Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Beefy-T Heavyweight Cotton Tee Buy Now
TNZZEET Leggings - High-Waisted Yoga Pants with Pockets Buy Now
VIZIO 40 inch Smart TV (VFD40M-08) Buy Now
Crocs Classic Clogs Buy Now
Business Dress Shirts Wrinkle Free Buy Now
Womens Soft Satin Pajama Set Buy Now
Men's Flat Front Trousers Buy Now
Ginasy Faux Leather Leggings for Women Buy Now
SAMPEEL Crop Tops Buy Now
Glasting Melting Lip Balm Buy Now
CQR Mens Tactical Pants Buy Now
Women's Wide Leg Pants with Pockets Buy Now
Golden Hour Men's Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch Buy Now
Lightweight Cotton Sport Jacket Buy Now
Regular Fit Jeans Buy Now
Longline Wirefree Sports Bra Buy Now
Aldo Sloana Handbag Buy Now
Womens Satin Pajama Set Buy Now
PELADN Mini PC Intel N5095 Buy Now
Men's Shawl Collar Cardigans Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Woman told she shouldn't serve on Ottawa health board because of her weight

Woman told she shouldn't serve on Ottawa health board because of her weight

CBC
Monday, March 20, 2023 5:08 PM GMT

A member of the Ottawa Board of Health is speaking out against body shaming after she received a letter from a resident telling her she shouldn't be on the board because of her weight.

Elyse Banham said the letter, dated Jan. 12, sat unopened for weeks on her desk at the Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre, where she's executive director. Banham figured it was simply more hate mail protesting the centre's vaccine clinics.

She finally opened the envelope March 18, and realized it was a response to an Ottawa Citizen article in which Banham called for more diversity on city boards. The letter is signed, but CBC has been unable to verify its authenticity or find the writer, and is therefore redacting the name.

Banham has been a member of the Ottawa Board of Health for four years and has applied for another four, the article noted. But the letter writer took exception to that, apparently based on the photo of Banham accompanying the article.

"As a member of the Ottawa Board of Health, citizens expect you to be a role model for our city's residents and believve (sic) you cannot fulfil that role due to your unhealthy status. It is unacceptable to be overweight by the 20 pounds it appears you are carrying," the letter to Banham reads.

"I would be happy to see you on the new committee on the condition that you become a better role model."

Banham told CBC on Sunday that she was hurt by the letter, but not entirely surprised.

"It's not that I haven't experienced this before — I think that people can be very unkind to each other. But this was the first time that somebody took the time to send me a letter and point out that I wasn't capable of performing work because of my body appearance," she said.

She decided to post the letter on Twitter, and said she's received many supportive messages in response. 

Catherine Kitts, the city councillor for Orléans South–Navan and chair of the health board, called the letter "horrendous." Kitts said she's sad not only for Banham, but also for the letter writer who took the time to send such a hateful message.

"I was proud of member Banham for calling it out, because that also takes guts, and I was pleased and not surprised to see this outpouring of support for her," Kitts said. "Member Banham is such an incredible addition to the board of health. She's such an excellent contributor and a very valued member, and that should be the message. Her contributions to the board speak volumes."

Vitriolic attacks are an ugly side of public leadership, Kitts said, and situations like this are a reminder "that this is what we're facing every day."

Jill Andrew, co-founder of the advocacy group Body Confidence Canada, said that when women in public positions are targeted by body-based discrimination and harassment, "it certainly doesn't create the type of welcoming, inclusive climate that we need to have more strong women coming forward. So it's disappointing.

"All too often women are judged not by our intellect, not by the quality of our work or by the history of our work, but by our waistlines. And it is absolutely absurd ... it can take many of us away form the duties we have on our plate."

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Grizzly bears, cougars, sheep and deer met without incident during G7, officials say

As the G7 summit concludes in the popular wilderness destination of Kananaskis, Alta., officials say provincial teams managed frequent animal encounters without serious incident.

Man, 21, charged with armed carjacking after fall from Gardiner Expressway, police say

Toronto police say a 21-year-old man has been charged in an armed carjacking, after he fell from the Gardiner Expressway on Monday night while allegedly fleeing from officers.

A fugitive landlord is at large. Where does that leave dozens of his Ontario tenants?

Tenants of buildings owned by a wanted fugitive could be safe from eviction if the bank or a new landlord take over, a legal expert says. 

Badger residents flee as wildfire approaches community, infrastructure

Residents of Badger, N.L. are fleeing the community as smoke from a nearby wildfire clouds the air, and waterbombers pass overhead every few minutes.

