TTC Riders hands out ‘overcrowding relief kits’ to commuters

Yonge subway line over capacity during the morning rush*

On Thursday, Jan. 18, the same day Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was discussing the future of Line One, the transit advocacy group TTC Riders handed out “overcrowding relief kits” to passengers at King Station.

“The Yonge line is dangerously overcrowded, and riders are in desperate need of relief,” said Shelagh Pizey-Allen, executive director of TTC Riders in a statement.

“The TTC board must consider the actions for the future over TTC lines, we all need to see all the levels of governments functioning to fund construction of the relief line as soon as possible,” said Pizey-Allen in an interview with The Dialog.

Inside the kit, there was a breath mint, a transit-themed crossword puzzle and a guide on how to relieve overcrowding.

The guide urges commuters to call Mayor John Tory and Premier Kathleen Wyne, demanding to fund and build the relief line as soon as possible and included their phone numbers.

“TTC Riders is campaigning for lower fares and better services on the TTC, and we are working towards to a world-class, affordable public transit system” said Pizey-Allen.

A report called Managing Crowding on Line One by  TTC chief operating officer Mike Palmer states that “Finch to Union Station is the busiest section of any transit line on the TTC network, carrying 450,000 customer trips per day.”

The report says use of line one has grown during the last 15 years exceeding the capacity during the morning rush.

The report also recommends implementation of automatic train control at the end of 2019, which will permit trains to run closer and safer. It also suggests implementing a customer awareness campaign about emergency alarms, the work on the relief line, the purchase of new trains, and congestion fare pricing as a medium-term solution.

“The city and province need to fund better TTC service and start building the relief line as soon as possible to end the dangerous overcrowding on the Yonge line” said Pizey-Allen.

In addition to the construction of the relief line, TTC Riders wants the city to increase the subsidy for the TTC.

“The TTC is the least funded transit in North America with an average of $2.60 per ride. In 2017, the TTC received a city subsidy under $1 per ride,” said Pizey-Allen.

TTC Riders is planning a transit day of action on Jan. 30 and are calling for the creation of two-hour transfers, a low-income transit pass and better service, according to Piney-Allen.

* This story originally appeared in The Dialog Newspaper.

http://dialognews.ca/2018/01/19/ttc-riders-hands-overcrowding-relief-kits-commuters/

Arbitration adds academic freedom for faculty

New contract increases job security for partial-load faculty*

Arbitrator William Kaplan revealed a new collective agreement for Ontario College strike just a month after the province legislated striking faculty back to work.

In an award issued on Wednesday, Dec. 20, Kaplan set out the terms of a four-year contract from Oct. 1, 2017 until Sept. 30, 2021.

Ontario colleges issued a statement saying they are “very pleased” with the arbitrator’s award.

 JP Hornick, chair of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) bargaining team, said it didn’t need to get to this point. 

“With any reasonable amount of co-operation from the colleges, there would never have been a strike, students would not have had to worry about losing their semester, and faculty would never have lost five weeks’ pay,” Hornick said in a statement.

The arbitration-mediation was held from Dec. 14 to 16 between the colleges and OPSEU, imposed on faculty in November when the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 178 to end the college faculty strike.

The arbitration award includes modest wage increases of 1.75 per cent in the first year, retroactive to Oct. 1, and two per cent in each following year.

The award also contains new language on academic freedom, which was a main issue between the faculty and the college.  

“For the first time in history we have meaningful academic freedom language in our collective agreement,” said Nicole Zwiers, OPSEU bargaining team member.

Arbitrator Kaplan, defined academic freedom at the college as “the right to inquire about, investigate, pursue, teach and speak freely about academic issues without fear or impairment to position of other reprisal.”

“Faculty have always had academic freedom from a policy perspective in the institutions, all it’s done is put it in the context of the collective agreement,” said Don Sinclair, the CEO of the College Employer Council at a press conference.

