To Mask, or Not To Mask

“There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit..”

She is one of the fastest rising actresses and singers from Toronto, Ontario, Can ada, and the Toronto Caribbean News paper is so excited that we have an op portunity to catch this supernova right as she is about to explode.

She began her career as a model at just three months old appear ing in ad campaigns for major brands including: The Hudson’s Bay Company, Toys “R” Us, and OshKosh B’gosh. She also landed the cover of major national magazines including Today’s Parent and Toronto Life.

Her first big break came in 2014 when she landed a role on the remake of the iconic superhero film RoboCop appearing alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names including: Joel Kinnaman, Samuel L. Jackson, Mi chael Keaton, Abbie Cornish and Gary Oldman. Shortly after, she was cast in the hit sci-fi series Warehouse 13 (Syfy).

She has amassed a significant body of work in major film and televi sion productions including: Heroes Re born (NBC), Saving Hope (CTV/NBC), 12 Monkeys (Syfy), Make It Pop (Nick elodeon), Kim’s Convenience (CBC/ Netflix), According to Kids (CBC), Odd Squad: Mobile Unit, and The Solution eers (YouTube).

She has also built an impres sive resume as a voice-over actor for hit animation series including Rusty Rivets (Amazon Prime) and Mighty Express (Netflix), as well as the popular video game series Far Cry 6 (Ubisoft).

Throughout that time, she has quickly developed a natural ability and comfort in front of the camera and with hard work, determination and perse verance; she effortlessly transitioned from modelling to quickly demonstrat ing her versatility and talent for film and television. Outside of acting, she enjoys: singing, drawing, and spend ing time with her friends and her sister Chanèl.

What is most incredible about our Woman Empowered is that she has amassed this amount of work, and she is under the age of 16. We would like to introduce to you, the adept, amazing,

awe-inspiring Aaliyah Cinello!

My first thoughts of Aaliyah were that at such a young age, she spoke about her work with such pas sion. Acting is her source of interest and she speaks of her work with such excite ment. You can tell that it is not forced; for Aaliyah acting is the greatest gift of self-discovery.

“I started acting at three months old,” Aaliyah shares with me. “One of the reasons that I started so young is because my mom was an ac tress.”

Mom was standing just off camera, allowing her daughter to do her thing, but I was curious to hear what she had seen in her daughter, even at such a young age.

“I think she was two or three years old,” Mom recalls. “I asked her, what do you want to be when you grow up, and I will never forget her response. ‘I will be bigger than Beyonce.’ She knew what she wanted, and as a parent, it is my responsibility to nurture that optimism. As a family, we do our best to start each day on a positive note, and we have taught Aaliyah to view setbacks as temporary. When kids feel confident in their abilities, they find their passions. It’s important to step back from our own needs and let kids be kids. Trust me when I say, Aaliyah runs Aaliyah’s show!”

Aaliyah laughed when her mom said that knowingly. It was inter esting to see how self aware she was.

“Tell me about one of your fa vourite acting moments, Aaliyah.”

“I remember that in one com mercial I had to run around scream ing with a popsicle in my hand. Come on! Who doesn’t want to run around screaming,” she said laughing.

Coming up next, Aaliyah is set to appear in the new highly-anticipated Apple TV+ series CircuitBreakers, a chil dren’s anthology series that tackles kidrelatable issues through a sci-fi lens. The show made its premiere on Novem ber 11th, 2022.

“I loved sci-fi movies,” Aaliyah tells me. “I used to watch them with my

parents. My parents have shown all the movies from the 80’s, Back to the Fu ture, you know mov ies like that. In Cir cuitBreakers, I got the role of Charlie; I was super excited about that. She is quirky, and she re minds me of me.

When I met all the cast, it was su per cool. One of my fa vourite times was when we sang Hakuta Makata together. It was silly and fun. When you are work ing so hard, you need mo ments like that sometimes.”

Dealing with disap pointment is a necessary skill if you want to be an actor, and any actor/actress will tell you that it becomes a part of your day to day life. You spend more time looking for work than ac tually doing it. By that standard, Aaliyah has come to realize that she was going to be dealing with a lot of disappointment in her life. Her auditions do not always lead to bookings, and I am sure that she has had critics attack her work. That’s just the way it is. I was curious as to how she handled this part of the business.

“Progressing through the vari ous acting stages was challenging. It went from kid’s shows, to more teenage roles. There is a lot of rejection, and that can sometimes hurt. When someone rejects you, it’s natural to feel bad, but resilience is important. I have learned to get back up and try again. It’s hard work, but I turn rejection into motiva tion.”

With exciting multiple projects on the horizon, Aaliyah is definitely a must-watch actress on the rise.

Written by Selina McCallum Toronto Caribbean News

Photo Credit: Vita Cooper

Internationally, there is another variant, XBB, which has emerged in Singapore and is being closely watched world wide as mainstream reports that it is spreading quickly in other countries.

The new variants were coined the “Scrabble” variants by Peter Ho tez, Co-Director of the Centre for Vac cine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital, during an interview with the Houston Chronicle. Apparently, the nickname refers to the letters that are used to define the variants like B, X and Q, which would rack up many points in a game of Scrabble. Interesting that this has reference to a popular game, but I digress…

There have been reports that omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 dominated the US as recently as midSeptember. Two variants in particular— BQ.1 and BQ.1.1—recently accounted for at least 11% of all COVID infections in the country, per the CDC.

There is a jumble of letters that you are going to need to remember to remain part of this game (shake my head), and they include:

• BQ.1

• BQ.1.1

• BF.7

• BA.4.6

• BA.2.75

• BA.2.75.2

BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, in particular, are poised to circulate frequently in the coming months. Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently told CBC News that these variants are “trouble some” and have “qualities or charac teristics that could evade some of the interventions we have.”

Your next question readers should be, what is the reason for that? Scientists have found that they have “minor mutations in the spike protein” that differentiate them from each other and from what’s circulating now. This might also mean that the vaccines that worked for the influenza pool of letters that many were forced to take during the pandemic, will not work for the “Scrabble” virus. According to the sci entists, when it comes to transmission protection, “It’s unclear how well the

bivalent booster will work against these variants.” These variants are reportedly immune-evasive to a degree, but likely more evasive to the original vaccine than they are to the new booster.

My question is, when will our bodies’ natural ability to heal itself be come the focus of our scientific com munity? Instead of vaccines, why are natural ways for our bodies to build immunity to pathogens that have been around for thousands of years being developed and propagated?

Historical records of outbreaks caused by viruses and other patho gens stretch back thousands of years. It seems plausible that these interactions go back even further, to the earliest pe riods of human prehistory.

When our ancestors spread out from Africa across the world they would have been introduced to new pathogens. Like many other environ mental challenges, these ancient viral encounters may have triggered adapta tions that helped our ancestors survive. These adaptations may have included physiological or immunological chang es that improved resistance to infection or reduced the health impacts of the disease, something that nowadays we like to call immunity.

That’s right people, we have had viral encounters for years; some

people made it, some did not, but those who did passed down their ge netics, and the world continued to turn.

According to the CDC season al influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States and Canada. They typically circulate dur ing the fall and winter during what’s known as the flu season. The exact tim ing and duration of flu seasons varies, but flu activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and Febru ary, although significant activity can last as late as May.

Somehow, all of a sudden, when a new “virus” pops up, there is this huge announcement, they have a naming ceremony, and everyone is put on high alert.

If you start experiencing fe ver, chills, cough, a new loss of taste or smell, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, shortness of breath, nau sea, or vomiting, you might have the flu, but unless you are considered highrisk, do not be too considerate. Speak to a health professional that you know has your best interest at heart, and start changing the way you treat your body. Prevention is always better than the cure.

Government of Canada Provides $1 Million in funding to fight anti-Black racism in the justice system

the project. Teklu observes, “For the first few months, we’ll work with the adviso ry committee to identify the areas that we should be focusing on along with the tools and the resources. We’re not going to be hiring staff, but we’ll be en gaging members of the private bar and paying them to draft these resources.”

On Wednesday, November 9th, 2022, the federal government provided $1 million to Toronto’s Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC). The funds will be distrib uted over a four-year period through the Justice Canada’s Justice Partnership and Innovation Program. Specifically, BLAC will be running the “Combatting Anti-Black Racism through Litigation and System Navigation project.”

BLAC is interested in recruit ing: lawyers, academics, representa tives of community organizations, and individuals with real-life experiences to become part of an advisory committee. This committee will be fleshing out the subsequent steps of the project. Most of the advisory committee members will not be paid, except the private bar law yers

Teklu stated, “We have raised race-based arguments, and have inter viewed cases dealing with s.15” Charter equality rights. We’ve also developed training for members of the [legal aid] clinic system on how to raise race-based arguments in poverty law. This is the first time that we will be doing this kind of work in the areas of child protection, immigration and prison law.”

An important aspect of the project will be civil actions which are intended to ensure that the state is ac countable for cases that involve per sonal injury suits that result from po lice misconduct or deaths in prison. Teklu notes further, “We’ll be helping, or working with, members of the private bar, academics, and experts to develop factums, memorandum, expert reports, to help lawyers and other legal service providers raise race-based arguments in these areas of life.”

BLAC hired an international lawyer, Abamba Godpower to oversee

Legal Aid Ontario is committed to providing extra staff to help with the project, as well as senior counsel who will examine and check the materials the project unearths. Akawasi OwusuNempah, a Sociology Professor at the University of Toronto examines the in tersection of: race, crime, and criminal justice will examine the effectiveness of the project. Teklu elaborates, “What we’re hoping is for him to look at whether the use of these re ports by lawyers leads to better justice outcomes for clients, and whether they change the experiences and percep tions of the legal system of clients. So we’ll be doing a lot of data collection surveys, focus groups, and things like that. Then, when we have the findings of that, if we find ‘Actually, yes, this does lead to better justice outcomes and better experiences,’ then we’ll use that information to advocate for continued funding.”

The press release notes that it will:

• Provide legal professionals and oth er experts with the information they need to raise legal arguments relat ed to individual and systemic antiBlack racism in the justice system

• Increase access to justice for Black Ontarians, and strengthen the Ca nadian legal framework by ensuring that legal professionals represent ing Black clients are putting the best legal arguments forward in the areas of: criminal, child protection, immigration, prison, and civil law

• Pay “system navigators” to provide information, advice, and supports to Black people who have a legal issue in the area of: criminal, child protection, immigration, or civil law

Political pressure from Ontario Labour Unions forces Ford Government to Scrap Bill 28

PAUL JUNOR

REPORTER

The introduction of the anti-worker Bill 28 on Monday, October 31st to squash the strike by the 55,000 strong Canadian Union of Public Employees galvanized the labour unions.

CUPE planned to strike on Fri day, November 4th, 2022, which would continue on the week of November 7th. The response by the Ontario Government to the Keeping Students Act known as Bill 28 on Thursday, November 3rd, 2022, was intended to force CUPE to back down from its planned strike. It catalysed labour unions to react.

Stephen Lecce, Ontario Educa tion Minister tweeted, “Immediately fol lowing the proclamation of the Keeping Students in Class Act, we filed a submis sion to the Ontario Labour Relations Board in response to CUPE’s illegal strike action. Proceedings started last night and will continue today. Nothing matters more right now than getting all students back in the classroom and we will use every tool available to us to do so. We are pre pared to use all the tools available to us. We will always stand up for their rights.”

Andria Babbington, President of Labour Toronto and York Region Council expressed her opposition to Bill 28 in an E-Newsletter on Wednesday, November 2nd. She wrote, “It’s time to stand up for democracy. The Conservatives Govern ment infringes and strips workers’ right to withdraw their labour. We must be con cerned about the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause to shut down col lective bargaining, because it will prob ably lead to other abuses. They’ve used it before and will use it again.”

On Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022, CUPE and the SCFP penned a joint statement titled, “Don’t Be a Bully. Repeal Bill 28.” The statement reads,

“On November 3rd, 2022, the Ford Conservatives took the unprec edented step of passing legislation that violates our constitutional rights under the Charter. Bill 28: undermines our most fundamental rights and freedoms, forces a terrible contract on education workers, validates workers’ constitutional right to bargain fairly, and pre-emptively deems a strike illegal instead of continuing with negotiations. This is an attack on all unions because if they can strip away edu cation workers’ Charter-protected right to strike, they can do the same to any other worker. With the invocation of the Not withstanding clause, the undermining of the Charter is a threat to protest rights, to those seeking religious freedom, and to equity seekers across the province.”

Political protests were held on Thursday, November 3rd, 2022, and

on Friday, November 4th, 2022. CUPE’s members and other labour unions dem onstrated at Queen’s Park. There was a province-wide protest, which impacted many school boards and districts. Solidar ity with the teachers’ protest was held on Saturday, November 5th, 2022, at Yonge & Dundas Square.

On Monday, November 7th, 2022, the Doug Ford government announced at a press conference that it intends to repeal the regressive and anti-worker Bill 28. Premier Ford indicated that he will re peal the legislation that forces a contract on the teachers and strips them of their rights to strike. He indicates that he is will ing to work with unions as long as they call off the strike and return to the nego tiation table.

On Monday, November 7th, 2022 labour leaders held a joint press confer ence which saw over twelve public and

private sector unions which include the four major teachers’ unions, Ontario Pub lic Service Employees Union (OPSEU) as well as steel, postal workers and Unifor represented. They expressed solidarity in opposition to Bill 28.

On Monday, November 14th, 2022 the Ontario government repealed Bill 28 in the Legislature.

The Elementary Teachers’ Fed eration of Ontario (ETFO) released a statement which reads, “The Keeping Students in Schools Act, Bill 28, was an unprecedented attack on collective bar gaining rights, the likes of which had not been seen in Ontario’s history. Today, we celebrate the release of this oppressive bill, which was accomplished through the courage of CUPE education workers and the collective power of workers and fami lies across Ontario.”

TC

With inflation at an all-time high, families are being hit hard

MICHAEL THOMAS

michael@carib101.com

Millions of Canadians as well as others from around the globe are concerned about coping with the extremely high and still rising cost of energy bills, espe cially those who live in countries where there is winter season.

With inflation at an all-time high, families are being hit hard, especially wage earners and the elderly.

The cost of food, ever increas ing rents, gas, and many household items have skyrocketed. As if this was not enough, People are getting ridicu lously high new energy bills and many businesses are in danger of closing their doors for good.

In Canada, we can’t expect the government to solve all of Canada’s prob lems for us, but what we can expect from our politicians is that they stop making money on energy taxes on top of already soaring energy prices.

We as Canadians must call for the next much-needed crisis measure, which is to suspend all taxes that current ly make already ridiculously high prices higher.

Here in Canada, Trudeau’s gov ernment has done everything it possibly can to paralyze Canada’s energy sec tor. Trudeau has blocked the Northern Gateway Pipeline and failed to stand up for the Keystone Pipeline XL when it was cancelled by Biden.

Trudeau’s government has con stantly raised the carbon tax on gasoline simply because lots of Canadians have seen through his green agenda, and the continual printing of money by his re gime has caused inflation to balloon into the monster that it is today.

Here are some of the regular Canadian businesses hit by this planned crisis.

Restaurants and small business owners are just some who are at risk from the se vere problems of rising energy prices, re sulting not only from the war in Ukraine but also from the longstanding policies of our government.

CitizenGO is asking everyone to sign a petition to Trudeau to stop all taxes on energy.

What is CitizenGO, and where is it located?

CitizenGO is a community of active citi zens who work together, using online

petitions and action alerts as a resource, to defend and promote life, family, and liberty. They work to ensure that those in power respect human dignity and indi viduals’ rights.

Do you want to change the world?

Thousands of like-minded people will help you!

With CitizenGO’s online petition plat form, you can send your petition to decision-makers in local, national, and international government bodies and businesses. Like-minded individuals from all over the world will join you in winning your cause.

CitizenGO is all over the world. They offer campaigns in 12 languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, Polish, Russian, Croatian, Hungarian, Dutch, and Slovak. They influ ence institutions, governments, and or ganizations in 50 different countries.

When folks cannot afford a de cent standard of living because of soar ing energy bills, it may be time to try and grow your food, but with farms being burnt universally and livestock killed as well, how do we proceed? Vertical farm ing? What is vertical farming?

