Now, 12 years later, Global Medic (GM) has grown into a respected emergency relief organization as part of the David McAntony Gibson Foundation.

“I was out in Nepal for some disaster work and came home to [David’s] funeral frustrated with the way the aid system works, so I set something up more efficient and named the charity after him in his honour,” Singh says.

At 39, Singh recently gained recognition from TIME Magazine, appearing alongside the likes of Bill Clinton in the magazine’s annual “100 Most Influential People” feature. Speaking about the nomination in the National Post in April 2010, he said the upcoming nominee gala was an opportunity to “work the room” and gain support from wealthy donators.

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“We got some people on board and built our network,” he says of the gala. “But I’m not Madonna; I gotta use charm and I’m a little low on that,” he says humbly.

For the blurb alongside his sketched face in TIME, the prime minister of Haiti extended his everlasting gratitude for GM’s quick and effective work. “Singh and his group of volunteers wasted no time in arriving in Port-au-Prince and setting about providing clean drinking water,” he wrote.

Most importantly, Singh’s team ensured local Haitians were able to treat the water themselves by providing hands-on training. “It’s the methodology we’ve used for years,” he says. “It’s better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. [With the locals help], we distributed close to a million litres of water a week.”

Singh landed in Haiti as part of GM’s first team, and after four weeks of 18-hour days, he says he just wanted to “come home, puke, and sleep for a few days.” His team wasn’t able to work at night for security reasons. “Once we got in there it was a horror show,” he says. “At night, the gunfire and screaming beyond our compound walls really hammered it home. [Worse was when] you came out the next day and saw bodies that hadn’t been killed by the earthquake – these guys were tied up naked and shot in the head.”

Despite the gruesome work environment, Singh was determined to deliver aid to those in need and joined GM’s fourth, fifth and even their sixth team. He manages to juggle his Toronto paramedic job and selfless volunteer work because “his [Toronto paramedic] department is so great and understanding.”

As for all the recognition his work has brought, he says, “The media says ‘good for you,’ but it’s nothing about me. It’s all worth it when a three-year-old is getting clean water and you’re like, this kid has a shot now.” www.globalmedic.ca

With its 2009 revenue of more than $400 billion US, Wal-Mart decided last year to remove hundreds of familiar products in an effort to tidy up shelves. But customers in a slowly recovering economy began to look elsewhere for their favourite brands; resulting in the world’s largest retailer suffering four straight quarters of revenue decline  – a first in its company history. Reports reveal that Wal-Mart acknowledges that the move to carry fewer items was bold. It is now replenishing the 300 products it dropped and advertising price markdowns that will continue through the summer at its U.S. stores. With a first-quarter showing an increase of 10 per cent in net income, the retail giant continues its confident stride. “They are the 800-pound gorilla, so they thought they’d throw their weight around a little to chart better profit performance,” says industry insider Darlene Quinn, author of Webs of Power and Twisted Webs. “What they discovered is that the real 800-pound gorilla is the consumer.”

www.darlenequinn.net

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Here in Canada we will be able to witness every moment – from England manager Fabio Capello’s stern glare to Argentinean Lionel Messi’s dizzying runs – live on the CBC (the official match broadcaster). This will make it easy to observe the Cheshire-cat smile of Sepp Blatter, who as the president of FIFA might consider this World Cup his baby. It was Blatter’s dream to have each continental federation host the World Cup on a rotational basis. This will start in 2010 with South Africa and continue to Brazil for the 2014 edition (for which massive delays and problems have already been reported). However, this World Cup has a different feel to it. Blatter’s rotational plan to promote the world’s most popular game is theoretically sound but, in reality, many logistical and security issues have come to the forefront. Although South Africa has the honour of being the first African country to host the tournament, that also comes with massive responsibility. In a country where people like Nelson Mandela fought for decades to end the Apartheid system, it is only fitting that he will be able to see such a grand event come to his nation. The people of South Africa fully deserve to host such a prestigious event but in a nation where the unemployment rate is 25 per cent and many people fight to survive in shanty towns, will the flash-in-the-pan attention of the World Cup really change any of this?

Then there is the issue of security. Al-Qaeda has publicly announced terrorist threats against the United States, Germany, England, Italy, France and, most recently, Denmark and Holland. In a country where local crime and security is also a constant concern, the addition of terrorist threats from abroad and African soccer’s internal terror concerns means that a degree of concern is justified. Earlier this year, the Togo national team’s bus was riddled with bullets from Angolan gunmen during the African Cup of Nations tournament, killing the bus driver and injuring nine others. Despite all this, if you ask any of the players if this is a concern to them, they will probably say they are more worried about Spain’s unrelenting attacking play or England’s strength in the air.

So who are the teams to watch and which players will truly stand out? From the moment the first game kicks off at Soccer City – Johannesburg’s 95,000-seat stadium – to the final whistle that will close the tournament at the same venue, you want to be in the know. This can be neatly packaged using the number 11, which is symbolic to this tournament in more than a few ways. Firstly, there are 11 players in a team. Jabulani, the name given to the official Adidas match ball, has 11 colours on it to honour each of South Africa’s 11 official languages. Here is 11/11; the best teams and respected players to keep an eye on.

