The times of Canada January Issue 2021 by The Times of Canada

The The

TIMES

THE TIMES OF CANADA JAN 2021

JANUARY 2021

Of Of Canada Canada

CELEBRATING SOUTH ASIAN BUSINESS CELEBRATING SOUTH ASIAN BUSINESS

DR. BONNIE HENRY

PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

HON. JOHN HORGAN

PREMIER AND PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, BRITISH COLUMBIA

HON. ADRIAN DIX

MINISTER OF HEALTH, BRITISH COLUMBIA

2020 FRONTLINE BRAVERY AWARDS $ 2.99 $ 2.99 VOLUME 02 1

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE DEAR READERS,

I would like to wish all our readers, advertisers and well wishers a very happy and prosperous 2021. The year 2020 has been a trying and testing year for many of us and the credit of keeping us safe and secure goes to our provincial leadership lead by Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix and our public health officials lead by Dr. Bonnie Henry. While they have shown great leadership in these trying times, the true heroes have been all our frontline workers. Everyone from our doctors and nurses to our delivery drivers and grocery store personnel, each of them have worked hard and at the risk of their own lives, ensured that life for the rest of us keeps going on as smoothly as possible. To acknowledge their contribution, we are pleased to launch our 2020 Frontline Bravery Awards in this issue. We have carefully selected the recipients from across a cross section of frontline workers and we are proud to present them with this award. We are also very grateful to all our award sponsors and particularly thank Super Vege Pizza for presenting a gift basket to all our recipients. While this new year has begun with the rollout of vaccines to stop this pandemic, we are not out of the woods yet and we much remain alert and continue to support our frontline workers.

VINAY SHARMA Manging Director

As we all continue to adjust to the challenges of this pandemic, I would like to appeal to all members of the community to follow public health guidelines to secure their own health and safety as well as that of their family and friends. Please remember to wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your face, maintain a physical distance of two meters (approx. 6 feet) with everyone other than the people you live with and wear a mask in indoor public spaces. Always remember to be kind, be calm and be safe.

Sincerely

THE TEAM SEEMA SHARMA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

RAJULA GUPTA, MANAGING EDITOR

Seema founded the Times of Canada

Rajula is an entrepreneur, international

along with her husband Vinay Sharma. She

business coach and newspaper columnist

has an extensive background in retail and

with the OHerald in Goa, India. He has

customer service and looks after the overall

an extensive background in business

management of the magazine. She loves to

development and marketing and in his spare

spent time with her free family and friends.

time like to cook and travel.

MINU GUPTA, GRAPHIC DESIGNER Minu is an Artist & experienced Graphic Designer in print, web, social media & UX UI. Her sense of current trends and minimal approach towards creative gives magazine a new uplift. She teaches kids, teens & adults drawing - painting regularly. Listening music, dancing are her other passions.

PANNA A LADHA, GRAPHIC DESIGNER Panna has a Honors Degree in Computer Studies with over 6 years of graphic design experience. She loves to mentor children and travel the world.

MADHU OZA, ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Madhu is an experienced Administration Manager with excellent office management and people skills. She is the backbone of the magazine and ensures its smooth running by co-ordinating with the entire team. She loves to cook & makes excellent pickles & ladoos.

RAMANDEEP KAUR, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ramandeep has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education along with a Masters Degree in Zoology. She started her career as a teacher before making the switch to being an administrative professional. She likes to explore new places and watch comedy shows.

The opinions expressed in each article are the opinions of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Times of Canada Magazine. Therefore, The Times of Canada Magazine carries no responsibility for the opinions expressed thereon. Any form of reproduction of any content in this magazine without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. © 2020 The times of Canada Magazine. All rights reserved. #207-7928, York Centre, 128 Street, Surrey BC V3W 4E8 604-834-4940 | www.thetimesofcanada.com | info@thetimesofcanada.com

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DR. BONNIE HENRY

WHAT'S INSIDE?

PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

ARTICLES 7 – LETTER FROM DR. HENRY ON PROPER USAGE OF MASK 10 – TIMES OF CANADA FRONTLINE BRAVERY AWARDS 22- FIVE STEPS TO START-UP SUCCESS 24- THE SOUVENIR OF THE PANDEMIC 26 – FENG SHUI 2021 THE YEAR OF THE METAL OX 28 – LAUNCHING A HOME-BASED FOOD BUSINESS 30 – AN ENTREPRENEURS GUIDE ON SURVIVING A PANDEMIC 32 – 2020 FROM MEMORIES 36 – BUSINESS DIRECTORY

COVER STORY-PAGE 10

2020 FRONTLINE BRAVERY AWARDS

The

TIMES Of Canada

2020 FRONTLINE BRAVERY AWARDS

HON. JOHN HORGAN

PREMIER AND PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, BRITISH COLUMBIA

