Posts Tagged ‘toronto’
Untitled by Martinho on Flickr
Things have gotten interesting over at the Occupy Toronto camp in the last day or so– really interesting, in fact – especially for a political nerd like me. I love politics and law, and I especially love everything about constitutional law – I took a bunch of law-related classes in my undergrad (and actually had, for all purposes, intended to go to law school – I sort of “fell” into multimedia, journalism, and communications before writing the LSAT) and I took a few constitutional law classes as well.
I even have a t-shirt from my Political Science department that has a sports-jersey style to it:
NOTWITHSTANDING
33
Hilarious, right? If you got that, you’re as big of a nerd as I am.
Anyway, like I said – things are getting interesting. Specifically, in relation to legal developments surrounding the Occupy Toronto movement – and I’ll be watching the court system over the coming days very, very closely.
Untitled by -- brian cameron -- on Flickr
Yesterday morning, Mayor Rob Ford and the City of Toronto delivered eviction notices to the Occupy Toronto protesters (who have set up a tent city and have been camping in St. James Park downtown for the past 31 days) – basically saying “vacate the park by 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, please and thank you”. Well, that didn’t sit too well with the protesters – who thus planned a party (I wish I was kidding) and said “well, we’re not listening to the law, and we’re not leaving”. I’ve heard they’ve since removed (and burned) all eviction notices and have replaced them with signs reading something to the effect of, “The Charter is our permit!”
Now, I believe in the right to assemble and protest as much as the next person – but setting up a camp in public space does not sit well with me. The city wants the Occupy Toronto protest out for a number of reasons – bylaw violations, disrupting the neighbourhood residents enjoyment of the park, the effect on local businesses in the area… you get the idea.
Technically, the Occupy Toronto protest has been violating a number of city (park-related) by-laws since the occupation of St. James Park began over 30 days ago, including 608-3 conduct, 608-7 encroachment, 608-9 access, 608-10 campfires and barbecues, 608-13 camping and lodging, and 608-14 tents and structures.
To expand a list of the specific bylaws they’re violating (according to my interpretation) click here.
Basically, what happened next was this: while most protesters were planning a party (I wish I was kidding) and meeting to discuss “what now?”, a small group went to the courts to get an injunction – based on a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge – and succeeded.
The occupiers are arguing that evicting them from St. James Park (and other occupy movements across Canada from their respective locations) is a violation of our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which outlines our fundamental freedoms as Canadian citizens in section two:
2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
(d) freedom of association.
Justice David Brown granted them a stay of eviction, meaning a) the City and police may not forcibly remove the protesters, tents, or other structures, and b) the protesters may not grow their operations by adding more bodies, tents, or structures.
The hearing is scheduled for Friday, when the Occupy Toronto lawyer and city lawyer will present their cases to the courts, and the Justice Brown has promised a decision by suppertime Saturday.
So, the question remains: is there really a valid Charter challenge here? And whose rights supersede whose? Do bylaws trump the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, or does the Charter trump the law?
Personally, I don’t think there’s a real Charter challenge, nor do I think the Charter trumps these particular bylaws.
Section one of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is very clear:
1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.
And, in my opinion – the bylaws outlined above are such reasonable limits. No one is telling the Occupy Toronto protesters they may not protest, and no one is saying they may not protest IN St. James Park – they are simply being told they can’t LIVE in the park.
As a sidebar, in other cities, there’s been issues with protesters overdosing on drugs (in fact, there was a non-fatal incident of a similar nature in Toronto) and in Vancouver, someone actually died at the protest. With the harsh Canadian winter fast approaching, it’s no wonder people are concerned about the well-being of the protesters on top of the other aforementioned issues.
But, on the flip side – it seems in Vancouver a group of homeless activitists won the right to sleep/camp in parks in 2008, though I’m unclear as to whether or not that is still the case.
