On 22 December 2023, the government of Canada had announced a “[t]emporary public policy to facilitate temporary resident visas for certain extended family affected by the crisis in Gaza.” The policy will allow a pathway to temporary residence (up to 3 years) for family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and their immediate family members, who are Palestinian nationals directly...
In the annual Toronto Public Library (TPL) year-end message, City Librarian Vickery Bowles characterized the library as being a “crime scene.” The TPL is the largest public library system in Canada, and has been recognized as being one of the busiest libraries in North America. It serves millions who live, study, or work in Toronto with one hundred branches, providing free access to books...
January is known to be Alzheimer’s Awareness Month across Canada. With the awareness of Alzheimer’s, it is critical to be reminded of the impact of dementia on the lives of many Canadians. The experiences of those suffering from Alzheimer’s continue, and must be learned about to reinforce human rights and encourage policy changes. The Alzheimer’s Society recognizes and supports the...
On November 9, 2023, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) delivered its judgement on Peckford v Canada (Attorney General), 2023 FCA 219. Among the appellants were the Honourable Brian Peckford, former Premier of Newfoundland and the only surviving first minister who was involved with the enactment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter), and the Honourable Maxime Bernier...
Bill C-332, a private member’s bill in the House of Commons, aims to add coercive control as an offence to Canada’s Criminal Code. It’s argued by proponents of the Bill that criminalizing coercive control will provide an “additional tool” for women to leave abusive situations. In 1990, the government of Ontario attempted something similar. They passed a policy making it mandatory for police...
My journey is profoundly shaped by my parents’ past; my father survived the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia while my mother escaped from Vietnam. Their stories of resilience and silent sacrifices are not merely historical narratives. Rather, they form the foundation of my existence and have taught me the true meaning of resilience and the value of silent sacrifices. In our Asian family, mental...
I thought that I had an invincible immune system. I managed to last the past few years without getting COVID, despite my run-ins with people close to me contracting it. But whenever I did hear about others having COVID, I was told that they had ‘mild’ symptoms or that while it was terrible while it lasted, it was short-lived, lasting only a week. I stayed up to date with my vaccines, but I was...
Being among strangers is an exploratory experience. To get to know a yet unmet friend is a turn-based game of social maneuvers; two or more codebreakers attempting to break a cypher that gives way to common interest. Often, no matter the person or place, to talk about movies is to resort to a robust master key. After that it’s only a matter of level of interest: self-proclaimed kinophile, passing...
Throughout my years of classical music training, I’ve come across many great composers, but Florence Price was not one of them. I only found out about this genius composer in my final year at the University of Toronto. I soon began to learn as much as I could about Price and her musical works. I discovered that she was a pianist, organist, teacher, and composer extraordinaire who lived from the...
It’s been quite a good year for the period epic. The silver screen was graced with many films that were not only realized with prestige production and mainstream release, but which have been met with a vindicating fanfare which shows that history continues to earn a place at cinemas. On the heels of Oppenheimer’s existential autobiography and Killers of The Flower Moon’s poignant tale of colonial...
Fourth Wing For fans of fantasy, romance, and action. Synopsis: Having trained her whole life to be a scribe, Violet’s life is upturned when she is enlisted in the dragon rider quadrant of Basgiath War College. She’s faced with a series of challenges and forms alliances (both human and dragon) throughout her training. Outside the school’s walls, a war escalates and Violet suspects that what...
Happy New Year, Osgoode! During the lawless purgatory otherwise known as the time between December 26th and 31st, I developed an insatiable sci-fi affliction and watched too many movies. If you can make the time to watch something new even as classes ramp up again, here are some of my top modern science fiction recommendations. Blade Runner (1982, dir. Ridley Scott) The sequel...
During the MLB draft last year, the Toronto Blue Jays selected Arjun Nimmala as the 20th overall pick. This is a big deal for baseball, with Nimmala becoming one of the first-ever first-generation South Asians to be drafted into a major sport. Aside from being an exceptional shortstop, Nimmala has the potential to change baseball. He can positively impact baseball culture and further introduce...
