Democracy works. That’s the message that rang through the Punjab Banquet Hall on Monday night during the Winnipeg North federal byelection.
Piercing wind and flying snow couldn’t keep 300 Kevin Lamoureux supporters from watching the former Liberal Party of Canada’s Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Inkster win Winnipeg North’s Member of Parliament (MP) seat with 46 per cent of the vote.
A sea of red and white exploded in whistles and cheers as supporters as multicultural as the riding itself jumped up and down as the newly elected Member of Parliament entered the hall.
Lamoureux addressed the crowd and greeted many constituents by their first names.
“For those of you that have been with me for years, thank you,” he said. “Politics is about engaging people and building on relationships. I couldn’t have done it with you.”
Winnipeg North has been a New Democratic Party (NDP) riding for years. In the 2008 federal election, NDP MP Jusy Wasylycia-Leis won the seat she’d held since 1997 with 62.61 per cent of the vote. Lamoureux stepped down as MLA for Inkster, a position he’d held since 1988, to run in her place when she resigned to run for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2010.
According to the Elections Canada website, NDP candidate Kevin Chief came in a close second with 41.7 per cent of the vote. The Conservative Party of Canada’s Julie Javier received 10.3 per cent of the vote, Pirate Party of Canada’s Jeff Coleman received 0.6 per cent of the vote, Green Party of Canada’s John Harvie received 0.7 per cent of the vote, Communist Party of Canada’s Frank Komarniski received 0.4 per cent of the vote, and Christian Heritage Party of Canada’s Eric Truijen got 0.3 per cent of the vote.
After tonight’s byelection, the Conservative Party of Canada has 143 seats in the House of Commons, the Liberal Party of Canada has 77 seats, the Bloc Québécois has 47 seats, and the NDP has 36 seats. Two seats belong to individuals and three remain vacant.
Jan Gabbs, 67, said it is Lamoureux’s dedication to his constituents that sets him apart.
“Every Thursday night he holds meetings at McDonald’s where any constituent can come to talk to him,” she said. “When he moves to Ottawa, he’ll come home every weekend to do the same thing.”
Vince Vasallo, 37, said Lamoureux’s leadership is hope for Canada’s future.
“If you ever need any help with government problems, even if you don’t live in his area, he’ll help you.” he said. “I hope he becomes party leader and eventually prime minister.”
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Hiroshima by John Hersey
I recently finished reading a book called Hiroshima by John Hersey.
As the title of the book implies, the book is about the use of the first atomic bomb by America on Hiroshima in 1945 where close to 100,000 people were killed.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the author’s use of real people to tell the story of Hiroshima. This added a wonderful amount of believability to the story but also gave the reader the opportunity to feel for the characters in the book, because we knew their stories were real. What I would have liked for Hersey to do differently is, I wish he had put his characters in first person. I think this would have added another level of empathy from the reader for the characters because it would have felt like we were actually experiencing the actual events from the point of view of the characters.
The other thing I felt was missing from Hiroshima was some bigger context to the atomic bomb being dropped. Although I agree that there has been much written about the American perspective of the events and tragedy, I would have liked to read a bit more about the history of conflict regarding Pearl Harbour, Hiroshima, Nagasaki etc.
From a journalist’s perspective, I think there’s a lot that I could learn from reading this book. I think the amount of work and research, time, effort, and resilience it would have taken Hersey to compile all of the information and interviews he did to write this book must have been very much. I think from Hersey, journalists can learn that interviews can be the backbone of a really good story.
I watched a BBC TV documentary on Hiroshima before called Hiroshima: The First Weapon of Mass Destruction. I found the book by Hersey and the documentary to be similar in that they both used eyewitness accounts to tell the story about what happened during that time in Japan. I did find the documentary more effective for the sole reason that the visual clips (although many were computer generated) helped give the story context.
Quite interestingly, when Hiroshima was published in The New Yorker in 1946, it filled up the entire issue. There were no other articles or cartoons and it sold out the day it was put on newsstands. Many radio stations around the world read the text out loud and the article was published into a book soon thereafter.
I really enjoyed reading Hiroshima. I found it to be a stimulating, exciting, thought provoking, and emotional read. I would definitely read it again or recommend it to anyone who wants a good history lesson.
As the title of the book implies, the book is about the use of the first atomic bomb by America on Hiroshima in 1945 where close to 100,000 people were killed.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the author’s use of real people to tell the story of Hiroshima. This added a wonderful amount of believability to the story but also gave the reader the opportunity to feel for the characters in the book, because we knew their stories were real. What I would have liked for Hersey to do differently is, I wish he had put his characters in first person. I think this would have added another level of empathy from the reader for the characters because it would have felt like we were actually experiencing the actual events from the point of view of the characters.
The other thing I felt was missing from Hiroshima was some bigger context to the atomic bomb being dropped. Although I agree that there has been much written about the American perspective of the events and tragedy, I would have liked to read a bit more about the history of conflict regarding Pearl Harbour, Hiroshima, Nagasaki etc.
From a journalist’s perspective, I think there’s a lot that I could learn from reading this book. I think the amount of work and research, time, effort, and resilience it would have taken Hersey to compile all of the information and interviews he did to write this book must have been very much. I think from Hersey, journalists can learn that interviews can be the backbone of a really good story.
I watched a BBC TV documentary on Hiroshima before called Hiroshima: The First Weapon of Mass Destruction. I found the book by Hersey and the documentary to be similar in that they both used eyewitness accounts to tell the story about what happened during that time in Japan. I did find the documentary more effective for the sole reason that the visual clips (although many were computer generated) helped give the story context.
