Tag: Toronto tribune
Public Health Canada to Collect Online Data to Target the Vaccine Hesitant
Story From: Noé Chartier is an Epoch Times reporter based in Montreal. Twitter: @NChartierET Gettr: @nchartieret
Public Health Canada to Collect Online Data to Target the Vaccine Hesitant
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has announced a contract with a social media intelligence collection firm based in the U.K. to obtain data on vaccine hesitant individuals in order to be able to deliver targeted messaging to break through their hesitancy, contract details indicate.
“In preparation for increased vaccination education, promotion, and outreach, The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is requiring the services of a consultant to analyze the vaccine related conversations on social media and PHAC social media initiative and campaign performance,” says the tender notice description posted online on Dec. 22.
The notice says the contract will be awarded to U.K.-based Pulsar Platform if no other supplier submits a bid meeting the requirements before the closing date. The estimated value of the contract is $339,000.
Pulsar describes itself as an “audience intelligence company” using artificial intelligence and “smart human minds” to comb through conversational and behavioural data on social media.
The notice says the consultant will need to analyze Twitter and other online sites and platforms spanning three years of historical data.
PHAC is seeking to obtain information on individuals who are participating in and influencing online conversations about vaccination.
It wants reports produced by the consultant to “provide PHAC an actionable understanding of the vaccine conversation landscape online and the conversation participants, while determining a conversation baseline,” according to the Statement of Work.
Once this data is obtained, PHAC will run a tailored messaging campaign, which it says will seek to target “communities of interest,” such as “indigenous peoples and millennial males,” states the Advance Contract Award Notice.
The study is to be rerun within a three to four month period to “monitor shifts in attitudes and confidence levels,” says the notice.
‘Keyword-Based’
PHAC lays out how the consultant must conduct its work, including the establishment of a “keyword-based social listening tracker to capture social media conversations around vaccinations in Canada.”
Data must also be parsed along conversation themes such as “experiences with long Covid, previous vaccine side effects, engaging with mis/disinformation, shift in perceived risk of infection.”
PHAC also seeks to obtain a breakdown of reasons for vaccine hesitancy for different regions and cities to allow more targeted messaging.
Along with identifying regions, cities, and subgroups such as First Nations communities, PHAC is also requesting segmentations of key audiences to include “demographics, interests, affinities, online behaviours, and the leading topics of vaccine hesitancy conversation, per each sub-community.”
The Statement of Work provides an example of what the consultant should do once a sub-community has been identified.
It says that once a community of “Toronto University Students that indicate low confidence in vaccinations” has been identified, then some factors should be investigated.
These include their reasons for being hesitant and the topics of their conversations, the media they consume and the content they share, and the tone they use when discussing their vaccination status.
The Epoch Times contacted PHAC to find out if previous such programs have been implemented and to learn more about how the data from private individuals will be protected, exploited, and if it will be shared with other departments.
PHAC was also asked whether it consulted the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) on the program. A response was not obtained before publication time.
The OPC was also contacted to know whether it was aware of PHAC’s social media collection program, but a response was not received immediately.
Cellphone Tracking
PHAC has been embroiled in a data collection-related controversy in recent months when it was revealed it was analyzing the anonymized movement of millions of Canadians through the tracking of their cellphones, unbeknownst to them.
PHAC had been obtaining the data from carrier Telus and other cellphone tracking companies, but in December 2021 it sought a contractor to directly access data from cellphone towers to conduct its analysis.
The data has been used to measure the compliance of Canadians while provinces implemented COVID-19 lockdowns.
When this became known, MPs started examining the issue and the Commons ethics committee told the government last spring that Canadians should be allowed to opt out of the data collection program.
The OPC also said it was investigating the matter, but the results have yet to be announced.
PHAC and the OPC have been asked about the status of the contract and the investigation.
Story From: Noé Chartier is an Epoch Times reporter based in Montreal. Twitter: @NChartierET Gettr: @nchartieret
Italian Contemporary Film Festival 2021
more pics at movies.reviewed-rated.com
This year, from June 27th to July 18th, ICFF will celebrate two major milestones; the tenth-anniversary edition of the Italian Contemporary Film Festival and the second edition of the Lavazza Drive-In Film Festival, organized in collaboration with CHIN Radio/TV.
