Toronto Newsgirls Boxing Club
 
Please visit the Boxing Ontario Website @ www.boxingontario.com and check out the list of upcoming club shows.




The Toronto Newsgirls Boxing Club
May 2013

FIRST BOXING CAMP OF THE SEASON!
Get ready for Summer and Pride!
June 10 to June 21
Two weeks | Monday to Friday | 6:30 - 8:30am | $200 +tax ($226)

Want to kick it into action first thing in the morning? It's amazing what bouncing and hitting things can do to one's body! Jump on in! Having access to a heavy bag is cheaper than therapy!

You can register with a non-refundable $50 deposit by email $ transfer to torontonewsgirls@hotmail.com or a cheque to Toronto Newsgirls Boxing Club, 388 Carlaw Ave, unit 108 Toronto M4M2T4.

NEXT GROUP "PATH" AT THE GYM

Friday, May 24th

Our PATH adventures at the gym have been a huge success! Since September, 135 participants have been guided through this goal-setting adventure. A path is ideal for anyone trying to get out of a rut, at a crossroads and/or in need of direction in life. It is a private experience....each participant will have their own table/space. Markers and paper provided. Members and friends of members welcome. All genders inclusive. Spots are limited so the earlier you book, the better. $10+ or free. If you would like to jump in on the next one, lemme know.

The next group Path will be at the gym on Friday, May 24th from 6:30 to 9:30pm.

"A rut: a grave with the ends kicked out."
V. Havner

"The path is the ladder that gets you out of the rut and seeing sunshine again."
S. Howe

"THINK OUTSIDE THE RING" ART PROJECT
A huge thank you goes out to Sandy and Sunny of the Grapefruit Moon Restaurant for hosting our 'Shape Your Life' art project for the whole month of April. You gals rock! Everyone! Eat at the Moon! Here's an awesome Toronto Star article by Tanis Fowler that came out while the show was up. A special thank you to Fearless too as she was the one that cut up the boxing ring canvas into 80+ pieces.
Fighting Women: A Symposium on Women's Boxing

June 21 & 22, 2013 The Ballroom, Gladstone Hotel

Hosted by Brock University The legacy of women's boxing, including women fighting for financial gain, traces back to the first half of the 18th century. Yet women's amateur boxing only became legalized in many parts of the Americas in the 1990s. There are now over 120 international boxing federations with registered female competitors, and the debut of women's boxing at the London Olympics placed it on an international stage.

This two-day symposium seeks to explore the diverse ways women have participated in amateur and professional boxing. The purpose will be to investigate women's involvement in boxing in its broadest sense, from historical, ethnographic, cultural, and artistic perspectives. This cross-genre approach hopes to take into account the multiple, often intersecting, aspects of this exploitative and dysfunctional, yet equally compelling and beautiful, sport.

Registration Fees: Professional: $130.00 CAD Student: $70.00 CAD

To register for the symposium - http://fighting-women.com/registration-4/

Please contact Chair of the Program Committee, Dr. Cathy van Ingen (Brock University)
with any questions at cathy.vaningen@brocku.ca
The Program Committee consists of:
Dr. Cathy van Ingen, Brock University, Canada.
Dr. Benita Heiskanen, Turku Institute for Advanced Studies, Finland.
Dr. Anju Reejhsinghani, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, U.S.A.

ZINE AWARD!
And the winner of Best English Zine is... Newsgirls!

The amazing Andrea "Grizzly" Clegg, a Newsgirl alumni and avid photographer, amoung other great things, put together the most incredible book on Newsgirls thus far. With the help of Eloisa Aquino, she combined her photography with testimonials of current and past members in a way that sums up some of the great things that have come out of the Newsgirls in the past 16 years.

Not only that! But then it went and won a zine award in Montreal!

A huge congrats to you Grizzly and Eloisa!

To order a copy go to newsgirlszine.blogspot.ca/

NEWSGIRL'S LIBRARY
Please return all borrowed books, vhs, dvds borrowed from the gym so that others can borrow. Thank you!
And I need to get my two video cameras back asap!!!
BY THE DOCK OF THE BAY / OCEANFRONT COTTAGES
In the small coastal village of Margaretsville, Nova Scotia where the Bay of Fundy laps the shore, in one of its' gentler moods happily sit By the Dock of the Bay Cottages. It is a place of sunlight and coziness with rooms that get their character from the brilliant seashore light and the salty ocean that perfumes every room. Refresh your spirit with a visit to our oceanfront sanctuary where we believe a cottage on the beach should be as cozy as the inside of a seashell.
www.cottagesnovascotia.com 1-800-407-2856 info@cottagesnovascotia.com
PART-TIME OPPORTUNITY
A personal-care attendant is needed for a cool, intelligent, disabled young man in the Jarvis and Front streets area. This is a great part time job. You must have a valid driver's license with a clean record, and good command of English. You must also be comfortable with a person's body and bodily functions. You must be able to commit for one year and train for one to two weekends. Experience is preferred but not necessary, as paid training is provided. Shifts are on weekends 6-8 hours per day Saturdays and Sundays. Salary is $15 an hour to start, with a raise after a three-month probation period. Please send a resume and a short blurb about yourself to careforkb@gmail.com
SHAPE YOUR LIFE
Our free boxing program for survivors of violence will be having a session for trans and genderqueer people in the new year! This session will take place on Saturdays from 2:30 - 4:30pm for 6 weeks from January 12 to February 16. Equipment, TTC, and snacks are provided. See poster attached. Please share.
To register, contact Savoy at 416-480-2058 or at torontonewsgirls@hotmail.com.
NEWSGIRLS' WISH LIST
Yoga mats / work out mats
Rowing machine

As the Newsgirls program grows we are looking for continuing support through financial donations. >See Wish List.

GREAT NEWS!
NEWSGIRLS FINALLY HAS A TRANS INCLUSION POLICY!
Thanks to the most amazing Cathy "Arm Bar" Van Ingen, we now have a Trans Inclusion policy!
To download the policy (.pdf file), right click here & choose "Save target as" (PC),or "Save link as" (MAC).
"The goal of the trans inclusion policy is to try to address the difficulties many trans people encounter when trying to access a boxing gym by creating as safe a space as possible for trans people to explore the sport of boxing."
We will now offer three different types of gym time designed to ensure equitable participation in gym activities. Please see the policy for explanation of terms and definitions. This schedule is effective immediately.

TNG Weekly Gym Hours
Women's only Women and Trans Everyone
Monday 6-8pm
Tuesday 6-8pm 8-10pm
Wednesday 6-8pm
Thursday 6-8pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 10-12pm 12-2pm
Sunday 10-12pm 12-2pm

Also! We have created a second change room and figured out a way for everyone to access the one washroom which can also be used as a changeroom.
A huge thank you to Cathy Van Ingen for all the time you put into the many drafts of the policy. A special thank-you to all who contributed to the process including Barb Besharat and Kenji Tokawa from the 519 TransActions program. Let's change her/his/theirstory one step at a time!