Italy is the defending World Champion and one of the most difficult teams in the world to beat due to their defensive mastery of the game. Their manager, Marcello Lippi (“Il Mister”), has assembled a team with nine returning champions, which has drawn criticism from the Italian press that the team is too old and slow. The omission of controversial fantasista Antonio Casssano has also been hugely unpopular with the tifosi (fans). However, if Lippi can do what he does best – unite the group and exploit their strengths – then no one will notice the player’s walking sticks on the bench. Look to Cannavaro and Buffon for leadership, while the spark will have to come from De Rossi and goals from Di Natale if the Azzurri want to emulate their 1934 and 1938 Championship consecutive victories.

Brazil are always favourites to win the trophy, and rightfully so. Brazilians play with flair and skill, and they have Kaká. The engine behind the big yellow machine can run around players while smiling (a role he needs to fill since Dunga has left out Ronaldinho). Expect the Selecao to go far, especially since Kaká’s pearly whites haven’t gleamed much this season at Real Madrid.

Argentina’s appetite for glory this time around parallels the country’s love for steak, and the Albiceleste will try to make mincemeat of the majority of their opponents with Ballon d’or and FIFA World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi, leading the attack. Another deadly attacker is Diego Milito, who is lethal in front of goal; just ask Bayern Munich’s Daniel van Buyten after Milito turned him around like a skewer on the grill for his second goal of the game in the Champions League final. Diego Maradona is the team’s coach, which means anything is possible, including coaching tips on how to use their “hand of God” when in front of goal. El pibe de oro claims that he will strip and run naked if Argentina wins the World Cup. That alone may be worth the victory.

Spain’s victory in the 2008 European Champion helped them finally overcome the taboo that haunted the team for years – underperforming when it counted most. As a result, they have to be serious contenders to lift the cup, especially with Villa, Xavi and the clinical Fernando Torres leading the way. La Furia Roja is definitely one of the most exciting teams to watch, with offence being their forte. Expect them to score a boat-load of goals but if they lose focus (as they did in losing to the U.S. in the Confederation Cup semi-final last year), they may be looking red for all the wrong reasons.

England has followed the same pattern as Spain in past tournaments by not being able to close the deal; until the arrival of their new manager, Fabio Capello. Striking fear into everyone, including his players, is something to which the English have responded well. They won their qualifying group comfortably and Capello has brought a serious tone to the media circus that is English football. Despite the unfortunate injury to David Beckham and the sex scandal involving John Terry, if England can keep it together and if Capello doesn’t eat any of his players, they have their best chance in years to go all the way. Wayne Rooney has the potential to win the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals and if he can stay healthy he could be one of the stars of this edition in South Africa.

Holland is the Jekyll and Hyde of soccer. They are capable of putting in class performances and beating any team but their lapses and lack of success when the time is right has meant that the inventors of Total Football are usually in Total Vacation Mode when the grand final rolls around. Despite having produced some of the greatest players in history – Van Basten, Gullit, Cruyff, and even modern-day incredibles such as Van Percie, Robben and Inter’s Champions League monster Sneijder – the Oranje leave much to be desired. In qualifying they won their group by a massive 14 points and this could be the year that Holland, like Spain, finally breaks their winless streak.

These next two teams might very well be grouped in the same category: lucky to be in the World Cup finals. France and Portugal barely scraped through their qualifying groups and the infamous Thierry Henry hand-pass that knocked out Ireland caused an eruption of anger towards Les Bleus and FIFA alike. The French are not liked by many to begin with, and with the much maligned Raymond Domenech as their coach and with karma against them, the 2006 finalists might be remembered like the final image of Zinadine Zidane in his last game: walking off the pitch with their heads hanging down in shame. Portugal is really a one-man show, and when Cristiano Ronaldo is not stopping for a photo shoot during the middle of the game, he’s trying to win it on his own. If soccer has taught us anything, it’s that the team wins, not individuals, in which case Ronaldo has no supporting cast. He’ll most likely make a few spectacular plays and maybe even score a few goals, but with Portugal paired up in the Group of Death with Brazil and Ivory Coast, don’t expect them to get out of their group. Perhaps France and Portugal could save some money and take the same flight back to Europe.

Any World Cup article would be lacking greatly if it didn’t give respect to the Germans. Die Mannschaft have been one of the most consistent teams in the history of the tournament and they are continually written off, to the peril of many teams. It is almost as certain as death and taxes that the Germans will be there in one way or another. Despite the incredible loss of their captain, Michael Ballack, to injury just before the tournament, Germany has the mental strength and solid foundation to find a way. Look to Bastian Schweinsteiger to pick up the slack from Ballack. The country that makes some of the best automobiles in the world is truly the machine that won’t break down.

