Design. Charity. Life.

After buying The Book of (Holiday) Awesome by Neil Pasricha, I skimmed through the pages of awesome holiday things during Christmas Eve. Realizing how many of the awesome things were familiar, I decided to record which ones were happening right before my eyes on December 24.

As the book description says, there’s nothing like holidays. Pasricha is here to remind us that “not only are the holidays great but there’s actually even more to celebrate than we realize”. He’s definitely right. The small things that happen every year at Christmas time – some of them hilarious, some of them annoying – may go unnoticed but are what actually make-up the holiday experience itself.

Here are the ones I took photos of, including their corresponding page in the book. (Note: None of these are staged, they were all photographed as they happened).

For more on the Book of Awesome series and blog, click here.

Wilfrid Laurier University in Watelroo, Ontario, which is a great school (Campus Club of the Year: ACCESS U) has announced a new visual identity. They are updating their logo and materials to include 3 new colours and leaves.

Why a leaf? Laurier’s communications department explains that “at the heart of it this national symbol honours our namesake, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, seventh Prime Minister of Canada. That alone is a unique claim among Canadian universities.” This makes sense, but is extremely generic – clearly, other schools in Canada could simply include a leaf.

However, Laurier tells you to “Look closely” because “LAURIER’S Maple Leaf is a microcosm of connectivity and support”. Not horrible, but not too convincing or indicative of Laurier’s unique culture specifically.

Laurier's Logos: Before (Top) and After (Bottom)

Some of the materials, based on the design concepts posted on their website, do have an appealing look. WIth updated sans-serif typography they are very clean and bright. For example, this full-page newspaper ad.

Comparing it to the existing logo is not very amazing, however the clean look of the new typeface is refreshing, despite it being a “traditional” school rooted in a long history.

To clarify, the circular logo is still remaining – there were some subtle refinements. This is a new Laurier mark, which “combines an updated LAURIER wordmark, a maple leaf in three different color options, and the tagline ‘Inspiring Lives’,” according to the communications department.

It is too subtle of a change, in my opinion. Is it worth it to undergo an entire rebranding process and re-printing of all materials for this?

The new logo should look more like this.

The “Laurier 100″ branding is more effective, engaging and I would definitely say more unique. That logo will no longer be featured after the 100-year anniversary ends this year, of course.

A video has been created to explain the new leafy look. It may not get you very excited about it, though.

The refreshed identity will begin being implemented in January 2012. Although it is definitely not a “controversial” or drastic identity change (as other schools have gone through), I wonder if there will be any criticism or comments that change it before January. There were already a couple of negative comments on the Laurier Facebook page.

PRESTO Card & GO Transit Student Process

Recently, GO Transit has started accepting the PRESTO Card pre-paid payment system on their busses, in addition to trains. The TTC also accepts the card at several stations and I would highly recommend it if you do not need or have a Monthly Pass for these transit systems.

Although the process to acquire one as a student is inefficient (which it was for me), it is a great convenience not having to constantly be searching for change for the TTC and handing out $10 bills boarding GO Transit paying Adult Fare.

If you are considering this yourself, here is the process I have experienced so far over the last few days, with a few more days to go.

Completed:

1. Bought a 10 Ride Pass (because they needed a number from it) at the non-student price
2. Bought PRESTO Card for $6
3. GO Ticket Agent put value of 10 Ride Pass onto my PRESTO Card
4. Used PRESTO Card on TTC (great only costs $2.50) and GO Bus (paid non-student price though)
5. Went to OCAD University Office of the Registrar, picked up GO Transit Student Form
6. Brought Student Form to GO Transit table at Union Station, got a GO Student Card made
7. Go online to register my PRESTO Card
   Remaining Steps to Complete:
8. Wait 24-48 hours, as instructed; continue to pay non-student prices
9. Bring PRESTO Card to Union Station, have them set it to charge only the student fare
10. Use PRESTO Card on GO Transit and TTC where accepted, paying the student price and nothing extra
11. Go to GO Transit and/or PRESTO Customer Service to ask them to refund the cost of the PRESTO Card and difference of the 10 Ride Pass they sold me (student price vs. full price).

Yes, that’s a total of over 10 steps. I know everything will turn out well.

Sometimes, I guess that things that are deigned to make your life easier, make it harder first.

Now that we’re moving more and more to digital, we’re taking more and more photos. With 500 or 1000 photos on a 2-week trip, instead of 4-5 “rolls” of film, it’s reasonable to wonder if these photos are less significant for the most part.

But there will always be those key moments, of key places, that really have meaning. Some old family photos represent much more than what you can see inside – including years and years of memories.

What about re-creating old photos? Or going back to the site that a very old photo was taken at? A blog called DearPhotograph.com presents a window to the past by posting user-submitted photos of someone holding an original photo in front of the live scene today. Some of them are entertaining, most allow you to take a look back in time and just ponder, others are emotional (based on their captions, such as someone missing a loved-one that once stood in that place, for example).

A news article said that the photos “drag you across time and into the present, an unexpectedly fascinating way to sense time and space and the human connections that give them meaning.”

Here are a few selections from DearPhotograph.com, with their captions below:

"Grandpa loved the outdoors. But he loved us more." – Pam Dusbabek

"There’s no place like home." – Elizabeth

"They built this house with their bare hands." – Malwa

"40 years later, I still love to play in the leaves." – BT

A Version of this article is Published on the Toronto Star Global Voices at TheStar.com

The word ’slavery’ is most often heard in history classes these days, rather than in common conversation. However, nearly 150 years after slavery was “abolished”, there are over 27 million slaves around the world today!

On September 22, 1862 President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in rebel states be free as of January 1, 1863.

Back in January, I attended the Alliance Against Modern Slavery’s Inaugural Conference at York University. The event brought together international experts, government officials, law enforcement personnel, survivors of slavery and students to discuss Slavery in the 21st Century. The conference featured presentations by MP Joy Smith; Kevin Bales, Founder of Free the Slaves; 
Jamie McIntosh, Executive Director of International Justice Mission Canada;
 
Marty Van Doren, RCMP Ontario Human Trafficking Coordinator; and
Glendene Grant, the mother of a sex trafficking victim; amongst many others.

There, Adam Churchman of Canada Fights Human Trafficking, clearly expressed, “slavery is not a thing of the past – that is a myth”.

“The idea of taking someone’s rights and treating them as animals is the greatest injustice,” Churchman stated. Slavery is unacceptable for a ton of reasons. But the conference was positive, as Churchman shared, “an event like this is a breeding ground for unity and that we can take some action on issues like this.”

If it is understood that slavery and human trafficking are horrendously wrong (and of course illegal) why is it still an issue around the world and even in Canada? One of the concerns is with enforcement – the authorities are not encouraging slavery, but there are other issues they choose to tend to. Prostitution in North America is heavily controlled by young male gangsters, and experts feel that this should be a priority for law enforcement, even more importantly than drug enforcement.

Human trafficking impacts families in a deep way. Currently there are many thousands of girls missing around the world. How can the problem be stopped – and what propels it? Due to poverty, families in some countries live an entire life of slavery simply because they owe a small debt, for example simply $20 CAN that their grandparents owed decades ago.

It seems poverty can unfortunately lead to harmful acts and propels the global slave and sex trade. There are ways to provide alternate employment – better options than their current unacceptable situations – even through purchases made locally in Canada. “Chocolate is becoming an expression of hope,” said Michael Sacco, PhD of ChocoSol. Fair Trade Certified products are a huge step forward in ending slavery, because workers and farmers who produce the products are paid and treated fairly.

The good news is, with conferences like this people – including youth – are being inspired to take action. Sali El-Sadig, currently studying at University of Toronto, said that raising awareness is a huge factor in eradicating modern day slavery. She is an executive on the Alliance Against Modern Slavery and shares, “Because of globalization and overpopulation, if we don’t act the issue of modern slavery will only get worse. That’s why now is the time to start getting involved – politically, legally and socially.”

Read the Published version of this article on TheStar.com