activism
Photo courtesy of Edward Ocampo-Gooding from Flickr
If you thought that an open data hackfest was not the place for you, think again, Ottawa! Open Data Ottawa is hosting an event this weekend at city hall where they hope to bring together a group of people interested in open data sets and people interesting in finding unique ways to use them. This coming Saturday at Ottawa City Hall from 1-4pm, bring your ideas, skills, issues and love for data to a forum where you can turn them into action.
The open data movement in Ottawa took off this past year, with the Apps 4 Ottawa contest, where developers took city data sets and created apps that can do everything from find the closest dog park (and, according to Open Data Ottawa co-founder MaryBeth Barker, also rate the level of poopiness), to report on the safety and comfort of bike paths.
Open Data Ottawa hopes to take things to the next level this weekend, by opening the event up to new skill sets and new perspectives. They have invited user experience designers, video game developers and the usual hackers to the December 3rd event, hoping that some new voices will start to move the project in interesting new ways.
This is all less about technology than you might think. “You could do all of this with pens and pencils and paper,” says Open Data Ottawa co-founder Edward Ocampo-Gooding. The Open Data Ottawa team is committed to making sure that everyone can contribute to the event regardless of their technical skill. They want to take things like restaurant inspection reports or recreation information and turn them into things that can bring people together. Imagine a Facebook application that can bring foodies together at the latest restaurant based on when they file their first inspection report or digital libraries that can bring citizens with common interests together to share skills and connect.
Click to continue reading “Being better neighbours through open data”
Think Movember is just a fun lark for a good cause? Think again. Local ‘creative agency’ McMillan has created this short educational film on the dark side of the month long facial hair extravaganza: addiction.
“In Movember 2009, Jared Young began growing a moustache to help fight prostate cancer. But he soon discovered that with great power comes great responsibility. Hear the inspirational story of his struggle with addiction, and find out how you can help.”
You can help people like Jared by checking out the group’s Movember site, McMillan Moustaches.
Photo courtesy of Elvis Pépin on Flickr.
On in its fourth year in the capital city, the concept of Timeraiser shouldn’t be new to you anymore – you bid volunteer hours to the organization of your choice for the chance to win an awesome piece of art. That, in a nutshell, is Timeraiser. Of course, it’s a lot more than that. It’s an opportunity to network, meet wonderful and active people in the community, discover a side of Ottawa you may not have known about, and even find a new purpose in life. This year’s event takes place on Saturday, November 19th at the National Gallery of Canada.
Tickets are only $20 and can be purchased here. To promote the event, national presenting sponsor WestJet has offered up 2 tickets to anywhere they fly (valued at over $4,000) and these are being handed out exclusively on Apartment613!
Continue reading for info on how Timeraiser works and on how to win our fantastic WestJet prize.
Click to continue reading “Timeraiser 4, WestJet ticket giveaway!”
And here is your chance to help. As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Amnesty International will be shining a light on human rights abuses by hosting a “Write for Rights” night at the Museum of Nature in Ottawa on December 8th. Members of the public are invited to attend and write a letter on behalf of the 15 individual human rights cases.
The event details:
Date: December 8th, 2011 5:00-8:00 pm
Where: 4th Floor Gallery at the Canadian Museum of Nature
240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2R1
Cost: free
Guest Speakers: Alex Neve, Secretary General, Amnesty International, more to follow
Details:
- The lantern of the Museum of Nature will be lit-up to symbolize Amnesty International’s flame of hope; Local musicians featured including Jenny Woo, Terry Gillespie and others
- cash bar
- light dinner (as long as supplies last)
- Kids table with lantern making
Photo by Kimusan on flickr
With deadly accidents, court cases and provincial reviews hitting the news, safe cycling is on the top of everyone’s minds. This makes it the perfect moment for Citizens for Safe Cycling’s Annual General Meeting. The organization, which is behind the popular Bike Parking at Bluesfest, is having its 26th AGM on Tuesday, November 1st 2 at the Tom Brown Arena (141 Bayview Road) from 6 to around 8:30pm.
