TORONTO LAUNCH: Ladies, Upstairs!

Women's College Hospital Conference Centre, 76 Grenville Street, Toronto, ON
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Join Monique Bégin for the Toronto launch of her new memoire, Ladies, Upstairs! My Life in Politics and After. The event will be held in the Conference Centre at University of Toronto's Women's College Hospital.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this riveting memoir of a trailblazing female politician, Monique Bégin tells the story of her journey into politics and beyond. Born in Italy, Bégin spent her childhood in France and Portugal before arriving in Montreal as a refugee of the Second World War. In 1967, she was swept into the world of politics when she became executive secretary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women. Inspired by Pierre Trudeau, she then ran for the House of Commons and served in various cabinet positions, ultimately spearheading the landmark Canada Health Act before retiring to pursue a career in academia. Offering a revealing glimpse into the pervading sexism of Canadian public life, 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.

Monique Bégin is professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa.