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Winnipeg Free Press
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Border Insecurity: Canadian musicians face volatile tour life under Trump
TORONTO – Canadian country singer Robert Adam recorded their new album in Nashville, but under the political tumult of U.S. President Donald Trump, the musician doesn't plan to travel stateside to promote it. The Calgary-based non-binary artist says they contemplated their decision for several months, weighing past negative experiences as a queer person visiting the United States against the importance of the U.S. market for emerging musicians. But after hearing about the obstacles faced by some transgender musicians in obtaining U.S. working visas, Adam said they are confident they've made the right decision to skip the country on their upcoming tour. '(I'm) pretty non-binary presenting, pretty femme … it's hard not to see that I kind of stick out,' they said in a phone interview. 'I don't want to spend my life stressed out over whether I feel like I have to … tone down my image, or what I have to say, just to exist and play a show.' An order issued in January by the Trump administration declared that the United States will only recognize two sexes, male and female, and that government documents must reflect the one assigned at birth. This would mean trans and non-binary entertainers might have to misgender themselves in hopes of getting approval. Some Canadians also have an X gender marker on their passport, and while Adam doesn't, they said the possibility of invasive questions about their gender or being detained at the U.S. border far outweighs the upside. And so, they will tour elsewhere. After several Canadian dates, Adam plans to head to the United Kingdom and Japan, where they feel their brand of queer country music will be more warmly received. 'It's important to me that we go to spaces where I can do those things freely and … inspire others to do the same,' they added. Other Canadian artists, both within the LGBTQ+ community and outside it, are asking themselves whether touring the United States is worth the ethical compromise or safety risks it may present. Last week, the Canadian Independent Music Association held a virtual town hall to address the growing concerns about performing stateside. More than 200 musicians, managers and other industry players attended a panel that included two U.S. immigration lawyers who specialize in visas for the arts community. 'I think everybody is right to be anxious, worried and concerned about coming into the U.S. right now,' said Will Spitz, a lawyer in the performing arts division of New York-based firm CoveyLaw. 'It seems like every day there's a new horror story of someone getting detained, hassled or deported.' Despite heightened tension at the border, Spitz noted 'not that much has changed' for most travellers who are not trans, gender non-conforming or intersex. Many visa rejections, which may seem like Trump-era actions, are actually due to common paperwork errors, he noted. 'Does that mean it can't change tomorrow? No,' Spitz added. 'I think there's a very real chance that they expand their focus to include anyone who's been vocal in support of Palestine and other issues the current administration doesn't like.' Statistics Canada data suggests that many Canadians have soured on going stateside. In March, the number of those returning from the United States by car was down nearly 32 per cent compared to last year, marking the third consecutive month of year-over-year declines. U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows the number of Canadian citizens turned away at the land border also fell 44 per cent in the same month. In March, 1,747 people were found inadmissible — for reasons as varied as criminal records or improper documents — compared to 3,126 a year earlier. It was the fourth consecutive month of declines. Still, many are worried. Amid the turmoil, some musicians are choosing to stay silent over fears that any negative comments about the American administration might wind up in a Google search by a border agent. Nearly a dozen musicians and managers declined to be interviewed for this story, with some explaining they couldn't risk losing access to the lucrative U.S. tour circuit. 'They're terrified of getting stuck at the border and being interrogated for social media posts,' said Eric Alper, a publicist representing several performers who wouldn't speak out. 'A lot of the Canadian artists are leaning towards just surviving.' Others are thinking more about how to better prepare for their U.S. tours. Khalid Yassein of Toronto folk act Wild Rivers said his band is upgrading the status of everyone on their team to an O1 visa, which recognizes workers in the arts. Before, some of them held O2 visas, which are for assistants to O1 workers. The band hopes it will streamline the process and eliminate potential hurdles, he said. They also plan on crossing into the United States at the same time. 'We're having conversations with our team on how to be extra prepared,' he said. 'It's a huge, important music market for us. Granted, we're excited every time we come home because we're a little bit less stressed out.' Indie rock newcomer Drew Tarves, who performs under the moniker Young Friend, took a different approach. In March, he announced he was cancelling plans for shows in New York and Los Angeles to promote his debut album 'Motorcycle Sound Effects.' The Vancouver musician said he would dedicate his energy to 17 Canadian dates across six provinces instead. Tarves blamed Trump's tariff war and his aspirations to annex Canada as deciding factors in why he chose to focus on his home country. 