Canadian Kleptocrats

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Volume 11 • Issue 12

Wednesday, July 20 2022

“I recently learned about the existence of Mandate Letters that are provided to our Federal Ministers... it is worth noting that there is no indication that we as Canadian citizens have any input on any of these directives, which begs the question of how exactly are these objectives determined?”

FULL STORY - PAGE 8

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FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

MELXDIE “Life is like a game of chess, and you don’t want to waste your next move.”

As I watched her video, I was drawn in by the fantasy. The video had it all: dynamic colours, sexual playfulness, feminine energy, erotic dancing, out there costumes; it was like watching art in motion. The song “Checkmate,” was my first introduction to this edition’s Woman Empowered, and what an introduction it was.

Every artist plays a different and necessary part in contributing to the overall health, development, and well being of our society. They allow us to immerse ourselves in imagination and fantasy, yet remain grounded enough to start thinking about how to turn our dreams into reality.

Her playful attitude is one of the hallmarks of her creativity, but this light-heartedness and excitement is also mirrored by a paradoxical trait: perseverance. Having a creative mind allows her to do new and exciting things and engage in a way that takes her closer to reaching her full potential.

Her life is everything that you would imagine: exciting, romantic, and glamorous. However, being a successful artist is also a lot of work, which many people may fail to see. After interacting with her, she made me realize that true creativity involves combining both fun and hard work.

Welcome to the unforgettable world of Melxdie, an emerging artist filling the global stage with her radiant and intoxicating anthems. She burst into the music scene in 2019 with the release of “Summer Love,” a collaboration with international star Tory Lanez.

Her genre-defying sound landed the single on Billboard’s Top 100 and Apple Music’s Top 10 in RnB & Soul.

Building on the momentum, Melxdie released “Girls R Better,” a reggae infused single featuring dancehall sensation Mavado. It quickly went viral on TikTok engaging over 21 million views and was used in more than 2,000 videos.

Melxdie’s first EP and Visual Album “Checkmate” was released on May 20th, 2022. Her goal was to break artistic barriers, and she did it with this album. Stefanie Eby is the creative mas-

termind behind the visual, and she was able to create a story that referenced a lot of my real life experiences while tying the contrast of sounds together to amalgamate it seamlessly.

“I really wanted this visual to hold a deeper meaning, you could say, it’s almost like a glimpse of where I come from, and where I’m going. We even used a lot of my closest family and friends to play different characters that represent different aspects of who I am, which was a really special component for me.”

Born in Toronto, Ontario Melxdie was raised in a Lebanese, and Peruvian home. From the time she can remember, music was always a part of her life.

“I grew up around music,” Melxdie shares with me. “My mom is a music enthusiast, and it is one of the reasons why she named me Melxdie (pronounced Mel-o-dee) because she knew I was going to be a singer.

It was very daunting for me because everyone in my family was in the industry. To be honest, I kind of stayed away from music. I actually was focused on becoming a nurse and going to nursing school, so I started to focus my attention on that. It just didn’t fit right. I felt like I was living an illusion.

I remember the day that I said to myself, ‘No more of this.’ I was having a really shitty day, so I went on Kijiji and Craigslist looking for people who needed a singer. I found someone and reached out to them. I ended up going to the person’s house, and we hit it off.

Really stupid move to make at 18 years old, but it worked out.”

Melxdie spent some time at the beginning of her career trying to figure out her sound. She admits that this was sometimes challenging for her.

“My sound is versatile; it is meant to get you dancing, get you feeling a type of way. I like to fuse sounds. I want people to vibe. One thing I will say is that I do not like to be put in a box. My fans can expect that they will not hear the same sound from me all the time.”

As I spoke with Melxdie, I found her to be gregarious and reticent, sociable and quiet. She seems like the kind of creative who has no problem inter-

acting with others generating ideas and being inspired, and then retreating to a quiet place to fully explore her source of creativity. She is both traditional and iconoclastic.

This means she is able to appreciate and even embrace the past as a source of knowledge, while still seeking improved ways of creating new sounds.

I was curious about some of the other challenges she has faced as a young, female artist, and she was happy to share with me.

“I have always been a people pleaser. To me, it is important that other people are happy. Also I am a woman of colour in the industry, and sometimes people will try to make you feel very small.

You have to surround yourself with a strong team. I grew up very soft-spoken, and being in this industry helped me grow out of that.”

She is definitely an “out-ofthe-box” thinker, and some people may view Melxdie as a non-conformist and even a little bit rebellious.

“If I have to tell someone how I feel, just give me a rhythm. The music allows me to be articulate. There is a side of me that needs to come out, and my music gives me a safe space to do that.”

To end our interview, Melxdie shared some exciting news.

I just moved to L.A. and I have a second EP coming out; that is a whole other story, and I am really excited about this. 2022, and 2023 will be powerful years for me. I am blessed and very thankful.

Melxdie was a great reminder that creative people don’t just enjoy their work—they passionately love what they do.

Just give her a Rhythm Photographer: PhotoMiller Credit: Phillip

Myles “Jay” Joseph

Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News

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PAGE 3

Something is definitely amiss here in Canada, and we can’t ignore it any longer! A deep dive into our electoral process SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER It took one Tweet from Donald Trump to set North America on fire “States using Dominion Voting Systems switched 435,000 votes from Trump to Biden.”

In that one Tweet, Trump called out the most widely used voting software, Dominion. He claimed that the machines had deleted millions of votes cast for his ticket, and secured Biden the presidency.

What many don’t know is that this controversial machine’s roots began right here, on Toronto’s Spadina Avenue. John Poulos and James Hoover founded the Dominion Voting Systems that left the 2000 U.S. presidential election in disarray. Since then Dominion has been at the centre of controversy with claims that the company has skewed results and holds ties to prominent Democrats.

Dominion Voting Systems is one of the largest voting technology companies in the United States. It provides voting machines and tabulators to many local governments. More than 30 states use these voting machines to scan ballots in US elections and tabulate votes.

It has been used in the states with razor-thin margins, and several elected officials have pinned specific glitches in Georgia and Michigan, even though the company has discarded any blame.

The Denver-based company has

most recently received flack for its strong political ties, with past donations of $25,000 and $50,000 made to the Clinton Foundation. They assert that they work with all political parties, and their customer base and government outreach practices reflect a nonpartisan approach.

Well, what does this have to do with Canadians?

In the last two elections, there have been allegations of voter tampering, and coercion that have been widely ignored. I haven’t heard anyone in the Caribbean community really show any concern about it, but maybe it is because it is stifled in the news. We need to be concerned because we are most affected by what happens at the top.

From what we have been told by Elections Canada, Canada does not use electronic counters to count ballots. Once the polls close, they count the ballots to find out who won.

During this time, the doors of the polling station are locked: no one is allowed to enter or leave until the counting is done.

• •

•

First, election officers open the ballot boxes and count the ballots.

The election officers record the number of votes for each candidate on a Statement of the Vote. They also record the number of rejected ballots.

The ballots and other election documents are sealed in the ballot box and delivered to the returning officer.

In most cases, a clear winner emerges after the ballots are counted, but sometimes the vote count is very close or even tied. If there is a tie or a close vote, the ballots need to be counted again in a judicial recount.

The thing is, there has been a lot of controversy over the validity of the votes, and most recently a picture was circulated over the

internet with our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, testing out a Dominion Voting System. This should worry Canadians because ever since he took office, the Trudeau government has been accused of corruption.

One of the most common concerns was the fear that non-citizens were casting ballots illegally. Elections Canada reported it was removing 103,000 individuals from the federal voters’ registry because they were not Canadian citizens. Under the Canada Elections Act, it’s illegal for a non-citizen to vote knowing they are not eligible.

This is not a conspiracy theory. Ms. Maneet Nagra received a voter card in the mail.

All she had to do was head to the polling station with one piece of ID and mark an X. The only issue; she is a permanent resident and therefore isn’t allowed to vote. Nagra maintains she never declared herself a citizen and said she still doesn’t know how she wound up on the list.

Thankfully, she was honest, and did not cast her vote.

Another publicized issue is the one surrounding foreign influence. DisinfoWatch did an in-depth report (https://disinfowatch. org/influence-operation-targeting-canadian2021-federal-election/) on irregularities during the most recent election, “After analyzing available open-source data and consulting with key stakeholders, we believe that the timing and content of narratives indicate the likelihood of a coordinated influence operation targeting Chinese-Canadian voters.” The Conservative Party indicated that 13 electoral districts were affected by Chinese intervention.

Some of the interference was blatant, such as Chinese ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu warning Canadians not to elect parties that “smear” China. The Chinese Communist Party-run Global Times had an editorial priming a “strong counter strike” if the Conservatives won.

Unfortunately, this was not the only irregularity during the 2021 election. In the 44th Canadian General Election there was a massive increase of mail-in voting: 1,274,447 mail-in ballots were issued for those living in Canada, residents outside of Canada, and members of the Armed Forces. Elections Canada published a report that indicated 205,000 mail-in ballots were not counted, even though they were requested. Some of these ballots were late or not returned, and should not have been counted.

What this does do is help explain why there was a record-low turnout of 17,034,243 voters out of 27,366,297 registered electors.

Despite that, the Liberal Party was able to win all of the close races it needed to despite losing the popular vote. The Liberals had a total of 5,556,629 votes while the Conservatives finished with 5,747,410 votes, a difference of 190,781 votes. It seems like all the irregularities favoured Justin Trudeau, and the question Canadians should be asking is why?

The data provided by the DisinfoWatch report raises more questions than the answers provided by Elections Canada. Realistically, the only way to know if there was election fraud is to have a full audit of all the mail-in ballots, practices and foreign interference.

Now let’s bring this full circle. Automatic tabulators aren’t used at the federal level for elections, but ones manufactured by Dominion Voting Systems were used in the party leadership race where Justin Trudeau became Liberal leader. A photo of him voting in that 2013 contest became part of the swirl of internet conspiracy speculation about the machines.

Something is definitely amiss here in Canada, and we can’t ignore it any longer. We need to have representation at the government level that cannot be bought, intimidated, or persuaded to anything that is not for the people.

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PAGE 5

Education free from all forms of racism, racial discrimination, harassment and microaggressions; “Black Student Success Strategy: We Rise Together 2.0” egy.

PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The “Black Student Success Strategy: We Rise Together 2.0,” is a companion document that provides guidelines and actions to eliminate anti-black racism from its operations, resources, staffing, and leadership.

The 37-page document highlights the realities of anti-Black racism in PDSB learning and working environments, guiding principles, six areas of focus that will be emphasized during the implementation of the strategy, accountability framework and measures of progress.

The Black Student Success Strategy builds on the work of the board’s former work pertaining to anti-Black racism and expands to address current issues that includes measures of accountability.

Rashmi Swarup, Director of Education for the PDSB states in the introduction, “There is no denying that we have a lot of work to do. Hearing the personal accounts of trauma and incidents of anti-Black racism Black, African, and Afro-Caribbean students face in Peel cemented my commitment to leading the transformation of our school board towards equity and inclusion for all.

To drive real change we need everyone within our school community to recognize the urgency in moving forward with cultivating learning environments that are free from white supremacy, and to actively engage in anti-racist and anti-oppressive work. The Black Student Success Strategy is a major step toward that change, and we must hold ourselves accountable.”

There were many stakeholders who contributed to the BSSS. Tana Turner of Turner Consulting Group Inc. played an important consultant role. Significant to the design of the strategy was the involvement of the community: Valerie Willaims, Danielle Dowdy, and Alton Brooks of the We Rise Together Advisory Committee, and Paula Hylton, Colin Brown,Tim Vining, and Idris Orughu of Advisory Peel contributed their expertise to the development of the strat-

This collaboration included four members of the Senior and Administrative Team, which include: Donna Ford, Yonnette Dey, Racquel Walker, and Dr. Camille Logan.

In addition, Gail de Peza, Barb Elder, and Irene Pappoe provided administrative support. Trustee Kathy McDonald as well as six PDSB staff members also contributed to this policy.

The strategy carefully outlines the historical context of the struggles for education equity in PDSB starting from 2013 to 2021. The following eight guiding principles are foundational to the development of the strategy which include: 1.

2.

3.

Anti-Black exists The education system is not neutral Dismantling anti-Black racism is a collective responsibility Dismantling anti-Black racism is an ongoing journey There is an urgency to act now The board will hold itself accountable Complying with the human rights is a priority System transformation requires community voice

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

One of the strengths of this innovative and creative strategy is that it has an accountability framework with different stakeholders who are directly responsible for providing feedback annually or quarterly. The timeline for the BSSS extends from 20222027. There are actionable items that must be implemented within this 5-year duration.

Dr. Camille Logan, Associate Director of PDSB describes this on-going, “These are the foundational elements to deal with the urgency of change with a focus on antiracist, anti-oppressive, learning environments, race equity, and the mitigation of racialized student outcomes.”

This newly revised strategy will serve as a crucial document to remind all staff of our moral and legal responsibilities to create and sustain environments free from all forms of racism, racial discrimination, harassment and microaggressions and specifically anti-Black racism.

We are thankful to members of the community that guided the development of this strategy, which incorporates strong accountability measures. We look forward eagerly to its speedy implementation.”

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Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

Government agencies are benefiting from vulnerabilities in software used

by Canadian citizens MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Canada’s RCMP has finally come clean and admitted that they have been using: hacking, digital, and malware software to invade the privacy of Canadian citizens for a while now.

The RCMP would like to have us believe that this only happens when there are serious crimes involved and also with consent from a judge, but with technology being the way it is, who is to say that this is true?

This admission came after a Conservative MP reportedly asked what government programs were used to gather information on Canadians, “This is a kind of capability that they have done everything possible to keep incredibly quiet,” said U of T senior research associate Christopher Parsons.

Again, the RCMP reports that this technology was only used on certain criminals 10 times between 2018 and 2020. “This is a remarkable finding and, for the first time, publicly reveals that the RCMP is using spyware to infiltrate mobile devices, as well as the broad capabilities of their spyware.” Parsons continues, saying that security experts have been aware of these capabilities, but that this is the first time the RCMP has admitted it.

He added that this “Is the cleanest, most straightforward explanation of what they’re capable of doing that I’m aware of.”

It is easy to believe that this is only for criminals, but as Canadians, we are waking up to the grim reality that Canada is not how it seems. We are watching what we see as democracy, slowly transitioning into a governmental style most often seen in the East. It appears that this technology is being used to persecute

any opposing voices including journalists in this country.

The private notes, messages, your thoughts, your feelings all of that, that is safe right? Nope! The RCMP officers can read your email, check your text in real-time, and even go through your family photos just for the fun of it. This is exactly the type of spyware that is being used on us, all in the name of fighting crime.

The RCMP’s excuse for this invasion of privacy is that it has become harder and harder to find things on criminals these days. They have gone high-tech too, so the RCMP has to use these tools to step their game up as well.

Just in case you are wondering, here are some more things the RCMP can have access to: phones, videos, calendar entries, financial records, audio recordings, private communications, and photographic images of persons, places, and activities viewable by the camera(s) built into the targeted device.

I guess you can see why those who donated to the truckers were victimized for their generosity.

Again, if you are wondering if all this is true, the answer is yes. This police agency outlined the techniques used by its Covert Access and Intercept Team in a document introduced in the House of Commons sometime in June.

In conclusion, some of us may be using faulty apps on our devices that profess to offer us hacking protection.

Parsons said, “It’s concerning that government agencies are benefiting from vulnerabilities in software used by their citizens, which they have an incentive not to correct. Rather than going out and saying, ‘Hey, this is a problem, we should fix it,’ they say, ‘Oh, this is great.

We’re going to exploit it.”

This should serve as a reminder to citizens that we can never be too cautious with our devices and with the things that we store on them. It is always best to use an external hard drive if you need to store your important information.

NEWS

PAGE 7

NEWS

PAGE 8

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

A deep dive into what we call democracy; are political parties effective vehicles for the representation of societal interests? tion mandates, vaccine purchases, proof of vaccination programs, and participation in UN Agenda 2030. Let’s take a look at what is not being reported on mainstream media.

SIMONE SMITH

Delivery of the next phase of Smart Cities Launched in 2020, UN-Habitat’s flagship programme “People-Centered Smart Cities” acknowledges the transformative potential that digital technologies can have for sustainable urban development.

Through the People-Centered Smart Cities flagship programme, UN-Habitat provides strategic and technical support on digital transformation to national, regional and local governments.