Finally, the last two teams to mention here are those that could really make a mark in the tournament. African nations have been on the bubble, ready to break out on the international scene for some time, and having the World Cup on their continent could be enough to finally see a breakthrough. The Ivory Coast has one of the world’s best strikers in Didier Drogba and if he can keep his head he could challenge Rooney for the Golden Boot. The Elephants are lightning fast and with the skill to match, Brazil and Portugal might not be the only ones scratching their heads asking, “What just happened?” Ghana was the African Cup of Nations finalists and with the experience they gained in 2006, the Black Stars still have a lot of young talent that could take some teams by surprise.  Unfortunately, the loss of Michael Essien will hamper their efforts but the enthusiasm and leadership of Sulley Muntari could be enough to see this dark horse team cause a few upsets along the way.

These are the 11 teams to watch for, and from June 11th to July 11th, they – and possibly even a few others from the 32 competing nations – will dazzle, mesmerize and make us cry and shout. This all comes part and parcel with the greatest sporting spectacle in the world. If all goes well and South Africa is able to overcome its challenges, then this World Cup (like USA in 1994 and Korea Japan in 2002) will be another continental first and a huge success. That would be good news for Sepp Blatter, whose rotational plan may remain for a while to come.  www.fifa.com

With this initiative, Rabbi Shmuley is spreading Jewish values across North America but the program is not exclusive. “The message of inclusion is a strong part of the program,” he says. “We hope to inspire people nationwide to come together to embrace their family and spend quality time together irrespective of race, creed, colour, religion, sexual orientation or marital status.” Rabbi Shmuley recently visited the Vatican and garnered Pope Benedict XIV’s support for the TFNFN project.

Rabbi Shmuley clearly knows the power of celebrity and has managed to gain many endorsements for his cause. He also knows that celebrity families such as the Gosselin family (Jon & Kate Plus 8) struggle with the same issues. To help Jon Gosselin spread TFNFN’s values, as well as to discuss “The Ethical Challenges and Moral Responsibilities of Celebrity,” Rabbi Shmuley counselled him through his public divorce. “Having celebrities like [Gosselin], Oprah, Rachel Hunter, Kathie Lee Gifford and many others helps in terms of disseminating [TFNFN’s] powerful message to more and more families,” Rabbi Shmuley says.

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Rabbi Shmuley also draws from university case studies to stress the importance of family dinners for his 2008 flagship article, “Turn Friday Night into Family Night.” He’s also written his 24th book called Renewal: A Guide to the Values-Filled Life. In his 2008 article he wrote: “Studies by Columbia University and the University of Minnesota found that teens who do not have regular family dinners are three and a half times more likely to abuse drugs.” He also wrote “that teenagers who have infrequent family dinners are twice as likely to smoke daily and get drunk monthly [and] girls who have regular family dinners with their parents are one-third less likely to develop unhealthy eating habits like anorexia.”

To help families come together, Rabbi Shmuley’s TFNFN initiative uses a 2/2/2 theme: two hours of family dinner, with two friends as guests and two subjects to discuss. “The theme represents two hours of uninterrupted time with no distractions of cell phones, TV or any other disruptions, encouraging parents to give their children one night a week where they are focused on them,” he says. “Especially with the advent of media at our fingertips, it takes more of a conscious effort to focus on our families; we need to make sure we make quality family time a priority.” www.shmuley.com

1. Eat Pray Love
This inspirational story follows a woman who will stop at nothing to take her life in a new and exciting direction. After divorcing her husband, Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) embarks on a journey of self-discovery around the world. From Italy to India and Bali, Gilbert jumps out of her comfort zone and captures the beauty of life and love. www.imdb.com

2. Countdown to Zero
The powerful documentary follows the development and controversy of the nuclear bomb. Touching upon its dangerous capabilities with the threat of terrorism, Countdown to Zero wants the world to be entirely rid of nuclear weapons. With 23,000 weapons in nine different countries, this film strives to elicit a reaction by warning the world of future disasters. www.imdb.com

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3. [Rec] 2
Keeping you on the edge of your seat is [Rec] 2, the terrifying sequel surrounding a quarantined apartment building. A disturbing virus infecting all residents has transformed them into intensely violent and evil beings. In attempts to control the demonic behaviour, a SWAT team is brought in with hopes that they aren’t too late. www.rottentomatoes.com

4. I am Love
Starring Tilda Swinton, this film embodies passion and risky romance. After the death of a prominent family member, everyone with the Recchi name begins reevaluating life. As a Russian immigrant married into the wealthy family, Emma rebelliously falls in love with an unexpected man. Once a respectable mother and wife, she takes chances and changes her family forever. www.iamlovemovie.com

5. Predators
A group of elite warriors are dropped on an alien planet and unknowingly transformed from predators into prey. When these eight humans come to realize that they are the ones being hunted, they attempt to escape and fight for survival. This action adventure starring Adrien Brody as the leader of the group has been created as a sequel to the original 1987 sci-fi movie. www.predators-movie.com

6. You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
Woody Allen’s new development traces the lives of two married couples and the troubles they encounter as they meet new people, search for flaws in their lives and listen to the advice of fortunetellers. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto and Naomi Watts, this film illustrates the heartache people face as they toy with their lives. www.imdb.com

As a former Yale-trained lawyer, Gretchen Rubin, author of the New York Times bestseller, The Happiness Project, was aware of the complexities of the way we live. All the long hours, pressing deadlines, cellphone and e-mail addictions were depleting her time and her happiness.

