Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press VICTORIA — A British Columbia coroner’s inquest jury recommends improvements in provincial substance abuse treatment, detection and prevention services for young people following an inquest into the overdose of a Victoria-area teen.The jury cites B.C.’s health and education ministries and the Vancouver Island Health Authority in its recommendations after hearing from more than 40 witnesses into the April 20, 2018, death of Elliot Eurchuk.The jury concludes the 16-year-old’s death was accidental, resulting from a mixed intoxication of drugs that included fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.The jury recommends the education ministry develop programs for early detection of mental health and substance use disorders at schools and implement plans to ease the transition back to school for students who undergo drug treatment programs.It also says the health ministry should provide youth with more long-term residential substance use treatment facilities throughout B.C.Eurchuk’s parents, Rachel Staples and Brock Eurchuk, testified their attempts to help their son were thwarted by outdated privacy policies.The BC Coroners Service called the inquest saying there was a public interest in hearing the circumstances of the teen’s death, and that a jury would have the opportunity to make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.Eurchuk’s parents said at the conclusion of testimony that they don’t want others to endure the trauma of not being able to help children when they need it most.“At numerous junctures the health-care system failed Elliot,” said Brock Eurchuk. “The education system failed Elliot. The laws that we’re trying to parent our children with are fraught with flaws.”He said current privacy laws prevented them from knowing the full extent of their son’s substance abuse because he consistently denied using drugs and when he finally disclosed to his family doctor, he asked that his parents not be told.Eurchuk said current laws were designed decades ago to guarantee young people privacy about birth control and sexuality issues.“Let’s dial it up 30 years later and talk about the opioid crisis and what these kids are exposed to on a daily basis,” he said. “It’s a challenging, dangerous new world.”Staples said the family wasn’t able to receive detailed medical information about Eurchuk’s addiction, which prevented them from developing a united strategy and treatment plan.“That’s what it creates, because the parents are trying to make a child understand an adult’s perspective when a child has a child’s brain that’s been hijacked by opioids,” she said. “Family dynamics are disrupted.”Staples, a dentist and also a mother of two sons younger than Eurchuk, testified she was shocked in 2016 to discover her son had sedation drugs from her dental office stashed in his bedroom. She said she suspected her son was perhaps smoking marijuana, but had no idea about other drugs.The mother testified she watched Eurchuk slide over three years from a bright, but under-achieving student and talented athlete to drug-sick teen.The inquest heard from Kelowna pediatrician Tom Warshawski who described an overdose as a life-and-death situation where a young person’s brain and actions are being controlled by potentially deadly drugs.He said he supports placing young people in treatment facilities against their will if they’ve suffered an overdose.Warshawski said committing young people to secure treatment facilities under B.C.’s Mental Health Act, where they can’t leave for a time period of about one week, allows doctors to help clean the drugs out of their systems and open their minds to the possibility of future treatment.The inquest heard Eurchuk’s parents placed their son in secure care after he overdosed on illicit drugs at the hospital. At the time, he was undergoing treatment for a blood infection that is common to intravenous drug users.Staples said the move only further alienated their son from the parents because he felt they had betrayed him.Dr. Perry Kendall, B.C.’s former provincial health officer, told the inquest jury he wasn’t a supporter of involuntary care for youths with drug issues. He said there is not enough evidence showing such treatment programs work.
