Women's History Month
October is Women's History month. It kicked off in 1992 like a party that nobody wanted to miss! The Canadian government looked at their calendar, pointed at October, and said, "You know what? This looks like a good month to throw a bash for women!" And why not? It's the perfect time to cozy up with a pumpkin spice latte and talk about the those who totally ruled the roost. They decided to make it all official and shindig-worthy by syncing it up with Persons Day on the 18th. Now, you might be wondering, "What's the big deal with Persons Day?" Well, back in 1929, the Famous Five convinced the Privy Council that, shockingly, women were indeed persons too, and not just glorified hat racks! This was like the ultimate mic drop for women's rights in Canada.
via hoganmag
Fittingly, let's talk about Lynn Johnston. She is a Canadian cartoonist and author, best known for her comic strip, "For Better or For Worse," which ran from 1979 to 2008.
She started "For Better or For Worse" as a way to represent real-life experiences and everyday family dynamics in a humourous and relatable way. She was a stay-at-home mom in the late 1970s and was frustrated with the portrayal of women in the media at the time. She felt that there was a lack of authentic representations of women in popular culture and wanted to create a comic strip that accurately depicted the joys, struggles, and complexities of family life.
So, in 1979, she launched "For Better or For Worse," which went on to become a beloved and long-running series, touching on themes of marriage, parenting, career, and more.
In 1993, Lynn Johnston, ran a four-week story arc that made history. The story centered around Michael Patterson's long-time best friend, Lawrence Poirier, who came out as gay to Michael, his parents, and readers worldwide. This groundbreaking storyline marked the first appearance of a gay character in a syndicated comic strip, sparking important conversations about LGBTQ+ representation in media: https://www.fborfw.com/features/lawrence/index.php
via blogs.ubc.ca
In a comic strip, the family dog, Farley, tragically died while rescuing four-year-old April from a stream. This emotional moment sparked an overwhelming response from readers, prompting over 2,500 letters to be sent to the strip's creator, Lynn Johnston. Approximately one-third of these letters conveyed negative thoughts. Notably, Farley was named after Canadian author Farley Mowat, with whom Johnston shared a close friendship. The Farley Foundation was established as a means of providing essential veterinary care to the pets of low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. This initiative aims to ensure that the strong bond between owners and their animal companions remains unbroken, despite financial challenges.
Haha! You gotta love kids! :)
via fborfw
via vancouverguardian