swimming

Saturday August 27, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday August 27, 2016 The burkini is an option, not oppression, say those opposed to ban Recent attempts in France to ban the burkini have prompted protests and court challenges. Some of those who've defended the body-concealing swimsuit say that while they wouldn't wear one themselves and don't necessarily agree with the religious associations it carries, they will defend women's right to wear what they want. On Friday, the top court in France overturned one town's banÊon the burkini, a ruling that is likely to set a precedent across the country. The decision comes after several Muslim women were ordered to remove the body-covering swimwear on French beaches. Some burkini wearers were also issued fines. Sonu Kilam is the co-founder and designer at East Essence, an online store that sells modern and traditional Islamic clothes. East Essence started to sell burkinis about six years ago, she said, after receiving requests from customers Ñ specifically, Mormon customers Ñ who were looking for modest active wear. "[We] came across the burkini and thought, 'Perfect, it will work for all our customers,'" Kilam told CBC News from Newark, Calif. The company's various burkini options represent about 15 per cent of its sales, she said, and it's not only Muslim women ordering them. Kilam recently got an email from a Canadian woman who wrote, "It's hard for women like me who are 40 or older and don't feel comfortable showing skin to find swimwear in Canada.Ó Other burkini customers include women with skin conditions, Kilam said, and the company recently made a custom burkini for a plus-size woman who wanted something to wear for water aerobics. There have been reports that burkini sales have increased since the controversy started, but Kilam said she hasn't noticed any significant changes. (Source: CBC News)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/world/burkini-ban-follow-1.3736922 France, Burkini, Liberty, Equality, be

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday August 27, 2016

The burkini is an option, not oppression, say those opposed to ban

Recent attempts in France to ban the burkini have prompted protests and court challenges.

Some of those who’ve defended the body-concealing swimsuit say that while they wouldn’t wear one themselves and don’t necessarily agree with the religious associations it carries, they will defend women’s right to wear what they want.

On Friday, the top court in France overturned one town’s ban on the burkini, a ruling that is likely to set a precedent across the country.

The decision comes after several Muslim women were ordered to remove the body-covering swimwear on French beaches. Some burkini wearers were also issued fines.

Sonu Kilam is the co-founder and designer at East Essence, an online store that sells modern and traditional Islamic clothes. East Essence started to sell burkinis about six years ago, she said, after receiving requests from customers — specifically, Mormon customers — who were looking for modest active wear.

“[We] came across the burkini and thought, ‘Perfect, it will work for all our customers,'” Kilam told CBC News from Newark, Calif.

The company’s various burkini options represent about 15 per cent of its sales, she said, and it’s not only Muslim women ordering them.

Kilam recently got an email from a Canadian woman who wrote, “It’s hard for women like me who are 40 or older and don’t feel comfortable showing skin to find swimwear in Canada.”

Other burkini customers include women with skin conditions, Kilam said, and the company recently made a custom burkini for a plus-size woman who wanted something to wear for water aerobics.

There have been reports that burkini sales have increased since the controversy started, but Kilam said she hasn’t noticed any significant changes. (Source: CBC News)

 

Friday, August 5 – August 16, 2016

Illustration by Graeme MacKay - 2016 Summer Olympic Games - illustration used for the cover of a special section devoted to the sporting event held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The process involved drawing and colouring the individual characters. Next was determining how they would best fit into a space roughly measuring 8.25 x 10.5 inches. (See Olympic-cover2). The background was chosen to be divided 5 ways: water, athletic indoor, athletic outdoor, track, and gymnastics.) Estimated completion time: 18hrs. Rio, 2016, Olympic, Games, Summer, Archery, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, canoe, cycling, diving, equestrian, fencing, golf, field hockey, javelin, discus, shotput, relay, pommel horse, balance beam, uneven bars, gymnastics, breaststroke, sidestroke, butterfly, rowing, rugby sailing, shooting, synchronized, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, water polo, weightlifting, wrestling, couch potatoes

Illustration by Graeme MacKay – Friday August 5, 2016

2016 Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Summer Games Gallery

Rio – June 30, 2016
Rio – July 5, 2016
London – August 3, 2012
London – July 27, 2012
Beijing – August 14, 2008
Beijing – August 7, 2008
Beijing – March 24, 2008
Athens – September 1, 2004
Athens – August 19, 2004
Athens – August 12, 2004
Athens – August 5, 2004
Athens – February 23, 2002
Athens – August 16, 2004
Sydney – September 9, 2000

