Ellen Woodsworth

Ellen Woodsworth will be part of a panel discussion on Women and the Olympics on Sunday February 7, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event will take place at the Rhizome Cafe, 317 East Broadway, Vancouver.

Joining Ellen on the panel will be Michael Vonn, Policy Director BC Civil Liberties Association, and Harsha Walia, a South Asian activist, writer and researcher who works with the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. Moderating the discussion will be Noga Gayle from the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

The event is being presented by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. The panel discussion is free but donations are appreciated. Food is available for purchase.

If you plan to attend, please reply to: RSVP-women-and-peace@shaw.ca

At the January 21, 2010 meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets the following motion was carried unanimously:

MOVED by Ellen Woodsworth
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council rescind the four existing Sexual Harassment Policies dated 1989/10/05, and adopt in their place, in principle, the Harassment-Free Workplace Policy attached to this report dated November 3, 2009.

B. THAT Council refer the proposed Harassment-Free Workplace Policy to the Britannia Community Services Society and Ray-Cam Cooperative Association and encourage them to adopt it as policy and inform Council within a period of six months.

C. THAT the COV Harassment-Free Workplace policy include gender identity, gender expression and perceptions of sexual orientation and gender.

Ellen and MP Libby Davies at the lighting of the "W" over the crowd celebrating the opening of the new Woodwards complex in the downtown eastside of Vancouver.

Ellen and MP Libby Davies attended the lighting of the “W” at the opening of the new Woodwards complex in the downtown eastside of Vancouver.

January 15, 2010

Next Tuesday Jan. 19th we have several issues of importance coming up. The 9:30 a.m. Transportation and Traffic meeting will be looking at the Granville St. Sidewalk Patios, Coop Car Parking, the Cambie Corridor, Rapid Transit Principles, and Motorcycle Parking. At Council Tuesday afternoon we will be discussing everything from Historic Area Heights to SRAs. Check out the City of Vancouver website for all the issues. I have submitted a motion on setting up a cross-party committee to prepare a submission to the Provincial Committee on Electoral reform, which is a big issue for me.

In the evening we have a full list of issues to listen to at the Public Hearing.

Don’t miss all the items we will review on Thursday at the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets such as the “Harassment-Free Workplace Policy” or the Vancouver Economic Development Commissions request for financing for 2010 ($2.6 million).

Happy New Year everyone!

My New Year’s resolution is to walk each of the 14 ward neighbourhoods proposed by Chief Justice Berger’s report on electoral reform, and to ask residents what would make their communities stronger. It’s kind of a double resolution: I get healthy from all the walking, and wise from people who know their neighbourhoods best.

After a week at Manning Park snowshoeing, cross country skiing, reading, and watching videos like the “Triplets of Belleville” I am back at my desk at City Hall again getting ready for Council next week.

Life is full and I appreciate all the work that is being done by so many of you to make Vancouver a city for everyone.

All the best in the New Year.

Ellen

Come join COPE City Councillor Ellen Woodsworth as she hosts an evening with Rafe Mair, a fundraiser dinner in support of COPE, at the Sala Thai restaurant in the heart of the Cambie Village.

Rafe will be the keynote speaker for the evening, focusing on his views of civil liberties and free speech during the upcoming Vancouver Olympic Games.

Rafe began his political career in 1975, and has served as a cabinet minister in the government of Premier Bill Bennett under a variety of portfolios including health and education. Leaving Government in 1981, he anchored on of the most successful radio talk shows in Vancouver, and now is a regular contributor with The Tyee.

Tickets include a wonderful Thai meal at one of the city’s best restaurants, and is COPE’s way of helping support a part of our city only now recovering from the Canada Line construction.

Date: Monday, January 18, 2010
Time: 6:30-9:30pm
Location: Sala Thai Restaurant (3364 Cambie St)

Tickets are only $50 for members, $60 for non-members. Email us at cope@cope.bc.ca for more information or to purchase tickets.