Little old Liberal Ladies.

Simma Holt was in Town at a book signing this past week. Memoirs of a Loose Cannon. I hadn't seen Simmering Holt for many years so I thought it would be a good thing to visit the Laughing Oyster Bookstore, buy her volume, and get her autograph. As per the old Simma, she was unchanged still opinionated, still off in all directions the book appropriately named a Loose cannon for a reason.

For those of you who don't remember Simma Holt, she was the Member of Parliament for Vancouver Kingsway in the mid 1970's during some of the Trudeau years, a journalist, author and writer, former member of the National Parole Board.I have read a few of her books, the one that stands out was a Biography "The Other Mrs Diefenbaker" which I enjoyed learning about the spouse of a prominent leader of the Official Opposition. I have not read the latest book but I'm told the title says it all. Before I pass any further judgement I shall read it.

:)
Has anybody out there read it?

35 years for a promotion.

Congratulations are in store for the recent Officer to the Order of Canada. Can there be a better way to start off a New Year. From a Member to an Officer will it take another 35 years to be named a Companion. Congratulations my friend.

Iona Campagnolo, PC, CM, OBC

Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia (formerly, Chair, Fraser Basin Council)

The Honourable Iona Campagnolo, PC, CM, OBC, is British Columbias 27th Lieutenant-Governor. Campagnolo, a native of BC, began her distinguished public service in 1966 as a school trustee and later served as an Alderman in local government. Recognized on a national level for her community contributions and leadership in Prince Rupert, Campagnolo was honoured in 1973 with the Order of Canada. Shortly thereafter she was elected as the first woman Member of Parliament for Skeena; this was followed by her appointment to the Cabinet of Pierre Elliott Trudeau in 1976. In 1982 she was elected as the first woman President of the Liberal Party of Canada.

One of many founders of the Fraser Basin Council, Campagnolo chaired this distinguished body of British Columbians in its role as a non-government organization dedicated to sustainability. Campagnolo is also the founding Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia, former Director of the North-South Institute, the Southern Africa Education Trust, Project Agnola and the Arctic Institute of North American and the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development.

Tis the season of open(ness) house.

This past week has been a "feel good about your (liberal)self" week . I only say that as a follow up to my last post from a couple of weeks ago. Our newly elected Mayor wants to be a delegate at the Vancouver Conference at the end of April. How does he do that? It's as easy as going online; renewing his membership; and BTW start a monthly donation to the Victory fund. Get the parents & kids involved as well.

These encounters at the heavily laden tables with rich tasting morsels at every Seasonal Open House has been rich in political discussions with conversations ranging all over the radar screen about Leaders. From a once staunch Progressive Conservative telling me that he was never a reformer always a conservative, stated simply "Stephen Harpers Canada is not MY Canada". This begs the question I never asked... so when are you going to be rid of Harper and bring in a Leader who shares your vision of Canada?

All this positive feed back now that Michael Ignatieff is my leader. Yes, it does feel good, very good indeed.

This riding association is in the process of taking on life that has been missing for close to 4 years. A very welcome turn of events.There is an AGM coming up in mid January where I expect an organization to rise up.

Confidence.

In just hours after Michael Ignatieff was made Interim Leader for the Liberal Party of Canada I've been approached by locals with their congratulatory comments.A City Councilor was so pleased he stopped me in the Lobby of the Community Theater to let me know, his words can be summed up 'At last the Liberals have a leader who can take on that bully of a Prime Minister'.

The following morning we are out shopping and just milling around looking at stuff when a voice calls out to me, 'hey Dove' ! when are we having a party to celebrate our new leader? what can I say. Everyone has been avoiding political discussions with me for so long this turn of events really has me baffled.

There really is an excitement that has not been around for several years. In fact both of the people had been members in 2004 like so many others they let their membership slip away, the past week of events has awoken the importance of Canada's parliamentary system which in turn has enlightened people to the reality of a minority government.

There is a confidence in the Liberal Party that bodes well for our new Leader, a confidence because Michael Ignatieff is that Leader.

Harper's Hatred is his weakness.

On October 14 the Canadian voters did not give this man the mandate of a majority government which he disparately wanted. In spite of all the barrage of fear mongering we received in our mail boxes during the 6 months preceding and throughout the writ period, he fell short in the eyes of the voters. Canada would not be in this grave situation today if Harper had extended his hand instead of taking a stick and poking, to provocation the Opposition who coalesced because of a real lack of leadership and statesmanship from the Prime Minister. Canadians elected another minority government with the hopes of that government really working for the greater good of all. Sadly that will never happen. The opposition understands that and they have (within our parliamentary democracy) agreed in a very focused and public way to work for Canada. Whether; or not this proposition is found acceptable by our Governor General, only time will tell.

Time sneaks up.

Who would have thought that more than a year would pass since my last post. The more things change the more they stay the same; except of course our age where time sneaks up only to find the future once infinity is reality.

During the past Federal election and living in a rural BC riding where there is only a trace of liberal on the political GPS, I went to work for Elections Canada. The writ was dropped on my birthday September 7th and within 24 hours the Returning Office had the special ballots voters room ready to go. I along with 2 other people would work special ballots. It was agreed we would work 6 hour shifts over a 12 hour day. 9am-3pm and 3pm-9pm.I signed on for the 9am-3pm shift and quickly discovered it would be the busiest time of day for voters who were heading south or would be away because E day followed Canadian Thanksgiving.