Quite interestingly, when Hiroshima was published in The New Yorker in 1946, it filled up the entire issue. There were no other articles or cartoons and it sold out the day it was put on newsstands. Many radio stations around the world read the text out loud and the article was published into a book soon thereafter.
I really enjoyed reading Hiroshima. I found it to be a stimulating, exciting, thought provoking, and emotional read. I would definitely read it again or recommend it to anyone who wants a good history lesson.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Journalists for Human Rights
Here's an organization which pretty much sums up my journalism dreams.
http://www.jhr.ca/en/
Visit their website to learn more.
Last summer, I received an internship with the organization in Toronto. Unfortunately, I was not able to take it because of other circumstances, but I hope everyone takes the time to check out the website and get involved with the organization because it is one that I am very proud to be associated with.
Dani Finch, a first year Crecomm wants to start up a chapter of the organization here at Red River College. If you're interested, message me and I can forward you on to her!
JHR, you inspire me!
http://www.jhr.ca/en/
Visit their website to learn more.
Last summer, I received an internship with the organization in Toronto. Unfortunately, I was not able to take it because of other circumstances, but I hope everyone takes the time to check out the website and get involved with the organization because it is one that I am very proud to be associated with.
Dani Finch, a first year Crecomm wants to start up a chapter of the organization here at Red River College. If you're interested, message me and I can forward you on to her!
JHR, you inspire me!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Good interview. Great answers
Oprah Winfrey gets to interview people for a living. I wish that were my job.
Watch the interview with Portia de Rossi below (Ellen Degeneres' wife) about struggling with her eating disorders and coming out as a lesbian.
Oprah's questions are fine, but its the honesty in Portia's answers that brings true light to this interview.
I always say, it is up to the interviewer to make the subject feel so comfortable they will open up with them.....but I never forget, that an interview is only most successful, if the subject is willing to give you the truth.
Watch the interview with Portia de Rossi below (Ellen Degeneres' wife) about struggling with her eating disorders and coming out as a lesbian.
Oprah's questions are fine, but its the honesty in Portia's answers that brings true light to this interview.
I always say, it is up to the interviewer to make the subject feel so comfortable they will open up with them.....but I never forget, that an interview is only most successful, if the subject is willing to give you the truth.
Monday, November 1, 2010
So that’s what a murderer looks like in person….
Today, Red River College Creative Communications students took their second trip to the law courts and low and behold, I experienced something I’m sure I’ll never forget.
I came face to face with a murderer…or at least, he’s accused of first-degree murder (innocent until proven guilty, I know….but for the sake of argument, let’s call him Mr. Murderer.)
Our assignment was to get to the Law Courts and cover something interesting. And boy, was it ever.
Yvonne, Jessica, Kim, and I sat through the day long proceedings where we saw an accused first-degree murderer go on trial. The Crown presented three witnesses in the case, and the defence lawyers cross-examined them. The trial continues on for the next few weeks but the first day was a good indication of what was to come.
The jury sat and listened and I couldn’t help but think, wow…I am so glad I am not them.
Why? Because I found my opinion changing as the day went on. In the morning, I was sure, its first degree murder…lock him up! Then as the day went on, I became less sure…maybe its second degree murder or maybe its manslaughter.
After the day was over, all four lawyers and the judge were kind enough to hang with us journalism students in the courtroom and answer some our questions. This was the best part because we had the chance to clarify things with them (such as, why was the accused in normal people clothes? Turns out they do that so the jury members won’t catch on to the fact that he’s in jail for other charges right now….they don’t want to sway their opinion.)
I also asked the lawyers if they defended people they knew were guilty. They replied, “of course, it’s the nature of the job. The Crown has to prove the person is guilty….even if I know they are, it’s their job to prove it. If they can’t, the person goes free.” I don’t think I could do it….but the two defence lawyers just shrugged and said, “it’s the nature of the job.”
Crazy. An exciting day it was. I had never considered court reporting before, but now, I don’t think I’d mind it at all.
Except for the fact that you have to spend time around potential murderers….err. That part isn’t so great…
I came face to face with a murderer…or at least, he’s accused of first-degree murder (innocent until proven guilty, I know….but for the sake of argument, let’s call him Mr. Murderer.)
Our assignment was to get to the Law Courts and cover something interesting. And boy, was it ever.
Yvonne, Jessica, Kim, and I sat through the day long proceedings where we saw an accused first-degree murderer go on trial. The Crown presented three witnesses in the case, and the defence lawyers cross-examined them. The trial continues on for the next few weeks but the first day was a good indication of what was to come.
The jury sat and listened and I couldn’t help but think, wow…I am so glad I am not them.
Why? Because I found my opinion changing as the day went on. In the morning, I was sure, its first degree murder…lock him up! Then as the day went on, I became less sure…maybe its second degree murder or maybe its manslaughter.
After the day was over, all four lawyers and the judge were kind enough to hang with us journalism students in the courtroom and answer some our questions. This was the best part because we had the chance to clarify things with them (such as, why was the accused in normal people clothes? Turns out they do that so the jury members won’t catch on to the fact that he’s in jail for other charges right now….they don’t want to sway their opinion.)
I also asked the lawyers if they defended people they knew were guilty. They replied, “of course, it’s the nature of the job. The Crown has to prove the person is guilty….even if I know they are, it’s their job to prove it. If they can’t, the person goes free.” I don’t think I could do it….but the two defence lawyers just shrugged and said, “it’s the nature of the job.”
Crazy. An exciting day it was. I had never considered court reporting before, but now, I don’t think I’d mind it at all.
Except for the fact that you have to spend time around potential murderers….err. That part isn’t so great…
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