Friday, June 1, 2018
Save $11 (excludes theatre performances)
The Rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Knowledge Economy, and Adult Education
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Jesse Hirsh
LIB 072 Lecture Theatre, Library Building, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street
$17 online and $20 at the door
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) will have a dramatic impact on the workforce, directly when it comes to automation, and indirectly via increased human longevity. The rise of the knowledge economy is similar to the rise of AI; the kinds of jobs in the marketplace that provide the greatest compensation, and the highest quality of life driven by advanced levels of knowledge. The solutions to these challenges are to be found in creating more “on-ramps” for adults to go back to school and embrace learning again. Fundamentally, what we need is a new learning culture that recognizes education as the engine of the economy, and imbues in students, young and old, the joy of learning, and the desire to practice that joy each and every day.
Jesse Hirsh is a futurist speaker, researcher, and internet strategist. He owns and operates Metaviews Media Management Ltd., which focuses on research and consulting around new media business models. Jesse is also a co-founder of the Academy of the Impossible, a peer-to-peer lifelong learning facility. For two years, he was the host of an interfaith show on the Rogers and OMNI networks called 3D Dialogue, and he has a weekly spot on CBC Newsworld. Jesse was educated at the University of Toronto’s McLuhan Program, and he recently completed a Master’s degree in Algorithms and Predictive Analytics at Ryerson University.
Gould Street Anniversary Party
12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Gould Street (between Victoria and Bond Street)
FREE EVENT (no registration required)
All members of the Ryerson community (students, alumni, staff, and faculty) are invited to this free BBQ on Gould Street. There will be music, pop-up entertainment, and lots of great photo opportunities to mark the special occasion.
Aging with Confidence
1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
Dr. Samir Sinha
Panelists: Michael Nicin, Sue Lantz, Andrea Austen, and Nancy Lew
LIB 072 Lecture Theatre, Library Building, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street
$17 online and $20 at the door
Dr. Samir Sinha brings together a panel of advocates and leaders to provide valuable dialogue and actionable insight into current and emerging trends towards supporting aging with confidence. The panel will discuss hot topic issues, such as building inclusive age-friendly communities, making the health care system more elder and caregiver friendly, acknowledging how issues of poverty and disability impact aging today, and advocacy opportunities for older adults. The panel will further discuss how to promote programs that benefit a queer approach to aging and aged care practice.
Dr. Samir Sinha currently serves as the Director of Geriatrics at the Sinai Health System and the University Health Network in Toronto, as well as the Peter and Shelagh Godsoe Chair in Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital. He is also an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine, Family and Community Medicine, the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Sinha’s breadth of international training, expertise in health policy, and the delivery of services related to the care of the elderly have made him a highly regarded expert in the care of older adults. In 2012, he was appointed by the Government of Ontario to serve as the expert lead of Ontario’s Seniors Strategy. He is now working on the development of a National Seniors Strategy. In 2014, Canada’s Maclean’s Magazine proclaimed him to be one of Canada’s 50 most influential people and the most compelling voice for the elderly.
Michael Nicin is the Executive Director of the National Institute on Ageing; a think tank at Ryerson University, focusing exclusively on social, health, and financial issues concerning Canada’s aging population. Previously, Michael was Acting Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor to the Ontario Minister of Seniors Affairs. He has also served as the Director of Policy and Strategic Planning for CARP; an advocacy organization for older Canadians with 300,000 members across Canada.
Sue Lantz is the Managing Director of Collaborative Aging; a consulting practice working to develop a wider range of aging in place solutions. Sue is an aging and change expert. Her policy and design work involves developing more empowering models of supports for informal caregivers, creative models of housing, and cluster or neighbourhood-based models of organizing home and community care services. Sue built her skills and expertise within the public and private sector of healthcare delivery, having worked as a Change Consultant for The Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centres, Program Director of Community Living (Rehabilitation Services), at a West Park Hospital in Toronto, Senior Policy Advisor within the Provincial Government, and Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Sue served as the first Executive Director of Cheshire Homes Foundation in Ontario.
Andrea Austen is the Project Lead for the Toronto Seniors Strategy and manages the city’s relationships with the five GTA Local Health Integration Networks. Andrea has a deep understanding of the needs of seniors across the health, social service, community, and municipal service systems. –Andrea has been responsible for a range of initiatives that address the needs of vulnerable Torontonians including the city’s Service System Approach to Vulnerability, the city’s Approach to Bed Bug Control and the SPIDER program. Andrea holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy from York University.
