Volume 11 • Issue 14NewspaperCaribbeanLeadingCanada’s Wednesday, August 17 2022 MORE ONLINEPUBLISHEDTOCaribNews.comONLINESTORIESDAILY FULL STORY - PAGE 8 “What continues to be ignored, and not reported is the fact that every day patients are suffering from life-altering changes after receiving the vaccination.”
Whether it is economic exclusion; fi nancial systems that perpetuate their discrimination; limited participation in political and public life, or being stuck at the intersection of race and gender, for decades African-Caribbean women have faced heavy challenges. These challenges include a wider lack of rep resentation and large pay gap. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated health and economic crisis, which has disproportionately im pacted the Black community, these bar riers have grown tremendously. Lack of recognition is another struggle Black women have faced for decades in the workplace. I am sure that sisters reading this right now can identify with having to work harder and being “twice as good” as their cul tural counterparts. It is why when I met this young woman I was moved by her ability to step out from the norms and expectations set by society and create an impressive career in a demanding in dustry. Raynel Carroll is the Develop ment Manager for the Antigua & Bar buda Tourist Board, and throughout her life, she has pushed through moments of fear and doubt, because no matter how scared or nervous she was, it was always worth taking a risk to level her self up inThelife.need to succeed for Raynel is built in her DNA, and her success is be yond simple bragging rights or a pat on the back. Her success represents some thing bigger than her own personal vic tory. Alongside the pressure to suc ceed as a young African-Caribbean woman, there are covert pressures that are felt to excel within spaces that were not originally set up for a woman or an African-Caribbean person to excel. I had the amazing opportunity to sit down with this accomplished young woman for deeper insight on how we can keep that pressure from paralyzing us on the path to reaching our goals. “Young Black women face some of the toughest challenges imaginable. It takes a lot to prove yourself.” In her position at the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority, she works with a team that is dedicated to realiz ing the tourism potential of Antigua & Barbuda, and promotes the twin island state as a unique, quality tourist desti nation. As the Development Manager, one of her objectives is to increase visi tor arrivals and provide a means for sus tainable economic growth. Raynel has a fun loving person ality that allows her to provide strong leadership and strategic focus in the de livery of the Antigua & Barbuda’s Tour ism initiatives. She has been pinnacle in enhancing Antigua & Barbuda’s vi brancy, liveability, and tourism. I spent a week with her, and in that time she demonstrated a high level of communi cation, a high level of motivation, she possessed well developed negotiation, coordination and research skills, and she demonstrated the ability to think strategically and foster high perfor mance through effective conversations and feedback.Even though she is a busy, young lady, I was able to sit down with her, and she shared with me her journey on becoming a phenomenal woman. “I was born in Antigua and Barbuda, but on the island of Antigua,” Raynel began. “I saw my mother work very hard for my sister and I, and she did a great job of making my childhood fun. I was an energetic young girl, and I found a love for dance at a very young age. I think I might have been about four years old. My mom kept us involved in a lot of activities. Mom wanted to keep us busy, and my sister and I fell in love with dance.”
Raynel attended Sunnydale Pri mary School, which is known for dancing and the arts. She then went to All Saints Secondary School, and Raynel came to a realization while she was there. “To me education was the key, but I also realized the importance of having a skill. I played netball, and was recognized as an outstanding player in 2006. While I was in secondary school, I was part of a dance troupe that danced at hotels at night, and this is when I fell in love with hospitality. I entered a pageant in 2009, and I found that I really enjoyed doing this. I was successful and I used this platform to push myself forward. After graduat ing from secondary school, I received the Prime Minister Scholarship, and fur thered my education at the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute.”
Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 2 FEATURE Written
It was at this point that Raynel began to understand that as an AfricanCaribbean woman with a platform, she had a responsibility to show up more than prepared and push open the door for others. It was because of the lack of access to opportunities within certain high profile and high stakes environ ments that Raynel knew that she would have to serve as an example. “While I was at the Institute, I focused on learning ev erything about tour ism: being an am bassador, culinary, reception and sales. I learned how to sell products, and hotel services. From there, you had to do an in ternship before you were awarded a cer tificate. I landed an internship in 2013 at Antigua and Bar buda Tourism; this was after I attended Monroe College in New York, and com pleted my degree in Hospitality Manage ment. I was blessed with the opportunity to intern at the office of the Government of An tigua andUponBarbuda.”meeting Raynel, you cannot ignore her natural beauty, and it is one of the reasons why in 2013 she became Ms Anti gua, Barbuda.“Irepresented the is land in five regional titles,” Ray nel told me Sheproudly.graduated in 2016 and landed the Marketing Assis tant Position at the Antigua & Bar buda Tourism Board. She quickly moved up to the Marketing Officer position in 2018, and in 2019 she was gifted an opportunity to work in Canada. It was in 2022 that Raynel moved into her role as the Develop ment Manager.“Iamfortunate to have lead ers who are not gender biased. As a young woman starting your career off at the age of 18, you are not seen as competent. You have to prove why you are the person for the job. I remember that a woman called me an airhead once because I was wearing a costume. It was a shame, because she had no idea who I was, and what my capabilities were. What I learned from Raynel, and what I want to pass on to other young women is, if you want anything bad enough, go out and fight for it. Work day and night in order to achieve the goal. Sacrifice your time, your peace, and your sleep. Sweat for it, fret for it, plan for it, and then watch the magic happen. by Simone J. Smith
Toronto Caribbean News ABRAHAMLEGALSERVICES Contact Abraham Legal for a FREE Consultation TEL: 647-696-4898 470 Chrysler Drive Unit 1 Brampton Serving Durham Region, Peel and Halton Region and Toronto and the GTA Personal Injury Accident Specialists Motor andLandlordInjuriesSlipAccidentVehicle&FallTenant AccidentsPedestrianOProvincialInjuryPersonalClaimsences RAYNEL CARROLL Showing up prepared and pushing open the door for others
Workers Program SMITHSIMONE TCsimone@carib101.comREPORTER PAGE 3NEWSWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News BRAMPTON Bovaird & McLaughlin 10088 McLaughlin Rd N (905) 497-6661 DerryMISSISSAUGA&McLaughlin 7070 St Barbara Blvd (905) 795-9541 StTheCATHERINESPenCentre 221 Glendale Ave (289) 362-3839 HAMILTON CF Limeridge Mall 999 Upper Wentworth St (905) 387-3030 Jackson Square 2 King St W (905) 523-1525 Eastgate Square 75 Centennial
9. Call on the Canadian government to grant permanent resident status to all migrants on arrival, including sea sonal Accordingfarmworkerstotheworkers, the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) is systematic slavery. Jamaicans have been coming for generations, our other Ca ribbean and Mexican co-workers have too, and there have been no significant changes. The SAWP is exploitation at a seismic level. Employers treat workers like they don’t have any feelings, like they are not human beings. They are not looking for charity; they are proud people and are only looking for dignity, respect, and fair ness. If Minister Samuda believes it is in Jamaica’s best interest to continue this program, it is imperative that the Jamai can government address these injustices and listen to their demands. Without changes many of these migrant workers will be forced to leave farms and look for better treatment and opportunities. Join us by signing the petition at www.statusforall.ca Contact Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (info@mi grantworkersalliance.org) for more. What Niagara-on-the-Lake Agricultural Pkwy N 560-4869(905) DufferinTORONTO&Eglinton 1818 Eglinton Ave W (416) 787-8890 DufferinTORONTOMall 900 Dufferin St (416) 530-0005 Queen & Lansdowne 1484 Queen St W (416) 530-1800 China Town 222 Spadina Ave (416) 915-4243 Queen & Sherbourne 230 Queen St E (647) 533-729
7. Allow workers to represent them selves and their interests in SAWP contract negotiations
2. Protect workers by putting into place an anonymous system to report abu sive employers that will not put our safety or jobs at risk. When they make a complaint, Jamaica must stand up and represent them
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As the Jamaican Minister of La bour, Minister Samuda is responsible for the well-being of migrant workers, they are asking him to do the following:
5. Remove the government agent de ductions from workers’ pay (Section 5.4 in their contract). They are cur rently paying for services they are not receiving 6. Increase accessibility of liaison of ficers, including more visits to the workplace and bunkhouses during the season
3. Make it easier for workers to transfer to another farm, either during the season or before the beginning of each season
This fear is what stops us and our fellow migrant farm workers from speaking up for our rights as workers and as humans.”
On August 11th, 2022, I received an email from the Jamaican Migrant workers living in Niagara-on-the-Lake, working at Kai Wiens Family Farm and Tregunno Fruit Farms. The email was emotional, and they asked for me to write this article and notify the Jamaican Minister of La bour the Honourable Karl Samuda that they are a group of Jamaican workers and members of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, employed under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) at these two farms. They have worked at these farms for at least three seasons. They know the truth about these farms that will be hidden from the Minister. They wish they could say these words to the Minister directly but they are afraid that if they do, they will be kicked out of the program and will not be able to come back and earn the money they need to care for their families. They do not stand alone but are united with Mexi can and Filipino co-workers in calling for better living and working conditions. The Jamaican Minister of Labour, Hon. Karl Samuda, visited two farms in Ni agara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada - Kai Wiens Family Farm and Tregunno Fruit Farms on Monday August 15th, 2022, and the workers have some information that the Minister must know. “We are in a first world country but at both these farms, rats are eating our food. We do not have clothes dryers so when it rains, we are forced to wear cold, wet clothing to work. We live in crowded rooms and have zero privacy. There are cameras around the houses, so it feels like we are in prison. We also face bad working condi tions. We are treated like mules and pun ished for not working fast enough. We are exposed to dangerous pesticides without proper protection. Our bosses are ver bally abusive and swear at us. They physi cally intimidate us, destroy our personal property, and threaten to send us home. Last week, Kai Wiens took some workers away from agricultural duties to do land scaping just to make sure the farm looked pretty for the Minister’s visit. The workers then had to work extra to catch up with the harvest. We will not be paid overtime. When we call our liaison officers for help, they do not respond to us or worse. They take the bosses’ side and put a red mark next to our name, so we are not hired back anywhere the next season.
8. Provide more education about the contracts workers sign, what their rights are in Canada, and support them to access and enforce their rights
THE TRUTH MUST BE REVEALED;
1. Lobby the Canadian government to implement and enforce National Housing Standards; the standards currently used by the Jamaican Min istry of Labour liaison service to as sess housing must be increased
WoodsideSCARBOROUGHSquare 1571 Sandhurst Circle (647) 719-3418 Peanut Plaza 3030 Don Mills Rd (647) 719-1999 Parkway Mall 85 Ellesmere Rd (416) 666-6197 Brimley & Lawrence 2887 Lawrence Ave E (647) 713-1113 NIAGARA FALLS Mcleod & Dorcehster 7000 Mcleod Rd (289) 783-9007 TecumsehWINDSORMall 7654 Tecumseh Rd (519) 817-3560 Wyandotte & Ouellette 45 Wyandotte St W (519) 915-3494 LambtonSARNIAMall 1380 London Rd (519) 915-3494
4. Ensure greater job security and end the practice of blacklisting (banning workers from the program without chance to appeal or transfer)
is happening in
with the Seasonal
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As Ontario students prepare to return to school after their summer break, the On tario Ministry of Education announced that masks would not be mandatory. The Ministry of Education re vealed that masks would be optional in public schools across Ontario in the fall. The email reads, “The government will continue to provide free high-quality masks for students and N95s for staff if they choose to use them, all of which remains unchanged from the 2021-22 school year. School boards will continue to have access to rapid antigen tests to be used in accordance with provincial testing guidance.”In order to come up with the health and safety plan, the Ministry of Education consulted with diverse medi cal experts, which includes the Children’s Health Coalition and medical officers of health acrossThereOntario.havebeen concerns ex pressed by some parents and medical of ficials regarding the optional masking in schools. Dr. Raywat Deonandran, epide miologist and associate professor at the University of Toronto is convinced that the fall is not the time to get rid of manda tory masking even though he believes it will eventually be phased out. He states, “We are in the middle of a health-care cri sis in Ontario and across the country. We have intensive care units that are over stressed and dropping like flies. We have a nursing shortage. We have ERs that are closing regularly.”Heisconcerned that schools could potentially be a source for the rapid transmission of the virus. He notes, “The children, if they get sick, will pass it on to other people because as has been shown schools are indeed a pandemic accel erator. There’s no debate about that any more. Early on in the pandemic, there was an assumption that kids did not get sick. Not true.”Three of Ottawa’s four school boards plan to abide by the provin cial guidance with respect to masking. They include; the Ottawa-Carleton Dis trict School Board (OCDSB), the Ottawa Catholic School Board and the Conseil des ecoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO). Robin Pilkey (Trustee for TDSB) was not caught by surprise by the Minis try’s announcement. She states, “There is actually no difference between when people left in June, to what’s going to happen in KarenSeptember.”Littlewood,President of OSSTF expressed concerns about mea sures taken to ensure safety in Ontario schools. She states, “We need to make sure that people are informed and that they all have the protection that they need.”
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Ministry of Education announced masking will remain optional in schools in the fall
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A few years ago, most apartments in Toronto could be rented just by paying the rent that was requested, but Dal ton McGuinty, the Premier of Ontario, changed all this when he gave Toronto landlords a huge profit bonus by allow ing landlords to start charging their tenants for electricity. This happened when he put into law his Smart Meters to be installed in Toronto, so tenants can be made to pay per usage. First of all, even though the hydro was not charged separately to tenants, it was already factored into their rent, this now left those tenants who were paying rent which included their hydro, now with a separate hydro bill, the landlords in turn got to eat their cake and have it too.
yourepairsrevenueslionsvealed,yearsfromthattionsTO-AGIReport-Final.pdfnovictionsto.com/agi-report/Renovichttps://reshowsfrom2012to2020Torontowent117AGIapplicationsfiledsevenago,to294lastyear.Asthisstudyrightfullyrelandlordswhoaremakingmilinprofitscanfurtherboosttheirbytransferringthecostoftotenants.Community,howdofeelaboutthis? The
PAGE 7NEWSWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News
Landlords pocketed a huge profit bo nus approximately $200 per tenant per month, and $2,400 per annum per ten ant for every landlord/property that implemented this policy. One such building where this issue has been on display in local news previously is 130 Jameson Ave in down town Toronto. Some residents are now speaking out because they have been targeted for eviction for simply operat ing their air-conditioning unit, which is not acceptable by management. However, some tenants took this up with their MPP, and manage ment was confronted, but manage ment seemed to be holding their ground, because tenants have no re course. It is important to note that some of these tenants have lived in these buildings for decades. There are disabled tenants as well, and when the temperature rises in the summertime, it can be very difficult for the elderly and disabled folks to cope without the use of air conditioners.Onetenant revealed that this is a smoke screen to get long-standing tenants like him evicted, so as to hike up the rent on new incoming tenants. This is not a far fetched idea by no means, Bhutila Karpoche, MPP for Park dale-High Park, said, tenants in Ontario are up against a major loophole that was introduced during former Premier Mike Harris’s PC government, where if a unit is empty, rents can be increased by any amount that the landlord sees fit. Toronto has for decades held the unenviable title of being one of the most expensive cities to live in, and this is no laughing matter. Ontario is more than doubling the amount of rent in creases, and a landlord can charge a tenant as of next year from 1.2 to 2.5%. This is just the Despitestart.the government put ting a cap on how much rent landlords in Ontario can charge a tenant per year, there are still those who find loopholes and ways around such stipulations and exploit their positions for maximum profit everyOnetime.such way is to apply for an Above Guideline Rent Increase (AGI). A landlord or owner can raise rent more than the amount that the provincial government sets each year based on the provincial Consumer Price Index, which takes into account economic fac tors like Eveninflation.though Toronto is over priced to live in, believe it or not, more guideline rent increases have been ap plied for. A new report from government
reimburses landlords for hydro, but do tenants benefit? THOMASMICHAEL TCmichael@carib101.comREPORTER
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Parents of these children have been left without answers; they trusted their physi cians and their government, and they lost their children. That is why what I am going to report on next needs to be taken very seriously… “It would normally be in the best inter ests of the child to have contact with his father, but it is not in his best interest to have contact with him if he is unvacci nated and opposed to health measures in the present epidemiological context.”
•reports:·132
In February, the Archives of Pa thology & Laboratory Medicine reported on two teenage boys who died “suddenly and unexpectedly in their sleep without resuscitation” three and four days after their second Pfizer vaccine. “Neither boy complained of fe ver, chest pain, palpitations, or dyspnea (laboured breathing),” two physicians wrote, warning of the atypical nature of the heart inflammation, called myocardi tis that killed these boys. The CDC then re sponded by asserting the boys had likely died of otherWhatcauses.CDChas been unable to ex plain are the many other sudden deaths that have occurred in children:
When will it stop? It all depends on us, the citizens of Canada. We are in control, not the officials that we have elected. As citizens, we need to remem ber that.
My heart goes out to all parents who have made or are going to make the tough de cision to vaccinate their children against Covid-19. Parents that I have spoken to say that making vaccination decisions was a complex process. They had to balance their beliefs about the benefits versus the potential risks. Some mentioned feelings of anxiety about making the wrong deci sion. What most parents are looking for is peace of mind – a sense of wellbe ing and reassurance – knowing that their children are safe. Some parents are a little suspicious and nervous that this vaccine was produced and distributed so quickly. They feel that the longer a vaccine has been available, the safer it feels to them. They spoke of being reassured by know ing a vaccination had been used for many years. Then there were other parents who felt strongly about following the guidelines that our world governments have presented to us; facts and statistics touted by mainstream media that have made them believe that vaccinating their child with an experimental vaccine is the right thing to do. I am sympathetic and understanding of both sides of this argu ment. There is a plethora of information that is pushed out to us, and we must de cide what is best for the people we love the most.What I want to present to you today is the other side of this discussion, the side that will show research and data cautioning parents on making a hasty de cision to inoculate their child. The point of this article is not to sway your deci sion, but to provide perspective. Are you ready? Please navigate this article with an open mind, and research the information before making a decision. In late June, the United States became the first country in the world to grant Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID vaccines for toddlers as young as six months. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the EUA on June 17th, 2022, and the very next day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recom mended all toddlers get the shot as soon as possible.What continues to be ignored, and not reported is the fact that every day patients are suffering from life-altering changes after receiving the COVID-19 vac cination. Unfortunately, many have not connected their symptoms to the shots. 223 million fully vaccinated Americans have reported serious vaccine reactions. As of July 22nd, 2022, the U.S. Vaccine Ad verse Events Reporting System, or VAERS, received more than 1.3 million reports of COVID-19 vaccine injury, including 29,790 deaths. What is troubling are the reports that have come out about children ages six months to 17 years old. VAERS report ed the following “adverse events” through July 22nd, including foreign and domestic deaths (US 56) ·484 permanent disabilities • ·4,106 hospitalizations • ·1,868 myocarditis diagnosis • ·52,654 total injuries Data from the U.S. and five other countries show minimal risk of COVID-19 disease to children (0.17 deaths per 100,000 cases), according to an article in BMJ Journal of Medical Ethics. Given that, it concluded, “COVID-19 vaccines are still very likely to be in the best interest of the elderly and more vulnerable, but not of children.”
