Barely Making It!

There are so many ways to describe this incredible woman that we will be featur ing this week, and while other writers fill their pages with adjectives describing a woman’s beauty, they struggle for ways to write about her intelligence, personality, or skills.

Our Woman Empowered doesn’t need to lift a car over her head to be strong; instead she shows her strength in a mea sured way, which is why her followers are caught up in her dynamic and captivating adventures.

When this sophisticated woman walks into a room, you can tell she is com fortable in her regalia. It’s not just about her clothing; it’s her mind and what she thinks about herself. You will never catch her wearing something that doesn’t suit her body type or style, no matter what. She knows how to be elegant by simply believ ing she looks good in her outfit. She has honed in on what looks good on her and perfected it. She stands tall, and her smile lights up a room like no other.

She innerstands the assignment, and she has goals that she wants to achieve, which helps with her confidence. She is so well put together that she always looks ready for anything, and everyone knows that a true lady is never caught off-guard, and even if she is, she doesn’t show it. She knows when to listen and when to speak up, so she always gets the most out of her social interactions with others.

Nicola Shaw (aka Nikki Hype) made her name in the international dance hall circuit by working assiduously on the scene from red carpet coverage to major stage shows for over fifteen years. It’s her down to earth charm, charisma and love of the culture that keeps her on top of the North American Dancehall lifestyle. Most recently, Nikki has been given an opportu nity that will assist in her ascension. We are going to talk a little more about that later in the feature, but for now I want to share with you a little bit from the in depth, and stimulating discussion that I had with her last week.

“I was Born in Spanish Town Ja maica, and when I was younger, I moved over to Clarendon,” Nikki begins. “I moved to Canada when I was 11 years old, but I didn’t see my mom for five years until she brought me over here.”

Nikki shares with me that she has always been interested in fashion, and in high school people began to notice her for this. It was her style that first got her no ticed, and how it took one picture to create the moniker Nikki Hype

“I remember one night my partner at the time and I were celebrating at a huge event at Paradise, and it was a big event.

Cameras were flashing, and pictures were being taken. In one the pictures ‘Picture Man Lolyd’ called me Nikki Girl Hype, and that is how it all began.”

Nikki’s star power was being seen throughout the community, and it got to the point that she didn’t have to stand in lines.

“My name was getting out there, and word about my fashionista style was getting out there. I also did hair, and people started to know me for that.”

One night she was at a party, and something happened that changed the tra jectory of her rise.

“Jeff from Nitro Sound, gave me the microphone one night, and from there it was off. It was something that came natu ral for me. For me to take the microphone and have people listen, it meant something. From that point on whenever I touch the mic, I make sure to say something meaning ful.

At first, women hear my name, and let’s be honest, they don’t know me. Some may say I am boasty, but it is just my personality. I have an alter ego, and this is the Hype. I have developed a thicker skin. When I am in an audience, I am seen and I am known.”

Nikki spoke to me about the love that she has for her number one cheerlead er, her mom.

“My support comes from home. My mom is my cheerleader, she prays for me. My mother and I are very close. She had me when she was 15 years old, so I know I can always go home to mom. It is be cause of her that I have a lot of faith in God.”

Nikki was invited to be part of a six-cast member reality show ensemble called “Dancehall Divas of Toronto.” Heath er Elliot of LHDT Productions saw some thing in Nikki and knew that she had to have her.

“I was part of the Dancehall Diva’s, because Heather believed in my talent and she saw big things for me. Even though I stepped away from the show, she still looked out for me. I started to travel to Ja maica a lot hosting parties, and my name started to hype out there. During this time is when I discovered that dancehall was my antidote. It helps me breathe.

I had stepped away from Dance hall Diva’s for a bit, and just before the pan demic, Heather reached out to me about being back on the show. I made the decision to go back because things had changed.”

That is not the only exciting news that Nikki had to share...

On December 26th, 2022, Nikki will be one of the emcees at the biggest dancehall shows on earth.

STING is a mega popular one-day

dancehall concert that started almost three decades ago, has been etched in the culture of Jamaican dancehall as the quintessential launch pad for many of Jamaica’s most pro lific dancehall acts. Ab sent from the concert scene for several years, STING is looking to make a big comeback this year.

Organizers of the event have ex pressed enthusiasm in welcoming a large dias pora contingent this year. The concert will take place at the Plantation Cove event venue in St Ann on Boxing Day, December 26th. This is the first time that the event will incorporate hosting talent from the Caribbean dias pora.