HON. ADRIAN DIX

MINISTER OF HEALTH, BRITISH COLUMBIA

GIFT BASKET AWARD SPONSOR - SUPER VEGE PIZZA

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19 Henry By Dr. Bonnie lth Oﬃcer ea H al ci in Prov Nov 16, 2020

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THE TIMES OF CANADA JAN 2021

The

TIMES Of Canada

2020 FRONTLINE BRAVERY AWARDS

THE TIMES OF CANADA JAN 2021

HON. JOHN HORGAN

PREMIER AND PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, BRITISH COLUMBIA

ohn Horgan, was elected MLA for the new riding of Langford-Juan de Fuca in 2017. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005 as MLA for Juan de Fuca, and has been re-elected three times. He became leader of the BCNDP in 2014 and went on to become the Premier of British Columbia in 2017. Since the start of this pandemic, he has been hailed for his management style and leadership by letting the provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Hon. Adrian Dix, the Minister of Health to lead BC’s response in keeping everyone safe. Here is Premier Horgan’s response on receiving this award – “It is an honor to receive this frontline bravery award from The Times of Canada. I accept this award on behalf of the 100’s of thousands of frontline workers who have shown and continue to show tremendous bravery fighting Covid 19 every single day. Our frontline workers are healthcare heroes, truck drivers, grocery store clerks and of course the media, have kept us safe and informed in the face of enormous challenges. In these unprecedented times, we must find ways to come together while staying apart.”

AWARD SPONSOR 11

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HON. ADRIAN DIX

MINISTER OF HEALTH, BRITISH COLUMBIA

drian Dix was first elected as MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway in 2005 and re-elected in 2009, 2013 and 2017. He is the Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs. Since being elected MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway in 2005, Adrian has represented his constituents and their concerns, advocating for children in care, seniors, treatment of workers and public health research. Prior to becoming an MLA, Adrian was the Executive Director for the B.C.-Yukon Branch of Canadian Parents for French, a non-profit organization promoting language education. From 2001 to 2005, Adrian was a political commentator and journal ist, writing a column for the Victoria Times Colonist and the Source, a multicultural newspaper in Vancouver. From 1996 to 1999 he was the Chief of Staff to former B.C. Premier Glen Clark. Adrian was raised in Vancouver and is a UBC graduate. He is married to award-winning poet and writer Renée Saklikar.

AWARD SPONSOR 12

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DR. BONNIE HENRY

PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

r. Bonnie Henry was appointed as Provincial Health Officer for the Province of BC in 2018. As BC’s most senior public health official, Dr. Henry is responsible for monitoring the health of all British Columbians and undertaking measures for disease prevention and control and health protection. Most recently, Dr. Henry has led the province’s response on the COVID-19 pandemic and drug overdose emergency. Dr. Henry is a specialist in public health and preventive medicine and is board certified in preventive medicine in the U.S. She graduated from Dalhousie Medical School and completed a Masters in Public Health in San Diego, residency training in preventive medicine at University of California, San Diego and in community medicine at University of Toronto. Dr. Henry joined Toronto Public Health in 2001 as Associate Medical Officer of Health, where she was responsible for the Emergency Services Unit and the Communicable Disease Liaison Unit. In 2003, she was the operational lead in the response to the SARS outbreak in Toronto. She was a member of the executive team of the Ontario SARS Scientific Advisory Committee. She has been involved with planning, surveillance and response to mass gatherings in Canada and internationally, including with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. She is also the author of “Soap and Water and Common Sense” a guide to staying healthy in a microbe filled world.

AWARD SPONSOR 13

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ANUP SAMRA

MANAGER OF PUBLIC HEALTH CLINICAL OPERATIONS AT FRASER HEALTH, SURREY BC

nup Samra, a Registered Nurse, is the Manager of Public Health Clinical Operations at Fraser Health for the last 14 years. Since the declaration of the Covid 19 Pandemic, Anup has been leading a team of dedicated Public Health Nurses, Registered Nurses, and Administrative professionals to stop the transmission of, prevent harm by and prevent death caused by Covid 19. The pandemic continues to present several difficulties to families and communities and Anup personally knows of several people who have been adversely affected during the pandemic. Anup is married and a mother of two children, one a doctor in USA and the other pursuing a Masters Degree in Artificial Intelligence in the UK, as well as her brother and parents living close by in South Surrey. Anup’s family have all been affected in some way by Covid-19, hence with the announcement of the upcoming vaccines, one can take solitude: “it is during our darkest moments that you must focus to see the light” – Aristotle. We at the Times of Canada thank Anup for her dedicated service to the community and are pleased to recognise her with this award.

