Voice of Toronto » Ontario http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp Because voice matters....... Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:03:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Dementor™ Descends on Harry Potter™: The Exhibition at Ontario Science Centre http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/07/dementor%e2%84%a2-descends-on-harry-potter%e2%84%a2-the-exhibition-at-ontario-science-centre/ http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/07/dementor%e2%84%a2-descends-on-harry-potter%e2%84%a2-the-exhibition-at-ontario-science-centre/#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:57:10 +0000 admin http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/?p=1406 Photo

New artifact from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ film set added to Harry Potter: The Exhibition at Ontario Science Centre

Tickets On Sale Now at www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/harrypotter

July 23, 2010 @ 10:15AM

CORE NEWS FACTS

  • Direct from London’s Leavesden Studios, where the Harry Potter films are created, comes a film artifact sure to excite Harry Potter fans in Toronto.  Hovering three metres tall and shrouded by an inky black cloak, a vile creature known as a Dementor, has been added to the Dark Forces area of Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which is now open at Ontario Science Centre through August 22, 2010.
  • Early in the Harry Potter films, Harry learns that the Ministry of Magic uses Dementors to guard the wizard prison of Azkaban. These gruesome creatures use their unique powers to subdue inmates by draining them of all happiness and hope for freedom.
  • Harry first encounters Dementors in the third film when they come to Hogwarts in search of the escaped prisoner- Sirius Black. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™, Dementors mysteriously attack Harry and his non-magical cousin while Harry is away from the safety of Hogwarts™. And in the two-part finale to the film series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, fans can expect more than one hair-raising confrontation with these foul beings.
  • Fans who cannot wait for the next film to arrive in cinemas only need to visit Harry Potter: The Exhibition to come face-to-face with the authentic Dementor model used in the films. Those who dare to gaze upon the Dementor will be fascinated by the attention to detail from the soul-sucking mouth on the creature’s eye-less face, to the skeletal arms and hands it uses to reach out for its next victim.


About the Exhibition

Visitors that tour the exhibition will be taken on a journey into the world of Harry
Potter through several themed vignettes based on iconic Hogwarts settings. Along the way they will discover some of their favourite props and costumes, all of which were handpicked by GES, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and the filmmakers themselves. Some of the key artifacts on display include Professor Snape’s robes; Professor Trelawney’s crystal ball and exotic wardrobe; costumes and props from Professors Lupin™, Lockhart™ and Umbridge™; props and artifacts from the Yule Ball, including costumes from notable characters such as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley™, Hermione Granger™ and Professor Dumbledore™; and life-size centaurs, a caged dragon, Buckbeak™ the Hippogriff and a giant Acromantula spider.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition was created by GES in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products. After its run at the Ontario Science Centre, the exhibition will be displayed in other major cultural and entertainment venues, museums and institutions worldwide.

Ticket Information

The exhibition is a timed entry experience and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. now through August 22, 2010. Friday and Saturday evening hours are extended to 9 p.m. with reduced admission rates starting at 6 p.m.

Tickets are available online at www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca, by calling 416-696-1000, or by visiting the box office.

Admission to Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which includes general admission to the Science Centre’s exhibition halls, is $27.50 for adults; $23.50 for seniors and youth (ages 65+ and 13-17); $20.00 for children (ages 4-12). For Ontario Science Centre members, admission is $14 for adults; $12 for seniors and youth; and $10 for children.

Boilerplate

About the Ontario Science Centre

The Ontario Science Centre uses science as the lens to inspire and actively engage people in new ways of seeing, understanding and thinking about themselves and the world around them. Our facility has received Green Building certification for energy efficiency by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), and was named building of the year in the Public Assembly category. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For more information, visit www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca or call our box office at 416-696-1000.
Twitter: ontsciencectr

The Ontario Science Centre would like to thank Tourism Toronto for its support of our out-of-town tourism marketing program.

