2007 Events
Street Health Project Nancy Halifax A Day in The Life - URGENT
Co-sponsored by the Centre for Arts-Informed Research
Photographs taken by different members of "A day in the life" photography and story collective . Their work comes from a community-based photography project where cameras were given to women and men who were experiencing insecure housing and homelessness, social exclusion, and poverty. These photographs complicate our perspective on the social world, helping us to think through some of the relational responsibilities we have toward each other and the world.
Jan 29 – Feb 23 2007
The Challenges of Studying Discrimination - Politics or Methodology? with Farah Mawani
will describe the development of her PhD thesis from the initial inspiration through the winding path she has navigated to where she is today. Her idea to study the links and pathways between discrimination and social support in their association to depression arose from the results of a qualitative study of social support in immigrant and refugee communities. She developed a proposal to examine these relationships among adult women participants of a quantitative national longitudinal study for which she was a research team member for five years. Due to a combination of research team politics and methodological limitations of the study, she revised her proposal while trying to maintain the essence of her original idea. Farah’s presentation will raise the question of whether the challenges to studying discrimination posed by others are methodological or political, in an attempt to generate ideas for ensuring that such an important topic and determinant of health is not taken off the research agenda.
Wed Feb 7 2007
The Symbolic and Political Significance of Women's Participation in the Indigenous Uprising of the 1990s in Ecuador, Luz María de la Torre Amaguana
This lecture presents a rare opportunity to learn from a first-hand participant and observer about the inspiring struggles of indigenous peoples in Ecuador. Current politics and worldviews as well as recent history will be discussed, with a focus on the role of indigenous women.
Mon Feb 12 2007, 7:30 pm, OISE 12-199
Feminist Bookstores, Radical Literacy
In conversation with each other, Anju Gogia, former manager of the Toronto Women’s Bookstore for ten years, and Kristen Hogan, feminist bookstores historian and current manager of the Toronto Women’s Bookstore, explore the historic and ongoing work of feminist bookstores. They will take up key points in the history of the 33-year-old Toronto Women’s Bookstore and put these moments in the context of a transnational feminist bookstore movement. Gogia and Hogan will discuss the space of TWB as a part of key changes in Toronto’s feminist movement, how feminist bookstores have gotten and kept women’s books in print, the development of TWB’s identity as a women of colour-centered feminist space, the projects of feminist bookstores internationally, the political activism of TWB, and the future for feminist bookstores as significant spaces for activism, women’s words, scholarship, and public education.
Mon Mar 5 2007, 7:30 pm, OISE 12-199
Download poster here.File/FeministBookstores.pdf
International Women’s Day Poetry Reading, Ayanna Black
This reading / presentation will reflect upon and share Ayanna Black's personal experiences as a feminist poet, anthologist and one of the founding members of CANBAIA. Ayanna will speak about creating a space for her work; her involvement in cultural/arts organizations; and the complex issues of diversity as they emerged over the past 20 years. We acknowledge the support of the Toronto Arts Council and the League of Canadian Poets.
Wed Mar 8 2007
Contesting and Consolidating African Feminism in Southern Africa
Patricia McFadden (lecture text)
The lecture will focus on the emergence of an African Women’s Movement (particularly in southern Africa) as a herstorical phenomenon, which is embedded in traditions of resistance and agency against African patriarchy and colonialism. It will also touch on more recent fractures and contestations between womanists and feminists over issues of sexuality/sexual orientation, the conflation of Rights into Reproduction and women’s relationships with the neo-colonial state. In conclusion the lecture will raise emerging conceptual and activist distinctions between ‘gender mainstreaming’ as a Women’s Movement strategy and Feminism/feminist activism as a radical imperative in the African and global context. Patricia McFadden will also conduct a Graduate Seminar from 2-4pm on the same day in Room OISE 7-192.
Mon Apr 2 2007, 7:30 pm, OISE 12-199
Download the lecture text here.
Metaphor as Method
Cheryl van Daalen-Smith
Sponsored by the Centre for Arts-Informed Research at OISE/UT.
Thurs Apr 5 2007, noon, OISE 7-162
Corset and Munitions: Poems for the Women in My Family
Vancy Kasper Through Vancy Kasper’s new poetry manuscript, her family’s participation in oft-neglected aspects of Canadian history will be brought to life. Ms. Kasper will speak about these women, whose lives span the 1837 Rebellion through World War II to today. We acknowledge the support of the Toronto Arts Council and the League of Canadian Poets.
Wed Apr 11 2007, noon, OISE 2-227
HALFWAY THERE: The State of Canada’s Commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Sponsored by UNICEF and Canadian Heritage.
Wed Apr 18 2007 OISE Auditorium
Open Your Kit Bag! An Exchange of Creative Strategies in Community-based Facilitation with Pam Patterson and Janet Howse
Those of us who work in/with various groups, communities and individuals have individually and collectively developed creative tools for facilitating change. Whether it is a particular way to make use of a post-it note or a multi-media collage, we have found unique ways to communicate, empower, build skills, and provide care. The intention here is to provide a forum for the exchange of the “tools” and especially explore their creative use for diverse communities and situations. We will look at the ways in which we use creative strategies and when, why and how we use them. Each individual is invited to bring a strategy to share. Each will be explored with the group and eventually compiled in a handbook for publication.
May 14, 2007
Buttonmaking: Aesthetics and Politics with Pam Patterson
Participants will make pin-on buttons. Buttonmaking uses collage of found images and text, a variety of other tools and materials, and a hand-held button press. Our discussion will focus on straddling the divide between political and aesthetic work. How do we project ourselves, our interests our issues into the world in concise visual form and find pleasure in the images and fun in the making?
May 07, 2007
Lost & Found: Hurt Rocks.... embracing life with Kathleen Foster-Morgan
Kathleen Foster-Morgan, CGT, OSP, FT, graduated in Nursing from the Scarborough General Hospital, Toronto, and worked in Industrial and Occupational Health with the Ontario Provincial Government dealing with workplace accidents and fatalities working closely with the Coroner's Office. She graduated from The Gestalt Institute of Toronto and joined the Ontario Society of Psychotherapists as a clinical member. She holds advanced certification in Grief Therapy and Death Education from the Association of Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), with whom she is certified as a Fellow of Thanatology. As the third child of Edith Fox-Foster, Kathleen has been responsible for developing the Edith Fox Life and Loss Centre, building on parallels with her mother's life. She is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Centre.
Kathleen is committed to building better communities by fostering a natural understanding of loss as part of life. Her experience shows that addressing a child’s very first loss experience is critical to normalizing the grief process and developing healthy and positive life skills.
April 30, 2007
Tit-Bits: knitting & breasts with Beryl Tsang.
In this workshop themed "Take Back the Tit" participants will learn to knit and construct "Tit-Bit" out of a luxury fibre (cotton silk, soy silk or cashmerino) that can be used as an object d'art or object de nécessité. Women who have lost a breast to cancer can use the Tit-Bit as an alternative to those nasty silicone prosthetics that resemble liver, while others can knit one that can be used for social or political action. The workshop will include a discussion about women's relationships with their breasts as well as an exploration of women's post-mastectomy experiences. Basic knitting experience is required. Yarn and needles can be purchased from a LYS (or Local Yarn Store) or from the instructor.
Beryl Tsang holds graduate degrees in East Asian history and cultural studies and has a long and varied career that has included a stint as a policy "wonk," diversity consultant, community worker, adult educator and advocate. A practicing Buddhist, she has a deep interest in faith, feminist and social justice issues. She also publishes and speaks widely on gender, identity and class. When not working Beryl can usually be found hanging out with her family (two kids, their dad and their pet snake), knitting mass quantities of unsual oject d'arts and lying on a yoga mat. A knitter who believes in reclaiming public space she is a founder of the Toronto Knit Rabble and an organizer of the twice yearly TTC Knit A Long.
April 23, 2007
Theatrical Approaches to Group Animation and Analysis with Margo Charlton
The workshop will explore how to use a variety of theatre games as part of group process. The activities, based on popular theatre and popular education principles, can be used with any group to help build group dynamics and analyze issues. We will explore how theatre can be used as a tool for empowerment, building agency and working towards action.
Activities will be based on Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed methodology and Margo’s experience working on popular theatre projects in a Canadian context. The workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss their own contexts and interest in using theatre and examples of successful applications will be provided through handouts. No previous experience in theatre is necessary. Participation is limited to 12.
Margo Charlton moved to Toronto from Winnipeg in 2002. She is a theatre director, dramaturge and producer with over twenty-seven years of experience working in professional and community-based theatre. Margo is currently the theatre officer at the Toronto Arts Council. She holds a Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy from ISIS-Canada (International School for Interdisciplinary Studies) and is completing her Masters at York University with a focus on approaches to evaluation in community arts.
April 16, 2007
Creating Peace with Bushra Afgani
April 9, 2007
STOP Shocking Our Mothers and Grandmothers an Anti-Shock Mother's Day Event
Sunday May 13, 2007 2-4 pm in front of Queen's Park (march begins at the Clarke Institute, 250 College St. at 1:15 pm).
