News Archives - Page 12 of 25 - Maureen F. Fitzgerald

An RCMP legal dispute is now a charter case

I hope we (the public) do not have to pay the legal fees to defend the RCMP, our national police force. I have lost track of all the litigation. From harassment suits to systemic discrimination. Yet yesterday I read that two female mounties are now launching a charter challenge because they were not allowed to

Joyce Murray seeks leadership of Liberal party

Yeah to Joyce Murray who threw in her hat! We need more woman leaders in Canada!

Yeah For Carrie Serwetnyk super soccer coach

The glass ceiling hit our first female soccer player inducted into the soccer hall of fame. Due to the barrieers she faced trying to get into soccer organisations Carrie Serwetnyk not only published a soccer magazine: Free Kicks but also founded “Why the Womens World Cup Matters” to draw awareness to the inequality and discrimination facing

Today we remember the Quebec Massacre

Today is the Day of Action and Rememberance on Violence Against Women and Children. There will be candlelight vigils accross Canada remembering the 14 women who were murdeed at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. It is embarassing to admit that still almost 60,000 women experience sexual and physical assualts each year in BC. The safe houses

Pivot report shows how faulty process can harm women

A new report by PivotLegal.org suggests that the process used to look into the police mishandling of the Pickton serial murders and Vancouver Missing Women was flawed. As a result the inquiry lost a real opportunity to allow those impacted to heal. The report includes several “process” recommendations (such as not having 25 lawyers defending

Justicia Project might keep more women lawyers from leaving

I just read about the Justicia Project lead by Gowlings law firm and lawyer Helena Plecko. About 20 BC law firms have apparently signed onto an agreement to track gender demographics and foster leadership skills and women networking. I think a similar project exists in Ontario. I will look into it. It sounds like a

Egyptian girls hair cut to protect Islam

I just read about how a teacher in Cairo cut a young girls hair in the “protection of Islam.” I have been to Egypt, travelling only with my friend Missy. It’s an advanced country. Or so we think. When will this stop?

Bad news impacts women more than men

Research out of the University of Montreal shows that women who read bad news are later more responsive to stresses. It has something to do with women being more empathetic. That is likely why I don’t like reading the news first thing in the morning. Frankly its distressing anytime. [Source: Vancouver Sun 15 Oct 12, from

Yeah for Alison Redford and her Eve Award

Equal Voice is pleased to announce that Alison Redford, Premier of Alberta, will be Ottawa on Monday, November 19th to accept the EVE Award (Ottawa) for 2012. She will be the guest of honour at the annual Women in Public Life Luncheon hosted by Equal Voice and the Canadian Club Ottawa. Tickets for the special

Law firms just can’t seem to figure out the balance thing

Here is another article on how lawyers are failing at work-life balance. One lawyer even blames the clients! If you following my writing you will know that that the term “work-life balance” is a fictitious term created by the media to suggest that individuals – not the institutions they work within – are somehow able