The Dialog Sept. 15-28, 2014

Sept. 15 – 28, 2014

CLEONI CRAWFORD Turning mental illness into motivation P.8

Women’s soccer team strikes a lightning win P.7

The top George Brown College social media tips P.11

Tuition fees continue to increase already high student debt P.13 GBC Student Newspaper • Founded 1982

NEWS Sept. 15 –28, 2014

Preferred name change process now easier at GBC MAVERICK SMITH STAFF REPORTER

“Just having even one student frustrated and humiliated in class is too many,” says Vivek Shraya, George Brown’s positive space coordinator and human rights advisor, of the new preferred name change form. “Hopefully, this will help eliminate that.”

The diversity, equity and human rights services define a “preferred name” as a name that an individual has chosen for themselves.

For trans* and genderqueer students, their preferred names often do not match their legal names. This mismatch can lead to students having to “out” themselves and correct their professor, which Shraya says “is a negative experience.”

Whether students are new or returning to college, using this streamlined form can help them deal with the stressful task of switching to their preferred name, a task which often adds to their back-to-school jitters.

Although this form was developed to meet the needs of trans* and genderqueer

students, it can be accessed and used by any college student. This means that international students who wish to go by an English name can use this form, as can students who wish to reclaim a previously-used name following a rediscovery of their cultural heritage.

Shraya says that in an effort to clarify the preferred name change process, students are required to have a meeting with Debbie Cornwall at Student Services to submit it.

All of the students’ documentation, including transcripts, students IDs and class lists will reflect their new name. The coordination of the name change process is the reason why this simple form has taken two years to make.

Although this is the pilot year for this form, it will be reviewed after six months to determine its effectiveness in creating a more inclusive atmosphere at the college.

Students interested in changing to their preferred name can make an appointment with Debbie Cornwall by emailing her at dcornwall@georgebrown.ca.

Correction In the Aug. 25 issue of The Dialog the wages at the tutoring and learning centre were incorrectly stated. The starting wage is $12

FOR STUDENTS & FAMILIES students beginning in september opt out & opt in deadline: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014 students beginning in september family enrollment deadline: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

THE DIALOG IS... per hour to a maximum of $14 an hour. The Dialog regrets the error.

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2

HEALTH BENEFITS

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

The Dialog newspaper is published

by The Dialog Collective under the auspices of the Student AssoAssistant Editor ciation of George Brown College.

Tina Todaro The collective is responsible for the overall vision and direcArt Director/Illustrator tion of The Dialog newspaper, as it Samantha Bullis coincides with the larger vision of Photo/Video Editor mission of the Student Association.

Michael Nguyen The cost of producing a monthly newspaper is in part Staff Reporters defrayed by advertising revenue Brittany Barber (Sports) and largely subsidized by the Dora Liu Student Association.

Maverick Smith Occasionally, some advertisers, products and services do Contributors not reflect the policies of the Jason Miller Student Association.

Opinions expressed in The Cover photo provided by Dialog are not necessarily those of Cleoni Crawford.

The Dialog Collective, the Student Association of George Brown Follow us on Social Media!

College, or its editorial staff.

Facebook.com/thedialogonline The Dialog will not publish Twitter: @dialogGBC any material that attempts to inDrop by or contact cite violence or hatred against inThe Dialog at: dividuals or groups, particularly Room E122 - Casa Loma based on race, national origin, 142 Kendal Avenue ethnicity, colour, gender, sexual Toronto, ON M5R 1M3 orientation, age or disability. www.dialog.studentassociation.ca Contributions to The Dialog Tel: 416-415-5000 ext. 2764 are always welcome. We request Fax: 416-415-2491 that articles be submitted as digital dialog@georgebrown.ca copies in plain-text (TXT) or richtext (RTF) format.

Managing Editor Mick Sweetman

Letters to the editor can be sent in an email message to dialog@georgebrown.ca.

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T he Dialog is published by the Student Association of George Brown College

The Dialog is a member of CUP, the Canadian University Press

DAILY CHECK UP Sept. 15 –28, 2014

September 15–October 3, 2014 MONDAY 15 Last day to: • Apply for a course exemption • Drop a course • Withdraw from a program with a partial refund • Write placement tests (firstyear foundation students)

22 All decisions regarding the granting of exemptions (fall term) are finalized by Academic Divisions.

29 PLAR submission deadline for Winter 2015 term.

TUESDAY 16

WEDNESDAY 17

Dialog volunteer orientation 3:30 p.m.

Room 033, 51 Dockside Drive, Waterfront campus

23

30

GBC’s Next DJ Competition 5 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Kings Lounge, St. James Campus

19

Streetball Kings vs.

GBC Select Team 2 p.m.–4 p.m.

Alex Barbier Gym, St. James Campus

25

Baseball fan bus/ Pep rally night 7 p.m.

Wishing Well Park vs. Seneca

1

Dialog volunteer orientation 3:30 p.m.

Quiet Lounge, inside the Kings Lounge at St. James campus

FRIDAY

18

24

Dialog volunteer orientation 3:30 p.m.

Room E100, 142 Kendal Ave., Casa Loma campus

THURSDAY

26

Queering the Waterfront: Orange is the New Black Noon Room 225, 51 Dockside Drive, Waterfront Campus. Lunch with vegan and gluten-free options provided

2

Ryerson Farmers Market 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Gould East of Yonge, free admissions.

See food.ryerson.ca

14th Annual Back to School Boat Cruise 242 Cherry Street

Men’s Basketball vs.

Metro Police Time TBA Alex Barbier Gym, St. James campus

3

Last day to: • Opt out the Student Levy • Opt in /out from the Student Health Insurance Plan • Withdraw from a course or an entire program without academic penalty

M/W Soccer fan bus/ Pep rally night 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Esther Shiner Stadium vs. Algonquin

40 years of Deaf and hard of hearing services at GBC MAVERICK SMITH STAFF REPORTER

Dolores Santos, acting manger for Deaf services at George Brown College (GBC) describes her hope for the coming year: to provide “information that facilitates communication, increases understanding, and ensures that teaching faculty and service providers work effectively together to provide an accessible learning environment for students.”