Here are some words that de scribe this venture: Controlled Environ ment Agriculture including hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics, automation, sensors, LEDs, and container farms.

With a universal population that is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, paired with a decreasing amount of ar able land and growing urbanization, the agriculture industry faces big-time chal lenges over the coming years. To this end, vertical farms have attracted inter est over the last few years as a possible solution. This is the art of farming mainly in sheltered and or indoor environments.

This is achieved by growing plants indoors under fully controlled en vironments in many stacked layers, using artificial lighting instead of the sun. Verti cal farms can tune their growing environ ments to the exact needs of the plant.

When this is combined with soil-free growing techniques and high growing densities from their layout, ver tical farming can yield hundreds of times above that of conventional agriculture, 365 days a year without requiring pesti cides. In a perfect world this can benefit mankind, but with the “Climate Change Scam” in full effect, the question remains; is this possible in Trudeau’s Canada, and at what cost?

Human existence is at stake here. Here is the link to access CitizenGO.

www.citizengo.org/en/ideology-citizengo-foundation

TC REPORTER

Will masking remain a personal choice in Ontario?

Despite these blaring research able facts, the world has slowly begun to implement mask mandates. In Australia, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszc zuk warned that citizens should brace for a “fourth wave” by masking and taking boost er shots. Professor Adrian Esterman, Chair of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Uni versity of South Australia, echoed her call.

“The onus is now on the other states and territories to follow Queensland’s lead and upgrade their health advice, and if necessary, re-impose some public health measures, like face mask advice.”

caught in the mask and returned.

I didn’t want to rehash old reports that I have written, so I continued to dig to find out what else was being said about the issue. I came across an article by Jeffrey H. Anderson who writes about several trials conducted over the past few years, each of which found that cloth masks and surgical masks offer very little to no benefit at all.

Here comes the fun part. Some thing that I notice about our health profes sionals and government officials is that they are unable to practice what they preach, and once they get caught, they always have a valid excuse. Dr Moore is taking some heat after appearing at a public event without a mask after recommending public masking in indoor settings days earlier.

Health Emergencies Program Executive Di rector Mike Ryan (WHO)

I am sorry readers, unfortunately we are here again. I can’t even tell how many ar ticles I have written in the last three years, how many unnecessary debates I have had over this topic, and how many research studies have come out that discuss this re dundant topic. The mask debate is back in full swing and several countries have de cided to re-implement mask mandates, and at this point it is worth asking, how effective are masks really?

Let’s jump into this; first of all, sur gical masks were designed to keep medi cal personnel from inadvertently infecting patients’ wounds, not to prevent the spread of viruses. It is important that we know that public-health officials’ advice in the early days of COVID-19 was consistent with that understanding. Then, on April 3rd, 2020, CDC changed its guidance and stated that the general public should hereafter wear masks whenever sufficient social distancing could not be maintained.

After that mask mandates were implemented in almost all world countries and in most places where masks were not obligatory, their use in public spaces was recommended. These mandates and rec ommendations took place despite the fact that most randomized controlled trials car ried out before and during the COVID-19 pandemic concluded that the role of masks in preventing respiratory viral transmission was small, null, or inconclusive.

Discussions in: Germany, Spain, the UK and other places in Europe have also been underway in recent weeks about whether to re-impose mask mandates ahead of the coming winter.

I came across a profoundly impor tant study conducted by German physician Dr Zacharias Fögen to find out whether mandatory mask use influenced the COV ID-19 case fatality rate from August 1st, 2020, to October 15th, 2020. What he discovered is something that he calls the Föegen Effect. This is the idea that deep re-inhalation of droplets caught on facemasks might make COVID-19 infection more likely or more se vere.

“The fundamentals of this effect are easily demonstrated when wearing a facemask and glasses at the same time by pulling the upper edge of the mask over the lower edge of the glasses. Droplets appear on the mask when breathing out and disap pear when breathing in.”

According to Zacharias, “In the Foe gen effect, virions (because of their smaller size) bypass the bronchi and are inhaled deep into the alveoli, where they can cause pneumonia instead of bronchitis, which would be typical of a virus infection.

Furthermore, these virions bypass the multilayer squamous epithelial wall that they cannot pass into in vitro and most likely cannot pass into in vivo. Therefore, the only probable way for the virions to enter the blood vessels is through the alveoli.”

He continues to explain that wear ing masks could end up increasing your overall viral load because, instead of exhal ing virions from your respiratory tract and ridding your body of them, those virions are

In Canada, advocacy groups like Ontario School Safety and others are call ing for mask mandates children ahead of a predicted winter uptick of COVID cases, and last week, Ontario’s health minister said it’s a “personal choice” to wear a mask Tues day, one day after the province’s top doctor urged everyone to do so in all indoor spaces.

A masked Sylvia Jones defended the majority of her Progressive Conservative colleagues who did not wear masks in the legislature — including Premier Doug Ford. “Personal choice is important here, and we should not be passing judgment on people who wear a mask or not wear a mask,” she said outside the legislature while wearing a mask.

Also last week, Ontario’s top doctor “strongly recommended” Ontarians mask up once again in all indoor settings, includ ing schools and childcare centres, in an ef fort to help overwhelmed children’s hospi tals.

Dr. Kieran Moore stopped short of mandating masking but had previously said he would recommend masking in certain indoor settings if hospitals began cancelling surgeries.

“What we are facing is a triple threat,” said Dr Moore. “All three are actively circulating across Ontario in all of our com munities. This is different from COVID. This is about protecting our children. Please, par ents, grandparents, siblings, if you have re spiratory symptoms, you must mask around those that are vulnerable.”

Masking may help decrease the risk at a community level, but I’m very con cerned about protecting our children right now and it’s best that we protect them through masking in a home environment and in any social situation.”

Dr Moore said this threat (flu sea son) requires “collective action” to protect the most vulnerable in the province.

He was spotted with no mask on in a video taken at a busy indoor gathering last Thursday evening. Thursday night’s Toronto Life event was celebrating the ’50 most in fluential Torontonians,’ where Moore placed 12th. The magazine said he was influential for “keeping COVID-19 under control.” The video captured Moore watching a perfor mance with a drink in hand while next to several other attendees who were also not wearing masks.

I want to remind everyone that it was just on Monday that he had “strongly recommended” Ontarians mask indoors in an effort to help overwhelmed children’s hospitals.

In a statement sent to CityNews, the Ministry of Health said Dr Moore evalu ates the risk of each situation, including pri vate events.

“He follows many layers of protec tion, including screening daily for symptoms of any respiratory infection, practicing good hand hygiene, staying up to date on immu nizations, masking when necessary and dis tancing, when possible,” a Ministry spokes person said.

“Dr. Moore continues to encour age everyone to use their best judgment on when it’s appropriate to wear a mask, partic ularly around the most vulnerable, including young children.”

Premier Doug Ford, who appeared without along with most of his cabinet in Queen’s Park this week, downplayed the sig nificance of footage posted online, saying masking is a personal choice for the people of Ontario after enduring two-and-a-half years of a pandemic.

Well, you heard it people, it is a personal choice. I hope that we don’t see changes to this in a few weeks, but I guess we are just going to have to hold our breath.

“There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit.”

Ontario’s Universal Health System has many leaks to plug; the Health perils in Northern Ontario

STEVEN KASZAB steven@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

taken to social media sounding the alarm over many issues, particularly the staffing crisis. Talk about challenges. The district covers 400,000 square kilometres with only ten ambulance bases to cover the region.

“Sioux Lockout has the greatest staffing crisis in the region,” said Derek Hamilton of CUPE Local 5911. 911 calls have increased 54% in Ignace (Ontario) between 2018 and 2021, and these areas often are stuck with one ambulance to provide service. A lot of people quit, often due to stress or injuries. Ambulances often go between one hospital to the other try ing to find a medical facility able to accept patients. Waiting for an ambulance has be come much like a visit to the Emergency Room of a hospital, holding your breath for hours.

Patients with time sensitive emer

gencies, such as strokes, could be left with permanent damage that might have been avoidable. The sooner you get to a treat ment centre the better the outcome.

The staffing crisis also means para medics are regularly working unsustain able 16-hour shifts. Fatigued staff means there is a greater chance something avoid able could happen. Furthermore, sick staff ers are often called in to work, while ill.

The Confederation College decid ed last year to close their paramedic pro gram in three northern communities sur rounding Kenora. 12-20 recruits were hired on an annual basis from these programs, most staying within the northern commu nities. Closing of the program shortened the system’s source of: recruitment’s, fu ture EMS, paramedics and hospital staffers. Imagine what would happen if

there were a mine collapse, or mass injury event in this region. How will the medical, ambulance and EMS respond? Northern Ontario has many expanding and emerg ing industries employing thousands. What if folks? What if?

The Ontario Government pledged 1 million dollars in land-ambulance fund ing for the Kenora area. Will it arrive in time and is it enough?

Perhaps the authorities within Northern Ontario need to design a regionspecific program just for their region at tracting staff from across Canada and the USA.

Ontario’s Universal Health System has many leaks to plug, and while we wait for this to happen many Northerners and Aboriginal people are dying needlessly.

Should you be able to choose when you want to die? Simons under fire for Commercial that promotes Medical Assisted Suicide

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

It is easy to understand why euthanasia has become such a controversial topic, and why there are a multitude of organizations and people speaking for and against what could be seen as a persons right to choose.

There are people who support pa tient autonomy and choice, particularly in the case of terminal illness. To these groups and their supporters, most of whom are em pathetic as a result of agonizing personal experience, death with dignity is a human rights issue and those who are suffering are entitled to a peaceful death.

Then there is the side who are con cerned that decisions will be made by oth ers on behalf of those too ill to speak for themselves. These groups believe the job of a physician is to find ways to eliminate patients’ suffering, not the patients them selves. They do not believe a physician is qualified to make the decision to assist in ending a life.

On October 24th, 2022 Simons re leased a three-minute commercial called All Is Beauty which glorifies medical aid in dying (MAiD) - an act where doctors aid pa tients in committing suicide.

James Schadenberg and the entire CitizenGO Team have spoken out against Simons, as they feel that the video sends a message, especially to those with severe ill nesses, that dying in a hospital is “not natu ral” and that people should instead opt for euthanasia or assisted suicide, which they imply is “the most beautiful exit”.

The commercial follows a woman named Jennyfer shortly before she died from euthanasia (MAiD) last month.

It begins with a hospital room where she narrates that “Dying in a hospital is not what’s natural, it’s not what’s soft.” The words “The Most Beautiful Exit” appears on the screen, then it shows her in nature, sur rounded by community as she narrates that “It can take dying to figure out what living is all about,” and that “Even now, as I seek help to end my life, with all the pain, and in these final moments, there’s still so much beauty.”

The team at CitizenGo feels resolute that by focusing on someone who is suicidal and ac tively planning to have a doctor end her life, Simons is using their brand to promote the idea that suicide - ending your life through unnatural means - is a beautiful thing.

Simons is a huge Canadian com pany that’s been around for over 150 years, and the team at CitizenGo are disgusted that they’re trying to use their influence to change public perception on euthanasia.

“Their plan is working so far,” states James in a recent press release. “Their propa gandistic pro-euthanasia video All is Beauty already has over 1 million views!”

Meanwhile, euthanasia deaths in Canada are skyrocketing. According to Health Canada, the amount of Canadians who died from MAiD in 2021 went up 33% from the pre vious year, which represented 3.3% of all deaths in Canada.

This is all while safeguards around MAiD have increasingly been thrown out by government legislation. It appears that soon Canada will be euthanizing Canadians who solely have mental illnesses, and govern ment committees are even discussing eu thanizing minors.

“Instead of putting our resources towards helping those with severe men tal and physical illnesses to live with dig nity, Canada is often offering these people death instead,” exclaims James, “And with this commercial, it seems that Simons is on board with this philosophy.”

What do you think readers: is Si mons in the wrong for putting out this type of video? Should you be able to choose when you want to die?

The creation of the Governance and Hu man Rights Committee was announced in a press release from the Peel Regional Po lice (PRP). It was created by the Peel Police Services Board (PPSB) to replace the pres ent Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Steps have been taken by the PRP and PPSP in partnership with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) to tack le systemic anti-Black racism in policing in Peel. Sumeeta Kohli, Chair of the new Committee, stated “It will bring a renewed level of accountability in overseeing these initiatives, advancing further efforts, and directly engaging with the community at the governance level.”

The composition of the new board

includes members of the previous board and no representative from the Black com munity. This has raised concerns and pro moted many in the diverse: Black, African and Caribbean community in Peel to raise questions. In addition to Chair Sumeeta Kohli, the board consists of: Vice-Chair Ahmad Attia, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, Brampton Deputy Mayor Martin Medeiros, and Ron Chatha, Board Chair of the PPSB.

The primary objective of the Gov ernance and Human Rights Committee is to utilize a human rights approach to tackle the issue of policing governance in order to face head-on the issues, problems, and concerns of regions in: Brampton, Mis sissauga, and Caledon from a Community Safety and Well Being Perspective.

The press release notes that an independent, objective, external indi vidual will be included in the committee. The Committee will retain a third-party academic with expertise in human rights and governance to: help redefine the com mittee’s mandate, review existing Board policies from a human rights perspective, and meaningfully engage with community

members to translate lived experience to Board governance, policy, and changes in strategic priorities.

Ron Chatha, Chair of the PPSB rein forces the important role that the Commit tee will play. He states in the press release, “Taking on issues like anti-Black racism can not be done as a one-time project. Advanc ing our approach to policing and regaining community trust is an on-going process. Through the new Governance and Human Rights Committee, the Peel Police Board hopes to transition from piecemeal proj ects to a multi-year strategy for systemic change.”

Alexandra Shimo (The Missis sauga News) on Thursday, November 10th reached out to members of Peel’s Black community to get their feedback on the lack of Black representation on the new committee. David Bosveld states, “The problem is that the new committee is made of old members. There is no repre sentation of Black communities. It takes a lot more than a committee to solve these issues, regardless of the name.”

Sophia Jackson who works with the PDSB as a child and youth counsellor

states, ”There is a conflict there. It’s a con flict of interest that doesn’t clear the way for community members and progressive, for ward thinking individuals who are vested in the status quo.” She is concerned about who will bring that human rights perspec tive. She states further, “When we’re talking about an academic, who is that going to be?” What other members are going to be part of the committee? Are we looking at bringing in individuals from the Black com munity that are well versed and will speak with advocacy for the community?”

Andria Barrett, entrepreneur in Brampton states, “It’s nice to see things evolving. We need to improve the reputa tion that (Peel and the Black community) has. We can’t be stagnant and we can’t continue to do things the way we’ve always been doing things.”

Robert Serpe wrote an email in response to the lack of Black community members. He notes, “This is a board com mittee, and as such, committee member ship is made up of police services board members.”

Glorilla receives first Grammy Nomination, Muni Long achieves a milestone Grammy Nomination and Canadians take over the Grammys

plays of Affection: The Album, on Septem ber 23rd, 2022.

sydnee@carib101.com

The nominees for the biggest music award show have been announced.

On November 15th, the nomina tions for the 65th Grammy Awards were announced. The list of nominees includes some familiar names and some new names.

2022 has been the year for rapper Glorilla as she received her first Grammy nomination as her breakout single, F.N.F (Let’s Go), has been nominated for Best Rap Performance.

The rapper took to Twitter to share the exciting news in the following tweet:

Glorilla’s milestone Grammy nomi nation comes just a few days after the release of her debut EP, Anyways, Life’s Great…

Although she has been in the mu sic industry for over 10 years as a songwriter, and has already received a nomination last year for her work on H.E.R’s album, Back of My Mind, Muni Long received her first three Grammy nominations as a singer.

Long received a nomination for Best New Artist, and two nominations for her hit single, Hrs and Hrs, in two R&B cat egories for Best Performance and Best Song.

The song, Hrs and Hrs, became her breakthrough single, was placed at number 83 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart, and has be come widely popular on TikTok.

Under her current stage name, Long released her debut album, Public Dis

The album includes her smash hit along with seven songs from her: the 2021 EP, Public Displays of Affection, five songs from her 2022 EP, Public Displays of Affec tion Too, and five new original songs.

