PRESS RELEASES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2006
DEAF ONTARIANS CHALLENGE MOVIE INDUSTRY
On November 2, 2006 at 10AM, the movie theatre, studio and distribution industries, including Famous Players, AMC Theatres, Universal Studios Canada, Paramount Pictures Canada, Cineplex Odeon, and Alliance Atlantis Cinemas will appear before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario at 400 University Avenue, 7th Floor, Toronto for final hearings.
After approximately nineteen days of hearings, the Tribunal will be in a position to set down a final ruling on movie theatre access that will have significant outcomes for the Deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing communities, as well as for the worldwide movie industry.
Three Deaf complainants, namely Nancy Barker, a University of Toronto student, Gary Malkowski, Special Advisor to the President, Public Affairs, at The Canadian Hearing Society (CHS), and Scott Simser, an Ottawa Lawyer, along with representatives of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, allege that the movie theatre, studio and distribution industries have failed to accommodate Deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing movie-goers by not providing 100% captioning on movies in theatres.
In light of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, the movie industry has a legal obligation and duty to accommodate movie-goers with disabilities, including Deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing individuals.
“We strongly urge movie theatre, studio and distribution industries to make movies in the theatre accessible to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing movie-goers,” says CHS President and CEO, Kelly Duffin. “People with a hearing loss should be able to enjoy the same movie entertainment as all members of society.”
The dates for the hearings are 2006: November, 2, 3 ,5, 8, December 11-14, 2007: January 16, 17, 19, 23, 25, 26, 30, February 13-16, 27, 28, March 1, 2, and April 17-19.
New technology continues to evolve in the age of digital movies. As well, new personal digital assistant compatible captioning technology will be demonstrated in California in July, 2006.
The Caption Movies Now Coalition’s website www.captionmoviesnow.com is sponsored by ONESTOP Media Group. With an audience of over 1 million viewers weekly, ONESTOP is Canada’s largest private digital media network operator for the mass transit, hospitality, conference, and retail industries. The CMNC and ONESTOP are working together to organize fundraising activities in support of the objectives of CMNC to ensure 100% captioning in the movie theatres across Canada.
CMNC will gratefully receive and acknowledge on their website (with permission) letters of support from individuals and organizations, contributions either in- kind, or monetary gifts, business sponsorship, and volunteer assistance. All support will be greatly appreciated.
Cheques should be made payable to Cavalluzzo Hayes Shilton McIntyre and Cornish LLP in Trust, and sent to the address below to the attention of Wendy Balaban with correspondence referring to re: Donation to Captioning Case Legal Costs Ref. No. 050775. (If you have time, email us at CMNC to advise us of your donation, in order that we may acknowledge it on our website and send you a thank-you!)
Address for donation cheques:
Attn: Wendy Balaban
474 Bathurst Street Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S6
Ph: 416-964-1115
Fax: 416-964-5895
Visit our website at www.captionmoviesnow.com
For more information, contact:
Lori Archer
Chair, Caption Movies Now CoalitionPublic Relations
Tel: (416) 995-1039
Larcher3471@rogers.com
Tel: (416) 646-2744 x.45-
Erin Jandciu
Director, ONESTOP Media GroupTel: (416) 646-2744 x.45
ejandciu@onestopmediagroup.com
www.onestopmediagroup.com -
Adrienne Clarke
Manager, Public Relations The Canadian Hearing SocietyTel: (416) 928-2500 x.284
TTY: (416) 964-0023
aclarke@chs.ca -
Caption Movies Now Coalition - (www.captionmoviesnow.com) CMNC was established in 2005 with support from individuals and organizations all across Canada. The Caption Movies Now Coalition (CMNC) demands that all movies be distributed, as of the date of release, with captions that meet professional standards of readability and accuracy. Through their website, the CMNC intends to support the Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing individuals in Canada, to obtain equitable access to movies shown in theatres in their own neighbourhood, including first-run movie theatres.
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ONESTOP Media Group - (www.onestopmediagroup.com) ONESTOP Media Group offers a turnkey solution for Digital Media Networks including creative production, software design, hardware configuration, integration, ad sales, plus network management and operations. ONESTOP owns and operates award winning networks for the Toronto Transit commission, Hilton Hotels, and Sporting Life, reaching an audience of over one million people every day.
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The Canadian Hearing Society -
(www.chs.ca) Established in 1940, The Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) is the largest agency of its kind in Canada, employing approximately 440 people who deliver 17 programs, from Employment Counseling and Interpreting Services to Hearing Aids and Communication Devices, through 28 regional and area offices. CHS provides programs and services that enhance the independence of deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people, and that encourage prevention of hearing loss.