Mark Simms
Encyclopedia
Mark Simms is a Black-Canadian filmmaker, community activist and martial artist.
, Ontario
and grew up in Jane and Finch
alongside childhood friend, Paul Nguyen
. Simms is the executive producer for the community website, Jane-Finch.com. He is a 2nd Dan black belt in Taekwondo
and has competed and won multiple tournaments in Ontario
, Canada
. Simms has been known to be very generous and giving of his time to his community and various charitable organizations. He frequently appears as a motivational speaker and guest lecturer for events aimed at children and youth.
In 2006, Simms opposed the installation of police cameras in Jane and Finch on CBLA-FM
's Metro Morning
with Andy Barrie
. In 2007, he spoke out on behalf of the Manner family during the 2007 murder of Jordan Manners.
area.
's the fifth estate
called, Lost in the Struggle. The film featured Vietnamese-Canadian rapper, Chuckie Akenz
.
Life
Mark Simms was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and grew up in Jane and Finch
Jane and Finch
Jane and Finch is a neighbourhood located in northwestern North York, a district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The area is roughly bounded by Highway 400 to the west, Driftwood Avenue to the east, Grandravine Drive to the south, and Shoreham Drive to the north...
alongside childhood friend, Paul Nguyen
Paul Nguyen
Paul Nguyen, O.M.C. is a Vietnamese-Canadian filmmaker. He is an award-winning social activist, journalist and founder of Jane-Finch.com.- Life and career :...
. Simms is the executive producer for the community website, Jane-Finch.com. He is a 2nd Dan black belt in Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
and has competed and won multiple tournaments in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Simms has been known to be very generous and giving of his time to his community and various charitable organizations. He frequently appears as a motivational speaker and guest lecturer for events aimed at children and youth.
Media
Simms is an outspoken advocate for the Jane and Finch community. He comments on issues of gangs, drugs and crime.In 2006, Simms opposed the installation of police cameras in Jane and Finch on CBLA-FM
CBLA-FM
CBLA-FM is a Canadian radio station. It is the flagship station of the CBC Radio One network, broadcasting at 99.1 FM in Toronto, Ontario.- History :...
's Metro Morning
Metro Morning
Metro Morning is CBC Radio One's local morning program in Toronto, airing on CBLA-FM and is hosted by Matt Galloway. The program airs from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m...
with Andy Barrie
Andy Barrie
Andy Barrie is a Toronto-based radio personality, most known for his work at CFRB and later on CBC Radio as host of Metro Morning. Retired from the work of hosting a radio program, he remains active with the CBC.-Early life:...
. In 2007, he spoke out on behalf of the Manner family during the 2007 murder of Jordan Manners.
Advocacy
Simms has commented on various topics and issues surrounding the Jane and FinchJane and Finch
Jane and Finch is a neighbourhood located in northwestern North York, a district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The area is roughly bounded by Highway 400 to the west, Driftwood Avenue to the east, Grandravine Drive to the south, and Shoreham Drive to the north...
area.
- December 28, 2005 - Simms appeared on Global NewsGlobal NewsGlobal News is the news and current affairs division of Global Television Network in Canada, overseeing all local and national news programming on the network's eleven owned-and-operated stations .-National programs:...
to talk about gang warfare. - November 9, 2005 - Simms appeared on CBC News: TodayCBC News: TodayCBC News Now is the daytime news program of CBC News Network. The show broadcasts from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. It is also simultaneously broadcast on CBC Television from 12 to 1 p.m...
with Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson (journalist)Nancy Wilson is a Canadian television journalist. She currently hosts CBC News Now on weekends from 7 to 11 a.m ET.She joined CBC Newsworld in 1991 as the host of This Country. Prior to joining, Wilson worked on CBC Television's newsmagazine The Journal...
to talk about the underground documentary, 'The Real Toronto'. - August 1, 2006 - Simms on Radio Canada InternationalRadio Canada InternationalRadio Canada International is the international broadcasting service of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . Until 1970, it was known as the CBC International Service and was sometimes referred to as the "Voice of Canada" in its early years.- The early years :The idea for creating an...
to talk about street gangs in Toronto. - May 24, 2007, Simms appeared on CBC News Morning with Heather HiscoxHeather HiscoxHeather Hiscox is a Canadian news anchor who hosts CBC News Now from 6 to 9 a.m. on weekdays on CBC News Network. She was also the host of the CBC's former flagship morning television program CBC News: Morning which became part of CBC News Now when the network re-branded itself in 2009.Hiscox was...
