Pan Am Games 021214

CARIBBEAN NEWS, EVENTS, HEALTH, LIFESTYLE & MORE ONLINE: TORONTOCARIBBEAN.COM BEAN.COM • TO ADVERTISE: 647-722-6298 • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 26 • WEDNESDAY, Y, F Y, FEBRUARY EB E BRUARY 12TH 2014

Pan Am Games 2015 Pan and Para Pan Am Games 2015 is coming to Toronto EMILY SINGH/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Twenty-one amateur athletes from Ontario will go for gold in the 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games! As part of the CIBC Next Team, these 21 Ontarians along with 46 other athletes from across Canada will participate in the games taking place right here in Toronto during the summer of 2015. CIBC being the lead sponsor of the games has pledged two million dollars into helping these determined athletes achieve their dreams and represent Canada.

Each of the 67 athletes of the CIBC Next Team will not only receive full support from CIBC but also a grant totaling $15,000.00 over the course of

three years, mentorship and guidance under renowned Canadian athletes and access to post secondary and career building workshops. Some of these amazing mentors helping these athletes achieve their goals is boxer Mary Spencer, swimmer Stephanie Dixon and gymnast Kyle Shewfelt to name a few.

The Pan Am Games 2015 will take place between July 10th to the 26th and the Para Pan Am Games from August 7th to the 14th. The games include everything from team sports such as basketball and volleyball to individual sports such as Judo and Trampoline.

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Giving back towards Guyana with Satishwar Persaud

Ebony Narpatty TC Reporter

Aneesa, Guyanese, is currently enjoying working as a

bartender while she takes a year off from studying to be a Social Worker. In her spare time, Aneesa enjoys soccer, dancing, singing and loves to let loose at the occasional party.

LADIES! You could be featured in our next edition! To enter, send photos to info@torontocaribbean.com

To give is the most powerful gift we can have in our hearts in this world. It feels so good when you can give someone who is unfortunate. Giving can be done in many ways: Your neighbour borrows sugar from you everyday and you never complain because you are humble. You are late for work but you give your friend a ride because his car broke down. A classmate is struggling with a project so you share your knowledge because you are not selfish. A colleague at work never has lunch nor bus fare and borrows money from you and never returns it, yet you give because you would not want that person to be left stranded or starving. You have $5 in your pocket and there is a sick kid’s fund box in front of you, but you were supposed to buy something for yourself. Instead the better half of you gives it towards charity.

Yes there are so many situations we can be in but we need to know that the good side of us has to shine out more. Likewise famous writer Kahlil Gibran quoted, “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

I have interviewed a patriotic Guyanese recently who has established his life in Canada through his hard work and giving back towards the Guyanese society. I would like to share a bit of information about Guyana first though, since I am a born Canadian but lived there 13 years and have my per-

spective of Guyana. Guyana is famously known for its green lush amazing rainforests, sprawling Savannahs, unique colourful birds, has the best rum in the world “El Dorado” which is appointed by her majesty the queen, boasts with tourism and attraction, beholds the lost golden city of El Dorado, has the longest single one drop waterfalls in the world “Kaiteur Falls”, has the only beach in the Caribbean where you can drive on and is considered the biggest and longest beach ever: No. 63 beach, shares some historical sites still, and it is called the “Land of many Waters” meaning “Guyana” in Amerindian (indigenous people of Guyana). Leaving out all the awesome visual imageries I am giving you about beautiful botanical Guyana, there are many flaws they have faced over the years which has prevented them towards progressing. It is a poor country but rich with natural resources. People depend on mainly rice field planting and cane cutting for survival. Guyana has a population of approximately 770, 000 people. The cost of living is high since they introduced VAT taxes of 16% on necessities which is higher than a first world country’s tax system, the main two races that currently reside in Guyana are Indians and Africans and the language spoken there is English with a bit of creole flavour.

Guyana suffers from Good Governance and democracy since it became independent in 1966 to truly flourish and become the breadbasket of the Caribbean which it once was in the British days. Guyana is 83,000 square miles of land and has enough room to open factories for employment which the government refuses to take this vital and vibrant idea from me since they are very rich in produce, natural resources. There are very few jobs, so people choose to migrate overseas, especially to North America, for a better life.

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

2015 Pan Am Games Emily Singh TC Reporter Continued From Page 1 -- Part of the CIBC Next Team is 24-year-old Vanessa Lee. This determined woman hails from Toronto, Ontario and will be participating in Archery.

Lee has been part of the senior national team since 2010 however her love for archery began in 2004 when she watched the game in the Olympics.

It’s with great pride that we acknowledge an athlete coming from a Caribbean background! Twenty-four year old sprinter Kimberly Hyacinthe comes from a Haitian background and will be partaking in the games as part of the CIBC Next Team.

During the 2013 Summer Universiade, Hyacinthe won a gold medal in the 200 meter

dash. We look forward to seeing her compete representing not only Canada but the Caribbean as well!

We cannot forget to mention our very own Giselle Cole who is a part of the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Canada.

This former athletic star competed in the Para Olympics in Netherlands in 1980 and brought home 3 gold medals. These medals were earned in the 100 meter, 400 meter and the long jump category. However, it did not end there for determined Cole. In 1981 she participated in the International Para Olympics and brought home 3 more gold medals from Italy. Staying true to her love for athletics this former gold medalist is currently sitting on the committee counsel for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

This is not the first time CIBC has reached out to the community. In 2012 alone they pledged well over $38 million dollars towards various charities and organizations.

Now thanks to the ongoing generosity displayed by CIBC, 67 amateur athletes will partake in the experience of a lifetime and be that much closer to making their dreams a reality.

Porn addiction rising among youth JAMAICA -- A leading sexual health agency has expressed distress over what it says is a mounting addiction to pornography in the 12 to 14 age group in Jamaica.

According to Chairman of the National Family Planning Board Dr Sandra Knight, the addiction is increasing and moreso among boys.

“It’s going up yearly. Teenagers are addicted to pornography and we know from research that pornography inhibits the proper development of certain parts of a child’s brain to consolidate healthy relationships as adults. So we are having even more problems there,” Dr Knight told the Jamaica Observer Press Club last Thursday.

She said that tackling the issue was even more complex, given the fact that there was fierce competition from so many different influences.

“We are competing with other things that are happening but compete we must. In addition to us competing we have to reach out to the entertainment industry for example and say to them, look, what is it that you are doing? Look at the message you are putting out there,” Dr Knight said.

She also registered disgust with the productions of some female members of the entertainment industry.

“I look at some of our female entertainers and I say look at how long and hard you have worked to be recognised and this is the explicit sexual crap you are putting out there. You have the opportunity to positively influence the young people in Jamaica and you are spewing crap,” she said.

Commenting on a seeming trend whereby teens have been featured in locally made sexually explicit ‘videos’ making the rounds on social media, she said that the activities that are now being shown in videos “have been happening a long time”.

“It’s not now, it’s just that they are being recorded because everybody’s phone now has a camera. I cannot imagine why a father having sex with his daughter is putting that on camera,” she said in reference

to one of the most recent incidents where a father was reportedly filmed frolicking with his daughter and other underaged girls.

“I am a little alarmed at how person’s ability to discern between a right decision and a wrong decision is so diminished.

It’s troubling, it’s very troubling,” Dr Knight said.

In the meantime she appealed to young women who feature prominently in these ‘videos’, often while clad in their school uniforms, to think twice.

“These young girls have more power than they think. They have a lot more power to say no than they think and if they say no, it can’t happen, in most instances unless they are forced to. If you say no and that person ‘likes you’, they will wait if they are attracted enough. You have to start saying no and realise that you are putting yourself in a position that can affect the rest of your life if you do not begin to make sensible decisions that can make your life better and not worst,” she said.

Addressing the issue Marion Scott, acting director of Outreach and Prevention with the Board, said that it has brought parenting to the forefront.

“This is where parenting comes in, parents are not talking to their children about sex. They think if they don’t talk about it, it won’t happen, which is the complete opposite. If you don’t talk about it, they are curious, they will get the information somewhere and it is often inappropriate or incorrect information from the wrong source. So we definitely have to work on the parents and the dialogue,” she said, noting that sex is taboo in many households.

“That incident also makes you question the level of acceptability of incest.

That is pretty concerning. I think we definitely need to explore the issues around incest,” Sania Sutherland, executive director at the board, said in referring to the video.

(Jamaica Observer)

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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

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Having a fabulous Family Day Ebony Narpatty TC Reporter Family day will be celebrated this year on February 17th 2014. It is celebrated the third Monday of February each year.

It was introduced in 1990 in Alberta by the government of Canada noticing that people should have a day to unite with family and get away just one day of the year, from their busy life and to feel a special unity within the family circle.

Family day is only celebrated in a few provinces i.e. Alberta 1990, Saskatchewan 2007 and recently in Ontario 2008. Yes we are lucky in Ontario to be one of the chosen few to have this valuable day to commemorate. This important and bubbly occasion, Family day, can be celebrated in many ways. You can go out together as a family to: go see a movie at the cinema, take part in an activity day outdoors, take the family to a game centre, go shopping at a mall, go out for dinner and forget about being a slave and cooking all the time at home,

etc… You can even do the opposite, just stay at home since it is so cold outside, cuddle up with your kids and tell them a story, watch a movie together on your outdated TV and have popcorn because you are content and want to make the best of every given situation, make a home cooked meal involving your little ones and husband to help, telling stories, then taking a nap. Yes there are so many things we can dream of to have a wonderful way of spending a splendid family day! Hope you enjoy this day with your family. Make time for it, it only comes once a year. Time spent with family is golden that no one can take away and a time you can never get back. It is the memories that makes up the storybook of our lives and we should not put aside spending significant time with our family which should be cherished moments in our lives.

I always tell my friends to not take this life for granted, that today we are here but tomorrow we may be gone so live life like there is no tomorrow, have no doubts about taking time off to be with family, have good inspiring conversations that you can live with forever.

Spending time with family is time well spent. Never regretting, never forgetting always remembering the special times spent with family. Happy Family Day! Have Fun!

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Drunk man crashes outside police station TRINIDAD -- A 23-year-old pipe fitter will appear before a San Fernando magistrate Sunday morning after crashing into two police vehicles while under the influence of alcohol. The accident happened just outside the Mon Repos Police Station along the Naparima Mayaro Road, around 4.35 am on Saturday. The accused driver of William Trace, Moruga, spent the weekend in custody after being arrested and charged by WPC Figaro.

Reports stated that the man was driv-

ing a grey Nissan Cifero, heading west when he smashed into a new police SUV, which was parked in front the station. The impact caused the police vehicle to collide with another parked police vehicle. The suspect and two other occupants, ages 25 and 23, of Pleasantville and Lower Hillside, respectively sustained no serious injuries in the crash. He was issued a breathalyser test and police said he had exceeded the legal limit for alcohol consumption while driving. (Trinidad Guardian)

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Veteran pilot Mike Charles – proud owner of National Flag that went to the moon GUYANA -- In popular talk “bragging rights” are the rights granted to a person that allow the said person to boast on themselves to a certain extent without being looked down on for it. Bragging rights may be granted to a person for (but not limited to) an amazing achievement.

National awardee and Veteran helicopter Pilot Mike Charles can say he is a Guyanese who is eminently qualified to be granted bragging rights this week and possibly for a long time to come.

Mike Charles last week became the proud owner of a rare artifact- a tiny 4”x6” flag of Guyana which made a trip to the moon in the 1970s hey- days of the Apollo space missions.

The specific date was July 26, 1971.

The occasion was the fourth landing on the moon of the Apollo spacecraft carried out by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

It will be recalled that the first historic landing on the moon by humans took place on July 20, 1969.

The spaceship was Apollo 11 and the crew comprised Neil Armstrong, Commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot.

That Mission took with them to the moon the flags of 135 countries including Guyana.

In 1970 President Richard Nixon gave Apollo 11 lunar sample displays consisting of four rice-sized dust particle specimens (dubbed moon rock) and the flags which went to the moon to their respective countries. Guyana’s moon rocks and the first flag are currently on display at the National Museum.

The crew members of Apollo 15 spacecraft which landed on the moon on July 26, 1971 two years later were Alfred M. Worden, David R. Scott, and James B. Irwin.

This Golden Arrowhead, along with those of several other countries, was taken to the moon by the Command Module Pilot (CMP) Alfred M. Worden in a journey that took 295.2 hours and spanned 1.4 million miles.

