Spring/Summer 2014
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NEWS Spring/Summer 2014
Elections usher in new Student Association directors MICK SWEETMAN MANAGING EDITOR
Five votes. That’s how close the results were for Genève Gray who was re-elected to director of finance and operations for the Student Association (SA) of George Brown College. Winning the election 1190 to 1185 over her opponent Shaheer Bajoo with 197 spoiled ballots was the closest race in the recent SA elections. Jatinder Maan from the ACT Now! slate defeated Coty Zachariah from Student Voice 1256 to 1105 with 216 spoiled ballots to take the position of director of education and equity. However, Zachariah was acclaimed the student representative to the college’s board of governors.
Gagan Deep edged out Dipendra Dhankar 1219 to 1134 with 215 spoiled ballots. Former St. James campus director Saroop Pahal was acclaimed as the director of internal affairs and, running unopposed for the second year in a row, Halley Requena-Silva was acclaimed as the director of student life. Thomas Hadwen (ACT Now!) enjoyed a decisive victory as the new Casa Loma campus director beating Shedrack Idemudia 571-291 with 70 spoiled ballots. Arts and Design representative Yassamin Yassini was successful in her goal of “moving up the hierarchy” as she was elected as the St. James campus director with 532 votes to Bhuvan Bawa’s 366. There were 137 spoiled ballots. The positions for Ryerson and Waterfront campus directors remain vacant. In the races for education centre representatives Katherine Klomp (ACT Now!)
THE DIALOG IS... Managing Editor Mick Sweetman News Editor Preeteesh Peetabh Singh Art Director/Illustrator Samantha Bullis Multimedia Reporter Danilo Barba Staff Reporters Tina Todaro Brittany Barber Rachel Levitt Contributors Marc Ragusa Follow us on Social Media! Facebook.com/thedialogonline Twitter: @thedialogonline
Occasionally, some advertisers, products and services do not reflect the policies of the Student Association. Opinions expressed in The Dialog are not necessarily those of The Dialog Collective, the Student Association of George Brown College, or its editorial staff. The Dialog will not publish any material that attempts to incite violence or hatred against individuals or groups, particularly based on race, national origin, ethnicity, colour, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability. Contributions to T he Dialog are always welcome. We request that articles be submitted as digital copies in plain-text (TXT) or richtext (RTF) format. Letters to the editor can be sent in an email message to dialog@georgebrown.ca. Images should be in EPS format as vector images or TIF format (Mac or PC).
Drop by or contact The Dialog at: Room E122 - Casa Loma 142 Kendal Avenue Toronto, ON M5R 1M3 www.dialog.studentassociation.ca Tel: 416-415-5000 ext. 2764 Fax: 416-415-2491 dialog@georgebrown.ca The Dialog newspaper is published by The Dialog Collective under the auspices of the Student Association of George Brown College. The collective is responsible for the overall vision and direction of The Dialog newspaper, as it coincides with the larger vision of mission of the Student Association. The cost of producing a monthly newspaper is in part defrayed by advertising revenue and largely subsidized by the Student Association.
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The Dialog is published by the Student Association of George Brown College
The Dialog is a member of CUP, the Canadian University Press
was elected over Melionie Lawrence 83-50 with 15 spoiled ballots. A crowded four-way race for business representative saw Mahnoor Ashraf (ACT now!) come out on top with 160 votes beating Aavya Sharma (136), Heather Ferguson (118) and Kyle Brachen (109). There were 76 spoiled ballots. Melanie McIntosh was elected the new hospitality representative with 163 votes to 133 for Aminah Hughes. There were 33 spoiled ballots. Community services representative Jay Mur phy was acclaimed, as was Nicolas Kiriakou for construction and engineering representative. The health sciences and liberal arts and preparatory studies representative positions remain vacant. The most contested race of the election was for international students representative with
five candidates facing off for the position. Shaganpreet Kang (ACT Now!) won handily with 184 votes or 40 per cent of the vote. Himanshu came in second with 91 votes or 20 per cent of the vote. The remainder was split between Rahul Borthakur (74), Rogelio Piedra Cambray (54) and Hussain Slatewala (52). There were 47 spoiled ballots. The only other contested race for constituency representative saw Samantha Brown elected as aboriginal representative with 10 votes, double that of Leslie VanEvery who collected five, there was a single spoiled ballot for the position. Shannon (“Shay”) Sanders was acclaimed LGBTQ representative. The positions for American sign language representative and centre for women and trans people representative remain vacant.
NEWS Spring/Summer 2014
Academic advocacy report: Complaints drop in practical nursing PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH NEWS EDITOR
The Academic Advocacy Program (AAP) available through the Student Association (SA) of George Brown College (GBC) released its annual report on all the cases handled by them during 2012 and 2013. More than 400 cases were managed by the AAP last year. Students from health sciences department at GBC registered the most number of cases at 160, followed by art and design, 100, and construction and engineering technologies, 56. A major issue that came out in this year’s report was the number of complaints in the school of dental health (81), especially Denturism (25). “I was very unimpressed with the education I got at GBC. I have been at the school for four years total and have spent way too much money to have gotten the education I received. It’s absolute robbery,” a soon to graduate Denturism student was quoted in the report. “I will definitely never recommend GBC to anyone.” According to the report, lack of quality education and the program’s accreditation was brought into question. Mid-way through the year, students were informed that GBC was no longer associated with the Canadian Denturist Association, but sanctioned by the ministry of health and long term care. This program is set for review during the 2013-14 academic year by the office of academic excellence. The top two issues of concern were educational complaints dealing with the quality of education in the classroom, faculty not ad-
hering to course outline and; students being dissatisfied with a grade, usually a failing one. A whopping 61 per cent of the complaints were filed under course management as grounds for appeal, which meant not adhering to the academic code of conduct or from what was described in the course outline. 10 per cent of cases were filed under merit of work. In their last year’s annual report, 290 cases were filed out of which 127 cases were from the school of practical nursing (PN). There was a decrease in this number in this year’s report as only 33 complaints were logged from the PN program. So what changed during the year? Keeping the high number of complaints in the PN program in mind, the SA created a new job description for a health sciences academic advocacy co-ordinator to focus on advocacy efforts and to research what systemic elements might have contributed to that statistics. Angela Gallant, health sciences academic advocacy co-ordinator conducted a research to study the reason for the significant and similar complaints in the PN program. Through her research she located a phenomenon called horizontal violence pertaining to the nursing profession. As mentioned in the AAP annual report, “according to Longo (2007), [horizontal violence] it is an act of subtle or overt aggression perpetrated by one colleague toward another colleague, and is the concept underpinning nurses’ description of “eating their young”.” Colin Druhan, manager of equity and advocacy said, “The SA is looking forward
to working with Gary Kapelus and the academic excellence team to reach out to staff, faculty and students to make sure there is broad awareness of the upcoming changes to the college’s academic appeals policy,
which was reviewed and updated this year.” Some of the other areas of concern and recommendations included cross-cultural insensitivity; violations of the code of conduct; and opaque communication.
