Community Conversation => Transitioning => Real-Life Experience => Topic started by: stephanie_craxford on July 15, 2005, 10:42:44 PM Return to Full Version

Title: It's Official
Post by: stephanie_craxford on July 15, 2005, 10:42:44 PM
It's a great day.

Today I recieived the documents that officially change my name to Stephanie Phyllis Craxford.  I am sooooooo happy, now I have to contact everyone who need to know this information.  The first place is Human Resources and Developement Canada (HRDC) to get a new Social Insurance Number under my new name.  After that it's a matter of going down the list, layers, doctors, banks, etc...

Do I seem happy  :) :) :)

Steph
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: 4years on July 15, 2005, 10:51:53 PM
Yay Stephanie! A very important step indeed (=
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: Kendall on July 16, 2005, 12:55:51 AM
Congrats Stephanie Phyllis Craxford
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: Dennis on July 16, 2005, 01:18:01 AM
congrats Steph! Now to go through your wallet and find every piece of ID that means a new place to send the name change certificate too. I wish I lived in the same province as you so I could just give you unlimited certified copies for free. That's one plus with being a lawyer.

If a BC certified copy would do you any good anywhere (perhaps federally) and you can't find a place to get it done for free, feel free to PM me.

Dennis
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: kitten on July 16, 2005, 09:19:32 AM
aaarrrggggggghhhhhh!!!

Steph, you rat, you beat me to the punch by TWO (count 'em 2) days!

my paperwork is due on Monday!

no, seriously, congrats!  .... if you're a member of the same animal species as me, you have been nervously figuring out what order each piece of paper needs to be altered so that your paychecks don't bounce, your bill payments are honoured, and the ID of daily life is available seamlessly ...  ::)
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: stephanie_craxford on July 16, 2005, 09:42:28 AM
Thanks evreyone for the kind words, and your offer Dennis. 

And Kitten you are such a nut :)  Na, na, na, na , na ... :) 

My wife and I were thinking the same thing, making a list of everything we have to change, making sure that we don't miss anything.  Hope the list isn't too long.  I'll be leaving for Toronto, for a course today, and I won't be back until next Friday,  so I'll send you my congrats now Kitten on your pending good news.  I'll catch up with you then.

Thanks again everyone.

Steph
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: ChefAnnagirl on July 17, 2005, 10:55:26 AM
Deeply heartfelt and Loving congratulations Stephanie -

I visualize every single day of moments like this yet to come for myself...
Thanks always for your loving and warmly mature and stable input on many topics... Really good to have you here - I feel comforted by your presence and think you are quite beautiful...

Lovingly Always,


Annagirl
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: Maura Hartman on July 18, 2005, 01:09:54 AM
An "Atta Girl" for you Stephanie, Allow us all to be vicariously proud for you, this is a wonderful moment in your new young life!
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: gina_taylor on July 19, 2005, 05:05:19 AM
Congadulations for ya Stephanie. I'm really excited for you. Take every day as a new step forward to achieving your new life into womanhood!  :)

Gina
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: Denise01 on July 19, 2005, 08:53:18 AM
Congratulations Steph  on yet another mile stone in your life.

I am so happy for you and sure that you  feel much better now that you are legally you.

Keep up the good work, and  lots of care.

Hoping that some day I will be able to be in your position, and  be able to change  my name as well

Regards  Denise
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: kitten on July 19, 2005, 10:24:26 AM
Steph ... i caught up!  got my Change of Name Certificate on Monday!

feels strange, i *am* Eleanor not just prefer it, a distinct sense of identity shift, then terror, then realisation that nothing bad happened.

and i changed the name on my power bills to be Ms Eleanor ...

so now for the rest of the plastique ...
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: Dennis on July 19, 2005, 12:19:08 PM
Congratulations Eleanor K. Feline!

/hugs,

Dennis
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: Cassandra on July 19, 2005, 12:27:31 PM
Way to go Step and Ellen.