SAD NEWS
We're sad to announce the loss of one of our members - Matt aka Mad Scientist - passed away suddenly on May 23rd in his home. Matt was a rare combination of artistry, engineering and an all around amazing guy. He and his girlfriend Marika (aka Rubber Rocket) have been members of the club since last summer, and recently did a Mexican wrestling themed photoshoot in the club. Matt was dearly loved by all his friends and family, and will be greatly missed.
MORE SAD NEWS
Kyle Scanlon, who was the coordinator of the Trans Access project at the 519 has passed away. Kyle met with us when we were designing SYL and helped us figure out how to make the program inclusive of trans survivors. He gave us a lot of honest, sound advice. He also connected us with a lot of trans programs and services in the city for outreach. K|yle had been working at the 519 for more than 10 years. He will be greatly missed.
INTERESTING LINKS/ARTICLES

"Last Woman Standing" review

New exciting movie coming out

Thoughts and stories about being a big girl in the world of exercise that will motivate other women to get active

Idle No More: David Suzuki urges PM to meet with First Nations

Idle No More Toronto Shuts Down Yonge-Dundas

Sexual violence is not a cutural phenomenon in India. It is endemic everywhere. Trigger warning: rape, sexual assault, and harassment

Action Against Rape: Sign The Petition

Recording boxing up close

Saudi Arabia now tracking women electronically

End Zone: Female boxing still gets no respect

A Teen Love Story Unlike Any Other

Handwraps: How to guide

Jackie Chan playing ping pong...this is incredible!

Windsor boxer Mary Spencer to compete in 2012 Summer Olympics

Olympic Boxing Schedule and Results

If you are looking to buy one of those egg timers we use at the gym, they can be purchased for $20 at William Ashley at 55 Bloor St. West in the Manulife Centre.

Thoughts and stories about being a big girl in the world of exercise that will motivate other women to get active.

Got Weak Ankles? Strengthen your ankles...improve your balance.

Best Ad for a Boxing Gym Ever.

Step Up! And Speak Out! - Making Canadian Sport More Welcoming to Sexual and Gender Diversity

Remembering Randy Starkman: Tributes to Canada's Premier Amateur Sports Journalist

(Randy was a huge supporter of the Newsgirls, always wanting to know what we were up to as he was a big boxing enthusiast and was so happy to hear that more and more women were boxing. Rest in peace Mr. Starkman.)

Ultimate Showdown: FEISTY JOY vs. STEPHEN HARPER at Toronto Newsgirls

Well Joy "Tiger" Taylor is at it again!
Feisty Senior Takes on Stephen Harper - Operation Maple

Speaking of honoring our elders, check this out: 86 year-old Johanna Quaas demonstration on PB - "Turnier Der Meister" Cottbus 2012

You're a hen, I'm a hen: gender-neutral pronoun gains ground in Sweden

Women mechanics face mad men moments at work

Check out these great photos taken at the Newsgirls' gym

2012 Women's World Championships in China/Olympic Qualifier

It Gets Better Canada

Afghanistan's first female Olympic Boxer Eyes London Dream

Soccer Canada News: Memories of Paris and the Homeless World Cup 2011

Megan Leslie's statement for International Women's Day

Trans Film Screening of "Tomboy"

The Living Proof from the Motion Picture "The Help"

The Tomas Edison Company: Women Boxing

The Living Nightmare: Quanitta Underwood: A contender for Olympic Gold and a Survivor

Live Organic Raw

Fascinating documentary follows the physically gruelling and mentally exhausting training regimes of several young Japanese wanna-be Gaea Girls.

Knockout images join the fight for women in the ring.

Skirting a controversy: Listen to Savoy "Kapow!" Howe respond to the International Olympic Committee's idea of forcing female boxers to wear 'skirts' in the 2012 Olympics.

The art of boxing with Thaddine Swift Eagle Johnson.

Quand Education Rime Avec Protection: par Newsgirl Corinne "l'Heartbreaker" Cecilia

Check out the February Chatelaine, page 125! Our very own Megan "Viper" Cooney is Ms. Chatelaine!

Afghan Women Boxers

The Boxing Girls of Kabul

French Women Groups protest FIFA Decision to Endorse Hijab

Lingerie Basketball League Makes Debut in LA

Dennis Rodman to coach Women's Topless Basketball in NYC

Check out this news blurb shot at the Newsgirl's Gym.

Boxing fundraiser inappropriate, critics say.

Female warriors in skirts at London 2012?

Jailed Afghan rape victim wins pardon after agreeing to marry attacker.

Doug Ford suggests schools explore UFC-linked program.

Girls are the answer and so are you!

Fight Factory XI

Lisa Brown vs. Jeri Sitzes

Lisa Brown vs. Jackie Chaves

Lisa Brown vs. Jackie Chaves Part 2

Heather Cameron, the first Newsgirl to fight as an amateur, later moved to Berlin and opened BOXGIRLS, the first all-female boxing club in Europe!

Boxing Granny is a real knock-out!

Female boxing coach keeps fighting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdyU5gd8uqc

>Savoy Howe's coming out in 1993 was named as moment #96 in LGBT-sports history!

>Another way to wrap your hands

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career.
I've lost almost 300 games.
Twenty-six times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.
I've failed over and over and over again in my life.
And that is why I succeed."
- Michael Jordan, basketball -
Announcing a new project for Shape Your Life!
SYL was successful in getting funding through the 2012 Community Safety Investment program (CSI) from the City of Toronto. Shape Your Life & CommUnity (SYLC) is a new project drawing on CSI funding to provide community targeted education and training. In its first year, SYLC will focus on three groups who remain at increased risk of violence: women with physical disabilities, racialized women and girls, and the LGBTTQ community. A 'train the trainer' model will develop participant leaders who will assist with violence prevention work within their own communities.

The Toronto Newsgirls, Opportunity for Advancement (OFA) and Brock University are all very excited to be a part of this exciting project and building even more community leaders!

GYM FOODBOX
Thanks to everyone who brings in donations for the foodbox. We keep the foodbox in the changeroom so that women can take what they need in privacy. Women have hope knowing that they can always find a meal in the change room at the Newsgirls. Nothing scarier than not knowing where your next meal is coming from for you or for your family.

The foodbox needs constant replenishing, which means it's being well used. If you have any extra non-perishable food items that you would like to donate, there are members at the gym who could really use them. Once and awhile, a bag of pasta, a tin of coffee or tuna or a jar of peanut butter can really help to create hope.

NEWSGIRLS IS NOW SCENT-FREE!
Please help out the Newsgirls' members who have severe reactions to scents by not wearing any. Thank you in advance for your support!
OPTIMAL NUTRITION with MaryAnn Scandiffio
Our club nutritionist MaryAnn Scandiffio has just launched a new snack company, Square Snacks. Check out the 3pm Snack line of energy bars. A delicious, satisfying mid-afternoon snack, and only 100 calories!

You can find them in Toronto at The Big Carrot, Noah's Natural Foods locations and more, or online at squaresnacks.com.

PHOTOGRAPHER
If you need photos done for any occasion, Jacklyn "Jackknife" Atlas is your gal. She comes highly recommended by our club. We were all blown away by every shot in the Newsgirls' calendar. She was so fun to work with during shoots, she made us feel very comfortable and opened up our playful side without us even knowing it. Check out her amazing website jacklynatlas.com and don't hesitate to call her for prices, etc. 416-795-6466.
SHAPE SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE
If you would like to make a donation to the Shape Your Life program, our free boxing program for female and Trans survivors of violence, all donations will be administered by Opportunity for Advancement (OFA lead agency). You can sponsor a SYL graduate by making a donation towards their yearly membership (half price for SYL grads $300). Access to physical fitness and community can and will make a difference in a survivor of violence's life.

Opportunity For Advancement (OFA) has been developing and offering innovative groups for socially and economically disadvantaged women for over 30 years. OFA is located at: 54 Wolseley Street, Toronto, ON Canada M5T 1A5 Tel (416) 787-1481 ofacan.com
Charitable Number: 11906 9144 RR0001 All donations over $20 will receive a tax receipt.
Thank you!

Donate
ENERGY AND VITALITY TOO LOW?
How many times do you say to yourself: "Something just doesn't feel right..." - and you may even have consulted a "Western" health professional who told you to "ignore it", or just "take this" for it. There are SO many symptoms, and body signals (yes, including pain) that are trying to tell you your body isn't functioning properly. If you want answers, real answers, and more importantly, you would like a SOLUTION, chiropractic could be the vehicle to take you there. Dr. Joshua Gelber is a traditional chiropractor - finding the cause of many things from back pain and headaches, to chronic fatigue or even long-term digestive issues - is his specialty. If you've got questions, he has answers. If you have been to a chiropractor before, and think they're all the same, think again. No-obligation consults are always free (because the most important step is establishing mutually agreeable goals), and as a big supporter of the TNG, a thorough exam to determine the cause will have NO CHARGE (any necessary x-rays will have a maximum charge of $80). You can check out his newly updated website joshuagelber.com, or email him @ joshua@labelleclinic.com; 1100 Bathurst St (@ Dupont); 416-967-4466.
OPTIMAL NUTRITION with MaryAnn Scandiffio
Would you like to find more energy everyday from the foods you eat? For our individual consulting programs, we offer nutritional analysis to find out your nutritional strengths and weaknesses, pinpointing what nutrients you may be missing to help you achieve your health goals.

Twelve Week Weight Management Program: Includes 8 appointments scheduled over 12 weeks or to suit your schedule. (Initial 45 minute Assessment, followed by one 30-minute appointment, plus six 15-minute follow-up appointments).
• The first session is a 45-minute assessment focused on your needs and goals, then you will work on a Nutrition Strategy in collaboration with MaryAnn.
• MaryAnn will prepare a Nutrition Package and Meal Plan, based on your assessment, to help you meet your weight loss and weight maintenance goals. Weight loss goals will be realistic for long-term health and vitality, as well as optimal energy.
• Your second appointment will be one week later. MaryAnn will review your Nutrition Package and Meal Plan with you, and answer any questions about her recommendations. Your plan will include healthy meal plans, nutrient-packed snack food ideas, and an exercise plan to suit your abilities.
• Your six 15-minute follow-up visits. These visits will provide occasional check-in points through the twelve weeks to help you stay on top of your nutrition progress. You can schedule the visits according to the plan that best suits your goals. You may want to start with frequent visits (every 2-3 weeks), then drop to less frequent visits once you are more comfortable with your new health routine. Your follow-up will include tips on incorporating healthy eating into your everyday life, reviewing your food diary, reading packaging labels, restaurant menu tips, cholesterol-lowering foods, and more to help you meet your goals.
MaryAnn has joined the Newsgirls to offer nutrition consulting for optimal wellness, specializing in Sports Nutrition, General Nutrition and Family Nutrition. Individual consultations and corporate/group events are available, and can be tailored to suit your needs and budget.
For more information on our classes or consulting packages, check out our website at createvitality.ca or contact MaryAnn at maryann@createvitality.ca or at 416-461-9379 to find a package that suits you.

NEWSGIRLS BELT BUCKLE
Newgirls' belt buckle $50. Available at the gym. Chocolate brown and orange in colour.
Mary Spencer and Mandy Bujold win GOLD at the PanAm Games!!!
http://www.maryspencer.ca/news.html
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/mandy-bujold-wins-pan-am-boxing-gold/article2219016/
LOCKERS
Come and clear out your locker if you are not a current or yearly member as we are running out of lockers! Any lockers unclaimed will have to be cut open for current members.
FOUND AT GYM
Silver 'Bear Claw' ring
JOB AVAILABLE
Work as a Personal Assistant to a professional woman with quadriplegia. This jobs includes shift work, typically 30 hours a week, paid at $15.00/hour.
No previous related experience is necessary.
Work in a highly supportive, gay positive atmosphere in South Etobicoke.
Receive on the job training in personal care, listening, problem solving & communication.
Get practical experience in understanding and living Inclusion with people who have diverse abilities.
Job Requirements
Must be a good driver who likes "the road", with no current demerit points. (Van provided).
Must have good hearing.
Must be free of allergies and sensitivities to dust and cats.
Must be able to lift 115 pounds and carry this weight a short distance.
Must be able to work different shifts.
Must have emotional stability, flexibility and general cheerfulness
Must be free to travel internationally.
Must be fluent in spoken and written English - able to take detailed phone messages accurately and write short letters with clear writing and good spelling.
Personal assets in this job include:
- clean personal habits
- a sociable and pleasant demeanor
- ability to focus your attention for long time periods AND shift the focus of your attention quickly.
- good spatial orientation, e.g. right/left, up/down
- good language ability, e.g. listening to the context to clarify ambiguous meanings
- willingness to take direction and give straightforward feedback in a timely way
Interested? E-mail a resume and a short letter about why you think you fit the job requirements to avalanche0809@gmail.com.
CLUB SHOW ROCKED!
Fight Factory XI was a huge success! Nine Newsgirls stepped into the ring and earned badges of courage in front of a packed house. Special thanks to Joy "Tiger" Taylor for being our card girl / Woman of Honour. And thanks to all who came and to all who helped make this event the success it was.
"The only rights you have are the ones you know and stand up for."
AWARD
Thank you so much to all of you who nominated me for the Ontario Coach's Association coaching award! It was such an honour to receive. Thank you.
WEIGHT ROOM
The weight room is open and available to members during regular gym hours. The weight room houses a 6-station Universal Weight Lifting System plus an area for free weights. Get ready to get 'pahumed' up! If you or someone you know is interested in renting the weight room in 'off' hours to train personal clients, talk to Savoy.
Get up, stand up, Stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, Don't give up the fight.
Bob Marley
Hammers up, chin down!
Savoy "Kapow!" Howe
SHAPE YOUR LIFE
Our free boxing program for female and Trans survivors of violence is going strong after four years and we have graduated close to 400 participants. One participant went on to become an amateur competitor and then the 2010 Provincial Gold Medalist and then the 2010 National Silver Medalist!

This program operates solely on donations. All money collected goes towards running the introductory sessions that include free hand wraps, TTC tokens and snacks for participants. Once the intro session is completed graduates are given a 3-month membership to the gym and then offered a yearly membership for half the regular price ($300). Sometimes participants cannot afford this amount but would like to continue boxing. If you or someone you know would like to sponsor a graduate with a reduced yearly membership or make a contribution towards a yearly (any amount helps - $5, $20, $million...) you can do so through this link. Any amount over $20 will receive a tax receipt from our partner organization, Opportunity for Advancement.

It is with the support of the community that survivors have access to venues that empower them, like the Newsgirl's "playground for hitting things". Thank you in advance for your support.

