An open hearted talk held at eBar
On Thursday Jan. 30, the eBar hosted an event with Guelph alumni, Olivia Chow, promoting her second book, “My Journey,” published by HarperCollins press in 2014.
Sitting at what resembled a kitchen table with a tablecloth draped over it and holding a glass of wine, Chow was introduced by community leader Marva Wisdom.
In her condensed “three-minute version,” Chow read a chapter of her new book, saying that the book was “written as a thank-you to action.” She passionately spoke about her troubling childhood with an abusive father, immigration from Hong Kong, and experience growing up as an immigrant in Canada, as well as about her love of philosophers Hegel and Kierkegaard.
Chow said that her book “is about adversity, immigration and the power of unconditional love.”
Not only did Chow have a great sense of humour and effortless control over the audience, she relished in reminiscing about her undergrad days at the University of Guelph, where she studied Fine Art and Philosophy.
As the widow of former New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton, Chow was articulate in being able to discuss wide-ranging topics from domestic violence, the need for “decent food programs” and the unnecessary excessive “one billion dollar police budget in Toronto.”
When Wisdom asked Chow for an example of being a touted master strategizer, Chow said, “It’s important to have financial footing.” She said that that when she first got together with Jack Layton in 1985, they purchased a building to be used as NDP headquarters. With this investment, they were able to use the property as collateral for campaign funding and the purchase of a plane to attend political functions across Canada.
As a Member of Parliament in the Toronto House of Commons, she discussed her rivalry with fellow politicians Julian Fantino and Mayor Rob Ford. She said she has not ruled-out running for Mayor of Toronto.
She argued that “time has no beginning or end,” and that it is also “multi-dimensional.” We must all “live for the moment, because a moment of time can be so full.”