Tag Archives: Toronto

Welcome! Episode #22: Segun Akinsanya

The following article was originally posted on Girth Radio.

Published on: February 14, 2016

Segun Akinsanya is a motivational speaker and community activist. Formerly the Executive Director of Bright Future Alliance, Segun is now the founder and CEO of Currant. Currant is a co-operative looking to build sustainable businesses and communities.

Segun also happens to be a convicted criminal having served time for manslaughter.

Listen to this inspiring conversation.

Enjoy!

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#RoadToRedemption

Welcome! Episode #21: Adam Mintz

The following article was originally posted on Girth Radio. 

Published on: February 11, 2016

Adam Mintz is the founder, President and CEO of Toronto-based apparel company, Athletes Collective.

In this episode we chat about Adam’s foray into entrepreneurship, his background in fashion, why he has always wanted to own his own business, how Athletes Collective began, his failed Kickstarter campaign and how he rose from the ashes to build an advisory board and obtain some seed money.

Enjoy!

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C.W. Jeffreys 1869-1951

I came across this historical building just outside my new office near the intersection of York Mills and Yonge in Toronto. It’s the former residence of one of Canada’s most well-respected artists: C.W. Jeffreys.

CW Jeffreys

Born in Rochester, England, Jefferys arrived in Toronto, Ontario (after living in Philadelphia and Hamilton, Ontario) with his family around 1880. After attending school, he apprenticed with the york, Lithography Company from 1885 to 1890. From 1889 to 1892 he worked for the Toronto Globe as an illustrator and artist. From 1893 to 1901, he worked for the New York Herald. Returning to Toronto, he became a magazine and book illustrator. Along with Ivor Lewis and other artists, Jefferys co-founded the Graphic Arts Club (later named the Canadian Society of Graphic Art), which by the 1940s became the primary artists’ group in Canada. As well, from 1912 to 1939 he taught painting and drawing in the Department of Architecture at the University of Toronto.

During World War I he was commissioned by the Canadian War Records department to paint soldiers training at Camp Petawawa and Niagara. [1]

Jefferys had an intense interest in history and his reputation rests principally on his accurate and meticulous portrayal of early Canadian life. The best known collection of his historical sketches is “The Picture Gallery of Canadian History”.

He was made a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.[1]

Vita Parcours

Vita Parcours started in Switzerland in the late 1960s. These usually consist of exercise stations along a path or trail.

The first parcourse came into existence when a men’s gymnastics team in the commune of Wollishofen decided a great way to train and get some fresh air at the same time was by heading to a nearby wood and running and jumping over natural obstacles such as tree stumps.

In Toronto, one can be found in the Scarborough park, Cedar Brook Park.

Cedar Brook Park

The idea was well received, and a sponsor was found: the insurance company VITA (now Zurich Financial Services Group) which gave the unique trails their name, Vita Parcours, which they are still known by in Switzerland.

“The insurance company VITA showed an interest from the very beginning to develop a series of trails of this kind and not only for the gym club of Wollishofen,” Josef Bächler, head of the Vita Parcours foundation, told swissinfo.ch.

vita parcours

vita parcours

 

The Vita Parcours in Cedar Brook is in disrepair and really needs some work. However, next time you’re visiting the city’s east end, drop by and run the course. This just might be the type of exercise you need to reach your 2016 health goals.

Canadian International Auto Show #CIAS2016

Earlier this week I visited the annual Canadian International Auto Show (#CIAS2016). It was underwhelming to say the least.

The Tesla display was sparse. There was only three models on display and no one was there to help hype the most important car company in the world today.

Honda as car of the year?! Really?!? Geez. And Mazda winning an award too.

With the price of oil tumbling and more people wanting an environmentally friendly choice I was hoping for more focus on companies such as Tesla and even Uber. But what do I know.

Here are some photos I took. I hope you enjoy.

bmw i3 | cias2016

 

#cias2016

 

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lamborghini | cias2016

Elevated Wetlands

Along the Don Valley Parkway in Toronto you might see “giant teeth” just north of Don Mills on the west side of the highway. These are known as Elevated Wetlands.

“The Elevated Wetlands are functional sculptures, symbols of the integration of the plastics industry, art and environmental stewardship. The sculptures draw attention to the importance of wetlands as an ecosystem.”

I recently took a walk through the area one weekend.

elevated wetlands

elevated wetlands

elevated wetlands

elevated wetlands

elevated wetlands

elevated wetlands

Welcome! Episode #20: Romana Kassam

This was originally posted on Girth Radio on February 2, 2016.

In the 20th episode of Welcome!, Karim Kanji talks with entrepreneur Romana Kassam about life travelling Europe and Africa, climbing Kilimanjaro, dealing with East Indian parents and their expectations of their daughter, working corporate life and her decision to stop participating in the rat race to start her own business.

Welcome! Episode #20: Romana Kassam by Welcome! By Karim Kanji on Mixcloud

Welcome! Episode #19: Spider Jones

The following was first published on Girth Radio on January 28, 2016.

In this interesting episode, Karim Kanji and Spider Jones talk about:
– Spider’s upbringing in Detroit and Windsor during the heyday of Motown
– Spider’s early career in amateur boxing
– How the Spider met George Chuvalo
– How the Spider ended up sparring with Muhammad Ali and helped him prepare for his first title defense against Chuvalo
– Spider’s past and future radio career
– Spider’s best-selling book and upcoming movie
– Spider’s Believe To Achieve Organization

Enjoy!

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Welcome! Episode #19: Spider Jones by Welcome! By Karim Kanji on Mixcloud

Welcome! Episode #18: Morgan P. Campbell

The following post was originally posted on my Girth Radio-Welcome! page last week. Take a look at it HERE.

Morgan P. Campbell is an award-winning sports writer with the Toronto Star. He has written about the Canadian Football League, MMA, Boxing, Baseball and even rugby. In this episode we talk about Campbell’s journey playing football with Northwestern University to writing for Canada’s largest daily newspaper.

We discuss racism in sports (specifically baseball), football and the issue of concussions, and even steroids in professional and amateur sports.We also discuss the future (and current state) of newspapers.

Enjoy!

Listen below:

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Welcome! Episode #17: Sammy Younan

This post was originally posted on Girth Radio on January 5, 2016.

Sammy Younan has his own IMBD page, has been nominated for an Oscar (or at least a movie he worked on has), is a published author and has interviewed Dallas Green (City & Colour and Alexisonfire), Gerry Dee, and many others. He is also an entrepreneur and the curator for Girth Radio.

Enjoy!

Listen below:

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