there is a ground swell within the co-ops and credit unions all over the country in celebration of IYC 2012. This energy trickles down to Sarah’s job as more people want to learn more, and become interactive and involved on a larger scale. The IYC has also “helped to solidify that co-ops and credit unions are actually an international movement. They really are one of the best ways for people to
help themselves and their communities, where people have built their community on healthy economic empowerment.” There are more than 50 local co-ops in the Ottawa area, from housing to organic beef. Sarah points out that the number one type of co-op in Ontario is a daycare. “It’s obvious how this would have happened. Very likely, a group of women would have sat down in their community and said, ‘We need to work and we can’t do this alone. We can’t afford these prices because daycare is too expensive, so let’s get together as a group and form a co-op.’ Many people reading this magazine may not even realize it but the reason they are working one day a month at the day care is because they are part of a co-op.” The Ottawa Women’s Credit Union (OWCU), established in 1980, is the only financial institution in Canada operated by women. Sarah believes that credit unions are “the best way to help people help themselves out of poverty. It’s a model that keeps proving itself time and time again that it works.” And poverty is not just about having money or having access to money: the sustainable livelihood model looks at the entire circle. “If you have family and you have money but you live in a drought zone, how many big hits are you able to take, how many droughts can you take, before all of a sudden you’re out in the street? Or you have no money, but you have a great family who is able to take you in. So that if you lost your job, you’d be okay. There are so many women who, if they lose their job, they are not okay. Or they are in a relationship and it’s not working out but if they leave
then they have to make the choice to somehow put their kids in a bad position.” Sarah is a strong supporter of the values of co-ops and credit unions, where “everyone is equal, everyone is valued, it is actually built into a business model where everyone can actually make money. So when you think about that in a workplace where some women are still seen as a commodity, this model takes that away and gives women the chance to become the leaders they naturally can be.”
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF CO-OPERATIVES (IYC) 2012 The United Nations declares international years to bring attention to major issues and encourage action. The slogan of the IYC is “Cooperative Enterprises Build A Better World,” with the focus on information sharing. Including the main slogan, the 10 key messages are: • Co-operative enterprises build
a better world. • Co-operative enterprises are
member-owned, member-serving and member-driven. • Co-operatives empower people. • Co-operatives improve livelihoods
and strengthen the economy. • Co-operatives enable sustainable
development. • Co-operatives promote rural
development. • Co-operatives balance both social
and economic demands. • Co-operatives promote democratic
principles. • Co-operatives and gender: a
pathway out of poverty. • Co-operatives: a sustainable
business model for youth. Source: social.un.org/coopsyear/key-messages.html
THE ABILITY IN
DISABILITY Can You Read This? BY KIM KILPATRICK
Kim loves writing, reading, and has always had a huge sense of curiosity about the world and everyone in it. She wrote stories and poems from a young age and is now a professional storyteller and blogger. Kim has been totally blind since birth and travels with her fourth guide dog, Tulia, a female black labrador retriever. Read her blog about great things about being blind at kimgia3. blogspot.com. Kim has worked as a music therapist, storyteller, volunteer services manager, and disability awareness presenter. Please write and ask her questions about disability related topics or suggest story ideas to write-us@capitalwoman.ca.
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have always adored books. I loved the feel of them as I explored their shape, texture, and weight with my hands. I felt excited when opening their creaking covers and turning the rustling pages. ooks also made me sad. It was as if they were calling B out to me. “Hello. I contain many wonderful stories and much valuable information. Would you like to learn it? Yes? Well, you can’t.” ven though my family and friends have always been E eager to read anything to me, I wanted to read and choose materials independently. When I learned Braille, I could read my own special books. How liberating it was. I could read these books at night, under my covers. And never get caught. Braille was wonderful. raille was also bulky. One book of Braille might be 3 B to 15 volumes. I had to carry those heavy, cumbersome books with me on the bus, to school, and on vacation! My school locker was a storage closet filled with huge Braille volumes and large binders of Braille notes. raille helped but there was still much print informaB tion that was inaccessible to me. I couldn’t look up a
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number in the telephone book, read newspapers or magazines, go through my mail privately, and I would have difficulty with timely delivery of accessible text books for my post-secondary courses. Then, things started to shift. The computer arrived. On my computer, I have special screen reading software which reads in a synthetic voice my emails, documents, and what I type; making reading and writing much more accessible. I no longer had to feel useless just sitting in meetings and workshops while others read documents. If someone sent me documents ahead of time, I could load them on my Braille note taker and follow along as the meeting progressed. Next, I got a scanner and more special software which reads out loud the documents you scan. I could now read my actual mail! The first time the mail came I grabbed it all eagerly and ran for the scanner. I was actually excited to read my junk mail. I read it all. Every last piece. Every flyer, every ad, every coupon. I would decide for myself what was junk and what was important! Still, not all print material is accessible to me. PDF documents can pose problems. If people don’t email me documents ahead of time, I may still sit in meetings and feel useless. Hand written files are still totally inaccessible. But, we have come a long, long way towards making written materials accessible for someone who is totally blind. Book stores no longer make me sad. If you have questions about how I read and write and use technology feel free to send them along. Also, if you have ideas for disability articles or suggestions of people I could interview, send them to me at write-us@capitalwoman.ca.
HOLISTIC WELLNESS WENDY KNIGHT AGARD
HOLISTIC WELLNESS The Art of Doing Nothing BY WENDY KNIGHT AGARD, Everyday GeniusTM, DHM
Wendy Knight Agard helps people ignite their Everyday GeniusTM through transformational coaching at the physical, emotional and soul/spiritual levels. She facilitates successful transformations through individual guidance, corporate “play” shops and keynote speaking. Please submit your questions or comments to Wendy at write-us@capitalwoman.ca.
