Hot Tubbin' For Justice

I look forward to International Women's Day every year. There's always a ton of programming and this year did not disappoint! IWD 2019 was one for the ages! In fact it was a week full of celebration of women in so many ways. Everywhere I went all week it was IWD - I saw 2 theatre shows (Come From Away and The Good Bride), attended an author reading at VPL which was a tribute to libraries (and will have its own blog post soon), participated in the annual CUPE Metro IWD community event in Richmond, went to the Westcoast LEAF Equality Breakfast where I met Dr. Willie Parker (!), celebrated the launch of Canada's first indigenous woman-owned airline (Iskwew Air), and the 4th annual Women in Entertainment Celebration and Fundraiser for the DTES Women's Centre put on by the entertainment unions (IATSE 891, UBCP-ACTRA, Teamsters 155, DGC and ICG 669). Westcoast LEAF Equality Breakfast - Dr. Willie Parker (Keynote) When I saw that Dr. Willie Parker was going to be th...

with Sarah and Shelley at the Memorial March As I continue on this incredibly unpredictable path in the labour movement, looking back on 2018 gives me some time to reflect on the past year. It was also the year of a lot of "firsts" without my dad, which is still weird. Last year, I committed to write more about the things I attend, mostly for me so I can look back and remember what happened over the course of the year. So without further ado - here was my 2018! January With members of the first AUCE 1 bargaining committee Italian Film Festival  - I saw 6 films at the IFF. It was a great way to connect me to my dad as I was getting used to life without him. I was pleasantly surprised how good the movies were. I will be attending this year's festival starting this weekend - I have 6 tickets booked this time as well. Forza Italia! City on Edge Exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver - this was an exhibit about the history of protest in the city of Vancouver. The...

I attended the 5th Annual Rosemary Brown Memorial Conference at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue at SFU this past weekend where the hot topic of Women in Politics: Risks and Opportunities was on point.  The Asia Pacific Hall at the Wosk Centre is really cool. It's in the shape of a circle, with the intent of fostering dialogue and discourse. My friend Michele and I got good seats and we sat down and nerded out whilst getting our respective notebooks out to take our requisite handwritten notes of the session.  Rosemary Brown is an incredible figure in Canadian history. She was the first black woman to be elected to the BC legislature in 1972. She was the first black woman to run for leadership of the NDP in 1975. From 1993-1996 she was the Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Was bestowed the Order of BC in 1995 and the Order of Canada in 1996. She was known for her community service, her committee to equality and her compassion.  Dr. Marjorie Gr...