There is a very high learning curve with National Electors, Local electors,Mail in ", ballots for National voters and another for Local Electors, acute care voters,home voters, a combination of all of the above on a daily basis until 6 days before E Day. I really enjoyed the experience and was awed by Elections Canada assistance to our riding, all 308 ridings were going through the same process.

Special ballots do not have the names of the candidates, they are simply a blank space where you write in the name of the person of your choice, place the ballot in a (inside) envelope which then is placed in an outside envelope which has the Electoral district, poll number and sequence number of the voter, the voter signs the outside envelope and the SBC signs.... the voter puts it in the ballot box, a little bit of time 3-5 minutes and painless for the voter.Once the candidates have been approved and the regular ballot is printed, the blank ballots are only used for any voting outside the office.

This riding had a very hard fought race going where the special ballots were used by their respective campaigns, keeping the Special Ballot Co-ordinate rs on a steady pen in hand filling in the forms" process.When I was asked if I would like to do the Home vote in the final days of Special Ballots, I agreed and found myself taking the ballots and ballott box out to private homes where people who were elderly, disabled and very ill could vote. This was once I'd finished the 6 hour shift at the desk in the office.

The last day allowed for the Home vote was the Tuesday before election day and I went off after planning my drive around 3 communities and the farmlands to collect these votes. It takes more time than you would think to drive around looking for addresses buzzing into apartments or driving along dirt roads long driveways into places you thought you knew but didn't. I'm grateful our RO had a retired realtor who could tell me where some of the addresses were located.

That day was a emotional day for me when I arrived at the first stop the gentleman who wanted so desperately to vote was in a hospital bed in his own home with his wife and son with him. He had celebrated his birthday the day before,once that was done he was slipping away, it took some time and allot of effort on his part but he was so grateful I had come to his home as was his wife and son. I had a wave of melancholy he reminded me of my father the day he died after his birthday. I saw the Obituary for this voter just 3 days after I had been, he died before election day.
the next few places were elderly folk who were happy to know they could vote from home, Then there was a woman who started in on me the moment I arrived, that I was late, she had phoned the RO and demanded a mail in ballot, who #@^%! was Ottawa sending a person like me to her home with a phoney ballot and there was no way she was voting without a scrutineer present and on, and on. I was so taken aback that I apologized for any misunderstanding, I showed her the ballot and she used a magnifying glass to make sure it was legal, she yelled at her husband. She voted without apology and I went on to complete my day of home votes.

The last place on the list was a farm house along way out in the country, there were nay vehicles parked around the yard, the family were gathered a week early for thanksgiving. The father sat wrapped in a blanket a gentle smile on his face and ready for his ballot, there was much laughter and gratitude as this was something he simply must do, once he placed his ballot envelopes in the box he patted me on the shoulder and thanked me for driving so far out, he died on October 16th a week later.

Time sneaks up, until there is no time.

Wiser and wider. Being Liberal, what's in it for me!

Last week I celebrated a milestone birthday.

Mike, planned and organized quite the extravaganza starting with an invitation to my Sweet 60 teenth to many friends and neighbours that I have had throughout my lifetime.

Cards, no gifts with a contribution towards a commemorative seat plaque in the Sid Williams Theatre was all I requested. The invitation list included people across the political spectrum from the right to the left; a large number who are nonpartisan , a wee microcosm of Canada. The Seat plaques are part of an ongoing fundraising campaign "This seats for You" which assists with the maintenance of this wonderful community theatre. With slightly over $1,000 already collected it will purchase a Platinum plaque which I want to have engraved with the following.

<em>"What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play, life is a Cabaret, old chum, come to the Cabaret." Dove's Sweet 60 teenth September, 2007

Which brings me to the purpose of todays blog. A question asked by one of my Conservative neighbours. What makes you tick? Why would you turn a Birthday into a Fundraiser for a community organization? You did it for your 50Th and now your 60Th and I think it is a wonderful idea, both of your ZERO birthdays have been a whoppin success.It certainly beats waiting until a person dies to donate to a cause.

I really had to think about my answer and I realize it has alot to do with being a card carrying member of the Liberal party, Not that every Liberal thinks like I/we do but there was a group of us active in Vancouver Quadra and Point Grey Liberal associations who worked against all odds back in the years where no liberal ever got elected. Those years I was part of the BCWLC, the heart and soul of the Liberal Party. We organized fun events raising money for our ridings, theme dinners taking over entire restaurants, Brock House, The Afghan Horseman, every visiting MP and Cabinet Minister wanted to play piano, sing or act in our skits, we had fun and lots of it. That was then. Since 1984 JNT was elected in Vancouver Quadra and a series of other Urban ridings elected MP's the Liberal's are all about power; they have no idea that it must also be FUN.

Living in paradise has changed much of our focus to local politics and doing the things we can, where we live , which is not Liberal. because we are Liberal we have the ability to fit in with every group, we can have people who are diverse come together for a personal party and all have FUN, give to the same cause.

Yes, I am wiser and wider. The Liberal Party has not been good to me, I have been good to the Liberal Party.