TorontoIAM Daily Blog Report: Serious Injury for TJ Ford, Toronto's Soul Revived, Homeless Youth Issues Addressed Through Art

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This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from TorontoIAM where you will find the best blogs from Toronto, Ontario as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

TJ Ford Rushed off Court with Serious Injury

Blogging for NBA’s Raptor News, Charles Odum reports that Toronto Raptors guard TJ Ford was taken off the court on a stretcher after a frightening fall with 1:32 left in the game.  Ford “was headed toward a breakaway basket when Atlanta rookie Al Horford hit his face with his hand. Ford landed hard on his back, his head bouncing off the floor.” There was immediate concern from his team-mates due to his injury history. Ford missed the 2004-05 season due to neck surgery.“After a while I could see him moving and that was a relief,” said Raptor Chris Bosh, “He was conscious. He wasn't trying to move too much…I just hope he's OK.” Jim LaBumbard, Raptors spokesman, stated that when Ford was taken from the floor he “had feeling in his upper and lower extremities.”

According to the post, Horford insisted that he’s not a “dirty player” and didn’t intend to injure Ford. Horford said Ford “just made a good move and fooled me.” Horford was ejected for the foul. Bosh added that he also believed it was unintentional. “Al kind of mistimed it and hit him in his head…I don't think he meant to do it on purpose. He was making a basketball play.” All players and fans were quiet as Ford received medical attention. He was then taken to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. Ford had 26 points before he was injured and the Raptors took the game 100-88.

Renovated Library Supports New Trends

CHEV Local News from Markham and York announces the reopening of Markham Village Library on Saturday, December 15th with events scheduled from 10 am - 4 pm The newly expanded and renovated library is the first in Canada to “apply a new classification system to the adult non-fiction section, replacing the traditional Dewey Decimal cataloguing system.” The new system is meant to make browsing easier. The opening ceremonies will be attended by Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Members of Markham Council Town of Markham Public Library Board Members.



The library has been redesigned to “improve customer experience, with study rooms, a computer training facility, wireless services, teen area, an enhanced children's area and self service options.” The intention is to support research that indicates most library customers “come to browse rather than for research purposes or to find a specific title.” The post calls the new space a welcoming and comfortable “focal point and gathering place for the growing and changing Markham Village community.”

Reunion Brings a Legacy of Soul

Kevin Plummer, writing for popular local blog The Torontoist, highlights a reunion of some of the “pioneers of Toronto’s soul and reggae scene in the 1960s and 1970s” for a concert at the Mod Club Theatre on Thursday. These local artists, such as Jay Douglas and The Mighty Pope, are frequently excluded from the “established canon” of important Canadian artists and albums. They are expatriate and immigrant artists who “fused Caribbean influences with soul and rhythm & blues.”

Some of the artists were rediscovered and their legacies preserved by people such as Vancouver-based DJ Kevin "Sipreano" Howes and Seattle-based Light in the Attic Records. In his post, Plummer features an exploration of Jay Douglas’ experience in the Toronto music scene. Douglas came to Toronto in the early 1960’s with “a stack of Jamaican 45s with him, and was soon exposed to the rock-tinged rhythm and blues of Rick James and David Clayton-Thomas in the Toronto club scene.” Douglas first took to the stage when he was asked by a friend from Montego Bay to join The Cougars in 1966. In addition to Jay Douglas and The Mighty Pope, this Thursday’s show “will be opened by internationally renowned jazz group The Elizabeth Shepherd Trio and feature music by DJ Chocolate and Patrick Roots.”

Art Addresses Issues of Homelessness

Sameer of Blog TO spreads the word about Sketch, a group that believes “creating art is a curious, yet effective, way to address homelessness and poverty.” Art can be used to address “concerns of acceptance, community building, and productive expression.” Sketch’s objective is to create opportunities for street involved and homeless youth “to engage in the arts in a cross-discipline studio environment or in the community.”

To support this endeavor, there will be a fundraising art and music event called RISE  taking place at the Burroughes Gallery this Thursday, Dec 13. The post states that RISE has received donations from “some of the most respected artists in North America” including Che Kothari, Luna Simic, Elicser, and Talia Shipman. The donated items will be auctioned off on opening night. Music will be “provided by Toronto DJs Dopey and Serious and by special guest DJ Platurn from Oakland.” Admission to the party is free, but donations will be accepted for Sketch at the door.

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