JUNE/JULY 2012
Maple Spring, Long Summer
NEWS Quebec tuition strikes By Lindsey Addawoo
Despite the provincial government’s strenuous efforts, the Quebec tuition strike has yet to die down. The Quebec government’s plan to raise tuition sent post-secondary students into frenzy earlier this year, ultimately inspiring a strike at colleges, universities and CEGEPs ( junior college before post-secondary that replaces Grades 12 and 13) across the province. According to Liberal Premier Jean Charest’s budget, tuition fees will increase by 75 per cent, translating to roughly $325 per year. The increase is supposed to start this year and run until 2017. Roxanne Dubois, chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students, told CBC that the Quebec government alleges it has to “catch up” to other provinces in order to maintain an “expected standard” for post-secondary education. So far, the protesting has resulted in thousands of arrests and several injuries involving both protesters and police. The protests began in February of this year, when over 100,000 students boycotted classes to raise public awareness and to get their government’s attention. The protests have become so heated that police officers are not just targeting students, but also others in the streets. Journalist Dave Kaufman of The Huffington Post Canada explained how one night he was assaulted by a police officer. “No warning, no explanation, just a swift swing of a nightstick to the back of my leg,” he wrote. This level of state violence toward student protes-
tors is unlike anything the Ontario student movement has ever seen. The CFS Day of Action protests and the ongoing Toronto solidarity marches in support of the Quebec student strike have been large, but nothing compared to Quebec in terms of size, police response, or number of arrests. Politicians have not been idle in the face of these protests. Charest recently announced the introduction of a bill intended to put an end to the 14-week tuition strike, which students rejected. According to the bill, 14 CEGEPs and 11 universities will shut down for the remainder of the academic year until the crisis can be resolved. Charest claims that the bill will guarantee roughly $39 million in bursaries and grants for those who cannot afford the tuition increase. Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois and Jeanne Reynolds, representatives of Quebec’s student association, CLASSE, quickly retorted that the Liberal government was “incapable of listening to young people” and would rather ridicule them. Although government officials oppose violent protests, they simultaneously perpetuate the tension among Quebec students. Francois Legault of the Coalition Avenir Quebec stated in an interview, “suspending the academic session until August means the crisis will resume.” Not only will it continue, but it will get much worse. By pushing back the academic year, Charest is able to buy time in order to come up with another band-aid remedy. Students want to prevent the increase, not devise supplements for it. Executive Director of the Canadian Association of
University Teachers, James Turk, explains that the “added urgency,” introduced by Charest’s new bill has compelled trade unions to donate upwards of $36,000 to Quebec student unions in out-of-province funds. Various interest groups have organized protests outside of Quebec in solidarity with the strikers, encouraging their members to sign petitions against high tuition fees. “If Quebec students win, students in English Canada have a better chance of winning their fight against tuition fees and student debt,” says James Clark, an organizer of the May 30 Day of Action in Solidarity with the Quebec Student Strike. Some Ontario students feel that, because Quebec has the lowest tuition rates in the country, Quebec students have little reason to complain. With Charest’s hike, Quebec tuition rates will still be much lower than Ontario’s, which are the highest in the country. In response, CLASSE argues that raising post-secondary tuition will “ruin” Quebec’s low-income affordable education model. “We are lucky enough to have a model that we can point to as something that recognizes that education should be something that should be available to everyone, regardless [of ] your social status,” Nadeau-Dubois said. To some living just across the border, the Quebec fiasco seems to be about pride. But. whatever one’s misgivings about the protests, the tuition increase for many is a drastic jump that many Quebec families simply cannot accommodate.
Students of Maisonneuve College vote to join the student strike.
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PHOTO: Pierre-Luc Daoust
Federal Omnibus Budget Bill Will SilenT Important Environmental Groups charities that the government deem too political. “What we’re seeing is an unprecedented attack on environmental protection measures and charities,” said Gillian McEachern, deputy campaign director at Environmental Defence. McEachern worries that Canada is spiraling backwards, maintaining that the country is supposed to be moving towards a low-carbon economy, not running away from it. And if the pipeline gets built, McEachern says it would be another backward step for First Nations’ rights. Since Enbridge’s initial proposal for Northern Gateway, about 50 First Nation groups whose lands lie along the pipeline’s route have fiercely opposed the project. Although Enbridge maintains that the project will create jobs, boost economic development, and remain eco-friendly, the Yinka-Dene Alliance argues that it disrupts their way of life and will be disastrous to local ecosystems. Local activists, who are afraid of the far-reaching affects of the new budget, echo the sentiments of First Nations groups and national environmentalists. “The government is working in a 1970’s assumption which is: what’s good for the environment is bad for the economy. This is a false assumption,” Franz Hartmann, executive director of Toronto Environmental Alliance, said. Hartmann believes the economy can be nurtured with untapped labour potential in the green energy and energy conservation sectors and with the help of long-standing environmental policies. But under the new budget, environmental protection measures that have been in place for decades, such as The Environmental Assessment Act, are going to be overhauled or simply revoked without public input. The budget also includes complex changes to the Fisheries Act and ultimately hands more power to provincial regulators, allowing for faster natural resource extraction. “We’re being silenced,” Hartmann said. “We’ve been called terrorists just for saying that there are alternatives.”
