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Off The Cuff

Welcome to Miss Vicky's Offhand Remarks! On this page you'll find Miss Vicky's latest ramblings, but feel free to browse the various sections. You'll hear a lot about Kitchissippi, Miss Vicky's westish Ottawa community, but you never know what you might find. And feel free to jump in - this may be Miss Vicky's virtual soapbox, but she loves a good discussion!

New Spacing Blog: Gender and the City

Miss Vicky Thu Jul 29, 2010

Miss Vicky is blogging about the 2010 Municipal Election over at Spacing Ottawa. Here's the latest City Vote column:

Apparently there are a record number of candidates running for municipal council this year. For those looking for some alternatives to the status quo, this is good news. Only one candidate is running unopposed, and several incumbents are retiring – so no matter what, we'll see new faces on council this year. And it's good for our local democracy to have a lot of people show their interest in serving their community.

In the coming months, we'll have a chance to look at the ward races in detail. Folks are still launching campaigns, so the field is shifting. I'm reluctant to step in and start analyzing each race at this point.

But as someone who has a keen interest in seeing more women in elected office, I couldn't resist doing a little calculation. According to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, women make up 13.9 per cent of mayors and 23 per cent of councilors – pretty much on par with other levels of government, and contributing to Canada's dismal international rating for women's participation in politics. FCM wants to raise Canada's average to 30%, and have been running campaign schools and workshops across the country for a few years now. Local councilors Marianne Wilkinson and Jan Harder held a campaign school for women here, which from all reports was well attended.

There are currently 7 women serving on Ottawa's council – that's 30%. Above the national average and right at the FCM's target. One of these women – Kanata's Peggy Feltmate – is retiring. Unfortunately, no woman has registered to run in her ward, so if we are to maintain (or – dare I dream – improve on) these numbers, at least one new woman needs to be re-elected.

So how is the current race shaping up?

Not so well, I'm afraid.

Of the 86 candidates registered or expected to run*, 14 are women. That's 16 per cent overall. There are women running in 10 wards – that's less than half of Ottawa's 23 wards. In the 6 wards where incumbents are not seeking re-election, only two have female candidates, and in both those races they are the only women running. Three of the six female incumbents face challenges from other women. There's only one female candidate for mayor (out of 13 candidates so far).

I'm not sure why many of the women running have chosen the uphill battle of challenging incumbents, and why more women have not decided to enter the races which are wide open. But I'm guessing we won't see a huge shift in the gender makeup of the next council.

If all the female incumbents are re-elected (not to discount the campaigns of their female challengers, but Ottawa does like its incumbents. We'll assess the challengers' chances in future posts), we need at least one other women to be elected to maintain 30 per cent. The two women who are trying to replace retiring councilors - Isabel Metcalfe and Oni “The Haitan Sensation” Joseph – probably stand the best chance, but a lot of people are running in those wards, and there are some very strong male candidates to beat.

The numbers are a bit of a disappointment, especially given the various workshops and campaigns to attract new faces to municipal politics. It's also a little surprising that the excellent work of theCity for All Women Initiative has not yielded more women interested in taking the plunge – CAWI does amazing political engagement work with very diverse women. I've been to a few of their events and have been so impressed by the strong, articulate and creative women I've met there. Why aren't more of them running for council?

It's a question we need to start asking ourselves. I suspect it's going to take more than workshops to encourage more women to put their names on the ballot. It can be quite isolating, being a candidate – especially in the early days, when few people are paying attention to municipal politics and it's hard to get folks to commit to spending time on your campaign. There are the inevitable sexist comments and attitudes to face. Family obligations, employment... so many things can make women second-guess themselves. It takes money, a good team and a great support network to mount a winning campaign. Anyone who'd like municipal government to reflect Ottawa's population might consider seeking out a candidate that reflects their values and offering more than just a vote on election day.

