- Mark Simms
-
Mark Simms 
Mark SimmsBorn Mark Simms
November 25, 1981
Toronto, Ontario, CanadaOccupation Filmmaker, activist, martial artist Spouse single Website Jane-Finch.com Mark Simms (born 1981) is a Black-Canadian filmmaker, community activist and martial artist.
Contents
Life
Mark Simms was born in Toronto, 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.
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's Metro Morning with Andy Barrie. 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 Finch area.
- December 28, 2005 - Simms appeared on Global News to talk about gang warfare.
- November 9, 2005 - Simms appeared on CBC News: Today with Nancy Wilson to talk about the underground documentary, 'The Real Toronto'.
- August 1, 2006 - Simms on Radio Canada International to talk about street gangs in Toronto.[1]
- May 24, 2007, Simms appeared on CBC News Morning with Heather Hiscox to talk about the Jordan Manners shooting.[2]
- May 24, 2007, Simms appeared on CTV's The Verdict with Paula Todd to discuss the Jordan Manners shooting.[3]
- June 21, 2007 - Simms spoke to CBC News host Nancy Wilson about gangs and the 'no-snitch' culture.
- Summer 2007, Simms discusses his involvement with the fifth estate documentary Lost in the Struggle in the Ryerson Review of Journalism.[4]
- 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-FM's Metro Morning to express the community's feelings of the non-guilty verdict in the Jordan Manners' trial.[5]
Broadcast
Simms spent 10 months as a cameraman and associate producer documenting the lives of three troubled youth from the Jane-Finch neighborhood[6] for CBC Television's the fifth estate called, Lost in the Struggle.[7] The film featured Vietnamese-Canadian rapper, Chuckie Akenz.
- Lost in the Struggle (associate producer) (CBC Television, the fifth estate, 2006)[8]
- Ian Jones: Activist and Artist, How the Steelpan is Changing Lives (editor) (Bravo!/Leda Serene Films, 2007)[9]
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
Mark Simms at the Internet Movie Database
References
Categories:- 1981 births
- Canadian activists
- Canadian journalists
- Living people
- Canadian film directors
- Canadian film producers
- Canadian people of Jamaican descent
- People from Toronto
- Black Canadian filmmakers
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