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e have become so over-stimulated in our lives that the idea of doing nothing seems impossible, selfish or even boring. The very thought of being disconnected from email or cell phone access causes anxiety for many of us. The irony here is that it’s the addiction to external stimulation that keeps us dis-connected in the truest sense; that is, we’re disconnected from ourselves.
e have become so externally-focussed that we’ve W forgotten how to spend time with no one but ourselves, in quiet reflection or just day-dreaming about whatever comes into our minds. We’ve lost the sense of what it feels like to just be. We’ve become attached to our list of externally-defined accomplishments to the point that we feel guilty if a Saturday afternoon goes by and we didn’t complete a task on our to-do list. The afternoon may have been wonderfully productive in the sense of new insight or a creative idea that came forth from doing nothing, but we tend not to value those internal accomplishments. ow many people do you know who can spend an H entire weekend alone without TV, a computer or smart phone? Why is it so hard to do nothing? Most people will say it’s because they don’t have time, but of course there is plenty of time to do all the things that are keeping them busy! The truth is, it is often
a subconscious fear of dealing with the thoughts and emotions that stay suppressed while we busy ourselves with constant activity. It’s a result of an unhealthy internal relationship with ourselves. The fear is that the tough questions will come up, such as: Am I happy? Is my romantic relationship where I want it to be? Am I passionate about my work? Why am I so angry/sad/guilty/anxious/tired? Do I love myself? Do I even like myself? So how do we reconnect with ourselves in our daily lives? Start with scheduling time to do nothing in your calendar, otherwise you will fill the time with yet another external activity. You can do something quiet during this time, such as walking or knitting, but watching TV or reading won’t provide the space for quiet that is required. If you choose to walk, don’t bring any music to distract you. Pay attention during this quiet time. What thoughts come up? Who are you thinking about? More importantly, what feelings arise? You may be thinking, “But I already think too much, the last thing I need is to start analyzing my thoughts!” Instead of focussing on the thought, connect with the feeling that comes along with it. The truth is in the feelings and they will guide you to becoming conscious of what you need to examine more closely. Nurturing this relationship with yourself will direct you onto the path of knowing who you are, who you want to be and what you want to do in life. So you see, learning how to do nothing leads to doing something after all.
MAy/JUNE 2012
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LEGAL QUESTIONS Human Trafficking by Another Name by Nuriye Sahin
Nuriye Sahin is an internationally trained lawyer. She provides immigration advice and representation as a Licenced Immigration Consultant. Ms Sahin is fluent in English and Turkish.
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decade ago, I met a woman from Eastern Europe named Ana (not her real name); a friendly, intel ligent, and easygoing woman in her thirties. We were both new to Canada, both exploring career opportunities, trying to integrate into a multicultural society. We quickly became friends.
na was married to a Canadian man who had already A reached retirement age. She chose one of the many match-making companies in her country of origin, hoping to escape poor living conditions and a troubled economy. The company posted Ana’s profile on its website. Soon there were dozens of enquiries. Ana told me, “When I saw my husband’s photos, my heart started to beat faster. I knew that he was the one.” I admired her courage. Ana corresponded with her future husband by emails, through a translator. Several months later, he came to meet her in person, staying four weeks and meeting Ana’s family and friends. She showed me pictures of the happy couple when he proposed marriage to her in her favourite restaurant. They were married in her country. The new husband returned to Canada where he filed a sponsorship application with Citizenship and Immigration. A year later Ana joined him in Canada. na had more photos of the second wedding cerA emony in Canada, attended by his family and friends. Like any bride, she described her wedding dress, her hair, and the guests. However, I sensed that this was not entirely a happy story. When I finally met the husband, I understood.
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The occasion was a special meal, lovingly prepared by my friend. Her husband mocked her, her family, and her heritage in front of me and the other guests. He was verbally abusive and controlling. But, as long as she was financially dependent on this man, Ana had no choice but to stay. Her dreams of a happy marriage were just that. Now I know that my dear friend was a mail-order bride like thousands of other women in Canada. She was alone and isolated in Ottawa. Her story is not unique. Many women face similar or worse challenges in Canada. It takes years for them to find the help that is available to escape abusive relationships. On March 2, 2012, the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration proposed new legislation which could see foreign spouses deported if their marriage to Canadians does not last two years. The Conservatives believe this two-year probationary period will help prevent men and women from committing immigration fraud by marrying Canadians just to gain entry into Canada; others believe the new rules will further victimize people like Ana. Thousands of Anas come to Canada every year as mail order brides. They are real people with enough courage to risk sailing into unknown futures, hoping for better lives. They are usually victims of poverty or domestic violence, and desperate to escape. They have believed the false promises of the match-making companies and of the men who choose them like a consumer product. Mail order brides are another face of human trafficking. They deserve help and support. What is your opinion? Email Nuriye at write-us@capitalwoman.ca and continue the discussion.
6 KIDS AND STILL STANDING Shannon bagg
6
KIDS And Still Standing
Balance is a Moving Target BY SHANNON BAGG
Shannon Bagg lives with her husband and six children in Nepean. Her children range in age from ten years to ten months. In her “spare time” (read every other year or so), she lectures in the fields of museum studies and Inuit art history and pursues her own work as a visual artist. Find out more about Shannon at shannonbagg.com. Write Shannon with a question or article idea at write-us@capitalwoman.ca.
You can always tell how busy I am by what I’m serving for dinner. Tonight it’s pre-packaged burgers. In essence, I’m too rushed for the slow cooker but not busy enough for “take-out.” Let’s face it, life is hectic and balance is a moving target. When I think about my life with kids, I can easily identify times when I was ridiculously overloaded. In each instance, I had so many balls in the air that it seemed a virtual certainty that some were going to fall. What I failed to realize at the time, however, was that it wasn’t a matter of having enough hands or time to manage the insanity but rather, that there were just too many stupid balls in the air. I had to learn the hard way that doing it all comes at a price. For me, that usually meant a rapid transformation into one of two not-so-pretty personas. I’ll call the first one Husk-of-a-Wife-and-Mother. Weary to the very core from meeting everyone else’s needs except my own, present in body but not spirit.... My second alter ego is Ticking-Time-Bomb-Mom (aka Beware-the-Lady-withthe-Twitching-Eye). This beastly state arises from a unique combination of guilt from not being everything to everyone at every minute and resentment from not having enough time and space to do anything well. I’m not a fan of either version of me and neither, I’m guessing, is my family.