The female candidates thus far:

Mayor: Jane Scharf

Ward 1 – Orleans: Jennifer Robitaille

Ward 3 – Barrhaven: Jan Harder (incumbent)

Ward 4 – Kanata North: Marianne Wilkinson (incumbent)

Ward 7 – Bay: Oni Joseph

Ward 8 – College: Lynn Hamilton , Julia Ringma

Ward 10 – Gloucester-Southgate: Diane Deans (incumbent) Lilly Obina

Ward 14 – Somerset: Diane Holmes (incumbent)

Ward 15 – Kitchissippi: Christine Leadman, Katherine Hobbs

Ward 16 – River: Maria McRae (incumbent) Nadia Willard

Ward 17 – Capital: Isabel Metcalfe

*a few incumbents and challengers have announced their intention to run but have not yet filed their papers. I included them in the tally. A recent news report cited 95 candidates, but as they were not yet posted on the website, I couldn't identify their gender. I'll do an update on the numbers in a later post.
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Fools in the 'hood

Miss Vicky Thu Jul 22, 2010

The Company of Fools are bringing their annual summer production to the 'hood tomorrow. Catch A Midsummer Night's Dream at Reid Park - show starts at 7. It's pay what you can, but the suggested donation is $10. Bring your blankets, a picnic...and see you there!
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4Cats Kids Art Studio

Miss Vicky Sat Jul 17, 2010

There's a new art studio coming to the 'burg - for kids! 4Cats is opening at the former location of Salon M (next to Fabgear 64, on Wellington near Stirling) in August. They're having an open house on August 14, with refreshments and fun paint-splattery activities.

4Cats is a franchised art studio which started in Vancouver but has spread to other BC locations and now is making inroads into Ontario. Kids learn about art history but also get messy and cultivate their own inner artist with fun activities. It seems to take a montessori-inspired approach to teaching art, and from the pics in their magazine (which you can get from a drop box on their window), it looks like a lot of fun.

They are kicking things off with some summer camps in August - so if you haven'it completely programmed your kids' holidays, consider giving them a try!

We'll definitely be checking out their open house and welcoming 4Cats to the 'hood.
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A sad loss

Miss Vicky Fri Jul 16, 2010

I'm writing this from from a Winnipeg Starbucks, on Academy Road not far from one of my childhood homes. Unfortunately I'm not here for happy reasons, so the nostalgia I'm experiencing is quite bittersweet. An old family friend passed away this week. Mary George was the mother of one of my best friends from High School. But for me, she was a mentor, a sounding board, a kind of auxiliary mom.

I first met Mary at church (yes, folks, Miss Vicky was once a regular church attendee)- First Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg, where she was the pastoral assistant (kind of a lay minister). We started attending when we moved to Winnipeg, as my great-grandfather had been its first minister. Kind of a weird reason for a previously secular family to start going to church, but we quickly found ourselves part of a close-knit community - and Mary and her family played a central role in that community. This closeness came in handy later when my parents separated; Mary and her husband Forbes became a real source of support for me during a very vulnerable, emotional time. I left Winnipeg for university not too long afterwards, but had periodic contact over the years and the sense of fondness remained.

Mary's influence on my life extended beyond her role in the church or as the mom of a close friend, however. She had an intellectual sharpness, a love for a good discussion and a passion for history and Classics. She went back to school and pursued a Classics degree with a specialty in Greek. And while she was working at the church, she started writing historical romance novels.

Turns out, she was really good at it, eventually leaving the church to start writing full time. I know a lot of people who say they'd love to write a book some day (I might even be one of them), but very few that actually get to the stage of finishing one, sending it off and getting it published. She wrote under the pen name Elizabeth Thornton. And she didn't just a few novels - she wrote twenty-seven. Twenty-seven novels, each of them involving considerable historical research (not to mention the challenge of the steamy-yet-not-formulaic sex scenes).

Mary's example showed me the importance of pursuing your passions, of having confidence in your abilities and your potential. She brought that out in others as well, I think - her sons joke about how hard she was on them, but they have all done some pretty interesting things. Mary had no patience with low (or even mediocre) expectations, and that's a quality I can appreciate (and seem to have absorbed, much to the frustration of some people I know!). I certainly have Mary to thank for showing me that it's OK to do what you feel that you are meant to do, and to not be afraid to be ambitious about it. I will keep that - and Mary - in mind the next time I find myself ready for new challenges.

