Women & Healthcare
Tuesday June 1st - 6:30pm
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 56 Pleasantville
44 The Boulevard, St. John's
Free in-person admission by pre-registration
Also streaming via Facebook Live
In homage to the original Ladies' Reading Room that was founded as a haven for women's opinions, the Ladies' Reading Room evenings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month from May-November 2021.
Each month features a theme that was relevant to the struggle for women's rights in both 1921 and 2021. For our June evening, the theme is Women & Healthcare.
The event will happen live and free of admission charge for registered guests, who may register to attend on a first-come, first served basis. Parking is also free.
The evening begins in 1921 with a new short play inspired by the evening's theme:
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MOMMY BUTT
Written by Bernardine Stapleton
Directed by Lynn Panting
Performed by Wendi Smallwood
Costumed by Charlotte Reid
We conclude in 2021 with a live panel discussion on the evening's theme:
Women & Healthcare - a 2021 Panel Discussion
This panel will be moderated by health care historian Dr. Heidi Coombs. Guest speakers include:
Tea will served in both period-appropriate and environmentally-sustainable china cups to all.
Important COVID-19 Info:
These events will be run in strict adherence to public health guidelines and regulations. The venue is large and well-ventilated. Audience members will be grouped in bubbles at tables that maintain social distancing. Masks may only be removed while seated.
Accessibility:
This second floor venue is accessible via an exterior ramp up to the side entrance of the Legion Ballroom, which is located on the second floor. Please connect with us at [email protected] or 709-743-7287 to advise if you would like to utilize the ramp and/or if you require any assistance.
Each month features a theme that was relevant to the struggle for women's rights in both 1921 and 2021. For our June evening, the theme is Women & Healthcare.
The event will happen live and free of admission charge for registered guests, who may register to attend on a first-come, first served basis. Parking is also free.
The evening begins in 1921 with a new short play inspired by the evening's theme:
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MOMMY BUTT
Written by Bernardine Stapleton
Directed by Lynn Panting
Performed by Wendi Smallwood
Costumed by Charlotte Reid
We conclude in 2021 with a live panel discussion on the evening's theme:
Women & Healthcare - a 2021 Panel Discussion
This panel will be moderated by health care historian Dr. Heidi Coombs. Guest speakers include:
- Rolanda Ryan, Owner of the Athena Clinic, St John's
- Retired Registered Nurse, Mary Keiley
- Erin O'Reilly, Registered Nurse and certified Doula
- MUN Faculty of Medicine Associate Professor and Family Physician, Dr Norah Duggan
Tea will served in both period-appropriate and environmentally-sustainable china cups to all.
Important COVID-19 Info:
These events will be run in strict adherence to public health guidelines and regulations. The venue is large and well-ventilated. Audience members will be grouped in bubbles at tables that maintain social distancing. Masks may only be removed while seated.
Accessibility:
This second floor venue is accessible via an exterior ramp up to the side entrance of the Legion Ballroom, which is located on the second floor. Please connect with us at [email protected] or 709-743-7287 to advise if you would like to utilize the ramp and/or if you require any assistance.
Production Community
Playwright - Bernardine Ann Teraz Stapleton
Berni Stapleton is a Newfoundland- Labrador writer and performer of unique distinction. She is the co-founder and co-artistic director of the newly founded Kitchen Party Theatre Festival, launching digitally this year, hard launch in 2021!
She was writer in residence at Memorial University of Newfoundland-Labrador in 2019. Her play The Pope and Princess Di was just listed on the Playwrights Guild of Canada Sure Fire List of top 23 plays from female playwrights in Canada. She is the recipient of the 2018 Arts and Letters best dramatic script for her one woman play Dolly. Her newest book for young Selkies and other creatures is called: Girly Muckle and the Queer Hands.She is one of the featured performers in the acclaimed Artistic Fraud production of Between Breaths.