Holding onto strict standards does no one any favours. What’s the point of a clean house if everyone inside it is miserable from keeping it clean? Nowadays, my must-dos are things that promote togetherness, enforce downtime, or otherwise make for happy memories. Friday night is family night no matter what else is on the go. Homemade pizza and a kids’ movie round out what is now everyone’s favourite day of the week. And, yes, the rest of the week can get a bit hairy with swimming lessons, Girl Guides, Scouts, hockey, and drama but these aren’t the priority. Dinner as a family is. If we can’t manage that then something’s gotta give. I still wrestle with the impulse to over-commit, especially when the city recreation guide comes out. But now I rein myself in. No matter how tempting that extra activity is for whichever child, I know the real cost to the family and I’m unwilling to pay it. My strategies for maintaining balance are pretty simple:
1 Take time out for yourself and shelve the guilt. 2 Don’t over-program yourself or your kids. I don’t
care how many courses the neighbour’s kid is taking. I’m betting mood stabilizers are in that family’s future.
3 Learn to say no. 4 Adjust your expectations of yourself and your family. High standards are overrated!
5 Schedule in some family downtime. 6 Ask for help. There’s no prize for going-it-alone and white-knuckling it through life.
7 Make happiness your primary goal. MAy/JUNE 2012
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ABORIGINAL ISSUES Missing Women... Sisters in Spirit BY JENNIFER DAVID
Jennifer David’s career has supported Aboriginal communications at Television Northern Canada and as Director of Communications for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. She is a member of the Chapleau Cree First Nation and has a Bachelor of Journalism and a B.A. from Carleton University. Jennifer currently runs an Aboriginal management consulting company called Stonecircle Consulting and lives in Ottawa with her husband and two children.
M
aisy Odjick and Shannon Alexander, best friends, teenagers who had just had a sleepover together, went missing in 2008; they have not been seen since. Both girls are First Nations. elly Morriseau was a beautiful, young, pregnant K mother of three children. In 2006, she was found in a parking lot in Gatineau Park, stabbed 12 times and left naked to die. Her murder has never been solved. She was First Nations.
Unfortunately, their stories are not that unique. Gaps and inconsistencies in the way that victims of crime are recorded and made public mean we will never know how many Aboriginal women have been murdered or gone missing in Canada over the past three decades. They are all heart-rending stories and, as a sister of another missing woman said, “Every woman who has gone missing is someone’s daughter, someone’s mother, someone’s aunt or someone’s sister. We must never lose sight of the fact that they were loved and deserve to be valued.” S o who is remembering these women and who is trying to address the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women? One of the most prominent voices on this issue is the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), with offices in Ottawa. In 2005 they began an initiative called Sisters in Spirit, a multiyear research, education and policy initiative. The
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organization has compiled a database with nearly 600 documented cases of missing and murdered women. As NWAC said in one of its reports to families, the research “is designed to uncover root causes, circumstances and trends in order to promote policy change that will increase the personal safety and security of all Aboriginal women in Canada.” We may pride ourselves in Canada for our tolerance and acceptance, but racism and sexism are still alive, and the combination of the two has given rise to what Amnesty International has called “serious human rights concerns.” According to Statistics Canada, indigenous women are over five times more likely than their nonindigenous counterparts to die as a result of violence in Canada. How can this be? There’s not enough space in this column to talk about the history of colonialism, residential schools, poverty, an often indifferent justice system, or deep-rooted patterns of discrimination that all play a part in contributing to violence against Aboriginal women. But an indifferent public and media also place this issue on the sidelines. NWAC, Amnesty International, the Assembly of First Nations and other organizations working to bring dignity, respect and attention to the lives of murdered and missing Aboriginal women have their work cut out for them. We can do our own part by remembering these women, speaking out against all violence against women, and attending the annual Sisters in Spirit vigil in Ottawa, held every year on October 4, which includes a march, a feast and a nighttime vigil. If you work in education, health, social services or want to help the families of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls, NWAC has a community resource guide, which can be found under “Departments/Evidence to Action” on their website at nwac.ca.
YOUNG, Gifted and female Chelby daigle
Young, Gifted and Female A Need for Dialogue BY CHELBY DAIGLE
Chelby Marie Daigle is of French Canadian, German, Yoruba, and Ijaw ancestry. Being of mixed race has given her a unique perspective on issues of multiculturalism, ”race,” identity, and belonging in Canada. The fact that she gets paid to “chat” with over 75 teenage girls a week, has given her a unique perspective on youth engagement and the need for multigenerational dialogue. Chelby currently works as the Administrator of the Community Police Action Committee of the Ottawa Police Service, as a Facilitator of the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre’s Girls’ Chat Program and as the Ottawa Regional Coordinator of the United Nations Association in Canada’s Multimedia and Multiculturalism Initiative. You can follow her on Twitter @ChelbyDaigle.
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hen I was asked to contribute a column for CAPITAL WOMAN focusing on youth, I asked myself, “What does the word ‘youth’ actually mean these days?” This question isn’t so easy to answer. For some, youth just means being a teenager or being too young to vote so BANG when you hit 18 you are an adult: Youth Over. Other definitions extend youth to as old as 25 or 30 or 35. I once saw a poster at my local mosque promoting a youth group for people under 40! As I want to be free to profile the wide diversity of Young and Gifted women in Ottawa, I don’t want to trap myself with too strict a definition of youth and so will lean towards 30 and under.
