We set the alarm for 7:00 a.m., to phone and reschedule our flight home. After half an hour on hold, we got through and got seats on the 5 p.m. flight to Saskatoon. Yay!
And so the adventure came to an end, and we lived happily even after. (And Cuppy will be given away at the next general meeting.)
Monday, October 12, 2009
Day 5 - the last day of convention (and the first day of our trip home)
I have to admit, this convention was not as bad as I was expecting it to be. It was actually very interesting and informative. Despite there being over 2000 people it never felt overwhelmingly crowded, which is what I was worried about. I'm glad I went.
The flight from Montreal to Winnipeg was fine, but then the Air Canada computers went down and we were stranded in the Winnipeg airport. At about 1:30 a.m. they cancelled the flight, and sent us to a hotel.
Cuppy's last chance to shmooze - with "Election Nancy" (she was a hoot!) and former CUPE National President Judy Darcy.
Our last speaker, Jack Layton, leader of the NDP.
Cuppy trying to nap while waiting at the Winnipeg airport.
Cuppy illustrating what time we finally got to the hotel. It was a really nice room (compliments of Air Canada), but we were so tired it was hard to appreciate it much.
The flight from Montreal to Winnipeg was fine, but then the Air Canada computers went down and we were stranded in the Winnipeg airport. At about 1:30 a.m. they cancelled the flight, and sent us to a hotel.
Cuppy's last chance to shmooze - with "Election Nancy" (she was a hoot!) and former CUPE National President Judy Darcy.
Our last speaker, Jack Layton, leader of the NDP.
Cuppy trying to nap while waiting at the Winnipeg airport.
Cuppy illustrating what time we finally got to the hotel. It was a really nice room (compliments of Air Canada), but we were so tired it was hard to appreciate it much.
Back to Day 4
Another speaker, more resolutions, more debate... and some sightseeing. And a Montreal smoked meat sandwich for supper at Reubens. Mmmmm!
Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress.
A Common Trumpeter eyeing up Cuppy at the Biodome.
Tiny Sandie holding up teeny tiny Cuppy outside the Olympic Stadium (finally paid for, and now sitting empty).
Cuppy chillin' at a fountain under Chinese lanterns at the Botanical Gardens.
Another Chinese lantern, same old Cuppy.
Cuppy just "lion" around.
Cuppy and a 65 year old friend - an incredible Bonsai tree.
Cuppy and a tres grand pumpkin.
Cuppy under the spell of Esmerelda the Witch of the Pumpkin Festival.
More Chinese lanterns.
A Common Trumpeter eyeing up Cuppy at the Biodome.
Tiny Sandie holding up teeny tiny Cuppy outside the Olympic Stadium (finally paid for, and now sitting empty).
Cuppy chillin' at a fountain under Chinese lanterns at the Botanical Gardens.
Another Chinese lantern, same old Cuppy.
Cuppy just "lion" around.
Cuppy and a 65 year old friend - an incredible Bonsai tree.
Cuppy and a tres grand pumpkin.
Cuppy under the spell of Esmerelda the Witch of the Pumpkin Festival.
More Chinese lanterns.
The Metro (subway)
Cuppy reminiscing about the Montreal Olympics (while waiting for the Metro).
Cuppy reminiscing about the Montreal Olympics (while waiting for the Metro).
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Home at last!
We made it home at 6 pm tonight. Long story. Too tired to tell it. Will get caught up soon. Good night!
Not home yet
Sandie and I made it to Winnipeg, then sat in the plane for an hour, then deplaned, then sat in the airport for 3 hours, then our flight was cancelled, then we got a hotel room and tomorrow we'll try to reschedule a flight home! (Thanksgiving weekend, I'm thinking Good Luck!)
Thursday, October 8, 2009
To Be Continued...
Too tired to blog. Have to pack yet and it's 11:00 and we have to be at the convention at 7:45 tomorrow morning. I'll catch you up on the last couple of days when I get home. Good night!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Day 3
Another 9 to 6 day, with elections, a speaker and more resolutions. Paul Moist and Claude Genereux were acclaimed as President and Secretary-Treasurer and Tom Graham, our Regional Vice President, was elected as a General Vice President. Yay!
At noon, we (some 2000+ strong) marched on Montreal's City Hall in support of Local 301, Montreal's blue collar workers who have been without a contract for 2 years. SO-SO-SO! SOLIDARITE! was bouncing off the sides of the building and hopefully was heard loud and clear by Montreal's mayor. "If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!"
