[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":780},["ShallowReactive",2],{"commentaries-all":3},[4,220,573],{"id":5,"title":6,"authorBio":7,"authorName":8,"authorPortrait":9,"authorPortraitAlt":10,"body":11,"description":211,"extension":212,"meta":213,"navigation":214,"oldPath":215,"path":216,"seo":217,"stem":218,"__hash__":219},"commentaries\u002Fcommentaries\u002F01.phenomenal-women-atlantic-canada.md","Phenomenal Women of Atlantic Canada","\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fpeople.stfx.ca\u002Flenglish\u002F\">Leona M. English\u003C\u002Fa> is a Professor of Adult Education at \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.stfx.ca\u002F\">St. Francis Xavier University\u003C\u002Fa> in Nova Scotia. She studies women's activism and leadership in community-based non-profit organizations.\u003C\u002Fp>","Leona M. English","\u002Fimages\u002Fcommentaries\u002Fphenomenal-women-atlantic-canada.jpg","Photo of Leona English.",{"type":12,"value":13,"toc":203},"minimark",[14,58,63,120,124,155,159,178,182],[15,16,17,18,25,26,31,32,37,38,42,43,47,48,52,53,57],"p",{},"It's hard not to think of Maya Angelou's “",[19,20,24],"a",{"href":21,"rel":22},"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.poetryfoundation.org\u002Fpoem\u002F178942",[23],"nofollow","Phenomenal Woman","” poem when viewing these biographies of women activists in the Atlantic region. From my perspective of having read the profiles, each of these 27 women embodies the word phenomenal in their very being: they are strong in voice, rich in hope, and daring in deed. They are phenomenal women who pressed ahead in the face of considerable constraints that threatened to shut them down in their struggle for justice, language rights, women's equality, social housing, adequate food, and a host of other issues. The richness of the profiles and the wonderful images on the site fill me with hope and help me “hear” the stories of struggle and triumph in the face of adversity. Just seeing these older women on the website as everyday women of conviction and courage is inspiring. A polished website like this one takes sometimes hidden stories and brings them to the international stage, in many ways making ordinary feats of incredible accomplishment extraordinary. My hat is off to those who made this possible, Liz Burge, Gail Taylor, and the ",[19,27,30],{"href":28,"rel":29},"http:\u002F\u002Fetc.lib.unb.ca\u002F",[23],"Electronic Text Centre"," professionals at the ",[19,33,36],{"href":34,"rel":35},"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.unb.ca\u002F",[23],"University of New Brunswick",". The 27 women represent a range of geographic locations, religious affiliation, racial grouping, language ability, as well as cultural, educational and socio-economic backgrounds. They are as diverse a mix of women as any can be in any area; somehow it surprises me to know that we in Atlantic Canada are as diverse as these portraits suggest. Yet, when I read the stories I am reminded of these women's deep and enduring connections to the region and how they typify in many ways the Atlantic Canadian spirit of endurance, perseverance and triumph (",[19,39,41],{"href":40},"#english-2011","English, 2011","; ",[19,44,46],{"href":45},"#english-irving-2007","English & Irving, 2007","). They remind me that we are stronger through the diversity that each one of brings, and for the commonality they share. From Acadian ",[19,49,51],{"href":50},"\u002Factivists\u002Fmay-bouchard","May Bouchard"," who advanced the rights of the French in Nova Scotia to ",[19,54,56],{"href":55},"\u002Factivists\u002Fkathy-sheldon","Kathy Sheldon"," who committed herself to a lifetime of social change for women in Newfoundland and Labrador, each contributes no less than everything to the betterment of our region. I feel ever so grateful to be in their company.",[59,60,62],"h2",{"id":61},"activists-of-a-different-sort","Activists of a Different Sort",[15,64,65,66,71,72,76,77,81,82,86,87,91,92,94,95,99,100,104,105,109,110,114,115,119],{},"As a person with a great interest in finding out more about women and social change, I am struck by a number of themes that arise in these portraits, how they are alike and different from women in activist roles internationally. Often in the public mindset, people who crusade for rights as these women have done do so with banners, protests and bullhorns. Indeed there was a time in our history that these overt and confrontational strategies worked and worked well in efforts to attain equal pay for equal work, reform matrimonial laws, and end discrimination on the basis of gender. Usually these large scale and very public protests were located in urban areas and involved national organizations such as the ",[19,67,70],{"href":68,"rel":69},"http:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FNational_Action_Committee_on_the_Status_of_Women",[23],"National Action Committee on the Status of Women Canada",". In the portraits that Liz Burge and colleagues have crafted here with Atlantic women activists a different type of activism seems to be at play. It is less heroic (oppositional, loud, visible, and public) in a historical sense and closer to what some would call post-heroic and post-activist (see ",[19,73,75],{"href":74},"#fletcher-2003","Fletcher, 2003","). By these terms I mean the largely quiet, small scale, and collaborative activism represented here. Though there are certainly national and public figures represented in the profiles — take ",[19,78,80],{"href":79},"\u002Factivists\u002Fnancy-riche","Nancy Riche","'s leadership in the trade union movement or ",[19,83,85],{"href":84},"\u002Factivists\u002Fjoan-hicks","Joan Hicks"," in CCLOW — by and large the activism here has been behind the scenes and relatively muted. ",[19,88,90],{"href":89},"\u002Factivists\u002Fsister-dorothy-moore-csm","Sr. Dorothy Moore",", for instance, has been working for years in a variety of educational and leadership positions to advance language rights and possibilities for First Nations in the region. She has been patient and accepting, and avoided aggression, moving steadily forward and accomplishing a great deal in the process. Women like ",[19,93,90],{"href":89}," have pushed gently and persevered in the face of great opposition; they have represented their causes with integrity and in very assertive ways. Theirs is non-violent tenacious activism that is less about parades, though they have had their place, and more about effectiveness and long term change. In narrative after narrative it is clear that subversion and assertiveness have replaced aggression and attack as strategies for change. When one looks at the advice that is offered in each profile restraint and negotiation are highlighted as useful tactics for success. For many of them, the government (or the boss, or the agency) is not the enemy but the partner you have to work with, although you might have plans to change them too. This is not all-or-nothing activism that takes prisoners and fights the good fight, as valiant as that might be in another time and place. As ",[19,96,98],{"href":97},"\u002Factivists\u002Fmaria-bernard","Maria Bernard"," from PEI recommends, it's best not to step on toes. In many ways, this reflects the geographic reality of living in places that are small, regional and in which interdependence is still a reality. Stepping on toes is a short term answer which causes a lot of long term problems, it seems. I am reminded, as I read the faces, that the resistance of many of the activists has been sustained over the long haul and is rarely if ever completed or accomplished in one feat. They defy the notion of hero as one who sweeps in, has an immediate victory and becomes a household name overnight. ",[19,101,103],{"href":102},"\u002Factivists\u002Fann-brennan","Ann Brennan"," in New Brunswick spent decades behind the scenes in the Liberal party pushing for change and making sure that women had a voice in the largely male world of elected politics. ",[19,106,108],{"href":107},"\u002Factivists\u002Fyvonne-atwell","Yvonne Atwell"," has been serving the needs of the African Nova Scotian community and advancing their cause for more than forty years. She gives new meaning to the term long haul and stands as a proud leader for a community that has suffered a great deal from racial, economic, and cultural discrimination. Some of these women have earned high profile positions like ",[19,111,113],{"href":112},"\u002Factivists\u002Fmadeleine-gaudet","Madeleine Gaudet"," who led the nurses' union in New Brunswick and ",[19,116,118],{"href":117},"\u002Factivists\u002Fshannie-duff","Shannie Duff"," who served in the legislative assembly in Newfoundland and Labrador. Others have worked steadily in local areas and in voluntary capacities to advance their causes. In all cases they continue to serve their communities, long past the time when their official and professional roles are behind them. They are notable for their constant choice to use their gifts and talents to work for others, not for themselves.",[59,121,123],{"id":122},"a-reminder-of-what-i-know","A Reminder of What I Know",[15,125,126,127,131,132,134,135,139,140,144,145,149,150,154],{},"Like women's activism worldwide, relationships are a key dimension of these activists' stories. As clichéd as it sounds, networks and relationships are a very big part of how women work for change. In these stories, time and again, the activists talked about working together, bringing people on board, and moving forward as a collective. From her perspective in policy work, ",[19,128,130],{"href":129},"\u002Factivists\u002Fstella-lord","Stella Lord",", for example, sees the need to find and work with other women to make change happen. The superhero or the individualistic hero (the so-called great woman) is not part of Stella's narrative nor is it part of any of the other narratives. ",[19,133,85],{"href":84},", also from Nova Scotia, made great strides in libraries, local communities, and in the CCLOW, by building networks and relationships so that change could happen. Similarly, ",[19,136,138],{"href":137},"\u002Factivists\u002Fedith-perry","Edith Perry"," from PEI worked through the Women's Institutes and through the New Democratic Party to create and sustain change in her province. Like many of the women in this study her strategy has been to work with colleagues to move ahead. Similar to women activists in other places, the site of much of the activism in these profiles is in local organizations and at the grassroots where women have decided to collectively and actively care for, advance, and defend the rights of women and the disadvantaged. The work of these Atlantic women activists is carried on in daily actions and practices, again challenging a simplistic view of activism as visible protest and action only. Their activism is seen in the soup kitchen at Romero House, headed by ",[19,141,143],{"href":142},"\u002Factivists\u002Fcarolyn-mcnulty","Carolyn McNulty"," and the one started by ",[19,146,148],{"href":147},"\u002Factivists\u002Fsister-kathrine-bellamy-rsm","Sr. Kathrine Bellamy"," in St. John's. And when the issues change, these women do too. Whereas some of the stories start with the strength and leadership in the Women's Institutes that often sought equality for women, the issues and the women activists have shifted with them. The leaders are located more and more in unions, education, and Status of Women centres. Yet, the heart of the matter is often improving the structures and the services to the poor, the aged, and the discriminated against. Theirs is an activism and heroism of cooperation, linkages, and support, creating a new vision and new possibilities to address the most ordinary and problematic of issues. In a way it is reminiscent of women's groups such as the suffragists and temperance activists who knew the importance of forming alliances long before it was considered heroic. I suspect that many of these women were quite surprised when they were first called activists, perhaps when they received their various awards like the Order of Canada and the Order of New Brunswick. Neither famous nor intentionally heroes they were by and large women who saw a need and met it. ",[19,151,153],{"href":152},"\u002Factivists\u002Fmarian-perkins","Marian Perkins"," likely did not grow up thinking she would champion the cause of treatment for addictions, yet she took up the cause when it became apparent to her that she could do no other. Yet, she is an activist through and through.",[59,156,158],{"id":157},"expanding-this-work","Expanding this Work",[15,160,161,162,166,167,171,172,177],{},"As their activism changes with the times, so too does the way in which their stories are communicated to us. Ironically, the twenty-first-century tool of the Internet makes it possible for their stories to be heard, though it seems that none of their stories has any great technological component in them. For their generation of women activists, dialogue and relationships one on one seemed more prominent. I suspect that the stories of younger activists will contain more Internet, Facebook, and Twitter tools, but yet still be based on relationships. The challenge for the older activists profiled here will be to make way for the next generation and to welcome their ideas, strategies, and the issues that they have prioritized such as the environment, water, and sustainability. Bringing in the next generation will be a struggle but one that these senior women seem prepared for since they have had to deal with change and growth constantly. Working with limited resources, as they have done, has hopefully made them courageous and open to new possibilities and people. In many ways these 27 women share with women activists all over the globe the ability to recognize that something like poverty or wages or racial discrimination needs to be addressed and to just do it. And, significantly, none of these women travelled too far from home to do it: like ",[19,163,165],{"href":164},"\u002Factivists\u002Fsister-joan-okeefe-sc","Sr. Joan O'Keefe"," who became a doula, they recognized where they could do most good and did it. Women like ",[19,168,170],{"href":169},"\u002Factivists\u002Fann-bell","Ann Bell"," who became a leader in the ",[19,173,176],{"href":174,"rel":175},"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.pacsw.ca\u002Fmembers\u002Findex.php?q=node\u002F3",[23],"Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women Newfoundland and Labrador"," took on the challenges of her time and place and accomplished much. Yet, it likely will be important for the next generation of activists to expand themselves outward and to make global connections. Information communication technologies will likely be the key to this expansion and that is where younger activists will be best able to make a sustained contribution. How they do that will be interesting to watch and be part of. They have the tools, the mentors, and the ability to take on the world and we need to be ready and receptive to them and their strategies. With this website, Liz Burge and her colleagues have created what I now think of as the Atlantic Canada Lifetime Achievement Award for Women. It is in league with the many orders and awards that these women have already achieved after a lifetime. Yet, it is unique in that it uses a twenty-first century medium to acknowledge them, and it brings them together in one place for our benefit. They are a collective voice for change and they are an authentic representation of our Atlantic region's power and capability. I am proud to be among them and am endlessly inspired by how they have lived their lives for others. Thank you so much for the opportunity to visit with them and to let their lives speak to me.",[59,179,181],{"id":180},"reference","Reference",[15,183,184,185,189,190,193,194,197,198],{},"English, L. M. (2011). Adult education on the Newfoundland coast: Adventure and opportunity for women in the 1930s and 1940s. ",[186,187,188],"em",{},"Newfoundland and Labrador Studies",", 26 (1), 25-54. English, L. M., & Irving, C. (2007). A review of the Canadian literature on gender and learning. ",[186,191,192],{},"Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education",", 20 (1), 16-31. Fletcher, J. K. (2003). ",[186,195,196],{},"The paradox of post heroic leadership: Gender matters",". Working Paper 17. Center for Gender in Organizations. Simmons School of Management, Boston. Online: ",[19,199,202],{"href":200,"rel":201},"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.simmons.edu\u002Fsom\u002Fdocs\u002Fcgo%5C_wp17%5C_DNC.pdf",[23],"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.simmons.edu\u002Fsom\u002Fdocs\u002Fcgo\\_wp17\\_DNC.pdf",{"title":204,"searchDepth":205,"depth":205,"links":206},"",2,[207,208,209,210],{"id":61,"depth":205,"text":62},{"id":122,"depth":205,"text":123},{"id":157,"depth":205,"text":158},{"id":180,"depth":205,"text":181},"It's hard not to think of Maya Angelou's “Phenomenal Woman” poem when viewing these biographies of women activists in the Atlantic region. From my perspective of having read the profiles, each of these 27 women embodies the word phenomenal in their very being: they are strong in voice, rich in hope, and daring in deed. They are phenomenal women who pressed ahead in the face of considerable constraints that threatened to shut them down in their struggle for justice, language rights, women's equality, social housing, adequate food, and a host of other issues. The richness of the profiles and the wonderful images on the site fill me with hope and help me “hear” the stories of struggle and triumph in the face of adversity. Just seeing these older women on the website as everyday women of conviction and courage is inspiring. A polished website like this one takes sometimes hidden stories and brings them to the international stage, in many ways making ordinary feats of incredible accomplishment extraordinary. My hat is off to those who made this possible, Liz Burge, Gail Taylor, and the Electronic Text Centre professionals at the University of New Brunswick. The 27 women represent a range of geographic locations, religious affiliation, racial grouping, language ability, as well as cultural, educational and socio-economic backgrounds. They are as diverse a mix of women as any can be in any area; somehow it surprises me to know that we in Atlantic Canada are as diverse as these portraits suggest. Yet, when I read the stories I am reminded of these women's deep and enduring connections to the region and how they typify in many ways the Atlantic Canadian spirit of endurance, perseverance and triumph (English, 2011; English & Irving, 2007). They remind me that we are stronger through the diversity that each one of brings, and for the commonality they share. From Acadian May Bouchard who advanced the rights of the French in Nova Scotia to Kathy Sheldon who committed herself to a lifetime of social change for women in Newfoundland and Labrador, each contributes no less than everything to the betterment of our region. I feel ever so grateful to be in their company.","md",{},true,"\u002Fphenomenal-women-atlantic-canada","\u002Fcommentaries\u002Fphenomenal-women-atlantic-canada",{"title":6,"description":211},"commentaries\u002F01.phenomenal-women-atlantic-canada","zSqk9qNKNE-d3I5TSSX2Wjv-pDFTfPei14YbedVBDPs",{"id":221,"title":222,"authorBio":223,"authorName":224,"authorPortrait":225,"authorPortraitAlt":226,"body":227,"description":566,"extension":212,"meta":567,"navigation":214,"oldPath":568,"path":569,"seo":570,"stem":571,"__hash__":572},"commentaries\u002Fcommentaries\u002F02.stories-passion-persistence-public-service.md","Stories of Passion, Persistence, and Public Service","\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fedst.educ.ubc.ca\u002Ffacultystaff\u002Fshauna-butterwick\">Shauna Butterwick\u003C\u002Fa> is a Professor in the Department of Educational Studies at the \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.ubc.ca\u002F\">University of British Columbia\u003C\u002Fa>. Her research and teaching interests focus, in part, on community-based adult education, feminist approaches to social justice, and women's learning across various contexts including social movements.\u003C\u002Fp>","Shauna Butterwick","\u002Fimages\u002Fcommentaries\u002Fstories-passion-persistence-public-service.jpg","Photo of Shauna Butterwick",{"type":12,"value":228,"toc":554},[229,350,354,362,366,376,380,404,408,423,427,439,443,456,460,472,476,493,497,518,522],[15,230,231,232,236,237,241,242,241,245,248,249,252,253,248,257,261,262,248,264,268,269,273,274,241,276,278,279,283,284,289,290,295,296,241,298,248,302,304,305,309,310,315,316,321,322,248,324,326,327,241,329,241,331,248,333,335,336,241,338,248,342,344,345,304,347,349],{},"I must begin by thanking Liz Burge for the invitation to comment on the narratives of women activists of Atlantic Canada and for her vision and dedication to this important project. To the women she spoke with, I thank you for giving your time to speak with Liz and, more particularly, for the years you have devoted to making the world a better place. While these stories are relevant to Canadians, international audiences will also benefit from examining these profiles as they offer many case studies of making a difference and challenging injustice. These profiles offer much wisdom for advocates working with a wide variety of issues: adequate and affordable housing; public health; urban planning and historic restoration; services and rights of seniors; preservation of Aboriginal culture and language; violence against women; the economic and social costs of alcoholism and addiction; francophone education; and homelessness and anti-poverty initiatives. Readers will also learn about the work of many voluntary women's organizations that receive little public attention and about the history of social change in Atlantic Canada. (",[19,233,235],{"href":234},"#mirth-2003","Mirth, 