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Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue

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Civic Theatres Toronto presents the glitter and sparkle of Bollywood with the Canadian premiere of Taj Express, at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Theatre November 23 – December 1, 2019. Tickets go on sale to the public this Friday, January 18, 10AM and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca, by phone, or in person at select Civic Theatres Toronto box offices.

Set to an unforgettable soundtrack featuring the songs of Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) Taj Express explodes with the sounds of India and captures the vibrant, expressive spirit of the world of Bollywood movies that have been entertaining billions of people for generations. Through a fusion of film, dance, and music, this dazzling international sensation takes audiences on a live cinematic journey through modern Indian culture and society. The production is a high energy celebration of new India’s pop music, Bollywood culture, and deep traditions featuring colorful costumes, joyful dance, and thrilling live music.

Featuring a cast of 26 and 3 on-stage musicians, Taj Express is full of high-energy music and sensational dance scenes. Continue reading “Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue”

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Vision Exchange: Perspectives from India to Canada

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The Art Museum at the University of Toronto Presents Vision Exchange : Perspectives from India to Canada
February 2 – March 23, 2019

The Art Museum at the University of Toronto is pleased to present Vision Exchange: Perspectives from India to Canada from February 2 – March 23, 2019 at the University of Toronto Art Centre. Vision Exchange presents the work for 20 internationally recognized artists based in India and Canada.

Vision Exchange includes works by Ashim Ahluwalia, Sarindar Dhaliwal, Atul Dodiya, Gauri Gill, Tanya Goel, Shilpa Gupta, Sunil Gupta, Jitish Kallat, Reena Saini Kallat, Amar Kanwar, Bharti Kher, Divya Mehra, Akbar Padamsee, Jagdeep Raina, Raqs Media Collective, Dayanita Singh, Umrao Singh-Sher-Gil, Vivan Sundaram, Thukral + Tagra, and Rajesh Vangad.

Highlights include: the cartographer’s mistake by Sarindar Dhaliwal, where the artist renders a map of the Indian subcontinent using marigolds to indicate the lines of Partition. Dhaliwal’s use of marigolds to depict the borders and territories of her native land lends a curative gesture to the otherwise destructive consequences of this history; and Points of Departure by Bharti Kher, a framed series where the artist uses bindis, paper and maps, each of which date to around the time of Partition, 1947. Swirling with vibrancy, the historical implications of these documents are thrust into an engagement with present-day geographies, planetary migrations and border politics. Continue reading “Vision Exchange: Perspectives from India to Canada”

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RIU Hotels & Resorts is coming to Canada

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RIU Hotels & Resorts has announced the construction of a hotel in its Riu Plaza urban line, in Toronto, the largest city in Canada and the cultural, business and financial centre of the country. The Spanish company intends to invest around 100 million dollars in the project, that will establish the first RIU hotel in Canada and will add continuity to the hotel company’s plan to expand into the world’s great cities.

The project, designed in a sophisticated avant-garde style, as a part of the Riu Plaza line, is now near the end of the design phase and is set to open in 2021. The building, a newly-built modern tower block, will be located in the city’s financial district and is mixed use. RIU’s investment in the part intended for the hotel will have 350 rooms, meeting rooms, a gym, bar and restaurant; while the upper floors will be for residential use.

Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, has made it clear that the opening of the first hotel in Toronto “is a big step forward in our commitment to expanding the Riu Plaza hotel line in the world’s key cities, establishing the RIU brand beyond more traditional vacation destinations. We hope this hotel attracts RIU customers around the world to discover the city of Toronto with us, and also hope that the loyal customers we have in Canada decide to discover our urban product. This project means a new drive to raise awareness of our brand within and beyond the country.” Continue reading “RIU Hotels & Resorts is coming to Canada”

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Federal Tax Changes coming into effect in the New Year

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Ms. Ruby Sahota, Member of Parliament for Brampton North, wants to share information about new tax  changes at the federal level that will positively affect our
middle class and those working hard to join it. These changes include:

-Decreasing the Small Business Tax rate from 10% to 9% which will provide up to $7500 in
savings for small business owners a year. When we formed government the small business tax was
11.5%; now it is one of the lowest small business tax rates in the world. Small businesses make up
98% of all Canadian businesses and employ 8 million hard working Canadians.