• A Colorado boy, 15, died of heart fail ure one day after his first dose
It is scary that now the govern ment has extended their control into the homes of families under the guise of child protection. Bill 15 is necessary in the case of abuse and neglect, but not administer ing a vaccine to your child should not fall under this bill, and at this time it does.
• A Wisconsin girl, 16, suffered heart failure and pulmonary embolism nine days after her second dose; she died two days later, with an oral contra ceptive possibly contributing.
• A Florida boy, one year old, suffered “increased body temperature, sei zure, death” two days after his first dose.
INVEST
• A Georgia boy, 16, who suffered “headache and gastric upset over two days following second dose. Then I felt fine. Found the following day dead in bed.”
• An Iowa girl, five who had an un specified “complex” medical history, stayed overnight in a hospital as a precaution after the first dose. Two days later, “she was found pulseless and not breathing” at home.
• A Texas girl, eight, who suffered multisystem inflammatory disease seventy days post-vaccination, with carditis in her heart and inflammation in the intestines, lungs, skin, and liver. Her belly distended and lungs filled with fluid, and she went to ICU. “Her heart stopped beating right there.”
Judge Jean-Sébastien Vaillancourt (De cember 23rd, 2021) April 14th, 2022 9:12 p.m. EDT Parents in Quebec are expressing their concern over a recently passed child pro tection bill, which allows the state to over ride the principle of parental primacy and natural ties.Quebec’s Health Minister Lionel Carmant introduced Bill 15 in December 2021. It was adopted unanimously in April 2022 in the Canadian provinces’ National Assembly: 115 votes in favour and none against. This bill promises to prioritize the interests of children over all other consid erations, including the interests of par Theents.new law will facilitate the placement of children into foster care, overhauling the principle of parental primacy, which favours keeping children within their bio logical families — even in cases of neglect and abuse. It will also ease confidential ity rules, allowing personal information to be shared about children to be shared among authorities and caregivers. Some argue that the overriding of parental primacy could set a dangerous precedent and give the state too much power over children, and this was see when a Superior Court judge temporarily suspended the child visitation rights of a Quebec man after the court heard he was unvaccinated and opposed the province’s COVID-19 health regulations. The mother sought to have all ac cess to the child suspended for the father, on the grounds she had recently learned that he was unvaccinated and, according to the judgment, a “conspiracy theorist” and “anti-vaccine.”Thefather said he was unvac cinated and had “reservations” about vaccines but told the court that he re spected health regulations and rarely left his home. However, the child’s mother produced excerpts from the father’s Face book page containing anti-vaccine mes saging and articles. It was ruled that under the cir cumstances, it was not in the interest of any of the three children that (the unvac cinated father) have access to them.
Parents are being forced to balance their beliefs about the benefits versus the potential risks of vaccinating their children On January 2019, Canadi Kwanzaa Association cel Kwanzaa, Pan-African holiday, Nathan Philips Square in for rst mak ing KwanzaarstCanadian Canada’s history. 3D up black green, senting lighting the candles during seven-day emony from December January year the Anniversary of rst established holiday 1966, Maulana Karenda Oakland, California. Kwanzaa rooted culture, AmericastheobservancediasporaAfricans)reconAfricancelebratedpanmemoratecommunity,and“CelebratingCanadaexpressingationandancestors fought equality inclusion this try,” CanadianDewittKwanzaa tion. portantAfricanCanadians,beginourculturalcustomsKwanzaagivesfoundationbeginjourney…”emphasized WEDNESDAY,JANUARY BUY - SELL WITHCONFIDENCE Downand Mortgage Mississauga,Centre DAVE JOHNSON Estate dave@searchrealty.ca647-867-7809dave.searchrealty.co
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Let’s take a look at specific vaccines. The Moderna shot was only 51% effective against symptomatic Omicron infection in 6-month-olds to 2-year-olds, and a mere 37% effective in 2- to 5-yearolds. This is lower than what is expected for vaccines, which makes authorizing them for this age group even more ir rational. Why use such an experimental injection with such poor effectiveness in children who aren’t at grave risk of death from the infection in the first place? The Pfizer vaccine’s effectiveness “Declined rapidly for children, particularly those 5-11 years,” an Omicron study by New York State officials found, with “low protection” one month after two doses. At thirty-five days post-inoculation, effi cacy went negative for 5- to 11-year-olds, meaning an increased likelihood of infec tion. Even more troubling, is that vacci nated toddlers in Pfizer’s trial were more likely to get severely ill with COVID than those who received a placebo. I WANT YOU TO READ THIS AGAIN! Most kids who developed mul tiple infections during the trial were vacci nated. This warranted more investigation since experimental vaccines for other dis eases sometimes increase susceptibility to infection.Anew Singapore study found ef ficacy of two doses was 48.8% just one to two weeks after dual vaccination; it de clined to 25.6% at two months, meaning only one in four infections were avoided. Among vaccinated children, 22 unspeci fied “serious adverse events,” and three with COVID-19 were admitted to inten sive care units. What is interesting is that among the unvaccinated, no children suf fered vaccine injuries, and just one unvac cinated child was admitted to the ICU.
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Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 8 NEWS
Dialogues, debates and conversations about the impact of Marcus Garvey; The Canadian Premiere of African Redemption - The Life and Legacy of Marcus
You get to the cash register, and you have four or five items in your basket. You scan them and to your surprise, the total comes to $35.00. “How is this possible,” you say to yourself. There are only five items. Frustrated, you place the items into a bag (that you had to pay 5 cents for), and you make your way to the bus stop. You have one token left, and the rest of your change you need to finish your laundry. On your ride home, you stare out the window trying your best not to worry. You don’t get paid until next Friday, and you just spent the money you have allot ted for groceries. With bills coming out of your account, you have no idea how you are going to feed your family. It was hard before the pandemic, but now things are even worse… “You’ve got more people coming through the doors because they aren’t able to put food on the table for their families, you’ve got fewer people in the community who are in a position to give — they might not need a food bank but their budgets are stretched,” Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley Reports are now showing that the num ber of first-time food bank users has risen significantly in recent months. Pandemic driven, historically high inflation rates have increased the cost of goods and ser vices acrossAccordingCanada.to Statistics Canada, the cost of basic accommodations jumped by nearly 50% across Canada when com pared to last year. There are some staple foods that have been impacted, ones that I am sure you have noticed when shop ping at the grocery store. Onions jumped by 25% in June, prices of carrots also spiked by 23% while canned beans went up by 20%. Meats like chicken breast and ground beef spiked by 20% and 10% re spectively. 1kg of chicken breast costs $15.04 on average while 1kg of ground beef goes for What$10.32.Ihaveto report next is dev astating but true; in June, Food Banks Canada reported approximately seven million Canadians went hungry at least once between March 2020 and March 2022. Unfortunately, as inflation contin ues to rise, the situation will likely become direr.
PAGE 9NEWSWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News
Businessman Denham Jolly, spo ken word artist Devon Haughton, and Professor Andrea Davis of York University made appearances in the film. An online version of the documentary will be avail able to educators on Wednesday, August 17th, which is Garvey’s birthday. In addi tion, there will be a massive screening at Marcus Garvey Park in New York to recog nize Garvey’s 135th birthday. Costa Rica has extended a special invitation to Roy to show the docu-film at a film festival at the end of August. For Roy, Marcus Garvey is an inspiration. His docu-film is a definitive one that seeks to correct many of the misconceptions about Garvey and present accurate information. It is meant to invite dialogues, debates and conversations about the impact of Marcus Garvey.
JUNORPAUL TCpaul@carib101.comREPORTER
Nurses are experiencing increased violence within the workplace
SMITHSIMONE TCsimone@carib101.comREPORTER
In January 2021 the Angus Reid Institute also calculated the “Economic Stress Index (ESI),” which combines con cern over debt, housing costs, house hold food costs, a participant’s financial situation compared to the past year and expected financial situation next year. It then divides respondents into four cate gories: thriving, comfortable, uncomfort able andUsingstruggling.theESI, the Angus Reid Institute found that a whopping 98% of those struggling find it difficult to feed their families.“For those who are Thriving, food costs are manageable, or an after thought,” the poll states. “For those who are Uncomfortable or Struggling, putting food on the table can be a substantial challenge.”InMarch 2020, I sent out a com munity release asking organizations in the African-Caribbean community to start banding together and organizing food drives to prepare for what was to come. I must have reached out to at least 25 or ganizations, and out of those 25 organiza tions, only one reached back out to me. Emmanuel Life Management Centre has taken up the charge and since April 2020 have successfully fed 1,000 families across Toronto. Based in Scarbor ough ELMC is open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and is generously sup ported by Second Harvest and The Daily Bread. There are other African-run food banks scattered across the GTA, and I urge those who are having a hard time to go and get help.Forthose who are in the Thriving category, this is the time to donate food items, money, clothing, or anything you can. This is a time for community. This is the time to love thy neighbour as you love yourself.
·Sexual Protestsassaultsinfront of the places they Personalwork vendetta’s developed be tween patient and caregiver Union representatives like CUPE and Uni for have called for the presence of police within the hospital environment, and/or hospital security to be located on each floor to protect their fellow employees. 78% of registered nurses, clean ers, clerical and other staff within the Canadian system have reported to their union representatives about violent or near violent events within their work place. They have reported being harassed or abused because of their race or ap pearance. In Ontario, reported race-based violence was surveyed at a 71% level. In northern areas of Canada and USA, hospi tal workers reported experiences of sexual harassment at a 53% level, while 60% of these workers experienced physical vio lence from patients, their families and fel low staffers. All the while 65% of staffers have experienced an overall increase of violent incidents during the pandemic. This of course has increased the overall depression and stress levels these professionals have been trained to deal with during normal times. 28% reported the use of guns and knives against staff. That is a full 10% increase from the nation al average.Ifyou look at the region of North ern Ontario, you will find that 1,767 staff ers were sexually assaulted at work these past two years. The Premier and provincial government are unable to ignore this situ ation. The surge in violence against wom en, much of it racially motivated, comes against a backdrop of unprecedented staff shortages and vacancies in Ontario hospitals. Front line staff are often work ing alone in circumstances where they are vulnerable to assault. In Kenora’s Lake of the Woods Hospital, the administration admitted to an increase of 300% in staff harassment. The provincial government of Ontario has tried to recruit new RPN’s, but the fruits of their efforts will not be for some time to Patientscome.and those ill are fear ful of going to hospital, fearing the toxic environment they may become lost in. Only strict zero policies towards any form of violence and abuse towards the staff can improve the situation, along with the implementation of staff security limits. Installing cameras within all hallways and rooms may be needed also. Staff members should not work alone, leaving themselves open to potential assaults. Institutional policing will certainly become an issue for our struggling authorities.
Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Caribbean, the award-winning “African Redemption- The Life & Legacy of Marcus Garvey,” had its Canadian Premiere. The timing of this premiere coincided with Jamaica’s 60th Anniversary of Indepen dence and was presented by the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Caribbean. The screenings were held on Sat urday, August 13th, 2022, in Brampton, and on Sunday, August 14th, 2022, in To ronto. “African Redemption tells the life story of Marcus Mosiah Garvey who be came one of the world’s most foremost Pan-Africanist; and in some eyes, one of the greatest Black civil rights leaders of the 20th century. He took his message of Black Pride to the United States during the height of the Harlem Renaissance and is Jamaica’s first National Hero. Marcus Garvey’s teachings and philosophy have impacted many social and political movements around the world. He is widely seen as a forerunner to the civil rights movement in the USA and today’s current Black Lives Matter move ment,” shared Sharon Barnes- Simmond, President at the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Caribbean.Keith David who is renowned for his role as Bishop James in Greenleaf, and has won several Emmy awards narrates the documentary.Iinterviewed Roy T. Anderson, the Director of African Redemption, and he shared with me that it took him five years to complete this docu-film as it was largely self-funded.Roywasborn in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica and for him, this project was a la bour of love. He accessed first hand sourc es from Tony Martin’s work on Marcus Gar vey, books, interviews, family members, and Rupert Lewis. These provided him with good reference materials from which he was to gather the information that he used in theEvendocu-film.thoughit has been shown at several film festivals worldwide, it still has not been officially released. Roy told me that the official release has not been final ized as of yet. Roy has strong connections to the Black community in Canada having lived in Toronto for over 24 years.
KASZABSTEVEN TCsteven@carib101.comREPORTER
People aren’t able to put food on the table for their families, and fewer people are in a position to give
•tionstendeesrelateddirectlypm.oncom/)Daddiesprincestrust.ca/BDCFocusGroup)(https://www.andBlackClub(http://theblackdaddiesclub.willbefacilitatingavirtualfocusgroupAugust20th,2022,from11:00am-12:00Thisfocusgroupwascreatedtoengagewithattendees,byaskingquestionstotheiremploymentexperience.Atshouldconsidersomeofthesequesbeforeattending:Whatarethecurrentbarrierstoaccessingsustainable,equitableemployment?•Whichtypesofemployment/careeropportunitiesareyoulookingfor?•Whichjob-relatedskillswouldbevaluabletolearn?•Whattypeofjob-relatedsupportdoyouneedtohavethetoolstosucceedwithyouremployment/careergoals?ThesequestionswereformulatedafterresearchwasdoneontheextentthatAfricanCaribbean’saresufferingdisproportionatelyfromtheeconomiceffectsoftheCOVID-19pandemic.AccordingtoastudyfromStatisticsCanada,theAfrican-Caribbeancommunityisfacinggreaterfinancialandem
creating more scarcity of this product, and its many offtake products. A lower price for wheat does not deal with the ever-increas ing cost of energy, which affects the cost of running farm equipment, its transportation and even the manufacturing of needed fertilizers. Hot, dry weather is also cramp ing the farmer’s style of crop growth. Our global economy is facing a potential situ ation where food prices could spiral out of control. Russia and the Ukraine account for 1/4 of global wheat exports. A man made crisis that may go into the long term. Add global drought episodes, and we are facing a combination of scarcity, corporate profi teering and ultimately food price gouging like not seen before. Wheat prices are at a level seen before the year began. $7.75 per bushel jumped to over $13.00 right after Russia invaded Ukraine. The price stayed in double digits through June and then be gan to fall to an $8.00 a bushel level. Winter wheat stocks also brought the price down and a deal between Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations has allowed some wheat to be shipped to international markets. The cost of wheat and many other foods have been affected by the war be tween Russia and Ukraine, but the real fac tors that will affect the price of bread, cere al and other items will be: climate change, the price of fuel, and fertilizer. Climate change is making crop growth highly un predictable. Lack of rain, drought level mi croclimates and over harvesting of single crop items are limiting what can be grown and harvested each year. In Canada, temperatures soared to record highs, making 3/4 of the coun try’s 2021 agricultural land abnormally dry. Canada’s wheat crop dropped to nearly 40% from 2020 to 2021, causing its exports to Latin America to decline by over three million tons. In 2020 wheat was about 30% cheaper than it is now. Because Russian fertilizer is so im portant to the global farm trade, it avoided international sanctions. Although high prices hurt countries that import wheat, low prices might dissuade farmers from planting extra crops this year. Over the past decade the number of farms closing production has increased. Family farms are decreasing, while corporate farms special ize in the most profitable of crops, crops that feed the nation. Like the stock exchange, food prices are moving up and down, making money for some, and costing money for others. Whether the costs are artificially kept high, or there really is no controlling our food costs, the end consumer is in for a roller coaster ride, and their pocket books need to look out.
SMITHSIMONE
JUNORPAUL TCpaul@carib101.comREPORTER
Elizabeth Dowdeswell made the announce ment in the Ontario Legislature noting that there will be an extra $225 million that some Ontario parents will get in direct payments in the next two years. She states, “This funding, which will put money directly into parents’ pockets, is on top of the more than $26.6 billion the province is invest ing in public education, the most ever in On tario history.”There has been confirmation from the Ministry of Finance that there will be this extra funding although details have not been finalized, but will be coming soon. Peter Bethenfalvy, Ontario Finance Minister states that this funding is needed in order to make up for the learning gaps that Ontario students experienced during the past two years. He notes “We’ll have more details in regards to how we’re going to roll out that program, but let me tell you this, we’re going to listen to parents, we’re going to listen to many peo ple to say what’s the best way we can deliver the right type of funding to support parents.”
