The Annex Guardian

The Institute for Contemporary Culture at the ROM will present American filmmaker Robert Adanto's directorial debut at 7:30 p.m.

The film explores China's transformation through the work and words of several of the country's leading young artists, photographers and filmmakers. The director will be there to introduce his film and take questions from the audience.

Tickets are available on day of event beginning at 6 p.m. at the south entrance of the ROM. Tickets are $10, $8 for ROM Members and $6 for Friends of the Institute for Contemporary Culture.

Visit www.therisingtidefilm.com for more information and to view the film's trailer.

Police report the suspect, who identified himself as "Steve", approached his victims and asked if he could take their picture for a project he was working on. Police allege a man then takes the picture and asks the victims to start exposing themselves more to him before taking them to a more secluded location where he allegedly sexually assaults them.

Police have issued a public safety alert about this potential sex offender.

He is described as a white male, in his 40s with short, curly dark graying hair and is clean shaven. He is six-feet tall with a thin build and was wearing tinted sunglasses, dark khaki shorts and a light-coloured T-shirt. He was also riding a white bicycle and carrying a dark knapsack and a camera.

Anyone with information should call 416-808-5304 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com.

The Salvation Army Thrift Stores is in desperate need of men's clothing and are appealing to the public for help.

The organization, the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services, says this is the lowest donation of men's clothing they've seen in a very long time.

"I cannot remember a time in well over a decade where we have ever seen such a dramatic reduction of donations of men's clothing," Arlene Boden, executive director for Central and Southwestern Ontario recycling operations, said in a press release.

To drop off donations, visit www.tstores.ca to find the closest store near you.

McDonald, an Annex resident, is perhaps best known for his features Highway 61 and Hard Core Logo. Pontypool marks a return of sorts to the big screen for McDonald; more recently, he has directed episodes of acclaimed television series such as Degrassi: the Next Generation, Queer as Folk and This is Wonderland.

McDonald's last feature, the Tracey Fragments, earned the director accolades at the Berlin Film Festival, received six Genie Award nominations and was recognized as one of Canada's Top 10 Films by TIFF.

The director's latest film, Pontypool, is the first Canadian feature film shot entirely on a Red One Camera, a piece of digital equipment touted by some as the natural successor to conventional 35-millimetre film.

Pontypool is a taut psychological thriller starring renowned character actor Stephen McHattie (300, Seinfeld). Set in a radio station in Pontypool, the film begins with news of a series of violent incidents caused by a virus within the English language.

Visit www.insidetoronto.com/News/Etobicoke/article/48843 for an article on the Pontypool shoot.

Student safety remains a top priority for both the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), so the Student Transportation Services Departments for both boards are providing the Back to School Safely campaign for students and their parents.

As summer winds down and the beginning of the new school year looms, mall displays are being set up throughout the city to remind parents and children of basic safety rules both on and off school buses.

Children and their families are invited to see the Bus Safety Show presented by Buster the talking school bus and to hear Elmer the Safety Elephant share tips on crossing roads safely. The Toronto Police and Safety Patrollers will also be on hand, and visitors will receive loot bags with literature for parents and their children. Staff from both boards will be available to answer any questions about school bus transportation.

The displays are scheduled for:

- Saturday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Albion Mall, 1530 Albion Rd., Etobicoke

- Saturday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cedarbrae Mall, 3495 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough

- Saturday, Aug. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Yorkgate Mall, 1 Yorkgate Blvd., North York

- Thursday, Aug. 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at East York Town Centre, 45 Overlea Blvd., Don Mills

- Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Centrepoint Mall, 6464 Yonge St., North York