Latest news with #Etobicoke-based
Ottawa Citizen
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Pellerin: Portrait of a country — a new book captures these faces
Article content Sometimes the best way to get to know who you are is to look in a mirror. Or at a portrait. The Kingston Prize, created in the Eastern Ontario city by husband and wife Kaaren and Julian Brown 20 years ago, offers a beautiful and collective way to do just that. Article content Jason Donville co-chairs the Kingston Prize and is passionate about making every Canadian aware of it. It is inspired by Australia's Archibald Prize, and it offers $25,000 to the winner, chosen by an independent jury, among entries by Canadian artists depicting Canadians in portraits based on real-life encounters. Article content Article content Article content The book published to celebrate the first two decades of the prize shows how portraits capture the essence and evolution of who we are as a country. (You can find the images contained in the book on the Kingston Prize website under 'Exhibitions,' which is a nice way to make art widely accessible.) Article content Tthe most beautiful part? We all bring our experiences and sensibilities to how we look at those gorgeous portraits and see ourselves reflected in them. Article content What's interesting and special about the Kingston Prize, Donville explains, is that historically Canada has defined its artistic excellence through landscape, and not just because of the Group of Seven. 'We were a young country that didn't really know what we were about,' he says, 'so we've gone to the land as a way to express ourselves.' Article content And for sure we have spectacular landscapes. 'But the face of Canada is an important part of who we are and our identity,' he adds. One that is complex, diverse and sometimes a little challenging. Article content Article content Article content Looking at those portraits, I can't stop myself from imagining their stories. Families, soldiers, people who appear lonely, others whose hardship I can feel jumping off the page at me. Like the 2007 winner, Emily, by Etobicoke-based painter Joshua Choi. She is sitting on a simple chair, with no background to speak of. Everything is in her tired eyes and heavy lower lip. She seems so exhausted. What could have caused her to be this way? Article content Article content At the other end of the happiness spectrum, I found joy looking at Brian Michon's Lloyd and Elsie from 2009, and I was inspired by the defiance in Ian Stone's Moon-kissed from 2023. Article content I appreciate that the stories I imagine about the subjects of those portraits aren't obvious in the paintings. Anyone looking at this book would find other portraits striking and see some of their own stories reflected at them. That is the magic of art: every single person receiving it has their own way of interpreting it. There is no right or wrong way to appreciate a painting.
Calgary Herald
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Pellerin: Portrait of a country — a new book captures these faces
Sometimes the best way to get to know who you are is to look in a mirror. Or at a portrait. The Kingston Prize, created in the Eastern Ontario city by husband and wife Kaaren and Julian Brown 20 years ago, offers a beautiful and collective way to do just that. Article content Jason Donville co-chairs the Kingston Prize and is passionate about making every Canadian aware of it. It is inspired by Australia's Archibald Prize, and it offers $25,000 to the winner, chosen by an independent jury, among entries by Canadian artists depicting Canadians in portraits based on real-life encounters. Article content Article content Article content The book published to celebrate the first two decades of the prize shows how portraits capture the essence and evolution of who we are as a country. (You can find the images contained in the book on the Kingston Prize website under 'Exhibitions,' which is a nice way to make art widely accessible.) Article content Article content What's interesting and special about the Kingston Prize, Donville explains, is that historically Canada has defined its artistic excellence through landscape, and not just because of the Group of Seven. 'We were a young country that didn't really know what we were about,' he says, 'so we've gone to the land as a way to express ourselves.' Article content And for sure we have spectacular landscapes. 'But the face of Canada is an important part of who we are and our identity,' he adds. One that is complex, diverse and sometimes a little challenging. Article content Article content Article content Looking at those portraits, I can't stop myself from imagining their stories. Families, soldiers, people who appear lonely, others whose hardship I can feel jumping off the page at me. Like the 2007 winner, Emily, by Etobicoke-based painter Joshua Choi. She is sitting on a simple chair, with no background to speak of. Everything is in her tired eyes and heavy lower lip. She seems so exhausted. What could have caused her to be this way? Article content Article content At the other end of the happiness spectrum, I found joy looking at Brian Michon's Lloyd and Elsie from 2009, and I was inspired by the defiance in Ian Stone's Moon-kissed from 2023. Article content I appreciate that the stories I imagine about the subjects of those portraits aren't obvious in the paintings. Anyone looking at this book would find other portraits striking and see some of their own stories reflected at them. That is the magic of art: every single person receiving it has their own way of interpreting it. There is no right or wrong way to appreciate a painting.
Hamilton Spectator
08-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Michael Ford, former MPP and premier's nephew, registers as lobbyist at Toronto city hall
Six months after announcing he was stepping away from politics, former Ontario cabinet minister Michael Ford has signed up to be a lobbyist at Toronto city hall. According to the municipal lobbyist registry, Ford, who is Premier Doug Ford's nephew, had his application approved on June 20. The online city database lists him as the principal of an Etobicoke-based firm called MDF Strategies, and shows that so far he has one client, a company called Protexxa Inc. The company's website describes it as a 'global cybersecurity platform' that 'integrates artificial intelligence to rapidly identify, assess, predict, and resolve cyber threats.' Ford is taking a leave of absence from his post as Ontario's minister of citizenship and As of Monday afternoon, Ford's registration didn't show any communications with city officials on behalf of Protexxa. It listed 'an introduction to the company' as the purpose of any lobbying discussions. Lobbying — communicating with public officials in an effort to influence their decisions — is considered a legitimate activity under the Toronto Municipal Code. To provide transparency, paid lobbyists are required to register with the lobbyist registrar, and disclose communications with council members and city staff. It's not uncommon for former councillors or MPPs to become lobbyists. It's less common for close relatives of a sitting premier. Asked whether he was concerned that his relationship with the provincial leader could lead to the perception he was attempting to use his family ties to improperly influence city hall, Ford told the Star in a text message that he was complying with all lobbying rules. He said 'at no point' has his work 'involved any matters related to the provincial government,' either directly or indirectly, and it 'will not on an ongoing basis.' Ford, who is now 31, was elected as Ontario PC MPP for York South — Weston in June 2022 . Before that he served as a school trustee, and from 2016 to 2022 was on Toronto city council. Three years ago the premier's decision to appoint his then 28-year-old nephew as minister of citizenship and multiculturalism prompted accusations of nepotism , a charge both Fords rejected. Last September, the younger Ford announced he was taking a leave of absence from the ministry for health reasons. In January, he said he wouldn't seek re-election . In a social media post at the time, he wrote that while he considered serving in public office 'a true honour,' he had 'made the decision to take on a new chapter.' On Monday, Ford told the Star that since deciding not to run for re-election he has been 'doing very well,' and has been active in 'various city-building initiatives' and non-profits. Ford is the son of Kathy Ford, the sister of the premier and the late Toronto mayor, Rob Ford.