TORONTO — The late “Mr. Dressup” children’s entertainer Ernie Coombs, actor Will Arnett, and Olympic speedskater Cindy Klassen are among the new inductees to Canada’s Walk of Fame.The class of 2019 was announced Thursday evening during an event that featured Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings performing together for the first time in a decade.Organizers noted two more inductees will be revealed at a later date.Announced! Congratulations to our 2019 Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductees @TriumphTheBand, @arnettwill, @JTreliving, #MrDressup, #DrJamesNaismith, #FrankGehry, @cindy_klassen and @markmessier! Today, tomorrow and well into the future, #CanadaThrives because of its people. pic.twitter.com/TztOLanojk— Canada’s Walk of Fame (@CWOFame) July 19, 2019Other names on this year’s list include rock band Triumph, architect Frank Gehry, and Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier.The new inductees also include “Dragons’ Den” entrepreneur and pizza-chain mogul Jim Treliving, and the late physician and basketball inventor Dr. James Naismith.The annual walk of fame event honours accomplishments in fields including music, sports, film and television, literary, visual and performing arts, science, innovation, philanthropy and social justice.This year’s inductions will take place at the Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Nov. 23.“We are building a much more robust national platform to shine a bright light on these extraordinary Canadians who join the amazing inductees of the past 20 years,” Jeffrey Latimer, CEO of Canada’s Walk of Fame, said in a statement.The Canadian Press
WINNIPEG — Children’s advocates from across the country are to release research today on youth suicide.The Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates is calling on all levels of government to take action.The council includes members from nearly every province and territory and the research is to be shared at a national conference in Winnipeg.Statistics Canada figures show suicide was the second-leading cause of death among Canadians between the ages of 10 and 35 in 2017.One Manitoba First Nation called a state of emergency last month after four deaths and 22 attempts this summer alone.Ainsley Krone, deputy Manitoba advocate, says information on youth suicide is collected in various ways across the country, so reliable national data can be a challenge.The Canadian Press
Jessica Alba has a new book coming out in March, which features tips on making healthy living fun, real, and stylish.The Honest LifeFrom Honest.com: “As a new mom, Jessica Alba wanted to create the safest, healthiest environment for her family. But she was frustrated by the lack of trustworthy information on how to live healthier and cleaner—delivered in a way that a busy mom could act on without going to extremes. In 2012, with serial entrepreneur Brian Lee, seasoned consumer internet executive Sean Kane, and environmental advocate Christopher Gavigan, she launched The Honest Company, a brand where parents can find reliable information and products that are safe, stylish, and affordable. The Honest Life shares the insights and strategies she gathered along the way.“The Honest Life recounts Alba’s personal journey of discovery and reveals her tips for making healthy living fun, real, and stylish, while offering a candid look inside her home and daily life. She shares strategies for maintaining a clean diet (with favorite family-friendly recipes) and embraces nontoxic choices at home and provides eco-friendly decor tips to fit any budget. Alba also discusses cultivating a daily eco beauty routine, finding one’s personal style without resorting to yoga pants, and engaging in fun, hands-on activities with kids. Her solutions are easy, chic, and down-to-earth: they’re honest. And discovering everyday ways to live naturally and authentically—true to you—could be honestly life-changing.”The book comes out on March 12, and can be preordered at Amazon.com. Find out more at Honest.com.
Kasseem ‘Swizz Beatz’ Dean, Rosie Perez, Sheila Jaffe, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Lorraine Bracco and Vincent Pastore will step out for the 8th Annual Children’s Rights Charity Event on Monday, October 7th.Children’s Rights, the non-profit organization that protects the rights of abused and neglected children in foster care throughout the U.S., is hosting the annual benefit. Emmy Award-Winning casting director Sheila Jaffe, actor, philanthropist and community activist Rosie Perez and Frederic Dorwart, founder of Oklahoma-based Frederic Dowart, Lawyers, will each be honored with the Children’s Rights’ Champion Award. Grammy Award-Winning producer Swizz Beatz will host and deejay the after-party.The evening will serve as a fundraising event highlighting the life-changing results CR has achieved over the past year, and will help the organization make a difference in the lives of thousands more children in foster care. Former foster youth, adoptive parents, child advocates and attorneys will be on hand to talk about why they support CR. The evening will also include a live auction, conducted by Hugh Hildesley, executive vice president of Sotheby’s.CR Board Member Darryl “DMC” McDaniels – hip hop icon from the groundbreaking group Run DMC – will present awards to Sheila Jaffe and Rosie Perez. Along with McDaniels, Jaffe founded the Felix Organization, which works to enrich the lives of children in foster care. Perez has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of kids through the Urban Arts Partnership, the We Are Family Foundation and other initiatives. CR Executive Director Marcia Robinson Lowry will present the award to Frederic Dowart, pro-bono counsel in CR’s campaign to transform Oklahoma’s dangerous child welfare system.Children’s Rights, a 501c3 non-profit, advocates for the reform of overburdened child welfare systems across the U.S. For almost 20 years, CR has used the law to hold governments accountable and defend thousands of kids when foster care systems fail. The organization has secured court orders mandating top-to-bottom child welfare reforms in more than a dozen states. As a result, kids are safer. They get the education and healthcare they need. They have better foster homes. And best of all, children find permanent, loving families more quickly, ensuring they have the brightest possible futures.For more information about Children’s Rights, visit http://www.childrensrights.org/.
For the first time ever, Sports Illustrated is opening up the photo shoot for their next Swimsuit Issue to one lucky winner and a guest.How to win: help Petra Nemcova support the Happy Hearts Fund (they rebuild schools following natural disasters – incredible work) by making a small donation! The more people donate, the more chances they will have to win.There are great guaranteed prizes that come with various donation levels as well, including a signed copy of the current Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and even a Skype session with Petra!“This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue,” says Petra. “It also marks the 10th Anniversary of a world-changing event – the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that killed almost 300,000 – a tragedy that Petra was blessed to survive just one year after being on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.“In exchange for a small donation, you will be entered to win a trip to a photo shoot for the 2015 Swimsuit issue (we’ll fly you and a guest from WHEREVER you are in the world) to see the sand, the surf, and of course the behind-the-scenes photo shoots of this iconic magazine!”Petra set up the Happy Hearts Fund after surviving the 2004 Asian Tsunami.“Happy Hearts Fund has rebuilt 85 schools damaged or destroyed by natural disasters, reached 46,000 children and impacted the lives of 490,000 community members in just seven years,” she said. “Help us reach our goal of completing the 100th school by the end of this year – we can do it together!“Mother Nature’s path is unpredictable and extremely powerful. Imagine being a child and losing your home, your family members – your sense of safety and your sense of hope. By helping children return to safe, disaster-proof schools as quickly as possible, we are providing them with a sense of normalcy and community, and we are providing the entire community with emergency shelter in the event that another disaster strikes.“I was lucky to survive the Tsunami, and to have a family and home to return to. I have also been blessed to see first-hand the difference that a new school provides not just to the children, but to the entire community who want nothing more than hope and opportunity for their kids. You can be part of this amazing change – any small amount helps to brighten the future and the hearts of these incredible children.”To find out how to take part, visit Prizeo.com.
The Duchess of Cambridge visited Brookhill Children’s Centre in Woolwich, UK, this week to learn more about Home-Start and its support for children and families.Duchess of Cambridge visits children at Brookhill Children’s CentreCredit/Copyright: DukeAndDuchessOfCambridge.org
The Duchess attended a briefing with Home-Start’s Chief Executive and the Centre’s manager, hearing about the work the charity does to support families to cope, improve confidence and build better lives for their children.
Her Royal Highness then attended a coffee morning where she met families who have been supported by Home-Start and listened to their experiences. The Duchess viewed volunteer training session in which volunteers are taught how best to offer practical and emotional support in a family’s home to help children make the most of nursery or school. Finally The Duchess visited the onsite Together for Twos’ crèche to meet families and staff.Duchess of Cambridge visits Brookhill Children’s CentreCredit/Copyright: DukeAndDuchessOfCambridge.org
Home-Start is one of the UK’s leading family support charities. It recruits and trains volunteers to support parents with at least one child under the age of five. The charity was set up in 1973 and now has 288 local Home-Starts supporting more than 29,000 families and more than 63,000 children each year. One of these isHome-Start Greenwich which has been running since 1993 and last year supported 200 families and 350 children.Across the UK nearly 15,000 volunteers visit families in their own homes – parents supporting other parents in a variety of situations including isolation, mental ill health, bereavement, multiple births, illness or disability. Home-Start volunteers tailor their support to the specific needs of the parents and children of each family they support. Home-Start also runs family groups and social events for families in order to give children the best possible start in life. Home-Start runs four of The Royal Borough of Greenwich’s 24 children’s centres, helping the borough fulfil is aim of providing local support for local families.The children’s centres in The Royal Borough of Greenwich offer a range of services under one roof for young children and their families. Those services include early-years education, childcare, family and parental health services, and employment and training advice for parents. The services are provided by a number of public sector and voluntary sector organisations, and are managed on behalf of the Royal Borough by four commissioned organisations including Home-Start.Home Start chief executive Rob Parkinson said: “People will have felt that their contribution to family support is really valued because of her visit and that’s the most important thing for me.