Also, in terms of the American protests and their evictions – I’ve seen numerous tent cities set up in the USA, particularly across from the White House, and they’ve been there for decades (presumably) without issue. So, do they have some sort of special consideration, or permit – or does the government turn a blind eye? Or are they arrested, and then return to continue the protest? If anyone has any insight into this, I’d love to hear it.
Untitled by Martinho on Flickr
What makes me nervous about this is the fact it’s a challenge to the Charter – while I agree it’s time the protesters stop camping in St. James Park and look at other options, I also don’t like the fact it’s come this far. A successful Charter challenge by Occupy Toronto would open a whole other can of worms in terms of bylaws, citizen rights, and whether laws of the Charter – in other similar and non similar instances – supersede City laws.
One thing is for sure – like I said earlier – I’ll be watching very closely as this unfolds in the coming days.
Click “read more” below to see the Toronto Municipal Code Parks by-law as it pertains to this protest.
Read more »
This morning, an anonymous letter from a cyclist who took a nasty spill is making the rounds in Toronto media.
The letter is directed to a jogger, who, according to the cyclist, literally steeped over him/her to continue jogging, instead of asking if assistance was needed or if they were alright.
My first thought was “how terrible!”
I mean, how could someone – literally – walk OVER someone injured instead of seeing if they need a hand?
Apparently, many Torontonians – or, at least, National Post commentators – don’t agree with me, as many think the letter is “whiny”, accuses the cyclist of riding in a prohibited area or cutting the jogger off, and telling the “limping cyclist” to toughen up.
Okay, maybe the fall wasn’t major, maybe the jogger was “in the zone”, but really – is that any excuse for not asking if the biker was okay?
I mean, when I see someone fall, I help them up or ask if they need assistance.
Recently, I actually went OUTSIDE MY HOUSE when I heard someone yelling – a teen had taken a spill off his bike, was in pain, and his younger brother was yelling and crying. If I can leave my house to see if someone needs help, is it really too much to ask someone to stop for a minute?
Apparently so.
Here’s another story: I tripped in the mall a few years back, on the steps near an exit and busted up my knee really good. The edge of the stair went straight in between my kneecap and leg bone, there was a crunching noise, and it took me a good few seconds to get up after being stunned and shouting “OW!”
TONS of people were around.
Most kept walking, looked the other way, or ignored me all together. A group of teenagers – probably about 17 or 18, so not much older than I was at the time (21) LAUGHED at me instead of offering to help. I limped out in pain and tears – people looked, but there was still no offer for help.
My fall was so bad I went to get my knee x-rayed at the hospital, ended up on crutches for 3 weeks, had an MRI later, and was in physiotherapy for one and a half years. Thankfully, although my knee is still weaker than my other one, it’s mostly healed (except when it’s humid it acts up) and I was lucky enough not to break anything or do any serious cartilage damage.
This avoidance-of-helping isn’t a new phenomenon, either. Too many people “don’t want to get involved” in various situations. In 1964, Kitty Genovese was famously stabbed to death on the street in NYC. 38 people witnessed or heard the struggle, yet no one did anything. Everyone assumed someone else would do it.
Now, while I am not necessary saying you should get directly involved in something so violent – would it kill you to call the police? To throw something from your window down that way, to try and scare the perp?
Unlikely.
And, by that same token – would it kill you to ask someone who’s fallen off a bike, tripped in the mall, if they need help?
I doubt it.
So why don’t we do those things? Why do we look the other way, ignore the situation, or think “someone else will pull over, someone else will call 911″.
I honestly think it’s a big city syndrome. I once pulled over in Timmins, on the side of the country highway, to take a picture of a pretty double rainbow spanning the forest. Within minutes, a car stopped to ask if I needed help. Five minutes later, a second stopped.
I tripped downtown once in Timmins too – didn’t even fall, simply lost my balance, but caught myself in time. A man standing near by smoking asked if I was okay, and when I said I was, said “You have to be careful on these bricks, they can be loose!”