Plan to Pipe Tar Sands to East Coast Protested Activists interrupt National Energy Board hearing
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Contributors marie alcober Pierre-Luc Daoust eric Mark Do tim groves samantha lui max mertens adriana rolston alexander shapcott amy ward
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By Tim Groves Late last month environmental justice protestors temporarily shut down a hearing in London looking into a proposal to have tar sand oil piped through Ontario. The three day hearing, held by the National Energy Board (NEB), is examining a proposal by Enbridge to reverse the flow of an existing pipeline (Line 9), which currently carries imported overseas oil west. Enbridge wants to instead use the pipeline to bring tar sands oil east. This oil may then be exported to Europe. After entering the hearing, protestors employed the people’s mic, where the crowd would echo back whatever was said by a spokesperson in order to project their voices. After a few minutes, most other attendees at the hearing exited the room. The NEB hearing was shut down for approximately an hour. The spokesperson who led the people’s mic was arrested and then removed from the room. She was later released with a ticket for trespassing. The protestors raised concerns about the environmental impacts of the Alberta tar sands, the possibility of a spill in Ontario and the lack of prior and informed consent being sought from First Nations in Ontario. “Six Nations rights already have been violated in this review process,” stated Wes Elliot, a resident of Six Nations in a press release. “Free, prior, and informed consent is not a factor in these hearings.” Line 9 cuts through the Haldimand Tract, land that was given to Six Nations in 1784. “We also must object to the illegitimate and anti-democratic conduct of the officials who are fast-tracking this review,” said Elliot in the release. Following the protest, demonstrators held what they dubbed an unofficial “People’s Hearing on the Tar Sands Pipeline.” “The current framework of the National Energy Board hearings does not allow us to draw connections between tar sands extraction, toxic
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By Marie Alcober According to environmentalists, changes to legislation under the federal government’s omnibus bill undermine Canadians’ democratic rights. Speedier timelines in the new budget will limit the environmentalists’ ability to intervene in assessment hearings on major resource projects like the Northern Gateway pipeline in British Columbia. “What they’re doing is making a significant re-write of Canadian law by burying it in this budget,” Keith Stewart of Greenpeace Canada said. “And it is undemocratic.” Without proper public scrutiny from organizations that study the environmental consequences of oil extraction, the new changes could cause “collateral damage on future industrial projects,” according to Stewart. University of Toronto professor of Environmental Policy Douglas Macdonald sees no harm in speeding up the environmental assessment process, but says the government is not serving Canada’s national interests by shutting out an entire perspective. “I don’t think putting a timeline is the issue. The more significant aspect is the government’s power to limit the ability of environmental groups across Canada to have a say,” Macdonald said. According to Macdonald, the government is thinking about economic benefits before weighing the environmental costs. When the budget was tabled on March 29, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty gave the oil industry a much awaited green light. He announced that the Harper government is willing to feed hungry Asia-Pacific markets with Western Canada’s natural-based resources. Enbridge Inc backs the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal. The project will carry crude from the Alberta oil sands to a deep-water port in northern British Columbia, from where it will be shipped to Asia and the western U.S. The Northern Gateway project is part of the government’s plan to boost economic growth through resource development, especially in the West. Flaherty also announced that $8 million would be given to the Canadian Revenue Agency over the next two years to improve transparency in
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refineries and upgraders, and various other downstream consequences,” said Taylor Flook, a member of Occupy Toronto who attended the event in London. “The People’s Hearing was arranged as a more open forum, where anyone can share any of their concerns about relevant issues.” “The tar sands industry is attempting to build as many pipelines as they can,” said Flook. “We should not accept the fast-tracking of these projects,” she said. “No tar sands operations should proceed without the consent of everyone who may be impacted.” As the extraction of tar sands from Alberta has increased, a series of new pipeline projects have emerged to bring the dirty oil to refineries and ports across Canada and the US. The Harper government has loudly endorsed these projects. But following a series of protests against TransCanada’s XL pipeline, which would send tar sands oil south, President Obama delayed approval for a section of that project going through the US until after this fall’s elections, which will take place in November. Opposition by First Nations and environmentalists to Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, which would bring oil from Alberta to the BC coast for shipment overseas, has garnered attention across Canada. Protestors worry the Line 9 Reversal could be rushed through before there is time to build awareness and opposition to the pipeline. But they say many of the concerns with the Northern Gateway Pipeline also apply to the Line 9 reversal. The Line 9 approval process is taking place in two phases. The London hearing deals with bringing oil from Sarnia, Ontario, to Westover, Ontario. The second phase regards oil transport from Westover to Montreal, Quebec.
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Organizer Arrested During Occupy Parliament Protest By Eric Mark Do After a peaceful demonstration at Parliament Hill on May 5, one of the protest’s organizers — who is also the founder of the Occupy Canada Facebook page — was arrested after taking to the streets. Derek Soberal, of Toronto, was detained overnight by Ottawa Police and released on $500 bail the next day. He faces charges of obstructing a police officer, being a member of an unlawful assembly, causing a disturbance, mischief, and breaching the peace. All five charges are criminal code offences. After a three-hour rally on the steps of Parliament Hill, the group marched down the sidewalk of Wellington Street toward Sussex Drive on the way to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s residence. At Sussex Drive and Murray Street, the protesters took over the intersection calling for Harper’s resignation. “A protest happening in the streets, that’s what a protest is, you take to the streets,” said Soberal after being released from jail.
