T.O. Greenspiration Events: Voices at City Hall
Angela Bischoff
greenspi at web.ca
Mon May 16 00:47:17 EDT 2011
Toronto Greenspiration Events
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BIXI Toronto up and Running
BIXI station installations started on April 26. The Eighty stations and 1,000 BIXI bicycles of this exciting new transportation option for Toronto residents and visitors are now available for use. Cyclists from all over the City joined City officials, Public Bicycle System Company, and the lead sponsors TELUS and Desjardin for the launch of this project. Learn more about BIXI Toronto or become a member.
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Keep Community Voices Front and Centre at City Hall
On April 20, the City of Toronto’s Executive Committee voted to shut down 21 community advisory committees. These committees provide important advice to City Council to help improve our many programs and services. Community members offer their expertise free of charge. These committees are an important part of the democratic process, and provide a useful venue for community members to share ideas to make our city better.
At its May 17/18 meeting, City Council will have the final say on whether these committees continue to work for our city.
Contact your City Councillor today. Let him or her know that community advisory committees are an important part of our democratic process. For City Councillor contact information, call 311 or go to http://app.toronto.ca/im/council/councillors.jsp
Committees on the chopping block:
Aboriginal Affairs Committee, Advisory Committee on Long-Term Care Homes and Services, Art Committee for Public Places, Children’s Services Advisory Committee, City of Toronto French Committee, Council Reference Group on Animal Services, Development Industry Working Group, Don Valley Brick Works Public Advisory Committee, Drug Strategy Implementation Committee, Enterprise Toronto Advisory Group, Mayor’s Economic Competitiveness Advisory Committee, Nathan Phillips Square Revitalization Community Advisory Group, Residual Waste Working Group, 3Rs Working Group, Task Force to Bring Back the Don, Tenant Defence Sub-Committee, Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee, Toronto Pedestrian Committee, Union Station Revitalization Public Advisory Group, Wet Weather Flow Management Master Plan Implementation Advisory Committee, Youth Strategy Panel.
Read more: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2011.EX5.3
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Cuba in Carril Bici (“bike lane” in Spanish)
Photo exhibit allows rare glimpse into Cuba’s underground bicycle economy
Runs April 27 to May 22
LE Gallery, 1183 Dundas St. W.
more info: www.globalbikeproject.com
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Exploring Toronto's Urban Forest
Monday May 16, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St, Toronto
Speaker: LEAF's Amanda Gomm, Manager of Volunteer and Communitiy Engagement
Cost: Free, registration not required
Join us for an interactive talk on Toronto’s urban forest. Learn how this living forest provides important services for us all, the role native and non-native plants play in the ecosystem, basic tree identification and the top ten things you can do for your tree. Hear about LEAF’s role in protecting and improving the urban forest and opportunities for individuals to become involved.
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CTC Railbender 2
Mon. May 16, 7 - 10 p.m. (speeches at 8)
Gladstone Hotel, Queen St. West
Get Electrified! Join the Clean Train Coalition for the 2nd Anniversary Railbender Party
Hear our expert report on the electrification of the Georgetown Corridor including GO Transit and the Air Rail Link, as we continue to "debunk the yths" that etrolinx keeps feeding the public on electrification.
www.cleantrain.ca
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Proud of Toronto - International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia
Mon. 16 May · 5:00 - 7:30 pm
Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. West.
On the eve of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, the Proud of Toronto campaign is hosting a celebration of the best of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities. It is a call for action to Toronto City Hall to continue investing in our communities.
The purpose of this event is to inform Torontonians including their City Councillors about the importance of LGBTQ programs and services.... A variety of organizations provide programs and services, including Pride Toronto, the LGBT YouthLine, The 519 Church St. Community Centre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, various HIV/AIDS organizations, and many more.
This event will feature personal stories of people who have benefited from city-funded LGBTQ programs and services. People who have found a community; people whose financial livelihoods depend on these services, and people whose lives have been saved.
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The Next Generation will not live as long, nor will they be as smart
Lecture with Sydney White, Investigative Journalist, Studies in Propaganda
680 News, 02.15.11. EMF's GMO's and chem trails.
Monday, May 16, 6-8pm FREE
U of T, Room 1101, The Sanford Fleming Building, 10 King's College Road
More info. call 416-787-0592
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Breakfast to Mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
Tues. 17 May · 08:00 - 09:30 am
Sutton Place Grande Hotel, 955 Bay Street
Breakfast and admission are free. Please RSPV to rsvp at egale.ca or call toll-free 1.888.204.7777 so as not to be disappointed.