Academic Advocacy Report: Nature of Issues 2012–2013
Educational complaint
Final grade (non-failing)
Plagiarism/Academic Dishonesty Charge
Error in calculation
Grade on a written assignment
Promotions Committee Decision
Failed program/semester
Harrassment/Discrimination
Student Disciplinary Decision
Final grade (failed)
Other
Speak Up! workshop teaches students their academic rights BRITTANY BARBER STAFF REPORTER
It’s time to ‘Speak Up!’ about your rights as a student. The academic advocacy program at the Student Association of George Brown College (GBC) hosted a workshop, Advocacy in Action: Speak Up! to educate students of their academic rights. Abarna Krishnakumar, a full time student in the architectural technician program who works for academic advocacy at Casa Loma campus said, “the code of conduct is not easy to read.” During her presentation Krishnakumar stated that the academic advocacy program is here
to help with any confusion students might have regarding their rights. Student rights are sometimes a very confusing topic, whether you’re new or a graduating student. Being aware of what is right and what is wrong might be important in order to stand up for yourself or your peers. When dealing with a situation regarding whether or not your rights as a student have been taken away, know to whom and where to direct your concerns. It is a good idea to confront your instructor with anything that may have hurt you in any way. This includes discrimination, harassment and unfairness. If you have taken the initiative and spo-
ken to the instructor causing this issue, it is further advised to speak with the chair or director of your program. The chair of the program oversees all indiscretions and in some cases will defuse the situation. However, there are further steps to take if the situation calls for it. In very few instances the dean is involved, although it is possible. The next course of action is to challenge the concern and attend a hearing through the academic appeals. Academic rights are not limited to cases against discrimination but also entitle students to have the right to appeal against a final grade within 10 days of getting the result, and to transfer or withdraw from their program.
Each student has responsibilities to follow in return to these rights. They are responsible for practicing positive communication, following the policies, rules and guidelines set by the college, and asking for advice in regards to academic concerns. For more information regarding your rights as a student, you can contact the hotline at 416-415-5000 x6320 or by email to saadvocacy@georgebrown.ca It’s never too late to teach self-advocacy skills and self-empowerment at any level. The academic advocacy program believes in the power of knowledge and speaking up not only yourself but also for others.
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SPORTS Spring/Summer 2014
Some of the graduating Huskies celebrate their successes. Vadim Halimov, fourth from left, received a whopping 12 awards for his basketball skills.
PHOTO: BRITTANY BARBER/THE DIALOG
Athletics banquet recognizes achievements of GBC Huskies BRITTANY BARBER STAFF REPORTER
George Brown College (GBC) hosted the 45th annual blue carpet athletics banquet to award and honour the outstanding dedication and persistence shown by the GBC athletes. The banquet held on April 4, at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel saw the guests quickly filling the room, finding friends to reflect on their season and to enjoy a night to dress up, win awards & prizes, and party with the teammates they’ve come to know so well. The night featured many special guests such as Amy Williams, a GBC alumni graduating from sport and event marketing pro4
gram in 2006 who has gone on to manage Canadian Olympic Committee accounts that include Royal Bank of Canada, Adidas and General Mills. Michael Chan, Ontario’s minister of tourism, culture and sport and minister responsible for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games, was also present. Perdita Felicien a world champion, Olympic competitor and a Pan Am Games medalist said in her speech, “Whatever you are going through in life, you’re inspiring someone. Whenever you decide to pack up your athletic career, always think about how you can give back.” Felicein shared personal stories to show her courage and strength. “Don’t just me an MVP in sport, but in life,” said Felicien. Vadim Halimov, a name GBC has rec-
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ognized countless times within the recent basketball season made his mark in his graduating year at GBC. After receiving 12 major awards at the gala, it looked like Halimov needed a suitcase to carry his awards home. Not only did Hamilov receive metals and plaques but he was also given the game-winning ball from the end of the season game against his former school, Seneca College where he broke three records - all-time scoring, all-time season scoring and free throws. Halimov expressed his gratitude with a short speech, thanking everyone who made his career such a success, “Coach [Jonathan Smith] made me the player I am today, and without you I wouldn’t have any [awards]”. This basketball all-star won the title of men’s
athlete of the year next to Aria Charles, who won women’s athlete of the year. Patricia Niengue won the female rookie of year while John Luu bagged the male rookie of the year award for their outstanding and consistent performances in volleyball. The Michael “Pinball” Clemons award went to Rana Aziz (soccer); Student Association athletic award for excellence in academics went to Andria Valente (soccer) while the men’s award was shared between Kyle Taitt (soccer) and Mitchell Visser (distance runner). Edwin Sheon (volleyball) was awarded the KC fitness award. Vane Kuzmanov, Lenore Johnson and Bonnie Tran got the contribution to athletics award.
NEWS Spring/Summer 2014
Unpaid interns in more than just financial danger MICK SWEETMAN MANAGING EDITOR
It was 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 3. Loyalist College student Aaron Murray, 21, was driving home on Highway 7 near from an overnight shift on an unpaid placement as a security guard at Trent University. According to an article in the Toronto Star, before his placement shift, Murray had worked a shift at McDonalds, where he was a manager after grabbing a short nap after the previous day’s night shift. Halfway home, his car crossed over the centre line and collided with an oncoming vehicle. He died in hospital the following Monday. “Folks are engaging in paid work because they have to get by but they’re are also in school programs, and paying for the school program and then working for free,” said Josh Mandryk from Students Against Unpaid Internships. “It’s a big burden being placed on young people.” George Brown College (GBC) graduate Cindy Brownlee Weber knows what it’s like. As a student in the early childhood education and the autism and behavioural science programs she did a total of seven placements in her college career – none of them were paid. “If you’re working eight hours at your placement and you still have three or more hours of homework writing up a report, it
doesn’t leave many hours to work. I wound up having to take out a lot of loans,” said Brownlee Weber who says she wound up with $34,000 of debt even after working a parttime job while she was going to school. In a 2013 study looking at the experiences of Ontario graduates of Work Integrated Learning by Julie Peters and Peggy Sattler, who is now an NDP MPP for London West, lack of payment was the number one challenge cited by students. Fifty three per cent of college respondents said not being paid was a challenge, with 34 per cent rating it a major challenge. “What’s more important to the student and the employer, the experience or the payment?” asked Laura Jo Gunter, GBC’s senior vice president of academic. “It would be great for students to earn money while they do it, but if that becomes not a possibility what becomes more important to them?” In the study, the top motivation for students to do work integrated learning was to “gain practical work experience.” Earning money actually ranked the lowest of reasons students gave why they did work placements. Gurjinder Singh, 22, is a bachelor of business student at GBC and has already done three co-op terms with top financial firms including State Street, KPMG and BMO Nesbitt-Burns. “I applied right out of high school,” said Singh. “I knew that if I was going to get educa-
tional experience I would need work experience to follow that to prepare me for the workforce.” All of Singh’s co-ops were paid ranging from $12 to $21 an hour. According to Singh, all were very demanding and intensive. “The two-week training was very intensive. They made sure they drilled it into your mind for when you hit the floor,” said Singh. “Once you hit the floor, you were running. They were giving you projects right away. You had maybe two hours on the first day to adjust but after that it was ‘Go! Go! Go! Go!’” Exactly how many students are participating in work-integrated learning programs in Ontario is unclear. According to Tanya Blazina, from the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities, the government does not collect that information and does not track the outcomes of students who participate in workplace-based learning. “Action needs to be taken,” said Mandryk. “The government needs to review all of the laws around unpaid internships, including those that go through post-secondary institutions. That’s something we’re going to hammer away on.” An education fund has been set up for Murray’s month-old son Jude. See this article on our website for the link.