Sponsored by Coalition Against Psychiatric Assault (CAPA); Sistering; and the Centre for Women and Trans People at York University.
Celebrate Feminism at OISE/UT
Open House • Saturday, May 5, 2007
Please join us at the Centre for Women’s Studies in Education on Saturday afternoon, May 5, 2007 to rekindle connections and honour the history and continuing presence of feminisms at OISE and beyond. The event is being held in conjunction with the celebration of 100 years of studies in education at the University of Toronto.
1 – 2 pm OISE Opening Library, Ground Floor
2 – 4 pm Feminist Open House CWSE, 2nd Floor
4 – 6 pm Feminist Celebration OISE Board Room, 12th Floor
Standing Exhibition ~May 5 – May 11, 2007, Room 2-295
To honour decades of groundbreaking scholarship and important struggles by feminists associated with OISE with displays, tours, poster sessions, and more.
We welcome proposals for poster displays to be presented on May 5th suggestions for additional display materials such as publications, posters photos, theses, ephemera.
OISE/UT 100th Anniversary
Mon Apr 30 - Mon May 7 2007 OISE 2-295 Standing Exhibition: Celebrating Feminisms at OISE
Sat May 5 2007, 2-4 pm, OISE 2-295 Open House: Celebrating Feminisms at OISE/UT
Sat May 5 2007, 4-6 pm, OISE 12-199 Feminist Celebration
WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS: BUILDING A PEACEFUL WORLD IN AN ERA OF GLOBALIZATION Alda Facio, Angela Miles, Monica Muñoz-Vargas.
May 22 to June 29, 2007
An International Human Rights Education Institute.
Part I, May 22-June 8, 2007 "Women's Human Rights Education in the Age of the Market: Challenges and Visions;"
Part II, June 11-29, 2007, "Women's Human Rights Education: Instruments and Activism."
Weekend Workshop & Institute: Institutional Ethnography as Alternative Social Analysis with Dorothy Smith.
Weekend Workshop Friday, August 17 to Sunday, August 19, 2007; fee $300. Weekend Workshop + Intensive One-Week Institute Friday August 17 to Friday, August 14, 2007; fee $700.
Dame Nita Barrow Distinguished Visitor Welcome for Seodi White / Comparative International Development Education (CIDE) Program POTLUCK Orientation/ Welcome South Peace Lounge, 7th floor, OISE/UT.
Monday, September 17, 2007 4-6pm
Walk the Talk to End Violence Against Women Art Installation
Initiated by the Voices of Women for Action, a committee of survivors working with the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto, and crafted by survivors and advocates working to end violence against women, the exhibit is a moving testimony to the diversity of women who lose their lives as a result of domestic violence. Each pair of shoes is decorated in commemoration of 30 women and 12 children who were murdered as a result of domestic violence in 2006. Sponsored by the Assault Counselling and Education Program at the University of Toronto. http://www.calss.utoronto.ca/assault.htm
The exhibit is at the Robarts Library, 2nd floor, north lobby until January 4, 2008.
Dame Nita Barrow Distinguished Visitor Lecture
Thursday, NOVEMBER 8, 2007, 7:00 p.m., George Ignatieff Theatre
As an African feminist and Director of Women and the Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust (WLSA Malawi) Seodi White has been influential in achieving ground-breaking law reform to protect women’s rights, and in promoting women’s access to justice in Malawi and throughout Southern Africa. She is a social development lawyer, socio-legal researcher and writer on women’s human rights.
This lecture will highlight women’s experiences of and responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Southern Africa, and in particular Malawi. Seodi White is Executive Director of Malawi-based Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust (WLSA Malawi).
Southern Africa has the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world. Southern African governments in partnership with the international community have consolidated efforts aimed at reducing HIV infection rates and mitigating the impact of the disease. However, HIV/AIDS rates remain high.
Seodi White will present research findings which show HIV/AIDS is a feminised epidemic. She will argue the failure of governments to recognize this infringes on the rights of women and in particular their right to life, and severely limits the impact of their programs. She will highlight the effectiveness of the rights based approach adopted by the women’s movement in Southern Africa. She will argue and show that respect, protection and promotion and fulfilment of women’s rights in Southern Africa is essential, not only to fulfill the State’s obligations, but also to effectively deal with HIV/AIDS in the region.
Sponsored by the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto: the Centre for Women’s Studies in Education, and the Department of Adult Education and Counselling Psychology. This lecture is supported with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada.