Died Suddenly

Amanda Cordner has always been a tal ented actress, but she has been receiv ing her flowers now more than ever for the role she plays on CBC and HBOMax’s hit series, Sort Of. She received an AC TRA Nomination for Outstanding Per formance – Gender Non-Conforming or Female.

In Sort Of, a proudly shot-andset-in-Toronto series, Cordner plays one of the main characters named “7ven”, who is best friends with the pro tagonist, played by Bilal Baig, who also co-created Sort Of. “7ven” is a 20-some thing, gender-fluid person, and sort of almost art curator whose family comes from money. She’s an unapologetic truth-teller who is determined to eat life up with the biggest spoon she can find. Underneath all of that bravado, there is a vulnerable person who has a genuine concern for the people in her life.

Cordner and Baig were friends before they were acting together.

“My favorite part about play ing this role is that I get to play oppo site my friend, like my friend in real life. And so, we really infuse a lot of the sto ry scenes are characters with the pure love of our friendship.” said Cornder.

Cordner is also a dancer, singer, theatre creator, clown, playwright and filmmaker who graduated from York University with a BFA in Theatre and has not looked back since. Cordner was named one of Canada’s Rising Screen Stars by NOW Magazine in April 2022 and was one of that publication’s Top Ten Theatre Artists of 2018.

Corder compares acting for television and acting for theatre.

“I haven’t been on stage in two years, almost three years. And so being back in rehearsals, the process is that your energy is demanded day one and every day until you open that show, and then continue to bring that same energy until the show closes. It’s exhila rating being in front of a live audience and breathing with them and hearing it. In film and TV, in like a 14-hour day, maybe you’re acting for an hour, saying the same lines over and over again. But

for theatre you’re starting from the be ginning, and you work that script over and over until you find flow.” Said Cord ner.

The project that Corder is most proud of is a solo show she co-created in high school with her best friend, Da vid Di Giovanni. Body So Fluorescent debuted at Summerworks and won awards for Outstanding Production, Play, and Direction, and Cordner con tinues to partner with independent theatre companies and performance artists.

“We went to high school to gether. And then we went to different universities in different cities. So, we were separated for a bit. And when he came back to town to pursue educa tion, he said let’s make a show and that was in 2016. We toured it across Cana da, and in the states. And we made it into a short film, and now we’re bring ing it back to Buddies in Bad Times The atre in April of 2023. It’s such a beautiful love project between me and my boy. It slays, it’s such a powerful piece. And I’m so glad that it has another life. It’s be ing published by Playwrights Guild of Canada, and wow, I’m so proud of that,” said Cordner.

Cornder’s biggest influence is Anthony Hopkins, one of Britain’s most recognizable actors. He is known for his role in The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal.

“I love Anthony Hopkins be cause of his ability to wield darkness and to keep it light. He can be so charm ing yet can be a psycho. That is pretty chilling, but captivating,” said Cordner.

Cordner shares what she hopes audiences will take away and reflect on from the second season.

“I hope that they take away joy and that the show really focuses on love. I hope people think about who they love and, and why they love and what it means to them. I hope it tests people’s preconceived notions, test their perspectives, you know?” said Cordner.

While American TV series and films now have a multitude of stories

that center the gaze on the Black Ameri can queer and trans experiences, Cana da is still a genera tion behind. Only a couple of queer Ca nadian films and TV shows produced in the last 30 years fea ture a Black queer/ trans character. The other 99% of titles are overwhelmingly White character focused.

Corner shares how this show can be re latable for anyone.

“People hear ‘trans’, and they shut down, I see it on their fac es. And these are people who I’ve grown up with who always talk about how they want to support me and sup port my work, and my art. And then when it comes to this show, which is an award winning, inter national success, they can’t even turn it on, even to support me. I keep going back to the human ity of this story. It’s a story about a human going through the turmoil of relationships and career changes and choices and family, like whose family doesn’t disturb their psyche. But some people hear ‘trans’, and they think ‘not human’.” said Cornder.

The actress has also received positive feedback from supporters of the show and how it has been impact ful.

“A student emailed me saying they did a Gender Studies project on this show. Because of the show, they’re claiming their own nonbinary and com ing out to their parents and I’m like, whoa, that’s huge. That’s the good stuff when the youth feel seen and heard,” said Cordner.

Sort Of’s second season will premiere in Canada on CBC and CBC GEM on November 15th, then the USA

Written by Selina McCallum Toronto Caribbean News

Many of us have moved on from this pan demic; we are tired of hearing about it, talking about it…

As a journalist who has been cov ering this pandemic, watching foreign news stations speak about this disease that was causing people in Wuhan China to drop dead on the streets, there is probably no one more tired of this charade.

A charade, because despite what our: health officials, government officials, and mainstream media have been tout ing, this pandemic was mismanaged, mis guided, and miserable for everyone, ex cept those in power. What makes it hard to stomach is that research is being released all over the world that we could have pre vented the deaths of millions of people, but many of our governments for some reason have ignored this fact.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), also known by its trade name Plaquenil®, has been used for over 50 years as a treatment for: malaria, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. HCQ began to garner attention as a potential treatment

and as prophylaxis against COVID-19 dur ing the early months of the pandemic.

A man who we hold in high re gard – Dr. Zev Zelenko – a man who unfor tunately is no longer with us, was one of the first international doctors to that HCQ as well as chloroquine (CQ) possessed in vitro antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2). His work led to numerous investiga tions of its efficacy in preventing infection, hospitalization, and mortality.

We thought that it would be im portant to take another look at what was going on in the research world, and I dis covered a write up by Peter Navarro (who served as the Defence Production Act Policy Coordinator during the Trump presi dency), and Dr. Steven Hatfill (specialist physician and virologist) in the Washing ton Times. It highlights the fact that as of August 2022, there have been:

• 354 studies of HCQ as a treatment for COVID-19

• It involved 5,764 scientists, and 482,000 patients in 51 countries

Meta-analysis across these studies demon strates a resounding 57% to 81% improve ment in mortality when given in early treatment and 41-percent reduction in hospitalization.

According to Mr Navarro and Mr Hatfill, “If physicians had been allowed to freely prescribe HCQ off-label to outpa

tients within the first seven days of their symptoms, anywhere from 570,000 to 810,000 Americans would still be alive to day of the million Americans who lost their lives. Here, we must be reminded that these lost souls were our parents or grand parents or friends or lovers or (very rarely) children who turned out to be nothing more than dust in the political and partisan winds fanned not just by the FDA but by the Faucites across the U.S. health bureau cracy and a “hydroxy hysteria” CNN and New York Times.”

Okay, all that sounds great, but words are never enough for me. I wanted to see HCQ in action, so I dug a little deep er.

I came across some studies for HCQ, and some studies against, some skewed depending on what the research er was trying to find. A group of studies caught my interest. HCQ for COVID-19: real-time meta analysis of 368 studies con ducted 20 early treatment studies show statistically significant improvements in isolation (14 for the most serious outcome). Data also revealed that late treatment is less successful, with only 67% of the 243 studies reporting a positive effect. Very late stage treatment is not effective and may be harmful, especially when using excessive dosages.

On a more positive note, HCQ reduces risk for COVID-19 with very high confidence for: mortality, hospitalizations, cases, viral clearance and in pooled analy

sis.

I took a look at the Health Canada website and their latest update shows that there are a number of medications being investigated to treat or prevent COVID-19, both in Canada and internationally. The best way to access experimental therapies is through clinical trials. Health Canada has authorized clinical trials with chloro quine or hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19. To date, data from clinical trials are lim ited, and the results have not conclusively shown that any specific medications are ef fective against COVID-19…

Well except the inoculation of course, but that is a whole other story, that we don’t have time to get into right now.

Further research brought me to the National Library of Medicine. On March 28th, 2020, the FDA approved emergency use authorization of HCQ and CQ for the treatment of COVID-19. On June 15th, 2020, the FDA then revoked this emergency use authorization for both HCQ and CQ as emerging literature, including the influen tial RECOVERY trial, indicated no clinical benefit attributed to HCQ use in the treat ment of COVID-19.

I think this was about the time that the vaccine campaign started isn’t it? Hm mmmm!

We will not draw conclusions for you, but we will engage your thoughts. Could all of this have been prevented? Did we all lose loved ones for no reason?

Parents criticize Ontario government regarding short-sighted Catch-Up payments

defined as any student receiving special education programs or services by their school board, or any student with a special education need. Furthermore, it does not matter whether students attend a: pub licly funded school, private school, First Nation operated or federally operated school, are home-schooled, or attend inperson and remote learning, they are still able to get the Catch-Up Payment.

There has been a promotion by the On tario government regarding the Catch-Up payments that it is being made available to Ontario parents with school-aged chil dren.

The announcement was made on Thursday, October 20th, 2022, and specific information can also be seen on the Ontar io government’s website. These payments of either: $200 or $250 is intended to go toward the costs of tutoring, supplies or equipment that children need during the 2022-23 school year.

Ontario Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce states, “It could not be clearer that we must keep students in class without disruption, with a focus on catching up on the fundamentals: reading, writing and math after two years of pan demic-related learning disruptions. We are expanding tutoring support, assessing ev ery child’s ability to read, and hiring more staff to ensure all kids get back on track and ultimately graduate into good-paying jobs.”

The Ontario government is mak ing $365 million available to parents, which may involve:

• $200 for each student between kin dergarten and Grade 12, up to age 18

• $250 for each student with special ed ucation needs between kindergarten and Grade 12, up to age 21

Criteria that must be met in order to en sure eligibility include:

• You are a parent or guardian to a stu dent from kindergarten to Grade 12

• A Secondary school student who is 19 years of age

• You are a parent or guardian to a stu dent from kindergarten up to age 21 with special education needs

A student with special education needs is

Parents must apply through the Ontario.ca website in order to get the pay ments. They should create an online “My Ontario Account,” or an account via Veri fied.Me (Interac/ online banking). Once an online profile is created, parents will re ceive an email to “Activate Account.” After you create and activate your account and if you’re session times out, you will receive a one-time 6-digit pin verification code via email. Parents will receive the funds within a two to three weeks time period.

Minister Lecce responded to a question regarding how it will ensure that money is spent as intended for tutoring. He states, “I know they will do the right thing because we’ve done this multiple times before, and I know that putting those dollars to good use for: before and after school programs, for learning, for literacy development, for technology-this all helps. I think we should be on the side of working people in this province who want more relief at a time of economic dif ficulty.”

Ontario Greens leader and MPP for Guelph, Mike Schreiner released a statement. It reads, “The nominal pay-out to parents will do nothing to help Ontario students learn in a stable, safe classroom environment. They are merely a distrac tion from this government’s sorry record of funding cuts and failing contract nego tiations with education workers.”

Parents in London, Ontario men tioned the money is being misdirected. Dianna Chepita states, “Classes have up to 30 or more students in them. This is about six thousand dollars taken from each classroom. That pooled together would make more of an impact on the students and the children of Ontario fo:r field trips, new technology, resources, and staff, etc.”

Parents or guardians have until March 31, 2023, to apply for the Catch Up Payments.

mended that the rollout of the singledose Johnson & Johnson coronavirus be paused in the US after six people devel oped rare blood clots within two weeks of vaccination.

Update

This journalism experience is something else. Each week, I learn more about this world, and I am only able to share a glimpse. I hope you are reading, and shar ing the information. You have to know that there are media outlets that do want the best for the community, and Toronto Caribbean Newspaper happens to be one of them.

Online literature research brought me to a page hosted by Sharyl Attkisson, another credible journalist do ing the work, and on the page she had re leased an exclusive summary of COVID-19 Vaccine concerns dating back to June 30th, 2021.

Inquisitive, I did a scan through to see what had been unearthed, and the findings were unnerving. Let me share a few with you, and if you are interested, you can check them out.

Update April 14th, 2021

US officials call for pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine rollout due to rare clotting problems

US health officials on Tuesday recom

September 9th, 2021

An August 10th, 2021, study in JAMA Car diology confirms the previously identified Pfizer vaccine’s myocarditis (heart inflam mation) risk in young boys.

In this case series of 15 children who were hospitalized with myocarditis after receipt of the BNT162b2 messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine for 1 to 5 days, boys were most often affected after the second vaccine dose, 3 patients had ven tricular systolic dysfunction, and 12 pa tients had late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Taiwan

Updated November 14th, 2021

Taiwan’s health minister announced the temporary suspension of the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine for children due to concerns about myocarditis heart inflam mation. Pfizer is the vaccine given in Tai wan.

Update November 21st, 2021

An analysis presented at the American Heart Association and published in the journal Cardiology warns of a “dramatic” increase in heart risk for most people who got COVID-19 RNA vaccine.

Let’s move this timeline up a little. There is a lot of data on Sharyl’s page, so

feel free to dig in and do your own search.

Update October 7th, 2022

The State Surgeon General recom mends against males aged 18 to 39 from receiving mRNA COVID-19 vac cines

The Florida Department of Health Depart ment conducted an analysis finding that there is an 84% increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days fol lowing mRNA vaccination.

As such, the State Surgeon Gen eral recommended against males aged 18 to 39 from receiving mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Those with pre-existing cardiac conditions, such as myocarditis and peri carditis, should take particular caution when making this decision.

Update October 28th, 2022

EU regulator recommends adding heavy periods to side effects of mRNA

COVID shots

A European Medicines Agency (EMA) committee recommended adding heavy menstrual bleeding to the list of side ef fects of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines made by Moderna, as well as Pfizer, and its part ner BioNTech.

Reports of heavy periods - bleed ing characterized by increased volume and/or duration that interferes with the quality of life - have been observed dur ing clinical trials, from cases in the real world and in medical literature.

They say that you don’t really know how something feels until it hap pens to you. Community, pay careful at tention to your health; don’t ignore any thing that is happening in your body. What you dismiss today could be detri mental to you tomorrow. Go to a trusted health source and ask questions if you have concerns.

It is never too late, until it’s too late!

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Just a quick update in case you wanted to know; the vaccine is still causing significant harm to our citizens

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) will enable governments to regulate how citizens spend their money

according to the IMF’s official website, Li spent a significant amount of time work ing for the People’s Bank of China before joining the organization.

THOMAS

Have you ever sat and wondered what CBDC means? Well, wonder no more.

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are what the banks have been trying to impose on the populations of the earth for a while now. Digital money will be embraced by some and rejected by oth ers. Let us look at the pros and cons of this issue.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Central Bank Digi tal Currencies (CBDCs) could enable gov ernments to regulate how citizens spend their hard-earned money.

Think about this statement for a second; if you purchased something with cash it is almost untraceable, but if you are in the business of tracking and trac ing all human transactions, then digital currency could be one of your biggest tools.

According to Deputy Managing Director Bo Li, a CBDC may enhance “Fi nancial inclusion through programmabil ity,” he said, on October 15th, 2022, at the IMF-World Bank annual meeting.

Li went on to explain how, “A CBDC can allow government agencies and private sector players: to program, to create smart contracts, to allow targeted policy functions,” Li explained. “For ex ample, welfare payments, consumption coupons and food stamps.”

“Targeted policy functions” are three key words in the above quote that could mean who is allowed to spend, where they can spend, how much they can spend, and finally what they can spend on.

“By programming CBDC, that money can be precisely targeted for what kind of people can own [CBDC] and what kind of people can use this money, for example for food,” Li said.

If anyone is still wondering where all this talk of financial control is coming from, it is important to note that

Opposition to these sales pitches finally came from someone with a working mind. Nick Anthony, a policy analyst at the Centre for Monetary and Financial Alternatives of the Cato Institute, ques tioned the motives behind the digital currency.

As a crucial example, Anthony cited Trudeau’s nefarious technique of freezing the bank accounts of the pan demic mandate protesters earlier this year as evidence that governments can not be trusted with such tools at their disposal.

Those were some of the cons, now for a look at a few pros, but first of all, for this kind of system to be consid ered as having pros there must be con sent and free will every step of the way, and no one should be black balled for not wanting to participate.

For example, if I do not want my money in CBDC I should be free to spend cash anywhere I go with no issues, nor mandates to conform to. Anything short of this is a financial dictatorship.

With nearly 90% of national cen tral banks intending to provide their own CBDCs to the general public, folks should be deciding now which side of the fence they are going to stand.