AWARD SPONSOR 14

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BALDEV BOYAL

TRUCK AND DELIVERY DRIVER WITH GURUJI FOODS

aldev arrived in Canada in 1980 and after working in a number of frontline jobs, settled on becoming a delivery driver in 1995. His work ethic is legendary at his workplace as he has not taken a single day off since he started his current job in 1995. Apart from his commitment to work, he loves to go swimming in lakes and rivers and is an avid outdoors person.

AWARD SPONSOR 15

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DR. BABRA RANA

ADULT PSYCHIATRIST AT VANCOUVER COSTAL HEALTH SERVICES

r. Babra Rana is a General Adult Psychiatrist with Vancouver Coastal Health Services and Burnaby Psychiatric Services. She has been the Continuing Medical Education (CME) coordinator for Burnaby Psychiatric Services for the past twenty years and plays a pivotal role in the development of several important educational initiatives. Most recently, she successfully contributed in raising funds for the Vancouver General Hospital’s new psychiatric wing. Dr. Rana is the founder of the Pakistani Canadian Women’s Society (PCWS) and works tirelessly to promote the empowerment of women. She is also a board member of the Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival and is passionate about promoting Pakistani films which create dialogue on social issues in Pakistan. Most recently she was awarded “Women of the Decade in Community Leadership and Social Innovation” by the All Ladies League and Women Economic Forum. Since, she has been nominated by Women Economic Forum to be a Director.

AWARD SPONSOR 16

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DEVINDER DHILLON

PARAMEDIC AT VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

evinder has been a paramedic for the past 28 years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree and started his paramedic career by volunteering with the St. John Ambulance and in his 7 years as an active volunteer he gained a variety of skills that benefit him to this day. He spent his first 8 years as a paramedic serving at various locations in the lower mainland as well as in small communities across BC.

AWARD SPONSOR 17

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EVELYN TAN

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER WITH FRASER HEALTH

velyn has been a community health worker for the past 26 years. During this pandemic, she provides home support and care to vulnerable seniors. She enjoys visiting and helping seniors in the community so they can continue to live safely and independently in their own home. During her lengthy and rewarding career, she believes she has learnt a lot just by listening to the life stories and experiences of her elderly clients. She feels very gratifying to know that she has helped people at the end of each work day.

AWARD SPONSOR 18

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KIRAN RAMPURI

CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT AT THE CITY OF BURNABY

iran has been working in the recreation department with city of Burnaby for over 13 yrs. She is known to serve every customer with her smile, generosity and kindness. Her belief is that serving a customer with smile can change their day in a positive way. She also has a passion to teach Yoga and she has received her Yoga Therapist training certification 6 years ago. She wants to make a difference in people’s life by teaching them how to achieve good health & wellbeing. She is an annual fund raiser for BC Cancer agency, where she has been recognized twice for giving her selfless service to the community. She is an ongoing volunteer for Khalsa Aid Canada.

AWARD SPONSOR 19

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MANINDER PAL DHALIWAL REGISTERED NURSE AT THE SURREY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

aninder is a Registered Nurse in the acute medicine unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital. This unit is a critical part of the fight against Covid 19 as it deals with acutely sick patients. Maninder has a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and worked in India for 10 years before migrating to Canada in 2009. Passionate about a career in nursing, she studied to get certified as a registered nurse in Canada and has been with Fraser Health at the hospital since 2012. Apart from being a nurse, she is also a brown belt in karate and has won multiple awards at city and provincial level tournaments.

AWARD SPONSOR 20

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RUPA MARCUS

STORE MANAGER, REAL CANADIAN SUPERSTORE NEWTON, KING GEORGE BLVD, SURREY BC.

upa has been with the Real Canadian Superstore for 24 years. As a store manager at the front lines during this ongoing pandemic, she works hard to not only ensure the safety of her entire team but also the health and safety of her customers. In these tough times, she and her team ensure that each of her customers can purchase all the essential items they need for a safe living at home. When asked how she feels serving in her role, she smiled and said “ I am very proud to serve my community every day and be considered a part of the essential workers that put themselves last and the community first”. We at the Times of Canada thank Rupa for her dedicated service to the community and are pleased to recognise her with this award.

AWARD SPONSOR 21

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FIVE STEPS TO START-UP SUCCESS I t’s raining start-ups and you are feeling inspired to implement that fantastic business idea that has been on your mind for a while. There’s just one problem, you don’t know how to go about it. Here are 5 steps that you can get you started in the right direction and help you succeed. RESEARCH YOUR IDEA As much as you think your idea is unique and original, it will surprise you to discover that there are others that might have similar ideas. Explore

the internet to check if others have already launched some version of your idea. Identify and research the key parameters (physical store, geographical area, etc) from where you wish to start your business. Always remember that it does not matter how many people have the same idea, it’s the way the idea is executed is what ultimately determines success or failure. In-depth research will help you build a good foundation for your business and will go a long way in ensuring its success.

