“In Your Face”: Fascinating Journey into Natural and Artificial Intelligence Facial Recognition

If you are Canadian you no doubt are familiar with one the nation’s must trusted and respected scientists David Suzuki. He has an uncanny ability to not only simplify science but to make it enjoyable.

A Canadian documentary “In Your Face” is presented on David Suzuki’s “Nature of Things” a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television show on January 21st at 9 p.m. The documentary is written and directed by Montreal native Josh Freed an internationally recognized producer of documentaries.

Although many of us are aware of the growing use of Artificial Intelligence facial recognition software you may be surprised that the human brain has been wired to enable humans to recognize faces. This ability starts almost right after birth. In fact most of us are so good at facial recognition we can often think we see faces in inanimate objects such as sinks or clouds. In fact some recent experiments on monkeys have enabled scientists to actually hear neurons in the monkeys’ brain firing when facial recognition is occurring. It seems we humans have a facial data bank recognition for over 5000 faces. But 2% of the population do not have this ability including Brad Pitt! This 2% face blind group may lack the ability to recognize their own face. Imagine not being able to recognize the faces of your children!

Yet there are the “super recognizers” that have the ability to never forget a face and they need not see the entire face to have this ability. They are in high demand in some police forces to operate in crowds to spot criminals and terrorists.

I like the segment of the documentary where viewers are asked to recognize celebrity faces that are masked in balaclavas so all you can see is part of the face and the eyes. I was 0/4!

It might be that our evolution as humans fine tuned this facial recognition ability. It enabled us to recognize friends and foes and was part of a survival recognition.

Then there is the AI side of facial recognition which seems flawed with unreliability to recognize different ethnic groups and leads to incorrect profiling and targeting. AI is out of control in China where there are 300 million CCTV cameras which is one for every five citizens. To even pay for fast-food meals a facial recognition camera is used. Interestingly humans have difficulty in facial recognition for faces outside their racial group. A study of adopted Korean children in France concluded that the children had a better success rate in facial recognition of Caucasians than for Korean faces showing that this facial recognition has a great cultural as opposed to genetic component.

This may amount to a huge breach of privacy capturing faces on camera. A face is a person and to capture that image without consent is a potential human rights violation.

I hope you will enjoy this documentary as much as I did. You can access this throughout the globe on streaming service CBC Gem as of January 21,2022 https://gem.cbc.ca/

As filmmaker Josh Freed says, “I never knew I had a superpower until I made this film about how we all recognize faces. It’s an amazing and untold story about what we do every time we meet someone.”

You can see the trailer here https://vimeo.com/664475263

Vitamin C and COVID-19

THE REVIEW

Vitamin C Intervention for Critical COVID-19: A Pragmatic Review of the Current Level of Evidence

Patrick Holford 1,*, Anitra C. Carr 2, Masuma Zawari 2, Marcela P. Vizcaychipi 3,4

  1. Founder of Institute for Optimum Nutrition, Ambassador House, Richmond TW9 1SQ, UK
  2. Nutrition in Medicine Research Group, Department of Pathology & Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; anitra.carr@otago.ac.nz (A.C.); masuma.zawari@otago.ac.nz (M.Z.)
  3. Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK; m.vizcaychipi@imperial.ac.uk
  4. Intensive Care Medicine, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London SW10 9NH, UK

*   Correspondence: vitaminc4covid@gmail.com

Abstract: Severe respiratory infections are characterized by elevated inflammation and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which may lead to a decrease in antioxidants such as vitamin C and a higher requirement for the vitamin. Administration of intravenous vitamin C to patients with pneumonia and sepsis appears to decrease the severity of the disease and potentially improve survival rate. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes pneumonia, sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in severe cases, and is referred to as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Patients with COVID-19 infection also appear to have depleted vitamin C status and require additional supplementation of vitamin C during the acute phase of the disease. To date there have been 12 vitamin C and COVID-19 trials published, including five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and seven retrospective cohort studies. The current level of evidence from the RCTs suggests that intravenous vitamin C intervention may improve oxygenation parameters, reduce inflammatory markers, decrease days in hospital and reduce mortality, particularly in the more severely ill patients. High doses of oral vitamin C supplementation may also improve the rate of recovery in less severe cases. No adverse events have been reported in published vitamin C clinical trials in COVID-19 patients. Upcoming findings from larger RCTs will provide additional evidence on vitamin supplementation in COVID-19 patients.