On 30 December 2023, while getting ready to eat lunch, Raptors fans like myself were treated to a “Woj Bomb.” The Toronto Raptors had traded OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn to the New York Knicks for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 second round pick from the Detroit Pistons. In my opinion, the OG trade has confirmed specific assumptions about the Raptors front office...
If you didn’t know, Shohei Ohtani was available this MLB offseason as an unrestricted free agent. The former Los Angeles Angel was predicted to switch LA allegiances and join the Dodgers. Backed by one of the largest payrolls in MLB history and superstars aplenty, Ohtani joining the Dodgers made the most sense for both sides. The Dodgers would unleash Ohtani along with perennial MVP candidates...
There was no surprise who the number one overall pick would be for the 2023 NBA Draft. Victor Wembanyama is a nineteen year-old French NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs. Standing at seven-feet-four-inches with an eight-foot wingspan, Wemby was touted as a potential all-time great player years before he was eligible for the NBA Draft. He dominated the French league and flashed elite offensive...
Advertisement As law students, we have inevitably been thrown into the various neatly organised and spelt out fact patterns in cases. However, the real world functions far differently from that. In a way, courts act as a source of authority over what actually happened, regardless of the veracity of what is stated in judgments. I write this to urge you to think critically about your role as future...
If you’re a ‘90’s kid like me, Cassie Ventura probably holds a special place in your memories, like she does in mine. I remember when I first heard Cassie’s first hit, “Me & U,” and seeing her music video shortly after and thinking, “Wow, I want to be just like her.” Her follow-up hit, “Long Way 2 Go,” was also on repeat as I got ready for school. Her being half-Filipino might have...
As someone who lives in a very musical family, I grew up listening to all kinds of music, spanning rock, reggae, classical, and R&B among others. It wasn’t until my late teens that I started listening to jazz more heavily. I have to say, jazz just hits different. I listened to a diverse range of artists, but I was immediately pulled into the music of John Coltrane. Maybe it was his silky...
The journey to the midpoint of my law school career at Osgoode has been far from linear, marked by traumas of both unforeseen violence and childhood trauma that have undoubtedly shaped my perspective. A random act of violence in 2017 nearly cost me my life, an event that profoundly altered my trajectory and introduced me to living with a disability. This, coupled with adverse childhood...
Family violence leaves enduring scars on the fabric of society, echoing through generations with its silent, yet deafening impact. In the last few years, discourse surrounding how Canada addresses family violence has garnered significant attention, sparking crucial conversations about legal frameworks and societal responses. In 2022, the Ontario Superior Court heard what would become a ground...
The Vital Role of Family Court Support Workers November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month and with the goals of education and awareness in mind, it is important to acknowledge the legal resources available for survivors in Ontario. The family court process is rarely a pleasant experience, especially when there is a history of domestic violence between litigants. For this reason, Family Court...
“Osgoode Hall—winning in the courts and on the field!” That’s what our (unofficial) team cheerleader, Sanjam shouted to Kailey after we won our Flag Football Intramural Team, to which Kailey rolled their eyes at. “Kailey, that’s the best quote ever, it’s so fitting! Don’t be a hater.” Sanjam replied. Of course, Kailey would disagree. It’s a great pun, so I’m commemorating it, much to...
To understand where the Toronto Blue Jays are heading, let’s first take a deep dive into how they got to this dire situation. The Major League Baseball season concluded just two weeks ago with a show of utter dominance by the Texas Rangers, who curb-stomped the Arizona Diamondbacks to win their first Word Series title in franchise history. While the majority of MLB fans were apathetic toward a...
It should go without saying that affordability issues in Canada are on the rise, leaving many Canadians struggling to just get by. Not only is it difficult to find an affordable place to live, but it is also difficult to buy groceries or go out and to eat. Meanwhile, grocery store corporations such as Loblaw Companies Ltd. and Metro Inc. have continued to enjoy a rise in profits during the third...