Located left of the main doors at St. James campus and up a set of stairs, Deaf and hard of hearing services at George Brown seems at first to be an unassuming little office, remarkable only because of the receptionist, who is always smiling and extraordinarily patient to the hearing people who come through the door.

However, this small space is actually only the visible tentacle of an octopus that extends to cover Centennial, GBC, Humber, Seneca and Sheridan—the five Greater Toronto Area (GTA) colleges.

For over four decades, this service area has been operating out of the college, scheduling interpreters, intervenors, computerized note taking accommodations, and other services to Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing students at George Brown and other GTA colleges.

According to Santos, there were 68,000 service hours provided to more than 280 students across the twenty-four campuses of these colleges last year and the numbers are projected to increase.

The success of the service is due to how they view the people they serve.

“Students are experts in terms of their own needs,” explains Santos. “We encourage students to provide their service providers with feedback or any concerns they have to ensure that the services they are receiving meet their expectations.”

Recognizing the commitment of GBC to inclusivity, rather than being a passive provider of services, Deaf and hard of hearing services is actively turning this ex-

pectation for inclusivity into a reality.

Some of the initiatives Santos describes that are being used to establish equity at the college include the creation of useful information hand-outs for faculty and providing professional development sessions for faculty on how to create an inclusive classroom experience for Deaf and hard of hearing students.

To ensure that students have an inclusive experience at college, students are “matched” with a consultant the first time they register with this service.

Because so many students have additional disabilities on top of being Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing, the department works collaboratively with disability services.

Both services are part of the student affairs division and some individuals have “two hats”, one in each service area. However, in practice these two departments work together.

The Deaf and hard of hearing services office is on the ground floor and disability

services is on the fifth floor. Perhaps this is why it is common to see students going up five flights of stairs then descending them again moments later.

Fortunately, first year students only have to endure this routine once because students do not need to re-register every academic year. Returning students only need to connect with the disability consultant to whom they were initially assigned, pick up accommodation forms for their new classes, and send their timetable to the schedulers.

In order to streamline this stressful process for first year students, the two departments are in the process of merging their webpages.

Currently, first year students should take comfort in the fact that Deaf and hard of hearing services is doing more than “hoping” that students will find attending the college an inclusive experience.

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

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NEWS Sept. 15 –28, 2014

Mayoral candidates to debate at GBC MAVERICK SMITH STAFF REPORTER

Transit, housing, job creation. Whoever becomes the next mayor of Toronto will be making decisions that will affect students at George Brown College.

In recognition of this, the college is working with the Globe and Mail and The Dialog newspaper to hold a 90-minute debate between leading mayoral candidates at the Waterfront campus on Oct. 8 at noon.

According to Jodi Serwatuk, corporate communications manager for the college, this debate is “a chance for George Brown students to get the scoop about where Toronto’s mayoral candidates stand on the issues that matter most to students.”

To get “the scoop”, college students will have the opportunity to ask the mayoral candidates questions. This will be done through a structured process where students will submit their questions in advance and have them approved by a panel.

Presently, it is unknown what the make-up of this panel will be, but up to ten panel-approved questions from college students will be asked during the debate.

Responding to pre-approved questions means that the candidates have time to research their responses. However, if the past is any indication, people can still expect some off-the-cuff answers from Mayor Rob Ford.

In addition to Ford, Toronto’s current mayor who is running for re-election, the other mayoral candidates that will be attending the debate include Olivia Chow and John Tory.

The debate will be moderated by a representative from the Globe and Mail.

Students wishing to submit questions for approval can fill out the form at georgebrown.ca/TownHall

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Natalia Zuñiga supports clubs on campus at the St. James street fair on Sept. 4.

PHOTO: MICHAEL NGUYEN/THE DIALOG

Get more involved­—join or create a club TINA TODARO ASSISTANT EDITOR

Have an impact on your future by starting a club at school.

The Student Association (SA) of George Brown College (GBC) is continuing to give students the opportunity to join or create a clubs based on their interests.

“Getting involved on campus is one of the best ways to enjoy and make the most of your college career. It’s an awesome way to network, meet new people and be more than just a student,” said Kristine Galvan, clubs co-ordinator for the SA. According to the SA’s clubs webpage “starting a club is as easy as 1, 2, 3.” Find a common interest that you share with at least ten other students, pick up a club package at any SA office, submit the completed package and you’re all set.

“Full-time students are welcome to start

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

almost any kind of club,” said Galvan. “You need three full-time students to act as an executive team and a minimum of 10 additional full-time students to be recognized as a club.”

Having your interests transformed into a club can make a student’s college experience more memorable. Michael Waglay, a GBC alumnus who founded the Environmental Justice Collective (EJC) club says that creating the club gave him more credibility in student engagement.

“I saw the need for a student-led environmental group at GBC that would raise awareness about this issue, but also bring together students to promote action on other issues such as food security and aboriginal sovereignty,” said Waglay.

Although he says he didn’t start the EJC with a possible career in mind, the experience he gained through the club lead directly to his current position at Meal Exchange, a registered charity in Toronto.

There are currently 44 registered clubs from a dragon boat racing club, who won two gold medals and one bronze during the summer, to the International Game Developers Association.

With almost 90 per cent of clubs returning this year, according to Galvan, new clubs will start with $300 per semester while returning “silver level” clubs can enjoy $500 per semester. Although there are currently no gold level clubs, they could do quite a bit with $800 per semester.

With a budget, students will be able to plan events, fundraisers and whatever else they feel necessary to spread the word about their club and its purpose.

Make your ideas a reality by starting a club at school because it could have an impact on your future.

As Galvan exclaimed, “clubs forever!”

For more information students can contact Kristine Galvan at clubs@sagbc.ca.

NEWS

Sept. 15 –28, 2014

International Students Festival indulges your five senses DORA LIU STAFF REPORTER

New to Toronto? Well it’s time to settle down and have fun. For the international student frosh, there is an event called the International Students Festival to celebrate your arrival.

Hosted by the City of Toronto in partnership with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as 30 schools from across Ontario, it’s big enough to please all five of your senses.

Taking place at David Pecaut Square at King Street West and John Street on Sept. 27 from noon to 6 p.m., the event will celebrate cultural diversity and achievements within the international student community.

For your eyes, there will be more than enough arts and culture exhibits and live performances that will be taking place.

