Taking Back the Streets

In a city like Toronto, the streets are where people meet, performers play, vendors sell, and where life essentially takes place. The streets witness endless interactions, surround the tallest buildings, and line the shops, museums, theatres, and schools. They act as the vines for us to maneuver ourselves through the dense concrete jungle.

On Saturday evening, marching up Yonge Street were dozens of women walking collectively, holding signs, and chanting. Take Back the Night was in full swing. Women of all demographics marched in unison to celebrate their right for safe streets- particularly at night when women are especially vulnerable to assaults, thieving, and harassment. Like any marginalized group, these women want to reclaim their safety, independence, and equality to enjoy the city streets at any and all times, just as anybody should.

The next day many Torontonians were enjoying their streets. The Word on the Street Festival was happening at Queen's Park. Books, magazine, and newspaper were being sold while many bookworms listen to authors read their latest work under large white tents. Many children and couples picnicked together, looking at their new books, some reading them together.

Unlike other years, this festival housed many publishers and commercial organizations, but as much as I search, no school boards were to be found. Fortunately the Toronto Public Library was there and promoted many of the great services they provide to children and youth. I couldn't, however, get over the fact that at one of the nations largest book fairs, not a single school board was represented. Is that a comment on our education system? You be the judge.

 

Buying was the theme of the day- every booth seemed like it was trying to sell something. Yes, it was a book festival with many vendors, but I felt as though there should have been more give-aways, freebies (like bookmarks and pins) that would get people- especially children and youth- interested in reading and literacy.

Maybe I have a bias as an elementary school teacher, but more should and could have been done to make the festival more enticing for the young reading audience. Oh ya... Poka-Roo was there... but he's not from a book last time I checked. Again, a comment on reading culture? Bringing a television character to attract children to a book fair? Hmm. Is Poka-Dot Door even still on? I suppose it must be... I digress.





Own your city streets and share them with each other. They may be the vines we swing from to get to where we're going, but they are also the veins that pump life into our city, making it vibrant and alive!

From Grill to Gallery: A Modern Day

I dashed across a busy and crowded Bay Street at 12:35pm. Already ten minutes late for lunch with a good friend and colleague at the Heart House Grill at the University of Toronto. Glad to have worn my shorts and loose fitting top- the temperature was in the high 20's celcius. I arrived in time for an appetizer, glass of wine, and brief catching up with each other before moving into the main dining room for lunch.

Over some more wine and delicious food, my friend and I spoke of everything from training (trained together in martial arts for over a decade), politics, real estate (condo investments), and then onto the topic of our schooling.

Both of us, though roughly thirty years apart in age, began Masters degrees. He's studying Urban Planning, I'm studying Education. As different as these fields appear to be, we are both studying modernity/ modernism. What does it mean to be modern?

In urban planning, being modern might mean that you develop new ways of using urban space in creative and innovative ways; like putting a ferris wheel by the lakeshore. For educators, modernism is seen in how we strive to teach using new methods and state of the art technology. In any case, being/ acting modern ultimately means breaking away from tradition and traditonal ways of operating.

Later that day, I walked down to the Art Gallery of Ontario with the idea of modernity still resonating in my mind. An exhibit that caught my attention was called 'Haute Culture: General Idea, A Retrospective, 1969- 1994".

I then had a thought. I was about to view an exhibit that held some very influencial Canadian art from the 60's through to the early 90's, most of which is considered "modern" art. So, how can something be modern and be almost twenty years old?

The influence these peices had and the resonance they continue to have today allowed me to realize that they are, and for many years will be, modern because of how they dissent tradition and break away from the mainsteam; the traditional stream.

Thought provoking, counter-cultural, and at times shocking (though not mutually exclusive characteristics), the peices pushed boundaries and often made the voyer make considerations from a different perspective; to see the world/ the topics through a modern lens.

