{
  "id": 11257426,
  "title": "Work of 16 Canadian photojournalists featured at Toronto’s Union Station",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/work-of-16-canadian-photojournalists-featured-at-torontos-union",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-01T18:27:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/10/01/work-of-16-canadian-photojournalists-featured-at-torontos-union-station/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Toronto’s Union Station is a daily hub for hundreds of thousands of commuters. However, on a recent Monday, many travelers paused to admire photographs displayed as part of the 'Points of Departure' exhibit. This showcase features work by 16 Canadian photojournalists, bringing their stories to the eyes of everyday passengers.\n\nAmong the featured works is a deeply personal photograph by Alex Franklin. Entitled 'I Love You Dearly', it captures her grandmother, Marj Watson, smiling while surrounded by flowers placed in a barn. Franklin, hailing from a small town, was elated when her work was chosen for this exhibit. She admits to being moved to tears the first time she saw her piece hanging in Union Station, a realization that the display meant a great deal to her grandmother. The photograph also signifies Franklin’s attempt to document her grandmother’s resilience and beauty, especially after her grandmother lost her partner of 50 years and became a double amputee within six months.\n\nAnother compelling piece is by Ranz Bontogon from New Brunswick. His photograph depicts four temporary foreign workers from the commercial fishing and processing industry, standing and hugging each other after sharing stories of exploitation. Bontogon intentionally captured the scene from behind the workers, ensuring their identities remained anonymous to protect their immigration status. His goal is to remind commuters that these workers are \"people too\" with families in their home countries, deserving respect. He hopes that through his work, viewers will reflect on the importance of treating these individuals with dignity and empathy.\n\nCurator Chris Donovan emphasizes the significance of featuring these photojournalists' works in Union Station during an era of rapidly evolving artificial intelligence and social media. Donovan explains that while citizen journalism is valuable and helps democratize content, trained photojournalists bring a strong ethical framework to their craft. He asserts that while AI can manipulate images, the strength of the photojournalist’s moral and ethical compass remains a reliable anchor in the industry.\n\nThe organizers of the 'Points of Departure' exhibit hope that commuters will take away more than just an aesthetic experience. Located in Canada’s busiest building, the exhibit aims to engage visitors with diverse stories from across the nation. Donovan hopes that viewers will gain a sense of national identity and appreciate the breadth of experiences that Canadians encounter from one coast to the other. Ultimately, the exhibit seeks to instill a sense of collective purpose and identity among those who pass through Union Station. The 'Points of Departure' exhibit will be on display at Union Station until November 1st.",
  "summary": "'Points of Departure' is a new exhibit at Toronto's Union Station spotlighting the work of 16 photojournalists in the path of everyday commuters.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}