Monthly Archives: February 2007

File Under: Mothers in the news

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Leaders of the pack: The Guardian profiles powerful Island women who are at the head of P.E.I.’s largest provincial labour unions

Excerpt:

Fighting for rights
Mary MacNeil has been living the labour movement life for more than 30 years. She had her first picket line experience in the 1970s, fought for pay equity in the 1980s and has been regional representative for PSAC for more than a decade. But experiencing sexual harassment was the catalyst for her union interests. “At that time, they didn’t even call it sexual harassment. It wasn’t even coined until the late ’70s,” she says. “Way back, you put up with it. I’d go to my supervisor (who’d say), ‘It’s a compliment. They’re having a rough time at home.’ Everybody made excuses for it. That was the era. I just knew it wasn’t right, it wasn’t acceptable.” MacNeil and a number of other women filed a complaint with the Public Service Commission but were ostracized by co-workers and even union representatives. “I wasn’t the type to run for (anything), but their reaction was so unacceptable that I ended up running for local president,” MacNeil says. “And once you make one step, it’s like, if I’m not going to put up with it here, I can’t put up with it (somewhere else). I didn’t really want to run, it was just, ‘this isn’t the way it’s supposed to be.’ ” MacNeil won the election and has been involved with PSAC ever since. She has made major inroads on some hard-hitting issues, such as pay equity and maternity leave benefits. Still, there are challenging situations, such as being nose-to-nose with managers and police in strike situations. “My personality is I always stay calm. I’ve never lost it. I just don’t have that kind of a temper,” she says. “(Some people) look for the old type of union leader to go in. Some of them have an image of this strong burley guy. But I actually feel my personality is better because I stay calm and no matter if somebody is screaming at me, they’re usually calm at the end because I don’t get on the defensive . . . .” Over the years, MacNeil has been told she doesn’t fit the stereotypical male labour leader mold. “I still have to face a lot of guys that question whether it should be a woman in (this) job. But I’m still alive and well,” she says. “We (women) have made accomplishments but I don’t think it’s over for women. Like some of the younger women say, we can sit back. I don’t think it’s (ever over) for any group. But I do believe it’s a positive sign that there’s acceptance.”

links for 2007-02-20

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The W

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With a nod to Halifax’s sartorial history and a bold salute to its future, young Halifax fashion designers and rising East Coast musical stars wowed a sold-out audience at the first FashionEASTa event.

Billed as “where music meets design,” the event at the World Trade and Convention Centre on Thursday night was a fund-raiser for the East Coast Music Association and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University’s fashion department.

*SNIP*

Spirited Windom Earle — the girls in white Lycra leggings and white T-shirts with Ws — brought the mood up with their infectious pop, as models in black and white sculptural outfits paraded round the room.

And Stan Sokolenko of Atlantic Cirque invoked gasps of awe with his display of strength and agility in an aerial rope display, climbing to the top and then holding himself parallel to the ground, not an ounce moving. He slid up and down, holding on just with his feet as he moved gracefully from one position to another.

FashionEASTa event puts on ritz | Chronicle Herald

Upbeat Halifax rockers Windom Earle had the room bouncing with their punchy, Nintendo-style music. Dressed by NSCAD University student Josh Szeto, the six band members looked hyper and happy in their white spandex superhero-inspired outfits – each with a huge “W” across the chest.

Music soothes the savage breasts | The Daily News

Windom Earle rocked the stage in white spandex superhero suits…

Halifax Comes Alive With ECMA Showcases | ChartAttack

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links for 2007-02-16

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Associated with Music from the East Coast

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Windom Earle is rumoured to be appearing on tonight’s CBC supper hour news…perhaps in tights with a Gibson Flying V. It’s probably a promo for the FashionEASTa event (wardrobe by dwsage).

The band is also scheduled to play an in-store at Sam the Record Man (Barrington Street) on Saturday, February 16th at 2:30 pm and is being featured at the best alternative to the actual ECMA award show ever.

PLUS time is ticking on The Coast’s Best of Music Readers’ Poll…here are possible ways to vote for Windom Earle:

  • band: Windom Earle
  • album of 2006: Goldwave
  • single of 2006: Kitten vs Pegasus
  • karaoke host: Stephan MacLeod
  • artist/band to get trashed to: Windom Earle
  • artist/band to dance to: Windom Earle
  • artist/band to be blown away by: Windom Earle
  • artist/band stage hijinks: Windom Earle
  • live show of 2006: Windom Earle
  • act most likely to make it big: Windom Earle

PLUS PLUS, vote Iain Gillis
for fan.

The List of Lists

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Here are some lists of South By Southwest Performers that got sent to me via Google Alerts…

Guess who’s going to SXSW other than me… | xpalermox

The Good, The Bad and the Queen To Play SxSW | Undercover

SXSW announces initial 2007 lineup! | Brooklyn Vegan

Remember… it’s not for you: That SXSW list | No Rock and Roll Fun

SXSW Update | TheFineLine

AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH | Music Machinery, Verbal Wizardry

SXSW – Announces music artists & music line up! | Top 40 Music Sucks!