Other items of note in the arbitration award are:

• Partial-load faculty will receive a full month of seniority for each calendar month where they taught 30 hours or more, double the previous formula. 
• If two partial-load faculty are entitled to teach the same course, the one with the most seniority will be offered the job.
  A provincial task force to examine faculty complement, precarious work, provincial funding of the colleges and other issues.
• Extended health plan coverage for employees for paramedical services increased by $500 to $2,000 a year. Visits to social workers and psychotherapists are now included. 
• A lump-sum payment of $900 to each full-time member of the bargaining unit, and $450 for partial-load faculty, who were actively employed when the strike started and who returned to work at the end of it.

“This might be the message for the presidents of all the colleges, you said you care, you said you want the best for everybody and I think it’s time to start showing that,” said OPSEU president Smokey Thomas.

Arbitrator William Kaplan declined to comment for this story. 

* This story originally appeared in The Dialog Newspaper.

http://dialognews.ca/2017/12/21/arbitration-adds-academic-freedom-faculty/

Tobermory, un paraíso escondido en Ontario

A sólo seis horas manejando desde la ciudad de Toronto se encuentra Tobermory, una ciudad portuaria situada en la Península Bruce. En la zona se encuentra el parque nacional, del mismo nombre, conocido por el famoso sendero Bruce Trail en la empinada cuesta de Niágara y también por la Gruta, una cueva tallada por las olas que llegan a la Bahía Georgian.

La pequeña ciudad se encuentra al lado del Fathom Five National Marine Park, que alberga la Flowerpot Island, con faros del siglo XIX y múltiples sitios de buceo de naufragios.

Tobermory es famoso por su entorno natural, es un paraíso para los fotógrafos y ofrece a los visitantes aire fresco, hermosos paisajes, aguas tranquilas y el cielo más azul del sur de Ontario. La ciudad se encuentra casi en su totalidad rodeada por agua, por un lado el Lago Huron y por el otro la bahía Georgian. Es en otras palabras, un refugio natural.

El área ofrece kilómetros de bosque, con altos pinos y cedros, así como majestuosos acantilados. Las paredes de los acantilados en el Parque Nacional Bruce Península contienen algunos de los árboles más antiguos de América del Norte, como el cedro blanco.

Un dato adicional es que Tobermory cuenta con la mayor concentración de orquídeas nativas de América del Norte. Si haces una caminata por los senderos, tal vez tengas la suerte de ver una Orquídea Calypso, o una hermosa orquídea Showy Ladies Slipper, consideradas como exóticas en su especie.

Tal vez otro de los mayores atractivos de la zona es su gastronomía y comida típica de mar. Whitefish y Fish and Chips, son los más famosos platos de la zona. La economía está basada en el turismo y el comercio local, lo que genera diversas oportunidades para la pequeña y mediana empresa en la zona. No dejes de visitar la ciudad que ha sido declarada epicentro de la biosfera por la Unesco.

Aquí algunos de sus mayores atractivos:

·      The Grotto

·      Bruce Peninsula National Park

·      Flowerpot Island

·      Big Tub Lighthouse

·      Fathom Five National Marine Park

·      Cove Island Lighthouse

·      Georgian Bay

This article originally appeared in Latinos Multicultural Magazine

http://latinosmag.com/tobermory-un-paraiso-escondido-en-ontario/

The Fish and Chips Place (Restaurant Review)

The Fish and Chips Place

I told by a coworker that if I visit Tobermory, I must-try The Fish and Chips Place because they are really good. I visited this restaurant over the Thanksgiving long weekend with pretty high expectations, since I am not a seafood person and I do not particularly like any kind of smelly food, this was a challenge for me, that I wanted to take.

The Fish and Chips Place is a restaurant located in Tobermory, Ontario, a fun, bright and marine community with art galleries, mouthwatering treats, nautical antiques, 1000-year-old pines, pristine turquoise waters, astonishing landscapes, and restaurants with a variety of local seafood. Definitely, a place to visit if you want to escape from a busy city.

·      About the food:

My husband and I tried the traditional fish and chips, the fish taco and the calamari (please do not mention the calamari to our Jewish Rabbi though).

If you lean towards a “healthy fish”, this is the place to go. Fish was fried in a lighter than expected batter, so we can actually taste it. The classic fish and chips were deliciously soft, but not to the point that loses the texture; nice crispy battered crust but not sturdy, and the flavor wasn’t typical, it was more like the kind that you put together different ingredients in the simplest way.