Last year her plays professionally produced included: The Double Axe Murders; A Tidy Package; Offensive to Some; The Haunting of Margaret Duley; and, the hit musical chomping at the bit to tour the country: No Change in the Weather.
She was recently nominated for Arts NL artist of the year. She also launched a blog series championing body image acceptance and produced a one woman show of her own called “A Broad’s Perspective” in which fairy tale tropes were dismantled and rewritten to reflect a more accurate view point.
She is a recipient of The Rhonda Payne award from Arts NL. She is a past recipient of the WANL award for best work in non-fiction for her contribution to the book They Let Down Baskets. Her short stories and essays have appeared in Riddle Fence and The Newfoundland Quarterly. She is a recipient of the Ambassador of Tourism award from Hospitality NL. Berni was the Artistic Director of the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival for 11 years.
She has been a playwright-in- residence with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal, Alberta Theatre Projects, CanStage, PARC, and other national companies. Her plays are regularly produced nationally and internationally. They include Offensive To Some, Brazil Square, and Our Frances. Berni’s other books include This is the Cat, Rants, Riffs and Roars; and her memoir Love, Life.
Berni was the originating director and dramaturge for, and helped devise transVersing with For The Love of Learning, and Artistic Fraud. Find out more by checking out www.bernistapleton.com.
Berni Stapleton is a Newfoundland- Labrador writer and performer of unique distinction. She is the co-founder and co-artistic director of the newly founded Kitchen Party Theatre Festival, launching digitally this year, hard launch in 2021!
She was writer in residence at Memorial University of Newfoundland-Labrador in 2019. Her play The Pope and Princess Di was just listed on the Playwrights Guild of Canada Sure Fire List of top 23 plays from female playwrights in Canada. She is the recipient of the 2018 Arts and Letters best dramatic script for her one woman play Dolly. Her newest book for young Selkies and other creatures is called: Girly Muckle and the Queer Hands.She is one of the featured performers in the acclaimed Artistic Fraud production of Between Breaths.
Last year her plays professionally produced included: The Double Axe Murders; A Tidy Package; Offensive to Some; The Haunting of Margaret Duley; and, the hit musical chomping at the bit to tour the country: No Change in the Weather.
She was recently nominated for Arts NL artist of the year. She also launched a blog series championing body image acceptance and produced a one woman show of her own called “A Broad’s Perspective” in which fairy tale tropes were dismantled and rewritten to reflect a more accurate view point.
She is a recipient of The Rhonda Payne award from Arts NL. She is a past recipient of the WANL award for best work in non-fiction for her contribution to the book They Let Down Baskets. Her short stories and essays have appeared in Riddle Fence and The Newfoundland Quarterly. She is a recipient of the Ambassador of Tourism award from Hospitality NL. Berni was the Artistic Director of the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival for 11 years.
She has been a playwright-in- residence with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal, Alberta Theatre Projects, CanStage, PARC, and other national companies. Her plays are regularly produced nationally and internationally. They include Offensive To Some, Brazil Square, and Our Frances. Berni’s other books include This is the Cat, Rants, Riffs and Roars; and her memoir Love, Life.
Berni was the originating director and dramaturge for, and helped devise transVersing with For The Love of Learning, and Artistic Fraud. Find out more by checking out www.bernistapleton.com.