-Changing the Canada Pension Plan premium from 4.95% to 5.1% on earning between $3,500 and
$57,400. These enhancements will increase the maximum CPP retirement benefit by about 50%
for those who make enhanced contributions for 40 years, supporting Canadians as the cost of
living increases.

-Decreasing Employment Insurance premiums from $1.66 to $1.62 per $100 of insurable earnings.
-Increasing the Canada Workers Benefit for lower income workers, which helps low income
earners stay employed as experts say that more than half of all Canadians who live in poverty are
working. Continue reading “Federal Tax Changes coming into effect in the New Year”

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Countdown to 2019 at Garden Square this New Year’s Eve!

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Ring in 2019 with thousands of your closest friends with style!

Juno nominated artist Shawn Hook is the headliner for the city of Brampton’s 2018 New Year’s Eve celebration.

The live concert, curated with support from Brampton’s own SounDrive Records is scheduled for Garden Square from 8pm to 12 midnight. The concert will feature the Julian Taylor Band, as well as Brampton based artists, Raz, Melle Rose and DJ Tam. Firework displays proudly presented by Tim Hortons will take place at both 9 pm and 12 midnight.

DJ Tam will kick the party off in Garden Square at 8 pm followed by Melle Rose at 8:30 pm. The first of two fireworks shows is set for 9 pm. Musical entertainment continues at 9:10 pm with Raz and the Julian Taylor Band at 9:50 pm. Canadian pop icon Shawn Hook will take the stage at 11:05 pm leading up to the countdown to midnight and second firework display.

Ahead of the concert, everyone is encouraged to visit Gage Park to view the thousands of sparkling winter lights and skate on the trail. Family-friendly entertainment at City Hall start 6:30 pm to 9 pm with a live dance party in the Conservatory as well as a roaming magician and warming area in the Atrium. A fireworks show in Garden Square, has been scheduled at 9 pm for those wanting to ring in the New Year a little earlier in the evening. Continue reading “Countdown to 2019 at Garden Square this New Year’s Eve!”

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“This season is about bringing light to the people around us”-P.M. Justin Trudeau

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The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Christmas:

“Merry Christmas, Canada!

“Today, our family joins Christians across the country and around the world to celebrate the birth of Christ.

“It’s a time to spread joy and cheer, appreciate our blessings, and honour traditions – whether that’s opening presents, decorating the Christmas tree, sharing a meal together, or setting aside a couple of cookies for Santa.

“We’re also well into winter, from coast to coast to coast – and here in Canada, we’ve always known how to smile through the cold days and long nights. This time of year, that Canadian spirit shines through most – because this season is about bringing light to the people around us.

“We also know this is a difficult time for some families. For Canadian Armed Forces members who are far from home, it’s just one example of the many sacrifices you and your families make. We’re thinking of you, and we’re grateful for everything you do for Canadians.

“And we’re thinking too of hardworking Canadian families who might be struggling to make ends meet this Christmas. Our government is working hard to make things a little easier for you  Continue reading ““This season is about bringing light to the people around us”-P.M. Justin Trudeau”

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What Is Democracy? asks Astra Taylor’s NFB feature doc

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-Starting January 4 at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. Theatrical run followed by campus screenings and discussions in Montreal and Toronto.star

Astra Taylor’s timely and provocative National Film Board of Canada (NFB) feature What Is Democracy? is back in Toronto after its North American premiere at TIFF earlier this year, with screenings at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema starting January 4.

The film’s Toronto engagement early in the new year follows screenings at Vancouver’s Vancity Theatre, which started December 7.

After its Toronto theatrical run, What Is Democracy? will be back in the city on January 26 at Ryerson University at the DemocracyXChange Summit—a new annual event co-founded by the Open Democracy Project and the Ryerson Leadership Lab—where Taylor will deliver a keynote address, followed by an evening screening of her film.

