Heroes and Villains 2010: Heroes: Protectors

By Torontoist

Torontoist is ending the year by naming our Heroes and Villains of 2010—Toronto’s very best and very worst people, places, and things over the past twelve months. We’re two days into our Heroes, and today: the protectors, the ones who fought to keep us safe, or to make our world better.

Roger Reis, whose gentle ass-kicking of a would-be thief was one of the G20’s few bright spots.

Terri-Jean Bedford, Amy Lebovitch, Valerie Scott, and Susan Himel, who fought—and, hopefully, changed—the laws that made prostitution dangerous, and sometimes deadly.

Steve Paikin, whose unbiased, just-the-facts reporting helped reveal the G20 for the mess it really was.

GlobalMedic, helping wherever help is needed, from Haiti to 200 Wellesley Street East.

André Marin, Ontario’s Ombudsman and, this year, its most important civil rights defender.

Taking Things Into Our Own Hands, because sometimes, you’ve gotta do it yourself.

The Toronto Women’s Bookstore, which fought against money troubles to keep the feminist bookstore flame burning.

We’re revealing our Heroes daily, until December 24; if you’re feeling sinister, our Villains ran last week. So who’s the best of the best and the worst of the worst? From December 27 to 30, you can vote for Toronto’s Superhero and Supervillain of the year.