Director - Lynn Panting
Lynn Panting is a Newfoundland-based artist, arts educator, and arts advocate known for creating innovative and accessible dance works. Lynn is deeply committed to the growth of creativity and self-confidence through movement and holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Memorial University as well as a Master of Humanities concentrating in performance, dance and the body. Recent collaborations include choreography for A Midsummer Nights Dream (Perchance), Rise and... with Any Jones (LPD for the Festival of New Dance), The Law The Letter Music Video (LPD for Sean Panting), and choreography for the Discovery Channel's Frontier. Lynn is the owner and Artistic Director of Lynn Panting Dance, the Artistic Director of Isle Aux Mort Theatre Festival, The Artistic Director of Untellable Movement Theatre, and a founding member of Ladies Who Lunch Productions. lynnpantingdance.com
Lynn Panting is a Newfoundland-based artist, arts educator, and arts advocate known for creating innovative and accessible dance works. Lynn is deeply committed to the growth of creativity and self-confidence through movement and holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Memorial University as well as a Master of Humanities concentrating in performance, dance and the body. Recent collaborations include choreography for A Midsummer Nights Dream (Perchance), Rise and... with Any Jones (LPD for the Festival of New Dance), The Law The Letter Music Video (LPD for Sean Panting), and choreography for the Discovery Channel's Frontier. Lynn is the owner and Artistic Director of Lynn Panting Dance, the Artistic Director of Isle Aux Mort Theatre Festival, The Artistic Director of Untellable Movement Theatre, and a founding member of Ladies Who Lunch Productions. lynnpantingdance.com
Performer - Wendi Smallwood
Wendi is a St. John’s based writer, director, producer, and actor. She has performed with many local theatre and film companies and has directed for Graveyard Shift Productions, Short & Queer II, V-Day St. John’s, and Shakespeare by the Sea Festival. She is the founder and artistic director of SW|FT (St. John’s Women’s Festival of Theatre) and writer/performer of the one-woman shows Barely Mary and Resurrecting Mary. Wendi was a Toronto Dora Mavor Moore Award nominee for her performance of Sandy in Judith Thompson’s Crackwalker and is a past recipient of the Rhonda Payne Theatre Award from Arts NL.
Wendi is a St. John’s based writer, director, producer, and actor. She has performed with many local theatre and film companies and has directed for Graveyard Shift Productions, Short & Queer II, V-Day St. John’s, and Shakespeare by the Sea Festival. She is the founder and artistic director of SW|FT (St. John’s Women’s Festival of Theatre) and writer/performer of the one-woman shows Barely Mary and Resurrecting Mary. Wendi was a Toronto Dora Mavor Moore Award nominee for her performance of Sandy in Judith Thompson’s Crackwalker and is a past recipient of the Rhonda Payne Theatre Award from Arts NL.
Costumer - Charlotte Reid
Charlotte Reid is a Fashion and Costume designer from St. John’s NL. After completing Costume Studies at Dalhousie (2001), Charlotte worked in Halifax and Toronto on shows such as Trailer Park Boys and many indie films that nobody remembers. In 2003 she moved back home and created Charlottestreet, a collection of unique accessories and apparel made from recycled fabrics, all the while getting roped into all sorts of projects for film and theatre. Charlotte most recently designed costumes for Hudson and Rex, and CBC’s Little Dog and is excited to help the character of Mommy Butt come to life!
Charlotte Reid is a Fashion and Costume designer from St. John’s NL. After completing Costume Studies at Dalhousie (2001), Charlotte worked in Halifax and Toronto on shows such as Trailer Park Boys and many indie films that nobody remembers. In 2003 she moved back home and created Charlottestreet, a collection of unique accessories and apparel made from recycled fabrics, all the while getting roped into all sorts of projects for film and theatre. Charlotte most recently designed costumes for Hudson and Rex, and CBC’s Little Dog and is excited to help the character of Mommy Butt come to life!
Production Manager - El Patey
El is a 4th year Student at the school of performance at Ryerson University, studying production. They are thrilled to be back with PerSIStence for Ladies Reading Room, and to see the company grow since their first job with them for Isle of Demons in 2017. A jack of most trades, they can regularly be found in the carpentry shop or backstage. El has worked as stage manager, props, carpenter, flys operator, and other positions for PerSIStence, DW productions, Holy Heart Presents, Stephenville Theatre Festival, St John’s Shorts, and Ryerson Acting and Dance productions.