The two pieces’ fish may not be enough to share if you eat only that. My husband agreed, it really is meant for one person, so we had to order two.

The taco was what they said they were known for, but it was really more a burrito style, and for us was overall okay. Why? It had too much cabbage and sauce that overpowered the fish, plus the fish inside still had bones, which to our personal preference can even be dangerous to digest.

We'd put them on the map for their calamari, instead of the tacos, it was probably the best item on the menu and you definitely have to try it. Good decent size rings just right on the chewiness, good smelling, and pleasant breading on the outside.

The flavor was tangy and not too chewy, hard or rubbery that breaks the structure, quite the opposite, the calamari was perfectly crispy outside followed by the perfect and balance soft inside. Good consistency and we liked the taste with the sauce. We are Jewish and we are not supposed to eat calamari, so, if we are telling you, this is worth to try, is the first thing you have to ask for.

Everything was served in little baskets with a colorful presentation and tons of fries that were a little too salty.

·      Service:

We saw how the wait can be rather long if you go in big groups, but if you are a pair like us, you can get in quite quickly. Service is not the fastest like most small towns, but it's friendly and the food was noticeably fresh.

They were pet-friendly and dogs were allowed on the patio, and they even had dog water bowls, something to consider if you are a pet lover, or cannot leave home without your little ones.

The staff was attentive and ready to help, even though, we were there at a busy time (long weekend around lunch hour).

The music, something that we always pay attention to our restaurant visits, was completely irrelevant with the place though.

·      Verdict:

First of all, let’s say that its location with outside tables overlooking the water, at a spectacular place like Tobermory, it's just a four of five. The open style seating is relaxing and fun.

Second, we are from Colombia, and as a Colombians, good portion size in a restaurant can be determinant to our verdict. So, another good point.  

Overall, the food was fresh, enjoyable and hot (I personally hate cold food), all natural Georgian whitefish and seafood from one of the cleanest lakes on our planet. We just wish they made their own tartar sauce.

Hence, we had a good experience at The Fish and Chips Place. What more do you want? It can get a bit crazy at times, but such is the life of a port town, that can get slammed with tourist/ferry passengers.

·      Basic Info:

Address: 24 Bay St, Tobermory, ON N0H 2R0

Hours: Sunday to Saturday 11:30AM–9PM

Prices: No more than CAN$ 50.00

Phone: (519) 596-8380

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Website: http://www.thefishandchipplace.com

Constanza Novick and Silvina Schnicer, Argentinian Directors at TIFF

Constanza Novick and Silvina Schnicer, Argentinian Directors at TIFF

Constanza Novick and Silvina Schnicer are two young Argentine filmmakers, who presented their cinematographic productions for the first time at the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF). Latinos Magazine had the opportunity to talk with them about their directorial debut, their experiences and the journey to the TIFF, where they were part of a select group of 29 Hispanic productions in the latest edition of the famous festival.

• El Futuro que Viene or The Future Ahead, film directed by Constanza Novick

Novick was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She received her Master’s Degree in Art History from the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the University in the same city, and from the age of 20 has written scripts for television series’ in her native country. While pregnant, she wrote what is now known as El Futuro que Viene, or The Future Ahead in English, a film that demonstrates friendship from a woman’s point of view in a funny and genuine manner.

“The idea for the film came a long time ago when I was working as a screenwriter and was pregnant with my first child,” she said. “I took some time to write something, but when I did I was not thinking about the commercial part, or attending festivals, nothing—when I was writing it, I was at a very special moment in my life and I had the freedom to write what motivated me.”

The film focuses on the friendship of Romina and Florecia, from their first love until their first divorce, experiencing the different stages of life. “Addressing the issue of friendship between women was something that interested me a lot, because I consider that there is a deeper bond of complicity and honesty in women,” Novick said. “What’s more, with the actresses, we did such a sincere job, that we became friends and that bond united us more in the end.”

The film, which was initially conceived as a theatre play, is in the words of Constanza the result of the wonderful work of the Argentine duo Dolores Fonzi and Pilar Gamboa, who, without being friends before filming, managed to engage, demonstrate and reflect on the screen a genuine chaotic relationship of friendship.

