With a Canadian Idol-style selection process that attracted 1,200 to go out and vote, Toronto’s municipal election campaign will field four fresh faces for voting day, Nov. 13, reported The Globe and Mail June 20. At the outset, 100 people signed up but 71 showed up on the first night of the contest in late April to make their pitch to the audience. Half of the group was eliminated in the first round, with the rest competing in four regional run-offs.
By design, City Idol left contestants free to develop their platforms, but now will bring out volunteers to knock on doors. York graduate student Melissa Goldstein, 32, was one of those who signed on to help and will stay on to work for the City Idol candidates during the remaining months of the election campaign. She helped organize the regional run-off in North York won by Bahar Aminvaziri (Don Valley West). “It was one of the first places where I felt I could affect change on the ground,” said Goldstein, who is studying for her master’s degree in environmental studies in York’s Faculty of Graduate Studies. Though she had hoped for more public debate on ideas during City Idol, Goldstein remains enthusiastic about the process.
Foley opts for BC Lions and more playing time
BC Lions coach Wally Buono suggested there are several options the team is contemplating in terms of replacing injured player Jason Clermont but wouldn’t get specific, reported The Vancouver Sun June 20. One scenario could see him hand Clermont’s non-import roster spot to draft choice and former York Lions’ player Ricky Foley, who is expected to join the team at workouts today. Foley, a linebacker/rush end from York University, was the team’s second of three first-round picks this year. He initially signed a tryout contract with the NFL Baltimore Ravens but was released last Thursday when he expressed a desire to get playing experience over a possible chance to be placed on the Ravens’ practice roster.
A study in First Nations 101
The Grade 2 children at Humewood Community School are thrilled to be smoking in class, reported the Toronto Star June 20. Not puffing on cigarettes, but breathing wafts of burning sage in an aboriginal ceremony the school is holding to help students better understand their native classmates. This spring, 50 principals visited the Native Canadian Centre for a crash course in elements of aboriginal culture, from the impact of residential schools to the protocol for showing respect to elders. The board co-hosted a recent teachers’ conference at York University on how to make elementary schools more sensitive to native culture. Each school has been sent tips on how to observe National Aboriginal Day June 21, and the board will hold a public celebration at its offices in Etobicoke.
On air
- Paul James
Peter Taylor, professor in York’s Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering, Faculty of Science & Engineering, and Tom Salisbury, professor in York’s Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Faculty of Arts, were interviewed on CBC-TV’s “Nature of Things” June 18 for a segment titled “Everyday Einstein”.