Bhangra, Egyptian belly dance, and Armenian dance are just a few of the cultural dances that will “hold the beat” on the main stage.

Search for them on YouTube and you will understand how eye-catching these shows are.

For your ears, the musical performances are not to be missed.

This year, the festival will have the Sidewalk Crusaders playing Jazz, and the Samba Squad working on Samba choruses with the public. Your ears will be very busy.

For your hands, there are plenty of giveaways and information to take from the booths.

Universities, colleges, banks and corporate booths will line up to welcome you. Their friendly reminder is BYOB—bring your own bags—for the event.

Furthermore, there are several ministers, counsellors, foreign dignitaries, as well as other civic and corporate leaders that will be there.

Your hands will be tired from shaking theirs.

For taste and smell, of course, there will be numerous food trucks and food booths.

They are the only places you need to pay.

Although they may not serve your home town delicacies, try the hot dog or hamburger, the most significant Canadian style street foods.

One of the most important sections of the event will be the Excellence Awards.

These awards acknowledge the contributions of international students and are presented in six categories: community service, entrepreneurship, academic excellence, arts and culture, sports, and international student services.

Last year’s prize included a letter of recognition from the mayor, a gift from the City of Toronto, and a $500 cash prize.

International student Denys Zakaliuk from Ukraine, won the Sports Excellence Award last year. The city is anxiously waiting this year’s winner.

Performers from the Native Canadian Centre posing with festival attendees after the Aboriginal Welcome Ceremony. The ceremony was presented by the Native Canadian Centre and Denise Booth.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF TORONTO

New Empowered Youth Startup Hub to train entrepreneurs at George Brown MAVERICK SMITH STAFF REPORTER

George Brown College (GBC) is giving thirteen lucky participants a chance at making their business proposals come to life.

Through the “Empowered Youth Startup hub,” youth participants, 18 to 29 years of age, can bring their proposals to a panel of judges for a chance at receiving a $3,000–$8,000 business grant toward starting their business.

Designed to provide youth with the necessary skills and training they need to become successful entrepreneurs, participants will be able to take part in “workshops, seminars and site visits focused on business and entrepreneurial skills development as well as mentorship support,” according to the GBC Digital Media and Gaming Incubator website.

“Although the program is hosted at the digital media and gaming incubator, their (applicants) business does not have to be a technology focused company,” says Alice Lee, program co-ordinator for the incubator.

“So for example it could be a business for photography, cleaning services, financial services, etc.”

The qualifications for becoming a hub participant also include being an Ontario resident as well as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, be ineligible for other self-employment programs and not be enrolled as a full-time student.

Placing emphasis on youth from “vulnerable populations,” this governmentgenerated term refers to Aboriginal youth, newcomer youth, and racialized youth, and also includes youth in care, youth in or at risk of conflict with the law, youth in poverty or from low income families, and youth with disabilities and special needs.

The hub also seeks to generate entrepreneurship in youth from “high needs communities,” another official term used by the provincial government to refer to Aboriginal communities and northern communities.

It also refers to small communities. These are municipalities with a population of less than twenty thousand or with a population density of less than a hundred persons per

square kilometre.

In the context of Toronto, this term refers to urban neighbourhoods with a high concentration of an above-mentioned vulnerable population. The reason for this particular emphasis is that the hub is being funded as part of Ontario’s “Youth Job Strategy” one of many Strategic Community Entrepreneurship Projects.

So far, the empowered youth start-up hub is only slated to run twice, once in 2014 from Sept. 15 to Dec. 12 and again from Jan. 12 to April 10 in 2015. It will follow the cycle of the regular academic year, however, classes will be held in the evenings and on the weekends so as not to conflict with any other commitments program participants may have.

Currently it is unclear if the hub will run further sessions in the future; This is dependent on provincial funding. What is clear is that, as Lee observes, many youth are starting their own business. It will be interesting to see how these abstract business ideas translate into concrete plans in the coming months.

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

5

SPORTS Sept. 15 –28, 2014

GBC Huskies accept the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge BRITTANY BARBER STAFF REPORTER

A social-media phenomenon known as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is raising awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and giving people goosebumps across North America.

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge began in Boston, Massachusetts when former Boston College baseball captain Pete Frates was diagnosed with ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehring’s disease, a terminal illness with a life expectancy of two to five years after being diagnosed.

From there, ice water began dripping down the backs of people across the United States and eventually spreading to Canada.

There are very simple rules to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Once a person is nominated, they have 24 hours to either donate $100 to ALS research or donate $10 and dump a bucket, big or small, over their heads on video.

The idea is to then post your video to Below: Huskies hockey player Jason Armstrong tries a variation on the challenge with a zamboni.

Bottom: Athletic Supervisor and Events Specialist Federico de Jesus Cortes Ortiz takes the plunge

PHOTO: STILL FROM VIDEO VIA GEORGE BROWN ATHLETICS

your desired social media site (often Facebook) and nominate three of your friends.

Several George Brown College Huskies have taken on the challenge to raise awareness for ALS starting with 2014’s most valuable player, Vadim Halimov, who broke three provincial basketball records last season and is back as an assistant coach this season.

From there, basketball head coach Jonathan Smith has accepted as well as the athletics member service specialist, Wendy Roberts-Simpson, athletics and recreation co-ordinator Courtney Warren and Frederico Cortez, athletic supervisor.

Much like the majority of people accepting their nominations, Vadim Halimov had no idea what ALS was. “My research was very light. I wanted to know only the origins of the challenge,” Halimov admits before he drenched himself. “I watched celebrities do it in their own creative ways. I got a few complaints that my video was pretty plain.”

Roberts-Simpson, had some background knowledge of ALS prior to being nominated but little knowledge of the ice bucket challenge. Roberts-Simpson says she watched Rob Ford and others dump a bucket of iced water over their heads to raise awareness.

“At first, I thought those people were crazy! I never thought I would be doing it myself,” said Roberts-Simpson.

Both Halimov and Roberts-Simpson are donating to an ALS foundation. Halimov said, “I’ve had a conversation with my friends and we are planning on making the challenge count.”

While Roberts-Simpson says she did not originally donate after completing the challenge, “I have been thinking about it, why should I just throw water on myself to bring awareness? It is my plan to donate.”

Warren has other plans in mind. “I try to be green as possible, I don’t want to waste water. People will say, ‘It’s only one bucket’ but if everyone is doing it that is a lot of wasted water. I would rather give the water to those in need.”

Warren has accepted challenge to donate to an ALS charity as well as Engineers Without Borders, a foundation focused on enabling rural Africans the opportunity to access clean water.

Since the challenge erupted on social media, celebrities including Drake, Justin Timberlake and even Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg have been challenged to dose themselves with ice water to raise awareness and they sure helped make a splash.

The ALS Association says Ice Bucket Challenge has raised over $53 million as of Aug. 22 compared to $2.2 million during the same time period last year.

PHOTO: STILL FROM VIDEO VIA COURTNEY WARREN (YOUTUBE)

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The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

INFORMATION IN MANDARIN/ENGLISH WE ALSO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON ALL SERVICES & PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION IN MANDARIN & ENGLISH. EVERY TUESDAY: 1-3 P.M., ROOM 310 (341 KING ST. E) OTHER TIMES: STUDENT ASSOCIATION ROOM 147 (200 KING ST. E.) CONTACT: CHERRY DING (MEMBERSERVICESFT2@SAGBC.CA) 416.415.5000 EXT. 2443

SPORTS Sept. 15 –28, 2014

Goal scorer Elaine MacPherson (#12) plays hard as a sky darkens overhead from the oncoming storm.

PHOTO: BRITTANY BARBER/THE DIALOG

BRITTANY BARBER STAFF REPORTER

Friday, Sept. 5 should have kicked off the soccer season for George Brown College women’s and men’s teams.

As the Huskies approached Esther Shiner Stadium to begin the women’s soccer game, storms from the north began to roll in. The wind picked up, cooling off the air from a heat advisory warning and transforming it into a severe thunderstorm warning.

With eager souls, the women’s soccer team flooded the field, ready to show the

Centennial Colts what they have worked so hard for in the recent weeks of tryouts.

Huskies co-captain, Elaine MacPherson scored the first goal against the Colts in the first 10 minutes of the game.

MacPherson suffered an injury to her right ankle in the second half and was carried off the field where she waited for an ambulance. Later that night it was confirmed that her ankle had broken in two places, ending her season almost as quickly as it began.

As for the Colts, a strong offense resulted in a goal which ended the first half 1-1.

The gathering storm held off until to-

wards the end of the second half where large ominous clouds brought lightning that made the refs uneasy.

The Huskies fought hard, making every last move count, knowing the game was going to be called soon due to extreme weather.

Defensive midfielder Katie Turner prevailed in the last 10 minutes of the game by scoring the winning goal against the Colts.

Officials called the game with 7 minutes remaining when lightning became threatening to the players.

Due to weather conditions, the Huskies’ mens season opener has been postponed.

Wolfpack Ticker Men’s Basketball: Howard University 82—George Brown 36 Fairmont State 106—George Brown 74 Women’s Soccer: Sheridan Tournament: Sheridan College (Oakville) 3—George Brown 0 George Brown 3—Centennial College 0 Goal Scorers: Amy Lee Lovsin 2, Heather Brown George Brown 2—Centennial College 1 Goal Scorers: Elaine MacPherson, Katie Turner

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

Turner strikes win before lightning hits

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NEWS Sept. 15 –28, 2014

CLEONI CRAWFORD Turning mental illness into motivation

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY CLEONI CRAWFORD

TINA TODARO ASSISTANT EDITOR

Crawford, 33, a student in the transition to post-secondary education (TPE) program at George Brown College (GBC) has turned her experiences with mental illness and newfound self-acceptance, into motivation.

“Once you’ve accepted it yourself, you learn more about your illness and learn how to advocate for yourself.”

Suffering from bipolar one disorder, Crawford describes her life as being an uphill battle fighting for acceptance.

“When I first came into the knowledge of having bipolar disorder, I resisted it,” said Crawford.

According to Here to Help, a project of the B.C. Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information, when you’re diagnosed with a mental illness, it’s easy to wonder if you caused it yourself. Close family members may blame themselves, but no one is immune from mental health problems and it isn’t a moral weakness or flaw in your character.

“Just because you have a mental illness doesn’t mean you are not human,” said Crawford.

After being diagnosed in 2005, she was afraid. But Crawford says that she didn’t accept her disorder until 2012, when she says things went “crazy.”

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Bipolar Disorder as described by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), is a serious medical condition causing sufferers to have extreme mood swings, affecting the way they behave and function.

Consisting of three states affecting both functioning and behaviour, those who suffer from bipolar one disorder will experience a high state called mania, a low state called depression as well as a well state in which the person will feel and function normally.

Though she was an award-winner and a previous student in one of GBC’s fashion programs, her studies ended abruptly after a heated argument with a former classmate left her with an “assault with a weapon” charge.

The charges were withdrawn, but she was suspended from the college for one year with the request for a psychological assessment. She says she felt as though she was treated unfairly.

“In 2011 after I lost my job and things started to get progressively worse, I finally had my first real, serious, manic episode,” said Crawford.

Unsure if she had psychosis, but describing herself as delusional, the episode lead to a series of events including being homeless, losing friends, five hospital stays and 12 days in prison after being arrested for assaulting a Canadian Border Services officer during a manic episode.

After ending up in CAMH for 17 days in

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

the summer of 2013 she entered a serious depression and that was when she realized there was something seriously wrong.

“I switched from mania to depression,” said Crawford. “I tried to hang myself, I tried to stab myself, I looked up on the internet how to find a cheap gun, I looked up how to overdose on your pills, I tried to overdose on my pills, I tried to jump off a few bridges, I would try to hang myself daily.”

After choosing to take medication, attending peer-support groups and seeing counsellors, she found inspiration through connecting with others who were also suffering from the symptoms of bipolar disorder; shortly afterwards she entered the TPE program at GBC. “My religious faith really helped me, and those sporadic phone calls that I would get to try and stop me from what I was doing, and it would drive me nuts because I really wanted to die,” said Crawford.

Crawford is currently in the process of creating a new talk show called Happy Home 42, a new weekly talk show that will air on television that will help raise awareness for mental illness, while discussing trending topics, from a Christian perspective, over the set of a dinner table, according to her website iamcleoni.com.

“The whole idea around sitting around a dinner table is if you want to talk about mental

illness or any other topics, the best place is to start is around the dinner table,” said Crawford.

According to Crawford’s website, so far the show has raised $740 out of the $7,000 she’s hoping to raise to cover the costs of production and airtime.

With a love for social media, she is in the process of developing her new social media business. She believes that social media “gives us an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals across the globe and that is exciting.”

After finding comfort in sharing her experiences, she is helping others to share theirs as well.

Although mental illness had been a burden in her life, it became a blessing in disguise and inspiration for her current work.

“You are not alone,” says Crawford. “You can thrive, you can be healthy, you can live a good life.”

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 20 per cent of the Canadian population has experienced mental illness.

“I believe my past has afforded me the ability to relate to many different people on different levels of their mental illness journey,” says Crawford. “Despite my past, I am confident that I will be able to show people that no matter what life has dished you, you can overcome it and you can turn it around for good as I am doing with this new talk show.”

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FESTIVAL September 27, 2014 | 12 – 6 p.m.

David Pecaut Square, Toronto 55 John Street (at King and John)

SAGBC STUDENT ADMISSION (VALID FOR 1 GENERAL ADMISSION) ........................................................................ $10 GREAT ESCAPE

(INCLUDES 2 GENERAL ADMISSIONS 2 REGULAR SOFT DRINKS & 1 REGULAR POPCORN) ....................................................................................... $30

Come out to this FREE EVENT! Enjoy music and cultural performances.

Find useful info about living in Ontario.

And much more.

CHILD ADVENTURE

(VALID FOR 1 CHILD ADMISSION AND 1 KID’S TRAY COMBO WHICH INCLUDES A DRINK, POPCORN & TREAT) ......................................................... $13

All prices include HST. Regular admission is $12.99 without sagbc discount.

toronto.ca/international-students Presented by

Simcoe

University

John

King David Pecaut Square

St. Andrew Subway

Produced by

N

Wellington

THANK YOU

for your patience during construction as we work to improve transit in Toronto

ART_02_TTC46128E-5.indd 1

Dear customers, residents and businesses, Through the patience of TTC riders like you and the hard work of TTC employees, the streetcar track replacement and water main work is now complete, as are the upgrades to the Spadina Station streetcar platform. Watch for the new accessible streetcars starting August 31st!

2014-08-19 12:57 PM

OPINION

EDITORIAL

Sept. 15 –28, 2014

Chasm between rhetoric and reality on accessibility MAVERICK SMITH I was surprised by the sight that greeted me when I pushed through the double doors of St. James campus the morning of the first day of school while intending to purchase my textbooks before heading to the library to check my email.

The reason for my surprise is that if I was a student who uses a mobility device, it would have been impossible for me to carry out this simple back-to-school routine.

The lift that links the bookstore level of the campus with the level where the library is located was out of service. Even worse, there was no record on the out-of-service sign saying how long the lift had been broken or when it would be fixed.

Had I been a first year student confronted with this sight, my initial impressions of George Brown would have been less than flattering.

Students at George Brown College (GBC) are always assured of the college’s accessibility. There is even a special orientation prospective students with disabilities can attend in order to learn how GBC will ensure that they have an equitable chance at success compared to their able-bodied peers.

Because I have the privilege of not needing a mobility device, I was able to navigate the few small steps between the two levels with ease. However, the image of the nonfunctioning lift with the undated repair sign at the entrance of the colleges’ busiest campus remained in my thoughts throughout the day.

The broken lift was a visible reminder of the ugly chasm between rhetoric and

reality when it comes to the colleges’ lofty claims of accessibility and compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Enacted in 2005, the Act is described by the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure as “laying the framework for the development of province-wide mandatory standards on accessibility in all areas of daily life.”

Though as a society, Ontario is not expected to comply fully with these standards until 2025—this was too far in the future for George Brown.

According to the college’s website’s section on the AODA, George Brown became “the first college in the province of Ontario to make several college-wide commitments that contribute to creating inclusion for everyone.”

To fulfill this commitment, the college created two official college bodies including an advisory committee which is made-up entirely of stakeholders, half of whom have disabilities themselves. The college also created the position of an AODA co-ordinator whose job requirement is “to ensure the college meets its obligations under the requirements of the AODA standards.”

Judging from the first day of the fall semester, these various bureaucratic positions have not translated into concrete changes in reality for students with impaired mobility at St. James campus. The most obvious manifestation of this sad fact is the broken wheelchair lift, revealing that the “inclusive environment” of the college does not yet include them.

Instructors: keep your students’ budgets in mind THE DIALOG’S EDITORIAL BOARD It’s no news to anyone that a college education is expensive. Tuition is enough of a struggle for most of us, but when we throw in material costs on top of it, we face a real financial challenge.

Many instructors are in tune with the reality of student budgets and make a concerted effort to ease the financial strain. However, a surprising number of them have fallen out of touch with our limitations and need to be reminded to keep us in mind.

Textbooks are notoriously expensive, often to the point of being laughable.

Despite the financial burden, courses continue to require texts when the capabilities of new technology and alternative sources of material allow for other, more affordable options to be explored.

This isn’t to say that textbooks are completely unnecessary, because for some courses they are a central component.

However, the large number of courses that do require traditional texts seem to be a sign of a mindset among faculty that is decidedly set in the past and out of touch with the needs of students.

As if it’s not enough that the basic costs of the texts are unfair, students are routinely issued lists of required texts that are barely touched by the instructor. It’s not uncommon for some texts to remain unopened for the duration of the course.

The stereotype of the fresh-faced, first-year student, naive enough to actually buy the required texts right away has become a go-to joke because students in upper years know from experience that they are often wasting their effort and money on a text that will never be used and is almost worthless to resell.

Instructors need to vet their own booklists more rigorously to ensure that if a student purchases a book for their course, they’ll be making significant use of it as a core course component.

It’s easy to forget what it was like to be a student and live on such a restricted

budget, and it may be nearly impossible for all instructors to relate our experience in a post-recession economy to their own student memories.

Students must make a point to remind them that they need to mind their expenditures on course materials. They must not be afraid to ask questions about why certain materials are required and whether alternatives are possible when their cost becomes too great. We shouldn’t be afraid to remind them what our budgets can support.

It’s expected that students make school their primary priority while attending full-time, and in a general sense this is a fair expectation.

Professors need to understand that students require flexibility due to the needs of their employers, families, or children. For plenty of students, working more hours outside of school than are ideal for instructors, is a necessity that needs to be better acknowledged.

It’s true that certain material costs are non-negotiable requirements for good reason as they are the core course or program components, particularly where software is concerned.

In some programs, instructors require more expensive materials for the sake of teaching students how to do things up to the highest industry standard. This isn’t necessarily the problem.

The problem comes in when instructors don’t accommodate flexibility in regards to materials, and when they carelessly require pricey materials that will be used very little or neglected altogether.

Professors should also be receptive to suggestions of alternative materials whenever feasible. Students who demonstrate the ingenuity to complete a task by being resourceful with materials and clever in their substitution should be rewarded for their ability to think independently and problem-solve, not docked points for drawing outside the lines.

This piece constitutes the official position of The Dialog collective.

PHOTO: MICHAEL NGUYEN/THE DIALOG

Featured social media comments Re: College support staff get pay hike in tentative agreement GOOD NEWS FOR ME!!!!! I am so happy ...a raise and NO strike!

–Lisa Young

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1% is a wage hike? More like a wage stroll lol. Not saying we needed a hike but the title is really misleading. For me it will be about $12 a pay- I think that covers my parking?

–Darlene Edgar

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

Support staff are not “just janitors and tradespeople” from the mouth of the union president? Bite your tongue, many of your members are tradespeople and the system would be screwed without them!

–Cheryl Lawson

Re: Star basketball player Frankie Gyamfi dies of cancer @DialogGBC this dialog is wonderfully written @Frank_Gizzle it’s hard to believe but may your spoken words live forever. #Gamzhour –@hoesloveleta

TECHNOLOGY Sept. 15 –28, 2014

Campusgrids a promising tool for GBC connections

Your guide to social media at George Brown College

SAMANTHA BULLIS ART DIRECTOR

ILLUSTRATION: SAMANTHA BULLIS/THE DIALOG

MICK SWEETMAN MANAGING EDITOR

Students love using social media and it can be a little overwhelming trying to navigate through all of the different places where students talk to each other; So here’s our guide to social media at George Brown.

Facebook The George Brown College (GBC) Facebook page is useful for keeping up-to-date on important information such as the GBC student guide, the last days to drop classes, planned power shut downs, when blackboard and George Brown email is unavailable, and even cancellations during extreme weather.

With great photo galleries, the Huskies Facebook page brings you inside the games and competitions and well as linking to regular news articles from veteran sports journalist David Grossman.

T he Community Action Centre page is focussed on underrepresented students and posts community events, activist campaigns, photos, skills trainings and progressive news.

One of the best ways to use Facebook as a student at GBC is to use the many Facebook groups that are available. Most programs have a Facebook group and some individual classes do as well.

“Accepted: George Brown College 2014” is a very active group for first year students who can use it to introduce them-

selves, ask questions and make new friends.

George Brown College Textbook Exchange is exactly what is sounds like, it’s a group for GBC students to buy, sell or exchange textbooks.

Pro-tip: to find more Facebook groups search for “George Brown” and then scroll down and click on “Find all groups named ‘George Brown’” Twitter For real-time news and updates, nothing beats Twitter.

The official twitter account for the college is @GBCollege. The team running the account is very active responding to questions and also post GBC news as well as fun “throwback Thursdays” photos from their archives.

The Dialog student newspaper’s @dialogGBC combines real-time reporting as well as photos and video clips, as well as links to many articles.

An automated twitter account @GBClistings uses “if this, then that” technology to crawl Craigslist and Kijiji and tweets out whenever an ad with the terms “George Brown” is posted. It ends up publishing many listings for housing and textbooks as well as some job postings.

Pro-tip: Subscribe to some of the Twitter lists created by @GBCollege or @dialogGBC for an easy way to stay in tune with what people at GBC are tweeting.

Instagram The SA’s instagram account @sagbc is eventoriented and a great place to go to see if there’s photos of you at the latest SA event. @thedialog is the new instagram account for the student newspaper and brings you a behind the scenes look at stories. @gbchuskies brings you photos of GBC athletes and the popular mascot Helder the Husky.

Pro-tip: use the location feature to search photos taken at the George Brown College campuses. students from the Chef School in particular post some delicious-looking photos!

YouTube The Dialog’s YouTube channel has a great selection of videos of stories about George Brown students, events and staff. Recent videos include students’ opinions on if you should live at home or on your own, and a profile of GBC fashion graduate Sarah Powers.

Email Email is old-school but still one of the best ways to get information. In addition to the weekly updates sent to your georgebrown.ca email address from the college, you can sign up for the SA’s low-volume email list on their website at studentassociation.ca for news on events, health benefits, jobs, campaigns and more from your student association.

A group of Ontario students recently launched Campusgrids, a new social app for post-secondary students. While it’s still in its infancy in terms of active users, its features make it a very promising tool.

While George Brown College (GBC) offers its own app, Campusgrids offers a considerably different product with different functions.

George Brown’s app provides easy access to Stu-View functions and other GBC student essentials such as a map, library resources, and links to GBC’s social media pages. It’s essentially an extension of the school’s website and focuses exclusively on academically-related content.

Campusgrids, on the other hand, is focused far more on the social and extracurricular aspects of school, while still including helpful academic features.

In terms of academic functions, it allows you to share your course schedule and form groups in which you can share course notes and discuss academic content.

More central to the app’s purpose is social connection; It’s a tool for clubs to connect to students and co-ordinate events.

It also serves as a way for students to connect to each other on a more social level.

The developers are clearly quite in tune with the current climate of social apps as they have chosen to integrate a clever Tinder-like “meet students” feature that allows students to connect with a similar interface that shows a photo, interests, program of study, and school.

Campusgrids seems like a very promising app with an impressive set of integrated features. However, it currently lacks a user base to take full advantage of them.

The app team is currently seeking a brand ambassador at GBC, so contact them if you’re interested in helping to spread the word.

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca 11

BUSINESS Sept. 15 –28, 2014

Financial literacy program eases newcomer transitions DORA LIU STAFF REPORTER

Money! Money! Money!

Money is always a top subject among international students, no matter if they are rich or poor.

From how to move money to Canada, to how to rent an apartment, open a bank account, establish a good credit history, and apply for a credit card, there are tons of things about money they need to know.

Wenwen Wei, a third-year international student in the financial planning program, was selected by Abdullah Aumeer—a mortgage development manager from National Bank—to be the project manager of the Financial Literacy Program (FLP).

The FLP is a series of lectures at George Brown College (GBC) for newcomers to Canada on how to manage their money.

Sept. 1 is the Labour Day holiday, but Wei and 10 management team members are attending their first committee meeting at a Starbucks on King Street East with their mentor Aumeer.

The sponsor ambassador Ella Wang reported her results. Unfortunately, Wang had no sponsors at that time.

“What would you say if I am the potential sponsor from National Bank?” Aumeer asked, “what benefit can I get from you?”

“We have eight events that are going to happen. A lot of our members and guests will come. We can put your name on our advertisements and our social media accounts,” Wang replied.

“Then, do you have any other banks come as sponsors?” Aumeer asked.

Wang hesitated, falling silent, but then promised she would place Aumeer as the prime sponsor.

“Prime? Don’t forget I come from National Bank. I will consider if you have other banks as the sponsors. They are my competitors,” said Aumeer. “You have to take care of sponsors’ exclusivity or you may give up some of your interest.”

“A valuable lesson,” said Wang. “That’s why we joined, to let our work help us grow.”

This program is an extension of Aumeer’s work as a mortgage development manager in marketing strategies. Aumeer modified his business program into a worthwhile educational program for students.

“It’s like an unpaid internship,” Wei said.

“The whole program lasts four months. I have to organize eight events to deliver the eight modules of courses. That involves forming the management team, assigning work, launching promotions, member recruitment, and of course, to coordinate the events for bringing out the courses.”

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Abdullah Aumeer, Mortgage Development Manager of National Bank, (pictured speaking) spends his personal free time as a volunteer mentor of FLAG.

PHOTO: DORA LIU/THE DIALOG

Wei embarked on all this work by herself one month ago. Now, she has structured the management team and over 20 international students from GBC are serving on committees in her newly founded Financial Literacy Apprenticeship Program at George Brown, which uses the acronym FLAG. Aumeer said the group at George Brown is the fastest growing group among his five FLP programs, which includes the

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

University of Toronto, York, Western and McMaster University. And since FLAG has just registered as an official student club, Aumeer said that will help him get more sponsorship for it from National Bank.

Aumeer volunteers his time to work as the group’s mentor, guiding them to achieving their goals.

“Guiding the FLP is the best part of my job. I love the students,” said Aumeer. “They

are very creative, they work very hard.”

He gave out only the template, the content outlines, and his time, then let the students set up the whole program by themselves.

“I teach them to fish, I don’t give them fish,” said Aumeer.

To join FLAG and for more information you can visit facebook.com/FLAGgbc

BUSINESS

TTC Post-Secondary Photo ID

There are changes to the TTC Student photo ID. Post-Secondary students must carry photo ID. Although you do not need to show it when using a Post-Secondary Metropass, you must be able to produce it upon request by Fare Enforcement Officers or TTC staff.

For more information, please visit ttc.ca

Sept. 15 –28, 2014

How much college and university students who are borrowing money expect they will owe by the time they complete their education

$10,000 or less Between $10,001 and $25,000 Between $25,001 and $50,000 Between $50,001 and $75,000 More than $75,000

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2014-08-19 12:21 PM

Tuition fees continue to increase student debt MAVERICK SMITH STAFF REPORTER

“Students have said enough is enough,” said Alastair Woods, chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario (CFS-O), in June about high tuition fees.

The federation of 350,000 students in Ontario is prepared to continue to pressure the government to make their concerns a priority.

This December will mark 48 years since the Canadian government signed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, a United Nations document committing to progressively eliminate tuition fees.

Unfortunately, this covenant was nonbinding. Canada still has tuition fees and the dubious distinction of being the only nation belonging the G-8 and the Organization for Economic and Co-operative Development without a national department or oversight of post-secondary education; These abstract policy elements impact Canadian society.

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TTC46060E-1

TTC CORPORATE 5” X 6.5” (1/4 PG.) 4C poll done by3,the SEPTEMBER 2014Canadian ImBROWN DIALOG of GEORGE Commerce (CIBC) outlines

how tuition fees in Canada have caused increased levels of student debt. This correlation is the most clearly seen in Ontario.

“Just as before the election, students in Ontario right now are paying the highest tuition fees in the country and graduating with record levels of student debt,” said Woods.

These debt levels have real-life impacts on students’ lives. To look at only one aspect, repaying debt eats into a student’s potential purchasing power. As shown by the CIBC poll data, 11 per cent of student borrowers estimate it will take them more than 10 years to pay back their debt.

Previous Liberal governments allowed tuition fees to rise by as much as 80 per cent according the the CFS-O. However, now that there is an newly elected majority government, Woods is hoping the government will “change its tune” and use funding from the grant and provincial tax credits to reduce tuition fees for all students.

How long college and university students who are borrowing money think it will take to pay back all the money they borrowed

2 years or less Between 3 and 5 years Between 6 and 10 years More than 10 years

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca 13

ARTS & LIFE

LOVE & SEX

Sept. 15 –28, 2014

Food Court Social: Great chefs prepare meals for an important cause DORA LIU STAFF REPORTER

George Brown chef school alumni are serving up some great food for a great cause.

According to the website of The Food Court Social, a charity event being held in support of the augmented education program at George Brown, “the unemployment rates for persons with mental health illness are as high as 70–90 per cent.”

The Food Court Social will call up the best chefs from the best restaurants in Toronto, like renowned GBC alumni chef Mark McEwan of North 44.

James Ricci, the Chair of the Young Leaders Council, the host of the event, said it will be “a marriage of amazing food and cocktails from the finest chefs in Toronto.”

The augmented education programs help people who have a history of mental illness or addiction to learn life skills.