2003",".) What did these women accomplish? Let me offer a quick snap shot. Many of these activists were devoted to social justice through their religious service including Sisters ",[19,238,240],{"href":239},"\u002Factivists\u002Fsister-angelina-martz-scic","Angie Martz",", ",[19,243,244],{"href":147},"Kathrine Bellamy",[19,246,247],{"href":164},"Joan O'Keefe"," and ",[19,250,251],{"href":89},"Dorothy Moore",". These women and others, including ",[19,254,256],{"href":255},"\u002Factivists\u002Fphyllis-artiss","Phyllis Artiss",[19,258,260],{"href":259},"\u002Factivists\u002Fviola-robinson","Viola Robinson",", also advocated for services and self-determination of Indigenous communities. Working in community development to counter racism and marginalization of the Black community in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick was important in the activism of ",[19,263,108],{"href":107},[19,265,267],{"href":266},"\u002Factivists\u002Fsue-rickards","Sue Rickards",". The extensive involvement of volunteers across multiple arenas of life is evident in ",[19,270,272],{"href":271},"\u002Factivists\u002Fshirley-chernin","Shirley Chernin","'s narrative. Many of these women were actively involved with Councils for the Status of Women including ",[19,275,170],{"href":169},[19,277,130],{"href":129},", and ",[19,280,282],{"href":281},"\u002Factivists\u002Fmary-lou-stirling","Mary Lou Stirling",". Other women's organizations such as ",[19,285,288],{"href":286,"rel":287},"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.fwic.ca\u002F",[23],"Women's Institutes",", the ",[19,291,294],{"href":292,"rel":293},"http:\u002F\u002Fywcacanada.ca\u002F",[23],"YWCA"," and the Canadian Congress for Learning Opportunities for Women (CCLOW) were also the sites of activism as evident in the profiles of ",[19,297,85],{"href":84},[19,299,301],{"href":300},"\u002Factivists\u002Felizabeth-betty-lacey","Elizabeth Lacey",[19,303,56],{"href":55},". ",[19,306,308],{"href":307},"betty-peterson-aka-kukuminash","Betty Peterson","'s peace activism led her to working with ",[19,311,314],{"href":312,"rel":313},"http:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FMuriel_Duckworth",[23],"Muriel Duckworth"," and the ",[19,317,320],{"href":318,"rel":319},"http:\u002F\u002Fvowpeace.org\u002F",[23],"Canadian Voice of Women for Peace"," (VOW). Two of the women gave their hearts and time to correcting the marginalization of the Francophone community in Atlantic Canada: ",[19,323,98],{"href":97},[19,325,51],{"href":50},". Several women saw women's representation in union decision making and involvement with political parties as crucial: ",[19,328,103],{"href":102},[19,330,118],{"href":117},[19,332,80],{"href":79},[19,334,138],{"href":137},". Nursing proved to be an important site for activist learning for ",[19,337,170],{"href":169},[19,339,341],{"href":340},"\u002Factivists\u002Folive-bryanton","Olive Bryanton",[19,343,113],{"href":112},". Anti-poverty work and the provision of adequate services to distressed and economically poor families lie at the core of the long term activism of ",[19,346,143],{"href":142},[19,348,153],{"href":152}," focussed on developing alcohol addiction services and advocating for women living within the justice system. But this overview of accomplishments does not do justice to these women's accomplishments so please take some time to read them.",[59,351,353],{"id":352},"linking-to-my-own-learning","Linking to my own learning",[15,355,356,357,361],{},"Much wisdom about how to understand the meaning and processes of social change is evident in these profiles. There is much that I learned from reading these accounts but several key reminders stood out. First, the leadership, work, commitment and wisdom of women in bringing about social change have contributed so much and often remains hidden, a topic dear to my heart. (",[19,358,360],{"href":359},"#butterwick-1998","Butterwick, 1998",".) Second, effective social change is a grass roots organic process that takes place everywhere: in and outside of institutions, in community meetings and around kitchen tables, through street protest, in meetings with government and policy makers, and in engagements with the media. Third, movements for social change are about networks, not just individuals. Fourth, social change is all about lifelong learning and praxis, studying an issue, taking action, getting feedback, moving forward. What these profiles offer is a rich source of case studies that should be considered by students and scholars of adult education, women's studies, urban planning, health promotion and public policy development. Other key themes that struck me are offered below; they are analysed separately here but are very much interrelated.",[59,363,365],{"id":364},"living-and-breathing-an-activist-life","Living and breathing an activist life",[15,367,368,369,372,373,375],{},"For these activists engaging in advocacy work was fully integrated into their life, their paid and unpaid work. Family was a powerful teacher about their responsibilities to others and to work for social change. ",[19,370,371],{"href":239},"Sister Angie Martz",", for example, recalled how during the depression, those out of work often came to the family farm looking for food and shelter. “They were always treated with the greatest respect and given more than many would give”. ",[19,374,256],{"href":255}," recalls how her parents, while not using the term social justice, “talked to us about the Golden Rule … treating others as we wanted to be treated ourselves”.",[59,377,379],{"id":378},"taking-action-and-speaking-out","Taking action and speaking out",[15,381,382,383,385,386,388,389,391,392,394,395,397,398,400,401,403],{},"Many spoke about the importance of taking action and not waiting for others or government to recognize problems and do something. ",[19,384,51],{"href":50},"'s approach was consistently proactive: “if you see problems, you must take action; don't wait for someone else”. ",[19,387,103],{"href":102}," comments on how, for her, social change was a personal issue before she moved into the public arena. ",[19,390,240],{"href":239}," offers wise words: “be hard on injustice and gentle on people”. Speaking out publicly and, for some, engaging in protest were key aspects of social change but they brought their own risks. When ",[19,393,108],{"href":107}," spoke out she faced resistance and some people who boldly challenged her arguments: “who do you think you are?” ",[19,396,113],{"href":112}," cautions that in taking public action and having a voice means you won't please everyone. Similarly ",[19,399,143],{"href":142}," suggests that we cannot win every battle so we need to set our priorities. ",[19,402,153],{"href":152}," reminds us to prepare for critique and opposition as well as indifference.",[59,405,407],{"id":406},"changing-public-policy","Changing public policy",[15,409,410,411,413,414,416,417,419,420,422],{},"These activists devoted much of their time working to change government policies and programs. They were wise in their strategies and worked with many government levels. For example, ",[19,412,118],{"href":117},", frustrated with the lack of municipal response, went to Ottawa and found programs that would fund such initiatives. ",[19,415,103],{"href":102},"'s approach involved both critique