Nikki was recently tapped to be one of the emcees for the one-night show, not just because of her reign as the most revered dancehall emcee and party host in Canada, but perhaps more strategically as a nod to the closeknit Canadian dancehall community, that has long been a central player in the development and support of local and regional dancehall entertainment.

In speaking about her long anticipated dream to host a major show in Jamaica, Nikki shared, “I have been waiting for this moment since I started in Dancehall. I see my participation on this year’s show as an ode to the city that gave me my identity in entertainment, and I am excited to introduce myself to a whole new audience from around the world. This is a big deal to me and my Toronto Dancehall family”

If you ever want to feel a little of the Hype energy, you can find Nikki on her Instagram Live Show “Let’s Talk with Nikki Hype” on Monday’s at 8:00 pm. On her live show she talks about the good, the bad, and the ugly of dancehall, and gives watch ers an opportunity to weigh in.

The team at the Toronto Carib bean Newspaper is very proud of what you have accomplished, and Toronto is proud that our very own will be representing us in Jamaica at STING. Keep going sis; we got you!

Photo Credit: George Pimentel

Photo Credit: Evermore Media

Photo Credit: Myles “Jay” Joseph

Photographer: Phillip Miller

Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News

Photo Credit: Jerome Smith

SMITH

REPORTER

In February of this year, for the first time, our Canadian Government de clared a public order emergency and put in place emergency measures that restricted the rights and freedoms of all people in Canada, whether you believe it or not.

One of the measures was broad restriction on the freedoms of Canadi ans to assemble and protest. Free Ca nadians who decided to assemble, and exercise their Charter rights were pun ished by having their personal assets frozen with no notice, or due process.

These orders of emergency handed law enforcement agencies and financial institutions extraordinary powers. The government may have in tended these powers to be used in tar geted ways, but unfortunately that was not the case. Instead despite what was propagated about protestors on main stream media, law enforcement used these powers in a way that could defi nitely be seen as abusive.

On November 25th, 2022, Cara

Zwibel, Director of Fundamental Free doms for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), presented three submissions for the government to take into consideration.

“I have three submissions: First: the Emergencies Act does not allow for the suspension of Charter rights. In the absence of circumstances amounting to a national emergency, they would constitute serious restric tions on fundamental rights and free doms that are neither reasonable nor justified in a free and democratic so ciety. So the question; was there a na tional emergency that justified these measures?

The Canadian Civil Liberties As sociation respectfully submits that this question is important not only for what it says about the events of January and February of this year, but also because of what it signals to future governments about when extraordinary powers can be used and Parliamentary process can be bypassed to allow the government to rule by executive order.

Second, the government of Canada has offered a range of justifica tions for its decision to invoke the Act. Its primary justification is set out in its section 58 reports to Parliament.”

She goes on to explain that although the justification has evolved over time, its core elements are rela tively simple and remain mostly intact.

It focuses very heavily on economic disruption and harm. It also references concerns about:

• The possibility of serious violence either because of the presence of some violent extremists amongst otherwise non-violent protesters

• The possibility that the protests would provide a cover for a lone wolf attack or allow threat actors to recruit

• The concern that violence would erupt in clashes with counter-pro testers.

Cara continues, “Apart from the eco nomic concerns, the evidence on which the government relies to back up these claims is extremely thin. The law en forcement and intelligence agencies whose expertise should help inform the government’s decisions did not as sess the protests as giving rise to a seri ous threat of violence.

Parliament intentionally iden tified a public order emergency by ty ing it exclusively and exhaustively to the definition of threats to the security of Canada found in the CSIS Act. It re quires activities directed toward or in support of the threat or use of acts of serious violence against persons or property for the purpose of achieving a political, religious or ideological objec tive.

The Prime Minister agreed that

the threshold is no lower than the stan dard set out in the CSIS Act. In our sub mission, the government exceeded the bounds of the law in taking the steps it did.”

Cara acknowledges that the blockades and protests gave rise to serious harms to the people living in communities where they occurred, that they caused significant economic disruption, and that law enforcement agencies were not well prepared to ad dress them.

“The government was strug gling to get clear information from law enforcement about its plans and was wary of crossing the blurry line that risked undermining police operational independence. The government also felt a great deal of pressure to do some thing to address the situation and to be seen to be doing something. They in voked the Emergencies Act and hand ed law enforcement across the country sweeping and unnecessary new tools and a clear political mandate to use them.”