Toronto
Prince Trust Canada
In addition to CUPE, ETFO released a statement titled, “Ford government misses opportunity to make much-needed invest ments in public education,” on Tuesday, Au gust 9th, 2022. ETFO is concerned that there are no new investments in public education and the government is bent on pursuing privatization.Karen Brown, President of ETFO states, “By dismissing educators’ input and reintroducing the same budget they present ed in the spring, the Ford government has missed a clear opportunity to provide stu dents and educators with the school-based supports and resources they need to ensure a just post-pandemic recovery. The school year won’t be an easy one for educators. They will be relied upon to address pandemic learning gaps without the support they need to do so. Making up for lost time and provid ing students with more one-to-one support required more funding at the school and board levels.”The press release reiterates that ETFO is concerned about a projected spend ing shortfall of $12.3 billion over the next nine years in the education budget accord ing to the Financial Accountability Office. President Brown continues, “Since Premier Ford took office, his government has repeat edly underfunded public education, health care and other social services in the province. They are directly responsible for the current, avoidable crisis we face in these sectors. His legacy of funding cuts and chaos in the edu cation sector cannot be dismissed and so our Federations work to demand what students and educators deserve continues.”
ployment challenges than non-minority populations.The national statistical agency found that the African-Caribbean popula tion (approximately 1 million people aged 15 to 69) have been harder hit by the pan demic than non-visible minority groups. Approximately one-third of African-Carib beans (33.2%) reported they had challeng es meeting basic financial needs (January 2021) compared with 16.6% of non-minority households. They have faced higher unem ployment during the pandemic and earned lower wages.The jobless rate for African-Caribbe an’s rose by 5.3 percentage points between January 2020 and January 2021, compared with a 3.7-point increase for non-visible mi nority Canadians, and, for the three months ending in January, the unemployment rate was significantly higher at 13.1% compared with 7.7% for non-minorities. The statistics are even more dis couraging for our young people. Young African-Caribbean Canadians (aged 15 to 24) have been particularly hard hit, with a jobless rate of 30.6% — almost double the 15.6% rate for non-minority youth. The 25 - 54 age group had a higher unemployment rate than non-minority Ca nadians (9.4% versus 6.1%), and wages were lower. Among paid employees, African-Ca ribbean’s made on average $26.70 an hour in January, compared with $30.62 per hour for non-minoritySingleworkers.parent families were also hit hard; Statistics Canada found that AfricanCaribbean mothers with young children were less likely to participate in the labour force during the pandemic. Among mothers with children under age six, 75.9% of them were active in the labour market, compared with 81.1% of non-minority mothers. For those with older children (aged 6 to 17), there was virtually no difference between African-Caribbean mothers and non-minor ities. This is a larger issue than we think, and it is why attending this focus group would be a great idea for community mem bers of all ages. I would suggest taking a look at the report released by Statistic Canada, and then register for this focus group at www.princestrust.ca/BDCFocusGroup).(https://Abonus:eachparticipantwhoattendsthefullvirtualprogramandcompletesthesurveywillreceivea30$Amazongiftcard. TCsimone@carib101.comREPORTER
Ontario parents can look forward to receiving extra funds from the Provincial Government in the next two years! Caribbean
It is hard to imagine that in this day and age, African-Caribbean’s are still perceived as less intelligent, and are continually subjected to unfair treatment by employers when it comes to hiring, pay and promotions. The pay gap for African-Caribbean workers has been doc umented in past studies, including one from 2018 that found that people of colour earn 81 cents to every dollar Caucasian Canadians earn. Canadians of colour also experience higher levels of unemployment and are more likely to be in temporary employment. It is okay to know these facts, but what can be done about it? Well, thankfully two organizations have joined forces to cocreate an employment readiness program for Black and Racialized parents 18-30, who are experiencing barriers to accessing employ ment.
Consumers are in for a roller coaster ride; another look at the global good crisis
KASZABSTEVEN TCsteven@carib101.comREPORTER
News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 10 NEWS
Can’t seem to find a Job? Black Daddies Club and Prince Trust Canada tackle the issue of unemployment in the African Caribbean Community
About $980 million was allocated previously to help parents alleviate increased educational expenses as a result of virtual learning in the 2021 budget. Parents received $400 per child for kids up to Grade 12 and $500 for children under the age of 21 who have specialThisneeds.future payment will be the fourth one for parents since 2018, as the pre vious two were part of the Support for Learn ers, which was launched at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was about $868 million allocated in the budget for parents with special needs children receiving $200 per child and $250 for those without. Fred Hahn, President of CUPE re leased a statement with demands for more investments in schools. He notes, “Mean while, this throne speech announced $225 million that would go to parents who are sup posed to now find private tutors to help their kids catch up. Ontarians deserve better than a recycled pre-election budget.”
• Me Time (premieres August 26) is a film starring Kevin Hart, Mark Wahl berg and Regina Hall. The movie is about a father who finds time for him self for the first time in years while his wife and kids are away. He reconnects with a friend for a wild weekend.
• I Am a Killer Season 3 (premieres Au gust 30) is a docuseries covering the in-depth stories of death row prison ers convicted of capital murder as they give firsthand accounts of the crimes they committed.
“I chaired the commission for the Lancet for two years on COVID. I’m pretty con vinced it came out of U.S. lab biotechnol ogy, not out of nature. There is enough evidence that it should be looked into, and it’s not being investigated, not in the United States, not anywhere.”
SMITHSIMONE TCsimone@carib101.comREPORTER
Professor Jeffrey Sachs Readers, what if I told you that there was clear proof that the National Institutes of Health and many members of the scientific community have been impeding a serious investigation of the origins of COVID-19 and deflecting attention away from the hy pothesis that risky U.S. supported research may have led to millions of deaths? If this hypothesis, or to some conspiracy theory is true, the implications would be earth-shak ing, because it would mean that esteemed members of the scientific community bore responsibility for our recent global calam ity.
The question is, how do we distin guish between what we know for certain and what is Professorspeculative?Sachs shared with Na than that there is reason to believe that that research was underway, because there are published papers on this. There are interviews on this. There are research pro posals, but of course NIH isn’t talking. From the very first day, they have kept hidden from view the alternative, and when they discuss the alternative, they don’t discuss the researchProfessorprogram.Sachs states clearly that at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the scientists there were trained by American scientists to use advanced bioengineering methodologies. American scientists were in close contact with Wuhan Institute of Virology, and they were part of a joint re search group that was stitched together by something called EcoHealth Alliance. EcoHealth Alliance was the mar riage maker between the American sci entists and the Chinese scientists. That was the vehicle for funding from the U.S. government, specifically the National In stitutes of Health, and especially from Tony Fauci’s unit, the NIAID. He claims that there were years of grants, there were grant pro posals. “We don’t know exactly what was done, but we have enough reason to know that we should be asking exactly what was done,” Professor Sachs stated. What was made clear in the inter view was that there is dangerous research underway right now under the umbrella of biodefense or other things that the public does not know about, science that is not being properly controlled, and this research is happening around the world. Governments say, “Don’t poke your nose into that. That’s our business, not your business.”Community, it’s actually our busi ness. It’s our business to understand what is going on, and why many of our lives have been altered forever.
R. Kelly’s in the middle of convictions and conceptions, Serena Williams moves on from tennis, Beyonce receives backlash from the church and coming soon to a TV near you, find out more!
The implications are huge. Imag ine if this disease that has held the world captive for the last two and a half years came out of a lab. Think about the: ethi cal, moral, and geopolitical implications of that; it is Thereenormous.are a couple schools of thought as to how this perilous pandemic began. One school of thought is that the coronavirus jumped from bats to humans, which has happened often in the past. An other is that research on bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, includ ing dangerous “gain of function” experi ments, resulted in a laboratory accident or inadvertent leak. Perhaps there was a com bination of both, such as a researcher han dling bats that became infected and then spread theResearchvirus. done by University of California San Diego’s Jonathan E. Pekar and colleagues conclude that there were two jumps of the virus to humans in late 2019. On February 2nd, 2022 Professor Francis Boyle claimed that the virus had been held at the WIV as a bioweapon and leaked from its lab. On February 17th, 2020, Senator Tom Cotton amplified the lab virus theory when he said the virus might have leaked from the WIV. Concrete evidence beyond the circumstantial was not offered, which discredited the theory.
Is the U.S. Government preventing an investigation on how they handled the pandemic?
R. Kelly faces baby mama drama amid Disgraced R&B singer, R. Kelly, is in the news yet again as trials and further allega You may recall hearing about his reported engagement to one of his previ ous victims, 26-year-old Joycelyn Savage. According to legal documents, Savage penned a letter to a judge prior to Kelly’s sentencing asking for leniency, describing how deeply in love they are and that she isn’t the victim that the government has portrayed her to be. Over the weekend, Savage re leased a 24-page tell-all book entitled Love & Joy of Robert where she claims to be a couple of months pregnant with Kelly’s child. An image of a sonogram is included in the book, in which she claims he approved for publication. She does not explain how she became pregnant, even though Kelly has been behind bars for the past year. The singer’s lawyer has denied Savage’s allegations and implied that she is “insane.”Already sentenced to 30 years in prison, R. Kelly is also expected to stand trial once again beginning this week as a sort of retrial in regards to his 2008 child pornography trial. During that trial, he was accused of recording himself having sex with a 14-year-old girl, and he is now facing accusations that he threatened and intimi dated that alleged victim to make sure she did not testify against him. Serena Williams plans to move on from professional tennis Serena Williams announced her plans to retire from tennis, with a desire to focus on other ventures outside of the sport. “I have never liked the word retire ment. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a tran sition… Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me,” Serena says in a candid Vogue essay. A champion in every way, at 17 years old, Serena became the first Black player since Arthur Ashe in 1975 to win a Grand Slam singles title and the first Black woman to emerge victorious in a slam since Althea Gibson in 1958. She has won a total of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, mak ing her the second-most decorated profes sional tennis player of all time. As the founder of investment firm Serena Ventures and the clothing line S by Serena, she says that she’s ready for what’s next, and even has ambitions to try for a second child with husband, Alexis Oha nian. “Over the years, I hope that peo ple come to think of me as symbolizing something bigger than tennis,” she says. Serena plans to officially leave the sport after playing in the US Open sched uled for later this month, aiming to hope fully achieve a 24th singles title. Beyoncé’s gospel-inspired “Church Girl” causes pastoral uproar Following the release of her 7th studio al bum, Renaissance, Beyoncé has received some backlash from a pastor that hap pened to go viral. The 7th song on the album en titled “Church Girl” samples the 1981 song ‘Center of Thy Will’ by the Clark Sisters, and tells the tale of a Christian searching for freedom and self-love. It’s the upbeat story of a girl who just wants to have judgementfree fun without being held back by reli gion, and proceeds to “drop it like a thotty.” The profane lyrics prompted Bishop Patrick Wooden Sr., President and CEO of the Up per Room“BeyonceCOGIC just released sacrilege,” he said about the song before suggesting that the singer “sold her soul to the devil.” He also referred to it as a “piece of trash.” He also took time to mention Twinkie Clark, the lead singer of The Clark Sisters who wrote the original song and cleared the sample. “I don’t know whether [Twinkie] knew what [Beyonce] was going to do with the song or not, but [Twinkie] knows [Beyonce] isn’t saved. I pray to God that a stiff denunciation of what she did with that song is putTwoout.”out of the four Clark sisters have publicly said their appreciations to Beyoncé for the sample, with Twinkie thanking her for listening to their music and Dr. Dorinda Clark-Cole telling people to “leave Beyoncé alone.” R&B singer Tank came to Bey’s de fense via social media asking the pastor; “Who are you to question the salvation of Beyonce? Who gave you God’s position?” What’s on TV? Upcoming shows that should be added to your list! Feeling like you’ve watched everything on TV? Well, there are quite a few shows and movies coming soon to your big screen that you should tap into!
The origin and source of the SARSCoV-2 virus are still a puzzle, and they need to be explained.Inearly August 2022 Nathan Robinson - a writer for Current Affairsinterviewed Professor Jeffrey Sachs, the Director of the Centre for Sustainable De velopment at Columbia University and the President of the UN Sustainable De velopment Solutions Network. He has also served as the chair of the Covid-19 commis sion for leading medical journal the Lancet. Professor Sachs has come to the conclusion that there is extremely dangerous biotech nology research being kept from public view, that the United States was support ing much of this research, and that it is very possible that SARS-CoV-2, the virus respon sible for COVID-19, originated through dan gerous virus research gone awry.
CAMPBELLJANIECE TCjaniece@carib101.comREPORTER
PAGE 11NEWSWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News
• Send Help is available now on AMC’s AllBlk, and it’s a dramedy centered around the fictional story of Fritz JeanBaptiste, a first-generation Haitian American actor who feels unstoppable since landing a starring role on a hit TV show. While basking in his newfound success, Baptiste must also balance a demanding Haitian family, an unfor tunate loss from his past, and an un expected change that shakes up his career.
• Selling the OC (premieres August 24) is a spin-off of reality mega-series Sell ing Sunset. The series will follow twin brothers Jason and Brett Oppenheim as they open a real estate office in Orange County, California, one of the most affluent parts of the state.
In an exclusive interview with Brandon Gonez, Kingston Fest organizer, Dwayne Hines did not offer a sincere apology as he blamed the crowd for pushing down the VIP and GA barrier in the first place. “At this point in time, because our festi val guidelines were that we delivered the show and all artists performed, there will be no refunds at this time.” When asked about the sound issues for two of the main artists, Hines replied, “that’s due to the fact of the damage production caused by the crowd’s breaching the fences… that isn’t out Kingstonfault.” Fest has since an nounced that they will be throwing a Rec onciliation Concert on November 11th, 2022. VIP ticket holders will get a free ticket, while GA ticket holders will get a 50% off discount. Some people in the comments of their Instagram post were questioning the date and where it will be held, but no new information has been provided.Overall, the event for thousands of attendees, including myself, was a huge waste of time and money.
I attended Kingston Festival on Sunday, August 7th, 2022, and I was not expect ing the experience I got out of it. By now, many people have heard about the un ethical and extremely dangerous prac tices that happened that day. Although the event promoters opened the doors to the outdoor festi val at 1pm, my friend and I decided to go for 6pm, knowing that the headliners wouldn’t go on until the late evening. When we got there, it was absolute chaos. There were no signs that pointed towards the VIP or general admission line, so my friend and I stood in the VIP line until we got to the front, and they told us we were in the wrong line. Once we got to the general admission line, there was no order. People were just squeezing in one big huddle until they ended up within the gate lines.After we go through security and get our tickets scanned, we walk up to what was once the general admission area. We see that the silver fence that was supposed to divide the VIP area off was knocked down. Personally, I think that having a fence in the middle of the field to divide the two sections was a bad idea to begin with. Some people would have pushed or been pushed up to the fence once the headlining artists came on any way. Drink tickets were being sold in order to get a drink. Mixed drinks were $12, Beers were $10, and water was $4. Two women behind us told us that wa ter was already sold out from a few hours ago. This was surprising as how does an hours long, outdoor event in a heat wave not have thousands of water bottles read ily available, especially when people were asked to throw out their water bottles at the entrance gate. I purchased two drink tickets and picked up one drink and thought to pick up the other one later. However, my friend and I were not able to because when we went to get another drink an hour later, they told us they were shutting down the “bar”, and there were no refunds for any drink tickets.Afight had broken out in the crowd near the stage, two stampedes happened, and a restless crowd was get ting impatient as the hours passed. Chron ic Law had already performed around 6:30pm, but the audio from that time was going in and out. The next performer, Skillibeng came on at around 9pm, but only the first 4 rows of people standing near the stage could hear him. And since there was no screens put up on the sides, the people in the back couldn’t see or hear him. Shenseea performed next, but the audio still was extremely low. Between 10pm and 10:30pm, the stage crew was testing the sound. Once the sound was fixed and people at the back could finally hear, Popcaan per formed. During his set, Popcaan said all of the people in the audience are hardwork ing, independent people who gave the organizers our hard-earned money and demanded that the people get a refund from Kingston Festival. “It’s a disappoint ment, a disappointment,” said Popcaan before he started performing again. Popcaan took it a step further that night and went on his Instagram sto ry to say that the organizers should pay back the people their money for the show.