Breakfast sponsored by CUPE Ontario, Pink Triangle Committee.
Special guests and speakers to be announced soon.
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The Politics of Breast Cancer - Webinar
Tuesday, May 17th, 10 AM – 11 AM PDT
Why does BCA so fiercely object to Breast Cancer Awareness Month? What is so wrong with pink ribbon marketing? Why on earth would corporations involved in the treatment and diagnosis of women with breast cancer try to control how the public understands the disease?
Curious about the answers to these questions? Join us for the first of our monthly webinars, designed to provide you with the opportunity to learn more about the work we do!
Our first webinar is “The Politics of Breast Cancer”- a crash course on the “pinking” of breast cancer, environmental causes of the disease and the corporate interests that control what the public hears about the epidemic.
Click here to register!
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Launch of Canadian Labour in Crisis
Tues. 17 May · 7 pm
Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham Street
Please join Fernwood Publishing in celebrating the release of David Camfield's Canadian Labour in Crisis: Reinventing the Workers' Movement.
Does Canada have a working-class movement? Though many of us think of ourselves as middle class, most of us are, in fact, working class: we work for a wage. And though many of us are members of unions — the most significant organ...izations of the working-class movement in Canada — most people do not understand themselves to be part of this movement. Canadian Labour in Crisis asks why this is so. Through an analysis of the contemporary Canadian working-class movement and its historical development, David Camfield offers an explanation for its current state and argues that reform within the movement is not enough. From the structure of organizations to their activities and even the guiding ideology, Camfield contends that the movement needs a radical reinvention — and offers us a new way forward in reaching this goal.
David Camfield is an associate professor in labour studies at the University of Manitoba. David will deliver a short talk and copies of his new book will be available for purchase.
Endorsed by Greater Toronto Workers' Assembly & Toronto New Socialists.
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Active Arts Mixer: first edition - "Prep"
Tuesday, May 17 · 5:00pm - 8:00pm
TSV (Trinity Square Video), Suite 376, 401 Richmond Street West
An informal mixer for arts workers and arts supporters who are politically engaged or want to be. We will meet, debrief the election results, talk about issues and ideas, make connections, and talk about tomorrow. All welcome. Let's talk.
Drinks and conversation plus a 7:30 PM screening of a secret short film. BYOB.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159461294116416
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City Council to Debate Privatizing Recycling and Garbage
Mayor Rob Ford’s plan to privatize all recycling and garbage collection west of Yonge Street and all litter pick-up in Toronto’s parks, goes to a vote at Toronto City Council on:
Tuesday, May 17. Join us from 9:30 a.m. We may be there until late in the evening.
When this scheme was brought for public input to the Works Committee, not one member of the public supported it. Even more disturbing is that City Council is being asked to waive its legal obligation to review the final deal - a seven year contract worth over $200 million. And this is just the first step in replacing over one thousand city workers with private contractors paying lower wages and reduced benefits. With the City Manager in charge now jumping ship to work for one of the big waste contractors, and the Toronto Environmental Alliance challenging the figures he produced, this issue is getting hotter every day.
Call your Councillor and urge them to vote no to privatization. Go to www.keepitpublic.com for more info. To read the latest Star article go tohttp://www.thestar.com/news/article/987909
Toronto Environmental Alliance released a report called:
Look Before You Leap
The report provides an important environmental perspective on the current debate at City Hall on privatizing residential waste collection west of Yonge Street. For a concise summary, read the Executive Summary . Our media release provides an even smaller, bite size summary.
http://www.torontoenvironment.org/sites/tea/files/TEA%20Report%20-%20Look%20Before%20You%20Leap%20-%20TEXT.pdf
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Human Rights Attorney Discusses the Situation in Haiti - with Brian Concannon
Tues. 17 May · 7:00 - 9:00 pm
OISE, 252 Bloor Street West - Room 5-230
Brian Concannon has been intimately involved in Haitian human rights for almost 15 years. Since 2004, he has been the director of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), a non-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts. The IJDH strives to work with the poor majority in Haiti in their non-violent struggle for democracy, justice and human rights, through raising awareness on the human rights conditions in Haiti, pursuing legal cases, and cooperating with human rights and solidarity groups in Haiti and abroad. The IJDH works closely with its Haitian affiliate, the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI).
Free public forum hosted by the Toronto Haiti Action Committee and the Pan African Solidarity Network with special guest Brian Concannon. For more information:
http://ijdh.org/
www.canadahaitiaction.ca
www.thac.ca
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Ride of Silence
Wed. May 18, 7:00 pm
Bloor & Spadina
Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20 kph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=208873722476279
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Connecting Across Differences
Thur. May 19 - 5:30-8 p.m.
