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The Department of Culture Senate represents the support of Canadians for a broad range of national artistic programs and practices, and the essential role that citizens must play in their own governance.
Department of Culture announced today that it has appointed 30 distinguished Canadians to serve in its Senate. The incoming Senators either worked closely with the Department during its inception and throughout the 2008 election campaign, or are allies by virtue of the work they do in the community. Their activities will continue to play an integral role in pushing to move all Canadian politics in a direction that support progressive ideas and governance.
The incoming appointees reflect the multifaceted and widespread opposition that exists in to neo-Conservative governance in Canada, with representatives from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland. Appointees are artists and activists. Like the Canadian Senate, this honorary position has few responsibilities. Unlike the recent Conservative appointees to the Canadian Senate, terms are for one year only, renewable, and incur no cost to taxpayers.
Jim Flaherty’s disastrous November 2008 financial statement, and the political maneuvering that ensued, served to illustrate the importance of a confluence of progressive interests and their representation beyond the realm of government. Department of Culture Senators, along with the organization’s of nation-wide network of spontaneous volunteers, reaffirm that you do not have to be a politician to be involved in politics, and that culture and positive social change are symbiotic forces.
Department of Culture aims to continue to harness and celebrate these forces. Stay tuned for more actions and events in 2009.
2009 Department of Culture Senate:
- Tara Beagan, storyteller, Toronto, Ontario
- Rick Chafe, playwright, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Robert Chafe, playwright, St. John’s, Newfoundland
- Desmond Cole, activist, Toronto, Ontario
- Jason Collett, preening dandy, Toronto, Ontario
- Kim Collier, artistic producer, Vancouver, British Columbia
- Josephine Grey, educator/organizer, Toronto, Ontario
- Koby Rogers Hall, theatre creator, Montreal, Quebec
- Sarah Harmer, musical citizen, Kingston, Ontario
- Michael Healey, playwright, Toronto, Ontario
- David Jansen, actor/director, Toronto, Ontario
- Jillian Keiley, director, St. John’s, Newfoundland
- Lisa Kiss, graphic designer, Toronto, Ontario
- Alice Klein, NOW editor/CEO, Toronto, Ontario
- Naomi Klein, journalist/author, Toronto, Ontario
- Daniel MacIvor, writer/director, Toronto, Ontario
- Simon Mallett, artistic producer, Calgary, Alberta
- Ava Jane Markus, producer/artist, Edmonton, Alberta
- Dave Meslin, community organiser, Toronto, Ontario
- Heather Nicol, visual artist, Toronto, Ontario
- Ricken Patel, global advocate, Vancouver, British Columbia
- Matthew Payne, artistic producer, Victoria, British Columbia
- Judi Pearl, producer, Ottawa, Ontario
- Milena Placentile, curator, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Paul Quarrington, author/musician, Toronto, Ontario
- Lara Robinson, writer/director, Toronto, Ontario
- Michael Rubenfeld, theatre practitioner, Toronto, Ontario
- Richard Sanger, writer, Toronto, Ontario
- Michele Sereda, theatre artist, Regina, Saskatchewan
- Jonathon Young, actor/writer, Vancouver, British Columbia
3 Comments
HAS ANYONE HEARD OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION?
I count 17 appointed Senators from Ontario, NONE from the North, one Anglo from Montreal, and no-one from the Atlantic provinces outside of Newfoundland (and not even Labrador).
I call upon the Department of Culture to abolish this Senate and re-configure it to represent all Canadians in proportion to their geography. This senate should also be organized to reach its decisions (though they may be few) after the consensus-based model used in Nunavut and the NWT.
The Department of Culture cannot claim to be a legitimate alternative to the divisive politics of the Conservative government if it does not pursue progressive politics that include a commitment to truly democratic representation. DoC members - don’t miss this opportunity to poke fun at the government we are all trying to change! Join me in calling for SENATE REFORM NOW!!
that’s a huge team
Good, interesting article, but where took information?