The two augmented education programs are the assistant cook and construction craft worker foundations, that were developed by George Brown College (GBC)

and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

By focusing on employment, the two programs are skills-based and offer both classroom and practical components.

The assistant cook program runs for two semesters while the construction craft worker training program is 20 weeks. Afterwards, the graduates will step out towards a job in the food service or construction industries.

In 2012 the graduate job retention rate was 81 per cent for the assistant cook program and 83 per cent for the construction craft worker program.

Nonetheless, while the programs are free for participants, their tight budget still needs financial help despite their costs being mostly covered by the Ontario government.

“All 320 tickets have been sold out.”

Ricci said over the phone, but he still welcomes donations to the program.

To donate and for more details visitthefoodcourtsocial.com.

Asking for consent is far simpler than you think SAM BULLIS The massive surge in demand for action on sexual assault that’s taken place over the past few years has led to innumerable campaigns targeting harmful behaviours and attitudes.

Among the most widespread have been consent-awareness campaigns seeking to set the standard for consent-aware sexual behaviour.

Unfortunately, gripes about the perceived unfairness and inconvenience of the concept have been equally widespread.

Consent-awareness is treated by some as an overly elaborate buzzkill rather than an assault-prevention necessity; fortunately, it’s a simple concept.

In a nutshell, consent means that: A clear and enthusiastic approval of a sexual activity has been given.

There is a bit of a divide in pro-consent dialogue in regards to what an affirmative response is. Some say that an explicit verbal confirmation is necessary, while others prefer an interpretation that also encompasses clear nonverbal cues.

What all pro-consent perspectives agree on is that if you have to ask if it’s an affirmative response, it should be assumed that it isn’t. Silence or the absence of a strong “no” is never consent.

•

Anyone has the right to end a sexual interaction at any time.

•

Folks that are underage or are significantly intoxicated or impaired by a substance can’t provide consent.

•

Both parties have a responsibility to disclose any current sexual health risks they may pose and an obligation to respect a partner’s request for use of protection.

•

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The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

In other words, don’t have sex with someone who doesn’t clearly want to or isn’t in a state to know what they’re doing, and don’t lie about your health status or refuse protection when it’s requested. There are actually people who find this unnecessarily complex!

Consider it for a moment, some people actually get upset at the notion that they should be able to do whatever they want to someone unless they ask them not to.

Imagine the results if we applied that selfish logic to other aspects of our lives.

There’s plenty to be said when addressing complaints about all of these aspects of consent, but in this piece the primary focus is on the complaints around the inconve-

nience of asking for consent.

Some complain that confirming consent is an interruption to the flow of a sexy evening.

We’ve grown up watching movies where attractive heroes wordlessly enthrall one another with their combined sexiness and get it on without any discussion. It’s no wonder that we’re primed to expect a similar kind of magical scenario for ourselves.

The reality, as any sexually-active person can confirm, is that sex is far less cinematically elegant. More often than not, belts need to be awkwardly undone, bras will get caught on something, and protection needs to be dug out of the recesses of the bedside table drawer.

If opponents are afraid that they’ll crack their impenetrable veneer of coolness, guess what? They probably don’t look that cool putting on a condom either, even if they’re wearing sunglasses. It doesn’t matter. Part of the fun of sex is the awkwardness.

The “inconvenient” excuse is often used by whiners that don’t want to use condoms when asked to by a partner, and they are frequently (and correctly) criticized for their selfishness and carelessness. Why don’t we treat the establishment of consent the same way? After all, it takes less time and effort, doesn’t cost a thing, and is far simpler than most people expect it to be.

It’s as simple as asking “Is this okay?” or “May I...?”

It’s likely that many expect the conversation to be awkward and are intimidated by the potentially uncomfortable interaction with someone they may not know very well, but consider the absurdity of that for a moment.

You’re literally flopping around naked and handling each others’ junk, how can you expect a question so simple to have a greater potential for awkwardness than that?

More importantly, is it really more important to avoid a minor inconvenience to yourself than it is to be certain that you aren’t sexually assaulting someone?

One would think that the idea that potentially misinterpreting someone’s intentions would be enough to motivate them to simply ask.

A truly empathetic person should find the mere possibility of assaulting someone else horrifying enough to overcome whatever nerves they have around establishing clear consent.

This is just a brief introduction to the concept of consent but is by no means exhaustive. For more thorough information visit sexualassaultsupport.ca or sexualhealthontario.ca, both of which are good places to start.

PUZZLES & FUN Sept. 15 –28, 2014

Comics L.A. BONTÉ Carleton University

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CAMH is conducting a study to test the effects of opioids using blood draws and various tests.

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The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca 15

THE FUTURE IS HERE THE NEW STREETCAR IS COMING TO SPADINA ON AUGUST 31ST

The new streetcars on Spadina are more accessible, more comfortable, more convenient to board, more spacious and carry twice as many passengers. The 510 Spadina will now run on a Proof-of-Payment (POP) system. Customers will need to show their POP receipt to a TTC fare inspector upon request.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: PASS HOLDERS:

TRANSFER HOLDERS:

Customers with a Metropass, Day Pass or Weekly Pass will be able to board the new streetcar through any door. Your Pass is your POP receipt.

Customers with a transfer can board the streetcar through any door.

Your transfer is your POP receipt.

TOKENS: Customers using tokens will need to pay at an on-board or curbside fare vending machine to receive a POP receipt. Your POP receipt can also be used as your transfer.

TTC TICKET HOLDERS: Customers using Senior/Student or Child tickets are required to have their tickets stamped at a ticket validator located beside the on-board or curbside fare vending machines. Your stamped ticket is your POP receipt and can be used as your transfer.

CASH FARES: The fare vending machines accept coins only (change is not provided), and will issue a POP receipt. Your POP receipt can be used as your transfer.

CURBSIDE FARE VENDING MACHINES: Customers can also purchase fares and validate their tickets at new curbside fare vending machines installed at the busiest stops along the route, such as College and Spadina. Fare vending machines accept coins only (change is not provided).

The new fare vending machines and ticket validators are unique to the 510 Spadina route. There will be a transition period when both new and regular streetcars will run on the 510 Spadina route. Customers boarding regular streetcars will pay their fare as usual and will now be required to show a POP receipt upon request.

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