Adam Drake guilty of murder in fatal stabbing of battle rapper Pat Stay

A Nova Scotia jury has found a 34-year-old man guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of battle rapper Pat Stay, a 36-year-old father of two who was fatally stabbed 2½ years ago at a downtown Halifax nightclub.

Saint Andrews property owners speak out against wharf refurbishment plan

Some property owners in Saint Andrews are speaking out against a plan to refurbish the Market Wharf, although the design was chosen by the public in a community vote.

Family wants justice after lone survivor of 2023 West Broadway mass shooting dies in hospital

The lone survivor of a mass shooting in a West Broadway rooming house is being mourned by his family after he died in a Winnipeg hospital earlier this month, more than a year and a half after the shooting that left four others dead.

Still waiting: Handful of Sask. communities remain under evacuation orders

The mayor of Creighton says residents will have to remain patient, as the northeastern Saskatchewan town waits for health-care services to restart in the neighbouring city of Flin Flon, Man.

'Desperate for rainfall': Farmers, ranchers in southwest Sask. reeling from another dry year

A rural municipality in southwest Saskatchewan is sounding the alarm as the worst dry conditions in almost a decade push crops and livestock to the brink.

Johnson 'has absolutely no insight' into his voyeurism crimes, judge says while jailing him

Warning: This story contains details some may find disturbing.

Food processing company pleads guilty to charge in death of Edmonton man

A commercial food processing company has pleaded guilty to a workplace safety charge after an Edmonton worker became trapped in a smokehouse and died.

The friend, the family, their aunt and her lover: Court fight looms over $1M estate left to male escort

The will of a deceased B.C. woman will be contested by an old friend, her closest living relatives and a male escort approximately 54 years her junior following a decision by a provincial Supreme Court judge.

Quebec police find important witness in search for missing toddler

In the search for three-year-old Claire Bell, Quebec provincial police have located an important witness they say spoke to her mother on Sunday — just hours before she reported her child missing. 

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
No decision about us, without us, say forestry companies

Three New Brunswick timber companies are seeking to have their forestry lands excluded from the Wolastoqey Nation's Indigenous title claim that's working its way through the courts.

Return of Tataskweyak wildfire evacuees on hold for at least a week due to water treatment issues

It could be at least another week before wildfire evacuees from a northern Manitoba First Nation are able to go home, leadership says.

Sask. to extend life of all coal-fired power plants despite federal clean electricity regulations

The Saskatchewan government has informed Crown employees it will extend the life of all its coal-fired power plants, setting up a potential legal battle with the federal government over environmental regulations.

B.C. pulls funding on $1M drug for 9-year-old Vancouver Island girl with rare condition

The B.C. government said Wednesday it will be pulling funding for an extremely expensive drug used by one person in the province — a young Vancouver Island girl. 

Proposed wage hikes have 'uplifted' P.E.I.'s health support services workers, says union

After two years of negotiations, Health P.E.I. has reached an agreement on wages for support services staff that the union representing the workers is calling "historic." 

Canadians desperate to hear from families in Iran as violence escalates and routes out are limited

Iranian-Canadians are trying desperately to get in touch with friends and family in Iran as missiles fall and routes out of the country are limited. 

Doug Ford says he treats First Nations 'like gold' but they 'keep coming hat in hand'

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is willing to give First Nations what they want for their support in developing mines, but they cannot "keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government" for more money.

N.W.T. utilities board cuts NTPC salary increase, rejects some costs in rate application decision

The N.W.T.'s public utilities board has denied part of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation's (NTPC) request to increase rates, and directed it to cut planned increases to management salaries and benefits.

After deadly year on roads, Calgary explores using drones and VR for traffic safety

After reporting an 11-year high for collision fatalities last year, Calgary is turning to new technology in an attempt to make its roads safer.

No new fireworks bylaw in Cambridge for now as council opts to wait for more information

There will be no changes to Cambridge's fireworks bylaw — for now.

In rural Alaska, a village turns to solar and biomass energies to cut diesel and save money

Eric Huntington built his dream cabin nestled in the wilderness of central Alaska, eventually raising two daughters there. But over the years, he learned that living in this quiet, remote village came with a hefty cost.

A Canada-Israel rift is widening over UN votes and sanctions

Israel's war with Iran has temporarily delayed a reckoning with some of its main Western allies, but seems unlikely to close what has become a yawning gap between them over its conduct in Gaza and the West Bank.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us