Posted: 1st November 2021

Read the full report here > https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/11/1166/pdf

Affordable Vitamin C for Covid | An Interview with Patrick Holford. Find out what the new 12 trial study has identified in THIS interview.

https://www.brighteon.com/3a850822-a310-4ac2-b720-4d89ef161931

Travels to a Different Time: June 21, 1970, Letter Home from Rhodes

From Robert to brother Andrew; Dear Andy: Yesterday we returned from our trip to Lindos. We all went there on a motorcycle! Yes I had to coax Mom to ride one. They broke down a few times and ran out of gas. We saw the Acropolis at Lindos and swam at a great beach there and ate sweet watermelon and the juiciest oranges. It is very funny that Mom simply puts the watermelon in the ocean for a bit to cool it down. It is so hot here! Having a good time here. I am hoping to buy a speargun here as a friend I made taught me how to use it. Robert

From Margaret Mary Stephen to son Andrew: Dearest Andrew: I wonder if there has been another mail strike in Montreal. I would like to hear from you so use the blue airmail forms. Rhodes is beautiful and it is very hot during the day but you need a light sweater when the sun sets- and a heavy wool blanket at night. The food is wonderful with fruit, veggies and cheese being plentiful. Robert is good company and complains about nothing other than being hungry all the time! He really misses his big Canadian breakfasts. I am very tanned without even trying. You can burn in the sun so easily here and I have a big scab on my knee from the moped spill. It was a terrifying 36-mile trip to Lindos. I just about had a heart attack when a car passed me. The ruins caused me to think how ancient Greece is. It is such a different life here. I almost can’t believe what I have seen in this country. It is so clean and the people are lovely. We have been invited to West Berlin by a 38-year-old German doctor we met on the ship from Athens to Rhodes. We also got an invitation to go to South Africa from a couple we met on the ship. One meets so many people here from all over the world. I miss you very much and it would nice if you could be here with us. Please write me today. Love Mom

Travels to a Different Time: June 1970: Moped Troubles in Rhodes!

Hotel Pearl in Rhodes was quite to our liking. The room was small but spotless and had a breezy balcony. We had a quick lunch and I rented a moped for a couple of hours and had a ball zipping around. A 12-year-old on the open road. No way you could do that as a 12-year-old in Canada! We hung around the beach later in the afternoon and met up with Jenny and Charly Horse the South African couple we met on the ship here from Piraeus. We also met up with our ship friend Dr. Boden and all of us decided to rent mopeds and travel some 40 kilometres to the Acropolis at Lindos.I am not sure what kilometres are or kilos as we do not follow the metric system in Canada.

At 9 a.m. off we went to Lindos with Dr. Boden and Jenny and Charly Horse. We got off to a zippy start but just out of town my bike pooped out. I got a lift to a gas station with the bike and they said it would be tomorrow before it would be ready. It was decided that Charly Horse and I would go back to Rhodes and get a new moped and off with my new moped and we went to the small town where we left the ladies. Mom had had a spill and had a gash which Dr. Boden had cleaned and bandaged. We started going up some hills higher and higher and Mom was getting nervous. We finally arrived in Lindos hot and tired so a trip to cool down at the beach was just what we needed. We then went out with a fisherman in the late afternoon and were back on shore at 8:30 p.m.. The fisherman had a couple of rooms in his house which we rented. The next morning, we saw the acropolis at Lindos and after lunch headed back to Rhodes.

Mom and the adults spent time together for the next two days but I met a boy my age at the beach and spent a couple of days with him. He taught me how to spearfish and he nailed a couple of fish but no such luck for me. His family owned a restaurant so we had lunch there. Boy what an adventure! Are there sharks in Greece because we were far out in the ocean?