'I didn't feel great about going down there,' the 26-year-old said in a recent interview. 'It was a hard decision,' he added. 'Playing there in the past has always felt pretty key to being a developing artist. It's like the hub for music.' Last month, pop singer T. Thomason also announced he was backing out of U.S. shows after concluding 'it does not feel safe to attempt to cross the border' as a trans person. His decision came shortly after fellow trans singer-songwriter Bells Larsen cancelled a U.S. tour over new policies that suggested he would likely be denied a visa based on his gender identity. Those boycotts still seem to be rare, according to Liana White, executive director at the Canadian Federation of Musicians. She said the interest expressed by Canadian musicians in touring the United States remains 'huge,' even with the current unpredictability. She advises travelling artists to take extra precautions when planning their U.S. dates. For instance, visa processing times have slowed in recent years, an issue that predates the current Trump administration. Musicians should account for those delays by planning further ahead, she said, and budgeting to pay a premium that expedites approval. Other things to consider: carry medication in prescription bottles, purchase vitamins south of the border and keep food in its original packaging. 'If it is possible to fly, I would recommend that,' White added, noting it's easier to withdraw a request to enter the United States at many airports, because the person is still on Canadian soil. Even with the extra hurdles and turbulent political climate, some Canadian musicians say they couldn't imagine abandoning U.S. audiences. Montreal feminist punk act Nobro, whose debut album was partly inspired by a concert they played hours after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned abortion rights, said performing stateside isn't just about promoting their music but empowering their fans. 'We don't play big shows, we play 200-capacity gigs, and there are a lot of kids out there that can actually afford our tickets,' said bassist Kathryn McCaughey. 'It's really important to uplift those communities and for them to feel like they're being seen and heard and especially just to have fun.' During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. Toronto band the Beaches recently hit the stage at California music festival Coachella and last year played in Florida, a conservative state with several anti-LGBTQ laws. Keyboardist Leandra Earl said the band felt it was essential to 'go down there and meet all of our fans who really need an escape from life sometimes.' 'I personally, as a queer woman, think it's really important for us to keep playing in all of those cities that are looking for representation,' she added. 'Wherever people want us, we'll go there.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Border Insecurity: Canadian musicians face volatile tour life under Trump
TORONTO - Canadian country singer Robert Adam recorded their new album in Nashville, but under the political tumult of U.S. President Donald Trump, the musician doesn't plan to travel stateside to promote it. The Calgary-based non-binary artist says they contemplated their decision for several months, weighing past negative experiences as a queer person visiting the United States against the importance of the U.S. market for emerging musicians. But after hearing about the obstacles faced by some transgender musicians in obtaining U.S. working visas, Adam said they are confident they've made the right decision to skip the country on their upcoming tour. '(I'm) pretty non-binary presenting, pretty femme ... it's hard not to see that I kind of stick out,' they said in a phone interview. 'I don't want to spend my life stressed out over whether I feel like I have to … tone down my image, or what I have to say, just to exist and play a show.' An order issued in January by the Trump administration declared that the United States will only recognize two sexes, male and female, and that government documents must reflect the one assigned at birth. This would mean trans and non-binary entertainers might have to misgender themselves in hopes of getting approval. Some Canadians also have an X gender marker on their passport, and while Adam doesn't, they said the possibility of invasive questions about their gender or being detained at the U.S. border far outweighs the upside. And so, they will tour elsewhere. After several Canadian dates, Adam plans to head to the United Kingdom and Japan, where they feel their brand of queer country music will be more warmly received. 'It's important to me that we go to spaces where I can do those things freely and ... inspire others to do the same,' they added. Other Canadian artists, both within the LGBTQ+ community and outside it, are asking themselves whether touring the United States is worth the ethical compromise or safety risks it may present. Last week, the Canadian Independent Music Association held a virtual town hall to address the growing concerns about performing stateside. More than 200 musicians, managers and other industry players attended a panel that included two U.S. immigration lawyers who specialize in visas for the arts community. 'I think everybody is right to be anxious, worried and concerned about coming into the U.S. right now,' said Will Spitz, a lawyer in the performing arts division of New York-based firm CoveyLaw. 'It seems like every day there's a new horror story of someone getting detained, hassled or deported.' Despite heightened tension at the border, Spitz noted 'not that much has changed' for most travellers who are not trans, gender non-conforming or intersex. Many visa rejections, which may seem like Trump-era actions, are actually due to common paperwork errors, he noted. 