According to UN-Habitat, digital transformation is now critical to meet the demands of sustainable urban development. In the past decade, internet connectivity has become a requisite for full participation in society, including access to education, affordable housing, and critical government services -- yet 3.7 billion people were offline in 2019, along with thousands who were offline when Rogers went down a week and a half ago.

Are we ready for Smart Cities? We have had two severe network disruptions in the last two years. Imagine the impact of this on a Smart City. Something to think about!

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Governments around the world have been facing new challenges from citizens calling into question existing democratic practices and principles, and for good reason. Over the last two years, we have seen a decrease in the confidence we have in our leaders.

There are public opinion surveys that reveal growing disenchantment in many countries dating back some thirty years.

Canada, subject to many of the same forces driving democratic discontent globally, has not been immune to these trends.

Canadian citizens have opinions toward the basic political structures within which our government operates, attitudes that are equally important barometers of the vitality of a political system. What, for example, do you, the reader, think of our electoral system?

This week I want to introduce information that was revealed to me from documents that many of you as voting citizens are completely unaware of. No worries, I have provided the links at the end of the article so that you can take a look for yourself.

I recently learned about the existence of Mandate Letters that are provided to our Federal Ministers. Mandate Letters are provided by the Prime Minister that outline the objectives that each minister will work to accomplish, as well as the pressing challenges they will address in their role.

Before we go any further, it is worth noting that there is no indication that we as Canadian citizens have any input on any of these directives, which begs the question of how exactly are these objectives determined?

Are political parties effective vehicles for the representation of societal interests?

Protecting the citizens from foreign interference and disinformation One of the mandates aims to continue to lead an integrated government response to protect Canada’s democratic institutions, including the federal electoral process, against foreign interference and disinformation. This is to be done by working with domestic and international partners.

The minister must lead efforts to consider the interplay between technology and democracy.

Here is the issue with this; who determines what disinformation is? Is it just the few that have not only financial, but political power? Where does that leave you and I? Do we not have valid points that are worthy of consideration? Is it considered disinformation because the information is not coming from their chosen few? Who are they really protecting: themselves or us?

It leads me to even more questions that we as Canadian citizens need to consider: • • •

Could the average Canadian be considered a key asset of his country?

Are we participants or consumers of government programs?

Could things be improved by bringing the customers, for lack of a better term, into the loop?

COVID-19 and Vaccine Rollouts I was not surprised that this encompassed a majority of their mandates. Ministers were urged to work with colleagues, provinces and territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities and other partners to continue the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

Working with colleagues they must continue to ensure sufficient domestic supply of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, evaluate the border posture and ensure surge capacity supports are available to assist provinces and territories.

Ministers are to work with prov-

Below are a few highlights from each of the mandate letters. There are several items listed that are worthy of raised eyebrows, investigating further, and deeper discussion at a community level. Topics mentioned often include: vaccination, vaccinaRY 10TH

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Raising individual cases and situations where individuals practicing journalism, as well as media organizations, have come under threat Making collective statements, to shine a global spotlight on media freedom and the safety of journalists

The mandates also speak of continued efforts with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada to develop and introduce legislation as soon as possible to combat serious forms of harmful online content, to protect Canadians, and hold social media platforms and other online services accountable for the content they host. This legislation should be reflective of the feedback received during the recent consultations.

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Protecting the rights of Independent Media and Journalists I found this section interesting. One of the mandates was focused on defending the right to freedom of expression and opposing the mistreatment or arbitrary detention of journalists, including by building on the work of Media Freedom.

The Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) is a cross-regional collaboration with 52 countries. These countries are working together proactively to advocate for media freedom at home and abroad. They advocate for the safety of journalists and media workers and hold to account those who harm them and severely restrict them from doing their job. It does so by:

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inces and territories, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, the private sector and other partners to continue to ensure implementation of and adherence to public health measures, and support the availability of rapid tests and self-tests.

They are looking to launch a COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Fund to support provinces and territories who implement a requirement proof of vaccine credentials in their jurisdiction for non-essential businesses and public spaces.

With the support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministers are to work with the Minister of International Development to continue to reinforce international efforts to ensure that people around the world have access to health interventions to fight COVID-19, including vaccines, therapeutics and strengthened health systems.

With the support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministers are to work with the Minister of Health to continue to reinforce international efforts to ensure that people around the world have access to health interventions to fight COVID-19, including donating at least 200 million vaccine doses to vulnerable populations around the world through COVAX by the end of 2022, and providing additional funding for enhanced testing and vaccine production capacity in developing countries.

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larger ethnic media outlet have never been consulted on topics surrounding media, and how it affects the African-Indo-Caribbean community. I am going to leave this one right where it is. Anything else would be subjectively written.

Protecting citizens from Corrupt Officials and Authoritarian Governments Oh boy! There is so much to say here, that I am going to once again be mindful and just report what is written in the mandates.

Ministers are to work with international partners to help establish an International Anti-Corruption Court (cough), to prevent corrupt officials and authoritarian governments from impeding development that should benefit their citizens.

An International Anti-Corruption Court (IACC) would fill the crucial enforcement gap in the international framework for combating grand corruption. It would constitute a fair and effective forum for the prosecution and punishment of kleptocrats and their collaborators; deter others tempted to emulate their example; and recover, repatriate, and repurpose ill-gotten gains for the victims of grand corruption.

Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) would require our government to have laws criminalizing varying forms of corruption. However, corrupt government officials – known as kleptocrats – have impunity in their own countries because they control the police, prosecutors, and courts.

Sounds familiar.

There is so much that we as citizens do not know. In my research I discovered something promising. Technology now exists for Canadian voters to take control of the political system – an online “Democracy Operating System” A “Democracy Operating System” (DOS) is an online software platform that allows ordinary Canadian citizens to discuss and vote on issues. It will ultimately take power from the political elite and put it into the hands of voters.

The ultimate goal of a DOS is to give citizens in Canada an organizational tool to take control of an out of control political system. Our current “representative” model of democracy allows a political elite to control Canada. Canada is the most centralized democracy in the world. A DOS is a participatory democratic system that operates on a real-time basis without reliance on a political class. It puts democracy squarely where it belongs – in the hands of the people.

What do you think community; could a Democratic Operating System be the answer to the current convoluted system that we are a part of? I guess only time will tell, but I do hope that this article provides some insight on how much is kept from us, and that something needs to be done build transparency in our great country.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

NEWS

PAGE 9

70+ vendors, 45 cultural performances; the 34th AFROFEST solidifies their title as the largest African Festival in the diaspora SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

As I moved slowly through the crowd, all I could think to myself was “Please do not drop these.”

I was carrying two hollowed out watermelons that were filled with slushy, sweet, fresh watermelon juice. It was a warm day, not too hot, just perfect, and I knew that this was exactly what I needed.

It was Saturday, July 7th, 2022, and my sister and I had made our way down to AFROFEST! It was earlier in the

day, and when we got there the park had already started to fill up. Once we stepped into Woodbine Park, I became lost in the sights, sounds, and wonders of everything that is Africa. The team at AFROFEST did an incredible job of putting together a threeday festival that showcased the diverse and beautiful nature of cultures throughout Africa.

They were celebrating their 34th year, so they went all out. This year they had 70+ vendors, 45 cultural performances, and in their marketing they said 120,000 visitors, but to be honest, I think they surpassed that number. They had everything there: high-end African fashion, African and West Indian cuisine, and a cornucopia of accessories, skin care products, and jewellery.

As we made our way through the oasis of vendors, we came to the Children’s Creative Village. This area was reserved for toddlers who were introduced to elements

of African. They had: face painting happening, as well as storytelling.

I heard the drums before I saw them; you could feel the vibration of the drums through the ground and in your soul. Drumming is an integral part of African culture, and they hold a very special place in African history and culture. In the Western world, drums are usually seen as forms of entertainment, but in Africa, drums hold various symbolic meanings that have played an important part in the history of the people who call the continent their home.

From the drumming we headed to the main stage. We were greeted by the sound of Afrobeats. I noticed a familiar face on stage, Trixx, Canada’s very own comedic star, and as per usual, he had people chuckling, and fighting back their laughter.

As we maneuvered through the growing crowd, we noticed that there was another stage. I came to learn that the planners had

strategically organized two stages: one of the stages hosted experienced local and International artists, and the other stage (Baobab Stage) was reserved for emerging artists and talent.

As the day slowly crept into the night, visitors to AFROFEST were treated to: a DJ exhibition showcasing some of the best African DJs in Toronto, and a fashion show. They had an interactive element added this year with a daily cash prize of $350.00 that was awarded to the best male and female individuals who were dressed in African or African inspired attire. They even had “Fashion Police’’ on site, which I thought was pretty entertaining.

After a two-year hiatus, AFROFEST came full force and produced an event that has set the tone for what is to be expected when you come to visit Toronto. Great work team! The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper team congratulates you for continuing to highlight the best of African culture.

A general strike against corporate mismanagement needed and incompetent airline management must be purged STEVEN KASZAB steven@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The past two years have been difficult for us all, but seemingly worse for those firms involved in air transport and airport management. Sure, these firms laid off thousands of their employees, which limited their flights both domestically and internationally. Any responsible firm would put their remaining employees and clients health and safety before profits right?

Many of our governments have opened up their economies claiming they are “Open for business,” so people want to travel and see the world as they once did.

So what would a well-managed corporation do while they are in business-financial

limbo (pandemic)? Why of course they prepared for the moment when traveling for private and business travel was approved right?

Well it seems most North American Airlines are suffering from “Corporate Brain Death,” a syndrome affecting management heads in that industry. Did they give human resources the go ahead to prepare for the return of their former employees? What about pursuing young people graduating from specialty schools/colleges that specialize in hospitality, stewardship and airline industry professions? How about putting out want ads in local papers?

Last year 18,000+ Americans graduated from hospitality and airline management programs, while 3,880 did so in Canada. Hire them! Many of these graduates are still unemployed. Why? The pay offered to them was unsatisfactory. The wealthy corporations who had received millions of dollars from their respective governments to precisely maintain their workforce, used this money as profit, management salary up grades (pay increases for management)

and advertising to drive an uncontrollable thirst for future travel among the public.

The formula had been set; promote travel, but offering low prices, fill the planes to excess, offer little added customer service at the airports and on planes.

Don’t hire new employees. Keep salary and costs in check while promising much, deliver only the sub-acceptable. A formula that brought with it horror stories experienced in the airports and on board the planes.

We are told there is a bill of rights for the travelling person. We are told that “customer service” is paramount to these corporations operations. Really? Travellers are being mentally tortured by these airlines due to their limited and stressed employees. Yes there are government programs that have been created to reimburse mistreated travellers, but who has the time to wait for action? Travellers are stranded in airports, with no accommodation for a night’s stay offered, or a voucher to have a meal at least.

These large corporations have shown their incapability to function prop-

erly, and that they have no real understanding of what customer service truly means.

Perhaps it is time to show these corporations what we think of them. They have shown us what they think of us folks.

They see us as sheep with wallets, nothing more. It is time for a strike to be called.

It is time to DENY the corporations their hefty profits and do staycations instead. Invest your traveling dollar in your region or nation. Many of the corporate heads of these airlines received salary raises while treating you terribly. Force airlines and their associated organizations to do better, improve their management and service plans, and hire those who will service you in the future.

Force these nameless corporate elites to reform, and re-imagine themselves and their operations. Stop flying and buying vacations in the sky. Travel and buy local.

That will surely upset them. Pressure your governments to enact enforceable laws that protect travellers and punish idiotic corporate mismanagement.

Keep6ix launches Youth in Music Program to tackle gun violence in the greater Toronto area Justice System.”

PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The non-profit organization Keep6ix continues to positively impact the lives of youth in the greater Toronto area through the programs and services that they provide.

They focus on creating lucid content that educates, transforms and empowers youth to discover their strengths, and how it can be reflected and shared in society.

The website outlines that, “Keep6ix recognizes the lack of services and rehabilitative support to prevent and reduce young people from coming into conflict with the Criminal

The mission of Keep6ix is: • Providing a holistic and integrated capacity-building programs to youth involved in the justice system • Preventing youth from going down a disempowering path by providing oneon-one mentoring, career development and employment skills training • Promoting healthy self-esteem through core life skills counselling to help build on their communication, interpersonal and leadership skills Keep6ix provides a range of services and programs in: Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Newmarket that focus on a Youth Mentoring Program and Career Development Program. The 12-week mentoring program is designed to support youth who are experiencing negative and unhealthy distractions, delinquent behav-

iour and social barriers to completing their secondary diploma.

The goal of the career development program is to decrease unemployment within the community by providing a guided, purposeful pathway to employment in the construction industry. In addition to these programs, Keep6ix also provides services such as “Connect the 6ix” which is a weekly Instagram live connecting the 6ix, one interview at a time, celebrating members of the community and the work they do. They also have the “Empowerment to Unlock the Justice System,” which is a monthly Instagram live panel discussion streamed on Facebook and YouTube, which addresses the barriers in the criminal justice system and discusses solutions.

I interviewed Richard Miller, founder of Keep6ix to learn about one of his exciting new initiatives, “Youth -In-Music Program,” which was launched on Wednesday, June 29th.

Richard shared with me that he started Keep6ix five years ago to alleviate gun violence among youths. Initially, he received support from Yonge St. Mission, which led him to focus on “Guns for Tuition” as a pathway to get guns off the streets of Toronto.

Richard believes that poverty is at the root of the issue of gun violence. He told me how the City of Brampton has been supportive of the work that he does. This new music initiative was developed in partnership with Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce, Vance World Media, and U Music, which according to the press release is a means to prevent gun violence in our communities Richard shared details about the 12-week program, which will involve legendary Liberty Silver and Vance Mackenzie.

It is intended to engage youth in performing art studies as they learn music strategies through: creating, presenting, reflecting, responding and analyzing music theory.

PAGE 10

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

“Evil and hate sells, love wins!” Jalsa Salana Canada, an inspiring moment of Canadian history SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“This is no ordinary gathering. There are many benefits of the Jalsa to the participants. Members should utilize this opportunity to renew their personal faith and spirituality, meet and establish friendship with other members of the community, welcome new members into the fold of the community and remember those who have passed away in the previous year and pray for them.”

The Promised Messiah (AS) Toronto Caribbean Newspaper were invited to Canada’s largest and longest-running Muslim Convention that took place last weekend from July 15th -17th, 2022. Thousands from across Canada and around the world attended this unique religious gathering titled Jalsa Salana Canada. This year, the convention was entirely reimagined as it took place at a new outdoor venue. Attendees converged in Bradford, Ontario where a village had been created for this convention. This is the only such gathering of its kind in Canada, and I drove up there to take in the spiritual oasis that had been created.

I want to give a little history on this event; the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, under the leadership of its holy founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, held its first convention on December 27th, 1891 in Qadian, India. Approximately 75 people attended the event. For over a century since then, the Community has held its Annual Convention, or Jalsa Salana, in numerous countries around the world. Tens of thousands of community members gather at these conventions at various times throughout the year. The principle aims of the Annual Convention are to facilitate greater spiritu-

al awareness among community members, strengthen ties, and promote peace.

Canadians from all walks of life, including dozens of elected officials, dignitaries and community leaders attended the event. The convention commenced with a large Friday prayer gathering, followed by a special press conference. Media was invited to attend this prominent convention on all three days, which included unique Islamic exhibitions, scholarly presentations, workshops, food stalls and much more.

Over the span of the three-day convention, more than 25,000 fresh meals were served to the attendees.

The men’s event was hosted at Jalsa Gāh: Hadiqa Ahmad, 3999 10 Sideroad, Bradford Ontario, and the ladies hosted their guests at the Baitul Islam Mosque, Peace Village, 10610 Jane Street, Maple Ontario The teachings during the convention focused on how human beings must navigate this world in order to have a peaceful existence. Speakers teach on having a refined social personality of the highest degree, to demonstrate the true values of his spiritual dedication and the practical application of those values by attaining beautiful human attributes. These teachings remind us that our distinct social character represents our values, which can be seen by the way in which we interact with the people around us.

I had a chance to take a peep at some of the teachings that would occur in the men’s session during the convention.

They included: • •

•

Merciful God and Human Suffering – How can they both exist?