ut why is there a need to have a column focusing B on youth at all? We hear so much about youth crime, youth voter apathy, the difficulties of working with “Generation Y,” the social incompetence of teenagers raised on technology. On the flip side, more and more organizations are striving to hire youth to give them that “cutting edge,” particularly in terms of technology and social networking. Institutions are working hard to “engage” youth; for example the Ottawa Police Service is organizing a Youth Advisory Committee and Mayor
Jim Watson has an upcoming Youth Summit. There is obviously a need for dialogue. Ottawa is growing younger. The city has changed dramatically over the years as its population has grown and sprawled into the suburbs. But even before this, Ottawa has always been a town full of young people because we are home to so many universities and colleges. Young people come from across the country and around the world to study in our city, meaning that Ottawa is where thousands of young people are “coming of age” and “finding themselves” each year. As Ottawa is growing younger it is also becoming more ethno-culturally and religiously diverse. Often the two go hand in hand, as our population has steadily increased due to immigration. On average, ethno-culturally diverse communities also tend to be much younger than their mainstream counterparts, meaning that gaining a better perspective on youth issues is also crucial for improving awareness of our city’s growing diversity. I plan to write about events and issues which involve young women in our city. This could range from profiling talented Spoken Word artists, to seeking advice from up and coming social entrepreneurs, to sharing insights from brave advocates combatting the stigma of mental illness. I hope each column will help to improve dialogue across multiple generations and allow us to gain a better understanding of what it means to be Young, Gifted and Female in Ottawa today. If you have an issue you would like to discuss or if you know of an interesting young woman I could profile, please email me at write-us@capitalwoman.ca. Let’s get the dialogue started! MAy/JUNE 2012
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Money Wise Empowerment Trip BY ELCHO STEWART
Elcho holds a commerce degree from Concordia University and started her practice in the eighties with a major life insurance company. She is now an independent Financial Security Advisor and the managing partner with Weblife Financial, a Life Insurance and Investment Brokerage. She is a speaker and writer on the subject of financial freedom and is the President of the Network of Black Business and Professional Women.
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had a bit of a head start in managing my budget because by the time I was a pre-teen I was trusted to do my family’s grocery shopping. In rural Jamaica I learned to haggle with produce vendors, butchers, and fish sellers and how well I did determined what lunch and/or snack I would be able to afford at the end of each trip. I was highly motivated to get the best bang for my buck. Having concentrated on the business courses in high school, followed by management studies in college and a commerce degree in university, no one in my immediate family or circle of friends was surprised that I became a Financial Security Advisor. What they or I had not realized, was the extent to which I had deferred to my husband where our household finances were concerned—just like many other women. So when my husband died of cancer suddenly, not nly did I become the single parent of two pre-teens, o I also had to get intimately acquainted with our household budget. Some tough decisions needed to be made within months of his passing: Should I repair the pool or get rid of it? Could I still afford to send the children to the schools that their father and I had planned on sending them to? Could I delay changing the roof for even one year without causing damage? Which of the two cars should I trade in—his or mine? It was a steep learning curve that had to be mastered very quickly
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but even in my grief I knew that I was better equipped than most women who did not have my business background or experience. What I learned from the years immediately following my husband’s passing continues to serve me personally and in business. I learned that: •
I t is never too late to start taking an interest in your financial affairs and it is far better to pay attention when you are not stressed;
•
Managing your money is managing your life;
•
aking baby steps will eventually lead to giant T strides;
•
eople are prepared to learn how to handle misforP tune but they also need to know how to handle their fortune;
•
ith Canadian women outliving our male counterW parts by almost five years, we need to know how we will finance our senior years;
•
ith more than a third of the marriages ending in W divorce, we need to know how to support ourselves, operate our businesses, and plan our retirement independently of our partners;
•
Critical illness insurance is not a luxury.
The truth be told, deep down I had always known these things. I now vow to not only practice what I preach, but to also find ways to encourage as many women as I possibly can to take control of their financial future. This column is part of that promise. I hope that you will join me on this journey of empowerment. Please contact me with questions at write-us@capitalwoman.ca.
a discerning age heather duncan
A Discerning
Age
Life doesn’t magically become easier or simpler in one’s golden years
BY HEATHER DUNCAN, CFP
Heather Duncan is a Certified Financial Planner who works with a large, Canadian company providing planning advice to clients of all ages. She wrote and published the book, There’s Always Something You Can Do which addresses the financial concerns of women at different life-stages. Her website is: heatherduncan.ca.
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“ t may seem ridiculous for a woman of my advanced years to think of the future, but I imagine that one always does and always will, and even in one’s last days one will be wondering what is to come.” he above quote is from Brief Lives by one of my T favourite authors, Anita Brookner. If you can get your hands on a copy of this novel in a used book store, do. The following plot summary is written on the back of my 1991 Penguin edition: “As the years pass and Fay’s and Julia’s lives grow empty of purpose, they are drawn together by their fear of age and isolation. Yet a mutual mistrust continues to exist between them until Fay is driven to one last heroic act.” I am blessed because I have known many women in their eighties and older. Both my grandmothers lived into their nineties. Now that I am in my fifties and the wrinkles and grey hair are becoming apparent, I look in the mirror and hope that one day my face will be a reflection of those two faces which I adored. I’m one of the lucky people who get to equate wrinkles with unconditional love. s a Certified Financial Planner working with older A women, I often find myself driving back from a client appointment replaying the most frank, informative, enlightening and inspiring conversations in my head. Women in their eighties have lived through much, survived much, seen and learned lots along the way.
And yet, life doesn’t become any easier. Every year, within each decade, life throws us challenges. It doesn’t magically become easier or simpler in one’s golden years. In my professional capacity I know that we all have a fear of becoming “bag ladies” regardless of our means or assets. Women fought hard for economic independence and freedom of choice for themselves and their daughters and yet at the end of the day we are housed in human bodies. These are aging bodies. Our capacities alter, both physically and mentally. We spend most of our adult lives working to gain and maintain control of our material circumstances and yet in the end none of us knows how the last decade of our life will unfold. Who will be a part of it? Where will we live? How will we cope? Living is an act of courage and faith. A long life well lived is truly a heroic act. Not heroic in the newsworthy, celebrity sense but in the quiet every day acts of looking after oneself and looking out for others. How many women in our city are trying to help and support their parents and their children at the same time, even grandchildren too? Will you join me in sharing your experiences, your thoughts and stories about being old, or caring for, or loving someone who is? Maybe you’re only thinking about becoming old one day. What would you like to ask, if you could? What do you want others to know? As my maternal grandmother used to say, old age is like a country you’ve heard about but you don’t know what it’s like until you get there. She also said the reason God doesn’t let women give birth after 50 is because they wouldn’t remember where they put the baby. I’m looking forward to chatting with you. Please contact me at write-us@capitalwoman.ca.