“The Duchess had a nice chat with of a couple of mums and they were able to share their experiences, forthcoming or otherwise.”Source:DukeAndDuchessOfCambridge.org
Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen’s Hilarity for Charity (HFC), a movement led by the couple and established with the Alzheimer’s Association to inspire change and raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease among the millennial generation, today announced GRAMMY-nominated recording artist Miley Cyrus as headliner of their Fourth Annual Variety Show: James Franco’s Bar Mitzvah.Cyrus is set to perform several songs throughout the evening on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.Recently, Seth Rogen and his writing partner Evan Goldberg collaborated with Cyrus for the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, which she is hosting on Sunday, August 30, 2015. Cyrus also appears in Rogen’s upcoming film, The Night Before, coming out Wednesday, November 25, 2015.Rogen and Miller Rogen established the Hilarity for Charity Fund in 2012 as part of the Alzheimer’s Association, through which monies raised are directed to help families struggling with Alzheimer’s care, increase support groups nationwide and fund cutting edge research. The flagship Los Angeles Variety Show continues to create the next generation of Alzheimer’s advocates through an evening filled with music and comedy.Past Variety Show musical guests have included The Backstreet Boys, Bell Biv Devoe, Bruno Mars and Mayer Hawthorne. HFC’s Variety Show has attracted some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, with performances and appearances by Judd Apatow, Aziz Ansari, Jack Black, Ty Burrell, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kevin Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, Nick Kroll, Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd, Sarah Silverman and many more!For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.hilarityforcharity.org.
British Tennis star Andy Murray has announced that for every ace he hits until the end of the year, he will donate £50 to UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s organisation.Andy’s AcesEach ace Andy hits will support Unicef’s work to help children whose worlds have been turned upside down by conflict or disaster, such as those caught up in the current refugee and migrant crisis.Speaking ahead of Britain’s Davis Cup by BNP Paris semi-final against Australia, Unicef UK Supporter Murray explained: “Having seen the images broadcast on the news in recent weeks I felt I had to do something to help the millions of children and their families who have been forced to flee their homes and had their lives turned upside down. I’ll get that little bit more satisfaction from each ace I hit knowing that it will be helping Unicef keep children safe. I’m also asking my fans across the world to join with me to and support Unicef’s vital work. Together we can help make a safer world for every child.”Tennis fans across the world can join Andy in supporting Unicef’s work by donating online here or those in the UK can donate £5 by texting ACE to 70800.Unicef UK Executive Director David Bull said: “The conflict in Syria continues to have a devastating impact on the lives of children, both in the region and beyond. The fear, the lack of opportunity and loss of hope has forced thousands of families to make the dangerous journey to Europe. The support of Andy, and his fans and the wider tennis community can help us continue to provide support for children whenever and however disaster strikes.”Standard Life, one of Murray’s partners, along with the ATP and LTA have all announced that they will match Andy’s donations pound for pound. That means every ace will result in a donation of £200 for Unicef’s life-saving work with children affected by conflict and disaster.Text ACE to 70800 to donate £5 or click here.