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Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 12 NEWS Put on your sunblock, sunglasses, and get your passport ready: time for a Journey through Antigua and Barbuda, ‘Your Space In the Sun’ EVERYTHING YOU NEED NEWSPAPER VOLUME ISSUE WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 2018 LOVE AND VOLUME ISSUE WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY 2019 Centre NATALYATONEY CALL TEXT 416-837-5460 Less GoodCredit CAN HELP MAKEYOUR DREAMS A REALITY! for banks! your free. fee only challengingcredit and then the cannot.” SPECIALIZING MORTGAGES MORTGAGES REFINANCES NEW CANADA EMPLOYED MORE! ADVERTISE:647-722-6298 ONLINE:TORONTOCARIBBEAN.COM CLASH OFTHE TITANS Rooted EglintonWestneighborhood, Toronto reggaeblossomedJamaican immigrants madeToronto, Ontario, Reggae incrediblyorchestrated put AndrewFounder Artistic DirectorCulchahworks. Andrew ismulti-instrumentalist,who fortunework multiple genres cornucopiacollaboratedwithdisciplines. collabworking artistsJohnsonconsiderableWyntonMarsalis,tiesproduc EVERYTHING NEED ONE NEWSPAPER VOLUME ISSUE WEDNESDAY, SuiteMississauga, 1V9 NATALYATONEY TEXT416-837-5460 www.lendmore First SecondMortgages EquityLoansfrom$5000 $500,000Home nance HomePurchaseLess GoodCredit CANADA KWANZAACELEBRATES SHAUNA-KAYCASSELL/ On January 2019, Canadi Kwanzaa Association cel Kwanzaa, Pan-African holiday, Nathan Philips Square in for rst mak ing KwanzaarstCanadian Canada’s history. 3D up black green, senting lighting the candles during seven-day emony from December January year the Anniversary rst established holiday 1966, Maulana Karenda Oakland, California. Kwanzaa rooted culture, derived phrase meaning, fruits The AmericastheobservancediasporaAfricans)reconAfricancelebratedpanmemoratecommunity,and“CelebratingCanadaofexpressingationandancestors
SMITHSIMONE TCsimone@carib101.comREPORTER
The island was born out of the sea by a volcano about 30 million years ago, which makes it a young island when looking at it in geologic time. It is a place where on Sunday afternoon, you can take in a beauti ful view of the island from Shirley Heights, drink a glass of rum punch, accompanied with barbecue and the sounds of steel band and reggae music. This quaint, and alluring island has a smooth-coastline edged with long pink and white sand beaches protected by bar rier reefs. Visitors to the island have access to 365 beaches, one for each day of the year; the challenge this poses to visitors is not how to gain access to the best of them, but to find the one that best suits their taste. When I received an email inviting me to visit the island of Antigua, I knew that I was about to have an experience like no other. I had not heard a lot about An tigua & Barbuda, except the fact that the island had been mentioned in songs from my youth: most notably, “Kokomo,” by The Beach BoysWhat(1988).Idiscovered when I got there was beyond my extensive imagination. The Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority had carefully curated an experience that of fered the perfect combination of luxury and value. Over the next few editions, I will be sharing my exclusive experience with the Toronto Caribbean community, and advent travel bugs living in the diaspora. I guarantee that after sharing my adven tures, Antigua and Barbuda will be on your short list of Caribbean islands to visit this year. First, I want to provide a little bit of history about the island; this will help us as we discover it together. The tropical is lands of Antigua and Barbuda are located in the heart of the Caribbean about a thou sand miles to the east of Jamaica and half that distance from Trinidad on the coast of South America. They are at 17- N latitude, about the same as the Cape Verde Islands and Bombay and 61- W longitude. The highest point of Antigua is 1,319 ft. in the southwest and is called Boggy Peak, but the limestone Highlands of Barbuda rise to only 125 ft. The area of Antigua is 108 square miles, while Barbuda is 62 square miles. The population of the former is approaching 80,000, but the lat ter is relatively unpopulated at 1,300. Days and nights are refreshingly cooled by the gentle trade winds. It is a nice parallel to the very hot, and steamy days. How did Barbuda become a sepa rate island from Antigua? It occurred when the sea levels of the world rose consider ably at about 10,000 BC. It is because of this that parts of Barbuda are geologically flooded forming interesting lagoons. This is a bird watchers haven as visitors are ex posed to the largest breeding and nesting colony of the Magnificent Frigate Bird in the world.Barbuda supports a tremendous diversity of native habitats, unthreatened by development. Reef-fringed Barbuda may be one of the best-kept ecological secrets in the West Indies. Her rugged scenery, beautiful beaches, (one at least 12 miles long), lagoons and abundant wildlife are a resource as valuable as its fisheries. The main reason for my trip was to be part of the Antigua Carnival, an over a week long festival brimming with colourful costumes, beauty pageants, talent shows, and the best in steel pan, reggae and soca. Like many of the other West Indian islands, Carnival celebrates the emancipation of the Antiguan people. It is an exhilarating display of activities ranging from the Party Monarch and Calypso Monarch competi tions of Calypsonians, the Panorama steel band competition, the spectacular Parade of Bands, the Miss Antigua Pageant and the Caribbean Queen’s Competition. In addition, throughout the island there are smaller festivities, including local concerts, food fairs, parades, and cultural shows. After a two-year hiatus, the An tiguan Carnival was celebrated from July 27th to August 2nd, 2022. Unlike other Ca ribbean Carnival celebrations, which take place around Lent, Antigua Carnival has long been a summer event, and it still in cludes all of the classic elements of Carni val, including road marches, music compe titions, elaborate costumes, and the early rising party known as J’ourvert. Another part of the experience that I will be able to speak about is what it is like travelling as an unvaccinated travel ler to the island. I will go into more details as I go through “My Space in the Sun Expe rience,” but I will let you know the details that you can find on their website: https:// visitantiguabarbuda.com/.Fullyvaccinated travellers don’t need to take a test to get into Antigua and Barbuda; in fact, you don’t even have to bring along proof of vaccination. If you’re unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, how ever, you will be required to produce a negative certified PCR result taken no more than three days before arrival, or a Rapid Antigen Test taken no more than 24 hours prior to arrival.Areyou ready for this? It has been a long time since I shared a travel experi ence with our readers. Put on your sun block, sunglasses, and get your passport ready. It is time to take a trip!
My experience at Kingston Fest — The organizers bit off more than they could chew McCALLUMSELINA TCsalina@carib101.comREPORTER fought equality inclusion this try,” CanadianDewittKwanzaa tion. portantAfricanCanadians,beginourculturalcustomsKwanzaagivesfoundationbeginjourney…”emphasized EVERYTHING NEED ONE NEWSPAPERVOLUME ISSUE WEDNESDAY,JANUARY BUY SELL INVESTWITHCONFIDENCE Downand Mortgage Mississauga,Centre DAVE JOHNSON Estate dave@searchrealty.ca647-867-7809dave.searchrealty.co 416-875-4523 www.charlesayodele.cacharles@bfgbroker.ca ADVERTISE: 647-722-6298 ONLINE: TORONTOCARIBBEAN.COM TAKEOVERTORONTO
Jamaica’s Consulate, headed by Consul General Mr. Lincoln Downer, also gave their input on this special event, “It’s a celebration of unity and a situation where we create an event for the people in the diaspora. It’s a momentous event, it’s exciting and not just for Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, but for the Caribbe an as a whole especially for those who are in the Toronto area, it’s a home away from home feeling.”BothTrinidad & Tobago and the
1962 was a very important and memora ble year for both Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, it was the year that both islands got their independence from Britain. On August 20th, 2022, The Con sulate-Generals of Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, Toronto will be hosting their Diamond Jubilee cricket match in com memoration of their 60th Anniversary of Independence. This event will see both islands joining hands in a friendly match showcasing the sportsmanship and skill that Caribbean folks are widely known for, and it’s a free event. The event venue is Andrew Mc Candless Park – 450 Elbern Markell Drive, Brampton, ON L6X 5L3, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. This event promises a fun filled, and action-packed evening with some thing for visitors of all ages no matter your nationality, race or culture. There will be a full list of Caribbean dishes, music, and more to keep the audience entertained. I had the privilege of speaking with both Acting Consul General Tracey Ramsubagh-Mannette of Trinidad & To bago, and the Jamaica consulate on what this event meant and represented to both islands. When asked how this event makes her feel, Mannette replied, “Sports is an area in which we both excel, and this cricket match is a chance to have some friendly rivalry between our two coun tries as we celebrate this milestone in our two nationhood.”“This,”she said, “would also be an opportunity to feature our cultural heritage, so we are hoping that every one will come out, and bring their friends and neighbours. Cricket is very rarely just about the match, but also about interact ing with the fans and what’s going on be yond the“Thereboundary.”willalso be several prizes, giveaways and of course, Trinidad and To bago is going to dominate, we can’t leave without that trophy,” CG Tracey laughing ly said.
• Grace Foods Canada
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• Victoria Mutual Building Society
• Consulate General of Trinidad and To bago, Toronto
THOMASMICHAEL TCmichael@carib101.comREPORTER
He was a man who believed in political and economic independence. He was a leading figure of the Pan-African movement, which encouraged a return to Africa for people of African descent, and an end to neo-colonial rule on the continent. While his vision and unrelenting efforts led to one of the first movements to unite African’s internation ally, he has received criticism, during his life and still to this day, for promoting what some saw as unrealistic ideals and beliefs. His focus was the independence of African people, racial separatism, and the idea that different races should form physically and geographically separate nations. This idea was criticized by many, including W.E.B. Du Bois and others at the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP), who advocat ed for interracial efforts towards justice. Born in Jamaica in 1887, the Hon ourable Marcus Garvey is the founder of the UNIA. It was formed on the 80th anni versary of the Slavery Abolition Act of the British colonies in Kingston, Jamaica. In order to gain momentum for the organiza tion Garvey moved the UNIA’s headquar ters to Harlem, New York in 1916 to gain momentum for the organization. Garvey’s ideas of: empowerment, solidarity, and unity of people of African descent world wide picked up steam, and UNIA divisions started rapidly opening in various cities across North America, including here in To ronto. It is why on Wednesday August 17th, 2022, Mozia Women’s Network Soci ety and The Global African Communities Network are collaborating to celebrate the birthday of The Right Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey. This initiative is being cosponsored with the support of: The Eman cipation Month Initiative, The Jamaican Ca nadian Association, The Black Chamber of Commerce and The Black Action Defence Committee.Their featured guest speaker will be Dr Julius Garvey, the son of Marcus Mo siah Garvey. Dr Garvey will speak on what it means for Heritage Toronto to present him with a commemorative plaque in honour of his father’s historical legacy here in the city of Toronto, and how we as a commu nity can now create a social practice to fur ther honour Garvey’s vision, principles and philosophy.Following up this event will be the 3rd Annual Marcus Garvey Youth Leader ship Recognition Awards Presentation on Sunday August 21st, 2022, which will fo cus on youth who have excelled in their respective communities. Both events are scheduled to take place at 10 Belfield Road, Etobicoke (2nd Floor).
Rejuvenation of The Marcus Garvey Living Legacy Project; Toronto celebrates the birthday of The Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey
• Jamaica Tourist Board
The Marcus Garvey Living Legacy Project I had an opportunity to speak with Simba Hanley, one of the spearheads of The Mar cus Garvey birthday celebration, and he filled me in on some exciting news. “There are some tremendous an nouncements that the African-Caribbean community can look forward to in the next few years, and personally, I am excited to share them.In2019, I had the opportunity to dialogue with Sandi Loytomaki, who I met at a flag-raising event. We began discuss ing the idea of having a formal ceremonial street rename for Marcus Garvey in To ronto. The concept is to have streets from College St - where the UNIA building was - through University Ave - to join Nelson Mandela Way. This section of streets would be known as ‘Marcus Garvey Way’. At that time, we had the support of one of the city councillors, Mike Layton, who was willing to help us.We also discussed having social gatherings once a month, and potential workshop/lecture opportunities. These events would allow for fundraising and community development for eventual historical/art installations celebrating and honouring Marcus Garvey and the history of the UNIA.”Unfortunately, right before the project was to start, COVID-19 shut down the world, and everything was disrupted. The construction that was supposed to be gin in 2020 did not happen, thus, the place where the original building was on College St is now a hole with garbage and nature taking over.“Fortunately,” Brother Hanley shares, “We were able to continue to work with the people that had the UNIA tile, and in February 2020, the tile was delivered to Blackhurst Cultural Centre (formerly A Dif ferent Booklist).”Thehope is that The Marcus Gar vey Living Legacy Project will be rejuve nated with the visit of Dr Julius Garvey, and community, we all must have a hand in this as well. For more info on tickets and infor mation for the events, call 647-812-7322 or contact us at info@moziawomensnetworksociety. com
The sponsors for the event include:
Jamaican Consulates seem very excited about this important event. Besides the friendly competition, Jamaica’s Consul ate would like the public to know there is more, “You can expect a whole host of live entertainment and a fusion of both is lands.”
• Faboy Coconut Water
• Consulate General of Jamaica, Toron to
• Jamaica National Group (JN Bank & JN Money)
• Drupatis Vaughan
Marcus Garvey’s Impact in Canada History has shown that Garvey had very strong ties here in Canada, and his impact was resounding.Sources vary about the location of the first UNIA division in Canada, but it is said that a division was founded in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, in 1918 to support West Indian migrants working in mines. The Montreal branch opened in June 1919, and in Toronto, the desire for an organiza tion to unite African people in the face of rampant systemic racism had existed for a few yearsInalready.April1919, the Coloured Liter ary Association was founded; and the West Indian founders would meet in the back room of Occidental Cleaners and Dyers store at 318 Spadina Avenue. It later be came a concert hall for many years and is now a CB2 store. Before finding permanent headquarters, UNIA meetings were held in a rented space at 339 Queen Street West, which is now an Arc’teryx store. Several months later, a charter was obtained from the UNIA headquarters in Harlem, and the Toronto UNIA division was officially found ed on December 1st, 1919. After fundraising for many years, members were finally able to purchase a building at 355 College Street in 1925, which remained the UNIA’s until 1982 and later became the long-time location of reg gae bar Thymeless. At its peak, the Toronto division had around 200-300 members who engaged in politics, celebrated cul ture, and fostered what remained a com munity hub for decades. The Toronto division had a very significant role in the UNIA’s global net work. UNIA regional conferences were hosted in Toronto in 1936, and 1937. As an Emancipation Day celebration, the To ronto UNIA organized the Big Picnic in St. Catherines every year from the 1920s to the 1950s. The picnic drew thousands of at tendees from Ontario and New York State every year, and remained a key gathering for Black communities for decades. Garvey attended the annual Big Picnic in 1938. The Marcus Garvey Centre for Leadership and Education was founded in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood in 2002 to provide leadership development and training to African-Canadian youth, and Marcus Garvey Day is now celebrated on August 17th, and has been since 1993.
• Caribbean Airlines
• Carpenters District Council of Ontario
SMITHSIMONE TCsimone@carib101.comREPORTER
PAGE 13NEWSWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto
Sixty years of independence and cricket; Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica celebrate Caribbean
It has been over five years now that RB Community Support and Outreach Minis try Inc. has been making a big difference in the wider Canadian community. It was founded by Debbie Robb and is mainly in volved in offering valuable social services to needy families in South Scarborough. Her academic background includes an Honours Degree in Mass Communications and a Masters of Education degree from York University.Inaddition, she obtained a diplo ma in theology from Oral Roberts Univer sity located In Tulsa, Oklahoma. She received her min isterial license with the Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) in 2013, and has served in diverse areas of ministries with this de nomination. She currently serves as the Lead Pastor at the Downsview Church of God of Prophecy in Toronto. She has minis tered in various areas of Christian ministry for more than 20 years throughout Canada, the Caribbean, USA, England and Southern parts of Asia. Her years of practical experi ence in ministry prepared her well for philanthropic work. RB Community Support and Out reach Ministry Inc’s mission is to work towards enhancing and expanding the capacity of families in high-needs neigh bourhoods, to act as effective change agents in the creation of a better future for families and neighbourhoods; to source and distribute resources in addressing: critical poverty issues, mental/spiritual well-being, employment barriers facing immigrants, marginalized and low-skilled individuals.The overall vision of this nonprofit community organization is to in spire people to discover their purpose and live authentic lives, through practical and spiritual care. Her outreach ministry in vites youth and young adults to discover their God-given purpose; inspiring hope, purposeful living, and the opportunity to impact the lives of others where they live, work andSheplay.believes strongly that once an individual identifies their purpose, it opens up a world of untapped potential. She notes, “When people recognize the purpose for which they were created, they begin to live life intentionally. Their lives are no longer controlled by doubt, or what others think about them; instead, they become secure in the knowledge of their God-given purpose and their rightful place in their communities.”Themotto“Where Community Meets Christ” is an apt description of their work. I met with Minister Robb, and she shared with me many details about her mission, ministry, and message. She over came many setbacks in her life and used this as a platform to empower those who are bruised, broken and bewildered by life circumstances. Her spiritual roots were nur tured in the well-known church, Kingston Open Bible Church located in Kingston, Ja maica. However, it was at the House Upon the Rock Church in Toronto, that Minister Debbie honed her leadership skills and de veloped as a leader through her participa tion in a wide range of ministry areas. This was the basis for her selfless dedication to helping people.Between 2015-2019, RB Commu nity Support and Outreach Ministry Inc. or ganized weekly Saturday youth programs, yearly mother’s day breakfasts, back-toschool BBQs, Christmas toy drives and weekly fresh bread/pastries distributed to families. Events were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic and many are expect ed to resume in the future. and expanding the capacity of families in high-needs neighbourhoods vs. realities: immigrating to Canada is not as easy as it seems
JUNORPAUL TCpaul@carib101.comREPORTER Expectations
High quality of life, safety, government funded institutions, quality education (this is to be seen), expanding job market, world-class public transit system, a mul ticultural society; Canada is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after countries for immigration in the world. It isn’t any won der that Canada welcomes almost 300,000 new immigrants into its borders on an an nual basis.Many immigrants regard Canada as a land of opportunity, safe and filled with friendly people. The bulk of newcom ers come to Canada for education or work opportunities and ambition drives many people to Canada, with 48% of newcomers citing a job opportunity as one of their top three reasons for immigrating. Eighty per cent of newcomers report they were able to quickly settle into new employment af ter their arrival. Newcomers with children are also impressed by the benefit of free education, access to publicly funded activi ties and other community supports While an estimated 400,000 new immigrants will come to Canada each year for the next three years dreaming of a bet ter life in this country, the survey of more than 500 newcomers reveals a gap be tween their expectations and their on-theground reality. Close to half of newcomers to Canada are planning to leave the coun try or feel uncertain about their future on Canadian soil, according to I Am Canada, a new study from Publicis Media and Angus Reid. The data insights in I Am Canada have helped furnish connections for Canadian brands and companies that want to help newcomers settle in and find a sense of home. “When it comes to adjusting to new surroundings, food, music, and com
The study concludes that brands have many opportunities to connect new comers to their new homes and bring all Canadians together to celebrate the coun try’s diversity, whether it’s through sup porting cultural festivals, through food, music and entertainment, or by marking cultural holidays.