'Does that mean it can't change tomorrow? No,' Spitz added. 'I think there's a very real chance that they expand their focus to include anyone who's been vocal in support of Palestine and other issues the current administration doesn't like.' Statistics Canada data suggests that many Canadians have soured on going stateside. In March, the number of those returning from the United States by car was down nearly 32 per cent compared to last year, marking the third consecutive month of year-over-year declines. U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows the number of Canadian citizens turned away at the land border also fell 44 per cent in the same month. In March, 1,747 people were found inadmissible — for reasons as varied as criminal records or improper documents — compared to 3,126 a year earlier. It was the fourth consecutive month of declines. Still, many are worried. Amid the turmoil, some musicians are choosing to stay silent over fears that any negative comments about the American administration might wind up in a Google search by a border agent. Nearly a dozen musicians and managers declined to be interviewed for this story, with some explaining they couldn't risk losing access to the lucrative U.S. tour circuit. 'They're terrified of getting stuck at the border and being interrogated for social media posts,' said Eric Alper, a publicist representing several performers who wouldn't speak out. 'A lot of the Canadian artists are leaning towards just surviving.' Others are thinking more about how to better prepare for their U.S. tours. Khalid Yassein of Toronto folk act Wild Rivers said his band is upgrading the status of everyone on their team to an O1 visa, which recognizes workers in the arts. Before, some of them held O2 visas, which are for assistants to O1 workers. The band hopes it will streamline the process and eliminate potential hurdles, he said. They also plan on crossing into the United States at the same time. 'We're having conversations with our team on how to be extra prepared,' he said. 'It's a huge, important music market for us. Granted, we're excited every time we come home because we're a little bit less stressed out.' Indie rock newcomer Drew Tarves, who performs under the moniker Young Friend, took a different approach. In March, he announced he was cancelling plans for shows in New York and Los Angeles to promote his debut album 'Motorcycle Sound Effects.' The Vancouver musician said he would dedicate his energy to 17 Canadian dates across six provinces instead. Tarves blamed Trump's tariff war and his aspirations to annex Canada as deciding factors in why he chose to focus on his home country. 'I didn't feel great about going down there,' the 26-year-old said in a recent interview. 'It was a hard decision,' he added. 'Playing there in the past has always felt pretty key to being a developing artist. It's like the hub for music.' Last month, pop singer T. Thomason also announced he was backing out of U.S. shows after concluding 'it does not feel safe to attempt to cross the border' as a trans person. His decision came shortly after fellow trans singer-songwriter Bells Larsen cancelled a U.S. tour over new policies that suggested he would likely be denied a visa based on his gender identity. Those boycotts still seem to be rare, according to Liana White, executive director at the Canadian Federation of Musicians. She said the interest expressed by Canadian musicians in touring the United States remains 'huge,' even with the current unpredictability. She advises travelling artists to take extra precautions when planning their U.S. dates. For instance, visa processing times have slowed in recent years, an issue that predates the current Trump administration. Musicians should account for those delays by planning further ahead, she said, and budgeting to pay a premium that expedites approval. Other things to consider: carry medication in prescription bottles, purchase vitamins south of the border and keep food in its original packaging. 'If it is possible to fly, I would recommend that,' White added, noting it's easier to withdraw a request to enter the United States at many airports, because the person is still on Canadian soil. Even with the extra hurdles and turbulent political climate, some Canadian musicians say they couldn't imagine abandoning U.S. audiences. Montreal feminist punk act Nobro, whose debut album was partly inspired by a concert they played hours after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned abortion rights, said performing stateside isn't just about promoting their music but empowering their fans. 'We don't play big shows, we play 200-capacity gigs, and there are a lot of kids out there that can actually afford our tickets,' said bassist Kathryn McCaughey. 'It's really important to uplift those communities and for them to feel like they're being seen and heard and especially just to have fun.' Toronto band the Beaches recently hit the stage at California music festival Coachella and last year played in Florida, a conservative state with several anti-LGBTQ laws. Keyboardist Leandra Earl said the band felt it was essential to 'go down there and meet all of our fans who really need an escape from life sometimes.' 'I personally, as a queer woman, think it's really important for us to keep playing in all of those cities that are looking for representation,' she added. 'Wherever people want us, we'll go there.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2025.