Then Sandie and I hustled back for our drumming practice. We are performing on Friday morning for the convention. I'm hoping to be able to get someone to record it and see if I can get it on the blog once I'm home.
After the day's adjournment, Sandie and I took the metro (the subway) to the Holocaust Museum. Unfortunately we didn't get through it all in the 1 1/2 hours we had, but probably got through 2/3 of it. Very well done. I'm glad we took the time to go there.
Claude Genereux addressing the rally.
Cuppy shmoozing with our friends from Local 2268 (Saskatoon Catholic Schools)
My drumming injury (see the bruise on my thumb?).
Cuppy on the metro.
At noon, we (some 2000+ strong) marched on Montreal's City Hall in support of Local 301, Montreal's blue collar workers who have been without a contract for 2 years. SO-SO-SO! SOLIDARITE! was bouncing off the sides of the building and hopefully was heard loud and clear by Montreal's mayor. "If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!"
Then Sandie and I hustled back for our drumming practice. We are performing on Friday morning for the convention. I'm hoping to be able to get someone to record it and see if I can get it on the blog once I'm home.
After the day's adjournment, Sandie and I took the metro (the subway) to the Holocaust Museum. Unfortunately we didn't get through it all in the 1 1/2 hours we had, but probably got through 2/3 of it. Very well done. I'm glad we took the time to go there.
Aboriginal Activist, Michele Rouleau spoke to us today.
Pictures from both ends and the middle of the rally at City Hall.
Pictures from both ends and the middle of the rally at City Hall.
Claude Genereux addressing the rally.
Cuppy shmoozing with our friends from Local 2268 (Saskatoon Catholic Schools)
My drumming injury (see the bruise on my thumb?).
Cuppy on the metro.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Day 2
Okay, it's actually Day 4 that we've been here, but it's Day 2 of the convention proper. It was a long day (8 am to 6 pm) but more interesting than yesterday. Not that Paul Moist and Claude Genereux weren't interesting yesterday, but today we got more into debating resolutions. What a passionate bunch we are at CUPE! I'm actually looking forward to more of it tomorrow.
Over the lunch break we (Sandie and I and about 40 others) took part in a drumming workshop put on by the group Terrato. They were fantastic and it was a lot of fun!
I tried cheese curds today too. They really do squeak when they're fresh! Salty but tasty, I thought.
Over the lunch break we (Sandie and I and about 40 others) took part in a drumming workshop put on by the group Terrato. They were fantastic and it was a lot of fun!
I tried cheese curds today too. They really do squeak when they're fresh! Salty but tasty, I thought.
Terrato in action. (It's hard to get a clear picture cause they're always in motion.)
Cuppy with Terrato and one of our fellow CUPE drummers.
More of Cuppy's shameless shmoozing - this time with Claude Genereux, CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer.
More of Cuppy's shameless shmoozing - this time with Claude Genereux, CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer.
FINALLY!!...
Okay, so I finally figured out the problem. As usual, it wasn't the program it was the operator (me).
So for the third time - Here's what 2500 people look like. (The big blue thing at the front is a huge video screen, and you can see two more smaller ones - but still very big - farther down the front wall. There were also two more of those to the right of the huge one.)
This will give you a better idea as to the size of the huge screen. (See the little people standing in front of it on the right?)
CUPE National President Paul Moist giving his report.
CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Genereux giving his report.
Cuppy posing with convention paraphenalia (Report book, name tag, water bottle, voting card and translation device)
This will give you a better idea as to the size of the huge screen. (See the little people standing in front of it on the right?)
CUPE National President Paul Moist giving his report.
CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Genereux giving his report.
Cuppy posing with convention paraphenalia (Report book, name tag, water bottle, voting card and translation device)
Cuppy shmoozing again - this time with our soon-to-be previous CUPE Rep Ann St-Denis.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Convention proper begins
Mon Dieu! What a lot of people! 2500 delegates in one huge room. A sea of CUPE members. A bit overwhelming for sure. Today we heard from the president Paul Moist, the secretary-treasurer Claude Genereux (the only one Cuppy hasn't shmoozed with yet), and the trustees. We only got to one constitutional amendment. We'll have more of those tomorrow. It was a looooong day of sitting. How will I survive 4 more days of sitting? Lots of evening walks, I guess.
