Nick Hornby writes popular books which become equally popular movies, (High Fidelity and About a Boy ) He also wrote the screenplay for the award winning film, An Education. His writing resonates, I suspect because like Hornby, music is the … Read More
Author Archives: aletmanski
The Hateful ‘r’ Word
J. e-mails a number of us about the "r" word regularly. It's a painful ache she can't explain. In addition to her environmental pursuits and her special passion for arachnids she wants answers: "Why do they keep calling us 'r' … Read More
The Dignity Project of the Salvation Army, 7th, on Poverty
There is no dignity in poverty, in not being able to feed your kids, in not providing them with the essentials, in worrying how to take care of your family, in struggling to survive, in being blamed for being poor, … Read More
Tags: dignity, salvation army
Sean Moore’s Double Double
Sean Moore, Canada's public policy walrus is re-doubling his efforts. He's launching two new products: Advocacy School and a major article on public policy in the The Philanthropist. Advocacy School is designed to assist civil sector organizations influence government decisions, … Read More
Look Who’s Talking? Shari Graydon and Informed Opinions
Look who's talking? Men. And editorializing, opining, pontificating, informing, pitching, swaying and influencing. To a ratio of 80/20 according to the research . That's right 80% of editorial opinion in the Canadian media comes from men. This, despite the fact … Read More
Bonnie Sherr Klein – The Gift of Asking
Bonnie Sherr Klein is a celebrated documentary filmmaker. From her base at the National Film Board she created award winning films such as, the anti-pornography documentary Not a Love Story and Speaking Our Peace. Along the way she helped create … Read More
Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet reveals the birth of Compassion
Australian writer Tim Winton's masterpiece is, Cloudstreet whose every word seems to sparkle with the special light that illuminates the air in his hometown of Perth. The novel revolves around two charming, eccentric families. I am drawn in particular to … Read More
One of the Seven Wonders in the World of Disability – Wolf Wolfensberger
The phrase doesn't roll off the tongue like: I have a Dream; or Yes We Can. But it had a stirring impact on a generation of disability right activists, including me. The phrase is: “the utilization of means that are … Read More
The Homeless Hub, 6th, On Poverty
Research, reflection, data, measurement are not seen as glamorous pursuits when tackling poverty or its accompanying challenge – homelessness. Unless it's in the hands of Stephen Gaetz, Associate Dean of Education and Director of the Canadian Homelessness Research Network, York … Read More
Deanna Kawatski – How People With Disabilities Will Save the World
Clara and Me – The Story of an Unexpected Friendship by Deanna Kawatski is an enchanting story about the mysterious exchange of friendship. Set in remote Northern British Columbia, Deanna longed for a female companion for eleven years. Then Clara … Read More