Leaving behind the security of law years ago to pursue her passion for writing, Rubin might have begun her happiness project much earlier than she realized. She is now the author of five captivating novels, the latest drawing perhaps the most acclaim.

The idea of embarking upon her very own happiness mission came to her while riding on a bus one rainy afternoon. “I just had a rare moment of reflection, and asked myself what I wanted from life,” Rubin shares. “I realized that I wanted to be happy and decided to make it happen.”

The result is an inspirational memoir of the year she spent test driving the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies and the lessons from popular culture about how to be happier.

Though Rubin’s happiness project was specifically formulated to fulfill her own contentment, readers can learn a lot from her experiences. Her recommendations and methods are both realistic and manageable enough to fit into the confines of a regular day – no matter how busy you are.

One of her biggest happiness boosts came from her bed. After just one week of getting more sleep, Rubin began to notice a significant difference in her energy levels and overall cheerfulness around her children in the morning. “A lot of people don’t get enough sleep and it really, really affects you – much more than people realize,” she says. As for exercise, Rubin found that even a 10-minute stroll around the block proved to be positive. “Getting outside gives people energy, it calms them, helps them focus, it’s really good to do.”

Other recommendations include making more time for relationships and feeding areas of growth. “People are happier when they feel like things are moving forward,” she says. For some this might mean fixing something that’s broken, for others it can be planting a garden or learning a new language. “Anything where you’re making something better or making something grow is very satisfying.”

This project has not only taught Rubin about the truths of happiness, it has helped her realize some of its falsities. “I think one of the worst myths is that it’s selfish to want to be happier. Some people think that happy people are self-centred or very inwardly focused,” she says, adding that, in contrast, happy people are often extremely optimistic and heavily rooted in volunteer work and social problems.

What started as a year-long research project for Rubin became a happy rebirth. “I really did make myself a lot happier and I’m kind of surprised at how well it worked,” she says. Now, the mother of two lives by her newfound acumen, and makes a daily effort to appreciate her gifts, get enough sleep, exercise, do something productive and make time for friends and family.

“When you are happy, others want to be around you. And when people are happy, they are more likely to help others. It starts a wonderful cycle.”    www.happiness-project.com

Tiger Woods
Golf is an experience that has been highlighted by many great players over the years. This refined game is the kind of experience that can take six hours out of your busy schedule without regrets. Tiger Woods has motivated new groups across the world to tap into this skilled pastime, and tune into televised golf like never before. Woods wasn’t simply good for golf, for a while he was golf. Without him, the sport will never be the same.

Unfortunately, his recent ‘mistakes’ and temporary departure from the game will make a smooth return to his power status trickier than the back nine at Pebble Beach. Since his absence, the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) has not been able to find its ratings in Woods’ golf bag. CBS news reported the numbers without him during his eight-month knee surgery and rehabilitation in 2008 were sometimes half of what they were when he was on the green and on our screen. Are we watching golf for golf, or are we watching golf for Tiger Woods? Apparently half of us are watching for the latter.

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To make matters worse, there isn’t a sport out there that has more sex jokes linked to it than golf. Let’s just say that whenever the broadcaster casually concludes, “Tiger just can’t get his balls out of the rough today,” it will take a lot of naïve people not to chuckle. Jealousy is very much alive in the relationship that fans have with pro athletes. The questions are when, where, and who will mutter the word ‘cheater’ during Woods’ backswing. The only positive that will come from this water well of controversy is the ratings that pro golf will be able to pimp out of his ‘return to greatness.’ Woods will be teeing off in Augusta at the Masters Tournament in April. According to the top news and sports leaders, he is predicted to help draw the largest ratings in PGA history. That green blazer in Augusta suits him, but will golf throw him under the tour bus if he cracks at the Masters? Whatever happens, the media will be right there to catch every moment.

Sidney Crosby
The face, the future and the frenzy that Sidney Crosby creates inspires millions around the world to follow the great game of hockey. These elements help the capitalistic side of hockey build its capital. The hype machine uses Crosby’s poster-boy appeal to catch ‘bandwagoners’ looking for cheap thrills and retain customer equity from long-time lovers of the ‘coolest game on Earth.’ The funny thing about these newbie fans is that they’re getting sold on the sizzle and not the steak. So what if they don’t know what icing is; as long as hockey’s subliminal marketing message puts bums on seats, they’re happy. Sid ‘The Kid’ rides this new wave through the frontal lobe of these impressionable individuals and his boyish good looks get crystallized in their hippocampus. The marketing team’s goal is to get us to think about Crosby when we hear the word ‘hockey.’ This undoubtedly results in the many fans that wear his jersey in opposing arenas.