but also offering solutions. ",[19,418,301],{"href":300}," kept communication open with policy makers and made personal connections. Persistence and patience are key for working to change policy because frustrations will arise. ",[19,421,341],{"href":340},", for example, fought against policy makers who did not recognize the knowledge and skills of seniors.",[59,424,426],{"id":425},"doing-your-homework","Doing your homework",[15,428,429,430,432,433,435,436,438],{},"All of the activists spoke about how social change cannot happen if you don't carefully analyze the issues and understand underlying causes. You need to get help from others for this work. ",[19,431,170],{"href":169},", for example, enlisted experts and ",[19,434,153],{"href":152}," collaborated with university researchers. Listening is an essential skill for social change and all of the activists spoke to this. ",[19,437,267],{"href":266}," describes how listening is essential to working in solidarity with communities, rather than assuming a helping role and indicating that you understand the problems and know the solutions.",[59,440,442],{"id":441},"building-a-network","Building a network",[15,444,445,446,448,449,452,453,455],{},"All the women spoke about how they were part of a collective or network in their social change advocacy. ",[19,447,51],{"href":50}," argues that recognizing the strengths of others was essential; Marion Perkins emphasizes the importance of thanking those who have helped and giving them credit. ",[19,450,451],{"href":147},"Sister Kathrine Bellamy"," spoke about asking others for ideas and then getting out of the way of those more capable. One of the important aspects of a network, as ",[19,454,113],{"href":112}," notes, is getting feedback.",[59,457,459],{"id":458},"heartfelt-action","Heartfelt action",[15,461,462,463,465,466,468,469,471],{},"Passion is a strong theme running throughout these stories. Anger was something many felt when they witnessed or experienced injustice. ",[19,464,118],{"href":117}," was “outraged that there was no response from city hall”. ",[19,467,80],{"href":79}," witnessed how women were sidelined in union decision making and used her anger to interrupt the old boys' network of power. While anger serves as a cue for injustice, many, like ",[19,470,51],{"href":50},", cautioned that advocates should not be angry when speaking out: “conciliation, not confrontation is best”. Be hard on injustice but gentle with people.",[59,473,475],{"id":474},"working-with-media-and-public","Working with media and public",[15,477,478,479,481,482,248,484,486,487,489,490,492],{},"To get the attention of politicians and to educate the public, many of the activists worked strategically with the media. They learned many lessons: key ones being know the facts and stick to them; don't get frustrated, and repeat the message. ",[19,480,341],{"href":340}," and many others noted how patience and persistence are required. Educating the public was part of the work of several activists. Both ",[19,483,256],{"href":255},[19,485,301],{"href":300},", for example, noted how “activism always involves some teaching”. ",[19,488,98],{"href":97}," calls on activists to educate, not confront. ",[19,491,118],{"href":117}," worked hard to build community awareness and ownership of the problems.",[59,494,496],{"id":495},"linking-to-fields-of-study","Linking to fields of study",[15,498,499,500,42,504,508,509,42,513,517],{},"There is much intergenerational learning that can take place if younger activists were directed to read these profiles. These stories also contribute to understanding the process of changing policy and how the knowledge generated through grass roots activism can be an essential source of information for social policy development. For adult education scholars like myself, these narratives also offer rich examples of social movement learning, particular feminist activism. (",[19,501,503],{"href":502},"#butterwick-selman-2003","Butterwick & Selman, 2003",[19,505,507],{"href":506},"#butterwick-2003","Butterwick, 2003",".) These stories also remind me of the need for active engagement in fighting for our social safety net given the punitive welfare reforms undertaken by government and their associated cuts to funding. (",[19,510,512],{"href":511},"#butterwick-2010","Butterwick, 2010",[19,514,516],{"href":515},"#butterwick-white-2006","Butterwick & White, 2006",".) These stories clearly illustrate the central role of democratic public engagement as a key element of social change and how lifelong learning is central to the process of social change. These profiles are all inspiring examples of sustained, passionate, and democratic social change, three elements at the core of achieving social justice. These women activists have shown us the way; let us learn from them and continue to find ways for intergenerational and international dialogue.",[59,519,521],{"id":520},"references","References",[15,523,524,525,528,529,532,533,537,538,541,542,545,546,550,551,553],{},"Butterwick, S. (1998). Lest We Forget: Uncovering Women’s Leadership in Adult Education. In G. Selman, M. Selman, M. Cooke & P. Dampier (Eds.) ",[186,526,527],{},"The Foundations of Adult Education in Canada"," (pp. 103-116). Second Edition. Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing. Butterwick, S. (2003). Researching speaking and listening across difference: Exploring feminist coalition politics through participatory theatre. ",[186,530,531],{},"International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education",", 16 (3), 443-459. Butterwick, S. (2010, July). Meaningful training programs for BC welfare recipients with multiple barriers: Help first, not work first. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Online: ",[19,534,535],{"href":535,"rel":536},"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.policyalternatives.ca\u002Fpublications\u002Freports\u002Fmeaningful-training-programs",[23]," Butterwick, S. & Selman, J. (2003). Deep listening in a feminist popular theatre project: Upsetting the position of audience in participatory education. ",[186,539,540],{},"Adult Education Quarterly",", 53 (4), 7-23. Butterwick, S. with White, C. (February, 2006). ",[186,543,544],{},"A path out of poverty: Helping BC income assistance recipients upgrade their education",". Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Online: ",[19,547,548],{"href":548,"rel":549},"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.policyalternatives.ca\u002Fpublications\u002Freports\u002F",[23]," Mirth, D. (2003). The marginalized role of non-formal education in the development of adult education. ",[186,552,192],{},", 17 (1), 19-45.",{"title":204,"searchDepth":205,"depth":205,"links":555},[556,557,558,559,560,561,562,563,564,565],{"id":352,"depth":205,"text":353},{"id":364,"depth":205,"text":365},{"id":378,"depth":205,"text":379},{"id":406,"depth":205,"text":407},{"id":425,"depth":205,"text":426},{"id":441,"depth":205,"text":442},{"id":458,"depth":205,"text":459},{"id":474,"depth":205,"text":475},{"id":495,"depth":205,"text":496},{"id":520,"depth":205,"text":521},"I must begin by thanking Liz Burge for the invitation to comment on the narratives of women activists of Atlantic Canada and for her vision and dedication to this important project. To the women she spoke with, I thank you for giving your time to speak with Liz and, more particularly, for the years you have devoted to making the world a better place. While these stories are relevant to Canadians, international audiences will also benefit from examining these profiles as they offer many case studies of making a difference and challenging injustice. These profiles offer much wisdom for advocates working with a wide variety of issues: adequate and affordable housing; public health; urban planning and historic restoration; services and rights of seniors; preservation of Aboriginal culture and language; violence against women; the economic and social costs of alcoholism and addiction; francophone education; and homelessness and anti-poverty initiatives. Readers will also learn about the work of many voluntary women's organizations that receive little public attention and about the history of social change in Atlantic Canada. (Mirth, 2003.) What did these women accomplish? Let me offer a quick snap shot. Many of these activists were devoted to social justice through their religious service including Sisters Angie Martz, Kathrine Bellamy, Joan O'Keefe and Dorothy Moore. These women and others, including Phyllis Artiss and Viola Robinson, also advocated for services and self-determination of Indigenous communities. Working in community development to counter racism and marginalization of the Black community in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick was important in the activism of Yvonne Atwell and Sue Rickards. The extensive involvement of volunteers across multiple arenas of life is evident in Shirley Chernin's narrative. Many of these women were actively involved with Councils for the Status of Women including Ann Bell, Stella Lord, and Mary Lou Stirling. Other women's organizations such as Women's Institutes, the YWCA and the Canadian Congress for Learning Opportunities for Women (CCLOW) were also the sites of activism as evident in the profiles of Joan Hicks, Elizabeth Lacey and Kathy Sheldon. Betty Peterson's peace activism led her to working with Muriel Duckworth and the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW). Two of the women gave their hearts and time to correcting the marginalization of the Francophone community in Atlantic Canada: Maria Bernard and May Bouchard. Several women saw women's representation in union decision making and involvement with political parties as crucial: Ann Brennan, Shannie Duff, Nancy Riche and Edith Perry. Nursing proved to be an important site for activist learning for Ann Bell, Olive Bryanton and Madeleine Gaudet. Anti-poverty work and the provision of adequate services to distressed and economically poor families lie at the core of the long term activism of Carolyn McNulty. Marian Perkins focussed on developing alcohol addiction services and advocating for women living within the justice system. But this overview of accomplishments does not do justice to these women's accomplishments so please take some time to read them.",{},"\u002Fstories-passion-persistence-public-service","\u002Fcommentaries\u002Fstories-passion-persistence-public-service",{"title":222,"description":566},"commentaries\u002F02.stories-passion-persistence-public-service","JPvAzRMIlM_wMiDONiMhDp-ADfYNcZ-DmcC6aOBddcw",{"id":574,"title":575,"authorBio":576,"authorName":577,"authorPortrait":578,"authorPortraitAlt":579,"body":580,"description":773,"extension":212,"meta":774,"navigation":214,"oldPath":775,"path":776,"seo":777,"stem":778,"__hash__":779},"commentaries\u002Fcommentaries\u002F03.women-active-citizens.md","Women as Active Citizens","\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.msvu.ca\u002Fen\u002Fhome\u002Fprogramsdepartments\u002Feducation\u002Fgraduateprograms\u002Fgsll\u002Ffaculty\u002Fgouthro.aspx\">Patricia Gouthro\u003C\u002Fa> is a Professor of Adult Education at \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.msvu.ca\u002F\">Mount Saint Vincent University\u003C\u002Fa> in Halifax, N.S. She researches, among other topics, critical feminist theory and pedagogy, learning in the homeplace, and active citizenship.\u003C\u002Fp>","Patricia Gouthro","\u002Fimages\u002Fcommentaries\u002Fwomen-active-citizens.jpg","Photo of Patricia Gouthro.",{"type":12,"value":581,"toc":765},[582,607,611,642,646,664,668,695,701,707,711,723,727,740,742],[15,583,584,585,589,590,594,595,597,598,600,601,603,604,606],{},"In recent years, debates about the nature of citizenship have evolved within the fields of adult education\u002Flifelong learning. As ",[19,586,588],{"href":587},"#bagnall-2010","Bagnall (2010)"," notes, increasingly public discussions about adult learning are linked with economic development, but as educators we should be most interested in moral debates pertaining to citizenship. This study by Liz Burge and her team does an excellent job of profiling the different ways in which women activists have learned about citizenship in connection with their own beliefs about the responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities of being a citizen living in Atlantic Canada. One way in which learning around citizenship has been taken up has been to look at learning around citizenship within the realm of civil society — the not-for-profit, volunteer organizations and community groups where individuals come together to initiate social change. In addition, educators consider how to encourage citizens, particularly women and members of minority groups, to engage in the formal political processes of electoral and party politics and to inform social and economic policy development. The notion of “active citizenship” examines participatory, engaged approaches for citizen involvement and opportunities for learning about how effective democracies actually work. Active citizenship, as ",[19,591,593],{"href":592},"#johnston-1999","Johnston (1999)"," explains, “involves learning by doing across a wide spectrum” (p.186). The concept of active citizenship infers that citizens not only have rights but also responsibilities to make an active contribution to the society in which they live. The women profiled in this study demonstrate how much can be achieved through active citizenship, when individuals are committed to creating social change, whether it is by working at the grassroots level, in local organizations and communities, or through participation in electoral politics and campaigning within the broader political sphere. Whether they strive to preserve historical buildings in St. John's, like Shannie Duff, promote women's rights in Acadian and Francophone communities in PEI, like ",[19,596,98],{"href":97},", lobby for matrimonial property rights in Newfoundland and Labrador, like ",[19,599,56],{"href":55},", or work with Aboriginal people to peacefully campaign for the preservation of Northern resources, like ",[19,602,308],{"href":307},", all of these women have actively addressed issues that they believe are important. Although many of the women in this project have been recognized with awards and honours ranging from community organization awards to honorary doctorates and the Order of Canada, their decisions about how to live their lives have not been based on how to attain fame, status, or personal wealth. Nor did most of the women necessarily envision that they would become involved in the political