Cara concludes by sharing one of the core tenets of the CCLA, “It is the belief that the freedom of no one is safe unless the freedom of everyone is safe. We urge the Commission to bear this tenet in mind as it examines what the government did, and considers what future governments may do.”

“The freedom of

of everyone is safe!”

United States and Canada invests millions into Jamaica’ National Security

an News Global revealed that Jamaica will be able to access more global funding as a result of the climate finance strategy. Dr.Christian DaSilva, Head of Coopera tion, and Canadian High Commission in Jamaica made the announcement.

The Caribbean News Global made the an nouncement that the United States will make an additional investment of $34 million to Jamaica in a press release on Saturday, November 26th.

The funds will be earmarked for: violence reduction, combatting traffick ing, cyber security, energy security, and initiatives to boost the economy. Ambas sador Victoria Nuland, United States Un der Secretary of State for Political Affairs revealed details to Senator Kamina John son Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade during the US-Jamaica stra tegic dialogue held in downtown Kings ton.

There will be an extra $3.5 million in support that will go towards fighting violent crime and homicide as the state department’s bureau of international narcotics and law enforcement affairs in creases its budget by 200%. Ambassador Nuland stated,“ Our trafficking in persons office has committed US $7 million to helping Jamaica combat child trafficking through the Child Protection Compact Partnership.”

Furthermore, additional ben efits of the Jamaica-US partnership will facilitate support for: climate adaptation, strengthening of energy security and the development of clean energy projects. Through the help of the US law enforce ment, in cooperation with the Jamaican government there has been the extradi tion of 23 wanted criminals to the US.

It has been two years now since the US-Jamaica partnership has been in operation. They aim to advance shared interests in: security, prosperity and de mocracy in the Western atmosphere. The strengthening of data collection mecha nisms and sharing is intended to improve Jamaican law enforcement‘s ability to collect and retain fingerprints for use in criminal investigations.

On Sunday, November 27th, 2022 an article by Charnele Henry for Caribbe

The Global Affairs Canada (a de partment of the Government of Canada) will provide funds to the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) that will enable it to con ceptualize a plan that enables it to obtain additional global funding. Technical as sistance from two consultants will help to develop a climate finance strategy through the Planning Institute of Jamaica PIOJ) that will be under the Canada-CAR ICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism (CCEDM).

Dr.DaSilva is hopeful about this unique “assignment pipeline,” which he believes has the potential to smooth the way for more development assistance to flow for the Government of Canada. There has been international attention focused on COP27 which concluded re cently in Egypt. This development strat egy will go a long way to help to imple ment Jamaica’s climate objectives, and meet the Nationally Determined Contri butions (NDCs) and other commitments made under the Paris Agreement.

At a recent “Think Tank ‘’ by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) focus was on CCEDM. Dr.DaSilva observes that for the establishment of creative global financing, Jamaica must be uniquely po sitioned to access this additional funding. He states, “It’s going to take some time, but once that strategy is in place, I think the value of the consultancy could be multiplied by a hundred-fold in terms of the kind of finance that would flow to the government to help implement climate action.”

Barbara Scott (Deputy Director General, External Cooperation Manage ment and Project Development, PIOJ) acknowledged that gaps would be ob served with respect to current climate ac tion. She states, “What is needed is for a scan to be done for us to look at all the projects that are being implemented, the areas that are being addressed, and where the gaps are, and then putting in place a strategic framework which shows, based on our commitments, these are the priority areas which needed to be ad dressed in the short and medium term.”

Comedy Invasion; Series featuring disabled, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or female Canadian comedians

enous Canadian, Yumi Nagashima, a Japanese Canadian, Karla Marx, a transgender drag queen activist, DJ On, who identifies as queer and Asian, Alisha Dhillon, who holds a dual South American and Canadian citizenship, Victoria Banner, who is bisexual, and David Tong (aka Peter Chao), who is a sensation on social media.

that’s a realistic costume, the wheel chair is so real,” one of Walsh’s jokes in regards to her wheelchair.

Throughout her routine, Walsh’s jokes also centered around: well-known Canadian stores, her re lationship life, cities in Ontario, other holidays, and her family just to name a few.

Walsh also wants to be an in spiration to young disabled children who also have dreams of having a ca reer in the media. She hopes this will lead to more television opportunities as she enjoyed filming for Comedy In vasion.

