Stephen Jenkinson’s new book is not a seven step coping strategy and not an out-clause for trauma or sorrow — it’s a manifesto for sanity and soul
Your weight is not your worth: Love our bodies, love ourselves
January 25th, 2015 | Posted by in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Your weight is not your worth: Love our bodies, love ourselves)British Columbia’s annual provincial eating disorders awareness campaign begins February 1, 2015 — on Facebook here — on Twitter here
Men, mental health, and moving discussion out of the shadows
January 13th, 2015 | Posted by in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Men, mental health, and moving discussion out of the shadows)“We have inculcated a culture in our society that men have to be tough, men have to be strong. Our society is very good at punishing gender deviation in men. Weakness is not considered to be masculine.” — Dr. Don McCreary (Toronto Men’s Health Network)
Journey of self-awareness takes TJ Dawe deep into the Enneagram
November 11th, 2014 | Posted by in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Journey of self-awareness takes TJ Dawe deep into the Enneagram)The Enneagram system suggests that there are nine basic personality types of human nature, and subtypes and variations within the fundamental categories
In a thousand ways, writes author/performer T.J. Dawe, our culture directs us to be this and not that. Signals come in all forms, from all directions. And implicit in these edicts is the belief that our personalities are bendable as pipe cleaner, that we can choose to be someone radically different from who we’re inclined to be and mould ourselves into that new shape by sheer force of will. But what if that’s not true?
Men’s panel takes a look at current men’s issues
October 6th, 2014 | Posted by in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Men’s panel takes a look at current men’s issues)From men’s rights to domestic violence, we convene a men’s panel to focus on current issues
When a men’s rights group working against “bigotry that is routinely practiced against men and boys in this culture” planned its first major conference this year, protesters were fighting for the event to be cancelled (see The Huffington Post). The push for “men’s rights” has for some time been a hotly-debated concept—and has been seen as a push-back against hard-won rights for women.
First-person Bakersfield story explores racial prejudices using comedy
August 20th, 2014 | Posted by in uncategorized - (Comments Off on First-person Bakersfield story explores racial prejudices using comedy)Les Kurkendaal takes Nanaimo Fringe audiences to Bakersfield, California, where his lover’s family lives in all-white isolation
What happens when a man brings his male lover home to his family in Bakersfield, California, for the holidays? Oh, but this isn’t really the crux of the problem: the family has recently and grudgingly accepted their son Mike’s sexual orientation. The real problem begins as Les steps across the threshold of the family’s pricey, gated suburban home. Mike “forgot” to tell his family that his lover is an African American. [source: Cincinnati CityBeat] [image: Les at Nanaimo Museum for Nanaimo Fringe 2014]
Christmas in Bakersfield is being performed at the 2014 Nanaimo Fringe Festival, at the Nanaimo Museum venue.