An officer approached Soberal and asked, “Is there anything I can say or do to make you leave [the intersection]?” Three seconds later, Soberal was placed in handcuffs as the crowd chanted, “Peaceful protest!” When asked what Soberal could be charged with, an officer at the scene said, “inciting a riot.” Soberal responded the next day by saying, “I’ve always been peaceful, so obviously I would never incite a riot.” Ottawa Police Constable Henri Lanctot, citing the police report of the incident, said that “the crowd became very hostile, very violent towards the police when the officer arrested Mr. Soberal.” While protesters were very vocal — even being told to lower their voices at various times — they repeatedly stated their peaceful intentions and deny police allegations of physical confrontation. One police officer, however, forcibly moved two people who were standing on the sidewalk close to where Soberal was being
held. About 40 of the demonstrators, including Soberal, had travelled from Toronto on a rented school bus. Soberal took a commercial bus back the next day after the group was forced to leave without him. Two police vehicles waited for the group to board the school bus then followed them to the highway. Participants had different reasons for going to Occupy Parliament. “The main reason would be the election fraud, having our democratic right systematically attacked,” said Michael Boyd. “It’s something I take very seriously.” Susan Elliot Sim said she wanted to emphasize decolonization “because corporations have colonized our lives in the same ways that colonial powers...went and colonized countries in the new world.” Upon arrival to parliament, police stopped two individuals for smoking marijuana. They had their information recorded and were free to go.
Those protesting had the chance to voice their concerns, as organizers used an “open mic” format. Issues ranged from Bill C-30 to marijuana legalization, the fighter-jet purchase, and more. But the robo-call scandal emerged as the main sticking point. Anthony James Hall, professor of globalization studies at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, spoke in depth about the history of the Conservative Party of Canada and Responsive Marketing Group, one of the companies in the spotlight of the robo-call issue. “This goes to the fundamental issue of, ‘do we have a legitimate government in Canada?’ And we do not have a legitimate government in Canada,” he said. Hall’s research paper, Fixing Elections Through Fraud, details his argument calling for a royal commission into electoral practices in Canada. Austin Gagne, 7, was fighting for the same cause, as he held up a sign demanding to get fraud
out of parliament, and for a new election. “We deserve to be heard, and the government needs to be held accountable for their actions, without a doubt,” said Bernard Gagne, Austin’s father. The family regularly attends protests, and arrived by train from Toronto. Deborah Gagne says they greatly value the democratic process of speaking out against wrongdoings. “It’s something we want to pass on to our kids, so when they grow up they have the option to do the same.” On the hill, Cpl. Harold Pfleiderer of the RCMP said the protest was going well. “People have the right to express their opinions in a peaceful manner,” said Pfleiderer. Soberal said that right was taken away from him. “Right here I found out I didn’t have the freedom of speech,” he said. “I don’t believe that was an unlawful assembly, because we’ve had assemblies like that in Toronto. Numerous times we’ve taken to the streets like that.”
IN THE (DIGITAL MEDIA) ZONE WITH PRINCE CHARLES By Alexander Shapcott It is not everyday that royalty descends upon the city of Toronto. However, on May 22, students, staff, and alumni at Ryerson University’s Digital Media Zone (DMZ) had the distinct opportunity to rub elbows with His Royal Highness Prince Charles during his Canadian visit commemorating Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. Selected as one of but a few pubic appearances during the three-day itinerary, the publicity accompanying the royal visit further thrusts Ryerson University and its DMZ program into the spotlight as a burgeoning leader in inventive, career-oriented education. “While Ryerson and the Digital Media Zone already has a great and growing reputation throughout Canada both academically and as a builder of our country’s digital innovation economy, Prince Charles’ visit raised the DMZ’s profile internationally,” said Valerie Fox, Digital Media Zone Executive Director. The event drew an impressive crowd of spectators outside the Yonge-Dundas headquarters, briefly closing the busy downtown intersection upon the Prince’s arrival shortly after eleven. For media and curious Ryersonians unable to enter the heavily secured DMZ, a simulcast was provided at the nearby AMC theatres and via web stream. With such fanfare, the anticipation inside the DMZ minutes before the reception was palpable. “Everyone looks so nervous,” quipped one of the event organizers to the group’s amusement. In an effort to quell the pressure and demonstrate the team spirit fostered at the program, the entire floor broke into song, belting out Ryerson’s official anthem. Prince Charles was escorted into the Zone by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, where they were enthusiastically greeted by Ryerson President Sheldon Levy and key DMZ staff. The Prince of Wales then spent nearly an hour touring the space and viewed demonstrations from several up-start