About GES


Las Vegas-based Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES), a Viad Corp (NYSE: VVI) company, is a leading provider of exhibition, event and retail marketing services. Given its consolidation with Exhibitgroup/Giltspur and Becker Group, GES provides an even wider range of services, including turn-key official show services, cutting-edge creative and design, marketing and measurement services – all with an unrivaled global reach. GES partners with leading shows and brands, including the International CES, Spring Fair Birmingham, International Woodworking Fair, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE, WasteExpo, Bell Helicopter, Genzyme, L’Oreal, Warner Bros., and Simon Property Group. For more information, visit www.ges.com.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products


Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

]]> http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/07/dementor%e2%84%a2-descends-on-harry-potter%e2%84%a2-the-exhibition-at-ontario-science-centre/feed/ 0 CJFE is collecting information from journalists who covered the G20 summit http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/07/cjfe-is-collecting-information-from-journalists-who-covered-the-g20-summit/ http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/07/cjfe-is-collecting-information-from-journalists-who-covered-the-g20-summit/#comments Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:03:55 +0000 admin http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/?p=1359 As a result of the many stories and reports we have been hearing from journalists who were covering the G20 Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (“CJFE”) is conducting a survey of journalists who believe their freedom of expression was compromised by police/security personnel during the G-20 security operation. This collection of information will result in a public report by CJFE; the information and firsthand accounts from journalists is critical to the report. We are asking journalists who participated to complete a survey to help us in this task. If you know of others who have similar complaints, please advise us as soon as possible, or have them contact us directly.

To access the survey please go to our website http://www.cjfe.org/releases/2010/30062010g20survey.html

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) is an association of more than 300 journalists, editors, publishers, producers, students and others who work to promote and defend free expression and press freedom in Canada and abroad.

www.cjfe.org

]]> http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/07/cjfe-is-collecting-information-from-journalists-who-covered-the-g20-summit/feed/ 0 Spring Session Delivers Results for Ontario Families http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/06/spring-session-delivers-results-for-ontario-families/ http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/06/spring-session-delivers-results-for-ontario-families/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:41:02 +0000 admin http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/?p=1312

McGuinty Government Works to Strengthen Economy, Health Care And Education

As Ontarians have worked hard to emerge from the global recession, the McGuinty government has been doing its part, moving forward on the Open Ontario Plan to create jobs and strengthen the economy in order to support the health care and schools Ontario families rely on.

Highlights of the progress include:

  • Introducing the Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act to build on Ontario’s expertise in clean water technology. The goal of the Act is to attract economic development and create jobs by exporting made-in-Ontario clean water technology to the world.
  • Implementing the Green Energy Act to support clean technology and create jobs. This strategy has attracted the largest renewable energy investment in Canada and is expected to create up to 50,000 jobs.
  • Moving forward with a tax reform package including tax cuts for families and businesses, and a single harmonized sales tax. The HST will help Ontario businesses to be more competitive so they can invest in new equipment, build new plants and create nearly 600,000 new jobs over 10 years.
  • Lowering the cost of generic drugs to make them more affordable for all Ontarians and using those savings to invest in more access to prescription drugs and improving health care.
  • Improving patient care by holding health care providers and executives accountable for delivering quality care in our hospitals.
  • Getting our children off to the best possible start by implementing full-day kindergarten for up to 35,000 four- and five-year-olds this September.

Quick Facts

  • Since the economic recovery began, more than 142,000 net new jobs have been created in Ontario.
  • There are currently 22,000 Ontarians employed in the clean water technology sector.
  • Under the Green Energy Act’s feed-in-tariff program nearly 700 contracts, with the potential to generate 2,500 megawatts of clean electricity, have been awarded. That’s enough energy to power 600,000 homes.
  • The Open for Business Act, 2010 proposes over 100 amendments to streamline approvals and government services to make Ontario businesses more competitive by saving them time and money.
]]> http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/06/spring-session-delivers-results-for-ontario-families/feed/ 0 Ontario’s racialized gap persists: Study http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/06/ontarios-racialized-gap-persists-study/ http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/06/ontarios-racialized-gap-persists-study/#comments Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:31:17 +0000 admin http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/?p=1280 Ontarians from racialized backgrounds are far more likely to live in poverty, face barriers to finding a job, and receive less pay for work, says a study of Census data by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).