Federal Reserve Chairman Je rome Powell said, “A CBDC would not be anonymous and would require identity verification, implying that information about its activities would be made pub lic.” Let that sink in folks.

Meanwhile, the European Cen tral Bank (ECB) repeated Powell’s com ments, saying: “There would not be com plete anonymity as there is with bank notes.”

In closing here are the so-called elites (aka digital plantation owners) who recently met to plan your financial future: Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Neth erlands, who’s also the UN SecretaryGeneral’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development; Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, IMF; Bo Li, Deputy Managing Director, and Cecilia Skingsley the BIS Innovation Hub Direc tor.

MICHAEL

michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The

I watched the trailer horrified. One of the speakers was told to type into Google, “Died Suddenly,” and what he discovered disturbed him.

So naturally, I did just that; I typed into Google “Died Suddenly, 2022” and I began to read…

There has been a bizarre surge of people dying unexpectedly, and an up coming documentary explores the recent surge, a disturbing phenomenon many have observed that coincides with the rollout of the experimental COVID-19 vac cine.

The film, “Died Suddenly,” sets out to document and explain the alarm ing spike of unexplained deaths around the globe over the past two years, which have prompted an uptick in Google searches for the term.

When you get a chance, I would definitely check out the trailer; it fea tures snippets of interviews with dozens of professionals including: embalmers, doctors and vaccine experts, all of whom give watchers a warning; the vaccine that many of us were coerced into taking might just be to blame for all of the sud den deaths that we are experiencing all over the world.

The film takes watchers through a whirlwind of information, some point ing out anomalies being observed on a medical level, including: COVID-19 vac cine inserts being left completely blank, strange blood deformations, and giant blood clots found in vaccinated patients.

The film mentions the recently

destroyed Georgia Guidestones monu ment. In 2020, Toronto Caribbean News paper did a piece on the Georgia Guide stones, which have been called “America’s Most Mysterious Monument.” What was presented was the 10 Commandments, “rules,” or “guides,” that are found etched in the stone in: English, Swahili, Hebrew, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, and Hindi. Let’s take a look at what the 10 Commandments read:

• Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature

• Guide reproduction wisely improving fitness and diversity

• Unite humanity with a living lan guage

• Rule passion-faith-tradition-and all things with tempered reason

• Protect people and nations with fair laws and courts

• Let all nations rule internally resolv ing external disputes in a world court

• Avoid petty laws and useless officials

• Balance personal rights with social duties

• Prize truth-beauty-love-seeking har mony with the infinite

• Be not a cancer on the earth-leave room for nature

The commandment mentioned in the film that raises eyebrows is the first one, “Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.”

Is this why we are seeing young, seemingly healthy individuals dropping like flies, dying suddenly? It wasn’t always like this. Sure, we would hear about the deaths of high-profile figures, but they were usually individuals in their 80’s or 90’s who had simply come to the end of a long life. If a young person was reported dead, it was usually tragic: an accident, murder, or a suicide.

Now it’s different:

• On October 26th, 2022, a British ra dio host died live on air just one hour

into his popular breakfast show. Tim Gough, who hosted the morning show on Radio GenX, was presenting from his home 35 miles away from the radio station’s headquarters in Ipswich, east England. But his broad cast was suddenly cut mid-song at around 7:50 a.m. and the 55-year-old was never to be heard again.

• Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson was 26, and had played three seasons of professional football. No cause of death was given.

• Then there was 25-year-old Caleb Swanigan. The former NBA player had been the 2017 Big Ten Player of the Year at Purdue University. The coro ner report concluded that Swanigan died of natural causes

• Cynthia Lai’s death comes just two days after her official Twitter account retweeted an announcement about the availability of the bivalent boost er. Toronto Public Health’s tweet was posted on Wednesday morning, Oc tober 19th, 2022. Lai was reportedly too ill by that evening to attend a campaign debate. She was checked into a hospital by Thursday and died early Friday, October 21st, 2022.

• Coolio, the rapper whose smash hit “Gangsta’s Paradise” sent him to in ternational stardom, died at the age of 59. The cause was not immedi ately known. When the friend went to check on Coolio — whose legal name was Artis Ivey Jr. — he found him unresponsive on the floor. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene. His manager told TMZ the paramedics believe he died from car diac arrest.

• Miami Dolphins SVP Jason Jenkins, 47, died from a blood clot

• SIX Canadian Doctors Have Died in Less Than 2 Weeks (Reported on July 28th, 2022)

• Derek Gray, College Basketball Player, died while playing ball

In Italy, one of the world’s most popular

summer destinations, vacationers were dropping dead from ‘sudden and unex pected’ medical emergencies. World wide, beachgoers have reportedly been collapsing while strolling on the beach, or swimming in the water. In some cases, the beachgoers, including children suffered cardiac arrests and died.

This list goes on, and on, and in the midst of what seems like a global catastrophe, mainstream media doesn’t seem to be curious about why we are suddenly seeing so many young people die. Here we are now in the 11th month of 2022, and all across the world in many countries it is being reported that “un explained excess deaths” continue to in crease, from “all-cause mortality” and not from COVID, even though the number of COVID-19 vaccines administered has dras tically fallen in 2022 as compared to 2021.

They are not reporting it, but we are seeing an unexplained rise in cases of sudden death, many of whom were oth erwise fit and healthy, and this is what makes this all the more alarming and brings us back to the elephant question in the room; is there is a correlation between vaccination and deaths and the mysteri ous new condition referred to as SADS sudden adult death syndrome. Emerging global data is suggesting there is a corre lation.

For unexplained reasons many now have: weakened hearts, cancer, blood clots, neurological issues, and developed autoimmune diseases. In most cases, doc tors are telling patients that these condi tions “Have nothing to do with the COVID vaccines.” I think that it is time that we di rect these doctors to the U.S. Government VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System), and see how they explain those numbers.

Fortunately for the vaccine mak ers, no health authority in the world is investigating these deaths because a healthy, young person dying is now the “new normal!”

banking system

banked Households, a survey carried out by The Federal Insurance Corporation.

STEVEN KASZAB steven@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Households without bank ac counts have been accessing non-bank on line payment services to exchange, or even store money directly onto and through each platform. Use of prepaid cards was much higher among unbanked house holds (32.8%) than among banked house holds. Unbanked rates were the highest among: lower income households, lesseducated households, Black and Hispanic households, working-age households with a disability, and single-mother households.

Underbanked households is where at least one person in a household has at least one bank account, but who over the past year have made use of at least one non-bank alternative financial service like:

prepaid debit cards, check cashing, money orders, payday loans, auto title loans and pawn shops.

The survey also took the effects of the pandemic into consideration. Many households opened bank accounts in or der to receive direct deposits from new employers or their governments.

The study notes some significant long-term shifts away from non-bank fi nancial services Check cashing fell, while money order use increased, cutting across all different racial or income groups.

There has been an increase in the use of banks possibly due to the new technologies introduced by the banking system and the pandemic. More effective consumer protection, for example, could also be driving consumers adoption of less

predatory financial services

Decreasing use of non-banking services, especially through a period of de clining unbanked rates, could imply house holds are fulfilling their financial services within a banking system and benefiting from consumer protections and opportu nities within that system.

Is the banking system finally re sponding to consumers’ needs and de sires? How will this affect the massive non-banking system? Legal action within Canada and America are preceding, with challenges to non-banking Service Corpo ration’s vs. government oversight, as well as the banking system vs. their offshoot business model, the non- bank.

Experts say the National School Lunch Program might be one of the most inefficient programs run by the United States Government in history

milk as the cause.

Now that we have highlighted the fact that information about mild allergies is public knowledge, we have to figure out why the National School Lunch Program serves milk to more than 30 million children in more than 100,000 schools.

I want to throw in another twist to this story; reports show that children of co lour have historically been overrepresented in the National School Lunch Program.

Two organizations have decided to take on this fight: The Center for a Humane Economy, and Switch4Good.

“The stated purpose of the National School Lunch Program is to serve kids with foods that promote health and aid learning. The USDA has turned the program on its head, using the program as a marketing and profitmaking opportunity for the dairy industry and denying kids the chance to opt for nutri tious beverages that don’t make them sick.”

Wayne Pacelle (President of The Center for a Humane Economy)

Reports show that up to 80% of Black and Latino people, up to 95% of Asians, and more than 80% of Indigenous Americans cannot digest lactose without adverse ef fects. The inability to break down lactose into simpler sugars for absorption into the blood stream results in undigested lactose remain ing in the gastrointestinal tract, and this can cause: diarrhea, nausea, cramping, bloating, and in severe cases, vomiting.

According to the FDA cow’s milk is the most common food allergen for infants and young children. Symptoms include: rashes, hives, wheezing, vomiting, and ana phylaxis. Long-term effects include: compro mised immune systems, respiratory, gastro intestinal, and skin problems. An interesting thing to know is that some of these symp toms may not occur until several days after consuming dairy, so you might not identify

In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, 31 members of Congress asked him to address the dairy industry monopoly in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) that is forcing a food staple onto the break fast and lunch trays of millions of children of colour. The letter, now submitted to Secre tary Vilsack, asks the United States Depart ment of Agricultural to provide soymilk as an alternative to cow’s milk.

Under the NSLP, the USDA reimburs es public schools if they serve cow’s milk with every meal but does not reimburse for nu tritionally equivalent alternatives offered to children who cannot digest dairy. To many of the letter-signers this is “A textbook example of dietary racism.” Dietary racism is systemic, structural inequities surrounding food and nutrition that disproportionately and unjust ly impacts people of colour.

Experts say this might be one of the most inefficient programs run by the United States Government in history.

The USDA spends more than $2.1 billion on milk in the schools. However, a USDA analysis found that 29% of school milk cartons are thrown away untouched, equal ling $300 million tossed into dumpsters. Chil dren are getting sick, or they are throwing away the product, undercutting the purpos es of nutrition assistance and contributing to a massive food waste problem in schools.

The Center for Humane Economy is a non-profit organization that focuses on influencing the conduct of corporations to forge a humane economic order. The first organization of its kind in the animal pro tection movement, the Center encourages businesses to honor their social responsibili ties in a culture where consumers, investors, and other key stakeholders abhor cruelty and the degradation of the environment and em brace innovation as a means of eliminating both.

Switch4Good is an evidence-based non-profit organization advocating for a dairy-free world and dismantling the disin formation Big Dairy feeds the public, for the sake of human health, food justice, and the future of our planet. Its coalition of health experts, athletes, social justice warriors, en lightened policymakers, and progressive corporations promotes ethical lifestyles and widespread behavioral change related to how we eat.

Rep Troy A. Carter Sr, who ambi tiously spearheads this effort, spoke out em phatically,

“The reality is, millions of kids across America’s schools are given milk on their lunch trays that will make them feel sick, or that will immediately be discarded, it’s time that our school lunches reflect the reality that many of our children, including the majority of Black, Asian and Hispanic kids, are lactose intolerant. By providing a nutritionally equiv alent substitute such as soymilk, we can help keep our kids healthier, full and decrease food waste. I look forward to working with Secretary Vilsack and the USDA to help bring equity to our nation’s lunch counters.”

“I applaud congress for seeking to

rectify what is one of the most egregious ex amples of racial inequity in nutritional policy,” remarked Dotsie Bausch (Executive Director of Swith4Good). “Advocates for food justice have been asking for these simple shifts, such as a proportional reimbursement to schools for soy milk, to give children of colour a fair start in school and set up a lifetime of healthy choices.”

Now, I would not be me if I didn’t speak some truths here. When I read this email, I realized that they might have their reasons for pushing soymilk. Despite soy be ing promoted as a healthy food, there are claims backed by studies that show soy may not be all that it’s cracked up to be. There are also plenty of personal stories from people who claim to have suffered health issues from eating soy.

When it comes to soy and prevent ing cancer, there are various different studies showing the complete opposite effect. In a study by the British Columbia Cancer Agen cy, researchers found that major properties in soy can actually stimulate breast cancer cell growth. Another study by the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition had simi lar findings.

There is so much to think about as parents and wondering if you are feeding your child something that is going to either send them into shock, or introduce cancer ous cells into their bodies is terrifying. If you are concerned, do your own research, and find out what works best for your child. Start community efforts to raise money that can be used to purchase alternatives for children who have allergies.

We have to start doing more for our selves and stop depending on a government who has historically shown us that they don’t care about our well being.

Is the

finally responding to consumers’ needs and desires?

WALCOTT

The holiday season is known for being the most wonderful time of the year for many people. But unfortunately, this will not be the case for some.

The focus is beginning to shift onto the Christmas season. Everyone is gearing up and saving up to buy pres ents for loved ones (Black Friday and Cy ber Monday sales), and looking forward to enjoying a big dinners filled with tur key and ham to share with loved ones and friends. Unfortunately, others will have to navigate through difficult times during this period.

For some, the holiday season can be a tough time to get through. These reasons can include: not having enough funds to afford both presents and Christmas dinner, not having the funds for either one, or not being able to spend the holidays with both par ents.

It is always a difficult time for children and their parents when a di vorce is taking place no matter when it happens, but it can be a lot more chal lenging when this new and challenging transition takes place around the holi day season.

However, just because a family might be going through a separation during the holiday season, it doesn’t mean they can’t have fun during the holiday season.

Renew Supervision, a Blackowned organization, is there to help and support parents and their families as they are going through a new and difficult change in their life. They offer services such as: reunification therapy, counselling services, anger manage ment, and parenting courses.

Techenia Archer, Early Child hood Educator, and Renew Supervi sion’s lead parenting course facilitator and Service Support Coordinator said the organization is mostly known for its supervision of parenting time and exchanges.

Therapeutic services, such as counselling, and parenting courses, which Archer facilitates, are also Renew Supervision’s most popular services. Archer describes the parenting course

as a more tailored way to meet the needs of the parents and the child, and to help give parents a refresher.

“I think it’s just important to keep the goal in mind that you are go ing to get a chance to spend time with your child,” said Archer. “The most im portant thing that matters is the qual ity of the time parents spend with their children.”

Archer also encourages the pri mary caregiver to look into giving the other parent the chance to be part of the holiday celebrations so their chil dren can have the experience of spend ing the holidays with both parents. This can also help both parents come to a point in their co-parenting relationship, and help them form an agreement when: compromising, supporting, and putting their children in the forefront, and allowing their children’s voices to be heard.

Archer understands this transi tion can be nerve-racking for children at first and compares it to starting a new school. However, she encourages them to have a positive mind-set as they may get double the amount of gifts and still have a joyous holiday.

Renew Supervision started dur ing the peak of the pandemic in 2020

and became an essential service when the government was not able to have their access visiting centres open for parents who required them.

Kezia Royer-Burkett, a Parent ing Supervisor and Marketing and Pub lic Relations for Renew Supervision, said the company is not like most tradi tional parenting supervisors.

They meet with families in the community and are there with them as parents enjoy activities such as: bike rides, family BBQs, and days in the park or at home with their children. “No parent really feels comfortable hav ing a stranger watch them while they are spending time with their children whether it’s at their home or at the park,” said Royer-Burkett.

The parenting supervisor would be there to observe and take notes and will have those notes go to a judge.

The for-profit company works with parents and lawyers to help fami lies reach the goal of having parents go from supervised visits to unsupervised visits.

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

Falling temperatures are the tell tale that autumn had arrived, but on Sat urday, November 5th, 2022 the eve ning was balmy, and warm, the perfect weather to celebrate the 22nd, An niversary of The Caribbean Children Foundation.

Jay Brijpaul and his commit ted team of volunteers pulled out all the stops for their first in person Gala since the pandemic, and when I pulled up to Woodbine Banquet Hall, I was reminded that you can always count on two things from a TCCF Gala: A-list members of the Caribbean community dressed to the tee, and a night full of purposeful, light-hearted fun.

Wait; did I forget to mention the mouth-watering entrees, and lavish dining experience? I digress…

In case you haven’t heard about this prestigious event, let’s get you caught up. Founded in 2000, The Caribbean Children Foundation’s main objective is to help children from the Caribbean with the most precious gift – the gift of life.

In 22 year over 310 surgeries have been performed for families living

in the Caribbean, and over $1.5 million dollars has been raised by the founda tion to pay for these surgeries. TCCF has developed enduring partnerships with three international partners: The Herbie Foundation, International Chil dren’s Heart Foundation/BabyHeart, and Spine Hope.

