Rachel's Blog Archive : 2009
July 17, 2009
The Organising Committee for the Haiti En Fete Festival invited me to make a short speech at the Launch Cocktail Party. You can watch my speech here.
July 15, 2009
I attended the Ottawa Blues Fest this week to see the spectacle that is KISS. It is still unclear to me how Paul Stanley can walk in those uber-platform shoes!
June 30, 2009
I am in Montréal for the Openning Night of the 30th Annual International Jazz Festival. Stevie Wonder did a wonderful performance!
June 27, 2009
I am having a Pre-Canada Day Bar-b-q with a few friends and family. An occasion to appreciate all the freedoms and the rights we have here in this wonderful country.
June 12, 2009
Here I am in Acadie, for a exploration tour of the area. This is for a bid for Moncton to host an international conference in 2010. Moncton, Bouctouche, Dieppe, Shédiac. A beaufitul area of Nouveau-Brunswick. I hope to return her in August 2010 to take a dip at Parlée Beach!
May 2, 2009
I signed up as a volunteer for the Mother's Day River Clean-Up put on by the Urban Rideau Conservationists,
a non-profit, action group that organizes Mother's Day Rideau River clean-ups.
The Rideau River is an essential and much appreciated part of the Ottawa landscape and community.
This activity is in conjunction with the City of Ottawa's "Spring Cleaning the Capital" campaign.
May 1, 2009
I attended the Asian Heritage Month Launch along with my friends Jackie and Hailin
on Parliament Hill. They even wore traditional asian dresses for the occasion.
Minister Jason Kenney paid hommage to the Chinese-Canadians who built the rail way, among others.
April 29, 2009
One Hundred Days of Obama! Yay! (http://obamas100days.org)
April 26, 2009
Today, I did the 5k Earth Run. No, I did not run the whole way! Anik and Chantal brought the kids to this family friendly annual event which supports the David Suzuki Foundation.
April 25, 2009
This year, the NAC has been featuring the artists of British Columbia in a 2-week long festival called "BC Scene". I had the pleasure of attending a few concerts, including the caribbean and south american rhythms of Celso Machado, Sal Ferreras and John Reischman - Community Concert and sultry blues singer Ndidi Onukwulu. BC has alot of great talent!
April 2, 2009
My friend Fred announced that I am the subject of a full page article in the new issue of "Planet Africa" Magazine. The article touches on my participation in the Barack Obama campaign, as well as my endeavours here in Canada.
March 23, 2009
Today, I went to the Ottawa Go Green Expo, where I got to see alot of neat stuff which allow for sustainable use of our precious resources. I also heard MP Justin Trudeau give a talk about the subject.
March 21, 2009
I think the Governor General Michaelle Jean said it best : On this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the keyword is vigilance. We must never remain indifferent, never trivialize this reality, never lower our guard, whether in terms of access to education, healthcare, housing or employment, or the administration of justice. To eradicate prejudice, we must root out ignorance and seek every opportunity to engage in dialogue. [web]
March 20, 2009
Today is Journée internationale de la Francophonie. Canada, a founding member, commemorates the 39th anniversary of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. [web]
February 24, 2009
My friend Magalie tells me she saw me in the current edition of the Hill Times, Feb 23rd edition. (page 26). Thanks, Magalie!
February 19, 2009
The Obama Welcome Brigade gave a warm and memorable welcome to President Obama! "Mission accomplished", as Ms. Laurraine said on CTV News! Rachel did a stint on RDI. (video here: click to segment 3 of 3).
February 18, 2009
I got a nice quote in today's Ottawa Metro Newspaper.Rachel Decoste says she'll be out to show her support regardless.
[snip] "He has given us the philosophy of crossing bridges, of not seeing people as blue state or red state, black or white, Latino, French," she said. "He has gone beyond that.
"He's been able to be bipartisan and include people from the right and left wing in his administration, and include so many women.
"To me, that is the biggest gift he has given us: Hope and that standard of inclusiveness that works."
February 17, 2009
David and I were on CFRA Talk Radio this morning to talk about President Obama's pending visit. There is also a write up in the Metro News.
February 16, 2009
I've teamed up with folks from the GTA and Montreal who are going to give President Obama the welcome he deserves this Thursday. Check out our website! I will be discussing the Obama Visit on CTV news tonight! Watch the video!
February 13, 2009
We're preparing for the upcoming arrival of President Obama to Ottawa this Thursday! Rendez-vous on Parliament Hill or on Wellington street on Thursday morning!
Join us on Facebook!
February 8, 2009
Winterlude started yesterday, and my friend and I did a walkthrough the International Ice-Carving Competition, and the Crystal Lounge. With the warm weather, there's no excuse not to enjoy the activities of the largest Winter Festival in the Americas!
February 5, 2009
This week was very busy : Both the City of Ottawa and the Minister of Multiculturalism held launch ceremonies for Black History Month. The performances were all memorable! We also saw the new stamps for Abraham Shadd and Rosemary Brown officially unveiled by Canada Post.Also, Ottawa Police organized a first annual cocktail-fundraiser in support of the 'Flanagan Scholarship Fund', a scholarship to assist visible minority and Aboriginal women who are interested in a policing career with the Ottawa Police Service.
January 21, 2009
Some articles :
Ottawa-area Obamaniacs get on the bus to see history; Journal Le Droit: Rachel s'en va a l'assermentation.
January 18, 2009
You can catch me on CBC Newsworld tomorrow morning Jan 19 at around 10:15am.
January 16, 2009
I am off to Washington, D.C. There are so many events around the city, it's difficult to chose. Apart from the Smithsonian museums, which I have yet to experience, There is the Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial entitled "We are one", this Sunday. Performers include U2, Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Shakira, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder and Obama himself is said to attend. Then, Aretha Franklin will be headlining a free performance at the Kennedy Center on Monday. And I might make a pit stop on CBC Newsworld as well... ;-)
January 15, 2009
I was featured on the nightly news on CTV Ottawa. [link] Tomorrow, I'll chat about the upcoming trip to D.C. on CBC Radio Ottawa in the 4:45pm time slot.
January 9, 2009
There is an article about me in this week's Express d'Ottawa.