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Who Are We?
The two of us have worked as teachers, group coordinators, administrators and researchers in a range of educational and leisure settings for over twenty-five years in Canada, the UK, the United States, and Europe.
wine women and philosophy grew out of our recognition that although most women support the idea of lifelong learning, the educational opportunities that currently exist out there for those of us wishing to expand our horizons is limited, and often uninspiring. Moreover, the schedules rarely fit with the realities of our lives. |
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Linnet Fawcett
Post-doc (improvisation, community, and social practice) CREUM, University of Montreal, 2007
PhD (communication studies) Concordia University, Montreal
2006 Master of Arts (media studies) Concordia University, Montreal 1999 Bachelor of Arts (communication studies) University of Ottawa. 1983 |
In my late 30s, I went back to school: the world of education opening up to me again as I first, did a masters degree in media studies and then - fired up with new knowledges but feeling like I still had so much left to learn - embarked on a PhD. By now I was into my 40s - a time I also took up recreational ice skating in a big way. Circulating out there on the rink, tough philosophical concepts that kept evading me in the classroom suddenly made sense, became accessible. Excited by this revelation that the theoretical and the practical could so productively serve each other, I quickly turned skating into my dissertation topic. In this way, a budding passion for skating became a philosophical exploration of the midlife female body in movement.
A lot of my motivation for starting up wine women and philosophy with Rona springs from this educational adventure. First, it has made me realise that philosophy and activity should go hand in hand - not one reserved for the classroom and the other taking place outside of it, but rather, the two weaving in and out of each other. In this way, a living philosophy that speaks to our everyday experiences can emerge. Second, it has confirmed for me that we are never too old to set off on an educational journey...that all too often, these openings into a new world are wasted on the young.
My hope for wine women and philosophy is that women of diverse backgrounds will discover their 'inner philosopher' whilst partaking in activities that range from Scrapbooking to Language-Learning, from Wine Appreciation to the Slow Golf experience. |
 Rona Brodie
PhD (sport, education and ethics) University of Gloucestershire, England 2006 Masters of Education University of Edinburgh, Scotland 1999 Bachelor of Education (human movement studies) University of Edinburgh, Scotland. 1983 |
Gloria Steinem - a feminist activist and writer - encourages us to do something extraordinary and see what happens. This appeal asks us to be more aware of how our actions directly impact our own lives, as well as the lives of those around us. Stepping beyond our usual patterns, responding differently to a given situation, can offer one of those rare moments of insight that - even fleetingly - deepens our self-awareness and enriches our human connections. Co-founding wine women and philosophy is my response to Gloria Steinem's call for extraordinary action.
I have been involved in planning and delivering continuing professional development programmes for teachers, coaches and volunteers for over fifteen years. Before that, I taught in high schools in Scotland for eight years. I have had the privilege of working alongside many inspirational people who have gone out of their way to share their joy of an activity or educational field with me and with others. This has led me to believe that sharing something you love to do with others is infectious. Moreover, it can generate a sense of joy for all those involved. At wine women and philosophy we want to bring to the fore those joys that women have already experienced, and help women to find their own source of joy in what they have yet to experience. In doing this together, wine women and philosophy aims to create more imaginative futures for women. |
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Did you Know?
We began wine women and philosophy in a small log cabin near Pine Hill in the Lower Laurentians. Our premises might have grown (!!) but we still believe that natural beauty and learning go hand in hand.
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Join us at wine women and philosophy...the spa that ignites your creative and reflective side.
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What Others are Saying
"Words are difficult to find to describe what this weekend of the Book and Film Club meant for me. I learned so much, not just about the literature but about myself and the others. The food, wine, relaxed atmosphere and beautiful setting made it definitely a 'vacation spa' for me." Heather Cripotos attended our Book and Film Club in November 2009 |