Before achieving success as a sing er, Long achieved success as a songwriter as she wrote popular hit songs such as: Califor nia King Bed by Rihanna, Don’t Wake Me Up by Chris Brown, Imagine by Ariana Grande, Timber by Pitbull ft. Ke$ha, and countless other hits for many popular artists.

Next year’s award show has a long list of Canadian nominations.

Canadian music engineer Serban Ghenea has won a total of 19 Grammys dur ing his career in the music industry, and he could receive his 20th, or even more than that at the upcoming award show.

Ghenea, who has received five nominations, has received a nomination for Record of the Year for his work on Mary

J. Blige’s Good Morning Gorgeous, and Al bum of the Year for his work on the deluxe version of Blidge’s album, Adele’s 30, and Lizzo’s Special.

Producer Boi-1da has received four nominations. These include two nomina tions in the Album of the Year category for Beyonce’s Renaissance, and Kendrick La mar’s Mr. Morale & The Big.

Kaytranada, who won two awards at last year’s ceremony, has been nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Recording for his song Intimidated featuring H.E.R.

Despite boycotting the Grammys and not submitting his work, Drake holds two nominations in the Best Rap Song cat egory for his appearances on Churchill Downs by Jack Harlow and the Canadian rapper and Wait For U by Future and also featuring Tems.

The annual award show is set to premiere on Sunday, February 5th, 2023 and is set to be hosted by comedian Trevor Noah.

simone@carib101.com

You noticed last week that you, and other people at work, were making a lot of mis takes, more than usual. You also noticed that you might have felt distracted and at times less productive. Everything that your hus band/wife said to you last week seemed to irritate you, and those little buggers (your children) were on your last nerves. Another interesting thing you noted was the fact that there were frequent car accidents on the road, even more than usual driving on the streets in Toronto.

Are these a coincidence?

Nope! Our bodies are telling us something. Changing the clocks in your house is easy.

Changing your biological clock is not as easy. Just like a cell phone that sets its clock to a signal from the phone company, your internal clock synchronizes to signals in the environment. Our body’s strongest sig nal is light: sunlight and artificial light.

This is why sleep experts and other scientists are calling for the end of daylight saving time (DST), saying clocks should be forever set on standard time — as happens in Hawaii, most of Arizona, and the U.S. ter ritories. That would provide more hours of morning daylight, for adults and kids alike, thereby more properly setting the body’s circadian system.

I recently read an article by Robert Roy Britt, Author of “Make Sleep Your Super power: A Guide to Greater Health, Happiness & Productivity,” and I learned a few things that I did not know about time change. The biannual time changes trace back to World War I. It was aimed at saving fuel and length ening the work day, but ironically research suggests the changes don’t have that same effect anymore.

Research now shows that our in ternal clock is better aligned with the sun clock when we are under Standard Time. This is particularly pronounced in the winter. Switching permanently to Standard Time would mean people wake up in the dark, before sunrise, much less often than with the current time-change scheme or with a switch to permanent DST. Standard Time provides a better opportunity to get the right duration of high-quality, restful sleep on a regular basis, which in turn improves our cognition, mood, cardiovascular health, and overall well-being.

When your natural body clock is in sync with the sun, it suppresses production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin in the morning to help make you alert dur ing the day, and then primes the release of melatonin as darkness sets in each evening.

So, just how much outdoor time is needed to get your body clock in order? There are no set instructions for how much outdoor daylight you need, but some ex perts recommend at least two hours, if you can get it.

We have always seen setting the clocks back an hour as an opportunity to grab some extra shut-eye, sure, but payback comes with the next jump forward. What we find when you spring forward is an annual spike in car crashes and heart attacks.

The Sleep Care Foundation offered some great tips to help deal with the shift until they decide whether to keep it or scrap it:

In the days and weeks leading up to time changes, you can prepare yourself for the adjustment by taking the following precautions:

Learn and practice good sleep hygiene

This includes refraining from drinking alco hol before bed and avoiding heavy dinners and snacks right before bedtime.

Establish a consistent sleep routine This means going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, and yes, this in cludes the weekends.

Prepare for the change

Two to three days before the transition between Standard Time and DST in early March, sleep experts recommend waking up 15-20 minutes earlier than usual. Then, on the Saturday before the time change, set your alarm clock back by an additional 15-20 minutes. Adjusting your wake-up time can help the body make a smoother transition when the time change occurs.

Spend more time outdoors

Natural light is a driving force behind our body clock; spending time outside during the day also suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone released in the eve ning to help you feel tired and ready for bed.

Take naps

You can find relief by taking short naps dur ing the day, but these naps should not ex ceed 20 minutes in length.

No caffeine close to bedtime

Studies have found caffeine consumed within six hours of bedtime can disrupt your sleep cycle.

“The same song they were clowning me & my friends about saying we were Ugly & Dusty just got nominated for a Grammy!!!!!!!!! WHEN GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE YOU CANNOT FAIL.”

Changing the clocks in your house is easy; Changing your biological clock is not as easy

SIMONE SMITH

TC REPORTER

“Last week our owner and I found out that one of our team members unfortunately and tragically lost his son to RSV,” said Ellen Bloom of Offshore Spars.

This dismal report came out the week of November 8th, 2022. A Metro Detroit company worked to support a family who lost their child to RSV. The 6-year-old from Macomb County recently died from a com mon respiratory illness, which is surging in Michigan.

Readers; stay alert! We are witness ing an unprecedented explosion of Respira tory Syncytial Virus (RSV) all over the United States right now, and it is making its way over here. RSV is the leading cause of both bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children un der the age of one in this country, and glob ally we normally see somewhere between 100,000 and 200,000 babies die from the vi rus each year.

For some reason this year RSV is spreading like wildfire and hospitals are rap idly filling up. According to the U.S. Depart ment of Health and Human Services, 77% of all paediatric hospital beds in the U.S. are currently occupied. That is an extremely high figure.

Normally, RSV kills approximately 14,000 adults over the age of 65 in the United States each year, but that number could po tentially be far higher this year, because so many people have compromised immune systems; some scientists have tied this to the injections and boosters that were touted to our global citizens. Yes, you know that in jection they made you take for one strain of coronavirus; the one that will not help with any of the other ones. I am going to pause for dramatic effect right now… Moving on.

Normally, about one out of every 50 infants in the U.S. would catch RSV during the first year of life, but it appears that number could be far higher this time around.

Why does this virus hit infants particularly hard?

Babies are born with the tiniest of airways. Vi ruses like RSV inflame those airways, making it difficult to breathe. The smaller the airway, the less inflammation it takes to close it off

It is probably why there are reports that capacity at paediatric hospitals across Michigan is strained as a record number of severely ill children with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, flood emergency rooms and fill hospital beds.

“There is not a hospital in Michigan that takes care of paediatric patients that has not told us that they are feeling stress right now, immense stress,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasar ian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, told the Free Press .

Officials in Michigan are even saying that they have never seen anything like this before.

In fact, one official is publicly admit ting that her hospital is now “100% full” be cause the RSV outbreak in her local area has become so severe…

“We have never seen a surge in pae diatric respiratory viruses like this before,” said Luanne Thomas Ewald, Chief Operating

syncytial virus

Officer at Mott and Von Voigtlander Wom en’s Hospital, in a statement. “Our hospital is 100% full.”

This spread is not only happening in Michigan; RSV is overwhelming other states as well, for example, just check out what is going on in Colorado…

The number of children being hos pitalized in Colorado with viruses like the flu and RSV is unprecedented as the season for respiratory illnesses gets underway earlier than usual and more severe.

“It’s nothing like we’ve seen before,” said Dr. Kevin Carney, associate chief medical officer with Children’s Hospital Colorado.

When Colorado health officials re cently held a briefing for members of the press, they showed them a graph of RSV cases that were “Going up almost vertically.” What a tragedy.

If there is a major RSV outbreak in your area, you will want to closely monitor members of your family that fall into either of those two groups.

Unfortunately, it won’t be too long before the rates in Canada are on the rise, and it does make me wonder; why is this happen ing? What could possibly be the cause? I have some suspicions, but we will follow up on this story and continue to keep you posted with factual, scientific updates. The numbers will never lie.

PAUL JUNOR

TC REPORTER

The York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) is one of the largest in the GTA. Serving the municipality of York, with about 50,000 students, it has students attending its schools from all over York Region. The re cent release of the Education Quality and Ac countability Office (EQAO) and Ontario Sec ondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) results for 2021-2022 have elicited diverse respons es from varied education stakeholders. The EQAO assessment test which is administered to students in grades: three, six, and nine had

mixed results that drew the attention of Edu cation Minister, Stephen Leece.

The YCDSB released a press release on Thursday, November 3rd, 2022 in which it provided details about the performance of its students in the 2022 EQAO and OS SLT. Domenic Scuglia, Director of Education for the YCDSB states, “We are very proud of our students and staff for the high level of achievement they consistently demonstrate throughout the year. We are pleased that students at York Catholic performed well on the assessments, yet we know that there is more work to be done, especially in math ematics.”

Elizabeth Crowe, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the YCDSB states, “Thank you to all YCDSB: staff, students, and parents for taking a faith-filled and values-driven ap proach to their ongoing commitment to student success. EQAO scores provide one aspect of the overall assessment of our stu dents that assists us in developing our board and school improvement plans.”

An examination of the YCDSB and provincial averages for all the areas of testing in: reading, writing and math shows that the performance of the students was significant ly higher than the provincial averages. The best performance of the students was seen in those who wrote the grades: six reading and writing assessments with 91/% and 93% attaining the provincial standard, compared to 85% and 84% for the provincial average.

With respect to grade three read ing and writing, 82% and 78% were able to attain the provincial standards, compared to 73% and 65% for the provincial average. These results revealed that YCDSB’s stu dents’ literacy skills are still well-developed, and this is a significant improvement con sidering that some students participated in class online and did not have the benefits of in-person support and help.

With respect to the grade three, six, and nine EQAO result data shows that the percentage of students who achieved the provincial standards was significantly higher

than the provincial averages. It is important to note that the students who participated in EQAO were those who attended classes in-person. Students who were enrolled in remote learning did not participate in the EQAO unless they made the choice to attend in-person.

It is important that the 2021-2022 EQAO assessments are interpreted within the context of factors that made these re sults unique. There are many contextual dif ferences that make a comparison between these results and previous years’ results complex. This has been largely due to the effect of adjusting to COVID-19 pandemic planning.

For additional information about the 2022 EQAO and OSSLT results, as well as the results of individual schools, parents or caregivers can check the EQAO’s website.

Stay in touch with York Catholic Dis trict School Board, and remain up to date on all things pertinent to your young learners.

STEVEN KASZAB

steven@carib101.com

Please read on. This art presenta tion celebrates these unique individuals and the lives they led.

The Iranian American filmmaker Mohammed Gorjestani’s digital projects present these individuals, and their family members in an interactive and emotional manner. Birthday messages from their fam ily and friends may create an emotional tidal wave, and why not?

Mario Woods, Tony Robinson, Sean Monterrosa, Donovan Lynch, Xzavier Hall, Eric Garner, Oscar Grant, Fred Cox, George Floyd, Stephon Clark, Sandra Bland and many more. Not just names, or pictures picked by their families appear. They are pre sented as celebrants and never victims.

This is about who these people

were and honouring them while bringing to light that they really were. You may learn about how to deal with family trauma, grief and even mental illness under the lens of people of colour. Yes, these people are in deed victims of our society’s prejudices, but this presentation is about so much more. Can we become better, smarter and more loving people?

A large part of this exhibit is con centrating on how to heal. The exhibition welcomes all, and one can find police offi cers intermingling with the crowd, often in an emotional way. Some of the celebrant’s shooters have in fact visited this exhibition. Healing of all involved is intended and en couraged. A place where celebrities and working folk walk the passageways in: si

lence, contemplation, or joyful laughter.

High tech imagery beside screens of: simple but powerful texts, emails and photos. You see the struggles the families of the celebrants are experiencing, while they seek justice for their loved ones.

As Anais Nin wrote, “Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we do not know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness, errors and betrayals. It dies of illnesses and wounds. It dies of weariness, of withering and tarnishing.”

If we learn anything about such a celebratory exhibition, it is that death has many faces, and the love these people expe rienced in their lives can and does live on.

paul@carib101.com

From amateur

United Boxing Promotions continued support of Amateur Boxing Programs

• Sara Haghighat-ioo vs. Naveli Verde –Win by Unanimous Decision

• Mehdi Abidi vs Roddy Rene – Win by Unanimous Decision

• Ryan Young vs. Tsetsi Davis – Win by Unanimous Decision

• Helmand Alekozai vs. Dylan Rushton – Split Decision

States. The top prize was a silver butter dish.

V was for Victory on Saturday November 12th, 2022, when the greatest of Canadi an Boxing talent was highlighted again at the United Promotions’ last boxing night of the year. Hundreds of people flocked the CAA Centre located in Brampton, to cheer on the hometown heroes, and the boxers did not let their fans down.

Broadcasting LIVE on DAZN, box ing fans across North America witnessed the evolution of boxing in Canada, as we were all entertained with eight bouts of action-packed battles between some of the very best in all weight classes.

Naturally, the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had to show up to take in the night’s festivities, especially because one of our Classic Men Shakeel Phin was head lining the main event. Yes, Shakeel won his match by unanimous decision, and our other Canadian fighters represented to the fullest. Here is a quick run down of the scorecards for those who could not attend:

• Josh Wagner vs. Yaser Yueksei – TKO, at 2:05 in the 3rd Round

• Joshua Frazer vs. J. Canales – Win by Unanimous Decision

• Josh O’Reilly vs. Jorge Amaya – TKO, at 2:07 in the 3rd Round

United Promotions once again pulled off an over the top event, but there was one fight that caught my eye; it was the women’s fight between Sara Haghighatioo vs. Naveli Verde. To be honest, it was the best fight of the night. It is common to see women fighters in the ring now, but not too long ago, women had to fight to have their time in the ring.

The early 1700’s had raw British female fighters like Elizabeth Wilkinson boxing other women (and even men) in bare-chested, bare-knuckle style brawls. There were no “rounds,” weight classes, or low blows. Actually, there were no rules at all. Women engaged in bloody prize fights, mixed pair boxing, and even matches involving cudgels or small swords. Imagine that!

In the United States, there are stories that say the first women’s world championship match occurred in 1888 in New York. Fighters Hattie Leslie and Alice Leary endured a brutal fight that ended in black eyes. They also endured limitless disdain and ridicule from the press. The New York Herald vilified and objectified the boxers in the coverage of the event. There are other stories that say the first woman’s fight was held at New York Hills Theatre between Nell Saunders and Rose Harland. To some this is considered the first female boxing match in the United

Not long after, women’s boxing did appear at the 1904 Olympic games in St. Louis — but only as a demonstration bout. Women fighters battled for equality in the sport for years. It wasn’t until 1975 that Caroline Svendsen became the first woman to receive a boxing license in the United States. Female boxing continued to evolve until 2012 when women’s box ing made its debut as an Olympic event for the first time since the games began.

Now, here I was, watching one of the most acclaimed female boxers slowly pick her opponent apart, until finally her hand was raised. Boxing fans understand the concept behind matchmaking: put together a competitive, entertaining fight that means something to the fans and the careers of the fighters. Not much is said about the scouting that comes before the matchmaking. It is not so glamorous, and it’s something that’s often overlooked. I had a chance to sit down with Tyler Bux ton, half of the United Boxing Promotions Management team, and I was curious about how they picked their fighters, Sara more specifically, but in general.

“There are multiple levels to this,” Tyler shares with me. “I look at their ama teur experience and international fights. I see their commitment to the sport, and how they carry themselves. I also take note of how they represent themselves, how large is their following, and the root of their fan base?

One of our primary goals is to help great amateur fighters turn pro fessional in the province of Ontario. We have established ourselves as a premier promotional company that is recognized

world wide in the sport of boxing. Over the last couple of years, we have seen the difference that we have made in Ontario, and it is our goal to continue the growth of the sport by providing assistance to other start up promotional companies, and to continue to support amateur box ing programs.