When asked about how she feels about presenting her film at TIFF, Constanza said, “It is incredible, spectacular, and a clear sign that Latin films are getting better and that they are attracting more attention around the world. They have values that transcend the national, and that have the potential to be seen anywhere in the world. “

The film, which was very well received at its TIFF premiere will be distributed and exhibited by Disney in Latin America.

• Tigre, directed by Silvina Schnicer and Ulises Porra Guardiola

Like Novick, Schnicer was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She studied Social Communication at the University of Buenos Aires and has written and co-directed several short films with her husband, Spanish filmmaker Ulises Porra Guardiola, who also attended TIFF. Tigre is an original piece that explores female loneliness, the awakening of sexuality in adolescence and the burdens of the past in families.

The idea for the film was a long time coming. Schnicer traveled to Tigre, a small town north of Buenos Aires, and was so impressed by the captivating and rustic surroundings that she began to write a series of stories that would later become the screenplay of Tigre, her debut film.

“The film opens questions about the possibility of being human in complex situations, moving in the field of what is suggested,” Guardiola says. “We wanted the experience of shooting in this particular site to be an immersive experience for the actors, to make the best of them and were reflected in the final product. The Tigre, is a character by itself, and that is what we want the viewer to see.”

For Schnicer, being part of the select group of directors and presenting Tigre at TIFF is a dream come true. “The premiere was very exciting for us, more in the frame of TIFF, it is a luxury, it is a dream come true and we live it with immense joy and are very grateful, and are trying to enjoy it and live it fully. “

Regarding the Latin audience, Schnicer comments, “It’s very interesting that the public who may not have as much access to Latin productions in Canada and the world, have it thanks to TIFF. They have the ability to see films and feel identified by them, that is something very nice for us.”

When asked about the differentiating factor of the Argentine film industry compared to other Hispanic productions in the international scope, Ulises says, “After so many years of seeing that it is possible, I believe that young Argentine people lost the fear to produce. The point is, if you see movies being made, you’re going to fight, and put in everything you have to try to make it yours, because you conceive it as a possibility, and that’s what makes the difference. “

Thanks to the National Institute of Film and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA), around 200 film productions are made each year, and Novick, Schnicer and Guardiola, highlight that now that political changes are coming in the gaucho country, INCAA maintains the same line of support for national production. “There are a lot of people working for INCAA to remain all that it has been in these more than 20 years since its creation, and as filmmakers and directors, we are committed to defend it,” Guardiola concludes.

VERSION EN ESPAÑOL

Constanza y Silvina son dos jóvenes cineastas argentinas, que por primera ocasión presentan sus producciones cinematográficas dentro del marco del Festival de Cine de Toronto. Latinos Magazine, tuvo la oportunidad de hablar con ellas sobre su debut directorial, sus experiencias y el recorrido vivido hasta el TIFF, donde hicieron parte del selecto grupo de 29 producciones hispanas en la última edición del famoso festival.

• El Futuro que Viene o The Future Ahead, cinta dirigida por Constanza Novick

Constanza Novick nació en Buenos Aires, Argentina. Recibió su título de Maestría en Historia del Arte de la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad la misma ciudad, y desde los 20 años ha escrito guiones para series de televisión en su país natal. Encontrándose en estado de embarazo, tuvo el tiempo perfecto para escribir lo que hoy se conoce como El Futuro que Viene, o The Future Ahead en inglés, una película que trata de manera divertida y genuina la amistad desde el punto de vista femenino.

“La idea de la película surgió hace mucho tiempo cuando trabajaba como guionista y estaba embarazada de mi primer hijo, me tomé un tiempo para escribir algo, pero cuando lo hice no estaba pensando ni en la parte comercial, ni en asistir a festivales, nada, cuando la estaba escribíendo me encontraba en un momento muy particular de mi vida y tenía esa libertad de escribir lo que me motivaba”.

La película se centra en la relación de amistad de Romina y Florecia, dos amigas que viven desde su primer amor hasta su primer divorcio, experimentando las diferentes etapas de la vida. “Tratar el tema de la amistad entre mujeres era algo que me interesaba mucho, pues considero que se da un vínculo más profundo de complicidad y honestidad en las mujeres. Es más, con las actrices, hicimos un trabajo tan sincero, que nos hicimos amigas y ese vínculo nos unió más al final”,  comenta Constanza.