W. JONESGIFFORD-MD TC HEALTH REPORTER GIFFORD-JONESDIANA
SMITHSIMONE TCsimone@carib101.comREPORTER
Tattoos and piercings still come with risks
Jack London, the American novelist who wrote Call of the Wild in 1903, said, “Show me a man with a tattoo and I’ll show you a man with an interesting past.” In 2022, with tattoos found on more than a third of North Americans and on nearly one in two young people, what is the great allure? And what are the Accordingrisks? to the Wellcome Col lection, a museum and library specializing in the connections between medicine, life and art, tattoos date from 5000 BCE. They permeated ancient societies, often repre senting battle valour or sacrificial rituals. Some tattoos seem to have resulted from scarring from medicinal treatments and others seem to have been purely decora tive in purpose.Piercings have a long history too, especially in the ear and nose. Royalty in ancient Egypt used navel piercings to dem onstrate their high-class status. Injecting ink under the skin or stamping a metal pin through the skin is not without risk. Infections are the most com mon problem. Tools that are not properly cleaned or mistakes in caring for the skin after treatment can lead to bacterial or viral infections. There’s a danger of blood stream infections – hepatitis B or C viruses or tetanus.Allergic reactions can also occur immediately after the procedure or long afterward. Joint replacement surgery and other implant procedures have been asso ciated with the onset of rashes at the site of tattoos. Sun exposure can cause problems. Even the ink of temporary tattoos may cause allergic reactions. The American Academy of Der matology Association cautions, if you carry the genes for psoriasis, getting a tattoo can trigger a psoriasis flare or cause psoriasis to appear for the first time. The list of potential complications from body piercings is long. The American Academy of Paediatricians advises parents and teens to weigh the risks. A common problem is a tear from a fall, sports activi ties, person-to-person violence, or the ac cidental pulling of Perceptionsjewellery.about tattoos and body piercings often depend heavily on whom you ask and when. Recently, nega tive stereotypes, prejudice, and stigma seem to be giving way. Employers are adopting more open-minded policies and attitudes. Societal movements are helping body modification establish footing as an empowering form of Nevertheless,self-expression.thehealth risks should not be ignored. These risks are what inform the opinions of doctors and this col umn has a doctor who has seen a thing or two. Starting this week, in our e-news letter, we begin an occasional “then and now” series. We will rove through the ar chives of past Gifford-Jones columns, dat ing back to 1974, paring the current week’s topic with a past column on the same is sues. On this occasion, we are going back only to December 2001 for a column on “The Dangers of Tongue Piercings.” We have a remarkable 2,400 past articles to draw on. We hope readers will enjoy the occasional journey through time and “no nonsense” health commentary. What was the column saying twenty years ago about body piercings, and how did a gynaecological practice have anything to do with it? Body piercings have migrated to all parts of the human form, but in 2001 it was still unusual to find piercings in some places and it made my white hair stand on end. Fair warning, that’s not the worst of it. This father-daughter team, need less to say, is tattoo-free and the rebel lious pierced teenage ears have long since healed over.
munity can give newcomers a sense of belonging, but our study identified some uniquely Canadian gaps where with aware ness and action we can improve the expe rience for those coming to Canada,” said David Rusli, Chief Strategy and Data Offi cer for Publicis Media and architect of the study. When it comes to finance and ac cessibility to healthcare, newcomers face a harsh reality. Half of the respondents found the overall cost of living to be higher than expected and 50% said buying a home is harder than they would have expected it to be. Many face obstacles in establishing themselves with a Canadian financial in stitution. African, and African-Caribbean newcomers to Canada are 84% more likely to face difficulty obtaining a credit card when compared with other newcomers. According to Publicis Media, cul ture is the best way to facilitate integration, and when newcomers arrive in Canada, they seek a balance between staying con nected to their home culture and adjusting to their new surroundings. For example, newcomers will em brace the culture of both regions by go ing to stores that feature products from their culture (52%) and from Canada (52%); watch content from their own culture (38%) and from Canada (49%); listen to their cul ture’s music (48%) and music (58%); and make food from their culture (66%) and from Canada (43%). “At Publicis Media, we have laid the groundwork to help brands become a conduit of truly inclusive communications,” David shares. “Brands and industries such as banking have an opportunity to rethink how they communicate with our Canadian newcomers. In order to adapt to the chang ing face of Canada and reflect our cultural persona as the rich tapestry it is, brands need to connect to new Canadians where they live, work and play.”
Enhancing
Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 14 NEWS
Third, all electric vehicles batter ies have a limited service life, at the end of which they must be disposed of in our land fills, as the recycling options. Millions of electric car batteries will retire in the next decade. What happens to them? Will these batteries end up in a mountain of waste and further contaminate the environment?
Electric vehicles are the way of the future, but they have some notable drawbacks that consumers are not ready to overlook
Uber, Piaggio Fast Forward, Hyliion, Lucid Motors, Revel, Volta Charging, Arrival and of course Tesla; the electric car has entered public imagination, and has begun to be a consideration for new, and old car owners alike. To some, electric cars are the future of transportation. Concern about the environ mental impact of gas and diesel powered engines have made people think more seri ously about owning an electric vehicle, and as a result the industry has exploded. Two English inventors are respon sible for this new craze; the electric car was invented in the 19th century but did not of electric vehicles on the road grew from 17,000 to 7.2 million. They are a lot less ex pensive to own and maintain than conven tional cars, and if you are thinking about switching to an electric car, now would be the best time to do so, as the technology has improved in recent years. One of the first things that an elec tric car owner will tell you is that gas is a thing of the past. With gas prices fluctuating on the higher side of expenses, that feature alone is a pull for car enthusiasts. Another great feature is the fact that they do not need oil changes or new clutches: they do not need regular inspection, and replacing of brakes and tire wear are headaches that you would not have to deal with anymore. Yes, the electric car is the way of the future, and as you drive around you will be gin to see more and more of them popping up on the road, but the fact of the matter is that electric cars have some notable draw backs that many consumers are not ready to overlook.First, from a national security standpoint, China made a conscious deci sion years ago to dominate the market in E.V. battery production and technology. This is the same country that speaks haughty about surpassing the United States as the world superpower. Why would we as a na tion want to put our own national security at risk in the hands of a nation determined to impose communism around the globe? Second, currently, the materials used to manufacture E.V. batteries are typically mined in Africa by child labour under the harshest conditions imaginable. Cobalt is an expensive metal used in electric car bat teries, and can cost up to $35,000 per ton. 59% of cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and children often do the mining (as many as 40,000) working in brutal and unsafe conditions. These children are referred to as ‘informal’ workers. Hmmm! That is an interesting way of putting it. Children are typically forced to sift through piles of material in an effort to se cure the scarce materials (cobalt, lithium, and nickel) required for battery production. Children as young as two years old trans port, wash, and crush minerals to earn half a dollar a day. The use of child labour to source electric vehicle battery materials has been known for several years, yet global govern ments, politicians and consumers look the other way. Another point that I should men tion here is that the mining process is not environmentally friendly and in itself con tributes to global warming.
creating more scarcity of this product, and its many offtake products. A lower price for wheat does not deal with the ever-in creasing cost of energy, which affects the cost of running farm equipment, its trans portation and even the manufacturing of needed fertilizers. Hot, dry weather is also cramping the farmer’s style of crop growth. Our global economy is facing a potential situation where food prices could spiral out of control.Russia and the Ukraine account for 1/4 of global wheat exports. A man made crisis that may go into the long term. Add global drought episodes, and we are facing a combination of scarcity, corporate profi teering and ultimately food price gouging like not seen before. Wheat prices are at a level seen before the year began. $7.75 per bushel jumped to over $13.00 right after Russia invaded Ukraine. The price stayed in double digits through June and then be gan to fall to an $8.00 a bushel level. Winter wheat stocks also brought the price down and a deal between Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations has allowed some wheat to be shipped to international markets. The cost of wheat and many other foods have been affected by the war be tween Russia and Ukraine, but the real fac tors that will affect the price of bread, cereal and other items will be: climate change, the price of fuel, and fertilizer. Climate change is making crop growth highly unpredict able. Lack of rain, drought level microcli mates and over harvesting of single crop items are limiting what can be grown and harvested each year. In Canada, temperatures soared to record highs, making 3/4 of the coun try’s 2021 agricultural land abnormally dry. Canada’s wheat crop dropped to nearly 40% from 2020 to 2021, causing its exports to Latin America to decline by over three million tons. In 2020 wheat was about 30% cheaper than it is now. Because Russian fertilizer is so im portant to the global farm trade, it avoided international sanctions. Although high prices hurt countries that import wheat, low prices might dissuade farmers from planting extra crops this year. Over the past decade the number of farms closing production has increased. Family farms are decreasing, while corporate farms special ize in the most profitable of crops, crops that feed the nation. Like the stock exchange, food prices are moving up and down, making money for some, and costing money for others. Whether the costs are artificially kept high, or there really is no controlling our food costs, the end consumer is in for a roller coaster ride, and their pocket books need to look out.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Vatican has started minting coins that promote and uphold the injection of children, and these coins are called €20 coins. On one side of the coin, the coat of arms of Francis is dis played. On the other side, a boy getting injected is portrayed, three people wear ing masks, and to top it off a crucifix is seen in the background. Could this be his way of suggesting that the church is solidly be hind these child-injection drives? It is important to note here that Francis was the first European state representative to implement the dismissal of un-injected employees.Data from the United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics (2021) show that children aged 10 to 14 who received two doses of the COVID-19 injection had 51 times higher risk of dying than those who were not injected (statistics reported be tween January and October 2021), yet this Pope does not want to acknowledge this chilling reality.France plans to start experiment ing on children as early as the 2022-2023 school year. This information comes from the document of the highest health au thority in France, La Haute Autorité de San té. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, a microbiolo gist, warns that transgenic injections will replace conventional vaccines, and France together with other countries plan to in clude these dangerous products in the compulsory injecting of children under the age of three.Weare looking at a generation of genetically modified organisms, and it is very questionable whether they will ever be able to conceive at all. All this, believe it or not, has the blessings of the Vatican. In “The New Order of Barbarians,” Dr. Rich ard Day says: “As soon as the Roman Catho lic Church is down, the rest of Christendom will easily follow... Some will think that the Church will oppose all this, but in reality, the Church will help us.” It is extremely important to know that the Catholic church, in general, is not on the side with the child-injection drive of this Pope and that this is certainly dividing the people more and more. Some conservative bishops and cardinals claimed that an injection based on research that used cells derived from aborted fetuses is sinful and has refused to be injectedYet,period.thispope said recently that people have a “Moral obligation” to get in jected and it is unacceptable to discourage others from doing so. Amid all the deaths and maiming that have been reported to the VAERS (Vac cine Adverse Event Reporting System) this Pope still has the nerve to urge the world to be a part of this and went as far as say ing, that he was puzzled as to why the in jection was refused by so many. This Pope seems to be on a mis sion to get everyone experimented on, and not even babies are exempted as far as he is concerned.
THOMASMICHAEL TCmichael@carib101.comREPORTER
PAGE 15NEWSWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News
Finally, even with government sub sidies, electric vehicles are expensive. The 2022 Nissan starts under $28,000, but prices soar to well over $100,000 for an electric SUV, pickup or high-performance luxury car. Purchasing an E.V. or, for that matter, a newer gasoline vehicle is beyond the reach of most who live in Canada, but some might say that even though most electric vehicles (EVs) are still more expensive than compa rable gasoline-powered models, the differ ence is getting smaller, year by year. When you consider the cost of fuel, maintenance and purchase incentives, the price differ ences areReally,eliminated.itis a personal decision whether you invest in an electric vehicle; do your research, think about how you feel about child labour, do not use saving the en vironment as a reason to purchase one, and if you can afford it, go ahead. Live your elec tric life!
KASZABSTEVEN TCsteven@carib101.comREPORTER
SMITHSIMONE TCsimone@carib101.comREPORTER
Consumers are in for a roller coaster ride; another look at the global good crisis
Vatican has started minting coins that promote and uphold the injection of children
Written by Selina McCallum Toronto Caribbean News
Photo Credit: Sanj P Photography
Sook also mentions how art can be used to relate to the world we live in now. “I think art is responsible for communicating the world that we live in now. It’s often the point of reference to which we look to, to create work that are relevant to society, as we understand it. It’s funny, because artists, oftentimes, we like to try to escape the time that we’re in, but we end up embodying that time.” Said Sook.To learn more about Jordan Sook and his most recent artwork, visit his website jordansook.com or look him up on Instagram @jordansook
Jordan Sook on his art for Snoop Dogg, bridging the past with the future, and what it means to be a Black artist
“Being a full-time artist is a hus tle. It is a business, you in itself are a busi ness, you’re an artist. But I find that, for me, maybe 45, 50% of my time is actually making artwork. The rest of the time is securing funding and grants, and that is a key part. Most artists would love to just create work in a studio all day but that doesn’t necessarily happen. You need to be connecting with people, you need to be collaborating, you need to be put ting yourself out there in a strategic way. If you submit applications for 10 grants, and get accepted for two of those, that’s a really, really big win,” said Sook. “We’re in an age now where the technology is advancing and so we as artists need to capitalize and make use of it. Technol ogy continues to push forward the idea of art.”
Jordan Sook is a contemporary mixed media artist who works and resides in Toronto, Canada. He’s a family man, lover of the creatives, and he enjoys giv ing back to his community. Beginning his artistic career in 2015, he has since exhibited work throughout Canada in various shows notably Union Station, Toronto (2021),Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver (2020) and MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie (2017). “2015 was when I actually picked up a paintbrush. I didn’t actually start putting work out there for a little bit. But I always had this sort of innate, artistic, I guess, affinity. And I wanted to grow from that. Early on, my mom had me in art classes with an artist by the name of David Kibuuka, who is a wellknown international African artist. I was taking his class over the weekend, but that was really my first introduction to art,” saidSookSook.is an extremely talented, self-taught artist. “I think being self-taught, and not going to art school was best for me, because it allowed me to retain the free dom and self-expression within myself without being necessarily feeling con strained or having to look at what other people are doing,” said the artist. His body of work ranges from acrylic paintings to sculptures and in stallations of recontextualized themes in pop-culture. Sook’s distinctive personal style emanates youth and playfulness through colour, line, and form. All of his projects have been unique and special to him. “Each project is like a child in a way. I think each project might have a different meaning in a different way. For example, a project like Snoop Dogg, that was really challenging from a technical level, in terms of fabricating a sculpture using modern day technology with 3D printers and casting. But when I think of a project, like my recent projects, The Ir refutable Truth of Our Existence, it reso nates with me because it takes over a public space in a very light way, but also in a very creative and unique way that really impacts the community at ground level,” saidAnotherSook. latest installation of Sook’s titled Harvest (2021) was held at the Toronto Media Arts Centre. The work explores sustainable placemaking, representation, and the future of media arts and technology among the creative space. When Sook creates art, he knows that audiences will have their own inter pretations.“People can interpret on their own individual basis, in the sense of a crayon might mean something differ ent to me than it does to you. And I think there’s a beauty in that, because, regard less of its meaning to you, we still have an entry point of connectivity. So, I think that’s where I guess the references come from, in that objects are really just points of entry for us to connect on,” said Sook. Sook is inspired by acts of impo sition and alteration, recontextualizing elements within pop-culture to create new narratives. Sook looks to change the landscape of Canadian art and broaden the framework and understanding of Black art as a whole. Sook speaks on what it means to him to be a Black artist in an art world that often ignores Black art. “I feel like, oftentimes, being a Black artist is sort of defined by its con trast to Whiteness. And I think it’s im portant that we step away from. I think Black art is oftentimes constrained, simply based off of themes of pain, or like even being limited to solely the rep resentation of the Black body. I think as we progress towards the future, it’s something that we will begin to get away from,” said Sook. “My blackness is not necessarily defined solely through what I depict. I think that if I stack a bunch of bricks on top of each other, it’s still Black art regardless because of the fact that I am a Black man. And I think that’s what’s important to Sookus.”also mentions how other artists from different ethnicities aren’t confined to the boundaries Black artists sometimes“Artistsface. from other cultures are not limited in themselves, they’re able to create with freedom, and without strict restrictions. And so, for me, as an artist, I believe that my contribution to Black art ists continue to push forward the borders or boundaries that maybe constrict. I also don’t want to make my work around the idea of Whiteness, in the sense that, the idea of your art is, or Black artists, is sort of being in contrast, or in proximity to what White art is, because that’s not Black art. Black art is just art created by Black people. And I think that’s really what I’m trying to say,” said Sook. Sook reflects on when he got the opportunity to create artwork for Snoop Dogg. “I was very excited, it was really great news to hear, but the process was very tedious. It was also very collabora tive, and very technical. I was introduced to the new use of new machinery such as 3D printing and casting. I got to under stand sculpture, from a contemporary standpoint, I got to understand detail at another level, looking at one’s face, the jawline, the nose, all these things are im portant when trying to embody, not only the essence of someone, but their physi cal attributes as well.” “It was a process that pushed me as an artist and it was important for me to take on that project, because I felt strongly about Snoop Dogg. Being some one who is symbolic to the Black commu nity for a couple of reasons. Someone who at one point was facing a murder charge but has elevated from being this sort of rebel to being like a mogul and pop icon. And I think it speaks to the re invention of self,” said Sook. Sook talks about the balance of having to be both an artist and a busi nessman.
Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 16 FEATURE
Refashion (Mrs.Pipkin) by Gordon Shadrach, 2022. Awaken your mind this Emancipation Month. Experience Awakenings projects like the Dis/Mantle art exhibit by Gordon Shadrach and more. toronto.ca/DisMantle
After high school, Gerron at tended Antigua State College, and ma jored in: Accounting, Caribbean Studies and Art. “After that I was tired of school ing, so I got a job as an accounting clerk. One of my friends told me to apply for a government job, so I took their advice and decided to get into teaching. I went to an interview, and during the interview they suggested that I teach math, but I wanted to teach art. They were like, ‘Al right we’ll call you back,’ and in October 2003 they called me back to teach. I have been teaching for 19 years.” From 2007 – 2009, Gerron went to teachers training at the UWI, in the De partment of Teacher Education. He now has an Associate Degree in Math that he tells me he has never used. “It is interesting how that works,” Gerron said laughing. “With all that going on I juggled the hospitality and teach ing for a long time. I worked at the top hotel in Antigua. I taught from 8:00 am – 1:30 pm, and from 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm, I worked at the front desk.” Gerron’s life continued like this up until March 2020 when COVID-19 closed down the world and things changed drastically. This was when he began to truly understand his role as an artist; to leverage whatever life threw at him. “We usually Fete every week end,” Gerron tells me, “But that was not possible, so brunches became popular. I was watching Undercover Boss and saw a show with the originators of Sip and Paint. I thought that this would be a nice idea for the women who went to brunch. Art can come from both posi tive or negative life experiences, and the pandemic was definitely not a positive experience for many. I thought to my self, how can I turn what is mundane into something beautiful? One way to do it is to look at the situation from a different perspective.”What Gerron was very aware of was that art and drawing are known to be great methods to help reduce stress. In fact, there is an entire field called Art Therapy for this very reason. Adults don’t often think of practicing art or drawing to relieve stress, but it can do wonders for most people. It definitely did for me that night. “As things began to relax, people began to book me privately. They like the concept: food, mimosas, and relax ing art. It took off from there. I originally did it from a rooftop restaurant that over looked St. John’s. It was such a beautiful setting a people loved it.”
Photo Credit: Towana Sebastian Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 18 FEATURE
It was a Wednesday afternoon on the sunny island of Antigua & Barbuda, and I was on my way to Green Castle Ranch to participate in a ‘Sip and Paint’ Dinner with our host, and local artist Gerron Far quharson. I was actually really excited for this because I have a creative mind, and I was looking forward to unwinding with a glass of wine and my favourite activity; art. My experience with Gerron re minded me of one thing; by and large we live collective lives, but artists see life a bit; well different than others. The artist is, in a sense, a neuroscientist, exploring the potentials and capacities of the brain, though with tools of their choice wheth er it be a pencil or a paintbrush. The job of an artist is to take mundane forms of reality—whether a facial expression or a bowl of fruit—and make those forms ir resistible to the human brain. That night Gerron had a much more challenging job; he had to take a group of amateur’s and turn them into artists, and what a tremendous job he did. Gerron Farquharson was born in Jamaica, but was raised Antiguan. “My grandmother passed away when I was six, and my mom needed a change, so she made the decision to come to Antigua to visit a friend and loved it. Antigua is all I knew, because I was so young when I came here. What I do remember was that growing up was great.”