Americans have earned a bad reputation over the years for not knowing or caring about the ins and outs of Canada’s great game. The Kid was NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman’s best chance to educate our neighbours to the south. With Crosby in one hand and hockey in the other, he smashed them together and sprinkled the magic dust over the world with the Cheshire Cat grin on his face. Regardless of what country you’re in, when Crosby comes to town, expect scalpers to raise ticket prices dramatically. He is sold as the best, therefore, according to our crafted expectations; he must perform at full-capacity at all times. It’s turned into a situation where we want him to score 10 goals, as long as the final result is 11 – 10 for our side.

The fact is that certain athletes must be bigger than the game in order to keep the sport alive. Without them, who will be responsible for persuading non-diehard fans with the front-cover exposure needed to jump on board? Take Wayne Gretzky’s arrival in Los Angeles, for example, a deal known as ‘The Trade.’ Gretzky needed to be bigger than the game in order to sell hockey on the West Coast. With the media hype at his back and the California sun on his face, The Forum in Inglewood went from 7,000 fans to
full-capacity upon his arrival. Buzz-worthy players like Gretzky and Crosby carry the game on their talented shoulders under the brightest lights their sport has to offer. All this is in the effort for progression on many levels, ultimately ending in profitable gain.

Michael Schumacher
Formula One is the pinnacle of the international racing scene. According to the official F1 site, Michael Schumacher is “statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen.” After a brief retirement, Germany’s legendary driver has decided to return to the sport he owned for over a decade under a different coat. This time he decided to trace his German roots. He returned his Ferrari Enzo to the Italians and joined his countrymen on a new journey. “Schumi” is the new front man for team Mercedes GP. The car is the integral piece of the winning formula. Italian-made Ferrari is the masterpiece that Schumacher drove into the winner’s circle more often than anyone else in the history of the sport.

Many people are part of the team but there is only one man on the track. It will be interesting to see if the tifosi (Ferrari fanatics with uncompromised pride) will still cheer for their old champion. Out of all the athletes talked about in  the world, he might be the one who dwarfs his sport the most. The question asks: Is Schumacher truly the greatest driver or is Ferrari the greatest racing car of our time? If a tifoso puts the Ferrari horse back in the barn and throws on a Mercedes-Benz cap, then we know for sure that the athlete is bigger than the sport.

The last time the Italians and the Germans joined forces with such enthusiasm, the end of the world was in sight. Thankfully, the reputation of McLaren’s stud, Lewis Hamilton, is the only thing to worry about. Would-be poster boy Hamilton lives in the top-tier of the F1’s talent hierarchy; only Schumacher can deliver the humbling performances that would cause the Brit to constantly look over his shoulder and make driving headlines that much more interesting.

Cheryl Bernard
Canadian Cheryl Bernard, the silver medalist at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, would probably not like to be known simply as a curling cougar. Players in a sport that gets its fair share of playful ribbing need tough skin if they intend to stay focused and guide their rocks to victory. Curling can continue to exist in its given realm or it can find new ways to get people to curl in order for the sport’s popularity to grow. Alternatively, it could do what many other sports have done, which is become scantily clad in front of the camera. The formula that professional sports has adopted, known as “sex sells,” often works by exposing the athletes in order to achieve exposure for their sport and bring in the riches.

Before 2005, when Bernard, and fellow curling females decided to pose nude for a calendar, curling was a wholesome sport that chose not to pimp out their players by offering them to the media. The Courtney Cox look-a-like also co-wrote Between the Sheets: Creating Curling Champions.

Greed might be the cornerstone upon which the empire of sport is built. As Michael Douglas said in Wall Street, “greed is good.” Players (who in some cases have grown up modestly and who now own million-dollar mansions) would probably agree, as long as the cheques keep coming in. Unfortunately, what these players did not foresee was the responsibility that comes with such status. As we’ve seen in the past, turning athletes into role models is the intangible part of the deal that often gets broken. In so doing, they ruin the lives of players who let the bright lights we place over them burn their toned physiques to the core, leaving them and their fans asking ‘Why?’ This is not the case for all athletes, but all humans fight and all humans suffer; as Frederick Douglass said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” We hope that athletes who are sold to the media as being bigger than the game will learn from their past heroes’ mistakes, and be able to balance their life as best as possible, both in and out of the spotlight. When it comes down to it, we love our sports, and the game is one of the most legitimate businesses in a very corporate and corrupt world. If this means showing us the bodies that athletes have worked so hard at fine tuning in order to sell their sport, so be it. Keep them on the grand stage, keep them honest, and keep us entertained.

What I want to know is what turns you on: attractiveness or athleticism?