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companies incubated at the facility. Among the four teams chosen to present their projects to the Prince were Bionik Labs, 500px, Greengage, and Flybits. Representatives from each team seemed quite starstruck upon initial introductions but held their poise and effectively conveyed the dynamic innovativeness of the work being undertaken at the DMZ. Attentive throughout, the Prince engaged the students and alumni on each project with some surprisingly unfiltered questions regarding business feasibility and product development. His Royal Highness was also invited to sample several high-tech gadgets from each company, including browsing through photographs via iPad and utilizing smartphone software to scan objects to obtain relevant information. The highlight came from Flybits mini Nao robot that verbally greeted the future King and saluted him with a bow, much to the Prince’s delight. After meeting with students, Prince Charles posted a tweet via Ryerson University’s Twitter handle: “Engaging & impressive innovators @RyersonDMZ. Higher-ed is being taken to the next level.” Charles is a long-standing supporter of youth-focused educational and career initiatives. His U.K. based foundation The Prince’s Charities funds over six youth oriented programs including The Prince’s Trust and The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust. The Digital Media Zone’s mandate to offer fertile minds a workspace to create, collaborate and take their digital ideas to the marketplace certainly appealed to those sensibilities. “The DMZ is a unique hub of innovation and creativity and I believe His Royal Highness was greatly impressed with our entrepreneurs’ achievements,” said Valerie Fox. The royal engagement comes as Ryerson experiences tremendous growth. Maclean’s Magazine recently ranked
Ryerson University as one of the most comprehensive schools in Canada. The DMZ is also the subject of a Swedish study to identify the world’s 50 leading university incubators, with results to be published in the Wall Street Journal. Since its launch in April 2010, more than 79 projects across 48 teams passed through the Digital Media Zone. 43 startups have been cultivated and accelerated with 453 jobs created through the newly formed companies and marketdriven research. The added exposure should undoubtedly help to solidify Ryerson’s positioning as a world-class institution. For those students, staff, and alumni in attendance, the event proved to be memorable and exhilarating. The four companies featured on the tour were: Bionik Labs — A medical engineering research and development corporation with a focus on ground-breaking prosthetics and rehabilitation devices. 500px — One of the hottest and fastest growing photography websites in the world. 500px enables users to browse photos, view photographer profiles, create favorites and follow favorite photographers, generating 7 million visits and 55 million page views each month. Greengage — Promotes environmental sustainability through employee engagement tools and interactive management systems. Flybits — A Ryerson University research team and a Canadian leader in context-aware computing operating within the Digital Media Zone. Flybits developed Toronto’s GO Transit’s first official mobile application, GO Mobile, which was downloaded over 750,000 times in its first eight weeks.
CULTURE Behind Closed Doors
Toronto’s annual Open House lets visitors feel at home Photos by Amy Ward
The teachers at Complections International Academy of Make Up Artistry can be tough, but during a full moon they’re downright vicious. You might want to invest in some silver makeup brushes and tweezers. And some eau de garlic wouldn’t hurt.
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f a skyline is the doorway to a city, it makes sense to want to peer through the windows. Between the tourist attractions you never check out, the clubs or businesses you don’t visit, and the private properties you haven’t infiltrated, the city is full of landmarks for a curious mind. Fortunately, during the weekend of May 26 – 27, more than 100 locations across Toronto provided free public tours in the annual Doors Open event to indulge those hoping to learn more about the history, architecture and secret dirt in the crevices of the city’s structures. Here are some sights from behind and around closed doors.
Before its renovation and conversion to the One King West Hotel and Residence in 2006, the former Dominion Bank Building suffered from the age-old dilemma: tight heritage restrictions limited renovations and 4.5-foot-thick bank vaults blocked access to the money that could finance the upkeep.
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Visitors watch as water filters are flushed at the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant. The facility purifies around 500 million litres of water per day. No word on how much of that is used to supply the city’s gravy train.
Children’s entertainer Franklin checks out the onsite tube slide at Corus Quay, which is a favourite attraction for Foo Fighters’ singer Dave Grohl whenever he visits 102.1 the Edge. Rumour has it Scaredy Squirrel has developed a contingency plan in case he finds himself near the slide, which will likely involve playing dead.
The R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant east of the Beaches frequently appears in films and TV shows as a prison, mental hospital or headquarters of The Man, but the “palace of purification” made a cameo as itself in Michael Ondaatje’s novel, In the Skin of a Lion. More than 70 years after the building opened in 1941, it is still Toronto’s largest water treatment plant, processing a third of the city’s water supply.