EXPERIENCE
COURSE CREDIT
NETWORKING
CP rail transporting hazardous crude oil next to Casa Loma TINA TODARO STAFF REPORTER
Explosive crude oil being transported through the railway tracks in Toronto might pose a serious concern to the public residing in the vicinity. One such railway track runs right beside the Casa Loma campus at George Brown College (GBC). “A lot of people are not aware of how much crude oil is being transported through their area,” said Josh Matlow, Ward 22 counsellor in Toronto. Matlow, who wants trains to be diverted to avoid heavily populated areas of Toronto, stresses that Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) never conveyed crude oil information to the public who have a right to know what’s being transported so close to their homes. On April 1, city council adopted a motion by Matlow which requested the government of Canada to require that freight rail owners inform municipalities of the volume and frequency of potentially hazardous materials travelling through the city boundaries, the specific material type, and that this information be made readily available to the public. Stemming from the rail tragedy last year,
when a train carrying petroleum crude oil derailed in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, causing a deadly explosion and fire, Matlow and team of local politicians and community members are cracking down on the issue saying, “the public has a right to know.” According to a report by Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the number of trains carrying shipments of crude oil has increased dramatically from 500 car loads in 2009 to 160,000 car loads in 2013. Stacey Andrews, manager of public safety and security at Casa Loma campus, said “If there was a train derailment, it depends on what was on that train, we had be working closely with CN Rail and we currently have communications with the railway.” Casa Loma campus director Nick Kiriakou believes that although the chances of a train derailment are slim, students should be aware of possible danger associated with the transportation of crude oil close to the campus. Students at the Casa Loma campus should be vigilant of procedures put in place to ensure their safety. They are encouraged to read the documents and flyers on lockdowns, emergency and evacuation procedures available in campus as well as on college’s website.
The CP rail tracks, often bearing dangerous crude oil, run alarmingly close to the Casa Loma campus.
ILLUSTRATION: SAMANTHA BULLIS/THE DIALOG PHOTO: TINA TODARO/THE DIALOG
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NEWS Spring/Summer 2014
New investment should boost job opportunities for youth DANILO BARBA MULTIMEDIA REPORTER
Youth Skills Connections Program
The government of Ontario is investing $750,000 in George Brown College (GBC) through the Youth Skills Connections Program, as announced by premier Kathleen Wynne during the Talent and Skills in the New Economy summit last month. The new funding will enable GBC to partner with business and labour to deliver a specialized program that will prepare young people for jobs in the food, metal manufacturing and information communications technology sectors. The program will focus on two industry sectors where projections of an increasing skills gap have been identified: commercial baking and metal working. The funding is part of Ontario’s new $25 million youth skills connections fund and is leveraging the college’s applied research funding. “All youth who complete the training will have received valuable skills training that is in demand by industry, which is anticipated to positively change their employment status,” said Daniela Cristini, community projects manager at the Ontario government’s community partnerships office. “This program is not designed only for current George Brown College students – but graduates with an arts, science or humanities degree. All Ontario youth who meet the entry
requirements established by George Brown College are eligible,” said Cristini. This is supported by the lead applicant’s demonstration of a skills gap or mis-match using labour market evidence and the development of a strong industry focused consortia, Cristini explains. The consortia supports the training intervention, provides work placements, job opportunities and contributes to the programs requirement of a 50/50 matching contribution. “Each project supported by the youth skills connections program is unique to the population, region and sector it is targeting – a reflection of the program’s open call for proposals”, Cristini said. In other words, if a project has a specific vulnerable population focus, such as newcomer youth, the applicant would be identifying specific barriers the population might face and develop its training intervention, sector focus, project partners and participant supports to ensure successful completion. Some examples of participant supports might be: basic job literacy or academic upgrading, transportation costs, or counselling. “We are grateful for this investment by the Ontario government. The skills mismatch is a barrier that is especially challenging for youth in high needs communities in Ontario, said Laura Jo Gunter, senior vice-president, academic, GBC. “Those who have been traditionally absent from the labour market will receive the employment skills and supports they need to succeed.” The program will leverage community and employer partnerships to provide training for individuals including young women, persons with disabilities, aboriginals, newcomers and visible minorities. Participants will be provided with multiple educational and workplace supports including career coaching, mentoring, employability training and on-the-job placement and applied research opportunities. “Qualified students will be able to apply to applied research postings and those that meet the criteria will be interviewed for the positions. The Industry Specific Employment Training (ISET) project will actively seek the participation of marginalized groups”, said Joyann Callender, manager media relations at GBC. “Forty-six participants will be accepted into the program each year.”
EMPLOYABLE SKILLS TRAINING ILLUSTRATION: SAMANTHA BULLIS/THE DIALOG
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GBC student fights police check backlog PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH NEWS EDITOR
The long wait time for police background checks, which is a prerequisite for some programs at George Brown College (GBC) has put a lot of students’ careers in jeopardy. Last year Toronto Police received more than 108,000 clearance letters and vulnerable sector screening (VSS) requests. While clearance letters don’t take much time to process but the wait time for VSS clearance is almost four to six months. In a statement to the Toronto Police Service (TPS) board meeting on March 13, GBC student Chris Khan said, “I was in the personal support worker program in hopes that in a year’s time, upon completion of the program. I would continue my education and become a nurse. Unfortunately, there was only one thing that stood in my way and prevented me from continuing my dreams in a timely way – the vulnerable sector screening police check.” According to Colin Druhan, the SA’s manager of equity and advocacy, at GBC, all students who have a placement component to their program must submit a completed vulnerable sector search. According to TPS, in addition to last year’s backlog of 17,000 applications, an average of 200 new applications to the Police Reference Check Program add up daily. The Student Association (SA) of GBC met with Mayor Rob Ford and some of his staff to flag the wait time for police checks. “They were very understanding and supportive. Mayor Rob Ford wrote a letter to the police chief William Blair in support of this issue,” said Druhan. The TPS board meeting held in March focused on the options to improve the efficiency of responding to requests and ensure the checks are completed sooner. “I believe that four to six months wait time for this service is unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately,” said Khan in his deputation. “I choose to live in Toronto, I pay taxes here, because it’s a great city and I feel accepted and encouraged to be all I am meant to be.” To address the issue, TPS chief William Blair has recommended an increase in fees for applicants. His recommendations include increasing the fee from $50 to $65 for employment and $15 to $20 for volunteers to increase revenue to hire 13 new civilian positions at a cost of $921,000 annually. Blair’s recommendation also include a tiered system where people can get the background check done in 72 hours at a cost of $110 for employment and $65 for volunteers.
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Wondering what to do with yourself once the school year ends? Fear not, The Dialog has assembled a guide to the summer’s best festivals, venues, travel destinations, and much, much more!
STAFF PICK: HARBOURFRONT DANCE
A R T S
The Painted Lady A unique bar that has live music, burlesque dancing and if you want to perform yourself there are open mic Mondays. Soulpepper Theatre Company Check out their selection of plays at the Young Centre for Performing Arts. Game of Thrones Exhibit (May 14–18) Get to see artifacts from the hit show up close at the Tiff Bell Lightbox. The Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival Cinema (April 4–May 24) The festival will be screening documentaries at the Bloor Street Cinema from The Beaches (July 12–13) A great spot for live music, playing beach games and entering the Heatwave Volleyball Tournament Cosmic Bowling Runs Fridays and Saturdays from 9pm to 3am at Playtime Bowl. Harbourfront Centre Located at Toronto’s waterfront check out the multicultural festivals and events going all summer. Black Creek Pioneer Village (May 24 –25) Check out their doors open event as well as the Hop Harvest August 23.