Turning the mundane into something beautiful!
SMITHSIMONE TCsimone@carib101.comREPORTER GERRON FARQUHARSON MR SIP AND PAINT
“When did you become aware of your artistic ability,” I asked. I had finally had a chance to sit down with Gerron, and I wanted to explore the mind of this creative genius. I had so many questions. “I have always loved art, at least that was what my mom told me. She en couraged my creativity and allowed me to doodle. From the time I could colour she provided me with the tools to do what I loved. It is something that I appre ciate to this Gerronday.”grew up in Old Road Vil lage, so he tells me that he was always on the beach. He shares fond memories of his childhood.“Iattended Old Road Primary School, and I would say I lived a typical Caribbean boy life. My mom was strict when it came to my education, so I would have to finish my work before I could play. Education was always first place in my life. I passed in the top 60 students on the island, and I went to the prestigious Antigua Grammar School.” Like in the case of most great talents, there is someone who sees their shining start, and will nurture the talent until it reaches its greatness. For Gerron, this happened in high school. “I had a great art teacher in high school; his name was Mr Nathan. He saw my abilities and noted that I was good with technical drawing. I got a distinction for art and technical drawing, and I was told that I use both sides of my brain.”
“What is your advice to young people out there who will be reading this,” I asked?“Find the job that you love, and you never have to work another day in your life. My work takes the least amount of effort, and it brings the most joy. When you add art into your life, you give your mind a chance to relax and focus its cre ative powers on something. It is a great way to clear your mind so that you can attack the problems with a fresh per spective. Art is one of the best gifts that you can give yourself.”
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How many people realize women’s coro nary arteries are understudied, underdiagnosed, and undertreated? The Cleve land Clinic, a leading cardiology centre, says heart disease is seven times deadlier for women than breast cancer. Build-up of plaque in the heart’s arteries contributes to the death of one in every three women, more than all cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and accidents combined. Heart disease kills even more men. This fact and the historical focus on heart disease in men means most people are un aware of the risk factors for heart disease in women. A report from the American Heart Association (AHA) says there have been stunning improvements in death rates of both sexes from coronary heart disease (CHD) since 1980, but women have not shared the benefits equally. Maurice Chevalier, the French actor-singer, was not thinking about coro nary arteries when he remarked, “vive la différence”. The difference makes heart at tack the number one killer of women. Heart attack has been considered a male disease as it occurs in men earlier in life, but after menopause the gender gap disappears. Many remain unaware that CHD is an attack on women. Can CHD risk be spotted in wom en by their loved ones? Chest pain is the most common symptom in both sexes, but at least one-third of women do not show this classic symptom during coronary at tack. Rather, they complain of shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, palpitations, diz ziness, intense anxiety or pain in the jaw, neck, upper back or arm. These problems may be mistaken for a panic attack with fa tal delay in Supposediagnosis.a family member or friend is a good diagnostician and imme diately calls 911. Even then, studies show that an immediate electrocardiogram or stress test is less likely to reveal the typical indicators of heart attack. Even if a woman has an early di agnosis of coronary attack and survives, a bypass operation may be required. She has twice the risk of dying during the surgery or shortlyHeartthereafter.surgeons can explain why. Coronary arteries are smaller in females. This makes the surgery technically more challenging when vessels the diameter of a piece of spaghetti are joined together. What should we do to decrease the risk of CHD? First, a woman should see a psychiatrist if she smokes, as the risk of heart attack is seven times greater among women whoKnowsmoke.your family history. If your father or brother had a heart attack before age 55, or your mother or sister before age 65, this substantially increases your risk. It’s a red flag that warns, “Start taking preven tive measures.”Ifthere is a history of cardiovas cular disease, a daily 81-milligram dose of aspirin may help. Since aspirin can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, always discuss this medication with your doctor. Remember that obesity leads to type 2 diabetes, which in turn increases the risk of heart attack. Gaining weight alone is easy; losing weight alone is hard, but if you are obese, losing weight will improve health. Good strategies and sup port groups help. Sheer will is probably not enough. Family and friends need to work on weight reduction together. Have your blood pressure checked; one-third of heart attacks in women could be prevented by controlling blood pressure.Ifblood cholesterol is elevated, most cardiologists will recommend choles terol-lowering drugs, but discuss this with your physician, as there are effective and safer natural options. If you have read this column for years, you’ll know that high dose vitamin C with lysine has kept this doctor alive for 25 years after a severe heart attack. and love a woman? Protect her heart
PAGE 27HEALTHWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News
W. JONESGIFFORD-MD COMMON SENSE HEALTH GIFFORD-JONESDIANA
Know
MARYRACHELRILEY
Few years ago, I observed why some people are so fixated on the barbell aka the squat machine. Some people are experts and have opinions about squatting. However one thing that stood out to me was that squatting helps with stability, core and bal ance. The purpose of squat benefits you on a daily basis, especially as you age. Those abductors, glutes and erector spine will be hitting hard and when you lift heavy, espe
PAGE 29HEALTHWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News
Squatting is bending your knees with your legs spread at a certain angle like you’re sit ting on a chair going up and down repeat edly. Major tips that I have learned over the time to squat effective is: • Core is always tight, and chest is up (iameternallyfit, 2022)
Learning to do a perfect squat takes time HEALTHrachel@carib101.com&FITNESS
Benefits and results of squatting when you have improved technique and pos ture: According to trusted studies, the obvious muscles targeted are in the lower body, but in order to do this compound exercise correctly, you also need to use several mus cles above your waist (7 Benefits of Doing Squats and Variations To Try, 2019).
Some people wonder why they never feel as sore or the results months from now: it’s because they never lift heavy. There are so many factors, benefits and in sight about squatting or knowing how to squat. What is squatting and what are the basic ways as a beginner to squat?
The lower muscles targeted in a squat include your: • gluteus maximus, minimus, and me dius (buttocks) • quadriceps (front of the thigh) • hamstrings (back of the thigh)
• Spread your legs wide to certain de gree and angle (iameternallyfit, 2022) • Squat very low like you’re sitting on a chair (iameternallyfit, 2022) Learning to do perfect squats takes time. To do effective squats and to get the results in your: erector spine area, glute area, abduc tors it will honestly take time. To improve your technique and posture you need a personal training expert to help you along your journey and hold you accountable.
• adductor (groin) • hip flexors • calves In addition to the lower body, the squat also targets your core muscles. These muscles include the: rectus abdominis, obliques, transverse abdominis, and erector spine. If you do a back squat or overhead squat, you’ll also work the muscles in your shoul ders, arms, chest, and back.
The Squat: Initiate the movement by sending the hips back as if you’re sitting back into an invis ible chair. Bend knees to lower down as far as possible with chest lifted in a controlled movement. Keep lower back neutral. Press through heels to stand back up to the start ing position. Repeat. Aim to get thighs at least parallel to the floor. To do this, squat down so your thighs are even with your knees. If mobil ity allows, lower further. As you come back up, make sure hips are set right under your ribs—you don’t want your hips to pull too far back, Tamir says (How To Squat Proper ly: The Ultimate Guide, 2022).
• Take off your clothing and wash it by it self to avoid contaminating the rest of your laundry
These lesions appear up to 48 hours after contact with the sap and last for about a week. Skin in the affected areas can remain sensitive to light for several months, howe ver, and scarring and brown spots might last for years.
• Swimmer’s itch • Gastroenteritis • Infection of the eyes, ears or throat
• First- or second-degree burns
WHAT’S THAT SMELL? Asparagus contains aspara gusic acid. When we digest this chemical, our body converts it into various sulphur compounds, which smell like rotten eggs. That’s why some people’s urine smells funny after eating asparagus.
What do you know about cystic fibrosis? The many health benefits of asparagus
• Relieve any superficial burns with water compresses (for 20 minutes, four to six times a day)
• Redness • Swelling
RECOGNIZING GIANT HOGWEED Giant hogweed is a plant that stands between 2 and 5 metres in height and has wide leaves. Its white, round flowers grow from a single stem. You may notice purple spots on its stem.
Giant hogweed is an invasive plant species found mainly in Canada, the United States and New Zealand. It typically grows in ditches and on plains as well as near wat erways and railroads. Coming in contact with its sap, which contains toxins that react with the sun’s rays, can cause:
• Bring your kids to the bathroom regularly (babies should wear a diaper designed for swim Bottomming) line: all it takes is a bit of awareness and prevention to safely enjoy a summer of swimming. Pool water can make you sick
If you come in contact with giant hogweed •sap:Quickly remove the sap without rubbing with the help of a paper towel
• Blisters
Low-calorie, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, diu retic — these are four properties of asparagus, a vegetable in the same family as shallots and leeks. What’s more, asparagus is rich in iron and folate and contains a slew of vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C and K. Not bad! Not only is it a healthy choice, but this delicious veggie can be enjoyed in all kinds of different ways (as a side, in a soup, in a quiche). There’s no shortage of reasons to include asparagus in your diet.
• Refrain from swimming if you have an open wound or a contagious skin infection
The many hazards of giant hogweed
Did you know that, in Canada, cystic fibro sis (CF) is the most common deadly illness in children and young adults? The disease currently affects more than 4,200 Cana dians, and it’s estimated that one out of 3,600 children born in Canada carry the di sease. What is CF? Cystic fibrosis is an incurable illness that af fects various organs, mainly the lungs and digestive system, and is characterized by unusually thick mucus and pancreatic se cretions. It results in chronic infections that progressively destroy the lungs. CF also causes a loss of pancreatic enzymes, which in turn leads to vitamin deficiencies and diffi culties digesting proteins and fats. In addition to frequent lung infections, the disease’s main symptoms include a per sistent and highly productive cough, a whistling sound when breathing, short ness of breath and intestinal distress. CF is hereditary: when both parents are carriers of the defective gene that causes the illness, their child has a 25% chance of being born with the disease; a 50% chance of carrying the gene; and a 25% chance of having neither the illness nor the defective gene. To find out more about CF, visit Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s website www.cysticfibrosis.ca.at
• Wear a sunscreen with at least 30 SPF for six months If your eyes are affected, rinse them thoroughly with clear water for ten mi nutes, wear sunglasses, and see a doctor without delay. You should also seek medi cal attention in the event of severe skin le sions (e.g. presence of pus) or fever, especially for children. The return of summer means the return of long, sunny days in your swimsuit. But did you know that water in pools and hot tubs is vulnerable to contamination by various microorganisms and pollutants (bacteria, parasites, bodily fluids, etc.)? Contami nated swimming water can cause certain health problems, such as:
Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 30 LIFE
• Thoroughly rinse the affected area with soapy water, then wash your hands
Prevention Luckily, taking a few precau tions will greatly reduce your risk of illness: • Test your pool or hot tub water every day to ensure that the chlorine levels are ade quate
• Legionellosis (especially com mon in hot tubs): the be nign form of this disease, known as Pontiac fever, has flu-like symptoms. The more se vere form, legionnaire’s di sease, is characterized by a lung infection and requires antibiotic treatment.
• Don’t put any water in your mouth, even if you don’t plan to swallow it
• Protect affected areas from light (wear long clothing and gloves, if needed) for at least 48 hours — a week if you have burns
• Rethink your expectations: Some times, we are tough on ourselves be cause our expectations are unrealistic, and when we fall short, we are selfcondemning. I’m all for the “dream big, think big narrative,” but we should not be blindly motivated and delusional. Life is always in stages and phases. When you should be crawling, don’t try to walk; when you should be walk ing, don’t try to run, and when you should be running, don’t try to fly. If you are overwhelmed by the feeling of guilt because you don’t meet up with certain expectations you set for yourself or others set for you, may I re mind you that everything good always takes time. Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” Move at the pace you know you can, not at the pace people think you should. Put people’s expectations of you in per spective and be honest with yourself about what you know you can do and achieve per time.
Actions taken in the West may have disastrous impacts on the East; Discussing global climate change practices devon@carib101.com SPEAKING
THOMPSONDEVON
How to deal with guilt and regret daniel@carib101.com is causing death across the globe. Is it pos sible that the solution to climate change may be deadlier than climate change itself? During World War II, the Demo cratic Republic of Congo had to suffer so that the USA could acquire the materials to make the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs that they dropped on Japan. To the USA, it was for the “greater good.” These lowly Af ricans had to die and be enslaved to mine that uranium.The Congolese people suffered greatly in order for the USA to win the Sec ond World War against the fascist regimes. Winning the war against Nazi Germany, fascist Italy and Japan was an important step in ushering in a freer society, but the Congo was never acknowledged or repaid for its role in helping them win the war. Rather, the people of Congo were shunned and forgotten.Something that Canadians are un aware of is that Canada played a role in the suffering of the Congolese people. The USA had to hide the fact that they were stealing Uranium from Congo so as not to alert their opponents. They lied and said they got all the uranium from Canada. Canada helped facilitate that lie and even processed some of the uranium coming from Congo to help build the nuclear bombs. They dropped the bombs in Japan and won the war and eventually found a better, more efficient way to access and process Uranium, so they wouldn’t need the mines in Congo anymore. That did not mean that their en emies did not need those mines in Congo. To ensure that the Congo remained a pup pet of the United States and off limits to the Russians and other opponents of the USA, America and Belgium partnered in the as sassination of Congo’s first legally elected President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Patrice Lumumba. After the assassination, the USA installed a dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled over Congo with an iron fist for 32 years. The Congolese people, who have all been forgotten and discarded by the Allied Powers, are still experiencing the ef fects on the Congo to this day. You might be wondering, “What does the Congo have to do with climate change?” Well, it has everything to do with it, because Western powers see the climate change threat in the same way it saw fas cist and communist threats. When the West wants to save itself, others suffer. What I’m saying is, in order for these climate change “visions” to come true, you need raw materials: lithium, baux ite, silica etc. Canada, the USA, and Europe are not going to disrupt their pristine lands to mine for these raw materials, because of “environmental policies.” So, where are they going to get the materials? You guessed it: Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean. Right now they are killing Jamaica with bauxite mining. Who’s going to work these mines? You guessed it, the inhabitants of these lands. What is going to happen to these lands and the people that live on them once Europe, Canada and the USA are done exploiting them? They will just become in visible and discarded, just like the Demo cratic Republic of Congo. This is not to say that we should not protect our environment, but to rec ognize that actions taken in the West may have disastrous impacts on the east. The only way for climate change policies as they are today to succeed is to enslave and sentence millions of human beings living in third-world countries to death. Western nations must rethink cli mate policies and focus more on natural measures rather than those measures that require the destruction of land in Asia, Af rica, South America and the Caribbean, which in effect negatively impacts the health off their citizens.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PAGE 31LIFEWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News
• Adjust and move on: I know these things are not as easy as they sound. Yes, I am not that naive. However, the reality is, there is barely anything you can do about the past other than to learn from it. “Yesterday is heavy; you’ve got to drop it!” Here’s some thing important I want you to pay at tention to, “Don’t waste your pain.” But how am I going to do that, Daniel? Fine, I’m glad you asked. To not waste your pain, you must be willing to share your story. No one you know should go through the ordeal you went through, but if they are not going to, you have to share your story. Let people find healing through your own scars. Let people find direction because you’ve paid the price of ignorance on their behalf. Whatever you do, don’t waste what you’ve been through.
• Accept the fact that you did what you did based on the information, experi ence, and wisdom available to you at the time. As previously mentioned, “If you know better, you will do better.” Now, this may not excuse you from the consequences of your actions. Howev er, it puts you in a better frame of mind as opposed to being overwhelmed with the feeling of guilt and regret. You are a work in progress, and life is way more complex than you think. It is also equally important that I mention that there are certain things outside of your control that you don’t have to feel guilty for. For example, you shouldn’t feel guilty that you are successful (ir respective of what success means to you). Now, while that may sound basic or commonsensical, the reality is, there are people who believe they are not worthy of the success they’ve achieved, just because they know peo ple who are still struggling through life. You are worthy of every good thing that life has to offer. You can’t take full responsibility for the outcomes of ev erybody’s life. It’s not your call.
COLEDANIEL
Humans are fallible, and we all have wis dom gaps. If we know better, we will do better. Living with regret is like haunting shadows; if we don’t confront and deal with them, they will deprive us of living to our highest calling and potential. Our hu man existential experience is characterized by pain and joy, and mistakes are parts of How often do we start each day with the painful residue of yesterday? How often are we haunted by the memories of our past mistakes; because we struggle to forgive ourselves? Even if what happened, happened ten years ago? I believe the ulti mate goal of life is not to live it so cautious ly that we don’t fail or make any mistakes, but that we take lessons from every wrong turn we take, then make necessary adjust ments and try again. So, what are some practical steps you can take in dealing with guilt and regret?
POLITICALLY
Long-live
Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 32 LIFE SMITHSIMONE
Intergenerational homes When thinking about the practicalities of daily life with young children and aging parents, an intergenerational home, also called a bi-generational home, is a great option to consider. It is a model for living that allows the whole family to be close to gether while keeping a certain amount of privacy. It can make becoming homeown ers easier for younger adults, and it allows adult children to have support with child care and childrearing. Conversely, sharing a home provides aging parents an alterna tive to isolation. It can also provide them the kind of support that would let them to stay out of a seniors’ home for longer. Building an intergenerational home or ren ovating an existing house is a challenge that must take into account privacy re quirements and financial resources. The le gal aspects of this type of project are also of vital importance and should not be over looked. Above all, parents and grandpar ents must not let emotions override the need to keep things legally clear regarding home ownership and financial responsibil ity. While the idea of an intergenerational house is very attractive, everything should be put in writing in order to avoid any un fortunateTheredisagreements.isanother essential step to take if you’re ready to embark on an inter generational home project: check your mu nicipality’s regulations about renovations or apartments within homes. These regula tions can vary from one town to another, so it is essential to carry out a complete en quiry before putting any plans into opera tion. In some municipalities, for example, the dimensions of the supplementary liv ing space will be limited to a precise per centage of the main living area, or perhaps a communal kitchen will be required. Liv ing in an intergenerational home has many advantages, but in order to make sure the project is nothing but a success, be sure to plan things out fully, down to the very last detail. the new type of grandparent!