In the Greater Toronto Area, 19 pedestrians have died this year – a disturbingly substantial increase from last year. Fourteen of those deaths occurred just in the month of January. While fingers are being pointed and causes are being questioned, it’s difficult to ignore the senselessness of such tragedies. “As adults we often get caught up in our lives and we don’t take that extra precaution … there is no common denominator other than speed and human error,” says Sgt. Tim Burrows of Toronto Traffic Services. January alone accounted for seven of the city of Toronto’s nine fatalities, which represents nearly a 100 per cent leap from 2009 figures. While police are extremely alarmed, they are identifying this number as a spike, as there are too few consistencies to concisely connect the dots. They all occurred at different times of the day, at different locations, and in different environments. The word ‘coincidence’ doesn’t seem to cut it in a society that is demanding answers, but drastic discrepancies of variables like these make it difficult to deliver a single explanation. “I was very concerned to read about the rise in pedestrian fatalities this winter,” says Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, Kathleen Wynne. “I know that we don’t have the definitive answer on the reasons for this increase, but I want to emphasize that all drivers and pedestrians need to be aware of each other at all times.”

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Nouhad-Nicholas Al-Kassouf was one of the unlucky seven who died in a one-week pedestrian fatality wave in January. The 80-year-old woman was hit by a car around 1 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2010, while crossing Dundas Street West. According to police reports, a car travelling southbound through a green light struck both Al-Kassouf and another pedestrian. Al-Kassouf was one of four pedestrians killed or seriously injured in the GTA on that same day. Marites Mendoza, a 28-year-old mother, was killed while pushing a stroller across Martin Grove Road in Etobicoke. Her baby survived. The driver who hit Mendoza was charged with failing to stop at a red light and careless driving. A few hours earlier, while on his way to St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School in Vaughan, 17-year-old Steven Seixeiro was hit by a semi-trailer turning right at Rutherford Road and Keele Street.

His tragic death triggered the same shock that shook Vaughan in February 2009, when 16-year-old student Rose Mandarino was killed on her way home from school. Her twin brother watched as she was struck on a sidewalk by on oncoming SUV that was involved in a collision at Langstaff and Ansley Grove roads. “Just about every collision on the roadway is 100 per cent predictable and 100 per cent preventable,” says Burrows. Brian Patterson of Ontario Safety League agrees. “One of those intersections will have 10,000 cars a year minimum that go through without difficulty, so the fact that it occurred when they were there … human error is the universal element that we see.”

“Just about every collision on the roadway is 100 per cent predictable and 100 per cent preventable.”
– Tim Burrows, Toronto Traffic Services

While the onus for pedestrian fatalities is often a two-way street, determining who had the right-of-way can seem like a trivial pursuit when it’s already too late. “Right-of-way is a terrible issue if it’s being made from a hospital bed,” says Burrows, who actively reiterates this during public education lectures. “Road safety is a shared responsibility, everybody has to do their part.” Burrows puts the blame for many of the accidents he sees on a general lack of situational awareness from both parties.

Road safety enforcers have seen an entitlement trend in which the individual with the right-of-way feels invincible. This stops pedestrians from looking both ways before crossing the street and drivers from shielding the break pad while passing through a green light. “Use those few extra seconds to make a smarter choice. You may have the right-of-way, but you could end up being dead right,” says Joanne Banfield of iNavigait, a program that aims to reduce pedestrian injury and death. “The light may indicate that you can cross, but if you haven’t made eye contact and you’re not sure that a diver has seen you, the human body is no match for sheet metal and steel.”

In addition to managing the Trauma Injury Prevention program at Sunnybrook Hospital, Banfield has personally borne witness to the devastation of pedestrian distraction. “I once saw someone running for the bus. They were only looking in the direction of where the bus was coming from and not at the traffic; they ended up dying from their injuries,” she says. “There will always be another bus, but there will never be another you.” Banfield’s passion for prevention is prolific, but one of the most trying facets of her job is being fully aware that these situations are avoidable. “It’s tragic. We know it doesn’t need to happen, and for those of us that work in this field – doctors, nurses, the whole medical team – it’s very frustrating.” Burrows agrees, which is why he makes it his mission to drive these issues home. “If everybody decides ‘I’m going to be safer today, I’m going to pay attention, whether I’m a driver, or a cyclist or a pedestrian,’ we’re going to have safer roads,” he says.

“Use those few extra seconds to make a smarter choice. You may have the right-of-way, but you could end up being dead right.”
– Joanne Banfield, iNavigait

Achieving a mutual win-win situation may seem like a long dark road, but if people start paying better attention, they might realize that the light at the end of the tunnel is actually to their right. “Safety is not a revolution, it’s an evolution. I think sometimes we’ve got to go back to our core principles and the training and retraining of drivers is key,” says Patterson, adding that it may take a bit of time before the effects of Ontario’s new distracted driving law fully come to life. Bill 118 makes it illegal for drivers to text, talk, dial, type or e-mail using hand-held devices. Ontario’s transportation minister has high hopes that the legislation will lower the number of fatalities. “Studies show that drivers who use cellphones are four times more likely to get into a collision. We hope that the new law sends a clear message to all road users that distractions are dangerous and must be avoided,” says Wynne. While Burrows stands by the benefits of the bill, he thinks that the issue is more about the distraction than the device. “As much as I fully support and agree with the legislation, I think we have to look at the factors, it’s not just the device, it’s truly the distraction,” he says, adding that if driving behaviours don’t change, a next step might need to be taken.