Prizeo — the celebrity-based charitable fundraising platform —has launched The Murray Bros. Caddyshack Experience with Bill Murray, which offers one lucky winner the opportunity to join the star and his five brothers to participate in their annual Charity Golf Tournament in St. Augustine, Florida.In 2001, Bill Murray and his five brothers – Andy, Brian, Joel, John, and Ed – opened Murray Bros. Caddyshack at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame, in St. Augustine, Florida. Along with the opening of the restaurant, the brothers created the Murray Bros. Caddyshack Charity Golf Tournament with the mission to partner with various charities to raise monies that provide medical services, educational programs, lifesaving equipment, and fundraising opportunities to better the lives in communities across the country.“This is a time when I enjoy Florida’s humidity and spend time with my brothers and friends for great golf, music and food,” said Bill. “And we also manage to do some good things for people.“If you’re not a golfer, don’t let that stop you. I’ll show you some tips and even if you just come to hang out with me on the course and for the parties – it will be worth it.“All I’m asking is that you make a small donation — even just $5 — so that we can raise money to help provide life-saving services to communities all across the country, but you can look to the right to read more about that.“Get ready though, ’cause all I hit are hole-in-ones. If you win this experience, just smile and try to keep up.”The winner of the experience will play golf with Bill Murray, as well as attend the VIP party upon arrival and the VIP concert and party following golf with Bill. The prize includes two nights in Florida and flights from anywhere in the world for two people.Prizeo, which was acquired by philanthropist Todd Wagner earlier this year, is a sister company to charity video network Chideo and charitable online auction platform Charitybuzz.
Pope Francis the first religious leader to be picked as PETA’s Person of the Year.Pope Francis was chosen for asking the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics and all other citizens of the world to reject human domination over God’s creation, treat animals with kindness, and respect the environment — something PETA views as a call to turn toward a simple, plant-based diet, given the now well-established role of animal agriculture in climate change.In his 2015 treatise, Laudato si’, Pope Francis talked about the importance of treating animals with kindness, writing, “Every act of cruelty towards any creature is ‘contrary to human dignity’” and “We are not God. … [W]e must forcefully reject the notion that our being created in God’s image and given dominion over the earth justifies absolute domination over other creatures.”Pope Francis is also known for his focus on environmental stewardship — a concern that PETA shares through its vegan advocacy. According to the United Nations, a global shift toward vegan eating is necessary for slowing down the most dangerous effects of climate change, including the extinction of wildlife.“With more than a billion Catholics worldwide, Pope Francis’ animal-friendly teachings have a massive audience,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk, an atheist. “His Holiness is PETA’s Person of the Year for spreading the message of kindness to all, regardless of their religion or species.”
A number of celebrities have joined WildAid’s new campaign to stop the illegal ivory trade and end elephant poaching.Maggie Q – Join The HerdThe #JoinTheHerd campaign is a new social movement to make 2016 the year when more African elephants are born than killed.From WildAid’s website: “Actors, musicians, authors and athletes “joining the herd” Thursday on social media represent five continents and include Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, Yao Ming (former NBA star), Yoko Ono, Ian Somerhalder (Vampire Diaries) & Nikki Reed (The Twilight Saga), Alikiba (Tanzanian music artist), Lang Lang (virtuoso pianist), Maggie Q (Nikita and Scandal), Sir Trevor McDonald (British news presenter), Bo Derek (actress and longtime WildAid ambassador), Kristin Bauer (actress, HBO’s True Blood), Laurie David (American environmental activist), Tony Jaa (Furious 7), Amy Tan (author, The Joy Luck Club), and Li Bingbing (China’s most famous actress).“Launched internationally in both English and Mandarin, the campaign encourages anyone who cares about elephants to #JoinTheHerd by changing their social media profile photo at YearoftheElephant.org or even learn to say the greeting in Chinese.”For more information about the campaign, click here.
On Monday, October 10, 2016, tennis stars Lindsay Davenport, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, and Andy Roddick will headline World TeamTennis (WTT) Smash Hits at Caesars Palace, a charity night of tennis co-hosted by longtime friends Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King.The event will raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and local AIDS organizations.Tennis action is set for 7 p.m. PT. The pre-match VIP Reception and Auction will kick off at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. Order tickets through WTTSmashHits.com, or axs.com, or by calling The Colosseum at Caesars Palace box office at (866) 320-9763 or AXS at (888) 929-7849. For group sales of 10 or more tickets, call 212-586-3444, x. 121.
