September 30, 2007 - For over one hundred and fifty years, Markham Fair has been a tradition for York Region residents to get together to discuss the latest farming technology, to show off the fruits of their labour, and to purchase a bull or a chicken or two. 2007 marks the 163rd year that Markham Fair has been held and today, it is the largest agricultural fair in Canada.
My first visit to Markham Fair was in 7th grade, when I went with my social studies class. I don't remember much about my first visit anymore, except I got to meet Miss Markham Fair and I got a pink flag from her. This past Saturday marked my return to the Fair in close to 15 years. Not only did I go back as a visitor, I also went back as an exhibitor, having entered the Fair's photography contest.
I thought I would give the photography contest a shot since B won a couple of ribbons last year. I didn't think I will win anything, given that my photography skills aren't that great - so really, I entered just for fun. My sister went to check out the Fair on Friday and was happy to report that I didn't win anything. So Saturday morning, when I walked into the General Exhibition Building, all I really wanted to do was find my pictures on the wall!
But it just so happened that the first picture of mine that I found had a 3rd place sticker on it! Shocking eh? B of course, won a few more ribbons to add to his collection. Anyway, it was all good fun, and a great way to really force myself to learn how to use my camera properly. Now I have a whole year to prepare for next year's contest!
What's cool about the Fair is that even though Markham is no longer considered rural, it still celebrates its historical roots as a farming community by holding an agricultural fair every year. The exhibits, the contests, and the midways ride may appear cheesy, boring, and ancient, but the Fair creates this sense of community that you don't see elsewhere in town (try getting a sense of community at the Pacific Mall parking lot!). Be it families who take their kids to the Fair or old ladies that volunteer their time as judges, the Fair brings you back to a time when things were simpler and life was less hectic. The future of the Fair however, is up in the air. With its location just a stone-throw away from new subdivisions and big box stores, it's only a matter of time before the Fair is gobbled up by the "new" Markham of large houses, wide streets, and more Chinese malls. Kinda sad if you think about it.
September 13, 2007 - My friend Kanchan and I checked out the Toronto International Film Festival tonight at the gala premier of the movie "Reservation Road", starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Connelly. TIFF has sorta become one of my annual things to do - the first time I went was actually in my first year of grad school, with my friend Erin, at the old Uptown Theatre. This year, because of my own budget issues, I decided to just go to one movie and invited Kanchan to join me!
So we arrived at Roy Thompson Hall about 20 minutes before the movie was to start. Our line was actually right beside the red carpet/arrival area and after a few minutes, we saw these big SUVs pulled up and out came the stars! The crowd cheered, cameras started flashing, and all 3 stars took some time to sign autographs and take pictures. It was very "Hollywood" that's for sure - I half expected to see Paris or Joan Rivers show up.
Anyway, we didn't get a chance to get close to the stars until we were inside the theatre. Kanchan and I decided to hang out at the lobby and we managed to get close enough to both Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo to get them to sign our tickets! We had to fight with a whole bunch of people for that (well Kanchan did, I only snapped the pictures) but it was still a very cool experience! Can't say I have ever done it (despite having gone to the TIFF for the past couple of years now).
As for the movie itself, it was a little bit below our expectation - we weren't sure if it was trying to be a tearjerker or a revenge triller. Reservation Road tells the story of a hit and run accident that claims the life of a 10 year old boy and the consequences and coincidences as a result of it. The acting was good - but not gripping good. Neither Kanchan nor myself cried, so that says it all! Then again, we were also sitting very high up - so that could've been another reason why we didn't feel the emotional impact of the movie.
Anyway, Kanchan and I both had fun - until I got sick from sushi after dinner (all I can say is, thank goodness for that surprisingly clean bathroom at the Yonge/Bloor Timmy's!). Looks like I won't be eating sushi for awhile =S
September 12, 2007 - After weeks of surveying riders on how to deal with its $30 million budget cut, the TTC announced today that a fare hike will occur this November. Tickets and tokens will go up by another 15 cents ($22.5 for 10 tokens) while the very popular Metropass will indeed cross the $100 psychological barrier to $109. Staff had originally recommended the price to go up to $111 - but TTC Chair (and my favourite councillor) Adam Giambrone resisted. Cash fare however, will remain at $2.75/ride.
The increase means that the 37 money-losing bus routes (including the 103 Mt. Pleasant North bus that runs by my apartment and the 224 Victoria Park North bus that goes to my parents house) will not be cut - for now. The TTC also voted to implement its service improvement plans (originally scheduled for September) next February. This would put more than 100 new buses on crowded routes.
Personally, if I have to choose between service cuts and increased fares, I would pick increased fares as well. Sure, it's a lose-lose situation - but reducing bus service would not only be a step backward in trying to promote a transit culture in our city, but it would also erase any progress the TTC has made in recent years to increase ridership. I'm sure there will be people who refuse to pay an additional 15 cents per token and jump back into their cars, but it's still a whole better than shutting down the Shepperd subway or cutting bus routes that serve low-income neighbourhoods. The latter will end up hurting people even more and create even more congestion.
Having said that, people would be more willing to put up with fare hikes if service improves. Glad to hear that the service improvement plans will be implemented next year - but that still means 6 more months of being stuck in overcrowded buses. Service improvements should also expand to include better customer service - for an agency that has an annual ridership of over 450 million, I still cannot understand how they can be so inward looking. Heck, I think people would be willing to pay an additional 10 cents just to provide customer service and sensitivity training to some of its employees!
September 10, 2007 - So a good friend of mine at work told me today he's leaving the branch to take on a new job with the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority (aka the place that every up and coming transit planner wants to work at)! Anyway, I'm thrilled for him - a little surprised given how we've talked about working there before. A part of me couldn't help but envy him as well though. It also got me thinking: am I satisfied with my job? am I happy with the way things are? are there things that I could do to better improve myself?
All this thinking made me realized how despite my two degrees, I still don't really have enough skills out there to make myself truly marketable. Sure, I can write policy documents, do research, and make slidedeck presentations - but I can barely read blueprints, can't do any of the AutoCAD/3D imagining stuff, and my GIS skills are slowly slipping away. In other words, I think I'm slowly falling into that policy niche and I'm not sure if it's what I want to do for the next 30 years of my life.
So, I'm thinking - maybe I need to do something about it. What can I do to make myself more marketable? Could this mean more school? and if so, would I go back and do yet another Master degree? or should I try my luck and aim for a PhD (and spend 6 years part time doing it?!), or should I just go for CE courses in GIS or CAD and try my luck there?
Hmm. I think I'm just getting restless, or maybe, after working full time for more than 2 years, I still miss school - a lot.
September 30, 2007 - For over one hundred and fifty years, Markham Fair has been a tradition for York Region residents to get together to discuss the latest farming technology, to show off the fruits of their labour, and to purchase a bull or a chicken or two. 2007 marks the 163rd year that Markham Fair has been held and today, it is the largest agricultural fair in Canada.
I thought I would give the photography contest a shot since B won a couple of ribbons last year. I didn't think I will win anything, given that my photography skills aren't that great - so really, I entered just for fun. My sister went to check out the Fair on Friday and was happy to report that I didn't win anything. So Saturday morning, when I walked into the General Exhibition Building, all I really wanted to do was find my pictures on the wall!