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Reviews
MUSIC Cadence Weapon - Hope In Dirt City
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ollie Pemberton, a.k.a. Cadence Weapon, is perhaps the most underrated Canadian rapper making music today. He’s released two great albums (Breaking Kayfabe was nominated for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize, losing out to Final Fantasy’s He Poos Clouds), a handful of mixtapes (search “G20 Swag” on YouTube to hear him rapping over a song by Outkast’s Big Boi about the debacle in Toronto), and is well-respected in the North American music community (he was Edmonton’s poet laureate for two years and wrote for Pitchfork). Despite his success, Cadence Weapon isn’t a household Canadian hip-hop name, and he doesn’t seem all that bothered by it. “Hype man, I don’t need a f--king hype man,” he declares on “Hype Man,” while poking fun at rappers who can’t go anywhere without a posse. He doesn’t name names, but on songs like “(You Can’t Stop) The Machine” (featuring an assist from Nova Scotia’s Buck 65), he allows the listener to fill in the blanks. The album takes its musical cues from Afrobeat and jazz (listen for the saxophone solo on “Jukebox”) to futuristic-sounding rap (“There We Go”) to psychedelia (“Crash Course From The Ravers,” which cleverly references David Bowie). While he calls Montreal home these days, the album is largely about growing up in Edmonton, and Pemberton is at his strongest when telling stories about drifters, grifters, family and friends, past and present. He’s called this his version of Allen Ginsberg’s Howl for young Edmontonians, and in that regard, Hope In Dirt City succeeds in capturing the trials, tribulations, and, yes, even hope of a city. —Max Mertens
Japandroids – Celebration Rock
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his past Victoria Day long weekend, I was stuck in Toronto and it was too sweltering outside to sleep, so I pulled up a chair by my bedroom window and watched the fireworks. They came from different neighbourhoods, illuminating the balconies and parks where they were launched. While these fireworks ranged from your basic convenience store firecrackers bought by mischievous highschoolers to ornate displays for the benefit of visiting British royalty, they felt like a citywide overture to summer. The first (and last) sound you hear on Celebration Rock, the highly anticipated second album from Vancouver’s Japandroids, is the sound of fireworks. Not coincidentally, singer/guitarist Brian King and drummer David Prowse’s follow-up to Post-Nothing serves as the perfect soundtrack to late summer nights. Much like their debut, the album’s eight songs show the duo wearing their hearts on their finest The Replacements T-shirt sleeves. That means cacophonous, rollicking garage rock ‘n’ roll, lyrics about friendship and drinking past last call, not to mention plenty of “whoa-oh-oh” choruses. This time around, though, King and Prowse seem more confident in their abilities as musicians, and have—dare I say it?—matured. At the heart of Celebration Rock is the one-two punch of “Younger Us” and “The House That Heaven Built,” the former featuring King yelping the line, “Remember saying things like, ‘We’ll sleep when we’re dead.’” On Post-Nothing, the duo wanted to chase girls and stay young forever. Here, they’re just happy to be living in the moment. —MM
Picasso at the AGO: A personal journey brought to life
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early 50 years after Toronto’s groundbreaking 1964 exhibition Picasso and Man, the artist has returned to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) with Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris, running from May 1 through Aug. 26. The presentation boasts a collection of more than 147 personal pieces (dubbed Picasso’s Picasso) spanning the artist’s legendary career. Building on a stellar line-up that has included Abstract Expressionist New York and Chagall and the Russian AvantGarde, the AGO is the sole Canadian venue to what has been a celebrated worldwide tour for the Picasso collection before returning to its permanent home in Paris. For many North American audiences, this will be a rare opportunity to view the works outside their native soil. The exhibit is certainly a boon for the gallery, which has pursued an aggressive programming campaign since completing renovations in 2008. Now only a week into its public opening, the AGO is unusually bustling for a Friday evening. Patrons line the narrow foyer leading into the exhibition chamber, eager to delve into art history. “There are some really incredible works on display here,” says Eveleen Fahy, an AGO member who has brought a guest along to soak up the event. “I visited the actual Picasso museum in Paris years ago but have never forgotten how amazing the pieces are in person.” The breadth of the collection on display is remarkable. Chronologically presented to immerse audiences in the evolution of Picasso’s craft, the gallery is divided into seven sub-sections, each room highlighting a phase in his vocation from 1900 to 1972. Several high profile love affairs are also spotlighted, revealing the extent to which these muses infused Picasso’s creative vitality throughout his life. From Blue period to Rose period, to the development of the seminal Cubist form and beyond, the journey is cohesive and didactic. While Picasso’s masterpieces will be the main draw for many, they never overshadow the overall experience. The artisan’s most recognizable works are subtly interspersed along lesser-known pieces, permitting the body of work to speak for itself. Additionally, visitors will discover an array of bronze and metal sculptures illustrating the range of Picasso’s talents beyond painting, and his obsession with reinvention. It is a testament to the master craftsman that statuette Man With Sheep (1943) can stand so effortlessly against oil-on-canvas tour de forces such as Three Figures beneath a Tree (1907). However, most compelling for enthusiasts will be the artist’s early renderings and sketches that allow intimate insights into his creative process. Rough pencil studies demonstrate the meticulous preparation Picasso undertook for many of his pieces and offer the earliest incarnations of Cubist experimentation available. It is so personal a collection that even the crudest and seemingly unfinished sketchbook drafts are included. Nothing appears off limits, as one might expect from such a legendary perfectionist. Indeed, the show is just as much about Picasso, the man, as it is about his work. Quietly elegant in its reverence, the tour is a rewarding retrospective on the prolific 20th century icon. For an extra charge, patrons are invited to an audio tour delivered via hand-held mobile device containing in-depth histories behind select artworks. But audiences stand to gain the most with simple observation and some imagination. Such is the power of Picasso. —Alexander Shapcott Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris runs from May 1 – August 26, 2012. Adult admission $25. Student admission $16 (ID required). Free for AGO members.