Transformation of a Barbaric Society into a Divine Society – Unique Achievement of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (sa) Attaining Peace of Mind – Islamic Perspective

The ladies sessions also had diverse topics that are universally important, and would be great things to discuss in the community. The topics included:

• •

Ways of upbringing children as taught by the Holy Prophet Importance of Loyalty and Sincerity to Khilafat

On Friday was the flag hoisting ceremony, which symbolized the official start of the 44th Jalsa Sālāna Canada. It was broadcasted live at www.jalsa salana.ca, and my personal host Hassaan Shahid who is not only a caring volunteer, but a devout follower, took the time to go over what was happening that weekend. He also facilitated an interview with a man who set the tone for what was to be expected.

I had the opportunity, and honour to speak with Maulana Azhar Haneef, a man that as soon as I saw him reminded me of the dynamic man we know as Malcom X. It was everything about him, his accent, his presence, and his demeanour. This incredible man was trained as a missionary at Jamiah Ahmadiyya Rabwa Pakistan and has served the Jama’at in the USA in various capacities including missionary in charge. He is currently serving as Naib Amir USA. I had my questions prepared, but in my usual fashion, I sat there and listened,

intrigued and drawn by his message.

“I was born into this faith, and my dedication to missionary work is innate,” he began. “I have always had a strong desire to uplift people, and it is not just the matter of doing the work to do good out of generosity; it is a duty. I am aware of my duty to call others to Islam, and I do not spare any effort to do so.

During these turbulent and trying times Simone, we have to focus on the love of God, and the love of humanity. We can only do this if we draw closer to the creator.

Evil and hate sells, love wins! We are born to love, and born from love. This is something that we must not forget!”

I shook my head innerstanding exactly what he was saying. Spiritual gatherings like the Jalsa Salana are necessary during this time. They bring out the best in humanity, and remind us that truly, we are all in this together.

Thank you to the team at Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamā at Canada for including the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper in such an incredibly inspiring moment of Canadian history.

The Pharmaceutical industry must be put the spotlight; Consumers are demanding answers, transparency and accountability STEVEN KASZAB steven@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Sitting in my family doctor’s lobby waiting to be seen, I happened to speak with an elderly lady nearby. She was waiting to see the doctor, but had been there previously and told to go buy the medication she would need the doctor to inject her with. The small vial cost her over $800.00, and the doctor would charge her a further $125.00 to inject her. She looked downcast and said her husband was on particular medications not covered by Ontario Health Plan, to the amount of $450.00 a month.

Imagine senior citizens who at that stage in their life are watching their nest egg dimin-

ish before their eyes.

I also have experienced this phenomenon, where the ailment you suffer from has medication that will alleviate the pain you’re experiencing, but the medical insurance you have has disallowed it, making it payable in cash.

I have an immunity disease with no cure called Oral lichen Planus. If you have it on your body, an application of medication will hopefully alleviate the pain, but since it is in my mouth, I endure severe pain each time I eat, drink something cold or hot, consuming anything granular that irritates my gums, cheeks and tongue. Just a lot of pain! Every medication I have experienced, from laser therapy, to mouthwashes full of steroids are not covered by OHIP. I have to invest in mouthwashes that cost hundreds of dollars, to laser therapy at $600.00 a pop.

The medical profession looks upon the elderly as a source of revenue, since they are traditionally savers, and go about issuing prescription after prescription of medication to mask the pain, and hopefully eradicate the disease. Hundreds

of prescriptions have increased in cost in 2022 by 5-55%. We are told the reason for this is that many of the patents held by various pharmaceutical corporations will end, and their monopolistic control of manufacturing and distributing the drugs will end.

Now, these Corporations have seen fit to pick your pockets as quickly as possible, fearing that governmental action to protect consumers will happen. Brand named drugs make up only 20% of total drugs made, but these also make up to 80% of total prescription drug costs. Also, the price of these brand name drugs has increased by 60% since 2014.

How do they get away with this you may ask?

There is a total lack of transparency regarding drug prices. There is a less competitive market stemming from mergers and acquisitions among manufacturers.

There is also limited ability from other parties (Medicare and OHP) to negotiate better drug prices.

The Kaiser Family Foundation has found that 24% of medication users admit-

ted that they were experiencing difficulty affording their medication (2000). By 2021 that percentage had increased to 43% and was still rising.

Medication and medical procedures are falling out of many people’s budgets. Seniors have begun to not buy these expensive drugs, but look for alternatives or go cold turkey.

I have been invited to get involved in an experimental procedure to fight my condition. The medical professionals have admitted they are experimenting on me to further their research and it will cost me $1,500.00 with no guarantees provided.

I don’t think so. I have been suffering from this condition for years and have developed a tolerance to the pain. It is a shame that those who are suffering pain and diseases must grin and bear it, while the government holds off putting the pharmaceutical industry in the spotlight demanding answers, transparency and accountability to their consumers.

NEWS

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 11

Artificial sweetener Aspartame remains one of the most controversial food additives • • • • •

SIMONE SMITH

Chewing gum Gelatin Ice cream Breakfast cereal Sugar-free cocoa mix

Despite its widespread use, the artificial sweetener aspartame remains one of the most controversial food additives, due to mixed evidence on its neurobehavioral effects.

Aspartame is found in over 6,000 food items, and millions of American adults and children consume aspartame each day.

In 1981, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved it for limited use in solid food. It was approved as a general sweetener in 1996 by the FDA, and the World Health Organization and food regulatory authorities in Canada and Europe considered excessive intakes of aspartame as dosages above the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 40 mg/kg body weight/day.

On August 1st, 1985 Senator Howard Metzenbaum submitted a bill, S. 1557 for NIH to do independent studies on what they were seeing in the population immediately after release of aspartame. This included behavioral and neurological effects experienced by individuals who had consumed aspartame, especially children. Other problems they were seeing included the consumption of aspartame on pregnant women and fetuses.

I have written about the dangers of aspartame before, and although some people have the opinion that it is fear mongering, to them I say, trust the science. Isn’t that what they have been telling us to do for the last three years?

In an article titled “Neurobehavioral

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“The recent revelations about the problems surrounding generic drug approvals are compelling evidence of what happens when an agency considers itself above the law in dealing with these matters. In my opinion, this has resulted in the mass poisoning of the American public as well as seventy-plus countries in the rest of the world.”

Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum It’s oh so sweet like sugar. It is virtually calorie-free and has no aftertaste. It is what makes aspartame one of the most popular artificial sweeteners around today. No doubt, you have probably consumed an aspartame product in the past few days, if not the past few hours.

What is aspartame? Well, let’s put it this way; compared to table sugar, aspartame is about 200 times sweeter, which means a little goes a long way. One packet of aspartame (1 gram), which has four calories, is equal to the same amount of sweetness as two teaspoons of table sugar (8 grams), which has about 32 calories.

Aspartame can be found in a number of sugar-free products including • Diet soda

Effects of Aspartame Consumption” (National Library of Medicine) they share details of research studies that have been conducted.

Healthy adults who consumed a study-prepared high-aspartame diet (25 mg/kg body weight/day) for 8 days, and a low-aspartame diet (10 mg/kg body weight/day) for 8 days, with a 2-week washout between the diets, were examined for within-subject differences in: cognition, depression, mood, and headache.

The measures included weight of foods consumed containing aspartame, mood and depression scales, and cognitive tests for working memory and spatial orientation. Their research found that when consuming high-aspartame diets, participants had more irritable moods, exhibited more depression, and performed worse on spatial orientation tests.

Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum. (Mission Possible World Health International), is a determined and passionate scientist and researcher who has been speaking out about the dangers of aspartame for majority of her career. She took time out to write a letter to The Honorable Denis R. McDonough, Secretary, Department of Veteran Affairs.

In her letter, she shared that aspartame was responsible for many cases of suicide because of depletion of serotonin.

Studies confirmed what doctors and scientists had been saying for 40 years. “Serotonin levels were down by almost 74% while epinephrine (adrenaline) levels were alarmingly increased by 500%. So, while aspartame depresses the neurotransmitter associated with well-being and happiness (and which modulates cognition, reward, learning, memory and other beneficial physiological processes), it also greatly increases the neurotransmitter

associated with fear and anger.”

What is science telling us? It is telling us that Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners can alter your brain chemistry and cause dependency. What does this lead to?

It leads to aspartame addiction withdrawal if you start to cut it out of your dietary intake.

This can be very unpleasant.

How do you know that you are addicted to aspartame?

Cut it out of your diet. If you experience aspartame withdrawal symptoms, your body and brain are dependent. The most common aspartame withdrawal symptoms include: • • • • • • • • •

Headaches Anxiety Muscle pain Nausea Mood swings Digestive issues Skin concerns Eye problems Cognitive symptoms

So what to do? Instead of aspartame, try one the below alternatives to sweeten your food or drinks: • • • • • •

Allulose Stevia leaves Monk fruit Honey Agave nectar Date sugar

This transition may not be easy, but remember why you are doing it. Always remember it is about the long game.

Mental health, education, and employment programs NOW being offered to youth in the GTA out sorrow, nor sun without rain, but he did promise us strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light (hope) for the way.”

The organization was founded by Anika Stella Onile, who graduated with a background in accounting from Ryerson University in 1999. She experienced homelessness first-hand and lived in a group home at the age of 17 years old; the foundation is influenced by this understanding. She knows she was called by God to serve her community, and give hope to the: vulnerable, lost, neglected and abandoned youth.

She states, “I’ve been privileged to be called to serve my community, especially youth in need. Life of Hope is about my experience - my real-life experiences living in a group home and the barriers that at-risk youth face on a daily basis.”

PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

It has been over thirteen years that the nonprofit organization “Life of Hope Foundation” has been making a difference in the lives of vulnerable and at-risk youth.

Their mission is grounded in distinctive Christian values. They are focused on providing mental health support, educational, employment and career pathway programs for the youth in our communities.

One of the biblical verses that is integral to the vision of the charity is Matthew 11: 28. It states, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry-heavy burdens, and I will give rest.”

The website notes, “God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter withRY 10TH

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Mentorship: allows our youth to connect with someone that can guide them with their personal and professional development while showing compassion and empathy to their day-to-day struggles Tutoring support: free tutorial classes and academic coaching to students of low-income families in Grades 6 - 12 Mathematics, Science, English, Chemistry and Physics run online by professional instructors and recent university graduate Food and grocery relief: organizes events to distribute food (non-perishable grocery items), hygiene kits, grocery gift cards and other necessities to low- income communities Trades apprenticeship: we partner with the top trade training centers such Mississauga Trades, York Construction Academy, and Infrastructure Health and Safety Associations to deliver practical hands-on training to at-risk youth. We focus mainly in the areas of Construction & Maintenance Technician, Powerline Apprenticeship, Technician, or Cabinetry and Furniture Making

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I interviewed Anike on Wednesday, July 13th, 2022. She shared with me that she was working for the provincial government at the Ministry of Labour but left in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic to start her charitable organization.

Anike was born in Nigeria, but her charity works with individuals from all communities. She is particularly focused on getting Blacks into trades as they are unrepresented in many of the 27 sectors. She told me that three Jamaicans have graduated from a 3-month apprenticeship program.

On Saturday, July 2nd, 2022, Life of Hope Foundation hosted a Canada Family Day event at 2600 Skymark Avenue in Mississauga, sponsored by Alectra. The event featured a: barbecue, music, refreshments, and giveaways. Those who registered in advance received grocery boxes and gift cards.

Adenike is grateful for the support that she has received and plans to host other events in the fall and during the Christmas season.

Anyone interested in learning about the work of Life of Hope Foundation can visit lifeofhopefoundation.com.

PAGE 12

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Everyday in Canada should be Indigenous Day; let’s just be real about this!

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Dr Martin Luther King Jr. On June 21st, 2022, Canada celebrated National Indigenous Day, and though to some this was a day to recognize the achievements of the Indigenous People of Canada, it still does not sit very well for individuals who see exactly what is happening in this country.

I received an email from the Canadian Congress on Inclusive Diversity & Workplace Equity, and what it did was shed light on a topic that is spoken about only when necessary. This article is going to look past the traditions of the colonizers, and dig deep into enslavement, and injustice that the Indigenous People of Canada are still facing I want to start by being very clear about something; Canada exists, as we know it today, because of colonization.

Colonization is what set the DNA, or pattern of North America. Culture is

connected to history. The way something begins (such as a country), sets the direction for centuries to come. It is one of the reasons why the damage of colonization continues to this day.

The colonization of the Indigenous People in Canada was both a cultural and literal genocide. Residential Schools and the Sixties Scoop are perfect examples of this.

The Indigenous People of Canada had their basic human rights taken from them. They were enslaved and considered property that could be bought and sold.

Little is known about the lives and experiences of enslaved individuals. In general, they were used primarily as manual labourers and domestic servants.

Although the dominant mode of slavery for the final 40 years of slavery in Canada was African, Indigenous slaves made up two-thirds of the slaves in Canada over the course of about 150 years. Overwhelmingly, for most of Canada’s history, the majority of slaves were Indigenous.

Now, let’s bring it to modern times. It is disheartening that about 4.9% of the population of Canada identified themselves as Indigenous and yet they make up 37% of the men in Canadian prisons? It is disheartening that a jaw-dropping 45% of women prisoners in this country identified themselves as Indigenous?

Before you think this may not be your concern, let us look at an independent oversight panel reviewing Correctional Service Canada’s new prisoner isolation regime, called structured intervention. They

indicated that: “Indigenous Peoples make up half of all prisoners subjected to the harshest form of federal detention, an indication that problems persist under the federal government’s new model of inmate isolation.”

Almost half of the prisoners held in isolation are Indigenous, according to the panel.

Whether you are in Jamaica where some historians believe the Indigenous Arawak-speaking Taino tribes were extinct since 1602, or in Australia where the existence of the Aboriginal Australians who some historians consider “The oldest population of humans living outside of Africa” is equally threatened by colonialism, we

should all be concerned.

We should be concerned that a group of people can leave the shores of their nations to seize the land and resources of another ethnic group and even more so continue to enslave them despite declaring that slavery has ended.

Every year, the Canadian government pats themselves on the back for declaring a National Indigenous Peoples Day, but, technically, it should be the other way round. That is, the Indigenous Peoples should be the one granting the European settlers a day to celebrate their culture … for every day in Canada should be Indigenous Day.

NEWS

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 13

“My 8-year-old never spoke about hallucinations before the vaccine!”

Disturbing report released information, please visit the VAERS site where you can verify. Here is a specific case, (VAERS ID 2329230). This child is only two.

“Patient developed sudden onset hallucinations (visual, possibly auditory) and psychosis beginning six hours after vaccination and lasting for seven hours, then fell asleep. Reawakened with more hallucinations/psychosis 16 hours after vaccination (6 am today) lasting for another 1.5 hours. Transported to Pediatric ED where psychosis/hallucinations resolved. Examination normal. Remained at baseline (normal) upon discharge from ED.” Here is a shocking tweet from a parent describing what happened to their child after being injected, “I never heard my 8-year-old talk about suicide or have hallucinations or feeling of bugs crawling on her until we have the #safeandEffective vaccine. #COVID19 #TheyAllKnew #TheGovtLiedToUs #StoptheShots”

MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Last month the FDA authorized injections in children under the age of five. However, these unsuspecting parents never had a clue about what was in store for their babies.

Some of these parents were so eager to protect their babies based on the fearmongering of “mainstream media,” that some of them even provided false birthdates so that their children could be injected.

In one case, a baby girl started hallucinating within six hours of being injected. If you have doubts about this

These poor children put up a fight as most toddlers usually do but end up sometimes getting injected twice because the nurse did not get it right the first time as a result of the children resisting.

Here is evidence from the Vaccine Adverse site, “Needle inserted into patients L thigh, but vaccine was not administered. Patient slapped the syringe and the needle bent. RN was able to remove the entire needle. Small scratch noted on L thigh. (2 years old – VAERS ID 2325671)” Steve Kirsch is a retired high-tech serial entrepreneur based in Silicon Valley. He reports, “I’m getting multiple reports from my nurse friends about kids two and three years old having seizures.

It is only happening on vaccinated kids, and symptoms start two to five days after the COVID vaccine.”

“The doctors cannot figure out what is causing the seizures (since it couldn’t be the vaccine since those are

safe and effective). The medical staff is not permitted to talk about the cases to the press or on social media, or they will be fired,” Steve said.

Time and time again there are cases of damaged children who have just one thing in common, and that is vaccines. To date, there are 476 reported injuries on the site of children of the said age.

