We had a packed November filled with media events, interviews and other celebrity soirees. Here’s a snapshot of what some notable individuals from a variety of backgrounds had to share with us over the course of the month. Click link for the full article and interview.
On working with David Cronenberg:
“Working with David changed my life. Before A Dangerous Method, I wasn’t sure that it was possible to work in feature films and live in Canada. Through example David taught me that you can have the career you want and live where you want. He also showed me that there was a place for Canadian film on the world stage.”
– Sarah Gadon, during our Notable.ca interview.
On hopes for Toronto:
“In the next decade, I want to see a housing program, and that the economic diversity of our communities is a fundamental characteristic of our city. We need to house hotel workers near hotels, to house nurses near hospitals, so that you can live and raise your kids near where you live. We also need to be able to find a way to cut down transport costs.”
– Adam Vaughan, Toronto city councilor, Ward 20 at Toronto Life’s Most Influential Party.
On wine:
“Wine is best enjoyed with a meal. I love cabernets, strong cabernets. Wine complements almost any meal. And I like it with dark chocolate. I prefer red wine; I don’t love white wine.”
– Eric Braeden, The Young and the Restless, at the 9th Annual Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival.
On favourite spots in Toronto:
“Right now my favourite place is Dufferin Grove Park. My wife and I have a four-year-old son and it feels like kind of a throwback to Haight-Ashbury some weekends. It’s an incredible community, with people from diff parts of city, kids running around, people leaving toys there for kids to play with, meals that are cooked outdoors at night. It’s amazing; it feels like utopia.”
– Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director at Toronto International Film Festival at Toronto Life’s Most Influential Party.
On filming a Canadian adventure series:
“We were filming this scene where we had to rescue this climber, and had to jump out of a helicopter and on to a mountain cliff and crouch down while the helicopter takes off. When it takes off, though, there is this massive, strong gust of wind and it was taking off right near us from this mountain cliff. We were so close, about a foot or two away, to this 200-foot drop and the director was asking us if we could please stand up a little bit and I was just thinking, there’s no way. I am afraid of heights. Before that point, we had people holding on to us, but they wanted a shot where nobody was there. Then we had to run and repel down this cliff. It was kind of crazy.”
– Actor Adam Beach, Arctic Air, at a recent CBC media day.
On giving back and legacy:
“From the very beginning, I had an enormous debt to Canada, When you’re not born here and your parents and grandparents are all taken into the country after the war, which was a pretty traumatic experience, that will do it. Canada welcomed my 87-year-old grandfather and looked after him in the hospital throughout his heart problems. I grew up totally committed to the country. It nurtured me and looked after my family, so I had to give something back in return. It was an obligation.”
– Peter Monk, renowned businessman and philanthropist, during a panel discussion at Inspiration Night.
On advice for making it as a Canadian comedian:
“Get another job. There is no money in this. I’ve done well because I’ve created this as a series from a standup background; but that’s rare. You have to have another job. Even booking a commercial is huge, but its $3000 for the day and then it’s done until you manage to book another. I did standup on the side and teaching was my main thing, then I started making more as a comic. There is a very small group of people who make a living as an actor or comedian in this country. Even me, I may never work again once this is over. And I’d advise to create your own stuff instead of waiting for someone to bring you to an audition. It’s so easy to do so and people will listen. CBC gets pitches every year and they look at them all.”
– Comedian/actor Gerry Dee, Mr. D, at a recent CBC media day.
On the pitfalls of social media:
“People and companies need to realize it isn’t a replacement for face-to-face communication; it helps augment it when time and distance are an issue.”
– Erik Qualman, author of Socialnomics and TEDx speaker during our Notable.ca interview.
Stay tuned for more notable bites for December; we are already off to a strong start with today’s interview with Canadian style icon Jeanne Beker.
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