Over the years, the commu nity’s generous donations have contin ued to fulfill a partnering program with Sick Kids Hospital. Healthier Children, A Better World supports children with ac cess to specialized health care. Through this partnership, TCCF has been able to care for children from: Jamaica, Bar bados, Trinidad, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Guyana and St. Vincent. United, they have improved the quality of life for children who have received treat ment form paediatric specialists in: General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Urol ogy, Cardiovascular and Plastic Surgery at SickKids Hospital.

Yours truly, was given the hon oured title of hostess for the evening, and I made sure to keep the guests happy and energized. The night start ed with the beautiful songstress Mrs. Chopra radio and TV host at Bollywood mix. This was followed up with a mo tivating speech delivered by Raynier Maharaj a well-known international journalist based in Toronto, and one of the founders of The Caribbean Children Foundation (TCCF).

Jay Brijpaul, President of TCCF, welcomed guests, and reminded us all that “It takes a community to raise

a child, and TCCF believes that it takes a community to save a child.” Jay also took time to acknowledge his amaz ing team, a team who volunteers their time to move the cause forward. They include:

• DR. KRISHNA BRIJPAUL External Liaison

• KUMAR SINGH Secretary

• RADHEEKA DAVIE Assistant Secretary

• DOODIE ROSS Fundraising

• HARRIPAUL BRIDGEMOHAN Treasurer

• VIC RAMSAMUJH Asst Treasurer

• GRANT BROWNING Public Relations

• TRISH BROWNING Strategic Planner

• KAWALE OJHA Community Liaison

• RAJIV PERSAUD

Community Liaison

• ANDREW HILTON Community Liaison

• DONNA RICHMOND Community Liaison

• AMIT KANHAI Fundraising

• ADIL KOTADIA Website/Design

• SUBHASHINI RAMSAMUJH Inspire2Act Rep.

At the end of his guest welcome, Jay

took a moment to recognize friends (organizations and businesses) who do nate to the TCCF every year.

Moving presentations were de livered by: Dr. Propst is a Staff Otolar yngologist – Head & Neck Surgeon at The Hospital for Sick Children, and As sociate Professor, University of Toronto, Canada; Aimee Pastor, Senior Manager for the International Patient Program at The Hospital for Sick Children, and Ka tie McHugh-Escobar, Director of Com munity Partnerships at SickKids. Their powerful messages were ones of hope; reminders that the combined efforts of the community had given a new op portunity to so many children who had no hope.

The energy in the room was lightened as guests were delightfully entertained by three incredibly, tal ented dancers: Anjalie, Latchmi and Stephanie Jhodhan, and Dj Philip kept the crown moving with each song he dropped.

We have not received the donation to tals from the night yet, but as soon as we do, we will be sure to share an up date with our readers.

Motivating messages, delec table dishes, top shelf spirits, and chut ney; what an excellent night it was; I am definitely looking forward to next year’s gala, and if you would like to donate it is not too late. All donations can be made to www.tccfangels.com/ donate-now/

Learning to cope with separation during the holiday. Renew Supervision offers a tailored way to meet the needs of families

“It takes a community to save a child!” The Caribbean Children Foundation celebrates 22 years of service

Yet, another European archaeologist takes credit for an African discovery!

One day while digging one of these jars, they found the tomb!

SIMONE SMITH

Hussein was 12 years old, and his job was to bring water to the workmen. People would help him put the water in a jar and then put the jars on a donkey to bring to the work ers. When he arrived at the site, he and the workmen would dig holes to hold the jars.

British archaeologist Howard Carter has often been credited with finding Tut ankhamun’s tomb, but the names and iden tities of the Egyptians who did much of the work are largely unknown, and the stories either deny, or ignore the fact that it might have been Hussein who discovered the tomb.

Now, in the exhibition “Tutankha mun: Excavating the Archive, which opens at the University of Oxford’s Bodleian libraries, runs through February 5th, 2023, and displays photos of the Egyptians who uncovered King Tutankhamun’s tomb in an attempt to recog nize them. The photos in the exhibition show the Egyptians doing much of the excavation, as well as an Egyptian doctor participating in the autopsy of Tutankhamun’s mummy.

Daniela Rosenow (a project officer at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford), and one of the curators of the exhibition reported, “We don’t know the names of most of the Egyptians who excavated the tomb. We only know the names of the four foremen that Carter employed, as he names them and thanks them in his publication. They were: Ahmed Gerigar, Gad Hassan, Hussein Abu Awad, and Hussein Ahmed.”

It seems like there was a lot of push back against Carter. A number of Egyptolo gists reported that Carter had a colonial mind-set and tended not to treat the Egyp tians as equals. “I think he was generally ar rogant … not only against Egyptian[s] but also against other nationalities,” Usama Gad, a tenured lecturer of papyrology and com

parative literature at Ain Shams University in Cairo. “He abused most of his teams’ efforts and work.”

Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s former minis ter of antiquities also noted that Carter treat ed Egyptians poorly. “One of Carter’s biggest mistakes was how he treated Egyptians. He didn’t allow any Egyptian officials to visit the tomb but planned to open the burial cham ber and sarcophagus with his team and their wives.”

Hawass noted that this incident in creased tensions between Carter and Egypt’s then-minister of antiquities, Morcos Hanna. They eventually dismissed Carter in 1924.

Today, Egyptians lead and conduct major archaeological excavations, and their work and their excavations are admired by foreign teams.

EQAO results for 2021-22 show most Grade 6 students are failing in mathematics

the first EQAO result since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PAUL JUNOR

The Education Quality and Accountabil ity Office (EQAO) assessments have become benchmarks that parents, education officials, and teachers look forward to each year. The measurement of student achievement in: reading, writing mathematics against Ontar io Curriculum expectations provide valuable information.

There have been concerns ex pressed before the COVID-19 pandemic re garding the declining performance of Ontar io students specifically in EQAO Math results. The release of results on Thursday, October 20th ,2022 revealed that the downward trend in their math performance continues. It was

In a press release from EQAO, de tails are released about the performance of Ontario students in Grades: three, six, nine and the OSSLT. Over 600,000 students from all over the province participated in EQAO assessments at both the elementary and secondary levels during the 2021-2022 school year at both the English and Frenchlanguage school systems. Most of these stu dents attended classes in-person compared to online.

The press release states, “EQAO data shows that Ontario’s student outcomes are similar to those of other jurisdictions, where the pandemic has had a more signifi cant impact on mathematics than on literary achievement.” In addition, students were in troduced to the new digitized and modern ized assessments involving an online model, which contrasted with the previous paperbased assessment. It is important to note that EQAO data provide an independent snapshot that shows whether students are meeting curriculum expectations in: read ing, writing, and mathematics at key stages of their education.

Michigan

• 77% said having good teachers and in struction it’s absolutely essential

There are many different reasons for why education, or the lack of good education has become an issue in Michigan. During my research, I noted another challenge that the state is having, and it surrounds educational neglect.

What is educational neglect?

There are three different reported types of educational neglect; they include:

EQAO data indicates that Grade three students’ achievement shows a de crease in literary results although the perfor mance in mathematics remains consistent, compared to results from 2018-2019. 59% of Grade three students achieved the prov ince’s mathematical standard. For Grade six students, performance in reading and writ ing were stable, but there was a drop in their math performance. Only 47% of students met the provincial standards compared to 50% in 2018-2019.

For Grade nine students, 52% met the provincial standard, which is a reduction from 75% in 2018-2019, while 47% did not meet the standard. It is important to bear in mind that these Grade nine students are currently following the new destreamed cur riculum that was introduced in 2019. Conse quently, there is a smaller number of Grade nine students who participated due to unex pected issues related to the COVID-19 pan demic’s effects on: planning, organizing and supervising the test.

For Grade 10 students who wrote the Ontario Secondary Student Literacy TEST (OSSL), which is a graduation requirement, 82% of them were successful on their first at

tempt. This shows consistent improvement which is good news for parents.

Ontario Education Minister, Ste phen Lecce blames the EQAO math results on the COVID-19 pandemic. “The pandemic took kids out of school and created mass disrup tion. In every region of the world, math and literacy are regressing. Learning loss is a real trend and phenomenon.”

A spokesperson for Minister Lecce stated, “The EQAO results underscore the importance of what we’ve been saying for months; students need to be in classrooms, focused on catching up, for the entire school year. While student learning due to the pan demic is a global challenge, Ontario has a plan that invests in expanded school and tu toring supports to ensure students can learn the skills they need to succeed for the jobs of tomorrow.”

The Ontario government has invest ed $365 million in a three-year math strategy that it hopes will improve the performance of students in mathematics. Minister Lecce reit erates, “We will do a whole lot of good so that every student, 100% of students, perform a whole lot better. That’s the vision.”

Report after report is highlighting a disturb ing trend in the state of Michigan; students are not being prepared to build lives for themselves that will allow them to escape generationally traumatic societal conditions. While the economy increasingly demands more advanced skills and knowledge, edu cation continues to lag behind, and has be come a disservice.

Education Trust-Midwest, and EPIC/ MRA commissioned a public opinion survey of 600 Michigan parents (via phone) between February 19th, 2019, and March 1st, 2019. Par ents reported that:

• Improving the quality of education ranked as the number one issue – well above their concerns about: roads, the economy or health care, according to a new telephone poll commissioned by the Education Trust-Midwest.

• Understand the importance of effective teachers and high-quality instruction

• 94% said having good teachers and in struction is important

• Parent or caregiver fails to enroll their child in school at all, and also fails to educate them at home. In some cases, parents may not be adequately homeschooling children

• Parent or caregiver enrolls their child in school, but fails to get them to school, causing at least five absent days a month

• Parents or schools fail to meet special education needs for a child with a diag nosed disability

Michigan law requires little oversight over home-schooled students, and parents don’t have to register their children with the state or their local school district, like they do in other states. State agencies will not investi gate educational neglect claims unless they come with other claims of neglect or abuse.

Utilizing unprecedented partner ships with: business, education, labour, phi lanthropy, civic leaders, as well as parents, Launch Michigan is advocating for a highquality, student-centred system–one that

helps every student succeed: in school, in their careers, and in life. They speak to the fact that a strong, thriving public education system is the cornerstone of successful kids, prosperous communities, and a strong econ omy.

This empowered team consists of:

• Launch Michigan Co-Chair Jeff Donofrio, President and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan

• Launch Michigan co-Chaired Brian Cal ley, President and CEO of the Small Busi ness Association of Michigan

• Paula Herbart, President of the Michigan Education Association, Punita Dani Thurman, Vice President of Program and Strategy for The Skillman Foundation

Launch Michigan Co-Chair Jeff Donofrio, president and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan, released the following statement on the new National Assessment of Educa tional Progress (NAEP) state data and rank ings recently released, “While it’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic set many Michigan students back, the bottom line is that Michigan students aren’t keeping up with the rest of the nation and haven’t been for decades.

The new NAEP data ranks Michigan fourth graders 43rd in the nation in reading and 36th in math. Even more concerning is the increasing gap for low-income students compared to students who don’t come from low-income households, which widened dra

matically this year.

Despite the work of dedicated edu cators and administrators, and many wellintentioned attempts at reform, our students are woefully behind. That’s why our business, education and philanthropic leaders came together to form Launch Michigan, to take on our toughest educational challenges. That includes collaborating on a framework of transformational change that addresses the interconnected areas needed for true system reform to make Michigan a top-performing state.

The impacts of these low rankings stretch beyond the walls of the classroom. States with the highest rates of education at tainment have the highest quality of life and the largest incomes.”

In alignment with its framework released in June, Launch Michigan achieved several wins as part of the bipartisan 2023 budget, one being equity funding for the nearly one million students in the state who face special challenges, due to their need for special education, or because they come from families with low incomes.

Launch Michigan has also success fully advocated for funding to entice more professionals into teaching, as well as the creation of an incentive fund to help districts make operational changes and improve ef ficiencies to drive more dollars to the class rooms and to students.

Co-Chair Jeff Donofrio emphasizes, “If we don’t act now to transform public edu cation, we face long-lasting consequences for Michigan’s economic future.”

Students aren’t keeping up with the rest of the nation and haven’t been for decades

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

Parents, did you know that right now, in ev ery school board across Ontario, students are being asked to divulge their sexual in terests and their gender identity? On orders of the Ontario government, every school board in Ontario has to gather and report data on their students through a question naire called the Student Census.

Schools in Ontario are required by Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan and Anti-Racism Act, 2017 to gather and report

this data. Through the Student Census, high school children are being asked to choose whether they are: a boy, girl, “gender fluid”, “gender nonconforming”, “non-binary”, “questioning”, “trans boy or man”, “trans girl or woman”, or “two-spirit.”

I learned that in grade seven and above, school boards will start asking stu dents if they are: straight, lesbian, gay, bi sexual, two-spirit, queer, questioning, asex ual, pansexual, or “other?”

According to the Upper Grand District School Board’s website, this survey is not anonymous (though they claim it is confidential). This information is collected non-anonymously, where it can hypotheti cally be tied back to the student.

Through the Student Census, the Ontario government has radically invaded schools, and it seems to be for practically no purpose other than to collect data about our students. According to Halton Catholic District School Board’s website, the overall

point of the survey is to “Eliminate systemic racism and advance racial equity”...what do any of these questions have to do with sys temic racism?

What I found interesting is that Catholic schools are being asked to conduct this survey as well, and from my knowledge, the Catholic Church has always held the be lief that humans are made either male or fe male (see: section 2393 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church). For those who are not familiar, the catechism is an organized pre sentation of essential teaching of the Catho lic Church in regards to both Catholic faith and morals. Asking Catholic school boards to give out these surveys in many ways is asking Catholic schools to contradict their own teaching.

The question that I have at this point is why? Why are our children being questioned about their gender and/or sexuality espe cially at such young ages?

Are parents familiar with the vast array of gender identification terms?

For parents of elementary school children, are you ready to check that box for your child?

Should our schools be asking young children if their “gender fluid” or keeping files of which teenage students are “queer” or “questioning?”

Links to these surveys are dis played on the front pages of many school board websites across Ontario, such as the Toronto District School Board, Durham Dis trict School Board, and even Catholic school boards like the Halton Catholic District School Board.

If you as a parent are not comfort able with this, now is the time to speak up. These mandated surveys are flying under the radar, and if it makes you uncomfort able, say something about it.

The important work that journalists do all over the world cannot be undervalued and underestimated. An international non-prof it and non-governmental organization, Re porters Without Borders (RSF) has been at the forefront of safeguarding the rights of journalists. Four journalists found ed it in Montpelier, France in 1985. It is present on five continents, with ten offices worldwide and 150 correspondents as signed to cover stories of international im portance.

It was in 1995 that it was recognized as a public interest organization and has participated in consultative capacities with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the International Organization of Francophone (OIF). The mission of RSF is to act for: freedom, pluralism, and indepen dence of journalism and defend those who embody these ideals.

As an independent, non-govern

mental organization (NGO), it is funded primarily by: public subsidies, foundations, the sale of photography books, and public donations.

RSP applies the following principles in its work:

• Mutual respect and dialogue, nondiscrimination, a collective work spirit, concern for professional and personal accomplishment, the right to alert, re spect for the environment

• Transparency of decision-making pro cesses and accounts, refusal of corrup tion, and conflicts of interest

The purpose of RSF is to ensure that the fol lowing goals are accomplished:

• Defend imprisoned or persecuted jour nalists or persecuted journalists and media personnel

• Expose mistreatment and torture of journalists

• Provide financial aid for struggling me dia personnel or companies (as well as for the families of imprisoned journal ists)

• Promote journalists’ safety

A promotional video was launched on No vember 2nd, 2022, to draw attention to pros ecutors from eight countries that pledged

to fight impunity for crimes against jour nalists, and it mentioned certain troubling facts. It aims to raise awareness throughout the world about the need for both national and international justice systems to take ac tion on this issue.

Data was obtained from RSF that: nearly 1,000 journalists were killed since 2010, 90% of crimes against journalists go unpunished, 46 journalists and 4 medical workers have been killed since January 1st, 2022, and currently there are 508 journalists and 21 media workers in prison.

The prosecutors signed ten under takings that illustrate details of actions that will be taken and call on other colleagues to join them in this international appeal.