MAy/JUNE 2012
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HEALTHY LIVING Spring into Action! BY KATHY SMART
With over 14 years experience in the health and fitness sectors, Kathy teaches, motivates and inspires others to live smarter, providing healthy recipes and healthy living tips. The author of four cookbooks specializing in gluten free recipes, she is host and chef of ‘Live The Smart Way’ on Rogers TV, and appears as a chef and nutritionist on CTV and radio. She excels at menu specialization and recipe modifications and has designed hundreds of personalized programs for clients with diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, heart disease and food allergies. Kathy is a registered nutritional consultant with the Canadian Examining Board of Health Care Practitioners, a Registered Sports Nutrition Advisor, a Holistic Teaching Chef with the Holistic Cooking Academy of Canada and a Registered Personal Fitness Trainer with the Canadian Association of Fitness Professionals.
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pring has sprung in the capital! Definitely a favourite time for all! People out walking and admiring the city’s tulips, the myriad of colours like a patchwork quilt popping up—you cannot help but smile!
Springtime is the perfect time to ‘spring’ (pardon the pun) into action and start an outdoor fitness routine! Be it going for a walk along the canal, a jog in the park, enjoying the many bike trails in the National Capital Region, or even doing a strength training segment outdoors in the park—anything that gets you moving and raises up that heart rate! If you have children, get them involved too. This is the perfect time to encourage physical fitness and build a foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Bring out your own inner child: run through a field and fly a kite!
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ERE ARE A COUPLE OF FUN WAYS H TO GET STARTED!
1 Get the right outfit. Yes, I know, it sounds funny but having a cute workout outfit will have you strutting your stuff and motivate you to get out there.
2 Pedometer. Buy yourself a pedometer and make it your goal to reach 10,000 steps daily. Do this for one month and reward yourself with a spa treatment (yeah!). FYI, 10,000 steps is approximately 8 km.
3 Warm up. Reduce your risk of injury
before exercising by warming up with a moderately paced walk or jog.
4 Shoes. As if we needed an excuse to buy
shoes! Having the proper footwear can make or break your workout. Try to buy a new pair of good quality running shoes every six months. Having that proper support in your footwear is key to injury prevention.
5 Have FUN! Yes—that’s right—have
FUN! The key to sticking to a regular fitness routine is to find something you like and have fun doing. Whether that is inline skating, walking, running, jogging, cycling, doing boot camps or practicing yoga, find something you look forward to doing!
Baby Spinach & Strawberry Summer Salad Ingredients: (Serves 4)
Directions:
1 teaspoon olive oil 4 tablespoons pecans or slivered almonds 3 tablespoons of olive oil 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar 4 cups of washed baby spinach 1 cup of sliced strawberries 4 tablespoons of crumbled goat
oast pecans or slivered almonds with 1 teaspoon of T olive oil over medium heat until brown. Set aside. I n a small bowl, add vinegar and whisk in olive oil until emulsified. ivide baby spinach between four plates. Top each D plate with sliced strawberries, and garnish with crumbled feta cheese and toasted nuts. Drizzle with vinaigrette just before serving.
feta cheese
Smart Facts: Multiple studies have validated the ability of spinach to protect against cancer! Spinach is a good source of B2 (riboflavin), which is proven to lessen the risk of cancer and help the body cope with stress. Another key nutrient found in spinach, folate, helps prevent birth defects, certain cancers and heart disease.
I have been strawberry picking with my mom since I was 4 years old at Avonmore Berry Farm. This salad was created after I took my niece Ella there. I love the sweetness of the fresh strawberries and how it contrasts with the crunch of the almonds. Nutritional Analysis Amount Per Serving
Calories Total Fat Saturated Fat Cholesterol Sodium Potassium
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160.75 7.42g 3.79g 8.34mg 130.96mg 310.16mg Total Carbohydrates 7.69g Fibre 2.51g Sugar 4.16g Protein 4.41g
Recipe Accolades: Simple and Quick Diabetic Friendly Low Glycemic Gluten and Wheat Free No Added Refined Sugar Vegetarian High in Iron
What’s Up In Ottawa? A selection of unique events to discover and enjoy in Ottawa this spring.
ARTISAN EVENTS Ottawa Locavore Artisan Food Fair Over 20 celebrated local artisans come together for this spring food fair. Your taste buds won’t be disappointed. Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission. Crichton Cultural Community Centre, 39 Dufferin Road OttawaLaff.ca
Glamour in the Glebe Over 30 fabulous local jewellers sell their creations just in time for Mother’s Day. Friday, May 11, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. $6 admission, includes a jewellery fashion show and refreshments. Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission. Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Avenue gnag.ca
Urban Craft Market Ottawa’s first and only monthly craft market, featuring the freshest and hippest vendors in town! It is the place for you to find that perfect gift or accessory for your next night out. Saturday, June 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Great Canadian Theatre Co., 1233 Wellington Street West at Holland urbancraftmarket.ca
Garden Party and Fashion Show for Cornerstone This event is hosted by the British High Commissioner and Mrs. Julie Pocock in support of Cornerstone Housing for Women, featuring the designs of Sukhoo Sukhoo and music of Gryflyn Harp Duo. Sunday, June 10, from 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets $50 per person. British High Commission, 140 Sussex Drive Call 613.860.9669 or email gardenpartytickets@bell.net
HEALTHLY LIFESTYLE EVENTS Dress Red Walk The Dress Red Walk is the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s new 5 km walk in Ottawa. It’s a non-competitive walk for the entire family and friends to enjoy. Come and join a morning of heart healthy exercise, education, entertainment and a BBQ after the walk. Dress in red and help make a difference in the awareness and fight against heart disease and promote being fit—for life! Saturday, May 12, at 9 a.m. Cost $15. Heart and Stroke Foundation, 1101 Prince of Wales. Register at fitforheart.ca/dressredwalk
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BY NICOLA MAULE
The Economics of Cycling—Healthier Life and Saving Money Hans Moor, president of Citizens for Safe Cycling, will show how a change in life can help you to stay fit and save money. Wednesday, May 16, from 7 to 8 p.m. Ottawa Public Library, Nepean Centrepointe Branch, 101 Centrepointe Drive Register by phone at 613.580.2949