The flag of necessity very small because of the importance of space for such a long journey remained with the crew of Apollo 15 on the moon’s surface for a period of three weeks until the mission ended on August 17th 1971.

A year later, Apollo 17, the sixth landing of humans on the Moon was the final mission of the United States Apollo lunar landing programme. No human has set foot on the moon since then.

On February 2, 2014, some 43 years after the Guyana flag was taken to the moon on Apollo 15, it finally returned home.

Mike Charles describes himself as an outer space fanatic i.e: someone who is intensely fascinated with what happens in outer space.

In 1985 while on training as an aeroplane and helicopter pilot in Florida USA, he slipped on a wristwatch worn to the moon by American Astronaut Charles P Conrad. He kept it on for a few intoxicating moments before handing it back to the owner, the astronaut’s son. He also visited the Kennedy Space centre (KSC) in Florida 1985 and 1999 and plans to revisit KSC later this year. KSC is an amazing technologically advanced complex to visit he noted.

Nowadays, as a hobby he spends time at nights gazing at stars with his explore scientific telescope and trying to keep track

of as he puts it, of the “incredibly swift” movements of the moon.

He also keeps track of space missions and explorations via television, internet and related documentaries, he says avidly.

The flag he now owns had been part of Astronaut Al Worden’s collection. He said that he learnt about the flag recently on the internet while researching Guyana flag patches for his flight suit. He didn’t waste time. He said: “I started making telephone calls to all my relatives both in Guyana and the United States like hell. I said to them look this is an opportunity for us to own a piece of history.

Let’s buy it. They agreed.”

He said: “I went to the United States on Friday January 31 bought the flag Saturday February 1 and flew back home to Guyana with it on Sunday February 2. “ In addition to the flag he obtained a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Alfred M Worden dated June 18, 2010 which contains Worden’s words: “To whom it may concern. I hereby certify that this flag of Guyana went to the moon aboard Apollo 15 in the spacecraft “ENDEAVOUR”. It remained in the command module during the lunar orbit phase of the flight.”

There is a note in cursive writing on the flag itself stating: “Flown to the moon on Apollo 15; Al Worden CMP. Charles declined to say the exact amount paid for the artifact. He confined himself to saying that it cost a substantial amount in United States dollars. Generally people collect rare items for a variety of reasons most of them psychological; most reasons seeming to have little value beyond the sentiment of the collector. Some people collect to remember, perhaps the “good old

days”; an old romance; some collect because of a basic interest in the topic.

Some ‘way out’ people collect as a kind of worship. They do it because they experience the kind of sensory transcendence that people most closely associate with religion or love. These people will not sell. But quite a few collect for money and profit because they know that there are some people, who will pay enormous amounts of money for what others may consider as trivia. The 1856 one-cent “Black on Magenta” postage stamp of British Guiana is the rarest postage stamp in the world.

An odd looking snippet, rectangular shaped and printed on magenta paper with the corners snipped off, really to the uninitiated, not much to look at.

But in 1970 collectors Robert Siegel Galleries in USA sold the 1856 one-cent”Black on Magenta to Irwin Weinberg and a group of investors from Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania USA for US $240,000.

Irwin Weinberg and his group of investors from Wilkes Barre, kept the 1856 one-cent “Black on Magenta” of British Guiana, in their collection for ten years then sold it to John E. du Pont of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for US $935,000.

Charles vows to keep the tiny Guyana flag flown to the in the family.

Wouldn’t he donate it to the national museum then?

He said: “Nah! In the museum not many people might get to see it. I am keeping it. I am a pilot. I am going to take it everywhere I fly or everywhere I go including the hinterland so that every possible Guyanese, in schools in villages everywhere I go to, can look at it.” (Guyana Chronicle)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

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February 14th - A special Valentineʼs Day! Ebony Narpatty TC Reporter Yes Valentine’s Day is here again and it only comes once a year but this time it seems to be a special one. Look at the numbers for example the 14th day on the 14th year. Wow! Some people out there are out to get lucky! Yes Valentine’s Day can be for single ladies too waiting to bump into the right single male where they can build a loving connection. Valentine’s Day can be spent in many different ways. Yes you can leave a tray of chocolates on the desk for co-workers to eat but do not think of daring to buy your boss a gift. It definitely gives the wrong message like you are into them, when you’re not, you were actually just trying to show them how much you appreciate them.

Yes, giving your male friend a gift if you’re a guy can give the wrong impression that you are Gay when you’re not! Lol… Also women who plan to hang at a bar with a girlfriend for drinks looks a bit on the lesbian side too on this occasion and you can be asking for trouble. As for single women yes you can go to Valentine’s parties by yourself and hoping to get lucky but don’t think of going to a restaurant by yourself that day, it looks as if you are desperate to celebrate the day, to find love or are madly in love with yourself! Yep! Valentine’s Day has mostly to do with LOVE and COUPLES! Sorry, I am telling the truth here so prepare for an adven-

ture of historic Valentine’s Day stories coming to you in a few…

There are many legends about St. Valentine’s Day. The famous one I know of is about a cruel emperor named Claudius II in the third century of Rome where he sentenced innocent St. Valentine to death for doing good deeds. The whole story was that there was a war expected to be executed. To prepare for this upcoming event and declare victory, Claudius announced that single men are better soldiers than married men who had wives and families to take care of so he decided and proclaimed that marriages for young men would be outlawed. St. Valentine realised that this was injustice, lack of human rights, due process and freedom of will. He was brave and dared to do the unthinkable by disobeying Claudius and still performed marriages for young lovers in secret. This happened for a while and young lovers were happy to get away in the cold damp night near a church corner with a single dim light and exchange vows to love each other forever by secretly being married but not living together. It was something like a visiting relationship but trust, better than pen and paper, determined the love couples had for one another, staying faithful and bonded as one. After a while one of Claudius’ nosey servants told him about what St. Valentine has been up to for the past months and with anger and vengeance, Claudius sentenced St. Valentine to death.

While in prison, the jailor’s daughter whom he hosted one of the marriage ceremonies for secretly, use to come visit him every night. She did not know how to repay him; she came every night to keep the Saint company since he was pretty lonely in a cold jail cell. Within this time he became fond of this beautiful young woman who cared for him. Before his death he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine”

an expression used until this day on Valentine’s cards.

Another story is that St. Valentine was a wise man that used to do business with the bourgeois (The rich and famous). With his integrity as an opportunity, he used it to meet these wealthy men and their wives. After getting to know the businessmen, and even their wives a little better, he would befriend them by becoming intimately close to these women which he shared a connection and a certain kind of charm with. Yes he used his appeal to attract these women to him which he loved so many of them equally too and was there to lend a shoulder to cry on, listen to their stories and share some concern and advice over. He was a great player though and never got caught in the act. The only suspicion that has driven people to believe this story is that the women he had as mistresses would come and leave bouquets of flowers at his grave everyday and weep, the reason why till this day men give women flowers on this day named after him, Valentine’s Day. Many stories make up Valentine’s Day, it is up to you to believe them or not.

On the other hand we have the famous Cupid. Yes the naked little guy with wings, a bow and arrow ready to shoot hearts together so that when a boy sees a girl, and a girl stares back at the boy, they can fall in love with each other at first sight. Cupid represents love in Greek mythology. Cupid is the son of Venus (the goddess of love) and he is sometimes referred to as Eros meaning “Love” in Latin. Cupid represents Valentine’s Day, shooting at couples hearts with his bow and arrow flying around with his wings and causing trouble. Smile. Cupid is also famous for his love story “Cupid and Psyche” a complex tale of two lovers who had been through trouble with family members intervening in their love life

affairs but when put to a test and won, true love conquers all.

People spend Valentine’s Day in many different ways as there are many different kinds of relationships that exist. I can recall when going to elementary school we would share Valentine cards to our entire class so no one would feel left out. It was a way of showing kindness to one another. Whereas, there are various kinds of relationships budding like: divorced couples, male-female friends, companions etc… and we scratch our heads and wonder if these people celebrate this auspicious occasion and how do they go about doing it? I guess it doesn’t harm someone to say “Happy Valentine’s day”, send a card or buy a little gift just to show their significant other that they play an important role in their lives. You can stop buying the usual chocolates, teddy bears and roses and go for a new trend like: scented candles, bath salts/oil gift set, a romance novel, a poem book about love, a heart shaped diary, a portrait of two polar bears in love. Items that people use every day can work as well such as: towels, t-shirts, hoodies, notebooks, pens, a wall plaque that has a nice quote, watches, scarves, and other items. There are also people in your family circle that you can spend Valentine’s Day with. If you are single you can go out for dinner with your dad, mom, sister or even brother because you share a loving bond with that person and want to show it best by treating them on Valentine’s Day by spending quality time with them. Single Ladies! I wish you a delightful Valentine’s Day with Cupid shooting his bow and arrow through your heart and your lover you have been admiring and waiting for so long. Good luck and don’t do anything crazy!

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TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Ethlyn Samuels, 110, still has strength to work JAMAICA -- At 110 years, Ethlyn Samuels is still motivated to work, a trait she has held since childhood.

The woman, who worked on at least two sugar plantations in her early years, said had it not been for her poor eyesight, she would be out working now at her current age.

“If mi eyes did bright, mi go look work because mi have mi strength in mi body and mi no lazy,” Samuels told the Jamaica Observer during a recent visit to her home in Edgehill, St Ann’s Bay. Many marvel at the strength of the centenarian who still has a sense of independence at her age. Although she did not have a birth certificate to prove it, Samuels said that she was born in 1903.

“Mi a nuh trouble to them,” Samuels said, adding that although she has caregivers, she is not a burden to them.

At 110, she still manages to take a bath by herself, and if she is allowed to, she would wash and clean.

“Mi love work. You have to work to come out to something. You can’t sit and achieve something,” she said.

Samuels said that she was always a hard-working person and never had a problem working. “Mi a hard-working idiot,” she joked.

She added: “Mi no depend on no backdoor deal. Mi never depend on no man. Most times a mi mine dem.”

The mother of 12, seven of whom have predeceased her, believes that the hard work she did in her youth may have helped to keep her healthy all these years.

She also believes that her long life is a result of the lifestyle she practised.

“Mi believe in the Father. Mi have a Christian mind to do everything to please Jehovah God. I live a clean life,” she stated.

Samuels also believes that the food she consumes has also contributed to her good health and long life.

“Mi eat nuff food, plenty fish, yam, and drink porridge,” she said.

She said that food was affordable in former years, and so she enjoyed having it in large quantities.

“Not fertiliser food eno, good food,” she pointed out.

“Ethlyn care herself, feed her body and when night come Ethlyn go a her bed,” the jovial woman said.

Reflecting on some of the meals she had then, Samuels said that “the old time days were nice and beautiful.”

She recalled having chocolate tea and coffee with cow’s milk. “I was well fed,” she stated.

Samuels said that as a child, her mother took care of her and her siblings, ensuring that they had a healthy diet.

Although life was not easy for her family, Samuels said her mother ensured that her children were well fed and believed in God. “If you gone to sleep and don’t pray, my mother wake you up to pray,” she said.

It is therefore no wonder that whatever Samuels does, she prays; this includes receiving visitors in her home and seeing them off.

When she became a mother, Samuels ensured that her children received the same teachings that her mother gave her.

She also worked hard, doing various jobs to support their needs.

She said that her earliest employment was on the Seville Estate in St Ann’s Bay, where she cleaned the banana walks, the canefields, carried coconuts and picked limes and tomatoes.

While many considered working on estates a major challenge even in post slavery, for Samuels, she was working to accomplish what she wanted and work was never a bother.

Her father left for Cuba while she was a young child and she never shied away from working to help her mother, she said.

Samuels also worked at the Richmond Estate in Priory before moving on to become a household helper. She then went on to work with a laundry establishment before deciding to do business on her own, buying and ped-

dling ground provisions and fruits throughout St Ann’s Bay. Samuels also recalled her time working on the construction of the original St Ann’s Bay Hospital, which she said is now a tax office. She said that she also worked at the present St Ann’s Bay Hospital during its construction. “Mi work up a hospital till it done,” she said.

Although Samuels raised 12 children of her own, her love and care for children did not stop there. She recalled that as an elderly woman, her home was always filled with children, as many parents chose to leave their child with “Miss Ethlyn” whenever they went out.

