Somebody should call the candidates and make sure they know that this partisan who has raked a few of them over the coals in the paper is the "moderator".
Donna or Richard are another 2 excellent choices who know the issues.
Seems like an overwhelming response that the moderator is the wrong choice. There's still time to come up with someone who will help make the event a success rather than steer it in the wrong direction.
Writing provocative editorials might be good for newspaper sales, but it would make a debate such a mockery that I would be surprised if any of the candidates would agree to come.
What was the reasoning behind this choice? Why was there no discussion about finding an appropriate moderator?
For everyone who has been anticipating the opening of the LCBO next to Zellers, a construction guy told me that the store is scheduled to open on Thursday, July 22. Construction is expected to finish by the end of the month and then it apparently takes a few weeks to stock the store.
The original shirts were high quality and double screened in 2 colours. They still look great today and were patterned off the old Toronto street signs. I sold them at cost which was about 12$. You can now buy all different kinds of Parkdale shirts in stores or online.
I don't want to resort to name calling (that's Sue-Ann Levy's job) but Sue-Ann Levy as a moderator is a terrible choice because she is one of the most partisan right wingers in the City. I honestly don't know how the candidates would feel with her as a moderator but I cannot imagine they would be happy having a Rob Ford supporter as the moderator. I am surprised that she was even considered.
We need somebody who comes to the table with a cleaner slate and somebody who actually knows the issues in Ward 18. In fact if you read anything about Sue-Ann Levy she is opposed to most things that are popular in Ward 18. You cant call for inclusion and fairness and then have somebody like her be a moderator.
I call for a Ward 18 person who knows the issues and is un-biased (at least compared to Sue-Ann Levy) to be chosen instead.
I'm sure that this mayoral debate will be overall well-run, much like the Ward 18 all-candidates' debate.
However, in my opinion, I think that choosing Sue-Ann Levy as the moderator is an extremely poor choice.
A debate moderator should have a somewhat neutral and fair position, or at the very least hide it well. :) Instead we have someone who has been writing recent newspaper columns bashing certain mayoral candidates, and promoting others. She has a very long history of partisan politics, and even ran in the St. Paul's riding provincial by-election last year. The newspaper that she works for is most certainly backing one particular candidate.
And now it sounds like this extremely biased columnist will not only moderate our local debate, but also be involved in choosing the top four questions?
This sounds like way too much of an opportunity for a non- Ward 18 resident to influence how our local mayoral debate will run.
I understand it can be challenging to find a skilled and high-profile moderator, but Sue-Ann Levy is far from objective. I don't think anyone who makes their living making up childish names for elected officials is an appropriate choice for moderator. Perhaps if the organization of these events wasn't a one-man show some of these issues would be identified before the wheels were set in motion.
Hello All, Last week I sent out an email informing everyone about a possible Mayoral Debate in Ward18 on Monday, September 13, 2010 between 7:00PM - 9:00PM . I also mention that I am looking for feed back and input from individuals and groups with-in the ward. Well last night at the Dig In meeting I had a chance to speak about the debate and mentioned who the moderator would be. It was also suggested that we would only allow the 6 main mayoral contenders to debate, unless we have a mayoral candidate who is running in the Ward18 then we would allow he or she to participate. I also went ahead and asked the moderator Sue-Ann Levy what style of debate would she like or feel comfortable doing and so she responded, see her response in blue, scroll below.
So between now and September I will be looking for your responses as to what issues we should be putting forward to the candidates. You can email this to my email address at favagj@hotmail.com I will then pass this on to the moderator and then select four questions to present to the candidates for debate. Following that we will then open up the floor for Q&A.
Lastly, once we have confirmation from the permits department at TDSB and with the help of the Trustee Maria Rodrigues on the venue either at Kent or Bloor School we will then ask that you post the debate on your website and mention to others. This will help with the cost of posters and flyers, keeping in mind that this is all volunteer work with 0 dollars. Any money spent is coming from volunteers pocket.
I like to finish by saying how importnat it is to have ward18 in the fore front. This community is going through many changes and issues e.g. development, bike lanes vs no bikes lanes, parking, small business, crime and the new rails and electric train issue and so on. So we need to bring this issues out and in the open. Thank Jack Fava
"I prefer the question format rather than a free-for-all.
