AISLA: You have described Ursula Franklin as your mentor. Could you describe how this relationship came to be and its effect on your work and life?

HEATHER: I'm a bit embarrassed. You see, I've never asked Ursula about this, and I don't know if she reciprocates my feeling, that is, if she wants to be a mentor to me. Incidentally, did you know that the original use of the word was a person called Mentor who in fact was the goddess Athena in disguise?

How I came under the guidance of Ursula Franklin is something of a confession of pride and folly. When I heard about Ursula's talk at the 1983 CRIAW conference, I wasn't impressed as must as I was mortified. I had come to believe my own reviews and felt that if I was the expert on the impact of technology on women, I should have all the answers. But here was this woman, a complete stranger, saying things that I hadn't even thought of. The immigrant metaphor blew me away. But it took me a while to acknowledge how much it helped me turn the corner in the evolution of my own thinking. When I wrote a piece called "Back to Grandma's Place" for an excellent issue of Canadian Woman Studies/Cahiers de la Femme which Ursula edited in 1984, I only thought of acknowledging my debt to her insights after I'd sent in the piece. First I had to overcome the sense that I had to make up lost ground. And there was some residue from my days as a journalist where you never give credit to others but hog it for your own silly ego. I finally brought myself around. But my post-script of thanks was too late to make that edition, and was stuck in the next issue.

The experience was a turning point in my life. Before, I was proud and insecure. Now, I'm less proud and less insecure as well. (I don't give myself a "humble" except in rare moments of self-confidence.) As I've become more influenced and liberated by feminism, I've been freed from the almost draconian demands of individualism on an "independiste" (self-sufficient) plane. It's really nice to know that you don't have to know everything. And you don't lose face when you learn something from another woman.

AISLA: One of the new developments in science has been in the area of reproductive technology, where control is not over women's work but over women's bodies and lives. Can you draw any parallels between these two "power" situations?

HEATHER: It's also interesting to turn that question around, and examine how we women have lost control over our bodies and our daily lives. That is why, you stop looking so much for the villain out there.

RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY IMPACT PROGRAM Labour Canada In a brochure Labour Canada describes the purpose of the Technology Impact Program to assist Canadians to secure the "greatest economic and social benefits possible from the development and application of technical and scientific knowledge." It has been developed to support research and demonstration projects that will "broaden understanding of the impacts of technological change and contribute to greater sensitivity to the human and social factors involved in the introduction of new technologies in the work- place." Labour Canada hopes to support "research on the social and human impacts of technological change in the workplace, including the areas of health and safety, ergonomics, labour-management relations, unions and unionism, job satisfaction productivity and working conditions; demonstration and pilot projects that illustrate effective methods of co-operative development and implementation of technological innovation." Preferred are practical projects having direct application to the workplace environment and fostering a recognition of the social implications of technological advancements. Priority will be given to labour organizations and to joint labour-management ventures. Individual researchers are advised to seek affiliation with an organization affected by technological change before applying. Information, application forms and program guidelines may be obtained from Labour Canada regional offices or by contacting: Program Coordinator, Technology Impact Program, Labour Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A OJ2. Telephone (819)997-5470. The deadline for applications is May 29. Information is available in French and English.