“They use to call here crèche,” her youngest child, Sylvester Ogle, recalled.

Ogle said that his mother got along with community members and was well loved and did not refuse to care for the children of the younger women while many of them went out to work.

The member of the St Ann’s Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church still enjoys the company of children, many of whom from her church visit her at her home. She also enjoys her over 30 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Samuels admires hardworking young people. Her most common word of advice to young people is “work”.

“Try your best to get a good work to help yourself,” she advised during the Sunday Observer visit.

“Put yourself in your church; don’t put the world on your head too soon. Make sure you work to help yourself,” was her advice to young women.

Samuels believes that many young women and teenage girls are not putting value on their lives, as many parents are not as strict as in the past.

She explained that dating and marrying took on a different format in the past.

“If dem love the girl and want talk to them, dem have to go see the mother and father.

Dem have to know the family before dem go in a it,” she said.

Samuels said that family life in Jamaica has changed.

“Family was number one ... them no notice family nowadays”, she said, explaining that as a child and young adult, the value placed on family life was much higher than it is now.

“If you sick, dem a come look fi you.

Old time people, even walk with walking stick,” she said.

“Dem share. If dem kill a goat dem send piece go give the other person. Dem live loving,” she added.

Samuels believes in serving and so she joined several charitable groups and clubs, like the burial scheme.

“It’s good to live good with people,” she said.

“Every little thing mi push myself in,” she said, insisting that she often leads from the front. She said also that she ensured that her children were involved in things which helped in their development.

The hardworking woman also admires some of the great Jamaicans whom she believed helped to uplift the country. Marcus Garvey and Sir Alexander Bustamante were two persons whom she spoke highly about. “He was a good man,” she said of Garvey.

For Bustamante, “A him mek we know ‘bout pension. If you want vex, you vex. A the truth me a talk,” she added.

As Samuels looks towards her 111th birthday, she said that her life is in God’s hand.

Not even when she is feeling pain, which she thinks is as a result of her age, does she worry about it.

While not concerned as to how long she will live, Samuels wants what is best for her country.

“The black race (is) strong. We (are) strong but we need to live good with each other.

Rise and give God the glory and live good,” she stated.

“You have to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove,” were her words of wisdom.

(Jamaica Observer)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Giving back to Guyana Continued For Page 2 -- I will now share my interview with Satishwar Persaud, a Guyanese who loves giving back to society.

Questions and Answers Q1. Ebony Narpatty, “Could you tell us a little history about your life in Guyana?”

A1. Satishwar Persaud, “Well I started off my professional life by working with an insurance company in Guyana in 1992, famously known as “Hand in Hand.” I majored in sales and was a top producer in that area for several years.

In 1997 I was appointed as a branch manager for Nafico / Nalico Insurance Company. Here again I was appointed top producer. I then migrated to Canada in 2002 and was well equipped and filled with knowledge and experience in sales since I did it for 10 years before seeking a better career life in Canada. I started working in retail business as soon as I set foot on this cold continent. A couple of years later in 2004 I began studying the Real Estate business by following up business strategies with a company called “Remax” in 2005. I learned from a practical point of view, doing shadow working. In 2009 I went to do a mortgage broker course which I was successful in since I passed it with flying colours and was able to finally materialise my dream of now opening my own Real Estate business the following year.

Q2. Ebony Narpatty, “Can you share about your accomplishment of your Real Estate Company in Canada?”

A2. Satishwar Persaud, “In 2010 I opened my own brand new business called “Adana Homes” It was like a newborn baby had come into my life and I was so proud of this accomplishment I have made with my skills and determination. ADANA HOMES is a Canadian Realty Inc. brokerage. How I came up with this unique name was a combination of both of my daughter’s names. Adena my eldest and Dana my youngest, when combined you get “Adana Homes” my business name. I am a professional mortgage broker and I meet a lot

of new people everyday which makes my life interesting and my work enthusiastic. When a client is satisfied from the business they have done with you, they refer you to others, which is the reason why I have enough time in the world for my many clients and the reason for owning your own business.

View hotel in order to observe the importance of the elderly community in which we live among and must respect. My office is located on Main Street, New Amsterdam, Guyana and I can be contacted by email – avinash@adanahomes.ca or by telephone 519-841-1072 for anything regarding business.

Q3. Ebony Narpatty, “So what kind of humanitarian work you do for Guyana and Canada?”

Q4. Ebony Narpatty, “How did you become passionate about doing charity work for Guyana and Canada?”

A3. Satishwar Persaud, “I give a yearly donation of 100,000 GY$ towards the uprising youths in Guyana. I have been committed towards this benevolent offering for 5 years now. 50,000 GY$ each was given to the top two students of Region 6 towards a bright future with their education. This last happened on the November 29th, 2013 at Church View Hotel in New Amsterdam. I gave this money so that poor youths that often strive best towards education can have the funds to start them out with any avenue of education. It can be a: Skills training school, CAPE, College or attending the University of Guyana. These kids were brimming with happiness on their faces to be helped out financially in their hard lives and were given Adana Homes plaques.

These students who wrote their (CSEC) Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Exams VIA the (CXC) Caribbean Examination Council, passed many subjects and were eager to learn more and were thankful for the wonderful donation given from Adana Homes showing them that education is the key to success.

Towards Canada, I donated $5,000 Canadian dollars towards a charitable foundation for sick kids in 2013 called “The Three Rivers Foundation” an organisation administered by Canadian based Guyanese, that aims at helping unfortunate sick kids in Guyana with their chronic health conditions by allowing them to get access to medical care overseas, such as undergoing serious surgeries.

Adana Homes does not solicit for any funds towards any charitable organisation by asking for donations, instead, everything comes out of our own resources. I also hosted a dinner in honor of the elderly in Guyana at the Church

A4. Satishwar Persaud, “I grew up poor in Guyana. I was born and raised in New Amsterdam Guyana, Region 6, one of the prominent town’s in Guyana. My dad was a teacher and my mother was the typical Guyanese housewife. Growing up in poverty, I know how hard life can be. This is the reason why I thank God for my ultimate success in life and want to give back to society and encourage others to do so when they advance in life as a way of giving praise. I just want to help out Guyana even from Canada, as much as I can. I am also looking forward to working with other charities to help people towards a better life.

Q5. Ebony Narpatty, “What advice do you have for the public in making this world a better place?”

A5. Satishwar Persaud, “Be open minded…

Have an open heart… Continue giving as good things will happen to you in return… Be Supportive, especially towards children and their future… People should support higher education in Guyana… Give directly to children and their cause… I see this money going towards children’s education and sick children as being a good cause and I will continue to support it as long as I can and encourage others to join the bandwagon.

I do hope some of the stories I have shared in this article has touched your hearts and next time you will feel the obligation to give with all of your heart to others who are in dire need.

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” Mother Theresa.

The Courtyard by Marriott Brampton: The Go-To Venue for Weddings

Emily Singh TC Reporter Are you getting married soon? Are you looking for the prefect venue to celebrate your special day in? Look no further than the beautiful Courtyard by Marriott Brampton! Come in and watch the Grand Windsor Ballroom transform into the venue of your dreams. With seating for up to 500 guests with over 6500 square feet of space there is plenty of space to celebrate and have your first dance.

Oscar Fernandes, General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriot Brampton along with his wonderful staff opened up their doors this past Thursday for a bridal open house. This evening was nothing short of amazing with everything from décor and food to lighting and music; the Grand Windsor Ballroom was transformed.

I’ve been inside the Grand Windsor Ballroom on many occasions before but as I walked in on Thursday, I was greeted with an apple martini. I was taken back by how

beautiful it looked. Round tables were set up and adorned with hints of silver and tall centerpieces of candles, vases, and trees set the mood of romance, happiness and celebration. Around the room were various food stations set up that did not disappoint! Lets be honest here I tried pretty much everything!

One thing that I found so unique was the mashed potato bar. Warm mashed potatoes in martini glasses with an array of toppings everything from cheddar cheese to sour cream and chives to satisfy every taste bud.

Next up was a lamb carving station where I enjoyed a hot lamb slider burger with the rest of my apple martini. Coming from a Guyanese background my favourite dish of the night came from none other than catering done by the wonderful Jamaica House Kitchen. The curry goat was cooked to perfection and should definitely be a staple dish at every wedding. Other delicious dishes included risotto and ravioli complimented with a cold cut and cheese buffet. The desserts were amazing and presented so beautifully with carved fruits and an assortment of pastries and puddings with of course a chocolate fountain that was to die for. Again what is a Caribbean wedding reception without that signature rum cake which was from Jamaica House Kitchen.

The appetizers that were being served made me feel like I was having a taste of cuisines from around the globe. The spicy Caribbean flavour of shrimp along with fry

plantain wrapped in bacon, the tangy Thai taste of the spring rolls and that crispy homestyle fried chicken from the Deep South One thing that is often overlooked at receptions is the lighting. However when you really think about it that is one of the main things that sets the mood for the night, especially during the first dance. Marco Paula Sousa, Regional Manager of Stagevision did a beautiful job of lighting the open house showcase and giving me an inside look at what his company was able to do inside the Courtyard Marriot. From the simple touch of his IPad he was able to put a spot light onto the head table and a beautiful glow onto the dance floor. I was blown away by the atmosphere and ambiance that he was able to create using lighting.

The wonderful staff at the Courtyard by Marriott Brampton was so welcoming and inviting and of course made sure my glass was always full of the amazing array of cocktails they had.

Future brides and grooms should visit the upscale Courtyard Marriott Brampton and see for themselves why this is the place for their wedding reception. With the addition of a Caribbean menu this is surely the place for a West Indian party that will have everyone on the dance floor!

I would like to thank the entire staff of the Courtyard Marriott Brampton for their warm hospitality.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014 11

12 Wednesday, February 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Abstinence not effective, says family planning board JAMAICA -- The incidence of teen pregnancy over the period 2008 to 2012 fell, albeit marginally, in comparison to the previous five years.

But it’s little consolation to the National Family Planning Board (NFPB), which argues that the message of abstinence, which has been a central plank in its approach to promoting family planning in adolescents over the years, has been ineffective.

Vital statistical data from the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) shows that the average number of live births in the 13-19 age group from 2008-2012 was 7,245.2, almost 1,000 fewer than the 2003-2007 period, which registered an average of 8,203.

In tandem with that, the board’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey for 2008 said that 72 in every 1,000 births occurred in adolescents.

“Teenage pregnancy is of great concern to us. They have the highest rate of mistimed and unwanted pregnancies and we can clearly see the implication of this,” said acting director of outreach and prevention at the board, Marion Scott, while she addressed the Jamaica Observer Press Club last Thursday.

Scott, who was accompanied by chairman of the board Dr Sandra Knight, executive director Sania Sutherland, as well as family planning youth ambassador Odane Allison and teen mother Krystal Cousins, said that transactional sex (sex for money and other favours) and intergenerational sex (between teens and older men) are “rampant and very openly accepted” and do account for some incidents of teen pregnancy.

However, the team from the family planning board stressed that the underlying reason was that parents have been neglecting

to talk openly to their children about sex.

“As if they don’t talk about it they are not going to have it. The opposite is true,” Scott said.

“It’s concerning for us that we are not seeing the growth in the family as it concerns communicating with their children about sex and sexuality and sexual health,” Sutherland added.

The women were speaking against the background of Safer Sex Week, which is being observed this week.

As far as Knight is concerned, “the abstinence message has not worked, is not working and we can only assume that it will never work”.

“We still have that message (but)

when we look at our data -- and these surveys are multimillion dollar [surveys done] every five years -- the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and of HIV and STIs is still the same.

It’s not being changed, so we have to look at doing things differently,” she said.

“The data shows us that the more we tell young people not to have sex, it’s the more they’re having it, so the repackaging of the sex message is critical,” she stated.

RGD’s preliminary figures for 2012 show that 7,049 teenagers 13-19, and three 12-year-old children had live births. There were 7,007 in 2011, with eight 12-year-olds and an 11-year-old. For 2010, there was no data for girls under 13, but a total of 7,188 teenage girls became mothers. The numbers

for 2009 and 2008 were 7,612, (with six 2-year-olds and one 11-year-old) and 7,370 ( with six 2 year-olds).

As Knight reasoned it, any significant reduction in the numbers will only come when parents, teachers, and church leaders begin having open and frank conversations about sex and sexuality with teens.