Monday March 28, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Monday March 28, 2016 Bayfront is not just a beach, but a symbol DonÕt swim in Hamilton Harbour. ThatÕs hardly new advice, nor has it been particularly shocking for the better part of a century. Hamilton has been as hard on its precious waterfront as any major metropolis in the developed world, perhaps more so. But recent news that the City of Hamilton has closed the small beach this year at Bayfront Park is still a cause for concern. A consultant will deliver a report on water quality there by the end of the summer, at which time council will decide what the long-term future holds for the ill-fated beach, and whether the closure should become permanent. The challenge is that poor water quality already forces the city and health officials to close the beach more days than not each summer. Turns out itÕs closed 78 per cent of days during summer. The water can make people sick. Farm run-off is often a problem for water quality at beaches across Ontario, as is municipal waste following big storms. BayfrontÕs beach is additionally burdened by its human-made geography, which traps water in the tiny bay that protects the beach, as well as by excrement from geese and gulls. High E. coli counts and toxic algae have plagued the area in recent years. The consultants will look at ways to improve water quality, but the report may well recommend Òanother feature that is sustainableÓ for the site. In other words: no beach, no swimming. Council should weigh the latter option carefully. Whatever the challenges, it is far too early to give up on this gem in downtown Hamilton. ItÕs not merely a nostalgic notion. To be sure, swimming is hardly a big part of this unique leisure and recreation area, but it is symbolic of a healthy environment and a city that cares about itself. A clean beach is a tourist attraction and landmark for which we can all be proud. A polluted beach is a reminder of the mistakes we have m

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Monday March 28, 2016

Bayfront is not just a beach, but a symbol

Don’t swim in Hamilton Harbour. That’s hardly new advice, nor has it been particularly shocking for the better part of a century.

Hamilton has been as hard on its precious waterfront as any major metropolis in the developed world, perhaps more so.

But recent news that the City of Hamilton has closed the small beach this year at Bayfront Park is still a cause for concern.

A consultant will deliver a report on water quality there by the end of the summer, at which time council will decide what the long-term future holds for the ill-fated beach, and whether the closure should become permanent.

The challenge is that poor water quality already forces the city and health officials to close the beach more days than not each summer. Turns out it’s closed 78 per cent of days during summer. The water can make people sick.

Farm run-off is often a problem for water quality at beaches across Ontario, as is municipal waste following big storms.

Bayfront’s beach is additionally burdened by its human-made geography, which traps water in the tiny bay that protects the beach, as well as by excrement from geese and gulls. High E. coli counts and toxic algae have plagued the area in recent years.

The consultants will look at ways to improve water quality, but the report may well recommend “another feature that is sustainable” for the site.

In other words: no beach, no swimming.

Council should weigh the latter option carefully. Whatever the challenges, it is far too early to give up on this gem in downtown Hamilton.

It’s not merely a nostalgic notion. To be sure, swimming is hardly a big part of this unique leisure and recreation area, but it is symbolic of a healthy environment and a city that cares about itself.

A clean beach is a tourist attraction and landmark for which we can all be proud. A polluted beach is a reminder of the mistakes we have made in the past and our inability to deal with it in the present. The fact is we must do better when it comes to the environment if we are to continue to enjoy it, profit from it, and remain healthy because of it. Closing the beach is an admission of defeat.

Meanwhile, Bayfront Park is well used by Hamiltonians and visitors, but it is destined to see much greater use in the future as the area grows in population and popularity. We don’t know how this downtown jewel will be used in the future, but we should remember that the possibilities are endless, and that swimming, and fun on the beach, should remain one of them if at all possible. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Wednesday August 22, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday August 22, 2012

More rigour needed on ward spending

Back in 2011, Hamilton city council set out to slay the big scary dragon named area rating — the formal name for tax discrepancies in various parts of the city that date back to before amalgamation.

Council succeeded and struck an agreement, and part of that agreement resulted in Wards 1 through 8 in the so-called “old city” receiving equalization payments to offset paying artificially high taxes. Not everyone was happy, but it was a relatively constructive solution.

Fast forward, and we’re seeing how councillors plan to spend those “special capital levy” dollars. There are some surprises, some eyebrow-raisers and many common sense decisions. But there’s also a problem.

Traffic and pedestrian signals, sidewalk replacements, streetscape improvement, park improvements, road resurfacing and pedestrian walkways are all common uses for the money, which, for 2011 and 2012, amounts to approximately $1.26 million per ward.

Then there are the less common uses: Ward 4’s Sam Merulla wants to use the money to buy the notorious City Motor Hotel, with the innovative twist that once the site is redeveloped, some of the tax revenue generated will flow back into ward projects.