Associated Press
26-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Roger Spitz Named a Top 10 Global Management Thought Leader by Thinkers360
Thinkers360 Honors Roger Spitz's Top Thought Leadership Across Management, Innovation, and Venture Capital 'I'm delighted to be recognized alongside such impactful thinkers. Our mission with the Disruptive Futures Institute is to help leaders navigate disruption, build resilience & create sustainable value' — Roger Spitz, Chair Disruptive Futures Institute SAN FRANCISCO, CA, UNITED STATES, March 26, 2025 / / -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Disruptive Futures Institute In its 2025 rankings, Thinkers360 has named Roger Spitz a Top 10 global thought leader in Management, Education, and Venture Capital. A renowned futurist, Spitz shapes the future through his work at the Disruptive Futures Institute, his strategic foresight firm Techistential, and his contributions to the World Economic Forum. Thinkers360's recognition highlights Spitz's global thought leadership across multiple domains: • Top 10: Management, Education, and Venture Capital. • Top 25: Climate Change and National Security. • Top 50: Creativity & Innovation, Emerging Technologies, Leadership, and Risk Management. These distinctions underscore Spitz's rising influence as a top-ranked futurist, driven by bold keynotes, high-profile media appearances, and bestselling publications that resonate across industries. ABOUT THINKERS360 AWARD RANKINGS Thinkers360 is the world's leading marketplace for B2B thought leaders, with a combined social media reach exceeding 100 million. Its annual leaderboard rankings for the Top 100 B2B thought leaders are a respected industry benchmark, using a proprietary algorithm to evaluate the contribution, recognition, quality and quantity of thought leadership content. GLOBAL ACCLAIM FOR ROGER SPITZ Roger Spitz's recognition by Thinkers360 builds on his global impact as a leading futurist, keynote speaker, and author: • Bestselling Books: After reaching #1 in Amazon's New Releases in September 2024, ' Disrupt With Impact ' topped bestseller lists in categories like Systems & Planning, Entrepreneurship, and Artificial Intelligence, across the USA, UK, India, Brazil, Germany, and France. • Award Nominations: With Finalist Awards for the The Harvey Chute Book Awards, Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs), and Foreword Indies Best Book Awards, Spitz's book has been praised by Kirkus as 'well-illustrated and wide-ranging' and earned 4.5/5 from the San Francisco Book Review. BookTrib lauded it as 'pure gold.' • Global Stage: Featured at the Peter Drucker Forum, World Economic Forum, and Nasscom Summit, Spitz is also a top-ranked futurist speaker by agencies like Motivational Speakers Agency and Champions Speakers Agency. For media inquiries: [email protected] END ### _________ ABOUT 'DISRUPT WITH IMPACT' Title: Disrupt With Impact: Achieve Business Success in an Unpredictable World Author: Roger Spitz Citation: Spitz, R. Disrupt With Impact: Achieve Business Success in an Unpredictable World. Kogan Page: London, 2024. ABOUT ROGER SPITZ Roger Spitz, a top-ranked futurist, shapes global discourse through keynotes, media, publications, and his leadership at the Disruptive Futures Institute and Techistential. A World Economic Forum and MIT Technology Review Brasil contributor, he's authored five bestselling books, with frameworks adopted by leading organizations worldwide. Before founding the Disruptive Futures Institute, he served as Global Head of Technology M&A at a major investment bank. Beyond his Thinkers360 top rankings in Management, Innovation, Risk Management, Sustainability, and Venture Capital, Spitz is renowned as a futurist speaker, decoding disruption, unpredictability, and the future of leadership for a complex world. ABOUT THE DISRUPTIVE FUTURES INSTITUTE Based in San Francisco, the Disruptive Futures Institute pioneers futures intelligence, offering strategic foresight, practitioner research, and education to empower you to shape your futures in our unpredictable world: • Futures Intelligence & Capabilities: Helping develop and scale futures skills, foresight capabilities, and anticipatory practices through executive education, workshops, and research based on the Disruptive Futures Institute's methodology. • DFI Nature & Climate Academy: Flagship education center for sustainable futures, focusing on climate foresight, decarbonization strategies, and the energy transition. • Techistential Center for Human & Artificial Intelligence: Research and education on AI's impacts, governance, and ethics, exploring the future of artificial intelligence and decision-making in our technological world. Media Contact X LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Other Legal Disclaimer:
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Thank you - I truly am alive because of them'
