A new documentary film that showcases a Waterloo-area woman’s fight for equality set in the world of giraffe conservation begins a short run at Bookshelf Cinema this week and the University of Guelph plays somewhat of a villain role in the production.
The Woman Who Loves Giraffes tells the story of Anne Innis Dagg, who has a lifelong fascination with the animals and literally wrote the book on giraffe behaviour and ecology through her groundbreaking field research.
Guelphites can speak to Innis Dagg in person Friday at a special screening of the film in Guelph.
The film shares Dagg’s infectious wonder with the animals, while also showcasing her struggle for equal rights and the need for better conservation for the giraffe. In the film, it is estimated there are less than 5,000 reticulated giraffes in the wild.
In the late 1950s, Dagg travelled to South Africa to observe the behaviour of giraffes first hand, years before Jane Goodall became world famous doing similar work with chimpanzees.
The documentary uses film footage taken of Dagg and the giraffes in South Africa in the 1950s.
She returned to Canada to continue her studies while raising three children with her husband in Waterloo.
Dagg received her PhD in animal behaviour, based partially on her field research, and published more than a dozen papers in scientific journals around the world.
She went on to teach at University of Guelph in the 1970s, but when she applied for tenure after more than five years at the university, she was denied.
In the film, Dagg lays out her case why she feels the denial of tenure was based on sexual discrimination and how the experience drove her away from teaching in the university setting for a time. She eventually returned, becoming an adjunct professor at the University of Waterloo connected with Women's Studies.
Recently, Dagg met with current administration at U of G to discuss the film and told GuelphToday she hopes to one day receive an apology.
“It won’t change anything, it’s too late for that,” she said.
GuelphToday reached out to the University of Guelph for comment on Thursday. It will be added to the story if received on Friday.
In a statement sent to GuelphToday on Friday, Jonathan Newman, dean of the College of Biological Science at U of G acknowledges there was a lack of equality at all universities at the time Dagg was teaching, not just at U of G.
"We recognize that 50 years ago universities were very different places for women, particularly in the STEM disciplines, than they are today," said Newman. "We have since made great strides in creating a respectful, equitable and diverse workplace, including our launch in 2017 of a new leadership initiative called GenEQ to advance the status of women and under-represented groups across U of G."
After having her career as a teacher sidelined, Dagg began co-writing a book on giraffes based on her research that became the definitive tome on the animals’ behaviour and ecology for many. She went on to write many more books on giraffes, as well as other subjects, like equality for women.
The Woman Who Loved Giraffes plays begins a short run at The Bookshelf Cinema on Friday with a special showing that will include Innis Dagg and the film’s director Alison Reid. A question and answer period will follow the showing of the film at 3 p.m. Friday.
Innis Dagg will also be in attendance during screenings on Jan. 5 and 6 at The Bookshelf Cinema. The documentary will play there until Jan. 10.