For more info about how to enroll visit the Shape Your Life site.
TRANS POLICY
We are currently working on developing a Trans policy at Newsgirls. There is so much to learn about how to support the Trans community in Sport. Once it is developed it will be sent out in our newsletter and posted on our website.
GLOVES
Is it time to invest into your own pair of boxing gloves? If you want to try out the 6 styles of gloves that we sell at the gym ($50 - $80) let me know when you're ready.
Mary Spencer
Boxer Girl
Photo Credit: daveandcharlotte.com, 16:9
Her name is Mary Spencer. She's 26 years old. And she's one of the world's best female boxers. With a steely determination that defies her age, she's after the ultimate prize: Olympic gold. Coming up, 16:9 follows Mary as she fights to earn the chance to represent Canada in London 2012.
"VOICE BOX" A HUGE SUCCESS!
Thanks to all who came out to see "Voice Box" at the Harbourfront Theatre Centre this month. The show, a combination of voice, opera, boxing and female aggression had a great run to sold-out houses.
Thanks to all the Newsgirls who participated in the pre-show entertainment. Youz rocked! And congrats to the cast and creative team. What a blast!
Check out these reviews:

>Globe & Mail
>Toronto Star
>Theatre in Review
>Theatre in Review, 2nd article

FIGHT UPDATES

On May 14, 2010 Fearless and Shadow Blow fought great fights in Guelph. In the end their opponents Amanda Anderson of Regency and Sara Buzcek of Waterloo took the fights but not without a battle.

Then on June 2 Shadow Blow fought Debbie Richards of Sarnia. It was Shadow Blow's 12th fight and Richard's 87th fight! Shadow Blow went toe to toe with Richards at times hitting her so hard with torquing punches that it made her step back and acknowledge that she had met her match. In the end Richards took the fight but not without with a bloody nose.

And then Foxy stepped in the ring for her second bout against "Queen" Elizabeth Sawicki of Mississaga who was having her 7th fight. Foxy not only 'got some' but won the fight too!

A huge congrats to Fearless, Shadow Blow and Foxy for stepping into the ring!

If anyone would like a dvd of any of our Fight Factory club shows (1 to 10) you can purchase one for $50. All funds go into our competitor's program.

And more incredible news... Alaina "Machine" Hardie recently won a Silver medal in the women's medium heavy purple belt division of the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship on June 4th in Long Beach, California, the largest and most prestigious BJJ tournament in the world! Incredible news Machine! Congratulations!!!

HOOLA HOOPING!

Wanna check out a free hoola hoopin' class?

Allison Tarr of positivespinhoops.com is offering to do a free demo class for the Newsgirls!

Come check it out!

Saturday, June 19 from 2:15 to 3:15pm

> Article on Health Zone.

What is hoopdance?
Hoopdance is a high-energy cardiovascular workout which helps tone the body & energize the mind. Combining elements of dance & fitness, hoopdance creates awareness of your body & the movements of which you are capable.

What are the benefits?

•boosts cardiovascular endurance
•increases energy
•builds core strength
•relieves stress
•instills confidence
•quiets the mind
•promotes flexibility
•enhances creativity
•strengthens abs
•sculpts thighs, buttocks, & arms
•promotes laughter

FIGHT FACTORY X

"Springing Into Action" sprung into action on Sunday, April 25th at 2pm. It was an incredible show, probably one of our best so far. Nine Newsgirls stepped into the ring, four of them for their first time in front of a jam-packed house.

"Paws" kicked it into action with 3 rounds of intense and smart fighting for his first bout against "Queen Elizabeth" from Mississauga. Paws went toe to toe with the Queeen the whole fight losing only by a few points. His first fight, her fifth fight. It was awesome.

Then "Foxy" stepped into the ring for her first bout against the "Mad Squirrel" from Welland. The Mad Squirrel had 3 previous bouts but after meeting the Fox had to run and hide high in a tree. In the end, the Squirrel got away from the Fox but not without losing a part of her tail. The Fox 'got some' too.

Then "Fearless" stepped into the ring for her second bout against a Hamilton boxer who was having her third bout. All I can say is 'destroyed'. Fearless remains undefeated.

Then! The first Newsgirls' heavyweight bout ever! Two Newsgirls, "Anarchy" and "Bouncer" put on the gloves and duked it out in front of an already pumped crowd. It was beautiful! Both moved like lightweights, bouncing and circling while keeping the pressure on. Even the referee was a heavyweight! All the 'big girls' in the room were going crazy! No one had ever seen anything like this. What an inspiration to all the future heavyweights. In the end Bouncer took the fight.

Then, it only got more and more exciting......"Mayhem" took on "Hurricane" Amaral from Toronto. mayhem (mhm, mm) n 1. The offense of willfully maiming or cripling a person. 2. Infliction of violent injury on a person or thing: wanton destruction. 3. A state of violent disorder or riotous confusion: havoc.

Say no more.

And then....it....only.....got better....."Titus" got in the ring with a tall tough gal from Welland with pipes the size of Titus' head and arms that could reach across the room. The audience of 300 fell silent as if in prayer for our dear Titus Androgynous. And boy, was the crowd blown away when Titus came out like a troll from under the bridge in her striped socks and put the boots to her aggressor, Titus often jumping a good foot off the ground just to get in a head shot. This might just be one of the greatest fights of the century. In the end, Titus....felled.....the giant.

And then....and then.....the Main Event. Who was brave enough to take on a Newsgirl Canadian Champion but another Newsgirl Canadian Champion.....Trigger vs. Scrapper. This was an incredible fight showing the audience the difference between a novice bout (when a boxer has under 11 fights) and an open class bout (when a boxer has more than 11 fights.) These two went at it for four rounds slipping and ducking like pros. You would've never have known that they were friends. Both took punches that would have dropped most, yet they continued fighting like Olympians. Compliments continue to come in over the caliber of fighting in this match. In the end Trigger won on points but kudos to both fighters for showing the crowd what Olympic style boxing looks like.

Thanks to all who helped with the show. Couldn't have done it without you. And thanks to Anna Willats for the amazing mc'ing and Sasha Van Bon Bon and The Scandelles for opening the show with "These Boots Are Made for Walking". Thanks to Barbies Basement Jewellery for yet another incredible trophy belt buckle that all the contenders wait for. And to our sponsors: Toronto Women's Bookstore, Labelle Chiropractic, Knee Knox Enterprise, Tree Tails Dog Walking and Pet Sitting, AX360SPORTS.COM, Lorraine Munro Counselling/Pschotherapist, Opportunity for Advancement, Lianne Doucet/Life Coach, and our main sponsor createvitality.ca.

What a great show! Check out these photos by Andrea "Grizzly" Clegg A set by ARC photography plus.

Our Shape Your Life program continues to grow. See attached the photos of the first all-female boxing club in the North West Territories! This club was started by our very own "Viper" who has been up there teaching for the past year. Congratulations Viper! You rock!

This community, Gameti, has a population of 307 and is located 177 air km north-west of Yellowknife, at 64'09'N latitude and 177'20'W longitude. It is an important link in the chain of lakes which connects Great Slave to Great Bear Lakes. The community is accessible by air from Yellowknife year round and is connected by an ice road to the city in the winter.

Incredible work Viper.
Speaking of Shape Your Life, there will be a huge fundraiser for the program at the gym on Saturday, June 26 with lots of entertainment, food and an open bar. The main event: Ivan E. Coyote! Tickets will go on sale at the end of May. More details to follow.

Check out the testimonials on the new Shape Your Life website!

If you know of anyone who would like to make a donation towards a yearly membership for Shape Your Life graduates (half price $250 for SYL graduates), donations can be made through the PayPal button on the new SYL website. Tax receipts for donations over $20 will be provided.