They are:

• Protect the independence and impar tiality of our investigations into crimes and offences against journalists

• Take resolute and determined action to end impunity for crimes against jour nalists

• Systematically evaluate the relation ship between the crime and the vic tim’s journalistic activity

• Ensure that the victims and their fami lies have access to reparation

• Ensure that threatened journalists and their families are protected

• Collaborate with our counterparts in

other countries and at the international level

• Protect the confidentiality of journal ists’ sources

• Call for respect for judicial indepen dence

• Call for prosecutors to be guaranteed the necessary resources

• Urge colleagues to join these undertak ings

Christopher Deloire, secretary-general of RSF states, “Regardless of the country or legal system, prosecutors have a central role to play in bringing the perpetrators of crimes of violence against journalists to justice. Resolute action by prosecutors is an essential condition for establishing a free and safe environment for journalists. With this unprecedented appeal, a major step has been taken. We salute its signatories for their commitment.”

Antoine Bernard, Director for Ad vocacy and Assistance states, “The actions of prosecutors are often obstructed in these sensitive cases involving major public inter est issues. We often discover, as in Mexico, for example, that the link between the mur der and the victim’s journalistic activity has never been properly investigated. Prosecu tors must be able to investigate without endangering their own lives, those of their families, or their careers.”

There needs to be resolute and determined action to end impunity for crimes against journalists

Why are our children being questioned about their gender and/or sexuality especially at such young ages?

PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

It appears that the Ford government only listens to those with wealth and influence

tinually, yet when consumers complained, they issued a promotion claiming they would freeze their President Choice brand prices until January 2023.

Prices are at an all-time high, and they promise to keep them there until next year? Who are they trying to fool? Other gro cers will no doubt follow. Imagine Alberta and Ontario beef at an all-time high. What are our local and provincial governments doing about this situation? Absolutely Noth ing. Canada and America’s corporations have undue influence upon our govern ments; after all they employ many of our neighbours. They also inject funds into vari ous political parties, ensuring they have the ear of our elected officials especially when government policy is being devised.

Ontario has one of the highest sov ereign debts in the world. In March 2018, the provincial government’s public debt was $348.8 billion. Today, it is at 418 billion and its non-public debt sits at $9.17 billion and is increasing daily. Is the government capable of accounting for all its public and non-pub lic debt? It seems to be a struggle.

The Federal Government sent bil lions of dollars to the Ford government to be used in their efforts to fight the pandemic, yet much of that money sits in government bonds and accounts unused.

Like never before, our neighbours within the middle-class must decide wheth er and on what they must spend their mon ey. Their money is most likely borrowed, on credit cards and over extended lines of cred it too. Gas prices are at $2.45+ a litre in Thun der Bay, much more in Vancouver or Halifax. Many people cannot afford the expense of travelling to their places of business. While inflation and interest rates escalate, our gen eral wages remain the same.

The politicians give themselves raises. An order in council gave Deputy Ministers who make a $205,000 salary a minimum increase to $235,000, along with all the perks a government official receives. 28 Deputy Ministers have received at least a 14% increase.

While this continues to happen, CUPE has been trying to negotiate for their education sector workers, asking for over

15% per year for four years. These: workers, custodians, office workers and teacher assis tants make $39,900 annually in costly South ern Ontario. The Ford government may very well dictate that a union, which has voted 95% by its membership to strike, will lose its right to strike, and even to democratically negotiate their contract. It appears that the Ford government only listens to those with wealth and influence. Perhaps they will lis ten when the teacher’s union supports CUPE in the near future?

The working people, those who build and transform our society each day, are under attack from all sides, by political inaction and corporate greed. Grocers will claim they only make a 3-5% profit on their products. They claim undue cost increases caused by transportation and the supply train. Don’t believe them. Who do you think has their own: transportation network, their own trucks, and partial or whole ownership of many of the suppliers they claim are esca lating their costs.

Look into it, folks. Scam City in On tario, Canada and beyond.

The Women’s College Hospital is devoted to closing health gaps faced by African-Caribbean women

to raise awareness of the inequities faced by Black women and to discuss the vital impor tance of having programs and research to address the unique needs of Black women and their health.

Two days before the summit, Dr. Aisha Lofters, Chair in Implementation Sci ence, shared what had inspired her to take part in this initiative and what needs to be done in addressing these inequities.

when it comes to every aspect of health.

Holding government officials ac countable is also something that needs to be done. Dr. Lofters expresses the impor tance of voting and letting officials know as a community the needs of Black women need to be addressed.

Although Breast Cancer Awareness Month has ended, healthcare inequities faced by Black women are still an issue.

The history of anti-Black racism in Canada is rooted in Africa being colonized by the Europeans and the aftermath of the transatlantic slave trade. Although it has been almost two centuries since the end of slavery in Canada, Black Canadians continue to face health and social inequities in the country.

A snapshot organized and pub lished by the Public Health Agency of Can ada shows that while 64% of Black women between 12 and 17 were reported to be in good, or excellent condition with their men tal health, the number is 13.2% lower than young White women who reported their mental health to be in good or excellent shape between 2010 and 2013.

During that same period, 15% of Black women reported their health to ei ther be in fair or poor condition compared to 14.2% of Black youth and 11.3% of White Canadians.

The Women’s College Hospital has been devoted to closing these health gaps and advocating health equity because ev eryone deserves to have access to highquality care promptly no matter their race.

The hospital held a Black Women’s Healthcare Summit on October 25th, 2022,

Dr.Lofters, who said this was a per sonal topic for her as a Black woman, grew up in a household with parents who spoke very openly and passionately on social jus tice and on basic human rights that every one deserves. She used this as an opportu nity to ensure that everyone has access to the best quality of healthcare.

“I think we’re just getting started right now,” said Dr. Lofters when stating there is still a long way to go in reducing the healthcare inequities that exist in the sys tem.

A big change Dr. Lofters saw in Canada was people being open to having conversations on: racial disparities within the healthcare system, collecting racebased data, and creating initiatives that take a look at the impact these inequities have not just only on Black people, but on Indig enous people as well.

Dr. Lofters noted that it was diffi cult to address these issues in the past as Ca nadians viewed racial disparities as an issue that only existed in the United States. “A big part of what we as individuals can do when it comes to our own health is to be aware,” said Dr. Lofters.

As a team member for Every Breast Counts, a breast cancer hub created by the Women’s College Hospital for Black women on breast cancer treatment and prevention, Dr. Lofter talks about how the general public can use this hub to feel empowered through education and knowledge and to be aware

What Dr. Lofter is hoping that at tendees from the summit can take away from them is learning more concrete infor mation on cancer and chronic diseases.

“We hope that they’ll go away feel ing empowered and we hope they’ll go away knowing how to better advocate for themselves and the healthcare system, and hope they’ll go away energized and push others around them to make changes as well,” said Dr. Lofters.

“As a Black woman, I have experi enced the healthcare system both from the perspective of a physician, as well as an edu cator and a leader, as well as being a patient,” said Dr. Cynthia Maxwell, the Vice-President Medical Affairs and System Transformation and Lead Medical Executive at Women’s Col lege Hospital.

Two days after the summit, Dr. Maxwell noted there are challenges women of colour face when navigating the health system, particularly around pregnancy and reproductive health.

Dr. Maxwell stated health care providers have been made aware of how the systems in place have held back the ad vancement in healthcare for Black women since colonization and the impact of sys temic racism in the healthcare system.

“There’s a lot more education now around to provide safer care,” said Dr. Max well who noticed educational institutions are beginning to have a greater focus on the needs of Black women and their health.

Dr. Maxwell also shared how advo cacy through healthcare organizations and community health centres has helped in

addressing these needs and the support of having more Black doctors join the health care field. There is also a lot of focus on mak ing sure Black women know how to advo cate for themselves and also how to have support when accessing the healthcare system. Although Dr. Maxwell says there has been progress made in raising awareness of the health inequities faced by Black women, she also states that more progress needs to be made.

She said healthcare providers should be willing to listen to Black women and support them through: sensitive cares, avoid minimizing symptoms, and try to overcome systemic racism.

She also touched again on actively supporting, educating, and training aspiring Black doctors who are working towards get ting into the field and even taking on leader ship roles in the healthcare system.

When discussing the October 25th summit, Dr. Maxwell said the summit was a vibrant expression of the hope that ex ists for a better future for Black women and their health. She hopes attendees will have a better understanding of the prevention of chronic disease, and cancer, and supporting wellness, well-being, and resilience in the healthcare system.

Dr. Maxwell said it gave her hope to see peo ple of all colours at the event gathered to speak on this issue and to hear people share their personal stories. “It’s making it real, it’s putting the words into practice and actually trying to improve the health outcomes of Black women,” said Dr. Maxwell.

She said events like the summit help do a great job in achieving the goal of helping Black women gain access to better health care.

Church corruption, or just very unfortunate circumstances? The Trinity Ravine Towers debacle

MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Information has reached Toronto Caribbean Newspaper that a huge number of seniors 279 and counting, who thought that they were investing in a condominium project have found out that there is no condo and no down payment refund. Sadly after a long time these seniors are still waiting.

Here is what TCN has learned so far. According to a senior who is currently await ing her refund (who we choose to call Dee) the people behind the so-called condo proj ect are not forthcoming about handing over the refunds as promised to the aging wouldbe homeowners.

Documents received by TCN re vealed that Global Kingdom Ministries who sponsored this venture in combination with Trinity Ravine Community Inc. (changed from Trinity Ravine Towers) are both named in this complaint.

This condominium and building complex has attracted many seniors be cause they also GUARANTEED that if the condominiums were not built, then all de posits would be returned since the church had an asset base of 30 million dollars.

The offer, sponsorship, and guar antee were so compelling that all units were sold out even though they were not built as yet, and still have not been built at present.

According to documents received, the reason for the stalling in terms of con structing the condos was because Trinity Ra vine Towers could not get approval from the City of Toronto for various reasons.

Condo purchasers were told that the project may have to be restructured and they could call the office and apply for refunds, the purchasers are still waiting for their refunds, and Trinity Ravine Community Inc has filed for bankruptcy. This hearing will take place in early November 2022.

As we speak now 279 seniors are on the verge of losing their deposits totalling over 17 million dollars.

It was again brought to TCN’s atten tion that these are seniors, many of whom are: handicapped, suffering from anxiety, stress, and unable to sleep, new immigrants not able to communicate effectively in Eng lish, and who have no knowledge of how the

legal system works.

Seniors thought that they could buy into a condominium that offered: sup port services, amenities and programs, service packages, and health and wellness. They thought that by having these services available they would be able to live inde pendently and not have to rely on, or com pete for long-term care spaces provided by the government.

Dee said, it is all so confusing, “My understanding is Global Kingdom Ministries launched this real estate project called Trin ity Ravine Towers initially, but along the way it changed, there was a name change, it be came Trinity Ravine Community.”

“This was a separate entity, not just a name-change and we were not aware of this, so as stakeholders we were not ad vised that all this was happening behind the scenes which ultimately resulted in the situ ation we are in now.

This separate entity is going bank rupt, and the church is no longer involved, or so it claims. They are claiming to be vic tims. Global Kingdom Ministries went from running the show to all of a sudden becom ing a separate entity.”

I reached out to one of the pastors of Global Kingdom Ministries, Pastor Kern Kalideen. He was listed in the document

as the pastor, so in all fairness, I wanted his side of the story, and this is what Kalideen revealed via email.

“I am not employed by Global King dom Ministries. I will have someone send you a statement.”

That statement came from another Pastor, Bob Johnson, who sent an email that read like this.

“The project you are referencing was under the purview of the Trinity Ravine Community Inc. The following statement is attributable to Global Kingdom Ministries: We were deeply disappointed that Trin ity Ravine Community Inc entered into the CCAA process. When this project was first imagined years ago, we were hopeful that it would be beneficial to our community.

Many in our church community in vested in this project including: parishioners, pastors, and directors within the church. The unfortunate outcome has resulted in many people suffering personal and financial loss. The church is among those that have incurred significant financial losses as well. The church will be conducting an internal re view of the decisions leading up to the CCAA process.”

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper will be following this outcome closely to keep the community informed.

W. GIFFORDJONES MD

DIANA GIFFORD-JONES

TC HEALTH REPORTER

Beware the “silent thief of sight”. Glaucoma sneaks up on people causing irreparable vi sion loss before diagnosis. Over three million North Americans have glaucoma – about half don’t know it. For society, the economic and social consequences of stolen sight are large. For sufferers, when glaucoma pro

controversial embryonic stem cells, are the focus. There are two types of adult stem cells. One type comes from tissues such as the: brain, skin, or bone marrow. This type only makes more of the same. A stem cell from the liver only makes more liver cells.

Another type is called “induced pluripotent stem cells”, which are program mable. Dr. Shinya Yamanaka discovered them in 2006. He collected a Nobel Prize in 2012, having been the first to achieve suc cess in showing that these stem cells can self-renew indefinitely and change into oth er cell types.

Less than a decade after discovery, the first surgical implant of these cells oc curred in the eye of a Japanese patient using her own reprogrammed skin cells, grown in a lab into a sheet of retina cells to fight, in this case, macular degeneration.

Dr. Yvonne Ou is a Harvard Medical School trained ophthalmologist and glau coma specialist at the University of Califor nia, San Francisco Medical Center. She notes that the use of stem cells in the treatment of

glaucoma includes a variety of approaches.

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of this disease, where eye pressure builds gradually causing vision is sues over time, not suddenly as in the other form of glaucoma that causes an urgent medical emergency.

“In primary open-angle glaucoma,” Dr. Ou explains, “The drainage system does not properly drain the fluid inside the eye, and eye pressure can increase. One idea is to take pluripotent stem cells and use them to make the cells that drain fluid out of the eye in an effort to restore the eye’s drainage sys tem.”

Currently, eye drops and laser treat ments help glaucoma patient’s lower eye pressure, but there is no potential for resto ration of damage, as promised by stem cells.

Stem cells may also offer hope in repairing the cells in the eyes that transmit information. These neurons create the path way between the retina and the brain, and when they die, vision is lost. Scientists are studying the potential for adult stem cells

to be transformed into these neurons, trans planted in the eye, and then encouraged to reach out and connect with the retina and the brain.

Accomplishing this goal would cer tainly be worthy of another Nobel Prize. The race is on, and not just in glaucoma research. Other diseases like Parkinson’s are the sub jects of similar studies.

Until there is a breakthrough though, prevention is still the best strategy. Here is the alarming truth and the reason glaucoma is still the silent thief. One survey by Prevent Blindness America found that 30% of those surveyed had never heard of glaucoma.

Vision loss from glaucoma is a trag edy, as a series of simple eye exams can de tect disease early and existing treatments are effective in reducing further damage.

From early in life, and all through it, a healthy diet rich in green leafy vegetables is an excellent antidote to glaucoma too.

Profiteering is central to the plastic sector’s existence

STEVEN KASZAB

you, but when my family recycles its waste, it brings about a good feeling, like we are do ing our part in the grand scheme of things, but does it really help save the environment?

Since China (2018) refused to accept any further plastic waste, the sector has sus tained a downward trend, with the various municipalities and local governments pick ing up plastic waste, recycling little of it, and then shipping it to landfills across our coun try. The promise made by the plastic sector and our local governments has not come about. While plastic prices continue to drop, due to the increased production of plastics, the promise of clean plastics remains a dream unfulfilled.

Only two types of plastic are accept ed at most of America’s 375 material recovery centres: polyethylene (PET) commonly used in making water and soda bottles, and the second is high density polyethylene (HOPE) used for shampoo bottles and household products. There are seven different types of

plastics used, and these two seem to be the only two that can be recycled properly.

Furthermore only 21% of the abovementioned items are fully recycled, with the rest going to the landfill. Plastics such as: chil dren’s toys, plastic bags, yogurt containers were repackaged at a rate of 6%. The Federal Trade Commission has challenged the plastic sector’s desire and capability to recycle prop erly.

