activism

Toxic Trespass Film Screening and Discussion

Green Neighbours 20Seaton Village ∙ Annex ∙ Harbord Village ∙ UofT Kensington ∙ Baldwin Village Alexandra Park∙ Grange Park ∙ CityPlace ∙ Entertainment District

Time: 7pm, November 30th, 2016

Location: 6th Floor LHAE - (see signage for room number) Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) University of Toronto 252 Bloor Street West (above St. George subway station) Synopsis of Toxic Trespass: This NFB co-production is an investigation into the effects of the chemicals we are all exposed to in our daily lives. The film begins with the filmmaker Barri Cohen’s own 10-year-old daughter, whose blood carries carcinogens like benzene and the long-banned DDT. Then, it heads out to Windsor and Sarnia: Canadian toxic hotspots, and highlights the devastating health impacts effecting the Aamjiwnaang First Nations Community of Sarnia surrounded by refineries and petrochemical plants. The film presents passionate activists working for positive change, along with doctors and scientists who see evidence of links between environmental pollution and health problems and helps us learn about and act on the implications of environmental racism and the need for environmental justice. Carried by Cohen's passion for truth and her disarming openness, this moving documentary is essential viewing for anyone concerned about the effects of pollutants on our - and our children's - very DNA. An accompanying resource guide for using the film as a tool for education and social change can be found at, www.toxictrespass.ca.

Join Green Neighbours 20 for this film screening of the award-winning documentary, Toxic Trespass. We will have a follow-up discussion with the film’s executive producer and primary research consultant, Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg and Heather Marshall from Toronto Environmental Alliance, who will tell us about the INHALE project. This is a great opportunity to learn about air quality in our city, actions we can take, and green initiatives we can join in as Green Neighbours 20 to mitigate air pollution. We will also learn how we can be in solidarity with Indigenous communities who are the most impacted by the effects of toxic pollution from oil and gas production and are on the frontlines of struggles to protect their land, the water, and the air we all breathe.

Awards and Screenings of Toxic Trespass

  • CLIFF Award for Best Health and Safety Documentary from the Ontario Workers Health and Safety Centre, 2009
  • Honourable Mention, Best Science and Technology Film, Columbus Film and Video Festival 2009
  • Nominated for Golden Sheaf Award, Best Documentary, Yorkton Film Festival, 2009
  • winner, Best Writer Award for Documentary Film Writers Guild of Canada, 2008

Film Festivals the film has been invited to: Sudbury Cinefest, Doxa International Film and Video Doc festival, Environmental Film Festival, Paris, Flagstaff festival, Arizona, Silverdocs Festival, Calgary International Film Festival, Planet in Focus International Film and Video Festival, Yorkton Golden Sheath Awards Short Film and Video Festival, Chris Award for Best Envrionmental/Science Film, Paris International Environmental Film festival, Fourth Annual Colorado Environmental Film Festival.