PHOTO: JED DE LA CRUZ VIA FLICKR (CC BY 2.0)
RACHEL LEVITT STAFF REPORTER
Harbourfront Centre is the place to go if you feel like seeing some dance performances or feel like dancing yourself. The centre brings cultures and styles from around the world to their festivals, workshops and theatres. If you love to dance, head over to 235 Queens Quay West this summer. The NextSteps dance series, which has been running since September, will be at Harbourfront until June 8. In April you can catch the street dance show Music Creates Opportunity by DW206-BBoyizm and the Flamenco show De Idas Y Vueltas by the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company. In May there will be the contemporary piece NeoIndigen A by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Venom of Love by a Chinese dance and opera company called Little Pear Garden Collective, Afro-Caribbean styled dance in Spring Rites by Ballet Creole, Fulcrum by Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, and cos.mo.pol.i.tan which is an African piece by Lua Shayenne and Company. The final show of the series in June will
be the world premiere of the Indian dance piece In Search of the Other Ganesh by Menaka Thakkar Dance Company. Dance is also a primary part of the festivals down at Harbourfront. Having volunteered at Harbourfront this past summer, I can honestly say that I don’t remember a single festival that did not have dance performances or workshops. On July 1, during the Canada Day Extravaganza, a performance called Common Steps will be shown which features a program of vernacular dance. In association with the Habari Africa festival, the contemporary tribal dance Evolution will be presented by the Ijovudu Dance Company on July 19. On August 2, Dance Caribe will present a mix of African and Afro-Caribbean styles in association with the Island Soul festival. One festival is fully dedicated to dancing: the Highland Dance festival on June 7 and 8. The festival will feature a competition presented by the Highland Dancers Association of Canada. If you are a dancer or just want to try it, dance workshops separate from the festivals are also being offered at Harbourfront centre
during the weekend of April 18 to 20. A song and dance workshop that teaches the basics of the Haudenosaunee style dances will be run by Tribal Vision this weekend as well as a Mexican dance class taught by Hilda Panasiuk, the founder of the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company and an Afro-fusion workshop taught by Toronto born artist Brandon “Bizzy” Owusu. If lessons aren’t your thing and you would rather bust a move on your terms, there are still activities in which you can show your stuff. Every Thursday starting June 26 through September 4 there is dancing on the pier with live music. Every Friday starting June 27 until August 29 are DJ Deep Fried Fridays where you can enjoy dancing and some deep-fried snacks. Make sure to check out some of the lakeside fun going on this summer down at Harbourfront centre. Happy dancing!
Dance is also a primary part of the festivals down at Harbourfront.
STAFF PICK: WORLD PRIDE 2014
F E S T I VAL S
Hot Docs International documentary festival (April 24–May 4) With 197 documentaries from 43 countries, Hot Docs is North America’s biggest documentary film festival. hotdocs.ca Contact Photography festival. May Over 1500 Canadian and international artists and photographers exhibiting at more than 175 venues throughout the Greater Toronto Area. scotiabankcontactphoto.com Luminato festival (June 6–15) Luminato, Toronto’s Festival of Arts and Creativity, is an annual ten-day celebration of the arts in Toronto. luminatofestival.com PHOTO: CAMATLARGE VIA FLICKR (CC BY 2.0)
BRITTANY BARBER STAFF REPORTER
This year, World Pride is hosted by Pride Toronto and is a ten-day event where people from all over the world come to march, party and love freely. From June 20 to 29 all Lesbian, Gay. Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, 2-Spirited and Allies will gather throughout the streets of Toronto for North America’s first-ever World Pride celebration, having previously been held in Rome, Jerusalem and London. Since 1991, Toronto City Council has proclaimed Pride Day and since then, Pride Day has turned into Pride Week. Toronto is known around the world to be open and welcoming to the community. This international celebration incorporates activism, education and the history and culture. An online panel called Pride Divide discussed the evolution of Pride in Toronto on April 7, received a lot of feedback about Pride becoming too mainstream and corporate, the ‘rights’ or ‘wrongs’, and what should and should not be allowed when it comes to Pride Week in Toronto.
Laura Krahn, a Dyke March committee member who was leading the online discussion wrote, “I think it’s amazing to see all the different bodies represented at Pride - in all their various outfits or lack thereof. In the midst of such body-shaming culture, this can be pretty revolutionary.” There are plenty of options to volunteer for World Pride. By visiting the World Pride Toronto website, you will find that this event is produced by year-round volunteers helping make a difference alongside full-time staff. Volunteering is a huge and important part of why Pride Week and World Pride has been so successful in past years. During June, Pride is prevalent in Toronto and there is almost no escaping the hype. With street fairs and galleries open to the public, there is something for everyone during the most colourful time of the year. DJs will play shows in parking lots and have dancers and divas there to guide you on your adventure for a full three days. World Pride is also a family-friendly event. Family Pride is an event during the ten-day occasion and offers a kid-friendly zone filled with crafts, games, face painting and live entertainment.
Clean, Sober & Proud, a substance-free zone for the partiers that want to enjoy World Pride without being surrounded by booze, is located at the Paul Kane Parkette full of live performances, holistic services and confidential meetings. If you have yet to experience the excitement of Toronto during Pride Week, you’re in for a treat during this year’s World Pride affair. The Pride Parade is a well-known highlight of Pride Week and is celebrated as the community marches down Yonge Street in colourful floats, costumes and music. Consider yourself warned for the copious amounts of bare skin showing during this week since Pride Week is dedicated to loving who you are and celebrating people as they are.
I think it’s amazing to see all the different bodies represented at Pride —in all their various outfits or lack thereof.
TD Toronto Jazz festival, June (19–28) More than 500,000 music lovers will be entertained as 1,500 musicians take over the city performing 350+ concerts in just 10 days. torontojazz.com Toronto Ribfest (June 27–July 1) Centennial Park, Etobicoke Just what it sounds like. A festival of delicious BBQ ribs. torontoribfest.com Toronto Fringe Festival (July 2–13) An annual theatre festival, featuring un-juried plays by unknown or wellknown artists. fringetoronto.com Caribbean Carnival, August A three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. torontocaribbeancarnival.com/ Canadian National Exhibition, (Aug. 15–Sept. 1) The first Canadian National Exhibition took place in 1879, largely to promote agriculture and technology in Canada and the annual fair is one of Toronto’s largest summer events. theex.com/
STAFF PICK: TOBERMORY
T R AV E L
Thousand Islands A tourism destination featuring 1000 island cruises, live theatre, helicopter tours, casino, castles, fine dining, walking and museum tours. Embrace the outdoors with freshwater fishing, cycling, golfing, kayaking, boating, hiking and summer events. Niagara Falls A world renowned tourist destination with the combination of Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil falls at the border of Ontario and New York. Niagara-on-the-lake A beautiful town where Niagara lake meets lake Ontario. Go there for a relaxing vacation and make sure you hit the wineries. Algonquin Park A provincial park located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River. A perfect destination for camping. Grand Bend Over 30 miles of continuous beaches, warm waters and sandy lake bottoms. If you are a beach person, this is the place to go. Ottawa Visit the capital for family entertainment, museum, galleries, sightseeing and a lot of Canadian heritage. Muskoka Cottage Country Get a closer look at the wildlife or relax at the famous Muskoka chairs. It is Ontario’s favourite year-round destination. Georgian Bay Georgian Bay, Tobermory and Bruce Peninsula are the hidden gems located in Ontario. Windswept pines, majestic cliffs, endless beaches and clear blue water makes it one heck of a travel destination.
PHOTO: PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH/THE DIALOG
PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH NEWS EDITOR
Tobermory, a beautiful town located at the north end of Bruce Peninsula, is a perfect getaway for the summer. At a four-hour drive from Toronto, the town lets you access to scuba diving, beaches, ferry rides to islands, countryside, peaceful surroundings, trails, cottages and much more. The Grotto The grotto is the place to visit once you are in Tobermory. The gorgeous cave is a five-minute hike from the Indian Head Cove. You’ll have to find your way in there by following the subtle signage on the mountains. Once you spot the grotto, it will take you some effort and daredevil moves to actually get inside the cave. A trail 30 feet down through the rocks will eventually get you there. Sit inside the cave, enjoy your beer, and chill out with friends with freshwater running through your feet. Diving Tobermory, Canada’s scuba diving and snorkeling capital offers clear water, submerged cliffs, caves and overhangs
in lake Huron and Georgian Bay; a great diving location for the diving enthusiasts. You’ll have a lot to explore with over 20 shipwrecks, some of which sank more than 100 years ago, located in the surrounding areas such as the “big tub”, “little tub” and the “gap”. The Flowerpot Island The Flowerpot Island is a part of the Fathom Five National Marine Park which is connected via ferry rides and cruises to the coast of Tobermory. It is another popular destination in the vicinity offering camping facilities and hiking trails. The main attraction on the island is the two giant mountain pillars formed by erosion along the coastline of the island which look like flower pots. Cyprus Lake campground Located 15 km away from the town of Tobermory, the Cyprus Lake campground offers 232 drivein campsites in three campgrounds - Birches, Poplars and Tamarack. Overlooking the lake you can enjoy picnic tables, fire pits and grills available at the campsites. Firewood can be purchased from the campground office or local shops.