What Should I do Next? Retirement is the perfect time to volunteer, join clubs, meet new people and develop new hobbies. Learn new ways to use your free time. Discover the what, when and where of local activities. Thursday, May 24, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Ottawa Public Library, Nepean Centrepointe Branch, 101 Centrepointe Drive Register by phone at 613.580.2949
Great Strides™ Walk for Cystic Fibrosis Every year across Canada, friends, family and co-workers of people with cystic fibrosis lace up their walking shoes to participate in Great Strides™: Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis. It’s Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s largest national fundraising event. Sunday, May 27, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Karter’s Korners, 6336 Fallowfield Road, Stittsville cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides
Dollar$ for Dog$ Fundraising Walk This great event is for all canine lovers to raise funds for Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind. The day includes a 4 km walk in the park, plus a BBQ and terrific prizes. Sunday, May 27, at 10:30 a.m. Andrew Haydon Park, 3169 Carling Avenue Register online at guidedogs.ca
Together Against Stigma: Changing How We See Mental Illness The 5th International Stigma Conference 2012 will bring together over 500 researchers, mental health professionals, policy makers and service users. The focus will be on effective interventions to reduce stigma and discrimination against those with mental illness. June 4 to 6. Delta Ottawa Hotel Register at togetheragainststigma2012.ca
COMMUNITY EVENTS Nicola Maule
Parliament Hill Boot Camp with Paul Plakas Ottawa’s newest boutique fitness studio, Fitness Anywhere, is teaming up with Canadian fitness celebrity Paul Plakas to hold a fitness/health seminar followed by one of the largest outdoor Boot Camps on Parliament Hill. Saturday, June 9. Fitness seminar at the Chateau Laurier Hotel from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Boot Camp on Parliament Hill from 11 a.m. to noon. Fitness Seminar costs $99 and Boot Camp is free. Register at fit-anywhere.com
Capital Velofest—Tour de Nuit A bicycle festival celebrating all things cycling. A bike rodeo during the day with cycling games, demonstrations, products, educational information and prizes. A Tour de Nuit (night bike tour) with live entertainment and a ride under the stars without any cars! Saturday, June 9, free Bike Rodeo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tour de Nuit at 8:30 p.m. Cost $20. Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Street West capitalvelofest.ca
ART AND MUSIC EVENTS Angela Hewitt and the Chamber Players of Canada Ottawa’s Angela Hewitt is one of the most respected pianists performing today. This concert features Angela playing one of the best-loved works, Robert Schumann’s sublime Piano Quintet. For this concert she is also joined by the extraordinary violinist, Yehonatan Berick. Friday, May 18, at 8 p.m. Cost $30. Christ Church Cathedral, 439 Queen Street Buy tickets at chamberplayers.ca/tickets.html
One World Awesome Arts One World Awesome Arts festival is the celebration of the amazing and creative young talent in Lowertown Ottawa. After a 5-month program where youth learn about global issues through the arts, they share their creations with the public. There will be slam poetry performances, theatre, drumming and dance, rap music, animation videos, graffiti art and photography exhibits. Friday, May 18, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at De La Salle High School. Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jules Morin Park, Clarence Street East at Patro Street. Free admission. oneworldarts.ca/awesome-arts/about
Atlantic Voices 10th Anniversary Spring Concert An amateur choir with a repertoire consisting of Newfoundland, Maritime and Celtic songs and music. Sunday, May 27, from 3 to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 in advance and children 12 and under are free. Centretown United Church, 507 Bank Street. atlanticvoices.ca
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Young String Performers’ Foundation Concert The Young String Performers’ Foundation will present a fundraising concert featuring both professional musicians and promising young string performers from the National Capital Region. Saturday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. First Unitarian Congregation, 30 Clery Avenue For more information visit yspf.ca
HERITAGE EVENTS Asian Heritage Month May is Asian Heritage Month. Experience the many unique aspects of Asian culture and learn about the history and contributions of Asian Canadians through activities for all ages. Throughout the month, there are dozens of events covering dance, sports, music, films, exhibitions, literary readings, seminars, and cooking demonstrations. For a full schedule of events visit asianheritagemonth.net
Sheep Shearing Festival Visit the Canada Agriculture Museum and discover the amazing world of wool! Enjoy sheep-shearing demonstrations given by an expert shearer and see how, by washing, carding, dying, spinning and knitting the wool, many different objects can be made. May 19 to 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Canada Agriculture Museum, 861 Prince of Wales Drive agriculture.technomuses.ca
Doors Open Ottawa Doors Open Ottawa is the region’s largest heritage event, unlocking over 100 of the area’s most architecturally interesting and historically significant buildings, many of which are not normally open to the public including embassies, places of worship, museums, artists’ studios and science labs. June 2 and 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free. For a list of buildings visit ottawa.ca
IODE 51ST ANNUAL HOUSE AND GARDEN TOUR IN SANDY HILL Discover the character, style and stores of nine homes in Sandy Hill, one of Ottawa’s oldest neighbourhoods, including Wallis House lofts and the Polish Embassy. Proceeds go to Nelson House to help end violence against women. June 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost $30. For tickets visit laurentian.iode.ca/house-garden-tour-2012 or call 613.842.5304
MY VOICE
BY CHESHMAK FARHOUMAND-SIMS
A Mother’s Gratitude
O
n Mother’s Day we honour and celebrate mothers and motherhood, and reflect on the important role mothers play in the lives of their children, and ultimately in society. For most mothers, the day brings with it unique emotions tied to their memories of pregnancy, holding their child(ren) for the first time, and the joys and trials of parenthood. For me, Mother’s Day is a particularly special and poignant day because it’s a day I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to celebrate. It’s a day for reflecting not on a pregnancy but on my journey to motherhood, feeling blessed, and thinking about the woman who brought our son into this world.
