| Maria and I really hit it off so we planned to get | | | | Minister Chretien actually liked people who spoke |
| together for another "neighbourhood walk and | | | | their mind and did not back down. Maria had no |
| talk" to be able to check out a few more of the | | | | problem being pushy and advocating for child care, |
| merchants along Queen Street East. We met | | | | immigrant or women's rights, the homeless or |
| again at the Honey Bee Restaurant where Maria | | | | pension reform. In fact, when Jean Chretien met |
| had just been having lunch with her husband | | | | Maria's mother in his office, he told her," Maria is |
| Robert who excused himself shortly after as he | | | | always giving me hell." |
| had to leave. Maria and I picked up where we had | | | | Another fond memory for Maria was her trip |
| left off last week. | | | | back to her home town of Pofi in 1995. After a |
| In my interviews I always try to get to know the | | | | few days in her birth town she was planning to |
| real person, stripping away official titles and | | | | leave for a round-trip of Italy to visit Rome, |
| pre-conceived notions. Somehow Maria and I | | | | Florence, Venice, Naples and Sicily. But her cousin |
| started talking about family issues again. I asked | | | | said "You can't leave", and was hesitant to give |
| Maria whether she and her husband shared the | | | | her an explanation why. Finally Maria was able to |
| same last name, and Maria explained that her | | | | prod the secret out of her relative: the entire |
| husband's last name is MacBain, and that he is | | | | town had planned to honour Maria in a big |
| originally from Inverness, Scotland, and that he is | | | | celebration that would involve the whole village. On |
| a retired media and communications consultant. | | | | the day of the festivities, senior police officers |
| Maria added that when they got married in 1982 | | | | escorted her to the Piazza, located on a hill in her |
| she retained her own last name, a common | | | | beautiful home town which dates back to about |
| tradition in Italy. Maria noticed my surprise and | | | | 1000 AD. The whole town was assembled, and |
| explained that women generally keep their last | | | | the mayor gave a speech to honour Maria and |
| names in Italy, despite the common impression | | | | her achievements. Maria was showered with gifts |
| that Italy is perceived as a rather traditional | | | | and speeches, and was invited to speak to the |
| country characterized by a certain Latin | | | | townspeople during a special outdoor mass, an |
| machismo. | | | | enormous honour. Maria was astounded at the |
| Maria's mother's name was Pierina Ligori, but when | | | | pride that people felt for her in her home country |
| they arrived in Canada the Canadian authorities | | | | although she had left Italy at nine years of age. |
| single-handedly renamed her mother and gave her | | | | The immigrant experience has definitely shaped |
| her husband's last name "Minna". She added that | | | | Maria Minna, making her keenly aware of social |
| by that time her mother was 47 years old and | | | | justice issues. She has dedicated an entire lifetime |
| had lived her entire adult life with the last name | | | | to fight for immigrant rights, women's issues and |
| "Ligori". Not surprisingly Pierina always resented | | | | environmental causes. She is passionate about |
| this imposed loss of identity. Maria also told me | | | | Canada and wants to change this nation into the |
| that her grandfather in Italy brought in tutors to | | | | country that it can be: an economically successful |
| teach his son (Maria's uncle) while Maria's mother | | | | nation where nobody is left behind. |
| was not allowed to attend school or be part of | | | | Current political developments have devastated |
| the private tutoring sessions that her brother | | | | Maria. The Conservative government has |
| enjoyed. For a woman born in 1910, this was all | | | | dismantled the National Childcare Program, |
| part of the belief system that women did not | | | | something that Maria personally fought very hard |
| need education, that they were simply going to | | | | for over many years. Women's rights have been |
| stay home and have children. Maria's mother | | | | attacked by the removal of the mandate of the |
| often expressed anger at her own father for | | | | Status of Women's office. Charter challenges |
| having denied her these essential educational | | | | have been eliminated, and Maria feels the current |
| opportunities, and not only did Pierina have trouble | | | | government has little respect for Parliament and |
| learning English later on in life, she had never | | | | tries to get everything done through executive |
| learned how to read or write. I concluded that | | | | powers. Despite all her past trials and tribulations, |
| many of these experiences made Maria a strong | | | | Maria admitted that the past year has been the |
| advocate of education and women's rights early | | | | most difficult year of her life. |
| on. | | | | At the same time she feels that the average |
| We revisited Maria's childhood which was strongly | | | | Canadian citizen is still very progressive, a positive |
| shaped by the family's arrival in Canada in 1957. | | | | thinker who believes in sharing the wealth. She |
| As the middle child with two younger sisters and | | | | feels that currently there is a misfit between the |
| an older sister and older brother, Maria's parents | | | | average citizen and the government in power, and |
| had chosen to entrust her with the family's | | | | is committed to changing the current government. |
