Hollywood strikes may put spotlight on local talent at TIFF: filmmakers, programmers

Actors' strike may put TIFF spotlight on Canadians

TORONTO - Canadian filmmakers and programmers say homegrown talent could draw more attention at this year's Toronto International Film Festival as Hollywood strikes disrupt the industry.TIFF brass celebrated the Canadian lineup Thursday at an event in Toronto, where CEO Cameron Bailey acknowledged facing "unique challenges" planning the festival as U.S. labour action continues.Kelly Boutsalis, an associate programmer who focuses on Canadian feature films, said that although she loves a buzzy red carpet, there may be more media and audience spotlight on Canadians this year since the strikes prevent many U.S. actors from doing publicity for their projects.“I love the buzzy films as much as anyone else. I love the red carpet. But I always thought that we should be celebrating our talent more than we have previously,” said Boutsalis after a press event at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.“We have so much content that we should be celebrating and I think we can find the silver lining in what’s going on with the (Screen Actors Guild) and strike, even if we fully support them."

Boutsalis, who is also a writer and journalist based in Toronto, added that she wishes more Canadian films had the same level of appreciation that films from the United States get.

“We have this space and this platform to be able to give them a boost and the awareness that a lot of talent should be having anyway."Former film critic and lead programmer for Canada Norm Wilner said that while celebrities will still be in attendance, the actors' strike may serve as a reminder that TIFF is an international festival with Canadian and global talents who deserve as much celebration.“If people are worried about not having enough shiny people to cover, look to your right and left and you’ll find an international or Canadian film more deserving of your attention,” said Wilner. “There are lots of shiny people but perhaps you haven’t met them.”Wilner pointed to the vampire dramedy “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person,” by Quebec director Ariane Louis-Seize, and the drama “Days of Happiness” by Montreal-based writer-director Chloé Robichaud as examples.

“Every country has famous people and movie stars but this year I’m hoping that the people who used to do what I do pay attention to the stuff that I tried my hardest to pay attention to, which were the movies that everybody else wasn’t talking about," he added.Some filmmakers taking part in TIFF for the first time, such as Toronto-based director and writer of “Express,” Ivan D. Ossa, 24, say they feel inspired by the attention they’re receiving.

Amazon in the weeds over damage to tall grass reserve

Patricia Dutchak was devastated when she first saw the wide swaths of crushed grass and upturned soil at Winnipeg’s Rotary Prairie Nature Park, a municipal heritage site.

“This is a very rare ecosystem, a remnant of tall grass prairie, there’s barely any left in the world, and to come here and see all this damage was heartbreaking,” Dutchak, chair of the Transcona Rotary Club’s parks committee, says.

The club is responsible for maintaining the protected green space, which was significantly damaged this summer when a fence between the park and the neighbouring Amazon distribution centre was relocated.

The 20-acre nature preserve is situated on a narrow tract of land on Regent Avenue West in the commercial heart of Transcona. The park received its municipal heritage designation in 1992 and is, today, surrounded by high-traffic streets, industrial warehouses and car dealerships.

Alzheimer’s has sent my mother back in time

My mother does a lot of time-travelling — time-shifting, the Alzheimer’s Society calls it.

Ladies and gentlemen of voting age, please turn your attention to the centre ring…

If there’s one thing that we in the news business wish for any election, it’s that the campaign is competitive and voters have multiple, viable options when it comes time to cast their ballots.

That is certainly what I wished for in this year’s Winnipeg mayoral election: a ballot with two or more competent candidates — including incumbent Scott Gillingham — that offered contrasting visions for the future of the city.

Unfortunately, this time we didn’t get competent or viable. Instead, we got a clown show stuffed with candidates for mayor who have demonstrated a stunning capacity for self-inflicted wounds.

It all started when mayoral candidates Kevin Klein and Mike Vogiatzakis both alleged they had been asked by each other’s campaign to step down to give the remaining candidate a better shot at defeating Gillingham.

Manitoba Federation of Labour calls for independent review of Workers Compensation Board

A major labour association is calling for an independent Workers Compensation Board review as Manitoba leads the country in workplace injury rates.

Last year, 2.5 employees in every 100 reported a workplace injury serious enough to take time off, WCB tracking shows. The number is higher than any other province — just as it has been for the past three years, according to the Manitoba Federation of Labour.

(In 2025, the next highest time loss injury rate was in British Columbia: 2.04 people for every 100.)

“Our prevention work in Manitoba is failing Manitobans,” said Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour. “We need an independent review to help shine a light on, ‘What is happening on the prevention front of WCB?’”