According to GreenPeace’s report, encompassing Canada with America, the practice of recycling plastics does not work for five reasons:

• Amount of plastic needed to be recycled is far too difficult to collect

• All this plastic waste cannot be recycled together, requiring costly sorting

• Plastic recycling processes are in them selves a danger to the environment, ex posing workers to toxic chemicals and generating microplastics

• Plastic often contained food debris and other toxins making the recycling pro cess undoable

• Recycling plastics is very costly, putting new plastics directly in competition with the system

Simply put, it is cheaper to make new plastics than to recycle. The cost of recycling allows for the constant proliferation of environmen tal crises on land and in the planet’s water ways and oceans.

There are solutions to this issue, however the plastic industry refuses to de velop processes that simplify recycling. Nonemitting (100%) burn units (incinerators), the possible halt of plastic production with regards to plastic bags, and other items that have recyclable alternatives come to mind.

Profiteering is central to the plastic sector’s existence. It is the scientific com munity and governments that must pull the costly nature of this situation on their own.

When Glaucoma progresses to blindness, it is life changing, but is a cure in sight?

needs to be recognized and stopped.

It is believed that the most com mon form of incest happens between older male relatives and younger children. I was molested when I visited my extended family in Hungary (aged 8 yrs. old). Assault ed twice by an uncle, I told adults of this occurrence only to be ignored and even punished for impugning the character of said relative.

PTSD is often a result of incest, along with other coping mechanisms, in cluding self-injury. While the first thing someone can do for a victim of incest is to

believe them, most often a person will not challenge the aggressor, but rather the vic tim.

Incest as a form of abuse can be challenging, as it differs from culture to culture. Perceptions of incest vary across societies, and actions to stop it depends what location the victim is in. In western society the incest taboo is and has been the most common of all cultural taboos. Incest can be sexual abuse such as inter course, sexually inappropriate acts, or the abuse of power based on sexual activities. This form of abuse is very damaging to a child’s psyche and will result in prolonged post-traumatic stress disorder.

Results of this form of abuse can be self-injury, substance abuse, eating disorders, and issues with disassociation or perhaps promiscuity. U.K. Studies have shown that the ultimate sacrifice, suicide can and has resulted from this form of abuse. The child may grow to adulthood but find their place within the family and society challenged, or they may feel: dirty, unworthy of assistance, perhaps protect ing their family member from legal reper cussions.

The victim is mentally unable to find an avenue for their: grief, fear, dis gust towards themselves or the aggressor. When a family member assaults a child in this fashion, they have a hold upon the victim, a secret that is presented to the vic tim as self-destructive in nature. “You tell someone, I will deny it, say you’re lying,” and “Who will they believe, me or you?”

A child abused like this, will often grow to adulthood and the abuse may very well continue unstopped by the victimizer.

Victims experience fear (they did something wrong), self-shame, and un due responsibility of perhaps disrupting the family should they announce this hap pening. Other family members can and do blame the victim as though the victim may have asked for it, similar to the trauma a rape victim experiences. Child sexual abuse impacts children more than: AIDS, gun violence, LGBTQ inequality combined, yet it is often publicly hidden, mentioned only when the abortion issue is brought up as a reason for legalized abortions. Inten tionally or not, children continue to pro tect adults who have claimed the child’s innocence, and probably changed their lives forever.

Incest makes people recoil, mak ing them squirm uncomfortably. We are told by our public officials, church lead ers and moralists amongst us that incest is wrong, brutal, and manipulative and should be stamped out. Then nothing is done.

The religious and public authori ties do not want to, or cannot enter: our homes, our bedrooms, and our castles. They can only pontificate and teach the immorality of incest. Few are arrested and imprisoned for this crime. The issues of in tentional manipulation, abuse and sexual use of minors are often viewed as mental health issues, with the attempt of public authorities to stay away from the uncom fortable legal avenues they have.

While society is shocked by the clergy abuse within organized religious organizations and what has happened to untold Aboriginal children, the shock ex perienced does not follow to the issues of

incest. Why? It is easier to blame an organi zation that was once a bedrock of society like the Catholic Church, but entirely more difficult to accuse and bring to justice a family member.

Whether unintentionally, uncon sciously, collectively or individually many of us are unwilling to accept and deal con cretely with the depth and scope of incest within our society, community or our very homes.

Incest is human evil, the manipu lation and sexual use of an innocent, a child. It is a mental health issue, but it is much more than that. Incest is much like the murder of a child’s innocence, the child’s future potential.

If I were to meet my uncle today, the man who sexually assaulted me, I fear bad things would happen. As a result of the two assaults, I became in time a man filled with rage, often not recognizing why. I believed the event had been hidden away in my memory. Like a cancer it leached into my subconscious only to result in violence perpetrated by me. The people who inflict their selfish wants and desires upon the in nocence of this world must be punished, for desire is not a mental illness is it? Sexual desire unbridled by social conscience and morality is a serious crime.

What will you do about this issue? Allow it to hide within the shadows or fight the good fight? Should you witness such an event, or fear someone is being victim ized, contact someone with authority or call the Police, or Child Protective Services.

It is your duty to do so.

The Black Class Action Secretariat launches their first Canadian Chapter in Quebec

employers have made progress on follow ing through on their promises to be more equitable and inclusive for Black employ ees, and their managers and senior leaders have a better understanding of the system ic barriers Black Canadians face.

Thompson about their submission to the UN Commission for Human Rights Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of rac ism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

On October 24th, 2022, the Black Class Ac tion Secretariat launched their first Cana dian chapter in Quebec to support Black Francophone Canadians represented in the class action. Representatives from Am nistie Internationale, an organization that began by calling for the release of politi cal prisoners, and now has extended their action to the defence of all human rights, stood with BCAS for the launch. Together, they are working to protect and empower BIack and Indigenous workers across Can ada.

In February 2022 research by KPMG in Canada found that nearly seven out of 10 (68%) Black Canadians say their

It was also reported that barely half have seen these efforts translate into better job opportunities. Roughly onethird (35%) believe their prospects for ad vancement have improved with a breaking down of systemic barriers, and 19% feel they were offered a job they wouldn’t have a year and a half ago. However, nearly four in 10 say nothing much has changed, and systemic barriers continue to hold back progress. Nearly one in 10 say things have become worse.

Mr Nicholas Marcus Thompson (Executive Director of BCAS) has been in strumental in organizing all aspects of the Black Class Action lawsuit, including lead ing campaigns for mental health support and amendments to the Employment Eq uity Act.

Over the past two years, they have been working diligently to bring attention and action to the issue of anti-Black rac ism in Canada’s federal public service. Last month I spoke with Mr Nicholas Marcus

On September 28th, 2022, repre sentatives of the BCAS, together with part ner Amnesty International Canada (Am nesty), joined forces to shed light on the historic and on-going human rights viola tions faced by Black employees in Canada’s federal public service. In our discussion, Nicholas shared story after story of workers who have endured anti-Black hate and an ti-Black racism, both covertly and overtly, over the course of decades in the service of their country.

In a recent press release, Nicholas shared his thoughts on the appointment of Alain Babineau, “We are pleased to announce that Alain Babineau has been appointed as the Director of Quebec Operations. Mr. Babineau served in law enforcement for 30 years with: the Ontario Provincial Po lice, the Military Police of Canada, and the RCMP.

Mr. Babineau is a jurist and a trained mediator, and over the last few years, he has worked as an expert in racial

and social profiling for the Office of the Commissioner for the Fight against Rac ism and Systemic Discrimination in the City of Montreal, and as an advisor to the Cen ter de Research Action on Race Relations (CRARR).

In his new role, Mr. Babineau will run the Quebec chapter, act as the official spokesperson for the BCAS, and will work with Francophone members to ensure that their voices are heard.”

Working with little resources, they have done the best they can to share the stories of unheard, and unappreciated workers across the nation. When examin ing ways to amplify workers’ voices, they recognized that Francophone voices were missing.

The BCAS is building support with workers and organizations across the country. They have enlisted the support of the: New Brunswick African Association, Red Coalition, The 613-819 Black Hub, the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition, the African Jus tice Institute, and Solidarity Uganda (East Africa Social Justice Movement).

There are people who are trying to change the law, making incest not a crime, but allowed within our society

JONATHAN ESCOFFERY

“Kaleidoscopic, urgent, hilarious, re velatory and like nothing you’ve read before.”

MARLON JAMES, author of Moon Witch, Spider King

“If I Survive You is a collection of connected short stories that reads like a novel, that reads like real life, that reads like fiction written at the highest level. This is a compelling hur ricane of a book that sweeps the past, present and future together into one inextricable knot. This is where Jona than Escoffrey’s career begins. There are no limits to where he will go.”

ANN PATCHETT, author of The Dutch House and Commonwealth

Being an author is not just about sitting in front of a computer, or typewriter, and putting words on paper; in a lot of ways, it is similar to operating a business. Just like any other business, receiving a review helps to build integrity and credibil ity with soon to be readers. It also attracts new readers, and positive reviews encourage them to buy your book. The reviews above are only a couple received by our Classic Man, and they have played a vital role in engaging his readers, connecting and promoting his talents.

For JONATHAN ESCOFFERY, writing isn’t just about making mon ey, or getting famous (all would be nice though, being honest), it is about enriching the lives of those who read his work. As an adept, and accom plished author, Jonathan has utilized words to captivate his audience and draw them into a world inconceiv able to those who haven’t lived it. His work is formidable and compelling, work that has become his emotional fingerprint.

Jonathan is Jamaican-Amer ican and is the recent recipient of: the 2020 Plimpton Prize for Fiction, the 2020 National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship, and the 2020 ASME Award for Fiction. His fiction has appeared in: The Paris Review, American Short Fiction, Prai rie Schooner, AGNI, Passages North, Zyzzyva, and Electric Literature, and has been anthologized in The Best American Magazine Writing. He: re ceived his MFA from the University of Minnesota, is a PhD fellow in the Uni versity of Southern California’s PhD in Creative Writing and Literature Program, and in 2021 was awarded a Wallace Stegner Fellowship in the Creative Writing Program at Stanford University.

The book that brought him his notoriety; “If I Survive You,” which follows a Jamaican family striving for more in Miami. In the 1970s, Top per and Sanya flee to Miami as po litical violence consumes their native Kingston, but in America the couple and their two children learn that it is not the Promised Land. Excluded from society as Black immigrants, the family pushes on first through Hurricane Andrew and later the 2008 recession, living in a house so cursed that the pet fish launches itself out of its own tank rather than stay. Even as

things fall apart, the family remains motivated by what their younger son, Trelawny, calls “The exquisite, racking compulsion to survive.”

The story is pulsing with: vi brant lyricism and inimitable style, sly commentary and contagious laughter. “If I Survive You,” unrav els what it means to be in between homes and cultures, as well as being at the mercy of capitalism and white supremacy. I was blessed with the opportunity to chat with Jonathan, and when I heard his story, I was curious; was this novel actually an autobiography?

“My parents emigrated to the U.S. in 1979. I was born in Houston, Texas. I was three years old when my family moved to Miami, Florida,” Jon athan shares with me. “As a kid, I was pretty creative. I was always trying to tell stories, and as I got older, I was always writing little stories, drawing, and creating comic books.

My mom bought me books and took me to art classes to encour age my creativity. I realized at seven years old, I was not a natural painter, but more of a storyteller,” Jonathan tells me laughing. “As a child I just knew that writing was my thing. I was into science fiction, always dreaming of far off worlds.

My relationship with writing was pretty consistent throughout my elementary school years, and thank fully for me, my teachers enjoyed be ing teachers. I remember being treat ed with a lot of respect.

In 1992, my parents went through Hurricane Andrew, and our house was destroyed. This of course uprooted my entire life, and we had to start over as a family. I was ap proaching middle school, and the educational plain shifted. It became very hostile for me, and I didn’t have a great experience. We moved around a lot trying to find a place to settle, so it was challenging.

In my late teens and twenties, I worked at UPS, and FedEx; a lot of back breaking work, and somewhere deep down inside, I knew that there was more out there for me.”

This turbulent lifestyle didn’t change for Jonathan until he went to university.

“I kept switching my ma jor around a lot, and I decided that school was not for me at that time. I eventually went back, because I knew I was worth more.

When I first returned to uni versity, I was a little embarrassed, but I looked a lot younger than a lot of the students. I remember getting an honourable mention at the Poetry Awards that were held. It was such a wonderful reception. It was the first time that I was surrounded by people who appreciated literature. Around that time, I learned about grad school. I found out that if you picked the right program that they would fund you.”

He wound up applying for a Fiction Program at the University of

Minnesota, and got in.

“It was a wonderful experi ence and a culture shock all at the same time. I was used to being sur rounded by Caribbean people, and people of colour. It was strange be cause I was the only Black student for three years. Minneapolis is in teresting because it has the biggest Somali, and Asian populations, and they have historically Black American communities. The White culture was oppressive. It was a head spinning experience. By year three, I was ready to get the heck out there.

I ended up in Boston, and I had my eye on GrubStreet (a creative writing association) that I wanted to be a part of. I became their program coordinator, and it seemed like a great place to land after my Master’s program, but I also thought, where else was I going to land as a writer. I wanted to ensure that I surrounded myself with people who appreciated writing. I became the main point of contact for anyone who wanted to network with the organization.”

It was not too long after that he met his agent, and she was some one who was not trying to change his book into a novel. She was re ally great at providing feedback, and this helped him realize that the book needed more work.

Although the book was pub lished on September 6th, 2022, Jona than admits that he is still processing it all.

“It was very stressful work ing up to it. I have a two-year Fellow ship at Stanford University. I finished year one in June, and I thought that I would have time to market the book, but then I had to go back to Miami be cause my father’s cancer progressed.

It was the summer from hell for me, while my dad was dying. I was trying my best; it was such a long journey to get this book out. I would be going out to parking lots to take interviews or going over to my mom’s to do Zoom interviews, and then head back to the hospital. There was a lot of grief present during this time.”

During this time, he was get ting such wonderful reviews.

“I got five-star reviews, which rarely happens with a new author, and I got a New York Times profile, and then a New Yorker review, which came out right before the book came out.

There have been so many amazing moments during this pro cess that I have learned to just live in my moment.”

Photo Credit: Jeff Lockhart

Photo Credit: Sanj P Photography

Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News

Utilizing words to captivate his audience and draw them into his world

SIPS & TIPS

Power couple curates the ultimate lounge experience

and new on the market and putting serious effort into making sure that they have the merchandise that their customers need. Customers know that when they visit Quay Necessities, they are going to find exactly what they need, and not have to go to mul tiple stores to do so.

Quay Spirits Wine and Tobacco

is, what Sips & Tips has done is attract peo ple who want to learn more about wine.”

“Not a lot of people have wine tasting,” Faith tells me, “The customers ap preciate that they can come in and appreci ate wine tasting. Suppliers love to work for us. The more I buy from them, the better it is for them, so when customers get to try the wine, and enjoy it, sales increase.”

Sophisticated! Casual! Convivial!

I have started to identify myself as a work ing nomad and claiming this title has opened me up to the world of travel. On my latest trip to Antigua & Barbuda, I was invited to visit an upscale cigar lounge, and the experience left me wanting more. Any cigar enthusiast has their favourite cigar lounge, whether it’s a luxury bar in a for eign city you’ve visited or the club down the street where you meet friends.

The owners of Sips & Tips have de signed a wine and cigar lounge that offers nomads like me a space they want to work in. Whether it is a presentation, catching up with clients, or just relaxing and enjoying a drink, Faith and Girvan Pigott have curated the ultimate lounge experience. It offers the intimate and homey atmosphere that guests have grown to love, and it is why Sips & Tips has become the newest hot spot in Antigua.

What I found most incredible about Faith and Girvan is that they embody everything that defines a “Power Couple.” In my short time with them, I saw how they support and rally around each other’s pursuits and endeavours. Most couples do support each other, but not every couple rallies and helps to empower their partner to find their individual success. They have worked together to truly understand how their customers will react to distinctive product characteristics, costs and promo tions, which is what has given them an ex traordinary advantage over their rivals.

This dynamic duo are the owners of two other businesses outside Sips & Tips, which I will get back to in a moment:

Quay Necessities

Also located in Antigua, Quay Necessities rivals larger, corporate stores, even those that deal exclusively online. They have mastered the art of anticipating their cus tomers and have designed their store to be organized and have a welcoming vibe. This means staying up to date with what is fresh

In order to grab the attention of the cus tomers and to contrast the typical environ ment of airport duty free stores, Faith and Girvan thrill their customers using visual merchandising and positioning the prod ucts as a method of storytelling. They carry premium spirits and tobacco, and this busi ness spawned Sips & Tips.

