(number is being dialed)
(phone rings)
(phone rings)
(phone rings)
(phone rings)
(phone rings)
(phone rings)
(phone rings)
(phone rings)
(phone rings)
(phone rings)
(phone is picked up and quickly put on hold)
( hold beep beeps)
D!ONNE: such weakness (the words I meant were "such cowardice" but the words didnt come to me at the time)
( hold beep beeps)
( hold beep beeps)
(frustration sigh)
D!ONNE: yes I'm still here Kevin (note: I noticed that the hold beeps were off)
D!ONNE: So they hang up dismiss the call. okay. all right.
(dial the number again. phone rings...)
(phone still ringing)
(phone still ringing)
(phone still ringing)
(phone still ringing)
(phone still ringing)
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(phone still ringing)
(phone still ringing)
(phone still ringing)
(phone still ringing)
(phone still ringing)
(phone picked up and then phone quickly hung up)
D!ONNE: Well.... wow these people this is very interesting
(Note: You understand my frustration. This hanging up/putting me on hold and then hanging up continues on for approximately 19 minutes. So, please feel free to fast forward to 19:39 when Jacoba answers the line)
D!ONNE: hanging up answering and hanging up very professional
D!ONNE: time now is 4:30
(phone rings)
JACOBA: Hi, it's Jacoba, good afternoon. D!ONNE: Good afternoon Jacoba I'm actually very
surprised that someone feels that they can just hang up the phone and think
that that's professional or polite. JACOBA: I'm-I'm-I'm sorry? I'm sorry, who's calling?
D!ONNE: This is D!ONNE Renée calling.
JACOBA: Oh hi D!ONNE.
D!ONNE: Hi.
JACOBA: I'm sorry the conference call I was in went a little bit longer, I didn't get a chance to call
you back. D!ONNE: No worries. I don't have an issue about that but I do have an issue about the
person answering your phone Kevin basically dismissing me and hanging up
the phone on me I find that to be unprofessional and impolite.
JACOBA: Oh. Okay. Okay.
D!ONNE: He kept picking up and JACOBA: Okay, I don't think D!ONNE: hung up the phone. JACOBA: I don't think that he hung up the phone. D!ONNE: I can tell you he did and that's
and that's coming directly from me. JACOBA: I know that our phone system is down our voicemail isn't
working and it's an unfortunate thing and I apologize I-I- I'm not sure what
happened D!ONNE: He hung up the phone Jacoba...but I'm glad I've got you on the line. JACOBA: Okay. the line and just wanted to follow up
D!ONNE: and just wanted to follow up with you about this ArtsVote event and I'm concerned as to why I wasn't invited
and what your process was? and by the way have we met a long time ago because I'd
like to know I looked you up and I said you seem very familiar as soon as Gillian
gave me your name I'm like why does that name so I feel like I've had a head
injury my background is in film and television I'm an Artist obviously and I
thought perhaps even we met and it could have been a Women
in Film and Television I'm not sure but I remember JACOBA: I don't- I don't know. I don't go to- I'm not I don't
really have any associations with WIFT- Women in Film & Television D!ONNE: I'm not saying it was
I'm saying it could have been I know that we've had it because as soon as I
saw you and I heard your voice there was some sort of City TV clip I said she seems very
familiar but because I head injury I can't pinpoint things
anymore I'm not good at those memory issue things unless it touches my heart and
is something deep to me and so when I heard you I said she seemed familiar
your hair is curly I remember talking to you and you were on my right side but
that's all I remember and so I'm wondering if you remembered me?
JACOBA: yeah I-I
don't. I'm sorry I- I don't I don't remember because I don't really go to
film or TV events I never really do TIFF or anything filming & TV.
D!ONNE: yes well as I
said it could have been anything because I'm a trip- I used to be a triple threat
Performer so I'm I was very involved in the Arts Community still am from the
the advocacy perspective and whatever I can do to support it but I'm not
directly involved as an Actor anymore or as a Filmmaker. Notwithstanding, I was
trying to follow up with you because I understand that Maxine is sick and that
it was suggested to me to speak with you because you were a Co-Chair regarding
this event and I'm wondering what your process was for inviting Mayoral
Candidates because it doesn't seem that that process was followed with me and
more importantly based on the criteria that you are identifiying about
'inclusion' and 'equity' and with regards to the other subject matters that you list
I'm a bit surprised especially when I'm the one that's the Artist from all the
Mayoral Candidates.
JACOBA: Right.
Yeah.
Um-ah- What I can say to you is that ArtsVote is a completely
volunteer-run organization I think that you may or may not be aware but we are
completely 100% volunteer nobody is paid and a number of assessments are made in
terms of figuring out or selecting who participates in the annual not annual or
every four years Municipal Election and it's based on
cultural research that's done by the committee on record of engagement
obviously with a Mayor or with Councillors who are incumbents they have
a record of engagement because of arts vote and the way they have voted with
ArtsVotes issues at the City of Toronto if they're on the books and they can be
on the books because they have a you know a record of arts vote so that's how
Candidates are selected also they are selected by whether or not they have an
Arts platform and have shared an Arts platform and/or an Arts policy
so that that's the best answer I can give you
D!ONNE: Well you're you're giving me answers
with regards to Candidates from Council, we're not talking about that. We're
talking about your Mayoral Debate and I'm curious what the process was because
what Kevin (JACOBA: As I- as I've just explained to you) D!ONNE: No, no, what I'm about to say, what Kevin said to me is you base it Kevin said to me is that you you base it
on a survey that you sent out. I said well you didn't send that survey to me.