Here is a great lesson from a recent SYL graduate.... "Fear is excitement without breath. Transform fear into excitement by breathing, by practicing the inhale and the exhale."

Atlas Club Show
Mayhem fought her first fight at the Atlas Boxing Club in Toronto against a woman who was having her third fight. Mayhem rocked. It was the first time a Newsgirls' first-timer slipped and ducked soo much, it was incredible. In the end the other gal won on points but there wasn't a single mark on our gal (ok a fat lip). Way to go Mayhem. That was a very impressive first fight especially against someone who has already had a couple.

And then Trigger! Trigger fought the women's main event and a rematch against Canadian Champion Lita Mae Button. Last time Trigger (16 bouts) fought Lita Mae (26 bouts) she only lost by only 2 points! In my opinion this fight was the best and most exciting fight of the night. I could hear people behind me saying "Now this is boxing!" And they were right. Lita Mae and Trigger showed off their stuff and fought relentlessly. In the end Lita Mae won on points but both fell into their corners exhausted after having given it their all. Congrats to both incredible fighters.

Congrats Trigger and Mayhem. You made the Newsgirls proud. I you could have heard all the compliments that came in, including from two Boxing Ontario officials!
Kartini Sejati

Great news from our new friends in Jakarta... after we left they started coaching a waiting list of women. They are currently negotiating with the owner of the men's gym to have access to it 3 times a week instead of once a week to accommodate their list of interested future boxers. Soon after we left they were invited to perform their boxing in a local mall which they took very seriously as a way of showing off images of strong women. Check out the photos at the bottom of the newsletter!

And! Two of them, 'Cut Throat' and 'Buffalo' will be coming to Toronto to continue their boxing studies somewhere around June 10 for one month. If anyone knows of a house-sitting opportunity close to downtown or to the gym for that time period, that would be so amazing. The Newsgirls would be willing to barter for boxing!

They are also close to sending us film footage of our adventures in Jakarta plus some footage of their "mall" presentation so stay tuned for a video night date at the gym. This will be a fundraising opportunity for us to send more boxing equipment back with them and will hopefully take place when they are in Toronto.
Bike Rack The gym now has a bike rack in the alley! Courtesy of Tannen Baum! During the summer the alley entrance becomes a second main entrance to the gym. It can be accessed at the north end of the building and south of the train bridge. There is a small parking lot (don't park there, they ticket!) and if you follow the short alley to the end you will see the big green doors that open into the gym. That is where the fancy new bicycle rack is. Thanks Tannen Baum!
Just a heads up... word has it that Ivan E. Coyote will be at the gym for a fundraiser for the Shape Your Life program on Saturday, June 26 at the start of Pride weekend. Can't say anything else (sworn to secrecy at this point!) but mark it in your calendar if you are looking for an awe inspiring evening!
More details to come soon.
THE ADVENTURES OF SCRAPPER

After our very exciting adventures in Indonesia 'Coach Scrapper' continued her travels to Spain, New Orleans and Florida. While in New Orleans, as any committed boxer would do, Scrapper found a boxing gym, the James Joseph School of Boxing.

She had the pleasure of working with Coach James and will hopefully be sharing lots of stories and new experiences when she gets back.
We miss you Scrapper!

Coaches 'Siberian Huskie', 'Buffalo', 'Sugar Rey' and 'Cut Throat' put on their hand wraps in front of a mall audience, doing standing sit-ups, punching sit-ups, being interviewed about their program, and then involving people out of the mall's audience to come up and hit things (including men!)
MISSIONS ACCOMPLISHED!

Mission #1 - The Nationals

6 Newsgirls (Trigger, Shadow Blow, Super Nova, Scrapper, Loco Lococo and Kapow!) had an incredible week at the Nationals in Quebec at the end of January. We fought against the best of the best from across this country and came home with 3 Silver and 3 Bronze. Not bad for our first Nationals eh! Mission accomplished! And this is only the beginning of our journey to the 2012 Olympics.

Thanks to Hollyrocks for raising a whack of dough for us at your dance party fundraiser and thanks to all who 'bought bricks' to help get us there. We couldn't have done it without youz. And thanks to those of you who drove 7 hours to cheer us on. The Newsgirls had the best cheering section ever! And thanks to the 7 Newsgirls' coaches who held the fort while we were away.

Mission #2 - Jakarta, Indonesia

The day after the Nationals, coaches Kapow! and Scrapper boarded a plane to Jakarta (22 hours in flight!) to help a group of women set up their own 'Shape Your Life' program, our program that teaches boxing to female and Trans survivors of violence. For 10 days we taught 10 women who had never boxed before to become boxing coaches. These coaches will then go on to teach boxing to 30 women on a waiting list. It was more successful than we could ever have imagined. The coaches-to-be were like sponges to our information, and all through an interpreter! The day after we left they taught their first class to 10 women and two of their funders who observed the class were so impressed that they vowed to find them more funding. The funders couldn't believe that they learned that much in 10 days.

The funding for this program came from an organization that supports 'Women Living Under Muslim Law'. Most of these new coaches are members of the Gay and Trans communities and have incredible stories of survival to tell.

The new boxing coaches' boxing names are: Cut Throat, Green Hulk, Little Shark, Siberian Huskie, Buffalo, Warrior, Predator, Ketek, Sugar Rey and Pooh Banggg! Thanks to Black Eagle for cooking us rice, chicken, potatoes and fish for breakfast everyday.

It was such an incredible experience. They were all so good to us. We participated in panel discussions, traveled to the top of a mountain to dream about their gym, and.....shook hands and became SISTERING GYMS! Mission accomplished!

Toronto Newsgirls Boxing Club
and
Institut Pelangi Perempuan
"Sistering Gyms"
February 2010

MOVIE NIGHT
As soon as we get video footage back from Jakarta, we will have a video night at the gym to show the footage from the Nationals and from our adventures in Indonesia. Not to be missed. More details and a date soon. $5 suggested donation. All proceeds to go to Haiti.
>Read a new article about our gym on the Exercisetoronto.com website.

>Read a great article about one of our Shape Your Life graduates....

"A kind and compassionate act is often its own reward."
- J. Bennett -

Thanks to everyone who donated to the Help Haiti jar at the gym. So far we have collected $80 in change and bills which will be matched by the Canadian Government. We will keep the jar in the gym in case others want to make a donation. All funds getting to Haiti through the Canadian Red Cross.
GREAT DEAL ON DENTAL WORK

Dental cleaning for the fantastic price of $25 for adults (for children $20). More thorough and comprehensive than you'll get anywhere!

