Peter Silverman
Encyclopedia
Peter Guy Silverman, O.Ont
is a Canadian broadcast journalist based in Toronto
, Ontario
. His television journalism career began in 1974 as a reporter for Global Television Network
's first years. In 1981, he moved to Citytv
where he became a reporter for that station's CityPulse news program (now known as CityNews
). He was host of Silverman Helps, an ombudsman
-type feature for consumer
s that began in 1989, and ended on 4 June 2008 when he was dismissed without cause by Citytv's owner, Rogers Media
. On September 2008, Silverman joined Toronto radio station CFRB to host a Saturday morning radio show called The Peter Silverman Show.
Adam Plimmer, who was accused of selling counterfeit glasses (mainly Gucci
and Oakley
) and giving out eye exams despite being unqualified to do so by the College of Opticians. Opticians in Ontario are prohibited from conducting eye exams. http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_4479.aspx This began on 3 October 2006.
A customer purchased prescription sunglasses from Plimmer and his sunglasses were broken for no reason. In CityNews' "Silverman Helps," consumers consulted Peter Silverman to have him confirm that their glasses are counterfeit. Silverman went to Oakley and it was confirmed that Adam Plimmer's glasses were counterfeit. He went to see Plimmer and Plimmer said that Oakley is a liar. Plimmer said he doesn't refund anyone. The customer got his money credited back to his credit card.
Another consumer complained about getting counterfeit Gucci glasses. Silverman went to the Gucci distribution center in Quebec
and confirmed that they were counterfeit. He went to see Adam Plimmer and he said that the glasses are authentic. Silverman told him that the glasses were counterfeit according to Gucci. Plimmer continued to deny making counterfeit Gucci glasses. He later threatened lawsuits against CityNews, Oakley, and Gucci. http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_7033.aspx
Two women encountered Plimmer, and he threatened the two women. One woman was ready to pick up her glasses from Plimmer. He refused to give her the glasses and yelled at her to get out of his store, and also making death threats. Another woman paid nearly for a pair of glasses, which included an eye exam. When Plimmer couldn't get the prescription correctly, she wanted to cancel the deal. Plimmer rejected her request and wanted her to leave his store or he will phone the police.
After the women consulted Silverman, he encountered Plimmer and Plimmer refused to say anything about the women, telling Silverman that the media is full of lies, using vulgar language and to deal with Plimmer's attorney.
After Citytv broadcast several reports on this matter, Plimmer phoned Silverman, saying "Mr. Silverman, I have became a new man. I have witnessed the power of God, and I want to tell you Mr. Silverman that I do love you and if you want to come back here again, you can talk to me." On 7 February 2007, Silverman followed up on this offer by visiting Plimmer's store at which point the reporter was attacked after Plimmer feigned an apology of him opening the door hitting Silverman. Video footage showed Plimmer slapping and hitting Silverman, uttering vulgar language in the process. Plimmer was also shown throwing snowballs at Silverman, his cameraman, and a Toronto Transit Commission
employee. After the Toronto Police Service
arrived at the shop, Plimmer was still defiant and told the police to get away from his shop. He locked the door on the police and barricaded himself. The Toronto Police Service called in the Emergency Task Force
to arrest him. Plimmer was charged with assault and assault with a weapon.
As a bail
condition, Plimmer was subjected to a restraining order
which prohibits him from meeting Citytv
staff, including Silverman.
A day after the incident, Plimmer was seen changing his business sign to "Adam Paul & Associates Opticians" to avoid confusion with a next door business, King West Eye Care, who was aiding Silverman.
Adam Plimmer has recently shut down his King West Opticians store. There is a hand-written note on the door that instructs parcels to be dropped off across the street and it also claims the store is "Under Renovations". http://urbancountry.blogspot.com/2007/04/adam-plimmer-is-no-longer.html
On 12 November 2008, Plimmer was convicted of assault.
in 2006 for Best Reportage with Terry O'Keefe and Anna Rodrigues. The following year, he was nominated for another Gemini in the Best Reportage category for the King West Opticians story. The Toronto chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
presented Silverman with an award in recognition of his fraud fighting in 2006. On 22 January 2009, Silverman was made a member of the Order of Ontario
. He will receive the RTNDA lifetime achievement award on 26 June 2009.
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
is a Canadian broadcast journalist based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. His television journalism career began in 1974 as a reporter for Global Television Network
Global Television Network
Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
's first years. In 1981, he moved to Citytv
Citytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
where he became a reporter for that station's CityPulse news program (now known as CityNews
CityNews
CityNews is the title of local television newscasts currently seen on CITY-TV Toronto, Canada. It premiered on September 12, 1977 under the name CityPulse, then spread to Citytv stations in other cities across Canada. Due to severe financial issues, as of January 19, 2010, the only station that...
). He was host of Silverman Helps, an ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
-type feature for consumer
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
s that began in 1989, and ended on 4 June 2008 when he was dismissed without cause by Citytv's owner, Rogers Media
Rogers Media
Rogers Media Inc is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc., which owns Canada's largest publishing company, Rogers Publishing Limited, which has more than 70 consumer and business publications. Rogers Media Inc...
. On September 2008, Silverman joined Toronto radio station CFRB to host a Saturday morning radio show called The Peter Silverman Show.
Reports on King West Opticians
Silverman hosted several reports on Citytv regarding Toronto opticianOptician
An optician is a person who is trained to fill prescriptions for eye correction in the field of medicine, also known as a dispensing optician or optician, dispensing...
Adam Plimmer, who was accused of selling counterfeit glasses (mainly Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
and Oakley
Oakley, Inc.
Oakley, Inc., based in Foothill Ranch, California, makes sport equipment including sunglasses, sports visors, and ski goggles, as well as watches, clothing, bags, backpacks, shoes, prescription glasses, football and hockey eyewear, Golf gear and other accessories...
) and giving out eye exams despite being unqualified to do so by the College of Opticians. Opticians in Ontario are prohibited from conducting eye exams. http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_4479.aspx This began on 3 October 2006.
A customer purchased prescription sunglasses from Plimmer and his sunglasses were broken for no reason. In CityNews' "Silverman Helps," consumers consulted Peter Silverman to have him confirm that their glasses are counterfeit. Silverman went to Oakley and it was confirmed that Adam Plimmer's glasses were counterfeit. He went to see Plimmer and Plimmer said that Oakley is a liar. Plimmer said he doesn't refund anyone. The customer got his money credited back to his credit card.
Another consumer complained about getting counterfeit Gucci glasses. Silverman went to the Gucci distribution center in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and confirmed that they were counterfeit. He went to see Adam Plimmer and he said that the glasses are authentic. Silverman told him that the glasses were counterfeit according to Gucci. Plimmer continued to deny making counterfeit Gucci glasses. He later threatened lawsuits against CityNews, Oakley, and Gucci. http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_7033.aspx
Two women encountered Plimmer, and he threatened the two women. One woman was ready to pick up her glasses from Plimmer. He refused to give her the glasses and yelled at her to get out of his store, and also making death threats. Another woman paid nearly for a pair of glasses, which included an eye exam. When Plimmer couldn't get the prescription correctly, she wanted to cancel the deal. Plimmer rejected her request and wanted her to leave his store or he will phone the police.
After the women consulted Silverman, he encountered Plimmer and Plimmer refused to say anything about the women, telling Silverman that the media is full of lies, using vulgar language and to deal with Plimmer's attorney.
After Citytv broadcast several reports on this matter, Plimmer phoned Silverman, saying "Mr. Silverman, I have became a new man. I have witnessed the power of God, and I want to tell you Mr. Silverman that I do love you and if you want to come back here again, you can talk to me." On 7 February 2007, Silverman followed up on this offer by visiting Plimmer's store at which point the reporter was attacked after Plimmer feigned an apology of him opening the door hitting Silverman. Video footage showed Plimmer slapping and hitting Silverman, uttering vulgar language in the process. Plimmer was also shown throwing snowballs at Silverman, his cameraman, and a Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
employee. After the Toronto Police Service
Toronto Police Service
The Toronto Police Service , formerly the Metropolitan Toronto Police, is the police service for the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest municipal police service in Canada and second largest police force in Canada after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police...
arrived at the shop, Plimmer was still defiant and told the police to get away from his shop. He locked the door on the police and barricaded himself. The Toronto Police Service called in the Emergency Task Force
Emergency Task Force
The Emergency Task Force ' is the tactical unit of the Toronto Police Service . It is mandated to deal with high risk situations like hostage taking, emotionally disturbed persons, high risk arrests, warrant service and protection details. The unit was created in 1965, and inspired the television...
to arrest him. Plimmer was charged with assault and assault with a weapon.
As a bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
condition, Plimmer was subjected to a restraining order
Restraining order
A restraining order or order of protection is a form of legal injunction that requires a party to do, or to refrain from doing, certain acts. A party that refuses to comply with an order faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
which prohibits him from meeting Citytv
Citytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
staff, including Silverman.
A day after the incident, Plimmer was seen changing his business sign to "Adam Paul & Associates Opticians" to avoid confusion with a next door business, King West Eye Care, who was aiding Silverman.
Adam Plimmer has recently shut down his King West Opticians store. There is a hand-written note on the door that instructs parcels to be dropped off across the street and it also claims the store is "Under Renovations". http://urbancountry.blogspot.com/2007/04/adam-plimmer-is-no-longer.html
On 12 November 2008, Plimmer was convicted of assault.
Awards and recognition
In 1994, he was honoured by the Toronto Police with a citation for his work in revealing a computer fraud case. Silverman received RTNDA's Edward R Murrow Award in 2005. He was nominated for a Gemini AwardGemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
in 2006 for Best Reportage with Terry O'Keefe and Anna Rodrigues. The following year, he was nominated for another Gemini in the Best Reportage category for the King West Opticians story. The Toronto chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Established in 1988 the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners is the professional organization that governs professional fraud examiners. Its activities include producing fraud information, tools and training. It also governs the professional designation of Certified Fraud Examiner...
presented Silverman with an award in recognition of his fraud fighting in 2006. On 22 January 2009, Silverman was made a member of the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
. He will receive the RTNDA lifetime achievement award on 26 June 2009.