A peaceful view of the lake with minimal air pollution guarantees you to star gazing on a clear night. A bonfire with barbecue cannot go wrong here. Cottages and trail houses If you are not a camp person, cottages and trail houses are available. These houses can be even rented for months. They are usually beside the lake with all facilities such as hot water, fireplace, kitchen utensils, and even WiFi. Grocery items can be purchased from nearby shops. Food There are plenty of good food options available around the town. Ancient Cedars Café, Beaver Tails, Crowsnest Pub & Restaurant, Fish & Chip Place are some of the places where you can satiate your hunger after a good day of hiking. Weather Tobermory is usually a couple of degrees cooler than Toronto. The best months to visit there is June to August. Make sure you reserve your campsites or cottages before you go there as it can get really busy around that time.
STAFF PICK: TORONTO FC
S P O R T S
Hockey night in Canada’s Play On! (March 31-June 2) One of Canada’s largest sports festivals gives anybody the chance to play competitive or recreational street hockey tournaments. Open to all ages, skill level and genders. Honda Indy (July 18-20) Watch cars speed through Exhibition Place this summer for an exciting and enjoyable day full of racing, beautiful cars and the chance to meet the racers. The Color Run/Kaleidoscope Tour (Mississauga, July 13) This year, the ‘Happiest 5K on the Planet’ is coming to the GTA for anyone willing to be doused in paints of all colours while promoting healthiness and happiness during this un-timed race. PHOTO: ELIZABETH KEAY
MICK SWEETMAN MANAGING EDITOR
It’s spring and that means another season in the stands at BMO Field with a cool breeze coming off Lake Ontario, with the flags of every nation a player is from flapping beside the City of Toronto and Canadian flags. For supporters of Toronto FC, this is what summertime means. Full disclosure, I am one of those supporters and have been a season seat holder from the first season. Every time I’m asked why I support a club that has had such a dismal record for so long, I try to explain that it’s not just about the performance of the team, but also about the group of supporters that have become my friends. Calling ourselves “U-Sector”, a name the group traces back to when they supported the Toronto Lynx in the “U” section of Varsity Stadium, we occupy section 113 behind the net in the south stands. While I admit TFC’s lackluster years have taken their toll on what was once our youth-
ful, or at least younger, enthusiasm. We are, as we often sing, “all in this together.” This time, it seems like it may be different than the previous years, which have seen Toronto FC, linger at the bottom of Major League Soccer. With three wins in five games so far this year, TFC is off to a decent start and even the most cynical supporters are grudgingly saying it might be a respectable year for the club. With the signing of former Tottenham Hotspurs striker Jermain Defoe and U.S. National team captain, mid-fielder (check for hyphen) Michael Bradley it looks like Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment, who own Toronto FC, are finally investing and fielding a competitive team. With the return of Canadian national team striker Dwayne De Rosario and the addition of Gilberto Oliveira Souza (Junior?) from Brazil, Toronto FC is clearly looking to end the goal drought that has plagued the team for many years. Whether the historically shaky back line can keep the goals against down, might be the difference between a long sought after playoff
spot and another disappointing finish. While the honeymoon between Toronto FC and supporters ended a long time ago, at times it has felt like a rocky long-term relationship, the changes that TFC have made this year are spicing things up in the south stands again. While we’ve been there for the club through all of the highs and lows, this year looks like it’s the year to fall in love with TFC all over again. See you in 113.
...it’s not just about the performance of the team, but also about the group of supporters that have become my friends.
Rogers Centre (All Summer) Whether you’re a Jays fan or you’re a frequent concert-goer,The Rogers Centre offers numerous events for your summer bucket-list including Avicii and One Direction, Paddle the Don (May 4) If you need to take a break from the hectic city life, Paddle The Don is an annual paddle down the Don River to give people an opportunity to enjoy fresh air, water, and resources. Beach Volleyball- Heatwave Tournament (July 12-13) The 19th annual Heatwave beach volleyball tournament offers one or two day co-ed tournaments located at Ashbridges Bay to help raise money for childhood cancer research at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. Dig your feet into the sand while also enjoying massages, nighttime beach parties, shopping and much more. Woofstock (May 24-25) North America’s largest Dog festival with over 300,000 attendees, the weekend is full of non-stop dog loving.
STAFF PICK: HIGH PARK
P A R K S
High Park High Park is Toronto’s largest public park featuring hiking trails, beautiful lakefront, picnic areas and an easy public transit access. Sunnybrook Park Sunnybrook Park visitors often gather to host a barbeque or some horseback riding at the stables deep within the park. Ward’s Island A ferry from the Harbourfront can take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A stunning view of Toronto’s skyline awaits you there.
PHOTO: PUBLIC-SECTOR-LISTS.COM VIA FLICKR (CC BY 2.0)
TINA TODARO Morningside Park Hike, walk, run or cycle around in this three km long regional park in Scarborough. Ashbridges Bay This park is also home to Woodbine beach, one of Toronto’s eight blue flag beaches. Relax on the wide sandy beach, or enjoy a refreshing swim in Lake Ontario or just settle for some bird watching. Trinity Bellwoods An event friendly park located in downtown with book fairs, live theatres, performance art and informal summer drumming circles can be seen here. Dufferin Grove Park With three campfire locations in the park, and adventure playground, its a great family spot. Bluffer’s Park Located east of Brimley Road, this large beach park has a terrific backdrop in the form of Scarborough Bluffs.
STAFF REPORTER
Age-old High Park brings peaceful serenity to the city. It remains one of the largest public parks in Toronto, attracting thousands of people every season. “Running through the park and all the leisure activities that are available to you for no money,” says Frank Pavlovic, 55, a Toronto resident. “Although certain things require money now, you are able to go swimming, play tennis and walk or run through the nature trails.” Owned by John G. Howard in the late 1800’s, the was handed the park over to the city upon his death under the condition that it remains alcohol free forever. Opening to the public in 1876, today the park has evolved, remaining alcohol-free and providing visitors with a beautiful landscape, recreational activities, and a restaurant located at its centre. Offering 399 acres in the middle of Toronto, High Park is an excellent getaway for children and adults of all ages as stated on the park’s website. Providing sports facilities to sports enthusiasts, children and adults can come and
make use of the baseball diamond, soccer field and outdoor swimming pool equipped with a water slide. The tennis courts are maintained and run by the Howard Park Tennis Club. Although use of the tennis courts requires a membership fee, there are six alternative courts for public use. Seasonal factors don’t limit the available activities. Winter brings cross-country skiing along the trails and a hockey rink for those who enjoy the thrill of being on the ice. Spring time means cherry blossoms, and blossoms mean that tourists are attracted to our city. Located around the hillside gardens, donated by the Japanese Embassy, “the cherry blossoms bring a variety of people to the park,” said Jon Hayes, family programs co-ordinator at the High Park Nature Centre. “They also play an ecological role for squirrels and birds that eat the cherries.” During the months of April and May when the trees begin to bloom, the pink of the tree’s flowers fills the area. Symbolizing spring time, the Sakura cherry blossom adds to the serenity offered by High Park and contributes to the existing beautiful landscape that continues to attract visitors from all over the world.
Seasonal factors don’t limit the available activities. Winter brings cross-country skiing along the trails & a hockey rink for those who enjoy the thrill of being on the ice. Spring time means cherry blossoms, & blossoms mean that tourists are attracted to our city.