The first part of the meeting will be open free to the public and will feature booths from local organizations, speakers, and refreshments. Aside from the draw of free food, the appeal of the event lays in the topic of this year’s keynote speaker, which will appeal to webophiles across the city. Hayley Richardson, outreach coordinator for the city of Bellevue’s transportation demand management program, will be giving her perspective into how to use the powers of the interweb to promote a social goal, in this case alternative transport.
Aside from Ms. Richardson, there will be two local experts on the podium. Colin Simpson, a senior project manager for the city, will give an update on plans for future the cycling infrastructure, while Charles Akben-Marchand of Rescue Bronson will talk about plans to develop that major thoroughfare.
If you can’t make it out for keynote, don’t worry! Apartment613 will be teaming us with Liisa Tuomine from CitizenCycle to live blog the event. Tune in here on Tuesday or check out the action on Twitter.
We had a quick chat with Hans Moor, current president of CFSC and a well-known bicycling activist, about CFSC, the AGM and what he thinks about the state of cycling in the city.
Click to continue reading “Citizens for Safe Cycling AGM: How to tweet our way to a safer city”
Photo courtesy of S.L.M. on Flickr.
By Sabrina Bowman, who works for the Ottawa River Keeper, but is soon embarking on new adventures in San Francisco.
The Ottawa River has been in the news a lot lately, and as we all know, the occurrence of raw sewage being dumped in the River happens much too often for comfort. This issue, among many others, is why Ottawa Riverkeeper embarked on the Great River Project this summer, in an effort to document the state of the Ottawa River and share the ecology of the Kichi sipi (or “Great River”) with a wide audience.
The project began July 4th starting at Fort Témiscamingue, Québec, with an expert team of scientists, historians, naturalists and photographers. They have been making observations, monitoring water quality and meeting with a diverse group of people and leaders who depend on the Ottawa River in myriad ways. The final segment of their exploration will take them from Ottawa to Montreal.
This Sunday September 25th, which also happens to be World Rivers Day, will see the kick off the fifth and final segment of the Great River Project.
Post by Robin Levinson
Malorie Bertrand and Amie Beausoleil want women to stop shaving their armpits and start fundraising for breast cancer. Inspired by such fundraising campaigns as “Movember” and “Mustaches for Kids,” the two decided to brainstorm ways that women could raise money for breast cancer that were quirky, humorous, and fun. Under the name “Unshaven Mavens,” they are asking women to forgo shaving their underarm hair for the month of October, all while raising funds for Rethink Breast Cancer, a Canadian charity that brings education and support to women under 40.
Beausoleil admits that when she first started researching breast cancer charities “there wasn’t much that interested me. It seemed like the same old, same old. Shaving your head, doing a run, going for a walk, gala fundraisers. There was nothing quirky about it.” She heard about the organization Julyna, which asks women to shave their pubic hair and fundraise for cervical cancer. But Beausoleil and Bertrand focused on underarm hair instead, because that is where many signs of breast cancer are first detected. When asked about Unshaven Mavens’ objectives, Beausoleil says that she is happy to start small. So far they have 11 participants, but one day they hope to be “as big as Movember.”
Click to continue reading “Unshaven Mavens get hairy in October for breast cancer”
Sometimes it is all about the global GLBT Village……………
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National Tour on LBGTQ Refugees coming to end in Ottawa on July 27
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The North Star Triangle Project (NSTP) will conclude the final leg of its national tour in Newfoundland and Ontario from July 21 to 27.
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The Tour will end in Ottawa — the 21st city in the ten province tour. The Ottawa meeting will take place at the Catholic Immigration Centre, 219 Argyle (between Bank and O’Connor), Room 113 on July 27, 2011 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
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This final leg of the tour includes stops in St. John’s, Newfoundland, London and Toronto before concluding in Ottawa.
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NSTP is a volunteer effort to educate and mobilize Canadian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities about LGBT/Queer refugees in the world. It is a cross-Canada tour to promote “Group of 5″ sponsorships.
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The Canadian government has expressed concern over the persecution of LGBT people in the world. Canadian GLBT persons have an opportunity to help gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people around the world through sponsorships and a federal government sponsored pilot project.