It's an unusual birthday present - being reunited with the surgeons who made your life possible. But that's what happened to Holly, 40 years after being separated from her conjoined twin in a life-saving operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Speaking from where she now lives in Texas, Holly told Prof Lewis Spitz and surgeon Edward Kiely, that she was "grateful and thankful". "I truly am alive because of them and I know it was a whole different world 40 years ago, and things were quite new in this realm, but God bless them for having the knowledge and the ability." In March 1985, Jill Reich underwent a Caesarean section when was told the news she had given birth to conjoined twin girls, named Holly and Carly. They were born facing each other and joined from breastbone to navel, and posed a life or death challenge. Prof Spitz recalls he had never separated conjoined twins before, and it was an emergency. "When we started we had ultrasound but no CT, no MRI and so we were going in blind, we just had to do the operation," he says. Just a few days later, on 3 March 1985, Prof Spitz and fellow surgeon Mr Kiely, along with a team of 26 clinicians, carried out a nine-hour operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to separate the twins. Tragically, Carly died of heart complications around six weeks later, but her sister Holly survived. She went on to have 10 more operations in the following months and remained at Great Ormond Street for almost a year. Since that first operation 40 years ago, teams at Great Ormond Street Hospital have cared for 43 sets of conjoined twins - thought to be the most conjoined twins in the world at a single hospital. Mr Kiely adds: "At the time it was new, but it was actually just a major operation and we were doing lots of major operations so I wouldn't say we were overwhelmed, but we were very aware that two babies were at risk. "Looking back, the improvements in anaesthesia and intensive care have made the biggest difference. "When you're a paediatric surgeon, you're dealing with children and hoping they'll have another 70 years to go. "You are trying to maximise their potential and hope you are setting them up to ease their travel through life." Holly has remained in touch with Professor Spitz, including returning to the UK for his retirement party in 2004, but had not seen both men for around 20 years before the recent Zoom call. "I know that my mum felt that Great Ormond Street Hospital and Professor Spitz, Mr Kiely and all the nurses there became family because we were there for the year, and that was really wonderful." She said she is still thankful "that in a small way I helped them learn when they did our separation, so that so many children were able to live". Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Christmas care for children at Great Ormond Street Great Ormond Street reviews 700 children treated by ex-surgeon Great Ormond Street appeals for new cancer centre Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Officials enforce unprecedented ban that could shape the future of the fishing industry: 'Necessary for long-term success'
In January, the French government enforced a month-long commercial fishing ban to reduce accidental dolphin catches in the Bay of Biscay, marking the initiative's second consecutive year. According to Radio France Internationale, France's highest administrative court, the Council of State, issued the ban — which will be in effect through Feb. 20 and impact around 300 fishing vessels. The no-fishing zone spans from western Brittany, France's northwesternmost region, south to the Spanish border. The fishing moratorium proved a great success in 2024, as dolphin bycatch decreased by around 300% during the winter. Between December 2023 and March 2024, dolphin deaths from accidental captures plunged from an average of 6,100 pre-ban to only 1,450, as RFI reported, citing data from the nonprofit Pelagis. "This is effective. The numbers prove it," Jérôme Spitz, co-director of Pelagis, told RFI. Spitz explained that commercial fishermen often capture dolphins inadvertently while the animals are feeding, and the fishing ban was critical in reducing dolphin bycatch. Nearly 5,000 unintentionally captured dolphins have died in the region over the last 10 years, per the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. To further protect dolphins from the impacts of overfishing, France will enforce four-week winter fishing bans for most ships over eight meters (over 26 feet) long through 2026. RFI called the initiative "unprecedented," as it's the largest fishing ban in the Bay of Biscay since World War II. While this is undoubtedly great news for dolphins, fishermen and others in the industry worry about how the ban will impact their livelihoods. The French government will compensate 80% of the fishermen's lost revenue, but many in the fishing community are still taking a big hit to their incomes, as Euronews reported. "Despite the compensation, I had a loss of approximately 20 to 30% of turnover last year," Sebastien Biolchini, a fisherman in Brittany, told the news outlet. Many anglers in the region have installed acoustic devices or reflectors on their boats to prevent dolphins from being entangled in their fishing gear, but they say authorities often overlook these efforts. Spitz suggested equipping all fishing vessels with onboard cameras to gain more insight into what's causing accidental dolphin captures. "A combination of different approaches will be necessary for long-term success," he told RFI. "This example of dolphins in the Bay of Biscay is really at the heart of the difficult compromise between exploitation and protection," Clara Ulrich, deputy head of science at Ifremer, the French Institute for Ocean Research, told Euronews. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
