Maggie MacDonald
Encyclopedia
Maggie MacDonald is a writer
, playwright
and musician
who lives in Toronto, Ontario.
, where she became active in the local independent rock
music scene. She put on shows and creating a fanzine
called Saucy, which gained attention outside of Cornwall as well. Dubbed the "punk-rock valedictorian
," she also grew into politics. She served as a student trustee on her school board at the age of 17. She left Cornwall to attend the University of Toronto
.
as the New Democratic Party
candidate in the electoral district
of Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh
. Facing two redistributed
incumbents (Liberal
John Cleary
and Tory
Noble Villeneuve
) for a single seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
, she was given next to no chance to win the election. Her innovative campaign strategy, including the use of a guerrilla theatre
play called Revolution Mall Style, drew praise and attention. Her mother, Elaine MacDonald, was an NDP candidate in the 2004
and 2006
federal elections in the redistributed riding of Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
MacDonald's second play, A Clockwork Gorbachev, won the Hart House
Playwrighting Award in 2000 and the Robertson Davies
Award For Playwrighting in 2001.
She began to pursue her musical interests, and joined The Hidden Cameras
, with whom she has performed since 2001. She has also been a member of several other bands at the same time. The first was Barcelona Pavilion
, with whom she recorded a 7" single. After she left this band, she formed The Dating Service. For a time, she was a guest vocalist with Kids on TV
, recording "Bitchsy" for the Lesbians on Ecstasy
remixes LP Giggles In The Dark, released in 2005. Most recently she has been the lead vocalist with Republic of Safety
, whose first EP, Passport, came out in March 2005. Their second EP, Vacation, was released in the spring of 2006.
At the same time, she has had comics and writing published in Toronto publications: The Globe & Mail, Lola and Broken Pencil
.
In 2005 MacDonald published her first book, Kill the Robot. A science fiction novel critiquing consumer society, it is also illustrated by MacDonald.
Her second play, The Rat King, first previewed as a work in progress in early 2004, received a public reading in the spring of 2005 and finally premiered as a full production in January 2006. The Rat King was mounted a second time in August 2006 as part of Harbourfront
's "Indie Unlimited" series.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Early life and education
MacDonald grew up in Cornwall, OntarioCornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
, where she became active in the local independent rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
music scene. She put on shows and creating a fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
called Saucy, which gained attention outside of Cornwall as well. Dubbed the "punk-rock valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
," she also grew into politics. She served as a student trustee on her school board at the age of 17. She left Cornwall to attend the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
Career
Returning at age 20, MacDonald ran in the 1999 provincial electionOntario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
as the New Democratic Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
candidate in the electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh
Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh
Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh was a federal electoral district in eastern Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2004, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1999 to 2007...
. Facing two redistributed
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
incumbents (Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
John Cleary
John Cleary
John Cleary is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 2003.Cleary was educated at St. Lawrence College...
and Tory
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
Noble Villeneuve
Noble Villeneuve
Noble Villeneuve is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1983 to 1999, and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Frank Miller and Mike Harris.Villeneuve did not attend university, and worked as a...
) for a single seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
, she was given next to no chance to win the election. Her innovative campaign strategy, including the use of a guerrilla theatre
Guerrilla theatre
Guerrilla theatre, or Guerrilla Performance, is a term coined in 1965 within the San Francisco Mime Troupe to describe its performances, that in spirit of the Che Guevara writings from which the term guerrilla is taken, were committed to "revolutionary sociopolitical change." The group...
play called Revolution Mall Style, drew praise and attention. Her mother, Elaine MacDonald, was an NDP candidate in the 2004
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
and 2006
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
federal elections in the redistributed riding of Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.Its population in 2001 was 98,933.-Geography:...
MacDonald's second play, A Clockwork Gorbachev, won the Hart House
Hart House
Hart House is a student activity centre at the University of Toronto. Established in 1919, it is one of the earliest North American student centres. Hart House was initiated and financed by Vincent Massey, an alumnus and benefactor of the university, and was named in honour of his grandfather, Hart...
Playwrighting Award in 2000 and the Robertson Davies
Robertson Davies
William Robertson Davies, CC, OOnt, FRSC, FRSL was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor. He was one of Canada's best-known and most popular authors, and one of its most distinguished "men of letters", a term Davies is variously said to have gladly accepted for himself...
Award For Playwrighting in 2001.
She began to pursue her musical interests, and joined The Hidden Cameras
The Hidden Cameras
The Hidden Cameras are a Canadian indie pop band. Fronted by singer-songwriter Joel Gibb, the band consists of a varying roster of musicians who play what Gibb once described as "gay church folk music"...
, with whom she has performed since 2001. She has also been a member of several other bands at the same time. The first was Barcelona Pavilion
Barcelona Pavilion (band)
Barcelona Pavilion was an indie pop band formed in 2001 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Their releases include It's Because of the Barcelona Pavilion and It's the Barcelona Pavilion, on Blocks Recording Club leading to a devoted cult following....
, with whom she recorded a 7" single. After she left this band, she formed The Dating Service. For a time, she was a guest vocalist with Kids on TV
Kids on TV
Kids on TV are a punk-house queercore band based in Toronto.The group consists of John Caffery on bass and vocals, Minus Smile on drums, electronics and vocals, Wolf on guitar and vocals, and Roxy on keyboard and vocals. The band is known for performing outside of the usual venues, such as bars,...