On World AIDS Day, December 1, DJ Khaled will step-up to join the fight against AIDS, becoming (RED)’s first ever social media ambassador.Using his unique style to rally his fans and followers, DJ Khaled will flex his social media muscle to raise awareness and heat around the AIDS fight, dedicating his Snapchat to (RED) for the first ever ‘(RED) SNAPATHON’.The ‘SNAPATHON’ will turn his legendary Snapchat musings into a force to fight AIDS. Here’s how:DJ Khaled will give his followers the inside scoop on the many different ways they can fight AIDS with (RED) this holiday season – including his winnable ‘jet ski and Snap with me’ experience on omaze.com/Khaled• He will announce special (RED) Snapchat filters for his fans to find in select locations in New York, Los Angeles and Miami, available only on World AIDS Day, December 1 • DJ Khaled – a new father himself – will tell his fans why he’s supporting (RED)‘s goal of ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV! • He’ll share the low-down on what people should know about AIDS, and tell them why its important that everyone supports the fight • Finally, there’ll be surprises galore, as you would expect from the king of Snapchat…!DJ Khaled’s World AIDS Day SNAPATHON is in support of (SHOPATHON)RED – a holiday shopping extravaganza to fight AIDS, offering people chances to win extraordinary celebrity experiences at Omaze.com/RED, and shop for hundreds of gifts that give back at RED.org.The campaign kicked-off on a special ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live! (RED) Show’ on November 22nd, with guests including Bono, DJ Khaled, The Killers, Channing Tatum, Kristen Bell, Julia Roberts, Neil Patrick Harris, Halsey, Herbie Hancock and more!Check out DJ Khaled on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! (RED) Show here and here!Other winnable experiences on Omaze.com/RED include: • U2 PLAYING JUST FOR YOU • A ‘MAGIC MIKE’ ADVENTURE IN VEGAS WITH CHANNING TATUM • HITTING THE TOWN WITH NEIL PATRICK HARRIS • BEING RICHARD BRANSON’S VIP GUEST AT A MYSTERY VIRGIN EVENT • HAVING TEA WITH JULIA ROBERTS AND BONO! • GOING BACKSTAGE VIP AT THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN, AND CARPOOL KARAOKE! • HANGOUT AT THE RECORDING STUDIO AND HAVE LUNCH WITH LIAM PAYNE • SEE ‘HAMILTON’ AND GO BACKSTAGE WITH ALEXANDER HAMILTON HIMSELF, JAVIER MUNOZ • FLY TO KOREA FOR A VIP EXPERIENCE WITH K-POP SUPERSTAR, G-DRAGON
Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen’s Hilarity for Charity (HFC), a movement founded as a resource for the millennial generation with a focus on supporting Alzheimer’s care and support, today announced that Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan and Colin Jost will bring their comedic talents to the Third Annual HFC NYC Variety Show on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at Webster Hall.“I’m pumped we’ve got this level of talent joining us for the night, and even more pumped for our attendees to pour their money in to the hands of Hilarity for Charity,” said Rogen. Additional performances will be announced in the near future.HFC NYC complements the group’s marquee Los Angeles Variety show, and is hosted by a New York based committee led by Miller Rogen’s brother, Dan Miller. The event is expected to raise more than double last year’s $200,000 in contributions to help propel HFC’s mission.“I’m truly honored this impressive line-up of talented and passionate comedians wants to help bring awareness and support for Hilarity for Charity. We are looking forward to a night full of laughter, music and raising funds for such a worthy cause,” said Miller Rogen.Past HFC events have included performances and appearances by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars including Snoop Dogg, Aziz Ansari, Miley Cyrus, Judd Apatow, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Che, James Franco, Leslie Jones, Courtney Love, Mindy Kaling, The Backstreet Boys and many more. Since inception, HFC has raised over $6.5 million to benefit those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit hilarityforcharity.org.