There is also the burning question of whether streets are built for cars or people – especially in suburban areas where sidewalks and pedestrian signals are sometimes scarce or nonexistent. Some suggest that a brighter streetlamp should be shone on issues of city infrastructure and the opportunities to improve road conditions. Are new and confusing intersections contributing to the cause? Are all roads designed with pedestrians in mind? As congestion increases, so does competition for space. Although infrastructure can be viewed as a possible perpetrator, there is a seeming consensus that situational awareness is a key combatant that every individual must impose.

“We hope that the new law sends a clear message to all road users that distractions are dangerous and must be avoided.”
– Kathleen Wynne, Ontario’s minister of transportation.

Road improvements and Bill 118 may or may not be the weapons that obliterate roadway tragedies. The message, however, is clear: if society doesn’t start looking out for one another, we will only be pointing a gun at ourselves. Burrows cautions all drivers to, “Give themselves more time and recognize our population. Slow down, be aware and ready for the mistakes of others, and be alert. Scan, identify and protect.” With seniors accounting for the largest component of both injuries and fatalities, patience and increased awareness is even more vital. An elderly person may not be able to cross the street before the pedestrian sign waves its red hand. As for those on foot, “Stop, look and listen.” Take your hood off, take your ear buds out, and pay attention to what’s going on around you at all times. Eye contact is key.

Death is never the intended destination. What’s worse than a life lost is the realization that, with a little more precaution, it could have been preserved. The tow-truck driver could have turned his head. The cyclist could have slowed down. The woman could have waited for the next bus. We’ve all had these moments. What’s judgment without its rifts? It’s tough to consistently colour inside the lines when so many pictures are running through our heads. So who is accountable? “It can be a pedestrian, it can be a driver or it can be both,” says Banfield, “but I’m not willing to put my life on the line for that.” While human error might be human nature, our fatal flaw should not be negligence.

www.osl.org
www.mto.gov.on.ca
www.inavigait.com
www.educationforthedrivingmasses.com

1. Get Him to the Greek | June 4th, 2010, Director: Nicholas Stoller

2. Shrek Forever After | May 21st, 2010, Director: Mike Mitchell
Faithful followers of the gregarious green ogre might be sad to learn that Shrek Forever After is the final installment of the famous series, but perhaps happy to hear that it is shot in 3-D. Megan Fox joins celebrity voices Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas and Jane Lynch in this epic concluding chapter. When the persuasive Rumpelstiltskin sways Shrek to sign a misleading contract, he enters a nightmarish world where Rumpelstiltskin is king and everyone he knows and loves sees him as a stranger. Will Shrek be able to unravel the tight knot he’s tied and win back his friends and Princess Fiona? www.shrekforeverafter.com

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3. Sex and the City 2 | May 28th 2010, Director: Michael Patrick King
Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda strut back to the big screen in high heels for this keenly anticipated sequel. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis are taking viewers to the streets of New York City and beyond for an entertaining adventure. There will be just as much fashion and frenzy as the first film – and yes, Mr. Big (Chris Noth) will also be making it onto the big screen. Directed once again with an original screenplay by Michael Patrick King, Sex and the City fans should head out early to get seats at the debut. www.sexandthecitymovie.com

4. Jonah Hex | June 18th 2010, Director: Jimmy Hayward
Hollywood is giving birth to its second bounty hunter this spring and this one has a little more edge than Gerard Butler. Based on the DC comic series, Jonah Hex, played by Josh Brolin, is a ruthless Wild West bounty hunter capable of capturing just about anyone he comes across. The story is set in the late 1800s, with Hex, who is balancing the divide of the real and unnatural world, asked to hunt down terrorist Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich) in exchange for his own emancipation. The twist? Turnbull is Hex’s oldest nemesis and isn’t giving up without a fight. The West becomes a little wilder when Hex’s love interest Leila (Megan Fox) walks in. Hex’s bond with the brothel worker is the closest human link he has. http://jonah-hex.warnerbros.com

5. Robin Hood | May 14, 2010, Director: Ridley Scott
Academy Award winners Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett unveil the untold sides of the iconic story Robin Hood. This movie takes you back in time to 13th century England where Robin is an archer poised to rescue the disadvantaged town of Nottingham and bring forth justice. In the meantime, he finds his heart beating for a local widow, played by Blanchett. This is Crowe and director Ridley Scott’s fifth film together; they have collaborated previously on Gladiator, A Good Year, American Gangster and Body of Lies. Combine an esteemed leading cast with a legend that’s never been laid to rest, and it looks like Robin Hood could mark another good year for Crowe and Scott. www.robinhoodthemovie.com

6. The A-Team | June 11, 2010, Director: Joe Carnahan
A-listers Bradley Cooper and Liam Neeson put a modern spin on the popular tongue-in-cheek ’80s action adventure series The A-Team. Framed for a crime they didn’t commit, a group of four former war veterans aim to clear their names. After managing to escape from a high-security prison, The A-Team embark on an adventurous journey and work as soldiers for hire while trying to avoid the wrath of Capt. Charisa Sosa (Jessica Biel.) Filmed on Canadian soil in Vancouver, this adaptation of the iconic American television series is one of this season’s most-awaited thrillers. www.ateam-movie.com

