Here you will find our recent activities, protests and actions.
Bugging Baird
When the Grannies got the word that John Baird was speaking at a Canadian Club luncheon on Sept. 19, Gale, Jo, Rosalie and Shannon wasted no time getting down to the Chateau with our signs and banner to show what we think of his decision to cut diplomatic relations with Iran at this sensitive time. After about an hour of leafleting and talking with people outside the Chateau, we headed for the side door, hoping to get near enough to the ballroom to shout out “No war with Iran.” Unfortunately, the hotel manager who had been politely checking us out on numerous occasions came running with two burly types and thwarted those plans. Another time!
Silent vigil to mourn closing of Iranian Embassy
When the news hit that the Harper Government has severed diplomatic relations with Iran, we felt we had to take action. So we quickly organized a silent vigil to mourn diplomacy’s passing. Here is the obituary:
Obituary for diplomacy:
Diplomacy passed away suddenly on September 7, 2012 at the hands of Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. She is survived by those beating the drums of war. Her death puts at risk the opportunity for a peaceful solution, the lives of two Canadian citizens currently under sentence to death in Iran, and the safety of countless Canadians in Iran who lose protection from their government. While less likely with the death of diplomacy, may we all rest in peace.
Alice, Alma, Gale, Jake, Jo, Pat and Shannon were joined by other supporters to hand out nearly 200 leaflets and hold our signs for the busy traffic on Metcalfe to see. While our small action will not change Harper’s mind, we all felt really positive to get our message out and raise awareness on this issue.
Grannies at Acorn Rally
Organized by Granny Shannon, five regular Grannies (Alice, Jane, Jo, Ria and Shannon) were joined by two guest Grannies, Bob and Dave, who out did us all in the costume, make-up department. 
The turnout at the human rights monument was unusually small for such an important issue (clawbacks and cuts to social programs for the poor). However, we sang our song, adapted by Shannon for the occasion, and felt good to support this important cause.
The Rapping Grannies Take on the Banks
On May 1 (2012), as part of the May Day demonstrations, the Grannies invaded the Royal Bank of Canada with a banner and rap song.
Who says the Grannies aren’t hip?
Grannies Join ACORN in Protest Against McGuinty Budget
A number of the Ottawa Raging Grannies, Ann, Jake, Jo, Ria, Shannon joined the ACORN antipoverty group in a protest at Dalton McGuinty’s office. We were protesting the freeze on welfare and disability payments in the provincial budget, particularly harsh since the cost of living is forever rising. We sang two of our anti-poverty songs, “It’s a Long Way to the Food Bank” with “McGuinty” substituted for “Harris” whose attack on the poor inspired the words. We also sang “Flaw in the System“, as true now as ever.
Grannies join in Harper budget protest.
Six of us–Bessa, Cathleen, Jake, Jo, Ria and Rosalie–were among 20 activists who interrupted Flaherty’s budget speech on March 29, 2012 by chanting “Where are WE in your budget. This is not our budget!” Jane was planning to come, but was called out of town by a death in the family.
Doing this action was very empowering to all of us, particularly since the young people involved expressed so much appreciation and the press reports all mentioned, citizens of all ages. We wanted to do it due to the fact that lots of money is pouring into weapons, so-called military security, tar sands, while at the same time, cutting public service jobs, environmental protection, and raising the age of retirement. Wrong priorities!
After the action, we were all marched to a basement room by polite house security who took a photo of each of us plus identification. We were not arrested, but were told we are banned from the house for the foreseeable future. We await letters telling us what that means.
Check out a video of the action. Click here.
Join in the protest. Go to notourbudget.ca.
Support for Hassan Diab
On the first day of Dr. Diab’s extradition hearing, the Raging Grannies were outside the court along with 75 others to support his effort to stop his extradition to France based on flimsy and secret evidence. Esther, Shannon and Jane were in costume, while Jo, Ria and Rosalie stayed in civy clothes. After cheering and chanting as Dr. Diab, his wife, Rania Tfainy, and lawyer, Donald Bayne entered the courtroom, we all went up to show our support in the courtroom.
Dr. Diab has been a Canadian citizen since 1993. He moved to Ottawa in 2006 and since then, he has taught at the University of Ottawa and at Carleton University. Officials from France, using secret and ever changing intelligence, have implicated him in a bombing outside a synagogue in Paris, France thirty years ago (1980). He was arrested in Ottawa in 2008. Since Canada has an Extradition treaty with France, they can request removal of a person. What this means is that without vetting the so-called evidence, because this is a hearing not a trial, Dr. Diab can be turned over to France where he would undergo trial. Dr. Diab denies all charges. For more information: JusticeForHassanDiab.org