A couple of days later Charly and Jenny Horse went on their way and we hung out with Dr. Boden who insisted we call her Heidi. Every time I say that name I think of The Sound of Music!

One night at dinner we met two American sailors Charly and Barney who were cooks on a United States aircraft carrier anchored in the harbour. After dinner we went with the sailors and Heidi to a nightclub. A 12-year-old at a nightclub! Cool daddy Cool! The sailors were drunk as skunks and we said good-bye at 3 in the morning but not before they invited us on their aircraft carrier later in the day. We took a launch to the aircraft carrier and Shorty had been instructed by Charly and Barney to take us on a special tour. To get on the ship we had to climb a rope ladder and the ladies were not happy as the sailors below were looking up their dresses. We saw the kitchen and had sweet buns. These sailors eat a good breakfast every day and I am stuck with bread and jam! We saw jets and all sorts of weapons.

I have seen and done so many things in 10 days that 12-year old’s in Canada would never see. I feel I am growing up real quick. Is this what Europe can do to a 12-year-old?

We found a bakery around the corner from the hotel so every morning we went to get just baked rolls. We had with juice and jam on our balcony. Mom saw the baker who always had a drippy nose which we hoped did not drip into the dough.

A couple of days later we said goodbye to Heidi at the port as she was going to another island. She had left her contact details and we may meet up again in Europe. She invited us to West Berlin! Boy I can’t wait to see the Berlin Wall!

RKS Wine: Ontario Gamay Gamble

There are some dicey Ontario red wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Baco Noir to name some. You must really know your producers in the dicey game.

Gamay Noir and Cabernet Franc do well in Ontario. Malivoire and Fogolar do very well with Gamay. What about Niagara’s KEW Vineyards? Why not try a KEW Vineyards 2019 Barrel Aged Gamay Noir?

It’s a garnet coloured and transparent wine. On the nose a very lighthearted cherry with some milk chocolate, raspberry all of which enveloped in a slightly smoky frame. Very smooth on the palate. Is this a lightweight lovely? On the palate the lightweight cherry champions itself with a slight bit of a tart and sour cherry finish. This wine only goes to show Gamay Noir has a bright future in Niagara.

Roast lamb and duck would suit this well but this is one of those wines that can be delightfully sipped as well. Ready, willing, and able to be consumed now and I doubt ageing will improve it.

(KEW Barrel Aged Gamay Noir 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, KEW Vineyards Estate Winery, Beamsville, Ontario, $17.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 515270, 750 mL, 13%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 92/100)

Wine drinker profile: One who appreciates a lighter red wine tinged by red fruit and is happy to sip as is with some nibbles such as Morbier or St. Nectaire cheese or with simply roasted lamb or duck confit.

RKS Poetry: “Lizzie the Spineless Worm”

Andrew the “alleged” sexual predator leaving a potential embarrassing stain
on the royal mane
the gutless royal train rather pandering to the National Enquirer and Daily Mirror sleaze
in the continuing historically sexually corrupt Royal trapeze
no pride on your part nor family loyalty
you dump Andrew before he may be nailed to the cross of perpetual time honoured royal corrupt breeze
before the grand jury even has time to sneeze
Lizzie you are a spineless weasel ready to dump Andrew and screw him up good
what happened to the stiff British stiff upper class lip
you have dumped the royal pride
and have chosen to be ruled by the tabloid stride
leader of the spineless royal worm
before his guilt you have dumped Randy Andy
so far innocent of some guilty spanky spanky
you’ve dumped him like some scum
but please let that not disturb tourist revenue derived from the Royal Windsor drum
such a loving grand mum!

