[erinjane]

Snooowing. The weekend doesn't look too bad.

So I'm going to Ottawa next Friday. I'll be in conferences for most of my time there but I'll have Friday from 2 on to do whatever I want. Does anyone know of any good places to check out?

ETA: I'll be staying at 100 Kent Street near Wellington. I don't even know what part of the city that's in though.

[culturehandy]

I have to know what is with the fucking cold weather here now? LIke two days ago it was warm, and now it's -23 with the windchill. Not cool.

[chani]

lux: I haven't actually lived in Kingston, but I dated a boy in university there. It does have a good general academic reputation, although I have no idea how its womens studies dept is. It's a nice city to be a student because you can walk everywhere. Great restaurants, nice downtown - I'd totally spend four months there. Better spring or fall than winter tho!

[culturehandy]

agreed. They did a nice big write up on her in the review obituary section.

[doodlebug]

I think Doris Anderson should have gotten a huge two-page spread with quotes by famous people who knew her or admired her. *le sigh*

ETA: here are a few more pieces on Doris Anderson that I just learned of:

Judy Rebick at rabble.ca

Penny Kome at Straight Goods

Equal Voice news release

Rosemary Speirs at Equal Voice

I love this, from Judy Rebick:

"One time when I was having lunch with Doris, she told me the advantage of being an older woman was that you became invisible so you could really take a good look at some handsome young man's ass and he would not even notice."

[culturehandy]

Doodle, it made front page of the globe and mail, but that was all I heard about it.

[doodlebug]

Canadian feminist Doris Anderson passed away on March 2.

For those who don't remember her, she was the "radical" editor of Chatelaine for 20 years (back when Chatelaine was good, which I only vaguely remember from childhood, but MY mom always read it!). She was appointed chair of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women (from which she later resigned in protest of the government - amazing story there), and after that, became the president of the NGO National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC). I read her autobiography years ago; it's called Rebel Daughter - really an enjoyable book, and I don't usually like reading biography.

One of my favourite stories in her book is about how she was refused for the editorship of Macleans, solely because she was a woman (she was far more qualified than the man they chose)...so she took over the editorship of Chatelaine - and steered it towards quickly (and dramatically) surpassing the Macleans circulation count!

I am shocked and kind of angry that her passing didn't get more press coverage, or attention from women's groups for that matter, especially as International Women's Day was March 8. Any man who had accomplished as much as Doris Anderson (especially as an accomplished and respected former member of the media), would have gotten tons of press coverage.

ETA: here also is a brief bio at Library and Archives Canada.

[dusty]

Queen's is one of the most respected universities in Canada.

Its in a smallish city, on Lake Ontario. Its very pretty and very historic. It is about three hours from Toronto, which is one of the biggest cities in Canada. I think Kingston would be a nice place to live.

I don't think its known as a hippie university, there are a lot of engineering students and when I was an undergrad, oh, a while ago now, it was known to be a bit snobbish.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_University

[lux]

Hello my Canadian friends

ok, the begining was lame, but the thing is that I've applied to take a semester in Queen's University in Kingston, ONT as a part of my BA in Women's studies. Now I've started to wonder if I should accept the place, since I don't really know anything about the place. I'd be ever so gratefull for any info on if it's worth spending four months there, what kind of a place is it to live, is the education any good? Anything basically, since all i know now is that the universitys web site is not pretty and where Kingston is on the map.

Thanks in advanse

[erinjane]

(I put this in both "this just in" and "i'm canadian" because there were recent discussions pertaining to this in both)

I came across this website today and thought it was a really neat and a good way to bring attention to these missing women.

http://www.masik.ca/features/theforgotten/index.html

[doodlebug]

So........what does everyone think about Justin Trudeau throwing his hat in the ring to run as a federal Liberal?

I knew it would come eventually, but I honestly thought he would wait till a bit later in life....he is obviously intelligent and thoughtful, but he also seems terribly unaccomplished, compared to his father at the same age, and no doubt that will be held against him....

[culturehandy]

Son on a different note, Stephen Harper was souted down in The Commons yesterday! I love it

[culturehandy]

I must say that traffic was terrible this morning. Pembina Highway was a bloody nightmare. I left late for work today thinking that, gee, it won't be that bad. Fuck was I wrong.

[snafooey]

You just missed the tropical weather we're having now - a high of 4 degrees Celsius today, I think. Crazy.

See, I'd still wear my long johns in -2 weather (I spend a fair bit of time walking outdoors, though). 4 degrees? Yeah, I was practically breaking out a sweat by the time I reached the subway this morning.

[erinjane]

I know! I put my long undies on when I went to class today and realized I didn't really have a need for them. It's supposed to be a high of -2 on Friday. I'll believe it when i see it.

[culturehandy]

Oh erinjane, it's finally so balmy here, not the, what, -50 with the windchill that we had to put up for, uhhh, 3 weeks or so? This cold snap was bullshit!

[erinjane]

Ah, Canadian celebrities.

On Queen street on Thursday I saw David Suzuki surrounded by a throng of academic aged university groupies.

And today at the airport I was sitting beside Dakota House (of North of 60 fame) and I really regret not asking him for an autograph or being a nerd and just even saying, "Are you Dakota House?", although I knew for certain it was him as soon as he stood up because he was short. I'm a big fan of his and the work he does in the community. Plus I think he's kinda cute.

[pepper]

glad you had a good time, there is such a ton of stuff to do here it's just amazing. and see, i told ya the metro was nice! i worked at the annual vegatarian congress there 6 and a bit years ago. i remember how long it was 'cause i got pregnant the 2nd last day of the event, ha ha. memories.

[erinjane]

I'm a-leaving Toronto tomorrow and I had some great times.

The friend I came with has a bad anxiety disorder and freaked out the day we got here so she left Tuesday night and I was alone in a private room at the hostel. It ended up great though, I just sat in the lounge and talked to new people every night and was out at the pub every night too.

Now I'm at the Metropolitan near Dundas and it's amazing. 24th floor, big bath robes, four course meal last night provided by the CDA. And I dont have to pay for any of it.

I didn't find the weather too bad because it's been so cold in Winnipeg. But i didn't leave the hotel today.

[pepper]

we're in TO right now too and this morning wasn't too bad compared to lately but this aft, well, there were tears and burrowing into my coat. this was about the coldest it ever got in the mountains. way more snow there this year especially but dang, no where near this cold! we were in peterborough a few days ago and youch! a block and a half outside was almost the end of us one day, we had to take refuge in a store and call a friend to pick us up.
we're off to niagara-ish soon and then near windsor and detroit after that. i expect the weather to be better there, it's always a bit warmer in that area.

we've been eating.
this week we're going to have to stop by Aunties and Uncles on lipincott, i wondered if they were still around and they are! i love the food there, YUM!
i'm gaining wieght by the minute, i swear.