So thanks, Mary, for being there for me when I needed you. Thanks for raising someone who has been a stalwart friend over the years. Thanks for your friendship, your quick wit, and the fun cottage reading material. It was abundantly clear at today's service that you will be missed by many.
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Now things are getting interesting

Miss Vicky Tue Jul 13, 2010

Here's Miss Vicky's latest column over at Spacing Ottawa:

What a difference a few weeks make. It seems we have a mayoral race.

It wasn't much of a surprise when Mayor Larry O'Brien announced his intention to seek re-election. With the passage of Lansdowne Live, he likely concluded he had accomplished enough to run on his record. Sure enough, that was the focus of his re-election announcement (as awkward as it was). O'Brien declared that he wants the election to be about leadership, which he says is about “getting things done”. “We've finally gotten over the constipation of amalgamation”, he said.

It's an odd statement to make for a mayor who leads a fractured council that often split along urban/suburban/rural lines, that has flip-flopped on multiple decisions, that cost taxpayers millions by canceling the former light rail contract, and that unnecessarily prolonged a bus strike. Yet when it came to budget time, the council seemed to be able to get things done in spite of the Mayor. But is it a more functional body than when Larry O'Brien took office? Hardly. And as others have pointed out, O'Brien is quick to claim the credit for projects that were started well before his time or which have been spearheaded by someone else. And as for those voters who have been paying closer attention, he is counting on a certain number of them overlooking the flaws, and focusing instead on the promises he has kept.

The real surprise was longtime Capital Ward councilor Clive Doucet's entry into the race. Doucet had been rumoured to be mulling over a mayoral bid, but his announcement several months ago that he intended to retire from his council seat (followed by a rough winter marked by family illness and the loss of his parents) had most municipal-watchers figuring he had decided to set aside politics altogether. Perhaps the passage of the Lansdowne leaves unfinished business. Perhaps it felt like the last straw for a councilor who has long crusaded against what he and his supporters see as bad development and unsustainable planning practice.

There are two kinds of political junkies: the strategist and the policy wonks. Strategists will evaluate Doucet's candidacy with an eye to his chances, or analyze the impact of his candidacy on other mayoral hopefuls. Polling results show that 53 % of Ottawa voters would support Jim Watson, while O'Brien and Alex Cullen trail at 31% and 16% respectively. How different would the numbers be had the poll included Doucet's name? If anything he will draw the most from Cullen, who has similar views on many issues but also carries more baggage on the bus strike than Doucet. If Jim Watson continues to avoid articulating a comprehensive vision for the city, he may draw votes from him as well, from people who want to see more than “I'm not Larry” as a candidate. As for Larry, Clive's entry to the race won't change his numbers much – but the bleeding from other candidates means that he stands a better chance, especially if his base in the rural and suburban wards shows up to the polls.

For the policy wonks, Doucet's campaign means an end to the snooze-fest the race has been thus far. Even those who disagree with Clive's vision will admit that he has one – which is more than we could say for his opponents right now. Will he force the others to offer Ottawa voters more substance? Will he draw them out on issues they might not be prepared to debate – like deamalgamation?

Of course a good campaign needs strategy and substance (not to mention a good organization and a lot of money). Doucet has been proud of his “kitchen table” campaigns in the past – that won't work at the mayoral level, especially not in a city this tech-savvy, this diverse, this geographically huge.

Sounds like it's going to be a long, hot summer for all of them.
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Sweltering? Shakespeare!

Miss Vicky Wed Jul 7, 2010

If Bluesfest's not your bag, Salamander Theatre is bringing its annual production to McCormick Park and Lemieux Island this week. There are a number of Hintonburgers involved, so check it out!

This year's show is Romeo and Juliet. Starts at7pm at McCormick Park on July 8, and at Lemieux Island July 9. If it rains for the McCormick Park show, the performance will move to the Community Centre. Suggested "pass the hat" donation is $10

..... speaking of Hintonburgers, a new burger joint using that kick-butt name has moved into the former location of Khatoon. The Webgeek and AJ checked it out this week and have pronounced it tasty. Can't wait to try!


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Run for it - July 18

Miss Vicky Thu Jun 24, 2010

The annual Hintonburg Centennial 5k/1k is coming up soon - July 18! It's a great event - Miss Vicky and the Webgeek have run it in the past and had a fun time hoofing it through the 'hood. This year may be WeeG's first 1k, as we are not sure he'll want to stay in a stroller while Mom and Dad run. He's a busy guy with energy to burn (shocking, I know).