Poetry Corner: Prime Minister Trudeau and The Truck Drivers: TTTT

T is for Trudeau our Canadian Prime Minister
T is for backing down and letting unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers to enter Canada but not extending the same courtesy to American truck drivers who bring in so many goods including food to Canada
a stick in the spoke of Canadian American relations and thereby increasing supply chain issues and augmenting inflation
making his decision ill advised and sinister
T is for apparently tough making him free from rebuke
T is for a man who likes to think he is firm and true but the ill advised nature of this decision wants to make me puke

A great chance for O’Toole
of the Conservative Party leader to justifiably make him look like a Fool
and NDP leader Singh
to give him a hearty public relations ding!

Robert K. Stephen

RKS Film: “A Grand Romantic Gesture”: Thank You For Sparing Me From A Cheesy Romantic Film!

You have probably seen too many cheesy romantic films with a perfect and happy ending. I would rather eat two bags of Cheesies than watch a telescreen generated Harlequin Romance Film. Harlequin films are designed for whom? A cholesterol nightmare would be preferable to suffering through a formulistic romantic film.

So with a degree of suspicion, I watched “A Grand Romantic Gesture” which was filmed in Toronto. I recognize the location of many of the shoots!

Although this is a film that may turn you on your head if you are a lover of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet which I have seen at the Stratford Festival in Ontario you just might find a deeper meaning to the film.

Ava is a 50’ish biomedical researcher living in Toronto who has been in polite terms “downsized” so in her perspective has resulted n the average age of an employee being reduced to 12. A very insightful, truthful and cutting comment that won me over early on in the film!

Her husband Matty apparently has mapped out her post corporate career for her and that is to enroll in a cooking class to prepare Ava for minding her soon to be born grandchild. Everything is expected but nothing is consulted!

Ava is no chef and seizes the opportunity at the community college to transfer into a drama workshop not telling husband and daughter lest she upset their selfish and sexist expectations. Initially slotted for a supporting role in Romeo and Juliet along with Simon a “happily unmarried” man of the same age both are slotted to the lead roles of Romeo and Juliet.

A romance develops reluctantly and awkwardly to the point they are sleeping together. Ava has a bit of revenge on her mind as Matty had an affair shortly after she became pregnant. As Shakespeare quilled in the play “Love is a Madness Most Indiscrete!

Simon’s wife Roz sees what is going down but Ava’s husband Matty simply can’t believe it.

Ava decides to end it all. It would appear it is game over. All signs point to an amicable split with Simon and so be it. But does real romance die with convenient thoughts?

I must say on occasion in Toronto I will venture to a Costco in a suburb Vaughn which is north of Toronto and sometimes I will take city streets as opposed to the highway and in the middle of “nowhere” there is a strange motel which I have thought why is this motel here? The film has a couple of scenes at this motel and my suspicions are confirmed!

So if you are looking to view an intelligent rom movie instead of some palaver you will enjoy this film.

BAFTA winner Gina McKee shines as a somewhat rebellious Ava and her foil Simon (Douglas Hodge) matches her muddled confidence.

You can see the trailer here https://vimeo.com/623537747

This 107-minute film will be released on digital platforms on 8Febuary2022.

Travels to a Different Time By a 12 Year Old Boy: June 1970 On Board the TMVK Knossos to Rhodes

We took a taxi from Athens to its port city Piraeus which was somewhat on the raunchy side of things. We had a cold greasy lunch and then boarded our ship the TMVK Knossos bound for several islands including our destination Rhodes. It would be an overnight trip and Mom had purchased second class tickets and cabin. Never being on a passenger ship I suppose I was expecting something fancy but this ship had seen better days. A steward showed us to our berth which had bunk beds and looked more like a Siberian prison camp room than anything fancy. There was not even a porthole. At least there were many interesting people on board. I slept a good deal of the time adjusting myself to the 8-hour time difference while Mom said she met a very interesting South African couple Jenny and Charlie Horse. There is a large Greek population in South Africa. We had a chicken dinner sitting with the South African couple. It as served by a dreamy waiter. Next day for breakfast there was more of the spartan Greek breakfast but the bread was stale and the jam was of poor quality. We met a very nice German doctor from West Berlin called Heidi Boden. We approached an island and I asked the deckhand if this was Rhodes. He said “of course” but he was saying in reality it was the island of Kos. Lucky for us I spoke to a deckhand that spoke some English who said Rhodes would be the next stop. There were hotel representatives at the dock and we followed one man to his hotel but it was too far away from the centre. A representative from another hotel had been tailing us and pounced on us seeing we rejected the hotel so we ended up at a centrally located hotel called The Pearl.

