NATIONAL STORIES

Remembering Gloria Steinem: The Story and Legacy of a Second-Wave Feminist Icon

Feminist leader and Ms. Magazine co-founder Gloria Steinem has died at age 92. A look back at her five decades of activism, writing, and leadership.

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2 months ago

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A Life Dedicated to Social Change

Gloria Steinem, a central voice and prominent symbol of the women’s movement during the 1960s and 1970s, has passed away at the age of 92. Her foundation announced her death in an Instagram post on Thursday, stating she died on Wednesday. Known as an author, organizer, and speaker, Steinem committed more than five decades to championing gender equality, reproductive rights, and civil liberties.

Early Beginnings and Groundbreaking Journalism

Born in Toledo, Ohio, on March 25, 1934, Steinem experienced an unconventional childhood as her family moved frequently due to her father’s work as a traveling antique dealer. After her parents separated when she was 11, she spent years caring for her mother, who suffered from depression and a mental breakdown. She later graduated from Smith College and entered journalism.

In 1963, Steinem spent 11 days working undercover as a Playboy bunny for Show magazine. Her two-part expose, “A Bunny’s Tale,” revealed low pay and sexist conditions, later inspiring a 1985 television movie starring Kirstie Alley. She went on to help found New York magazine in 1968, where her essay “After Black Power, Women’s Liberation” established her prominence in the movement. Steinem noted that her life as an activist truly launched in 1969 after attending an abortion speak-out at a New York church, drawing on her own experience of having had an illegal abortion in London at age 22.

Building Organizations and National Impact

Steinem co-founded Ms. Magazine in 1971 to address topics overlooked by traditional women’s publications, including domestic violence, equal pay, and abortion access. An early edition listed 52 women who had undergone abortions, advocating for legalization prior to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. She also co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971 alongside Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, and Bella Abzug. Her additional organizational work included founding the Ms. Foundation for Women, Voters for Choice, the Women’s Media Center, and the Coalition of Labor Union Women.

Steinem repeatedly credited Black women with laying the groundwork for the movement. “If you’ve suffered discrimination, you’re sensitive to it on every level. I learned feminism largely from Black women. Women of colour basically invented feminism,” she told the New Yorker magazine in 2015.

Honors, Media, and Personal Milestones

In 2013, President Barack Obama presented Steinem with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. Her life was captured across various media, including the 2011 HBO documentary “Gloria: In Her Own Words,” the 2018 play “Gloria: A Life,” and director Julie Taymor’s 2020 feature film “The Glorias,” which adapted Steinem’s 2015 memoir “My Life on the Road.”

Though frequently critical of how traditional marriage restricted women, Steinem married environmentalist David Bale at age 66. She noted at the time that the union demonstrated the freedom of choice core to feminist values. Bale passed away in 2003. Steinem stayed active well into her 80s, producing television projects, publishing books—such as her 1986 biography of Marilyn Monroe—and hosting the Viceland documentary series “Woman.”

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NATIONAL STORIES

Why First Nations Leaders Are Gathering in Ottawa to Push Back on Fast-Tracked Resource Projects

First Nations leaders meet Prime Minister Mark Carney and premiers in Ottawa to address concerns over fast-tracked major project approvals and rights.

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14 hours ago

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October 26, 2026

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Historic Summit Opens Amid Strained Relations

Assembly of First Nations leaders are convening in Ottawa today with Prime Minister Mark Carney and select provincial premiers for discussions described by the AFN as a historic occasion. The talks follow a ceremonial gathering held Sunday, which First Nations leaders hosted for all premiers and the prime minister, though only a small number of officials attended.

Relationships between Indigenous leadership and the federal government have grown tense following legislation enacted shortly after Carney’s 2025 election. That law established a dedicated office designed to streamline major project developments and issue approvals within a one-year window — an approach several chiefs contend poses a threat to their rights.

Grassroots Response and Calls for Respect

AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak emphasized that First Nations serve as partners in Confederation. She stated that governments must respect Indigenous leadership as public officials move to accelerate resource extraction and large-scale infrastructure initiatives across the country.

Parallel to the official proceedings, a grassroots collective of First Nations community members gathered at an Ottawa community centre Sunday. The group met to organize protests against the summit, drawing explicit inspiration from the 2012 Idle No More movement that mobilized demonstrations nationwide.

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NATIONAL STORIES

Why First Nations Leaders and Leaders Are Gathering for Historic Talks in Ottawa

First Nations leaders meet Prime Minister Mark Carney and premiers in Ottawa for ceremonies before historic talks on narrowing socioeconomic gaps.

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2 days ago

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October 25, 2026

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Ceremony Precedes First Major Gathering Since 2005

Knowledge keepers, elders, First Nations leaders, and community members are assembling in Ottawa today for ceremonies grounding an upcoming landmark session. The gathering marks the prelude to a closed-door discussion scheduled for Monday between First Nations representatives and government leaders.

Top Leaders to Discuss Socioeconomic Gaps

Prime Minister Mark Carney and provincial premiers will meet with First Nations delegates, who will primarily consist of regional chiefs from the Assembly of First Nations. Monday’s talks represent the first gathering of this nature since the 2005 Kelowna Accord discussions, where provincial premiers and former prime minister Paul Martin addressed ways to narrow socioeconomic disparities in Indigenous communities.

Attendance and Cultural Significance

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak highlighted the importance of beginning the event with ceremony, stating it ensures participants enter “with the right frame of mind, grounded in First Nations spirituality.” While the Privy Council Office has not released the full attendance list of premiers, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon have announced they will not participate.

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NATIONAL STORIES

Why Alberta’s Government Is Ruling Out Future Separation Votes

Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta won’t hold another separation referendum after over 75 per cent of voters chose to stay in Canada during a province-wide vote.

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5 days ago

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October 22, 2026

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Premier Smith Rules Out Further Separatist Ballots

Following a provincial vote on Oct. 19 where over 75 per cent of voters chose to remain in Canada, Premier Danielle Smith announced on Tuesday, Oct. 20, that no further referendums on separation will occur during her tenure. Smith stated that the result provides her government with a clear mandate to stay a Canadian province while continuing to push for provincial autonomy within the national constitutional framework.

Disputes to Be Settled Within Canadian Legal System

Addressing the public, Smith emphasized that future disagreements with Ottawa will be handled through political and legal avenues rather than secession. She noted that while constitutional battles remain, key federal political parties now show strong support for Alberta’s major economic sectors. Smith also highlighted that the referendum directed her administration to pursue greater provincial authority over immigration, focus on jobs for Canadians, mandate contributions from temporary residents for public services, and require proof of citizenship to vote.

Opposition Raises Concerns Over Costs and Priorities

Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the premier’s approach prior to her address, arguing that Smith spent nearly $200 million in taxpayer funds on the referendum exercise, including $4 million spent directly to sway voters. Nenshi stated that the public is frustrated with issues such as the cost of living, employment, public education, and healthcare, claiming the premier’s actions catered to separatists rather than addressing core public priorities.

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