COIL

(Collaborative Online International Learning)

A virtual collaboration between Journalism students at Seneca Polytechnic in Canada and other universities around the world.

The Extraordinary Stories Behind Everyday Heroes:

Contributing to a Circular Economy.

A virtual collaboration between Journalism students at Seneca Polytechnic in Canada and Artevelde University in Belgium.

The Collaboration

In multicultural groups, students explore the global concept of a circular economy and collaborate on bringing together stories of successful local initiatives, an ocean apart, that contribute to a more sustainable world.

Robert Raynor works with project teams who salvage, sort, and reuse deconstructed materials from old buildings. These materials are then put towards the development of new infrastructure...

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Anil Abrol is the founder of EcoGuardian. The company produces environmentally friendly and reusable food utensil alternatives to single-use plastics...

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Dayna Stein is the proud owner of bare market; Toronto’s first all-in-one stop for package free goods. Her goal is to promote a sustainable and accessible lifestyle for everyone...

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Omo Bamboo is a zero-waste shop. Quality is a priority – and prices are geared towards affordability....

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The Extraordinary Stories Behind Everyday Heroes:

Contributing to a Circular Economy in a World Altered by COVID-19

A virtual collaboration between Journalism students at Seneca Polytechnic in Canada and Artevelde University in Belgium

The Collaboration

In multicultural groups, students explore the global concept of a circular economy and collaborate on bringing together stories of successful local initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable world.

Right on his rooftop, Max Meighen harvests the crops needed for his restaurant and brewery, Avling. His rooftop garden is over 4,000 square feet. There, he harvests crops like tomatoes, lettuce, and peppers to be used in the dishes prepared in Avling’s kitchen. 

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Anastasiya Ivanova is a regular shopper at vintage clothing stores. She says reusing clothes contributes to a circular economy.

Textile production releases 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases every year worldwide.

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It’s all about sustainable style for Samirah Aziz. This up-and-coming fashion student has found a way to combine her two loves. Aziz says she’s not about to buy into fast fashion trends. This 20-year-old wants other fashion-conscious consumers to do the same. 

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A throwaway society, that’s how Wai Chu Cheng sees much of our world. Her mission? To repair it, piece by piece, year by year, community by community.

In 2009 Wai saw a Repair Café in Amsterdam. Repair versus replace cultures have existed there and in places like Cuba for decades. 

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Kieran Alkerton is the founder of Crisper Kits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s been working at food banks and donating meal prep kits.

What shocked him most, has been the amount of plastic used.

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TD Markham Jazz Festival

Jenny Thai has the keys to success during this pandemic. Performing at TD Markham Jazz Festival this year, she hopes to share this secret with anyone who finds success hard to reach during these trying times.

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or Jocelyn Gould, music is about more than sharing a beautiful melody. It is a journey. A year into this pandemic, for Gould, this journey is one of healing.

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Tak Arikushi mixes Gypsy Jazz with sounds from his Japanese culture, creating a beat we've never heard before.

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The pandemic keeps many away from their home roots. Not Elmer Ferrer. This Cuban-Canadian Juno nominated musician takes the stage at TD Markham Jazz Festival this year.

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TD Toronto Jazz Festival

Journalism students cover the impact of COVID - 19 on the jazz music scene as the annual festival prepares to return virtually.

Inspired by the arrival of their daughter, Rebecca Hennessy and Michael Herring have been on a mission to spread joy during this pandemic.

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John Pittman is a Toronto-based trumpeter and educator who has had to move his classes online. He's trying to make the best out of the current situation for his students -- from setting up online improv sessions to having virtual one-on-ones, Pittman is making sure the beat stays alive.

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Tasked with how to keep his beat alive, Kiyoshi Nagata came up with a creative way to drum. This world-renowned Japanese Canadian Taiko Drummer has created a Virtual Taiko Drum through an app.

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Avery Raquel has been on stage since she was seven years old. When the Covid 19 pandemic hit, live performances went the way of the dodo, but Avery has refused to let her music be silenced

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Elizabeth Rodriguez is one half of the award-winning ensemble OKAN. The artist receives constant adulation for her sound, but she is not afraid to admit that she had to suffer to get to where she is today.

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At a young age, Ryan is ready to charter his career in the jazz industry as he forms his fresh, new voice around the rich ancestral DNA of jazz music found in Trinidad, where he grew up.

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After graduating from the University of Toronto's music school, Jenna Marie Pinard was ready to take on the world of jazz and soul, but then the pandemic hit. She takes to TikTok singing loud and full of passion, creating a new vibrant sound on a new platform.

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For many musicians, their musical journey begins with a special event in their life, but for Sarah Thawer, her journey began with her family -- a family of musicians. Many know Thawer as the amazing fusion drummer from Toronto because of her countless breathtaking performances, but how did she become the musician she is today?

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Working Through Lockdown

From yoga to baking, Journalism students cover life during quarantine.

To some, yoga is just a form of exercise. To Anastasiya Ivanova, yoga is a way of conquering the impact of COVID-19. When the pandemic hit, this Seneca journalism student had to find a stress release.

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Monica Torres is picking up extra hours at Skechers to support her mother who lost her job due to COVID-19. Monica’s mother, Julia Torres is one of three million people in Canada who have been laid off.

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Staying indoors all the time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, can be frustrating for most. It has a huge impact on kids which is why it is important to keep little ones busy, so one family is baking pizza together.

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COVID-19 has put a stop to many activities in the city without warning. This has taken a toll on the mental health of many individuals. The inability to access gyms and other places of stress relief, has people finding other ways to cope.

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This pandemic has found many people stuck at home away from their usual passions. To cope, they have found new outlets for their creativity. Samah Yar Khan has decided to indulge her newfound love of audio storytelling in a podcast about her daily life.

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