Billboard's #1 song of 2016

"Love Yourself" by Justin Bieber

RIP George Michael

This is my favourite George Michael song. "Faith" brings back fond memories of my teen years.

RIP Dave Broadfoot

I met him once when he performed with the Air Farce crew. May he continue making people laugh in the life to come.

RIP Bobby Vee

My mom used to have some of his music back in the '60s. He had a good voice and sound. Rest in peace, Mr. Vee.

RIP Mauril Belanger

Belanger was a Liberal MP representing the Ottawa-Vanier riding.

Happy 90th Birthday to Tony Bennett!

There is more to Maayan Ziv than AccessNow (Enables Me story)

http://enables.me/maayan-ziv-accessnow/

People who have learned about Maayan Ziv through her recent TV appearances or through her online app AccessNow know she dreams of a world without physical barriers. But there is so much more to her than that.

Born with muscular dystrophy, Ziv grew up in Richmond Hill, Ontario. She credits her years spent at the prestigious Waldorf School for nurturing her creativity. During this period, she got into acting and even writing short plays. Ziv applied to Ryerson University’s Theatre Arts program, despite the fact that its building was inaccessible.

In 2013, she accepted the opportunity to act and collaborate on a production with Toronto’sSoulpepper Theatre, called Borne. “It was a good experience, and even though I’m not acting in anything right now, it’s still a part of who I am,” she says.

“Photography is my first love,” she says. According to one of her blog entries, her love of photography was established in 2006 while in New York City. Her wheelchair got damaged on the flight to New York. “I wasn’t able to make it to all the places I had planned but instead found myself spending the rest of my trip observing people, taking in the streets of New York… and taking pictures.”

She taught herself photography at age 16. Her portfolio includes everyday people, fashion models, and even celebrities (e.g. Edward Norton, Keri Russel and David Onley, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario).

Beginning of AccessNow

In 2014, Ziv was accepted into Ryerson’s new Digital Media program. It was during her year as a student that she came up with the idea of AccessNow, an app highlighting barrier-free places. I told her about other apps focusing on accessibility similar to her AccessNow. (I sent her my story on the Wheelmapapp prior to the interview.)

“(Creating AccessNow) wasn’t scary for me,” Ziv says, adding that it didn’t discourage her from wanting to make her own app. “There are many different apps now. When I started there were three or four prominent ones, and within a year of AccessNow’s existence, they’ve been popping up everywhere.”

AccessNow was launched in August 2015. Ziv says a mobile version of the AccessNow app is in the works. “People have been asking for it since day one! It will be launching this summer. I’m super-excited about that because it will allow people to pin and share experiences or review a place from wherever you are at any time.”

Prior to taking Digital Media, she completed a Radio and Television Arts degree at Ryerson. She has presently struck up a relationship with CBC. She hosted and produced a radio special for them (Shifting Space), and occasionally writes for their website. “I’m interested in telling stories about access, and bringing forth the perspectives of people with disabilities in the mainstream,” she says.

So what enables Maayan Ziv?

“What enables me are levels of understanding, where people understand that everything is possible. I’ve believed that, and having a community of people who believe that enables me to go out and do whatever I want.”

A week after I interviewed her, she was honoured with David Onley’s Youth Leadership Award for Accessibility, at a ceremony held at Queen’s Park. She was also honoured with the UJA (United Jewish Association) Federation’s Inclusion Award of Excellence.

Maayan Ziv and her portfolio can be found online at www.maayanziv.com. AccessNow’s website is accessnow.me.

RIP Muhammad Ali

I will soon post a longer blog that will include my personal memories of the champ.

RIP Gordie Howe

RIP Morley Safer

RIP Samuel Gibson

RIP Prince

http://enables.me/enables-live-donald-barrie-learned-enables/

Enables Me Live! – Donald Barrie – What I Learned Through Enables Me

by Terrence  0Posted in People 

Donald Barrie is a published writer, blogger and editor, web designer, Diamond Jubilee Medalist and aspiring podcaster/voiceover guy. His personal interests include faith, movies, music, reading, writing, chocolate, a good laugh and socializing.

Enjoy the moment, well that’s self explanatory, enjoy the present time you’re in

Donald has spent the past two years with Enables Me and has had the opportunity to interview amazing people from para-athletes at the 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games, such as Priscilla Gagne, Canadian musicians, such as Justin Hines, and advocates such asTim Rose and picked up a variety of life lessons from them.

The definition of the word the enable, is by being a part of Enables Me, I learned a new definition healthier more positive definition

He takes great pride on the research that’s required in preparation for the interview and development of the story.

In this Enables Me Live! talk, Donald shares his experience as a reporter for Enables Me and what he has learned from the interviews he’s conducted.

RIP Mother Angelica

RIP Garry Shandling

RIP Rob Ford

Today I remember former Toronto mayor Rob Ford. He served as mayor from 2010 to 2014. Earlier this morning he lost his battle with cancer. I met him once back in 2013, and he was friendly to me. No bad stories here. His long season of suffering has ended. He made a difference in my city, and he will be missed.

RIP Maurice White, founder of Earth, Wind & Fire

RIP Glenn Frey of the Eagles

Rest in peace, Starman (David Bowie)

Terry Fox exhibit at the Canadian Museum of History

There is an exhibit going on now commemorating Terry Fox and the 35th anniversary of his Marathon of Hope. The exhibit, titled Terry Fox: Running to the Heart of Canada, opened at the Canadian Museum of History (formerly the Canadian Museum of Civilization) in Gatineau, Quebec (immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario) on April 2, 2015.

Terry Fox (1958-1981) started his walk across Canada because he wanted to raise money for and awareness of cancer research. His Marathon of Hope began after he lost his right leg to cancer in 1979. The Terry Fox Centre in British Columbia has preserved many of the items from the Marathon of Hope, which Fox ran from April 12 to September 1, 1980, when his cancer returned to claim his life.

Fox’s Marathon of Hope lasted 143 days and 5,373 kilometres. It began in Newfoundland and ended in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Since Fox’s death, the Terry Fox Run has become an international event held every September.

I visited the exhibit in June, and I recommend it. The exhibit retraces the story of Fox’s marathon and how it continues to motivate and inspire people to contribute to the fight against cancer. I liked seeing all the artifacts on display, including his artificial leg. My favourites were the van his friend drove alongside Fox during the Marathon of Hope, and the Order of Canada that Fox received in late 1980.
Terry Fox: Running Through the Heart of Canada continues until January 3, 2016. You can order tickets online at http://www.historymuseum.ca/, or call 1-800-555-5621. TTY customers can call 1-819-776-7003.