“Let’s take Sara Haghighat-joo,” Tyler continued. “She has 12 years of box ing under her belt, she has been compet ing internationally for six years, has had 125 fights, and 107 wins, she is 3x Cana dian Champion, 2x Irish Champion, the 2022 African Continental Champion, and she is currently competing for Sierra Le one. That is a boxer we can stand behind.”

“Having Sara as part of the United Promotions team was a no brainer,” Tyler tells me. “She has an immense resume, and I have known her husband for a very long time. She has a champion spirit, and that is what we are all about.”

During my talk with Tyler, he shared some news that will make boxing fans in Toronto giddy. They just signed a new deal with Pickering Casino, some thing Tyler says the team has been work ing on for nine years. Construction of the Casino got delayed thanks to the CO VID-19 pandemic, but guess what folks? They are going to be starting the New Year off with a BANG! January 28th, 2023, Pickering Casino Resorts will host United Boxing Promotions fight night. They are kicking up the entertainment and giving it to us Vegas style.

“Women love going to the fights, and people love going to the casino,” Ty ler shares to conclude our talk. “It is going to have a whole new vibe.” I can hardly wait!

Muslims for Remembrance honours National Indigenous Veterans Day in Brampton

There were representatives from: the City of Brampton, City Councillor Paul Keenan and Paul Descente, regional councillor, Michael Palacey, Fire Chief, Bill Brye, Peel Regional Police officers and representa tives from the legions, as well as commu nity members in attendance.

On Sunday, November 6th, 2022, Muslims for Remembrance commemorated the National Indigenous Veterans Day at the Mubarek Mosque in Brampton. The Ah madiyya Muslim Jama’at hosted it. The are an international Islamic organization. This specific Muslim community does a lot of charity work, and feeding the poor.

The day focused on members of the Indigenous community and South Asian community who served for Canada during the World War I and II in Europe.

An Indigenous representative, Kim Wheatly performed the smudging ceremony. She stated, “I am here to me morialize all the Indigenous veterans who left far too soon, who fought for this county, and who definitely made an im pact within our communities.”

She stated later, “In our communi ties over 4,000 veterans served in the first and second world war and some of them were the most highly awarded recipients in Canada, including Frances Pecama and Shrady Prince. If these are new names to your ears, do a little bit of research. They were remarkable. Through their ingenu ity and unique way of navigating how to protect these lands and the lands of our homes.”

She stated further, “I acknowl edge the Muslims and the Muslim com munity for taking this time. This is such a beautiful moment of bringing two very diverse and yet very alike communities together in remembrance.”

Sonia Sidhu, MP for Brampton South told Sanja TV in an interview, “This event is especially important for Canadi ans. I really want to commend their ser vices especially Indigenous South Asian Community. It is so important that we take the time to reflect on the diversity of the armed forces and remember those who fought and died for the country. So today is a special day. We’re commending your services. Thank you, so much every one.”

Newly re-elected Brampton’s Mayor Patrick Brown spoke at the event. He stated, “When I was thinking about this event, it occurred to me that part of the Ahmadiyya’s journey to Canada has been religious freedom and a look at the sacri

fice of our veterans and those who have served. It is those foundational values that have been at the core of that sacrifice. We have those that served in the second World War and we looked at anti-semi tism and the persecution based on faith that occurred during the Nazi regime.

You know those universal human values for religious freedom are so im portant and the fact that we get to enjoy those freedoms in Canada. Those foun dational principles of democracy are be cause of the sacrifice of our veterans and so it’s very appropriate that we pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate price, and the ultimate sacrifice for the foundational values we believe in.

Remember, this day is an oppor tunity to offer appreciation not only for those that serve our country, but those who continue to serve our country, so I wanted to pay our respects and admira tion on behalf of the City of Brampton.”

PAUL JUNOR

Caribbean leaders at the helm of 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference

goal of the Paris summit, which hopes to limit the increase in global average tem perature to 1.5 C.

TC REPORTER

The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, otherwise known as COP27 was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from November 6th–18th, 2022. There were over 33,000 people from more than 400 states or organizations who were part of this an nual event. There were leaders from: 200 countries present, policymakers, politi cians, scientists, academics and climate

There have been concerns about what is happening to Caribbean nations as many are on the verge of sinking. It was reported that Caribbean nations have emerged as innovators in climate change this year, getting more direct in calls for compensation.

Barbados announced a plan in September to restructure some of its debt in a way that will help pay for conserving the ocean. These bold appeals to secure increased climate finance for some of the most vulnerable counties rely on an unde niable fact: small-island nations bear virtu ally no responsibility for the planet-warm ing pollution that’s intensifying storms and pushing up the seas.

In her opening speech, Mia Mot tley, Prime Minister of Barbados, pushed heads-of-government to formulate con

crete actions in order to ensure that they are making a difference in combatting cli mate change. She mentioned that the CO VID-19 vaccine was developed within two years of the global pandemic and a global effort by nation-states can result in actions.

Mottley is concerned about the power that the global north wields over the global south through its exploitation of global industrial strategy. She mentioned that interest rates are offered to those in the global north at one to 4%, while those in the global south are charged up to 14%. She is convinced that a climate mitigation trust can release $5 trillion dollars of pri vate sector savings if governments are able to exercise the power to use the SDRs (Spe cial Drawing Rights). SDR was created by the IMF in1969 to increase member coun tries’ official reserves.

Furthermore, Mottley believes it is important that the issue of “Loss and Dam age” be addressed. With respect to climate

change, this would ensure that actions are taken to avoid, reduce and deal with its ef fects. She believes that for it to be effective, it is necessary to go beyond Heads-of-State in order to ensure correct action is done.

Phillip Davis, Prime Minister of the Bahamas states, “What I am looking for ward to, first of all, is an acknowledgment that the industrialized world that became wealthy as they are today was a direct re sult of fossil fuels and coal.” The Bahamas is interested in selling “blue carbon credits.” This is linked to the ocean and it would en sure that coastal ecosystems, such as sea grass store carbon dioxide. Davis states, “Our seagrass, our mangroves, coral-we have become one of the largest carbon sinks of the world. We think it’s time for us to be paid for it.”

There is much hope that Nation ally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national plans will be formalized at COP27.

The incidence of prostate cancer has been a major concern among health experts and health officials in the health care system. Thanks to the work of Dr. Aisha Lofters and The Walnut Foundation for pushing the issue of prostate cancer to the forefront of medical attention.

Dr. Lofters was part of a groundbreaking study that made it to the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Open. The Walnut Foundations’ mission is to be the leader in Men’s Health Support that empow ers men to be responsible for their health. They are known by the Quality of Informa tion and Best Practices they demonstrate and

powerful expression of love for all communi ties.

Question: Should Indigenous chil dren that go up for adoption only be placed in Indigenous homes? Or is it okay to sepa rate them from their culture, traditions and religion?

For many Indigenous, removing children from their tribes and communities is unethical, robbing them of their Indigenous culture and faith practices. There are nonnatives who believe placement of children should be based upon a household that pro vides best care, even if it is not a native envi ronment.

The US Supreme court is deciding upon the age-old Child Welfare Act (ICWA), which holds that should a child that lands in foster care is eligible for Indigenous mem bership, the child should be adopted by an Indigenous family whenever possible. The ICWA was enacted in 1978, after years of tribes complaining that White families were

plucking children out of Indigenous commu nities for adoption. Governmental agencies viewed being White Christian’s as perfect parents, while Indigenous families living in poverty, as bad alternatives.

Is this all about race, or is it about continuing the centuries long cultural genocide?

This issue is found in all nations where Indig enous peoples live: New Zealand, Australia, the Caribbean, Africa and beyond. Race is an identifier, but history and socio-cultural aspects rule the day. If one family lives finan cially depressed, while another is more pros perous, offering the child greater advantages in the present and future, is how a decision of adoption is made. If one bases it on race, is it right to send a child into an environment of poverty and uncertainty?

It is unfortunate, but the same system that makes this crucial decision has also been re sponsible for the degradation of Indigenous

communities and families who live in eco nomically depressed regions.

Presently, Indigenous communities have developed, improving their lifestyle and economic status, but poverty and a need for a safe environment still begs the question; is it better for an adoptive parent to achieve their dream of adopting a child simply based upon their ability to care for, love and benefit the child?

Does race have a place in this process?

The decision to adopt, and the clear abil ity, determination and purpose of adoption need to be questioned. It is far too easy to be come a parent. Should being a nurturing, lov ing and positive role model for a child be the only queue in decision-making? Many who have grown to adulthood have searched out their birth parents and investigated their cul ture and history. Perhaps a child needs only love and care by someone capable of offer ing it.

share.

They empower males with the in formation they share. They were founded in 2007 by Dr.Winston Isasc who was honoured with a bench at Loafer’s Lake Recreation Cen tre in Brampton on Saturday, July 16th, 2022.

The seven key messages The Walnut Foundation feels are pivotal to men’s health are:

• Know your family history: especially for diabetes, high blood pressure, prostate cancer

• Get screened early: the key to early treat ment

• Get to know your doctor: develop a good relationship with a family doctor and follow advice

• Know your numbers: keep track of blood pressure, blood sugar, and PSA levels

• Participate in research: join research studies and clinical trials

• Join a men’s health group: partake and share in a community of like-minded people

• Donate: make a difference today in search of better cures

Details about this important study titled, “Prostate cancer incidence among immigrant men in Ontario, Canada: a population-based retrospective cohort study,” was released by Strategic Communications of Women’s Col lege Hospital on November 1st. It was led by Dr. Aisha Lofters, family physician, scientist, and Chair in Implementation Science at the Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancer lo cated at Women’s College Hospital (WCH).

The study revealed that immigrants from the Caribbean and West Africa had high er incidences of prostate cancer compared to immigrants from other places as well as long-term residents in Ontario. Men had a 171% and 90% higher chance of developing prostate cancer while men from South Asia had lower incidence compared to other men. Dr. Lofters states, “Prostate cancer is com mon worldwide, but its patterns are different in different countries and parts of the world. Prostate cancer is not a death sentence and can be caught early if we’re vigilant. Identify ing men who may be at higher risk helps us all to be alert and bear this diagnosis in mind when symptoms occur, or to be especially

vigilant if a man has a family history of pros tate cancer, for example.”

I interviewed Kenneth Noel, Presi dent of the Walnut Foundation who is also a prostate cancer survivor and certified peer support navigator on the benefits of this vital study. He mentioned that the lack of racebased data is a challenge in ensuring that the issue of prostate cancer among Black men re ceived priority from the health -care system.

He states that this is the first Ca nadian study that shows that Black men are impacted differently and require a higher standard of care with respect to how they are treated. There is a need for: increased aware ness about the magnitude of the problem, more dialogue between healthcare provid ers, better support and equitable prostate cancer screening. Noel emphasizes that the benefit of this study is its potential to bring awareness. He notes, “We can then use this data to raise awareness among the commu nity who would encourage their Black pa tients to get tested early, especially if there’s a family history of prostate cancer.”

Should Indigenous children that go up for adoption only be placed in Indigenous homes?

New study finds higher prostate cancer risk among immigrant men from Caribbean

Why

MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com TC REPORTER

Caregivers in Canada are at a breaking point because more than 7.8 million Canadians provide about 5.7 billion unpaid hours of care (4.2% of GDP) to a family member or friend each year. It’s an honourable act but mired by dangerous gaps in the: health, social services, and disability systems.

A paper recently released by the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE) called, “Giving Care: An Approach to a Better Caregiving Landscape in Canada” de scribes in candid terms the economic, physi cal, and psychological impacts that care has on family caregivers, as well as care provid ers and admonishes all levels of government to put caregiving at the top of the political agency.

This report is the first in a series of actions planned by the CCCE to rally support for a countrywide caregiver plan that pushes for meaningful and immediate changes.

Let’s have a look at who the CCCE is and what this group stands for.

The Canadian Centre for Caregiv ing Excellence is a new initiative incubated and powered by the Azrieli Foundation. The Foundation has long supported innovative initiatives to improve access to quality care. Following a period of building networks and convening stakeholders, the Centre will be come a stand-alone organization.

On their website part of the logo states. “An approach to a better caregiving landscape in Canada.”

Here is a recent quote from a care giver, “My time as a caregiver was the most rewarding and harrowing experience of my life. The deep and intimate care I was able to give my father was so important, but I spent so much time and money trying to get the help that it just wasn’t available. I took hits financially and to my health. Sometimes I felt lost and completely disconnected. It’s hard when you can’t see over the horizon. I know we can do better for caregivers.” ~ Caregiver Lethbridge, Alberta, 2022

It can be very easy to dismiss a care giver as just someone who looks after a fam ily member or friend, but this introduction and definition from the CCCE’s website seem to have nailed it.

Let’s look at what caregiving is. “Caregiving is both a rewarding and chal

lenging experience for caregivers and care providers. It is carried out by people of all ages, races, and genders, though dispropor tionately by racialized women.”

“It is providing help to someone who needs it, it can be fulfilling and brings people closer together. This can be especially true when caregivers and care providers offer emotional support to care recipients.”

“Caregiving takes time and effort. Performing such tasks as: changing clothes, providing transportation, managing care networks, and preparing food can be men tally and physically exhausting. The conse quences of caregiving, including financial and emotional stress, are often associated with a lack of support.”

“To properly support caregivers and care providers, public policy needs to consid er caregivers and care providers as relevant partners in health and social services. This will require more than just a shift in perspec tive; it will require bold public policy solu tions to address the problems facing caregiv ers and care providers.” These are just some definitions taken from the CCCE’s website.

According to the CCCE’ 59% of care givers report needing to take breaks from their responsibilities, and many others report feeling lonely or isolated.

Caregivers who are aiding others can’t spend that energy elsewhere. This does not just affect caregivers, but also the person

they are caring for as well.

In Canada, the average caregiver reported spending $5,800 each year on carerelated expenses, and 20% of caregivers in Ontario reported taking out a loan or line of credit to pay for caregiving expenses in 2020.

This is just a starting point, caregiv ing also includes out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel, household-related expenses, or home modifications.

Things in the UK are not much dif ferent for caregivers where 39% of caregivers were struggling to make ends meet in 2019.

Here are some of the cracks in the caregiv ing wall here in Canada:

• Services for caregivers and care recipi ents are insufficient, fragmented, and difficult to access

• Financial supports are insufficient and ineffectively designed

• The care provider workforce is in crisis

• Support for caregivers does not meet their current and future needs

• Leaves and protections for employed caregivers are inadequate

In conclusion, according to the CCCE, “Cana da lacks a comprehensive approach to care giving.”

W. GIFFORDJONES MD

DIANA GIFFORD-JONES

TC HEALTH REPORTER

Wandering poorly prepared into a discussion about video games is ill advised. Yet, people who don’t play video games commonly ar gue that long hours spent focused on digital playthings, especially by children, rot their brains. It is an uninformed point of view.

There are plentiful misconceptions about video games. That label itself is outdated. Video games have evolved in many

bedrooms or basements playing games end lessly?”

Recent research, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests the kids will be fine. The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Devel opment (ABCD) Study is a long-term study inviting 11,880 children ages 9-10 and their families across 21 locations in the U.S. to par ticipate in research that tracks their biologi cal and behavioural development through adolescence into young adulthood.

The new findings involving nearly 2,000 of these children indicate that those who reported playing video games for three or more hours per day performed better on cognitive skills tests involving impulse con trol and working memory compared to chil dren who had never played video games.

Should these kids adhere to the long-standing Gifford-Jones advice of prac ticing “All things in moderation?”

The ABCD Study is ongoing and will help answer this question in the years ahead as these children mature into young adults, but the evidence to date suggests there are ample benefits to video games among the young and old alike.

Students gain expertise in subjects like history, literature, religion, mathematics, and science through games without know ing they are learning. They also gain skills in strategy, creative thinking, problem solving, eye-hand coordination, and of course, con centration.

Games also provide opportunities to learn about topics such as cooking, poli tics, agriculture, and city planning that peo ple may not have been exposed to in school. Many games can help people become more physically active, not less. From simple and fun games that get people up from the couch to dance, to virtual reality games that demand physical prowess and stamina from participants, there are opportunities for us ing games to get exercise.