If you are interested contact Tara at taara@rogers.com and leave your name and phone number.
Check out the amazing article written by Toronto Star's Barb Turnbull!
Support Shape Your Life
If you or someone you know would like to contribute to the Shape Your Life program, here is one way you can... For $50 you can buy a pair of boxing gloves for a Shape Your Life graduate. Often something as simple as a pair of boxing gloves can be the incentive that keeps a participant boxing after graduating from the program. For every 3 pair of boxing gloves donated, the Newsgirls will donate one pair to the program graduates' fund. Sometimes a pair of boxing gloves is all it takes to make a difference. A tax receipt will be provided for all donations over $20.
HOLIDAY GIFT CERTIFICATES
Know someone who has been talking way too long about getting back into shape? Know someone who really needs to hit something? Or just looking for something special to give that someone special for the holidays? How about a gift certificate for 5 boxing classes and a pair of hand wraps for only $75....hand wraps thrown in for free on this holiday gift! Gift certificate can be mailed out or picked up.
KICKIN' BUTT!
Our gals continue to kick up a storm in the boxing community. Hollyrocks fought her second bout on Oct. 22 and won yet again. Out of 8 bouts (only 2 of which were women's bouts) her bout also won 'best bout of the night'. Moxy also fought on this card. It was Moxy's first fight and her opponent's fourth! And who won? Moxy go Moxy go Moxy!
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Want to wear a belt buckle usually only worn by Newsgirls' fighters? The Newsgirls, in partnership with Barbie's Basement Jewellery www.bbj.ca will be making available a special edition belt buckle to be worn by all who support the Newsgirls in their adventures to the Olympics. Special edition "2012 or Bust!" buckle and belt $75. Can be picked up or mailed out to you. No additional cost.

Oh what an amazing weekend Oct. 2-4 we had at the Arnie B. Tournament in St. Catharines!

•Scrapper fought a boxer from Cabbagetown and won 18-1.
•Shadow Blow fought a gal from the National Training Centre in Sudbury and finished it before the first round was over.
•Super Nova also fought a gal from the National Training Centre in Sudbury and won 35-12.
•Trigger fought a World Champion with 50 fights! Trigger won the first round, tied the second round and then lost the third round by only 4 points!!! Did I mention it was Trigger's 12th fight and this gal's 51st fight?! It was Trigger's best fight ever.

Way to go Team Newsgirls!! You made us so proud. We definitely made a mark on the boxing community with all the compliments that came our way.
Fight Factory IX
October 24th

WHAT A SHOW!!!
Fight Factory IX was definitely one of our best shows ever! JAT (Jill Camarta, Andrya Duff and Tina Fushell) opened the show with a stunning performance of Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible". Wow!

Then seven Newsgirls stepped into the ring, four of them for their first fight.

•Fearless started the show off for her first fight with sheer determination in her eyes against a boxer from the Training Room and ended it before the first round was over. Whoa!

•Then Hollyrocks! climbed over the ropes for her first fight against a Cabbagetowner and did the same, ending it before the first round was over. Unbelievable. •Then Girly Guns got robbed! Robbed I say! She clocked her Training Room opponent and the referee stepped in for the 8-count but gave it to Girly Guns instead of to her opponent. No amount of the crowd's hollaring could change the ref's decision. The fight continued and was proving to be a well matched bout but the 8-count was just the start of a badly referee'd bout. The rematch will be a good one. •Then Scrapper stepped up to the plate for her 'rubber match' with Krishan Lysenko from Cabbagetown. A rubber match means the two fighters have fought twice before, each winning once. The rubber match decides who the boss is. And the boss.... Scrapper. Scrapper's record so far...10 wins, 1 loss.

•And then it only got better and better. Every Fight Factory show two Newsgirls fight each other just to show the crowd how tough they are. Shadow Blow and Trigger stepped into the ring together and fought 4 of the most exciting rounds of boxing seen in a long time! Non-stop punching, non-stop slipping. People couldn't believe that two Newsgirls could hit each other that hard and still be friends at the end of it. Intense. Their bout actually won the most exciting bout of the night, chosen by the Boxing Ontario officials at the end of the show.

•And it didn't end there. The main event...Crazy Loco Lococo against Ann Laure Bouvier of Cabbagetown. Two 120 pounders pounding like they were 160 pounders. They must have each thrown 300 punches per round. The crowd went crazy! Who would it be? We were sure it was Loco. Cabbagetown was sure it was Bouvier. Split decision for Bouvier. Fantastic fight for two warriors.
Ontario Provincials
Oct. 29 - Nov. 1

Six Newsgirls attended the Provincials in Windsor ...Shadow Blow, Super Nova, Crazy Loco, Trigger, Kapow! and Scrapper. Loco and Kapow! won GOLD by walkover, which means no one wanted to take them on. Super Nova won GOLD after winning her 'rubber match' with Monique Gallizeau of Sully's Boxing Club. And Trigger, Scrapper and Shadow Blow all scored BRONZE which means they can apply to fight at the Nationals in Quebec at the end of January along with Loco, Super Nova and Kapow!

Yeehaw! Olympics, here we come!

Thanks to Jackknife Johnson for purchasing a $500 yearly membership for $500 at the club show auction. These funds took care of all the Newsgirls' hotel fees at the Provincials. Thanks Jackknife!
Awesome Research Project

Are you a competitive athlete? Do you identify with any of the following terms? Gender queer, transgender, transsexual, two-spirited, trans, androgynous, or perhaps one that didn't make this list? If you live in or around Kingston or Toronto, Ontario and are an athlete who identifies with the trans community and currently participates in or has recently retired from competitive organized sport you may eligible to participate in my study.

I am a Master's student at Queen's University and I am currently looking for Canadian, English speaking athletes over the age of 18 to interview for my thesis on the experiences of trans-identified athletes and sport. My goal is to explore how trans-identified athletes deal with the sex and gender expectations in mainstream Canadian sport. Your involvement would entail one conversational interview, which would last between 90 and 120 minutes.

I am also looking for people to participate in a group discussion with other trans-identified athletes. The group discussion would last about 120 minutes. Interview and group discussion themes will include: sport and identity background, relations between gender and sport, marginalization and support, barriers to participation and the future of sport. You can choose to participate in either the interview or the group discussion or both the interview and the group discussion. I will do my best to ensure your confidentiality by using pseudonyms in all interview and focus group transcripts.

In appreciation for your participation you will receive a $5 dollar gift card to a local coffee shop.

If you are interested in participating in my study or would like more information please contact me by email at 6bb29@queensu.ca; Please be sure to include your name, contact information for your preferred mode of communication (e.g., email address, home or cellular number), and indicate your sport experience.
"Hit hard, hit fast, hit first, hit last."
The Newsgirls recently took part in the annual TRCC/MWAR (Toronto Rape Crisis Centre, Multicultural Women Against Rape) "Take Back the Night" march hosted by the Davenport-Perth Neighborhood Centre. The march was a huge success. Women from all kinds of organizations that support women in housing, education, job search and community building showed up and set up tables providing information about their services. Then the rally took place which gave atleast 20 speakers (including Scrapper and Kapow!) the opportunity to share stories and info to hundreds of women from all over Toronto. Then, the women set off through the Davenport/Symington neighborhood shouting chants of all kinds letting the neighborhood know that women will not be afraid to walk at night, that women will no longer take shit at home, and that women are a powerful, smart force not be messed with! It was awesome! The Newsgirl's travelling boxing ring was a huge hit.

Thanks to Scrapper, the Cornered Cat, Everblazing, Ginger Snaps! and all the other gals who helped out with the boxing ring posts and the Shape Your Life banner.
What a great event.