Ward 6’s Tom Jackson wants to buy the Barton Secondary School site to allow for more local control when the school becomes surplus. Creative to be sure, but should Ward 6 taxpayers be getting into the landlord business?

Ward 8’s Terry Whitehead has one of the more unusual plans — along with a number of infrastructure projects, he also wants to add $40,000 worth of golf simulation and instruction programming at the rebuilt Westmount Recreation Centre. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Thursday August 14, 2008

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday August 14, 2008 Why are we so bad at the Olympics? If we are, then here's something else you may have heard before: You get what you pay for at the Olympics. Ê Medals don't fallÊout of trees - not at the Summer Games. They come through sheer volume of legitimate medal chances, and the countries withÊmost darts come away with the most hardware. The early results? We're through five days of competition and our batting average is still .000. -- Togo has a medal. KyrgyzstanÊhas two. Azerbaijan has three. And Michael Phelps has five. We'll pass them all by the end, barring an absolute disaster, but still, as the calls from editors begin to roll into the press centresÊhere - all looking for the "What's going wrong?" angle that usually doesn't arrive for a few more days at these things - it isÊclear that Canadians are getting edgy. Don't forget. There are about a dozen countries in the world who are serious about hockey. Two - Canada and the U.S. - areÊgold medal threats in women's hockey. There are 200 countries that take track and field, boxing and swimming seriously. "I think [we're] disappointed because we had some dreams, or expectation, and it seemed that it was going to be easy. But youÊcan see, nothing's ever easy," said Pierre Lafontaine, the team leader for Canada's swimming team. His team has posted all kinds of personal bests, but zero results. "There's much more than just medals, but medals is whatÊshows on the books," he admits.(Source: National Post)Êhttp://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=606ca39f-a76d-47ae-ba90-f6d4c2c50d48&p=2 Letters: http://mackaycartoons.blogdrive.com/archive/210.html Canada, Olympic, Summer, games, sports, athletics, swimming, ranking, medals, results, Michael Phelps

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 14, 2008

Why are we so bad at the Olympics?

If we are, then here’s something else you may have heard before: You get what you pay for at the Olympics.

Medals don’t fall out of trees – not at the Summer Games. They come through sheer volume of legitimate medal chances, and the countries with most darts come away with the most hardware.

The early results? We’re through five days of competition and our batting average is still .000. — Togo has a medal. Kyrgyzstan has two. Azerbaijan has three. And Michael Phelps has five.

We’ll pass them all by the end, barring an absolute disaster, but still, as the calls from editors begin to roll into the press centres here – all looking for the “What’s going wrong?” angle that usually doesn’t arrive for a few more days at these things – it is clear that Canadians are getting edgy.

Don’t forget. There are about a dozen countries in the world who are serious about hockey. Two – Canada and the U.S. – are gold medal threats in women’s hockey.

There are 200 countries that take track and field, boxing and swimming seriously.

“I think [we’re] disappointed because we had some dreams, or expectation, and it seemed that it was going to be easy. But you can see, nothing’s ever easy,” said Pierre Lafontaine, the team leader for Canada’s swimming team.

His team has posted all kinds of personal bests, but zero results. “There’s much more than just medals, but medals is what shows on the books,” he admits.(Source: National Post)

Letters to the Editor:

I was totally offended by the tasteless cartoon in Thursday’s Spectator regarding our great Canadian athletes.

My wife and I have watched a lot of the television coverage and have been proud to see our athletes try their best and give it their all, against other athletes who are supported by their governments with large sums of money.

Maybe the cartoonist and some of our politicians should get out and support our athletes, or maybe even volunteer to coach or assist some of these fine examples of Canadian youth, instead of poking fun at them.

Good luck to all our athletes.

— P. Knapp, Hamilton

* * * * *

The editorial cartoon depicts a Canadian swimmer running along the edge of the pool — and still finishing well behind the pack. I find this cartoon totally offensive.

As the son of a man who competed in the first British Empire Games in Hamilton and later in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932, I am aware of the dedication, hard work and many sacrifices made by athletes. There is also heartbreak endured by many along the journey.

I would have expected a major urban newspaper to show understanding and compassion in its coverage — be it print or “humour.” I challenge The Spectator to take a more constructive role in promoting future Olympic podium successes.

— J. Ravensdale, Puslinch

* * * * *

I would like to congratulate your witty and talented cartoonist Graeme MacKay. I read the criticism of his cartoon about the failure of the Canadian athletes the first week of the Olympic Games. Cartoon is satire and the one who doesn’t accept it lacks a sense of humour.

— Panos Andronidis, Hamilton