Item - 2019.MM12.30
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on November 26, 2019 with amendments.
MM12.30 - Redressing Google's Misleading Portrayal of Scarborough - by Councillor Michael Thompson, seconded by Mayor John Tory
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- 20 - Scarborough Southwest, 21 - Scarborough Centre, 22 - Scarborough - Agincourt, 23 - Scarborough North, 24 - Scarborough - Guildwood, 25 - Scarborough - Rouge Park
City Council Decision
City Council on November 26 and 27, 2019, adopted the following:
1. City Council request the Mayor to write to senior executives of Google Canada to express Council’s disappointment in their search engine’s inappropriate depiction of Scarborough, request a public apology to the people of Scarborough for choosing a demeaning and misleading photo to represent their community, and request that Google post a photograph in its place that is in keeping with the images used for other municipalities.
2. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Photo Laureate as appropriate, to engage with photographers and the arts community to develop a photographic project or contest in Scarborough that encourages the public to take and submit their best photographs of Scarborough, its scenic places and its communities; to launch such a project in the Spring of 2020; and to display the final images at an exhibition at the Scarborough Civic Centre in the Fall of 2020.
Background Information (City Council)
Motions (City Council)
That Councillor Michael Thompson be permitted to add to the agenda of today's meeting an urgent Motion without Notice concerning:
Redressing Google's Misleading Portrayal of Scarborough
Reason for Urgency:
This Motion is urgent as the association of a partially demolished building with Scarborough reinforces negative misperceptions of the community and damages local morale. It is essential for City Council to defend the dignity of Scarborough, and its other vibrant communities when they are unfairly depicted as places of decay.
That City Council delete recommendation 2:
Recommendation to be deleted:
2. City Council request the City Manager to engage the Photo Laureate of Toronto to develop a photographic project or contest in Scarborough that encourages the public to take, and submit their best photographs of Scarborough, its scenic places and its communities; to launch such a project in the Spring of 2020; and to display the final images at an exhibition at the Scarborough Civic Centre in the Fall of 2020.
and adopt instead the following new recommendation 2:
2. City Council request Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the Photo Laureate as appropriate, to engage with photographers and the arts community to develop a photographic project or contest in Scarborough that encourages the public to take and submit their best photographs of Scarborough, its scenic places and its communities; to launch such a project in the Spring of 2020; and to display the final images at an exhibition at the Scarborough Civic Centre in the Fall of 2020.
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Nov-27-2019 2:41 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - MM12.30 - Adopt the item as amended |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 25 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Jaye Robinson |