Samantha Butler RSS

Samantha Butler is a journalism student at Centennial College with a undergrad in geography and anthropology from U of T. Originally from Kingston, she has lived in Toronto for five years.

• Writing to politicians can help them see green

  Published at 4:34 pm on February 13, 2010
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  Turns out it’s worth sitting down and writing a letter to your MP after all.

  Private conservation consultant and former Conservation Officer for Ontario, Paul Love, spoke at a seminar organized by the Univeristy of Toronto’s Centre for the Environment Wednesday afternoon. The series aims to educate the public on environmental issues.

  After getting everyone up to speed on the latest moves towards energy conservation and emissions reductions in Ontario, Love had an uplifting message for people wanting to do more.

  “Letters to politicians do not get ignored. Letters to the editor in papers, blogs – use your media. Ministers are very aware of it… They get a personal letter, and it will get attention.”“Letters to politicians do not get ignored. Letters to the editor in papers, blogs – use your media. Ministers are very aware of it… They get a personal letter, and it will get attention.”

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• Toronto friends and fans remember Paul Quarrington

  Published at 9:39 pm on January 24, 2010
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  Canadians are mourning the loss of one of their own as Paul Quarrington, one of the nation’s most dynamic and multi-talented artists, lost his seven-month battle with lung cancer Thursday.

  Here in Toronto, where the award-winning author, musician, and screenwriter made his home, he is sorely missed.

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• High Fidelity debuts at U of T’s Hart House

  Published at 2:27 pm on January 16, 2010
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  Forget everything you thought you knew about High Fidelity.

  We’ve had Nick Hornby’s 1995 book, a 2000 film starring John Cusak, and even an ill-fated Broadway musical in 2006. But the Canadian premiere of High Fidelity: A Musical about Life, Love and Mix Tapes at Hart House Theatre this week is yet another fresh take – one sure to be a smash hit with Toronto’s musical theatre and comedy crowds.

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• A skeptic makes peace with Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert

  Published at 6:38 pm on January 10, 2010
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  Working at Book City’s St. Clair location for the past two years puts one, as Katherine Mansfield once said, on “nodding terms” with many books. I don’t get to read much, but at the very least moving hundreds of titles from boxes to the shelf day after day has provided me with a pretty substantial to-read list.

  But I must admit, Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest book Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage didn’t top the list for me.

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• Homegrown shelters an alternative to humane societies

  Published at 9:44 pm on January 5, 2010
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  Doors opened to the public yesterday at The Toronto Humane Society’s River street location, with adoption services resuming following a six-week investigation by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. But while the shelter is housing over 800 animals, only 25 dogs were ready to go to adoption, down from the OSPCA’s original estimate of 100.

  48-year-old Rita Mueller, who cares for homeless dogs and fosters them out of her own home, argues the number is too low and is indicative of the inefficiencies holding up adoptions at the THS and leaving too many animals sick in cages.

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• Toronto Humane Society reopens, will appoint new director to review euthanasia policy

  Published at 9:20 pm on January 5, 2010
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  The Toronto Humane Society resumed animal adoptions Monday at its River Street location after six weeks in the doghouse.

  The facility had closed its doors while the Ontario Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigated allegations of animal cruelty.

  A raid by the OSPCA on Nov. 26 shed light on longstanding financial, sanitary and organizational shortfalls. Humane Society president Tim Trow and three other senior staff were barred from the building and later charged with animal cruelty following the OSPCA’s investigation.

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• The week in books

  Published at 11:53 pm on December 15, 2009
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  For those still trying to find some last-minute gifts, here is a list of some notable titles out this week.

  Sequels is the name of the game, with some of the year’s most popular authors releasing follow-ups just in time for holiday reading.

  This week Greg Mortensen released “Stones and Schools,” the continuing story of his quest to promote literacy in rural Pakistan. The series’ first installment, “Three Cups of Tea,”  was well-received among Canadian audiences on its release in 2001.

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• Margaret Wente pushes Canadians’ boundaries in her latest book

  Published at 1:06 pm on October 15, 2009
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  In a world where just about everybody is keenly broadcasting their opinions, criticisms and bright ideas on the Internet, Margaret Wente occupies what she calls “the best soapbox in Canada.”

  Forget BlogSpot, Livejournal, Facebook or Twitter. As a weekly columnist for the Globe and Mail, Wente makes a living out of what is for so many only a hobby. And because the job title comes with the salary, resources and connections to back it up, the result is some high-quality socio-political musing.

  Behold, her latest book: You Can’t Say That in Canada.
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