Theorist Silvia Federici, interviewed in What Is Democracy?, joins Taylor in Montreal on January 23 for a film screening and discussion presented by Cinema Politica Concordia, with the NFB announcing more campus, community and festival events across Canada soon.

What Is Democracy? was just nominated for Best Canadian Documentary by the Vancouver Film Critics Circle, with winners announced at the VFCC’s awards ceremony on January 7. Continue reading “What Is Democracy? asks Astra Taylor’s NFB feature doc”

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Toronto holiday tradition continues with 2018 edition of the City Hall Christmas Concert

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Residents and visitors are invited to join Mayor John Tory and councillors at the 53rd annual City Hall Christmas Concert in the rotunda of Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W. The free concert will begin at noon on Thursday, December 20.

This public concert has taken place every year since City Hall opened in 1965. As in past years, this year’s event will feature top Toronto vocalists and instrumentalists.

“I invite people of all ages to come to City Hall to join in sharing the festive spirit of community and harmony at this popular annual event,” said Mayor Tory.

The audience will be encouraged to sing along to some of the carols and seasonal favourites performed by the internationally acclaimed Toronto Mass Choir as well as the Toronto Beaches Children’s and Youth Chorus, Pan Fantasy Steelband and Tower Brass. The event will also feature a reading by Toronto Poet Laureate Anne Michaels and a special guest appearance by Santa Claus.

More details about the event and the performers are available at toronto.ca/christmasconcert.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. Continue reading “Toronto holiday tradition continues with 2018 edition of the City Hall Christmas Concert”

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Ontario Delivers Historic Weekday GO Train Service to Niagara Falls

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Ontario’s Government for the People continues to deliver on its promise to get people moving faster by adding regular weekday GO train service to Niagara Falls and St. Catharines for the first time.

Today, Jeff Yurek, Minister of Transportation, Kinga Surma, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation, Sam Oosterhoff, MPP Niagara West, along with Leslie Woo, Chief Planning and Development Officer, Metrolinx, visited the rail station in St. Catharines to announce that the government will introduce long-asked-for weekday GO train service to Niagara Falls and St. Catharines on the Lakeshore West line.

“Our government is keeping our promise to get people moving and make life better for everyone in Ontario by expanding GO train service to Niagara Falls,” said Yurek. “We are working with our railway partner, CN, to use the existing rail infrastructure to expand GO Transit service for people in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines four years sooner than promised.”

Beginning on January 7, 2019, people travelling by GO Transit between Niagara Falls and Toronto’s Union Station will benefit from a new morning trip with an evening return every weekday. The morning train that currently starts from West Harbour station in Hamilton at 6:39 a.m. will now start in Niagara Falls at 5:19 a.m., stopping at St. Catharines before continuing on to Toronto. In the evening, the existing train from Union Station at 5:15 p.m. to West Harbour will continue on to serve St. Catharines and Niagara Falls. Continue reading “Ontario Delivers Historic Weekday GO Train Service to Niagara Falls”

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Mississauga Joins Global Network of Data-Driven Cities

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The City of Mississauga has been awarded the International Organization for Standardization 37120 (ISO 37120) platinum-level certification from the World Council on City Data (WCCD) – a global leader in standardized city data. Mississauga is one of ten Canadian municipalities to receive the certification. The City joins more than 60 municipalities that are part of the WCCD global network.

“We are pleased to be recognized with this honour alongside other world-leaders including London, Dubai and Buenos Aires,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Increasing transparency and fostering innovation are important priorities for us as we continue to create a connected city for the 21st century. Data-driven decision making is vital for us to deliver high-quality programs and services to our citizens.”

Mississauga reported 96 out of the 100 indicators, earning platinum-level ranking.

“Mississauga is now part of an international standard,” said Janice Baker, City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer. “Not only does it show how we are doing compared to other cities, but also serves as a benchmark in our planning process. It is important for us to be able to learn from other cities as we continue to build a world-class city.”

The standard includes a comprehensive set of 100 indicators that measures a city’s social, economic and environmental performance. The Region of Peel, local school boards, utilities and Trillium Hospital contributed data as part of the assessment. Continue reading “Mississauga Joins Global Network of Data-Driven Cities”