Last week, Faith and Girvan took time out of their busy schedule to speak with me about their exciting venture.

“It was quite simple,” Girvan be gan. “We saw this complex being construct ed, and we have two other businesses that are doing well, so we thought we could duplicate it. Joy (Faith’s pet name) is very ambitious. She saw the place and wanted to pursue the business.”

The partners knew that they need ed to restructure their marketing strategies to develop a specific segment of custom ers.

“Once we started off,” Faith shared with me. “We took a look at the place and thought, a bar and lounge space would look great in there. We wanted to make it a place that people wanted to come to on a regular basis. We wanted to capture busi ness minds, up and comers, and entrepre neurs. I am excited to say that everything we have planned has come to pass.”

I was curious about the reaction from their patrons.

“We haven’t had any negative comments, only constructive criticism,” Gir van tells me. “We appreciate the thoughts and ideas that they bring to us. It has only been seven weeks, so we are still in a space of learning and figuring things out.

We have a duty-free store in town. Spirits are very expensive and with taxes it is more. Wines are a little bit more reason able. You won’t find people selling a variety of wines, so we decided to keep it high end, and unique; only featuring the more popu lar brands at Sips & Tips.

Wine is very diverse. The wine in dustry is evolving so fast around the world, and in Antigua. The demographics tastes are evolving. You find that people in the region are becoming more interested in it. The area that we are in (North), they have a keener taste for wine. The interesting thing

“We wanted to bring Sips and Tips in line with Quay Spirits,” Garvin chimed in, “We have various suppliers that we do business with, and there are up and com ing cigar connoisseurs. What we have done is provide a space for them to come and in dulge.

Any business owner will tell you that the hardest thing about running a business is finding great help. Employees working in a store are the face of the busi ness. If they look bored, or haven’t mas tered their p’s and q’s, a business owner will lose customers. The satisfaction level of customers plays an important role, and no strategy can succeed if customer satis faction is not the main aim of the organiza tion.

“Help is always hard to find.” Faith tells me. “Customer service is so important. Sometimes people don’t see your vision, and don’t understand why things are being done. It is important that our employees learn the product. Customers want to know that who is serving them has experience. There are long hours put into training, and we miss out on family time. We have two daughters, and this can be challenging.”

Girvan agreed wholeheartedly with his wife “We want to leave our cus tomers with a great experience. We want our customers to feel welcome, so we want people who know how to be professional. At the end of the day, it is about teamwork. It is a partnership. Having more than one business can be a challenge, and we are not in the business for failure.

We would like to get more cus tomers visiting throughout the day, and we want our standard customer base main tained. They are comfortable coming back over and over again, and also referring our business to other people.”

It was inspiring speaking with Faith and Girvan. They spoke about each other’s accomplishments and goals with joy and pride that signalled to me a strong powerful union. They show why it is im portant for couples to be open about their goals, dreams, and aspirations in life and career, so they can work together towards their common goals.

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

After ten years of sold out shows, The Jay Martin Comedy series returns this November to LBP Brampton starring headliner Drew Thomas! Jay Martin’s shows have featured some of the hottest urban comedians in North America including Aries Spears, Tommy Davidson and Eddie Griffin. Hosted by The Renaissance Man himself, you never know who’s going to be the next surprise hilarious guest!

heart disease

W. GIFFORDJONES MD

DIANA GIFFORD-JONES

SENSE HEALTH

How many readers still neglect to reduce their risk of heart attack? Can’t cut the sug ar and salt? Still addicted to tobacco? Must have those harmful fatty foods, and moder ate exercise is just too tough?

This column has been like a bro ken record repeating the same song for years. “If you keep going to hell, you will eventually get there.”

Despite clear evidence that fish oil significantly lowers risk of coronary heart disease, why is this still a niche market, as compared to, say, ubiquitous potato chips? Some readers, though, are listening.

In a previous column, we reported

on the benefits of MaxSimil, a high-absorp tion form of omega-3 containing the two main nutrients in fish oil, eicosapentae noic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Our bodies can’t make these nutri ents so we must get them from our diet, but you must eat enough and have the oil absorbed to get the benefit. How often do you have mackerel, salmon, herring, or oys ters for dinner? How do you know if your gut is absorbing the oil?

We thought we were eating enough and getting the benefits. To be sure, we measured the amount of EPA and DHA in our blood using an OmegaQuant test kit. We were shocked that the results were not good.

On the Omega-3 Index, measur ing the relative percentage of omega-3 nutrients in our blood, we were both in a high-risk position, testing below the rec ommended 8% level. Despite a healthy diet with plenty of fish, we were completely un aware that our risk profile for heart disease was elevated.

We started a routine of supple menting with Omega3X fish oil gel caps

containing MaxSimil, and after less than 12 weeks, a second blood test indicated we had significantly reduced our risk, exceed ing the 8% level.

Now several readers have report ed their own results.

Tanya B. from Port Colborne, On tario tested her levels on the Omega-3 Index as she has a history of cardiovas cular health issues in her family. She was scared when she saw her results bordering on high risk. After two months of supple menting with Omega3X, she retested and achieved a low-risk score.

Tyler P. from Red Deer, Alberta re ported daily use of a fish oil supplement. His score on the Omega-3 Index was above average, but not enough to be in the lowrisk category. He elevated his score to target levels after two months by getting the pre-digested MaxSimil form of fish oil found in Omega3X.

Jessy D. from London, Ontario is a competitive athlete who takes this supple ment regularly. She tested with exception al results. High-performance athletes tend to have low scores on the Omega-3 Index,

so this was evidence her routine is working.

Stephen B. from Oakville, Ontario was the only reader who, despite making a significant improvement, did not achieve 8% after using Omega3X for two months. But he admitted inconsistent use. After more diligent effort and another test, he too scored in the low-risk range.

The message is this; people are to tally unaware they can change their risk for heart disease by making small investments in good nutrition, especially omega-3 nu trients contained in fish oil. Eating more fish is what most dieticians say, but our oceans are not as bountiful as they once were. The price of eating fish several times a week is not cheap. A safe and effective alternative is available on the shelves of natural health food stores.

Meanwhile, doctors are too fre quently advising patients to take danger ous cholesterol-lowering drugs.

As Shakespeare wrote in Julius Caesar, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.”

Doctors are too frequently advising patients to take dangerous cholesterol-lowering drugs; the right Omega-3 reduces risk of

COMMON

Peel Regional Police News

Can alcohol affect your journey to weight loss?

RACHEL MARY RILEY

Do you know that drinking alcohol daily can affect you? I am not saying you shouldn’t drink alcohol or wine. A little wine is good for the belly sometimes. However, doing it emotionally, or for the sake of a good time daily can even affect your lungs and cause weight gain. Just like junk food, alcohol can affect you. Some of us wonder why we gain weight in certain areas of our body and it is because we lack proper insight and bal

ance to enjoy the foods we eat with mod eration. Eating food is not about dieting. Not drinking alcohol is not about dieting. Question to ask ourselves is, can alcohol af fect us on your way to weightlessness?

Pros of alcohol while on a fitness journey

According to my understanding based on studies, alcohol doesn’t affect you unless you drink it on a daily basis. There are cer tain alcohols you can drink without having to be cautious of your weight. I discovered that the way alcohol affects your figure re ally depends on many factors (genetics, diet, gender, habits), but one of the consis tent effects of alcohol is that it adds calories to your diet. It may not contain fat, but it does contain seven calories per gram. That is more than protein and carbohydrates (Fit, 2019).

• 1 can (12 oz) Beer – 135-145 calories

• 1 glass (3.5 oz) Red or White Wine – 7075 calories

• 1 shot (1.5 oz) Gin, rum, vodka or whis key – 97 calories

Overall, alcohol affects different people dif ferently. Similar drinks may have very dif ferent amounts of alcohol. It’s important to understand how alcohol affects your body so you can find a safe, healthy balance. Rec ognizing your limits can protect you from the drawbacks of alcohol consumption and let you enjoy the benefits (Are There Health Benefits to Drinking Alcohol, n.d.).

Major cons of alcohol while on a fitness journey

Excess alcohol consumption can lead to liver disease. This condition can damage your liver, affecting the way your body

metabolizes and stores carbohydrates and fats. Changes in the way your body stores energy from food can make it very difficult to lose weight. Foods high in simple sug ars, such as those found in candy, soda, and even beer, are also high in calories. Extra calories end up stored as fat in the body. Consuming foods and drinks high in sugar can quickly lead to weight gain.

We can’t choose where all that ex tra weight ends up. But the body tends to accumulate fat in the abdominal area. Even the most die-hard diet fan will have a hard time fighting the urge to dig in when in toxicated.

Alcohol lowers inhibitions and can lead to poor decision-making in the heat of the moment — especially when it comes to food choices. (How Does Alcohol Affect Weight Loss? n.d.).

4 apps to help teens improve their mental health

Does your teen often feel stressed, experience anxiety or have trouble managing their emotions? If so, here are four applications (available on Android and iOS) that can help them.

1. Rootd

In addition to coaching your teen through panic attacks as they happen, this app provides lessons on how to manage anxiety and find long term relief.

2. Sanvello

This app allows your teen to track their mood each day and draw on a variety of resources, such as guided mediation and community support, to help them cope with anxiety, de pression and stress.

Headache vs. migraine

Do you ever feel pain or pres sure in your head? While this type of ache is often tempo rary, it can sometimes persist and interfere with your daily activities. Here’s how to tell the difference between a hea dache and a migraine.

Headache

Also known as a tension headache, this type of discomfort is typically linked with stress, fa tigue, anxiety or the use of certain medications. If you have a headache, you’ll feel pressure on both sides of your head and possibly around your temples, neck and eyes. The pain will come on gra dually and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

To ease the pain of a headache, it’s usually sufficient to get some rest and take an analgesic recommended by your phar macist.

Migraine

About a 10th of the popula tion is affected by migraines, which usually last between four hours and a few days. De pending on the person, mi graines can occur a few times a year or several times a week. They’re characterized by mo derate to severe pain, usually felt as a throbbing or poun ding sensation around the skull.

If you get a migraine, it may set in on one side before sprea

ding to your whole head. In some cases, it’ll be preceded by symptoms such as visual disturbances, a feeling of weakness and trouble spea king. Additionally, migraines can cause nausea and vomiting as well as hypersensitivity to light, sounds and smells.

Taking the appropriate medi cation at the first sign of a mi graine can greatly limit the severity of the attack.

If you have frequent and per sistent headaches or mi graines, be sure to consult your doctor.

3. Breathwrk

Your teen can use the guided brea thing exercises on this app to help them with everything from allevia ting anxiety to falling asleep to fee ling more energized.

4. HealthyMinds

Designed specifically for students, this digital tool allows your teen to bolster their mental health by trac king their mood, practising brea thing exercises and keeping a jour nal to express their emotions.

While using these apps shouldn’t replace speaking with a mental health professional, they can be an effective way for your teen to access support.

How to choose a gym

If you want to get in shape and adopt a healthier lifestyle, you might be thinking about joining a gym. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right facility.

Decide on a location

Be sure to pick a gym that’s close to your home or place of work. Otherwise, you may find it hard to remain motivated to go since you’ll need to venture out of your way just to get there.

Meet the staff

Speak with the gym’s manager or your potential trainer to deter mine whether they’re dynamic, committed to safety and have the necessary knowledge and qualifica tions. You should also visit the faci lity to ensure you like the atmos phere.

Consider your budget

Determine how much you’re wil ling to spend on a gym membership, and find out what’s included (access to equipment, group classes, one on one consultations, etc.). Don’t be afraid to compare prices from various facilities in your area to find the best deal.

Check the schedule

Make sure the gym’s hours of opera tion are convenient for you. If their opening hours don’t match your schedule, it’ll be difficult for you to achieve your fitness goals. If you want to sign up for classes, check the time slots for those as well.

Finally, find out if the gym you’re in terested in offers a free trial for newcomers. This way you can confirm that the facility meets your needs before you commit to a membership.

DANIEL COLE daniel@carib101.com PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

An organization’s success hinges on its team’s ability to work together or col laboratively for a common goal. The pool of diverse professional skills and compe tence is imperative for peak performance and often serves as a driver for corporate or individual excellence. The American author Kenneth Blanchard has rightly said, “No one is as smart as all of us.” I

Individual brilliance and skills are often a good utility but not usually enough to drive sustainable growth in an organiza tion. When we work as a team, it reduces individual bias, prejudice or sentiment that may negatively influence the out

Six reasons why teamwork Is important

people, which often makes it easier to co operate and resolve conflicts.

Here are six reasons why teamwork is important:

1. Encourages creativity: When a team has brainstorming sessions, ideas are generated that inspire other ideas and thoughts among the team members. As a team, thoughts, ideas and suggestions are well-re fined and critically examined. To a certain degree, we all have a wisdom or intellectual gap; teamwork helps to build the bridge. A team can help individuals think out of the box and come up with creative solutions to problems.

2. Builds relationships: Teamwork fosters interaction among individu als, which helps in creating bonds to build strong professional relation ships. When people can get along with one another, they can success fully work towards a common goal. By working together, individuals are able to learn more about each other and build trust.

3. Increases productivity: Teams that work well together are usually more productive than those that don’t. This is because team members are

able to support and motivate each other, and they can also hold each other accountable. Also, teamwork increases productivity by allowing workers to specialize in their areas of expertise and provide a built-in support system for tackling difficult tasks. When workers focus on their strengths, they are able to work more efficiently and produce better results. Additionally, having a team to rely on can make it easier to get through tough projects and provide moral support.

4. Teaches responsibility: When you are part of a team, you learn to take responsibility for your actions and contributions. This is an important skill to have in the workplace, and it can also help you in your personal life. Additionally, when people work together as a team, they are each responsible for a specific task that contributes to the overall goal. This teaches people to be responsible for their actions and accountable for the results.

5. Develops leadership skills: Work ing as part of a team can help you develop your leadership skills. You’ll learn how to motivate and inspire others, as well as how to delegate

tasks and manage conflict. Also, teamwork gives you the opportunity to take on responsibility, make deci sions, and solve problems. As team members work together, they can also learn to communicate more ef fectively, listen to different perspec tives, and build consensus, which is an essential leadership quality.

6. Boosts morale: Working together increases enthusiasm and confi dence and helps build trust and respect between team members. When team members are able to trust and respect each other, they are more likely to be willing to work to gether for the common good. Team work also builds morale by providing opportunities for team members to learn from each other. When team members are able to share their knowledge and experience with each other, they can learn new ways to approach problems and find new solutions.

In conclusion, it is more beneficial to work as a team than it is to work in silos. Remember the famous African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”

deed prolifically life enhancing, culinary magic and thought to have aphrodisiac properties. Many cultures incorporate peppers and chillies into their life expres sions. Caribbean, Latino, Asian and Euro pean cuisine screams for spicy inclusion.

consume at least one fresh or dried pep per each month, they reduce their chanc es of heart attack by 13%.

steven@carib101.com

If you purchase or make a pep per spray it can be used as a brandisher of migraines and the pain they inflict. Stud ies have shown that 7 out of 10 test sub jects who had cluster, tension or other headaches experienced total pain relief when pepper spray or the consumption of peppers occurred. The sharp tingle of the peppers was well worth it. Studies have also shown that should a person

We all experience a cold during the fall months, with runny noses and sneezing. Well with the whiff of some capsaicin, these symptoms’ severity may lessen. Capsaicin is an active component of chili peppers. Capsaicin also heats up your whole body, giving your blood system and heart a lift. It also activates a sensory neuron called TRPV1, which helps keep fat from building up and con trols your appetite. This heat sensation can also send messages to your brain signalling that the heat is coming, while

soothing arthritis in some patients.

Chillies and peppers also pre serve food, killing germs and other micro organisms that can spoil food. Imagine what they can do for your body systems as well. In the lab, capsaicin seems to kill cancer cells often linked to over 40 types of cancers. This spicy chemical changes how some genes linked with cancer calls act and stops them from growing.

Some of us like it hot, some of us not so much. Chili and hot peppers can benefit your health and lifestyle. Remem ber all things go well when moderation rules the day. Bon Appetit!