The days of threatening exotic animals into performing on camera may soon be over – and it’s thanks to advancements in technology as well as actors like Andy Serkis, the star of War for the Planet of the Apes, King Kong, and the upcoming Jungle Book, among other films.Video: Andy Serkis: An ‘Apes’ Movie With Live Wild Animals Would Be Absurd and CruelAnd in a new video interview with PETA, he celebrates the computer-generated imagery and performance-mapping that make modern movies like the Apes series possible – and cruelty-free.“The thought of shooting an Apes movie now with real apes is absurd,” says the Golden Globe nominee. “We’ve matured as an industry and realised that that would be intolerable and cruel.”Serkis previously teamed up with PETA US to call for a chimpanzee named Louie to be freed from a roadside zoo in the US state of Michigan, where he has been held in solitary confinement for nearly all his life, and the actor insists that his years of work portraying primates on screen have made him appreciate them all the more. “What is amazing is how similar we are,” he says. “[T]hey feel emotion, they sense. Their intelligence is incredibly close to us.”As filmmakers have learned that animals endure deprivation and abuse in the entertainment industry, the use of digital effects to portray them has increased. The Revenant, Noah, and the Apes series all used digital imagery to create wild animals, and AMC’s The Walking Dead used computer-generated imagery and animatronics to create the stunningly realistic fan-favourite character Shiva the tiger. PETA US’ TV spot 98% Human – which uses cutting-edge technology to address the plight of great apes in entertainment – won top honours in visual effects at the prestigious Cannes Lions festival, and the vast majority of top advertising agencies around the world have signed PETA US’ Great Ape Humane Pledge, committing to not using live great apes in their projects.
After a week of voting and generating awareness for each of the finalists, Ryan Sheckler and the Sheckler Foundation are excited to announce Team Lilly Foundation as its latest “Be the Change” recipient.As a beneficiary, Team Lilly will receive a $10,000 grant from Ryan and the Sheckler Foundation to help families battling pediatric cancer. Team Lilly Foundation’s mission is to bring light to the reality of childhood cancer, while providing a hand to the families affected.“Congrats to Team Lilly Foundation on becoming our latest ‘Be the Change’ recipient! I’m stoked for you!” said Pro Skateboarder and Sheckler Foundation Co-Founder, Ryan Sheckler. “Thank you to all of the finalists that participated and everyone who voted in our ‘Be the Change’ initiative. It’s a blessing to see the skateboard and local community embrace our mission.”Team Lilly Foundation will utilize the $10,000 grant and support from Ryan and the Sheckler Foundation to help families with bills, travel for treatment, birthday and cancer-free bashes, holiday care packages to 200 kids three holidays a year and too often, funeral expenses.Ryan Sheckler’s “Be the Change” initiative was created to help injured action sports athletes and children in need. Since starting in 2008, the Sheckler Foundation has been paying it forward to help numerous individuals and causes. The past “Be the Change” recipients of this $10,000 grant include: The Port Gamble S’Klallam, Peach’s Neet Feet, Ashley Wade Foundation, Hope for Carter, Gamerosity, Andrew Hale’s Road to Recovery, Coping Mechanism-Parisite DIY Skatepark, Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), Adventure Club and Books and Boards.For additional information, please visit shecklerfoundation.org.
LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment Login/Register With: Advertisement Advertisement Bailey said with Vanguard, organizers found there was overlap between the films that were in that section and those in Special Presentations and Midnight Madness. Among the Vanguard movies at TIFF 2016 was Colossal, starring Anne Hathaway. The Canadian production, due in theatres in April of this year, also stars Jason Sudeikis. Hathaway plays Gloria, who discovers that a monster currently terrorizing Seoul might somehow be connected to her.“We just wanted to be a bit clearer about the identity of the sections,” Bailey said.City to City has featured filmmakers from cities including Tel Aviv, Istanbul and Lagos, Nigeria. The Toronto International Film Festival says it remains committed to art-house and international cinema as it cuts two programs that featured such fare and reduces the overall number of titles it will screen for this year’s edition by 20 per cent.On Thursday, TIFF announced it will trim the overall number of films in the 2017 lineup and scrap the Vanguard and City to City sections.The Vanguard program featured “dark and edgy films that twist genre and art house conventions together in a new way.” City to City showcased filmmakers living and working in a selected city, regardless of where their films are set. “We’re committed to art-house cinema, we’re committed to international film, we’re a global film festival. We have programmers who are looking for movies all over the world. That will continue,” Cameron Bailey, artistic director of TIFF, said in a phone interview from Los Angeles.