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China Heavyweight
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erving as a follow-up to Yung Chang’s 2007 film Up the Yangtze, the Chinese-Canadian director takes his viewers back to China in China Heavyweight, introducing them to three men involved at a boxing academy in Southwest China. Qi Moxiang is a state boxing coach who searches for raw talent in village schools and rural tobacco fields of the Sichuan province. A former boxer himself, Moxiang longs to have one more shot at victory after losing an Olympic qualifying match from a previous year. The younger boxers are Miao Yunfei and He Zongli. Chosen to go into elite training, both hope they won’t spend their lives as tobacco farmers. While three characters can be a handful to focus on, Chang does an excellent job of intertwining their stories and bringing them back together at the end of the film during Coach Qi’s final match. But there are several intimate and personal scenes involving the characters and their families, and shooting in such close settings isn’t always easy. “We tried to build trust and a relationship with the characters,” said Chang, noting that he wanted to give the audience the vision that the film was “almost in the mind of the subject.” But considering the documentary’s subject is boxing, there’s deeper meanings entwined in the film’s narrative approach. While extremely personal, it successfully highlights the camaraderie between each individual and the struggles they face after leaving home to take a shot at fighting for the glory of their country. And even though the summary of this movie may seem like any sports documentary about overcoming challenges in order to become a champion, it’s interesting to see young individuals evolve into elite athletes from their humble village surroundings in the Sichuan province. —Samantha Lui
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Laura
f you’ve ever fantasized about living like a socialite, you might want to think again. As the documentary Laura shows, it isn’t as glamorous as it looks. Directed by Fellipe Gamarano Barbosa, the film centres on Laura, a South American socialite who sneaks into back entrances of exclusive parties to mingle with celebrities and upper-class individuals. This film captures Laura’s double life through shaky camera footage, several uncomfortable close-ups and conversations — often arguments — with the director himself. And while she basks in the glitz and glamour of New York’s elite, she continues to conceal her poverty to protect her persona as a diva. Labelled the “first lady” of the building where she resides, Laura is a hoarder who lives in an apartment crammed to the ceiling with bags of clothes and miscellaneous things like playbills, posters, books and CDs. With no apparent job and a mysterious stream of money coming to her from Brazil, Laura remains an enigma. Not much is known about her past and her as a person. We only know that she was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and later moved to Brazil when she was 13. Having once been married, she has since left Brazil to live in New York. The film often appears messy, unfocused and unorganized. But who can blame the director when the subject’s way of life is all over the place? The film tries so hard to find the real “Laura,” but it seems more like a cat-and-mouse game of seeing what she does next. Through following Laura during different escapades, what’s interesting here is the director’s choice to include himself in the film. By making his focus more about the relationship he had with Laura, Barbosa says he thought it would be easier to dramatize the film if he showed how their friendship changed over time. That being said, Barbosa and Laura are no longer friends. “Once the film was out there, I knew our relationship was over,” he said, noting that Laura hated the film. “It was a big struggle. It was not what I thought it was going to be.” And yet he is proud of the final product. Even though the film doesn’t fully capture Laura, what we get is an incredible and complex portrait of a unique woman who lives by her own rules. In fact, Barbosa is still trying to figure her out. While he tries to keep his thoughts to himself, he offers one piece of insight about his subject. Realizing that Laura doesn’t seem to know what she’s looking for in life, he only says, “I’m not sure if she really loves herself.” —SL
The Record Breaker
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he Record Breaker is a short documentary about someone who lives life happily and to the fullest. Directed by Brian McGinn, the film follows Ashrita Furman, a man who currently holds the official record for most Guinness World Records set by an individual. With approximately 415 records, such as apple cutting with a Samurai sword and walking backwards in 440-lb iron shoes, Ashrita has been obsessed with the Guinness Book of World Records since he was a young boy. A health food storeowner and devotee of meditation, he travels the world creating new categories for record achievement. Driven by the passion he holds for breaking records, this film documents Ashrita as he attempts to climb Machu Picchu on stilts. Part of the World Showcase at the 2012 Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival, this film is light-hearted with several funny moments. But despite not being a full-length feature, it does a great job of looking into Ashrita’s past and the challenges he has faced. Once a good student who had the potential to become a lawyer, his parents were not supportive when he decided to drop out of school to pursue other goals. But not once does this film make its viewers feel that its subject has failed to lead a fulfilling life. In fact, Ashrita appears as happy as can be. Even his estranged father Bernard begins to take note of this. Coming to terms with his son’s lifestyle of following his own joys, he offers, “He is the happiest person I know. Isn’t that what every parent wants?” And despite being a 28-minute feature, the film certainly depicts Ashrita as someone who has a good sense of who he is. Even though he has a humble occupation with no signs of a wife or girlfriend, this individual is a charming and happy-go-lucky character who finds deeper meaning in the world by living on his own terms. Delightful and touching, this film is one that will leave you in a good mood. With Ashrita serving as the perfect model of someone who lives life to the fullest, we could all aspire to be a little more like him. —SL
Inside Out Festival looks from the outside in
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he tagline for the 2012 Toronto Inside Out LGBT Film Festival is “Fearless. Shameless. Timeless.” And for a festival that has been sharing groundbreaking, eye-opening and passionate queer stories for the past 22 years, those are important words to live up to. Showcasing diverse narratives from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, Inside Out not only brings queer voices to the forefront but also unites Toronto’s queer community. In the words of U.K. director Campbell X, whose film Stud Life debuted at the festival, “As queer folk, we have kin. Not just the people we fuck.” And this year’s line-up featured a lot of sexy moments, from tender love stories, to intense dramas, to light-hearted rom-coms. But there were also complex documentaries that turned the camera on the activist history of the gay community with features like How to Survive a Plague and United in Anger: A History of ACT UP. Both films offered invaluable footage and insight into the politically divisive landscape of the AIDS crisis and the struggle to secure safe drugs and treatment. “Films like that, I think they’re really important for us to be showing because we have youth growing up in the LGBT community that may not have that sense of struggle. So I think it’s good to give context to what members of the community have gone through and what they’ve done for us,” says Andrew Murphy, the festival’s new Director of Programming. Murphy, who spent 12 years working with the Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax, feels very fortunate for the amazing array of films in the festival and sees a shift in the types of queer stories being told.