, recording "Bitchsy" for the Lesbians on Ecstasy
Lesbians on Ecstasy
Lesbians on Ecstasy is an electronic band from Montreal, Quebec.The band toured across Canada and the U.S. with Le Tigre before the release of their first recording.The first album, the self-titled Lesbians on Ecstasy was released on October 26, 2004...
remixes LP Giggles In The Dark, released in 2005. Most recently she has been the lead vocalist with Republic of Safety
Republic of Safety
Republic of Safety was a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2005 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally consisting of vocalist Maggie MacDonald, guitarist Jonny Dovercourt, bassists Kat Gligorijevic and Kate McGee and drummer Evan Davies...
, whose first EP, Passport, came out in March 2005. Their second EP, Vacation, was released in the spring of 2006.
At the same time, she has had comics and writing published in Toronto publications: The Globe & Mail, Lola and Broken Pencil
Broken Pencil
Broken Pencil is a Canadian magazine, which profiles zine culture and independent arts and music. The magazine publishes four times annually and is based in Toronto.The magazine was founded in 1995 by Hal Niedzviecki...
.
In 2005 MacDonald published her first book, Kill the Robot. A science fiction novel critiquing consumer society, it is also illustrated by MacDonald.
Her second play, The Rat King, first previewed as a work in progress in early 2004, received a public reading in the spring of 2005 and finally premiered as a full production in January 2006. The Rat King was mounted a second time in August 2006 as part of Harbourfront
Harbourfront
Harbourfront is a neighbourhood on the northern shore of Lake Ontario within the downtown core of the city of Toronto, Canada. Part of the Toronto Waterfront, Harbourfront extends west from Yonge Street to Bathurst Street along Queen's Quay. East of Yonge to Parliament St...
's "Indie Unlimited" series.
Discography
- The Smell of Our OwnThe Smell of Our Own-Track listing:# "Golden Streams" – 4:28# "Ban Marriage" – 4:15# "A Miracle" – 2:50# "The Animals of Prey" – 4:04# "Smells Like Happiness" – 3:08# "Day Is Dawning" – 5:06# "Boys of Melody" – 4:59# "Shame" – 5:28# "Breathe on It" – 2:52...
, The Hidden CamerasThe Hidden CamerasThe Hidden Cameras are a Canadian indie pop band. Fronted by singer-songwriter Joel Gibb, the band consists of a varying roster of musicians who play what Gibb once described as "gay church folk music"...
, Rough Trade RecordsRough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, 2003 - Mississauga GoddamMississauga GoddamMississauga Goddam is a 2004 album by The Hidden Cameras.The title is an allusion to Nina Simone's civil rights anthem "Mississippi Goddam" , suggesting suburbia as the real battleground for LGBT equality.The album was released on Rough Trade Records in the United Kingdom and EvilEvil in...
, The Hidden Cameras, Rough Trade, 2004 - "Barcelona PavilionBarcelona Pavilion (band)Barcelona Pavilion was an indie pop band formed in 2001 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Their releases include It's Because of the Barcelona Pavilion and It's the Barcelona Pavilion, on Blocks Recording Club leading to a devoted cult following....
" 7" single, Blocks Recording ClubBlocks Recording ClubBlocks Recording Club is a Canadian co-operative of musicians, which serves as both a collaborative artist community and a record label for its member artists.The label's name may also be cited graphically as □□□□□□ rather than the word "Blocks"... - "Bitchsy", Kids on TVKids on TVKids on TV are a punk-house queercore band based in Toronto.The group consists of John Caffery on bass and vocals, Minus Smile on drums, electronics and vocals, Wolf on guitar and vocals, and Roxy on keyboard and vocals. The band is known for performing outside of the usual venues, such as bars,...
featuring Maggie MacDonald on Giggles in the Dark, Lesbians on EcstasyLesbians on EcstasyLesbians on Ecstasy is an electronic band from Montreal, Quebec.The band toured across Canada and the U.S. with Le Tigre before the release of their first recording.The first album, the self-titled Lesbians on Ecstasy was released on October 26, 2004...
(remixes), 2005; Mixing Business With PleasureMixing Business with PleasureMixing Business With Pleasure is the first full-length album by Kids on TV, released in 2007 on Blocks Recording Club.-Track listing:# "Breakdance Hunx "# "A Song for Holly Woodlawn"# "Cockwolves"...
, 2007 - Passport, Republic of SafetyRepublic of SafetyRepublic of Safety was a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2005 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally consisting of vocalist Maggie MacDonald, guitarist Jonny Dovercourt, bassists Kat Gligorijevic and Kate McGee and drummer Evan Davies...
, 2005 - Vacation, Republic of SafetyRepublic of SafetyRepublic of Safety was a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2005 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally consisting of vocalist Maggie MacDonald, guitarist Jonny Dovercourt, bassists Kat Gligorijevic and Kate McGee and drummer Evan Davies...
, 2006 - Succession, Republic of SafetyRepublic of SafetyRepublic of Safety was a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2005 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally consisting of vocalist Maggie MacDonald, guitarist Jonny Dovercourt, bassists Kat Gligorijevic and Kate McGee and drummer Evan Davies...
, 2008