Worldwide on an adult scale, The European Medicines Agency (EMA) database of adverse drug reactions is now reporting 46,160 deaths and 4,623,724 injuries following COVID-19 vaccines, while the United States Vaccine Adverse Events Recording System (VAERS) is now reporting 29,162 deaths and 1,314,594 injuries following COVID-19 vaccines.

The time has come for us to stop hiding under the umbrella of fear and stand up to this tyranny once and for all.

If we refuse to do so, history will judge us as the cowards that we are.

Say no to this crime against our most vulnerable citizens, our children.

The Queer community of color and Christianity — “With Wonder” Documentary allows audiences to look through a lens with love and faith members of the LGBTQI+ community, including high profile Queer activists and Queer clerics in the film. They each have their own unique ways of amplifying their voices and finding their way back to spiritual health, despite the shaming tactics of some Christian institutions.

Maurice, a Queer Jamaican Activist, organized Montego Bay’s first ever LGBT focused walk in 2018. Maurice grew up and was very involved in the church as his parents were pillars in the community.

Jamaica is known for having extremely homophobic views on the LGBTQ community. This ultimately put Maurice in a frustrating situation.

“People say there is more churches than people in Jamaica,” said Lewis.

“That church isn’t just a church where you go to on Sundays, its where community comes together, its where resources come together, its where you may go for help to get a job or even medical attention. So, when that center is no longer accessible to you, it not only affects you psychologically, but it affects you economically.”

Although there is much trauma Lewis could have shown in her documentary, she decided to focus more on the positive anecdotes and how each interviewee feels about being Queer and their love for God. In her Op-Ed to CBC, Lewis writes, “I set out to make sure the film was not going to fall into the category of trauma exploitation. It has been a struggle while documenting the stories to balance those

SELINA McCALLUM salina@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Can you be Christian and Queer? Feature length documentary, ‘With Wonder’ directed by award-winning director Sharon Lewis explores this question by speaking to Queer and Christian individuals of color from Jamaica, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, London UK, and New York.

Lewis was in the midst of making another film about the first Black openly gay conductor in Canada, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser and in conversations about Christianity with him, the idea for ‘With Wonder’ came to life.

“He was telling me stories about Christians and coming out, and I thought this is crazy that the definition of Christianity is still, in some places, to persecute the Queer community,” said With Wonder Director. “I really wanted to investigate that and what it looked like specifically for people of color. There is conversion therapy and homophobia in White churches, but it plays out very differently in people of color communities.”

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sad, sometimes tragic experiences with hope and survival.”

Lewis beautifully crafted the story that is a love letter for the LGBTQI+ community of color by the LGBTQI+ community of color. Each interviewee in the documentary shares a little bit of their coming out story and struggle for acceptance from their religious families, but especially themselves.

D’Lo, a transgender Sri-Lankan American performer, and an old friend of Lewis, shows audiences that it’s possible to joke around with God and be your most authentic self. In a monologue he performs in front of a live audience, he reenacts conversations with his Sri Lankan parents, moments with his sister as a child, and expressing his anger to God when his sister dies later in a plane accident.

Another story in the film is the one of Rev. Winnie who is from Nigeria but lives in New York now. While he was fighting for LGBTQ rights in Nigeria years ago, his father was actively working with the government to pass the anti-same sex bill.

While other films may blur out the background in the shot where the interviewee is speaking, With Wonder does something a little different which stands out. The interviewee is in sharp focus while around them the background almost resembles a blurred, dream-like filter.

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feel a sense, like something else is at work here, another energy level at work,” said Lewis.

As this is a love letter to God, Sharon mentioned what a reply from God would be to her.

“I think a love letter written back is interviews like this by a Caribbean newspaper. People who have written to me and said they were completely moved by the film. It was also the private screening for the participants in the film who I cried with about how hard and beautiful it was to share their story. That’s the form of it, all this love that has come back from this documentary,” said the With Wonder Director.

The film shows audiences what unconditional love is, what vulnerability is and most importantly, what joy looks and feels like.

“I’ve made enough films, and I have to say, this one is really special,” said Lewis. “The way that it came together and the participants that shared, that connection with them is a huge gift. Everyone who worked on the film worked on it with love.”

Lewis is continuing making films through her production company Urbansoul inc on genre features and scripted TV series, highlighting the stories and talents of Black women, Black Queer women, and the BIPOC 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Look out for exclusive interviews and behind the scenes clips coming on the With Wonder website later this year.

PAGE 14

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Online grocery shopping has become a cause for concern W. GIFFORDJONES MD DIANA GIFFORD-JONES TC HEALTH REPORTER

Food products in stores are changing.

Shoppers easily find more processed, attractively packaged, and conveniently prepared meals. With online shopping, the way these products are now selected and put in the cart has changed too. For that, consumers may be paying more than just the price of inflation.

Online food shopping has become the norm for many people. Home delivery of groceries may be a convenience, but consumers are losing their moment of discernment. Even if online customers take the time to click through product pages checking nutritional information,

in-store shopping assistants frequently turn to substitute products, and don’t take notice when ingredients in products have changed.

Food deliveries arrive with frequent surprises. “That’s not what I ordered,” must be among the pandemics defining phrases.

Online grocery shopping is a double-edged sword. It may increase healthy choices by reducing unhealthy impulse purchases, and help overcome food access limitations for some. It also increases unhealthy choices due to consumers’ reluctance, for example, to purchase fresh produce online.

High fiber cereal is a good start on a grocery list. Regular consumption of high-fiber, low-sugar cereal is associated with lower risk of obesity and diabetes.

When online purchases result in the delivery of cereals sweetened with sucralose, sugar, and syrup, one could argue it’s safer to eat the box!

Changes in the way food makes it to market and to the table call for more

vigilance by consumers. Kids and parents fail to realize that more processed foods, more calories from sugar, and more salt for preservation and taste are the start of future trouble.

A focus on fiber alone tells an important story. Most North Americans consumers are eating less than 10-15 grams of fiber a day. But the recommended intake is 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men. Take a look at your bowel movement.

If the content floats, you’re getting sufficient fiber.

Insufficient fiber is associated with a higher risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, which in turn lead to greater risk of heart attack, blindness, kidney failure and losing a leg due to hardening of arteries.

Millions of people suffer from chronic constipation due to a lack of fiber.

Grunting through bowel movements can trigger small hernias in the large bowel that may cause inflammation, sometimes perforation of the intestines and emergency surgery. Remember, no surgeon can guarantee a risk-free operation.

Years ago, Dr. Denis Burkitt, an English researcher, reported that African societies consuming large amounts of fiber did not suffer from constipation or appendicitis.

What’s the magic of fiber? It holds water in the digestive system, producing stools soft as toothpaste. Fiber is filling, decreasing the hunger reflex. Drinks containing the equivalent of eight teaspoons of sugar have no effect on satisfying the appetite. The solution: eat an apple, loaded with fiber.

Knowing what you want means knowing what you must give up to get it.

Say no to sugar laden cereals. Getting this message through, especially to parents, is not easy. But setting the course for obesity and Type 2 diabetes is punishing their chances for a long, healthy life.

It’s not just sugar. It’s too many calories and lack of exercise as well.

Shop smart. Monitor weight daily by stepping on a scale. See if your stools float.

What are we going to do if gas prices continue rising? Corporate profitability works best in situations of public confusion and distress STEVEN KASZAB steven@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Prices for essential items and services will never again drop to pre COVID-19 levels.

Industry and those corporations that rule our marketplace along with the government will not allow it too. Why? Let us call it profiteering on both governmental and corporate levels. Corporations have made excessively large profits these past few years, using COVID-19 as the excuse to continually bump

up their prices. A 5-10% cost increase allows them to increase their prices and profitability far higher.

In 2020, prices began their flight upward, as a strategy working towards future price hikes. Increase your prices/ profits by 25%, and follow it up a year later with a further bump in prices. Governmental taxes will increase prices further, giving no real transparency or accountability to the consumer.

Corporate profitability works best in situations of public confusion and distress. People go to the grocer to buy items that could not be found in the near future. Paper towels, toilet paper, disinfectant sprays, not to mention food. Like a Casino, businesses create a sense of excitement, promoting through the media what products may become scarce in the near future, all the while a warehouse full

of product stands by.

Governments are searching for every avenue available to tax their citizens. The helping hand extended previously to those in need is now going into your pocket books.

I can hear public organizations everywhere singing this silent diatribe, “Your love gives us such a thrill, but it won’t pay our debts and bills. We want revenue, that’s what we want.”

Will we return to the age of the caveman? Travel by foot, bike, horse drawn carriage, skateboards or perhaps the over-priced, elusive electric car? Our leaders are experiencing schizophrenic episodes within their foreign affairs policies, much like the gas prices you have experienced these past decades.

Prices for digital items and services skyrocket, while corporations that

pretty well hold a monopoly on their set industry cannot even function properly.

On July 8th, 2022 Rogers’ systems went off line, and Canadian’s, their police, medical systems, governmental services and even the military could not communicate or properly function. This has happened before, yet our government continues to allow these corporate hacks to police themselves. We could not even call 911 should an emergency arise. Perhaps it is time the Canadian marketplace opens up to American and EU Carriers/Providers.

Greed, arrogance, conspiracies, back room hidden decisions rule the day in Canada and many other nations. The average citizen suffers, while wealthy families and the corporations they own, accumulate massive wealth sent offshore, hidden from you and I and the taxman.

“It’s CARNIVAL TIME!” Official launch of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

It was refreshing to see the annual display of Caribbean visual, culinary and performing arts at the official launch of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival on Thursday, July 7th, 2022.

The return of the stimulating sights, sizzling sounds, and sparkling sensations of delights could be seen on the faces of the hundreds of spectators who celebrated the return of this festival. For many reasons, this celebratory launch marks the official start of summer.

Laverne Garcia, Executive Chair

of the Festival Management Committee (FMC) spoke enthusiastically about the opening, “We’re really excited to be back and welcome everyone. It’s really for all people. While it’s the largest Caribbean cultural festival, it’s also something for everyone. It’s about equality. it’s about diversity. A lot of people don’t realize the roots of carnival is an emancipation and that’s why there’s a big celebration.”

Dignitaries, officials and politicians were in attendance at the launch, including John Tory (Mayor of Toronto), Michael Thompson (Deputy Mayor of Toronto), and Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister). In his speech at the launch, Mayor Tory reiterates the importance of the Caribbean Carnival as a unifying force in the City of Toronto that “Brings people together.” He adds that it shows, “How much we respect each other, how much we embrace each other, how much we need each other to make this city the place that it is.”

He tweeted @TorontosMayor, “Today we officially launched this year’s @GoTOCarnival! A big thank you to all the dedicated staff and volunteers who helped make this day and Toronto Caribbean Carnival Month a reality. I saw that hard work in action today, meeting residents and enjoying the celebrations.”

Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland announced that the festival will be receiving $1 million in funding from the federal government’s Tourism Relief Fund. She states, “We are putting our money where our mouth is, guys.”

This is good news for the cashstrapped festival, which has had many financial challenges over the years and after a two-year absence, there is hope that the bandleaders will be equitably rewarded for their work. In past festivals, the City of Toronto was the major funder along with the federal government and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The allotment of $600,000 by the

City of Toronto to the festival this year will go towards increasing: the junior program, Kiddies for Mas as well as designing an app for the Carnival and purchasing much needed staging equipment.

At the launch, masqueraders showcase costumes from seven mas bands: Carnival Nationz, Costume Creators, Saldenah Carnival, Freedom Mas, Epic Carnival, TribalCarnival and Toronto Revelers.

Upcoming events during July include: the Junior King and Queen’s showcase that was on July 10th, at Scarborough Town Centre, and Junior Carnival parade, which was on July 16th, at the Malvern Community Centre. OCPA Calypso Showcase at Latvian Cultural Centre, the King and Queen showcase on July 28th, Pan Alive on July 29th, at Lamport Stadium, a tribute to Mike Phillips and the Grande Parade on July 30th, at Exhibition Place Grounds travelling along Lakeshore Road.

NEWS

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 15

Urban Alliance on Race Relations is powerfully affecting systemic change within school boards in the GTA and Simcoe County PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

It has been over 47 years since the Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR) has been at the forefront of advancing social justice, racial equity, and human rights equality since it was founded in 1975.

They are a non-profit charitable organization that works primarily and proactively with the community, public and private sectors to provide educational programs and research, which are critical

in addressing racism in society.

On Tuesday, June 28th, 2022 they held Equity in Education Forum to advance racial justice in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This forum was organized as a continuation of on-going discussion and culmination of local grassroots campaigns to affect systemic change within school boards in the GTA and Simcoe County. It is in alignment with the Equity in Education project that the UARR, along with other stakeholders: Council of Agencies Serving South Asia (CASSA), Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter (CCNCTO), Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators (ONABSE) and Tamil Canadian Centre for Civic Action (TCCCA).

Eman Zahid, who was formerly the Muslim Community Project Coordinator of the CASSA, made the opening remarks for the forum. Kathy McDonald,

Trustee of the Peel District School Board (PDSB) spoke on behalf of the board, which has made great changes as it seeks to comply with the 27 ministerial directives from the Ministry of Education.

The PDSB approved the first-ever Anti-Racism Policy on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022 as well as the “Black Student Success Strategy: We Rise Together 2.0.”

Louise Sirisko, Director of Education of the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) has seen changes in the board as it seeks to address anti-Black racism. They appointed Darcie Sutherland to oversee its anti-Black racism strategy in 2021, and officially launched its “Dismantling AntiBlack Racism Strategy: Creating anti-racist and Black-affirming learning and Working Environments,” on March 8th, 2021.

Director Sirisko states, “The launch of the strategy demonstrates the

Board’s commitment to anti-racism, human rights and to dismantling systemic oppression at our Board,” (educationnewscanada.com). There were presentations made by the four collaborative partners as well as community-based panellists who discussed issues with respect to: Islamophobia, anti-Asian racism, anti-Black racism, and Tamil genocide education week.

The UARR and the CCNCTO have been calling on TDSB and YRDSB to develop a formal action plan to dismantle antiAsian racism in their respective boards.

They launched a petition seeking signatures to force these boards to initiate the process of formulating an action plan as a bold attempt to address systematic antiAsian racism.

Sacral Seduction; “It is about you, being all you are, unapologetically.”

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“The only way you get something in life is you seduce it.”

Azaria Stephenson “We are going to dance later Sim, come in and join the group. You can pull a card.”

“Dance! No, I don’t think I will be dancing.”

“Yes beautiful! It is going to be fun.”

I had just arrived at lululemon, and although I was late for the premier of “Sacral Seduction,” the founder Azaria Stephenson lovingly invited me in. I was instantly immersed in the world of divine feminine energy! The women were so welcoming, and there was a calmness that made me feel instantly at ease. “Sacral Seduction” is a feminine empowerment space that fo-

cuses on the cultivating of divine feminine energy from within.

“I help women understand their divine feminine power and educate them on how to use it to create the life they desire,” Azaria shared with me.

“I want women to come into this space and connect to their divine feminine energy by using techniques that involve artistic movement, community connection, self-love, compassion and self-actualization.”

Azaria is a Sensual Intimacy Coach, Creative Curator and Speaker who uses her performances and events to create a safe space to discuss vulnerable and challenging topics such as: sexual assault, childhood trauma, self-actualization and more.

“I am in the business of cultivating women’s confidence through their feminine energy,” Azaria shares.

“As a woman, I was always chasing society’s idea of success while I was exhausted, frustrated and angry at the world.

When I discovered my feminine power of intuitive guidance, abundance through love and passion for being me; I was able to create a clear blueprint of the life I desire without being overworked. I believe by using your femininity to cultivate a joyful life fulfilment is attainable. Hence why I do the

work I do.”

In conjunction, Azaria has been working on the music side of her business, and as you know, music costs money.

Someone advised her to utilize the talents that she has to make the extra money that she needs.

“So as I was brainstorming, I was thinking about how and why I do what I do.

The sacral chakra (element is water) is how we manifest. We live in a masculine world, so without us knowing it our sacral chakra is drained. We stay in this survival mode, which is very root chakra.

Sacral is how I found my foundation, and learned how to manifest from there.

The only way you get something in life is you seduce it. I put up the name, and someone commented, “That is an amazing brand name.” It started as an event idea, but I wanted people to go home and feel loved. I wanted to build a community where people feel whole.”