Sports in the news - check this out!
Holy gender/intersex phobia!
Please welcome Registered Nutritionist MaryAnn Scandiffio to Team Newsgirls! For those of you who attended the most recent Boot Camps, you know that MaryAnn gave very useful 10-minute nutrition talks on different topics each day. MaryAnn has joined the Newsgirls to offer nutrition consulting, specializing in Sports Nutrition, general/family nutrition and holistic food preparation. Consultations are available and can be tailored to suit your needs and budget by contacting MaryAnn at maryann@shiftfactor.ca or at 416-461-9379.
Consider investing in your own pair of boxing gloves as flu season is upon us and we must take all precautions to avoid getting sick. We sell about six different styles of gloves that range from $50 to $80.
Super Nova fought a great fight Sept. 24 at the Steam Whistle Brewery as part of a fundraiser for the Nazareth House women's shelter and for the Hospital for Sick Kid's emergency department. Super Nova fought Monique Gallizeau from Sully's, the same gal she beat at our last club show. This time she lost but only by split decision which means the 'rubber match' will be a good one. The rubber match will probably take place at the Arnie B. Tournament. Should be a good one! Also fighting at the 3-day Arnie B. Tournament in St. Catharines - Trigger, Scrapper and Shadow Blow.
So many great things have happened for the Newsgirls lately. Our hard work is paying off!
Shadow Blow won her fight at the CHIN Picnic (and she didn't even have to wear a bikini!) She dominated the entire fight, bloodying her opponent's nose in the first 30 seconds.

Crazy "Loco" Lococo fought the 3 x Australian champion in St. Catharines and barely lost in 3 rounds of the most exciting boxing of the evening. George Chavalo watched from ringside and later signed a poster for Loco "to the Boss Lady".

Scrapper made an amazing connection in Indonesia with a group of young women, mostly from the queer community, who want to start their own "Shape Your Life" program so that they can empower their 'peeps' to stand up for themselves to stop being harrassed in their communities. The plan is for Scrapper and Kapow! to go to Indonesia sometime this year to teach them the Newsgirls "Boxing 101" course so that they can teach others the basics of boxing. Then part 2 is for them to come to Toronto next year to observe our Shape Your Life program as well as our rec and amateur programs. Any donations towards this adventure will receive a tax donation!

Word about Shape Your Life has also hit Halifax. There is a group of East Coast gals asking about how they can start their own SYL program. Cool eh.

Two Toronto Newsgirls - Bullet and Scrapper - had the opportunity to attend an all-female boxing camp last weekend. The 3-day boxing camp was coached by 2x world champion Mary Spencer and former national champion Kathy Ure. It was held in Sarnia at the club Sharky's and Kathy put up all of the boxers at her beach-front home. In total 8 boxers participated, and workouts included running, drills, handpads, sparing and lots of one-on-one time with the coaches. Special thanks to Kathy and Mary for making this camp happen. >Covered in the Sarnia paper.
Other great news...

Boxing in the 2012 Olympics is looking good for women. It won't be announced until the Fall but if all goes as planned, CABA (the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association) will be announcing that boxing, the only Summer Olympic sport that does not allow women's participation, will finally be letting the women in. It's about time!

FIGHT FACTORY 8
Well Team, what a show eh!
Way to go Team Newsgirls!!!

Our shows just get better and better. Thanks to Vilma and buds for blowing the audience away with your opening song. Unbelievable. People are still talking about it. Congrats to Titus and TNT for stepping into the ring for your first fight. It could not have been a better club show opener following Vilma's song. You two rocked. And congrats to Surly, Super Nova, Viper and Loco for stepping back into the ring. A huge congrats to all of you for making Fight Factory 8 better than I could ever have imagined.

Also, thanks to this year's honorary dyke, Faith Nolan, and Pamela Levis for performing at intermission. The crowd loved you.

If anyone would like a dvd of the club show ($25 fundraiser) let me know.

>Great photo featured in NOW magazine

Check out this clip from CityTV news!

Courage: Being scared but doing it anyway.
FIGHT UPDATE

Viper fought her first fight on April 24 at the Centre Ring Boxing Club in Toronto barely losing to a split decision. Scrapper also fought on this card, a rematch against Kryshan Lysenko of Cabbagetown after losing to her in March. This time she beat Lysenko all three rounds. The third bout between these two, the "rubber match", will be a good one and will take place at our next club show on June 13. Not to be missed!

Viper went on to fight her second fight at the Atlas Boxing Club on May 9 beating her opponent in all three rounds. Shadow Blow also fought on this card and beat her opponent, one very tough gal from Niagara Falls, in a split decision.

Congrats to Scrapper, Viper and Shadow Blow and their opponents for stepping through the ropes!

MAIN ENTRANCE
During the summer, or if you cannot get into the building because the front doors are locked, please use our alley entrance which is at the north end of the building, just south of the train bridge at Carlaw and Gerrard. Follow the alley to the end and into our beautiful gym.
JUST A REMINDER
Our yearly memberships are only $500 ($42/month) for all-you-can-eat boxng and includes a locker. Yearly members also get boxing camps which are usually $200 for half-price
AFFORDABLE BOXING GLOVES
Tired of leaving the gym with stinky hands from borrowed gloves? Jump in on this great deal and invest in your own gloves. Main Event boxing gloves at the gym for $50, cheapest deal in town!
Check this out:
vimeo.com/3006598
TYSON
Check out this new film called Tyson, which is a documentary about former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. The film is made my acclaimed indie director James Toback.

Toback allows Tyson to reveal himself without inhibition and with eloquence and a pervasive vulnerability. Through a mixture of original interviews and archival footage and photographs, a startlingly complex, fully-rounded human being emerges. The film ranges from Tyson's earliest memories of growing up on the mean streets of Brooklyn through his entry into the world of boxing, to his rollercoaster ride in the funhouse of worldwide fame and fortunes won and lost. It is the story of a legendary and uniquely controversial international athletic icon, a figure conjuring radical questions of race and class. In its depiction of a man rising from the most debased circumstances to unlimited heights, destroyed by his own hubris, TYSON emerges as a modern day version of classic Greek tragedy.

The trailer is on youtube.
FIGHT FACTORY VII

Fight Factory VII was yet another herstoric success at the Newsgirls on March 7 with seven very dramatic all-female bouts. Five of the Newsgirls stepped into the ring in front of a sold-out packed house. Congrats goes out to Shadow Blow, Scrapper, Trigger, Newsgirl and Super Nova for your sweat, no tears, and yes, just enough blood to remind people that this is boxing and that women are tough, tough, tough. Thanks to Titus Adrogynous for being such an awesome and hilarious MC. Thanks to all the club show volunteers, to Newsgirl for all your help and to Heart Wolven for all that you did around poster and program creation and website maintenance. What a team! Thanks also to the seven boxing clubs who attended our show: Cabbagetown, Xtreme Boxing, Fight Club, BEL Boxing, Leamington's, Sharky's and Sully's Boxing Clubs.

Check out this great article written by Dave Bidini (founder of the Rheostatics, one of Canada's most influential and most unconventional rock bands, and a huge sports fan!) He attended our last club show and had a blast!

Check out these great photos taken by our very own 'Mustang' Sally Grosart.

CESBA
Scrapper fought March 17 at the Canadian Emergency Service Boxing Association in Mississauga and beat (up until then undefeated 12/0) Kryshan Lysenko. Scrapper remains undefeated (7/0) and has accepted a rematch with Lysenko which will take place April 24 at Centre Ring in Toronto. For more info go to www.boxingontario.com.

Ray McGibbon's Tournament
Trigger, Needle and Scrapper fought April 3-5 at the Ray McGibbons in St. Catharines and made the Newsgirls proud! Three tough fights against three very tough opponents. All the women at the tourny were great fighters. Unfortunately out of 83 bouts, only 9 were women's bouts! That's only 9 % female participation. This is something we have to change! Trigger fought and tied her opponent. Needle barely lost to hers, and Scrapper won her fight and 'the best female fighter' of the tournament! Congrats to the three of you for yet again, stepping into the ring!