7. Letters to Juliet | May 14, 2010, Director: Gary Winick
There really isn’t a more romantic movie setting than the city in which Romeo met his beloved. Letters to Juliet is the story of a young woman (Amanada Seyfried), who travels to Verona, Italy, where the broken-hearted leave notes at an historic brick wall asking Juliet for advice. When she finds an intriguing letter from a lady that dates back to the 1950s, she feels the need to intervene. Her do-good mission sparks a climactic domino effect that sweeps both women off their feet. The director of 13 Going on 30 continues to test the limits of our imagination, causing us to reconsider life’s coincidences. http://letterstojuliet-movie.com

8. Knight and Day | June 25, 2010, Director: James Mangold
Vanilla Sky duo Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz have reunited for what will likely be the action-comedy blockbuster of the summer. Though the plot of Knight and Day is a little less perplexing than the 2001 Cameron Crowe mystery, it certainly still has its twists and turns. Two fugitives (Diaz and Cruise) embark on a life threatening action filled adventure. Not knowing what to believe, who to trust and balancing coalitions with deceit are just a few of the major themes in this turbulent crusade. www.knightanddaymovie.com

A long way from the friendly “dance-offs” of the ’50s, this wildly popular reality series upped the ante – and the competition – by revamping the concept and inviting some of Tinsel Town’s hottest stars to try their hand at dance’s most beautiful and complicated styles.

The innovative concept has drawn a plethora of viewers, both male and female, to cheer on their favourite celebrity. Returning for its 10th season this March, the show has evolved considerably since General Hospital star Kelly Monaco took home the title in the show’s 2005 debut, with many more contestants and a stricter rating scale.

Season 10 is already shaping up to be one fierce competition, with stars like mom of eight Kate Gosselin, former Pussycat Dolls frontwoman and solo artist Nicole Scherzinger, Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek, former Bachelor Jake Pavelka, Canada’s own Pamela Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, All My Children star Aiden Turner, actress Shannen Doherty, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews, and funny woman Niecy Nash in the running.

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This season also brings a new co-hostess for Tom Bergeron: season seven winner Brooke Burke. As a lovely right-hand to the vivacious comedian, the two make a great team, with Bergeron introducing the dancers, and Burke capturing them after each performance for their take on the number and how the judges interpreted them by score. The original judge trio remains, with Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli lending their immeasurable expertise and insight to the novice dancers.

As a viewer, you’d never guess that most of the contestants enter the competition without any formal dance training, leaving it to their professional dance partner to teach them the steps. These talented teachers turn beginners into elegant dancers who are so good that choosing a winner becomes an incredibly daunting task. We watch closely, week after week, as the contestants dip, salsa and merengue their way to first place, voting for our favourites and eagerly awaiting the judges’ scores. Of course, one side effect of following the show is that it gives us the sudden urge to join a dance class. Even if the last move we ever learned was in our third-grade school play, fans feel vicariously motivated and inspired. Because there’s something about watching a burly football player gracefully master the waltz that makes us think, “If he can do it, I can do it!”

Bearing in mind that reality television is a realm in which the underdog can prevail over the shoe-in, where contestants can fall suddenly ill at crucial times, and where feuds can start in the dressing room, the show does already have its promising frontrunners.

If you watched Season 10’s March 22nd premiere, you might have noticed that those leading the competition also had some formal dance training under their belts. Scherzinger took the top score, while Lysacek came a close second.

Scherzinger’s career as a singer and entertainer definitely make her a viable contender in this race. Gliding effortlessly across the dance floor with her partner, Derek Hough, the two looked like a match choreographed in heaven. Unlike some of the others, Scherzinger is no stranger to strutting her stuff before a crowd, and she’s certainly demonstrated that thus far.

Meanwhile, America has already seen the amazing grace, power and prowess of Lysacek, the 2010 Olympic men’s figure skating champ. Dancing with the Stars precedent tells us that the gold medal around Lysacek’s neck might bring him luck as he trades his skates for dancing shoes, the way previous contestants Kristi Yamaguchi, Apolo Ohno and Shawn Johnson did. There’s no doubt that Lysacek has the competitive fire to keep him alive in this contest.

Nevertheless, we can’t forget about the other dancers who have surprised us with their recent performances. Pamela Anderson wowed the crowd with her hair-toss and fancy footwork, and although Turner may have received a low score, he did seem to exhibit some serious potential that may raise him through the ranks in the coming weeks.

So will the odds remain stacked in Scherzinger and Lysacek’s favour or will the others catch up? It’s hard to say. But one thing’s for sure: we’re in for a show-stopping, toe-tapping ride. With plenty more foxtrots and cha-cha-chas up their glittery sleeves, these dancers promise to bring some exhilaration to our Monday nights.

But don’t get down if the star you were rooting for is eliminated. He or she might have failed in this ballroom battle, but they’ve won in the long run. With weeks of exposure and likely offers for fall’s television lineup, you can expect to see them on screen when September rolls around! abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars