Mary Soderstrom's Blog, page 83

Oh Come on, Not That Equality Party Business Again!

It seems that a few unhappy Anglophones are trying to whip things up again by starting a new Equality party, version 2.0.  A rally was held on the weekend in the largely Anglophone area of Montreal's West Island to launch it.  Somewhere between 40 and 50 people showed up, with some of voices from past action being heard.

Ho hum.  This effort is just as silly as was the PQ's trial balloon about restricting enrollment in English-language cegeps to Anglophones.  The latter won't happen precisely because too many Francophone kids go to them: for the Francophone middle class it's an excellent way to make sure their kids have  a good grounding in English before going to university or work opportunities outside Quebec.

The former is jsut tiresome.  It is not difficult to be an Anglophone in Quebec.  I repeat, it is not difficult to be an Anglophone in Quebec.  If anything, it is a delight and a privilege to have two great traditions to share.

Saturday Photo: More than 6000 Signaturs, and the Garden Backs Down

Montreal's Jardin botanique, as I've been saying here recently, is one of the loveliest places around.  Evenn this morning, with a steady rain falling, Jeanne would have spent the whole day there.  We passed by only for a short time, however, just long enough show our support for the petition started two weeks ago, which now has more than 6,000 signatures.

It was started to protest a major increase in entrance fees this summer. Previously Montreal residents with the $8 Accès Montréal card could visit the outside gardens at any time for free.  But during a big exhibition of horiticultural sculptures from June 22 to September 29, the garden was planning charging $18.75 for two entries, with even higher fees for non-cardholders.

The reaction appears to have surprised city and garden officials into action: a "compromise" was proposed this week which will allow cardholders to buy a $25 pass that will allow unlimited acces. 

Not enough, I say.  Nothing better is in the cards, I'd guess, too.  But at least the citizen action got a little change.  Here's the link to the Facebook page Elin and I started and to the petition (which will close on Monday.)

Washing Windows, Waxing Floor: Garbage Work Thad Must Be Done

I've put it off long enough--got to do some cleaning today.  No time for any reflections other than to say that the kitchen floor is awfully dirty.  Since Thomas is crawling everywhere (except when he can walk around something holding on)  it would the proper grandmotherly thing to do to wash the floor. 

Excitement about Riding Your Bike: The View from New York

I've mentioned before how I don't ride bikes, but I must admit I like the idea of people riding all over the city. Yesterday I walked from our place to central downtown Montreal, and I was amazed at how many people--many who aren't much young than I am--were zipping around the city's traffic clogged streets.

Bixis have something to do with the popularity of bikes here, although I expect the traffic problems have helped a bit too.  And it seems that the Montreal version of the bike-share program is starting in New York City shortly.  The New York Times today has a nice short video about how excited one man is about the idea.  Check it out: quite charming.

Cool Water: Excuse Me While I Go Boil Some Water

Today is the first day I've ever had to boil water.  Every summer there are warnings for communities in the hinterland that the supply is low,  or there's been a aqueduct break or whatever.  But for a city the size of Montreal?

Come on.

Of course, problems with the ageing water system have been on the books for years, and as we're learning with the Charbonneau Commission, all lot of infrastructure problems have been much more expensive to solve by kickbacks and corruption. But this takes the cake--or the H20. But to make your heart a little lighter, at least today we don't have the problem documented in this video: weather so cold that boiling water tossed into the air falls as snow.

Behind the Scenes: Let's Hear It for the Nursing Staff!

One of the things I've been doing for years is volunteer for a three hour shift once a week at a local children's hospital.  I rock babies, play with toddlers, sometimes do a puzzle with someone older and occasionally listen to parents.  And I watch.

Watch the nurses quietly keep things going, watch the auxillary nurses provide backup, watch the house staff take everything in and frequently give the right encouragement to a young family faced with the worst situation they've encountered up to that point.

In other words, the doctors are great, but it's the people behind them who really make the difference in whether a kid gets well or not.

That's why I was delighted to read Jane Gross's review of a book of essays on nursing in The New York Times this morning.  Called I Wasn’t Strong Like This When I Started Out: True Stories of Becoming a Nurse , it sounds like something everyone should read because we all have (or will) come face to face with ill health and the wonderful people who try to help us.

Just a note: one of the interesting things I've also noticed in my 11 years on 6-3 is that most  young doctors are afemale and the nursing and auxilliary staff is becoming increasing male.  Good!

Today's a Holiday with a Good Name: La Journée des Patriotes

What's this nonsense of starting a
I can readily understand renaming the third Monday in May something else, but Quebec, which for a while called it the Fête de Dollard, has come up with a very good event to commemorate: the 1837-38 Rebellions.

Called the Journée des Patriotes here for several years, the holiday's name refers to the nearest thing Canada had to a revoltution.  Taxation without representation and a number of other advanced ideas were behind the uprisings which ocurred in both Upper and Lower Canada.  The upshot was a series of changes in relations between the Mother Country and the several North American colonies which resulted a few years later in a combined legislative assembly for the two Canadas, setting the pattern for Confederation two decades down the line.

If the Harper government were serious about remembering nation-building events from the past it would start here.  But don't bet on it.

Saturday Photo: More from the Jardin botanique

Marie Victorin was a Roman Catholic teaching brother and naturalist who championed access to nature for all.  He was the driving force behind the establishment of Montreal's lovely Jardin botanique nearly 80 years ago.

Since then the garden has delighted people from all levels of society.  For decades access was free, but in recent years , under ordinary circumstances, non-residents of Montreal  pay a fee, with residents with the $8 Accès Montréaal card getting in free to the exterior gardens.

This summer that will change.  The city has declared that because of a special exhibit, everyone over 12 will have to pay, with Accès Montréal cardholders coughing up a hefty $18.75. Others will pay any more.

The decision appears to have been made so quietly that no one heard about it until a couple of weeks ago.  The reaction has been quick, though.  A petition calling for a reconsideration of the new fees had 3603 signatures as for 2:23 p.m. Sunday, and some city councillors are saying things ought to change. 

Opposition Growing to HIke in Jardin botanique Admissioin Fess

As of 2:18 p.m., 2,957 people had signed the petition protesting the hikes in entrance fees to Montreal's botanical garden.  Here's the link: now sign!!!

Wish I Had Friends to Fork out $90,000 Just Like That

It not be illegal, but it sure is fishy:

Mike Duffy had his debts paid off by a friend of Stephen Harper's to the tune of more than $90,000. 

This is right in the league of the underover payments being revealed by Quebec's Charbonneau Commission.