At Yonge-Dundas Square, celebration, peace and solidarity with the people of Egypt

With the recent events in Egypt dominating the headlines of the world, it was no surprise that optimism would fill the air yesterday as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak finally stepped down, effectively ending two weeks of protest. How fortunate I was, then, to walk by Yonge-Dundas Square on Friday evening and see hundreds of people cheering, chanting "power to the people", and talking to local media in solidaridy with the people of Egypt. I immediately got out my camera, made my way into the crowd and took in the scene.

Here are some pictures of the people who came out to support the people of Egypt, the ideals of democracy, and the hope for a better future.

United in Flow Monthly Hip-hop Showcase @ Sneaky Dee's, January 25, 2010

This past Tuesday Sneaky Dee's played host to United in Flow, a "socially conscious hip-hop movement" making waves for around half a year, all of which began with a mixtape. Producer James Pew of Toronto-based Euphonic Sound Recording Studio rounded up some hip-hop and slam acts from around the city last October to write on the theme of unity and community. The record, United in Flow: Volume 1 can be purchased for charity to help local neighbourhoods.

Their first monthly showcase, hosted by trip-hop T.O. general Mindbender Supreme, went off with a bang and delivered a vibe seldom seen in grassroots indie shows like this. Any uneasiness about the night was immediately ushered out in exchange for a unanimous love for the social music of hip-hop, which brought closer a community of like-minded people revelling in a weeknight of beats and rhymes.

Mindbender Supreme

"It's about the collaboration and community of the scene in Toronto," Pew told me, as the crowd slowly builded. "We want to build something that people can be part of." Mindbender Supreme debuted his new music video, "Reset Button", that night, and you can go watch it here. If you're a fan of clever, heavily delivered lyrics, and want to support Toronto hip-hop (or if you like old-school videogames), definitely check it.

All the artists delivered a uniqueness in their respective music, playing off influences and themes to a nicely varied crowd throughout a night of great music.

More pictures after the jump.

Reflections of Saturday: The Toronto G20 Protests

The past weekend I witnessed downtown Toronto turn from one of the safest cities in North America to a near police state with mobs of people clad in black, faces covered, brandishing hammers, makeshift metal bars, spray paint, and war cries, all in the name of protest. The chaotic rumble plaguing what began as a very peaceful, coordinated, cooperating protest rally will no doubt be the red ink stain that blemishes the rightful, intended message of the groups protesting at the 2010 Toronto G20 Summit. I was there on Saturday the 26th, documenting what I saw with my camera, trying to provide introspection of what I witnessed. It was quite the experience, though I'm not quite sure if that is for all the right reasons. I'm sure those reading have been following the news and are quite familiar with the shocking turns the weekend took, though I hope to provide a unique, first-hand perspective that major media organizations can not.