When I tried to photograph a street sign on the part of the Martin Goodman Trail that runs in front of Ontario Place, a security guard came out of EllisDon GATE 12 and walked out of the EllisDon construction site and came over onto the public path and grabbed my arm and tried to steal my phone, saying that it is forbidden to take pictures here. He said "No take pictures no nothing.... "My company he told ... no pictures no nothing.".
He needs to learn about the "Streisand Effect", so-named as actress Barbara Streisand tried to censor a photograph of her home, causing it to become a popular photographic subject. Attempts at censorship tend to draw more attention to that which is being suppressed.
I now define the EllisDon Effect: If you physically assault someone who's taking pictures, you'll probably end up being photographed.
The above picture is, in some sense, a "selfie", i.e. this security guard in some sense photographed himself by standing in front of my camera and blocking my view of the street sign. If you physically assault a photographer, you'll end up shooting yourself, i.e. inserting yourself into the shot.
If anyone can help me identify the assailant pictured above, please let me know.
I made a complaint to EllisDon but needless to say, they are not cooperating anytime soon.
Why am I photographing this street sign?
June 30th, I crashed my mobility scooter due to sharp metal rods hidden in the dirt path that EllisDon made dangerous. They denied my claim, saying I failed to obey the "dismount" sign. Apparently a person with a disability is expected to dismount from their mobility scooter on this public trail.
I didn't expect to be physically assaulted by EllisDon for later trying to photograph that same "dismount" sign 111 days later, with EllisDon still dragging on addressing my claim.
At this time their construction site has aroused quite a bit of interest, and a number of us are getting together and doing photogrammetry to put together various pictures taken from public property, of whatever it is they are trying to hide.
They cut down the trees under cover of darkness, at around 2am, rather than cutting the trees down in the daytime when it would be safer. The whole job seems to be shrouded in secrecy.
After the assault, I'm making a point of bringing witnesses for my own safety, as well as having my camera rolling whenever I pass by.
We have now begun to document the EllisDon site and try to figure out what it is that they are trying so desperately to hide.
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Stay safe. Never shoot alone. It is a sad reality that a photoshoot needs to be a group activity!
Here's some pictures from yesterday. All pictures were taken on public property, while standing outside of the construction site fenced area. We have thousands more. If anyone's interested in joining our photogrammetry effort, please let us know.
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