Studies have shown that people who play more games report better mental health. Critics overlook the social elements of the games people play, and it is these game features that involve team play and social networks, which participants report as the drivers of better wellbeing.

Online games played an important role in helping friends and families stay con

nected during the COVID-19 pandemic, so cializing together while keeping a distance.

There are concerns too. It’s hard to find humanity in violent video games. The connection between games that offer re wards for repeated accomplishment of goals and the development of addiction behav iours is still hotly debated. The gaming in dustry has struggled with how it has handled gender and race.

Julius Caesar said, “Experience is the teacher of all things.”

Malcolm Gladwell, in his book Outli ers, suggested it takes 10,000 hours of inten sive practice to achieve mastery of a skill.

The children in the ABCD Study per forming better on cognitive tests are playing at least three hours of games a day. That is just over 1,000 hours a year.

According to people who try to measure these things, it takes about 700 hours of learning to be an expert in yoga and about 42,240 hours to be an expert in neuro surgery.

Those 1,000 hours of video games do not seem so bad in light of it all.

Mass exodus from Haiti has begun and will not halt anytime soon

been able to escape its exhaustion caused by continual natural and climatic disasters over the years. Unable to nationally and economi cally heal, Haiti had looked to the world for help, realizing that assistance from outsiders has a cost. Haiti’s natural resources and pro duction fall into that category.

The population reeled at the as sassination of Haiti’s President one year ago. There is no well-established government to name or rely upon. The gangs of Haiti are many, allied to certain governmental and po litical parties, these gangs are fighting over gas stations, production facilities of anything energy focused, all in an effort to gain control and profit from Haiti’s on-going bad luck.

There are 51 gangs in Haiti, some solely independent, others allied or con

trolled by various political identities all vying for regional and national political power. The days of Duvalier may have well returned.

Tyranny has a sound history here, and many Haitians seem to be willing to lose their democratic franchise in order to be able to live in a somewhat peaceful community. Haiti’s dependence upon the various energy sources placed their democracy in peril. The power grid collapses often, and most of the island’s thermal generating plants rely upon imported fuel. Gangs have forced duties upon all items entering the island, even the fuel coming from charities and friendly na tions.

Food goes bad and is now scarce. Power outages have many effects upon the Haitian people. Factories, grocers, homes are

shut down, food supplies are lost, the very se curity of the community is placed in jeopardy as the limited staff of police, emergency ser vices are worn thin. The gangs rule the night, and their influence is felt during the day.

The gangs declared what they want ed. The President of Haiti to resign, but he is not willing to do so. So, criminality, uncer tainty and multiple violent acts are inflicted upon ordinary Haitians. All this while, Haitian gangs sell fuel at $10.00 a litre, and the police are not able to express their authority with out suffering and inflicting mass killings.

Fuel has been the heart of this conflict even before the blockades began. Haitians struggle to live in a land that seems ready to expel them. Mass exodus from Haiti has begun and will not halt any time soon.

“Canada lacks a Comprehensive Approach to Caregiving.”

caregiving has become both a rewarding and challenging experience

The evidence to date suggests there are ample benefits to video games; yes parents. we said it!

Caffeine: the more you consume the greater the effect it has on you

consuming Coca Cola or Pepsi as an al ternative to coffee

The average American spends $1,098.00 a year on coffee

Two out of three Canadians have a daily coffee beverage, with some stats claim ing 75% of Canadians enjoy a cup of daily coffee

The height of consumption of caffeine products 1.Brazil 2. America 3 Canada 4 Japan 5. Australia

Caffeine affects your body responses, often making it difficult to sleep, sit still, or concen trate well. It gets worse as you age. Caffeine can be found not just in tea and coffee, but also a slew of items such as: chocolate, en ergy drinks and other pre-packed foods and drinks.

In Japan, a manufacturer puts caf feine into their water products, as a source of a needed pick me up. Caffeine can cause a number of problems should someone overindulge. It can: elevate heart rate, cause

headaches, make you pee constantly and raise your blood pressure. Caffeine might cause your body to release more adrenaline or hormones than are needed. Women who experience menopause may find that caf feine worsens the situation since caffeine can make their body heat increase, causing hot flashes.

Caffeine can assist your body, help ing to prevent: gallstones, inflammation and keep certain illnesses away, such as Parkin son’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. Caffeine has been found to assist those involved in endurance sports such as biking, running and swimming, by helping them increase their speed with less muscle pain. Ultimately caffeine has been found to help the body re cover rapidly after a hard exercise regimen.

Caffeine has been studied world-wide looking for benefits that would assist us all:

• Chinese scientist found people given

caffeine show a major boost to their pro ductivity

• Belgian studies found benefits to fight ing melanoma cancer, and its protective properties for the liver

America-Canadian studies find caffeine may help longevity of life and reduced risk of type 2-diabetes

• Scandinavian studies found a correlation between caffeine and mental illnesses

Too much coffee (or soft drinks) can height en: anxiety, bring on insomnia, create a link between coffee and breast pain, aging of your skin, stained teeth and overall depen dence upon caffeine.

What to do? Consume less drinks and foods that contain caffeine (sugar too), hydrate with good old fashion H2O, exercise and find time to rest. Try not to go cold tur key. Consume half a cup, or perhaps try decaf.

As a female photographer and videographer, most of the time I am surrounded by male photographers and videographers at events I go to cover. In most male dominated indus tries, women are often underestimated and overlooked for opportunities to show off their talent. So, when Nicola Yardy, the owner of a photography studio in Toronto called Coin 8 Studio, asked me to help them put together an all women and non-binary pho tographers and models meet up, I was super excited.

“The photography industry is really heavily dominated by men. And it may not appear like that in school because a lot of women study photography. Then going into having a career with photography, there re

ally isn’t a lot of women, and they tend to be afraid to go to meet ups, because they’re usu ally a way higher level of guys. A lot of times women get asked to be models by men, even if they come as a photographer, which can be super annoying. I wanted to create a space that people can feel comfortable.” said Nico la.

The event, Queens of Coins, took place on Saturday, November 19th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. We invited two fantastic fe male DJs, DJ Shannyn Hill and DJ Tangerine to spin tracks while photographers and mod els mingled and took photos of each other. The vibes were set, and everyone was having a great time taking photos in the huge stu dio that has many different set ups to choose from.

“I was super happy with it. We had like a lot of different people come out. The only thing I wanted to see was people mak ing connections, making new friends and talking. I think that’s exactly what happened. I noticed a lot of people met each other for the first time and photographed each other for the first time. We also had some women entrepreneurs there as well. That’s what we love to see at these events, because then we can also hype their businesses by taking pho

tos of them and of their clothing or of their products. And because that’s really what it’s about, pulling up all these women and nonbinary people’s businesses.” said Nicola.

The three businesses that joined us were Chosen Design, a clothing brand, Bod ied By Wens, an authentic wear brand, and TIE’s Natural Beauty, a beauty, cosmetic and personal care brand. All three businesses are also Black woman owned businesses! Bodied By Wens and Chosen Designs lent some of their clothing to models to wear for photog raphers. This is an awesome opportunity for the businesses to get more content to pro mote their items, and for the photographers and models to expand their portfolio.

Ironically, November 19th was Inter national Men’s Day while Nicola and I had an event for women only.

“It was totally unintentional. I do not pay attention to International Men’s Day, so I did not know it was International Men’s Day. Shout out to all the strong men out there. They embrace not being a toxic man and they deserve a day too. But I didn’t know so my bad guys.” said Nicola.

The Queen of Coins Photography meet up will hopefully become a monthly event and continue to grow with more fe

male and non-binary photographers, models and entrepreneurs coming to join.

“Going forward, I really want to branch out and open it to more vendors as I don’t just want it to be about photographers and models, I really want to bring in more women entrepreneurs and non-binary entre preneurs, because there’s so little of us. Now we are dominating and it’s proven that wom en CEOs run their companies freakin’ better. They make money and I just want to support that. It’s really hard to become an entrepre neur, there’s a lot of things against you. And I would love for our events to be a way for us to showcase people’s skills, products, cloth ing, photography and modelling. It’s gonna get everybody together,” said Nicola.

Located at 927 Dupont St., Coin 8 Studio is great for parties, photoshoots, music videos, films, commercials and really anything creative you can think of. It’s a twostory studio with many props and set ups to choose from. Learn more and check out the rates at coin8.studio

If you’re a woman or non-binary person who would like to join our next meet up, stay up to date with when the next one is by following @coin8.stuio and @shotbyselina on Instagram.

It is now 25 years since the Birthright Sum mer Internship program was introduced that makes it possible for qualified individuals of Jamaican lineage to work in one of its 60 sub sidiaries.

The brand name GraceKennedy is one of the most recognizable in the world. It is one of the West Indies’ largest and most versatile corporate bodies, which had its foundation in Jamaica just after the end of the first World War. Currently, it is a varied network of some 60 subsidiaries and associ ated companies located across the: Carib bean, North and Central America, Africa, and the U.K. It is involved in a wide range of activi

ties from: food processing and distribution, banking and finance, insurance and remit tance services, together with an investment in building materials retailing.

Applications opened on September 1st, 2022, until November 30th, 2022. The Birthright programme seeks to deepen ties with second and third generation Jamaicans living in the United States, U.K, and Canada,” and it targets university students whose par ents or grandparents were originally from Ja maica. Successful candidates will engage in a professional internship for a five-week dura tion from June 28th to August 7th, 2023, in Jamaica. There is a cultural component to this internship as students will be able to partici pate in Heritage Pathway tours during which they will strengthen their Jamaican connec tions.

University students who are interested in applying must satisfy the following crite ria:

• Candidates must complete an applica tion form

• Include a headshot photograph, an of

ficial transcript and a one-page typed essay

• Candidates must be pursuing either an undergraduate or graduate degree pro gramme

• Candidates must have a Grade Point Av erage of 3.0 or higher ( i.e a “B” average or 2.1 equivalent for the UK)

• Candidates must provide proof of Jamai can percentage/grand parentage

• Candidates must be between the ages of 18 and 25 years old

There are five benefits that successful candidates will obtain which include:

• Internship, with attractive incentives within GraceKennedy Limited

• Job assignments specific to the aca demic interests and career goals of the candidates

• Cultural, social and educational immer sion through weekend programmes geared at highlighting Jamaican’s heri tage

• Opportunity to interact with candidates from other cultures and backgrounds

•

ment term for the duration of the pro gramme

Caroline Mahfood, CEO of the GraceKennedy Foundation states in the press release, “We re-launched GK Birthright in June 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic and we were so glad to see it return. As in previ ous years, this year’s programme ensured that the children of Jamaicans living abroad got the opportunity to learn about Jamaica, experience their heritage and culture firsthand-some for the very first time-as well as create lifelong connections with each other and their homeland. We are looking forward to welcoming the new cohort who will ben efit from this exciting, life-changing intern ship.”

A virtual information session about the Birthright programme was held on Octo ber 13th, 2022. Anyone interested in knowing about the GraceKennedy Jamaican Birthright Program can check: https://www.graceken nedy.com and students can apply online there as well.

Mentorship by GraceKennedy Manage

RYAN HINKSON

Hungry for life, hungry for success, and hungry for good food

“A classic man is one who is unafraid: unafraid to take chances and risks, unafraid of loss and failure. He needs to be unafraid of the changing world and be unyielding to it. A new clas sic man can be born, because before anything was classic, it had to first be new.” ~ Ryan Hinkson

When I asked for the opportunity to author the Classic Man segment, the person I would feature came faster to my mind than someone trying to snatch the last piece of oxtail from the pot. It’s strange to see one of your earliest childhood friends become an icon and an idol to literally hun dreds of thousands of people in the city and across the globe. Yet, Ryan Hinkson assumes this mantle with the supreme confidence of a CEO, the stylish swagger of a rapper and crystal clear vision of a prophet all in the name of food.

As I sit in the quaint Caribbean Soul Food Café he had chosen for us to meet at, his celebrity reputation ar rives long before he sits down. Like Toronto royalty, every person that recognizes him greets him. The love and respect afforded to him is not superficial, but crafted and earned through his tireless work to become one of Canada’s premier food influ encers. His EatFamous brand has grown and evolved from a small so cial media following to a public rela tions and marketing behemoth.

Coming from a corporate back ground, nine years ago Ryan began building his own empire while work ing to maintain the empires of others. Starting simply by featuring some of the best food pictures from around the Internet on his pages, he foresaw the strength of social media to influ ence people at a time of its relative in fancy. His own epic rise to fame mim icked that of Instagram itself.

Slowly progressing from reaching out to individuals that could help him learn and grow, he now has huge cor porations like: McDonalds, Tim Hortons, Domino’s, Lay’s Canada and the Toronto Raptors (just to name a few) reaching out to him in order to help them. Currently sitting at just above 282,000 followers and his hashtag #EatFamous being used over seven million times, he has become a pow erful force in this new influencer in dustry.

Initially, he and I take some time to catch up after not seeing each other in person for quite some time. Soon after a few good laughs we begin to segue into our interview and I begin by asking him about what thoughts

he begins each day with. “My first thoughts are of family, specifically my daughter. Not just because she jumps on me before I wake, but because the feelings for my family inform all my decisions for the rest of the day. I could wake with stress about work and life but instead I wake with joy.”

When I ask how EatFamous has changed his life, with a bright smile he responds,

“Completely for the better! The pride and confidence in myself has grown exponentially by seeing what I’ve created. The connections I’ve made professionally and personally will last lifetimes. I’ve had the chance to broaden my horizons through food and travel in ways I would have never expected. I’m proudly confident in the legacy I will leave behind.”

Seeing how integral Ryan’s work is to his life, I ask how he manages to find balance between the two.

“The balance begins and ends within me. I choose to find a way to be com fortable with my business decisions and how they will affect my family. I must be at peace with myself about who I interact with, how I do so and when time allows. Sometimes it’s easy because of my passion for what I do, sometimes it’s challenging be cause it’s hard work. Going around eating food and taking pictures sounds fun, and it is, but there’s a lot happening behind the scenes.” Un doubtedly, he has found his sweet spot between work and play, com merce and culture, being ambitious and being humble.

Even though his work with EatFa mous has Ryan trying different cui sines from around the globe, my next question is about how he feels our shared Caribbean culture is repre sented in his industry.

“For a long time it felt like Toronto and on a larger scale, Canada was al ways a little brother standing in the shadow of America. Now Toronto has been able to stand on its own as a cosmopolitan metropolis, especially with food. The cultural diversity here provides an unmatched opportunity to try so many things in one place. Caribbean culture and food is at the forefront of that. In fact food is the binding thread amongst most of the Caribbean diaspora that resides here. So many people are influenced by this that it needs to have a much higher place of reverence than it does now.”

When asked how he tries to improve

this, he explains,

“The only thing I have different from everyone else is me. Like it or not, we are role models for those that will come after us. I try my best to make my knowledge, my experience and myself available and accessible to those that look like me even if it’s not to my own benefit. I take full ownership for progressing our culture.”

He does so by helping small Carib bean restaurants with his expertise in social media marketing. He also has been a guest speaker talking about his success at institutions like: Ryerson, Centennial, York, the To ronto Public Library as well as being a keynote speaker at Summer Search all in the efforts to inspire the next generation. “I want to build bridges from our culture to other cultures for the people behind us.”

Next we begin to speak about the definition of the male archetype and how it needs to be updated for the so ciety we now live in.

“We definitely need an update on sensitivity, both towards ourselves and others. We need to be better at communicating our emotions and less concerned about how others might judge us for it. You don’t even need to reflect the changes that are happening in society, but you need to accept that changes are taking place.”

This truly resonated with me because the current male stereotype is becom ing toxic. Our generation sits square ly between the previous one and the next, so we are uniquely qualified to be the change that we all need.

Nearing the end of our conversation, I asked him to summarize by telling me what he’d like his legacy to be. I could tell he searched deep within himself before answering

“I want people like me to be inspired to reach for success at any point in their lives. Whether they are a teen or a senior, it can always be within reach no matter what came before. Your to day doesn’t own your tomorrow.”