I don’t know how long I was on the step for, but when I finally looked up, the basement was completely dark. I peeled myself off the step and went into my bedroom. When I switched on the light, I looked around and for some reason, the room looked different to me. I don’t know if it was because I had been away from it for a while, or maybe it was just because of how I was feeling at that moment. Nothing felt right. I felt un sure of what to do with myself. I sat on the side of the bed and relived the last 48 hours. I had never felt such a wave of emotions. It went from sadness when seeing my parents and the look on their faces when they saw me for the first time, to happiness when I saw David for the first time, to sadness when he told me that he didn’t want to be with me anymore. It is hard to deal with that many emotions at once, so in that moment, I just shut everything down. Numbing myself was easier than trying to figure out every thing that I was feeling. I got undressed and jumped into the shower. The warm water felt fantastic running over my body, so I let it run over my body. I forced myself to not think about anything and just allow myself to feel good to be back home. My mind continued to replay my last month, and the tears would not stop Aftercoming.about 20 minutes, I came out of the shower, towelled off, and put on my most comfortable pyjamas. I had to admit; it felt good to finally be in my own space again. I began to think about who I was go ing to talk to first. I wanted to call my best friend and sister LaToya, but I knew I was not ready to share my story yet. If I called anyone, I would have to explain the last few weeks, and I had not had time to process yet, so I picked up the remote and lost my self in senseless television. I heard my dad come in, and I overheard my parents talking, “Is Simone home,” my dad asked? “Yes, she is finally here. She is downstairs. I think that she just got out of the shower,” my mom said. I heard my dad walk to the base ment door and “Simone,knock,can I come downstairs?” “Yes dad,” I said and switched off the televi sion. As he came down the stairs I stood up and turnedMyaround.dadslowly came down the stairs and stopped halfway down. “How are you doing, daughter? Does it feel good to be home?” “I don’t know dad,” I said with tears welling up in my eyes. “I really don’t know right now. It is hard to think because I am not feeling very good.” “Yes, you are not going to feel very good for a while, but now is the time to reach out to God. Pray and take this time to figure out what you are going to do. We have a long road ahead of us, but you are not alone. Your mom and I are here to stand beside you, but as you know financially this is not going to be easy.” He came down the stairs, and I walked over to him. My dad embraced me, and although I knew that he was disap pointed in me, at that moment, he knew that I just needed to be loved. “These things are not easy, Sim one. I know that this has been difficult for you. It has been difficult for all of us. Dry your tears and come up and get some dinner. Life goes on, and you have to be strong.” “I am not in the mood to eat any thing dad, I think I am just going to get some rest.”“Okay, well goodnight. We will talk in the morning.”Hereleased me from the embrace and went back upstairs. As soon as he shut the door, I went back to the couch and curled up with the blanket and pillow I had brought from my room. Sleep came quick ly.
Forget about the old-fashioned image of the grandma who wears her grey hair in a bun and the grandpa who smokes his pipe in a rocking chair on the porch. Today’s grandparents work or go to university, they travel, go to shows, paint, jog, ski, and are far from being ready to give up their active lifestyles.Old age and grand-parenting are no longer synonymous — on average, peo ple these days become grandparents around the age of 50. This means that grandchildren can enjoy long-term rela tionships with their elders, who are often in excellent health. Indeed, because of the prevalence of reconstituted families, many grandchildren now find themselves the beneficiaries of more than one set of grand parents. But this multiplicity of grandmoth ers and grandfathers can raise the question of what kind of role they should play. It is always a good idea for grandparents to ask themselves what kind of grandpa or grand ma they want to be. What values do they wish to transmit? How far can they go with out being too intrusive or offending any one? The whole family will benefit from frank discussions between children, par ents, and grandparents. One thing is for certain: grand-parenting can be a truly en riching experience. It is often with the grandchildren that we can catch up on lost time with our own now-adult children.
“Pray and take this time to figure out what you are going to do.” A talk with my father HUMANsimone@carib101.comSPECIALIST
Understanding hardiness zones
PAGE 33LIFEWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News industry has a lush workforce to support it. Canadians must be made to see the value in investing not just dollars but themselves into this economy. Fortunately, there are forward thinking organizations like The Ca reer Foundation who work hard to facilitate the connection at NO COST. Starting in 1988, The Career Foun dation has been helping people find their way into the workforce and on their path to lasting, fulfilling careers. With a progressive vision they saw that an extremely viable route for their clients was the cannabis in dustry. Being a brand new industry with an already huge demand meant that it would be seeking thousands of staff to fill its many positions. The demographic for applicants could be broad as many roles would be en try level with room for endless growth. Getting a ground level position in an industry just starting at the ground level is an extremely rare situation. Decades of flawed protocol and gatekeeping are ab sent therefore allowing the doors to be open for all those interested. This is critical because in most industries, Canada’s ex tremely diverse workforce still often re quires assistance with creating equitable opportunities for its most marginalized and vulnerableDiversitymembers.within the workforce leads to diversity within management, which leads to diversity with executives, which ends with fair representation. A dream brought to life with help from the likes of The Career Foundation! “The Career Foundation’s mission is to link the resources of private sector companies, education and government to help all members of the community make the transition into employment.”
The Career Foundation; Making the cannabis sector work for you!
Beautiful, versatile container gardening
With this as their mission state ment, they reached out to all and with pos itive results. By creating this network they are now able to provide a no cost curricu lum that prepares a person for entry into the field.Upon successful completion of the course, paid placement opportunities are available in order to better match ap plicants to employers. These employers also receive access to these prepared appli cants at no cost. Even if applicant and em ployer are not a match, signing up for the course provides one year of follow up as sistance for further attempts.
If you try to pull up invasive plants that are taking over your flowerbeds, you may end up with a serious problem. To your consternation and despite all your efforts, the unwanted plant will probably multiply and spread uncontrollably. Thank good ness, it is possible to get rid of an inva sive species using solarization, a simple gardening technique that is safe for the environment.
The size and scope of the cannabis sector currently requires a vast infrastruc ture with only an upward trend. In order to keep smiling faces at every dispensary you see, many moving parts are happening be hind the scenes. From cultivation, to pro cessing, to retail, opportunities for exciting, fulfilling, lucrative careers are available. Depending on the type of role someone wants to fill or needs to have filled, the cur riculum can be tailored to meet specific needs. This adaptive behaviour provides better and longer connections between parties. In my interview with hard working team member Mat Columbro, he joked that the process was so beneficial to both par ties that neither would believe it was free. Of course not really free because funding for this initiative comes thanks to govern ment grants and taxpayer dollars. As we talked more, he went on to explain how fulfilling it was for him going from years in a corporate cannabis setting previously to using that knowledge and those connections in order to simply help people in a non-profit capacity currently. The joy in which he gave an anecdote about a previous applicant he helped, who had excelled well past their entry level po sition to other opportunities within the company was tangible. Even though The Career Foundation is well known for helping non college persons find and secure career positions while be ing the only organization who offer a can nabis sector training program with no post secondary requirements, it is their dedicat ed staff that makes them different from any similar institution. In a time where many have chosen to seek a new path to their happiest life, the amazing team at The Ca reer Foundation are building a stable bridge to cross!
SEURATTANSEAN sean@carib101.com
How to get rid of invasive plants Hardiness zones are geographical areas in which a given category of plant can suc cessfully be grown. The concept was first developed by the United States Depart ment of Agriculture (USDA), and countries around the world have since adapted the system to their own territories. But while hardiness zones can be quite useful, both for the casual gardener and the agricultural world, the model is far from perfect. Hardiness zones are largely de cided on a given plant’s ability to survive in each zone’s lowest winter temperature, without factoring in summertime data or snow cover. As a result, two areas that have similar winter temperatures but vastly diffe rent amounts of snow — or summers that have nothing in common — can end up in the same zone. With so many variable factors, hardiness zones aren’t always true to reality. Furthermore, climate change is an unpredictable force that modifies weather conditions around the world, which means that hardiness zones are always evolving. In 2012, the USDA updated its map of hardiness zones in the U.S. to reflect the warmer weather of the previous three decades, but even this newer data will likely be obsolete before long.The bottom line is that hardiness zones are useful tools when it comes to ch oosing plants adapted to a certain area, but they should be taken with a grain of salt. Find out what your area’s hardiness zone is, and do your own research to see how accu rate — or not — the assessment actually is.
You don’t need a huge yard or a ton of fancy equipment to start indulging your green thumb. Container gardening is a simple, beginner-friendly way to grow your own fruits, veggies, herbs and flowers at home, in even the tiniest of outdoor spaces.
THE HEIGHTENED CHEF
Like all vegetation, invasive plants need sun to live. So solarization involves covering the affected area with a thick black plastic sheet (available in hardware stores and garden centres) in order to create a sun barrier. Deprived of light and blasted by the heat that accumulates un der the dark plastic, the plants will eventually die. However, you do need to be patient; you’ll have to leave the plastic sheet on for at least one growing season. For par ticularly vigorous plants, two years of so larization may be necessary to eradicate them completely. If the unwanted plants grew in between perennials or other plants you want to keep, you’ll have to move or pot them until the solarization period is completed.Spreading a thick layer of orga nic mulch will prevent unwelcome plants from invading your flowerbeds in the first place. Another good idea is to use native plants in your beds. Indigenous species are robust, well-suited to the whims of Mot her Nature, insect-resistant and low main tenance. They’re also typically much less invasive than exotic plants, even though they’re just as pretty.
Who can benefit from container gardening? The beauty of using containers to create an at-home garden is how accessible it is. Potted plants are an especially good solu tion for people with little or no ground space available, such as those living in apartment complexes with only a small balcony to work with. People with limited physical abilities can also benefit, as raised flowerbeds or pots on tables make garde ning possible for the wheelchair-bound and people with mobility issues. What to grow There is a huge selection of garden plants suited to containers. Vegetables such as to matoes, cucumbers, eggplants, onions and peas thrive in larger pots, while a variety of herbs can be successfully grown in even the tiniest containers. It’s a great way to keep a fresh supply of kitchen staples like parsley, ba sil, rosemary and thyme on hand at all times. For a more decorative container garden, annuals are your best bet, as they provide colourful blooms all summer long. Popular choices for potted flowers include begonias, marigolds, petunias and zinnias. Get creative with your container gar den. Old household objects can be recycled into unique-looking plant homes, and your local home improvement store is chock-full of containers that will give your garden a unique flair.
If you pay close attention, you’ll realize your dog is communicating with you all the time using a variety of signals. By learning what your pooch is saying, you’ll develop a closer bond and be better able to predict their behaviour. Dog body language: 3 emotions that are easy to recognize
Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 34 LIFE
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3. Aggression Dogs may become aggressive if an intruder ventures into their territory. Indications that they may act ag gressively include raised hackles, a tail that’s straight and pointed backward, and legs that are straight and rigid. In addition, they may bend their ears forward and show their teeth.
In addition, cats have a broader field of vision and greater peripheral vision than humans. However, they’re nearsighted and unable to distinguish nearby prey if it isn’t moving.
2. Practise being apart To get your pet used to not having you around, leave them alone in another room with a long lasting treat. Start by checking in on your pet after a few minutes, then gradually increase the interval. As your pup adapts, you can begin to leave the house for increa singly long periods of time. You may want to start by just taking a short walk or running a quick errand.
3. Provide plenty of distractions One of the best ways to keep your pet out of trouble is to make sure they’re occupied. Be attentive to the toys and treats your dog prefers, and make sure they have access to them while you’re away. Consider ch oosing more interactive toys or ones that hold and dispense treats for your pet to enjoy when they’re home alone.
4. Find time to check in If possible, adjust your schedule to minimize the amount of time your pet spends alone, and have your partner or other family members do the same. Alter natively, you can ask a friend or neighbour to drop by for a quick visit during the day. For longer absences, hire a pet sitter or find out if your local veterinary clinic offers boarding services. For additional advice, or if you’re concerned about your pet experiencing separation anxiety, speak with a veterinary behaviourist or another qualified profes sional. If you’d like to see the world the way your cat does, say goodbye to hues of scarlet, crimson and pink. Felines are believed to be a dichromate colour blind species, which means their retinas contain only two types of cones (colour detecting cells). Some of a cat’s cones are thought to be sensitive to blue and others to green. In contrast, most humans have three types of cones and can see a wider range of colours.
1. Excitement When dogs want to play, they raise their tail and lower their front end by bending their forelegs. They also erect their ears and open their mouth in the shape of a smile. This behaviour may be accompanied by excited barking and playful advances and retreats.
Are you worried about your pup getting anxious or causing mischief while you’re away? Here are some tips to help train your dog to be comfortable at home alone.
Canine calming signals When faced with a stressful or uncomfortable situation, dogs adopt a variety of behaviours to calm themselves or comfort someone else. These calming signals may include yawning, shaking, blinking, nose licking, sniffing the ground, lying down or lifting a leg.
Though dogs communicate with whines, barks and growls, they more frequently rely on body language to express their emotions and intentions. Deciphering your pooch’s postures, facial expressions and other physical gestures is a key part of communicating with them. Here’s how to recognize three basic emotions in your pup.
2. Fear Thunderstorms, strange places and a variety of other situations can frighten dogs. They tend to express this emotion by placing their tail between their hind legs and flattening their ears. They may also curl back the corners of their mouth and pucker their muzzle. Additionally, a scared canine’s hackles may be raised.
Nocturnal performance
1. Make your pet feel safe If you need to confine your dog to a designated room or crate when you go out, make sure they’re well ac quainted with the space beforehand. You can do this by giving feedings, hiding treats or encouraging your pup to do tricks in the room or crate while you’re at home.
Thanks to the large number of rods (light detecting cells) in their retinas, a fe line’s eyes are perfectly adapted to hunting at night. This is why it’s easy for cats to track their prey by the faint glow of the stars. However, their hyper reactivity to light makes their eyes less efficient during the day. As protection, their pupils narrow into thin slits when the light is too strong.
How do cats see? tips for training your dog to stay home alone
PAGE 35REAL ESTATEWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News
Wari and Yash met their realtor, Justin at his office. Now that the couple know their bud get, it’s time to go shopping. “Today, we are not going to see any homes. Let’s discuss a few things before going house hopping.” Wari disappointed. “I came prepared to look at homes. Time is ticking.” Justin pulled up a chair and grinned. “Do you know that you can buy a home without paying any land transfer tax?” Yash wide eyed. “That’s a huge saving.” “I had a client, Cornelia, who bought a new home on a lease land. Since the land was not owned, it could not be transferred and hence there was no land transfer tax.” Justin continued. “When she bought the home from the builder, she had an option to buy the land for $30,000 but back then, she could not afford it. Twen ty-five years later, when I sold her home, similar properties without land lease were selling for $325,000. By then the land value went up to $300,000. After paying for the land, real estate commission and lawyer fees, she walked away broke.” Wari and Yash gaped. Justin con tinued. “There are two types of land lease, frozen and escalating. Frozen is when the land can be bought over within a certain time at a fixed price and escalating, like the one Cornelia had.” We want to pay land transfer tax blurted Yash.Justin leaned back with his hands folded behind his head and look at the cou ple beadily. “Buying a home is like a threelayer cake. “The bottom layer is the largest and represents the location. This is fixed and has the most value. For example, an acre of land might be worth ten thousand in Muskoka, a million in Brampton and ten million in central Toronto.” Wari opened-up. “Do you know that Yash makes great cakes? After our wedding, we froze the top layer. We will de frost it when the baby arrives. You can have a piece then.”Justin licked his lips. “I love cakes. The middle layer represents the size of the home. It is cheaper to upgrade a bigger home than to extend a smaller one.” Yash shook his head in agreement. “That makes sense…. And the third layer?” Justin folded his hands “The third layer, the upgrades. It’s like the icing on the cake. It makes the cake looks beautiful but does not add much substance to the cake. When buying a home, first look at the loca tion, then size and then upgrades.” “We are making progress” Yash said. Justin sat up. “The next principle is progression and regression. Progression is when the worst home on the block in an upscale neighborhood goes up in value because of the price of homes in the area. Regression is when the best home in a rundown neighborhood drops in value be cause of the price of homes in that neigh borhood. It is best to buy the worse home in an upscale neighborhood than to buy the best home in a rundown neighbor hood.” Wari interjected. “If we buy premi um, we can enjoy premium and eventually sell premium.”Justin smiled. “You are correct Wari, but I never sell the properties I bought. Instead of selling and moving up to a bigger home, it’s better to increase the mortgage on your current home and use that equity to buy the next one. You could then rent your current home and the rent received should cover the cost of the extra mortgage.”Yash became alive! “I love that idea. We will become rich Wari. We would be sleeping on money!” “You are already sleeping on mon ey Yash. All the banquet hall tips are under the bed.” whispered Wari. Justin tapped his fingers on his desk. “Did you ever hear the story of the $200,000 dollar couch?” asked Justin. “That’s insane” blurted Yash and Wari simultaneously. “Tell us.” Justin sat up. “This couple went to a furniture store and saw a lovely couch. They bought it. Suddenly, all the other fur niture in their home looked old, so they decided to refurnish the home. Once they were finished, the home looked dated and then they decided to renovate. By the time they were finished renovating, their debts went through the roof, and they were forced toWarisell.” shook her head in agree ment. “Sometimes we can get carried away and before we know it, we can be deep in the hole.”Justin smiled. “You can change the light fixtures and the paint colors, but you cannot change the floor plan. When buy ing real estate, you should make a list of your needs and wants and budget accord ingly.” Yash gave a concerned look at Justin “I think that we should buy a condo townhouse because it’s much cheaper.” Justain massaged his chin in deep contemplation. “The current price differ ence between a freehold property and a condo town house is $200,000. If you buy the condo townhouse, you will pay condo fees. That extra money can go towards pay ing for the extra mortgage on a freehold.”