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Everyone is invited to attend the Ottawa event on Wednesday, July 27 from 6:30pm to 8:00 pm. to meet David Pepper. David is a long-time gay activist from Ottawa who is travelling across Canada to raise awareness about LGBTQ refugees and promote the idea of private sponsorships.
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The North Star Triangle Project is linking up individuals and communities from across Canada to mobilize around the humanitarian disaster of refugees. In particular, LGBTQ refugees from Uganda to Iran to Colombia face real and present danger. The North Star Triangle Project will allow people to find out more about what is happening in Canada and how to help around the world.
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Ottawa will be the 21st and final city in the tour across Canada that was launched in Winnipeg on April13, 2011.
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You can read more about and follow the North Star Triangle Project at www.northstartriangle.blogspot.comor follow it on Twitter @northstartri
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Asylum News has posted a YouTube video of an interview David did on World Refugee Day with Matt Rainey at CBC Charlottetown. It also includes a range of photos from the17 cities visited so far. You can see it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSP0RHNWlvQ
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Recent media attention has included:
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Ottawa Citizen: http://bit.ly/gXyBwG
Winnipeg FreePress(Launch) at: http://bit.ly/e5ils0
Winnipeg FreePress(Pride) at: http://bit.ly/jfZE7S
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BACKGROUND:
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LGBTQ people in Canada have been blessed with a country that at times, has been a beacon of hope for freedom, equality and safety. There’s an urgent need in the world to protect the million plus refugees– some of whom are LGBTQ and face a real and present danger in their lives.
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One of the way to sponsor a refugee is through a “Group of 5″ private sponsorship. The sponsorship allows any 5 Canadians to get together and sponsor a refugee to come to Canada. Recently the federal government launched a project to support Group of 5 initiatives across Canada which will be run by Rainbow Refugee in Vancouver.
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David is also associated with the Capital Rainbow Group which is currently made up of individuals who are undertaking a “Group of 5″ application for a LGBTQ refugee.
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Contact information:
Phone: 248-534-1944
Email: northstartriangle@gmail.com
Twitter@northstartri
www.northstartriangle.blogspot.com
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Remember to david me on:
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Twitter: @northstartri
Blog: www.northstartriangle.blogspot.com
Facebook: North Star Triangle
Image courtesy Gamma-Ray Productions on Flickr
Hey there, audiophiles, and welcome to another edition of Apartment613 Live. This week, we’re all about our two-wheeled friend, the bicycle. We chat with Hans Moor, president of local advocacy group Citizens for Safe Cycling, about the newly-minted segregated bike lane on Laurier Avenue. Ottawa Citizen deputy digital media editor Drew Gragg gives us the lowdown on CitizenCycle, the paper’s new online portal for bicycle-related happenings in the capital and beyond. And we get a tour of the Bluesfest bike parking with organizer and former CSC president Charles Akben-Marchand.
We also share some stories from the Apartment613 twitter community about cycling misadventures, dearly departed bicycles, and tips for ensuring a good ride. Here’s a sample of some tweets we couldn’t fit into the show (which should tell you how awesome the ones we did feature are!):
@EcosseMorris Low point: My fabulous bike of 23 years being run over by a bus…while chained up on the sidewalk…
@racheldeeisme got lost riding to Halifax airport for flight – rode 65k, went thru security in bike shorts w 15min to departure
@domcoballe Bought his and hers matching army green 1970′s CCM 3-speed bikes for $4 at a garage sale. Weighs the same as VW Beetle.
@tsaacs like flipping off someone in a car that cut me off & ending up in the elevator with them at work the next week?
Shifting gears (cycling pun!), on the musical side of things, we spin some tracks from artists in town for the first week of Bluesfest. As always, the playlist is below. And if you can’t wait for the podcast to go up, you can catch Apartment613 Live throughout the summer on CHUO 89.1 FM Thursdays from 2-3pm. Now, where did I put my helmet again…
Click to continue reading “This week on Apartment613 Live: Two wheels good, four wheels bad”
