IAN WADDELL, the energetic and exuberant long-time federal MP and provincial MLA, now turned filmmaker (The Drop – Why Young People Don’t Vote) and author, recently launched his newest work to an audience of artists, lawyers, judges and business people in the Historic Courtroom at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Take the Torch: A Political Memoir is Ian’s way of giving a leg up to the next generation of political activists. “They – the millennials – are the smartest generation ever with lots of available resources,” says Ian, “but the challenges are different. In my time in politics, we worked together, across party lines. There is more polarization now.”
Glaswegian by birth, Ian says that when he was growing up in Canada, “you could do anything.” He has continued to do just that. After retiring from an illustrious career, first in law and then politics, Ian continues to apply his youthful energy to his projects.
“I hope to pass on some of the lessons I’ve learned,” he says, adding that he anticipates Baby Boomer readers will enjoy his memoir as a historical reference, and Gen Xers and Millennials will take the lessons forward in their political advocacy. His next project? Uncle Vlad – a political satire of international proportions.
LORNA SCHWENK, a Penticton native, was astonished when she was recently recognized and celebrated as a Legend in the Las Vegas Burlesque Hall of Fame. Lorna was invited to receive this honour last June at the annual worldwide convention of burlesque dancers in Las Vegas.
Now an accomplished artist in Vancouver, whose 2014 Impressions of Argentine Tango watercolours were showcased at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Lorna says that on her return from Vegas, Vancouver Burlesque “pulled me out of hiding” and got me involved as a legendary mentor to the local community.
In this capacity, she now encourages new dancers to get to the core of who they are, stripping away any pretexts when dancing and when connecting to their audience.
“It’s important to reveal something personal about yourself when you are performing,” says Lorna, who continues to be a nude model at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. “I’m comfortable with who I am.”
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