D!ONNE: No and the survey is also part of it that's true that's the third part of it
and the survey was sent at that time we were sending it out to the people that
have been identified as what were perceived as based on the media coverage
that people were getting as-as- ah top runners for Mayor. D!ONNE: I don't think that that's a viable
excuse anymore to be used because it's not something-- JACOBA: It's not an excuse it's just an
explanation. D!ONNE: No it seems to be and it's no offense to you but it seems to be a
rhetoric of a response. JACOBA: Right. D!ONNE: The the Candidates that you chose I don't even
know one of the names there I've never even heard his name other than for me to
look up the list of Mayoral Candidates. So, I'm not sure how it is that the one
Candidate who is actually within the Arts Community
and has been from a child. I went to Claude Watson School I was one of the
first people who helped to launch this school as one of the participants and
went through the program and was at Earl Haig and people know my name- even Maxine so
I I'm just... you did this to me four years ago
so you knew my name then and so I'm wondering what the exclusion is all
about in particular that I am a Black Artist and and that on your subject you
have inclusion and equity and I can tell you and you will probably have heard
this before where Black Artists are always identifying how the white
gatekeepers are always excluding us from any involvement and so I'm a bit
concerned that I'm not getting an answer that would suffice as to why I was
excluded or not invited and and that is what I'm surprised at. In fact-- JACOBA: I can (D!ONNE: You follow me on Twitter!)
I can assure you that there's absolutely um-ah- no issue of
of ah- as you just said
that you're a Black Artist that- the- that is absolutely not- um
a consideration. There's absolutely no um- yah, that's not a consideration. D!ONNE: No, when you just said you when you just said you can assure me can me
how can you assure me of that? You just- you indicated that the the you're
looking at the platform and how involved they are in the Arts Community or
supportive. I'm- I'm it. I'm part of it. So what I'm saying is nothing is adding up
in my mind and in particular you didn't send me, you being ArtsVote, didn't send
me an email no contact nothing and yet you guys follow me on Twitter so you see
my tweets and even when I followed up on Twitter when I first saw you put out the
notice I said whoa what's this? How did you guys come? and no response. So, and
I've been trying to reach people. There's no contact information even when Jillian
looked it up she couldn't find any contact
she says call you and as you are aware you had some problems with your phone
line. JACOBA: Yeah. D!ONNE: It was most difficult doing but I'm thinking this is quite the
affront because I am part of the Arts Community and
literally waiting for your call but trying to go to support somebody's
showing tonight that they're actually having a gallery opening.
So, it's this this weirdness that I'm not getting what's going on. JACOBA: Well let me let me take away
the weirdness from you right now and let me assure you and I hope that you can
take my word for it that it is got nothing as I said there's absolutely ArtsVote
is completely nonpartisan and not at all in any shape, way, or form you know
with any biased- in terms of sexuality race gender age or religion. D!ONNE: It's all
lovely that you can say those things but you have to actually act that out. It has
to be demonstrative. And what I'm saying is, I can't see anywhere on Jennifer
Keesmaat that she's talked about any Artistic support or anything of that
sort but yet you have her attending your event and to give voice to people who
have no concern for the Community or who have never demonstrated any history of
supporting the kids- the Community when you have someone who does and in fact is
part of the Community, that's where I say I question how it is that you guys came
to this determination and it doesn't in any way absolve my thinking that there
is some partisanship going on because it doesn't make any sense. JACOBA: Yeah. There is not. D!ONNE: So it doesn't
make any sense and then I saw the other day you guys said "oh we're now adding
another person who's confirmed". Well it's as if you 'asked' people which you didn't
so there's a misrepresentation to the Public that when I'm being asked by
people why aren't we seeing you on the news and explaining to them about the
history of how our media works that when you write something that "oh these are
the people who confirmed" oh and "we just had somebody else confirm" as it was is if
you're waiting for people to confirm with you
when you didn't even ask me is surprising and that was just yesterday
JACOBA: Yeah. There have been, as I said, we are a
team of volunteers and there are the committee's are- the decisions are made
by committee and there are compromises made all over the place in terms of you know
really working very very hard to make all parties and everybody happy. It's an
impossible job- not an impossible job I just don't know how to- how to do that (D!ONNE: Yeah, I'm not asking about that. I'm not asking about that
asking about that I'm not asking about that)
I'm kind of in a situation where I'm not able to you know figure out how to make everybody
happy because at this point in time we're just working really really hard to
make sure that we're getting as-as-as, to our knowledge, um full representation of Arts
Candidates and I'm- I'm- I'm sorry to you that we only have one hour we used to have
two hours we now only have one hour so we have even less time than we had
before and I'm in a situation where if I wanted to grow the debate we haven't
we've been forced and squeezed to even less time half time like it was two hours.