SELECTING THE RIGHT TEAM Have you decided to do this business on your own? Do you have a friend/ relative/partner that you wish to start the business with? Who are these key people and what strengths do they bring to the business? It’s important to assemble a team of people that share your dream and vision and have a complete understanding of the product offering. Please make sure you clearly define each team member’s role and give them the freedom to execute their part. Ideally, you will select your team

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on the basis of their active contribution to the business and not based on your personal relationships. Immediate family, relatives and good friends don’t make great business partners so please avoid making your parents directors in your business even though they might have helped you with initial funding. FINDING THE RIGHT MENTORS This is a critical step in ensuring the successful launch of your business. Great mentors act as a sounding board for all your ideas and problems and will provide you valuable advice and guidance. It’s important to ensure that your mentor understands your vision and product and is supportive and encouraging. Mentors will give you sound advice as they have no vested interested or stake in your business and it’s important to ensure that there is no direct financial benefit to a mentor. Should you feel that a mentor is actively contributing to the growth of your business, invite them to be a member of your team but remember that their advice will no longer be unbiased. Once again, avoid family and friends and seek professionals, ideally from the industry your idea belongs to, who would be willing to mentor you every step of the way. Avoid mentors that adapt a critical approach as you will be surrounded by critics and don’t need one in the form of your mentor. WORKING WITH THE RIGHT STARTUP ORGANIZATION A well-established start-up organisation can provide you with work space, internet connectivity, in-house experts and mentors, training on various aspects of business and a platform to network with other start-ups. They can also connect you with the right government departments as well as potential investors. BC has excellent incubators like BC Tech Hub, Founder

Institute Vancouver and Launch Academy that do a good job of providing

5 IMPORTANT STEPS 1. RESEARCH YOUR IDEA 2. SELECT THE RIGHT TEAM 3. FIND THE RIGHT MENTOR 4. PARTNER WITH THE RIGHT 5. START-UP ORGANIZATION 6. SHOW THE BUSINESS WORKS

DEMONSTRATING THE BUSINESS WORKS Once you have your team in place, begin by executing your idea in a small test group or market. It’s really important to prove to yourself that your idea has merit, can be executed effectively and most importantly, can make money. The really smart start-ups first launch their idea in a small market or with a couple of test clients to understand what their target customer needs and accordingly adjust their product or service before a formal launch. This exercise will go a long way in ensuring that you have a marketable product which your customer needs and is willing to pay you to get it. It will also allow you to made adjustments within your team and assign them relevant responsibilities to deal with an effective execution once your business is formally launched. Now that you have a clear idea on how to get started, it’s time for action. Wishing you the very best with your start-up and looking forward to seeing you in the marketplace.

you with infrastructure, start-up support as well a networking platform and most of their services are complimentary or available for a very nominal fee. There are others like Start-up Vancouver, Futurpreneur and Innovate BC that provide all kinds of additional mentoring and networking opportunities. Please visit these centers to determine which one is right for you and ideally signup as an incubator with one of them.

Rajula is an entrepreneur, international business coach and newspaper columnist with the OHerald in Goa, India. He has an extensive background in business development and marketing and in his spare time like to cook and travel.

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THE SOUVENIR OF THE PANDEMIC T he Pandemic has given passage to a variety of experiences in its past ten months of existence. Upon its conception, I initially felt its detriments. The excitement and thrill of returning to school subsequent to our spring break were immediately

hindered by the Pandemic and the restrictions that proceeded it. Uncertainty and distress seeped in, and found their way home in the pit of my stomach, as the fear of not being able to see my friends again crept in. The school system did

its best to accommodate the needs of every student in ensuring that they would be adjusted to the new online curriculum.

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Clarity and communication were threatened by the new online system, with work being presented on our “Teams Platform” and few class meetings being held throughout the week. There was little escape from this torment, with few opportunities to connect with teachers in the face to face settings. Not only did the Pandemic play a factor in the molding of my academics, but lent its influence on my relationships with my friends, and family members. Inperson contact with friends was simply obscured by the restrictions we were to abide by. Technology offered us an opportunity to redeem and strengthen relationships with one another, but it could not amount to the same joy that is conceived from the countless face to face conversations we would have in the past. There was the element of authenticity missing in our connections with one another. The pandemic compensated for this action with the domineering presence of family. My family members had to follow the online ways the pandemic had carved out as well, resulting in the overbearing presence of my family & I in the house. The pandemic accorded me with a further level of stress, in having to navigate my way through a new schedule and having to attempt to decipher the new dynamics in my relationships with friends and family members. While the pandemic bestowed immense difficulty for myself and others like me, I was also left with the souvenir of more time and energy to dedicate to my mental health, relationships, extracurriculars, and sense of self. I found that with the appropriate mindset I was able to harvest improved grades, from before the pandemic. Without the physical presence of school, and fewer hours of online classes in a day, I was able to nurture my grades. Additionally, the pandemic allowed me to foster a sense of proximity towards

my passions, in allowing me to divert further hours to extracurriculars that aligned with what gave me pleasure. I liberated myself from activities, that acted as nothing more than a resume builder, as I dismantled the weight of badminton, choir, volunteering, tutoring, and Medhopeful club. The void in my schedule allowed for further hours dedicated to replenishing my writing organization, Your Words Matter To Us, and the continuation of the construction, of the mental health app, myEsprit. Countless hours went towards structuring BCYC’s mental health campaign and building my show known as the Reality Is, which aligns with my value for writing, public speaking, and social issues. Further activities, including writing and public speaking, were immensely contributed to, which reciprocated with the achievement of my goals, and the securing of various awards and forms of recognition as well. Family and friends became presences that were easier to prioritize in my schedule. I was able to adopt a schedule that permitted me time to spend with my family members in the evening. However, this slowly dissipated, through a series of poor habits. Regardless, due to the pandemic, I have been able to reflect on this further, and accommodate my family into my schedule, without disrupting my flow of work on my extracurricular activities. The proximity to my family the pandemic has lent me has subjected us to conflicts at times. With this, it has also let us the souvenir of closer communication with one another, and time to address issues of concerns that arise to our disputes. Connections with friends have also immensely built, as I have further pursued small habits, such as messaging friends every day, to stay connected with them. People whom I have not been in contact with for some time, are caught in the crossfire of my

attempts to nourish relationships with friends, and will often receive a message from me, checking in with them. The pandemic has brought tears to many of us, but its disruption in our schedules has also cast a ray of light in our lives, allowing a rainbow to arc. For me, the beauty found in this pandemic is not simply just the time it has brought me but the opportunity for introspection, and a sense of self. The pandemic has taught me ways to cope with stress and nourish my mental health. It has allowed me to also share these explorations and insights in mental health webinars, and the mental health curriculum I have been able to make as well, allowing for an extension of gratification. I have been able to reflect on who I am, and the better version of myself I hope to embody. It has allowed me to resolve underlying conflicts in my mind, practice gratitude, and orient myself towards my goals. The pandemic has allowed me to prioritize what is truly important to me, make time for friends, family, academics, and extracurriculars. Most importantly, it has taught me to enjoy my own company, and develop a sense of self, which I was unable to attain before.

Sanjana Karthik is a grade eleven student from Semiahmoo Secondary. She dedicates her time to volunteering, where she has accumulated over 500 hours and spends time playing badminton and attending choir practice. She tutors, and provides her leadership services to Volunteer Club, Study Circle, and Medhopeful at her school. She created her organization called Your Words Matter To Us, co-founding an upcoming mental health app called myEsprit.

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FENG SHUI 2021 THE YEAR OF THE METAL OX L et’s see from Feng Shui perspective in the new Year 2021 what potentials we have not for just surviving but for thriving life. As per Feng Shui theory, energies change every year. Therefore, it is necessary to watch for the reallocation of good and bad energies at the beginning of the year, so that you can take necessary precautions if some bad energy happens to arrive in important location

of your home or office. Also knowing the location of lucky energies, you can harvest the soaring success.

The year 2021 is going to be the Year of Metal Ox is starting from 4th February (as per Solar calendar) characterized as one with tough, uncompromising nature and takes responsibilities seriously. It indicates, we should more focus on taking extra responsibilities

with unwavering mind so the success can come naturally. When hard-working Ox meets cold steel signifies both the energy to begin activity and the determination required to rise above the challenging time. 2021 Metal OX year is carrying unique set of energies that can bring noticeable change in your life; unless you know how to use them to make

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2021 “Your Better Year Ever!” It will take efforts, but if you truly want to get ahead and enjoy some beneficial change, you wont mind because the payoff will be more than worth the efforts. The tips below outline the steps you should take to mitigate the problem energies and get auspicious energy moving for you in 2021 for better benefits. During Ox year, highly auspicious star #8 will occupy the West direction making this sector of your home or office extremely lucky. This star is mainly known for brining money luck and happiness to the household if activated correctly. Try to spend more time in the West sector to get associated with the good luck that will be brought by the #8. You can enhance the beneficial energies of the West by placing bright light and double happiness sign in the west zone. Yang objects suck as television, music system, phone, clock or aquarium will be the great activator of this lucky star. One need to be watchful about the Star #2 that will be flown to North sector, mainly brings illness and risk related to our health, physical and mental. It is advised to avoid this sector as much as you can and stop sleeping in North sector room. People with pre-existing sickness and pregnant woman must avoid this sector. To neutralize the danger, place heavy metal object in the North such as bronze sculpture or steel furniture. As a traditional remedy you can place golden metal turtle or image of Lord Hanuman or Dhanvantari in this sector. Another very inauspicious star 5-Yellow will be residing in Southeast during

2021, that brings misfortune and money loss. This is highly deadly star that easily gets activated with noise or banging, so keep this area as quiet as possible. Avoid renovation or any kind of excavation or landscaping work in this area. Especially homes with the entrance door in SE, need to be extra careful and avoid any

in Northeast to enhance the lucky energies and get best benefits during 2021. South is blessed with the presence of Victory star #1 in 2021. Homes with the main door in South or facing South will be extremely benefited as success will be coming easily with the plenty of career opportunities thrown on your way. The best way to activate South sector is to place the image of Victory Horse or Wind-horse in the South. Travel opportunities and Wealth luck are the additional benefits one can enjoy by enhancing the South and spending more time in that area. The Metal element gives the OX its sharpness in action and speed of thought. Ox born with the Metal element like to stand out in a crowd. With an inspiring assertiveness and competitive demeanor, he determines his goals and then do anything necessary to achieve them. This masculine strong animal sign sometimes suffers from the stubbornness, this is a flaw Ox must learn to curb.

renovation or repair work in home, unless it is very urgent or most required. You can reduce the danger created by this star by placing live plants or heavy metal objects in Southeast. Same time avoid crystals or bright light in Southeast. Northeast, is wonderful sector in the Ox year due to the arrival of purple star #9 will bring wealth energies to the occupants of this area. Homes with main entrance door facing NE or located in NE will be extremely benefited. This star is also known for bringing luck related to recognition and fame. For many of us it will bring romantic life success. Display red candles, flowers or red color object

2021 is predicted to be a year starting with unusual circumstances and challenges with tremendous pressure and anxiety, but the Ox’s influence will offer us strength to deal with it. While inviting bold actions, alertness and setting realistic goals and plans we can make most out of it. Metal element of the OX indicates that we need to be firm and determined in our approach more than usual to achieve goals. Courage, adaptability and openness is GURUMANTRA for success in 2021. Deepak Jayakar Certified & Licensed Feng Shui Master T. 604 760 4858 / E. deepakj88@ hotmail.com

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LAUNCHING A HOME-BASED FOOD BUSINESS T he massive negative impact of this pandemic on the food and restaurant industry has been felt throughout the world. If you were someone who always wanted to start their own restaurant, now is the time to launch a small sampler from home to see if friends and family would like

your food and be willing to pay for it. You can call it a test market. Here are a few tips to get started. ORGANIZE / SET UP SEPARATE WORKSTATION: Make sure your raw material storage; prep area and cooking area are completely separate

from your personal kitchen. Keeping in mind the Covid-19 restrictions and the Government Health guidelines, for your safety and more so of your clients, it’s imperative to have separate utensils, appliances and separate prep area for your product. Tip: Set up in Garage

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SOURCE LOCALLY PRODUCED RAW MATERIAL: Especially during the pandemic, local business have thrived because they use locally sourced raw materials and the customers love to “Support Local” MARKETING ON SOCIAL MEDIA: The simplest, cheapest and most effective form of advertising these days. Set us a social media account on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and get your friends and family to follow your page and support by spreading the word. SET UP AND ONLINE PAYMENT PROCESSOR: You may have a cash register and payment processor for your physical selling presence. However, when you move online, few of these “point of sales” systems will make the move with you. These are some of the most common and highest rated payment processors to start out with: Square, Paypal, Stripe

may seem high at first but charging post back and dealing with refunds and returns is a far bigger hassle. As for perishable items that need to be shipped frozen, you will want to be sure to ship in a Styrofoam container that is at least 2” thick, with a cardboard box on the outside. Depending on the cooling agents inside the parcel, the packaging and documentation varies. Lastly, keep the customer engaged and happy, start a subscription box on your online website. This will help you engage with your customer as they register with your brand thru email, you could send them discount coupons, seasonal menus and promotional info. The recent measures in response to COVID-19, has dramatically impacted those with careers in the service industry sector. As we navigate these

SPECIAL TIPS •

SETUP IN THE GARAGE

•

SUPPORT LOCAL SUPPLIERS

•

SIGNUP WITH ONLINE PAYMENT PROCESSORS

•

LAUNCH AN ONLINE STORE ON SHOPIFY

•

USE AMAZON SHIPPING SOFTWARE

SET UP AN ONLINE STORE: If you plan on selling online for a while or are taking this as your opportunity to go on and build an online store, there are a few options available. You may find some free platforms, these are generally carts that require you to host the website on a server yourself and that generally requires a lot of development work to build the website. Ex: Shopify, Squarespace, Wix SHIPPING: Shipping may seem complicated, but it can be quite simple. Most of your orders will generally fall into a few different categories. If its under 16 oz, most people ship using USPS First Class Mail. If its over 16 oz it goes out with Priority Mail. But there are exceptions to these rules and finding the cheapest way to ship is important. TIP -Shipping software: Amazon, Ebay SHIPPING FOOD: Make sure that the packaging is thick, durable, and puncture-proof. These extra expenses

changes and try and establish just how long these measures will be in place, life still goes on. If you own a restaurant, or sell produce, baked goods, or other foods, this can be a good opportunity to sell your goods online. All the best.

Yuko Kosuge Sandhar Managing Director: S.S Manufacturers Ltd Founder: Yukolicious Artisan Foods Designer: Made For Living Co Tel# (604).369.0885

Info.ssmanufacturers@gmail.com Website: www.ssmfr.com

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AN ENTREPRENEURS GUIDE ON

SURVIVING A PANDEMIC

s the COVID-19 continues its disruption, the livelihood of many entrepreneurs and small business owners has been threatened. According to a recent local survey, 60% of business owners said they didn’t think they could continue business operations for more than three months during the pandemic. Our current situation is deeply unsettling. Entrepreneurs are facing many obstacles, including ensuring the businesses they have put their blood, sweat, and tears into continue to stay afloat. On top of that, many of them have employees that they’re trying to protect & reassure, which in itself is a monumental task when they themselves are struggling to survive. Being a small business owner myself and having countless discussions with other local business owners about their hardships and efforts, I’ve been able shortlist crucial points/ worries entrepreneurs are dealing with during the COVID-19 pandemic. DECIDE AND EXECUTE — A crisis like the one we’re currently experiencing requires quick thinking in the face of uncertainty. However, with such high stakes on the line, entrepreneurs find

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themselves dealing with a mental block, or the inability to make a decision due to overthinking. Delaying decisions will only lead to more problems and those problems will require more decisions. SOLUTION: Break down what you need to do into smaller steps and then attend to issues based on their level of urgency. Once you start taking proactive measures, you’ll feel more in control and more confident in your ability to navigate through oncoming problems and finding solutions. UNDERSTANDING THE GOVERNMENT UPDATES AND BENEFITS — The business landscape is changing at a rapid pace. It seems like the government releases new regulations that affect business owners almost every day. In order to understand and follow new legislation and changes, business owners will need to monitor news from the provincial and federal government daily. Most importantly, make sure you’re getting your information from an official source, such as a government website, a bank representative, accountant, or other professionals in your network. One useful resource is the gov.bc.ca website, which lists pertinent information about health and safety, money and taxes, benefits and grants, and much more.

BALANCING WORK WITH SELFTIME — Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, majority of the entrepreneurs are experiencing a lot of intense emotions such as fear and anxiety. To make it worse, there’s an additional level of stress as they try to do best by their employees and customers. Under such circumstances, overextending yourself leads to burnout, and once you reach that state you won’t be able to help anyone. That’s why it’s imperative that entrepreneurs carve out time to recharge and take care of themselves. It can be hard to break away from work right now but it’s equally imperative to carve out a block of time in your schedule for some self-care, whether that be going for a walk, spending time with your family, or enjoying a long, luxurious bath. The more you’re able to find inner calm during this crisis, the better able you are to make decisions and lead your business. INFORMATION OVERLOAD — It seems like every minute we’re inundated with a relentless flood of information about COVID-19. Sometimes this information overload can become a major burden. When there’s an information surplus, we tend to miss out on important news or even succumb to potentially harmful misinformation. And we’ve all heard the saying that “gossip or fake news travels faster than the truth” In order to make sense of all the conflicting information out there, entrepreneurs need to take a moment to step back and evaluate whether the information they’re reading is fact-checked and from a reliable source. SOLUTION: Set a limit for yourself. Continuously

exposing yourself to upsetting news will only heighten anxiety. Make it a point to check for updates regularly, but as soon as you start feeling overwhelmed, take a break.

FOCUS ON: EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS AND STAKEHOLDERS — Business owners are dealing with a million concerns right now and it’s difficult to know where to prioritize time and resources. For most of us, that’s our people: employees, customers, vendors and partners. Our first priority should be the safety and well being of our employees. Up next would be communicating with customers. They may not be in a position to patronize your business, but they still want to be updated on any changes to its operations. The same goes for other stakeholders so they know what your status is and what to expect moving forward. Lastly, break down what you need to do into smaller steps and prioritize them by how urgent they are and never forget to give yourself credit for doing your best right now. The scale of this crisis is unprecedented, but there is a silver lining. Eventually, we will get thru this nightmarish pandemic with a greater sense of personal empowerment and increased connection to our community all of which will be advantages for our businesses in the future. Sukhraj Sandhar Director: S.S Manufacturers Ltd Director: Earthen Rugs Founder: Made for Living Co. Co-Founder: Yukolicious Artisanal Foods

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FROM MEMORIES

Statue wearing a mask with smiling painted lips is pictured outside of Carlyle apartments in Vancouver on April 27, 2020. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

Shoppers line up between pallets outside of Costco Wholesale store in Burnaby, B.C., on April 21, 2020. (Ben Nelms/CBC Vancouver)

Christine Taylor, who lives in Washington state, talks to her mother Marika Markovic, who lives in B.C, at the Canada-U.S. border in Surrey, B.C., on April 23 (Ben Nelms/CBC Vancouver)

Empty shelves of toilet paper at a Superstore in Richmond, B.C. on March 17, 2020, the day the province declared a public health emergency. (Ben Nelms/CBC Vancouver)

Patrons watch Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back at the Rio Theatre with physical distancing measures applied in Vancouver on July 10, 2020. (Ben Nelms/CBC Vancouver)

Vancouver fire crews work to contain a fire in the 2400 block of Main Street in Vancouver on Oct. 22, 2020. (Ben Nelms/ CBC Vancouver)

John Butler holds a photo of his daughter Olivia Dalton, who died of a fentanyl overdose in Langley, B.C., on Nov. 3, 2020. (Ben Nelms/CBC Vancouver)

A restaurant worker waits for customers in downtown Vancouver on March 18, 2020, Ben Nelms/CBC Vancouver)

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176 People killed in iran plane crash - (Ap photo/ebrahim noroozi)

Kobe bryant killed in helicopter crash - (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)

Justin trudeau self-isolates after wife tests positive for covid-19 (the canadian press/fred chartrand)

John Wilvers waves to his mother Elizabeth Jeppesen, 94, on Nov. 18, 2020. She tested positive for COVID-19 at her residence in the Tabor Home assisted living centre in Abbotsford, B.C., during one of the province’s largest care-home outbreaks. (Ben Nelms/CBC Vancouver)

Physically distanced at Kitsilano Beach in Vancouver April 6 (Ben Nelms/CBC Vancouver) 22 People killed in nova scotia rampage (AP Photo/Andrew Vaughan)

Who declares covid-19 a global pandemic (Tedros Adhanom Stock market crashes (AP Photo/ Richard Drew)

Ghebreyesus/Twitter)

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Italy goes into national lockdown (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Northern italy hit hard by covid-19 (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

An Earl Marriott Secondary School graduate walks down a red carpet at a physically distanced graduation ceremony in Surrey on May 27, 2020. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

California’s worst wildfire season in history (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Fire on New Westminster Pier, B.C., Sept. 16 (Ben Nelms /CBC Vancouver)

Ranian general qasem soleimani killed (AP Photo/

Blessing In Empty St. Peter’s Square (AP

90-year-old Margaret Keenan, the first patient in the UK to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Dec. 8, 2020. (Jacob King/Pool via AP)

People wearing face masks walk near Main and Hastings streets in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood of Vancouver on Dec. 4, 2020. (Ben Nelms/CBC Vancouver)

Ebrahim Noroozi)

Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Wuhan goes into lockdown (AP Photo/Arek Rataj)

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Vancouver Police Department officers take a man into custody after he was allegedly agitating a crowd after an anti-racism rally in Vancouver on June 5, 2020. (Ben Nelms/ CBC Vancouver)

VPD officers kneel after being pressured by the crowd after a rally against racism in Vancouver on June 5, 2020. (Ben Nelms/CBC Vancouver)

Road been painted in bright yellow letters on the 16th Street, in Washington. (Khalid Naji-Allah/Executive Office of the Mayor via AP)

Grade 9 students at L.A. Matheson Secondary School on the first day of school in Surrey on Sept. 10, 2020. Pm trudeau takes a knee at anti-racism protest in ottawa.

(Ben Nelms/CBC Vancouver)

Black panther’ star chadwick boseman dies (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)

Australia battles wildfires (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Harry and meghan’s last appearance as senior royals (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

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