| administrative issues ever since she was very | | | | Maria had shared some very personal experiences |
| young. Maria had to look after important family | | | | with me, and we had just about an hour to do |
| affairs, handle the family's documents and had a | | | | another neighbourhood stroll to drop in on some |
| significant role in assisting the family financially. At | | | | of the stores. We left to check out some of the |
| age 24 she finally began to look after herself | | | | cool merchandise on offer along Queen Street, |
| when she enrolled in a degree program in | | | | one of the most eclectic shopping neighbourhoods |
| sociology. | | | | in Toronto, featuring a broad variety of fashion |
| As her parents aged, care-giving became a major | | | | retailers, gift stores and specialty shops. |
| issue. Maria had always been the main | | | | The first store we dropped in on was the "Nutty |
| administrator in the household, and caring for her | | | | Chocolatier" , an "olde fashioned candy & ice |
| increasingly frail and elderly parents became | | | | cream store". Brenda Brooks, the manager, was |
| another one of her responsibilities. When Maria | | | | not in, but her colleagues Needra Doornekamp and |
| was first elected to Parliament in 1993 her | | | | Monica Bettson welcomed us. The Nutty |
| mother and father were healthy, but just a few | | | | Chocolatier currently has nine stores across |
| years later in 1999, the year when Maria became | | | | Ontario and offers hand crafted chocolates, sugar |
| a federal Minister, Maria's mom was diagnosed | | | | free chocolates, novelties, candy, fudge, imported |
| with Alzheimers. Maria seriously considered not | | | | and domestic candy, antique replica tins, gift |
| accepting the position, but one of her younger | | | | baskets, corporate gift items, and much more. |
| sisters convinced her to pursue the | | | | There was still a selection of Valentine's |
| once-in-a-life-time opportunity of becoming a | | | | chocolates available, and Maria was also interested |
| minister in the Canadian federal government. | | | | in the sugar-free chocolates which would make a |
| Maria would spend time with her mother on | | | | fabulous gift for anyone with diabetes. Maria |
| weekends when she was in town and arranged | | | | picked up a sweet little something for her |
| for 24-hour on-site care to look after her | | | | husband, and off we were to our next store. |
| mother's health and safety. Pierina' s short-term | | | | All the interesting displays at The Gingerbread |
| memory was destroyed by Alzheimers, while her | | | | House, a few steps east from the Nutty |
| long-term memory and rational thinking remained | | | | Chocolatier, caught our interest. This store sells |
| intact until her death in 2001. Often during severe | | | | unique presents and jewellery, and Kelly |
| episodes of Alzheimers, Pierina would get very | | | | Hutchman, the owner, invited us in. I was |
| agitated, and when her caregiver phoned Maria in | | | | particularly enchanted by the displays of beautiful |
| Ottawa and let mother and daughter talk, Pierina | | | | handcrafted fashion jewellery in the most brilliant |
| would calm right down again. | | | | colours, including turquoise, amber and salmon |
| In later years, Pierina often demanded to "go | | | | coloured pieces. Kelly mentioned that the jewellery |
| home", and her caregiver would reply "But Pierina, | | | | is made from Swarovsky crystal. |
| you are home". Often the caregiver would take | | | | The Beach is one of Toronto's most dog-friendly |
| Pierina on a tour of the house and explain that | | | | neighbourhoods, and as Maria and I were strolling |
| this was indeed her house, that she had just | | | | along the south side of Queen Street all of a |
| recently completed certain renovations, in the | | | | sudden I saw a sign on the other side: "Bark |
| hope that Pierina would recognize her own home. | | | | & Fitz - For You And Your Dog". I pulled |
| Sometimes none of these strategies worked, and | | | | Maria over and suggested that we go visit this |
| Pierina would keep on insisting on going home. As | | | | place. We walked into a really hip boutique that |
| a creative solution, the caregiver would call a taxi, | | | | has everything a dog owner could ever want: |
| take Pierina out for a coffee, and take a cab | | | | from shampoos and conditioners to grooming |
| back home. Because of Pierina's short-term | | | | tools to freshly baked treats and toys and even |
| memory lapses, the caregiver would sometimes | | | | practical items such as beds, bowls and blankets - |
| have to take her out three times, because upon | | | | Bark and Fitz has it all, and owner Kelly Cole |
| her return Pierina forgot again that she was in her | | | | showed us around. Kelly is a Beacher who is very |
| own home. But Pierina's long-term memory was | | | | proud of her connection with this neighbourhood, |
| intact until the end: the day before her death, | | | | and was very curious about the Beach Photo |
| Pierina and Maria were singing old Italian folk | | | | Exhibition and promised her support for this event. |
| songs, and Pierina remembered every detail of | | | | We also headed into Living Lighting in the Beach, a |
| the lyrics. | | | | place where Maria had bought some Murano glass |
| Family has been an important aspect of Maria | | | | lamps recently. Living Lighting features a wide |
| Minna's life. She is very close to her three sisters | | | | range of interior and exterior lighting, ceiling fans, |
| and her brother who continues to live in her | | | | track and recessed lighting as well as electric |