El is a 4th year Student at the school of performance at Ryerson University, studying production. They are thrilled to be back with PerSIStence for Ladies Reading Room, and to see the company grow since their first job with them for Isle of Demons in 2017. A jack of most trades, they can regularly be found in the carpentry shop or backstage. El has worked as stage manager, props, carpenter, flys operator, and other positions for PerSIStence, DW productions, Holy Heart Presents, Stephenville Theatre Festival, St John’s Shorts, and Ryerson Acting and Dance productions.
Panel
Moderator - Dr. Heidi Coombs
Heidi Coombs is a historian and an education specialist with the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University. She has a PhD from the University of New Brunswick, specializing in the history of nursing with the Grenfell Mission in northern Newfoundland and Labrador. She also conducted postdoctoral research on the relationship between the Grenfell Mission and Inuit of NunatuKavut. She recently wrote the historical context section -- The Impact of Colonialism on Indigenous Peoples in Newfoundland and Labrador -- for the Faculty of Medicine's training program, "Providing Culturally Safe Health Care to Indigenous Patients in Newfoundland and Labrador." Heidi has numerous publications based on her research and has been named a Fellow of the JR Smallwood Foundation for her contributions to the field of Newfoundland and Labrador history. She also has a long history of involvement in local theatre, especially on stage with the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival. Heidi was President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society, and is a member of Persistence Theatre’s the Votes for Women 100 project Ladies Reading Room Subcommittee.
Heidi Coombs is a historian and an education specialist with the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University. She has a PhD from the University of New Brunswick, specializing in the history of nursing with the Grenfell Mission in northern Newfoundland and Labrador. She also conducted postdoctoral research on the relationship between the Grenfell Mission and Inuit of NunatuKavut. She recently wrote the historical context section -- The Impact of Colonialism on Indigenous Peoples in Newfoundland and Labrador -- for the Faculty of Medicine's training program, "Providing Culturally Safe Health Care to Indigenous Patients in Newfoundland and Labrador." Heidi has numerous publications based on her research and has been named a Fellow of the JR Smallwood Foundation for her contributions to the field of Newfoundland and Labrador history. She also has a long history of involvement in local theatre, especially on stage with the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival. Heidi was President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Historical Society, and is a member of Persistence Theatre’s the Votes for Women 100 project Ladies Reading Room Subcommittee.
Panelist - Mary Kennedy Keiley
Mary Kennedy Keiley, are grew up in Trepassey, Newfoundland, and began teaching high school when she was 18 years old. After 2 years of teaching, she migrated to nursing and studied at St. Clare’s Nursing School, graduating in 1959. Mary practiced nursing throughout St. John’s and Toronto for 15 years. In 1974 she completed her Bachelor of Nursing at Memorial University and moved into Nursing Education, at the Grace General and St. Clare’s Nursing Schools. Mary retired from teaching in 1994 and still continues her involvement in St Clare’s by volunteering with the St.Clare’s Hospital Auxiliary.
Mary Kennedy Keiley, are grew up in Trepassey, Newfoundland, and began teaching high school when she was 18 years old. After 2 years of teaching, she migrated to nursing and studied at St. Clare’s Nursing School, graduating in 1959. Mary practiced nursing throughout St. John’s and Toronto for 15 years. In 1974 she completed her Bachelor of Nursing at Memorial University and moved into Nursing Education, at the Grace General and St. Clare’s Nursing Schools. Mary retired from teaching in 1994 and still continues her involvement in St Clare’s by volunteering with the St.Clare’s Hospital Auxiliary.
Panelist - Rolanda Ryan
Rolanda Ryan, RN (St. Clare's School of Nursing, 1989), BN (Memorial University of NL, 1995), MHSA (Dalhousie, 1997) is the current owner/administrator of Athena Health Centre, Newfoundland's only free-standing abortion clinic. Rolanda, during her career, has worked in acute care, long term care, in the prison system, and in abortion care. Rolanda also spent over a decade sitting on the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood. She is pleased to be with us today, to help reduce the stigma around abortion care, and to offer insight into this important health service within the province.
Rolanda Ryan, RN (St. Clare's School of Nursing, 1989), BN (Memorial University of NL, 1995), MHSA (Dalhousie, 1997) is the current owner/administrator of Athena Health Centre, Newfoundland's only free-standing abortion clinic. Rolanda, during her career, has worked in acute care, long term care, in the prison system, and in abortion care. Rolanda also spent over a decade sitting on the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood. She is pleased to be with us today, to help reduce the stigma around abortion care, and to offer insight into this important health service within the province.
Panelist – Erin O’Reilly
Erin is a Registered Nurse, Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, Naturopath, Childbirth Educator, Breastfeeding Counselor, and Spinning Babies parent educator. She is a DONA International certified doula, and continues her education and training to provide a full spectrum of support to new families. She has worked with 300+ families since 2009 and has experience with hypno-birth, twins, VBACs, and LGBTQ2SIA families in providing positive birth experiences. Her nursing background includes surgery, pediatrics, and mental health services, giving her a unique perspective into the health care system. She strives to empower her clients to achieve their own birth goals – natural, epidural, cesarean, VBAC, open book, or whatever their intentions are – and understands the long-term impact of a positive birth experience.
Erin is a Registered Nurse, Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, Naturopath, Childbirth Educator, Breastfeeding Counselor, and Spinning Babies parent educator. She is a DONA International certified doula, and continues her education and training to provide a full spectrum of support to new families. She has worked with 300+ families since 2009 and has experience with hypno-birth, twins, VBACs, and LGBTQ2SIA families in providing positive birth experiences. Her nursing background includes surgery, pediatrics, and mental health services, giving her a unique perspective into the health care system. She strives to empower her clients to achieve their own birth goals – natural, epidural, cesarean, VBAC, open book, or whatever their intentions are – and understands the long-term impact of a positive birth experience.
Panelist - Dr Norah Duggan
Dr. Norah Duggan earned her bachelor of medical sciences and medical degree, and completed her family medicine residency at the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). She began her career in Twillingate, Newfoundland, where she practised full scope family medicine in a rural hospital. In 1999 she accepted a faculty position with MUN as part of a project to develop primary care teaching sites in rural Newfoundland. In 2003 Dr. Duggan resettled in St. John’s, where she currently works at a MUN teaching site in the community of Shea Heights, with patients from newborn to palliative, conducting house calls, and performing small procedures. She was previously Rural Family Medicine Clerkship Coordinator with MUN, and is presently Clerkship Director. She is involved in research in youth mental health, low-risk obstetrics, and undergraduate education.
Dr. Duggan finds being able to care and advocate for patients, and share their joys and sorrows, both a joy and honour. Low risk obstetrics in particular bring tremendous fulfillment to her career; being present for such a major life event is a privilege that she cherishes. She is passionate about promoting the value of family medicine, undergraduate education, and above all else, her family.
Dr. Norah Duggan earned her bachelor of medical sciences and medical degree, and completed her family medicine residency at the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). She began her career in Twillingate, Newfoundland, where she practised full scope family medicine in a rural hospital. In 1999 she accepted a faculty position with MUN as part of a project to develop primary care teaching sites in rural Newfoundland. In 2003 Dr. Duggan resettled in St. John’s, where she currently works at a MUN teaching site in the community of Shea Heights, with patients from newborn to palliative, conducting house calls, and performing small procedures. She was previously Rural Family Medicine Clerkship Coordinator with MUN, and is presently Clerkship Director. She is involved in research in youth mental health, low-risk obstetrics, and undergraduate education.
Dr. Duggan finds being able to care and advocate for patients, and share their joys and sorrows, both a joy and honour. Low risk obstetrics in particular bring tremendous fulfillment to her career; being present for such a major life event is a privilege that she cherishes. She is passionate about promoting the value of family medicine, undergraduate education, and above all else, her family.