STAFF PICK: TORONTO’S PATIOS
PA T I O S
Hard Rock Café, Yonge & Dundas Square Enjoy live music and rock bands perform while you have a good time with friends. hardrock.com/Toronto Imperial Pub, 54 Dundas St. E Aquarium bar and library lounge with occasional comedy shows with a great patio. imperialpub.com Scotland Yard, 56 The Esplanade Irish pub with cheap beer, good food and dart game. scotlandyardpub.ca Jack Astor’s Bar and Grill 10 Dundas St E Downtown version of this mega chain has a sweet roof-top patio overlooking the Yonge & Dundas Sq. and Eaton Centre. jackastors.com PHOTO: PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH/THE DIALOG
PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH NEWS EDITOR
It’s patio season! Toronto is full of bars and patios where people can relax after a long day at work, or just enjoy a good time with friends on a weekend. With the onset of spring, restaurant and bar owners have started working on their patios to make them functional before people start to prefer to sit on the patio, bored of the interiors which they have been looking at for the past six months. Riddy James, student at Ryerson University says, “I like patios only in the summer, the weather like this today, is beautiful. It’s a nice place to relax, have a smoke and just enjoy the weather.” If you take a walk around the Esplanade or the Distillery District on a Friday evening you might have a hard time finding yourself a table on the patio. “When you are inside, it’s a different social atmosphere. When you are in, everybody is quiet, introverted, sort of in their own groups, but when you are outside people are louder, the conversations are
bubblier,” says patio lover Leighton Peart. “If it’s a nice summer night, that’s always the best. Who doesn’t like moonlight, and some drinks with your friends? The chicks are always great; that’s a plus.” Patios are not entirely associated with drinking. People like to just sit outside in a restaurant or their personal patios, having a nice conversation with someone over a cup of coffee while absorbing the warmth and the sun. Sergey, who declined to give their last name, was chilling out on the Yonge and Dundas Sq. patio says he likes it for “all the good reasons such as the weather, sun, tan etc.” One of the most important reasons for the patio to be popular in summer is the terribly cold and long winter. People just want to get out of their sheds and have some outdoor fun with some light clothes on. Stacey Arkhipova, a student and parttime worker says that she loves the patio, “mainly because its kind of warm now; before it was really really cold.” You don’t always find happy and satisfied people on the patios. Arkhipova complains about the encounters she has to face sometimes with overly drunk and out of control people. “Usually you go outside and end up
probably talking to more people than the people you are with to begin with. But sometimes you don’t want to be outside because crazy people come up to you, especially if you are downtown, and one thing they know is that you are trying to be nice to them but they just don’t have the same mindset,” says Arkhipova.“Some people just don’t know how to handle their drinks.” Patios are handy for all the smokers as they don’t have to shuffle in and out for smokes. They can just light up while having a drink. What’s better than being comfortable in your own seat? All those social introverts in town, get ready to abandon the music and the couches inside a pub and hit the patio for the summer. For all you know, it won’t last long.
Who doesn’t like moonlight & some drinks with your friends?
Bovine Sex Club 542 Queen Street W Watch local artists perform rock, retro punk, metal and British pop while enjoying your drink. bovinesexclub.com Amadeu’s, 184 Augusta A Portuguese style fine dining lounge, bar and patio located in the heart of Kensington Market. amadeusdining.com Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College Open until 4.30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s a great hangout spot for college students looking for late night fun. sneaky-dees.com O&B Cafe Grill, 33 Yonge St. A garden terrace patio near the Hockey Hall of Fame. oliverbonacini.com Bar Hop, 391 King W A small patio with inexpensive food and drinks. barhopbar.com Wayne Gretzky’s, 99 Blue Jays Way A sports bar with an Oasis rooftop patio for all the hockey lovers. gretzkys.com
STAFF PICKS: MEN’S & WOMEN’S STYLE
FASHION
Women’s fashion stores Zara Moderately-priced women’s wear with a high-end look. Zara’s products are for women with an elegant, semiformal, or professional sense of style. zara.com
H&M H&M is an ideal place to get your wardrobe essentials at an affordable price. hm.com/ca Black Daffodil, 3097 Dundas St.W A one stop fashion store for women. blackdaffodil.ca Vaughn Mills, Highway 400 & Rutherford Road Canada’s premier outlet destination located adjacent to the Wonderland provides some great brand options to pick from.
PHOTO: PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH/THE DIALOG
PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH & TINA TODARO
Men’s fashion stores
NEWS EDITOR & STAFF REPORTER
Harry Rosen A high-end menswear store in Canada with tailored clothing, outerwear, sportswear and footwear from designer labels. harryrosen.com
Women’s fashion trends It’s finally summer time, and women are waiting to go out and flaunt some of the latest fashion trends in Toronto. Fashion is almost synonymous with colours. The hot colours for the season are pastels or light colours, showing the vibrant and easy going side of you. Collared button-down shirts to make your torso appear elongated and ultra-chic wide leg trousers would go well for a more mature look. You can also go with a Tuxedo or athletic-striped trousers for a sporty and sophisticated look. Light-knit sweaters, printed or plain, are an easy-chic piece to pair with tailored pants. Spring layering pieces such as collarless coats can be worn with dressy trousers or a pencil skirt. There is a lot to explore when it comes to women’s fashion with so much variety to offer. So if you haven’t yet, now is the time to shop around and load your wardrobe with what you might need over the next few months.
Winners Although it’s not a men’s only store, it offers some great brands at affordable prices winners.ca Gotstyle:The menswear store, 21 Trinity St. This place has it all, a must visit for a man who likes to shop for himself. gotstylemenswear.com Multiple outlet stores at Orfus Rd. between Caledonia Rd. and Dufferin St If you are tight on budget and looking for good bargains discounts, this is the place to go
A shift blouse, a dressy version of a tshirt, is totally in at the moment along with tea-length skirts which might prove to be the ultimate transition piece. For the evenings, boxy or cropped jackets are in, especially shorter jackets allowing women to showcase their curves. For a casual outing with friends, or if you don’t really have much time to think about what to wear, go with denim shorts and tank tops for comfort. Men’s fashion trends Men’s fashion trends are often overlooked or appear to be limited. With the extraordinarily long winter this year, Torontonians are eager to shed their bulky jackets, long johns, scarves, and toques. To all the dudes in town, here’s what the hottest fashion trends you can sport this summer. Summer is the season of fun and frolicking; street festivals, beaches, pina coladas, concerts, convertibles, patios, and more. To dress for the season you need to update your wardrobe to some light and easy wear like shorts, t-shirts, sunglasses and hats. Pastels and light fabrics are in for the season.
It’s time to bring in some lighter shades of blue, orange, yellow and purple. For those who don’t like to experiment too much with colours, earth tones like grey and classics like white and black are safe to wear. No tank tops please. If you have them in your closet, chuck them or give it to your sister who can wear them to sleep. Try contrasting colours with shorts or linens you choose to wear but make sure you don’t go overboard. For evenings, a light jacket over chinos, loafers or the trendy boat shoes will do the trick. If these trends don’t work too well for you, wear what you are comfortable in and set your own trend.
The hot colours for the season are pastels or light colours, showing the vibrant & easy going side of you.
OPINION
Spring/Summer 2014
The Dialog staff reflects on the past year
Letter: Jokes about tuition aren’t funny
As my second year as The Dialog’s managing editor comes to a close the thing that really stands out for me this year was the team of students that I got to work with. Our team has been remarkable this year and has really helped transform The Dialog into a well-read newspaper that not only won national journalism awards but most importantly connected with George Brown students. From dropping plans to cover breaking news on campus, to travelling to other colleges to cover the Huskies, to late nights in our office during production to put out the best possible paper the next morning, the students who have been our staff have made this one of the best years for The Dialog in a long time. At The Dialog we are a newspaper by students for students. Our loyalties lie with the students of George Brown College and we did our best to inform, engage, and entertain you this year. Now it’s your turn to help run your student newspaper. We are currently hiring our staff for the 2014-15 semesters and are looking for students who want to be reporters, editors, videographers, photographers, columnists and distribution staff. Apply by May 31 and help keep The Dialog going strong.
Phew! Another year with The Dialog, probably my last. As I graduate from George Brown College and look forward for my future avenues I also look back to realize how good a journey it was to work with The Dialog. For a medium budget campus newspaper, I think we pulled off a great year. Increase in outreach through website, social media and multimedia worked pretty well. Attending the National Canada University Press conference in Edmonton as a delegate and being a part of the plenary was a great experience as I got some ideas on what it takes to run such a big organization from the inside. Being nominated for my article ‘From cricket to baseball in four months’ for the John H. McDonald award for excellence in student journalism is something I will cherish. All a writer wants is appreciation. Another highlight of the year was organizing the three day Ontario regional conference, Be Alternative, at George Brown College. With some mighty awesome speakers, workshops and panel discussions, it indeed was a success. I sincerely hope, The Dialog continues to break new stories, inform, entertain and educate further. I look forward to be associated with the newspaper and contribute with my stories in the future.
Print media will always be my first love. In the last decade, the common argument has been that rapid digitalization has rendered printed work useless. But while working at The Dialog over the past year, my love and support for print media has only been further strengthened. Working with such intensity on all aspects of print design, layout, illustration, and production has given me an intimate understanding of the inner workings of publication and the excitement of the constantly changing nature of working with news content as it develops. The versatility and efficiency of my design practice has improved far beyond what I thought was possible. But it’s not just my technical skills that have been strengthened this year. While I’ve always had a keen interest in current affairs and news, being behind the scenes as stories are investigated and seeing the way that a story can take a turn at the most unpredictable moments has given me a better understanding of how the media I consume is produced. While the constantly-changing nature of content and late nights of production day were initially a challenge, they’ve now become part of what makes working here such an exciting experience. I’m looking forward to returning next year, late nights and all.
Re: The Monologue Satire Issue. April 1.
Mick Sweetman, Managing Editor
Preeteesh Peetabh Singh, News Editor
Samantha Bullis, Art Director
I began at The Dialog at the end of January and since then; I have had nothing but positive experiences. Immediately I began researching, reporting and covering events for the paper. Working for The Dialog has helped me work on my writing and communication skills and has opened up new doors I wouldn’t have found otherwise. From interviewing to exploring new areas, I can honestly say The Dialog has challenged me in more ways than I had ever expected. The Dialog came into my life at an unanticipated time. I moved to Toronto from Massachusetts in August with no knowledge of the city or the people, I was feeling hopeless and confused. Luckily, The Dialog stopped me in my tracks and brought me hope, motivation and most importantly, involvement. Being hired as a staff reporter was a blessing for me but becoming the sports reporter and a photographer heightened my experience entirely. Since working for the paper, I have networked, learned about the journalism world and challenged my abilities, proving I can do anything I put my mind to. Working for The Dialog has been the best part of my time spent at George Brown College and because of that, I am grateful.
How to sum up this year – phenomenal? I think so. After a challenging year at The Dialog, I can definitely say I overcame the challenge. I had no expectations about how the job would be or my how I would perform the staff reporter role upon being hired, but after a year, my only expectation is for myself – to do more writing and keep improving my skills. This job opened a lot of doors for me, and for that I am truly grateful. Opportunities like being able to go to NASH 76 in Edmonton this January, opened my eyes to the world of journalism and not only motivated to continuing writing, but pushed me to write. I had a great year working with an excellent team of writers and reporters – and I can’t forget, our teams amazing graphic designer to whom our paper would not be possible. Summing up this year is impossible in one word, and even five words probably aren’t enough to describe the intelligence and passion brought on by each of my colleagues that allowed me to find the passion I have for my job. Thanks go out to the The Dialog for an awesome year!
The short time I have spent working on The Dialog has been a very satisfying and enjoyable experience. I love that I have gotten to work with my innovative and talented coworkers, I love that I get to interview people for articles and I love that I can pick up a paper and go “I wrote that!” Working on the paper gave me a chance to explore the Toronto arts community further and get to share my findings with the public. Most importantly it allowed me to give the dance department more of a reputation other than those mysterious creatures that lurk in the basement. If I do not return to The Dialog next year I hope there is some dance student reading this who will be inspired to send in their resume and keep writing on behalf of our George Brown Dance family! I want to thank the staff at The Dialog for their insight and helpfulness and the awesome job they do to keep our team going. Best of luck to everyone and have a superb summer!
Tina Todaro, Staff Reporter
Rachel Levitt, Staff Reporter
Hi, I’m a student in GBC and I read the article, “GBC cuts tuition fee for international students”. I just heard about it from my school and I was so surprised then I asked an international coordinator. She said she was deceived herself about it and she felt ashamed. Then I knew that it is stupid joke for April poo’s day. I don’t think it is a good article because international students pay a lot more money than domestic students. Why should we deserve to hear the stupid joke? And it is not that fun at all. I wish it was true but every international student agrees with that they can’t accept this kind of joke. I don’t understand why you guys write for international student about tuition fees. It is a very sensitive problem. I’m supposed to take summer course and when I got this I was really thinking that I should drop the summer course and take the next course in fall. For you guys and domestic students, this crazy article can be fun, but for us it is absolutely not. Please think carefully when you guys make a newspaper. It is not fun at all ok? Please let me remind you we pay $3,000 more and we don’t deserve it. Sunyoung Son .................................................................. Hi Sunyoung, Thank you for writing. I am Pee Pee S. who wrote the satire article on GBC reducing international student fee. I agree on this being a sensitive issue. I would like to flag that just like you, I am also an international student who is sick and tired of the ever increasing fees for us. The satire seemed to work for the April “Poo’s” day, but somewhere I hoped that it rung a bell with the administration who has not even managed to implement a freeze on international student’s fees, let alone reduce them. The purpose was that, and not to confuse or upset you. Preeteesh Peetabh Singh News Editor
Got something to say? Write us a letter at dialog@georgebrown.ca We may edit letters or comments for length and clarity.
Brittany Barber, Staff Reporter The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca
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ARTS & LIFE Spring/Summer 2014
Choreo lab encourages dancers to experiment RACHEL LEVITT STAFF REPORTER
Choreo lab is a class that began in January and runs every Sunday in the George Brown Dance (GBD) studios, set up by GBD teacher Sion Irwin-Childs. The choreo lab currently has GBD students and alumni, but it is open to anyone outside the dance department and the college with a one time membership fee of $50. Irwin-Childs describes the class as “a mentorship opportunity that allows people to develop their choreographic skills...and gives them an opportunity to be able to go from process, product, and presentation into performance mode, all in one day.” The class also allows for performance opportunities such as the Eros Cabaret, which was presented on April 11. Networking is also a bonus, since dancers get into an environment where they work closely with one another to build on their choreographic skills not just as a team, but as a family. As the only dance program at GBD that offers a composition class that allows dancers to harness their choreographic skills and create their own pieces is dance performance studies, choreo lab gives students in the other dance programs (dance performance preparation and commercial dance studies) the opportunity to acquire
these skills for themselves. Dance performance preparation student Anderson Langille said “I joined choreo lab because it’s an opportunity to have a free open space to create and experience. Since it’s choreo lab I think of it as experiments.” “I think it’s a good time to have structured [dance improvisation],” said dance performance preparation student Jocelynn Roy. “Sion usually comes up with concepts like we take a word or something, we play with that word and we’re experimenting with different ideas that we have.” On the basic structure of choreo lab, Irwin-Childs said, “the first hour is a warm up and exercises that I guide people through, the second hour is used for solo exploration and the third hour is used for group studies.” I got to observe a choreo lab class and as a dancer I can tell you, it looked extremely fun. The first exercise involved the dancers being blindfolded and improvising while Irwin-Childs walked around the room at gave them additional instructions. In the following exercise each person got a partner and moved that person like a “doll”, and lastly t h ey ch o re o g r a p h e d a s h o r t d a n c e routine as a group. Choreo lab is a very welcoming and open environment. Anyone interested in creating their own dance pieces should definitely give it a try.
