Marcel Mason
Encyclopedia
Marcel Mason born June 15, 1959, is a Canadian Blogger and political activist who runs the Stageleft:.Life on the left side political weblog.
Born in Woodstock, New Brunswick
, he joined the Hudson's Bay Company
in August 1978 and moved to Eskimo Point (later renamed to the original Inuit
place name of Arviat). He subsequently lived and worked in Coral Harbour, Igloolik, Hall Beach, Chesterfield Inlet
, and Rankin Inlet with the Hudson's Bay Company. In 1982 Marcel left the Hudson's Bay Company and worked in the social housing field in the eastern Arctic until 1992 when he entered the field of Municipal politics. In 1994 he, and his family, relocated to Iqaluit where he graduated from the Nunavut Arctic College
Management Studies Program with honours.
In 1997, while working with Nunanet Communications, Marcel set up the Eastern Arctics first political discussion forum named, "The Political Discussion Forum" as a result of dissatisfaction with how the Northwest Territories
government located in the western Arctic city of Yellowknife
addressed the concerns of people in the eastern regions territory. The discussion forum was very successful and quickly became the place for citizens to express and discuss their political concerns.
After leaving Nunavut
for Ottawa
, Canada
in the spring of 2002 he unsuccessfully attempted to return to the bulletin board discussion scene with a political forum named !Gonk!, and in January 2003 set up the first incarnation of Stageleft:.Life on the left side on the free Blogspot hosting service. In March 2003 Stageleft (the blog) moved to a subdomain of crow.ws using the PMachine
blogging software. Stageleft eventually. moved to its current domain of stageleft.info.
Marcel Mason has been described as being politically left as a result of heavy criticism of George W. Bush
, the American invasion of Iraq, and modern Conservative
political policies in general, this is an incorrect perception, he is an anarchist.
In the 2005 Canadian Blog Awards Stageleft received the 1st place award for "Best Group Blog", the 2nd place award for "Best Progressive Blog, and the 3rd place award for "Best Canadian Blog".
In the 2006 Canadian Blog Awards Stageleft received the 3rd place award for "Best Blog Series".
In the 2007 Canadian Blog Awards Stageleft received 1st place for "Best Group Blog" and 2nd place for "Best Progressive Blog"
In the 2008 Canadian Blog Awards Stageleft placed 5th in the "non-Partisan Blog" category
Stageleft:.Life on the leftside, and Marcel Mason, have been noticed by Toronto Star
blogger and columnist Antonia Zerbisias
who noted in one review "You have to love stageleft.info for its outrage". Zerbisias also linked the Stageleft:.Life on the left side commentary on the Warren Kinsella
"I Am Not Afraid" campaign after a foiled terrorist plot in Toronto
, Ontario
.
Born in Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
, he joined the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
in August 1978 and moved to Eskimo Point (later renamed to the original Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
place name of Arviat). He subsequently lived and worked in Coral Harbour, Igloolik, Hall Beach, Chesterfield Inlet
Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut
The community of Chesterfield Inlet is located on the western shore of Hudson Bay, Kivalliq Region, in Nunavut Canada at the mouth of Chesterfield Inlet. Igluligaarjuk is the Inuktitut word for "place with few houses", it is the oldest community in Nunavut...
, and Rankin Inlet with the Hudson's Bay Company. In 1982 Marcel left the Hudson's Bay Company and worked in the social housing field in the eastern Arctic until 1992 when he entered the field of Municipal politics. In 1994 he, and his family, relocated to Iqaluit where he graduated from the Nunavut Arctic College
Nunavut Arctic College
Nunavut Arctic College is a Crown corporation that is funded by the Government of Nunavut and has several campuses and centres spread out throughout Nunavut, Canada.-History:...
Management Studies Program with honours.
In 1997, while working with Nunanet Communications, Marcel set up the Eastern Arctics first political discussion forum named, "The Political Discussion Forum" as a result of dissatisfaction with how the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
government located in the western Arctic city of Yellowknife
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Yellowknife is the capital and largest city of the Northwest Territories , Canada. It is located on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, approximately south of the Arctic Circle, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the outlet of the Yellowknife River...
addressed the concerns of people in the eastern regions territory. The discussion forum was very successful and quickly became the place for citizens to express and discuss their political concerns.
After leaving Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
for Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the spring of 2002 he unsuccessfully attempted to return to the bulletin board discussion scene with a political forum named !Gonk!, and in January 2003 set up the first incarnation of Stageleft:.Life on the left side on the free Blogspot hosting service. In March 2003 Stageleft (the blog) moved to a subdomain of crow.ws using the PMachine
PMachine
EllisLab is a software development company based in Bend, Oregon, which develops applications written in PHP.The company is privately owned and has to date accepted no venture capital funding of any kind.- History :...
blogging software. Stageleft eventually. moved to its current domain of stageleft.info.
Marcel Mason has been described as being politically left as a result of heavy criticism of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, the American invasion of Iraq, and modern Conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
political policies in general, this is an incorrect perception, he is an anarchist.
In the 2005 Canadian Blog Awards Stageleft received the 1st place award for "Best Group Blog", the 2nd place award for "Best Progressive Blog, and the 3rd place award for "Best Canadian Blog".
In the 2006 Canadian Blog Awards Stageleft received the 3rd place award for "Best Blog Series".
In the 2007 Canadian Blog Awards Stageleft received 1st place for "Best Group Blog" and 2nd place for "Best Progressive Blog"
In the 2008 Canadian Blog Awards Stageleft placed 5th in the "non-Partisan Blog" category
Stageleft:.Life on the leftside, and Marcel Mason, have been noticed by Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
blogger and columnist Antonia Zerbisias
Antonia Zerbisias
Antonia Zerbisias is a Canadian journalist associated with the Toronto Star since 1989. She has been a reporter and TV host for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as well as the Montreal correspondent for Variety trade paper...
who noted in one review "You have to love stageleft.info for its outrage". Zerbisias also linked the Stageleft:.Life on the left side commentary on the Warren Kinsella
Warren Kinsella
Warren James Douglas Kinsella , is a Toronto-based Canadian, lawyer, author, musician, political consultant, commentator, and blogger...
"I Am Not Afraid" campaign after a foiled terrorist plot in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.