Adapting to new constellations of “family” and emerging “family issues”

Thursday March 26, 2009 
9:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Baycrest Hospital
3560 Bathurst Street, Wortsman Hall, Main Floor,
Toronto, Ontario

COST: Free

Panel discussion with:

PlanCamp will be an unconference focused on the planning, design, and governance of our cities. 

What is an Unconference?

From Wikipedia: "An unconference is a facilitated, participant-driven conference centered around a theme or purpose. The term "unconference" has been applied, or self-applied, to a wide range of gatherings that try to avoid one or more aspects of a conventional conference, such as high fees and sponsored presentations."

The world has seen recent decades of rapid economic growth. Yet the fruits of this growth have not been shared equally. In Canada, after-tax income inequality was higher in the post-2000 period than any other point since 1976, with the gap also widening between the middle class and top income earners, caustically challenging the mythology of Canada as a “kinder, gentler” nation in the global context. With the deepening global financial crisis, governments have reached a critical juncture with respect to the convergence of social and economic outcomes. Whether the burden of any recession is felt by some social groups and countries more than others depends largely on public policy.

Employment training programs are gaining increased funding in response to rising unemployment rates. Among the employment training programs that already exist, there are often challenges in creating successful, inclusive programs that result in real employment opportunities. The event will feature three examples of innovative employment training programs that address some of these challenges.

Monday, March 9th, 2009
10:00am – 12:30pm
The Raging Spoon 
761 Queen Street West

A free networking lunch will follow the event

Wednesday, March 24, 2009
11:00 – 12:00 noon
Where: From your desktop

To register:: [email protected]
For information: http://citiesofmigration.ca/integration-learning-exchange/calendar/

Panelists:

• Ayse Özbabacan, Department for Integration Policy, City of Stuttgart (Germany)
• Cormac O’Donnel, Strategic Policy Manager, Intercultural Unit Dublin City Council (Ireland)
• Kica Matos, Community Services Administrator City of New Haven, Connecticut (USA)

Monday, March 2, 2009 
7:00pm to 9:00pm

Intercontinental Hotel Yorkville
220 Bloor Street West
(wheelchair accessible)

Entrance: $5.00

Presentations by:

• Cheryl Teelucksingh, author of Environmental Justice & Racism in Canada and Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Ryerson University
• Jennifer Foulds, Communications Director and Pollution Watch web project lead at Environmental Defence

April 2 and 3, 2009
Central YMCA 
20 Grosvenor Street, Toronto

Registration deadline is March 2, 2009

The ODSP Action Coalition presents this interactive two-day forum, exploring the kinds of changes needed to significantly reduce the poverty of people with disabilities in Ontario. While the Ontario government has presented a poverty reduction strategy with a commitment to reduce child poverty by 25% in 5 years, it needs more action for people with disabilities.

For more information and to request a registration form, contact Nancy Vander Plaats, [email protected] or visit http://www.odspaction.ca/story/conference-reducing-poverty-people-disabilities

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 
7:30 to 9:30 pm
OISE, Peace Lounge
7th Floor, 252 Bloor St. West, Toronto

Admission: By donation - No registration required

An evening with Dominic Barter, focused on Restorative Circles. Successfully used in schools, neighbourhoods, organisations, and the criminal justice system in Brazil, Restorative Circles offer ways for individuals and communities to establish connection, discover meaning and recover power on profound levels. They create a forum for uncovering the human motives behind painful choices and enlisting the responsibility of the community to find effective strategies to meet pressing needs.

Friday February 27th, 9:30 am. 
410 Sherbourne Street, 3rd floor
(west side of Sherbourne between Wellesley & Carlton)

No fee, no registration required. Everyone is welcome.

For further information contact: [email protected]  or (647) 222-4420.

Ethan Nadelmann is the Founder and Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, the leading organization in the United States promoting alternatives to the war on drugs, and a dynamic and passionate speaker. He is widely regarded as the most prominent proponent of drug policy reform. A graduate of Harvard and the London School of Economics, Ethan Nadelmann is described by Rolling Stone as “the point man” for drug policy reform efforts.

Community Meeting about the Kodak Lands Redevelopment on Monday March 9th from 7 – 9pm at the York Civic Centre at 2700 Eglinton Ave. West. This informational meeting is hosted by City Councillors Frank Di Giorgio and Frances Nunziata.