Last Monday I was a little discouraged with my city’s public transport system. After a two hour commute for which I took all forms of transportation minus a bicycle, I was left envying Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz for her magical and might I say practical red slippers. I was also left wishing that I had invested in a bicycle so that I could have avoided the whole situation. Today however, I have no complaints and everything went smoothly. I also applaud the city of Montreal and have to say HOURRAY HOURRAY for CAR-FREE DAY! Montreal’s downtown core will be closed to motorists today but cyclists, skateboarders, roller bladders, and pedestrians are welcome. Unlike previous years, the sixth edition of this event will feature a series of festivities. A fashion show featuring clothes suitable for cycling, walking, and taking public transit is one of the events scheduled to take place today.
Personally, I do not have a car and have walked the downtown core many times but it feels good to know that such actions are encouraged. Montreal officials do recognize that Car-Free Day is symbolic, as it only happens once a year. However, the event does set the precedent to improve the city’s public transit system. It encourages more people to leave their cars at home and to consider alternative means of transportation.
Here at CitizenShift, Car-Free Day is encouraged.
Check out our Critical Mass dossier where the short video ‘Mat’s Commute’ and other shorts are featured.
It’s Friday evening and I can’t think of a better way to start the weekend than with a nice bowl of pasta and a great glass of wine.
I personally like Argentinean wine. It is not too hard on the pallet. My colour of choice is red. Tonight however I think I will try something new. I won’t have to venture too far. Canada is home to some very interesting wineries. From the west coast there is the Nk’Mip winery. That is pronounced in-ka-meep and it is the first Aboriginal owned and operated winery in North America. Located on the shores of Osoyoos Lake in South Okanagan, the winery is a part of an interesting economic plan for the Osoyoos band.
Nk'Mip Cellar
On another night I may choose to enjoy a glass from a winery in Ontario. The Stratus winery prides itself on ecologically friendly means of production. While having a nice glass of their wine, I can feel good knowing that I am supporting a business that focuses on sustainable development. The Stratus winery was the first LEED certified building in Canada. What does that mean?
Stratus Winery
The LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) suggest that Stratus makes its wine in a building that is ecologically friendly and that looks good too.
Now that I know what Canada has to offer the wine industry, I don’t feel so bad for the occasional indulgence.
When searching for media to add to CitizenShift’s latest featured dossier LANGUAGE LOST, I came across quite the interesting finding. Thornton Media has adapted new voice technology designed for the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan in the fight to save endangered indigneous languages. The Phraselator is helping these languages be translated and preserved.
Check out this promotional video for RezWorld 3D - an interactive video game called RezWorld, adaptable to any native language.
I don’t live in Toronto but if I did, I can put money on the fact that I’d probably be commuting by way of public transit! In my Toronto-travel experience, the subway system is extensive, affordable and quick - and let me tell you, if I had access to streetcars, I’d be reliving the Full House opening credits every day of my life!
And even better? A film festival on the TTC! The TORONTO URBAN FILM FESTIVAL is an 8-day long public film festival on the Toronto Transit Commission - the only one of its kind in North America - featuring a different urban-themed program of silent, 1-minute films each day.
Halifax filmmaker Rebecca Singer’s awesome short film that was publicly screened earlier in the year at the Atlantic Filmmaker’s Cooperative One Minute Film Screening and Halifax Independent Filmmakers’ Festival is a part of the exciting line-up that you can watch online. Check out her film RAMBLERS: HALIFAX SYNCHRONIZED BIKE TEAM in the Urban Travels category and vote for your favourite.
For more great films about pedal-powered revolutionary machines, check out our beloved CRITICAL MASS: WHEELS OF CHANGE dossier on CitizenShift. The revolution will not be motorized.
Montrealer in her mid-twenties.
Freelance journalist and photographer,
with an interest in human rights and sustainable living.
Has a cheerful disposition.
Tynesha is CITIZENShift's summer intern from Concordia University's Communication department (Mtl., QC). Brimming with interests, she states "I enjoy school, I sing in a choir and I am also involved in community radio and volunteer work with youth. In the future, I look forward to developing a company that merges my three great passions in sound, community engagement, and music."
David Widgington was the event coordinator for the Citizen Media Rendez-vous 2010 (http://citizen-media.ca). He is a mobile journalist (MoJo) who is well-versed in community radio, video and print and web-based media practices. He has a particular interest these days with diaspora communities returning to Southern Sudan since the end of the war. He is script-writing a documentary project on the subject. (http://southsudaninfo.net).
Last Monday I was a little discouraged with my city’s public transport system. After a two hour commute for which I took all forms of transportation minus a bicycle, I was left envying Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz for her magical and might I say practical red slippers. I was also left wishing that I had invested in a bicycle so that I could have avoided the whole situation. Today however, I have no complaints and everything went smoothly. I also applaud the city of Montreal and have to say HOURRAY HOURRAY for CAR-FREE DAY! Montreal’s downtown core will be closed to motorists today but cyclists, skateboarders, roller bladders, and pedestrians are welcome. Unlike previous years, the sixth edition of this event will feature a series of festivities. A fashion show featuring clothes suitable for cycling, walking, and taking public transit is one of the events scheduled to take place today. 
