AUGUST 2021
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS Shining a Light on Local Businesses Since 2015
Go Back to School with Long Branch Resident
KELLY FARRELL
Director at Oak Learners in Mimico page 16
www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com
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MASTHEAD EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS KELLY FARRELL Founder and Director at Oak Learners; Private Alternative School in Mimico
MIKE WIXSON Producer of the Etobicoke Lakeshore Podcast & Owner of The Pod Plant
KAM SARAN BRAD JONES South Etobicoke Resident & Business President & Owner of Ridley Funeral Development Manager at Office146. Home in New Toronto DEREK STOCKLEY HILIARY BREADNER Principal, Lakeshore Campus; Dean, Production Manager & Graphic Design; Faculty of Social & Community Services Owner of Hiliary Breadner Graphics AMANDA KIRKLAND Long Branch Resident and Personal Development Coach
MICHAEL MUZZIN Alderwood Resident & President of ITEX Barter Exchange Canada
JONATHAN NHAN Pharmacist, Hypnotist & Certified Diabetes Educator
JAMES MALONEY Member of Parliamen for the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore
DR. TIMOTHY KODSI Etobicoke Resident & Medical Lead at Mimico Medical
LIZ MARTINO-DURBANO Teacher, Certified Fitness Instructor & Wellness Guide
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE BACK TO SCHOOL
Stay up-to-date on when you can get your COVID-19 Vaccination ROGER TUMMINIERI
Publisher, Etobicoke Lakeshore Press
etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com www.EtobicokeLakeshorePress.com @etobicokelakeshorepress Ah...it’s the most wonderful time of the year...Back To School. Well, this year it may just be that much sweeter. As the pandemic seems to be winding down, parents are choosing whether to send their kids back to the classroom or keep the home some more. Can you tell by my opening line what we’ve decided to do? It’s a tricky decision, certainly, but one worth contemplating. More homeschool or back to school? If you’ve ever considered an alternative or supplement to your child’s education program, you’ll want to read this month’s cover story featuring Long Branch Resident, Kelly Farrell; Director at Oak Learners in Mimico. Read all about it on page 16. As life begins to feel a bit more like normal, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our Ad Partners who have stuck by us throughout this pandemic. You’re reading this because of them.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS AUGUST 2021 PUBLISHER’S NOTE...p6
Roger Tumminieri wishes everyone a very happy Back To School!
JAMES MALONEY, MP...p10 Mr. Maloney updates us on the federal government’s pandemic response and how they’re continuing to help Canadians.
COMMUNITY...p12 Featuring Adrian Wellman’s PriorityMe; promoting high performance lifestyle.
LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS...p22 What are your feelings on funerals? Read Brad Jones’ take in this month’s feature
WELLNESS...p24 Jonathan Nhan is joined by Liz Martino-Durbano in our expanding Health & Wellness coverage.
HUMBER COLLEGE...p28
Derek Stockley is making some big changes. Read his update (it could be his last).
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS is the only
FOOD & DRINK...p14 Buck-A-Shuck Oysters at T.J. O’Shea’s & a little something new at Espresso Bar Namaste.
COVER STORY...p16 Go Back To School with Long Branch’s Kelly Farrell; Director at Oak Learners in Mimico!
FINANCIAL...p18 Read these tips from the smart and financially responsible folks at Moya Financial on back to school shopping.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT...p20 Attitude is everything. Cliche motivational hoo-ha or the real deal? You decide.
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free, 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 Shoppers Drug Mart in Long Branch and Espresso Bar Namaste in Alderwood. We capture life in South Etobicoke by highlighting the many positive contributions to our community by local business owners, elected officials, and residents. No part of this publication in any of its forms may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. 146 Thirtieth St, Suite 100, Unit 25, Etobicoke, ON M8W 3C4 Follow Us on Instagram #I EL @etobicokelakeshorepress www.etobicokelakeshorepress.com
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JAMES MALONEY COVID UPDATE
JAMES MALONEY Member of Parliament Etobicoke-Lakeshore
Photo: Jennifer Hartley We are almost there. From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada made a commitment to protect the health and safety of all Canadians. That is why we worked hard to ensure that everyone across the country could access vaccines as soon as they were proven to be safe and effective. In mid-July, we reached our goal — receiving enough COVID-19 vaccines to fully vaccinate every eligible person in the country – two months ahead of the original goal of September. This milestone in the largest immunization campaign in Canada’s history is the result of a proactive procurement approach, focused on building a diverse vaccine portfolio. Canada continues to be a world leader in vaccination rates, with well over 80 per cent of eligible people in the country vaccinated with their first dose and approximately 64 per cent fully vaccinated (at press time). We are building back stronger. However, there are Canadians who still need a helping hand. That is why the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability inclusion, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough announced the extension of crucial COVID-19 support measures for Canadians and Canadian businesses. These extensions include: • Extending of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support until October 23, 2021, and increasing the rate of support employers and organizations can receive during the period between August 29 and September 25, 2021.
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• Extending the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) until October 23, 2021. • Increasing the maximum number of weeks available for the CRB, by an additional 4 weeks, to a total of 54 weeks, at a rate of $300 per week, and ensuring it is available to those who have exhausted their employment insurance benefits. Our recovery is underway, but continues to be uneven. Workers and businesses continue to need their supports, which have been lifelines through the pandemic. By moving forward on these extensions, we are supporting people and ensuring that businesses— including those in hard-hit sectors like tourism, hospitality, arts, and entertainment— important to our economy in Etobicoke-Lakeshore ---can continue to get the support they need so they can invest in their recovery and long-term prosperity. Our government will continue to be there for Canadians and make sure that all workers and businesses are well positioned to come roaring back. Be sure to protect yourself and others by getting the vaccine. Find out where by visiting, https:// www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/. Stay safe everyone.
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COMMUNITY HIGH PERFOMANCE LIFESTYLE
It starts with you. High performance lifestyle coaching for busy individuals. Start each day with energy, purpose, confidence, and focus - this is what Adrian Wellman of PriorityMe Inc. envisions for all of his clients and more! Inspired by the intricacies of the human body and love for athletics, Adrian became a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and Certified Athletic Therapist after graduating with an Honours Bachelor in Kinesiology and a Minor in Psychology. His top mission is to inspire people to put themselves first, creating a solid foundation for performance in all aspects of life. PriorityMe’s online coaching program brings together a team of professionals that assess and address Movement, Mindset, Nutrition and Recovery. With Back-To-School just around the corner, it would be a great time to get an overall life assessment, figure out meal planning, establish a workout routine, build positive and productive habits and nail down how to cut the overwhelm to focus on what’s most important. To schedule a FREE consultation, be sure to check out: www.priorityme.com Appointments can be done virtually or in-person.
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FOOD & DRINK T.J. O’SHEA’S IRISH SNUG
THEY’RE BACK!
The Buck-A-Shuck Oysters Special has returned to everyone’s favourite Irish Pub In Long Branch.
Join Colby and the gang at T.J. O’Shea’s on Wednesdays for some great vibes... oh, and Oysters, of course!
FOOD & DRINK ESPRESSO BAR NAMASTE
SAY HELLO (AGAIN) TO MARTA Espresso Bar Namaste 392 Brown’s Line @espressonbarnamaste
Marta (aka: Boss Mama) is the owner of Alderwood’s Espresso Bar Namaste. She’s also a successful Realtor and the Broker of Record at RE/MAX Equinox which shares the same space as her cafe. Smart right?!
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The next time you’re zipping up or down Brown’s Line, slow down and pull into Espresso Bar Namaste to say hi to Marta and enjoy some coffee, tea, pastries...and a beer. Yep. You read that correctly!
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ith w ’ n i p p i r Day T
Ever take a hankering for hoagies? us to! Check out Susan’s in Markdale for a treat, specialty coffe & locally inspired products
Garlic Products
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Welcome to tractor country! Let’s gitter done with the iconic tractor brand hoodies & hats available exclusively at Susan’s Deli
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Not to be cheesy ...get it?! Charcuterie and cheese platters abound at Artemesia Cheese & Fine Foods in Flesherton!
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Where is the PorK? It's at Azure Highlands Homestead in Markdale! Check out their Farm Store for some of the best smoked pork chops you could ever wish to eat. Oh...and burgers, bacon, and eggs, too!
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COVER STORY 3 C’S FOR BACK TO SCHOOL
Creativity, Confidence, Community Oak Learners has been serving the EtobicokeLakeshore community since 2016 and is a registered not-for-profit learning centre dedicated to improving the educational experience for children and families. The director, Kelly Farrell, is a strong advocate for systemic educational change and pushes towards personalized learning that actually addresses the strengths and needs of each and every child. Kelly founded Oak Learners on the belief that, “every child can succeed when they are given the opportunity to express their own creativity and showcase their strengths in a supportive and collaborative community.” In the 5 years since its inception, Oak Learners has grown and adapted to the changing needs of the community and now features 5 main branches of programming: Day School, Tutoring, Camps, Online Classes, and Extracurricular Arts Programming. The learning centre that was once run by Kelly herself and a few part-time staff now includes 15 full-time teaching and support staff, almost 20 part-time educators in addition to 10 seasonal camp counsellors and support staff. This incredible growth for Oak Learners exemplifies the sheer need in our community for quality educational programming and support for families and students. The three “C’s” that form the foundation of the Oak Learners philosophy are more than just a tagline with alliteration, they are the core beliefs that bring success to every student who passes through the doors. Every teacher at Oak Learners is committed to filling every single day with creativity and outside-the-box teaching and learning. Programs at Oak Learners are studentcentred and promote student strengths as an important part of building their confidence and motivation to succeed.
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Creativity Children are naturally inquisitive and creative learners and thrive in an environment where these natural inclinations can be nurtured and celebrated. Many institutional educational settings are so focused on reaching “all” students that they often fail to reach “each” student. When a teacher assigns an art project, usually there is a final product that the students are expected to replicate. Unsurprisingly, every art project turns out differently, but unfortunately, only the ones closest to the example are praised and displayed. Oak Learners takes a completely different approach! It focuses instead on providing children with skills to perform tasks so that they can create a variety of different styles of artwork to demonstrate their skills while also celebrating the individual creativity of each piece. Walking down the hallways of Oak Learners, one will see examples of children’s creativity adorning the walls and displayed for all to see. Each piece of artwork looks as unique as the children who created them. Director Kelly Farrell explains, “When children see their own artwork displayed on the walls of the school or on their parent’s refrigerator, it gives them a sense of pride in their work that comes from knowing their creativity and individuality are being celebrated and appreciated and this feeling gives them confidence in their own abilities and ideas.” Children at Oak Learners know that the more unique their projects are, the more they are celebrated and can often be heard begging for something they have created to be put on display. Back to School season in September is a great time to encourage creativity, starting with backto-school shopping. Children love building
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
SUCCESS WITH OAK LEARNERS
By: Roger Tumminieri
KELLY FARRELL
Director at Oak Learners; a private alternative school in Mimico located at 394 Royal York Rd. / 416-820-5233 www.oaklearners.ca
their back-to-school wardrobe and filling a new backpack with shiny new items. Kelly’s advice to parents is to let children use their accessories and clothing as the first way to express themselves. Let them decorate their backpack, choose their outfits and bask in the self-confidence created by being unique. When children bring home projects or artwork from school, hang it up! Designate a place in your house where you can display artwork on a clothesline or on the fridge or even in frames on the wall that get changed out each time something new comes home. Confidence There is nothing as disheartening as the look on a child’s face when they encounter defeat or fail at something they worked so hard for. In contrast, the look of confidence or pride on your child’s face when they successfully complete a new challenge or accomplishment is one of
the most heartwarming moments! Confidence is not something that comes naturally, but is something that must be continually nurtured and recognized. Confidence is also the driving power behind success and can often be the difference between children who want to take risks and try new things, and children who become complacent with maintaining the status quo. At Oak Learners, the teachers understand that in order to find success with academic endeavours, students must first believe that they can! Kelly explains that when most parents first come to Oak Learners, “they tell me that they just want their child to be happy and confident in themselves.” She also reiterates that once there is confidence and positive self-awareness, success in everything else is possible. Kelly has heard from countless children who arrive for tutoring that they feel “hopeless” and that success in
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COVER STORY CONTINUED Community A supportive community is irreplaceable to the education and success of children. As children grow, so does their community and their sense of belonging in their community. At Oak Learners, children are not just part of a “class” or a “school”, but part of a community where the roles of every community member are recognized and celebrated, including the children.
academics is “impossible”. The teachers at Oak Learners begin with each child by building a relationship of mutual respect and trust that is fostered through acknowledging the strengths of each child. Kelly says, “We begin by celebrating the strengths of each child because it is from their strengths that we can scaffold a support system for their needs. For example, if a child loves art and drawing but is struggling to learn to read and write, we begin each session with some form of art or drawing to recognize their existing skills before tackling the more challenging skills.” This approach sets the child up for success and establishes a positive rapport right from the start.
Kelly recognizes that, “when children feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves, they are more likely to work harder to achieve their best to support their role in the larger community.” This is exemplified every day in the atmosphere of Oak Learners, beginning with their location in the heart of Mimico Village and their commitment to outdoor education and learning outside in the community. Students and campers at Oak Learners feel recognized as important members of the community and want to continue to learn and grow to give back.
What the pandemic has taught us more than anything else is the importance of community. We have collectively learned to appreciate our neighbours, our small businesses and our families. As this community expands again while we recover from the pandemic, it is important for parents and teachers to continue to build an inclusive and More and more research into education is welcoming community for all children and students. showing that the strengths-first approach and a multi-disciplinary learning environment are School Success for all Learners significantly more successful at developing confident, adaptable and well-rounded students This year, back to school may still look a little into their futures. The Reggio Emilia philosophy, different, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing - it’s which underlies the approach to teaching and a wonderful opportunity to set new routines, new learning at Oak Learners, begins with the premise expectations and new practices of gratitude and that every single child is capable and competent recognition for our children. Let’s work together and full of potential and ambitious desires. to continue to rebuild a better way of teaching Students at Oak Learners are acknowledged first and learning to set our children up for success in for their competencies and then supported in a continually changing world. Success comes with their future learning through those skills. small steps, but always stems from the same 3 C’s: Creativity, Confidence and Community. Parents and teachers are the most important people in making or breaking the confidence of Find out more about how Oak Learners can their children and students. It all begins with the support your family during the upcoming school language used and daily practices of recognition year at www.oaklearners.ca. More programs and and gratitude. At Oak Learners, Kelly and her opportunities to get involved are opening all the teachers greet each child by thanking them for time and you are encouraged to sign up for the being there and bringing their best selves. At Oak Learners newsletter for regular updates and the end of each day, they sit with the students news on how Oak Learners is reshaping education or campers to reflect on the day’s successes and for the future. help the children set goals for the next day. This practice helps children understand that entire OAK LEARNERS days can’t be “good” or “bad”, but that there are 394 Royal York Rd. always opportunities to acknowledge success 416.820.5233 and gratitude in each day. www.oaklearners.ca
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ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
FINANCE SHOP SMART FOR BACK TO SCHOOL
How to Save Money When Back to School Shopping As we enter a new academic year, students and teachers are heading back to class. Although back-to-school shopping may not look the same as previous years, both in-person and online classroom settings require supplies. To help limit overspending and keep you on budget, here are the ABC’s of back-to-school savings: Shop smart Now that school is back in session, you might be finding yourself spending more money on supplies. It’s easy to get carried away with shopping but it’s extremely important to create a budget and stick to it. Although it might be tempting to purchase everything before classes start, you might want to hold off until you have a teacher-approved supply list to avoid overspending on unnecessary items. Taking advantage of seasonal sales and bargain hunting can also help you stay on budget and get more for less. Here are some easy ways you can start saving: • Price match • Take inventory of supplies that you might have around the house • Buy school supplies from discount stores rather than large chains • Use coupons • Search for student discounts like SPC or Apple’s education discount • Make homemade lunches instead of relying on cafeteria food Buy refurbished It’s no secret that buying or upgrading electronics can leave a dent in your wallet. Many retailers offer refurbished computers and tablets from big brands at a discounted rate, along with a purchase warranty so you can shop with peace of mind. Like most technology, it’s important to research before purchasing. Now that some households might have more than one child learning virtually, buying refurbished can save you hundreds of dollars, especially if you’re buying multiple devices at once. If you’re a teacher,
buying refurbished allows you to buy good quality computers or laptops that can handle the demands of teaching in a virtual classroom with a budget-friendly price. Pick the right phone plan The telecommunications market in Canada is competitive and prices can vary depending on the type of service you’re looking for, like brand recognition or phone type. Choosing a phone plan can be a bit daunting but there are plenty of options on both top and lower-tier plans. If you’re looking for something cost-effective and easy to keep track of, a mobile share plan can suit your entire family on one mobile account. Family plans are budget-friendly and usually include unlimited nationwide calling, unlimited messaging, and shareable data. If you’re looking for individual phone plans, some of the best deals are released just in time for back-to-school and include higher data packages and discounts on new smartphone devices. In terms of affordability, prepaid plans can help you avoid multi-year contracts and monthly fees. Most prepaid plans are also customizable and can be suited to fit your mobile device needs and budget. Add safety products Despite the shift to online learning, many Canadian students attending in-person classrooms are required to follow strict health and safety protocols. Unlike past years, parents and school staff will have to allocate a bit of their back-to-school budget for personal protective equipment like face masks, shields, hand sanitizer, and wipes. Although it might be hard to find discounted prices on some of these in-demand items like sanitizer, buying reusable masks can be a great way to reduce waste and save money. This article is not intended to provide financial or financial planning advice, please call or email Moya Financial and they will be more than happy to chat with you!
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PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT BACK TO SCHOOL Ditching the Leggings and Sweatpants “Out greatest freedom is the freedom to choose our attitude.” – Viktor E. Frankl The back-to-school season is almost upon us. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or child caregiver, or simply just going back to work, you are bound to have some anxiety about how to return to some form of normalcy and having to interact with others face-to-face instead of on Zoom and Blackboard apps. What is your perception, your reality of things getting back to normal? - Back-to-school shopping in preparation for inperson learning to resume - Having to think about what to put on in the morning for both yourselves and your kids - Separation anxiety from being away from your kids - Having to go back to a 9-5 work routine - Frantic drop-off, pick-up, after-school activities, and playdate schedules - Interacting face-to-face with friends and strangers - Are they or are they not vaccinated? Fully vaccinated?
When it comes to positivity, think love, compassion, and peacefulness. Negative thought only creates fear, anxiety, sadness, and depression. How you perceive a situation impacts the amount of stress you experience. When you choose to view a situation in such a way that validates your reasons for feeling stressed. You can instead view it so that you feel motivated and up for the challenge to deal with it. You may not be able to control what happens, but you can control how you respond to what happens. Your response includes not only your actions but also the degree of tension you allow in your mind and body. You have never been where you are in this moment, now, yet your mind finds a way to make it familiar so that you think it is the same. Your perception drives your behaviour. You can start with owning your interpretations and navigating your way through other ways of looking at the situation. Thus increasing your control over your internal world and raise your happiness potential. You may think you know, or you are certain about your perception. But how can you be 100% certain? You alone can choose your perceptions. Seeing as you are making it all up, you may as well choose something that moves you in the direction of happiness, well-being, and self-esteem.
If you are starting to feel overwhelmed and your thoughts are whirling around, take a moment to remember that your perception determines your reality so if you can find the positives in the postpandemic world you will cultivate more happiness for yourself and those around you.
One way to help loosen the hold of your interpretations is to consider the facts within a situation. Ask yourself this question: ‘What are the facts in this situation, outside of your interpretations about it?’
A healthy mindset will make all the difference in how you experience every day’s experiences.
As you separate the raw, objective facts from the interpretations, you give yourself more power to choose a different interpretation.
You have far more control over your internal world than your external world, so this is the best place to decrease stress and raise your happiness.
It is never too late to change the way you see the world.
I am specifically referring to your response to situations via your thoughts, emotions, and actions. When you change your response, you change your experience of the situation. When “back-to-school” starts this fall, why not try this on for size, see if it fits, walk around wearing it for a bit. Thoughts cease to be vague when you manifest then into something tangible or real. You attract what you think and feel. This probably sounds like some cliche motivational hoo-ha you hear everywhere these days. However, you are kind of open to the idea of it, but you are not. You kind of want to believe it, but you kind of feel like it’s bullsh*t.
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For now, signing off from a place of calm, joy, and love.
AMANDA KIRKLAND
Personal Development Coach www.amandakirkland.com If you are interested in making positive changes in your life, to move forward and live a whole and complete life, let’s book an initial consultation call. Tell me about your story and we can assess your goals and what’s blocking you from living the life you were meant to. Email me at amanda@amandakirkland.com or visit www.amandakirkland.com
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
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LIFE’S UNDERTAKINGS SHARING SACRED Friends who identify more as spiritual than religious often refer to life and living as a kind of earthly school.
perpetrators and predators includes men and women of the Church in roles and robes of teachers.
For the majority of people following a spiritual path, destiny follows a trajectory; a mysterious pre-life of agreed-upon sacred contracts and teachings.
Forgive me. I realize my mood feels dark, especially when the sun is shining down on a summer promise of more freedoms. But when your life’s vocation unfolds in what industry experts call “death care” (true, not our best word play), I can’t help but look to dark seasons.
Of course, to keep things interesting, the universe ensures we forget everything, including our life’s purpose and passion, so we’re born as fresh and free as a baby daisy. Once we’re here on Earth in our “skin suit” (some of my friends speak like honorary Californians so bear with me) the big stuff shows up fast; we start learning lessons within this giant, magnificent classroom called Life. As much as I appreciate spirituality, I am limited in how far I can lean into the idea that good things and bad things – I have seen many bad, sad, unfair things – are impersonal lesson delivered for the sake of teaching, showing and growing. My funeral staff and I regularly sit with families who’ve been victimized and traumatized by crime, cancer or awe-inspiring cruelty. Not once would we ever say, much less even contemplate, that a family’s suffering is part of a “lesson” or a dark curriculum assigned by the universe. But it’s not just spirituality’s borderline preachiness or lack of empathy that stops me from connecting with their way of interpreting the mysteries and unfairness of life. It’s that “Earth School” spiritualists offer up no classroom or graduation ceremony for life’s grandest and most life-altering lesson – death. (Yes, I do always end up writing about dying and death. I’m your local friendly funeral director!) To ignore or dismiss death is to ignore and dismiss life. We need look no further than into the most recent grisly headlines. The unmarked graves unearthed in Kamloops and Saskatchewan are ghastly and horrifying because children represent life – sacred life. People’s lives, irrespective of age, that end shamed, hidden and without mourning are atrocities. Take away all the media rhetoric, “woke” mob roars and political showboating, and you will hear generations of parents weeping. Those babies were school children. What “lessons” did they learn? Not one spiritual friend can tell me. And my religious faith is challenged when the large cast of historical
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Summer is followed by fall and then winter. Like you, I don’t know what the future holds, although I remain hopeful that from shock and atrocity we learn to listen to one another without narrative or agenda. Indigenous culture has a long and rich tradition of storytelling. Like school children, I hope we gather and sit down as a nation and truly listen to the stories demanding to be heard and honoured. Stories about the dead and from the dead have been held sacred in every civilization until this one. So often we coddle ourselves and others from the shadow and impact of death. We turn away from formal acts of mourning, we minimize grief’s transformative power or we scorn hosting anything signifying that we were here on this planet and now we are not. Our personal and cultural avoidance of death is juxtaposed by how the majority of us respond to dying and death when we have no skin in the game. Take, for example, how millions of people are still mourning and celebrating a princess they did not know. Today people around the world are honouring Princess Diana’s imaginary 60th birthday. She died at 36 more than 20 years ago. I don’t data dump those numbers in a cruel or disrespectful way. Yet contrasted by how often we don’t dare mention a deceased loved one’s name for fear of “upsetting” the grieving family, is it not mind-splitting to consider how we’re all still telling stories about Princess Diana? I see why: her life story and humanitarian deeds (and family tribulations) generate feelings of familiarity, unity, comfort and inspiration. Cannot each life then, no matter how small or short, do the same? Can we not all be enriched and expanded in our humanity by the sharing of life stories? And if stories heal and unite us, then why are we more comfortable mourning the famous than grieving the beloved? Neither spirituality nor religion can answer these questions for me. I’ve been banging around in
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STORIES
BRAD JONES
Owner, Ridley Funeral Home the dark for decades about how to bridge the gap between life and death so people feel more comfortable honouring the dead as a way of helping the living and healing themselves of fear and apathy. In these secular pandemic times, my 3 a.m. musings have grown harder and darker. I have no easy answers, especially when we’re told to stay apart from our most vulnerable and fragile. I know I’m not alone in wondering how to reframe death back into the ancient narrative that death is not an afront to life but an essential part of life that flavours life’s meaning.
Funeral directors are not special in their ability to hold space for sad and beautiful stories. I believe listening to stories of the dead is hardwired into our humanity. Humans actually have a unique gene that allows us to tell stories from person to person, generation to generation. The Indigenous around the world don’t need brain research findings to map out how we’re connected through all seasons of our lives. Our ancient ancestors listened to stories about the dead as a way to recognize, and truly understand and accept, that life is precious, short and holy.
The outrage and horror generated by those hundreds of unmarked graves go deeper than the wounds of colonialism and calls for reconciliation.
Perhaps as we prepare to return to school we can return to ancient teachings. Imagine how different life would be if both spirituality and holiness were returned to how we live our lives, raise our children and honour our dead.
We’re horrified because we’ve grown immune to the strength and courage that’s demanded when forced to look at how death takes everyone – men, women and children – and everything.
I see a new season rising where each of us is a sacred storyteller, sharing and listening to stories that remind us we’re worthy of celebration and mourning just for having been alive.
Time and death are an impossible team to beat. As a society it is up to us, you and me, to deem lives – all lives – worthy of marking, honouring and grieving.
Brad Jones is president of locally-owned, commission-free Ridley Funeral Home (3080Lakeshore Boulevard West) in Etobicoke. This fall, Brad plans on perfecting his mother’s roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner (no gravy) so he can give cooking lessons to his six kitchen-avoidant children. You’re always welcome to reach out to Brad m by calling 416-259-3705 or emailing him at bradjones@ridleyfuneralhome.com
Yet right now we’re unapologetically, if not defiantly, a generation of “basic funeral” and “direct cremation” buyers and sellers. We don’t rush – we run from dying and death, and our lack of grit and reverence don’t serve the living or the dead.
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WELLNESS NORMAL VERSUS NATURAL Natural, by definition, refers to that which exists or is caused by nature. So as a member of the natural world it is natural for you to experience the feelings that arise. How might this change your perspective on your moods and mental states? There are natural phenomena that can be dangerous or unwanted - forest fires, for example. With fires, we can observe them, and take steps to reduce or control the damage. For the most part, these natural phenomena have a natural beginning and end. It’s also possible to keep adding fuel to the fire which will just keep it burning.
JONATHAN NHAN
Curate and Upgrade www.curateandupgrade.ca What’s the difference between “normal” and “natural”? In the context of our present times, there’s talk of things “going back to normal” or getting used to the “new normal”. If you think for a moment, though, these phrases were not only coined during the pandemic. It seems that oftentimes we are striving to achieve “normal” and even when we do, we find that there is something else that is “not normal” that we have to make normal again. Would it comfort you to know that this whole process is “natural”? The idea of normal is very interesting. It is used as a measuring stick to indicate what most people, or the majority of people, are doing, feeling, or experiencing. When you can identify as normal, there’s a certain comfort in knowing that you are similar to a large group of people. On the flip side, when you find yourself outside that range of normal, it can cause discomfort because you no longer can identify as within the predominant group and you likely want to get back to that state where you can once again identify. It’s natural to want to belong. Normal is an idea that is constantly moving, changing, and shifting. Normal requires context. If you were in a fast food burger restaurant and they served you a plate of chicken feet, you may think that was very abnormal. If you were in a dim sum restaurant and they did the same, it would be normal (even if you still wouldn’t eat them!). When you think about your feelings, moods, and thoughts, what does it mean for these things to be “normal”? There can be a great pressure to be normal from a mental health perspective and this label may add to the problem. Is it abnormal to feel sad, stressed out, or be in a depressed mood? Depending on the context of your situation, it could be considered normal. It’s almost certainly natural to feel as you are feeling.
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So the next time you may have a thought, mood, or feeling that makes you feel like you’re not normal, ask yourself what is natural about this feeling, and how does simply observing it change how it feels?
Jonathan Nhan Co-Founder, Curate and Upgrade Jon is a pharmacist, hypnotist, and Certified Diabetes Educator. He is passionate about making a tangible, positive impact in the world and has seen the power that changing mindset can have. Jon works with people like you, to find the perfect blueprint for healthy in your life and make that change effortless.
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WELLNESS YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH be active?” Start small; go for short walks together, converse about things they are interested in, be a listening ear or even walk in silence. Start a couple times a week and work towards moving on a daily basis. Goal setting is another way to help your child take ownership over their life and observe their abilities! Goal setting can be a family effort as we know, we are truly stronger together. Eventually, let your child branch out into setting their own personal goal, however, the key here is for you, as the parent, to also have your own individual goal. As we know, leading by example proves to have more success in your child’s behaviour and in turn, mental health. We want our children to persevere and keep going when things get tough, but they need you (even if they tell you they don’t) - I sure did this as a teen. LIZ MARTINO-DURBANO, M.Ed. Teacher, Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor & Wellness Guide www.align-fitness.ca
Whether we want to face it or not, youth mental health is on the rise and we need to do something about it. Now. In a world where things seem out of our control, we are seeing a rise in mental health issues - now imagine being a child/ teen getting to know life as it is and finding a safe place in it. It is undeniable that physical fitness plays a medicinal role in our mental health. The question is “how do we motivate youth to
As we set out to reach new goals TOGETHER, we realize that they are achievable, even if only incrementally and at a slow pace. The process behind this is to build an inner mental strength and prove the mind wrong when we think “I can’t.” With being active, we ignite the part of ourselves that drives us toward personal empowerment. I hope that no matter what you may be dealing with, that you choose to move! Liz Martino-Durbano, M.Ed. Teacher, Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor & Wellness Guide Founder of Align Fitness 647.224.9559
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NEW PODCAST SERIES FROM THE ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PODCAST
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26 Now: www.etobicokelakeshorepress.com/podcast ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS Listen
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HUMBER COLLEGE COMMUNITY UPDATE
Photo: Mohammed Taabish, Student, Marketing Management The best part of the year is just around the corner, and at Humber Lakeshore, we can’t wait to welcome students, faculty and staff back to our beautiful campus. Humber will continue to offer a mix of in-person and online learning for the fall 2021 term. Fortunately, vaccination rates are increasing and Ontario continues to reopen, so we expect to offer increased access to campus as public health restrictions loosen. We are hopeful that students and staff will soon have access to the libraries, study spaces and athletic facilities that have been missed so much over the past months. Humber has been encouraging the college community to get vaccinated, so we can safely be together again. We will share our return to campus progress in this monthly update and at humber.ca/updates. Of course, Humber Lakeshore continues to connect with the community virtually as well. I want to highlight a recent initiative presented in partnership with LAMP CHC, the GARDENS project and Humber’s Indigenous Education & Engagement (IE&E) department: A free, two-part strawberry jam-making workshop. On the evenings of July 8 and July 15, attendees were introduced to Indigenous teaching and storytelling as facilitators walked them through the
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jam-making process. The facilitators were Lynn Short, an Indigenous education specialist from Humber’s Indigenous Education and Engagement department, and Liz Osawamick, a long-time educator and president of the Board of Directors for Anishnaabemowin-Teg Inc. Lynn’s grandmother taught her how to make jams and other preserves when she was a teenager, which she continues to do celebrating each season using local fruits and vegetables. Her father is part Ojibwe and she has a strong connection to the land. Liz is of the Anishinaabe Odawa Nation from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Reserve, located on Manitoulin Island. She uses Indigenous knowledge, songs and ceremonies in her teaching. Her work includes facilitating language immersion programs in First Nation communities and decades of teaching elementary, secondary and post-secondary students. The pair taught attendees to prepare the berries in the first session while the second session focused on making the jam. The facilitators generously shared their knowledge and teachings throughout.
ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
Watch our social media pages for more information on upcoming workshops and community events like this one! If you’ve been following our progress with the GARDENS project, I’d like to invite you to share your thoughts with us through our community consultation survey. To ensure this project evolves to meet the needs and wants of community members, we’re looking for your ideas on community gardens and food security. Scan the QR code to take the short, two-minute survey, where you can share your views. When you do so, you’ll be entered into a draw to win one of four $25 gift certificates from one of our neighbours, Birds and Beans Café. I would also like to share some personal news. I have recently accepted the position of Associate Vice President, Academic here at Humber. I do this with mixed emotions as it means we will be hiring a new senior dean and principal to take over my role. My time in the role of principal has been one of the most rewarding during my 17-year career in the Ontario college sector as it came with the opportunity to work directly with our community and alongside so many of you. While I began my new role last month, the search for a new senior dean and principal will take us into the Fall and I will continue in the principal role until then. Here’s to new beginnings!
Best wishes, Derek Stockley
DEREK STOCKLEY
Principal, Lakeshore Campus Senior Dean, Faculty of Social and Community Services Follow on Twitter: @derek_stockley
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