The Festival, in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will also maintain its special focus on Italian contemporary cinema through notable screenings in several major Canadian cities and virtual experiences offered nationwide through the ICFF digital platform.
Both festivals will take place at Ontario Place in Toronto and in several other cities throughout Canada, including Vaughan, and Montreal.
The ICFF Festival will be a hybrid of in-person and online events available to viewers all across Canada.
The festivals are presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Canada, the Consulates General of Italy in Canada and the Istituti Italiani di Cultura in Canada.
Riverdale Art Walk – Tatjana Hutinec
TATJANA HUTINEC at RIVERDALE ARTWALK 2021
Toronto artist Tatjana Hutinec launched As Above so Below, her exhibitor booth filled with stormy paintings, at the Riverdale ArtWalk 2021, August 21 – August 22.
MORE HERE
Hazel: 100 Years of Memories
Hazel: 100 Years of Memories
See more here
Virtual Fashion Art Toronto : urbancoolab_
More pictures on our fashion site = fashionpage.ca
More pictures on our fashion site = fashionpage.ca
Credits
by @jennjevons from @urbancoolab_ showcasing their AI x Streetwear capsule collection RxR under the Gardiner @thebentway
MODELS
@slesean.tv
@__jessietk
@devaughnte.lawrence
@a.pri.official
@sptxo_
@garrett_
@mxriee_
@juliet.sora
@roneyxmusic
@katrxse
TEAM
Director @_vanjavasic_
Director of Production @liammicha
Assistant Director @locodrito
Lead MUA Direction @bprettymua
Lead Hair Direction @lisatuff_tilu
Makeup Assist @stephaniestellamua
Makeup Assist @makeupbyjacfoo
Hair Assist @jazziestylezz
Fashion and Media Communicator @sedgvvick
Team Assist @erin_case_ @kaitlyn.riccio
Director of Photography @jennjevons
On-Set Photography @tashd.art @jimorgill @chiaradefalco_photo
Official Video Team @wearenxtlvl
BTS Video @cosplay
Affordable housing takes out a road
Affordable housing takes out a road
“Kishigo Lane is expected to be transformed into a landscaped, open space reflecting Indigenous placekeeping and design elements to honour the road’s namesake – an Anishnaabe family that lived in the area in the late 18th century. It’s part of the project’s goal to expand more public space and parks.”
“The development objectives are 300 residential units, of which 50 per cent are affordable housing and 50 per cent are market housing. There will also be new parking, new retail, and the childcare centre will expand capacity from 26 spaces to 62.”
With the pandemic eliminating jobs and work hours, the threat or reality of homelessness is hitting more and more people each day. Affordable housing was already an issue, but now it has become even more urgent to provide options for the growing number of Toronto residents who simply cannot afford to keep a roof over their heads. A lucky few will actually be able to do so by the end of this year, as developments, designed and reserved for low-income hopefuls pop up in a number of neighbourhoods
The problem is, that there are a few voices in each neighborhood who are loudly shouting “Not in my backyard”. The latest Facebook debate over the development of affordable housing in the east end of Toronto is only one of many. Most people (with a heart) are in full support of housing the struggling citizens of the city, but the selfish exceptions, NIMBYs, for short, tend to be the loudest. The rest of the residents are just ashamed of how the attitude of the neighborhood is being portrayed. They don’t want to be lumped in with these people who think that they are too good to live beside fellow human beings who can’t afford a house with a backyard.
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Story Two – corner of Trenton and Cedarvale Ave. in East York’s Stan Wadlow neighbourhood.
Toronto residents are pushing back against plans to build a modular housing development on the lot at the corner of Trenton and Cedarvale Ave. in East York’s Stan Wadlow neighbourhood.
The NIMBYs who live near the Stan Wadlow Park development are concerned that putting housing in a local parking lot will make it impossible for people who live in, or visit, the neighbourhood to find parking. They are concerned that their precious children will be exposed to ne’er do wells, drug dealers, gang influence, violence, people suffering from addiction/mental illness, and people who are generally unstable.
