Gardian – On the first anniversary of the death of Chris Gardian, 39, people gathered at Queen and Bathurst Streets claiming that public silence enables police violence. According to the group Chris Gardian was beaten to death by police. He died on February 2, 2011.

Writing – A man writes in a cafe in Toronto. January 30, 2012.

Budget – Last night protesters gathered at City Hall in Toronto to demonstrate against a controversial new 2012 budget that was eventually passed. Some of the planned cutbacks were defeated but apparently the cutbacks being protested were passed. There were arrests made and the group eventually moved to 52 Division Toronto Police Services demanding those arrested be released. (top) A man yells and points to a line of police officers blocking the entrance to City Hall. middle) A cracked screen on a device recording a banner against Rob Ford waved in front of 52 Division. (bottom) A protester perched on top of a display case near the entrance to City Hall. January 17, 2012.

A child in a a stroller with a clear cover out in the rain on Dundas St. W. January 12, 2012.

  Shutters – Snapped a few images this morning in and around Kensington Market before some of the storefronts opened up getting the graffiti backgrounds on the rolling shutters. January 9, 2012.

   Sunday – all found while walking along Dundas St. W, Queen St W, Dufferin St and back on Dundas St. W. January 8, 2012.

Zamkniete – Granowska’s bakery, a Polish bakery on Roncesvalles Avenue closed its doors after being in business for 39 years. Among other baked goods it had the best Paczki (Polish donuts) in the city. January 7, 2012.

Zamkniete means closed in Polish.

          G20 sidelines – Something that I have been thinking about for a while…here is an edit a year and a half since the G20 in Toronto.

Photographs were all taken between June 25 and June 27, 2010. The images of people and places on the ‘sidelines’ (literally at or beyond the physical edges of public areas such as streets and sidewalks) are from around the city before, during, and after the ‘action’ (protests, arrests, gatherings, and acts of vandalism) that took place during those unforgettable few days.

Zoe – On the afternoon of the first day of 2012 Leah Wichmann gave birth to her first child, fathered by Andy Tiriwangasi. Here we have Zoe Rudo Tiriwangasi. (Top) Zoe sleeping in arms. (Middle) Zoe held by Amanda Ruppert. (Bottom) Zoe’s cap being readjusted by her mother Leah.

Photos were taken approximately 5 hours after birth at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.

Walmart – A woman walks along the wall of a Walmart on New Year’s Eve. December 31, 2011.

Happy break from shopping for a day or 2.

  Daily Bread – The Grid – These photos were taken at the Daily Bread Food Bank on December 9, 2011 for The Grid. The photos are of groups of volunteers from 2 different businesses sorting food. (top and bottom) Employees of Rogers pack powdered milk into smaller portions. (middle, appeared in The Grid Dec. 15-Dec. 21) Employees from local tech start-up JUICE Mobile pack milk into boxes.

 Chinatown – Toronto, Canada. December 12, 2011.

Untitled – Queen Street W. December 5, 2011. Toronto, Canada.

Irene Powell 1912 – 2011 – On December 9, 2011 Irene Powell who in September turned 99 passed away peacefully at home in Clinton, Missouri.

This is a photograph that I took while working on a photo essay on Irene is of her holding a photo of her 3 sons, from left to right Jerry, Douglas and Rex.

To view more photos of Irene from this fall please click here: MPW63 – Laughing as the Curtain Falls.

I will be driving to Clinton later this week for the funeral and celebration of a wonderful person.

Groceries – Spadina Avenue in Chinatown. Toronto, Canada, December 12, 2011.

  Tanked – On my way home this evening I biked right into this scene and watched it unfold, must have been a minute or 2 after the accident. (top) The driver of a Mercedes Benz involved in an accident on Queen St. W near Lansdowne Ave. is given a breathalyzer test. (middle) Firefighters work on the Mercedes, the front end of which sits crushed against a lamp post. (bottom) The driver is arrested, presumably for driving under the influence. Approximately 6:00 PM on December 5, 2011.

Don’t drink and drive.

Couple – A man and a woman walk along Bathurst Street south of Bloor Street. November 20, 2011. 

 (top) Two men talking next to a storefront on Queen St. W. (bottom) A man crouches in front of a toddler in a stroller on Augusta Avenue. Toronto, November 26, 2011.

        Street – Photographs taken on a Saturday afternoon between Queen St. W, Spadina Avenue, Dundas St. W and College St. Toronto, November 26, 2011.

City of Toronto workers dispose of a piece of painted plywood belonging to the Occupy Toronto group at St. James Park. November 23, 2011.  A woman stands looking next to the infamous Yurt donated to the Occupy Toronto movement, one of the last structures standing during the eviction at St. James Park.  Members of the Toronto Police Service stands surrounding the Gazebo in St. James Park where a group of Occupy Toronto protesters remained late into the eviction.   A woman holds another woman as she yells in reaction to the arrest of a protester at St. James Park during the eviction of Occupy Toronto.  A woman arrested during the eviction stands surrounded by members of the Toronto Police Services.  

The Occupy Toronto Movement started October 15, 2011 in the Financial District and quickly moved to St. James Park where it became an encampment of protesters until a court ordered eviction was enforced on November 23rd. Several protesters who barricaded themselves in the Yurt Library were arrested late in the afternoon as some protesters yelled and swore at the Police. Although the size and scope of this event is incomparable to the events surrounding the G20 Summit in 2010, it seems the Toronto Police Service took some hard lessons from then and applied them yesterday. The TPS conducted themselves in a calm and very professional manner even in the face of some very provocative individuals. Many Torontonians remember some of the brutal reactions to such protesters by police during the G20. Although there seemed to be a slight over abundance of police it was comforting to see none of the inappropriate responses by them. Although the movement was dismantled, I think partly because of its lack of cohesiveness and a clear and strong message that the general public could readily identify with, I’m sure it will be back in one form or another.