It's now one hour yes so it it's just incredibly incredibly difficult. D!ONNE: So I
wasn't asking about making people happy what I was asking was a direct question
about the actual non-partisanship that you're saying that ArtsVote is
particularly considering that I'm a person who is part of the Community and
that I was not contacted in any way. You guys are following me on Twitter and so
you see my information. You see when I post things. You see all of that when I
asked a direct question when you guys posted just this week about your event
which was on Tuesday I wrote and said what is this?
and no response. You guys see that. JACOBA: Yeah. I'm not on- again it's a committee
I can't- I'm not the person who's managing the Twitter-- D!ONNE: You're the Co-Chair Jacoba
I'm not the person who's managing the Twitter account. D!ONNE: No, I appreciate that. JACOBA: I don't- I don't even
I'm not on social media so I'm not even seeing what's going on on the social
media account because um- we are all volunteers again and so it's um someone else
is volunteering doing that so again I apologize hang on just hang on
for a moment one moment (A phone buzzes and rings in the background)
(sigh) D!ONNE I'm sorry I have another call on the other line and I'm gonna have to the
D!ONNE: The old ooops "I've gotta go because of a call coming in. Haha. JACOBA: No I wish it were but I do have to take this other call
D!ONNE: So, Jacoba, the reason why I had made the efforts to endure being hung up on several times by Kevin and to
reaching through I'm just I'm just telling you my experience-- (JACOBA: All I can tell you is that our phones have been disconnected and people are being rerouted... nobody hung up on you.
D!ONNE: No, I can give you the evidence I can give you the evidence of that because I always say I can give
you the evidence of that I can give you the evidence of that because I always
have receipts but the point that I'm making is is that you're (JACOBA: No ah, we really really wouldn't hang up I can tell you yeah)
D!ONNE: You're the Co-Chair well you're the Co-Chair and that's why I'm speaking with you (JACOBA: Yep. No I understand) because
you do oversee what goes on and so what I'm saying is when you have
knowledge that I'm a Mayoral Candidate who is actually part of the Community
and that I've been excluded wherein you hadn't even contacted me but you're now
aware of that (JACOBA: There is absolutely no intent to exclude you absolutely not) I hear what you've just said to me but I'm saying
now that you know this (JACOBA: Yeah. Yes.) What steps are you taking to rectify that?
JACOBA: Well that's a very good question
and I'm in the 11th hour we can't add any
other Candidates. D!ONNE: Why not? You just added someone yesterday and I doubt that you
guys met to have a discussion about the random person that you added. JACOBA: No, we didn't add someone yesterday.
D!ONNE: You did, you added Sarah Climenhaga. JACOBA: No. But ah I believe that Sarah was added on Monday at
the beginning of the week actually not yesterday. D!ONNE: Well it was announced that you
just added her. JACOBA: So I believe that Sarah was added on Monday. Yeah. So, um- she-
nobody was added. D!ONNE: Well that's what your Twitter account says that's why I'm saying it.
JACOBA: Yeah I don't know- I cannot speak to the social media. I cannot. I can find out from the people
who are on the social media committee what's going on or what isn't going on
but I cannot ah I-I don't even see the social media so-I (D!ONNE: Yeah I'm not asking you about what you can see I'm telling you what I'm seeing--)
JACOBA: I have to pick up this other line D!ONNE: I can hold the line (JACOBA:...right now D!ONNE)
because I tried to get through to you about this (JACOBA: I cannot because I have deadlines I cannot continue. I've done my very best) D!ONNE: ok
so I have to tell you-- (JACOBA: I cannot not say anything else right now
D!ONNE: Yes
JACOBA: I'm kind of running out of time I can't I've got this other person on hold
and I have internal deadlines that I have to meet. I am so sorry that I can't
continue this conversation. I do hear you and there's nothing that I can do at
this late stage of the game it's we also only have one hour the logistics are so
tight it simply doesn't permit-- D!ONNE: You're the Co-Chair. JACOBA: Yes. I know. D!ONNE: You organize the event.
JACOBA: I have to hang up right
JACOBA: I have to hang up right now D!ONNE. I'm sorry I have to hang up.
D!ONNE: I'm just letting you
know that I'm in it I'm just letting you know I'm gonna be putting this on my
Twitter account this communication with ArtsVote and and how this all came about
so just I just let you know because I have to be transparent with the Public
as to what takes place I have an accountability. JACOBA: And we are transparent. And we were being transparent.
D!ONNE: I'm not aware of it. But thank you for your time Jacoba.
and what I'm saying is is that you guys always can do something you're
the Co-Chair and knowing these facts and excluding someone who is actually part of
the Artistic Community just says that it's just maintaining sophistry.
JACOBA: We're not actively excluding you. We are not excluding you. But- okay thank you.
D!ONNE: I- I didn't
receive contact. I didn't receive information that to me is actively excluding me.
JACOBA: I'm sorry, I have to get this. (click. phone hangs up.) D!ONNE: mmmmhmmm I thought you were on the hold? hmm
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