Yet, in places like Toronto, in New York – it seems people can’t be bothered to stop and help.
Next time you see someone fall, drop something, or do something that otherwise catches your attention – I challenge you to actually stop and do something about it.
If we all paid a little more attention – and were a little nicer to each other – I think Toronto would be a much more pleasant place to live… as opposed to so cold.
And I don’t mean “cold” in a winter snow kind of way.
I believe in the sand beneath my toes,
the beach gives a feeling, an earthy feeling.
I believe in the faith that grows,
and the four right chords could make me cry,
When I’m with you I feel like I could die,
and that would be all right,
All right.
I want something else,
to get me through this
Semi charmed kinda life.
I love Third Eye Blind – they were (and actually, still are) one of my all-time favourite bands from the late 90′s. So, when I heard that Ontario Place’s Echo Beach was holding a free Third Eye Blind concert as part of their Through The Decades concert series, how could I NOT go?
I’ve never been to the Echo Beach concert venue before – it just opened in April of this year – but was pleasantly surprised by the brightly coloured umbrellas, funky lights, sandy beach, volleyball net, and fun atmosphere. Those who know me well know I will ONLY buy lawn seats at the Molsen Amphitheater - not because of price (cheap), but because I love the idea of chilling on the grass at an outdoor concert… so of course, I LOVED the idea of chilling on a beach.
So, already thrilled with the atmosphere (although slightly frustrated at security/guest services over the confusion on whether or not I was allowed to take my DSLR in – I was supposed to be attending as media, and was supposed to be OK to bring it in sans-zoom lens according to two people at guest services… security day-of told me otherwise) I settled in to watch one of my favourite bands live for the first time.
They opened with my two FAVOURITE songs of theirs – “Motorcycle Drive By” and “Faster” (it was actually almost a bit of a disappointment both were first, as I wouldn’t be anticipating them the whole concert!) and were AMAZING. It was a total blast from the past, and really nice to finally see them live in concert.
And, mid-way through the concert lead singer Stephan Jenkins announced he was preforming for the first time since coming out of the hospital with cracked ribs:
I need your help to rock out tonight! Backstage I have a gigantic bottle of Vicodin, but unlike most bands (laugh) I can’t plat on drugs. I just can’t do it. What I’m trying to say is… my cracked ribs hurt like a motherf*%$^r right now. I might be jumping up and down but in my mind I’m screaming so you have to do it for me. Don’t let me down!
You gotta admire the guy for still playing – and yes, jumping around on stage a bit – with CRACKED RIBS. Lemme tell you, if I had cracked ribs I’d be doped on on pain killers at home in bed, not rocking out on the guitar and microphone at a concert.
The band is actually not on tour right now (this was a special booking for the 4oth Anniversary Celebrations at Ontario Place), as they’re in San Fransico working on a new album:
We actually just finished a song last night, and then flew straight here. We really should get together more often.
Yes, yes, you should. The band has replaced a guitarist and bassist since the 90s, but still sound just as good (if not better!). Interestingly, Jenkins mentioned they want to presently add Irish guitarist Kryz Reid to the band but are having issues getting him an American Visa (boo, America!)
Hopefully they get it sorted out, because Reid is a great guitarist and, y’know, sounds good with the band.
I can’t wait until their new album comes out… hopefully sometime next year.
More photos:
Look Ma, I'm in the Circus!
Fun fact about me: I’ve had a secret dream to run away and join the circus since I was little. Something about wearing bright colours while swinging around on a trapeze, sticking my head in a lion’s mouth, and riding around on an elephant just seems so cool.
And let me tell you, it’s a good thing I never found out the Toronto School of Circus Arts existed before the age of 8 or my childhood (and teen years!) might have been much different… or just would have involved copious amounts of whining at my parents to send me there, instead of the copious amounts of whining to send me to private school. (Yeah, I whined at them for YEARS to send me to the local girls-only private school: in my defense, I was like 8 and it’s in a castle, ok? ;)
Very recently, Jukari Fit to Fly launched at Kingwest Fitness in Toronto. It hit 12 cities world-wide in 2009, but it took a few years to come to Toronto (the first Canadian city to get the program was Montreal).