sphere. Rather, they often drew upon lessons learned in the homeplace about the importance of giving back, helping others, and working towards social justice. Their stories reveal how active citizenship in women's lives is often intricately connected with personal experiences and circumstances that motivate individuals to address issues that they feel are important. As a Nova Scotian, ",[19,605,85],{"href":84},", says: “I don't think most of us plan on becoming social activists. I think we get involved because something moves us to act.”",[59,608,610],{"id":609},"learning-in-the-homeplace","Learning in the homeplace",[15,612,613,614,42,618,622,623,625,626,628,629,632,633,635,636,638,639,641],{},"As I have argued elsewhere, learning about citizenship often begins in the homeplace — an individual's family home and local community (",[19,615,617],{"href":616},"#gouthro-2000","Gouthro, 2000",[19,619,621],{"href":620},"#gouthro-2009","2009","). Many of the women acknowledge how they were influenced by their upbringing and the moral and social values of their parents. ",[19,624,341],{"href":340},", an activist who still works to create programs and supports for elder citizens, was brought up to believe that older people should be given respect because of their extensive life experience. Reflecting upon her work as an activist inside academe, ",[19,627,256],{"href":255}," discusses the importance of “going back to the values my parents taught, to be remembered as someone who worked for a fairer world.” ",[19,630,631],{"href":239},"Sr. Angelina Martz"," talks about how unemployed men seeking temporary shelter and food during the Depression on her parents' farm were treated “with the greatest respect”, thus shaping her belief in the importance of compassion for vulnerable members of society. ",[19,634,113],{"href":112}," discusses the challenges she faced during her childhood and her guiding belief that “if you were given an advantage, you give back.” Life circumstances in the homeplace produced an impact on women's decisions around where to focus their energies and take up new learning challenges. ",[19,637,138],{"href":137},", an activist interested in poverty issues, grew up poor in a low-income rural community, with parents who emigrated to Canada to escape dire poverty in their home countries. In her work, she found that increasingly she needed to figure out “what was wrong with this picture” by examining critically the social structural issues that created poverty. ",[19,640,170],{"href":169}," was frustrated at the lack of support her child was receiving in school to address problems with dyslexia, so she decided to run for the School Board herself; thus began a long and influential political career.",[59,643,645],{"id":644},"motivations-to-create-change","Motivations to create change",[15,647,648,649,651,652,654,655,657,658,660,661,663],{},"Throughout the women's stories, issues of equality, fairness, and respect are raised as internalized motivating factors that shaped their decisions to work for social change. In reflecting upon her experiences as an African Nova Scotian woman, ",[19,650,108],{"href":107}," explains that when faced with a situation or circumstance that is unfair she would feel a distinctive “creative conflict or tension” that then motivated her to seek solutions towards fairness or equity. ",[19,653,90],{"href":89}," refers to how her own experiences in formal education and in learning to come to terms with her Miq'maw identity have supported her through challenging work with Aboriginal education issues, explaining “I am well versed in who I am as a First Nations person and that has carried me. That has been what has moved me to help others because I know the struggle.” As women, many profilees also encountered gender discrimination. In her work within unions, ",[19,656,80],{"href":79}," argued that having large numbers of women members pay dues without having opportunities to be in leadership positions was basically “taxation without representation”. Politician ",[19,659,103],{"href":102}," discussed the challenges of living in a rural New Brunswick community where a woman was expected to be “wife of” a leader, rather than assuming a leadership position herself. ",[19,662,308],{"href":307}," noted that even within civil rights and peace movements there were gender inequalities in organizations that had to be addressed.",[59,665,667],{"id":666},"creating-change","Creating change",[15,669,670,671,673,674,677,678,680,681,683,684,686,687,689,690,694],{},"When initiating change, many of the women understood that decisions do not just involve personal action, but also call for collaborative efforts. As ",[19,672,51],{"href":50}," knows, “Whenever you want something done, you get together and do it.” A thread that runs through the commentaries is that all citizens have to take responsibility for their own communities and country. ",[19,675,676],{"href":300},"Elizabeth (Betty) Lacey"," is very definite here as she urges us to “Get people involved: I don't understand people who just sit at home and don't do anything!” As active citizens, these women believe we need to take responsibility to initiate social change. ",[19,679,103],{"href":102}," makes a key point about the role and duties of citizens compared to the role and impacts of elected government: “Government merely reflects the society they represent. Only we as citizens of a nation can make the necessary changes to improve our communities.” While some of the women interviewed have done their work as ordinary citizens, others such as ",[19,682,138],{"href":137}," or ",[19,685,103],{"href":102}," believe that it is important for women to get involved in the political sphere with political party activity and\u002For as election candidates. ",[19,688,113],{"href":112}," believes that we need greater representation of women in federal and provincial levels of government as “when we achieve that, we can't help but be heard.” Active participation by women is required at all levels in the policy making process for initiating social change, as ",[19,691,693],{"href":692},"#preece-2002","Preece (2002)"," argues:",[696,697,698],"blockquote",{},[15,699,700],{},"“In order for the decision-making process to truly reflect gender issues, institutional decision-making and consultation structures need membership from sufficient numbers of women to put across their views and ensure these views reach each tier of the policy-making process.” (p. 25)",[15,702,703,704,706],{},"Reflecting upon the challenges of partnering with other groups when advocating for policy changes, researcher and activist ",[19,705,130],{"href":129}," strongly believes that as “women [we] have to make sure that we are part of the decision making process”. Otherwise, there is a risk that women's issues will be overlooked or negotiated away in order to advance other agendas.",[59,708,710],{"id":709},"womens-learning-for-active-citizenship","Women's learning for active citizenship",[15,712,713,714,716,717,719,720,722],{},"The biographies of these women indicate that learning around activism is often a lifelong process, beginning in the early years of their childhood and continuing on through adulthood. Getting involved at the local community level is often an entry point from where women may move on to engage at a higher