The first month of 2013 is all but done and it’s been interesting weather wise. There’s been a bit of everything — breathtaking sunsets, mornings when the city was a sparkling white wonderland, and one night with a spectacular full moon. It’s been shivering cold one day, warm enough for the brave to wear shorts the next.
On a personal note, I enjoyed the movie Les Miserables. At my age that’s expected but GD#5 (16) saw it three times. Another show I enjoyed watching was GGD#2 (3) and her peers performing at their ballet lesson. That was guaranteed to chase away the blues. GDs#6 and #7 and I had a go at sorting books for the Bright Red Bookshelf but we didn’t get too far. GD#6 can read for herself now so she did that instead of sorting, and GD#7 rediscovered some of her favourites so the give-away box didn’t get over full.
Last week was kind of ladies’ day. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts startled pundits and drew the ire of the boys in power by voting against, and thereby stopping, a mega million dollar casino development. Deputy Premier and minister-in-charge of gaming Rich Coleman and BCLC head Michael Graydon were downright ugly about it but they were no match for Ms. Watts who took no guff. She said her constituents didn’t want the casino and that was that.
Then on Saturday, Ontario Liberals chose Kathleen Wynne to be the next Premier of that province, and now six of Canada’s 13 provinces/territories will be headed by women. Ms. Wynne joins our Christy Clark, Alberta’s Alison Redford, Quebec’s Pauline Marois, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Kathy Dunderdale, and Nunavut’s Eva Aariak.
Ms. Wynne is the first female premier of Ontario and I believe the first married gay premier anywhere. She is said to be a consensus builder who really listens. Ms. Watts also listens. We need more people who do.
Diana French is a freelance columnist for the Tribune. She is a former Tribune editor, retired teacher, historian, and book author.