Azaria shared something powerful with me; she told me that God chose the women who chose to be part of this event.

“They are women who have empowered me and taught me something.

I knew that they would share something great. It wanted a holistic feel for the event.

They are really good at transformation.

They take something and make it what they want it to be.”

She had a great group of women to support the event. I had a chance to interact with: Annie B (Afrofit), who had the women sweating, Francine, who helped us learn how to move through confidence, and LaToya Browne, who allowed women to share intimately in a safe space.

She also had amazing sponsors who gifted us with special goodies to take home. In my bag were goodies from: Custom By Care, Steep & Mellow, Love Story Coaching, Swayy, Moore Than Hair, and Clean Slate Fitness and Wellness.

I will definitely be going to the next Sacral Seduction, which is happening on August 21st, 2022 at a secret location.

Women will have a chance to do positive affirmation work with Azaria, write a letter to yourself with Life Coach LaToya Browne, and talk about the techniques, tools and stories around how we gain confidence in being authentically ourselves and getting the value we deserve in the areas of career, money, love and more.

“I am not afraid to be who I am.

I stopped apologizing for being myself. I want women to openly love their bodies, love themselves. It is about you, being all you are unapologetically.”

Family in Waterloo files $1 million lawsuit against the Waterloo Catholic District School Board resulted from this provincial review:

PAUL JUNOR

• •

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

On February 24th, 2022, the WCDSB was called to a school in Waterloo to assist a 4-year-old boy who was in “crisis” who was subsequently removed from class. This subsequently led to an apology by the Director of Education of the WCDSB and the launch of a review by the Ministry of Education.

There were 14 recommendations that

•

•

•

Amend staff policies to ensure racism and forms of discrimination are subject to disciplinary measures Hire Black consultants to work with Black families to help navigate special education, discipline academic and well-being conversations and processes Keep records to ensure timely relay of information to families whenever injury, holds, or significant escalations occur with students Limit 911 services for kindergarten to Grade 3 as a last resort and include mutually agreed upon time frame for when emergency supports will be engaged Review and develop processes to ensure exclusion in kindergarten to

• •

Grade 3 does not negatively impact Black and other marginalized student groups Develop clear protocols to explain inclusion techniques, supports, timelines and appeal processes to families Mandatory professional learning, developed by Black and other racialized external experts, for administration and staff

In a subsequent development, the family has filed a lawsuit against the WCDSB seeking $1 million in damages, plus court costs.

The suit’s statement of claim alleges the board discriminated against the student because of his race and mental disability and failed in their duty to properly care for him.

Further, the suit adds that the boy was subjected to on-going discrimination

at school, including isolation, intimidation and lack of supervision. The statement of claim reveals additional details such as allegations that he was prevented from playing with other children, repeatedly withdrawn from other students in the class by being confined to an isolation room.

Furthermore, there was information presented regarding the November 2021 incident when the police were called to the school. After failing to reach the mother of the child after she was called, the suit indicated that by the time she arrived at the school, the school had made the decision to call 9-1-1 and have the police transfer the boy home. The suit claims that the student was criminalized for behaviours that would not be unique to a trained behavioural team.

The WCDSB is currently reviewing the lawsuit.

NEWS

PAGE 16

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Four top scholars achieved a perfect 100% average in six Grade 12 classes PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) is one of the largest school boards in the Greater Toronto Area. It offers a wide range of programs and services to about 53,000 students in 101 schools throughout York Region.

In a press release it released the names of the top scholars from each of its secondary schools. These students achieved an incredible final average of 100% average in their courses.

Domenic Scuglia, Director of Education states in the press release,

“Congratulations to our Top Scholars on achieving one of the biggest accomplishments of their lives. This is an outstanding academic achievement, and we send you hearty congratulations and wish you all the best on your next journey.

The success of all our Top Scholars is also due in part to their: parents, families, friends, teachers, education workers, administrators, student services personnel, Catholic Education Centre staff, and trustees who have supported and encouraged them throughout their time with York Catholic. Congratulations to all of our Top Scholars and Grade 12 graduates!”

The names of the top scholars are shown below, along with the schools attended and their post-secondary destinations: 1.

Giuseppe Carito - graduated from St.Jean de Brebeuf C.H.S plans to

study Life Sciences at the University of Toronto, and pursue a career in the health-care field 2. Rachel Gaspar - graduated from St. Jean de Brebeuf C.H.S plans to pursue an Honours Bachelor of Science with a double major in Mathematics, Law and Society at York University, and attend Osgoode Law School after her finishing her undergraduate 3. Maya Paladino -graduated from Father Bressani plans to study Engineering Science at the University of Toronto.

4. Sarvnaz Ale Mohammad -graduated from St. Robert Catholic High School plans to study Engineering Science at the University of Toronto.

“The pandemic has reinforced the integral role that healthcare professionals have in our society. I can attribute my success to my incredible high school teachers, who worked tirelessly to pro-

vide us with the best education possible.

I also credit my accomplishments to my parents, who have instilled in me the importance of hard work.”

One of the students, Rachel Gasper was highlighted in the article, “Whether advocating for clients, defending human rights, promoting justice and equality, or holding corporations accountable, a career in law will provide her with the opportunity to help individuals, groups, or organizations with their legal issues, and to further the public good. In doing so, she hopes to dedicate herself to understanding the law and helping apply the law to better enhance the lives of others.”

The YCDSB is really proud of these top scholars and all graduating students who will go on to do wonderful things in the future. Their high academic excellence shows that they are destined to excel and thrive.

Summer is a time for fun, activities and being alert; monitoring your child’s use of the internet during the summer months STEVEN KASZAB steven@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

We know criminals are out there, waiting to find us, manipulate and abuse us. We can grab the bull by the tail and be pulled about, or we can grab the horns and redirect our life situations. Being aware, alert and ready to act in our family’s benefit and safety is key.

Now that summer is upon us all, we should perhaps become much more aware of the dangers that exist when unsupervised children and teenagers begin to enjoy their summer breaks. One particular threat that exists is sex traffick-

ing, especially for children and teenagers who have unrestricted access to social media and the internet.

Sex traffickers commonly use online sites and the internet to “groom” their potential victims, usually in places such as social media platforms, online gaming sites and chat rooms targeting children. These predators are well trained in searching out and exploiting victim’s vulnerabilities, which include children who are online without adult supervision.

A chat may begin, with the traffickers developing a limited relationship with the unsupervised child. To lure their victims, sex traffickers create fake social media profiles, so they appear as children to their victims. These criminals especially target children who don’t have proper security settings on their social media devices. It is an easy way for the trafficker to collect information on their potential

victims.

Entering many different social media platforms allows the predators to see a child’s text messages, photo’s character traits, socially viable dates (birthdays), making it easier for them to befriend and manipulate their victims.

Acting kind, empathetic and befriending the child, the predator’s main purpose is to meet the child face-to-face. Understanding a child’s home life, and their state of mind could assist them in developing ways to isolate the child. Family fight occurs, and the child is upset. The trafficker could arrange bus tickets, a ride, or arrange a place where they could get together and talk.

According to US Statistics females aged 15, and younger male children are the prime targets for sex traffickers. Some of their strategies are quite complex. Some offer false modelling opportunities as part of their grooming pro-

cess. Other times the predator may use a child’s peers as a means of approaching them. Shopping malls, bowling alleys, bus depots are just some areas where traffickers recruit their victims.

Parents and family members are key to protecting children, especially during the summer months when children are at home, and parents need to go to work. Adult supervision is key. Also finding an adult who is safe and trusted by the family is necessary. Remember 33% of sexual abuse of children happens at the hands of someone they know.

Parents don’t feel like you’re being distrustful of your children; monitor regularly all online content for indicators of possible new and unknown connections.

Folks, like a forest fire, ONLY YOU can keep your child safe.

The Walnut Foundation honours founder Dr Winston Isaac with a bench dedication at Loafer’s Lake PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

For over 15 years the Walnut Foundation, founded by Dr Winston Isaac and Simon Samuel, have made a positive difference in the lives of Black men. In a press release from the organization on Tuesday, July 12th, 2022 it notes that it was established by prostate cancer survivors with different treatment experiences, and a shared passion for addressing the prevalence of the disease in Black men, the silence in

the community, the need for greater insights and information on well-being.

Their mission is focused on helping to make a difference in men’s health and wellness. Their core values are: compassion, passion and action. They are also focused on: Raising awareness They raise awareness in the Black community about diseases affecting Black men.

Provide support and advocacy They provide information regarding a specific disease, one-to-one support, host support groups, free conferences, and information sessions.

Influencing policy

They work with researchers, leaders and other organizations to influence the policy around the needs of the Black community regarding a specific disease.

Black men are 76% more likely to get prostate cancer and 2.2 times more likely to die from prostate cancer.

Some of the sobering facts are that the biggest problem of all is many men don’t get checked until it’s too late, and, if detected LATE, the survival rate drops to 30% at five years but if detected EARLY, survival is nearly 100%.

On their website they share that taking ownership of your health is a sign of strength. Talking about it with others is important. There are other men who have walked the same path and are willing to share their journeys. It is fitting

that the foundation honoured the late Dr Winston Isacc at a bench unveiling ceremony on Saturday, July 16th, 2022, along the Etobicoke Creek Trails at Loafer’s Lake in Brampton.

Ken Noel, President of the Walnut Foundation states in the press release, “This bench represents an appreciation by the community of the tireless work ethic, selflessness and true leadership of Dr Isaac on prostate cancer education and support initiatives for Black men.”

Simon Samuel, Co-Founder and 2nd Vice-President notes, “The Walnut Foundation represents an end to the cycle of silence around prostate cancer in the Black community and we have Dr Isaac to thank for this.”

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FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022 Photo Credit: Envoy

CARIBSHOPPER

The Amazon of the Caribbean simone@carib101.com

merchants across the Caribbean run their businesses remotely while building a loyal customer base.

I had the opportunity to sit on a call with the CEO of Caribshopper, Kadion Preston, along with his dedicated team:

TC REPORTER

•

SIMONE SMITH

•

Kerry Lowe (Head of Operations) based in South Florida Suzzanne Cousins (Public Relations) based in Jamaica Catherine Edwards Mark Tabor Catherine Godwin

“We want to become that brand; when you’re thinking to yourself, “ I want this,” you think about CaribShopper.”

Kadion Preston

• • •

COVID-19 brought in the explosion of online shopping. Yes, people were shopping online before, but throughout this pandemic, some of us have been forced to find alternative ways of getting the products that we need. Online shopping is quite convenient, because you can do it right from your office, or your home, or even when you are on a holiday.

What if I told you that Caribbeans in North America now have an online shopping experience that allows you to get your favourite Trinidadian snacks like Sunshine Snacks’ Cheese Curls, and Kiss Cupcakes (mini orange or chocolate cakes)? Think about it; not having to leave home to find Grace Foods Jamaican Coconut Milk, Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, or even Tastsee or Juici Beef patties.

Yes Toronto, and Caribbean lovers living in Canada; we have a reason to celebrate! You can now order your favourite Caribbean-made products online and receive them directly to their door. This is thanks to our featured business this edition, Caribshopper, the region’s leading online marketplace that brings the: tastes, crafts, beauty, fashion, and culture of Jamaica and Trinidad to the shores of Canada with the click of a button. That’s right! You can get everything you want from the Caribbean without booking a flight!

Caribshopper is the largest online marketplace for authentic Caribbeanmade products.

Proudly founded to support regional development through e-commerce, Caribshopper partners with a diverse list of artisan and brands across Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Carishopper helps

They shared with me their excitement and their enthusiasm to do more to get Caribbeans living in the diaspora the products that they need as efficiently as possible.

“Since Caribshopper launched in 2021, we have been driven by a vision to bring home unbeatable convenience, and competitive prices. For more than one million Caribbean-lovers living in Canada, this is an opportunity like never before to stay connected to and support the growth of the Caribbean.”

In a little over a year, Caribshopper has become the go-to source for thousands of US and Canadian residents longing for a nostalgic piece of ‘home’ to reconnect with authentic Caribbean culture. One great thing is that Caribbean nationals, descendants, and enthusiasts living abroad are introduced to up-and-coming brands that offer a modern twist on traditional Caribbean excellence. To date they have shipped over 11,000 products, have over 470+ Brands, and 6,900+ SKU’s.

I had a chance to look on their website, and I found that they feature thousands of products that allow customers to shop in their local currency, with all duties and taxes included at checkout, which offers a more seamless experience.

Shoppers can also get five-day shipping, free shipping on select orders, a dedicated customer support line for queries and concerns, and 15% off first orders for new subscribers.

“We now have a team of up to 18 people spread out between Jamaica and Trinidad,” Kadion shares with me. “My mother is an entrepreneur in Jamaica, and I saw the challenges that she had getting

products out to the marketing, especially the international market.

People leave the island and lose touch with their culture, and now, we are providing a service that will allow them to reminisce about products that many of them used, or saw their parents use. The progress we made since 2020 has been remarkable. I realize that the pandemic was difficult on a lot of businesses, but to be honest, it helped with the digital focus of the company.

I am happy that we are in Canada now, and we want to bring the products from home. It is a good way to help Caribbean brands that have been struggling.

With direct-to-consumer shipping to Canadian customers, it means more growth for MSMEs in Jamaica and greater penetration of Jamaican culture overseas.”

It was quite impressive to see all of the products that are currently being offered to Caribbeans living in Canada. Consumers who want the best wellness products can find them on Caribshoppper’s extensive marketplace that features the best-selling products from ariSkinCare, LiveSimple, and Obara. These self-care must-haves are made with all-natural ingredients, found only on the island. They had everything: whipped butter, soothing cream, fragrance-infused oil, and even hand-made soap that takes you back to the beaches, forests, and rivers of the tropics.

You will enjoy browsing the site, and I am sure that you are bound to find what you have been missing.

“It is hard in North America managing time and living our lives; everyone else has the convenience of getting products, so we want to do that for Caribbean people. We don’t want to compete with the stores; there is a market for everyone.

We think about people who live outside the metropolitans how difficult it must be to find Caribbean products that they need. Now they have options, and our shipping time of three to five business days makes it very accessible.”

Finally, an online shopping experience that was built for us, by us!

For more information on Caribshopper, visit their website at www.caribshopper.com or check them out on all major social media platforms @caribshopper.

These items go in recycling

Plastic bottles & jugs (lids on)

Glass bottles & jars (lids on)

Paper, newspapers & magazines

Aluminum & steel cans & aluminum trays

Learn more at toronto.ca/RecycleRight

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FEATURE Photo Credit: Selina McCallum

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

ONE YEAR AFTER BEATING CANCER, THIS YOUNG RAPPER SIGNS AN ARTIST DEAL WITH FUTURE’S With Jah before him, nothingLABEL shall be against him!

This young rapper from Mississauga survived cancer during the pandemic, now he’s signed to American rapper, Future’s label, Freebandz.

In August 2020, Kamal Palmer, better known as Chillaa, was diagnosed with cancer. After six rounds of chemotherapy and 20 rounds of radiation he was successfully able to overcome the disease to tell his story through a song he released in 2021 called “Cancer Freestyle”.

One year later, the rapper stayed consistent and put in the hard work for his music career.

“Over the past year, I’ve been slowly recovering after all of that craziness I went through with cancer treatments and making sure that I was ready to attack the music field again with full force. I’ve just been preparing to make a return to the music scene,” said Chillaa.

The rapper hopes that his music will leave an impact on people for years to come.

“I want people to get that nostalgia feeling when they listen to my music 10 years from now. I want them to say, ‘I remember when I listened to this guy’s music, I was here’. I want my music to bring back a feeling or an emotion. I want them to have fun, turn up and dance to my music,” said Chillaa. “I want people to tell me they met because of my song. I want experiences like that.”

Chillaa has already started on this dream as he recently shot a music video for his new song called Barbados. The song has a chill, island-vibe beat and an upbeat melody that has potential to be a hit song for Toronto summers. The music video was shot partly in Toronto and in Barbados.

Earlier this year, Chillaa saw his world flip upside down when he was signed by one of his biggest role models in music.

Freebandz (FBG) is an international full service entertainment company founded by Grammy award winning, multi-platinum recording artist Future in 2011.

As a recording label and full-service organization, the company supports a diverse roster of talent via label services, artist management, music publishing, production, touring, strategic brand development, merchandising and more.

“The day I got signed with Future’s label, FBG, it was like a full circle. The day I finished my last cancer treatment, a year later is when I signed with Future on the exact day, February 17th.” Said Chillaa.