Wari pound her fist. “If we buy a freehold property with an income poten tial, it would be cheaper to carry than a condo townhome.” Yash nodded in agree ment. “There is one last thing to discuss today.” Justin cautioned. “Avoid taking out any new loans or opening more credit cards. Things like a car purchase can wait until you move into your home. With more debt, lenders can disqualify you. Also, do not change careers mid-stream.” Justin stood up. “Thanks for com ing today. Let’s meet on Tuesday evening to see some homes. It’s best to look at homes in the daylight and we have a lot of that this summer.”
BRIJPAULJAY REALbrijpaul@carib101.comESTATEPRO You can buy a house with zero land transfer tax gWe’veotyour BACK --ChiropracticPhysiotherapy-MassageTherapy-SpinalDecompression-Acupuncture-Counselling-NaturalMedicine-DNA&CancerTesting-CustomOrthotics-CompressionStockings Personal Injury, Rehab and Wellness Experts AND SO MUCH MORE 57 Mill St. N. Unit 102 Brampton ON L6X 1S9 110 Brickyard Way, Unit 10 Brampton ON L6V 4N1 647-499-1444 • info@intelligenthealthgroup.ca We Accept All Insurance Plans Contact Us Today For a Free Consultation
Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 36 HOME
How ceiling fans can save you money every season
• Increased efficiency. More efficient than a conventional water heater that heats a full tank of water whether you need it or not, a combi-boiler can reduce your energy consumption by up to 40 per cent.
If you need to replace your boiler, you should consider upgrading to a modern combi-boiler system. A combination boiler heats your home and gives you hot water on demand. Here are some of the benefits.
• There’s less maintenance. A combi-boiler doesn’t have a water tank to flush and clean. Consequently, you don’t have to worry about scheduling maintenance eve ry six months. If you’re moving into a new house or ma king extensive renovations, it’s a perfect time to upgrade your home’s heating sys tem. Talk to an expert at your local home renovation centre.
Why you need a combi-boiler in your home
• Enjoy unlimited hot water. You’ll never run out of hot water because a combi-boi ler doesn’t have a water tank. Therefore, you can enjoy leisurely showers and hot baths without worrying about having enough water in the tank.
Ceiling fans are known for keeping your home cool on hot summer days. However, did you know that fans can help keep your house comfortable all year long? They can also help you reduce your energy bills. Here’s how. ASUMMERswitch on your ceiling fan’s central unit allows you to operate it in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. Set your ceiling fan to turn counterclockwise during warm months to push air downwards and create a cool breeze. A standard air conditioning (AC) unit uses 3,500 watts of power. On the other hand, a ceiling fan uses just 50. If you use ceiling fans, there are many summer days when you don’t need the AC. Ceiling fans also complement your air conditioning. Fans keep air flowing throughout the room and help maintain a constant temperature, so your air conditioner won’t operate as Duringmuch.WINTERwinter, change your fan’s settings to spin clockwise at a low speed. The fan will re distribute rising warm air from your furnace throughout the room. You can turn your thermostat down and still be comfortable. Moreover, your furnace won’t work as hard, saving you money. Lastly, ensure your fan blades are tilted at 12 degrees to provide sufficient airflow. However, if they’re angled at more than 16 degrees, they’ll cause too much wind cau sing loose objects to blow around the room.
• Save valuable space. You don’t need a lot of room for a combi-boiler because they’re compact. For example, you can install a combi-boiler in an apartment or condo or in the space under the stairs.
• Save money. Modern combi-boilers are less complex than conventional boilers and have fewer pipes to install. Moreover, combi-boilers are less expensive to install and repair than traditional ones.
PAGE 37FUNWednesday, August 17, 2022 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News
ARIES A few people will ask you to help them out on various occasions, forcing you to move around frequently. You’ll have a chance to spoil yourself, maybe even think about buying a new car.
SAGITTARIUS A few minor successes are enough for you to restore your selfesteem. It’ll also give you the credibility you need to promote a project close to your heart, enabling you to take action.
LEO You’ve barely finished your summer holidays when you start planning for the next one with your friends. You’ll organize a meeting at the office, and it’ll take on a phenomenal scale, bringing the whole company together.
LIBRA A short period of reflection will be enough for you to make important decisions about your personal or professional future. Some negotiation will be required, and you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons before final izing anything.
SCORPIO An ideal compromise isn’t always possible, especially if multiple people have differing opinions. To settle conflicts, you’ll need to use your imagination to create harmony among the people around you.
AQUARIUS Love may occupy your thoughts permanently. Through subtle ges tures, gentle signs of affection and words of love, you’ll be able to convey the extent of your feelings for your significant other. PISCES The idea of selling or buying property will cross your mind, or you’ll find a way to live at a lower cost and improve the quality of life for your entire family. You’ll get your hands on an attractive sum.
ACROSS 1. False front 4. Posture 8. punchesHole 12. Pigeon’s call 13. Berserk 14. Parcel 15. Lodge 16. Source 18. Downfall 20. Discontinued 21. Switchpositions 22. Mr. Boggs 23. Earn 26. Moray, e.g. 27. Tatter 30. Golf club 31. Be in debt 32. Present! 33. Hoover ____ 34. Poor mark 35. Healer 36. Partly open 38. “____ Away”and 39. Estate house 41. Steak type 45. Band 47. Fruit juice 48. Looked at 49. Compass point 50. Toll 51. Talk back 52. Handicrafts 53. Feeling low DOWN 1. Corrosive 2. Ice-cream ____ 3. Lots 4. Father, e.g. 5. Portents 6. Cushy 7. Add to 8. Adjust 9. Nomad 10. Parasites 11. Coaster 17. Genuine 19. Penny, e.g. 22. Petite 23. Halfway 24. Timespan 25. Woos 26. She-sheep 28. Animosity 29. ____ requestyour 31. Above, to bards 32. Fling 34. Risk 35. Gem weights 37. Travolta et al. 38. Earliest 39. plantForest-floor 40. Region 41. Celebrity 42. Dunces 43. Thought 44. Poverty 46. ____ urchin CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 58 The luckiest signs this week: GEMINI, CANCER AND LEO PUZZLE NO. 58 WEEK OF AUGUST 14 TO AUGUST 20, 2022 HOW TO PLAY : Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once. 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, col umn, or 3x3 box. PUZZLE NO. 768 ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 768
CAPRICORN In your work life, you’ll set up a home office that turns out to be highly functional. After the planning stage, your leadership will awaken, and you’ll masterfully grow your business with your own hands.
GEMINI You’ll have a tendency to be discouraged by the extent of your re sponsibilities. The more progress you make, the more you’ll find within yourself the makings of a winner, and then nothing will be able to stop you.
TAURUS By calculating your budget over and over, you’ll realize you have the means to achieve your ambitions. You’ll find the necessary funds to make one of your greatest dreams a reality. After some careful con sideration, you’ll find the courage to take action.
VIRGO A desire for elevation will manifest itself intellectually and spiritually. You’ll also decide to set out on a new career or a rewarding personal journey. Don’t be afraid of change.
CANCER Sometimes you need to take a step back to gain more perspec tive on a situation. In your professional life, you’ll aspire to do something more in line with your ambitions; you must take the ladder one rung at a time.
Classifieds the free Your destination to buy, sell and post! HELP WANTED • ITEMS FOR SALE • PERSONALS • ANNOUNCEMENTS • AND MUCH MORE! LIST UP TO 30 WORDS FOR FREE! CALL 647-722-6298 *Some Restrictions May Apply - Subject To Space Availability FOR SALE WORSHIP SUNDAY SERVICE: Fountain of Truth Ministries Pastor: Rever end Maxine Campbell Worship Address: 2170 Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke Percy Johnson School – Cafeteria Sundays: 10.am – 2. pm Teaching, Worship, Minister ing For info call: 416 748 0211 MISSISSAUGA: Mississauga Missionary Baptist Church invites you to join us at 1620 Dundas St West, each Sunday at 10am for praise, worship and in-depth Bible teaching with Pastor Sean, 416-219-9137 FOR SALEFOR SALE FOR RENT: Furnished Room For Rent! Sharing Kitchen & Wash room. Located in Scarborough, Toronto, Morningside Avenue & Kingston Road. $850.00/month including utilities. Please call (416)459-6155. FOR RENT 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 PART DELIVERYTIMEDRIVERS: Approximately 4-6 hours commitment every second DriversWednesday.needed for: • AjaxScarborough/Pickering/ • North MaltonYork/Rexdale/ • CallDriverBrampton/MississaugamusthaveSUVorVan.647-722-6298toapply. HIRING FOR CLEANING: Looking for experience people for general cleaning evenings and night. Must speak English and can drive to areas in the GTA. Call or Text 647-239-4808. Seriou calls only FOR SALEHELP WANTED HELP WANTED SHIRT JACKS: Shirt Jacks all sizes all colour call 416-474-3454 HIRING: Looking for a helper to do general labour, garden cleaning, landscaping, and winter snow removal. Cash paid weekly. Located at Morningside & Law rence in Scarborough. Please call: (416)269-5174 FOR RENT: Furnished 1 BedBasement Apart For Rent! Sepa rate Entrance, Private Kitchen & Washroom. Located in Scarbor ough, Toronto, Morningside Av enue & Kingston Road. $1,550.00/ month including utilities. Please call (416)459-6155. CRAFT AND GARAGE SALE: Lots of crochet items for the bathroom and household. Clothing,curtains and dishes. On Saturday the 20th Aug from 9:30 to 4pm. Address 51 Temple ton Court, Scarborough. ( Law rence and Overture) HIRING LIVE OUT COOK AND HOUSEKEEPER: Looking for a live out house keep and cook. Must be able to cook Caribbean Food.No caregiver needed. Bathurst and Wilson. No Cash , T4 Issued call Anna 416-729-4772 LIST UP TO 30 WORDS apply.Some647-722-6298FREE!restrictionsmayWereservetherightofrefusal.
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As part of a recent study on general education levels of teenagers around the world, the Organisation for Econo mic Coope ra tion and Development tested 29,000 15-year-olds on their fi nancial literacy. The OECD asked teens from 18 different countries to answer a series of questions that would evaluate their grasp of basic money manage ment skills, including understan ding a bank statement, figuring out the longterm cost of a loan, and understanding how insurance works. The results showed that when it comes to money matters, young North Americans fall mid-range compared to their peers from ot her countries. This is particularly troubling in light of the fact that young people are going into debt sooner and in greater numbers in order to pay for further education. About one student in seven who participated in the test was unable to make even simple decisions concerning expendi tures.
1. Pay your bills on time Get into the habit of paying your bills be fore the due date. Even if you can only ma nage the minimum amount due on your credit card this month, make sure you pay it on time. You’re much better off paying the minimum on time than the full balance late.
Focus on safety One area that is universally recognized by tenants as important is safety and security. Whether you are referring to maintaining adequate lighting in parking areas or en suring that steps and porches have strong handrails, paying close attention to detail when it comes to safety should be a pri ority. If, as a landlord, you take the time to show prospective tenants that you are committed to their wellbeing, it will be much easier to build a lasting relationship going forward.
Once you have secured your perfect invest ment property, done whatever renovations you planned for, and have all the manage ment components in place, it is time to find your perfect tenants. Attracting and retaining quality tenants, though, doesn’t happen automatically, no matter how awe some a property is. Here are some great tips to help you be successful in this area.
• Teach them to develop a heal thy re lationship with mo ney through open and honest conversations about personal finances.
How to attract and retain quality tenants for your investment property
Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 40 FINANCE
A few tips for parents Here are four ways to improve your children’s knowledge of personal fi •nances.Explain the difference between gross and net salaries, as well as paycheque deductions.
Clean and maintain immediately While there are some prospective tenants that will overlook dingy windows and dirty floors, people are much more likely to re spond positively to a property that is neat, tidy, and well kept. As much as physically possible, take the time to do any and all repairs, and perform major deep cleaning before you start doing walk-throughs. It may seem like waiting a few days is delay ing a lease opportunity, but not doing so could also cost you that vital first impres sion if things aren’t quite ready.
Do your teenagers know how to manage money?
3. Limit your applications for credit Each time you apply for a loan — a line of credit, personal loan, car loan, or credit card — your application appears on your credit rating. Multiple requests can nega tively affect your score, as creditors wonder if all your credit queries are hiding a serious financial problem. Are you wondering if you should go to one of those companies that promise to im prove your credit rating? Be careful; Indus try Canada’s Office of Consumer Affairs says that only your creditors themselves have the power to change the information that is recorded in your credit report. One thing you can do is order a copy of your credit re port before you apply for a loan to ensure there are no errors. To do that, all you have to do is contact one of the Canadian credit bureaus, either Equifax (www.equifax.ca) or TransUnion (www.transunion.ca).
Consider high tech upgrades With so many people focused on efficien cies and technology within their home, in vesting some extra cash to add a few smart home gadgets to your investment property is another way to attract and retain tenants. Things like smart thermostats, for example, can add a touch of technology while also having the potential to save money on utilities. Smart doorbells are another idea, as they not only are cool to the tech savvy person, but also bolster security. Communicate promptly Whether we realize it or not, tenants will often use preliminary communications as a way to gauge the responsiveness of a land lord or property manager. Even if you are extremely busy, make a point to respond promptly to any inquiries about leasing, questions about the property, or follow ups on next steps. Tenants who stay on top of their own communications will appre ciate this gesture, and it sets the stage for open and quick communications through out the tenancy, which is a key to retention and great tenant relationship.
Be professional Oftentimes, one of the easiest ways to at tract quality tenants is to present yourself and your property as professionally as pos sible. Generally speaking, people who op erate within the bounds of legal structures and display professionalism will be looking for the same in a property owner and man agement team. Things like having strong contracts and tenant guidelines in place, and communicating practical policies for handling issues will help to attract great tenants and keep them for years to come.
Final thoughts At the end of the day, tenants and land lords are usually looking for the same things. Both want an arrangement that meets their needs with a person they can work with and trust. By doing everything in your power to be a quality property owner that tenants want to deal with, it will help to attract quality tenants.
• Suggest they manage the bud get of an upcoming activity or a ficti tious project. You could ask them to budget the next trip to the grocery store, a fa mily vacation, or ex pen ses related to a first apartment.
Three ways to improve your credit rating
Do you have a low credit rating? You may have had a few hard knocks, but you can improve your credit standing with a bit of patience and discipline. It won’t change overnight, but it’s important to take control of things right now; your efforts will be well worth it if you want to have a more secure financial future. Here are three tips to get you pointed in the right direction.
2. Don’t max out your cards Don’t push the set limits on your credit cards. Experts believe that you should keep your credit utilization ratio (what you use versus how much you have to use) below 30 percent. This rule applies to each indivi dual card, and to the cumulative debt of all your cards.
• Encourage them to start managing their own money when they’re ma ture enough.
DeSOUZACLEVE WEALTHcleve@carib101.comMANAGEMENT
5210 Finch Ave East, Unit # 1, Scarborough, ON. M1S 4Z6 (INSIDE GOLDEN BAKERY) MIDDLEFIELD & FINCH
How to inspect your vehicle’s oil in 7 easy steps
2. Warm up the car. Drive around the block or make a quick jaunt to the grocery store. Then, turn the ignition off before checking the oil.
Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, August 17, 2022PAGE 42 AUTOMOTIVE
Your vehicle’s tires are expensive. There fore, it’s important to do everything you can to make them last as long as possible. Rotating and balancing your tires are two effective methods of prolonging their lifes pan. Here’s why.
• Fewer trips to the garage. If you don’t regularly rotate your tires, you must re place your front tires more often than your rear ones. When you keep them ro tated, you can replace all four tires at once, reducing the number of trips to the tire shop. Most manufacturers recommend rotating and balancing your tires every 8,000 kilo metres. However, the recommended fre quency can vary on the type of tires, the size of your vehicle and the road condi tions where you usually drive.
• Opportunity for inspection. Rotating your tires is an excellent time to visually inspect them for damage. You can also check the tread depth and air pressure and get them balanced if you’ve noticed vibrations. Unbalanced tires wear out unevenly, decreasing performance when turning or braking.
3. Open the hood and find the dipstick. The dipstick has a yellow or orange circu lar handle. When you pull the dipstick out, it should contain a long, thin metal strip.
Checking your vehicle’s oil is a simple pro cess that’ll help ensure your car runs smoothly for years. Here’s how to do it in seven easy steps.
• Increased fuel efficiency. Worn out tires have uneven contact with the road and increased friction, making your en gine work harder and decreasing fuel efficiency.
• Increased safety. Your vehicle will han dle better because rotating your tires leads to less wear and extends the life of the tire treads, giving you better traction for longer.
• More even wear. Your car’s front tires wear out more quickly than your rear ones because turning increases friction with the road. A tire rotation exchanges your tires from front to back and from right to left, so your tires wear more evenly, prolonging the useful life of each tire.
Why you should rotate and balance your tires
1. Read up. Read your car’s owner’s manual before popping the hood.
4. Clean the dipstick. The end of the dips tick will have oil on it. Clean it off using a lint free rag and reinsert the metal strip back in the hole. 5. Inspect the dipstick. Pull the dipstick back out and check the oil level. The dips tick will indicate maximum and minimum levels. You’re good to go if the level is between those two marks.
6. Inspect the oil. The oil should be a clear amber colour and smooth when you rub it between your fingers. If it’s black and gritty, it’s time to have your oil changed.
7. Top up if needed. If your oil is low, add some to the fill port located on the top of your engine. Low oil is also an indication a mechanic should inspect your car. Visit an automotive shop near you to change your car’s oil every three months or 4,500 kilometres. Newer vehicles can go six months or 11,000 kilometres before needing an oil change.
I believe that I’ve taught him to believe in himself a bit more and that what he thinks of and has to say matters to others. - Big G Volunteer Be a Big to a Little in Your Community! Our Big G Mentoring Program for adults aged 55+ takes as little as an hour a week. Are you interested in becoming an active and engaged member in your community? Connect with us today to learn more about our mentoring program. Ignite Potential in a Young Person’s Life And Inspire Them to Achieve the Unthinkable! Take your first step and visit toronto.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/volunteer, call - 416-925-8981 x 4152 or email Lesley.Harrison@BigBrothersBigSisters.ca. “ ” CMYCYMYCMYMCK Toronto Caribbean Ad (August).pdf 1 11/08/2022 15:19:45