STEVEN KASZAB

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com HUMAN SPECIALIST

I was so nervous. Actually, terrified would be a much better word to describe how I was feeling.

I knew that eventually I was go ing to have to make an appearance, but when I saw the email, all of my bodily systems seemed to slow down. My heart thumped slowly, my inhale and exhale became strenuous…

I was looking at the email from my lawyer telling me that I would have to come to make my first appearance at the courts. They were in Buffalo, New York, and since they had ceased my passport, special arrangements would have to be made in order for me to cross the border.

Technically, this was not my first appearance. My first appearance was when I first got out of jail and saw my par ents for the first time. Let me break down the process; after you are arrested, wheth er you are in jail or out of jail, a judge will see you within a few days. If you post bail (which my parents did) you are required to physically show up for court- usually within a week or so. Your first court ap pearance is known as an arraignment or initial appearance. The presiding judge will read you your rights, as well as the maximum possible penalties for any and all criminal charges. You’ll then need to enter a guilty or not guilty plea.

This is not the time to tell the judge about your case. The judge only wants to hear a guilty or not guilty plea, to get the process started. If you plead guilty – you will be sentenced right then and there - and the case will be over. You will have the opportunity to explain your situation to the judge and have him or her take your unique circumstances into consideration.

Four things to avoid if your kids have food allergies

Living with someone who has allergies isn’t always easy. The following are four major mistakes that parents make when they find out their kids have food allergies.

1.

Eliminating all allergens

Eradicating all traces of allergens from your home might seem like a good idea, but keep in mind that your kids need to be able to recognize foods that aren’t safe for them to eat. Teach your children how to read la bels early on so they can learn to be careful even while at home.

2. Declining invitations

Never prevent your kids from going over to a friend’s house to eat just because they might encounter a food they’re allergic to. Instead, inform the parents of the allergy

situation beforehand, and always make sure that your child has their epinephrine autoinjector with them.

3.

Frightening your child

Try to avoid panic and over-dramatization when talking to your child about their food allergies. Calmly explain the dangers of their allergies, and answer any questions they might have simply and truthfully.

4.

Controlling their diet

Let your children pick out their own snacks (with your approval, of course) when they come to the grocery store with you. Teach them to read the labels carefully, show them which products contain ingredients they’re allergic to, and discuss some tasty alternatives.

What to do when grandparents spoil your children

When it comes to spoiling their grandchil dren, some grandparents take it over the top. Between the presents, the outings and all the sweets, they take great plea sure in satisfying your child’s every whim. But how can you pump the brakes on their generosity when it gets to be a little too much?

Be honest

The first thing you want to do is have an honest discussion with the grandparents in question. Make sure they understand that everything they do — big and small — is greatly appreciated, but that it’s im portant to stay within certain boundaries. Remind your parents (or in-laws) that they play an important role in your kids’ up bringing. You need to be able to count them among your allies.

Explain why the avalanche of gifts they give to your kids on birthdays and Christmas might make you feel uncom fortable. Maybe that kind of overabun dance doesn’t match the values you’re try ing to instil in your young ones. Or maybe you don’t have room to put everything away. Or maybe you just can’t keep up with their generosity and it makes you feel bad. Whatever the case may be, be honest!

Establish limits

Finally, accept that your parents are going to spoil your children, but set your limits. If you think that a single gift is enough, say so. You can always suggest that they buy fewer toys at Christmas and instead treat your kids to a special outing, for example.

At the initial appearance, my lawyer had put in a not guilty plea for me. Pleading NOT guilty allowed me to ex plore my options and review the discov ery that had been provided by the state. I learned that pleading not guilty does not mean you are telling the court you be lieve you are innocent. It was simply part of the criminal procedure. Pleading not guilty is the only legal way that I could maintain my rights and allow the players in the criminal justice system to do their jobs and exercise my rights.

What I was actually making an appearance at was the Omnibus Hearing or “OMNI” hearing. This was a scheduling hearing where Mark and I had to be pres ent. I looked at the date in the email and I saw that it was a week away. I reluctantly went upstairs to show the email to my mom.

“Hey mom! I received an email from Mark’s office. I have to appear in court next week.”

I saw the melanin drain from my mom’s face. It was that look that I hated

to see, and I avoided it as much as pos sible. Unfortunately, this was one of the aspects of my situation that I had to share with her.

“How are you going to cross the border if they have your passport?”

“Well, I am sure that they are go ing to make all the necessary arrange ments for me to get over there mom. Don’t worry about it. I will let you know what they tell me.”

My mom did not seem con vinced. “I am going to give them a call…”

“Mom don’t worry. I will take care of it. I am just telling you to keep you up to date. I don’t want you to worry about this.”

She was reading her Bible by the glass door. She closed it for a mo ment and began to stare outside. I knew that she was in her thoughts, so I left the kitchen and went back downstairs.

It was time to get myself men tally prepared for this trip.

It was time to make my second appearance in court; let the mental preparation begin…

The Heightened Chef Awards recognize cannabis excellence Pt. II

SEAN SEURATTAN sean@carib101.com

THE HEIGHTENED CHEF

stow our highest honour to other leaders within the cannabis community that inspire us all to be greater. Ken Hughes of the Medi cine Wheel organization is a shining example of this. Leading the charge in reclaiming in digenous sovereignty through cannabis, he is actively changing structures of power within the industry, government and Cana dian society itself. His bold ambition paired with his humble demeanour has tempered a solid vision that will restore Indigenous cul ture to a rightful spot of reverence in this country while benefiting the entire cannabis market with equity and accessibility.

Creative Visionary: Recognition for a person/entity who’s creative expression uniquely affects others in impacting ways al lowing new perspectives.

Kirk St.Cyr aka 4KORNERS performs regularly at nightclubs, concerts, festivals, major corporate events and charity functions in: his hometown of Toronto, across Canada and around the world. This includes his post as Official DJ of the Toronto Raptors basket ball team, playing to 20,000 fans at every home game for the past 17 seasons.

prominent DJ, he adds to the landscape with his debut album; 4KORNERS of the World, re leased on October 21st, 2022. We are proud to know, support and recognize his decades of creative brilliance.

Trailblazing Innovator: Innovators changing paradigms in the cannabis indus try

While innovation is often closely connected to technology, it is not restricted to this. Sometimes all it takes is figuring out a new way to do something. This year Trailblaz ing Innovators is Bebida Verde.

Their infused beverages are at the cutting edge of where cannabis consump tion needs to go. The brilliant choice of mak ing every drink have healthy benefits goes hand in hand with the amazing plant it’s in fused with.

and beyond support to our guests.

The platform The Heightened Chef has created rests heavily on the shoulders of our herculean small business vendor family, hence the name of the award given to the year’s best.

Adrian Davidstein of Dope Cocktails gracefully fits the archetype required to hold the titanic mantle of olympian. The key to earning this recognition is creating an unfor gettable guest experience with both product and service. Even with his extremely busy in ternational event schedule, it’s easy to see that every interaction at every event is im portant to him. His professional bartender skills coupled with his stellar mixology all wrapped with his casual, approachable per sonality create line-ups of people waiting to taste the vibe.

lence for a person/entity who pushes canna bis culture forward, uplifts the community and protects the integration of both.

As The Heightened Chef aspires to be the pinnacle of Cannabis culture, we be

Depending on where you live, you may have no choice but to turn on your home’s heating system to stay warm in winter. But did you know there are several ways you can minimize your impact on the environ ment without limiting your comfort? Here are some things you can do.

Adjust the thermostat

For every degree you heat your home above 20 C, your energy consumption goes up by two to five per cent. Therefore, it’s

In recent years, 4KORNERS has turned his attention from playing other peo ple’s music to creating the music he uses to move crowds. Though he helps define the Canadian music scene through his work as a

Simultaneously, this creates a new space for cannabis to inhabit socially amongst varied lifestyles. Improving the quality and effectiveness of their juice through new Nano technology has elevated their products beyond even the notion of competition. Their well thought and deliber ate actions have shaped this industry for de cades to come.

The Olympian: This special recogni tion is to a member of our vendor family for providing outstanding products and above

Eco-friendly ways to keep warm in winter

best to keep the indoor temperature between 18 and 21 C. If you’re still a bit chilly, a knit sweater and woolen socks can help keep you cosy.

Reverse ceiling fans

While you should set your ceiling fans to spin counterclockwise in the summer to create a cool breeze, reversing them to a clo ckwise direction in the winter will provide an updraft that recirculates heat downward.

Stop any air leaks

To compensate for drafts, your home’s hea ting system needs to work harder and use more energy. You can locate air leaks by holding a candle near exterior doors, win dow frames and electrical outlets. If the flame wavers, apply weatherstrip or win dow film to seal the leak.

Modify your decor

Another way to improve insulation around your windows is to hang thermal or blac

7 types of kitchen waste that can be reused

In many households, the kitchen is a major source of waste. Fortunately, you can reuse plenty of items to extend their lifespan or keep them out of the garbage altogether. Here are a few suggestions.

1. Roots and stems. Green onions, bok choy and herbs, among other vege tables, can easily be replanted to grow fresh produce for future meals.

2. Vegetable scraps. Collect potato peels, celery leaves and other scraps in the freezer until you have enough to boil and strain to make broth for soups.

3. Hard bread. Turn stale bread and the end slices of a loaf into seasoned crou tons, breadcrumbs or French toast.

4. Eggshells. When crushed up and added to soil, they provide calcium for your

plants. Alternatively, place larger pieces at the bottom of a pot to improve drai nage.

5. Apple peels. These scraps can be used to make everything from oven-baked chips and infused water to homemade apple vinegar, syrup, jelly and cider.

6. Butter wrappers. Save them so you can grease pots and pans with the remaining

5 easy ways to reduce your ecological footprint

Are you looking for small steps you can take in your daily life to limit your impact on the environment?

If so, here are five simple things you can do to re duce your ecological footprint.

1. Pack an accessory kit. Keep reusable shop ping bags, water bottles, coffee mugs, utensils and straws in your car and by the front door so you always have them with you when you’re on the go.

2. Shop in bulk. From nuts and spices to dog treats and laundry detergent, there are plenty of pro ducts you can buy in large or reusable contai ners to reduce waste. Bar shampoos and soaps also have less packaging than their liquid coun terparts.

3. Avoid single-use products. Rely on beeswax wrap rather than plastic wrap to keep your food fresh. Similarly, you can replace parchment

paper and aluminum foil with washable baking mats.

4. Opt for reusable items. Facial tissues, paper towels, sanitary napkins, diapers, makeup re mover pads and cotton swabs are just some of the single-use items that are available in reu sable versions.

5. Conserve water. If possible, collect rainwater in barrels for use in your garden. You can also pur chase a low-flow shower head, do laundry only when you have a full load and turn off the tap while you brush your teeth.

To find the products you need to adopt a greener lifestyle, visit the stores in your area.

We thank Dope Cocktails for not only raising the bar of excellence at Height ened Chef events but for the whole cannabis community.

The Heightened Chef Season Six is barely cold, but we must still look forward to Season Seven where we will defy the borders of imagination once again!

So much love and praise to EVERY ONE involved with us this season, you are all family for life.

kout curtains. And if the tile or hardwood floors in your home are always cold, lay down rugs to keep your feet warm and help create a cosy atmosphere.

Keep in mind that taking these simple steps to help protect the environment will also lower the cost of heating your home. It’s a win-win situation.

bits of butter that cling to the wrapper.

7. Plastic mesh. The net bags that hold onions and citrus fruit can be balled up and used to scrub dishes.

Keep in mind that most of the organic waste in your kitchen can be composted. Check to see if your municipality has a col lection service.

5 things you should know before adopting a mouse

Domestic mice are fun and interesting pets. Some can even be taught to do tricks. However, here are some things to consider before bringing one of these adorable rodents into your home.

1. They have short lifespans. Mice live for one to three years. To enjoy your pet as long as possible, adopt a pup — a baby mouse.

2. They’re social animals. Compa nionship is essential for mice to thrive. Females live well with other females, and males will get along with other males if they’ve been castrated. Unless you want to breed mice, get males neutered be fore placing them with females.

3. They mark their territory. Male mice mark their territory with their urine, which has a strong smell. Neutering will diminish this instinct. It’s important to regularly clean their cage and replace their bed ding.

4. They have specific habitat needs. Make sure their enclosure is secure, as mice can squeeze themselves through very small openings. Glass tanks and wire cages are good options, but make sure the wires are spaced closely together.

5. They love to play. Give your mice a cage full of places to hide and play, including a hamster wheel to burn off some energy. They also need to chew a lot, a require ment that can be fulfilled by providing cardboard and wooden toys.

If you decide to adopt a mouse or two, make sure to choose the healthiest animals available. Their eyes should be bright and their fur shiny and smooth.

How to choose plants for your aquarium

Selecting plants for your aquarium may seem simple, but if you want your fish and plants to thrive, you should put some thought into your choice.

For starters, choose plants that are well suited to your aquarium’s environment. The type of substrate that covers the bot tom of the tank, the temperature of the water and the lighting will all inform what types of plants will do well.

Also, consider what types of fish you keep. Some species will eat the vegetation in their environment. If you keep rainbow fish, te

tras or others that are known to nibble on plants, pick vegetation that’s resilient and has sturdy leaves.

Finally, it’s important to consider the size of your aquatic plants when arranging them in your tank. Short, slow-growing plants need to be placed in the front and along the bottom of your tank so as not to obs truct the view. Mid-sized plants should be planted along the sides and in the middle of the aquarium. The tallest plants should go in the back of the tank where it can hide the tank equipment and provide your fish space to play and hide.

Is your pet at risk for diabetes?

Did you know that dogs and cats can get diabetes too? Here’s what pet owners should know about this disease.

Types

Just like people, dogs and cats can be af fected by two different types of diabetes. Dogs are more likely to have type 1, which occurs when the pancreas is unable to pro duce the hormone insulin. Cats usually suf fer from type 2, which is characterized by the body’s inability to properly metabolize insulin.

Symptoms

Diabetes generally affects middle aged or older pets but can occur in young animals

as well. Dogs and cats that are overweight, inactive or have inflammation of the pancreas may be predisposed to the di sease. Here are some signs to look out for:

• Increased water consumption and urination

• Weight loss combined with an increase in appetite

• Decreased appetite

• Cloudy eyes (more common in dogs)

• Chronic or recurring infections

• Decrease in energy

• Dull or dry coat

Treatment

Type 1 diabetes is incurable, but it can be treated with regular insulin injections and a high-fibre diet.

Type 2 diabetes can be treated with insulin treat ments, daily exercise and a diet that’s high in protein and low in carbohydrates.

In all cases of diabetes, early detection is paramount. If you notice the signs of diabe tes in your pets, bring them to their veterinarian as soon as possible.

7 fun facts about pets

5. Despite having a reputation for being a short-lived pet, the oldest goldfish on re cord died 43 years after his owner won him at a fair.

6. Just like humans, pet rats can be ticklish. Studies have found that when tickled, rats giggle and laugh, albeit at a frequen cy inaudible to human ears.

7. Cats spend 70 per cent of their life slee ping, and 30 per cent of their waking hours grooming themselves.

Not only do pets provide unconditional love and endless entertainment, they’re also good for your health. Studies have shown that a few minutes of playing with an ani mal can lower your heart rate and decrease your level of stress.

Elsie Kalu, an Ottawa homeowner, bought a home privately through a real estate wholesaler. A wholesaler buys and sells properties privately. This way, the compa ny avoids paying a realtor and can sell the home at a slight discount. Elsie Kalu, look ing back, regretted doing so.

In 2021, Kalu relocated across the river from Gatineau, Quebec to Ottawa with the intention of getting better health care for her autistic daughter. She signed a purchase of sale agreement in January and finalized the deal in April.

Kalu bought the property without any conditions such as to having it inspect ed or obtaining financing. After signing an agreement to purchase the property, she discovered that the home had unaccom modating tenants. The tenants refused to allow Kalu to enter the property. They also denied a home appraiser from entering. This action impelled Kalu to borrow mon ey from a private lender at 8.99% interest rate when regular mortgage rates were at 2.45%.

After closing, Kalu inherited ten ants who refused to pay rent. She filed an application with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) for eviction. Under usual cir cumstances, the board would have sched uled a hearing within 25 business days. Kalu filed an application in May but accord ing to LTB, the hearing could take seven or eight months.