“Everything happens for a reason. The day they told me I had cancer, I said this there’s a reason this happened, and I don’t know what it is right now, but I’m going to beat it. I went through it, and it literally took me to Future and his team.”

Chillaa. “It’s not possible to not become one of the best being around Future.”

It was Future’s brother, FBG Goat, who brought Chillaa into the crew. The Mississauga rapper went to Memphis to meet FBG Goat, who is a Billboard songwriter, artist and producer, and the rest has been history.

“They treat me like family now. It’s not even like I’m an artist or producer signed to them, they look at me like a brother now. It’s honestly a dream come true.

Honestly everything is just starting now. I’ve been making music for a long time, but this is the real beginning and I’m excited,” said Chillaa.

Everyone in Chillaa’s family is in the music industry.

His father is a reggae artist, Terminal DG, his mother is a manager and his sister is a DJ known as DJ Rosegold.

Chillaa has worked with other local talent from the Greater Toronto Area for years, one of them being Nav, a Canadian rapper who co-produced Drake’s single “Back to Back” in 2015.

Now he looks forward to songs he worked on with FGB Goat to come out, and a music video release coming soon as well.

As for his health, there is no trace of cancer in his body now. He monitors his body and makes healthy choices. In 2021, he teamed up with ‘Makeship’ to release an exclusive Chillaa plushie toy that was only available for 21 days and a percentage of the proceeds was donated towards Lymphoma cancer research.

Chillaa’s story touched thousands of people around the world, including the media platform Complex, who asked him to be on their live streamed show on Twitch after hearing his music and story. The show, Type Beat Battle, is a competition where two producers are given sounds on the spot that they have to make a beat with, within 40 minutes. He was the first Canadian producer to win four times in a row.

The Mississauga rapper thanks his music for getting him into rooms where he witnessed greatness in the music industry happening. He was able to meet other talented and powerful rappers like Ye and Kendrick Lamar.

Chillaa is definitely one to watch as he continues to grow as an international artist and an artist a part of the FBG label bringing a new sound and vibe to the roster of artists.

Photo Credit: Sanj P Photography

From a young age, the rapper knew that getting signed with Future was the goal. What inspires him is Future’s melodic tones and says his style of music is also very similar.

“Future has the work ethic that will push you to be the best artist, producer that you can ever be,” said

Written by Selina McCallum Toronto Caribbean News

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Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

HEALTH

PAGE 27

“Swearing is Good for You!” The benefits of letting filth fly W. GIFFORDJONES MD DIANA GIFFORD-JONES COMMON SENSE HEALTH

A taboo forbids a practice that is deemed unacceptable. Swearing, especially in polite company, is an example. But here’s good news for the foul-mouthed. Swearing can have surprising benefits – including a remarkable effect in reducing pain!

Dr Emma Byrne knows a lot about letting the filth fly. She published “Swearing is Good for You,” a book presenting research that may change the way you behave when you next stub your toe.

For the well-mannered, silent fortitude is the response when something hurts. Studies show, however, swearing like a sailor can ease the pain.

One study by psychologist Richard

Stephens compared the pain tolerance of people holding their hands in ice-cold water. As compared to yelling a neutral word, they endured the freezing temperature for longer and perceived less pain when they let the cuss words rip.

There’s also evidence swearing can increase productivity in the workplace by building stronger teams.

“From the factory floor to the operating room,” Byrne writes, “Scientists have shown that teams who share a vulgar lexicon tend to work more effectively together, feel closer, and be more productive than those who don’t.”

Swearing is more about emotions than the use of language. This helps explain why even very young children love to repeat “bad words,” even before they can put sentences together.

Toddlers enjoy the potty-mouthed taboo of bathroom humour because they get an emotional rise, not because they want to wax eloquent about the association between “poop” and “your face.”

Women get the short end of the straw when dishing out profanities. Byrne

cautions women who may wish to try their chances with a flourish of foul-mouthed obscenities. “If it backfires, it’s not just a judgment about a poor choice of tone, it’s still seen as being a reflection on your character in a way that it isn’t for male speakers,” she says.

Other researchers have studied the connection between swearing and honesty. In fact, there are many studies demonstrating that people who swear tell fewer lies and are less deceptive.

One study concluded that, “People regard profanity more as a tool for the expression of their genuine emotions rather than being antisocial and harmful.”

Another study found that people who use more profanity were more honest in posts on Facebook about their personal status.

Research has shown that people who swear with flair are deemed to be more persuasive in delivering arguments.

Interestingly, it is more effective to swear in your mother tongue. This is presumably because profanity is often socially constructed. It’s best not to swear in a foreign

language unless you know the culture inside out.

Language fluency does seem to have an important role in one’s ability to produce variation in profanity.

Dr. Timothy Jay, a psychology professor, conducted an experiment in which people were asked to generate a list of as many words beginning with a certain letter of the alphabet as possible in one minute.

Afterwards, the same people were given a minute to list as many swear words as possible. Those who did better in thinking of words in general were also better able to list obscenities.

“People who are good at producing language are good at producing swear words,” Jay explains. “It’s not because they don’t have language — it’s because they have a whole toolbox full of words.”

Here’s something simple to try.

The next time the lid on a jar of pickles presents too great a challenge, give that lid a twist and some foul language too. Studies have shown people can perform stronger physical feats when they swear out loud.

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Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

HEALTH

PAGE 29

“Hey! No slacking off!” The role of accountability partners in the fitness industry RACHEL MARY RILEY rachel@carib101.com

HEALTH & FITNESS

Some time back, I shared a major insight with a few people on my Instagram story about the importance of having a mentor, trainer and accountability in your circle.

Some people don’t believe in that and think they can do it on their own. In this life and generally speaking for you to reach your fitness goals, any goals and your purpose you need accountability. In this article I will share with you major insights when it comes to accountability.

People with great character The greatest trainers in our time, especially in Jamaica, needed their coach to be the greatest athlete. As a personal trainer, you need to be trained by another personal trainer. To be great, you need to be around people that have great character. There is a saying, “Show me your company, and then I’ll show you who you are.”

Having integrity and great character takes you far, not just the skill and talent. Your skills and talents will make room for you to be amongst the great. However, having someone hold you accountable that’s in your circle makes you greater. It’s not about the quantity of people you have as your coach, but it’s the quality over the quantity. When you look for accountability or a mentor look for quality and look out for how they treat other people. That’s how you know you are someone that is accountable.

Fitness industry Over the last several years of being in the fitness industry as a certified personal trainer you need to be the product in order to gain the clients. The major thing that I kept in the back of my mind is to always want to live what I preach. If I want clients that want to lose weight, I have to share my experience and make sure that my lifestyle shows me overcoming weight issues and living a healthier lifestyle.

That is why according to trusted research fitness accountability has always been the cornerstone of a successful fitness business. No matter what fitness level the member is currently at, accountability keeps them in check, keeps them focused, and clears the pathway to success. In today’s world, where the fitness industry has transformed considerably in the last year, fitness accountability has never been more critical (“A Fitness Accountability Strategy

In 4 Steps,” 2022).

As a personal trainer or anyone looking to be fit, you need accountability to stay fit. There are some days I find that I was going to fall off the wagon with my goals. When you have someone in your circle to hold you accountable it is really helpful.

The role of an accountability partner Wellness accountability partners help each other set and maintain goals for diet, exercise and overall well-being. The premise is that knowing someone else is watching you - and vice versa - raises the bar and makes it more difficult to slack off on, say, eating healthfully or working out. Knowing that someone else is counting on you does the same (Heath, 2020).

LIFE

PAGE 30

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Biosimilars 101 3 tips to fight dandruff Various factors can increase your risk of developing dandruff, those small white flecks of dead skin that are often accompanied by itching. Here are some tips to help you combat those nasty little flakes.

1. Wash your hair frequently. Shampoo your hair at least two or three times a week. You may also want

to try wetting your scalp between washes if you have mild dandruff.

2. Treat your scalp. If you have severe dandruff, purchase an anti-dandruff shampoo. Several types are available over the counter without a prescription.

The active ingredients in the product you choose can either help renew your skin cells or exfoliate the dead skin.

3. Alternate shampoos. As with many treatments, frequent use can cause your dandruff shampoo to lose its effectiveness over time. Therefore, consider alternating between two or three products that contain different active ingredients like salicylic acid or selenium sulphide.

Is your dandruff problem persisting despite several attempts to manage it on your own? Talk to your doctor or a dermatologist.

4 tips for a successful manicure Do you have some extra time on your hands? Whether for fun or a special occasion, you can give yourself a beautiful manicure. Here are four tips to help you get the perfect look.

Start by placing a line of polish in the middle of the nail and then spread out to the edges. If necessary, use a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover to get rid of any smudges.

1. Prepare your nails Shape your nails using a high-quality nail file. Make sure you only file in one direction. Carefully push back your cuticles and finish off with a buffer to smooth the surface.

4. Apply multiple coats Apply a clear base coat to protect your nails and prevent the polish pigment from penetrating your nail bed. Then, apply two or three coats of coloured polish. Finish with a clear topcoat.

2. Choose the right nail polish Select professional products to minimize the risk of flaking. Gel polishes are quite popular and are a good choice because they’re chip resistant. Just bear in mind that some require a UV lamp to dry properly.

Make sure you read the label before buying.

Apply the polish in thin layers for maximum durability. Make sure you allow ample drying time between coats. Freshly applied nail polish remains fragile for about 30 minutes.

3. Proceed carefully Above all, take your time.

Additionally, don’t oversoak the brush to ensure a smooth application.

Do you want a gorgeous manicure that’ll last? Look for an expert nail technician near you.

Have you heard people talk about biosimilar medicines and wondered what they are? Read on to learn more.

What is it?

As the name indicates, biosimilar drugs have similarities to biologic medications. Products of li­ving cells like animal cells and bacteria, biosimilars are heavily regulated and meet rigorous regulatory standards before being approved for treatment. They shouldn’t be confused with generic drugs, which contain chemically synthesized molecules and are identical to their reference product.

What are the advantages?

Biosimilars are less costly to make than their reference biologic drug and require less research and development while ensuring identical treatment efficacy. Working in the same way as their reference drug, they can often be switched and provide results that have no clinically meaningful difference.

Do you have a question about your prescription drugs? Trust only your doctor and pharmacist to give you the best advice.

HEALTH CANADA AND BIOSIMILARS Health Canada is the regulatory body that authorizes biosimilars for use throughout Canada. Its authorization doesn’t declare whe­ther a biosimilar is equivalent to its reference biologic drug.

Each province or territory applies its own rules and regulations to determine biosimilar equivalence.

LIFE

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 31

Why we unnecessarily and unconsciously complicate our life?

DANIEL COLE

daniel@carib101.com

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Our lives get complicated to the degree of the quality of our choices. Though you saw the red flags, but your feelings and emotions betrayed your ability to think and seek counsel. You convince yourself, “He looks good, and if it feels good, it has to be good.”

You look for some articles online, and some motivational quotes to intellectually justify or validates the decision you are about to take, and consequently, you make a poor martial choice. A few years down the line, you realized you were not compatible, and there were some irreconcilable differences; you no longer feel happy and fulfilled, but

long story short, you file for divorce.

Now what? A child is involved, and the next problem is fighting for your child’s custody. Oh, maybe that was an extreme example. How about drugs? Daddy warned not to have anything to do with drugs, and mummy prayed all night that you will be a responsible and godly man or woman, but no, you said they were old school, that the times have changed. OK, but on your way back from that party, you were drunk and driving; by the time you woke up from that accident, you were in an emergency room, and your first question was, what happened? And from there on, life seems to be about damage control.

Sometimes I ask myself why we seem to learn the simple lessons in life the hard way? Why does it take pain to really sit tight and reflect on the trajectory and directions of our lives? Why?! Well, the words of Caroline Schoeder come to mind, “Some people change when they see the light... others change when they feel the heat.” I think most people only change when they

feel the heat.

I am not naive to the fact that not every outcome of our lives is a result of our choices and decisions; I get that, but I will still argue that most of our current life reality is a consequence of our own choices and decisions. Why do we consciously or unconsciously complicate our life? I think it all boils down to a few things, poor life choices, especially the ones we took in our formative years, indiscipline, unhealthy competition, and wanting to always be in control of everything. You can add to it as you see fit.

Sometimes, it’s looking back at life in retrospect; we often realize that most of the things we worry about at certain times of our lives are not really worth worrying about. It’s just misplaced energy. So many frustrations are self-imposed. What seems to be your biggest problem as a teenager will later appear insignificant when you start taking up more life responsibilities as an adult. Don’t unnecessarily complicate your life.

J.K. Rowlings was right when she said, “What’s coming will come, and we’ll just have to meet it when it does.” I love it when the Bible says, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Matthew 6:27. Worrying magnifies your problems, and it complicates your life. A problem is no greater than the power you give it. The energy we spend on our problems can be energy well-spent on finding solutions. Try to put things in perspective and ask yourself; will this matter in five or ten years from now? If not, be careful how much thought energy you give into it.

Conclusively, always learn to set clear boundaries for your time and for your life. You can’t be at everybody’s call and beckon. You can’t meet everybody’s needs, and stop pretending you can. If you don’t have clear boundaries for people in your life, that is a sure dose of a complicated life.

Manage others’ expectations of you because your life is at ease to the degree of the people you share your space with and the people you give access to.

Systematic racism seems to now be a thing of the past; Systemic oppression is on the rise in Canada DEVON THOMPSON devon@carib101.com

POLITICALLY SPEAKING

According to Wikipedia, “Systemic racism is a form of racism that is embedded in the laws and regulations of a society or an organization. It manifests as discrimination in areas such as criminal justice, employment, housing, health care, education, and political representation.”

This definition to me means that the system of governance is designed to negatively impact those subject to racism.

In Canada, that’s people of colour, usually Indigenous or Black, correct term would be African Canadian. Basically, racism is simply an inherent feature of government and it’s designed to prevent people of colour from rising to the same level of the racial counterpart that holds the majority of the power; in Canada, they are Caucasians.

Before 2020, social justice warriors were fighting for the rights of minority groups. Rights like • • • • •

The right to life, liberty, security of the person, Right to equality under the law and without discrimination Right to leave, enter and remain in Canada Right not to be subjected to cruel or unusual treatment Right to freedom of conscience, reli-

gion, thought, belief, expression, freedom of assembly and association However, these rights were infringed, unreasonable if I may say, by the government and it is this same group of social justice warriors who approved of upwards of 50% of vaccine hesitant African Canadians losing all of those rights at different times during the pandemic due to their refusal of vaccine mandates.

These vaccine free African Canadians: faced abuse under the criminal justice system, lost employment, housing, were threatened with denial of health care, were kicked out of college for refusing the vaccine, and ostracized for their desire to see vaccine mandates end; so is this not the definition, line for line, of systematic racism?

Does this mean social justice war-

riors that the Liberals (Justin Trudeau) at the federal government level and the Premiers, like Doug Ford, used systematic racism as a tool to increase vaccine uptake in Canada? Does this make them racists?

That’s a strange question, because Caucasians have also experienced the effects of Justin Trudeau and Doug Ford’s oppressive Covid policies on the vaccine free.

This leads me to believe that for the very first time, Caucasians have experienced systematic racism, and systematic oppression.

Systematic racism seems to now be a thing of the past, as there is a greater desire to oppress human beings not based on the colour of their skin, but based on their political ideology and medical choices.

PAGE 32

LIFE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

My world had been turned upside down, and I would have to find a way to recalibrate SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

Sigh! I looked at the phone and really thought long and hard about answering it.

“MOM & DAD,” flashed on the screen again…

“I know I am going to regret this,” I said to myself as I pressed the accept call button. “Hey mom!”

“Simone, I know that you want to see David, but I think that it is best that

you come home now. The courts have given you restrictions, and unless you don’t want to end back up in jail, I think that you should get home.”

Sigh! I knew I shouldn’t have answered the phone.

“Mom! Do you think that this is what I need to be hearing right now? I need a minute. Can I have a minute please, just to breathe, just to be?”

“Yes Simone, but I think that you should come home. We haven’t had a chance to talk. You went straight to David’s last night. We need to talk.”

“Okay, okay mom! I am going to get up soon and head home.”

