“Star Wars is, for lack of a better word, awesome,” said Harrison Ford about the Star Wars-themed exhibit coming to both Disney parks in Florida and California.
While construction is currently underway, Disney unveiled plans for the new exhibit during a 60th anniversary TV special, Disneyland 60. And who better than to introduce Star Wars Land - which will not be "in a galaxy far, far away, but in a place close to home” - than Han Solo, aka Ford?
Good news for fans young and old, who will be take control of the Millennium Falcon, explore various locales of the movies, battle between the Resistance and the First Order, and even gobble some Star Wars-themed cuisine in the cantina.
To be honest, I'm only surprised that Disney and Lucas and Co. didn't cook up this collaboration sooner.
“I’m so blessed that I had the opportunity to be a part of it, to talk in these iconic locations, and soon, you’ll be able to do that as well," promises Ford.
Now you too can have a gander below at what's in store at Star Wars Land.
Judging by the concept art, this is one Disney exhibit that kids of all ages - yes, even those with crow's feet and silver hair - will be raring to check out.
As Tom Petty once said, waiting is the hardest part.
How do you feel about another American store setting foot on Canadian soil? Many can't contain their excitement as the luxurious Saks Fifth Avenue recently opened its doors in Toronto's Eaton Centre.
It's curious that the likes of Target can't make a go of it, yet its high-end cousin moves in at a time when the country's economy remains stagnant. But then, the target (sorry) clientele is decidedly different.
Saks officials are confident that the Canadian locations - the second, also in Toronto, is due to open this week in Sherway Gardens - will do a decedent trade.
"If we deliver the right level of service and fashion and the right edit, people are going to come and they're going to want to shop,'' said president Marc Metrick.
By fall 2017, Saks is hoping to boast three further locations - all in Toronto. From all accounts, the first location is a splendid thing to behold: with 1,000 different pairs of ladies shoes and 15,000 in its stockroom.
But it's not all about pandering to the ladies. Metrick claims "men are the new women.'' So you can see where the company's marketing efforts lie.
And Metrick insists that Saks won't make the same mistake that other cross-border flagships have made in the past.
"It would be a terrible miss if we started to make Saks different for Canada,'' said Metrick. It would, indeed.
It remains to be seen whether Saks can stake its claim above the border and win over Canadians in the long run.
Image Source: Twitter
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) deserves a big round of virtual applause today, after announcing plans to implement gender-inclusive washrooms in its schools across the city. The washrooms aim to promote inclusion to all students, regardless of gender identity.
“The Education Act requires schools and school boards to provide safe, inclusive and accepting learning environments to support the achievement and well-being of all students, including students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender,” said the province's Education Minister Liz Sandals, who lauded the Board's plans.
While 50 or so of its schools already have gender-inclusive washrooms, TDSB vowed to roll out these facilities at every one of its 600 schools. The first such washroom opened in 2013, following months of student lobbying.
Since 2012, the Ontario Human Rights Code has included transgender individuals, so it makes sense that schools put paid to the province's legislation.
“Everybody gets a chance to use the washroom,” wrote an anonymous parent whose transgender child had been pulled from school due to bullying. “If there's anybody who is gender-neutral or something, they can use that washroom instead of everybody teasing them about going into the girls’ or boys’ [washroom].”
Though no timeline has yet been announced for the roll-out, other boards will hopefully TDSB's lead by offering a supplemental option for the kids who need it.
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