I presented the Improv trophy that bears my name in Ottawa last weekend. This 33rd year, the winning team came from Vancouver Island. Congratulations!
The principles embodied in the improv games have a direct municipal application. The skills that are demonstrated by these young people can last a lifetime. The skills of working together as a team. When to be supportive, when to go solo; when to step forward, when to step back. To learn about committing oneself to the moment, to learn from each other. These skills are applicable whether you are a high-school student, a doctor, a lawyer, or a bank clerk. Everybody benefits if we listen, co-operate, learn and commit.
To all my improv relatives, this is another invitation to you to get involved in the campaign. Improve through improv. Above all, let's have a good time.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Me Too
I'd like to call out to my extended family.
First, I want to call out to the seniors of Toronto. Like you, I am concerned with the slow erosion of that which makes Toronto a great city: from the quality of air that we breathe to the safety on our streets, to the accessing of public spaces. Do you see these as significant problems? Me too.
Second, immigrants. Like you, I left my country during a time of neverending war and came to Canada to seek a better life. I honour your courage, your willingness to sacrifice to make a better life for yourself and your families.
Three, the creatives. I have spent a lifetime working in the creative arts and like you, I have struggled with budgets, acceptance of my work, and the frustrations of a society that values accountants and lawyers over creatives.
Four, spirit folk. Many of you are familiar with my multi-faith work, bringing together people of diverse faiths to sit with each other with respect, honour and dignity. You have dreamed a bigger dream, of the re-spiritualization of Toronto. Me too.
The improv nation. For more than forty years, I have trained people to use improvisation: to explore, and perhaps better, their lives. There are tens of thousands of you living here in Toronto whose experiences in the Improv Games are one of the highlights of their lives. Me too.
To the healers of Toronto, those who believe that we can be more creative and proactive in taking responsibility for our own health. You dream of a healthier, less medicalized city, with less dependance on our medical systems to give us the life we deserve. Me too.
To the why-bother-voting folks. Like you I have stayed away from municipal politics from the same despairing feeling that nothing will happen. Why bother? But now I feel this is an open moment. If I can call out to you in a way that respects and excites you, together we can make the changes necessary to move the city ahead. Most people in Toronto don't vote for the mayoralty election. If you do, we can accomplish great things. Do you want to go for it? Me too.
To the advertisers and marketers of Toronto, like you I have spent decades promoting products and services. Now it is time to use the best and brightest ideas in marketing our city to the world. I know you love this town. Me too.
To the despairing ones and the hurt and the sensitive. Like you, I have known the sadnesses of betrayal and broken dreams, the fears of the future, the pains of the present. But I believe that we, together, can uplift one another and see within each other the possibilities to re-create our lives. While we are still alive, let's bring back hope. Are you up for it? Me too.
To my brothers and sisters in the Unions. I have been a proud union member all of my adult life and I'm currently a member of six craft unions (but that's another story.) I feel I can call out to you legitimately and say that we have forgotten our purpose as Union people. We have traded in our vision of a brighter tomorrow for a larger hat with which to beg. This is the 21st century, we need a new mind. We're better than that.
And finally, to the entrepreneurial class. For decades I have been an artistic entrepreneur, creating employment opportunities for myself and others. I call upon you to create a vision that is filled with abundance, that acts like a magnet and attracts to Toronto the best entrepreneurial minds in the world. Let's call out to the world that Toronto is in renaissance mode, come join the excitement. Do you love this town? Me too.
Do you believe that we are just beginning to tap into the potential of what this city offers to the world? Me too.
On April 28th we will have the official launch of my campaign. Please stand by for the when and where. I look forward to seeing you then.
First, I want to call out to the seniors of Toronto. Like you, I am concerned with the slow erosion of that which makes Toronto a great city: from the quality of air that we breathe to the safety on our streets, to the accessing of public spaces. Do you see these as significant problems? Me too.
Second, immigrants. Like you, I left my country during a time of neverending war and came to Canada to seek a better life. I honour your courage, your willingness to sacrifice to make a better life for yourself and your families.
Three, the creatives. I have spent a lifetime working in the creative arts and like you, I have struggled with budgets, acceptance of my work, and the frustrations of a society that values accountants and lawyers over creatives.
Four, spirit folk. Many of you are familiar with my multi-faith work, bringing together people of diverse faiths to sit with each other with respect, honour and dignity. You have dreamed a bigger dream, of the re-spiritualization of Toronto. Me too.
The improv nation. For more than forty years, I have trained people to use improvisation: to explore, and perhaps better, their lives. There are tens of thousands of you living here in Toronto whose experiences in the Improv Games are one of the highlights of their lives. Me too.
