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Wedded to education — and each other: Married trustees make TDSB history

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Education, politics and policy have long been part of dinnertime discussion at the home of Parthi Kandavel and Anu Sriskandarajah. But those topics will likely now dominate their every waking moment.

The pair made history last week as the first married couple elected as trustees to the Toronto District School Board, with Kandavel re-elected in Ward 18 (Scarborough Southwest) and Sriskandarajah winning in Ward 22 (Scarborough-Rouge Park).

Parthi Kandavel, right, and wife Anu Sriskandarajah, are the first married couple to be elected as trustees on the Toronto District School Board, which serves 246,000 children in 583 schools.
Parthi Kandavel, right, and wife Anu Sriskandarajah, are the first married couple to be elected as trustees on the Toronto District School Board, which serves 246,000 children in 583 schools.  (Rene Johnston / Toronto Star)

“(The board) is probably a place where we’ll agree on more than at home,” jokes Kandavel, seated next to his wife at the dining room table in their two-storey home in northern Scarborough.

“We still have trouble figuring out what time the garbage should be taken out,” laughs Sriskandarajah. “So this might actually be easier.”

“We don’t know how it will play out. This will be new for us and new for the board,” says Sriskandarajah, one of 12 new faces elected to the 22-member board, which serves 246,000 students in 583 schools.

The couple say they share a similar vision when it comes to improving public education and ensuring all children have access to the same opportunities. But they differ on strategy. He tends to be more direct with people and more bold in his approach, whereas she’s more diplomatic and conservative.

“We definitely have different personalities, but I think it’s complementary,” she says.

Both are passionate about education. Kandavel, 36, is a math teacher at a private independent school in Scarborough — trustees are prohibited from teaching in a publicly funded board in Ontario. And Sriskandarajah, 32, is a York University professor in the Child and Youth Studies Program, where many of her students are aspiring teachers. When doing a PhD in sociology, her doctoral research focused on marginalized youth in her ward, and last year she co-authored a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) Teaching and Learning Report for the TDSB.

And because being a trustee is essentially a part-time gig, with an annual salary of about $25,000, neither will be leaving the classroom.

Education is a theme woven throughout their relationship. They met in 2010 at a University of Toronto conference, and started dating shortly after, staying awake into the wee hours talking about education and politics. And, because Kandavel was in the midst of running for trustee in Ward 18, where he grew up and lived with his mother, there was plenty to discuss.

“A lot of our conversation was on the content of my brochures, what’s the messaging I’m putting out there, what are the fundamental ideas and concepts I’m championing at the door,” recalls Kandavel. “Much of it came out in our back and forth.”

He was unlucky at the polls, but not in love. Kandavel proposed at the spot where they met and the couple married in 2012, eventually buying a home in northern Scarborough because they were priced out of neighbourhoods in the south.

During the 2014 elections, Kandavel ran again in Ward 18 where his mom still lives, and Sriskandarajah helped him canvass. As an academic immersed in educational theory, she gained valuable insight from knocking on doors and listening to the concerns of parents, which typically dealt with crumbling buildings and outdated infrastructure.

And, because Kandavel won in 2014, Sriskandarajah gained a much deeper understanding of the day-to-day demands of trustees, such as the many phone calls and meetings with parents, community members and board staff.

So when Sriskandarajah decided to run this year — something she had never before considered — she knew what she was getting into. Initially, her husband was hesitant, because he was running in a tight race and had no time to help out with her campaign. But she was confident she could run her own campaign with her own team of volunteers. For weeks, they hardly saw one another, each focused on their own race.

Her plan was to run in the current ward Scarborough-Rouge River, which is the northeastern pocket of Scarborough, where the couple lives. But in the middle of the election, Premier Doug Ford introduced legislation to slash the number of city councillors, which resulted in municipal and school board boundaries being redrawn. The couple’s home is now just metres outside Ward 22, where Sriskandarajah ran. That ward, the most eastern slice of Scarborough, running from Steeles Ave. E. all the way south to the lake, is extremely diverse, including both affluent neighbourhoods and pockets of poverty.

“I felt that we needed somebody that would be able to represent the many, many different interests because the ward is so diverse,” says Sriskandarajah.

When the new term begins at the school board, on Dec. 1, Sriskandarajah says she’s committed to making evidence-based decisions and bringing “a fresh sense of optimism.”

“Coming from academia, our ultimate goal is to create positive changes and I’m hoping I can actually use what we learn to do concrete things,” she says.

Neither are ruling out a future in other political arenas. But for now, they are focused on their jobs, on being trustees — and on having children.

“We want to use our real-life experiences to enhance public education,” says Kandavel. “We’re both graduates of the TDSB and we want to give back.”

Isabel Teotonio is a Toronto-based reporter covering education. Follow her on Twitter: @Izzy74

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline. 

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors. 

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity. 

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement. 

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level. 

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet. 

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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Anglais

MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.

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