to talk about the Jordan Manners shooting. - May 24, 2007, Simms appeared on CTVCTV television networkCTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
's The Verdict with Paula ToddPaula ToddPaula Todd is a Canadian journalist, lawyer and author, currently an investigative reporter for W5. She was the founding host of "The Verdict with Paula Todd" a prime-time legal and justice affairs program on CTV News Channel...
to discuss the Jordan Manners shooting. - June 21, 2007 - Simms spoke to CBC NewsCBC NewsCBC News is the department within the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the news gathering and production of news programs on CBC television, radio and online services...
host Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson (journalist)Nancy Wilson is a Canadian television journalist. She currently hosts CBC News Now on weekends from 7 to 11 a.m ET.She joined CBC Newsworld in 1991 as the host of This Country. Prior to joining, Wilson worked on CBC Television's newsmagazine The Journal...
about gangs and the 'no-snitch' culture. - Summer 2007, Simms discusses his involvement with the fifth estateThe fifth estatethe fifth estate is a Canadian television newsmagazine, which airs on the English language CBC Television network. The name is a play on the fact that the media are sometimes referred to as the Fourth Estate, and was chosen to highlight the program's determination to go beyond everyday news into...
documentary Lost in the Struggle in the Ryerson Review of JournalismRyerson Review of JournalismThe Ryerson Review of Journalism is a Canadian magazine, published twice annually by final year journalism students at Ryerson University. The magazine profiles personalities, issues and controversies in Canadian media. In addition to the features in the printed magazine, weekly online features...
. - October 6, 2008 - Simms was appeared on the CBC French Radio program Désautel to talk about gang crime in Jane and Finch.
- January 12, 2010, Simms appeared on Sun TV to discuss Jane-Finch.com's impact to the Jane and Finch community.
- May 20, 2011, Simms spoke to host Karen Horsman on CBLA-FMCBLA-FMCBLA-FM is a Canadian radio station. It is the flagship station of the CBC Radio One network, broadcasting at 99.1 FM in Toronto, Ontario.- History :...
's Metro MorningMetro MorningMetro Morning is CBC Radio One's local morning program in Toronto, airing on CBLA-FM and is hosted by Matt Galloway. The program airs from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m...
to express the community's feelings of the non-guilty verdict in the Jordan Manners' trial.
Broadcast
Simms spent 10 months as a cameraman and associate producer documenting the lives of three troubled youth from the Jane-Finch neighborhood for CBC TelevisionCBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
's the fifth estate
The fifth estate
the fifth estate is a Canadian television newsmagazine, which airs on the English language CBC Television network. The name is a play on the fact that the media are sometimes referred to as the Fourth Estate, and was chosen to highlight the program's determination to go beyond everyday news into...
called, Lost in the Struggle. The film featured Vietnamese-Canadian rapper, Chuckie Akenz
Chuckie Akenz
C-A aka Phong Nguyen is a Vietnamese-Canadian rapper. He was born on January 21, 1986. He grew up in the notorious Jane and Finch neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada. Chuckie rose to notoriety with the filming of an amateur rap video called "You Got Beef?" The music video was widely viewed on the...
.
- Lost in the Struggle (associate producer) (CBC TelevisionCBC TelevisionCBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
, the fifth estateThe fifth estatethe fifth estate is a Canadian television newsmagazine, which airs on the English language CBC Television network. The name is a play on the fact that the media are sometimes referred to as the Fourth Estate, and was chosen to highlight the program's determination to go beyond everyday news into...
, 2006) - Ian Jones: Activist and Artist, How the Steelpan is Changing Lives (editor) (Bravo!/Leda Serene FilmsLeda Serene FilmsLeda Serene Films is a film, television, and theatre production company based in Toronto, Canada, owned by filmmaker and producer Frances-Anne Solomon....
, 2007)
Short films
- Uncle Bob and his Vietnamese Children (producer) (2010)
- Hustle On Blacus Ninjah (director) (2005)
External links
- http://www.jane-finch.com
- http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/lostinthestruggle/filmmaker.html
- http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/episodes/2011/05/20/were-always-shafted/
- http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2007/05/24/school-shooting-070524.html
- http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TorontoHome/20070524/manners_memories_070524/
- http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=62c72629-98b1-4b3e-bbb9-1e77fade5d3a&p=2
- http://thevarsity.ca/articles/15811
- http://caribbeantales.ca/heartbeat/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=27