Wasylycia-Leis contemplating another run for mayor

JUDY, JUDY AND JUDY AGAIN? ... It's been just over a year since Sam Katz easily defeated her, but lately Judy Wasylycia-Leis has been telling anyone who cares to listen -- and apparently lots do -- that she wants to run for mayor, again.

In fact, she was even telling me that Sunday during the Vineyard Church's fundraising brunch at the Fort Garry Hotel.

Wasylycia-Leis expanded on that when I called her Monday.

"I'm certainly thinking about it," said the former federal and provincial politician who attracted 90,913 votes in the October 2010 civic election to Katz's 116,308. Wasylycia-Leis said she has been getting "a pretty strong" go-for-it response from her former campaign people and the public at large.

It's too early to officially declare, and she's keeping her options open, because lots can happen over the next few years.

"Things can change," she said.

One of those "things" could be the emergence of another "progressive" candidate, as she terms it. But speaking with her you get a sense Wasylycia-Leis is all but drooling at the thought of the next civic election. An election she clearly thinks won't include Katz.

Come to think of it, the mayor seems to be keeping his options open, too. He hasn't declared one way or the other, either. Although, one wonders if the thought of Wasylycia-Leis making a comeback might have him drooling, too.

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WHAT 'WE DAY' CAN SAY ABOUT US... The headliners of the We Day show at the MTS Centre Wednesday are the likes of former prime minister Paul Martin, former U.S. vice-president Al Gore and Canadian rockers Hedley. But the stars of the show are the 16,000 local students who are expected to absorb the fading Canadian message of social justice they're being taught at schools across the city. And, of course, their teachers, one of who is a nationally acclaimed star. She's Elmwood High School's Chantelle Cotton, and earlier this month she was one of a half-dozen Manitobans awarded the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.

The 35-year-old was recognized for her work in the area of human rights teaching, including her participation in a six-member committee that revamped the Winnipeg School Divsion's human rights curriculum, something, shamefully, I didn't even know existed. But human rights isn't just a book-learned subject in the new cirriculum.

The way it works in Grade 7 is the students learn what human rights are and why they're important, and they get a chance to choose how they're going to go out and make a difference.

"It's not just hypothetical, they're actually doing it," said Cotton.

Often, it's through fundraising for something like homelessness and hunger. And this year, three of her former students who are now in Grade 10 -- Teosha Green, Soleil Gallego and Holly Evanchow -- have taken their passion for the subject all the way the MTS Centre, where Wednesday their video on human rights will share the spotlight with Martin and Gore.

But what's even more heartening is what this kind of curriculum is doing to keep the spirit of Canadian-style social justice alive. Here's to all the students who are learning the importance of personally making a difference. And here's, especially, to Chantelle Cotton, who's made it a life's work.

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GOOD NEWS FROM THE NORTH END... While we're on the subject, Stella Mission, that century-old shelter for the poor and outpost of social justice, which "closed for the holidays" almost a year ago with little hope of reopening, has found hope again.

Wasylycia-Leis said Stella Mission is celebrating a partnership with Pathways and the Community Education Development Association by having an open house Friday between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at 470 Stella Ave., the mission's iconic address. "The building has been newly renovated and is bustling with new life and renewed purpose," Wasylycia-Leis said.

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THE LAST LAUGH... My pals, Myles and Joyce Rothman, were sharing a story about their five-year-old granddaughter on Sunday.

Myles was explaining why, in his words, she isn't destined to be a poster child for the feminist movement.

The other day the wee one was sitting on their bed, eating a peanut butter and jam sandwich. When the sandwich had been reduced to crusts and crumbs scattered across the bedspread, Grandma Joyce appeared holding a proud new purchase.

It's a Dust Buster, a handy, hand-held mini-vac that's just perfect for a mini-person to clean up crumbs with.

"Gramma, I love doing this," she said, Dust Busting away. "Can I come over every day to clean your apartment?"

gordon.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 22, 2011 B1