Above: Jocelynn Roy and Anderson Langille do some improvisation work. Below: Anderson Langille performs complex dance moves.
PHOTOS: RACHEL LEVITT/THE DIALOG
Summer is a chance to give back to the city by volunteering MARC RAGUSA SPECIAL TO THE DIALOG
As the season starts to warm up, new opportunities begin to follow. If you’re looking for something new or unique to do during the spring and summer months, why not lend a hand and volunteer? In a city as diverse as Toronto, the opportunities range from festivals to fundraisers and just about everything in between. The Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival, July 2-13: Chances are that you’ve heard of it, maybe even seen a show. Ever considered volunteering for it? The Fringe movement is worldwide, and it aims to give aspiring new artists and performers an empowered voice. One shift equals one voucher for a show. Volunteer opportunities include ushers, ticket sales and event
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support. This year’s festival features 148 shows in 35 venues with more than 1,100 performances. Rest assured the artists benefit as they receive 100 per cent of the ticket sales. Coming out to lend a hand ensures a unique, fun and rewarding experience. Sign up info can be found at volunteer@ fringeinfo.com. Food Banks Canada: Fighting hunger is always a need, regardless of the season. There are specific opportunities during the spring to help the organizations that help those in need. Also to remember, May 5-9 is hunger awareness week. If you have the time and are inclined to make a difference, running your own food drive with friends or co-workers for your local food bank is an option worth considering and so is coming in and lending your time to help sort through goods. When 850,000 Canadians are assisted
The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca
by food banks on a monthly basis and 36.4 per cent of them are children and youth, you know it’s a worthy cause. Of course, every day is a great day to sign up. You can go to foodbankscanada.ca to find your local food bank and find out how you can help. For all the nature lovers, there are various ways to have a great experience while taking care of the environment. The City of Toronto offers plenty of volunteering with its parks, forestry and recreation department. Here you’ll get to do a variety of activities, from tree planting to park cleanups. Other activities include a stewardship program and working with children, where you’ll help to get them involved with nature using the High Park Children’s Eco program. This time of year is perfect for getting fresh air, exercise and volunteering. You can sign up at or extend inquiries to
greentoronto@toronto.ca or call 311. Harbourfront Centre is a given for anyone looking to check out a cultural destination, but you may or not have considered to volunteer here. The season itself lasts from May to October. Attracting many different types of arts enthusiasts, Harbourfront does indeed cater to your inner creative with opportunities to pitch in and see what’s on for the day. Harbourfront offers a wide array of arts shows and programs from dances and concerts to plays and films. This preview only gives a small sample of what’s available. If you’re looking to make a difference in our city this summer, you may also want to check out volunteertoronto.ca and charityvillage.ca for more listings. In a city as diverse as Toronto, there’s something for everyone looking to help out, meet new people and try something different.
ARTS & LIFE Spring/Summer 2014
PHOTO: KAREN CAMPOS
GBC’s Vivek Shraya asks people what they love about being queer RACHEL LEVITT STAFF REPORTER
What I Love About Being Queer (WILABQ) is a book that is composed of various peoples’ opinions about the statement posed by the title. It was put together by the George Brown College (GBC) positive space co-ordinator/human rights advisor Vivek Shraya. The book can be purchased at the GBC bookstore. All proceeds go to the GBC Positive Space Award. WILABQ was also nominated for the prestigious Lambda award. As a straight female that is not minority, I have had the privilege of not having to face much judgement in my life. However, I have friends and family who have not had the same privilege. After talking with Shraya and reading the book for myself, I could not wait to tell the queer people in my life about it, as I instantly knew how empowering it would be for them.
When asked about why he wrote the book, Shraya describes how in his position he has seen many students experiencing homophobia and how this has transitioned into a type of self-hatred. “I really wanted to make something that could speak to these students, something to say ‘hey, you know this complicated part of who you are is actually worth celebrating’”, said Shraya. He made a short film that featured 34 local Toronto artists, educators, and lots of GBC staff and faculty which expanded into a Tumblr project where anyone in the world could submit answers to the title question. The book then became a selection of answers from these projects. When asked about why he chose the question, Shraya answered, “I came up with it because I think most of us grew up in a world that told us that being queer was wrong or that there was a lot that they didn’t like about
queerness or queer people and so for me it was like, well what are the great things about being queer?” He adds “[the question] gives people a chance to express the positive aspects of being queer without diminishing the challenges.” The book is full of many touching, humorous and insightful answers from people primarily from Canada, but also from some other countries as well. Here is a sample of some answers published in the book: Jes-torronna writes, “Oy. The parties? The poetry? The People? The sex.” Sarah Fobes writes, “In one sense, I’m part of a very privileged world: I’m a white Canadian. So without being queer, I don’t think I would have perspective on the feelings of people that are undermined on a daily basis.” Sara B. writes, “Getting to be a part of gay curling...in Alberta!” No matter what your sexuality is, this book is worth checking out because it centres on something that affects us all: being human.
I came up with it because I think most of us grew up in a world that told us that being queer was wrong or that there was a lot that they didn’t like about queerness or queer people and so for me it was like, well what are the great things about being queer?
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ARTS & LIFE Spring/Summer 2014
Aboriginal students from GBC brought their heritage to the Waterfront on Mar. 29 with onlookers from inside and outside of their communities.
PHOTOS: TINA TODARO/THE DIALOG
1,000 gather for Four Sacred Colours Pow Wow at Waterfront TINA TODARO STAFF REPORTER
The Pow Wow celebrated the importance of culture by fostering togetherness at George Brown College (GBC). Showcasing the meaning of their culture, aboriginal students brought their heritage to the Waterfront campus on March 29. “A Pow Wow is how we get together as a community,” said Coty Zachariah, 26. “Over the years it’s become a good way to showcase our culture.” Amazing responses from students from other schools and people in the Toronto 18
community attracted over 1000 guests to this year’s Four Sacred Colours Pow Wow, put on by the Sahkitcheway Aboriginal Student Association of GBC. “The George Brown College Four Sacred Colours Pow Wow always has been wonderful and I had the chance this year to be a vital volunteer,” said Samantha Brown, GBC student and incoming aboriginal representative. “I can’t describe the feeling it brings me, to be able to help with such a positive experience.” The event effortlessly showcased a way of life while driving out past misconceptions, for example the inappropriate por-
The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca
trayals of aboriginal people in media. According to Media Smarts, “primitive, violent and devious, or passive and submissive,” are some of the common portrayals of Aboriginal People in movies, TV programs, and literature ranging from books to comic strips. This year’s event, with a bigger turnout than the previous year, demonstrated the strength and passion among students, children, adults and other attendees. Beats from the drums, also known as ‘grandfathers’, created a vibrant atmosphere for guests, and an environment that encouraged dancing, singing, shopping, and
getting in touch with a culture that may not have been their own. “This year, we had so much support from GBC students and from the aboriginal community,” said Brown. “I know next year it will be even bigger and better.” Adding to Brown’s comment, Zachariah mentions that although the Waterfront campus was home to this year’s Pow Wow, a bigger space may be necessary next year. Vibrant colours, dances, and songs allowed the crowd to engage with each other, while displaying the true meaning of aboriginal cultures.
PUZZLES & FUN Spring/Summer 2014
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