OISE - 252 Bloor St. W, 7th floor Peace Lounge
Nonviolent Communication provides a simple process to clarify needs and choices, resolve conflicts, and solve problems. Whether you want to improve communications in your workplace, at home, with friends or fellow activists, join us for this interactive introduction to explore and learn.
$10-$30 ($10 if you pre-register till 24 hours before the event)
Info / Pre-Registration: Email community at interchange4peace.org
Hosted by: Building a Culture of Peace in the GTA - an education and training program that offers peace-building workshops to leaders and members of communities that want to foster a culture of peace. www.interchange4peace.org
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Join us for an event in Toronto highlighting the injustices in Canada's extradition law. Today it is Hassan Diab. Tomorrow, it could be you.
Kafka in the Court: Hassan Diab v. Canada's Unjust Extradition Law
Thursday, May 19, 7:15 PM
Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil Street (Spadina and College)
SPEAKERS
* Rania Tfaily, Sociology professor, Carleton University, wife of Hassan Diab who is currently fighting extradition to France
* John Norris, Criminal justice lawyer, specialist in extradition law; works on national security cases; appears before the Supreme Court
* Matthew Behrens, Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada
SPONSORED BY
* Toronto Action for Social Change
* Christian Peacemaker Teams
* Canadian Arab Federation
For further information about this event, contact tasc at web.ca<http://web.ca/>
An article on Hassan's case is available at http://rabble.ca/news/2010/11/ottawa-professor-fights-extradition-1980-bomb-attack-france
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RAISE the RATES Educational and Discussion
Thur. 19 May · 6:00 - 9:00 pm
St.Lukes, 353 Sherbourne St. (Carlton and Sherbourne)
REVERSE the CUTS, RESTORE the SPECIAL DIET, RAISE the RATES!
The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty has been spear-heading the ‘Raise the Rates Campaign’ since 2005, demanding a raise in welfare (OW) and disability (ODSP) rates to where people can live with health and dignity. A central part of this has been access to the Special Diet Allowance – a vital benefit that has allowed for some small amount of relief from the miserable a...mounts that people are forced to try to survive on every month.
What is the history of welfare and disability, what is the history of this campaign, what is actually happening with the Special Diet Allowance, and how do we win a raise in social assistance rates TODAY? Join us for an educational and discussion for our members, allies, and anyone interested:
*On-site Childcare *Snacks *Tokens
*Space is Wheel-chair accessible through the ramp off the Carlton side entrance
For more info contact: ocap at tao.ca or 416-925-6939
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Dying for a Home: Fighting for our Social Programs - with Cathy Crowe
Thursday, May 19, 7 pm
Toronto Reference Library, Atrium, Yonge St. north of Bloor
Join Toronto street nurse Cathy Crowe for a street-level perspective on the need for social housing and why we need social programs now more than ever. Crowe has been a street nurse in downtown Toronto for more than seventeen years and co-founded the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee. Music provided by the Common Thread Community Choir. Hosted by Councillor Adam Vaughan.
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2012 Budget Alert! Make Your Voice Heard
Register online here to attend a free information session on OneToronto.ca's Citizen's Guide to the City of Toronto's Core Service's Review.
With an anticipated 2012 budget gap of almost $800 million, Toronto is headed toward deep cuts to vital services, drastically changing the face of our city. There is no time to waste – we need everyone to speak out to protect our city.
The City of Toronto is embarking on three major ‘reviews.’ The Core Services Review (to identify what services are “core” and what can be cut), the User Fee Review (to identify how to make users pay the full cost of services they use) and the “Service Efficiency Studies (to identify which city functions could be privatized, delivered differently). The results of these will determine what services are delivered by the city, how they ard delivered, and who pays for them.
These three reviews are taking place over the next few months, with limited opportunities for public consultation. The Consultation process has just been released.
You can check it out here.
‘One Toronto’ is developing a “Citizens Guide” to these initiatives and the consultation processes related to them, and will be conducting a number of information sessions on them over the next three weeks.
The first four sessions are scheduled for:
Thursday May 19, 2:00-4:00 PM, Steelworkers Hall (25 Cecil Street)
Thursday May 19, 7:00-9:00 PM, Steelworkers Hall (25 Cecil Street)
Tuesday, May 24, 7:00-9:00 PM, Labour Council (15 Gervais Drive, 4th Floor)
Tuesday, May 24, 7:00-9:00 PM, Birchwood Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre (93 Birchmount Road, Scarborough)
All sessions are FREE.
