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Author Topic: Incorrigible
aka Mycroft
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6640

posted 30 March 2005 02:38 PM      Profile for aka Mycroft     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I attended the book launch/tribute to Velma Demerson last night on the occasion of the release of her book Incorrigible which tells the story of her cruel imprisonment at the age of 18 for the crime of being an unmarried white girl pregnant with her Chinese boyfriend's child.

Judes, Michele Landsberg, Tam Goosen spoke on a panel moderated by Frank Saptel and introduced by the irrepressible Harry Kopyto (who have an incredibly moving speech). The highlight of the evening was Velma herself speaking, now aged 84 but my God how sharp she is!

We're far too quick to forget that such institutions as Mercer Reformatory existed and we're quick to pretend that Canadian racism and sexism is as pervasive (if often more hidden) as in the US.

A very moving evening and my apologies for not making the rounds and chatting with some people I haven't seen in awhile (such as Judes) but I was in more of a sit and think mood.

The book is available from the Toronto Women's Bookstore and published by Wilfred Laurier University Press. I've started reading it and it's very powerfully written.

[ 30 March 2005: Message edited by: aka Mycroft ]


From: Toronto | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged
aka Mycroft
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6640

posted 30 March 2005 02:40 PM      Profile for aka Mycroft     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Apology for woman jailed over Chinese boyfriend
From: Toronto | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged
aka Mycroft
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6640

posted 30 March 2005 02:42 PM      Profile for aka Mycroft     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Interview with Velma Demerson

[ 30 March 2005: Message edited by: aka Mycroft ]


From: Toronto | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged
aka Mycroft
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6640

posted 30 March 2005 02:48 PM      Profile for aka Mycroft     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Michele Landsberg
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Scott Piatkowski
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1299

posted 30 March 2005 05:02 PM      Profile for Scott Piatkowski   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Thanks for the update. Having just finished the book, I had wanted to go to this (but couldn't fit it into my schedule).
From: Kitchener-Waterloo | Registered: Sep 2001  |  IP: Logged
skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478

posted 30 March 2005 05:20 PM      Profile for skdadl     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
See also this earlier thread

and

this one.

I have still to read the book, but Maggie's Mortimer's review in the G&M left me crying and swearing (it may still be accessible on the Globe Books site).

Praises to all those who have kept this story alive over the years and especially to Velma and all the other once-young women she represents.


From: gone | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
Judes
publisher
Babbler # 21

posted 30 March 2005 05:23 PM      Profile for Judes   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
And I have a pic of Velma and the panel on my blog

[ 30 March 2005: Message edited by: audra trower williams ]


From: Toronto | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged

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