Library and Archives Canada, the Ottawa Public Library, the Ottawa International Writers Festival and McGill-Queen’s University Press invite you to the launch, hosted by Charlotte Gray, of Ladies, Upstairs! My Life in Politics and After by Monique Bégin.
Ladies, Upstairs! details the experiences of a feisty, candid outsider who, through sheer fortitude, intelligence and hard work, became minister of health and welfare, a university dean, a sought-after member for commissions of inquiry, and an international expert on public health.
The voice of a woman in a male world, a francophone among anglophones, and a skeptical politician, Monique Bégin’s Ladies, Upstairs! provides a fascinating account of one of Canada's most impressive federal ministers and her discoveries through the decades.
Bégin was a major player in a period that marked the beginning of a long journey to make Canadian politics, public life, universities, and commissions deal with the two major revolutions of the twentieth century – feminism and decolonization. Her ability to choose allies, make friends, and help establish women's health as an important area of research and teaching is not a small accomplishment. Her story will be read by many people.
The admission is free.