Sexism and racial discrimination pack a double wallop, hampering racialized women’s earning power, says economist Sheila Block, CCPA Research Associate.

“The Census data reveals that in 2005, at the height of pre-recession economic prosperity, women from racialized backgrounds working in Ontario faced real barriers to success,” says Block. “They earned about half as much as non-racialized men.”

Among the study’s findings:

    -   Racialized workers face higher unemployment in Ontario: In 2005 the
        unemployment rate was 8.7 per cent for racialized workers compared to
        5.8 per cent for the rest of Ontarians.
    -   They got paid less: Racialized women earned 53.4 cents for every
        dollar non-racialized men got; 83.7 cents for every dollar non-
        racialized women got.
    -   Gap exists despite education: First-generation racialized Ontarians
        aged 25-44 who have a university education still get paid less than
        non-racialized immigrants. For instance, racialized women make only
        47 cents for every dollar male, non-racialized immigrants make.
    -   Poverty gap: Racialized families are three times more likely to live
        in poverty.

“The findings in this study point to the overwhelming need for governments to step in with policies to help break down racial and gender barriers,” says Block.

]]> http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/06/ontarios-racialized-gap-persists-study/feed/ 0 More Nurses Today For Ontario’s Healthy Tomorrow http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/05/more-nurses-today-for-ontarios-healthy-tomorrow/ http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/05/more-nurses-today-for-ontarios-healthy-tomorrow/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 10:52:44 +0000 admin http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/?p=1236

McGuinty Government Improves Access To Health Care

Ontario is training more nurses to ensure all patients have access to quality health care.

In 2009 alone, 2,910 students graduated from Ontario’s nursing degree programs, up from just 1,647 graduates in 2005.

Premier Dalton McGuinty was at York University to mark the start of National Nursing Week, and chaired a roundtable discussion that included undergraduate nursing students and graduate students in the nurse practitioner program.

Nurse practitioners are able to treat common illnesses and injuries, and order lab tests, X-rays and other diagnostic tests. They can also refer patients to specialists. The government is inviting applications to create 14 more nurse practitioner-led clinics.

Nurse practitioner-led clinics and nursing education programs are part of the government’s Open Ontario Plan to strengthen the province’s health care system — improving quality and accountability for patients, creating jobs, growing the economy and creating a stronger Ontario.

Quick Facts

  • Ontario invested more than $17 million in York University’s undergraduate nursing programs in 2009-10, $12.5 million of which is shared with their partners at Seneca and Georgian colleges.
  • Ontario is committed to having 25 new nurse practitioner-led clinics in operation by 2012.
  • There are currently 11 nurse practitioner-led clinics being created. The first of these opens this month.
  • Ontario invested $85 million in 2009-10 to extend the Nursing Graduate Guarantee which provides every new Ontario nursing graduate with full-time employment.
]]> http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/05/more-nurses-today-for-ontarios-healthy-tomorrow/feed/ 0 Full Day Kindergarten is a good investment for Ontario http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/04/full-day-kindergarten-is-a-good-investment-for-ontario/ http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/04/full-day-kindergarten-is-a-good-investment-for-ontario/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:10:19 +0000 admin http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/?p=1197 OECTA fully supports Ontario’s full-day early learning program that is being implemented under Bill 242, the Full Day Early Learning Statute Law Amendment Act.

“Ontario has chosen to confront the economic crisis by transforming early learning and care and making a bold investment in our future. Our members view this investment as one of the wisest that could be made by any government,” says James Ryan, president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA).

He says Catholic teachers are pleased that stakeholders were given an opportunity to contribute to the amendments that were made to the enabling legislation.