“We want to have a focus on sexual health education in the home, in the school, everywhere that everybody gathers, which includes the churches. The church needs to be part of sexual health education and we would like to encourage our faith-based organisations to come on board with us in this initiative,” she said, making reference to one of the objectives of Safer Sex Week.

Knight suggested that the conversation should not just tell teens not to have sex, but should explain the reasons they should abstain. “There is a distinct change of direction when it comes to talking to young people about sex. ‘Sex is pleasurable’, let’s start there. ‘And you’re going to have certain feelings, you’re going to want to explore, but along with that comes consequences and also, you’re gonna have some outcomes that you may not want’.

“We have to encourage this type of dialogue between parents and young people,” she said.

Knight said that the concept is currently being worked on.

Safer Sex Week begins tomorrow, February 10, and wraps up on Saturday, February 15. It will include HIV testing and the distribution of condoms and other forms of contraceptives in Cross Roads on Friday. (Jamaica Observer)

14 Wednesday, February 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Denise Belfon speaks up - says Trinidad Carnival as a product must be perfected

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Aba Luke Entertainment Each year Denise Belfon- known best as ‘Saucy Wow’, creates a stir with her stage show and not to mention the lyrics she usually concocts. This year is no different and as Trinidad and Tobago’s carnival heats up, the wining queen as she has been called, is readying herself to please audiences across the country more than ever before.

The semi finals of the International Groovy and Power Soca Monarch competitions take place on Sunday, February 9th at the Arima Velodrome and Belfon, having secured her space in the Groovy leg of the competition, is promising to bring it like never before.

Many who’ve seen Saucy’s performances will agree that Denise never fails to truly entertain, often spicing up her show with unique gyrating techniques. To indicate that there will be more to experience is certainly a big announcement but even with that on her mind, Denise Belfon says she is a bit concerned about the festival that she loves so much- the festival touted across the world by Trinbagonians as the greatest show on earth. “Each year we encounter the same problems and as a society, we talk about it and we lament, but this year I’ve found myself wondering if we will ever get it right or if, like the steelpan, some other country will come and swoop it out from underneath us,” said Belfon. She says she is baffled by the inability of the powers that be at the various carnival foundations, to simply get it right.

Personally, Denise says she isn’t directly affected by the problems that face the carnival industry but as a key player in the

business of carnival- an artiste, Belfon says she is indirectly affected and is saddened that Trinidad and Tobago’s annual show that calls for millions from across the world to visit local shores, still cannot be of the world class standard that it truly should be. “Each year we hear band leaders complaining about the carnival route. Each year there are issues with the allocation of monies for various shows and competitions and carnival still doesn’t have a permanent home so much like a roving tent, the stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah and all the infrastructure they erect each year for the event, has to be broken down at the end of the season,” she emphasized.

Despite often delivering performances filled with raunchy expressions, Denise Belfon’s thoughts are much more than meet the eye. She values the business that brings her an income- the business that has fed her family and taken her to destinations across the world.

For the love of the business, she says she will continue to do her part in creating music to fill the carnival atmosphere, however she says it’s time for the business of carnival to be taken seriously. “This is a product that is sold to the world annually. We all have a part to play and it would be nice if the entities that control the various aspects of Carnival would come together and structure things with a goal to implementing measures that would make T&T’s Carnival the world-class event it ought to be,” said Belfon.

On Sunday at the Arima Velodrome, Belfon performs in position number 28 with her African inspired carnival track, ‘Chuku Chuku.’

Exited to stand atop the stage amid the thousands that will gather, Belfon is aiming to make it to the top of the Groovy pack and is promising an A-class performance when her name is called. She especially thanks Super Industrial Services, her kind sponsors who have outfitted her with all that she requires to make Sunday a very special day indeed. To her fans and supporters, she says, “Get ready!” (EtceteraBuzz.com)

Devant Under Threat Continued From Page 12 -- Government Minister Devant Maharaj says he has been bombarded by threatening text messages from a woman who has been trying to “extort financial favours” from him. He said the fallout with Trinidad Express columnist Shirley Hall has left him no other option but to report it to National Security Minister Gary Griffith. Maharaj told the Guardian that Hall has been using her position in the media to “extort financial favours” from him and when frustrated by his refusal, took to texting him threats on his cellphone.

He said Hall was expecting him to purchase her book for his ministry, but when his technical staff shut that down, he has since faced “harassment and threats” from Hall.

The messages, which Maharaj forwarded to the Guardian, say he will become a cripple by February 27. The messages spoke about Freemasons and a high priest, who can reverse the curse, if he agreed to meet by February 11.

Hall, in a subsequent telephone interview, denied these claims, saying that Maharaj was using his ministerial position and connections to intimidate her and shut her up. She said the two clashed because Maharaj has been using excerpts from her book, A New Caribbean Homegarden Handbook, in his speeches without her permission and without crediting her for the information.

Threatening texts However, Hall denied she threatened Maha-

raj. She said the book was published in 2011 and has been used by ministries and in schools to teach local agriculture issues. Hall said her book was often quoted by people in India and London and they all sought permission. “What makes him different? He feel because he is a minister he could do what he wants?” she said.

Maharaj has since sent copies of the offending texts to both Griffith and Health Minister Fuad Khan.

“I sent the texts to the Health Minister because I believe the woman may be in need of psychiatric assistance,” Maharaj said.

“She cannot deny sending me those texts, I have them saved on my phone for anyone to see,” he said. The texts are somewhat obscure, containing no punctuation, several spelling errors and stating that he already consumed a “bad potion” that would leave him numb from the neck down. Maharaj said Griffith would advise him on his next step, which would likely lead to a police investigation.

Unhinged: “The whole thing is unhinged,” he said. When asked about the charges of plagiarism, Maharaj said he “did not know the woman’s book at all” and as such could not quote or cite from it. He said he was not afraid of the pending legal action from the author. “I’m saying let her bring the proof that I stole her work...I have proof that she threatened me when I refused to use her book,” he said. (Trinidad Guardian)

16 Wednesday, February 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Chanderpaul fails to save Guyana against Jamaica

TRINIDAD -- West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored a battling half century but was unable to take Guyana to victory over Jamaica in their final preliminary round Nagico Super50 clash at the Queen’s Park Oval on Saturday night.

Set a competitive 244 for victory after Nkrumah Bonner slammed 122 not out for Jamaica, the Guyanese were well on the way until the dependable left hander fell for 65. Despite little cameos along the way for the rest of the innings, Guyana fell 10 runs short of victory and finishes second in Group A behind the Jamaicans who completed their preliminary round campaign with three wins.

Guyana had the match in their grasp when they were cruising on 96-2, following an opening partnership of 88 runs between Trevon Griffith (37) and Chanderpaul (65).

But the slide began following Chanderpaul’s departure and some aggressive bowling from Russell and Cottrell didn’t help Guyana’s batting.

Assad Fudadin (21) was threatening to turn things in favour of the Guyanese but his attempt at a big hit at Cottrell resulted in a top edge and a comfortable catch to Miller at mid wicket. Thereafter, only Anthony Bramble (14) and Veerasammy Permaul (17 not out) got into double figures.

Guyana reached 233 from 49.5 overs withRussell finished with 3-51 and Cottrell 3-62 Earlier, Bonner scored a well controlled century to lead a great Jamaican fight back.

Tottering at 170 for seven, the right hander forged a hurricane 70-run partnership with Nikita Miller to take his team to 243 for seven off their 50 overs.

Winning the toss and batting, the Jamaicans found the early going tough and was reduced to 45 for three in the midst of great bowling from pacer Ronsford Beaten.

The lanky Guyanese bowled an impeccable line and length to trouble the batsmen, on a pitch that was a bit two paced.

Bonner weathered the storm and slowly started to rebuild the innings. He scored his half century off 117 balls and found good company in the form of Andre McCarthy 27. When McCarthy fell the Jamaicans lost three other quick wickets to be reduced to 170 for seven. It was at this point that Bonner changed gears, as the white ball started to fly all over the park.

The last 10 overs of the innings pro-

duced 104 runs as he and Miller ran riot.

Bonner brought up his century off 148 balls and ended on 122 not out. His final tally read 157 balls, eight fours and five sixes. Miller’s 20 not out came off 13 balls with two fours.

SCOREBOARD Jamaica vs Guyana Jamaica inns Horace Miller c A Bramble b R Beaton 06 John Campbell c A Bramble b C Barnwell 10 Nkrumah Bonner not out 122 Tamar Lambert c A Bramble b A Fudadin 07 Andre McCarthy c L Johnson b V Permaul 27 Carlton Baugh Jr+ c C Barnwell b V Permaul 08 David Bernard Jr* lbw b R Beaton 08 Andre Russell c T Griffith b D Bishoo 14 Nikita Miller not out 20 Extras 3lb, 18w 21 Total for 7 wkts (50ovs) 243 Fall of wkts: 14, 25, 45, 97, 134, 152, 170.

Bowling: C Barnwell 10-0-57-1, R Beaton 8-2-56-2, A Fudadin 6-1-17-1, D Bishoo 100-37-1, V Permaul 10-0-45-2, R Crandon 6-0-28-0.

Guyana inns Trevon Griffith c McCarthy b Russell 37 S Chanderpaul c Campbell b Cottrell 65 Robin Bacchus c Baugh b Russell 06 Leon Johnson lbw b Lambert 16 Christopher Barnwell* b Campbell 11 Assad Fudadin c Miller b Cottrell 21 Royston Crandon run out (Bernard) 13 Anthony Bramble+ b Cottrell 14 Veerasammy Permaul not out 17 Devandra Bishoo b Russell 06 Ronsford Beaton run out (Campbell) 09 Extras: (lb 1, w 15, nb 2) 18 Total (10 wkts; 49.5 overs) 233 Fall of wickets: 1-88, 2-96, 3-124, 4-145, 5-152, 6-178, 7-192, 8-201, 9-216, 10-233 Bowling: Jerome Taylor 8-0-27-0 (1w), Sheldon Cottrell 10-1-62-3 (1nb, 8w), David Bernard 5-0-29-0 (1nb, 1w), Nikita Miller 6-1-26-0, Tamar Lambert 10-1-27-1, Andre Russell 9.5-1-51-3 (4w), John Campbell 1-010-1 (1w) Result: Jamaica won by 10 runs Man of the match: Nkrumah Bonner (Jamaica) (Trinidad Guardian)

18 Wednesday, February 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Caribbean Pot: Baby pak choi with salted cod, the Caribbean way Chris De La Rosa Caribbean Cooking One of my favorite dishes growing up on the islands was when mom would make pak choi with leftover stewed pork. The slight crunch from the pak choi (not over-cooked) combined with the flavors brought to the game by the tender pieces of stewed pork with hints of ginger.. I may have to get that one done very soon as I now have a craving.

Back to the pak choi with salted fish recipe… This version is just as tasty, as I find that the bits of salted cod brings it’s own unique flavor to the finished dish.

You’ll notice that I added this recipe to the vegetarian section as the salted fish can easily be omitted with great results. I would just double up on the onion and garlic for added flavor.

He H Here’s ere’ ere re’s w re what hat yo ha you’ll ou’ u’ll n need: eed eed: ee d:: 2 lb b bbaby ab by pakk ch choi hoii 1 cup prepared salted cod 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 scotch bonnet pepper 1 large onion (diced) 4 cloves garlic (diced) 2 tablespoon olive oil Optional – Cashews and/or sliced almonds Double wash the pak choi as there’s usually sand/dirt between the stems and drain, then chop into 1/4 inch pieces (cut across into ribbons). You’ll need to boil the salted fish (cod) then rinse and shred. The boiling will remove most of the salt it was cured in and help hydrate it a bit. If you don’t boil the salted fish in water before using it will be too salty for use. Watch this video if you’re unfamiliar with working with salted fish (click link) : How To Prepare Salted Fish.

Try to purchase boned salted fish to avoid having to pick out the tiny bones.. but still keep an eye out for any bones which may still be present in boned saltfish.

Now heat the oil on a medium flame in a wide pan and add the diced garlic and onion. Reduce the heat to low and slow-

ly cook for 3-5 minutes. Then toss in the bits of salted cod (any dry salted fish) as well as the black pepper and with the heat still on low cook for another 2-3 minutes The goal here is to get a ton of flavor created before adding the chopped pak choi.