I couldn't help but laugh to myself when a middle-aged tour guide hesitantly brought a small group of adults into a room adorned with paintings of poodles in compromising positions. She stated that she tells anyone under the age of 18 to not look too closely. Her voice cracked with embarrassment as she stummbled over her words to describe this particular display.

Perhaps "modern" is a hard pill to swallow, but for many modernity is an essential consideration for aspirations, progress, and hope for what the future will bring.

The Unheard Voices

It's time... I've been hesitant to publish my poem here, but I think now is the right time since I'm getting back into studying issues of oppression and inequality in my masters course (Intro to Soc. and Equity Studies in Education). 

I've posted an image of the infamous 'Zen Circle' (right). It symbolizes no-thing-ness. As most zen proverbs confuse us, this one is similar as the zen circle entails that in no-thing-ness is everything. Essentially, no thing is more important or to be held to a greater level of prestige as anything else. We must hope that everyone experiences happiness and that suffering is eliminated.

Every thing and every one is to be equal, no better or worse/ greater or less.


The Unheard Voices
by: Matt Badali

These are the unheard voices.

They are the voices of many people, many colours, many experiences.

Each voice has a different story to tell. Each voice speaks a different language.

Some voices don’t use any words.

The unheard voices speak of hope.

The unheard voices speak of fear.

Fear because nobody knows.

Hope because somebody cares.

Every voice tells a different story.

The unheard voices belong to people who matter.

Everyone matters.

They belong to people who may need help.

They belong to people who may not need help.

All of the voices belong to people who need to be heard.

The voices are unheard because people choose not to listen.

When people choose not to listen, they ignore an important message.

The message can be heard around the world.

When you want to hear the message, listen.

Listen with your ears, listen with your eyes, listen with your heart.

Listen to those who are hungry.

Listen to those who are abandoned.

Listen to those who are affected by war.

Listen to those who cannot afford education.

Listen to those who have no shelter.

Listen to those who are not allowed to speak out.

Listen to the voices of ability.

Listen to the voices of diversity.

Listen to the voices that surround you every day.

When you listen to these voices, the message becomes clear.

Everybody fears. Everybody hopes. Everybody loves.

Whether you hear with your ears, your eyes, or your heart; listen with an open mind.

Listen to the unheard voices.

Fresh Air, Fresh Start

As the cool so-to-be autumn air blows through the city streets, new beginnings and fresh starts surround us in our lives and the lives those around us.

I was sitting in a cafe recently when the server said it was funny how we are programmed to think September is the time for new beginnings. We are programmed from having to go back to school year after year. Little did she know (in her joking tone) that I actually was getting ready to go back to school... yet again.

Lined up for my student card with all the "frosh" embarking on their first university experience. I just wanted to shake their anxious faces and tell them it will be alright! I was there because I was starting my Masters of Education at The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto.

This will be the first September for me in three years that I haven't been able to walk into a classroom to greet brand new eager faces to teach. Instead, I'll be walking into a classroom with twenty-four others, discussing social issues and their impact/ influence/ absence from education.

I hope that, while still a supply teach this year, I will get to inspire and encourage young kids to have fun with learning in their classrooms. One of the perks of being a supply teacher is that you arrive fresh and keen, without being worn out by the "trouble makers"; eager to inspire and possibly help the students view their learning from a new perspective.

Most think of September as a time for a fresh start because the hot, and sometimes lazy, summer days are ending, bringing on the crisp days of fall. New t.v. shows are starting, new fall clothes are being added to wardrobes, and pumpkin spice lattes are being sipped.

All in all, this time of year prompts us to set new goals and even get into different routines (whether going back to school or not). Some might even argue that the "new-ness" of September is more meaningful than the "new-ness" of New Years Day.

At least now we know that we've got just over three months to tie this year up and accomplish what we set out to do back on that dark, cold, and possibly inebriated December night last year.

So, go get that new clipboard, box of pens, leopard print shoes, or whatever it is you need for your new endevours.

Cheers (with Warm Apple Cider) to fresh start and to new beginnings!

City Nights ...

Canadian National Exhibition entrance - Toronto