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“We’re actually moving away from that coming-out story or campy gay stories. And yes, we still have those and people love to see that, but I think queer film is growing up and more than ever that’s been reflected in the program this year.” Inside Out featured a long list of youthfriendly films, with a daytime screening of the award-winning documentary, No Look Pass, intended for school students to attend. Murphy says accessibility is integral to the festival, which opens its films to a range of audiences. “That’s really important to us,” he said. “They’re part of our community, too, and we want to make sure that they’re represented and they have as much access as possible.” The Queer Video Mentorship Program also returned this year, supporting both young and older aspiring filmmakers by partnering them with experienced mentors to create a short film later debuted at the festival. Other highlights included the International Focus on Scandinavian films, the Icon Documentary Series, which captures past and present queer icons like country music star Chely Wright and activist Vito Russo. New to this year’s festival was the Women’s Spotlight, which showcased Cloudburst, the spunky tale of an elderly lesbian couple who make a mad dash for Halifax to get married, and the gorgeous Swedish film, Kiss Me, which follows an engaged woman’s struggle to accept a passion for her future step-sister. Preceded by a cocktail reception at the Urbanspace Gallery, both films were followed by a dance party at Slacks. “So it’s like a full night of lesbians,” says Murphy, laughing.—Adriana Rolston
Kiss Me (Kyss Mig)
his gorgeous Swedish film is about an unexpected yet passionate love affair between two women. Mia and Tim have just gotten engaged, but when the couple visits Mia’s father to celebrate his own engagement, they meet his fiancée’s daughter, Frida. From the moment Frida and Mia meet, the pair can’t take their eyes off each other, and although they couldn’t be more different, their chemistry is infectious. Mia is serious and reserved, while Frida is a joyful free spirit, but they complement each other marvellously. Frida is also an openly out lesbian while Mia is a closeted bisexual, but when they get stuck on an island cottage together, their attraction culminates in a passionate kiss in the woods, followed by a beautiful and steamy sex scene. Bewildered by her new feelings and unsure of her future with Tim, Mia runs back to the city and away from her love for Frida, who also has a girlfriend. Aside from a clichéd ending, this film is lovely, fresh and sophisticated. The cinematography and soundtrack are superb and these sultry leads are stunning together. —AR
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She Monkeys (Apflickorna)
his thought-provoking film from Sweden deals with issues of rivalry, power and desire between two young women competing for places on an equestrian acrobatic team. When the mischievous Cassandra meets Emma, a serious and hard working girl, she takes Emma under her wing and tells her, “I can teach you, I can teach anyone.” Watching the girls train acrobatically on the horses is both elegant and tense, like watching china dolls flying through the air. The girls test each other and become close, with Emma seeking Cassandra’s approval until her strength and assertiveness grows. Over time, Cassandra’s desire for Emma builds like a slow flame until she kisses her on the lips during a sleepover. But although she seems attracted to Cassandra, Emma remains unreadable, focused on her training and her goal. When Emma fails to make the team but Cassandra does, Emma’s anger becomes erratic. She confronts Cassandra in the stables and hits her in the leg with a pitchfork, opening a spot for herself on the team. Complex and at times unsettling, this visually and emotionally charged film explores the power struggles of love but offers no easy answers. —AR
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Stud Life
et in the London queer scene, this romantic comedy follows JJ, a black masculine-identified lesbian, otherwise known as a stud, as she navigates relationships with her gay best mate, Seb, and the new lady in her life. JJ and Seb work together in the wedding photography business and party by night at the clubs. As Seb tries to brush off the enamoured advances of a drug dealer, JJ falls in love with Elle, a gorgeous and fiery femme. Things get amusing when Elle and Seb start competing for JJ’s affection, but when JJ breaks the rule of “mates before muff,” Seb takes it personally. Elle and JJ are lovely together and when Elle realizes during their first intimate encounter that JJ is a stone butch who doesn’t want her lady bits touched, she accepts it, and says, “Even though I love to eat everything from the lesbian buffet, you’re fine just as you are.” But when Elle reveals her profession as a dominatrix, JJ cannot accept it and the couple breaks up in a heart wrenchingly raw scene. This film tackles relationship issues like loyalty, intimacy and acceptance admirably, and always with tenderness and humour. —AR
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FEATURES Jan Wong Shows Cracks In Canada’s Mental Health System By Diana Duong Madness. Lunacy. Insanity. These are a few of the words that echoed in Jan Wong’s head when her doctor told her she was clinically depressed. The 59-year-old writer and The Globe and Mail journalist had been crying for weeks. She was constantly paranoid that there was a sniper waiting outside her home, and was terrified to leave her house. Wong has brushed off death threats and harsh backlash before, but this was the most trying time in her career. She had never been the target of racist attacks quite like this. Nor had she ever been so harshly criticised by other media outlets, the government, and even her own employer. Last month during National Mental Health Week, Wong self-published her book Out of the Blue, a memoir about her workplace depression and road to recovery. “I work, therefore I am. Without my job, I didn’t know who I was,” Wong said. Her depression was rooted in her devotion to her job at The Globe, but her story represents a larger issue in the Canadian health care system. Depression is stigmatized enough, but workplace depression is sometimes more difficult to deal with, and prove. Mental