“This parking lot is a hub; it’s the heart of the community”, claims one resident, about the empty pad of pavement in the background. If the parking lot isn’t there, the residents are going to be stuck using the park and community center? Instead of standing around on bland cement smoking and drinking, they could attend the neighbouring elementary school, go for a swim, or join the community baseball league? How is a parking lot the heart of the community? And, despite the statements to the contrary,
A recent Facebook post highlighted a piece on Global News in which some residents are up in arms about the city’s announcement to replace a community parking lot with affordable housing for 64 people exiting homelessness. They are protesting the development, even though the city has already approved it. The angry residents claim that there was no consultation beforehand, but this is a city parking lot. The city doesn’t require permission from the residents to move forward.
There will be a meeting, during which residents can state their case regarding the design and specifics of the plans, in hopes that they will be taken into consideration, and will be possible with the building requirements. The City says claims they didn’t have time to consult with the area residents,, as the housing funding will be lost if it’s not used by the end of the year. That means the site has to be approved, inspected and built with enough time to fill the units before the end of December.
By Melissa Peters
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Bloor News Announces a New Feature: live music guide
Bloor News Announces a New Feature: livemusicguide.ca
Check it out for all things music in Toronto, including Open Mic listings, maps to live music venues, featured local singers/musicians and music news and reviews.
The entertainment and writing communities were saddened to learn of the passing of Gary Webb-Procter aka ‘Gary17’, widely respected musician, critic and Editor of East York Chronicle late last year. Gary’s death didn’t just leave a hole in the hearts of his friends, family, readers and fans, it left a hole in the music scene. Gary took the spotlight off the bands we had already heard of and gave the lesser-known acts a chance to shine. Without his reviews, the Linsmore Tavern wouldn’t be a mecca for up-and-coming musicians, and we would never have heard of or from some incredible talent. The talent of the future deserves the same recognition that their predecessors gained from Gary’s pieces. Reviewing live music isn’t easy nowadays, but as vaccination rollouts continue, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We are proud to offer our services. These are big shoes to fill, but we hope we can honour Gary’s memory by doing it justice.
Click on the links below for some samples, and be sure to follow us on twitter at #Musicevents for future announcements, or you can find us on Facebook at Bloor News and our Instagram is VinylRecordsPressing. We look forward to discovering hidden gems and introducing our readers to the creative talent of the future.
Twitter is MusiceventsGTA
Instagram = vinylrecordspressing
Facebook = bloornewstoronto
Go to livemusicguide.ca to post your music event
Are you a local singer or musician?
Would you like a chance to be featured in Live Music Guide? We welcome everyone to send us a link.
Sponsored by vinylrecordspressing.com
UPS Fails to Deliver
UPS Fails to Deliver
“UPS automatically covers most packages up to $100 for both domestic and international shipments. Additionally, UPS provides declared value coverage for an additional fee for packages that exceed this amount.” Do they? Really?
My info
What is the point of paying additional fees for shipping insurance to a reputable company if they are simply going to ignore claims for lost items?
Small business owners rely upon delivery services like UPS to get products to customers in the United States. With a company as established and highly respected as UPS, it should be safe to assume that packages will get delivered to the customers, or that UPS will make good on their *clearly stated* promise to replace the value of what was lost.
A package sent to a customer was lost in October of last year. The form was filled out and necessary proof and documentation provided in order to receive the $100, only to not receive any sort of response five months later. To add insult to injury, an additional package has since gone missing. Countless people are paying for additional insurance because they think that the “free” coverage of $100 makes UPS so wonderful and generous. Considering how much was lost having to refund two customers for merchandise they never received, it’s a good thing even more money wasn’t wasted on additional insurance. The least UPS could do is respond regarding the $100 coverage they promised, but they can’t even bother to do that. If the package doesn’t qualify for the payment, that’s fine. Repeated calls to the company have been met with, “it’s being looked into”. When? RESPOND! #ThanksForDelivering #ups
Fed up and turning to Google for suggestions from other customers who may have had similar experiences revealed that small business owners all over the USA are suing UPS for having taken their ‘insurance’ money for property loss, only to discover that UPS does not actually insure the package and/ or refund the clients.