level in social and political activism. Each activist recognizes that there is still a great deal of work to be done by younger generations. In order to do this, people must believe that change is possible even with individual efforts. ",[19,715,103],{"href":102}," argues thus: “We have to make social change personally before we can make it publicly.” Women need to reflect upon their own capabilities and have confidence that they can make an impact. In summarizing her interview with ",[19,718,170],{"href":169},", Liz notes that Ann realizes that still “there are gaps and issues concerning women as a group that are not being addressed in public policy.” To initiate social change, we may need to go beyond individual contributions to thinking about structural changes to create a more just society. As ",[19,721,165],{"href":164}," says, while charity makes a person feel good, it is not enough for sustained social change because the underlying social justice issues must be analyzed and their impacts understood, which are not easy processes: “Justice is the hard work”. Advocating for policy changes, taking government to task, and considering running for political office are ways to make an impact on the broader decision-making structures.",[59,724,726],{"id":725},"where-do-we-go-from-here","Where do we go from here?",[15,728,729,730,304,732,734,735,739],{},"In addition to hearing these women's stories and learning about their contributions to social activism, one of the most valuable aspects of the website is the rich opportunity for intergenerational learning. Younger women cannot be expected to know all the lessons learned, the advice to give or the skills needed for the challenging social activism taken on by these very experienced profilees. “Nothing is won without effort,” admonishes ",[19,731,80],{"href":79},[19,733,341],{"href":340}," urges us toward patience: “Remember that change is slow process and appreciate fully the smallest victories. At the same time ",[19,736,738],{"href":737},"\u002Factivists\u002Fmary-majka","Mary Majka"," counsels us to be self-confident and pro-active: “Never think that somebody else will do it, but rather think ‘I can do it’ — and then get to work!” I therefore encourage you to take the time to carefully read the site documents and reflect upon the experience outlined in every profile. The stories are inspiring as they lead us to reflect upon the many ways women can create changes as active citizens. These truly are a group of wise women with much to share. Enjoy!",[59,741,521],{"id":520},[15,743,744,745,748,749,752,753,756,757,760,761,764],{},"Bagnall, R.G. (2010). Citizenship and belonging as a moral imperative for lifelong learning. ",[186,746,747],{},"International Journal of Lifelong Education",". 29 (4), 449-460. Gouthro, P. (2000). Globalization, civil society and the homeplace. ",[186,750,751],{},"Convergence",", 33 (1-2), 57-76. Gouthro, P. (2009). Life histories of Canadian women as active citizens: Implications for policies and practices in adult education. ",[186,754,755],{},"The Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education",", 21 (2), 19-36. Johnston, R. (1999). Adult learning for citizenship: Towards a reconstruction of the social purpose tradition. ",[186,758,759],{},"International Journal of Lifelong Learning",", 18 (3), 175-190. Preece, J. (2002). Feminist perspectives on the learning of citizenship and governance. ",[186,762,763],{},"Compare: A Journal of Comparative Education",", 32 (1), 21-33.",{"title":204,"searchDepth":205,"depth":205,"links":766},[767,768,769,770,771,772],{"id":609,"depth":205,"text":610},{"id":644,"depth":205,"text":645},{"id":666,"depth":205,"text":667},{"id":709,"depth":205,"text":710},{"id":725,"depth":205,"text":726},{"id":520,"depth":205,"text":521},"In recent years, debates about the nature of citizenship have evolved within the fields of adult education\u002Flifelong learning. As Bagnall (2010) notes, increasingly public discussions about adult learning are linked with economic development, but as educators we should be most interested in moral debates pertaining to citizenship. This study by Liz Burge and her team does an excellent job of profiling the different ways in which women activists have learned about citizenship in connection with their own beliefs about the responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities of being a citizen living in Atlantic Canada. One way in which learning around citizenship has been taken up has been to look at learning around citizenship within the realm of civil society — the not-for-profit, volunteer organizations and community groups where individuals come together to initiate social change. In addition, educators consider how to encourage citizens, particularly women and members of minority groups, to engage in the formal political processes of electoral and party politics and to inform social and economic policy development. The notion of “active citizenship” examines participatory, engaged approaches for citizen involvement and opportunities for learning about how effective democracies actually work. Active citizenship, as Johnston (1999) explains, “involves learning by doing across a wide spectrum” (p.186). The concept of active citizenship infers that citizens not only have rights but also responsibilities to make an active contribution to the society in which they live. The women profiled in this study demonstrate how much can be achieved through active citizenship, when individuals are committed to creating social change, whether it is by working at the grassroots level, in local organizations and communities, or through participation in electoral politics and campaigning within the broader political sphere. Whether they strive to preserve historical buildings in St. John's, like Shannie Duff, promote women's rights in Acadian and Francophone communities in PEI, like Maria Bernard, lobby for matrimonial property rights in Newfoundland and Labrador, like Kathy Sheldon, or work with Aboriginal people to peacefully campaign for the preservation of Northern resources, like Betty Peterson, all of these women have actively addressed issues that they believe are important. Although many of the women in this project have been recognized with awards and honours ranging from community organization awards to honorary doctorates and the Order of Canada, their decisions about how to live their lives have not been based on how to attain fame, status, or personal wealth. Nor did most of the women necessarily envision that they would become involved in the political sphere. Rather, they often drew upon lessons learned in the homeplace about the importance of giving back, helping others, and working towards social justice. Their stories reveal how active citizenship in women's lives is often intricately connected with personal experiences and circumstances that motivate individuals to address issues that they feel are important. As a Nova Scotian, Joan Hicks, says: “I don't think most of us plan on becoming social activists. I think we get involved because something moves us to act.”",{},"\u002Fwomen-active-citizens","\u002Fcommentaries\u002Fwomen-active-citizens",{"title":575,"description":773},"commentaries\u002F03.women-active-citizens","6jBVd9S6TdtJh4FJ3aLGC68VtBQJ5AtJep2vA14Iz04",1789062651200]