The next Toronto Police chief needs to be adept in dealing with the city’s vulnerable communities, one of the speakers at Wednesday’s public consultations told the Toronto Police Services Board. “We need a chief who understands how communities feel when they are being policed,” said York University law Professor Margaret Beare in the Toronto Sun Oct. 29. “We need a chief who brings a different tone to the force.” Read full story.
Solving homelessness would cost you $46
If each Canadian contributed $46 more per year, it would significantly improve the amount of affordable housing available in the country, reported the Winnipeg Sun and others Oct. 29…. “We began this year’s report with the question: How much housing would it take to end homelessness?” York University Professor Stephen Gaetz said of the State of Homelessness in Canada report released Wednesday. “We’ve shown that creating enough housing is achievable and affordable with relatively small, but precisely targeted investments.” Read full story.
‘Deep reading’ makes us smarter, nicer
If you’re an avid reader, you’re in good company. Recent research shows that literature makes you smarter and nicer, reported AmericanTowns.com Oct. 29…. The study is the work of two Canadians: Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University and Keith Oatley, professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto. Their studies published in 2006 and 2009 show that people who often read fiction in particular appear to be better able to understand others and view the world from another’s perspective. Read full story.
Man posing as anti-Muslim bigot sparks spirited response from Hamiltonians
York University student Omar Al-Bach, who bills himself as a YouTuber and activist on his Facebook page, set out to test whether the recent murders of two Canadian soldiers – one a Hamilton native – had changed Canadians’ perceptions of Islam. His answer was a resounding no, reported CityNews Toronto and others Oct. 29…. Al-Bach’s video was posted Monday and has more than 400,000 views on YouTube. Read full story.
How the Jian Ghomeshi scandal marks the end of shame
The culture of fear around reporting sexual assault – rape culture, as some call it –makes it impossible for Ghomeshi to defend himself against the allegations in court. It may, however, give him an advantage in his case against the CBC. “The fact that the women have not filed criminal charges helps Mr. Ghomeshi’s case [against the CBC],” said York University Professor David J. Doorey in Maclean’s Oct. 29. “It’s much easier for an employer to explain to an arbitrator why it was necessary to fire an employee who has been convicted of a violent sex crime. The potential harm to the employer’s reputation and business interests is more obvious in that case.” Read full story.
How the Jian Ghomeshi controversy will cost both sides big bucks
Mr. Ghomeshi has a lot more to lose than the CBC, said York University marketing Professor Alan Middleton in the Financial Post Oct. 29. “The damage to Ghomeshi’s brand is higher in potential,” he said. “The main financial downside may be to Jian.” For one thing, he’s lost his job, which was almost certainly very lucrative. According to documents released by the CBC in September ahead of a Senate hearing, the broadcaster’s four highest-paid on-air employees made an average of about $490,000 last year. Read full story.