I would recommend starting with four questions on the same number of priority issues, then move to a general debate"
Cheers,
Sue-Ann Levy
City Hall Columnist
Toronto Sun
At the risk of offending friends our candidate list for ward 18 is pretty mediocre considering all the talented people in the ward. Half of them are retreads and those that have a compulsion to run every time. I was hoping that somebody with a higher profile and broader vision would emerge. Not likely.
In the late 90's when I was chairing the Parkdale Festival I decided to do some Parkdale t shirts as a community pride project and was surprised when they all sold out BEFORE the festival day. Since that day you can actually buy about 4 different Parkdale designs from different stores on Queen Street. By the way etching silk screens has never been easier.
If there was a t-short with a good design, I'd probably get one too.
One option would be to have DIY silkscreening during a local festival / picnic / etc. Could have a common design that anyone could add a unique touch to.
Thank you for your support! We can always use more help. Please email info@junctiontriangle.ca, to send us your contact information and we'll get in touch with you.
The summer school vacation period is almost here and we need to keep making our voices heard, so Perth PS will not be forgotten.
Hi,
I'm thrilled to see this action taking place! I swear, I love this neighbourhood more every day...which is one of the reasons we decided not to send our oldest (currently in JK at Perth) off to Rawlinson for FI. Initially we were turned down at Regal Road but they called us about two weeks ago to offer us a spot. After two days of discussion, my husband and I decided that our community ties were very important to us with our children so young (we also have a two year old) and for that, and a few other reasons, we decided to stay at Perth. It was only last week that I learned, from another local mom, that our entire school was shut out of the RR program. When speaking to RR later that same day, I was told the same thing and thought...that's just not right. Why our school? What's going on here?
I've been to the library and signed the petition and signed the letter. I'd be interested in joining the "Pump it Up Perth Residents Committee", or at the very least, i'd like to volunteer my services to help spread the word about this movement and petition.
Its not often that I reply to myself but.... my point was understood but at the same time it is my experience that English is understood by the vast majority of people, or their children, in the JT area. Today newcomers are often the most educated and internet savvy people around too. The world is a far more connected place than it was even 25 years ago and online translation and the rise of "Globalish" (people already have an understanding of what they call global English before they immigrate) means that people don't have the language barriers that they once did. And people like me through things like KIVA know more about the rest of the world than ever before. The world changes and JT changes with it.
For your information I didn't misread anything. These numbers were given to me from someone who works at Stats Canada. All I did was record the information down. The issue for me Irmina, is you using the word myth. Regardless what the numbers are, there are residents in this ward18/davenport and accross the city, that can't read, write or speak english and it should be people like our elected officals, ourselves who have taken on the role as a community whatever you want to call to ourselves and reach out to those residents and inform them to what is going on in our community.
For me I don't need numbers to reach out to people, to me residents are residents. I will try my best to reach out to as many residents as I can. JF
Jack, no one is denying that
1. drop out rates are decreasing overall across the country
2. there is a high drop out rate among certain cultural groups
The focus here is you overstating your personal antidotes that the majority of people in Ward 18 cannot speak or read English based on YOUR MISREADING of statistics tables from the City of Toronto AND Statistics Canada web sites. Both sources, as Vic and I have pointed out, clearly state that the majority of residents in Ward 18/Davenport understand English.
I only reason I mentioned what I did is when Irmina mentioned myth. I am starting to wondering if it's just denail and not excepting the truth. All you need to do is look around ward18/davenport and you can see and hear all that I mentioned. You don't need to read the paper to know many people in this riding can't speak or write englsih. I guess you have your opinion and I have mine.
It would also help Jack if you brought yourself up-to-date on other stats. The high school dropout rate has dropped in half in the last decade http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/2005004/8984-eng.htm#a While the City of Toronto lags behind the province in completion rates, the TDSB has committed to reaching the provincial average of 85% by the end of the 2010/2011 school year http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/04/17/13623601.html. You do a real disservice by stating old information and stigmatizing both the neighbourhood and particular cultural groups with information that is just wrong.
