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MASTHEAD EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS is the only monthly magazine that’s focused on life in South Etobicoke. It is mailed to houses in Long Branch, New Toronto & Mimico by Canada Post. Additional copies are available for pick-up at local businesses.
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Amanda Kirkland Personal Growth
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We capture life in South Etobicoke by highlighting the many positive contributions to our community by local business owners, elected officials, and residents. Single Copy: $1.50. Annual Subscription: $54.00. No part of this publication in any of its forms may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher.
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FINANCE 5 TIPS TO SAVE ON YOUR TAXES cash to invest. Give your nest-egg a boost by borrowing, and get a tax break on the loan interest too. One important caveat, of course, is making sure the money is invested wisely, because you’ll have to repay the loan even if the value of the investment declines. Save on taxes now with an RRSP contribution, save on taxes later with a TFSA contribution When you contribute to a tax-free savings account (TFSA), the income your Tax-filing season is here again – the Canada investments earn is sheltered from taxes. Revenue Agency started accepting 2021 income You can withdraw any amount at any time, tax returns on February 21, and most Canadians and there’ll never be a penny in tax owing. have to file their return and pay any balance owing by April 30. Conversely, when you contribute to a registered retirement savings plan Financially savvy Canadians are always looking for (RRSP), your taxable income for the year ways to reduce their tax bill. Whether it’s with tax is reduced by an amount equal to the credits and deductions, or effective financial tips value of your contribution, lessening your and strategies, there are many things individuals immediate tax burden and, in some cases, can do to manage their tax burden. allowing taxpayers to reduce their income enough to qualify for a lower marginal tax Here’s a look at five ways you might be able to rate. follow to bring down your tax bill this filing season. However, it’s important to remember that Claim home office expenses, even if you’re a RRSP contributions and the income they salaried employee generate are taxed when the money is Self-employed Canadians who work from home withdrawn in retirement. Still, for most offices have long been able to deduct a portion people, the tax rate they pay in retirement of their expenses for utilities, services, and other is less than it was in their higher-earning costs. Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced working years. millions more Canadians to work from their homes, the CRA has broadened the eligibility for home Make a charitable donation office deductions. Anyone who worked at home Federal, provincial, and territorial more than 50 per cent of the time for at least four governments all offer tax credits on money consecutive weeks in 2021 can claim $2 for each donated to charitable organizations, but day worked at home in the year, up to a maximum giving cash isn’t the only way to generate of $500. a tax break through gifts and donations. It’s also possible to gift publicly-traded Claim any applicable benefits, including the securities and their accrued capital gains Canada Workers Benefit to a registered charity or foundation. This year, the income threshold to qualify for the Doing so not only entitles the giver to a Canada Workers Benefit has increased by nearly a tax receipt for market value of the security, third, to just over $32,000. Additionally, the federal but also removes the obligation to pay tax government has also increased the qualifying on the capital gain. threshold for combined household income and added a new ‘secondary earner exemption.’ As a This article is not intended to provide result, many more low-income taxpayers will be financial or financial planning advice, please eligible for support through this benefit, which call or email Moya Financial and they will be provides up to $1,395 for individuals and $2,403 more than happy to chat with you! for families. Borrow to invest Unlike car loans or credit card debt, interest on money borrowed for the purpose of investing is tax deductible, making it easier to grow your longterm wealth even if you don’t have a ton of extra
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To: Ukraine With Love From Canada.
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Wonder what’s going on at Humber’s Lakeshore Campus? Read this month’s update from Principal June MacDonald-Jenkins.
JAMES MALONEY...p14
James Maloney, MP outlines what our federal government is doing to support Canadians’ Mental Health.
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COVER STORY TO: UKRAINE WITH LOVE FROM CANADA When I read that Ukraine had been invaded by Russia on February 24, 2022, my predominate emotions were anger, fear, and frustration. Angry that a sovereign nation could be invaded in 2022. Fearful that the war would be devastating to the people of Ukraine; and frustrated because I didn’t know what to do to help. When my phone rang a week later, I immediately cancelled the call. I was comforting our little guy who was recovering from Covid and the number was from a U.S. area code so I dismissed it as a spam call. Then it called me again. I cancelled it. And then I got a text message. The text read: “Roger, it’s Andrei, please contact me if you can.” Andrei is my only Ukrainian friend. He owns a cafe in Alderwood. In fact, we’re members of the same Masonic Lodge in Mimico. I had been thinking about him and his wife, Iryna, since the war started and was wondering how they were doing. I hadn’t spoken to either of them in at least two years. But they were on my mind. My phone rang again. This time I answered it. It was Andrei, but he sounded different. I don’t want to say desperate, but rather in despair. I could tell by the sound of his voice that the situation over there was bad. When he asked me if I could help reach out to the Masonic community and anyone else I knew to collect aid items to help with the war effort, I jumped at the opportunity. We parted ways on the phone and I messaged Iryna to see how exactly I could help. She furnished me with a list of critically-needed items that the Ukrainian Community in Toronto was working to collect to help their embattled homeland. Reading the list inspired me to start making phone calls and sending emails and text messages to friends, clients and colleagues to spread the word and start collecting donations. The first person I reached out to was Mike Muzzin. Mike and I are friends and customers of one another. He’s a South Etobicoke resident and President of ITEX Barter Canada, of which I am a member. I had seen how Mike had been successful with previous fundraising
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and donation campaigns among the ITEX membership in Canada and the US. I thought that we could do something similar in an effort to send as many items off the list that Iryna gave me and get them over to Ukraine as quickly as possible. Mike not only collected items from ITEX members (16 pallets worth at the time of publishing), but he donated of his own accord and even delivered items to help Iryna; a working mother of three who’s also studying for a Masters degree and coordinating donation efforts all the while. Mike and I have been in constant contact ever since and he’s been instrumental in this effort to help the people of Ukraine. Thank you, Mike. You have a big heart, my friend. My next series of emails and phone calls was to local politicians I know from my work as a magazine publisher and podcast producer. James Maloney, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore and Jennifer Hartley, his Chief of Staff, were more than accommodating in my request to share the list of critically-needed items to constituency members. As was Mark Grimes, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 3 EtobicokeLakeshore. Mark and his Chief of Staff, Kim Edgar, wasted no time in publishing the list on their weekly eNews publication that’s distributed to thousands of residents in South Etobicoke. Kam Saran and Cecilia Santos from Office146, a community coworking space in Alderwood, agreed to act as a drop-off location for donations. David Armstrong, a local businessman, Alderwood resident, and Secretary of Superior Masonic Lodge No. 501 in Mimico also deserves thanks for spreading the word to Masons across Ontario. So far, we’ve filled an office with donations from the wonderful people of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. If you’re thinking of making a financial donation to help the people of Ukraine, please consider donating to Mriya Aid; an all-volunteer emergency response effort. www.mriyaaid.org Read the rest of this story at www.supportlocalmagazine.com
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By: Roger Tumminieri
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HUMBER COLLEGE COMMUNITY UPDATE
Recent geopolitical events have demonstrated how in the blink of an eye everything can change. At Humber, we are fortunate to have many international students from both Ukraine and Russia who are part of our community. The news of the invasion of Ukraine has been difficult, especially for them and faculty members who have both direct and indirect ties to the countries. Humber is working to support our colleagues and students through this difficult time by connecting them with counselling or other support services. In the meantime, we continue to foster an inclusive environment on our campuses while we hope for a peaceful 12
resolution to the war. Last month, Humber welcomed more students back to our Lakeshore campus as part of our staggered return to inperson learning. It was exciting to see signs of a return to normal that we hope marks a definitive turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. As we’ve learned during the past two years, change is difficult, however, we are experienced in adapting to new challenges, and we will continue to do so successfully as a community. Speaking of successes, there were
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many on Humber’s campuses over the past two years. With global travel significantly impacted by the pandemic, Humber’s Fashion Arts and Business students arranged a virtual trip to Italy and France. The virtual trip was an event called “No Passport Needed” and was planned and produced by Professor Roger Gingerich’s Event Planning and Budgeting class. The students’ event allowed their guests to enjoy a taste of Italy and France’s fashion, food, music, and art from wherever they were.
youth service providers, such as afterschool programs and alternative schools working with youth of all ages. Then, they delivered the one-hour virtual workshops to young people over video calls.
After a successful first semester with students from the diploma program, the Faculty of Social and Community Services also opened the initiative to include Bachelor of Child and Youth Care students. Over two semesters, 56 CYC students booked and delivered 51 workshops to Virtual meetings have become second rave reviews. nature during the pandemic and the class was able to use the technology to interview Being part of the larger lakeshore community Italian artist and professor, Mario Martinelli. also provides us with opportunities to reach Martinelli shared his creative process, where out and keep the local citizens aware of the his inspiration comes from, and his theories many exciting projects we are engaging about art. This encounter was made possible in. On April 13 at 6 p.m., I will be hosting thanks to the adaptability and creativity of a Lakeshore research update session. This session will provide details of some of Humber’s faculty and students. the many exciting research projects we On a related note, one of the differentiators are currently working on and ones we are of Humber’s polytechnic model of education planning to engage in this spring. If you are is the Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) interested in this event, please reach out to opportunities that add to our students’ sara.jouppi@humber.ca for an invitation. success. Our students gain valuable real-life experience that gives them an edge in the These are only a couple of examples of the job market, while employers benefit from the Humber community successfully adapting exceptional talent of our students. March was and continuing to move our academic National Co-op and WIL month with March priorities forward, even in the face of a 23 being the official National Day of WIL. global pandemic. It is stories like this that We are appreciative of the ongoing efforts give me confidence in knowing that when from Humber faculty, staff, as well as our we work together, we can accomplish community and industry partners that make great things. As we look ahead to the many uncertainties that exist in our world, I feel Work-Integrated Learning possible. reassured that our community is strong and Work-Integrated Learning is full of student ready to boldly face the future. success stories, and I want to highlight one JUNE MACDONALD-JENKINS example from my own faculty of Social Sr. Dean Faculty of Social and Community Services. The Child and and Community Services Youth Care (CYC) diploma students at Principal, Lakeshore Campus Humber College were struggling to find placements to fulfil the work-integrated learning component of their program during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, the WorkIntegrated Learning Centre and faculty members worked together to find a solution. They came up with CYC Virtual Hangout, a solution that also benefitted many community partners facing their own pandemic challenges. CYC Virtual Hangout required students to build workshops for
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JAMES MALONEY MIND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH Spring is a time of renewal. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on new beginnings, on ways to support others and ourselves. I know this has been an extremely difficult two-year period for everyone and with all that we have been through, and continue to face, many have experienced increased stress and anxiety. With all the uncertainty in the world, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that in order to help others, we need to take care of ourselves first. Mental Health Week is coming up in May, and it’s a chance for all of us to get real about our own mental health. I want you to know that you’re not alone. We’re all going through these challenging times together. I am in the midst of organizing my yearly mental health event and pending health regulations, I am planning on hosting it in person. Stay tuned for details. I also want to point out that good mental health isn’t about being happy all the time. It includes the full range of human emotions – even the uncomfortable ones. You have probably heard the stat that 1 in 5 Canadians experiences mental illness or a mental health issue in any given year. However, it’s all of our responsibility to break the stigma around mental health and help those who are struggling. That’s why we’ve invested in mental health services for Canadians. We’ve created programs like Wellness Together, which is a free online portal that helps you find the mental health services, tools, and resources you need. You can access it at www.wellnesstogether.ca. Help is just a click away.
JAMES MALONEY Member of Parliament Etobicoke-Lakeshore
Photo: Jennifer Hartley
standards for mental health services. We have also committed to support the creation of a new national hotline service, which I was part of securing. I am proud of that accomplishment. Let’s all make an effort to be there for one another during these challenging times. Let’s reach out to someone who’s struggling, let’s be kinder to one another, and let’s check in on our friends and coworkers. By being there for each other, we will be able to come out of things we face stronger, together. Remember, better days are upon us. GEMS Don’t forget to vote for your favourite small businesses. All the information is in this issue as well as online on my website www.jamesmaloney.libparl.ca.
We’ve made sure young people have easy access to mental health services too, with funding for Kids Help Phone. www. kidshelpphone.ca. We are committed to improving mental health supports. In Budget 2021, we committed to establishing national 14
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