What’s your Favourite Image of #Strength in Toronto? Public Asked to Vote on People’s Choice Award for Photography Contest involving People Affected by Homelessness and Poverty
June 11, 2018 – Images of strength in Toronto have been photographed by participants of MYTORONTO, a photography contest for people affected by homelessness and poverty. Starting June 11 until June 18, the public is invited to vote on their favourite photos at mytorontocalendar.com. The winner of the online People’s Choice vote will receive $300 in cash prizes and have their photograph appear in the MYTORONTO calendar which will showcase the top 13 photographs from the contest.
“We want the public to view these remarkable photographs that show what these individuals see as icons or scenes of strength in Toronto. It will be a tough choice, but we’d like them to select this city’s “People’s Choice,” says Navtej Saini, the Program Lead for the project, organized by Ve’ahavta, a Toronto humanitarian organization.
The participants were given five days to take their photographs and return their cameras for processing. Out of the 111 cameras distributed, 93 were returned, resulting in 2,418 photos being developed. A jury, including professional photographers, artists, representatives from community agencies, and people with lived experience of homelessness, then selected 40 photographs for a public exhibition to be held in the fall. From these, a second jury chose 20 photographs that are being considered for inclusion in the 2019 MYTORONTO calendar.
MYTORONTO, which began in 2017, enables people affected by homelessness and poverty to share their narrative while challenging the public’s perspective on the issues of poverty and homelessness in our city. In the fall, participants will have the opportunity to learn sales techniques and presentation skills and earn some additional income, as they become licensed calendar vendors.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Karen Nussbaum Anne Ptasznik
Principal Director of Communications
Storia PR Ve’ahavta
416.301.3193 416.964.7698, ext. 228
karen@storiapr.com Anne.Ptasznik@veahvta.org
Ve’ahavta is a Jewish humanitarian organization dedicated to promoting positive change in the lives of people of all faiths and backgrounds who have been marginalized by poverty and hardship. Ve’ahavta mobilizes volunteers in meaningful, hands-on experiences to fulfill our collective responsibility to care for our neighbour.
Ve’ahavta website: veahavta.org
MYTORONTO website: mytorontocalendar.com