These days I can’t blog about events or issues that are meaningful to me until they’re old news — which of course in today’s world can mean only days or weeks past. The upside of my delayed response is an opportunity to use a wider lens and see more connections
Continue readingAuthor: laura k
wmtc: maya’xala: things i heard in the library, an occasional series # 40
In my ongoing efforts to make the Port Hardy Library a safer workplace, and a more comfortable space for customers, I was invited to a elders’ luncheon at the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations. Addressing the elders, I tried to convey how we have worked hard to make our library a welcoming space
Continue readingwmtc: pacific northwest labor history association conference: the young organizers
Without a doubt, the most engaging talk I attended at the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association Conference was “Young Workers Rising,” a panel of young organizers interviewed by another young organizer. I won’t try to reproduce it here, as I could never do it justice, but I can share some
Continue readingwmtc: pacific northwest labor history association conference: the keynote address
It has been on my mind, and on my to-do list, to write more about the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association Conference*, which I was fortunate to attend in May of this year. In my post twelve reasons i loved the pacific northwest labor history association conference, I listed: The
Continue readingwmtc: rip robbie robertson
The news that Robbie Robertson died hit me hard. Although he’s not the last surviving member of The Band (Garth Hudson recently turned 80), he was my last surviving deep connection to music that is so close to my heart. I rarely feel a famous person’s death in a personal way.
Continue readingwmtc: re-setting expectations: let’s all stop apologizing for not being instantly available all the time
Long ago, when emailing first became widely used, I had several long-distance friendships that were conducted entirely by email. I noticed that almost every email began the same way: “Sorry I haven’t written in so long…” or “Sorry I’ve been out of touch…” or something similar. That’s when I instituted
Continue readingwmtc: visiting hōkūle’a in port hardy
Last week, I blogged about the upcoming visit of the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hōkūle’a. I was concerned that I might miss their Port Hardy stop, but as it turned out, they were due here much sooner than I realized. Hōkūle’a landed in Port Hardy on July 30, and on July
Continue readingwmtc: moananuiākea: historic voyage for earth: coming to port hardy
An astounding event is taking place, and it seems to be happening under the mainstream radar. If I didn’t live in a Pacific coastal community, and if I weren’t actively following local Indigenous news, I doubt I would be aware of it either. Indigenous people from Hawai‘i are traveling around the
Continue readingwmtc: happy birthday to me: aging and mortality edition
I have been alive on this planet for 62 years. Somehow, inexplicably, it was June 13, 2023, and I passed birthday number 62. I find this fact stunning. I feel incredibly fortunate to be living the life I am. I’ve worked hard, taken risks, made choices, and had big assists
Continue readingwmtc: too much honesty can be a very bad thing: a story about a birthday present
This post is written with permission. Recently on Facebook I announced that Allan, my partner, turns 60 this year, and he has already chosen a very special birthday present. We are going to buy him an electric guitar and amp, and he’s going to learn how to play an instrument
Continue readingwmtc: in which an email reminds me to resurrect a very old post: join athena to change amazon
Do you support Athena? Athena is a broad coalition of people and organizations who seek to change Amazon’s practices through a variety of tools and tactics, including from the inside. In a braindump called the post of orphaned notes, I found this. athena is organizing against amazon, and you can help
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the story of jane: the legendary underground feminist abortion service
When I first got involved in pro-choice activism, way back in 1981*, I heard about a group called Jane. Or maybe the Jane Collective. Or maybe Call Jane. No one knew for certain what they were called, only what they did. The women of Jane learned how to perform abortions,
Continue readingwmtc: rip cormac mccarthy: an indelible impression, for better or worse
The recent death of Cormac McCarthy has me thinking about his dark genius, and my contrary views of his best (and worst) writing. I know exactly when and how I discovered McCarthy. In the early 1990s, I was volunteering, and later teaching, at a New York City youth centre called
Continue readingwmtc: a garden that is exactly the right size + an update on my worms
In southern Ontario, I put seedlings in the ground, watered them, and they produced and produced and produced. I gave vegetables to co-workers, came up with recipes, and donated to food banks. My garden-ettes were tiny but mighty. Two years ago, I attempted the same here in Vancouver Island North
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: madame restell (nonfiction version)
In March, I wrote about My Notorious Life, historical fiction by Kate Manning, based on the life of a woman known as Madame Restell. I loved the book. Then, by beautiful coincidence, I stumbled on this book while in Powell’s City of Books in Portland: Madame Restell: the Life, Death
Continue readingwmtc: twelve reasons i loved the pacific northwest labour history association conference
I mentioned here that I recently enjoyed two back-to-back opportunities, one for work and one for union. Through my union, I was extremely fortunate to attend the annual conference of the Pacific Northwest Labour History Association, this year held in Tacoma, Washington. This was amazing timing for me, both logistically and
Continue readingwmtc: tina turner, rest in power
She was a force of nature. A powerhouse. She had many lives, transcending all of the usual music-industry categories. We will all miss her. Allan has a really nice tribute to her, with some great clips: here.
Continue readingwmtc: in which a restaurant server protects my alone time and i am very grateful
One day last week, I drove from Vancouver to Tacoma. It was raining the whole way, visibility was poor, and I had car trouble. It wasn’t horrendous, but it was stressful. Then that night, I attended a program. The following day, before beginning a full day of programming, I decided
Continue readingwmtc: in which i finally visit the seattle central library and am completely blown away
I mentioned here that I had two great opportunities, back to back, one for work and one for my union. The work trip was a Reconciliation Retreat. For the BCGEU, I applied for and was selected to attend the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association’s annual conference. (I was one of
Continue readingwmtc: the canoe family: reconciliation retreat
I’m in the middle of two amazing opportunities, one through my work, and one through my union. The work thing is complex — and important. Decolonizing the library: walking in two worlds Circle of Life, Trevor Hunt I am part of a small team that is creating a framework of
Continue reading