It's onward and upward for the both of you, or is that outward? Inward? Oh well, whatever direction there all good as long as there positive. Congrats to both of you.

Now if I can just get my ass over to the courthouse I might do the same thing.
It's easy here you just fill out the form pay your twenty bucks and it's a done deal. Easy right, so why haven't I done it. DL car reg. etc. etc. Just can't find the time for all that. But you girls inspire me. Maybe I'll do that this week.

Keep it up your almost there.

Cassie
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: Denise01 on July 19, 2005, 02:17:40 PM
Congratulations Kitten or should I say Eleanor now.

Now that you have the name change, it is another big step in your lifes journey and I am so happy for you and that you can now  go about as Eleanor, and know that is the real you.

I look forward to the day that I may post the same happy mesaage

Denise
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: 4years on July 19, 2005, 04:13:42 PM
Yay Eleanor!
Another important step! (=
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: Cailyn on July 24, 2005, 06:50:01 AM
Congrats Stephanie and Eleanor!  The name change is a big moment given how integral our names are to our identities--of course, this is true of anyone.  Now the fun begins, getting the word out, changing all your documentation, calling or sending out notices so that all of your business is conducted in the right name and all of your mail bears the right name.  It takes longer for family and friends to make the change.  I had some anxiety about the size of this step  but once it was legal, I couldn't move fast enough to erase my old name.

Good luck to both of you.

Cailyn
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: stephanie_craxford on July 24, 2005, 01:56:58 PM
Quote from: kitten on July 19, 2005, 10:24:26 AM
Steph ... i caught up! got my Change of Name Certificate on Monday!

feels strange, i *am* Eleanor not just prefer it, a distinct sense of identity shift, then terror, then realisation that nothing bad happened.

and i changed the name on my power bills to be Ms Eleanor ...

so now for the rest of the plastique ...

Congratulations Kitten, doesn't it feel great...  Like you I will be changing my name with all the relevant agencies, medical facilities, gov't offices, and of course at work.  I know for myself, getting a new social insurance number, then health card, and drivers license, will be the first.

Congrats again Kitten.

Steph
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: Dennis on July 24, 2005, 05:33:59 PM
Steph, do we actually get issued a different number by Social Insurance? Or is it just a card with the same SIN and new name?

Dennis
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: stephanie_craxford on July 24, 2005, 06:48:23 PM
Hi Dennis.

It doesn't actually say on the HRDC web site, so I'm not sure if a new SIN will be issued, a name change is considered as an ammendment.  The actual SIN application has several check boxes to select as follows:

- First SIN card
- Replacement card
- Legal change of name (this is what I'm going for)
- Change of status
- Update to record (no card will be issued)
- change to the expiry date
- Other

But I will let you know the out come.

Steph.
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: Suekie on July 27, 2005, 08:39:48 PM
Belated congratulations, I just joined, and I know how you feel.
Sue.
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: stephanie_craxford on July 27, 2005, 08:56:00 PM
Quote from: Suekie on July 27, 2005, 08:39:48 PM
Belated congratulations, I just joined, and I know how you feel.
Sue.

Thanks very much Sue.  So you have just joined this wonderful site.  Why not head over to  Transgender Talk ,  Introductions and tell us a little more about yourself, that way all the members will know that there is someone new on the block.  It also lets us all know a little more about you.  Don't be shy, we won't bite, well not hard anyway  :) :) :)

Steph
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: Shelley on August 06, 2005, 05:05:02 AM
Congrats to Steph and Kitten. I'm curious does this make you ladies a Miss, Ms. Mrs or Miz.

Shelley
Title: Re: It's Official
Post by: stephanie_craxford on August 06, 2005, 05:38:52 PM
I had no choice in that one, my wife said that I'm the Ms, and she's the Mrs.  Just kidding, she has always gone by Ms, so I'm doing the same thing.

Chat later

Steph