Small businesses struggle in a GOOD economy. Losing $1000 on a single order, especially more than once can make an independent company. The months following Christmas are notoriously slow already, even without the financial hit of COVID-19 affecting a large percentage of potential and repeat clientele. It’s frightening and highly disappointing to discover that we can’t rely on UPS to ship products, especially during a time when personal delivery often isn’t even an option for the few businesses who are conveniently located close to their customers. The majority of products can’t just be emailed or faxed.. Is the only hope to rely on the inexpensive and widespread use of 3D printers to safely and reliably send albums over the border? That might be an option a generation or two from now, but for now, independent entrepreneurs are stuck relying on a shipping company that doesn’t care if they go bankrupt using their service.
#ups
@VeronicaKenny2
@UPSHelp_CA
@UPSers
@UPS_News
#thumbsUPS
#ThanksForDelivering
#WishesDelivered
#UPS_News
#UPSers
@AylinLusi
#canadiansme
Paul Gaspar
#UPSHelp_CA
@UPS_Canada
lost my package
@UPSHelp_CA
lost my package
@UPS_SmallBizCA
lost my package
@canadian_sme
#SmallBusiness #entrepreneurs
@PorporinoUPS
Precious Love by Chris Birkett
Chris Birkett is a multi-talented, award winning producer, singer/songwriter, composer and sound engineer. His music collaborations with A-list international artists like Sinead O’Connor, Alison Moyet, Dexys Midnight Runners, Talking Heads, The Pogues, Bob Geldof, Quincy Jones, Mel Brooks and Steve Earle have sold over 100 million records and earned four Canadian Junos, a Grammy, a Polaris Music Prize and three international AMPEX Golden Reel Awards for excellence in the music business.
Precious Love is about how positive feelings can grow, and how love can transform people, for people are precious, and relationships are the foundation of humanity. Written and performed by Chris Birkett the song features some of Toronto’s finest musicians, Bill King on keyboards, Gene Hardy playing sax, Paul DeLong on drums, and background vocals by Taylor Abrahamse. The video is created by Joan Prowse.
Chris is no stranger to Canadian music, having co-produced five award winning albums for the legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie, including her comeback album “Coincidence and Likely Stories” (1992) and the Juno winning “Running for the Drum” (2009).
His career began as a guitarist, playing in London clubs before touring with Memphis artists Rufus Thomas, Ann Peebles and King Floyd. At 23, Chris was performing with the pop group Love Affair, whose song “Everlasting Love” ruled the UK charts. The following year, he joined the band Omaha Sheriff who had just signed a major recording deal with Tony Visconti, manager of Good Earth Records and producer for David Bowie and the Moody Blues.
Listen – Hear Now — Spotify
With Visconti as a mentor, Chris expanded his career to include producing, engineering and mixing many UK and international hits including Sinead O’Connor’s #1 song “Nothing Compares 2 U”. His London studio was a beehive of activity that was rated #2 in the world on Billboard’s top studio charts.
At the same time, Chris’ own single “Where Do We Go From Here?” was picked by Ed Bicknell (Dire Straits’ manager) to play alongside U2, Peter Gabriel, Bob Marley, Tears for Fears and Queen on Polygram’s “One Voice One Love” album.
In 1993, Chris left the UK for France and built a recording studio inside his chateau near Bordeaux. There he produced albums with the Buena Vista Social Club and other world-class musicians, including Etran Finatawa, whose debut album was nominated for a 2006 BBC Radio best world music award. He then moved his studio to Paris, where he released his second album, “Freedom” and received growing acclaim for his work with world musicians like Algerian sensation Ali Amran.
In 2012, Chris moved to Canada, opened a recording studio in Toronto and finished work on his third album “Be Creative” featuring performances from many talented Canadian artists including Glen Milchem (Blue Rodeo) and Rick Emmett (Triumph). Now a Canadian citizen, Chris’ credits include co-producer of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Polaris and Juno award winning album “Power in the Blood” (2016) and the recent Juno winner, Medicine Songs (2017), both for True North Records. In 2019 he released 11:11, his fourth album under the band name The Free Spirits.
Chris is currently creating new recordings for a range of talented Canadian and European musicians and is immersed in his own upcoming albums: Songs from the Kauai Hotel Room and a collection of fun-loving songs with his new collective, The Happy Campers. In February 2021, he released the single Precious Love for his documentary filmmaker wife Joan Prowse.
Among his many Precious Loves Chris enjoys performing his original music live at musical venues, clubs and online events.