Toronto Dollar Party Celebrity Auction
Brooms from “Women of Power”

Margaret Atwood: (broom—unsigned)

" I'd sweep away pollution, beginning with noisy particle-spewing four-stroke leaf blowers and gas lawnmowers, for which cleaner, quieter substitutes are now available, and continuing by replacing standard car engines with hybrids that don't spew exhaust when they're idling. I'd then replace air conditioners with fans, blinds, awnings and green roofs, where possible. Then I'd replace all transportation vehicles with brooms, just as in Harry Potter.

Jean Augustine:
(B room signed Hon. Jean Augustine, P.C., M.P. Words handwritten on broom handle:)

“This broom is a reminder of the negative Karma that I want to sweep away. It represents all of the negativity that has come into my life.”

June Callwood:
(signed broom and words on signed note:)

“Sweeping Clean…Please use this broom to sweep away the evils Gandhi described as ‘untruth, injustice and humbug.’ When that is done, sweep in kindness, beauty, and decency. Don’t give up trying.”

Oivia Chow: (signed broom with text on broom:)
“Let’s sweep in a new golden age for the arts and culture in Toronto.”

Marilyn Churley:
( signed Sweet Dreams broom from Thailand. Words on the broom:)

"Let’s sweep out racism and sexism. Let's sweep in more women to Queen's Park.” Signed "Marilyn Churley, MPP Toronto Danforth, Deputy Leader, Ont. NDP.”

David Crombie:
(signed broom and words on signed notecard (attached): )

“Sweep in the word—with a smile!”

Cathy Crowe:
(signed, decorated broom with 1% button on golden ribbon. In envelope: Long, unsigned text, on green paper, headed The Wicked Broom by Cathy Crow, Street Nurse: )

“Sometimes brooms sweep out good things.
Sometimes they sweep out people.
In “Wicked’, the musical prequel to the Wizard of Oz, a little girl is treated meanly by children, adults and community leaders, because she is different than the other boy and girls. How is she different? She is green! So, they call her wicked! She also has special powers and becomes known as the Wicked Witch.
In this City there are also people who are treated meanly because they are different. How are they different? Well, unlike you and I—they are different because they are not allowed to have housing or proper shelter. What is really wicked here?
Well…
It’s wicked to make it illegal to be homeless in ‘Toronto.
It’s wicked to take it illegal to seek a safe sleeping spot outside City Hall.
It’s wicked that this month emergency shelters in churches, all over the city, have to close their doors to homeless people and say “see you next winter”.
It’s wicked that City workers bulldoze down squats where homeless people are trying to set up safe shelter.
It’s even more wicked that our last federal budget had not one dollar in it for housing.
Support the 1% solution and stop the wicked sweeps!”

Janet Ecker: signed broom, signed statement on “equal voice” letterhead in separate envelope: “To sweep more women into elected office!”

Ursula Franklin: signed broom and words on signed card: “I would like to sweep out Hypocrisy and Prejudice and sweep in more Friendship and Hope.”

Barbara Hall:
( signed broom, with words on broom Plus attached handwritten statement::)

“Violence out—Hope in.”
“I want my broom to sweep away all guns in Toronto together with the violent feelings that cause people to pick up and use them.

I was robbed at gunpoint 30 years ago but I still remember that the eyes of my assailant were colder than the 38 in my forehead. I wondered what had caused him to see me as a purse— not a person.

My broom will sweep in a healthier community that values all its members and gives each one hope. Because one thing I know is that people with hope don’t have guns.”

Naomi Klein:
( signed broom with words on paper stuck onto handle:)

“Let’s reclaim the visual environment of our city by sweeping away all plans for new billboards and commercial video screens—especially on the TTC! It’s time for Toronto to be a leader in the fight for public space.”

Michele Landsberg:
( signed broom and typed “declaration”:)

“The heck with sweeping! I’m going to fly it---right across Canada, casting some magic spell along the way.
ZAP---a national non-profit child care programme with high standards springs into existence.
ZAP---every politician who stalls, wiggles, evades or undermines the national child care programme mysteriously disappears. Ken Drydens who kowtow to Ralph Kleins will be the first to go.
ZAP---worn-out and weary feminists everywhere feel a jolt of energy as they sense the possibilities of truly excellent, accessible child care for all.
ZAP---as Canadian women get liberated, their children begin to rise out of poverty,

This little broom of mine!
I’m gonna let it shine!”

Mary Jo Leddy:
(dustpan and brush, with signed statement, attached:)

“This is a small brush rather than a big broom because I’d like to sweep away real dirt, real injustice and poverty without sweeping away the people who live in small places in corners shelved away. I’d like to clean up corruption without sweeping away the messy people. So I am learning to sweep more carefully and hope this help [sic] you too.”

Pam McConnell: signed statement attached to broom: “Use this broom to sweep away the island airport, and to clear the way for a clean, green waterfront!!”

Linda McQuaig: signed broom and attached, autographed, copy of her book, Shooting the Hippo. Plus words on an unsigned, cardboard backed sheet: “Let’s sweep out all those crude dudes running the world.”

Vivienne Poy: Printed Gold Label on broom; handwritten words and signature on pink ribbon, looped through top of handle: “This broom will sweep away all negative thoughts.”

Arlene Purdy Rae: signed broom and handwritten, signed, card with words:
“In a world with so much gloom,
Here’s a lighthearted use for my broom…
No Matter how often its broomed,
There is always more dirt in one’s rooms,
But, if given the chance
To sweep rooms with a glance,
Then the future of housework is doomed!”

Judy Rebick: signed broom and words on signed note: “I’d like to use this broom to sweep all the SUV’s off the streets. They are a blight to [the] city and the environment.” (Laura Cooper will bring along a copy of her latest book— should this be raffled off along with the broom or listed as a silent auction item?)

Nancy Ruth: Mini Ottawa Senators hockey stick signed, Nancy Ruth—rookie Senator 2005, with text on stick: “Let WOMEN wield POWER and men wield brooms!”

Judy Steed:
( signed broom and words on broom: “Make it a clean sweep.” Judy Steed's Sweeping Statement:)

Don't weep, sweep.
Sweep away the cobwebs of denial,
Sweep away the dust of useless things,
Sweep and twirl and sing.
Ride the witch's broomstick,
Swoop and soar and ring
the bell. We're here.
There's joy.

Barbara Turnbull:
(signed statement attached to dustpan-and-broom set:)

“How could we get it so wrong?
Toronto is blessed to be a city on the water. But we’ve managed to turn our Harbourfront into condo-central. Between housing development (none of it social housing) and the Gardiner eyesore, we’ve blown it big-time. All it takes is one trip to Chicago to see just how badly we’ve messed up. Chicago’s waterfront is obviously a valued jewel to that city. Here in Toronto, our city councils have seemed to value it mostly for the cash it can bring from developers. Waterfront Regeneration? My foot! If I had the power, I would sweep away all that concrete and sweep in a wonderful park, with some truly affordable low-rise housing.”

“This is technically not a broom—it is a fly swatter from Kenya—but I think it could do double duty. It should be used to swat pests and scatter them to the winds. It can also be used to sweep in a world of gender equality & justice.” [Lois warns: “…you have to be careful in handling this broom….you have to stay away from the top end (where it is wrapped in paper).

Frances Lankin:

The use of the broom in the sport of curling is often accompanied by the team skip’s urgent plea of “hurry, hurry, hurry!” It’s an apt analogy for us at United Way. While the task of improving lives takes a long term commitment – we’re in a huge hurry to get the job done!

Doris Anderson:
( signed broom, attached statement: )

"Let's sweep out our present antiquated electoral system and replace it with Proportional Representation--a fairer system, with no "wasted" votes and more women in parliament!"