| parent's original home in the Bloor - Ossington | | | | fireplaces. The store is packed full of unique |
| area. The entire extended family with all the | | | | lighting options, and I saw various types of lamp |
| nieces, nephews and their children gets together | | | | designs that I had never seen anywhere else. In |
| on holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving and | | | | addition to the contemporary designs we also had |
| Christmas. Maria, who has two step-children with | | | | a look at the Tiffany lamp display at the front of |
| her husband Robert, is also very close to her | | | | the store. Maria had a chance to catch up with |
| nieces. She explained that her older sister's first | | | | the owner Norton Abramson again, who had |
| child was was born when Maria was 10 years old, | | | | assisted her on her recent purchase. |
| and as a result of this small age difference her | | | | Last but not least we decided to pay a visit to |
| older niece simply calls her "Maria". There is a | | | | Overkill, a popular beach volleyball retailer. Toronto |
| much greater age difference with her younger | | | | is Canada's beach volleyball mecca, and Woodbine |
| sisters' daughters; they respectfully refer to Maria | | | | Beach is the location of hundreds of beach |
| as "Zia Maria" (Aunt Maria) or simply "Zia". | | | | volleyball nets that are busy with enthusiastic |
| Just recently Maria connected with some of her | | | | athletes from early spring until late fall. As a |
| nieces who suggested that they get together and | | | | volleyball player myself I figured I'd like to pop in |
| make some home-made pasta just the way | | | | and say hello to the crew at Overkill, one of |
| nonna ("grandma" - Maria's mother) used to make | | | | Canada's most well-known volleyball outfitters. |
| it. So the women got together and visited Matilda, | | | | Maria and I entered the store and three |
| a good friend of the family in whose house the | | | | enthusiastic young staff members welcomed us. |
| family had stayed when they first arrived in | | | | Overkill carries everything for the serious beach |
| Canada. Matilda taught them how to make pasta | | | | volleyball athlete, from t-shirts to sweatshirts, |
| dough, and the ladies made pasta fina from | | | | hoodys, sweat pants and yoga pants to visors, |
| scratch and even cut the pasta dough by hand. | | | | hats and cool beach flip flops. Maria and I were |
| They served the pasta on two long wooden | | | | quite enchanted by the ergonomically designed |
| platters that are made of tree trunks from | | | | beach sandals; they looked amazingly comfortable |
| Maria's home town in Italy. The consensus was to | | | | yet sturdy. The crew at Overkill was very |
| do this again soon and make this a regular bonding | | | | excited about the Beach event and said they |
| ritual among the female members of the family. | | | | would help spread the word about the Photo |
| Maria explained that her family gives her | | | | exhibition. Maria recognized the last name of one |
| nourishment and acts an important anchor for her. | | | | of the employees and started chatting with the |
| She is also very grateful for her husband's | | | | young man. Apparently his grandmother hails from |
| support of her political career which has been a | | | | the same town as Maria and the two ladies |
| critical element in her success. | | | | actually know each other quite well. |
| I also asked Maria about what it was like to be | | | | After our outings, both Maria and I realized what |
| one of the first female political trailblazers in | | | | a small world this is, even in a big city like |
| Canada. Maria responded that she was the first | | | | Toronto. Now I understand why one of Maria's |
| Italian-Canadian woman minister in Canada, and | | | | favourite pastimes is to go shopping along Queen |
| added that many Italian-Canadians were very | | | | Street. The variety of merchandise, the friendly |
| proud of her. She even received a medal from an | | | | merchants and the personal connections make |
| Italian organization that was honouring prominent | | | | this a truly special shopping experience. |
| Italian exiles all over the world for their | | | | It was great to have a chance to meet Maria |
| achievements. Another recipient of this medal was | | | | Minna. All too often, we feel that our local |
| Mario Cuomo, the former governor of New York | | | | politicians are not approachable or do not share |
| State. Maria explained that Jean Chretien wanted | | | | the same interests as we do. After talking to |
| a minister of Italian heritage as well as a woman | | | | Maria, it is evident that she listens to the concerns |
| for this position, and with Maria's appointment he | | | | of people and is always ready to help. |
| was able to kill two birds with one stone. | | | | Maria is an active advocate for social justice. In |
| In 1999 Maria was selected for the International | | | | Ottawa, her work with women's rights, minority |
| Co-operation portfolio because of her social justice | | | | rights, environmental issues, and homelessness is |
| background. This happened despite the fact that | | | | commended by colleagues of all political stripes. |
| she had been very aggressive in the past in | | | | She lobbied hard for the Child Tax Credit, and |
| fighting for social causes, sometimes criticizing her | | | | continues to fight for a National Childcare |
| own party for not being progressive enough. In | | | | Program, a National Poverty Strategy, improves |
| Maria's words she definitely was not a | | | | health care, pay equity and EI reform to better |
| "wallflower", and she added that former Prime | | | | suit Canadian families. |