illness takes a toll on the Canadian economy too — around $51 billion annually. A third of that is attributed to productivity losses. About 40 per cent of disability and sick leaves are attributed to mental health issues, of which depression and anxiety are the most common. A study done at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) earlier this year uncovered a correlation between treatment and productivity at the workplace. Employees with depression who received treatment, even as they were working, were significantly more productive than those who did not receive treatment at all. “What’s exciting is we found that treatment for depression improves work productivity. People who had experienced a moderate depressive episode and received treatment were 2.5 times more likely to be highly productive compared with those who had no treatment,” says Dr. Carolyn Dewa, head of CAMH’s Centre for Research on Employment and Workplace Health. “Likewise, people who experienced severe depression were seven times more likely to be high-performing than those who had no treatment.” Dr. Dewa says it would benefit companies to recognize the importance of prevention, treatment, and support for employees. Disability leave can cost companies $18,000 per leave, which could be avoided if people are able to receive treatment early. Mental illness is the number one common workplace disability in Canada, and has led to more lost work days than any other chronic condition. Still,
people are not so willing to ask for service because of the years of stigma and discrimination that has surrounded mental health issues. Wong struggled to prove to her employer that her depression was real. The Globe terminated her contract in 2008 after 20 years with the newspaper. She now lives part-time in Fredericton, where she teaches journalism at St. Thomas University, and writes a weekly column for Halifax’s Chronicle Herald. Depression cannot be simply judged at face value. It is a deep rooted illness that those affected will try to disguise in public because of the stigma associated with it. For now, there needs to be an understanding in the workplace that emotional and mental illness is not unusual, and employees can recover and return to work if given a short time to heal. Perhaps Wong is the first in what will be a long line of Canadians acknowledging, and getting help, for their workplace depression.
May Day Toronto Rally Biggest in Years By Eric Mark Do A long MAY day protest resulted in three arrests in Simcoe Park. The City had informed police that people would be allowed to stay in the park past midnight. However, the rule was, as one officer stated, “Nothing is getting erected here tonight.” The three individuals defied that order and tried to put up tents. They were later issued tickets and released. Senior members of Occupy Toronto said that Simcoe Park was “strategically chosen” for reoccupation. Barrick Gold’s annual general meeting was held the next day, across the street, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The demonstration began outside City Hall, as various organizations and people came together to mark International Workers Day. No One Is Illegal and Occupy Toronto organized this year’s celebration. “This is great. We have been building a lot of support for No One Is Illegal, for migrant justice,” said organizer Syed Hussan. “We are organizing with the occupy move-
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ment which means there’s a lot more buzz around this, this year.” The turnout of about 2,500 people was the best in six years, said organizers. Marco Luciano of Migrante Canada, a Filipino workers’ association, says that the Canadian government is restricting migrant workers from entering the country. “A lot of policies now are being changed for the benefit of corporations as opposed to, really, freedom of migration.” After some speeches, a drumming band led the crowd in a march to Alexandria Park. Bystanders watched as people took over the streets. “It’s just people with nothing better to do with their time as far as I’m concerned,” said Kevin Easter. Others were highly supportive. Valentine Caudan works for the French Government, and said that seeing people expressing their views makes him think about the issue. “I’m from France. We protest all the time and it’s much more than that. So I’m glad people
protest.” John Fox, of the American Indian Movement Ontario, was advocating for First Nations’ rights, as well as against the tar sands in Alberta. He said that everyone was connected in trying to work together for May Day and beyond. “It’s like an attack on the poor. It affects everybody: all the nations, the whole nation.” The march came to a halt at Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street for more speeches. Ryerson Gindin Chair Winnie Ng spoke out against Bill C-31, which will make changes to Canada’s immigration system. “What they will be doing is separating refugee claimants if they come into this country they can be forcefully detained for up to a year. That will separate parents from children who are under 16,” said Ng. “We can’t create and inflict pain on another generation of asylum seekers who are not gonna get refuge in Canada. And we are saying that bill C-31 has to go!” At Alexandria Park, protesters set up
tables for books and food and stuck around until 9 p.m., when they would start their march to the then-undisclosed reoccupation site. Food Not Bombs, a collective of volunteers who provide food servings every other week, had their portions in high demand. “We were thinking it’d serve 400 to 800 people but that’s been exceeded right now,” said Martin Hazelbower. “We’re running out of bowls we’re running out of forks, we’re running to get new stuff it’s pretty hectic.” After a few musical performances, the demonstrators marched to Simcoe Park - essentially ending the May Day celebration and beginning the reoccupation. Miguel Figueroa, leader of the Communist Party of Canada, mused about the significance of May Day. “It will continue to build, because more and more people are coming to the conclusion that there is something fundamentally wrong with the system,” he said. “It’s not just that something is broken in the system, it’s that the system itself is broken and people are looking for alternatives.”
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