Models combat photographers' sexual harassment and more arts stories you might have missed

Here at CBC Arts, you won't just find our original content — we also bring you the best art posts from across the entire CBC network.

These are the week's can't-miss stories:

Models use Facebook whisper networks to tackle sexual harassment from photographers (CBC News)

"Drew Catherine has had countless uncomfortable encounters with photographers in her three years working as a freelance model in Toronto. The 22-year-old said stories from other Toronto-based models are 'heart-wrenching' and speak of 'rape, of abuse, photographers selling their images without permission, taking photos of them in dressing rooms.' Catherine, who often poses semi-nude, was so fed up with the constant harassment — as well as photographers withholding photos or not paying her — that she started the Facebook group Toronto-Ontario Photographer Reviews. It's a closed group where both female and male models can share their experiences with specific photographers and warn others about inappropriate behaviour. 'When you're new, you're very powerless in this industry, and that's what I want to change,' Catherine said."

Bill proposed to create Ontario poet laureate position in memory of Gord Downie (CBC Toronto)

"An NDP member of the Ontario legislature wants to enshrine the name of late Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie in a law creating the province's first poet laureate. Percy Hatfield's Poet Laureate of Ontario Act (In Memory of Gord Downie) was introduced Tuesday in the legislature. Hatfield says Downie, who died of brain cancer earlier this year at age 53, was a poet, a singer and advocate for Indigenous issues. 'It's fitting that we remember him by creating the position of Ontario's poet laureate in his name,' he said. 'Downie viewed Canada through a distinctly poetic lens, and I believe this is a beautiful way to honour him, and to continue his legacy.'"

Exhibit featuring female photographers presents Middle East through new lens (CBC Ottawa)

"A new exhibit at the Canadian War Museum is aiming to challenge Western perceptions of the Middle East. The exhibit features the work of 12 women, whose photographs mix portraiture with elements of photojournalism. Joanne Stober, a historian of war and visual culture at the Canadian War Museum, said the exhibit aims to give Western viewers a much different view of the lives of women in the Middle East. 'It's an intense look at 12 different perspectives from women from Iran and the Middle East, which is something we don't usually see in the Western world,' she said. 'We're often the eyes looking in...and this gives us the view from the inside.'"

Flying through northern lights 'really surreal' for Calgary photographer (CBC Calgary)

"As a professional photographer and self-described aurora hunter, Calgarian Neil Zeller is always looking for a unique view of the northern lights. And last weekend, he got one of the most unique views possible — from the cockpit of a Boeing 737 as it soared through the skies above Yukon.Zeller was the official photographer for an inaugural tour put on by Air North, the Yukon Astronomical Society and Travel Yukon which saw the plane take off from Whitehorse just after midnight Nov. 25 with nearly 100 on board for a four-hour flight. 'We ended up flying under the auroral arch,' said Zeller. 'We actually flew under them and it was really surreal. There isn't a comparison — it felt like you were in them.'"

Elementary school students rewriting the TRC's calls to action...as poetry (Unreserved)

"Students at École Laura Secord School in Winnipeg are learning all about the history of residential schools and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action. About a month ago the students from Grades 4 to 6 visited the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to learn about the history of residential schools. And now the students are building on what they learned, examining the different calls to action and rewriting them though found poetry. Some of the students became very emotional through this project, Jones explained, and are having a hard time learning about the history. But their understanding is reaffirming that they need to keep going and learning. 'The kids really have an understanding — and we're often blown away by their understanding,' she said."

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