Take care of the front line, and all that follow reap the rewards of the battle.
- S. Howe
Our Shape Your Life Program is up and running again with the generous support of a 'Sugar Mama'. The current session is teaching boxing to 20 hard-working front-line social workers and has been a huge success. We are now working on developing another Shape Your Life session for at-risk youth. If you would like more info on the Shape Your Life Program or if you would like to become a Sugar Mama, visit torontonewsgirls.com/shapeyourlife.

The May '09 issue of Chatelaine Magazine ran an article about one of the graduates of the Shape Your Life Program! >Download it here.

Looking for a good ruck? Check out Toronto Nomad's Women's Rugby! torontonomads.com
Looking for a best bud? Check out superdyke.com!
Brampton Cup
 Tower and Shadow Blow fought recently at the Brampton Cup. Shadow Blow fought a tough fight against a gal from Cabbagetown, barely losing in the third round. Tower ended her fight in the first round against a boxer from the Uptown Boxing Club after her opponent's coach threw in the towel. Congrats to both fighters for stepping into the ring.
The Newsgirls have just sent another box of boxing supplies (boxing gloves, hand wraps, head gear and t-shirts) over to our friends in Calcutta, India. The photographer who put us in touch with these female boxers is David Trattles www.davidtrattles.com. He will be hand delivering the supplies to the women to help them with their training. I will be going to Calcutta with David later this year to meet the women and to share some of our boxing techniques with them. Exciting eh! So far we have connected with all-female clubs in Tokyo and Berlin and have sent packages of equipment to Calcutta and to the Congo. Cool eh.
Fights in '08
Seven Newsgirls fought at Fight Factory VI, (4 having their first fight) and six won.
3 wins were accomplished before the 2nd round was even over! The only reason the seventh didn't win is she fought another Newsgirl in the main event, and someone had to win. Congrats to G-Force, Super Nova, Tower, Ruckus, Trigger, Shadow Blow and Scrapper! What a great show! And thanks to the 250+ audience members who squished in to watch the show.

One of the Boxing Ontario officials asked me "What are you putting in their water Savoy!?" I winked and said "I'll never tell!"

The following weekend G-Force fought again in Aurora and just like in her fight at our club show, she ended it in the first round. Then the following weekend G-Force had her 3rd fight in Brampton and yet again, ended it in the first round. Unbelievable. And on Dec. 20th, at a Gala in Mississauga, G-Force aka "Hit Again" Hinnighan won yet again.

Super Nova also fought on this card and won a very tough fight. By the 3rd round not only was her opponent covered in her own blood, but so was Super Nova, the referee, and all of Brampton! Two great fights both against Peel Region police officers.

Scrapper won her fight Friday Dec. 12th in Brampton to a unanimous decision!

Our record so far since October...22 fights...20 wins...2 losses. We seem to be doing something right!

Our new Provincial Silver Medalist Kira 'Loco' Lococo
fought one of the most exciting bouts at the Provincials in Oshawa!!!
This was Kira's 10th fight and her opponent's 31st fight. Kira totally held her own, even dropping her opponent in the 4th round. Final score for Kira, 23-25. The rematch will be a good one!
The Newsgirls' competitors are making quite an impression on the Ontario amateur boxing scene. Loco Lococo won her Ottawa fight against one tough cop from New York City in the "Punch Up on Parliament" on Sept. 27. Loco finished it before the 3rd round was over with 3 standing 8-counts. TKO for Loco! Then at the Arnie Boehm Tournament in St. Catharines on Nov. 4, Loco finished her fight in the first round with a 15-point advantage. At the same tournament, Trigger Minott fought her best fight ever against a brick shit house from Kingston. Trigger was relentless for three rounds and barely lost 8-9 in the last round. Way to go Trigger and Loco, you make us so proud to be Newsgirls! Next!

Scrapper won her fight Thurs. Oct.16 against Cathy "Arm Bar" Van Ingen in at the "Knock Out Abuse" fundraiser benefiting the Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre of Peel. Soon they'll be off to the Provincials.
Great News!
The building our gym is in has finally decided to recycle. At the same time we would like to cut our recycling in half by the end of October so please invest into a re-usable water bottle. Super thanks to Lockdown for kick-starting our recycling program!
Newsgirl's T-Shirts Are In!
Several colors and sizes to choose from. $20
Slogan options: Bite Me!, Wanna Fight?!, Think Outside the Ring.
Boxing Ontario
Recreational members are required to register with Boxing Ontario for insurance coverage.
The registration form is at the gym. There is a $5 registration fee but you get a $10 skipping rope for registering.
Ask Savoy for details.
You can register at your first class. The cost is $5.
WANNA EAT HEALTHY?
Check out Front Door Organics
Organic foods - "organics" for short - are grown and produced the way nature intended without herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, antibiotics or genetic modification. The results? Minimal impact on the environment, and better-tasting, naturally good food on your table. www.frontdoororganics.com
Courage: The art of not letting anyone know you're scared to death.
MEDIA
>Our gym on Exercisetoronto.com
>Read about one of our SYL graduates
>SYL article by Toronto Star's Barb Turnbull
>Check out this clip of Fight Factory 8 from CityTV news!
>Download the May '09 issue of Chatelaine Magazine featuring an article about a Shape Your Life graduate!
>Article by Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics, on Fight Factory VII
>Mississauga News on "Loco" Lococo winning Golden Gloves Aug. '08
>Globe & Mail Jun. 24th '08
>CTV video ad for Pride '08 with Surly Christensen!
>Kay "Slick" Pettigrew's Xtra! article, Jun. 19th '08
>Watch Newsgirls on Breakfast TV.
>Read Toronto Star feature on Newsgirls, from Apr. 28, 2007.
>Watch Workopolis spot.
>Read Xtra! Magazine article on CAAWS award, from May 24, 2007.
>Watch Global TV spot on Newsgirls gym, from Jan. 2007.
>Read Xtra! Magazine feature on Newsgirls, from Oct. 2006.
Interesting Links
>Photos of Fight Factory VII by our 'Mustang' Sally Grosart
>What Mayor McCallion has to say about women's boxing
>Philadelphia's Front Street Gym
>Women's Boxing and the next Olympics
>Newsgirls Performance @ Woody's Toronto Pride 2008
>Newsgirls Club Show June 2007
>Newsgirls photos by Tara 'Whippit' McMullen
>http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/2279
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHG-k1KvKHw
>Box Club Seitenwechsel
>Edison Sisters Boxing
AWARDS AWARDS!

The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) Breakthrough Awards

Savoy Kapow! Howe has been honoured with the individual/community award for accomplishments in the calendar years 2005 and 2006. Three individuals and three organizations will be honoured. These awards recognize exceptional achievements that break through traditional barriers and pave the way for girls and women to participate in sports and physical activity at every level.
>Read press release on CAAWS website.
The Pride Toronto Award for Excellence in Sports.

Savoy has also been honoured with an award from Pride Toronto recognizing outstanding contributions that have made an extraordinary impact on the quality of human experience within the queer community over the last year.
388 Carlaw, Unit #108 • ©2006 Toronto Newsgirls • Website created by Heart Wolven • Logo by Johanna Reynolds