To the healers of Toronto, those who believe that we can be more creative and proactive in taking responsibility for our own health. You dream of a healthier, less medicalized city, with less dependance on our medical systems to give us the life we deserve. Me too.
To the why-bother-voting folks. Like you I have stayed away from municipal politics from the same despairing feeling that nothing will happen. Why bother? But now I feel this is an open moment. If I can call out to you in a way that respects and excites you, together we can make the changes necessary to move the city ahead. Most people in Toronto don't vote for the mayoralty election. If you do, we can accomplish great things. Do you want to go for it? Me too.
To the advertisers and marketers of Toronto, like you I have spent decades promoting products and services. Now it is time to use the best and brightest ideas in marketing our city to the world. I know you love this town. Me too.
To the despairing ones and the hurt and the sensitive. Like you, I have known the sadnesses of betrayal and broken dreams, the fears of the future, the pains of the present. But I believe that we, together, can uplift one another and see within each other the possibilities to re-create our lives. While we are still alive, let's bring back hope. Are you up for it? Me too.
To my brothers and sisters in the Unions. I have been a proud union member all of my adult life and I'm currently a member of six craft unions (but that's another story.) I feel I can call out to you legitimately and say that we have forgotten our purpose as Union people. We have traded in our vision of a brighter tomorrow for a larger hat with which to beg. This is the 21st century, we need a new mind. We're better than that.
And finally, to the entrepreneurial class. For decades I have been an artistic entrepreneur, creating employment opportunities for myself and others. I call upon you to create a vision that is filled with abundance, that acts like a magnet and attracts to Toronto the best entrepreneurial minds in the world. Let's call out to the world that Toronto is in renaissance mode, come join the excitement. Do you love this town? Me too.
Do you believe that we are just beginning to tap into the potential of what this city offers to the world? Me too.
On April 28th we will have the official launch of my campaign. Please stand by for the when and where. I look forward to seeing you then.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Improve through Improv: the sequel
Old Man Improv here, about to head off to Ottawa, for the 30-somethingth national finals of the Canadian Improv Games. I have the joyous opportunity to give away my trophy to the winning team.
Improvisation is like the fountain of youth, it keeps the mind agile, you have creative responses to situations around you, it's a playful point of view. The jolt of youthful, positive energy that I get from the Games propells me like a rocket into the next year.
Last year, we had teams from Australia come and play with us, and we did the feet-in-the-air pledge (from 6:30 to 8:00 on the video, roughly.)
What does this have to do with running for Mayor of Toronto?
By now, tens of thousands of you graduates are living here in Toronto, and somewhere in your memory is the joy and the positive experience of being involved with the improv games, whether you were a player, a friend/relative or spectator, you know what an optimistic experience that was.
Now I call upon you, you who have become artists, doctors, lawyers, politicians; now is the time for us to join our energies together in an improv revival to help revive the vision of Toronto. Join me on April 28th, get your improv muscles together as we improve through improv.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Art of Business/the Business of Art
I was reading with interest the post of Gillian Hewitt Smith on the Toronto Star "Your City, My City" blog. I couldn't agree more. In fact, in the era of bean counters in positions of power, we have lost track of key ideas: what is a culture? what is a city?
Quiz: name one accountant or one lawyer from 60 years ago. Now, name one artist or musician from that time.
Throughout history, great cities have risen and presided over a crossroads and meeting place of commerce and culture. In ancient Byzantium, caravans would arrive from every direction, bringing with them their unique spices, fabrics, rugs, pottery, etc. Around campfires, dancers, musicians, storytellers and philosophers would exchange their culture's highest artistic expression. The resultant mix of visions would influence the development of the home cultures, and as consciousness expanded, a renaissance of arts, culture, architecture and wisdom was sure to follow.
Such a time is now, such a place is Toronto, where the world brings their cultures to mix and fuse their genius. The planet comes here to share their history, wisdom and art. Let us together midwife this new Byzantium.
Quiz: name one accountant or one lawyer from 60 years ago. Now, name one artist or musician from that time.
Throughout history, great cities have risen and presided over a crossroads and meeting place of commerce and culture. In ancient Byzantium, caravans would arrive from every direction, bringing with them their unique spices, fabrics, rugs, pottery, etc. Around campfires, dancers, musicians, storytellers and philosophers would exchange their culture's highest artistic expression. The resultant mix of visions would influence the development of the home cultures, and as consciousness expanded, a renaissance of arts, culture, architecture and wisdom was sure to follow.
Such a time is now, such a place is Toronto, where the world brings their cultures to mix and fuse their genius. The planet comes here to share their history, wisdom and art. Let us together midwife this new Byzantium.
Covering our assets
I've been thinking about what it means to privatise and sell off. My in-laws own a farm, and the idea of privatising the farm, or selling it off, is a terrible idea to them. So I've been looking at what we've been selling off.
The dome, sold for chump change. The 407, we sold cheaply and they're making a fortune. I don't think we're good at this sell-off thing. Maintaining ownership, leasing, partnering, keeping some kind of control, is a much better idea. As my father-in-law says, try not to sell off the farm. Hold on to the land, you never know what you can grow or build.
The dome, sold for chump change. The 407, we sold cheaply and they're making a fortune. I don't think we're good at this sell-off thing. Maintaining ownership, leasing, partnering, keeping some kind of control, is a much better idea. As my father-in-law says, try not to sell off the farm. Hold on to the land, you never know what you can grow or build.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The New Mind emerges
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein
The old mind has taken us a mighty long way, from caves to condos. However, the problems of 21st century Toronto linger on: homelessness, crime, litter... no matter how much money we throw at these problems, they persist.
If you continue to do what you've always done,
You'll continue to get what you've gotten before.
You can't expect any more, too much truth to ignore.
If you're driving down the road in the same direction,
You're liable to end up where you're heading to.
You know it's true
What else can we do?
We've got to turn ourselves around
Take another point of view
Do what it takes, see what else can be found
It's really up to you
For if you go to plant corn, expect to get squash
At harvest you'll be somewhat confused
No-one here is amused
This is circular self-abuse
The old mind specialized in separation, the dominance of the left brain. We can separate everything: the atom, the DNA, nations, religions. The new mind understands that everything is interconnected, interdependent, interrelated, interesting.
There is no longer an "away" to throw anything away. They took our "away" away. Therefore, what do we do with our garbage? If there are dioxins in polar bears, none of us are immune to the contamination of the earth.
The new mind makes decisions that reflect sustainability, survivability. The new mind is an open, sharing, illuminated, creative, optimistic view of the possibilities of life.
I therefore propose that Toronto position itself as a city of the new mind, as the creativity capital of the world. That the citizens will participate in a variety of experiences that are aimed at growing our minds and envisioning the new Toronto.
"You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...." John Lennon
The old mind has taken us a mighty long way, from caves to condos. However, the problems of 21st century Toronto linger on: homelessness, crime, litter... no matter how much money we throw at these problems, they persist.
If you continue to do what you've always done,
You'll continue to get what you've gotten before.
You can't expect any more, too much truth to ignore.
If you're driving down the road in the same direction,
You're liable to end up where you're heading to.
You know it's true
What else can we do?
We've got to turn ourselves around
Take another point of view
Do what it takes, see what else can be found
It's really up to you
For if you go to plant corn, expect to get squash
At harvest you'll be somewhat confused
No-one here is amused
This is circular self-abuse
The old mind specialized in separation, the dominance of the left brain. We can separate everything: the atom, the DNA, nations, religions. The new mind understands that everything is interconnected, interdependent, interrelated, interesting.
There is no longer an "away" to throw anything away. They took our "away" away. Therefore, what do we do with our garbage? If there are dioxins in polar bears, none of us are immune to the contamination of the earth.
The new mind makes decisions that reflect sustainability, survivability. The new mind is an open, sharing, illuminated, creative, optimistic view of the possibilities of life.
I therefore propose that Toronto position itself as a city of the new mind, as the creativity capital of the world. That the citizens will participate in a variety of experiences that are aimed at growing our minds and envisioning the new Toronto.
"You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...." John Lennon
Friday, March 12, 2010
The sharing city
In order to share something, you've got to have something to share. In Toronto, we don't have oil or gold. But we have an unlimited and untapped resource. No, it's not a windfarm in Lake Ontario, although I think that's a good idea. It's the people who make up Toronto. The whole world has brought its culture and wisdom here, and we manage to live together more or less peaceably. That is something to be proud of and something we can share.
In contrast to New York, which is the home of the United Nations, I propose that Toronto be the home of the united cities of the world. I therefore propose the establishment of a permanent World Municipal University, as a teaching forum on how to make a great city. Using the great facilities we have in Toronto, we would help teach mayors, civic staff, urban planners, etc.
We should not only share our wisdom, we should share our wealth. I think Toronto is such a great city that it should be run as a profit-making business. Surely the entrepreneurs of Toronto can come up with a plan so that the city makes a profit and that we have enough to share with other cities.
Finally, I believe that we should issue shares in the city of Toronto. All who live, work or own businesses in Toronto should benefit from these shares. (Psst... entrepreneurs! marketing specialists! surprise me! inspire me!) If you own shares in something you may think about it and care for it a little differently.
I'm happy to share this with you... now share your thoughts with me!
human dignity human dignity human dignity human dignity human dignity human dignity human dignity
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Improve through improv: the new mind is emerging
Attention lovers of improvisation!