La película, que inicialmente fue concebida como obra de teatro, es en palabras de la propia Constanza el resultado del trabajo conjunto del maravilloso duo de actrices argentinas Dolores Fonzi y Pilar Gamboa, quien sin ser amigas antes de la grabación, logran entablar, demostrar y reflejar en pantalla una genuina relación caótica de amistad.

Al preguntarle por lo que siente al presentar su película en el marco de la programación del TIFF, Constanza señala, “Me parece increíble, espectacular, un claro signo de que las películas latinas están mejores y que cada vez despiertan más interés para los mercados de todo el mundo. Que tienen valores que trascienden lo nacional, y que tienen el potencial para verse en cualquier parte del mundo”.

La cinta que tuvo gran acogida en su presentación premiere dentro del marco del Festival de Toronto y será distribuida y exhibida por Disney en Latinoamérica.

• Tigre, cinta dirigida por Silvina Schnicer y Ulises Porra Guardiola

Al igual que Constanza Novick, Silvina Schnicer nació en Buenos Aires, Argentina. Estudió Comunicación Social en la Universidad de Buenos Aires y ha escrito y co-dirigido varios filmes cortos junto a su esposo, el cineasta español Ulises Porra Guardiola, quien igualmente asistió al TIFF a presentar Tigre, una original pieza que explora la soledad femenina, el despertar de la sexualidad en la adolescencia y las cargas del pasado en las familias.

La idea para la película se fue gestando hace mucho tiempo atrás, cuando Silvina viajó al Tigre, una pequeña ciudad al norte de Buenos Aires,  e impresionada por el cautivador y rústico lugar comenzó a escribir una serie de cuentos que más tarde se convertirían en el guión de Tigre, su película debut.

“La película abre preguntas sobre la posiblidad de ser humanos en situaciones complejas, moviéndose en el terreno de lo sugerido” comenta Ulises, “Queríamos que la experiencia del rodaje en este particular sitio fuera una experiencia inmersiva para los actores, para sacar lo mejor de ellos y que se viera reflejada en el producto final. El Tigre, es un personaje por sí mismo, y eso es lo que queremos que vea el espectador” continua Ulises.

Para Silvina, hacer parte del selecto grupo de directores y presentar Tigre en premier mundial en el TIFF es un deseo cumplido, “la premiere para nosotros fue muy emocionante, más en el marco del TIFF, es un lujo, es un sueño hecho realidad y lo vivimos con una alegría inmensa y muy agradecidos, tratando de disfrutarlo y vivirlo plenamente”.

Con respecto al público latino, Silvina comenta, “es muy interesante que el público que quizá no tiene tanto acceso a las producciones latinas en Canadá y el mundo, lo tenga gracias al Festival de Toronto. Que tengan la posiblidad de ver cuáles son sus películas y se sientan identificados con ellas, eso es algo muy lindo para nosotros”.

Al preguntarles por el factor diferenciador del cine argentino frente a otras producciones hispanas en el ámbito internacional, Ulises reseña, “Después de tantos años de ver que se puede, creo que los jóvenes argentinos perdieron el miedo a producir. La cuestión es, si ves que se hacen películas, vas a luchar, a jugártela y poner todo lo que tienes para tratar de hacer la tuya, porque lo concibes como una posibilidad, y eso es lo que marca la diferencia”

En Argentina, y gracias al Instituto Nacional de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales (INCAA) se realizan al año alrededor de 200 producciones cinematograficas, tanto Constanza Novick, como Silvina Schnicer y Ulises Porra, hacen el llamado a que, ahora que se avecinan cambios políticos en el país gaucho, el INCAA mantenga la misma línea de apoyo a la produccion nacional. “Hay mucha gente trabajando para que el INCAA siga siendo todo lo que ha sido en estos más de 20 años desde su creación, y como cineastas y realizadores, estamos comprometidos en defenderla”, concluye Ulises.

* This article originally appeared at Latinos Multicultural Magazine

http://latinosmag.com/constanza-novick-y-silvina-schnicer-directoras-latinas-presentes-en-el-tiff/