You're definitely reading and interpreting the statistics incorrectly. Let me make a few points:
"Mother Tongue" is different from "only language spoken". For example, English is not my mother tongue, nor is it my "first language", and in the past it was definitely not "Language spoken most often at home". But that doesn't mean that I don't understand English.
You said "2,455 spoke English only". That is incorrect. The 2,455 figure is for English as a mother tongue.
Check the "Knowledge of Official Languages" section. This shows English Only = 5,380, plus English and French = 600. Total = 5980. That's 90% of the total population.
Somebody should call the candidates and make sure they know that this partisan who has raked a few of them over the coals in the paper is the "moderator".
Donna or Richard are another 2 excellent choices who know the issues.
Seems like an overwhelming response that the moderator is the wrong choice. There's still time to come up with someone who will help make the event a success rather than steer it in the wrong direction.
Eli would be great and I also think Donna Cowan or Richard Mongiat would make good moderators too. They do a great job at DigIn.
Eli Malinsky would be a better a choice, he lives in the ward, know many of the pressing issues, and has experience as a moderator.
Writing provocative editorials might be good for newspaper sales, but it would make a debate such a mockery that I would be surprised if any of the candidates would agree to come.
What was the reasoning behind this choice? Why was there no discussion about finding an appropriate moderator?
For everyone who has been anticipating the opening of the LCBO next to Zellers, a construction guy told me that the store is scheduled to open on Thursday, July 22. Construction is expected to finish by the end of the month and then it apparently takes a few weeks to stock the store.
The original shirts were high quality and double screened in 2 colours. They still look great today and were patterned off the old Toronto street signs. I sold them at cost which was about 12$. You can now buy all different kinds of Parkdale shirts in stores or online.
How much did the Parkdale tee-shirts sell for? If I remember correctly, Jowie Taylor is wearing a Parkdale tee, on his book cover for Six String Nation. Maybe Kristen can wear a JT shirt for her next book cover too. :-P
I don't want to resort to name calling (that's Sue-Ann Levy's job) but Sue-Ann Levy as a moderator is a terrible choice because she is one of the most partisan right wingers in the City. I honestly don't know how the candidates would feel with her as a moderator but I cannot imagine they would be happy having a Rob Ford supporter as the moderator. I am surprised that she was even considered.
We need somebody who comes to the table with a cleaner slate and somebody who actually knows the issues in Ward 18. In fact if you read anything about Sue-Ann Levy she is opposed to most things that are popular in Ward 18. You cant call for inclusion and fairness and then have somebody like her be a moderator.
I call for a Ward 18 person who knows the issues and is un-biased (at least compared to Sue-Ann Levy) to be chosen instead.
I'm sure that this mayoral debate will be overall well-run, much like the Ward 18 all-candidates' debate.
However, in my opinion, I think that choosing Sue-Ann Levy as the moderator is an extremely poor choice.
A debate moderator should have a somewhat neutral and fair position, or at the very least hide it well. :) Instead we have someone who has been writing recent newspaper columns bashing certain mayoral candidates, and promoting others. She has a very long history of partisan politics, and even ran in the St. Paul's riding provincial by-election last year. The newspaper that she works for is most certainly backing one particular candidate.
And now it sounds like this extremely biased columnist will not only moderate our local debate, but also be involved in choosing the top four questions?
This sounds like way too much of an opportunity for a non- Ward 18 resident to influence how our local mayoral debate will run.
I understand it can be challenging to find a skilled and high-profile moderator, but Sue-Ann Levy is far from objective. I don't think anyone who makes their living making up childish names for elected officials is an appropriate choice for moderator. Perhaps if the organization of these events wasn't a one-man show some of these issues would be identified before the wheels were set in motion.
Posting this for Jack Fava:
At the risk of offending friends our candidate list for ward 18 is pretty mediocre considering all the talented people in the ward. Half of them are retreads and those that have a compulsion to run every time. I was hoping that somebody with a higher profile and broader vision would emerge. Not likely.