Old Man Improv (me) is calling on the Improv Nation (you) to rise up and come play with me as I run for Mayor of Toronto. As you know, I had the joy of creating the Canadian Improv Games more than 30 years ago and there are tens of thousands of you out there who experienced what the Improv Games are all about.
Let us improvise together, and envision the could-be Toronto. Let's gather together on April 28th, place to be determined. Let's take the Improv energy and pour it into the electoral process of Toronto.
April 28th is a symbolic 180 days until election day, October 25th. Together we can do a 180 on our thinking about our city, and co-create the future of Toronto. Everything begins in the mind: building a house, writing a song, making a meal, it all begins in the mind; let's use ours creatively.
Let's use the same skills we developed as improvisers: to co-operate, to learn, to commit ourselves to the moment, and above all to have a good time.
This is a unique moment in Toronto. We will either continue drifting in the current direction, or we will change course! I invite you to jump on board the Good Ship Improv and help us chart the voyage into the future.
Improv scenarios to think about: Imagine it's ten years from now. What's different. Make it up, and send it along. Post your responses here! if it's a video, give us a link.
Old Man Improv (me) is calling on the Improv Nation (you) to rise up and come play with me as I run for Mayor of Toronto. As you know, I had the joy of creating the Canadian Improv Games more than 30 years ago and there are tens of thousands of you out there who experienced what the Improv Games are all about.
Let us improvise together, and envision the could-be Toronto. Let's gather together on April 28th, place to be determined. Let's take the Improv energy and pour it into the electoral process of Toronto.
April 28th is a symbolic 180 days until election day, October 25th. Together we can do a 180 on our thinking about our city, and co-create the future of Toronto. Everything begins in the mind: building a house, writing a song, making a meal, it all begins in the mind; let's use ours creatively.
Let's use the same skills we developed as improvisers: to co-operate, to learn, to commit ourselves to the moment, and above all to have a good time.
This is a unique moment in Toronto. We will either continue drifting in the current direction, or we will change course! I invite you to jump on board the Good Ship Improv and help us chart the voyage into the future.
Improv scenarios to think about: Imagine it's ten years from now. What's different. Make it up, and send it along. Post your responses here! if it's a video, give us a link.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Toronto goes for the gold!
We used to be the #1 city in the world. Now we're at either #4 or #15 depending on who you ask (EIU or Mercer.) To me that suggests that we've drifted off course, and this doesn't content me. We're better than that!
Let's go for it as a city. Let's determine right here and now that we want the gold! It's not going to be easy to get there but it could be creative and fun.
So I call upon the spirit of the city: rise up, and let us go for the gold!
Wisdom Buffet
We are so blessed in Toronto. Now more than 50% of our residents can claim that they came from somewhere else in the world; me among them. They bring to Toronto an incredible array of food, fashion, culture, art, and perhaps most importantly, wisdom. And I know that no matter how smart and funny I am, it's nothing compared to what's out there. So here's my program:
First, it will be my honour as Mayor of Toronto to call upon and harvest the wisdoms of the city through Wisdom Councils. Here's the idea: "Somebody, somewhere, sometime, must have figured something out that is of use to us today." Dr. Jean Houston does similar work for the UN. Let there be Wisdom Councils throughout the city, sharing their insights on 21st century Toronto.
Second, we can chronicle and archive the wisdoms of Toronto. Danny Beaton has been recording the wisdom of the indigenous elders for years and years. He is willing to help train young filmmakers to record the wisdom traditions of their families. What a resource!
Last, let's market ourselves as a cross-cultural destination. In Toronto a visitor could try an aikido lesson, have lunch in little Italy, go to a belly-dancing workshop in the afternoon, dine on Thai food, and then catch any one of a dozen concerts. Business leaders who want to expose their employees to new ways of thinking can find them here. "Come visit the whole world, it lives in Toronto."
First, it will be my honour as Mayor of Toronto to call upon and harvest the wisdoms of the city through Wisdom Councils. Here's the idea: "Somebody, somewhere, sometime, must have figured something out that is of use to us today." Dr. Jean Houston does similar work for the UN. Let there be Wisdom Councils throughout the city, sharing their insights on 21st century Toronto.
Second, we can chronicle and archive the wisdoms of Toronto. Danny Beaton has been recording the wisdom of the indigenous elders for years and years. He is willing to help train young filmmakers to record the wisdom traditions of their families. What a resource!
Last, let's market ourselves as a cross-cultural destination. In Toronto a visitor could try an aikido lesson, have lunch in little Italy, go to a belly-dancing workshop in the afternoon, dine on Thai food, and then catch any one of a dozen concerts. Business leaders who want to expose their employees to new ways of thinking can find them here. "Come visit the whole world, it lives in Toronto."
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