FOUNDER, COMFORT HEART
INITIATIVE
International Women's Day 2002 - March
2002
Editor Christopher Loudon worked with a cross section of
Canada’s best and brightest as they shared their responses to five
pertinent questions. "Carol Ann Cole charmed everyone with a warmth
and compassion that is, quite literally, heartfelt."
Growing up, which Canadian women most
inspired you?
When I was very small, just starting school, I admired a woman by
the name of Gloria Sanfree. Then, as I began to understand the words
to 0 Canada, I realized it wasn’t “Gloria Sanfree,” it was
“glorious and free” So, in fact, the first woman I admired didn’t
exist. The second woman, who has been an inspiration for me through
my entire life, is my own mother. My mum raised four daughters. We
were always “her girls” When she was 50 years old, she was forced to
go out of the house and go to work for the first time and raise her
two youngest daughters on her own. And she retired at 65 with a
pension, which is something that not everyone is able to achieve. As
I think back, now having lost my mother, I admire her more and more.
She will continue to be an inspiration for me, always.
What do you feel has been the greatest
advancement for women in your Lifetime?
As
women, we’ve discovered our voice, and have developed the
opportunities to use that voice. I’m not a great proponent of the
placards and the bra burning and the shouting and screaming. When
we have something to say, we need to be listened to. And it is, I
think, only in the last ten years or so that our voices have, in
fact, been heard. They’re stronger. They’re clearer. We have more of
a conviction; we don’t apologize for what we have to say because
what we have to say is very meaningful. I do a lot of work in the
breast cancer community. My mother’s generation called it “the big
C." Nobody mentioned the word “cancer." Now we talk about it
very openly. People stand up at the forums and ask very specific
questions. I love it when I’m in a room filled with volunteers and
all of a sudden a woman who has been particularly silent finds her
voice. And, indeed, she ends up contributing more than just about
anybody else, because when she does find her voice she has something
to say that is particularly powerful.
In terms of women’s rights and freedoms, what
do you think tops the “to do” list?
Sadly, on the heels of September 11th of last year, I think it is
equality. When I think about the horrible things we read about and
hear about happening to women not just in Afghanistan but in many
different parts of the world, I realize just how far from equality
we remain. There are so many steps that still have to be taken. It
is at the very top of my to-do list, and I hope on the top of many
other to-do lists, too.
How does the idea of International Women’s
Day speak to you personally?
I
think it is very necessary now because, while we have come so far,
we still have a long way to go. I have to say, though, that I wish
it weren’t necessary, and I look forward to the day when there’s an
international day that addresses all sexes, all races, all
religions.
If you could spend an evening with any three
women, who would you choose?
First of all, my mother. I would love to have her in the room for
several reasons, particularly because the second woman I would pick
is my daughter-in-law, Tracey Scott. Tracey didn’t have the
opportunity to get to know my mother, and I think it would be
wonderful if the two of them could sit down and talk The third woman
I would love to have in the room is named Peace. She is the mother
of my foster child, Amos, who lives in Uganda. You hear a lot about
foster children and about what we, as foster parents, do for the
children. But you hear very little about their mothers. When I first
became a foster parent, Amos couldn’t read or write. He’s going to
be ten this year, and now his letters are wonderful. In one letter,
he mentioned that his father had died, and enclosed a picture of
himself and Peace; and it crossed my mind that I would very much
like to know a whole lot more about her.
Ms. Cole has asked that her donation be made to the Canadian
Breast Cancer Foundation.