For as long as I remember I wanted to be a mom. I was that little kid who walked around with a doll pretending it was my baby. My mom tells me that when people asked me how many kids I wanted to have when I grew up, I’d say 100! That was before I knew about pregnancy and childbirth of course. When I met the man of my dreams (who also eagerly wanted to be a dad), we looked forward to starting our family, but things didn’t go as planned. The infertility journey was brutal and after eight years of trying to overcome ‘unexplained’ infertility, and the heartbreak of failed treatment cycles and pregnancy loss, we decided to pursue adoption in hopes of having our dream of parenthood come true. We knew we wanted to be parents and would love our children deeply and wholly, no matter how they joined our family. We registered with an international agency to pursue adoption in Ethiopia and initiated signing up with two agencies in Ontario to pursue domestic private adoption. In the process we told everyone we knew to spread the word that we were hoping to adopt, having heard many stories of birthparents and adoptive parents connecting through mutual friends. In March 2009, we learned that a young woman had expressed interest in considering us as possible adoptive parents for her unborn child. She had heard about us through her family doctor who worked in the same clinic as a relative of my husband’s good friend! Although we weren’t allowed to have any form of contact with her, we thought about her and her little baby every minute of every day, wondering if our long wait would soon be over. Three weeks later, exactly on his due date, a healthy little boy was born in the same hospital that my husband had been born in. Two days later, his birthmom was presented with numerous family profiles from which to choose. Unaware of the call that had come through while I was at work, I arrived home to find my husband playing ball with the dog on the driveway. This was unusual, given it was a work week and I wondered what was going on. He came up to me and with tears in his eyes he said, “They called. She chose us.” We had become parents….our dream had come true. We stood on that driveway hugging and crying for a few
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Get your voice heard in CAPITAL WOMAN! Write an original essay of less than 1000 words on a topic of your choice and submit it to myvoice@capitalwoman.ca. minutes before he said, “Let’s go inside. Our little boy’s birthmom is waiting at the agency. She wants to talk to you.” A few minutes later I was on the phone with my son’s birthmom, hearing her voice for the first time. Through tears I told her how happy and grateful I was. How could I thank her for making such a difficult and loving decision and in so doing giving us the greatest gift anyone could ever give us? After asking how she was doing, I asked, “How is your son?” to which she responded, “He is great! But now he is YOUR son and I can’t wait to put him in your arms.” That’s when the tears really started to flow. How could someone be so kind? So generous? In 24 hours, we converted my husband’s office into a nursery. As news spread, friends arrived bearing gifts and before we knew it we were well stocked and ready to welcome our son into his home. We kept thinking, “Wow, who needs nine months to prepare when you have amazing friends like we do?” The next morning, after our social worker completed the final papers confirming our home was ready, we headed to Hamilton to meet our son and his birthparents. It was really important to his birthmom that she personally put her child—our son—in my arms and when she did I was overwhelmed with joy, disbelief, and immense gratitude. But there were also other emotions. I felt incredible compassion and love for my son’s birthmom, and had a very difficult time reconciling the fact that my joy had come at the expense of her pain and loss. I was a mother, because another mother made a most difficult and loving decision, and in turn gave us the greatest gift we could hope for. We committed to an open adoption arrangement and assured our son’s birthparents that they would be a part of our little boy’s life. We have happily fulfilled this promise. We send our son’s birthparents and his extended birthfamily email updates and pictures so they can have a glimpse into our life, we send his birthparents letters and photos every season, and we have twice yearly visits. In fact, we have expanded our open adoption arrangement to include visits with our birthmom’s extended family who have lovingly welcomed us into their family as we have welcomed them into ours.
Open adoption has allowed our son’s birthparents and their families to have some measure of healing having a connection with our family, knowing that he is happy and surrounded by love. What moves me is that every email from his birthmom still says, “Tell him I love him and miss him every day,” and “I am so happy I chose you for his parents.” Every day when I wake up to the pitter patter of his feet running into our room, when I hug him, and hear him say, “Mommy?” I whisper a thousand words of thanks… to God for answering our prayers, to all the people who walked with us on this journey, and especially to his birthmom without whom I may have never felt little arms around my neck, felt juicy kisses on my face, nor heard the words, “Mommy, I love you today!” I don’t take any of it for granted and enjoy every minute of it all. For me, every day is Mother’s Day, and for that I have one special woman to thank: my son’s birthmom. We began pursuing a second adoption over a year ago. So far it hasn’t happened. Private adoption numbers are declining as women experiencing unplanned pregnancies choose either to terminate the pregnancy or parent themselves. But there are still a few who find adoption is the right choice for them and their baby, and in so doing make dreams come true for couples like us. The wait is difficult but I’m hopeful that one day soon, another wonderful birthmom/birthcouple will learn about us and recognize us as the parents they are looking for to love and raise their child, just like our son’s birthparents did. When that happens, our dream will come true once again and our family will be complete. Birthmother’s Day is celebrated on the day before Mother’s Day. As both days approach, I wish every mom a happy day filled with love and laughter and I hope you all know how special and loved you are. Cheshmak FarhoumandSims has a background in peace research and conflict resolution practice. Currently she is a research analyst in the public service of Canada. She lives in Ottawa with her wonderful husband and sweet son. She can be reached at cheshmak@sympatico.ca. MAy/JUNE 2012
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Juanita Snelgrove BY SHERRI YAZDANI
J
uanita Snelgrove is a community builder. And for most of her 95 years, our city has been fortunate to be the beneficiary of her energies. I n 1956 Juanita moved from Carp to the township of March with her husband Charlie. Together they designed the home she still lives in today, on the banks of the Ottawa River. But her life took an unexpected turn when Charlie died two years later, leaving her to raise their young daughters, only two, four and five years old at the time.
fter Charlie’s death, Juanita and A the girls moved to Hudson, Quebec, to be closer to her family. But six years later the lure of the farm they loved brought them back to the Dunrobin area.