Speaking of long walks, tonight "GPS" McCaig struck out as she led us into the seedier side of Montreal. We thought we were doing okay following this white-haired older couple until they crossed the street heading to a strip joint! (Teach us to judge people by their appearances.) Thankfully a young woman who could tell we were lost helped us out and we headed back to Old Montreal.
French Onion soup for supper. Mmmmm... it was soooo good!
Speaking of long walks, tonight "GPS" McCaig struck out as she led us into the seedier side of Montreal. We thought we were doing okay following this white-haired older couple until they crossed the street heading to a strip joint! (Teach us to judge people by their appearances.) Thankfully a young woman who could tell we were lost helped us out and we headed back to Old Montreal.
French Onion soup for supper. Mmmmm... it was soooo good!
Here's what 2500 delegates looks like.
(Hmmm... seems to be a problem uploading pictures tonight. I'll try again tomorrow.)
(Hmmm... seems to be a problem uploading pictures tonight. I'll try again tomorrow.)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Cuppy shmoozing
"Les chuchoteuses" (The Gossipers) by Rose-Aimee Belanger
Paul Moist, CUPE National President
Tom Graham, CUPE Saskatchewan President
Lois Lamon, our new CUPE Rep
Bill Robb, one of our former CUPE reps
And so it begins...
Okay, so today were the sectoral meetings. All the delegates from education met to discuss common issues. What issues came up? P3s, asbestos, cutbacks, and H1N1 preparations - sound familiar? It's good (although somewhat disheartening) to hear that we're not alone in the concerns we have. However, we also heard positive stories of locals fighting back - and winning! There is hope.
Then we took a 3 hour bus tour. It's amazing how many old old and beautiful buildings there are here. (Something I worry Saskatoon will never have.)
Then we took a 3 hour bus tour. It's amazing how many old old and beautiful buildings there are here. (Something I worry Saskatoon will never have.)
Here's the Notre-Dame Basilica, built 1824 and 1829. This is where Celine Dion was married.
Here's the the more modern smaller chapel off of the Basilica - the Notre-Dame du Sacre-Coeur.
Cuppy at the Altar of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620-1700). She was a teacher who opened the first school in Montreal. She was canonized (made a saint for you non-Catholics) in 1982.
(Sandie and I kind of doddled and were late getting back to the tour bus.)
Cuppy making a point.
St. Joseph's Oratory (We didn't get a chance to walk up the 99 steps, let alone do it on our knees like pilgrims often do.)
Cuppy (a little fuzzy after sitting so long on the bus) with the Olympic Stadium in the background.
Here's the the more modern smaller chapel off of the Basilica - the Notre-Dame du Sacre-Coeur.
Cuppy at the Altar of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620-1700). She was a teacher who opened the first school in Montreal. She was canonized (made a saint for you non-Catholics) in 1982.
(Sandie and I kind of doddled and were late getting back to the tour bus.)
Cuppy making a point.
St. Joseph's Oratory (We didn't get a chance to walk up the 99 steps, let alone do it on our knees like pilgrims often do.)
Cuppy (a little fuzzy after sitting so long on the bus) with the Olympic Stadium in the background.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
The Adventures of Cuppy
Okay, we made it. After checking into our hotel, Sandie & I went walking - through China Town, and through parts of Old Montreal. We had supper in China Town - mmmmm scallops. (They did have frog legs on the menu but I was just too hungry to risk it tonight!)
Cuppy and a busker in China Town
Cuppy taking in the history of the Old Montreal
("The First Public Square of Montreal 1657)
We were dragging our butts by the time we got back to the hotel, but justifying it by the fact that it was actually 10:30 p.m. back home. Then I turned on my laptop and realized it was actually only 6:30 p.m. back home! Wuss wuss wuss, I know. :)
I hate having my picture taken so I've hired a stand-in - introducing "Cuppy"!
The main entrance to China Town
The main entrance to China Town
Cuppy and a busker in China Town
Cuppy taking in the history of the Old Montreal
("The First Public Square of Montreal 1657)
We were dragging our butts by the time we got back to the hotel, but justifying it by the fact that it was actually 10:30 p.m. back home. Then I turned on my laptop and realized it was actually only 6:30 p.m. back home! Wuss wuss wuss, I know. :)
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