Photo Credit: Jeff Lockhart

Photo Credit: Sanj P Photography

Written by Sean Seurattan Toronto Caribbean News

Photo Credit: DeGrey Photo

Pocket Pod Meta Ed School Management App Reflecting the eyes of students for students

PAUL JUNOR

Have you ever known a child who is on their way to being a tech disruptor before they’re old enough to legally drive a car? We joke about the kids at the neighbour hood lemonade stand being “entrepre neurs in the making,” but that may not be as much of a joke as we thought. Kids these days…

There are actually a surprising number of kid entrepreneurs who haven’t even graduated high school yet. We’re not just talking about Richie Rich here. We’re talking self-made entrepreneurs who aren’t even old enough to open a bank account on their own. We’re talking about kids who understand business and how to make money. The mind-set starts at a young age.

Meet Jett and Ben, two boys who decided to start their own business un der the age of 12 years old last year. It all started when Jett was asking his mom for money to purchase credits for games like Roblox, Fortnite to name a few. Jett’s mom said “You know coding; why don’t you cre ate an app with Ben. Stop making other people rich when both of you can become self-made entrepreneurs.”

Well Jett approached Ben and that’s when Pocket Pod Meta Ed School Management App was developed. The two boys decided to collaborate as busi ness partners. They financed their app by collecting cans and bottles for money, and they both earned an allowance by do ing chores. They also banked any money they received as gifts. Sharon, who is Ben’s mom, said, “Laura-Maria and I wanted to instil a strong work ethic that the boys needed to understand what it meant to start a business. As moms we could easily have e-transferred them money to start their business venture, but they needed to work from the ground up and understand what it means to hustle to raise capital.”

The two boys created a school management app that they felt reflected the eyes of students for students, but also for parents, teachers, and administrators. They had a lot of time to think about it

because it was during the pandemic last year when school kept opening and clos ing. Within a month the two boys met with Peter Singh, Chief Information Officer for TDSB and Stephen Lecce, Minister of Edu cation for Ontario presenting the proto type of the app. The boys also presented in front of executives from RBC who were cu rious to learn more about Pocket Pod “All of us at RBC are so impressed and excited to see what the boys have developed,” shared Meagan Filion Senior Director Early Talent and Academic Relationships.

Laura-Maria, Jett’s mom said, “The boys presenting in front of high level politicians and executives not just within Canada but abroad demonstrated: strong sales, marketing and presentation skills that both Jett and Ben have developed, which is something that you cannot al ways learn at school.”

What makes Pocket Pod a leader in school management apps is Pocket Pod App is a metaEd school management app that works off a: Blockchain, AR, VR, Meta verse, Assistive Technology, Multilingual Translator, Smart Drive, Safety and Energy Technology Platform. The app is designed for students from JK to Grade 12 offering an immersive, interpretive, participatory, and dimensional learning experience.

Pocket Pod is also a school man agement software tool, which helps in managing the applications for the educa tional sector such as: enrolment, registra tion, scheduling, attendance, and various other procedures. It is designed to intro duce digitization in manual processes car ried out by schools for data management and automate all the procedures related to data management to reduce the pos sibility of human error.

“This management app is de signed to help students, parents and teachers stay organized and it’s all at your fingertips. It was inspiring to see these three young minds brought together by their passion for technology, their friend ship and their undeniable entrepreneur ial spirit. Listening to them speak, it was clear they’ve really put their hearts and souls into this app and it shows. They’ve been able to secure investors and plan to launch the app globally within the next few months. They have also had the chance to present their app to the Minis ter of Education Stephen Lecce, who I hear was impressed!” Colleen Russell-Rawlins, Director of Education, TDSB (Director of Education’s Remarks at Regular Board Meeting – December 8th, 2021).

What makes Jett and Ben “disrup tors” is they represent the alpha genera tion. They were born in the year that the first IPad by Apple was launched. They are the first generation born fully into the 21st century and therefore they are the start of something new, not a return to the old. These two boys come from a lens that understands how global events and tech nological, economic, and social changes interact to define the way a set of kids see the world.

The fact that most young people exhibit a high degree of tech savviness makes this technology eco-friendly and interactive. Some of the many benefits of this app include: comprehensive student performance tracking promotes interdis ciplinary learning, encourages practical application theory, helps academic insti tutions review, analyse, evaluate, and ac cess student progress, working with likeminded students who all want to learn and celebrate diversity, cultures, a com munity for acceptance, and inclusive to all students from all around the world.

The fact that the app is an assis tive technology means that it can enhance many aspects of learning, engagement, and interaction for learners. The other fea tures optimize student’s performance on multiple levels,

The lesson that we can learn from Jett and Ben, a product from the Alpha Generation is these two boys show us that age is not a limitation. You’re never too young or too old. If you really want to make a difference in the world, start now, no matter your age or any other limiting factor.

The commonality between these two boys is their mind-set. They didn’t start with a mind-set of “can’t”, they started with a mind-set of “How can I?” You can do the same even if you’re still in elementary, middle, or high school. Pocket Pod can be used on an Android or IOS platform at any educational institution (elementary, middle, high school, university, college, private, public, charter schools) that is in terested in a free demo please email info@ hubpodschool.com to book your appoint ment.

Jett and Ben are two extraordi nary boys who took their passion and side-gigs and made it into a successful start-up. Success to you both young men; you do Toronto proud.

Poor sleep can lead to inflammatory problems

W. GIFFORDJONES MD

benefits. For adults aged 65 and older, a slightly modified seven to eight hours of sleep is advised.

Unfortunately, sleep is too often neglected – insufficient in both quantity and quality.

workers affected by sleep deprivation.

An old Irish proverb says, “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” But research suggests it would be wiser to think of good sleep as an ingredient of wellbeing – a starting point for health, not a fixer-upper.

Sleep is an essential building block of good health, along with: quality nutri tion, moderate exercise, socioeconomic connectivity, mindfulness, and ample good luck.

Guidelines recommend seven to nine hours of good-quality sleep for adults aged 18 to 64, on a regular basis, with con sistent sleep and wake times for health

According to a global sleep sur vey, 62% of adults worldwide feel they don’t sleep well when they go to bed. Sur veys show that North Americans, on aver age, sleep just under seven hours a night. Some are getting more – and good for them. Some are getting less – with serious consequences.

Poor quality sleep has harmful im plications for insomniacs. The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reports, “Sleep deficiency is linked to many chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabe tes, stroke, obesity, and depression.”

Drowsy people have negative implications for other people too. Lack of sleep is a major factor in deadly car acci dents and other transportation tragedies. Both the Chernobyl nuclear plant disas ter and the Exxon Valdez oil spill involved

Although people commonly try to “catch up” on sleep during the week end, studies have found this to be a los ing strategy. For one thing, less weekday sleep equates to later nights, awake and snacking, which leads to weight gain and involves challenges in managing diabetes, for example.

It may be disappointing to learn more bad news. Research now shows that even long periods of sufficient sleep don’t make up for sleep deficits. Not getting good sleep? The damage is done.

Scientists are starting to unpack exactly what kind of problems develop from lack of good sleep. One study found that consistently losing an hour and a half of sleep a night can increase the risk of inflammatory disorders and cardiovas cular disease. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, showed that sleep disruptions in both humans and mice led to the same loss in the protective effects of their immune systems “actually making infections worse.” In effect, poor sleep causes trouble in blood cell produc

tion, leading to overproduction of white blood cells that normally fight infections, but the overabundance instead results in inflammation.

Another study involving more than 7,000 men and women at the ages of 50, 60 and 70, found that people at age 50 getting five hours of sleep or less were “20% more likely to have been diagnosed with a chronic disease, and 40% more likely to be diagnosed with two or more chronic diseases over 25 years, compared to peo ple who slept for up to seven hours.”

Those are big differences! Those two additional hours of sleep gives the body enough time to complete one full sleep cycle, allowing the brain and body to recuperate and immune systems to func tion effectively.

What are some tips for healthy sleep? Get natural daylight exposure. Limit alcohol before bed. Eliminate noise and light disruptions. At bedtime, allow into the mind those things that soothe the soul. These days, that means turning off the eve ning news and turning instead to a good book.

COMMON SENSE HEALTH

DIANA GIFFORD-JONES

Peel Regional Police News

RACHEL MARY RILEY rachel@carib101.com HEALTH & FITNESS

Indeed, it is true you can be addicted to many things including food. The desire for food can come from some major fac tors, especially emotional bondage. Some people tend to fall into the gap because of how they grew up. This can also stem from obesity and overeating. Through research, I discovered a few factors that show off the major bondages of emotionally eating

We share the widely held view that such a broad perspective is not sustainable and consider a more focused view: that it un derlies eating patterns, notably binge eat ing.

However, even with this more specific focus, there are still problems. Validation of food addiction at the neuro biological level is critical, but there are in consistencies in the evidence from humans suggesting that caution should be exer cised in accepting food addiction as a valid concept.

Are you an emotional eater? (Emotional Eating and How to Stop It, 2022)

• Do you eat more when you’re feeling stressed?

• Do you eat when you’re not hungry or when you’re full?

• Do you eat to feel better (to calm and soothe yourself when you’re sad, mad, bored, anxious, etc.)?

Emotional hunger can’t be filled with food; another look at food addiction

around food?

The emotional eating cycles

Occasionally using food as a pick-me-up, a reward, or to celebrate isn’t necessarily a bad thing. When eating is your primary emotional coping mechanism—when your first impulse is to open the refrigera tor whenever you’re: stressed, upset, angry, lonely, exhausted, or bored—you get stuck in an unhealthy cycle where the real feeling or problem is never addressed (Emotional Eating and How to Stop It, 2022).

Emotional hunger can’t be filled with food. Eating may feel good now, but the feelings that triggered eating are still there. You often feel worse than you did be fore, because of the unnecessary calories you’ve just consumed. You beat yourself for messing up and not having more will power (Emotional Eating and How to Stop It, 2022).

ally (Emotional Eating and How to Stop It, 2022).

Emotional hunger craves specific comfort foods

When you’re physically hungry, almost anything sounds good—including healthy stuff like vegetables. Emotional hunger craves junk food or sugary snacks that pro vide an instant rush. You feel like you need cheesecake or pizza, and nothing else will do (Emotional Eating and How to Stop It, 2022).

Let’s investigate in depth. Food addiction as a phenotypic description is one that is based on overlap between certain eating behaviours and substance dependence. To begin, we consider limitations in the gen eral application of this concept to obesity.

• Do you reward yourself with food?

• Do you regularly eat until you’ve stuffed yourself?

• Does food make you feel safe? Do you feel like food is a friend?

• Do you feel powerless or out of control

The difference between emotional hunger and physical hunger

Emotional hunger comes on suddenly It hits you in an instant and feels over whelming and urgent. Physical hunger, on the other hand, comes on more gradu

Emotional

hunger often leads to mindless eating

Before you know it, you’ve eaten a whole bag of chips or an entire pint of ice cream without really paying attention or fully enjoying it (Emotional Eating and How to Stop It, 2022).

Emotional hunger isn’t located in the stomach

Rather than a growling belly or a pang in your stomach, you feel your hunger as a craving you can’t get out of your head. You’re focused on specific textures, tastes, and smells (Emotional Eating and How to Stop It, 2022).

How to get medical cannabis

Medical cannabis effectively treats the symptoms of many diseases and conditions, including arthritis, anxiety, migraines, epilepsy and fi bromyalgia. Here’s an overview of how to obtain this legal substance in Canada.

Make an appointment with a professional. Schedule a consulta tion with your family doctor to dis cuss your request. They’ll deter mine if your condition requires the use of medicinal cannabis and dis cuss any possible risks or side ef fects.

Fill out a questionnaire. After an swering a questionnaire about your medical history and submitting your doctor’s approval, you’ll re ceive a document authorizing you to purchase and use medical canna bis. This document is like a prescrip tion and includes details related to the maximum prescribed dosage and validity period.

Find an authorized producer. Buying from a licensed seller al lows you to de duct the cost of your cannabis as a medical expense on your next tax return. In some cases, your private insurance company may cover the costs of your medical cannabis.

Talk to a therapeutic educator. This person is responsible for fol lowing up with you to answer your questions and determine a suitable format of cannabis for your condition, such as capsules, dried flowers or edi bles. They’ll also help you deter mine which me dical cannabis accessories you may need.

If you have any questions, talk to your family doctor or one spe cializing in medical cannabis.

What you need to know about pneumococcal disease

Pneumococcal disease is a name for any infection caused by pneumococ cus bacteria. These bacteria are found in the respiratory tract, including the throat and nose, and transmitted through direct contact with infected respiratory droplets.

It mainly affects children under the age of five, people over the age of 65 and individuals with certain diseases like diabetes and cirrhosis. Here’s an overview of what you need to know.

Symptoms

The pneumococcus bacteria can cause illnesses such as otitis, sinusitis and bronchitis. Symptoms typically appear one to three days after a person is infected and can vary in severity depending on the area of the body affected. Here are a few examples.

• Confusion

• Convulsions

• Difficult or painful breathing

• Blue lips

• Severe neck stiffness

• Drowsiness

Although most infections can be treated with antibiotics, severe pneu mococcal infections can lead to hospitalization and even be life-threat ening.

Prevention and treatment

The best way to prevent pneumococ cal disease is to get vaccinated. It’s also recommended to quit smoking, avoid contact with infected people and wash your hands often.

Pneumococcal disease should be taken seriously to avoid possible complications, like pneumonia, meningitis and brain damage. Con tact a health care professional if you have any questions.

How to choose the right multivitamin

Multivitamins contain a combination of at least three vitamins. Some also contain minerals like calcium and iron and natural substances like omega-3s. Do you have a health concern or feel the need to supplement your diet with a multivitamin? Here’s how to choose the best one for you.

• Age. Your nutrient needs vary accord ing to several factors, including your age. Conse quently, children, adults and seniors require different multi vitamins. For example, formulas for seniors contain higher doses of calcium to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

• Gender. Women should look for a multivitamin high in iron to replenish what the body loses during menstruation. Moreover, women wanting to conceive a child, are pregnant or are

breastfeeding should consider a multivitamin with folic acid.

• Dose. The doses of vitamins and minerals and the number of tablets to take daily can vary considerably from one product to another. Moderation is best. Avoid formulas that contain a higher dose than you need.

It’s best to consult your doctor or pharmacist before buying a multivita min.

True or false: human papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sex ually transmitted infection. Some strains can cause genital warts or cancer. These four true or false statements can help you learn more about this disease.

1. HPV is only transmitted through penetrative sex False. HPV can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, such as inti mate touching, oral sex or sharing sex toys with an infected partner.

2. Treatment can cure HPV False. There’s no cure for HPV. How ever, doctors can often treat warts and precancerous lesions caused by the infection.

3. A PERSON CAN BE INFECTED WITH HPV WITHOUT KNOWING IT True. HPV typically doesn’t cause

symptoms, making it easy to trans mit unknowingly. In most cases, the body’s immune system will get rid of the infection naturally within two years.

4. A diagnosis can be a sign of infidelity False. Signs of infection, such as warts, can appear weeks, months or even years after someone has been infected with the virus. It’s difficult to determine when or from whom the virus was transmitted, especially for people who’ve had multiple sex ual partners.

Several vaccines can protect you against HPV. Talk to your health care provider about which ones are available to you.

Every excuse deterring you from living the life of your dream is valid, but you have a choice; you either have excuses or results, but you can’t always have both.

In the words of Richard Bach, “If you ar gue for your limitations, you get to keep them.” The truth is, no one is insulated or excused from challenges, uncertain ties, and difficulties of life; if you are not coming out of one, probably you getting ready to go into one. Winter comes for us

The harsh realities of life

One of the guaranteed life ex periences is problems and challenges. Every summit you conquer prepares you for another challenge. You won’t always have all your ducks in a row, and circum stances will not always line up in your favour. Nevertheless, remember you are called for a higher life. You are created for impact and relevance. You have to rise above your limits; you have to defy the odds, and you need to find a way to win.

In his book, “What’s Your Ex cuse?” John Foppe, the author who was born with no arms, wrote:

“My life reflects a tremendous balance of extremes. Your life may not have a pendulum that swings quite so broadly, but of this, I am certain: you have lows and highs, problems and triumphs, limitations and strengths, liabilities and assets. We all do. I’ve come to appreci ate an equal certainty: every time a door seems to be shut tightly, a window is waiting to be opened. Every time a prob lem seems to be unsolvable, an option, perhaps unusual or never before tried, is waiting to be discovered and pursued.”

We will all fail our way to suc cess, says Les Brown. Life won’t have it easy on you because you have a disad vantaged background, and sometimes, the pain you will go through may not be the consequences of your own choices; it may be that of others. Life is not fair, but God is good. The best of life doesn’t go to most intellectuals. You will need to grow tough skin if you’re going to make your life count.

Don’t accept mediocrity or bare ly getting by as your lot in life. Reach for the best. There is no greater regret and agony than coming to the end of life only to realize you’ve only lived a fraction of God’s intended purpose for your life. Will it be easy? No, it won’t, but you have to be strong.

Ask yourself; if the stars lined up, what would you reach for? Dig up the buried dreams. You were born for such a time as this. The onus is on you to rise to your higher calling and leave a footprint in this world. Remember, you will always have one thousand and one reasons to quit, but no statue has ever been raised

in honour of people with great excuses. Don’t argue for your limitations.

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failures, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the great twilight that knows not victory or defeat” says Theodore Roo sevelt.

Simon Sinek said, “Always plan for the fact that nothing ever goes ac cording to plan.” The goal is not to be cynical about life but to embrace the harsh reality that life is tough, uncertain and hard.

Some have it worse, but they’ve succeeded despite contrary circumstanc es. Read the story of the great Abraham Lincoln, George Washington Carver, Al bert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, Helen Keller, and other heroes of history. They defy the odds. Whatsoever the card life dealt you, play it well. Be strong and be courageous.

feel sadness, regret or resentment, but none of these emotions make a state ment about who we are as a person un like empathy. Empathy is the glue that unites families and communities. The bond that helps two people resolve con flict; it is a salve for pain while being an essential ingredient of romantic love.

Empathy is a motivator supreme, igniting a person’s need to help another, go outside of their protective area and invest himself or herself in another’s pain or situation. Empathy brings family to gether, motivating a son to care for his elderly mother, sister, to listen to a broth er’s situational needs.

Empathy can become weapon ized by another; takes the best part of the human spirit and turns it against others.

Feeling someone’s emotions so deeply that you are blinded by them Too much empathy is a problem that can allow unhealthy or damaging behaviours to continue when they really should not.

thizer vulnerable to exploitation by the recipient. For example, a person (adult) is unable to hold his father accountable for the damage he is doing to himself and his siblings. The son is giving his dad a pass on the dad’s bad behaviour because of the empathy for him. His empathy is misplaced, placing his own happiness and health (and that of his younger sib lings) behind that of his dads.

Being too indiscriminate with your empathy

Know someone who offers his or her em pathy freely? When your empathy is too easily given, you end up giving too much to many people. Ever seen someone al ways on the go, always giving of them selves, never finding the time to recover? Empathy is like any other emotion, and it can drain your: mind, spirit and soul over time.

How can we keep our empathy pure and healthy, and make it work for the better good of all.

• Keep your empathy in check. Make sure it does not prevent you from holding a loved one accountable for his or her actions.

• Prioritize your needs.Taking care of you before caring for others. That way empathy will build you up, and not tear you down.

Know stories about the elderly lady who could not feed herself, yet she fed dozens of stray cats or dogs? A nation that does not care for their people fully yet donate billions to other nations across the world has misdirected their empathy. Look out for yourself, and in time your empathy to others will surface.

thoughts or experience fully communi cated in an objective explicit manner.

We can get angry, feel guilty, frustrated, or anxious. We can grieve or

Empathizing with the emotions of someone who does not deserve it Misdirected empathy makes the empa

• Be aware of when you’re feeling em pathetic and to whom. Make sure they deserve receiving it.

“When we honestly ask our selves, which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a loving heart. Who can stay with us in an hour of grief, and who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing, but helping us to face our powerlessness. That is an empa thetic friend.” ~ Henri Nouwen

DANIEL COLE

daniel@carib101.com

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com HUMAN SPECIALIST

The night before my hearing, sleep could not catch me.

I tried everything: tones, watching a movie, even reading, but my mind was racing. I had read all the documents that had been emailed to me, and I had even done my research on what to expect, but the whole idea of driving over the border, and having to go to court terrified me.

“Arrrrgggghhhh!” I flung the sheets off and sat up. The white noise from the television droned behind me, and I was no closer to falling asleep.

“What am I going to even wear,” I thought to myself? There we go. This

would distract me. Finding something to wear. I had not thought about this the night before, and I really should have. Slowly I pulled myself up, and flipped on my light; shielding my eyes, I walked to wards my closet.

“Hmmmmmmm!” I realized that I had to be mindful of how I dressed. Any one who knows me, understands that my clothing curating usually involves some thing with a plunging neckline, but that was a huge NO in this case. I had about three dress suits, and those were not fit ting very well right now. I had lost a lot of weight, and things seemed to just hang on me as if I was an actual hanger. Not at tractive!

As I was sifting through my clothes, I stopped on a black turtleneck. That with a pair of black slacks, and a pair of heels; perfect!

Well that was done. Now what? I still wasn’t tired, and it was getting close to 3:00 am. I had to be out of the house by 8:00 am, because I had to drive across the border, and I had no idea how long they

Sibling rivalry When to interverne?

Arguments between brothers and sisters are inevitable. Children disagreeing over a toy or because one has more juice than the other is an everyday occurrence that can certainly leave parents feeling stressed. The good news is that these types of arguments are harmless and normal. If the arguments get out of hand and deteriorate into physi cal confrontations, however, limits need to be set.

Whatever the source of the con flict may be, your children have to under stand that injuring one another is out of bounds. It is imperative that every child feel safe in his or her own home. When a quarrel degenerates into a fight, separate the children, put a stop to whatever was happening, and explain why you’re doing it.

When regular squabbles break out, try not to automatically interfere with

a judgment: children can learn to settle their disagreements by themselves. It is es pecially important to not take sides if you don’t know how it all started. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the situation; rath er, avoid becoming the referee every time. Teach them to express their feelings and help them name their needs, such as for fairness, safety, cooperation, creativity, or independence. Help them articulate what they are really fighting about, for example: “I’m angry because you don’t want to let me hold the remote. I want to have my fair turn”. Show them how to listen to each oth er, to negotiate, and to find satisfactory compromises together.

Remember that children learn by example, and that they are watching and listening when you are having a disagree ment with your spouse or another adult. Try to practice what you preach!

Modern dads do it their way

Fatherhood has sure changed in the last 40 years or so. Not too long ago, dads were pretty much limited to the role of provider and breadwinner, taking care of the physi cal needs of their families. Nowadays, at least in the western world, fatherhood en tails a much more active role in the daily life of the home and family members.

The modern dad changes dia pers, bottle-feeds the baby, and takes his turn cooking supper and washing the toi let. He is more actively involved in chil drearing without being merely the disci plinarian of the house. It’s nice to think that this new role isn’t an imposition, but rather a choice: dads now elect to have more of a presence in the lives of their chil dren.

And a fully present dad does make a difference: several recent studies

have shown that the involvement of the father or father-figure positively affects a child’s development. Among other things, a healthy father-child relationship can fa cilitate a more rapid adaptation to the out side world and a greater ability to confront the unknown. Young children who have a father-figure who plays with them and teases them gently can socialize more eas ily with other children.

Despite all this, many young fa thers are afraid to get involved because they’re not sure how or simply because they are not given the chance by their par enting partner. Moms need to understand that being a competent father doesn’t mean doing things the same way as a mother. Being a dad is different but just as important!

were going to hold me there for. I looked around my room for something to do.

“NO,” I said to myself. “You really have to get to sleep.” I rolled on my bed, and reached over to switch off the lights again. Nestling myself under my duvet, I squeezed my eyes shut, and willed sleep to take over…

The next thing I knew, my alarm was singing to me. When did I fall asleep? The television was still on, and I grog gily acknowledged the alarm that would not stop singing at me. I reached for my phone and hit off. I knew that I had to get moving, so I quickly jumped in the show er.

I kept my makeup to a minimum, and once I had put on my outfit and stepped back, I was actually surprised. “Not bad Simone, not bad,” I said to my self. I quickly went upstairs where my mom was making breakfast.

“I was wondering when you were coming up. It is getting late Simone.”

“I know, I know. I am just going to grab something hot to drink and take the

food with me. Thanks for making some thing for me mom.”

“No problem! Go. Get out of here. You don’t know how bad the weather is going to be, plus the border…”

“Say less mom; I am out of here.”

“All right, be safe!” My car had been warming up, so when I got in it was per fect. I quickly said a prayer and started my drive.

The drive to Buffalo was smooth; there was no traffic at that time of the morning, and as I listened to music, I took in the beauty of the drive. It had been a long time since I had been allowed to venture far from my house, and it remind ed me that even though I was not behind bars, I still felt imprisoned. It sucked that the only time I could taste a little bit of freedom were times when I could poten tially lose my freedom.

Life is such a paradox…

The only time I could taste a little bit of freedom were times when I could potentially lose my freedom

SEAN SEURATTAN sean@carib101.com THE HEIGHTENED CHEF

gas. Research shows that each of these has different effects on a consumer in concert with the effects of THC. Cannabis will always have a combination of these terpenes even though some may be much more prominent than others. Regardless, this information will greatly assist your decision when trying to find a cannabis strain suited to your needs.

Perhaps the most common ter penes found in nature are the ones that would fall into the citrus category. The chem ical known as Limonene gives off the stron gest smell and taste of citrus. This is a wellrecognized scent and is often the first profile detected by one’s nose. It is known to have effects such as relief from pain, anxiety, stress and depression. It also has some anti-inflam matory benefits as well. Strains with a strong citrus profile are ones like Wedding Cake and almost anything from the lemon cultivar (ie. Lemon Sour Diesel or Lemon Drop).

Granddaddy Purple, OG Kush, and Cherry Pie.

The gas terpene seems to be most desired currently and gives some strains a gassy or diesel smell. While it may not be ev eryone’s favourite, it is often used to help de termine potency. Humulene is the terpene responsible for this pungent aroma and can also be found in food such as: clove, sage or black pepper. It can help with pain relief and fight bacterial infection. Strains found with high amounts are: Girl Scout Cookies, Sky walker OG and almost any Pink strain.

skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Strains that are high in Camphene are: Ghost OG, Mendocino and Strawberry Banana.

The floral terpenes are subtle but add noticeable notes that both your nose and palette will immediately detect. Mostly originating from the terpene Geraniol and like its name implies it can be found naturally in high amounts in geranium plants. It’s shown to have much potential as a neuroprotectant and antioxidant. It can be found in strains like: Amnesia Haze, Headband and Master Kush.

can be found in cannabis and their profiles can be categorized into seven types. These are: pine, fruit, floral, citrus, earth, spice and

The fruit terpenes are widely ac cepted as most people’s favourite. The sweet and slightly floral aroma comes mostly from the terpene Myrcene. At least some of this compound is found in almost every modern strain of cannabis. It is also found in mangoes with a high concentration. Known to be antiinflammatory, a muscle relaxant and a seda tive, it can be predominant in strains like:

If you’ve ever walked through a pine forest, you’ve definitely smelled the Pi nene terpene. Its bright and sharp aroma can make some cannabis strains stand out from others. It can also be found in: rosemary, basil or parsley. It can aid with mental function and respiratory issues. Strains that are high in Pinene are: Jack Herer, Blue Dream and Ro mulan.

The earth aroma is caused by a ter pene known as Camphene. It provides the musky earth or damp woodland smell that most cannabis is associated with. On its own it can be off putting but when combined with others it provides a depth of smell and flavour that are unmatched. It is a powerful antioxidant and can be used topically to treat

4 great reasons to go thrifting

Do you know people who regularly shop at thrift stores? If you want to expand your ho¬rizons and give it a try yourself, here are four great reasons you should.

1. To protect natural resources - Manu facturing new products requires large amounts of wa¬ter and non-re newable resour¬ces. It also creates pollution. Buying goods used helps minimize the negative impacts of ma nufacturing them.

2. To reject fast fashion - Fast fashion trends encourage over-consumption, thrive on planned obsolescence and pollute the environment. Frequenting

thrift stores is a great way to vote for sustainability.

3. To pay it forward - Many thrift stores donate a por¬tion of their proceeds to charity. Therefore, you can feel good about where your money is going. You can also bring in items you no longer use to help give back to others.

4. To save money - Thrift stores offer a wide variety of unique products and quality items at low prices. You can get everything you need without spen ding a fortune.

Visit your local thrift stores and get ready to make some great discoveries.

Understanding fair trade

Do you buy locally grown food whenever possible but want to ensure you’re doing right by the environment when it co¬mes to imported goods? If so, look for fair trade products at the grocery store.

What it means

Fair trade is a term that describes interna tional trade prac¬tices that support just working conditions, improve livelihoods

and protect the environment. Keep an eye out for products with the certified Fairtrade logo to ensure you’re getting what you pay for.

What items are available

There are a variety of fair trade goods avai lable at most grocery stores. Here are 16 of them:

A brief guide to plant-based proteins

If you want to reduce the amount of meat you eat or switch to a plant-based diet, it’s important to en sure you get enough protein. Here’s what you should know.

What to know

Not all plant proteins contain the full range of ami no acids your body needs. Quinoa, for example, has all the required amino acids, while beans contain only a few. To ensure you receive all the amino acids you need, it’s crucial to vary your diet and consume an assortment of grains, beans, seeds and nuts.

What to eat

Many plant-based foods are great sources of protein. Here’s a non-exhaustive list:

• Peanut butter

• Cereal grains

• Edamame

• Pumpkin seeds

• Kidney beans

• Lentils

• Walnuts

• Chickpeas

• Quinoa

• Seitan

• Spirulina

• Tempeh

• Tahini

• Tofu

For meal ideas, refer to a vegetarian magazine, meal prep app or cookbook.

The spice terpene known as Caryophellene can also be found in: black pepper, cloves and cinnamon. Its spicy and peppery notes can be enticing to some but repellent to others. Uniquely, it is the only terpene that can actually affect your canna binoid system adding to the effects of your high. It can also have analgesic and anti-anx iety properties. Strains strong with the spice terpene are: Silver Haze, Rock Star and White Widow.

Now that you have a better under standing of what makes your cannabis smell and taste the way it does, you can choose what strains are best for you. Your cannabis sommelier career begins here. Welcome to a brand new world!

Your cannabis sommelier career begins here: Getting to know your cannabis terpenes!

Strategies for keeping pets safe during holiday events

Are you hosting one or more holiday parties this year? If so, you may be worried about how your pet will cope. Here are some strategies for keeping your dogs and cats safe while you enter tain your guests.

• Train them well. Basic dog commands like sit, stay, down and leave will serve you well during holiday gatherings. And training your cats to come when you call can keep them safe if they bolt out the door.

• Supervise children. If your dog or cat isn’t used to kids, there are some precautions to take. Teach children how to approach and gently pet your animals and monitor their interactions. Watch for signs that your pets are uncomfortable. If you sense that they’re tense, remove them from the room.

• Make sure they exercise. An animal that hasn’t had its regular dose of exercise is more li kely to be excited or stressed when guests visit. About half an hour before your company is due to arrive, take the dog for a walk or play with the cat to burn off any extra energy.

Most importantly, make sure your pets have a safe haven to go to if the party starts to overwhelm them. Many pets love to retreat to their crates, but you can also put them in a quiet, comfortable room where you know they’ll be content and safe.

How to care for your aquarium while you’re on vacation

Are you heading out of town for a few days and wondering how to keep your fish heal thy and your aquarium clean while you’re gone? If so, here’s how.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Examine your fish to make sure they ap pear healthy and alert before you leave. If they don’t, contact your local fish store or aquatic veterinarian for advice.

If your fish require special lighting, get a timer to make sure the lights turn on and off at the right times.

The day before you leave, change the water in the tank, check all your equipment and feed the fish.

WHILE YOU’RE GONE

If you have friends or family members who live nearby, ask them to pop in every few days to check on the fish and feed them. Be sure to portion out the food, though, be cause people tend to overfeed fish when they don’t know what they’re doing.

Some adult fish can survive for up to two weeks without eating. So, depending on how long you’ll be gone, you may not need to worry about feeding them at all.

WHEN YOU GET HOME

Be sure to check that the tank and all its parts are working well, change the water as soon as possible and of course, feed the fish.

Adopting a dog is a life changing event. Here are some steps to take when you bring your new canine companion home.

• Take them to the vet. Your dog should be examined to ensure that they don’t have a disease or other issue that requires attention. In most cases, they’ll also make a recommendation for when the dog should be spayed or neutered.

• Schedule their vaccinations. Many animal shelters vaccinate dogs before they’re adopted. Nevertheless, you’ll need to make sure your pup’s up to date with their shots. Vaccines should be administered annually for the rest of their life.

• Get identification. If your munici pality requires it, get your dog li censed right away. Also, make sure they can be identified, either with a tag on their collar or a microchip embedded under their skin.

• Start training. It’s a good idea to train your dog to come when you call and follow basic commands like sit, stay and down. Not only are these commands useful, but training sessions serve as a great way for you and your pet to bond.

If your new pet seems shy or nervous around you at first, don’t get frustrated. A period of adjustment is to be expected. With consistent love and attention, they’ll quickly become more comfortable around you.

know

the flu, too? In fact, the symp toms of dog flu and human flu are nearly identical, with coughing, sneezing, a runny nose, fever and lethargy common to both. However, the strain of influenza that af fects dogs is different than the one that affects humans.

Canine flu is highly contagious between dogs and can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours. Dogs that are in close contact with other dogs are more likely to contract it than others. And while it can’t affect you, if you pet a dog that has the flu, you can transmit it to your dog.

Because it’s a virus, there isn’t a cure for ca nine flu. Nevertheless, you can help your dog feel better by making sure he or she is comfortable and has plenty of fresh water to drink.

Your veterinarian may prescribe cough me dicine or something to reduce the fever. Furthermore, the vet may recommend that your dog be quarantined for up to 21 days to avoid further spread of the virus.

Never give your dog human medication, as the recommended doses are different for dogs and consuming too much could harm them.

To prevent dog flu, keep your pooch away from other canines and make sure to wash your hands after touching another animal. If your pup is regularly in contact with other dogs, talk to your veterinarian about the dog flu vaccine, which can help boost his or her immunity.

I just adopted a dog, now what?

Did you

that dogs can get

Dog flu: what pet owners should know

Over the past two years, housing rental costs have almost doubled. An average home that was renting for $2,000 in 2020 is now fetching $4,000. Many landlords are asking if they can increase their rent to market value or stick to the rent increase guideline. The answer is it depends.

Jaquline rented a newly built con do in 2021 for $1,750. Her monthly rental payment after the first year ballooned to $2650. That’s a provocative 51.42% when Ontario’s rent increase guideline is only 1.8%. In November 2018, the Ontario gov ernment ditched rental control on newly built apartments. This is outlined in Bill 57’s new rent control legislation. Without rent control, landlords can raise rent above the rental guideline. Rental accommodations, such as newly built homes, condos, and basement apartments, built after Novem ber 2018, are not bound by rent control. It is not a requisite for landlords to inform ten ants in the lease agreement that the unit is exempted from rent control. However, it is advisable that this information is disclosed to the tenant in the standard lease agree ment.

To increase rent, a landlord must give at least 90 days written notice of the rental increase before it is effective. Rent can only be increased once in a 12-month period from the last rental increase or from the start of tenancy. Landlords must use the prescribed form, N2, Notice of Rent Increase. This is available on Tribunals On

tario website, https://tribunalsontario.ca/ ltb. Landlords do not need permission from the Rental Tribunal to increase rent. The no tice can be served by mail, in person, slid ing it under the door or by placing in the mailbox. Now, notices can be served by email. Written consent from the tenant is key.

Landlords should keep any evi dence if their rental was built after Novem ber 2018. Building permits, applications and plans, occupancy permits, new home warranty documents and contractor’s in voices are reasonable. In addition, keep be fore and after pictures of the rental space. These documents are proof that the rental is exempted from the Provincial rent in crease guidelines.

If the rental property was oc cupied before November 2018, then, the old rule applies. Owners can increase rent subject to the guidelines. Despite that, a landlord and a tenant can mutually agree on a rental increase above the guideline. It is advisable that both parties sign an N10 (Agreement to increase the rent above the Guideline). Once the tenant agrees to the rental increase, the tenant cannot revert to the old rent. Landlords cannot pressure tenants for a rental increase above the guideline. Tenants can request a hearing with the Rental Tribunal.

Many tenants who are living in a rental before November 2018 are paying below market rent. Some landlords are unhappy with that deal. They are scruti nizing ways to evict tenants. One of the easiest ways to evict a tenant is because of late payments. As a tenant, avoid late pay ments. Record keeping is important. Ten ants who pay rent in cash should always ask for a receipt. The receipt must have the date the rent was paid.

Landlords can evict a tenant for many other reasons. Some are nonpay

ment of rent, damaging the property, overcrowding or for the owner’s or a fam ily member or a buyer personal use. If the owner wants the rental accommodation for personal use or for a family member or a buyer, the owner must compensate the tenant with a minimum of one month’s rent. The landlord, purchaser or family member must intend to live in that rental unit for at least one year. If the landlord acted in bad faith; advertises or re-rents the accommodation, they can face a fine of $50,000.

When a tenant gives last month’s deposit, their landlord must pay interest yearly on that deposit. The interest is cal culated based on the same interest rate increase of that year’s rental guideline. Along with the notice for rental increase, landlords should ask for a written acknowl edgement from the tenant that the interest

on the last month’s deposit shall be cred ited towards topping up the last month’s rent. In the event that the landlord choos es not to increase rent, the landlord must credit the tenant for the interest portion on the last month’s rent. This is critical because in the event of a hearing, the Tribunal will ask if interest on the deposit was paid. If it is not paid, then that would be considered as a negative strike against the landlord.

My advice to tenants: know your rights. The Tribunal Ontario website is in formative. Consider rental as a way to tran sition to ownership. To landlords, look at the bigger picture. A rental property might be under performing but your tenants are awesome. Over the years, property value goes up and the remaining mortgage erodes. As the saying goes, “If you have more roof, then prepare to shovel more snow.”

Soothing bedroom ideas for your neurodivergent child

For children on the autism spectrum, sen sory details like scents, sounds and bright colours can be overwhelming. Experts re commend providing a space where they can retreat from the stimulation of every day life. Here are some ideas to help create a calming bedroom for your child.

Lighting

Rather than harsh overhead lights, use soft lamps near work areas. You can reduce glare on the flooring by using materials like carpeting rather than wood or tiles. For sleeping, blackout curtains eliminate any light that might seep in from the outside.

Colours

For neurodivergent kids, yellow may cause eye strain and fatigue, and red can provoke strong emotions. You can promote tran quillity by choosing shades of grey, violet, soft blues, or greens.

Bedding

Choose calming colours and avoid busy

patterns when choosing bed sheets and blankets. Weighted blankets and heavy comforters provide a sensation like a soothing cuddle. Compression sheets also provide deep-touch sensory input.

The little extras

Include special features to make the room a pleasant place for your child to hang out. A sensory swing gives them a comfortable place to sit or move about safely. Drape a curtain like a tent to create a secluded space. A white noise machine helps offset disruptive noises from outside, and a sun rise-mimicking alarm eliminates the harsh waking noise in favour of a gradually brightening lamp.

Whether your child is neurodivergent or not, providing a bedroom that promotes peace and calm is always beneficial. Talk to a home decorator about your child’s needs and preferences for more great ideas to create a restful space.

Rounded vs. square drywall corners

When you think about drywall, you proba bly imagine square corners. However, did you know rounded corners are also an op tion? Here are some of the pros and cons of each.

• Square drywall corners are easy to install and require less skill, experience and time. The distinct edge makes it easy to transi tion from one paint colour to another. However, square drywall corners are highly susceptible to fractures and chipping.

• Rounded drywall corners have become a standard upgrade for modern homes be

cause they have a high-end feel. Additio nally, they aren’t as easily damaged as their square counterparts. They can help soften the sharp edges in a room to make it feel more inviting. However, installing baseboards around rounded corners can be difficult.

It’s essential to weigh the pros and cons be fore deciding on which type of drywall cor ner is right for you.

ARIES

You’ll face opposing views, and your plans could change more than once. You must be patient and wait for things to settle down to de termine which direction to finally take.

TAURUS

You may find it hard to strike the right balance in all aspects of your life. Adjusting a few minor details may allow you to achieve your goals. You must get more sleep to strengthen your immune system.

GEMINI

You may start your own business. You’ll discover new and ambitious professional goals that make you feel good. You’ll also meet the right people to partner with.

CANCER

You’ll stand out in a crowd of people or on social media. You’ll be very successful. You’ll also receive some form of distinction or nomination.

LEO

You must clean your home. Getting rid of clutter will free your mind from confusion. You may have to speak up in certain cir cumstances to keep your mind in check.

VIRGO

You may receive criticism or deal with people who intentionally don’t express themselves clearly, inviting confusion. If you’re patient and diplomatic, you’ll come out on top.

LIBRA

You’ll receive a large amount of money, such as an insurance claim or in heritance. You must be tactful in a situation that may cause a bit of impa tience on both sides.

SCORPIO

Channel some of your extra energy into doing physical activity; oth erwise, you may see your mood drop. You must let off some steam to feel better

SAGITTARIUS

Your mind will be full of ideas and concerns. You may contemplate starting a new career as fresh opportunities present themselves.

CAPRICORN

You’ll be surrounded by a crowd or participate in a wellattended work event. While this will benefit you professio nally and financially, meeting everyone’s demands will feel exhausting.

AQUARIUS

At this time of year, some companies are making significant changes. Despite the anxiety and worry, you’ll benefit from switch ing things up. You’ll rise to the top, while some colleagues may not.

PISCES

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647-722-6298 Some restrictions may apply. We reserve the right of refusal.

FOR SALE HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

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

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

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

Drivers needed for:

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

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FOR SALE WORSHIP

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SALES REPS WANTED

Five ways to help your home hold value in a down market

Increase curb appeal

CLEVE DeSOUZA

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

You finally found the home of your dreams. You ran the gauntlet of multiple viewings, making an offer, getting inspections, and securing a mortgage. You closed, moved in, and finally feel settled. Now that you have a little room to breathe, your atten tion turns toward maintaining your home’s value. Here are some tips to help you, even in a down market.

Add livable space

Many homes have unfinished spaces that are just waiting to be maximized. Base ments, attics, or even storage rooms can often be finished out to create more livable square footage. Adding an extra bedroom, family area, or bathroom could greatly raise the value of your home and make it more appealing if you have to sell. No unfinished space? Take the trend outdoors by add ing an outdoor kitchen or a beautiful new porch!

Oftentimes a home is considered less valu able simply because it isn’t all that pretty to look at on the outside. By adding addition al landscaping, installing accent lights, and doing a little bit of a facelift to your front door and porch, you might be surprised how much more your house could be worth. Go one step further and add some fun touches like a bright pillow to outdoor chairs or a seasonal wreath to the door.

Decorate for high impact

Interior designers who are hired to stage a home and help people sell know the value in adding accent pieces with a wow factor. You can do the same by creating a space that takes people’s breath away when they walk inside. Spend time using interior de cor to create focal points for key items in your home, like fireplaces, bay windows, a magnificent kitchen island, or extravagant master ensuite tub.

Help your neighbor

Even if your home is kept in pristine con dition, having a neighbor with a run-down property can detract from your home’s value. In many cases, homes can experi ence neglect because of an elderly person who can no longer manage the property themselves, or because of an illness or mis fortune. If possible, reach out and ask if you can help. By ensuring that your neighbor’s

home is neat and tidy, you will be protect ing the value of your own home.

Keep things updated

If your home is not brand new then it likely has some areas that could use a little up dating and renovating. Even small things, like replacing a dated light fixture or chang ing out cabinet pulls, can help your home maintain value over time. At the end of the day, buyers want spaces that feel fresh, and anything you can do to remodel as you go will add value.

Final thoughts

Generally speaking, it is a wise idea to re frain from selling a home during a down market. If your home is just no longer meet ing your needs, there may be investments that can be made to remedy this problem in your existing home and add value in the process. Adding a baby to the family? Per haps you can convert an unused space into a nursery. Working from home and need an office? Consider adding a small addition or installing an all-season room.

However, if selling is necessary, be sure to take the time to understand what buyers are looking for in the current market and invest accordingly to obtain the best-sell ing price possible.

How the envelope budgeting method works

The envelope budgeting method uses a cash-based approach to help people who strug¬gle with sticking to a budget to be more mindful of their spending. It allows you to physically see how much you spend.

Start by dividing your income into different spending categories, such as bills, gro¬ceries, savings, gas and en tertainment. You can tailor your catego ries to your specific situation. How-ever,

don’t forget to create envelopes for irre gular expenses, such as taxes, insurance and gifts.

Then, assign a certain amount of cash to each category. There’s no set amount. The dollar amount you place in each envelope should reflect your needs and personal goals. For example, if you spend $100 a week on groceries, put $400 in the grocery envelope for the month.

Once the envelope is empty, you can’t spend any more money in that cate gory until the new budget period begins. If you have money left over in any of the envelopes, you can either keep it in that envelope for next month or remove it and add it to your savings account or em ergency fund.

If you no longer use cash to pay bills, this method is easy to apply to a budgeting app.

The cost of just about everything is on the rise. Here are a few ways to protect your fi nances from the effects of inflation.

• Examine your spending and make a budget. Shop strategically and cut costs in certain areas to counteract ri sing prices.

• Find ways to reduce your debt load. Pay off high-interest debt like credit cards, lines of credit and personal loans.

• Diversify your investments. Stocks and mutual funds offer the best chance of beating inflation over the long term.

• Increase your active and passive in

come. Ask for a raise at work and find creative ways to bring in more money.

Finally, consider the big picture and don’t make drastic changes based on current in flation or changing market conditions.

Grow your wealth: protect your finances from inflation

How to prepare your car’s sunroof for winter

Your sunroof probably won’t get much use throughout the cold season. How¬e ver, it’s important to take the follo¬wing steps to ensure it remains in good condi tion.

• Clean the glass and wipe down the gasket around the sunroof with a soft cloth, automotive cleaner and toothbrush.

• Clean the sunroof’s slides and tracks and lubricate all moving parts with white lithium grease.

• Clear the sunroof trough with a ca nister of compressed air. Then, insert

a skinny, flexible, non-puncturing wire into the drains to remove stub born dirt and debris.

• Look for jagged edges or cracks along the sunroof’s seal and assess the area for any accumulated wat er or mould. If you notice any leaks, promptly get them fixed before the cold weather sets in.

Over the winter, carefully remove snow and ice from your sunroof using a soft brush or gloved hand. Don’t use an ice scraper or hard-bristled brush.

Expert tips to protect your windshield all year round

Your car’s windshield does more than let you see outside. It provides a significant amount of strength to the structural sup port in the cabin of the vehicle. Here are a few tips to keep it in good condition.

• Periodically wipe your wind¬shield with a microfibre cloth. This will help keep the glass clean and prevent the wipers from spreading dirt around.

• Regularly clean your wiper bla¬des with a soft cloth soaked in washer fluid to remove grease and dust.

• Replace your wiper blades as soon as they show signs of wear to prevent streaking.

• Maintain a safe following distance to reduce the risk of get¬ting hit by stones.

• Warm up your car gradually. Avoid forcing hot air onto the windshield as the temperature difference between the outside and inside of

the car could weaken the glass.

• Place a cardboard or anti-icing tarp over your windshield when the fore cast predicts rain or cold weather.

• Don’t use hot water to de-ice your windshield. The thermal shock can cause it to crack.

• Immediately repair chips or cracks in your windshield.

• Use a snow brush with a flexi¬ble Styrofoam edge. The brist¬les on tra ditional brushes can har-bour debris that could scratch your windshield.

• Use a seasonal windshield wa¬sher fluid. For example, winter washer fluid won’t freeze and re¬moves road salt, while summer washer fluid removes insects.

Visit a local autobody or glass re¬pair shop to have your wind¬shield inspec ted and repaired if necessary.