As a realtor, I encountered a simi lar problem when I sold a condo to a first-

time buyer. The transaction was scheduled to close four months later. The buyer filed an application with the LTB for a hearing. The board took longer than four months to look at the case. When the board finally got around to it, the case was tossed out of the window. The closing date passed, and the buyer walked away because vacant pos session was not possible. In Kalu’s case, her agreement did not stipulate that vacant possession shall be given on closing. Ac cording to her contract, she agreed to as sume the tenants.

Saddled with a high mortgage payment, property tax and maintenance fees, Kalu needed over $5,000 monthly to stay afloat. The financial strain became heavier since Kalu, while saddled with her housing cost, had to continue to pay rent to her current landlord.

In August 2021, Kalu lost her job. She was a financial advisor whose job re quirement was to have her credit score checked regularly. Kalu took more loans and maxed her credit cards in order to keep up. She could not manage to pay her bills on time. This caused her beacon score to fall below the company’s accepted stan dard and led to her dismissal.

“I’m just sinking ... financially, it has wrecked me,” said Kalu. “This has ruined me emotionally and mentally.”

It’s a slippery slope for Kalu. No in come and with high debts to carry. She re ceived notification from the lender stating that with another nonpayment, it would commence power of sale proceedings on her property. To make matters worse, her current landlord gave her notice to end her tenancy because of failure to pay rent.

This move was for Kalu’s four-yearold daughter to attend a nearby school where she would get help with a speech therapist. Kalu cannot pay for her daugh ter’s much needed critical therapy any lon ger. She accused the Ontario government

for her disaster. She felt that the system at the LTB failed her. She could have been in her property if the board could have acted quicker.

“I’m frustrated, I’m outraged, I’m angry and I’m sad,” said Kalu. “They can’t stay forever because I can’t pay mortgage and be homeless, and that’s what’s about to happen now.”

“My daughter can’t end up on the streets. I cannot end up on the streets ... I need my home.”

During the lockdown, the Ontario Government implemented an eight month pause from eviction hearings which took effect in March. This temporary band was bad news for homeowners like Kalu.

“Why would the government al low another person to take everything from one person? It’s like robbing the poor to pay the poor,” said Kalu.

All broken and standing in front

of the home she bought and cannot enter, she became emotional.

“It can’t be right. I cannot provide social services for another citizen. I’m not rich enough.”

With nowhere to turn to, Kalu reached out to three local shelters. Two of the three said that they cannot step in until she is actually homeless and the third has a two-year waiting list.

“So basically, ‘we cannot help you until the day you’ll be really ending up in the gutter,” pleaded Kalu.

There are many sides to this story. Here is an innocent first-time buyer trying to move up in life and being swallowed by a broken system. There are many more families who are facing similar problems. When buying or selling real estate private ly, it’s imperative to make the offer subject to your lawyer’s approval.

Sick building syndrome: symptoms and prevention

Poor indoor air quality can make your fa mily sick. Breathing in allergens and other contaminants can lead to sick building syndrome (SBS). Fortunately, there are pro ducts available to improve indoor air quality and help your family breathe easier.

SYMPTOMS OF SBS

Sick building syndrome is an umbrella term for several ailments. Typically, if you have SBS, you’ll exhibit cold- or flu-like symp toms, including

• A sore throat

• Sneezing and a runny nose

• Body aches, chills and a fever

• Headache

• Nausea and dizziness

• Irritability

The causes of SBS include mould, pet dander and bacteria that get circulated through your home if your furnace isn’t regularly maintained.

HOW TO PREVENT SICK BUILDING SYNDROME

There are several ways to improve the air quality of your home.

• Clean your ducts and furnace. You should have your ducts professionally cleaned every two years to remove conta minants from your HVAC system. Fami lies with children and pets should do this more often.

• Install an air purification system. Hire a professional service to retrofit an air puri fier to your existing HVAC system. A HEPA filter or a UV antibacterial system will ef fectively clean the air in your home and create a healthier living environment.

Lastly, ask a local HVAC or home impro vement specialist what you can do to im prove the air quality and prevent SBS in your home.

3 reasons to consider polished concrete for your kitchen

Once used exclusively for sidewalks, ga rage floors and basement walls, concrete is coming into its own as a design material. In fact, polished concrete is gaining popu larity for kitchen floors and countertops because it’s durable and versatile. Here are three benefits of this winning material.

1. IT’S LOW MAINTENANCE

Unlike granite, concrete requires little to no maintenance once it’s sealed and polished. You don’t need to reseal it once a year or apply protective wax. All you need to clean polished concrete countertops and floors is soapy water. There’s no need for special, ex pensive cleaning products.

2. IT’S CUSTOMIZABLE

You can be infinitely creative with polished concrete. This versatile material comes in

various colours, so you’re not limited to grey. You can also make your concrete resemble tile or wood to fit the style of your kitchen.

3. IT’S DURABLE

Polished concrete floors and counter tops last many decades. One myth about concrete is that it stains easily. However, the sealant creates a protective layer that prevents liquids like coffee and red wine from penetrating the surface. Plus, you don’t have to worry about peeling or chip ping.

Finally, you should have polished concrete floors and countertops installed by a qua lified professional contractor. Ask a local home renovation specialist how to incor porate concrete into your kitchen.

ARIES

You may get an unexpected promotion after a colleague leaves. You’ll take over for your boss when they go on vacation. You may get a pay raise.

TAURUS

Everything is falling into place. At work, you’ll be inspired by leading projects, which will help you work towards achieving your goals.

GEMINI

You must recharge your batteries to improve all areas of your life. Being open spiritually will help you trans form your life and improve your wellbeing.

CANCER

You’ll organize a memorable group activity. The results will only be as good as the effort you put in. You’ll also overcome some of your shyness by being part of it.

LEO

You’ll have a lot of responsibilities on your plate. Prioritize them according to your abilities. Your loved ones will help you create a plan to be as efficient as possible.

VIRGO

Going back to school isn’t easy. However, it’s a decision that will benefit you and align with your values and life goals. Perseverance is the key to success. Fortunately, you’ll have the support of your loved ones.

LIBRA

You must weigh the pros and cons before making a choice. You’ll join a spiritual movement that will broaden your horizons and help you im prove your quality of life.

SCORPIO

Think things through before deciding, even if you’re being pressu red. Your intuition will guide you. If you’re patient, the answers will come to you.

SAGITTARIUS

Take your time when preparing a negotiation. You’ll find a solution to all your financial problems or get the job of your dreams.

CAPRICORN

You must calculate what you can afford before going on a shopping spree at a highend store. You may also want to improve your appear ance to take on more important tasks at work.

AQUARIUS

You’ll enjoy spending time at home. You may also skip working at the office to be more efficient. You’ll deep

Classifieds

FOR SALE FOR SALE

SHIRT JACKS: Shirt Jacks all sizes all colour call 416-474-3454

LAND FOR SALE: 10500 square feet of land for sale in Tobago. Ap proved by Town and Country. Call Edward 647-218-1333

647-722-6298

Some restrictions may apply. We reserve the right of refusal.

FOR SALE HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

HIRING: Looking for a helper to do general labour, garden cleaning, landscaping, and winter snow removal. Cash paid weekly. Located at Morningside & Law rence in Scarborough. Please call: (416)269-5174.

HIRING FOR CLEANING: Looking for experience people for general cleaning evenings and night. Must speak English and can drive to areas in the GTA. Call or Text 647-239-4808. Seriou calls only

LIVE OUT HOUSE KEEPER: Needed for family in North York, Legal payment only T4 416-729-4772

PART TIME DELIVERY DRIVERS: Approximately 4-6 hours commitment every second Wednesday.

Drivers needed for:

• Scarborough/Pickering/ Ajax

• North York/Rexdale/ Malton

• Brampton/Mississauga

Driver must have SUV or Van. Call 647-722-6298 to apply.

FOR RENT: Furnished Room For Rent! Sharing Kitchen & Wash room. Located in Scarborough, Toronto, Morningside Avenue & Kingston Road. $850.00/month including utilities. Please call (416)459-6155.

FOR RENT: Furnished 1 BedBasement Apart For Rent! Sepa rate Entrance, Private Kitchen & Washroom. Located in Scarbor ough, Toronto, Morningside Av enue & Kingston Road. $1,550.00/ month including utilities. Please call (416)459-6155.

FOR SALE WORSHIP

SUNDAY SERVICE: Fountain of Truth Ministries Pastor: Rever end Maxine Campbell Worship Address: 2170 Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke Percy Johnson School – Cafeteria Sundays: 10.am – 2. pm Teaching, Worship, Minister ing For info call: 416 748 0211

MISSISSAUGA: Mississauga Missionary Baptist Church invites you to join us at 1620 Dundas St West, each Sunday at 10am for praise, worship and in-depth Bible teaching with Pastor Sean, 416-219-9137

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We

Five advantages of a home equity line of credit

start.

Provides low interest rate

CLEVE DeSOUZA

cleve@carib101.com

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Your home is more than just a place of com fort and refuge. It can also be a container of equity that grows and produces over the years. Many people love the idea of having equity in their home, but maybe have not realized some advantages of tapping into it using a home equity line of credit (also called a HELOC). Here are five advantages to take note of and consider!

Provides access to capital

Many people say that it takes money to make money, and this can be very true for a lot of endeavours. Whether you are thinking of starting, or growing a business, buying an investment property, or adding a rental unit to your home, a home equity line of credit can give you quick access to a lump sum of capital. This money, when invested wisely, can grow your income potential over time and help you create wealth. Be sure to do your homework and enter into any invest ment with education and caution, as there are usually some risks involved. Chatting with a financial strategist is a great place to

Because a home equity line of credit is se cured by your home, banks and lenders con sider it to be a much lower risk for them than a personal loan, credit card advance, or even an unsecured business loan. It is because of this, the fees and interest rate offered will be much better too. This means that the amount of money that you will pay in the long run to use this capital will be much cheaper, allowing you to keep more of the money it makes you from investing! Home equity lines also offer more flexibility in pay ment terms, sometimes even allowing inter est only payments for a number of years!

Generates tax write offs

Another benefit that some people are not aware of is in the area of reducing tax es. When you access your home’s equity through a HELOC and then use the money for a business or investment, the interest paid on the HELOC can often be tax deduct ible. This means that it can help lower your taxable income and reduce the tax amount owed, allowing you to keep more money each year. Be sure to consult with a tax ex pert to learn more and to understand the ins and outs of using this kind of write off.

Keeps your existing mortgage

With interest rates rising steadily and some mortgages having penalties for early payoff, the thought of refinancing a home with a

low fixed interest rate might not be all that appealing. However, many people see this as the primary way to access their home eq uity. With a HELOC, however, your existing mortgage rate, term, and payment all stay the same! This is because a home equity line of credit is secured completely independent of your main home loan, with rates and pay ments that only affect the amount borrowed through the HELOC.

Allows credit flexibility

A fifth and final advantage to a home eq uity line of credit is the ability to re-borrow against the line as credit becomes available. With a traditional mortgage loan, you pay down on the principal monthly, but have no options to easily re-access that credit. Alter natively, when you pay down the HELOC you can borrow from it repeatedly without any constraints or additional costs. This can be extremely valuable if a new investment op portunity should arise, or if there should be an emergency need for capital.

Final thoughts

According to the Financial Consumer Agen cy of Canada, HELOCs have grown exponen tially over the last 15 years and can be a ben efit to consumers when used responsibly. They provide many benefits, but do carry some risks and fees, like any other form of debt. Before committing, be sure to take time to understand what they are, how to use them properly, and if a HELOC is right for your financial situation.

Three qualities to look for

A good financial adviser is worth every penny. Their guidance can help you meet and exceed your financial goals. But a bad financial adviser? Their counsel can see you lose your life savings—or worse. Sepa rate the good from the up-to-no-good by seeking financial advisers with these stel lar qualities.

They talk to you, not at you

While you’re paying for guidance from your financial adviser, it’s important that they listen as much as they counsel. Offe ring quality advice requires understanding individual needs and objectives. The only way to get there is through asking ques tions and taking in the answers. So you

in a financial adviser

want an adviser that takes the time to get to know you. It’s also important that you understand the advice you’re given. You should feel comfortable asking questions and confident that you understand the answers. A good financial adviser will pro vide this and put you at ease.

They’re transparent

Every financial adviser works a little diffe rently. What’s key is that they’re open about their modus operandi, and more im portantly, about how they get paid. What you need to know is if they’re making commission on the products they sell. Beyond these points, you also need to en sure that your adviser will report all poten

tial risks involved with recommended in vestments.

They’re qualified Training and certification are basic ingre dients, but they aren’t the whole recipe. Experience, a commitment to ongoing training and involvement with professio nal associations are just as essential.

Use referrals, reviews and background checks to verify if a financial adviser can provide all the above qualities. Interview more than one candidate and make sure you feel comfortable with the person you ultimately choose to hire—never ignore a gut feeling.

Can usage-based auto insurance make our roads safer?

For better or worse, modern technology has impacted almost every aspect of our lives. Now, telematics—technology that deals with long-distance information transmis sion—is changing the way car insurance works.

While traditional car insurance re lies on statistics regarding automobile acci dents to determine which rates and rebates should be assigned to which segments of the population—for instance, young adult and elderly drivers are charged higher pre miums than middle-aged drivers—usagebased insurance (UBI) charges drivers va rying rates based on their actual habits on the road.

How it works

Insurance companies provide interested clients with either a responsive app for their smartphone or a small telematic device that can easily be installed in their car. The tech nology records and relays key information about driving habits, including number of miles covered, times of day driving, rates of acceleration and instances of hard braking. UBI rewards the safest drivers with better premiums, and in some cases penalizes those who partake in riskier behaviours.

Drivers receive regular reports aler ting them to their own habits. This feedback allows them to make amendments and be

nefit from better rates. It’s potentially a winwin scenario, as insurance companies should receive fewer claims and safe drivers, lower rates.

Safer roads

UBI is on the rise. Berg Insight predicts that in North America the number of telema tics-based insurance policies will reach 40 million by 2019. And while further research is needed to understand the impact of tele matics devices on road safety, preliminary studies show that young drivers who use them are implementing safer driving prac tices. All seems to indicate that the road ahead will be a safer one to drive on.

Change your wiper blades

Winter is just around the corner. With to day’s cars and trucks requiring much less maintenance, many motorists have the tendency not to prepare their vehicles for winter (or any other season). Conse quently, when the first cold rains or snowfalls appear, they wind up with a vehicle that is unable to cope with bad weather.

Wiper blades are one item that is often overlooked. Many cars have worn-out blades that barely clean the windshield in the rain making driving very difficult, especially at night. Indeed, drivers only see glare when meeting on coming vehicles. Wiper blades should be changed almost twice a year in order to get the best visibility possible.

As for those of us who live in very cold or snowy areas, it is better to choose what is commonly called “winter wiper blades”. These are blades whose mecha nism is covered with a rubber envelope designed to keep it free of ice, thus al lowing the blade to better rest against the windshield.

Most service stations, auto parts stores and even large department stores can provide the correct blades for your vehicle. Remember that blades are not all alike and surprisingly, the blade on the driver’s side of some vehicles is a different length from the blade on the passenger side. Some cars even have unique blades that only the dealer can provide.

Get the right oil for winter

Fall is a very busy season for garages and mechanics as there are still many people who like to service their vehicle before the winter. While some people will make an appointment with their dealer, many others with older vehicles still rely upon their trusted mechanics to have a look at their car or truck before the cold season. Among the many points to be checked is the engine oil.

For many people, oil is oil and that’s all there is to it. But for car specia lists, oil is a very technical matter to han dle and choosing the right oil for their customers’ cars and trucks becomes a science for them. As a matter of fact, there are so many types of engine oils on the market, that today some knowledge

is required in order to keep up with all that is offered.

As a motorist, you might be sur prised to learn that even older engines will start and even run better with lighter oils during the cold months of winter. That’s why many car manufacturers will suggest a 5W-30 engine oil during the cold season. The number 5 identifies the lightness of the oil when it is cold, the W indicates it is designed for winter use and the 30 means that when the engine has warmed up, the oil will have thickened to a 30 weight capability. The engine will then start more easily with the light oil and will be well protected at speed as the oil thickens slightly.