Sept. 19, three interviews in one day… Ryan Jespersen of CHED 630; CBC Edmonton morning radio with Adrienne Pan, and CBC’s Day 6 with Brent Bambury. Here’s the audio from Day 6, which aired Sept. 23 (it’s only nine minutes):
http://www.cbc.ca/listen/shows/day-6/segment/14128604
Great story (from one of the worst interviews ever) by Liane Faulder of the Edmonton Journal, published Sept. 16.
It was a blue-sky conversation that led Margo Goodhand to spend a year of her life driving around the country, recording the stories of the strong, scrappy, seat-of-their pants pioneers of the women’s shelter movement.
The journalist and former editor-in-chief of the Edmonton Journal was talking with her sister, Joyce, who had worked with battered women throughout her career, about what the two of them would do if they had clear space, no responsibilities, a mortgage that was paid off.
“I said, ‘I’ve always wanted to write a book.’ And Joyce said, ‘I’ve always wanted someone to research the women’s shelter movement.’ And we looked at each other and said, ‘That’s a good project,’ ” recalls Goodhand.
A good project, but massive. It took six years, and two sabbaticals from work, for Goodhand to complete the result, Runaway Wives and Rogue Feminists: The Origin of the Women’s Shelter Movement in Canada. Goodhand launches the book in Edmonton at Audreys Books on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.
The result, which looks at five different shelters across the country that sprang up, seemingly in tandem, is both a moving portrayal of the women affected, and a hard-nosed examination of the public policy and relentless hard work that paved the way for today’s 625 shelters that still merely staunch the bleeding, coast to coast.
It’s also a testament to the powerful combination of government money and community drive, because it took both of those things, says Goodhand, to create a shelter community in Canada once viewed as a world leader in the field…
For the rest of Liane’s story, please see:
–Interview with La Liberte’s Barbara Gorrand, published in their Sept. 13 issue.
–Prairie Books NOW is featuring Runaway Wives in its fall/winter issue. Interview with writer Paula Kirman.
–Nadia Kidwai of CBC Radio Winnipeg’s Weekend show, aired Sept. 3.
–CBC broadcaster, Ron Robinson, Sept. 6, at CKUW’s fascinating cubbyhole at University of Winnipeg. It aired Sept. 9.
–Interviewed Sept. 8 by Stephan Boissonneault of Vue Weekly in Edmonton.
–CBC Edmonton interview with Mark Connelly from April 5, 2017 (Season 2017, Episode 300285784, 4:24)
http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/914607683547
Winnipeg Free Press, “Ex-editor explores history of protecting runaway wives” by columnist Gordon Sinclair, May 6, 2017:
It was as Margo Goodhand was contemplating leaving her position as the first female editor in the long and distinguished history of the Winnipeg Free Press that she decided to write a book.
No, not about the Free Press.
About battered women.
Or, more precisely, a history of the women who first collectively gave those women on the run shelter from the abuse. Along her research way, Margo would even come across a “scoop,” which is old newspaper-speak for what’s more commonly known as an “exclusive.”
But it is the fateful way Margo came to write the book — and chose the topic — where the story behind the story should begin.
To read the rest of Gordon Sinclair’s story, visit the Winnipeg Free Press website:
Rogue Feminists 