Jukari is a new workout regime developed by Cirque du Soleil and Reebok that promises a tough, intense – but still fun – hour long workout. You spin, jump, dance, run, stretch, and swing your way through the class using the FlySet; which is basically ropes that swivel a 360-degrees and are suspended from the ceiling, a 4.5 lb steel bar you can hook into said ropes, and foot straps that also can clip onto the ropes. It’s like a low level trapeze that gives you a cardio, flexibility, strength, and core workout.
But simply describing it doesn’t really do it justice. So, check out this promotional video for the program to see what a Jukari workout looks like, while I try not to move in fear of making my abs hurt more than they already do:
It looks fun, right?
And easy!
Yeah, my instructor made it look easy too.
Most of the class went a little something like this:
The best part was when we put on the foot straps midway through, because we got to lie down for about 30 seconds while listening to the next move… which was a nice, easy plank.
Well, “easy” (I use that word loosely!) if it was a normal plank.
You see, in a Jukari plank your arms are fully extended; and your legs are stuck through a bungee loop attached to the ropes hanging from the ceiling.
Dear lord, my arms.
I have to admit though, despite how incredibly impossible some of the moves seemed, and how tired I was just 25 minutes in – it was an AMAZING workout, and so much fun! I got a really intense workout in just an hour, and the time flew by because of the great music, high energy instructor, and good company (I took the class with two of my girl friends). It’s no secret I loathe going to the gym, and easily get bored on the elliptical, weight machines, and bikes.
Today, my body feels like I did my normal 1.5-2 hour workout at the gym (actually, probably worse than that!) but it only felt like I was at Kingwest for a little bit of time.
I have 4 more classes left (I bought a 5 class trial pass through Teambuy last month), and even after that’s done I can see myself going back for drop in Jukari sessions from time to time.
If it’s in your area, give it a go! You won’t be disappointed… just sore.
The 40-foot tall tree in Trinity Square
I recently heard about the Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery District, which is taking place from December 3 – 12. The market is the City’s first ever European-style Christmas Market, lining the streets of the Distillery with wooden booths selling local crafts, baked goods, and Christmas ornaments. Christmas Markets originated in Germany in the early 1400’s, and are held in the weeks leading up to Christmas in various cities worldwide: and Toronto can now be added to that list.
Being a big fan of the Distillery District – and of really tasty hot chocolate* and good gingerbread – I braved Wednesday night’s frosty, windy weather to check it out. I arrived around 4 in the afternoon – and I wasn’t even sure the market existed at first, as there were not too many people in sight as I neared the area. As happy hour approached however, more people trickled in, choirs took to the stage singing carols, and teenagers dressed as elves jumped around cheering, clapping, and giving directions and information to those who required it.
The market is aiming to become Toronto’s newest holiday tradition – and this year, it received a $75,000 grant from the provincial government (through Celebrate Ontario) to help fund the event, and hopefully, make it a success.
The Christmas Market is family-friendly earlier in the day: kids will be delighted by the ferris wheel overlooking the Distillery, the bright lights, crafts, music, and Gingerbread play house. As night draws near, the breweries and restaurants open heated patios and beer gardens with roaring fires, serving beer and mulled wine as they entice the older, after-work crowd to come by. If it’s cold out, there’s also hot rum based drink options available. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention – the ferris wheel runs until the Market closes at 11, so all the kids-at-heart** visiting can ride it as well.
*shout-out to Soma, I had their Classic Dark (always great!) and the boy tried the Mayan (it’s good, but not really chocolate-y)
**old but needs an excuse for squealing like a schoolgirl and pointing at a ferris wheel
More photos on my flickr account:
