Quintessentially Canadian Summer 2012 by Quintessentially Canadian

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Quintessentially Canadian 2012 SUMMER . .

OUR CONTENTS 21

10 FEATURES

LIGHT READING

10 C&G SOLID WOOD FURNITURE CO.

14 THE MIGHTY LITTLE HONEY BEE

12 Rowe Farms Tamworth Hog

Four Ways to Unblock Your Stuck Energy 21 Dr. DAVID SUZUKI An Open Letter

Stylish Canadian Furniture for Your Creature Comforts A Resurgence of a Once Declining Species

18 Organic or Not: The Choice is Yours

Mother Nature’s Creations or Man Made Temptations

6 500 BC – 2012 You Go Bee!

16 COME ALIVE BEATING THE BLUES

22 The GREEN BEAVER COMPANY 7 Chemicals We Don’t Use 24 WORLD WILD LIFE FUND Success in Canada

27 MOOSE PONDERINGS

Zen Advice From the Wild

PLUS enjoy the wonderful, quintessentially Canadian products throughout our pages!

Do you know where your food

comes from

Fresh seasonal produce Organic bulk and dairy Naturally raised meats Award winning cheese Artisan preserves

All Ontario All the time All year round

At Culinarium youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find fantastic food from passionate producers. Reliable sources close to home. 705 Mount Pleasant Road | Toronto | Ontario

647 | 624 | 7004 culinarium.ca

Quintessentially Canadian 2012

Editorʼs Letter

Dear Readers, Ever feel like you’re just getting by, but still holding on? It’s the survivalist’s triumph. It could also be our motto for this, our third issue of Quintessentially Canadian. The murky waters of “Made in Canada” are sometimes bereft of vision and unity. We love the spirit of homegrown goods, but at times our great idea for a unified “Made in Canada” magazine feels a bit like a lone boat floating listlessly in the overcrowded waters – hop on the boat people! And yet, here we are, excited and optimistic, with old friends and new. The m ighty Pheylonian bee keeps buzzing through our pages and lighting our way. Rowe Farms dishes on their delectable Tamworth Pork. Finally an article dedicated solely to bacon! Green Beaver spells out the science of the fine print on skin products with alarming results, and Culinarium’s Kathleen Mackintosh philosophizes about the organic choice. What could be more exciting than Canadian made furniture – that’s stylish, practical and long lasting? C & G Solid Wood Furniture Co. showcases their beautiful furniture in Cambridge, Ontario. Memo’s colourful homemade designs speak to our unique Canadian style and Lunch Buddy makes packing the old bag lunch cozy, cute and waste-‐free. As always, the quintessential Canadian will spend their summer embarking on and taking in the beautiful nature this road trips, soaking up the sun, flocking to beaches country has to offer. Outfitting junior in 100 Mile Child’s cool summer frocks and carrying a ‘not m ade in China’ plastic pail and shovel along for the ride would serve us all well. And don’t forget the cheese! Upper Canada’s Niagara Gold is heavenly atop crackers for a breezy summer picnic. In true Canadian spirit – giving back this summer to a charity of choice, like World Wildlife Fund, might just save a piece of the beauty you are enjoying. If you’re just getting by, giving will make you feel full of wealth. A nd if you’re still holding on, notice whose hand you m ay be holding and reach for another to pull them up. Happy Summer. Judith Kipka Editor

DISCLAIMER: Quintessentially Canadian Magazine makes no warranties of any kind, written or implied, regarding the contents of this magazine and expressly disclaims any warranty regarding the accuracy or reliability of information contained herein. The views contained in this magazine are those of the writers and advertisers; they do not necessarily reflect the views of Quintessentially Canadian Magazine and its publisher. Quintessentially Canadian assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Quintessentially Canadian assumes no responsibility for content of or reply to any ad. The advertiser assumes complete liability for the content of and all replies to any advertisement and for any claims made thereof.