The new full-day Kindergarten program will provide every child in Ontario equal learning opportunities, Ryan says. “Full-day learning helps level the playing field for all children, because not all children have the same opportunities before they begin their formal learning experience. Early enrichment provided through the new program will help reduce social and academic problems later on.”

OECTA members have been delivering a full-day Kindergarten program for over 30 years in many areas of the province.

OECTA represents the 45,000 men and women who teach all Grades in Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools.

]]> http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/04/full-day-kindergarten-is-a-good-investment-for-ontario/feed/ 0 Ontario Taps Into Clean-Water Expertise http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/04/ontario-taps-into-clean-water-expertise/ http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/04/ontario-taps-into-clean-water-expertise/#comments Sun, 25 Apr 2010 09:55:05 +0000 admin http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/?p=1193

McGuinty Government Making Ontario A Clean-Water Leader

Ontario is on its way to becoming a global leader in clean water.

Premier Dalton McGuinty spent Earth Day in London, where he visited Purifics ES Inc., a local clean-water technology company. The Premier also chaired a round-table discussion with local industry experts. They discussed some of the ways Ontario can create jobs by taking the lead in developing and selling technologies and services for water conservation and treatment.

As part of its Open Ontario Plan — a five-year plan to create jobs and growth — the government is introducing legislation that would build on Ontario’s expertise in clean-water technology.

The Premier also visited Tecumseh Public School in London, an innovative green school that has been a gold-certified Ontario EcoSchool for three consecutive years. Ontario is incorporating environmental education into all grades and subjects in an effort to help students become more aware of environmental challenges and solutions.

Quick Facts

  • The Conference Board of Canada estimates the global market for water technology is more than $400 billion US per year, and is doubling every five to six years.
  • In the next 20 years, global demand for water is expected to be 40 per cent greater than current supply.
  • Ontario companies employ 22,000 people in good, high-paying jobs selling water technology around the world.
  • Ontario is piloting a variety of innovative green products and technologies in over 150 schools through the Green School Pilot Initiative.
]]> http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/04/ontario-taps-into-clean-water-expertise/feed/ 0 Over 900,000 More Ontarians Now Have A Family Doctor http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/04/over-900000-more-ontarians-now-have-a-family-doctor/ http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/04/over-900000-more-ontarians-now-have-a-family-doctor/#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:47:43 +0000 admin http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/?p=1186 Over 10,000 more people in York Region have doctors thanks to family health teams.

Since 2005, Family Health Teams throughout York Region have been providing better access to care. Today these teams are caring for nearly 47,000 patients. The teams include 37 doctors and 24 other health care professionals such as nurse practitioners, registered nurses and social workers working as a team to provide comprehensive care.

Health care is one of Ontario’s greatest economic advantages. That’s why as part of the Open Ontario Plan, the government will introduce legislation that would improve accountability in our publicly funded health care system while continuing to improve services for patients.

Quick Facts

  • Across the province, over 900,000 more people now have access to family doctors, compared to 2003.
  • Today, 93 per cent of Ontarians have a family doctor.
  • The four operating Family Health Teams in York Region include the Carefirst Family Health Team, Aurora-Newmarket Family Health Team, Markham Family Health Team and Southlake Family Health Team.
]]> http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/04/over-900000-more-ontarians-now-have-a-family-doctor/feed/ 0 Premier’s Statement Regarding Concerns Raised By Sikh Community http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/03/premiers-statement-regarding-concerns-raised-by-sikh-community/ http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/2010/03/premiers-statement-regarding-concerns-raised-by-sikh-community/#comments Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:58:59 +0000 admin http://voiceoftoronto.com/wp/?p=1117 Over the last few days, concerns have been brought to my attention by the Sikh community in Ontario with respect to the atrocities that occurred in 1984, where thousands of lives were lost.

I know many of our fellow Ontarians still feel the pain of these events very deeply, and I want to convey our sympathies.

Human rights are fundamental in Ontario and we value the contributions of our diverse communities. Our success has been found in our ability to work together through mutual respect and understanding.

It is my hope that Ontario will continue to act as a shining example of these precious values.

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