MCW in the News

CKUT 90.3 FM Montreal Interviews the Montreal Council of Women

On Wednesday, January 12, 2011 from 6:00-7:00 pm  CKUT 90.3 FM's  Rose Marie Whalley, who hosts the CKUT's program "OWL - Older Women Live", interviewed Bonnie Stamos Destounis, MCW's President, and Vivianne Silver, MCW's Education Convener.  They discussed the history of Montreal Council of Women, our structure, the issues we are concerned with and how we address them, our members,  our leadership and our programs.

Click on this link to listen to the archived podcast of this show:   "OWL - Older Women Live" interview by Rose Marie Whalley  Then click on Wednesday January 12, 2011  64 kbps or 128 kbps
 

Rose Marie Whalley is a grassroots social activist who has lived in Montreal since 1971. About 20 years ago, driven by the Montreal cold, she sought refuge in the warm studio of a local community radio station. Interested in developing radio from a feminist perspective, Rose Marie is a founding member of CKUT's Older Women Live (OWL) collective. She is also a long-time member of Canadian Voice of Women for Peace and a retired teacher.
 

MCW Meets with the Senate of Canada

On November 29, 2010 members of the MCW were invited for an hour long interview with a special Committee to discuss the difficulties that Anglophones face in Quebec:  "Meeting No. 26 Senate Committee on Official Languages".  Mair Verthuy, Bonnie Stamos Destounis and Beverley Colquhoun met with approximately a dozen Senators, ladies and gentlemen, all bilingual, originating in various parts of the country. They were of the opinion that while, a great deal of attention had justifiably been accorded to francophone minorities from coast to coast, little attention had been paid to English speakers in Québec. This committee had then undertaken this specific task.

We had submitted a written presentation in two parts: one offering a brief overview of the changes that had taken place in Montreal over the last one hundred and fifty years; the second containing a condensed outline of the specific difficulties facing Anglophones, women in particular, in the current situation. The historical section was much appreciated, “un petit bijou,” said one Senator. To start the interview, we were first asked to present a resume of the written presentation.  We touched on our membership, the isolation of many seniors, the flaws in the education system for both English speakers and youngsters raised in languages other than French or English; the role first of the Catholic Church then the State in separating the two major linguistic groups; the absence of any true governmental efforts to familiarize the “Québécois de souche” with other names, other cultures, to bring all citizens together in the Québec family. We underlined the difference in attitude towards newcomers between anglophone and francophone groups. While, at the end of the Second World War, the latter were quite busy turning their backs on newcomers, the MCW actually developed a guidebook for immigrants not of British origin to help them integrate into this new world. We spoke in particular of linguistic difficulties with in the health system and the lack of support given to the Anglophone Deaf population. We stressed that the political parties in Quebec paid little attention to Anglophones; the PQ because it thought Anglophones and Allophones would not be a major source of votes and the Liberals because they thought these same votes to be a sure thing. We thought both might be surprised in the next election.  Senators were encouraged by us to spend more time in Quebec visiting with the people rather than the élite (in church groups, in schools, CEGEPS and universities, nurses’ associations, union meetings, the MCW etc., etc.).

All the Senators asked interesting and pertinent questions. They were truly gripped by the subject and had obviously drawn a certain number of conclusions from earlier interviews with English-speaking associations. We came out very impressed by their warmth and knowledge. We certainly hope in the coming year to be able to introduce you to the Chair of this committee, Senator Maria Chaput from Manitoba and a very well known Senator in and from Québec, Madame Andrée Champagne.

PODCAST of Interview 

Click on the following weblink  "Meeting No. 26 Senate Committee on Official Languages"  and listen to the podcast of this interview. 

Instructions: 

1.  A calendar on left hand side appears - November 29, 2010 and underneath: 40th Parliament, Session 3 - OFFI - Official Languages

2.  On the right a file folder entitled "Event Information > General Information and Title:  OFFI Meeting No 26 appears. 

3.  Click on the small blue video clip that appears underneath this. 

4.  Another small box will pops up with a number of options; click on Floor Video 56 kbps. 

5.  A small video with a title "The Senate of Canada" on a black background appears.

6.  Place the mouse at the bottom of this black screen and a blue line with icons for "play" and "stop" the video will appear. 

7.  Drag the blue line half way across and suddenly Mair Verthuy will pop up.  Our interview begins at this point, i.e. at 5:30 pm.  We followed another group that was interviewed at 4:30 pm.