Now, this 5k is a fun run/walk - no pressure, and diverse participants of many ages and abilities.

If running is not your bag, though, there is a way you can participate and help make this event a success. This kind of run needs a LOT of people helping out - at the start and finish lines by Parkdale Park, and especially at the street barricades throughout the course, which runs through Hintonburg and West Wellington. You'd be needed from about 8:30 to about 10 - and there will be cake afterwards! Plus you get to cheer on friends and neighbours. It is a good gig.

Nat Hanson is coordinating volunteers and would love to hear from anyone who'd like to help out. She can be reached a natalie.hanson@gmail.com



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What's up?

Miss Vicky Wed Jun 16, 2010

You've probably noticed, Faithful Legion, that things have been a little quiet here lately. That's because we've seen some changes here at the Finishing School. Miss Vicky has returned to work, the Webgeek has become a full-time caregiver, and we're all getting used to the new routine.

It's quite a routine, because I have not returned to my former position at the Canadian Association of University Teachers. After 10 years there, I've moved on to new challenges and new responsibilities as Director of Women's and Human Rights at the Canadian Labour Congress. It's a hectic job with a steep learning curve, and I have had to hit the ground running. But it's a wonderful opportunity with some potential for really exciting and fulfilling work.

So for those of you who have been curious about my plans for the 2010 Municipal election - well, you won't be seeing my name on the ballot this time around. And now you know why. Of course, I'll still be blogging about the issues here and over at Spacing Ottawa. It might be slightly light blogging while I get used to the new work gig, but it will ramp up when the election really gets going in the fall.

As for the Webgeek's new gig as Stay at Home Dad, perhaps he'll post his own updates about his new role.





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Lansdowne Park Meeting- June 17

Miss Vicky Wed Jun 16, 2010

Miss Vicky received the following notice for a meeting on Lansdowne Park - it's decision time, so if you've waited to find out why there is opposition to the deal with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, this will give you a good overview.

Future of Lansdowne Park Public Meeting organized by the Friends of Lansdowne - A city-wide coalition for the revitalization of Landsdowne Park

7:30pm, Thursday, June 17
Civic Centre, Salon A
Doors open at 7pm

Let's get it right!
A panel of experts will explain the design plans, transportation issues, financial implications and many other issues.

What do you think about 350,000 square feet of retail on public land?
increasing traffic loads on Bank Street every day and all day?
Trading off public parks for more development?
...our councillors need to know!

see their site for more


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Gardening help needed!

Miss Vicky Wed Jun 9, 2010

From the Hintonburg Environment Committee. If you've got any of these perennials and other items - or energy to dig and plant - come on out!

Calling for Volunteers and Donations!

On June 13th (8 am - noon) and 19th (noon - 4 pm) people are welcome to join members of the Environment Committee to work on the front garden beds at the Hintonburg Community Centre. We want to develop gardens that will attract birds and bees and have already received a grant from the City to help us achieve this goal.

We are also looking for donations of the following to be dropped off at 256 Hinchey Ave after the 6th of June -

Supplies:
Rainbarrels
Liquid detergent bottles ( to be used as recycled watering cans)
Soil
Truck to move manure/soil on June 13th or 19th
Pea gravel
Mulch
Manure

A mixture of drought tolerant plants that like either the sun or shade:
Asters
Adams needle
Black-eyed Susans
Chicks and hens
Chives
Columbine
Coreopsis
Cosmos seeds
Gaillardia
Goatsbeard
Helenium
Hostas
Lavender
Lily of the valley
Lupins
Morning glory seeds
Ornamental grasses
Peony
Sage
Sedum
Snow in summer
Stonecrop
Thyme
Wild grape

Shrubs + Trees:
Butterfly bush
Dogwood
Lilac
Serviceberry

We have sources for Periwinkle, Violets, Lady’s Mantle and Coral Bells, but if you have some of these types of plants that you can contribute, that would be great!

Thanks so much!
Amber McCoy and Beth Greenhorn
Co-chairs Environment Committee
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