I’ve been trying to think of an analogy for Nova Scotia’s Employment Support and Income Assistance (ESIA) program and so far this is the best I’ve come up with: The government decides that while 13 years of public school is optimal for Nova Scotian students, it is only going toRead More

‘Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,’ is a line from Alexander Pope’s 1711 poem, “An Essay on Criticism,” although I first heard it as a line in a Johnny Mercer song recorded by Frank Sinatra. Perhaps I risk identifying myself as a fool by discussing a topic likeRead More

Constance Backhouse spoke during a brunch sponsored by the Ally Centre of Cape Breton and the Cape Breton Inter-Agency on Family Violence on Friday. Backhouse is a legal scholar, historian, author, professor, activist and the sort of feminist I remember from my ’70s childhood — that is, an unabashed one.Read More

This past fall, I boarded a one-way flight to New York City with two outrageously sized suitcases, a backpack and a yoga mat. I had a faint idea about what I would be doing in the Big Apple, but nothing could have prepared me for what lay ahead in theRead More

Helen Morrison, executive director of Transition House in Sydney, marched with about 150 women (I spotted at least one man!) on Saturday, January 20, the first anniversary of the 2017 Women’s March, showing their support for women who are or have been victims of violence. Morrison gave an inspiring talkRead More

Pope Francis came to the papacy as an outsider, a non-European and the first Jesuit elected leader of the world’s Catholics. He very quickly gave up many of the traditional trappings of the papacy and encouraged — even required — those of us who have more to share with theRead More

She was probably 18 years old, had moved to Sydney from Antigonish, and with a Grade 10 education, applied for what were called “domestic” jobs — maids or housekeepers — that offered not only work, but often a place to live. Luckily for her, she landed such a job withRead More

Women’s Wellness Within is a non-profit organization that provides volunteer support to criminalized women and trans individuals who are pregnant or parenting young children. We advocate for access to housing, income, resources and healthcare. We are a collective of doulas, healthcare providers, lawyers, students, researchers and mentors. We have clearanceRead More

Were you aware that St. Francis of Assisi was a deacon? He had never wanted to be ordained to the priesthood, and when he explained to those in charge exactly what he wanted to do, which was simply to serve the poor, he was advised that he should be ordainedRead More

Maureen Googoo’s Ku’ku’kwes News, an “independent indigenous” online news organization, has been providing extensive coverage of the hearings of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in Membertou, Cape Breton, this week. In addition to live-blogging the sessions, which took place on Monday and Tuesday andRead More