“Goodbye Simone,” and with that she hung up. Leave it to my mom to put me right back in that space of anxiousness that I had just come out of. I lay back on the bed

I side with working people, and their struggle to be heard, acknowledged and properly rewarded STEVEN KASZAB steven@carib101.com

INSIGHT TO SOCIETY

The cost of gas has risen to $2.19 a litre in South Africa. In The U.K. it is moving upward a further 10-15% while their government has tried to pass discounts onto its citizens.

Canadian consumers face a horrendous seesaw of increasing, dropping and increasing further prices, just like the stock exchange, never at a stand still. Energy costs will continue to rise so long as the Ukrainian-Russian conflict continues. Not that energy corporations mass profiteering off the back of hardworking people has not happened. It has, big time.

American and global energy sources are sticking it to their consumers, with a plan to drive prices high enough that when prices plateau, they drop the price a bit, and hope consumers will be happy to pay the remaining higher prices.

The price of oil is at $110.00 a barrel, and increasing. The oil patch is attempting to force prices beyond accepted levels with the intention of taking advantage of present day inflationary struggles.

Food, housing, energy and most every product or service we use or consume has risen to unseen levels.

• •

Prices of the World = Rise up, Rise Up. Wages of the Working Person= Stable and Stagnate.

Waged and salaried citizens face a financial armageddon while their finances shrink, assaulted by rising costs both personal and professional. Urban centers pre-pandemic were already expensive. Now they are difficult to unliveable. What can those of us living on the lower economic stratus do to survive?

Workers throughout the world are uniting and standing fast against corporate elites who live their lives within a bubble we are not experiencing. Out of touch poli-

ticians, corporate managers and their corporate masters set the rules affecting our marketplace. They have bank accounts hidden throughout the offshore banking system, while we need to keep our credit and banking balances above water.

The public sector unions are already moving towards strike action, asking for increases that our governments will not give.

Unionism has taken to the streets realizing there is a labour-worker paradigm at work, and their struggle is more than a financial one; it is one that is societal and class based.

If there ever was a time when an existing class structure was visibly identifiable, it is now. Low cost labour in North America is usually non-White in origin, and abused regionally. Blacks, Hispanic's and immigrants share the load of overall production and service to us all.

The middle class seems to be evaporating away. Further developments have a redefinition of what a worker truly is, a person who makes others better off then himself or herself. We make the rich richer, while we live in a world where we are financially stable today, but not so next month.

Most of us do not have a stash of cash lying around, or put under our mattresses. Financially moving from week to week or month to month. Waking up in the morning or going to bed at night worrying if we can come up with needed payments.

We are challenged each day by our own expectations and desires, ever increasing costs and expenses that can drive many of us to bankruptcy or worse. If you have money in the stock exchange, look out. A financial reckoning is on its way.

Those playing the stock market, like those at a casino, have bet money on stocks and bonds of low or no real value, making money for themselves, but little for us. When the market re-evaluates itself, and finds personal, corporate and public debt being a sea of unmanageable concern, they will go into control mode, forcing many investments into the bump bin.

Striking workers may very well face mass layoffs. The marketplace will be looking for places and things to divest from. Cash will become king once again.

Well these are my thoughts, as perilous as described. I side with working people, and their struggle to be heard, acknowledged and properly rewarded, as is their due.

and stared at the ceiling. It felt nice to be back. Even though I knew that I was not really welcome at David’s, it still felt great to be back in a place that was familiar.

I heard the beeping of a horn outside; people walking about, children laughing. These were sounds that I had missed so much. It is funny what you take for granted.

Who knew that the sounds of this crazy city that we call Toronto were bringing me such peace?

I slowly pulled myself out of the bed and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I took my time to do everything; it was like all of these actions were brand new to me. Now that I think about it, I think that it was just being able to have the freedom to do what I wanted. For the last few weeks, an officer had dictated all of my actions. I slowed everything down.

After I finished washing up, I made the bed, and decided to leave David a note.

I knew that he was going through something, and I still didn’t get why he was so mad about what was on my phone. There was nothing that I saw that would have signalled any red flags, or reasons to be upset.

I found a piece of paper on his

desk, and a pen that actually worked. I quickly jotted down my thoughts, folded it and placed it where he could find it when he came in. I can’t remember what I put in the letter, but I know that I was doing my best to reassure him that I was about him, and not to worry about anything. To be honest, I didn’t ask David about it after that.

There was just too much going on.

I got up to leave and remembered that I had not driven there. I had to wait for David to get home to drive me. Huh! Now I had to call my mom and tell her this. “Nah!” I said to myself. “I will just get home when I get home.”

I sat down on the couch and turned on the television. I knew that when I got home that it was going to be stressful.

My mom was going to want to hear my experience, and I knew that it was going to be emotional. I figured I would just sit here for the next few hours and be in my thoughts.

I was back, but my world had been turned upside down, and I would have to find a way to recalibrate, but for now…

I sat there watching a blank screen for three hours.

LIFE

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 33

Concentrate extraction will always be the cutting edge of cannabis discovery SEAN SEURATTAN sean@carib101.com

THE HEIGHTENED CHEF Picking up from where we left off covering less processed concentrate extractions, this week we focus on the higher end of the spectrum. Technology has progressed to where reliably clean and pure products can be generated.

Moving up the scale of processing, we come to a concentrate that has made an undeniable impact on the cannabis community in recent years; shatter. Also known as “dabs,” named for the process by which you consume, it is commonly stronger than our previous two extracts. Only a small pea sized “dab” of this concentrate is needed to achieve the same effect as a large spliff.

Some extracts are really not meant for novice users and this is where the fork in the road really begins. The use of chemical

solvents allows for much more THC to be extracted from cannabis plant matter.

These can range from most commonly butane or propane to liquefied CO2, depending on the sophistication of the extraction process. These chemicals are then removed from the product in order to be ready for consumption. What is left behind is a hardened, translucent, glass like product that can be “shattered” into smaller pieces for consumption at high temperatures. This product can be between 90-95% THC because many of the other compounds have been stripped away. In fact, if the process is done exceedingly well, most taste and smell will be removed so often terpenes will be readied to give a more pleasurable experience.

At the top of the processing scale, and as its name explains, THC distillate is the purest form of this compound. While still remaining surprisingly consumable, this form of cannabis has the strongest potency and highest price point. For good reason, distillate is meant to be used in very small amounts as too much can easily cause someone to overload on THC and “green out.”

Distillate is meant to be pure THC and is put through the extraction process many times before an end product is

3 weeds to cultivate on your property Weeds get a bad rap. People have a tendency to lump these plants together and look upon the entire lot as undesirable. It’s true that there are a number of positively destructive weeds, invasive species that can overtake your yard within a growing season. But there are also many plants typically identified as weeds that are highly beneficial to lawns and gardens. Here are three common ones that you should welcome.

1. Dandelion. This ubiquitous weed with a yellow flower has deep roots that draw up minerals and water from the soil, thereby helping to nourish neighbouring plants. Additionally, dandelions attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings and other pollinators. This plant also has edible roots, leaves and flowers that con­tain essential nutrients.

2. White clover. White clover collects nitrogen from the air and transfers it to the soil. Nitrogen is essential to plant growth and one of the three main ingredients in fertilizer. Plus, this weed has a large root system that breaks up hardpan (a hard, underground layer of soil impervious to water). Like the dandelion, white clover attracts ladybugs, lace­wings and other beneficial insects.

reached. It requires sophisticated equipment with highly knowledgeable operators. Good distillate should begin at 9899% THC and approach small decimal places in premium products. Again, all other compounds have been removed so distillate will be colourless and odourless with consistency of glue.

All things that would identify the cannabis plant that this THC came from are gone. This can be helpful when trying to dispose of low quality or waste cannabis by including this reclamation process. Due to its purity, distillate is extremely effective for accurate dosage which can be vaporized or even just consumed orally. In most cases common users of distillate are doing so medicinally and the high dosages it can provide in small amounts make it ideal.

Some distillate products may have terpene or colouring agents added to it, but often to its detriment as more additives defeat the purpose of the distillation process.

Concentrates definitely have a place in the cannabis community from the most casual weekend user to the most hardcore niche collector. Being able to consume in this manner with so little smoke is of benefit to consumers and non-consumers alike. Just as easily most of these concentrates can and are being used to infuse

3 tips for preventing white grub infestations White grubs, the larvae of scarab beetles, have the nasty habit of nibbling away at grass roots. If enough of them set up shop in your lawn, they’ll cause large sections of your grass to die. Here are three things you can do to get rid of white grubs, or at least reduce their numbers.

3. Plantain. Not to be confused with the banana variety, the plantain, or broad-leafed plantain, often pops up in spots where soil is compacted. It collects a ton of great nutrients for the soil, including calcium, sulphur, magnesium and iron. If left to die, this weed will enrich the soil and attract beneficial organisms.

So think twice before digging up all the weeds on your property. These three, and a number of others, can improve your soil and enrich the small ecosystem that is your yard and garden.

food and beverage, which means no smoke at all. While potency must be closely observed, concentrates can be liberating because less time and materials are required.

For a casual lightweight, 1-2 puffs will be more than enough. For the high tolerance heavyweight, 2-3 more puffs will definitely do the job. Being able to close the gap between consumers to just a couple puffs changes the entire social dynamic. People who may have had to tap out early can now hang with the big boys as long as they watch their consumption.

From a grower’s perspective concentrates are an: invaluable, and necessary tool. Being able to convert what could be kilograms of flower into mere grams of concentrate is game changing where storage is concerned. While cannabis horticulture is always evolving, concentrate extraction will always be the cutting edge of cannabis discovery.

For the old school or newbie cannabis consumer this can all seem like a giant science lesson and it is. Fortunately to their benefit, this tutorial opens new rides in a newly opened amusement park! Best advice when attempting something new is to go low and go slow because they only get stronger the higher on the scale you go!

area of useful insects like ants, which eat scarab beetle eggs. Instead of pesticides, use natural pest removal and weed control techniques.

Follow these tips and with any luck, you’ll send your white grubs packing.

1. Don’t cut your grass too short Scarab beetles prefer to lay their eggs in short grass. If you have a white grub problem, adjust your lawn mower so that it cuts no shorter than eight cen­timetres. This will help guard against white grub infestations as well as prevent weeds from spreading and your lawn from yellowing.

2. Keep your grass healthy A thick and robust lawn is more resistant to insects and disease. To strengthen your lawn’s root system, every spring remove excess thatch, aerate soil if it’s compact and reseed sparse areas.

3. Don’t use pesticides In addition to being harmful to the environment, pesticides will rid the

Landscaping with willow branches Willow branches are an ideal material for DIY garden projects because they’re slender, flexible, long and durable. As a result, they can easily be interwoven and formed into all types of garden structures. Here are some of the things you can make with them.

Fences and hurdles If you’re ambitious, you can build a unique fence for your property with woven willow branches. A little too large-scale? You can also make woven hurdles and use them to make a wall around a garden bed or to conceal less attractive elements in your yard such as a compost or water heater for a pool.

Willow structures can be expected to last between 10 and 15 years. They age gra­cefully, retaining their

strength and appearance, even through rain, snow and high winds.

Trellises, gazebos and more Willow branches are also perfect for making trellises and other support structures for climbing plants, including simple stick teepees and elegant latticework.

And if you really develop a knack for working with willow branches, you can even make gazebos and sculptures.

Willow branches are a great addition to a DIY gardener’s toolkit. Moreover, they’re a highly sustainable resource, as snipped-off branches from weeping willow trees grow back quickly.

PAGE 34

LIFE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

How to build the perfect home for your turtle If you’ve decided to adopt a turtle, you need to create a habitat in which your pet can thrive. Here are some general guidelines.

Should you be worried if your parakeet sneezes?

As a caring pet owner, you might have some concerns if you parakeet starts to sneeze. In some cases, it could simply be the result of spending time in a dusty environment and your bird is just trying to clear its nostrils.

Size As a general rule, you need 10 gallons of tank space for every inch of a turtle’s length. Note that popular species like the red-eared slider can grow up to 12 inches long.

Layout Turtles need space to both swim and bask on dry land. At least half of the tank’s total area should be underwater, depending on whether you have an aquatic or semi-aquatic species.

Filtration A clean tank is crucial to your turtle’s health. Install a canister filter to remove food scraps and excrement from the water. Make sure it’s rated for your tank size.

Heating Since turtles are cold-blooded, you need to monitor and regulate the temperature in both the wet and dry areas of the tank. The optimal temperature depends on the species.

If the sneezing persists, however, it could indicate that your bird has a cold, sinusitis or another type of virus affecting its airways. In this case, it’s likely that your feathered friend will need veterinary care to treat the illness.

Lighting Turtles need daily exposure to UVA and UVB light to stay healthy and prevent metabolic bone disease.

Since UVB rays can’t penetrate glass, place the light above the tank.

Decor Use rocks and driftwood to create a few hiding spots for your turtle. Avoid crowding your pet with too many objects, and make sure it can’t get stuck in any of the decorations.

You can pick up all the supplies you need to build your turtle tank at your local pet shop.

The best dog breed for your family: 4 factors to consider If you want to adopt a dog, the first step is to determine which breed would best suit your family and lifestyle. Since owning a dog is a long-term commitment, it’s vital that you do your research. Here are four factors to consider.

1. Size The amount of space you have at home will help you determine the size of dog you can accommodate.

This includes how much green space you can offer your pup. Breed size might also be a deciding factor if you have small children or other pets.

2. Energy level Reflect on whether you’re looking for a running buddy or a couch companion. Energetic dogs need plenty of exercise, otherwise they can become bored and destructive. Ideally, your dog’s activity level will match your own.

3. Temperament Since some breeds are naturally good with children while others tend to be skittish, you might want to opt for a family-friendly dog if you have little ones running around. Calmer breeds are also a better fit for most seniors.

4. Grooming needs You’ll likely need to spend more time grooming if you opt for a long-haired dog.

These breeds typically shed more, which might be a problem if you have allergies or an aversion to vacuuming.

If you make an informed decision and have the resources to properly care for a dog, you’ll be sure to enjoy a long and happy friendship with your ca­ nine pal.

KID-FRIENDLY PUPS From beagles, boxers and border terriers to poodles, pointers and pugs, there are plenty of dog breeds that are great with children.

In addition to sneezing, there are several other symptoms you should look for that might indicate your parakeet has a respiratory infection. These include openmouthed or noisy breathing, fatigue, nasal discharge, facial swelling and a loss of appetite.

In short, if your parakeet sneezes often and acts differently (lethargy and depression are also signs of an infection), it’s best to have your bird examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Antibiotics may be needed to clear the infection and delaying treatment by even a day or two can reduce your parakeet’s chances of recovery.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

REAL ESTATE

PAGE 35

Getting pre-approved JAY BRIJPAUL brijpaul@carib101.com

REAL ESTATE PRO

“I collected twigs and built toy houses when I was five,” Yash joked. “Guruji told me that if I wanted something really bad, then I must sit and focus on what I want and experience the process as if I had already gotten it.”

“In my meditation, I can see our new home, Yash,” noted Wari. Justin, their realtor, had made an appointment for the couple to meet Bibi, a mortgage broker.

“Congratulations! You are on the path to buying a home. Do you like pizza?

Your combined gross income is like a giant pizza,” expressed Bibi.

“Pizza? I love the sound of that!

Put some extra toppings please!” Wari exclaimed.

“Let’s divide it into three slices.

The first slice is about one third or 32%, the second is 10% and the last slice is 58%,” explained Bibi.

“Who gets the big slice?” joked Yash.

“You keep the big slice. The other 32% is to pay for your mortgage and property tax. The 10% is to cover your current debts.

Your combined income is $150,000. If we take 32% of that, it works out to be $48,000. This is called your gross debt ratio. Lenders will allow you an additional 10% to cater for other debts such as credit cards and student loans. Based on your application, you are paying $500 per month on a car loan, $200 for credit cards and $300 for student loans. That works out to be $1,000 monthly or $12,000 yearly.

Based on your combined income, 10% works out to be $15,000. You are within our qualifying guidelines. The two small slices

make up 42% of the pizza. That’s called your total debt service. Lenders can use their discretion based on your credit and spending habits to increase the ratio a little.

Your GDS works out to be $48,000 divided by 12. That’s $4,000 monthly. Let’s assume that property tax is around $400 monthly, then, you can afford a mortgage payment of $3600 per month. Let’s see how much mortgage we can get based on a monthly payment of $3600. The stress test rules apply,” advised Bibi.

“We know what stress test is in real estate,” declared Wari.

“The stress test qualifying rate is around 2% higher than the regular mortgage rate. With the stress test, buyers lose about 20% of their purchasing ability,” noted Bib. “Let’s assume that the qualifying rate is 6% then for every $1,000 you borrowed, you would need to make a monthly payment of $6.44. If we divide $3,600 by $6.44, then that works out around $560,000. Adding a down payment of around $150,000 means that you cannot exceed a purchase price of $710,000. Since your down payment is around 20%, you do not pay CMHC fees.”

“What is CMHC?” Queried Yash.

“CMHC is Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Let’s assume you are the lender and I want to buy a home for $600,000.

I have only $30,000 to put down and you can lend me $570,000. Who is at a higher risk?” questioned Bibi.

“The lender is,” blurted Wari. “They have a lot more skin in the game,” Yash snickered.

“By the time a buyer has saved up enough money to offset the lender’s risk, home prices will have kept climbing. You can never save enough to offset the lender’s risk,” declared Bibi.

“You cannot buy a home and the lenders cannot run their business,” vented Yash.

“CMHC would guarantee the lender that in the event a buyer with a down payment of less than 20% defaulted, the

lender can sell the home and if there is a shortfall on the amount owed to the lender, then CMHC would cover the losses. Now it’s a win-win because lenders are protected. Buyers can now buy a home with 5% as a down payment and enjoy the same interest rate as a buyer whose down payment is 20%,” Bibi pointed out. “When a buyer’s down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price, the lender will require the mortgage to be insured. To get mortgage home insurance, lenders would pay an insurance premium to CMHC. The lender would pass that cost on to the buyer. The premium paid is based on the loan to value ratio. That is the mortgage loan amount divided by the buying price. The premium can be paid upfront or added to the mortgage amount.”

“The insurance premium is based on a sliding scale, for example if the down payment is 5%, then the premium would be 4% of the mortgage amount and if the down payment is 15 %, then the premium drops to 2.8%. The premium is also dependent on the purchase price,” Bibi continued to lecture. “If the home cost $500,000

or less, then the minimum down payment is 5% but when it is above $500,000, the minimum down payment is 5% for the first $500,000 and 10% for the remainder.

Mortgage loan insurance is only available for homes under $1,000,000. CMHC can change the rules anytime based on the economy.”

“This is like yin and yang. On one hand, the premium helped buyers to buy a home, and on the other hand, the people with the smallest down payment, the poor ones, pay through their noses,” muttered Yash.

“In addition to your down payment, you would need money put aside to cover the cost of buying a home. This is called closing cost,” Bibi outlined. “Let’s take a break and then we can chat about closing costs.”

“Great Idea. I am getting hungry, let’s order a pizza,” Yash suggested.

“It’s already ordered. My manager took the liberty. Yash can have 58%, Wari, 32% and I, 10%,” Bibi said with a smile.

Yash chuckled. “Wari should have the 58%, she has to eat for two.”

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647-499-1444 • info@intelligenthealthgroup.ca

PAGE 36

HOME

The pros and cons of heated driveways Are you tired of cleaning the snow off your driveway every winter? If so, you may want to consider investing in a heated driveway.

Here are a few pros and cons to help you make your decision.

ADVANTAGES The best thing about heated driveways is you can quickly melt all the snow and ice in front of your home with the push of a button. You don’t have to worry about injuring yourself shovelling or paying someone to plow your driveway.

PHOTO: HOMEGUIDE.COM

Additionally, you don’t have to use de-icing salts. These salts contain sodium chloride, which can deteriorate con­crete, damage

your vehicle’s undercarriage and kill the land­scaping near the driveway’s edge.

DISADVANTAGES One of the only drawbacks of heated driveways is that they can be expensive to install and use. For instance, installation can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000.

More­over, running a heated driveway over the winter can add a couple of hundred dollars to your monthly heating bill.

If you’re interested in taking the plunge and installing a heated driveway on your property, have it professionally installed to ensure years of worry-free operation.

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

How to paint a brick fireplace If you want to update your brick fireplace, applying a fresh coat of paint can do wonders. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to paint your brick fireplace.

1. First, use a wire brush to remove loose dirt and de­bris from the brick and mortar.

2. Next, clean the area around the fireplace with a shop-vac.

3. Then, give the brick a deep clean with an all-purpose cleaner or degreaser to remove accumulated soot and other mineral residues that could prevent the paint from properly adhering.

4. Tape off the edges of your fireplace and trim. Use a latex primer to get the brick ready for a fresh coat of paint. Keep in mind that brick is porous. Therefore, a second coat may be necessary to get your desired coverage.

5. Once the primer has dried, it’s time to paint the brick. Start by painting the mortar lines with a brush. Then, use a roller to cover the face of the bricks. Once the first coat has dried, apply a second for a long-lasting, consistent finish.

Neutral colours like white and grey are popular sha­des. However, you can get creative and use bold or contrasting colours to make your fireplace a focal point. Paint with a matte or eggshell finish will allow the natural texture of the brick to shine through, whereas a semi-gloss finish will reflect light and make cleaning easier.

If you notice that your brick fireplace is crumbling or damaged while preparing it for paint, consult a professional masonry company to investigate and make the necessary repairs.

FUN

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 37

WEEK OF JULY 17 TO JULY 23, 2022

ARIES

The luckiest signs this week: TAURUS, GEMINI AND CANCER

Your body may be on the job, but your heart will want to party. A promotion announced at work should provoke some demonstration of your joy. Vacation is meant for fun; try to enjoy it.

TAURUS

You’ll have lots to get done while dealing with some confusion. Take a few moments of reflection before springing into action. You’ll refill on imagination and be able to create a true masterpiece.

PUZZLE NO. 766 ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 766

HOW TO PLAY :

GEMINI

You have a great entourage, but you’ll inevitably have to raise your voice to be heard. You may feel some fatigue after that, so be sure to get some rest. You may need to rely on hindsight this week.

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

CANCER

You’ll find yourself with a host of responsibilities on your hands, and time will be scarce. Even on vacation, you’ll need to use a diary to coordinate the activities you want to do.

Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: You must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column, or 3x3 box.

LEO

You’ll take a spontaneous vacation. You’ll find the pleasure you’re looking for. You may consider the idea of going back to school to launch a new, more stimulating career.

VIRGO

PUZZLE NO. 56 40. Creepy 44. Stylish 47. Breach 48. Makes denser 52. Tiny amount 53. “The Way We ____” 54. Clip 55. Pour like ketchup 56. Canticles 57. Cook in fat DOWN

ACROSS

1. Newspaper spots 4. Move slightly 8. Caps 12. Kauai keepsake 13. Child’s steed 14. Storybook monster

15. Convince 17. Has-____ 18. Destroy 19. Gave medicine to 20. Rudeness 23. Metal source 25. Sandwich fish 26. Certain golf club

27. “Murder, ____ Wrote” 30. Expiates 32. Pearl producer 34. Spat 35. Disembarked 37. Feline sound 38. Filming site 39. ____ and flows

1. French mountain 2. Fourth letter 3. Knight’s title 4. Rotated 5. Warty creature 6. Form of soccer 7. Type of whiskey 8. Tramp 9. “Rock of ____” 10. Elm or fir 11. Forward 16. Lazy ____ 19. Disclaim 20. Constellation member 21. Vehicle

22. Frosty’s material 24. Carrot or beet 26. Small landmass 27. Short end 28. Tarragon, e.g.

29. Is mistaken 31. Uncomplicated 33. Mote 36. Yearned 40. Freighter, e.g.

41. Calm

42. Choir singer 43. Gather a crop 45. Sign on 46. Frozen treats 48. “Tea for ____” 49. Mischievous sprite 50. Neither’s mate 51. Secret agent

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 56

You’ll be emotional, which signals that you need to make a change.

After some effort and a big clean-up, you’ll find your smile again. It’s all a matter of simply getting your priorities back in line.

LIBRA

You’ll be well equipped to negotiate in both business and personal matters. Don’t refrain from shopping; you’ll find some true treasures at ridiculous prices. You’ll also be able to resolve a conflict.

SCORPIO

You’ll have a hectic week both at work and at home. Vacation or not, there’ll be numerous details to consider and adjust to satisfy everyone. You’ll need to keep an eye on every detail.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll feel a sense of ease when all eyes are on you. If you open your mouth, people will hang on to your every word; don’t leave anything out. There’s a lot to be proud of.

CAPRICORN

You’ll spend part of the week at home. You’ll get several tasks done to improve your environment and quality of life. You’ll welcome a family member into your home.

AQUARIUS

You’ll travel some distance to be with your family. You’ll give yourself a vacation in line with your expectations without sparing any expense.

PISCES

Despite sending out numerous invitations to take part in an activity, you’ll find responses are slow in coming. Everyone will show up in the end. The summer may inspire you to consider a whole new career.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

the free

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Our Grade 8 French Immersion class has been growing a variety of plants which are now looking for their new garden homes.

We are selling on Saturday, June 18 AND June 25, from 10 AM - 2 PM. All plants cost $5 or $10 each.

All proceeds from our sales will go towards this year’s Grade 8 Graduation.

Address: 26 Troutbrooke Drive, North York, ON M3M 1S5 Contact: Monica O, 416-395-3000

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Must speak English and can drive to areas in the GTA. Call or Text 647-239-4808. Seriou calls only HIRING: Laparkan is looking for a Warehouse Associate in Shipping and Receiving. No experience necessary. Will train on the Job. Send Resume to toronto@laparkan.com or call 416-292-4370

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

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SALES REPS WANTED

We are in the process of expansion and constantly looking for the best of the best! Dedicated salespeople; people interested in opportunities to help others while also being able to help themselves. For more information, please contact Trish 647-722-6298 or trish@carib101.com

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PAGE 40

FINANCE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Four ways that you can use the equity in your home to generate income CLEVE DeSOUZA cleve@carib101.com

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

A smart strategy that many very successful people use often is utilizing borrowed money to generate income and build wealth. While it isn’t always prudent to leverage real estate to the max, there are many cases where a home’s excess equity could be put to work, generating income instead of sitting dormant. Here are four examples of ways that you could use the equity in your home to generate income by obtaining a higher mortgage.

Buy an investment property Many people shy away from the idea of buying an investment property simply because they don’t think they can come up with the needed down payment. While it is true that loans for real estate investors are a

bit more stringent in their qualification requirements, most will allow a person to use cash out proceeds from other properties as down payment. This means that the $100k in equity you have sitting in your home could be the missing link.

remodels and additions help raise the list price and appraisal value tremendously, easily paying for themselves and also generating excess income for you at the same time.

Add a rental unit If you aren’t quite ready to tackle owning multiple properties, you might want to consider adding to an existing home and creating an income generating unit instead. Things like converting an unfinished basement into a finished studio apartment, for example, can really boost your monthly income. Other rental unit ideas include adding a tiny home to the back of your property or finishing out a detached garage space.

Pay off debts Debt consolidation may not seem like something that generates income, but by eliminating multiple high interest payments each month, you are essentially putting more money back in your own pocket.

This is an especially great strategy when you can replace things like high interest rate credit cards and variable rate auto loans with a low, fixed rate mortgage note.

A financial strategist can help you run the numbers and see exactly how much this would benefit you each month.

Remodel or build an addition For those who are planning to sell their home in the near future, another way to generate income is by using cash out proceeds to boost the value of your home before it goes on the market. While there are definitely considerations to keep in mind with this strategy, many Canadians are looking for home upgrades. If done well,

Final thoughts As interest rates continue to rise, having access to inexpensive capital could really be an advantage for those working to build wealth for themselves and their families.

By securing a fixed rate mortgage now, you can borrow against your home equity, locking the loan in at a rate that may not be available again for a very long time.

Should your small business embrace alternative payment methods?

The world is becoming increasingly digital, and so is payment processing. Here’s what you should know about alternative payment methods (APMs) for small businesses.

Benefits APMs can provide your business with a significant advantage over the competition.

Here are three reasons to diversify your payment options.

Definition An APM is any form of payment that isn’t made using cash or a major credit card.

Examples include cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, electronic wallets like PayPal and mobile wallets like Apple Pay.

• Boost efficiency and sales. With APMs, customers don’t have to input all their information for each purchase. This simplifies the checkout process and may result in more sales.

• Increase customer confidence. Offering APMs ensures your customers can pay in

ways that are convenient for them. This will help them feel at ease and demonstrate your commitment to providing exceptional service.

• Save on expenses. APMs don’t incur large transaction fees like credit cards.

Therefore, you’ll save money when customers use them to make their purchases.

APMs can benefit your small business and help you grow your local, national and global customer base.

3 sustainability tips for small businesses Small businesses are more conscious than ever about how their actions impact the environment. This Small Business Week — October 16 to 22, 2022 — is the perfect opportunity to make lasting and sustainable changes to your business. Here are three tips.

1. Offer remote positions. Allowing your employees to work from home means fewer cars on the road, resulting in less carbon dioxide being emitted into the air. If your employees must work in person, give them an incentive to ride their

bikes, walk or take public transportation.

2. Go digital. If possible, make your business paperless. For instance, cloud-computing software, like Google Apps, allows employees to share and access information anywhere. This access helps reduce waste and you don’t have to spend money on paper and related items like printers, copiers, ink cartridges and filing cabinets.

3. Do business with green businesses.

Whenever possible, source goods and

services that are sustainably produced and supplied. For example, work towards simplifying your supply chain by working with local, like-minded companies. Carbon-neutral vendors exist across every industry — you just have to look.

Canadian consumers are increasingly inclined to support businesses that do their part for the environment. Therefore, becoming more sustainable can help you boost your brand and increase your profits.

PAGE 42

AUTOMOTIVE

What do your dashboard lights mean?

The lights on your dashboard are your car’s way of telling you something’s wrong.

Knowing what the lights mean will help you understand what’s at stake.

• Engine. The light that looks like an en­ gine silhouette could indicate a minor problem like a loose gas cap, but it may indicate a severe issue. If the light comes on and the car drives smoothly, don’t panic. However, it’s best to see a mecha­ nic as soon as possible. If the engine light co­mes on and your vehicle starts operating erratically, pull over and call a tow truck.

• Battery. Your battery light tells you that your battery may need replacing or rechar­ ging. Moreover, it can indicate trou­ble with the car’s alternator, wiring or ot­her electronics. Consequently, your car may not start the next time you turn the key.

• Temperature. If you see a thermometer light up, your car is running too hot. You

could have low coolant levels, a broken water pump or a burst coolant hose. Dri­ ving an overheated car could cause costly damage. Therefore, visit an auto repair shop as soon as possible.

• Oil. Oil pressure troubles trigger a light that looks like an old-school oil can. The solution could be as simple as adding some oil. However, if that doesn’t work, there could be an issue with the oil pump or a blown piston ring.

• Brakes. A light that looks like an excla­ mation mark inside a couple of circles means brake trouble. You may have sim­ ply left the parking brake on. However, it can also mean your brake pads are worn or the brake fluid is low.

No matter what light you see, your local automotive garage can run a diagnostic on your car to determine the problem and of­fer solutions.

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 20, 2022

How to retain your car’s value: 4 things to avoid A car begins to lose its value the moment it leaves the sales lot. Therefore, you’ll pro­ bably want to do everything possible to retain your vehicle’s value. Here are four things to avoid that would otherwise acce­ lerate the devaluation of your car.

1. Poor records. If you ever sell your car, po­ tential buyers will ask about the car’s his­ tory. Keep all your receipts, including those from oil changes, tire rotations, tune-ups and significant repairs. Store them all in a single folder so you can ac­ cess everything quickly and easily. It will show buyers that you’re meticulous about car care.

2. A dirty car. The first thing buyers will check when considering your car is its appearance. Keep in mind that you don’t get another chance to make a first im­ pression. A car full of trash, old food and cigarette butts isn’t very appealing. Va­

cuum the inside of your vehicle regularly, wash the car mats and wipe the dashboard and console.

3. Aftermarket modifications. You may be tempted to deck out your ride with spoilers, dazzling lights and rims, but that could limit your potential buyers and decrease the car’s value. Not every­ one shares the same tastes as you and may not appreciate your personalized touches.

4. Inadequate maintenance. Cars need care. Failing to change the oil regularly, have the tires rotated or repair minor is­ sues will shorten your car’s lifespan and decrease its value more quickly.

Get help from an automotive professional to keep your car clean and well-main­ tained.

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