The Women’s Campaign School was a great success this year. Thirty women benefited by hearing the voices of experience from our instructors who volunteer to teach at the school.
The overwhelming highlight for the participants was the Sunday session with Chief Lisa Shaver of the Penelakut Tribe on Kuper Island. A sample comment from the feedback forms: “Moving. Awe-inspiring. Genuine.”
What a gift to be there for her stories of courage and demonstration of leadership.
I was interviewed yesterday in my role a president of the Canadian Women Voters Congress by a journalist at the North Shore News, Jessica Barrett. She did a really nice job of interviewing several women, including Women’s Campaign School graduates from the North Shore.
The number of MLAs in BC who are women has declined from from 28% in 1996 to 22% in 2005.
The article is on-line in today’s edition.
Yesterday, I attended an event at City Hall to celebrate International Women’s Day. Seeing this door makes me believe that we are making progress – past president of the Canadian Women Voters Congress, Andrea Reimer, Vancouver City Councillor.
I was interviewed this morning on Global TV by anchor Sophie Lui in my position as the president of the Canadian Women Voters Congress. I had three main points I wanted to make:
There are lots of stories to tell and talk about why politics is not a common career choice for women.
When I got home, I listened to CBC’s The Sunday Edition where Michael Enright was speaking with Sylvia Bashevkin, the author of the book “Women, Power, Politics.” She described the “discomfort” that men and women have with women in power. I appreciated the fact that she made it clear that women in politics are treated differently by men and women. We question their legitimacy, we think of them as “losers” and we call them by first name in the media and in conversation.
The challenge for all the men and women who want equality and fairness in politics is to bring these things to people’s attention. I believe citizens want our politics to be fair and inclusive. We need to support our community leaders to enter politics and support them with our money, time and commitment.
I’ll look forward to reading this book.
I’ve been working with a UBC student on a project related to new media promotion of the Women’s Campaign School. We set up channel and found a few graduates at public events willing to speak with us.
The Canadian Women Voters Congress hosts the Women’s Campaign School . This year’s school is March 27-29 at SFU at Harbour Centre.
I’ve been working with a student from UBC who is in Women’s Studies to interview graduates of the school and to use new media to help promote the school.
I caught up with two graduates yesterday, Sarah Blyth and Constance Barnes. Both of them were elected to the Vancouver Park Board in November, 2008. I don’t think I can make a better pitch for the school than Constance Barnes does here.
For the murdered and missing women of Vancouver.
Seeking Balance: Conversations with BC Women in Politics .
Chronicles and Interviews with 75 Women who have served BC as MPs and MLAs
Richmond and Vancouver on Friday, November 28 , 2008.
Richmond:
2:00 pm at Hon. Linda Reid’s Constituency Office, 8040 Garden City Road , Unit 130
Vancouver:
5:30-7:30 pm at the home of Darlene Marzari
—————————————-
Victoria, Thursday, November 27 :
12:00 pm, Ned de Beck Lounge, Rm 357 of the Parliament Buildings, Victoria
Both Lotus Books and Katrina’s Book Store in Cranbrook will be hosting signings in early December.
In Seeking Balance , Anne Edwards shares her conversations with more than eighty British Columbia women politicians, including Rita Johnston , Rosemary Brown , Grace McCarthy , Kim Campbell , Pat Carney , Darlene Marzari, Joy MacPhail and Carole James . These women who served as members of the provincial legislature or the Canadian parliament reveal their ambitions and their reactions to serving in a political system designed and dominated by men. Women struggle to find their place in the pyramids of power. They reach decisions in ways untraditional to Canadian politics; they bring ideas to a system ill-suited to respond; and they see clearly the jagged edges that should be smoothed in order to create a vibrant democratic state. These women–of many ages, across party lines and from all parts of the province–share attitudes and insights into the lively world of British Columbia politics , at home and aross our nation.
Anne Edwards
was born, raised and educated in middle
Saskatchewan
. She has worked as a journalist in radio, television and newspapers and as a freelance writer for various magazines. She has co-written three published books:
Exploring the Purcell Wilderness, Cranbrook 1905-2005
, and
The Purcell Suite: Upholding the Wild
. She has lived for fifty years in
British Columbia
where she raised a family of four, instructed and managed at the
College of the Rockies
for a decade and represented Kootenay constituency for ten years as MLA. She retired from politics and the working world in 1996. She lives in
Moyie, British Columbia
.
Tracy Theemes, MA, RBC Dominion Securities
Yesterday I attended the Women’s Economic Security Summit at UBC, hosted by Antigone Magazine.
I arrived early and stayed all day. I met some fascinating and brilliant people, all gathered to talk about women and equality from multiple perspectives.
One of the highlights was meeting Tracy Theemes and hearing her presentation on women’s financial life skills.
Special thanks to the women of Antigone Magazine for making me feel welcome and including me in the event.
An excellent and interesting presentation and discussion about women in politics in the US in early 2008.
h/t Antigone
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