These sessions will be of interest to anyone interested in participating in the consultation process as an individual, as part of an organization, or in promoting engagement and dialogue in your community. They will focus on the fiscal and political context for the consultations, the consultations themselves, and the ways in which individuals and communities can be effectively engaged in the process.
You can register online here or by phone by calling Mary Micallef at 416-351-0095 x 251.
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Socialism 2011: Their Crisis, Our Solutions
an International Educational Conference May 19, 20, 21, 22, 2011
at University of Toronto, with sessions at OISE * and at Woodsworth College Residence *
co-sponsored by: Socialist Action / Ligue pour l'Action socialiste – Canadian state, Socialist Action – USA, and the Socialist Unity League (Liga Unidad Socialista) – Mexico
Tickets: $20 in advance for weekend; $30 at door for wkend; $5 per session (or PWYC)
For more information: www.socialistaction-canada.blogspot.com 416 – 535-8779 barryaw at rogers.com
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Training For Transition (T4T)
Registration Deadline: May 20
June 4th & 5th, 9:00 – 4:30pm both days
Earth Rangers, Kortright Centre, Woodbridge, Ontario
Registration Fee: $200+HST
(includes refreshments and light lunches)
A 2-day course for those wanting the practical tools and knowledge on how to set up, run, maintain, and support a successful transition town initiative
To Register go to http://www.transitionyorkregion.org/t4treg.doc
Space is limited to 30 participants, on a first come first served basis.
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/support/training/training-transition
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Make Your Own Natural Hand Sanitizer Workshop
Friday, May 20, 2011, 6:30-8:30pm
Anarres Natural Health, 792A Dovercourt Road M6H2X3
This workshop will introduce you to skin safe essential oils that are effective against bacteria, viruses and funguses. You'll create your own hand sanitizer and take away two metal bottles of it: 170ml pump and a 60ml purse sized pump
REGISTER: http://www.anarreshealth.ca/node/874
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Angel Art
Della Burford is an amazing visual artist who is visiting Toronto from her home on Vancouver Island
Her art can be seen at www.dodoland.com and www.woodstreamstudio.com
Della is doing two workshops on Sat. May 21st. -- 10-noon and 2-4pm
@ 6 St Joseph House near Yonge & Wellesley
“it is called Make an Angel and I will tell the Miracle Galaxy story and we will do Angel Art. It is by donation and 50% is a fundraiser for Japan - as inspiration as you know was the Toronto to Japan initiative as I was one of the writers listed as support.
I will photograph the angels done and do a little video and then when I get back put together something to send Japan ( post on Youtube)
Rsvp: 6stjoseph at rogers.com
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Tools for Change presents:
Direct Action Gets the Goods
Saturday, May 21, 11am- 5pm
Direct action has played an integral role in most movements for social change, from the civil rights era to the suffragettes, and
from forest defence to worker justice movements. This workshop is for people who are newer to direct action, and are interested in
learning some basic ways to engage. The workshop will cover various topics, including: examples of effective historical direct
actions, building your action team, common roles in a direct action, decision making at actions, basic safety considerations, knowing your rights, the legal risks and consequences of taking action, escalation and de-escalation.
Tools for Change is a series of skills-sharing and skills-building workshops designed to help you gain the tools for doing research, education, and action for social and ecological justice.
To register for workshops, please write to tools.change at gmail.com
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Toronto International Circus Festival
May 21, 22 & 23 - Long Weekend Sat. - Mon., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen's Quay West
http://www.tocircusfestival.com/
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DeCluttering 4 Activists
Do you have troubles locating your bills, flyers, receipts, keys etc. when you need them?
Is your space a big bad 'ol MESS?? Has your STUFF taken' over? Piles getting out of control? NO TIME to deal with it all? Been there, done that!
I will take on your chaos & create some peace by transforming your space... Let me help you!
Open to bartering
Special &/or sliding scale rates available
References/success stories available upon request
Lets talk.
Pei-416.732.8965
pei.czech at gmail.com
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Aleila Spirit Fest
Play, Love, Grow,
June 10 - 13, 2011
15th Year!
Spirit Fest offers experiential, co-creative celebration, workshops & playshops for all ages. Meet like minded, and like hearted people - experience celebration, creation and community. Explore, expand and deepen your experience of the beauty of life on earth, in inspiration, and community. www.spiritfest.ca
Accomodations: range from private cabins, to dormitories, to camping.
Tickets @ http://www.spiritfest.ca/tickets.html
Early early Bird Tickets Friday 4p.m. -Sunday 4 p.m.
@ only $175.00 includes food and Accomodation
Till May 31st !!!
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