Art Gallery of Ontario’s Virtual Programs Celebrating the Carribean

For Immediate Release: Jan. 12, 2022
The AGO rings in the new year artfully with online programs celebrating the sounds and tastes of the Caribbean
Free live Virtual School Programs return with music and history
courtesy of the Canadian Opera Company, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
and Toronto History Museums
TORONTO — This winter, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) invites everyone to spark their senses, as it presents an exciting line up of online programs and courses exploring the intersection of art, sound and taste.  Bringing together educators, musicians, chefs, curators, singers, artists and writers from across North America and the Caribbean, the AGO’s winter 2022 public programming is heavily inspired by the original AGO exhibitions, Fragments of Epic Memory and Matthew Wong: Blue View. The AGO is temporarily closed, but through its robust online programs, continues to connect with artists, students, educators and families across Ontario.

“The demand for our Virtual School Programs and its success in bringing art education to classrooms and living rooms across Ontario, all free of charge, reminds us how important art is to the wellbeing of our community,” said Audrey Hudson, the AGO’s Richard & Elizabeth Currie Chief, Education & Programming. “This winter we are thrilled to debut two new original video series – our first food-focused conversation series, and an exciting series of studio tours curated by youth – and present our first Mandarin and Mohawk language programs. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the Museum when allowed, and in the meantime, are pleased to continue sharing art with our public.”  

Highlights from AGO’s winter programming season are listed below. Registration is now open for all events, including Virtual School Programs and Adult courses. For more details, visit ago.ca/events  and ago.ca/learn.
 AGO WINTER 2022 PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTSAGO Virtual School Programs
Free of charge to students, parents, educators and caregivers everywhere, the AGO’s Virtual School Program returns this winter, delivering live 30-minute field trips, Monday to Friday, via Zoom. Led by AGO Art Educators, three sessions are presented every morning, each designed especially for students in JK to Grade 3, Grade 4 to 8 and Grade 9 to 12. Sessions are organized thematically and draw on artworks and objects from the AGO Collection. The AGO Virtual School Program is excited to welcome educators from the following cultural organizations this winter:  On January 13, 20 and 27, artworks from the AGO exhibition Fragments of Epic Memory, inspire a series of sessions about music, movement and cultural identity. Two of these sessions will be co-led by artist educators from the Canadian Opera Company, and another co-led by an artist of The National Ballet of Canada.  
 On February 3, 17 and 24, educators from three Toronto History Museums (Montgomery’s Inn, Fort York and Mackenzie House) will invite students to explore moments in history through sound.
 On March 10, 24 and 31, artists and educators from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) will guide students through the connections between visual art and music.To see the schedule of sessions, learn more about the thematic topics and to register for one or all of these free sessions, visit ago.ca/visit/group-visits/virtual-school-programs.

Foodways: Caribbean Flavours
Hosted by AGO’s Executive Chef Renée Bellefeuille, Foodways is a new conversation series that brings together chefs to explore the intersection of culinary practices, memory and art. This January the AGO is excited to present Foodways: Caribbean Flavours, a three-part talk series bringing together three chefs with ties to the Caribbean and its Diaspora to reflect on their own foodways, inspired by the AGO exhibition Fragments of Epic Memory. Participating chefs are Roger Mooking, La-toya Fagon and Selwyn Richards.On January 14, join Chef Roger Mooking at 4 p.m. on Facebook Live for part one of Foodways: Caribbean Flavours, as he discusses his Trinidadian background, love of travel and many influences with series host Renée Bellefeuille and Fragments of Epic Memory curator Julie Crooks.  Mooking is best known as the host of grilling and barbecue show “Man Fire Food” and his restaurant Twist by Roger Mooking located at Toronto Pearson Airport. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/foodways-caribbean-flavours-chef-roger-mooking.On January 21, join Chef La-toya Fagon at 4 p.m. on Facebook Live for part two of Foodways: Caribbean Flavours, as she talks about growing up eating island foods and her creative blending of traditional Caribbean cooking styles with Mediterranean flavours. Fagon was the first food expert on The Marilyn Denis Show in Toronto and is a personal chef to the Toronto Raptors. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/foodways-caribbean-flavours-chef-la-toya-fagon.
 On January 28, join Chef Selwyn Richards at 4 p.m. on Facebook Live for part three of Foodways: Caribbean Flavours, as he discusses his love for soul food from the Caribbean and his experience as a food stylist. Richards is the President and Executive Chef of The Art of Catering, former owner of an upscale Caribbean restaurant and is the author of the book The Art of Cooking – Soul of the Caribbean. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/foodways-caribbean-flavours-chef-selwyn-richards.
 AGO x RBC Artist-in-Residence
Following a nationwide call for proposals, the AGO is pleased to announce, thanks to the generous support of RBC, its three AGO x RBC Artists-in-Residence for 2022. Each selected artist or duo will engage in a three-month virtual residency and will present details of their project publicly upon completion. Responding to the theme of Friendship Near and Far, the AGO welcomes Eric Chengyang & Mariam Magsi, Ivetta Sunyoung Kang and Shion Skye Carter. For more details, including bios of the artists, visit ago.ca/emerging-artists-program.

Talks
Committed to leading global conversations from Toronto, the AGO welcomes distinguished and emerging artists, curators and authors this winter. Upcoming talks include:On Thursday, January 13 at 4 p.m., American painter Ali Banisadr joins Kenneth Brummel, AGO’s Associate Curator of Modern Art, in conversation about Pablo Picasso’s Blue Period paintings of 1901-1904. To register to this free Zoom talk, visit ago.ca/events/ali-banisadr-contemporary-thoughts-picasso.
 On Wednesday, January 19 at 1 p.m., join speaker Maurice Switzer for a discussion on how Treaties have impacted the lives of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada. This free talk is presented via AGO’s Facebook Live. For more details, visit https://ago.ca/events/we-are-all-treaty-people-maurice-switzer. 
 On Tuesday, March 1 at 4 p.m., poet and critic John Yau discusses the paintings and writing of Chinese-Canadian artist Matthew Wong, in conjunction with the ongoing exhibition Matthew Wong: Blue View. To register for this free Zoom talk, visit ago.ca/events/matthew-wong-john-yau.
 Art in the Spotlight, the AGO’s free series of conversations with emerging and established artists continues this winter. 
 On January 27 at 4 p.m., Toronto-based filmmaker Esery Mondesir discusses his new exhibition and ongoing exploration of the Haitian global diaspora. This program is held in conjunction with the exhibition Esery Mondesir: We Have Found Each Other. To register to this free Zoom talk, visit ago.ca/events/art-spotlight-esery-mondesir.Close Looking, a bi-weekly series of art talks highlighting works from the AGO collection, continues this winter with a focus on new acquisitions and current events. Talks are posted bi-weekly on the AGO Facebook page.
 On Monday, January 24, Erin Rutherford, AGO’s Collection Development Librarian, will take a closer look at Toronto-based artist Annie S. MacDonald’s bookbinding techniques.
 Pop-up Studio in Mandarin
Inspired by the ongoing exhibition Matthew Wong: Blue View, the AGO invites artists of all ages to join a weekly series of free artmaking sessions focused on the colour blue. Participants will be guided in a drawing and colouring exercise led in Mandarin by artist instructor, Jenny Chen. Sessions are free via Zoom every Wednesday at 7 p.m. from January 12 to February 2, 2022. For more details and to register, visit ago.ca/events/pop-art-making-mandarin-inspired-matthew-wongs-landscapes.

Community Programs
The AGO works with numerous community partners to provide art education and make art accessible for people with diverse abilities. That commitment continues this winter with the return of Multisensory Moments, Seniors Social and Art Enables Workshops, and the continuation of the AGO’s partnership with Workman Arts.Continuing its exploration of mental health awareness and advocacy, the AGO presents two new videos in the ongoing Workman Arts video series titled Talking Back and Together. Debuting on the AGO Facebook Page on January 21 and February 18 at 11 a.m. respectively, each episode features a different artist sharing their practice and artwork.
 The AGO’s popular Seniors Social program returns on January 14, February 11, March 11 and April 8 at 2 p.m. with free conversation and artmaking activities for older adults. Pre-registration is recommended and each session is unique. To register for one or all of these sessions, visit ago.ca/learn/ago-makes/virtual-seniors-social.
 Students from OCAD U’s Inclusive Design Multisensory Museum Course have translated artworks in the AGO Collection into multisensory objects and will present their projects on January 24, February 28, March 21, April 25 and May 20 at 11 a.m. For more details about the students and their artworks visit ago.ca/events/multisensory-moments-christi-belcourts-wisdom-universe.
 Family Programs
Songs and stories are an important part of artful play this winter at the AGO. Family Programs are free and open to parents, children and caregivers of all ages.On Sunday, January 16, February 20 and March 20 at 2 p.m., the AGO is partnering with Story Planet for Family Fireside Chats, a free fun family experience. Mixing story-making and play time inspired by works from the AGO Collection, each 45 minute session will be Zoomed live from the Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre. For more details and to register, visit ago.ca/events/fireside-family-chat.
 Beginning on Tuesday, March 1 at 11 a.m., and continuing each week, the AGO presents its first ever Mohawk song circle. Indigenous Early Childhood Educator Miss Kristi Talbot will present classic nursery rhymes and children’s songs in the Mohawk language. Parents, guardians and educators are encouraged to participate. For more details and to register for the Zoom link, visit ago.ca/events/mohawk-language-nursery-songs.
 Youth Programs
In addition to providing free admission to all visitors aged 25 and under, the AGO continues to support dynamic programming by and for youth.Launching January 26 comes Inner Space, an original series of videos curated by the AGO Youth Advisory for Inner Space and AGO staff. In each episode, an artist will provide viewers with an intimate look at their studio and practice. A new video, featuring a different artist, will be presented each month on ago.ca/innerspace, where you can also find more details about the participating artists and the AGO Youth Advisory for Inner Space.
 On February 23, March 2 and March 9 at 4 p.m., Toronto-based writer Fan Wu presents a series of free writing workshops for youth about the resonances of the colour blue, inspired by the ongoing exhibition Matthew Wong: Blue View. To register for these free Zoom workshops series, visit ago.ca/events/ink-pin-writing-workshop-fan-wu.
Courses
Online studio art courses for the entire family continue this winter. Challenge yourself with new courses and workshops inspired by Robert Houle: Red is Beautiful, Fragments of Epic Memory and Matthew Wong: Blue View.  For full course listings, fees and materials, visit ago.ca/Learn. 
AGO Members receive a discount on courses. For more information on how to become a Member, visit ago.ca/membership today. Highlights from the 2022 winter online course schedule include: New this season is Online Art and Ideas: Fallon Simard. Inspired by the ongoing exhibition Robert Houle: Red is Beautiful and beginning February 2, this four-week adult online course discusses many of themes present in Houle’s artwork. Led by artist instructor Fallon Simard, students will use digital photography to create new colourful abstract, modern and conceptual images.
 Online Painting Explorations: Landscapes, led by artist and writer Gomo George, begins February 3. This four-week online course will introduce adults to the art of Landscape painting using subject matter inspired by artworks in the exhibition Fragments of Epic Memory.
 Beginning February 6, join Online Painting Explorations: Inspired by Matthew Wong, a four-week online course for adults inspired by the imaginary nocturnal landscape drawings of Chinese-Canadian artist Matthew Wong. Learn painting elements such as gesture, composition and colour and experiment with a range of materials like gouache.