In the late 90's when I was chairing the Parkdale Festival I decided to do some Parkdale t shirts as a community pride project and was surprised when they all sold out BEFORE the festival day. Since that day you can actually buy about 4 different Parkdale designs from different stores on Queen Street. By the way etching silk screens has never been easier.
So, we're up to 10 candidates now, with Joe MacDonald being the latest one to be added to the official list.
I'm inclined to say, "Enough already!"
Personally, I think we actually have a few good choices on the roster now, and plenty of filler.
If there was a t-short with a good design, I'd probably get one too.
One option would be to have DIY silkscreening during a local festival / picnic / etc. Could have a common design that anyone could add a unique touch to.
Hi Sharon,
Thank you for your support! We can always use more help. Please email info@junctiontriangle.ca, to send us your contact information and we'll get in touch with you.
The summer school vacation period is almost here and we need to keep making our voices heard, so Perth PS will not be forgotten.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Hi,
I'm thrilled to see this action taking place! I swear, I love this neighbourhood more every day...which is one of the reasons we decided not to send our oldest (currently in JK at Perth) off to Rawlinson for FI. Initially we were turned down at Regal Road but they called us about two weeks ago to offer us a spot. After two days of discussion, my husband and I decided that our community ties were very important to us with our children so young (we also have a two year old) and for that, and a few other reasons, we decided to stay at Perth. It was only last week that I learned, from another local mom, that our entire school was shut out of the RR program. When speaking to RR later that same day, I was told the same thing and thought...that's just not right. Why our school? What's going on here?
I've been to the library and signed the petition and signed the letter. I'd be interested in joining the "Pump it Up Perth Residents Committee", or at the very least, i'd like to volunteer my services to help spread the word about this movement and petition.
Sharon
Its not often that I reply to myself but.... my point was understood but at the same time it is my experience that English is understood by the vast majority of people, or their children, in the JT area. Today newcomers are often the most educated and internet savvy people around too. The world is a far more connected place than it was even 25 years ago and online translation and the rise of "Globalish" (people already have an understanding of what they call global English before they immigrate) means that people don't have the language barriers that they once did. And people like me through things like KIVA know more about the rest of the world than ever before. The world changes and JT changes with it.
For your information I didn't misread anything. These numbers were given to me from someone who works at Stats Canada. All I did was record the information down. The issue for me Irmina, is you using the word myth. Regardless what the numbers are, there are residents in this ward18/davenport and accross the city, that can't read, write or speak english and it should be people like our elected officals, ourselves who have taken on the role as a community whatever you want to call to ourselves and reach out to those residents and inform them to what is going on in our community.
For me I don't need numbers to reach out to people, to me residents are residents. I will try my best to reach out to as many residents as I can. JF
Jack, no one is denying that
1. drop out rates are decreasing overall across the country
2. there is a high drop out rate among certain cultural groups
The focus here is you overstating your personal antidotes that the majority of people in Ward 18 cannot speak or read English based on YOUR MISREADING of statistics tables from the City of Toronto AND Statistics Canada web sites. Both sources, as Vic and I have pointed out, clearly state that the majority of residents in Ward 18/Davenport understand English.
I only reason I mentioned what I did is when Irmina mentioned myth. I am starting to wondering if it's just denail and not excepting the truth. All you need to do is look around ward18/davenport and you can see and hear all that I mentioned. You don't need to read the paper to know many people in this riding can't speak or write englsih. I guess you have your opinion and I have mine.
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/education/schoolsandresources/article...
It would also help Jack if you brought yourself up-to-date on other stats. The high school dropout rate has dropped in half in the last decade http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/2005004/8984-eng.htm#a While the City of Toronto lags behind the province in completion rates, the TDSB has committed to reaching the provincial average of 85% by the end of the 2010/2011 school year http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/04/17/13623601.html. You do a real disservice by stating old information and stigmatizing both the neighbourhood and particular cultural groups with information that is just wrong.
Jack,
You're definitely reading and interpreting the statistics incorrectly. Let me make a few points:
More details at Statistics Canada.
I created another forum over here, specifically for discussing this topic, since it seems to come up all the time.
Please post followups there, and NOT here. Let's keep this page focused on the Municipal Election Issues Forum event on August 26th.