TIFF's premiere of LION and how it brings us home

 

By Sonya Davidson (above photo courtesy of TIFF)

There is much buzz already with the World Premiere of Garth Davis's LION here at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. The first screening apparently received a standing ovation and the trailer is enough to have me go through several tissues. 

The film stars Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) in the lead adult role in the real life story of Saroo Brierley who was separated from his family at four years old in rural India. Based on his book A Long Way Home, Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of kilometres across India away from his home and family. Saroo learns to survive alone in Kolkata before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. 

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Google Canada adds new ‘Explore’ feature to Google Maps apps

More than search, Google is trying to give users options for exploration and finding relevant information based on location, time and context. As Google says, "the new ‘Explore’ feature helps Canadians uncover their surroundings with the tap of a button, whether they’re searching for a new lunch spot, travelling to a new country or wondering what time their train is scheduled to arrive." This is a convenient way to expand one's horizons beyond pure search. Hit jump for more details.

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Google Canada Unveils National Winner of Doodle4Google

By Sonya Davidson

Google Canada recently hosted the first-ever national competition designed to inspire students to get creative with the GOOGLE logo using the theme  “If I could invent anything, I would invent…”

Google Canada received thousands of submissions by students across the country  ranging from kindergarten to grade 12. Nearly 200,000 public votes helped determine the regional finalists. The top finalists, and their families, were flown to Toronto for the announcement of the winning design at the Royal Ontario Museum.

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Google Canada launches nationwide ‘Doodle 4 Google’ contest for students

Canadian K-12 students are invited to join the first “Doodle 4 Google Canada” competition with the theme “If I could invent anything, I would invent…” The national winner will have their doodle featured for a day on Google.ca homepage, be part of a Doodle exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum in March 2014, and receive a $10,000 scholarship plus a $10,000 grant for their school.

Entries are now being accepted until Dec. 31. Regional finalists will be picked and will receive a trip to Toronto where the top five regional winners and overall winner will be announced at the special Doodle exhibition. For more information about the contest, check out the Doodle 4 Google Canada site.