Editor: Judith Kipka Art Director: Autumn Clare Marketing and Advertising: Robert Windover Publisher: Quintessentially Canadian Group Contact Us: quintessentiallycanadian@hotmail.ca (416) 770-7279

Contributors: Kathleen Mackintosh, Caitlyn Holroyd, Tawlia Chickalo, Laureen Van Groningen, Marilyn Minden, The David Suzuki Foundation, World Wildlife Fund Canada Printed in Canada Join us on Facebook

Lunch Buddy

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Attention Fundraisers!

We help you meet your fundraising goals You keep 50% of your total sales We provide all order forms and samples You can do this fundraiser with only one volunteer! Environmentally responsible fundraising

Enjoy

What

You

Wherever you are this summer…

Your Environmental Profile With Thistle Printing as your printer, you can rest assured knowing that you have done everything possible to reduce, re‑use and recycle, to preserve and support your environment. FSC® certified, and one of the first companies in Canada to go CTP (computer to plate), you can brag to your colleagues that your job was printed with 100% soy based vegetable ink, on up to date energy efficient equipment. Everything is brought in fully recycled or is being recycled after use. You can feel secure knowing that your printer has won awards and industry recognition for their environmental printing and initiatives. Tell your friends that The City of Toronto Department of Public Health uses your printer as a media reference for Waste Water Management and as a case study for a Leader in Environmental Management. The Globe and Mail Report on Business has featured Thistle Printing for their environmental profile ... your environmental profile.

416‑288‑1288 • greg@thistleprinting.com

Niagara Falls

North Toronto

University of Toronto

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Prince Edward County

hether you are thinking about redecorating a single room or your entire house or business, this family owned and operated business can provide all your solutions with a one-stop shopping trip. C&G have been providing custom-made solid wood furniture for thirty-three years with total customer satisfaction being the driving force behind their success.

C&G’s sprawling 15,000 square foot showroom displays a variety of products for every room in the house in pine, rough-cut pine, oak, quarter-sawn oak, regular, brown and wormy maple. They carry an exceptional selection of styles ranging from traditional and country to contemporary and modern with the option of blending styles to meet your exact design needs. To compliment your wood furnishing selections, C&G have expanded to offer sofa and chair selections by Canadian made Decor-Rest. And now that the warmer weather is approaching, consider the new recycled plastic outdoor furniture by Generation Line that provides solid year-round structure in a variety of fun, long-lasting colours. C&G Solid Wood Furniture can furnish every room in your home or business, inside and out, with furniture that not only shows off its high-quality, but more importantly functions efficiently and with ease. And you can be confident that each and every piece of hand-crafted solid wood furniture is something that can be passed down for generations.

Building Beautiful Quality Furniture that Lasts a Lifetime Detail is given to each 100% Canadian, custom-crafted piece using only the finest materials, with no veneers or chipboard. “Although we have a wide array of classic furniture styles, like the “Shaker“ style or the “Mission“ style, we also work very hard to keep up with current furniture trends. As a result, we are always designing new furniture lines and adding new products to our collections like Demi-Lune and Stockholm. If we don’t carry exactly what you are looking for, we will find a way to build it,” explains vice-president, Laureen Van Groningen. To complete your look, C&G Solid Wood Furniture carries a beautiful line of paintings, prints, lamps and accessories to accompany your furniture purchase flawlessly. Often it is the perfect accessory that can complete the desired look and feel you are trying to achieve. Having quality furniture is only part of the equation. As Van Groningen puts it, “C&G is different from other stores because unlike most places, we have a ‘no deposit’ policy, we back up all our pieces with a twoyear warranty on the construction and guarantee we will not be undersold when comparing quality to quality.” In short, whatever your needs, whatever your tastes, the courteous staff at C&G will make all of your home furniture dreams come true.

Opposite page: Stockholm Bedroom Set Brooklyn TV Desk Above: Florentino with Fireplace Alexander Table with Athena Chairs

“Over the last three decades our customers have expressed their gratitude towards the service they received and the quality of our products. As winners of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Readers Choice Award, we are confident that our “customer service, family approach” has been instrumental in our elevated success. Repeat and referral customers are the bulk of our business, so it is vital that your experience with us exceed expectations,” adds Van Groningen. To find out what’s new or to receive the feature of the month, sign up for C&G's monthly newsletter. And if you are thinking of updating your home or cottage and want quality Canadian-made furnishings, visit C&G Solid Wood Furniture. Our experienced staff are happy to help you.

The store and showroom are located at 434 Beaverdale Road in Cambridge. Business hours are Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am until 5:30 pm and Sundays from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. For further information, call 519-658-2540 or visit the website at www.cgsolidwoodfurniture.com 11

Tamworth Pork

- Rowe Farms Tamworth Pork raised by the Harley family on their Peterborough Ontario farm - A heritage breed from the 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with origins from Tamworth England - Pasture raised in open fields Roger Harley with Boris the Tamworth boar

Rowefarms - Head Office 105 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto, ON M6R 2K9 facebook.com/rowefarms

info@rowefarms.ca www.rowefarms.ca tel: 416.532.3738 @ RoweFarms

BY CAITLYN HOLROYD

HREE YEARS AGO, Roger and Julie Harley, of Peterborough, Ontario, along with Rowe Farms embarked on project to enhance hog production in Ontario. The goals were significant: 1) develop a hog production system with improved animal welfare standards, 2) lower the overall cost of hog production and 3) provide consumers with an enhanced eating experience. Over the past three years, the group has made great progress and product is now available in all Rowe Farms’ retail locations. “This is a significant undertaking,” says Jamie Cooney, CEO Rowe Farms, “we are very pleased with the project’s progress and optimistic that our objectives will be realized.” Roger and Julie Harley immigrated to Canada from the UK in 2001 bringing with them a lifetime commitment to animal welfare and sustainable farming practices. This philosophy to farming practices is front and centre on their Peterborough farm and now has the additional support of their children James and Emily who plan to take the farm beyond their parent’s accomplishments. At the cornerstone of Rowe Farms’ hog production pilot is the Tamworth hog – one of the oldest pig breeds and a direct descendant of Europe’s native pig stock that in turn descended from wild boars. The breed originated in the UK town of Tamworth in Staffordshire and experienced popularity in the 19th century when it was first introduced to North America. Tamworth is not well suited to modern industrialized production methods and consequently, the breed has seen a decline in recent decades. Today, Tamworth is listed as a “threatened” species in the United States and considered “vulnerable” in the UK and therefore monitored by the UK’s Rare Breed Survival Trust. Lead by Roger Harley – who raises Tamworth for the company – Rowe Farms is committed to contributing to a resurgence of the breed and has made it available in all of its retail stores. Tamworth pigs are red coloured with pointed ears, a rectangular face and snout, and a long, narrow body. They are considered a hardy breed, with a fully grown boar ranging from 535 to 800 pounds and a fully grown sow ranging from 450 to 650 pounds. The Tamworth’s hardiness also makes them ideal for outdoor production as they are able to tolerate different temperatures and have a

ginger coat to protect them against sunburn. The breed also has natural disease resistance and great mothering instincts, which help the piglets survive in outdoor environments. Harley is currently raising 700 Tamworth and has approximately 30 acres of land dedicated to hog production. While they are well accustomed to roaming outdoors, Harley says that raising pigs outdoors is not that simple. “It’s not just a case of throwing them outside and forgetting about them,” he says. When it comes to raising Tamworth, Harley’s philosophy follows that of the UK’s outdoor pig production. His pigs spend their entire lives outdoors and are provided with winter watering systems, farrowing sheds, and large round bales to nest in. They are raised to the Rowe Farms standard of “quality with a conscience”, which means they are locally grown, antibiotic and hormone free, conscientiously farmed, and fed an entirely vegetarian diet of forage based ration cubes formulated by Harley specifically for the herd. This method of hog production differs from that of conventional hog barns, which tend to be made up of closed units equipped with ventilation systems and temperature regulations. Within these barns, pigs are kept in small groups while sows that have given birth are kept in farrowing pens that restrict the sow’s movement so she does not accidentally lie on the piglets. When it comes to the future of Tamworth within Rowe Farms’ hog production plan, Harley says things are just getting started. “We’ve got such a market for them,” he says. A big part of the Tamworth’s marketability is its distinct flavour profile, which differs from traditional pork. Compared to other breeds, they have a thicker layer of fat on the outside of the meat which helps produce rich, tender and well-textured pork. Tamworth is also renowned for producing some of the tastiest bacon. “Customers in search of a unique product to serve their families have to try this pork,” encourages Cooney “In my opinion, this is the best tasting pork you can find anywhere!” Rowe Farms offers a variety of Tamworth cuts in the butcher case in all of its retail stores. As always, their friendly staff are available to answer questions on Tamworth and any of the other products Rowe Farms offers.

The Mighty

At Pheylonian Productions, w e have been educating people about bee products, particularly honey and beeswax, for over 40 years. Interestingly, in 1971 a study by J. Hill i n London, England made national recommendations to revisit the healing properties of honey i n many health applications, stating that honey works better than the more modern day chemical salves or medicines that have been in use since the 1930’s. In 1 989, the exact same recommendations were put forth by the Medical School of Hammersmith Hospital and published i n the Royal Society of Medicine (Zumla and Lulat A).

Little Honey Bee

Honeybees have existed for millions of years, as proven by honeybees found in Amber Resin that are over 50 million years old. Most of the ancient cultures document and value the honeybee for their amazing products, as they truly do and create what no o ther living creature can. The oldest written documentation of the bee is found in Sumerian and Egyptian records, w hich date back to 6500 BC and 2 500 BC respectively. Of all the products made by bees, honey i s the one that everyone is familiar with, but few people nowadays are aware of the valuable properties of ‘pure honey’. Many of our parents and grandparents were far more mindful of honey values, as honey was commonly included in food and was used for many applications of health. My Grandma used honey on all cuts or burns, it went into bedtime tea to help Grandpa sleep, and w e got a spoonful whenever we had an upset tummy, sore throats and so much more.

Over two decades later, honey i s finally experiencing a resurgence of healthful applications both topically and i nternally, but remember, i t must be pure, unpasteurized honey. Space is limited here to properly introduce these benefits, w hich include arthritis, cholesterol, sleep recovery energy and even diabetes. Please checkout our new ‘Buzzing Bee Bits’ blog at o ur website, where w e will be sharing these and many other i nteresting bits about the world of bees and their products, tying i n mythology, sacred geometry and modern day facts about CCD (Critical Colony Collapse).

Beeswax candles are also enjoying a resurgence of use, rather than the toxic paraffin candles, which have dominated the market since the mid 1900’s. V isit our w eb site for extensive i nformation on the healthful and economic advantages of pure beeswax, along with a growing volume o f energetic and environmental information involving the bee comb and i t’s geometric shape.

THE MIGHTY LITTLE BEE

Here’s a lil’ bit of ‘The Magical Alchemy of Beeswax’ blog out in mid-‐May. The bright golden flame of a beeswax candle i s a unique synthesis of pollen, nectars, sunlight and bees. In the complete darkness of the hive, the youngest worker bees hatch and embark upon their first job, grooming and cleaning the combs, which are being constructed to hold honey and the new young brood. While being nourished with nectars and pollen collected by their older sisters, these young bees learn to produce royal jelly to feed the brood comb. As a result of consuming pollen and nectar, these lil’ bees soon d evelop two glands on their abdomen w hich secrete tiny translucent scales of wax. These are passed to their mouth w here enzymes are added and each tiny piece of wax is added to the growing lattice of snow-‐white honeycombs. All of this before they have even seen the light of day.

In the darkness of the hive, light is recreated from what

was originally sunlight and Mother Nature’s natural nectars and pollens. Through the alchemy of the bees’ body, we are blessed w ith beeswax. In the cycle o f materialization, transformation and d e-‐materialization, the elements o f earth (wax and wick) is enlightened by fire (the flame) w hich liquefies the wax (fluid), moving i t i nto a gaseous vapour (air) which nourishes the flame, creating golden light, returning these pure elements to the earth with a healthy negative ion influence designed to clean the air of pollutants and toxins. Sunlight becomes light ...isn’t Mother Nature amazing? Visit www.pheylonian.com for other interesting and enlightening stories, and sign up for our ongoing newsletters about bees and their magical place in the greater scheme of being.

BY TAWLIA CHICKALO

Come Alive Beating The Blues

Dear Flat Out,

Let me reassure you that what you are feeling is normal. Many people experience these emotional valleys. It is especially evident on a seasonal basis during late winter and early spring or around holidays particularly when we are ‘supposed’ to feel happy but can happen anytime of the year. Your low mood may also be connected to an anniversary of an emotionally difficult event or a recent loss. It may also be the very human experience of awareness of our mortality – an existential moment in time where you realise you haven’t accomplished all that you hoped to have achieved (thus far) in your life.

Dear M,

I’ve retreated into my cocoon. I’m really struggling. It’s spring and I feel sluggish and slightly depressed. I look out at another grey day and I open the door of my balcony and the wind is chilling. I am functioning. I go to work, I eat well, I sleep and I don’t feel ‘normal’. I feel disconnected. My joie de vivre feels like a distant memory. How do I get out of this awful flatness? Yours truly, Flat Out.

Here are four simple and specific ways to help you unblock your stuck energy and connect with your mind, body and spirit

M-‐MEDITATION M-‐MAKING MEANING M-‐MOVING in NATURE M-‐MAKING SENSE

Our capacity for greater awareness T his o ften M – MEDITATION feels counter intuitive. As uncomfortable as it is, take some time to deliberately sit with your flatness. Just Breathe. Practice a five-‐minute (or more) daily meditation for a week. Invite the flatness to introduce itself and hang around. Take time to focus instead of running or hiding and distracting yourself. See what happens. Listen to your breath and what your body says to you. Connect with your spirit as it is. When we meet ourselves where we are, a funny thing happens. We begin to wake up.

allows us to make choices with courage and resultant change.

M-‐ MAKING SENSE We feel alive through our senses: – taste, touch, smell, sight, hearing. Go for a silent walk, alone or with a friend. Approach the walk as if it was the very first time that you are exploring your neighbourhood. Be aware of how your foot contacts the ground as you walk. Pay attention to what you see directly in front of you and in your peripheral vision. If it is a grey day notice all the shades you see. Listen to the soundscape. Notice the smells. When you are finished, wander around a local indoor or outdoor food market Talk to the market vendors. Try some new foods. Eat slowly and mindfully. Notice how your mood shifts even slightly with each taste experience. Living through your senses and engaging with others will bring you out of your flatness.

M-‐ MAKING MEANING Exercise your heart muscle! What are you here for? What small act can you do to repair the world today? Can you do something for someone else to make their life easier? Engage in small talk with strangers like the market vendor. Be curious – find out their story. You’d be surprised at how even a little bit of contact can edge out loneliness and dullness and open your heart

Marilyn Minden is a Gestalt psychotherapist and Registered Social Worker.

M-‐ MOVING in NATURE Turn off the technological connections in your life, temporarily. Experience the restorative effects of your own nature and the natural environment (whether spending time gardening, playing in a local park, visiting a public garden, or venturing out to a wilderness setting). It is a universal healing experience when humans are close to nature. It brings us in tune with our senses and off the treadmill of negative thinking. If getting close to nature isn’t feasible today, pretend by listening to some CD’s like birdsongs or waterfalls. Or play some music that matches your mood and then change it up as your mood shifts. Just start humming to the sounds and moving with the rhythms. If you dare, invite someone to dance with you. Your own nature and the natural world around you have all the elements to nourish your heart and soul. Let them!

Marilyn Minden R.S.W. Psychotherapy and Coaching

mjminden@gmail.com 416-385-1557 www.marilynminden.com

If you have a question for Marilyn, send your letter to quintessentiallycanadian@hotmail.ca

Quintessentially Canadian 2012 .

Organic or Not: The Choice is Yours BY KATHLEEN MACKINTOSH

A few years ago I had the pleasure of hearing Michael Ableman food activist and author of many books including Fields of Plenty speak at a conference. This particular day he w as advocating the benefits of eating locally to a group of culinary professionals. After a wonderful 60 minute speech an audience member got up and asked very specifically if she should choose local over organic foods. She w as equally concerned with pesticide use and her carbon footprint. She was desperate to make the “right” choice and wanted Michael to tell her what that was. The problem was, no matter how she tried, how many examples she gave, or what situations she outlined, he could not give her the magic bullet she was looking for. He could not d ecide for her w hat was best for her situation, only she could do that. Choosing your food is a very personal choice.

It is reflective of your values, your morals, your passions, the geography you live in, your beliefs and sometimes all that is thrown out the window and w e choose simply on taste or in an emotional state of pleasure, frustration or anger. Eating is a complex and complicated business, and a very personal choice. And so the question still remains for each of us. Do we choose conventional foods, o rganic foods or locally grown foods? Or some of each, depending on o ur morals and moods? On the surface, locally grown organically raised foods would seem the best choice for our bodies and the environment, but if w e dig a little deeper we’ll see it’s more complicated than it appears at first glance.

And so the question still remains for each of us.

Do we choose conventional foods, organic foods or locally grown foods? Or some of each, depending on our morals and moods?

By definition the w ord “organic” does not really help us in our choice. Webster’s Dictionary defines organic as “of, relating to, or containing carbon compounds…of, relating to, or derived from living organisms.” This broad definition is often employed correctly to refer to processes and products that we consider to be natural or related to Mother Nature vs. man-‐made. But let ’s face it, plastic is man-‐ made, and at its most basic level it’s simply a specific arrangement of carbon molecules, so does that make it organic? See the confusion?

Hence the creation of Organic Certification. First world nations around the globe have 3rd party regulation to certify organic food production. W hile exact details of certification vary around the w orld there is some consideration given to the following: o No synthetic p esticide or fertilizer use o No antibiotics or growth hormone use o No genetically engineered organisms allowed o Efforts made to maintain biodiversity o Maintenance o f soil integrity o Reliance on renewable resources and recycling within an enterprise o All inputs are organically certified – for example, animals raised on a certified o rganic farm will be fed certified organic feeds

Quintessentially Canadian 2012

Organically certified foods are not chemical free, as many people incorrectly assume. There is a list of approved substances that can be used to increase soil fertility and nutrients and fight the good fight against insects, molds and funguses, all of w hich damage crops. Some of the items on this 3 9-‐page list are tame enough: kelp, ash, shells, pumice, limestone, and fat based soap, others are more interesting and potentially controversial. Rotenone is one such substance. While it is derived from plant sources, it is a very broad acting chemical that kills as many good bugs as it does the bad ones, which would seem at odds w ith the organic statute to maintain biodiversity. And what about biodiversity? How strictly and in what context is this standard enforced? A certified organic farm growing a thousand acres of salad greens year after year would seem to be lacking d iversity. Even with crop rotation and letting fields run fallow, the holistic environment created surrounding this farm will be depleted and less diverse than farms that grow many crops in harmony with each other. In nature, eco-‐ systems are rarely made up of just one feature – a forest has more than one type of tree in it, in fact it has many varieties of trees, flowers, grasses, weeds, insects, animals and funguses, all living in harmony, all supporting each other. Farming is complicated as it is so closely linked with our natural w orld, which is as complicated as it is unpredictable. In an industrialized and impersonal food system, such as the one w e typically function in here in North America, if you choose organically certified foods you are ensuring a certain level of care was put into growing that food with interest towards your health, the farmers health and the environment, and you are assured that someone is following up on these standards, enforcing them. The paper trail is long but if you really wanted to, you could find the proof.

When you create a local food system for yourself – one that includes personal interaction with your food, your choices broaden and your relationship with that food and its grower can be strengthened. A local food economy consists of procuring your food from folks you trust, be it from your local green grocer, the farmer or growing it yourself. It involves eye contact, a few shared laughs and knowledge transfer. In this case, certification is not needed to guarantee a certain standard of growing practices, all that is needed is a few question and answer exchanges and a relationship o f trust. It is in this local food economy that you can source out what is really important to you. Perhaps you are dead set against genetically engineered foods or a staunch supporter o f n o chemical use or crop rotation and environmental integrity. So what do you choose? How do you choose? It all boils down to circumstance and using the tools at your disposal based on the food system you are shopping in. There is no right or w rong. At the end of the day, food is used to nourish our bodies, satisfy our hunger and in some cases satisfy our soul. It’s your body. It’s your choice, make it.

Kathleen Mackintosh is the founder of Culinarium, a boutique grocery market in mid-town Toronto dedicated exclusively to showcasing the exceptional foods produced in the province of Ontario.

An Open Letter from Dr. David Suzuki Dear friends, Some of you may have seen media coverage about my decision to step off the board of directors of the David Suzuki Foundation. I am writing to tell you more about this and what it means. After my children and grandchildren, my greatest pride is the David Suzuki Foundation. I am fiercely proud of how the Foundation brings science and solutions to environment problems. I’m determined to ensure that the Foundation continues to have the ability to solve critical environmental issues and bring hope for the future. But I have reached a point in my life where I would like to consider myself an elder. I want to speak freely without fear that my words will be deemed too political, and harm the organization of which I am so proud. I am keenly aware that some governments, industries and special interest groups are working hard to silence us. They use threats to the Foundation’s charitable status in attempts to mute its powerful voice on issues that matter deeply to you and many other Canadians. This bullying demonstrates how important it is to speak out. The Foundation’s science-based, solutions-oriented research and educational work has enriched our democracy and reflected Canadian values for two decades. While not always happily received by governments or industrial interests, this work is strictly non-partisan, as required by the laws governing charities, and has made the Foundation one of the most trusted environmental voices in Canada. Our opponents, however, are redoubling their efforts to marginalize the Foundation by getting at me, personally. So last year, I made the decision to step off the board of directors of the David Suzuki Foundation. I remain one of its most active volunteers and committed major donors. This way I can fulfill my personal mission and the Foundation can continue to build on its inspiring work – for us and our grandchildren – in finding solutions to our shared, and very real, environmental challenges. I hope you understand this decision and will continue to show your, steadfast support for my work in this concrete way: Please share this letter with your family and friends and, at this critical moment, invite them to become supporters of the David Suzuki Foundation, by joining our online community or donating today. Sincerely,

David Suzuki

Ingredients to Avoid

1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

Detergents and surfactants that can pose serious health threats. Used in 90 percent of personalcare products that foam (shampoos, toothpastes, children’s bubble bath, etc.). Studies have proven SLS and SLES disturbs the normal skin balance causing potentially severe skin problems and eye irritations. Using toothpastes with SLS can cause recurring mouth ulcers. They can react with other chemicals found in personal care products to produce nitrosamines, which can cause cancer.

2. Mineral Oil and Petrolatum Widely used in lotions, sunscreens, lip balms, lipstick, hair products and baby oils. Derived from petroleum, they can interfere with the skin's ability to breathe, cause premature aging of the skin and aggravate acne. They are contaminated with cancer causing PAH's (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons). Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably cheap.

3. Parabens

Parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, -propyl- , isopropyl, -butyl, benzylparaben, etc) are the most popular synthetic antimicrobial preservatives found in personal care products. They are suspected of posing grave health risks with long-term exposure. It is a fact that up to 60 percent of whatever we place on our skin goes into our blood stream. This is where the danger starts. Parabens pose a potential health danger because they have been proven to penetrate the skin while expressing xenoestrogenic activity. Xenoestrogens are chemicals that mimic hormones and disrupt functions of the endocrine system. This can lead to early puberty, reproductive problems and breast cancer.

Quintessentially Canadian 2012

4. Formaldehyde Formaldehyde is another popular antimicrobial preservative used in a variety of products, including eye shadows, nail polishes, soaps, and toothpastes. You will, however, not see the word formaldehyde on the product label. It will appear as hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate or quaternium-15. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and may cause breathing difficulties, especially for those with asthma. It can also be absorbed into the skin and may trigger headaches and allergic reactions.

5. Phthalates Another xenoestrogen commonly found in many products. Phthalates do not appear on product labels because it is hidden in the word fragrance. Synthetic fragrances are composed of many ingredients. Phthalates are used in fragrances to prolong the duration of the scent. Health effects include damage to live, kidneys, lungs, birth defects, and early breast development in girls and boys.

6. Triclosan A registered pesticide by the US EPA, triclosan is also widely used as antimicrobial agent personal care products including hand sanitizers, shampoos and toothpastes. Many questions are arising on the ill effects of triclosan after animal tests showed that the chemical caused thyroid hormone inbalances and infertility. Environmental Defence, a Canadian environmental action organization recently mandated a laboratory to determine if triclosan could be found in Canadians. The analyses detected triclosan in seven of the eight Canadians tested. Health Canada has recently announced that triclosan in significant amounts cause harm to the environment. The government has initiated consultations with industry on the potential for voluntary reductions in the use of triclosan in products.

7.MEA (Monoethanolamine), DEA (Diethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine) Highly toxic and used in over 40% of personal care products, these chemicals are used primarily as pH balancers and emulsifiers. Easily absorbed through the skin to accumulate in the body and organs. They have been linked to a wide range of illnesses such as liver cancer, kidney cancer and contact dermatitis. These chemicals are already restricted in Europe due to known carcinogenic effects and are under review in many countries.

THE ONLY SAFE SYNTHETIC CHEMICAL IS ONE THAT YOU DO NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH! Seeking out responsible personal care products, like your food choices should be fun. Treat your body as best you can. Using Green Beaver healthy organic certified products is really an easy way to begin the process.

For more information on Ingredients to avoid and Safe Ingredients, go to:

www.greenbeaver.com

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A historic agreement has been signed by the Governments of Canada and Ontario to establish the largest freshwater reserve in the world, on the largest lake in the world – Lake Superior. This will be Canadaʼs first National Marine Conservation Area, protecting 1 million hectares of pristine islands, rugged coast, and crystal-clear water. This protection is excellent news for the species that inhabit this area, such as peregrine falcons, loons, woodland caribou, trout and pickerel. %

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World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF-Canada) was founded in 1967 by Senator Alan MacNaughton, and has become one of the country's leading conservation organizations, enjoying the active support of more than 150,000 Canadians. We connect the power of a highly respected and effective global network to on-the-ground efforts across Canada, through our operations in Vancouver, Prince Rupert, St. Albertʼs, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, St. Johnʼs, and a growing presence in the Arctic. T   o stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by: Conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

ca-panda@wwfcanada.org%

We now offer a gift registry service.

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Quintessentially Canadian 2012 .

Moose ponderings… Zen advice from the wild

Through your own eyes you may feel the warmth of the world while in your hands hold the love and joy of belonging.

A journey embraces paths where we explore adventures and stressful experiences. Yet if we choose not to walk out of our own woods, we never know anything more than the moss on one side of the tree. My friend Ogopogo says, “to let loose in someone else’s water is more fun than relaxing in my own.” Although we seek a more complete satisfaction of being whole, we cannot forget who we are already -‐ a person who deserves happiness. If you open your heart to one, you soon realize that the heart embraces this emotion. It fills your soul with energy and light. Your senses become entangled with everything around you. Tidal waves envelope you whole, like a mist from a morning rain. Enchantment, fairytale or belief in yourself descends. Fulfillment comes in many names. Desire plays with the ego pushing forward. Embrace your spiritual energy. If your intentions are positive, enjoy. The material world will try to hold you. Let go to communicate with yourself. Share a Laugh, a Thought, time with Loved ones. Begin with one, simple, step.

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