“The trims will be for the most part across the board but we are definitely committed to maintaining a very strong international lineup. That’s one of the main things our audience comes to us for, so that will continue.” “Now I think it’s time to integrate that programming into the festival as a whole,” said Bailey.The festival spent a long time thinking through and mapping out the changes, which are in response to feedback from audiences, the industry and the media, he added.“What we’ve heard is that people love the selection but it can be overwhelming, if you’re trying to do the festival fully, especially as a working professional,” Bailey said.“It’s really hard to cover everything that we have and we thought we can find a way to bring a tighter curation to the festival, to really go after the films we love the most and to make it a little bit easier to navigate.”TIFF also announced it’s cutting two venues from its festival — the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema and the Isabel Bader Theatre. Bailey said the move will bring things closer to the area around the festival’s main downtown hub, the TIFF Bell Lightbox.Bailey also said the festival isn’t planning on making any significant new investments in other areas or making any more cuts.“What we are going to make sure we do is not reduce the volume of available seats very much,” he said. “We’re going to try to keep as many seats as possible open for people.“So although we’ll be cutting the number of films, there’s not a direct correlation with how much less revenue is going to be coming in or how much expenses are going to be reduced.”Overall, Bailey said organizers are addressing a “refinement of the festival that was necessary.”“What I think people will see in September is a stronger festival with films that they know will be some of the best films of the year, some that will go on to awards season — as we saw this past year — and it will just be easier to navigate.”This year’s festival will run Sept. 7 to 17. Twitter Facebook Advertisement
Advertisement Facebook In Fargo, North Dakota, in the dead of winter, there’s been a murder. You might think you’ve heard this story before, but Noah Hawley keeps coming up with a fresh, new version of it for each season of his Fargo series on FX. Sure, his inspiration was the Coen brothers’ Oscar-winning Fargo film, but with Season 3 now underway it’s obvious that Hawley’s series isn’t simply a spin-off.“Fargo has a very distinct look, feel and sound that you have to maintain,” explains Lee. “The editors, producers and Noah put a lot of work into the sound design and sound ideas while they are cutting the picture. The music is very heavily worked while they are editing the show. By the time the soundtrack gets to us there is a pretty clear path as to what they are looking for. It’s up to us to take that and flesh it out, to make it fill the 5.1 environment. That’s one of the most unique parts of the process for us.”Every season of the Emmy-winning Fargo series follows a different story, with its own distinct cast of characters, set in its own specified point in time. Even the location isn’t always the same — Season 3 takes place in Minnesota. What does link the seasons together is Hawley’s distinct black humor, which oozes from these disparate small-town homicides. He’s a writer and director on the series, in addition to being the showrunner and an executive producer. “Noah is very hands-on,” confirms re-recording mixer Martin Lee at Tattersall Sound & Picture in Toronto, part of the SIM Group family of companies, who has been mixing the show with re-recording mixer Kirk Lynds since Season 2.Season 3 follows rival brothers, Emmit and Ray Stussy (both played by Ewan McGregor). Their feud over a rare postage stamp leads to a botched robbery attempt that ultimately ends in murder (don’t worry, neither Ewan character meets his demise…yet??). Login/Register With: Advertisement
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Advertisement Maracle, a Mohawk from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and executive director of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, is known as a passionate advocate for urban Indigenous peoples and women’s issues. Twitter The Tragically Hip lead singer Gord Downie salutes fans during the first half of game three of an NBA playoff series basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers in Toronto on Friday, May 5, 2017. (FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS) Downie, who announced last year that he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, has become a strong advocate for Indigenous people and issues.His recent solo album and graphic novel Secret Path tells the story of an Indigenous boy, Chanie Wenjack, who died while trying to escape a residential school.The Hip’s members — Downie, Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois and Gord Sinclair — are being honoured for their contributions to Canadian music and support for social and environmental causes. Advertisement OTTAWA — Gord Downie and Indigenous activist Sylvia Maracle will receive the Order of Canada on Monday, while Downie’s Tragically Hip bandmates will receive their civilian honours at a later date.Maracle will be named an officer of the Order of Canada and Downie will be named a member.They are among 30 recipients to be honoured for leadership in supporting Indigenous issues, including NHL player Jordin Tootoo, who will receive a meritorious service medal in the civil division. Advertisement Login/Register With: Facebook LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment 