Much to Do About St. John's Pride Catherine Meade's Excellent Passion

Catherine Meade’s Excellent Passion By Randall Perry father’s ministry. She recalls fondly then off to the University of Ottawa, atherine Meade has an impres- during points in her childhood her where she graduated with her law sive resume and an equally own desire to follow in his foot- degree in 2002. Cimpressive way of making you steps, setting up the laundry hamper Sport has been a recurring thread feel at home. I first met her during her as a pulpit and practice-preaching in Catherine’s life from her earliest federal election campaign when she to the stuffed animals. By the time days, a theme that underlies and binds swung by the Wayves booth during high school came along, though, the her activities, interests and opinions. the 2007 Word on the Street book Catherine had been firmly bitten by She frequently melds her vacation and magazine festival. A few years the sport bug and hence pursued a travels with major sporting events, later I’m sitting at her dining room new dream of becoming a physical either as a spectator, volunteer or table, where she warmly greeted education teacher. She attended Mc- competitor. “When I was a kid, any me inside from a late-November Master University and graduated in sport where speed and agility were of evening chill. I’ve come to talk May, 1988 with a Bachelor of Physical value, I was there,” she says. sports, which ultimately is what Education degree. Catherine credits the 1976 Sum- the conversation revolves around, “By the time I got to [graduate] mer Olympics, held in Montreal, as but in the end we’ve touched on school, I learned there was a whole a significant: “I had Olympic eve- so many subjects—music, travel, other world called ‘sport administra- rything,” she chuckles. “I had this current events and more, as well as tion’ where you could actually com- medallion that had the maple leaf and sports—I’ll end up filing away more bine sport with the leadership bit that five rings that I wore all the time— of the interview than I eventually use. I had been involved in most of my ALL the time.” She remembers As my late grandmother might say, life,” she states. “Bring those together being in the city during the games she’s got passion, that one. and that was it—that became my area that summer and fondly recalls the Born in Truro, raised in Clark’s of specialization.” She attended the autograph book she would take with Harbour, then Toronto, among University of Alberta to study Sport her on visits to the venues. It was Gold at the 2006 Outgames in Montreal Catherine’s first influences was her Administration and Management, Continued on page 7 Much To Do About St. John’s Pride by Christian Corbet (non-legal entity), how it was being the former chairperson of the now ver the many years I’ve at- operated and how it’s just “simply not apparently defunct group, is said to tended Pride celebrations working” were at the forefront of the be a member of the straight com- across our fine nation and discussions. Some people voiced their munity. I found this both interesting O concerns quietly while others were and exciting simply because allies are duly experienced a broad cross-sec- tion of events I’ve found it exhilarat- very boisterous. I absorbed all this a very important part of our progress ing to see how varying demograph- and retained it, and wondered what toward inclusion and acceptance. ics envision, create and ultimately was really happening. As a founder So with this information I made celebrate Pride. These experiences and chairperson for Corner Brook an initial request to interview Ms. have helped me realize and appreci- Pride Inc. these rumours made me se- Gulliver Conway through one of her ate those Pride organizers who take riously consider what was taking place directors. I chose to go this route as it on the arduous task of assembling on the east coast of Newfoundland. seemed that she had a liaison acting one of the most publicly profiled To begin with, I found out that on her behalf, with whom I made events of the year, not just within the St. John’s Pride group in question contact since he was asking questions Canada but worldwide. They do so was an informal group of coordina- like, “How does Corner Brook Pride not for the whimsy or for the pure tors headed by one chairperson, not work without fighting?” After I made fun of it but for the passion of do- registered with the province as a my a first interview request I found ing it for the LGBTQA community. non-profit business. It consisted of on the provincial government website Organizers of Pride events that Ms. Gulliver Conway had also dip their hands into the I found out that the St. John’s reserved a name for a business social waters where they are under the title “LGBTQA Asso- working for the community in Pride group in question was an ciation Newfoundland Labrador St. John’s 2010 Pride Parde. Photos by Jennifer McCreath, St. John’s Pride Inc. general, where they represent informal group of coordinators Inc.” This further piqued my ves magazine was the media outlet, as a volunteer since 2008 and an or- the LGBTQA community in a interest and I wrote two more and after that I received no further ganizer since 2009 and has been “… responsible and genuine man- headed by one chairperson… e-mails, requesting an interview response. most involved in St. John’s Pride ’09 ner raising important issues with Ms. Gulliver Conway. The During this time I was also mak- and ’10. My biggest accomplishment and profiling informative topics to a group of about four people who response I received was, “Thanks ing requests to interview some of the was organizing the bonfire in 2010.” the public. This responsibility is no had come together to promote the for your interest, unfortunately there other former Pride organizers and co- Many people lauded the bonfire! He easy feat as controversial issues such LGBTQA community. I use the is no organization as of yet, I just ordinators. Jerry Arsenault, who has as the blood donation policy, bully- past tense for this group because reserved a name. There’s nothing for been involved with St. John’s Pride Continued on page 4 ing, equality and more are brought several reliable sources have advised an article right now but I’ll keep you to the open forum. From this kind me that they have disbanded as a posted.” of advocacy debates will no doubt functioning group using the name I wondered why a formal name Regular Columns ensue—a good thing, considering “St. John’s Pride.” However, there is reservation would be submitted for change happens when people come still a website indicating they exist. a provincially-registered business if there was nothing substantial that Chef’s Corner 10 • Groups & Services 12 • I Am What I together to share ideas. Legally, the name “St. John’s Pride” Amherst 5 • Kibitz and Bitch 6 • Last Word 14 Since I moved to Newfoundland now belongs to another provincially could be written into an article. and Labrador three years ago I have registered non-profit organization Surely there must be an initial busi- heard discussions about past Pride that has been formed whose founders ness concept/plan. In a third follow- events in St. John’s and I have to ad- were not part of the first Pride group. up request regarding Ms. Gulliver Conway’s operations with past Pride March Deadline: Friday, Feb. 4 (first Friday mit that, unfortunately, I haven’t yet As well, the initial St. John’s Pride of every month!) [email protected] • attended their annual Pride festival. group was removed by Facebook events, she replied and asked, “For Wayves Online: www.wayves.ca • Join us on However concerns about its loosely due to infringement on use of said which publication are you writing Facebook: Wayves Magazine based structure as an informal group legal name. Susanne Gulliver Conway, the article?” I answered that Way- 2 — January / February 2011 — Wayves Atlantic News Brendan Burke the sport for the first time, there will Health Public Health Services in be lessons before the games begin. partnership with the Nova Scotia As- (1988 – 2010) The funspiel helps raise money so sociation for Sexual Health (NSASH) Brendan led the way out of hockey’s that a few groups of curlers can held its first Sexual and Reproduc- closet, where represent Halifax in the sixth annual tion Health conference in Yarmouth nobody ever Canadian Gay Curling Champion- on November 17 and 18. Titled admits to being ships tournament in Ottawa from “Healthy Sexuality Is...” the confer- gay. March 24 – 27, 2011. ence focussed on a number of issues The CBC’s in keeping with NSASH’s mandate of Fifth Estate broadcast “The Legacy promoting healthy sexuality across of Brendan Burke” on November PEI Eucharists the lifespan for all Nova Scotians. 26 with this introduction: “Brendan The NSPEI Chapter of Integrity The first day started with the 100- Burke was a remarkable young man. Canada will hold monthly Eucharists plus participants examining their own Growing up in a hockey family, with on January 16 and February 20 at 4:00 values and judgments about sexuality. a sports icon as a father, he was p.m. at the Cathedral Church of All In the afternoon Dr. Jacqueline Gaha- probably destined to make his mark Loose Ends, Tight Curling Saints, 1330 Martello St.

Load more