Nancy Lew is currently the Administrator at Fudger House, a long-term care home operated by the City of Toronto. She has been employed with the City of Toronto for 30 years and has worked in a number of the long-term care homes with the city. She has also worked as an Assistant Administrator and Manager of Nutrition Services in these homes. Nancy holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Nutrition from The University of Guelph. She completed her Dietetic internship at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg. Nancy also completed her Certificate in Long-Term Care Administration from Ryerson University.
A Desire to Be Free: Screening of Eleftheromania
4:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Adam Nayman
David Antoniuk (Director), Joanna Tsanis (Writer/Producer), Chuck Scott (Producer), and Gregory C. Pappas (Producer).
LIB 072 Lecture Theatre, Library Building, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street
$17 online and $20 at the door
Eleftheromania follows Auschwitz survivor Piroska (portrayed by Academy Award Winner Olympia Dukakis) as she recites a true story about a group of Greek-Jewish prisoners confronting a moral dilemma. Eleftheromania premiered at the Toronto Shorts International Film Festival on March 2, 2018 where it won the award for ‘Best Drama’.
Enjoy a screening of the film, a panel discussion with the filmmakers, moderated by Adam Nayman (Globe & Mail Film Critic), and a meet and greet with the cast.
Adam Nayman has an MA in Cinema Studies from the University of Toronto and writes about film regularly for The Globe and Mail. He is a contributing editor for Cinema Scope and POV. He reviews regularly for Sight and Sound, Little White Lies, and Reverse Shot. He has been published in The Walrus, The Village Voice, Elle Canada, Film Comment, and Cineaste. He has programmed films (and hosted) for TIFF’s Reel Talk series and The Toronto Jewish Film Society. Adam lectures on films for the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, The University of Toronto, and Ryerson University.
David Antoniuk is an award-winning film director with a long and storied career in film and television. He has directed episodes for Canadian TV Series The Ron James Show, The Next Step, and the web series The Whole Truths. David’s short film The Strange and Eerie Memoirs of Billy Wuthergloom won the Award of Excellence at the Canadian International Festival and the Best Shorts Film Competition; it is now being adapted into a feature film. His latest film, Eleftheromania, featuring Academy Award Winner, Olympia Dukakis, shines a light on a little known true story of Greek-Jewish prisoners at Auschwitz in 1944.
Joanna Tsanis is a writer and award-winning film producer living in Toronto, Canada. She recently wrote and produced Eleftheromania, a WWII-era short film starring Academy Award Winner, Olympia Dukakis. Formerly a comic book critic for the Toronto Standard, Joanna has a varied history with storytelling. She has been a speechwriter, a research writer, and a producer of numerous branded videos, both animated and live-action. When she’s not writing and researching, Joanna manages The Chang School (CS) Film Hub, an initiative she developed for Ryerson University that funds and supports student filmmakers’ short documentary projects.
Chuck Scott is an award-winning film producer and director with over 270 documentary and factual television programs successfully completed. His production company has partnered with many producers around the world and shot in over 50 countries. His programs have aired on many major broadcasters such as BBC, Five, NHK, CBC, CTV, Global, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, PBS, Science Channel, and Discovery Health. Chuck has also produced and/or directed hundreds of commercials, music videos, corporate videos, three feature films, children’s shows, and a daytime talk show. Chuck is a graduate of Staffordshire University in the UK where he obtained his Master of Art in Film Studies with merit.
Gregory C. Pappas is a film producer and founder of a charitable organization called The Greek America Foundation. Greg has produced a number of feature-length documentary films including Hello Anatolia, Palikari: Louis Tikas, and the Ludlow Massacre. He has been the executive producer for several short films, notably Alethea Avramis’ The Foreigner which was nominated for a student Emmy Award, and Alex Thompson’s Irene and Marie starring Olympia Dukakis. He was on the production team for the television show The Kindness Diaries (now on Netflix) hosted by Leon Logothetis, who traveled around the world relying solely on the kindness of strangers.
Theatre of Our Times
7:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Aki Studios, Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street East
$18 online and $20 at the door
Theatre of Our Times showcases three short works about the way we navigate life’s challenges and absurdities written, performed, and directed by the Estelle Craig Act II STUDIO. In Aurora, by Dvora Levinson, you’ll witness the unfolding of an unanticipated journey of self-discovery of two older women – strangers who meet following the loss of their husbands. We bring back Stan Channing’s 2003 popular absurd comedy, Will She Push the Button?!, with added music and lyrics. As a special treat, enjoy the rarely seen and absorbing world of masked characters, as they pursue their lives and loves in a 21st Century Masquerade.
Friday night’s performance includes a special wine and cheese intermission, sponsored by the Stella Award and catered by Show Love Café.