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Initially, out of necessity, Juanita’s life revolved around the needs of her daughters. Because they had lost their father, she worked to give them every advantage in life. While in Hudson, the girls were Brownies. When they arrived in Kanata there were no Girl Guides, so Juanita helped to start a group. She also became a counsellor at a summer camp in the Laurentians, taking the girls with her as campers. For ten years she was a counsellor for the summer. But the preparations began months before, as she collected items like clothing and hair ribbons for the children who would arrive at camp without proper provisions. When Kanata’s first schools were built—March Central School and
Stephen Leacock—Juanita helped start a Home and School Association. It was concerned not only with school affairs, but also with the business of the new city. During these years, she held back from engaging in many organizations, focusing on her family. She knew that simply joining those groups wasn’t an option, for in her words, “I am not a joiner. I am a doer.” As Kanata began to grow, the issues pertinent to a community started to emerge. Garbage collection caught her interest first. When it began, residents were provided with a list of telephone numbers they could call for garbage barrels, or to discuss any concerns. Juanita noticed that all of the numbers
ORDINARY WOMEN, EXTRAORDINARY LIVES
I AM NOT A JOINER. I AM A DOER. provided belonged to residents living in the city. She feared that people in the country might not feel comfortable to call someone in the city. In what was a bold move, she came forward and offered her phone number to stand on the list as well. As a result, she became part of a group that met around kitchen tables to talk about various issues and projects. She remembers those days fondly, “One way or another we’ve been sort of in the middle as the community grew. We’ve been part of the whole shebang.” Eventually, as the children became more independent, she had more freedom to pursue other interests: she joined the Anglican Church Women and served as the liaison for the diocesan, she helped develop and run a unit of the Cancer Society in Kanata, she participated in the Dunrobin Women’s Institute, and supported
Photography by Art Babych
The ruins of St. Mary’s church, built by Hamnett Kirkes Pinhey in the 1820s, sits on the property near Juanita’s home.
many charities. She is also known for her work with the Pinhey’s Point Foundation, which preserves the history and honours the contribution of her great-great-grandfather, the Honourable Hamnett Kirkes Pinhey. She serves the Foundation, and is a living go-between, bridging the history of her family and the property. If you visit the museum during the summer, you will be welcomed by an arrangement of fresh flowers picked by Juanita from her garden. When she thinks back on her years
of involvement in her community, her eyes sparkle. “It was a muddly sort of a performance,” she offers with a light laugh. In May 2012, Juanita will be officially honoured by the City of Ottawa, with the renaming of Sandhill Park as Juanita Snelgrove Park. She is quite humbled by the recognition. It is a befitting tribute to one who has given so much to the community over the years. She will also celebrate her 96th birthday. Happy Birthday Juanita! MAy/JUNE 2012
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Do you know an extraordinary woman, someone who does something beyond the ordinary in her day-to-day life? A woman who overcomes challenges to make a difference? Call us at 613.612.0109 or email extraordinary@capitalwoman.ca. We will be in touch. If we print her story in our July/August issue, the deserving lady will receive massage coupons from Orleans Convent Glen Massage Therapy.
PSAC National Capital Region The latest budget presented by Stephen Harper’s Conservative government in March 2012 cut a wide range of public services. Amongst these are critical services provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which had its budget reduced to the tune of $56 million. As a result, the CFIA program charged with monitoring food labels and enforcing federal regulations against producers making misleading or inaccurate nutrition claims is being cut. Canadians having concerns with claims made on food labels—perhaps relating to the amount of sodium in a can of soup or the amount of cholesterol in a bag of frozen food —will now have to bring their “validated concerns directly to companies and association for resolution.” Furthermore, those suffering from a disease like Crohn’s or diabetics and therefore needing to be sure of the
nutritional content of the foods they eat are now left now left in the dark about whether what they buy at the grocery store is safe. Women remain the primary purchasers of food in around three quarters of Canadian households, and this new scheme they now face creates an impossible David versus Goliath scenario. They will have to conduct their own research and analysis on the products they buy and then battle an army of corporate lawyers, should they choose to challenge the accuracy of a claim made on a food label. The Harper government’s insistence that public service job cuts at the CFIA will not affect services Canadians rely on is plainly absurd. Canadians deserve strong public services. Canadians deserve better. PSAC National Capital Region
Thank you for all of your support and encouragement following the launch of our inaugural issue! We are tremendously grateful! forward ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ Looking to the next edition! I felt so inspired VERY IMPRESSIVE PUBLICATION.
I had dinner with eight fabulous women last night, all of whom
read the magazine cover to cover. Ladies, you have a huge
CAPITAL WOMAN IS AMAZING!!!
in the nation’s capital an outlet—to have a voice.
I think it has the opportunity to act as an impetus for women to work together or in their individual lives to create significant and lasting change.
success on your hands! How exciting! I have heard nothing but praise and compliments from many circles, including both men and women. Thank you for creating a wonderful publication that gives women
With great pride and admiration,
terrific!!
Excellent magazine.
–Kathy Turner
Thanks so much for the first edition of Capital Woman. IT RECOGNIZES THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTION OF WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF ALL OF US, HERE IN CANADA AND AROUND THE WORLD. We enjoyed the articles on the Rt. Hon. Michaëlle Jean and the Hon. Sheila Copps. Congrats.
–Harvey A. Slack and the Hon. Senator Dr. Laurier L. LaPierre, O.C.
STILL IN AWE.
Looks polished, professional, and informative.
WOW
We love the magazine. You should be very proud. It’s a very interesting read.
JOB WELL DONE!
Love Love Love it.
This is absolutely awesome.
I loved the way it was put together and the materials, as well as the articles and the purity of the work. Keep it up. –Senator Mac Harb
BRAVO!
you can tell it’s a labour of love!
I will send out to my circle of friends who will be so supportive.
They will love it!
Congratulations on a magazine so full of meaningful content!
IT IS FULL OF INSPIRATION, HOPE, AND SPIRIT.
magazine
HÉLÈNE CAMPBELL CAPITAL WOMAN joins with Ottawa in celebrating Hélène’s 2nd beginning! Show your support by following her on Twitter @alungstory #BeAnOrganDonor #giveblood #givelife #loveyoulungtime Read about Hélène’s inspiration and strength in our next issue. alungstory.ca beadonor.ca
COMING NEXT ISSUE MY VOICE
Be heard! Submit an article
NADIA PETRELLA
The city kicked off the Ottawa leg of the Torch of Life relay by proclaiming March 30 Hélène Campbell Day
Sings Soprano
Rosane Doré Lefebvre, MP Turning the Tide
Hear from our columnists in Money Wise, Healthy Living, and Aboriginal Issues