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James, Vancouver 2005 |
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In my SFU Office |
In 2005 - a decade after I'd spent time in Toronto and Ottawa researching my PhD - we returned to Canada for me to take up a Visiting Professorship at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver for the winter term. We lived in Coquitlum - deep in suburbia - which was an interesting contrast for us, coming from our pad in inner-city Potts Point.
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James and the Coquitlam gang |
Those five months were such a happy time. Most days I headed up snow-capped Burnaby Mountain to the SFU campus - its modernist architecture was the set for X-files. James went to the most wonderful home-based childcare across the road, at Betsy's house. James was such a happy, chatty and adaptable two year old. He loved his friends at Betsy's but most of all he loved Betsy, with her soft Irish brogue; the feeling was mutual.
When he wasn't taking care of James and the domestics, Rob escaped to the nearby mountains to ski. A very tough gig!
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Rob working hard at Whistler |
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Jill Vickers at SFU conference |
At SFU I taught a class on women's rights, started in earnest on my work on the ICC, and ran a conference on feminist engagement with the state which enabled me to bring Professor Jill Vickers, my Ottawa-based Canadian mentor, across to the West Coast. A leading Canadian feminist scholar, Jill 'adopted' me in 1995 when I was a 'green' PhD student trawling the archives in Ottawa, and welcomed me to her home when I was feeling very lonely. She and I have maintained our connection ever since, including collaborations on gender and federalism. Another highlight of being at SFU was meeting my now very close friend and colleague Georgina Waylen who there at the same time on sabbatical from the UK. Georgina and I continue to skype regularly and work closely together. I was meant to be in Manchester next month for a major conference organised by Georgina, with Jill in attendance, but I can't travel. Boo! It's a big disappointment.
I vaguely remembered having done an
interview with the SFU news while I was there , and looked it up this morning. I was quoted saying
:
Like most feminists, Chappell is troubled by the emergence of numerous trends in recent years that could threaten the advancement of women's human rights, both domestically and internationally.
“I see the biggest threats coming from fundamentalism, whatever its character,” she says, “because it shuts down conversations about women's rights by emphasizing cultural, religious or state rights. But I think women in all societies are resisting attempts to keep them locked into traditional roles.
How's that for (depressing) accuracy!
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James contemplating life, Hawaii 2005 |
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Lou and Jacqui and our boys, Waikiki Beach 2005 |
A brief sojourn from Vancouver to Hawaii to attend a conference allowed us to escape the cold. There I met up with my close colleague Jacqui True, now Melbourne-based - who I'd met in Canada back in 1995 when she was also doing her PhD in Toronto. At the Hawaii conference we were both juggling our young kids and presentations - always a stretch - but helped this time by having Rob on hand!
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James and Rob at Granville Island Markets |
Often on weekends we'd drive our big red car (we were in a full-blown Wiggles phase!) into Vancouver's Granville Island markets and headed straight for the sockeye salmon stall to buy our fix of 'indian candy'. Delicious!
The markets sold everything, including some lovely jewellery. We bought Betsy a farewell gift of a necklace from there, and while I was at it I picked up these simple dainty blue earrings. When I wear them I think of Betsy and feel so grateful for the care she gave James at that time.
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James giving Betsy her necklace |
One of the reasons I'm wearing these earrings today is because according to James it is the official start of "James-mas"- a festival of his birth that stretches from today til his actual birthday on Sunday, 5 March! He and Angus have decided we should now all have festivals - Robs-giving, Ang-easter, Lo-boxing Day, and even Molly-mitzvah! But knowing James, a classic first-born, none of these will be as important or long as his festival.
While we were in Vancouver we had a visit from our friend Anthony, and then from Mum and Dad. We left Vancouver with them to continue on with our adventures in Europe...to Annecy for earring shopping via Amsterdam!
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Uncle Ant and Me, SFU |
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Mum and Dad, Stanley Park, Vancouver
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Day 37 has been extremely quiet. I was very tired after my two days out and about so have been working from bed and being waited on hand and foot by Nurse RR, as our dear friend Martyn has christened Rob. A perfect place to be on a unsettled rainy day. A lovely chat with Rose in Melbourne this evening capped off a lovely day.
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