Raise the heat to medium and start adding the chopped pak choi to the pot. It will wilt as it cooks so don’t get alarmed when you get the feeling it won’t all fit in your pan. Top with the scotch bonnet pepper and stir well. Do not cover the pot or you’ll risk having too much moisture/liquid form.

Cook with the pan uncovered for 5-7 minutes or until you get the desired texture you like with your pak choi. I like it with a slight crunch. You’ll notice that I didn’t add any salt to the dish as the remaining salt from the salted cod will be enough

to season this properly.. but do taste and adjust accordingly.

If you want to add some cashews or sliced almonds, you can do so the final 2 minutes of cooking. This will add a lot of texture to the dish (and protein). Remember when working with scotch bonnet (or any hot pepper) to wear gloves if your skin is sensitive and do wash your hands with soap and water immediately after. Also note that the scotch bonnet is optional and do not include the pepper’s seeds if you’re concerned about the raw heat. The seeds and white membrane surrounding the seeds is where the majority of heat will be.

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Wednesday, February 12, 2014 19

The basics of meditation Geeta Maraj Yoga Learning to control the mind so as to focus on a single thought is the ultimate goal of meditation. However, this disciplined practice of silence, becomes a challenge when we give ourselves a moment to focus on the activities of the mind. We soon realize as we try to de-clutter our mind and focus singly, how many thoughts we process per minute.

Meditation, however, is the key to understanding a greater purpose to our existence.

It helps to evaluate our busy mind and in so doing, it aids in directing us to evaluate our health and emotions.

While the idea of meditating might seem wonderful or you might have been fortunate to be exposed to a gathering where someone tries to lead you into meditation - this is easier said than done! Meditation is not a doing which happens overnight. In fact, it takes years sometimes for one to even begin experiencing a hint of blissful awareness through meditation. But this should never be a hindrance to meditation as the benefits are well worth the wait.

The first step toward learning to meditate is to learn to focus your thoughts more precisely. This should be done on a

continuous basis as you carry on with your general activities. Study your mind and learn to keep your focus on what you are doing only. This process is called ‘being in the moment’. Try to stay focused on the task at hand by studying every aspect of what you are doing. For example, if you are having a cup of tea, study every aspect of the cup; the tea; how it is made; where the tea may have come from; how many people were involved in finally getting this tea to the cup of which you are now drinking. By focusing on the task at hand, and not allowing your mind to wander aimlessly or be preoccupied with various issues, it allows your mind to learn to focus.

The second stage of meditation comes by understanding your breath. Your pattern of breathing influences your mind.

If your breath is rapid and short, then your mind will be busy and you will be prone to irritability and anger. If your breath is slow and extended, then you will be more inclined to being calm and peaceful in mood.

To practice having, even calm breaths, you must first of all learn the proper rhythm of your body when you breathe. The correct rhythm of the body is as you inhale your chest should rise and your abdomen extend.

When you exhale, your abdominal muscles should contract, so as to push the stale air out of your lungs. Often, this pattern is reversed, and while we might be breathing, there is very little fresh air being allowed into our lungs at each breath. To correct poor breathing habits, you should exhale all your breath, until your abdominal muscles are tightly contracted. After which, once you inhale, your breathing pattern will be corrected.

The next stage toward successful meditation is to practice focusing on an image. Start by staring at an image and study every aspect of that image, as you did when you started to initially practice ‘being in the moment’. Once you practice open eye meditation onto an image for a period of time, then close your eyes and begin to visualize the image of which you were starting. This helps you to learn to focus, quieten the mind and concentrate.

Eventually, with the preceding practices, you will naturally know when it is time for you to sit in meditation. This should be a routine that you build upon at a regular time and place. The purpose to a routine is that it brings continuance in your efforts and encourages you along the way.

Here are some tips towards successful meditation: Have no expectations: Don’t have a goal in mind as you meditate. Just enjoy the fact that you are giving that moment to yourself and observe how your body reacts. Try to sit in silence for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, focusing on nothing but your breathing.

Never try to practice meditation when you are sleepy: Have a nap first, as there will be no progress in meditation if your mind is tired and wants to rest.

Allocate a specific area of your home or office where you meditate: Do not allow anyone to sit in your meditation spot. Keep your meditation area very personal and private, as this helps to develop a pure, calm

energy. When it is not possible to have a specific spot for meditation, the mat or blanket which you sit on to meditate must be kept very personal and not shared with anyone.

While burning incense is not necessary, you may want to incorporate it as part of your meditation ritual.

Never begin meditating on an empty stomach or after you have over eaten: Keeping your stomach half filled prevents your mind from being distracted by the demands of your body which in turn causes difficulty in focusing.

Practice Breath meditation: This type of meditation has numerous health benefits – when you bring attention to your breath, you breathe more deeply and slowly. You bring awareness to the life sustaining activity of your body. The process helps you to relax your heart and lowers your blood pressure.

You also become more energy efficient.

As you allow yourself to be fully present while maintaining your focus, you eventually find yourself slipping into that gap which exists between thoughts. Within that expanding space of nothingness, you experience pure awareness. Through meditation, you are allowing your mind to take a break from its constant processing. According to The Buddha, “Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.”

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Just breathe - Ancient practice of pranayama can help you detoxify, shed excess weight and boost overall vitality Forget the detox pills, fasts and other painful cleansing techniques - instead, take a cue from the yogis of India and look to the breath. Using yogic breathing techniques, we can effortlessly detoxify, burn fat and increase metabolism.

With the basic act of bringing in more oxygen, vitamins and minerals are more easily absorbed, white blood cells multiply and the lymphatic system is enhanced. Through the exhale toxins are removed from the bloodstream, which revitalizes the organs and clarifies the intellect.

Techniques range from a few deep breaths before a meal to more complex practices. Either way, by using this free detoxification method daily, we can easily (and economically) cleanse the body and mind.

The time-honored art of breathing Yogis of long ago recognized the merit in calming, cleansing and balancing the body and mind with the breath. Developed over 5,000 years ago, pranayama (Sanskrit for ‘vital energy’ and ‘extend’) is an integral aspect of yogic practice.

Below are several examples of how to use the

breath to keep the system healthy on all levels.

Simple breath - Before each meal, take three deep breathes. Inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Although seemingly basic, this technique sharpens the senses of smell, taste and texture while promoting clarity. When we are clear and focused during our meals, digestion is improved and over-consumption minimized. The end result: efficiency of digestion and weight loss.

Relaxing breath - Lie flat on your back with knees bent together, bringing the feet close into the buttocks. Place hands on both sides of the naval region. Breath in a slow, deep rhythmic manner for 20 repetitions. Since the naval region is dense with nerves, relaxing this area calms emotions, strengthens the nervous system and fortifies the immune system - ultimately aiding in the removal of unnecessary thoughts and toxins from the body.

helps to slim and tone the belly, boost metabolism and detoxify the body. Sit cross-legged on the floor and place both hands on the lower abdomen. Take a deep breath then begin to ‘pump’ the breath rapidly through the nose, expanding and contracting the entire belly. For visual instructions, see here.

Ujjayi (Victorious Breath) - Sitting in a comfortable position, inhale through the nose and lift the chest. Hold for two seconds. While exhaling through the nose, guide the breath to the back of the throat, creating a ocean wave like sound (sometimes referred to as the ‘Darth Vader breath’). When practiced properly, ujjayi pranayama should energize and relax. It also oxygenates the blood, builds internal body heat and removes toxins.

A note of caution: Pranayama is not recommended for those with high blood pressure.

(NaturalNews)

Bhastrika (Breath of Fire) - This technique

Is your toothpaste harming your health? n our modern world the message to brush, floss and gargle is drummed into us by media and dentists alike, delivering the message that although our lives may not depend on our commitment to oral hygiene, our teeth definitely do. So for many of us the dental routine is performed religiously, often several times a day without thought for the efficacy or safety of the products we are using. But what many don’t realize is that in our attempts to fight off tooth decay and bad breath we may actually be using dental products that not only don’t live up to their promises for healthier teeth, but that may also be hazardous to our health.

The common, questionable synthetic ingredients found in many toothpastes include: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is a foaming agent known to irritate tissues. SLS increases skin permeability allowing other chemicals to be absorbed more readily into the body.

Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) is commonly contaminated with dioxin and reacts

with other ingredients to form nitrosamines.

Triclosan was originally registered as a pesticide and is linked to cancer, disrupts thyroid hormones and affects heart function.

Fluoride is linked to cancer, it is a systemic poison and damages the thyroid.

There may also be other potentially harmful ingredients lurking inside your toothpaste tube such as artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners.

The problem doesn’t end with your toothpaste, however, as dental care products such as mouth wash and dental floss are also potentially hazardous to your health. Mouth wash has been linked to oral cancers and dental floss is coated with carcinogenic wax.

Aren’t there better ways to look after your teeth?

Dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash are used by most people at least once each day (often several times) and ingredients in these products are readily transported into the

body through mucous membranes, so it is advisable to ensure the products we use are safe.

However in some countries there is no requirement for full disclosure of the ingredients in dental products because they are classified as drugs rather than cosmetics. This makes it difficult if not impossible for those who care about what they use on their mouths, and the mouths of their children, to avoid unsafe ingredients.

The good news is that there are safe options available for cleaning teeth: safe and healthy products that do list their ingredients are being manufactured by ethical companies. Increasingly there are more all natural and even organic toothpastes and mouth washes being made available to increasingly health conscious consumers.

And finally if we take into consideration studies done by the Weston A Price Foundation on the dental health of people eating traditional diets of whole, unprocessed foods, then it becomes clear that there is strong evidence that brushing, flossing and gargling may in fact be a total waste of time. (NaturalNews)

What if food ads had to list the side effects like prescription drugs on TV? It is as if we are living in total “idiocracy” that any human being would even consider any medication advertised on television with all those crazy side effects, like internal bleeding, loss of vision, coma, feelings of suicide and death. It’s literally insulting to intelligence, yet millions of Americans still run to their doctors with health problems and take whatever the doctor prescribes, without question, and then wonder what went wrong. If food commercials had to list the side effects, including the short- and long-term adverse health effects of eating the “garbage” that’s served up like it’s actual food with nutritive value, then maybe people would start waking up and realize that the medicine they take is prescribed to cover up the symptoms of the disorders and diseases that they get from eating “idiotic” junk science food and synthetic, processed, genetically mutated trash.

This is the true story of ordinary people who are taken into a top-secret junk-foodscience experiment that goes awry, and awaken to disease and disorder just decades later, in present-day America. They discover that the world has degenerated into a dystopia where advertising, commercialism and cultural antiintellectualism run rampant on all the major networks, on billboards, in magazine ads and all over the place. This dysgenic “pressure” has

resulted in a uniformly “tardo” human society devoid of individual responsibility for the food being consumed and the medicine that quells the symptoms of pesticide, insecticide and hormone-laden GM food. A country that lives off of sugar and cheap animal grease has woken up to chronic ailments but can’t figure out where it’s all coming from.

Food FX Gone Awry Example of fast food commercial: Did you get your burger, fries and cola today? Side effects include constipation, irritable bowels, anal leakage, congestive heart failure, Alzheimer’s and loss of will to exercise.

Typical corporate cereal commercial: Have you had your GM whole grain flakes today? Side effects include loss of immunity and cell mutation. Daily consumption may lead to nervous system disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Addiction to processed, refined grains and sugars can alter memory and cause diabetes. Ask your doctor if those disorders are right for you.

TOXI-FOOD-IKOL Warning Typical Big Pharma commercial: Does your skin itch constantly? Do you have numb and dull pains in your body? Do you suffer from migraine headaches that come on all of the sud-

den? Do you have joint pain or back pain? Is your vision blurred, and do you have insomnia?

Ask your doctor about Toxi-food-ikol, the new medication for eating toxic food! You can keep eating anything you want to and “get rid of the symptoms!” Side effects include internal bleeding, loss of muscle control and loss of vision, hearing, taste and smell. Some patients experience periods of coma and forget who their relatives are. Do not mix your medication with any vitamins or minerals. Only drink tap water when taking Toxi-food-ikol. Some people experience loss of bone marrow, hair loss and loss of touch, and others simply can’t breathe properly. Do not take Toxi-food-ikol and read at the same time.

There’s a cure for idiocracy. Do not ever take Toxi-food-ikol. Do not eat cancer. Do not drink cancer. Don’t put cancer on your skin.

Most disease and disorder comes from toxic food consumption. If you see a lot of advertisements on television for any given products, chances are that the corporations paying for that air time also support toxic food and toxic medicine. That’s where the real profits are, but that’s also where the idiots foster negligence and suffer the long-term “side effects.” Go 100% organic and get healthy before the GMO vultures find you. (NaturalNews)

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How to cure pneumonia naturally with vitamin C Pneumonia is the eighth killer disease in the world. It is caused by both bacteria and viruses. One is likely to get the disease after having a cold or a flu infection. Pneumonia caused by a virus can be very dangerous because it cannot be cured by antibiotics. No matter the amount of antibiotics you use, it will do nothing to cure the disease. Doctors give antibiotics just in case there is any secondary infection caused by bacteria. The good news is that pneumonia can now be prevented, and even cured naturally with high doses of vitamin C. Cured in three hours According to Dr. Andrew Saul, author of a world renowned book by the title, Fire Your

Doctor and Doctor Yourself, taking the required amount of vitamin C will cure your flu infection. He further says that the amount of vitamin C you require varies with how sick you are. The more ill you are, the more the amount of vitamin C you will require to cure yourself. He advises that you should take the amount that will get the job done, which could be much, much more than you expected. Dr Saul says that he took 2000 milligrams of vitamin C every six minutes he was awake. That is 20,000 milligrams of vitamin C in an hour. Despite him coughing a lot, he continued taking his dose and after three hours his fever dropped by three degrees and his cough reduced.

The infant Dr. Saul also gives a case of a one-year old infant who had been very sick. It had been given 11 full courses of antibiotics within 12 months with no positive results. If you give antibiotics over and over again, they are not going to work. If it didn’t work the first three months, it will never work. Dr Saul advised the child’s father who was very desperate to do anything, to give his child high doses of vitamin C. The parents didn’t know the amount of doses to give the child. They were advised to give it as many doses as are required to cure the infant. The parents gave 20,000 milligrams of vitamin C to the infant.

The infant slept throughout the night and the symptoms improved.

From the life supporting machine The case of Mr. Allan Smith, a farmer in New Zealand, is another inspiring one. He had fallen ill from double pneumonia and leukemia. The doctors were about to pull the plug from his life supporting machine but his family insisted that they first try high doses of vitamin C. The doctors agreed and after administering mega doses of vitamin C, Allan walked out of hospital.

Therefore, the next time you have a cold, flu or are attacked with pneumonia and you ran out of options, try high doses of vitamin C. They work so well that you will never go for the flu shots anymore. (NaturalNews)

Organic food - who can we trust Organic food is big business. According to the Organic Trade Association, U.S. sales of organic food and beverages went from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in 2010. The Organic Monitor estimates that organic sales (globally) reached $54.9 billion in 2009. But, unfortunately, many small organic farms are selling out to bigger food corporations. We must ask - who can we trust?

‘Organic’ food from China - can we believe it?

Whole Foods, arguably the largest retailer of organic foods, ended the year 2013 with sales approaching $13 billion. Clearly, consumer demand for fresh, organic (healthy) food is on the rise. But, wait, for the uninformed consumer - you may want to be careful with your food money.

Many of the foods sold at Whole foods - plus many other health food stores - are loaded with heavy metals, genetically

modified ingredients and may not be organic, especially if these foods come from China.

You see, even though we see the ‘USDA organic seal’ - many of these foods from China are not really inspected by USDA officials.

We have to trust or rely on a ‘third party’ inspector that resides inside China.

In addition, we have to wonder about the quality of the food grown in China - due to its contaminated water supply. A growing number of health conscious consumers are learning that polluted water will usually equal a greater risk for heavy metal toxicity. Bottom line - just because a food product says it’s ‘organic’ doesn’t mean it’s safe to eat. Know your source.

5 great reasons to buy local, organic food Obvious, for most people, it’s a bit challenging to buy every food item locally. So, at the very least really get to know the source of your food - before you make your purchase.

No one wants to invest in toxic food - which promotes sickness and disease.

Naturally, there’s nothing more enjoyable (or healthier) than buying food from a local, organic farmers market. Even better - try to grow your own food. You can even create a sprout garden - indoors!

Here are just a few reasons to buy locally: 1. Local food taste better. Obviously, when food is grown locally, you’ve got a better chance of eating fresher food. Most produce, in the supermarket, is picked weeks ahead of time - before it’s ripe.

2. Eating local food is seasonal. This is one of the best ways to get ‘in touch’ with nature.

As you eat food seasonally - you’ll also notice that your diet tends to have much more variety.

3. Local food has more nutrition. Once a fruit or vegetable is picked - it will begin to lose its nutritional value. When you buy local food - you’re more likely to be eating fresher food - filled with more vitamins and minerals.

4. Local food supports your community. This is a great way to boost the economy around you. When you spend your money (locally) it helps to support local farmers. This money is more likely to be re-invested in local businesses and services.

5. Local food is better for the environment.

This is a great reason to buy locally-grown, organic food. Many of these farmers are less likely to use an abundance of dangerous chemicals or use genetically modified seeds to grow their crops. Want to help defeat Monsanto? Buy local, organic food. (NaturalNews)

WOMAN ON FIRE GALA! Sunday 27th April 2014

www.womanonfiregala.com

Info/tickets: 647-713-3622

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Beauty from the inside out Monique Bartlett Fitness Health is wealth. By being physically fit, it can make you healthy both inside and out.

There is a lot you can do such as jogging, running or walking in the morning, playing basketball, soccer, tennis or any other sport with friends. Just like taking any medicine, you should first consult your doctor before undergoing any form of exercise.

Physical exercise is beneficial be-

cause it helps maintain and improve your health from a variety of diseases and premature death. It also makes you feel happier and increases your confidence and selfesteem. It has also been shown that a person with an active lifestyle may live longer than a person who doesn’t.

The best exercise plan should have both cardiovascular and weight training exercises. This helps burn calories and increases the muscle to fat ratio that will increase your metabolism. If you have never worked out before you should do it gradually. Doing too much your first few times can make you pull a muscle or create any other type of injury. Endurance will never be built in a day but exercising on a regular basis will make you stronger and increase your endurance level overall.

But beauty is not only about looking good; it’s also about feeling good. Another way to stay healthy is to give up some vices. We still live in a society where people smoke and drink. Smoking has been proven to cause lung cancer and other diseases.

Excessive drinking has also shown to cause several diseases. If you can quit these not so healthy habits or at least reduce the amount you smoke or drink it will be more beneficial to you in the long run.

It’s also important to start your day with a positive outlook. Just as studies have shown that exercise makes a person feel happier, smiling and laughing also produces the same effect. A smile and laughter can do a lot and are contagious in a positive sense. It brightens the day of not only you but others around you as well.

What to do when youʼre in the grips of the flu Dr. Lydia Thurton ND BASc

Health Tips We’ve all been there. Aching body, cold sweats and hot flashes, splitting headaches and sniveling noses. Last issue, we talked about whether or not one should get the flu shot. For some of us that article simply came too late. We were reduced to shells of our former selves, bedridden and ill. Nobody has time for that! Nurse yourself back to tip top form and kick that flu to the curb.

By the time you actually feel sick, you have had the influenza virus for two days. Most people are infectious one day before they have symptoms and will continue to be infectious until day five. This is the time when you are a contagious menace to the general public. Healthy, happy people

everywhere urge you to stay home.

So, you are quarantined at home and you have a fever. This is a critical decision making point. Do you take something to reduce the fever or do you sweat it out?

Fever is an ancient bodily response. Many types of animals use an increase in body temperature to fight off infection. Fever can activate immune cells and make it uncomfortable for nasty bugs to survive. New research from McMaster University noted that almost 1,000 lives per year, in North America, would be saved if we nursed a fever properly.

A fever is not dangerous. However, infants are an exception. Keep their temperatures down. Children are fine with fevers under 39°C and adults up to 40°C. Use your instincts with children, if they are acting very lethargic or fussy it is worth consulting with a physician.

There are a number of wonderful herbs that have anti-viral effects. They are safe and can be used on the whole family.

One of my favorites is elderberry syrup. This is a pressed juice of the sambucus berry. It is quite tasty and can be given to children. Juic-

ing fruits and vegetables in general is very nutritious when sick. It provides the body with a tremendous about of vitamin C and antioxidants.

Echinacea purpurea is a wellknown herb that can shorten the duration of your influenza infection by beefing up your immunity. The best researched Echinacea product is Vogels Echinaceaforce. Look for that brand at a health food store near you and follow the directions on the label. There are a number of more rare herbs, elecampagne, euphrasia, yarrow and old man’s beard that have been traditionally used for influenza infections. A naturopathic doctor or herbalist can help you use them properly.

Optimizing your vitamin D status is critical. There are numerous studies that show that people with low vitamin D are more susceptible to influenza infection. Vitamin D is an affordable vitamin, and the drop form is very easy to take. Adults should take at least 1000iu daily.

Getting the flu can really zap your vitality. Use sick time to rest, eat soup, drink fluids and be thankful for your health when it returns.

Enough cannot be said of a beautiful smile Dr. Matthew Weekes BSC DDS MTh DMin

Dental Health

Enough cannot be said of a beautiful smile.

It is an expression of one’s wellbeing. The owner of this blessed gift derives self-esteem, confidence, calmness and comfort. A beautiful set of pearly well-aligned natural looking teeth is the craving of the young and old.

Although a beautiful smile is very

important and is often the driving force to visit the dentist, your teeth have other important functions ranging from supporting the jaws, preserving the bone in the jaws, aiding in digestion, speech, balancing the forces between the cheek and the tongue and helping to maintain the shape of the face and the mouth.

Your dentist and staff can help to give you the smile of your dreams and help you to maintain it for a lifetime but the best results require you be a willing motivated active partner. Be nice to your teeth and they will be nice to you. Pamper them and they will smile back at you.

Dental treatment should start early in life. Children should be introduced to the dental team by the age of 3. Cavities and oral diseases can be detected and treated before

unpleasant and painful symptoms develop.

Steps can be taken to stop harmful oral habits such as finger sucking and tongue thrusting.

Breathing problems resulting from a narrowing of the airway passage commonly due to swollen tonsils or adenoids can be identified and treated.

While cavities are the common cause of tooth loss for children, for adults it is mainly periodontal disease or gum disease. If left untreated the result is often the loss of most or all of the teeth.

Your home care kit should contain a soft toothbrush, dental floss, toothpaste and oral rinses.

A hard toothbrush should never be used in your mouth. It wears away the enamel of your teeth exposing the softer dentin causing sensitivity.

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House hunting, choosing a mortgage & life insurance Stephen Mohammed Finance Real Estate: You’ve decided that now is the time to make the move to home ownership. You should first consult a mortgage agent/broker to assess how much of a mortgage loan you may qualify for. The next step is to obtain services and seek the advice of a Real Estate sales representative.

A sales representative will help you assess if properties of interest are at market value, overpriced or below market value.

Viewing properties can be exciting and sometimes overwhelming, but it is important to make sure the homes you’re looking at meet your needs and do not just look good on the surface. Stay within budget and do not overextend yourself financially. As stunning as the home may look, protect yourself from the unknown. A good tip is to always include a condition of financing and a condition of home inspection in your offer. Your sales representative will guide you every step of the way from viewing comparable properties to making an offer.

Mortgage: In the recent past, changes to mortgage regulations have made it challenging for individuals looking to purchase a home. Your mortgage agent/ broker will inform you of the qualifying criteria and make recommendations to assist you in choosing such things as: the amortization period, mortgage term, type

of mortgage(open or closed, fixed or variable rate) and prepayment options to name a few.

Most believe that the financial institution they are currently with will automatically give them a better or preferred rate, however this is not usually the case.

Financial institutions offer new clients cheaper rates because they can offer or sell other products to them. A mortgage agent will shop around on your behalf to get you the best rate possible.

Finance: Life insurance is an often overlooked, but integral part of one’s financial life, especially if your family depends on your income. Life insurance in most cases is designed to replace the income of a spouse or parent so that the dependents may continue living a certain quality of life without experiencing financial hardship.

The loss of a loved one is enough to deal with. It is important to give this financial decision the time and attention that it deserves, before an unfortunate happenstance might occur. Ask your agent to discuss the different types of life insurance products and select the one that is most appropriate to properly protect you and your family.

There is such a thing as being underinsured.

Be cautious of agents attempting to sell you a product that’s not right for you and your family. Also, agents are paid a percentage of the annual premium when they first sell you a policy. If an agent is soliciting you to change your product after a couple of years of selling you an insurance product and nothing has changed in your life, they may be trying to generate another commission cheque. When using an insurance agent, make sure they’re licensed to sell insurance in Ontario: http://www5.fsco.gov.on.ca/ alias2a/agents.aspx

Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act Blueprint for Citizenship Improvements BRAMPTON -- Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander launched the Blueprint for Citizenship Improvements as a part of the government’s introduction of Bill C-24, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act. Overall, Bill C-24 reinforces the government’s commitment to reduce backlogs and improve processing times while strengthening the integrity of Canadian citizenship. The Blueprint for Citizenship Improvements was launched to highlight specific action the government will take to reform the citizenship application process.

The government’s Blueprint for Citizenship Improvements aims to improve and streamline Canada’s citizenship program by reducing the decision making process from three steps to one. It is expected that by 2015–2016 this change will bring the average processing time for citizenship applications down to under a year. It is also projected that by 2015-2016, the current backlog will be reduced by more than 80 per-

cent. Citizenship application fees will be better aligned with the actual cost of processing, relieving the burden on Canadian taxpayers who currently subsidize 80 percent of the cost. Finally, with less time spent processing incomplete citizenship applications the government can focus on reducing backlogs in the current inventory.

The Blueprint for Citizenship Improvements is just one aspect included in Bill C-24, Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act introduced by the government today. Bill C-24 will: - support newcomer’s integration to the Canadian economy and communities and ensure new citizens have a stronger attachment to Canada; - protect the value of Canadian citizenship and prevent fraud, and - improve processing by cutting red tape and saving taxpayers’ dollars. (CIC)

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

How does someone end up with a $43,000.00 407 ETR bill?

Tammy Flores 407ETR Matters When Andrew Bird left the Province of Ontario for work, he had no idea the surprise that would await him when he returned and tried to plate his vehicle. Service Ontario told him that he would have to pay $43,000.00 in 407 ETR tolls before he would be able to put his vehicle on the road. $43,000.00?! At that moment, I am sure Andrew Bird was puzzled.

How could that be possible? He hadn’t been in the Province for years and so couldn’t have driven on the highway. As he looked back and remembered a bill from 2002 that he tried to get a resolution on, he realized that it obviously went unresolved.

Andrew Bird’s story hit nationally in the media forcing the 407 ETR to give a response on how someone could end up with a $43,000.00 bill, that hasn’t driven on their highway for many, many years. Kevin Sack, 407 ETR’s VP of Communications and Government Relations didn’t answer how someone that hadn’t been driving on the highway for many, many years could end up with a $43,000.00 bill. Instead, Kevin Sack went on to say that the company was in the business of providing a great service to get people to their destinations in a fast, safe and reliable way.

The company was only interested in collecting tolls and not interest and fees. He also went on to say that cases like Andrew Bird’s were rare and the company was doing everything they possibly could to make sure they gave people every opportunity to pay their bills ev-

ery month. So what happened to Andrew Bird?

Did he fall through the cracks in their system?

Time will tell. 407 ETR has not commented on Andrew Bird’s situation publicly.

The group “Stop the 407 ETR’s Abuse of Power” has been highlighting for over 3 years the fact that there are thousands of stories just like Andrew Bird’s whereby a person receives an outrageous bill, that hadn’t been on the highway for many, many years.

When the bill is investigated, it’s discovered that it was almost entirely made up of interest and fees.

Lena Leader, a member from the group says “we had a dispute with 407 ETR that we resolved back in 2004 through a collection agency because we were in Plate Denial.

After we paid the undocumented amounts of money 407 ETR claimed was owed, the Plate Denial was lifted and we were able to drive our vehicle for several years. We decided as a family that we were not going to use this highway because of how confusing and difficult it was to get any answers from the company about what exactly we owed them for. We did use it one or two times in 2007 and 2009, out of necessity. The company never sent us a bill, but the amounts owed showed up through Service Ontario when we went to renew our plates. We didn’t bother fighting with this company about not receiving the bill or what the actual tolls were because of our past experience with them.

It was a small amount of money, so we just paid it. Then, out of nowhere in 2011 we received another undocumented bill. This time it was for $33,000.00! There was absolutely no details as to what the amount was for. This time we questioned 407 ETR about what the bill was for. 407 ETR claimed that over 500 trips were made by us on their highway. We found that odd because we didn’t drive on the highway aside from the one or two times in 2007 and 2009. We asked why we hadn’t received any bills for those trips. 407 ETR didn’t answer, but promised to give us proof that those trips

occurred. It’s been over 3 years now and 407 ETR has not provided any proof that the trips occurred. We assume the bill from 2004 was never cleared. We are in Plate Denial. Our bill is over $48,000.00 for undocumented amounts claimed. This is not fair.”

“Stop the 407 ETR’s Abuse of Power” responded to Kevin Sack’s comments in an open letter that can be found at www.407etrabuseofpower.com . The group has been pointing out that there are issues with how 407 ETR bills people and that our political leaders can and should regulate how this company applies Plate Denial. So far nobody has come forward to champion the idea. The group says people have lost their jobs and their homes because of having to pay an outrageous amount of undocumented money. The group says a wide array of people have been effected and pointed out examples such as a grandmother that had her mobility taken away and couldn’t visit her grandchildren and a single mom with a disabled child has been prevented from getting her child to doctor appointments. The group is calling for better transparency with the company’s billing practices.

This should make us all question what our political leaders are doing about this issue. It is certainly within their power to regulate this company.

If you live in the Province of Ontario this can happen to you. Can you imagine, without warning, showing up one day to register your vehicle and being told you can’t unless you pay a ridiculous amount of undocumented money? Remember this has happened to thousands of people across the province because of some ambiguous legislation that allows a private corporation to withhold your ability to register your vehicle, without any rhyme or reason.

For many people, not being able to register their vehicles means not being able to work to contribute to their families or the tax base. This is an issue that affects us all.

A dramatic tropical rescue - Based on a true story Olivia Boodram Travel Imagine this: You are deep in the jungles of Malaysia, when you’re suddenly gripped by nausea. You start sweating profusely, and it’s not from the heat. Horrified, you slip into unconsciousness...and when you awaken you are in a tropical clinic looking into the eyes of a doctor.

Some time ago, this happened to one of our clients, Clara. The outcome could

have been far worse had she not purchased travel insurance. Even in this remote, exotic place, our assistance company, One World Assist (OWA) was there to help her. Here’s how.

Once Clara fell unconscious, her desperate travelling companion stayed with her while the tour guide was able to transport Clara to the nearest medical facility in the region. Her companion then found a phone and contacted OWA. Our experts quickly realized Clara’s life was at risk and arranged for evacuation. They set up ground transportation and multiple air transfers to get her to an appropriate medical care facility in Kuala Lumpur. The journey took 24 hours! Once at the hospital, Clara was stabilized until she was able to be evacuated by air to Canada to start her recovery.

This adventure illustrates that travel insurance is nothing without quality service.

After all, what good is a policy without experienced professionals to coordinate care in the event of an emergency, no matter where you may be located in the world?

However, not all care is created equal. While OWA would have paid the claim to the local doctor if needed, they went the extra mile, making sure Clara got the appropriate care no matter what it took.

Travel insurance protection is about more than just money. With Travel Underwriters, travel insurance protection, you can trust that you will receive the best possible care even if your travels take to you to the most remote and obscure destinations – whether inner city or inner jungle.

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Another soca band on the scene. O.M.G. The band promises unique experience They’ve got the physical appeal, the talent and not to mention, the energy to draw audiences to them and they’re making their debut in Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival 2014 season. O.M.G The band is brand new to the carnival circuit but they’re certainly ready to deliver. Comprising some new faces and voices, blended with some very experienced musical masterminds, O.M.G The Band has even managed to see one of its frontline vocalists through to the semi finals of the International Soca Monatrch competition.

The frontline threesome of Virgil

Williams, Akeem “Preedy” Chance, and Cherisse Guerra are ready for the season, and understanding that the market is a bit saturated, they’re promising an all round level of showmanship that’s guaranteed to wow worldwide audiences. Complete with the professionalism that’s needed and the music to prove their worth, O.M.G The Band aims at showing promoters and corporate entities that they are worth investing in. Four brand new releases can be expected from the band this season, and already one of the songs, released by Chance, best known by his sobriquet, ‘Preedy’, is mak-

ing the rounds. ‘Wining Champion’ is the first of the four songs slated to be released by the band. The track is one of the singles on the popular, Sando riddim, which also features mega soca star, Machel Montano and others. It is with this particular single that Chance has secured a spot in the Soca Monarch semis and he’s excited! In the days ahead, soca music lovers can expect three other singles that will show the vocal range of these three musicians and certainly, the effort they’re already putting into their craft.

Understanding of the saturation of the market, O.M.G The Band is presenting a unique

dynamic, opting to deliver true versatility. The individual abilities of the frontline troops to sing reggae, soca, R&B and other world music genres with perfect pitch will ultimately set them apart from the competition, they believe, and confident of this, O.M.G The Band is looking beyond local shores.

For Virgil Williams, Akeem “Preedy” Chance and Cherisse Guerra, O.M.G The Band means a new adventure, one that they’re excited to begin so with their feet on the gas, the musical team is revving that engine, and they’re ready to go! (EtceteraBuzz.com)

FOR SALE FOR SALE

FOR RENT SALE FOR

FORWANTED SALE HELP

FOR SALE WANTED

HOUSE FOR RENT: Available for January 1st 2014. 45 Amethyst Circle, Brampton, The Gore Road/Contrelle Blvd. 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms, full wash, spacious living room/dining room. Close to shopping area, businesses Call 416-570-0925 or 416722-6528

EXPERIENCED TINTERS: Experienced tinters needed for busy Brampton tint shop.

905-450-8484

APPRENTERSHIP: Student looking for apprentership position within the Electrical industry. Punctual and professional. Please call Neal 647-869-7073

METAL SHELVES: 3 metal shelve cases for cargo van. 1 in excellent condition, 2 in good condition. $500 for all 3. 647-3094606 DVDs: Assorted DVDs for sale or swap.

Contact Jim for more information. 416-8947859 JAMAICA HOME: Jamaica Home for Sale. Near Ocho Rios. Spacious 2 story house, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, hot and cold water, security grills, fully fenced yard, seasonal fruit trees, move in condition. Contact Yvonne 416-786-5149 msamie@rogers.com 2002 HONDA ACCORD COUPE: Model SE, sun roof, spoiler and heated seats. In great condition, includes new winter tires, black on black interior. Certified and Emission tested, asking $4500. 416-705-9907

ALL SEASON COTTAGE: Wasaga Beach. 4 Bedroom, sleeps 10. 15 Minutes drive from Blue Mountain and Beach. Log on to www.wasagabeachretreat.ca for more info or call 905-495-8901 SALON CHAIR: Available for rent to an establish stylist or someone who is interested in building a clientele. Contact Gurline 647-345-1752 ROOM FOR RENT: Student Preferable.

Victoria Park and Main/Danfort. Call 416938-3753. Message 416-686-5502

WEST INDIAN COOK WANTED: Start immediately. MUST be experienced. 905564-7800 BUSY BRAMPTON ROTI SHOP: Immediate help wanted. Please call 905-497-6800 SALES REPS NEEDED: Seeking sales reps to increase new business. Confident and self-motivated, highly skilled at aquiring new business. 647-722-6298 DRIVER: Driver wanted for a cargo van.

Must have a G or G2 License. Call 416938-3753. Message 416-686-5502

FOR SALE SERVICES

FRIDGE: Looking for a fridge for our church. Free or $50 and less. Call 416-9383753. Message 416-686-5502

FOR SALE PERSONALS

Financially secure businessman looking for a Guyanese Indian woman married or unmarried for companionship.

ATTENTION SPECIAL SOMEONE: You called me before, I was not ready then. Please call now.

SALT WATER AQUARIUM: 40 gal Red Sea tank value at $900 alone. includes all live stock, equiptment ,LED lights. Owner willing to setup. Asking $1000 416-7059907.

WORSHIP SPACE: Space available for Worship. Available from 2pm Location Warden and St Clair. Call 416-938-3753.

Message 416-686-5502

AQUARIUM: Fresh Water Aquarium (approx 70 gallons) includes stand, pump and decoration. $200. 416-705-9907.

ESTHETICS ROOM: In the Oakwood ave and St Clair area contact Gurline 647345-1752

Call 647-854-0335 COMPANION: Looking for a companion to share a cabin on a boat cruise. Please call after 6pm. Sally 647-344-4650

FOR SALE OPPORTUNITIES LAND IN TOBAGO: On Riseland Road, 10,500 square feet near the Airport, Royal Bank Plaza, Store Bay Beach and Mount Irvine Golf Course. Contact 647-467-3171

WORK FROM HOME: Looking for a part time job that I can do from home. NO MLM please, I’m looking for work - Sunil 647-988-3002

DISTRIBUTORS WANTED: Looking for self motivated individuals to help promote some natural health products. 416-721-9945

PERSONAL TRAINING: Free personal training using either Chiropractor or Athletic Therapy insurance benefits email eric@habitual.ca for more info!

PEN PALS: Looking for male pen pals from Guyana or Trinidad. Between the ages of 50-59. Please email sharmen.singh@ yahoo.com

28 Wednesday, February 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Your Horoscope - February 12th 2014 ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

You have more going for you than you realize. There’s also more on brew than is evident. For the moment, there’s nothing extra for you to do but allow things to unfold of their own accord. Through the weekend, keep open and feel your way along. By Monday evening and over Tuesday’s push/pull, life picks up a lot more spark and speed.

A new path or doorway could be opening.

Although it looks appealing and/or lucrative, Mercury now turns retrograde. You’ll have to do more research and put in more time before you’ll know what’s really there for you. Mercury retrograde can put you back in the game or pull you back into something that needs further processing or development. Next week speeds you along.

Ditch the schedule, pressure, or rules. Hang loose through the weekend and allow Mercury retrograde to adjust the sails. By Monday evening, you’ll feel the energy start to percolate. Something unexpected could do the trick. Tuesday gets things moving in another direction. Mercury’s backtrack into social and liberating Aquarius, starting late Wednesday, can feel like a breath of fresh air.

Even though Mercury in Pisces turns retrograde now, you should find life on a smooth roll through the start of next week, and that you are better able to let go and unwind.

Next Monday/Tuesday, the transiting Cancer moon provides a fresh refuel. By midweek, a sense of anticipation or urgency can build. Look to the end of next week for opportunity or revelation.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

If you find yourself frittering away more time and money than you usually do, you can blame Mercury retrograde in Pisces.

This influence can also make you more susceptible to suggestion, so know that you can be easily swayed or sold. Pump up on vitamins. Of course, no one will complain when your sweet or romantic side gets the better of you.

You can be disarmed, more open, impressionable, or easily wooed as Mercury retrograde winds its way through Pisces. There’s folly in projection and letting your imagination get carried away. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Mercury retrograde also finds you picking up more easily on the moods and thoughts of others, whether they’re standing in the room or not.

Simplify as best you can. If you aren’t sure who to believe or which is your better pick, wait for more clarity. Your days may run smoother, but Mercury’s retrograde cycle can also make it easy to lose sight or lose track. If you’ve missed something or someone, it won’t be for long. Life fires up as of mid next week.

At a loss or lost no longer, Mercury retrograde puts you back in touch with what’s most important to you. It can also rekindle your passion or creativity. A project, an ambition, or a relationship is also up for a reboot. Sunday/Monday, you’re on a roll.

Tuesday/Wednesday moves you in a new direction. You could make a surprise connection or breakthrough.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Uncertainty can prevail while Mercury retrograde tours Pisces. You may feel you can’t get through to someone or that you can’t piece it together for yourself. Emotional or real, an undercurrent of pressure or need grows. Chill out; let it ride through the weekend. The stars open things up for you early next week: Mercury’s revisit to Aquarius on Tuesday provides a better opportunity.

Ease up on the throttle as best you can. Noting that Mercury has just started retrograde, you probably won’t accomplish what you set out to do. Skip the unnecessary and take the weekend off. On Monday, the flow is good.

By Tuesday, you should feel like things are shaping up, that you’ve surpassed a test or hurdle.

Something lucrative or timely is on brew.

While Mercury begins retrograde in Pisces, it’s not the time to push but to allow for things to shape up. There may be something to relinquish, or you may have to revise an expectation or a goal; this can kick-start for you late Monday. Tuesday onward gets the show on the road.

It’s time for a personal regroup and review.

On a very brief visit to Pisces, Mercury’s turn to retrograde on Thursday calls for you to back up too. Listen more closely to your intuition and your body. The clues are all there. Mercury’s transit strengthens, refortifies, and revitalizes you. Monday/Tuesday, go by feel; you’ll nail it.

July 21 - August 22

July 21 - August 22

(April 21 - May 21)

(August 23 - September 22)

(December 21 - January 20)

(May 23 - June 20)

(September 23 - October 22)

(January 21 - February 18)

Answers available on www.TorontoCaribbean.com

(March 21 - April 20)

(June 21 - July 20)

(October 23 - November 21)

(February 18 - March 20)

Across 3) Cowboy’s best friend [HORSE] 8) Famous Calgary rodeo [STAMPEDE] 10) Seconds to stay on [EIGHT] 13) Where rides begin [CHUTE] 14) ____ riding [BULL] 16) Ten-____ hat [GALLON] 17) Tie-down ____ [ROPING]

Down 1) Male rodeo competitor [COWBOY] 2) Horse-and-cart racer [CHUCKWAGON] 4) ____ bronc [SADDLE] 5) Leg protectors [CHAPS] 6) ____ wrestling [STEER] 7) Ladies race around it [BARREL] 9) Traditional breakfast [PANCAKES] 11) Jumping and kicking [BUCKING] 12) Cowboy’s prize [BUCKLE] 13) Bull’s distraction [CLOWN] 15) Cowboy’s rope [LASSO]

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Content is everywhere!

Jim Pagiamtzis Business Development The ability to share content on various topics has been done on different platforms from Facebook to Twitter and many more. You have the same opportunity from sharing information about your business expertise or about a specific topic.

“Content is king” attributed to many In the current social media landscape the ability to share great content has been a daily and weekly practice for many bloggers and news media outlets.

Having the opportunity to share content in your newsletter or website is a great tool to share your expertise to a wide audience.

Interview or Video Content Interviewing entrepreneurs or professionals in your network is a great way to share topics of interest and give a different perspective to

your audience. This can educate and inspire them to take action.

The ability to teach and share is a great way to provide powerful information to your network sharing your resources and experiences.

Sharing Information Sharing information that you have previously presented or shared is a great way to be a resource to your network. Perhaps you have done a podcast or YouTube video that you want to share regarding an important issue from blogging to a picture from a previous event.

Create Your Own Content Creating your own original content is great way to always have fresh new ideas that you can share with your audience and potential clients.

These can be topics from marketing and sales to specific strategies that you can share. This gives you the opportunity to share your expertise and insights on topics and illustrate your ability to solve an issue or pain point.

There are various ways to use and share content with your network that will give you the ability to be a resource for your network.

Avoiding car insurance smams Sheren Cole

CIP, CRM, CAIB, LLQP

Insurance Matters

Ever heard the adage “if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is”?

Several Ontarians who have overlooked this advice have fallen victim to an insurance scam, when they responded to advertisements in newspapers or online, offering auto insurance at significantly re-duced rates. Here are just some of the red flags that could indicate a potential scam: 1. Advertisements that claim “everyone is ac-cepted”.

2. Requests to pay cash upfront or send money by Western Union in exchange for the insur-ance card.

3. Unable to contact the representative after you signed up – call not answered or the number is not in service.

4. The actual policy did not arrive in the mail.

Fraudulent insurance cards appear valid, but have fake policy numbers and/or expiry dates. Drivers us-ing fraudulent cards are in fact driving with no insur-ance and can face fines of up to $5,000 and/or crimi-nal charges. In addition, if involved in a motor vehi-cle collision, these drivers may find themselves liable for the costs related to the collision and any injuries to a third party. If you have any concerns about whether or not you have valid and up-to-date insur-ance, contact the insurance company named on the

card to verify that you are documented as a client.

All insurance brokers are licensed through the Regis-tered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) which regulates the licensing, professional competence, ethical conduct, and insurance related financial obligations of all independent general insurance brokers in the province. If in doubt, before accepting an offer for insurance, take the time to confirm that the broker is licensed.

Navigate the search options at www.ribo. com. In addition, legitimate Agents and Insurance companies are registered with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario - www.fsco.gov.on.ca. A broker or agent should be willing to produce their license details whenever asked. It is difficult to locate an unlicensed broker once you have been sucked into the scam, as they usually use prepaid, disposable cellular phones and police are not able to track them down. You will be left to suffer the resulting consequence so please use ex-treme caution and discretion when purchasing a new policy.

Auto insurance in Ontario is a competitive industry, but when you find an insurance quote that’s just too good to be true, especially through anonymous or unverified sources, be cautious. Let me do the shopping for you and get the service you deserve from someone you can definitely trust!

Dispel that MYTH: Leasing or financing a car is not a factor in determining how much you pay for car Insur-ance.

TIP from the Tipster: A good broker would not sug-gest that you change your address to an area out of town to get lower rates. Neither will they insist that you pay a cash only deposit upfront to secure insur-ance.

For questions or comments, or to request a topic to be featured in future, please look on page 5 in the editorial section for my contact info.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014 29

30 Wednesday, February 12, 2014

TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Connecting your soul with your business Tina Dietz Business Development Although I grew up inside of a business in both the literal and figurative sense, I didn’t start my career path with the intention of being a business owner. On the contrary, I resented the business I grew up in like a jealous sibling! But even someone as stubborn as I am eventually gets the hint, and after many years of attempting to find the “right fit” working for other companies and organizations it was finally becoming a mother that sent me over the edge. After becoming a mom I couldn’t bear the idea of not having a flexible schedule, or of doing ANYTHING for a career that was less than fulfilling my purpose in the world.

My first businesses helped other

moms enjoy their children more and create stronger families, and I loved teaching and I loved my clients. Again though, I kept feeling a “pull” to do more. I noticed that the other women I had met who were in similar businesses-and there were SO many-were struggling with time, with energy, and with making ANY profit from their extensive efforts whereas I was thriving and growing quickly even with managing a part time job, a business, and my family. I realized that all those years being inside my parents’ business, then working my way through academia, developing not for profits, and finally juggling multiple jobs and projects in different industries had allowed me to develop systemic ways of thinking and action that could be applied to ANY business. I had learned how to negotiate bureaucracy and how to find the decision makers and grow inside an industry and how to form effective teams and create support—and I could make a difference for businesses so they didn’t have to just survive…they could THRIVE! As I began to fulfill my purpose at a new level, doors began to open even further.

One of the businesses I contracted with for many years wanted to develop DVD’s for

their product line but had a minimal budget. As I delved into the project, my years of theatre and voice training (my first love as a child) came back to me. Telling the story of the product, creating powerful images and narration, and directing the team came through me. Through a chance meeting with a voice over artist, (if you believe in chance) I was recruited by a voice over agent based on the work I had done with the DVDs and in just a couple of months I was being sent on national auditions for voice over talent. I then used the training I received as a voice over artist to create more and better products and marketing for my own business.

The more you share yourself and your gifts, the more you speak your truth and authentically share from your heart, the better everything works.

So how do you begin to align to your path and connect the dots between your soul and your business? Sometimes it’s best to go far beyond the circumstances of todaybecause after all, your soul is beyond your physical body. Ask yourself these 3 questions: - What is the legacy you want to leave for

the world?

- How will you leave the world better than when you found it?

- What are all the possible ways (brainstorm!) that you could create this?

IMPORTANT! Now, as you’re thinking about this, how do you feel? Make a note of all the ways of being that you’re present to when you’re standing in this place of leaving a legacy. In the morning as you’re creating your intentions for the day or doing a Daily Workshop a la’ the Success Funnel System™, bring these ways of being, these feelings, to your awareness and create your actions from this space.

When you’re looking to align yourself, your purpose, and your business, you are after all looking at creating a lifetime vision rather than a couple of actions to get through the next day, week, or month. When you stand inside of a larger vision, more options become possible and the actions to take become clearer.