Canada has a very diverse population of people who are from all different walks of life. A new stand-up com edy show will be displaying a diverse representation of talented comedi ans from a variety of different back grounds.

Starting on November 29th at midnight, comedy lovers will get to see Canadian comedians take the stage in a half-hour set for a new se ries called Comedy Invasion.

The series will feature Ca nadian comedians who identify as: disabled, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or female from different Canadian cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Cal gary.

The comedians who will be starring in the show are: Desiree Walsh, who lives with cerebral palsy, Keith “Bubbas” Nahanee, an Indig

On November 23rd, 2022, six days before the show’s release, mem bers of the media were given the chance to see an episode of the show in a press and industry screening.

The press and industry screen ing played an episode featuring Desi rée Walsh who has been doing com edy for five years.

During Walsh’s episode, her stand-up routine opened up with a joke about wanting to get a wish through the Make-A-Wish foundation as an adult.

She also joked about how odd it is for a person in a wheelchair to en joy a holiday that’s centered around stairs and how she enjoys the holiday more as an adult than she did as a child.

“When I would go to the bar with my friends, one of you walk ies would always be like, oh my God

After the screening, attendees had the chance to learn about what went into the creation of Comedy In vasion and learn about how Walsh got into comedy.

Walsh, who was working at a bank at the time, got into comedy through a friend’s roommate’s nowhusband who used to do stand-up comedy at a Second City in the Toron to area.

“I want to meet a husband too,” Walsh said jokingly.

Even though she did not meet anyone romantically when she went to Second City, Walsh overall enjoys doing comedy a lot more.

What Walsh is excited about from this opportunity is to be a repre sentation for the disabled community and use her platform to address how there is a lack of media representation for those who identify as disabled.

Comedy Invasion is a Canadi an spinoff of Comedy InAsian, which premiered in 2018 on Hulu and aired its second season in May of this year on Peacock and Tubi.

Both shows were produced by Margie Films (a Canadian production company owned by filmmaker and the series director Quentin Lee) and distributed by Margin Films LTD (an independent film production studio and all-rights distributor based in Los Angeles).

Lee wanted to create a Cana dian version of the show to highlight the talent of Canadian comedians like how he highlighted the talent of Asian comedians in his original series.

For those interested in watch ing Comedy Invasion, the series will be airing on AAM.tv (also founded by Quentin Lee), Amazon Prime, Tubi, Roku, and many other streaming ser vices.

TC REPORTER

FDA declares lab-grown chicken

MICHAEL THOMAS

michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The U.S. government, namely the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has re cently given the green light to an artificial meat manufacturing company named “Upside Foods” to introduce and feed the public with lab-grown synthetic chicken.

The FDA described the process with these words, Upside Foods “Will use animal cell culture technology to take liv ing cells from chickens and grow the cells in a controlled environment to make the cultured animal cell food.”

Even though the FDA‘s approval is significant, the product is not yet ap proved to be sold on the market. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Food Safety and Inspection Service still must approve Upside Foods before this pro cess is fully completed.

In this article, it is important to look at who Upside Foods is, what exact ly their intentions are and who the play ers behind this group are.

Upside Foods is already brag ging on their website even though the full approval has not been granted, here is a quote from them.

“This landmark regulatory deci sion means the FDA accepts our safety conclusion, and Upside’s cultivated chicken will be available following USDA inspection and label approval.”

Who is Upside? A Californiabased food-tech firm with huge plans to feed humanity with artificial meat prod ucts all in the name of saving the envi ronment and climate change.

Speaking of change, in 2019, it was re vealed that Memphis Meats — the for mer name of Upside Foods before a 2021 rebrand was employing CRISPR as part of its process for curating lab-grown meat, and even received a patent for this pur pose.

Here are some of the methods that Upside will employ in the produc tion of such meats.

This company claims that culti vating lab-grown meat will save animals, not considering that the bovine serum used as part of this process requires that animals be slaughtered.

It is now easy to see why Jaydee Hanson, policy director for the Center for Food Safety, questioned the FDA’s “premarket consultation.

The Center for Food Safety ques tioned the FDA’s regulatory process, and called this “experimental product” “woe fully deficient.”

“The FDA, in this case, seemed to mostly review what the company sent them, but did not require additional tests and did not require the company to disclose its methods in a complete and transparent manner,” Hanson said.

The Center for Food Safety ex pressed its disappointment in the FDA’s statement which said, it has ‘no further questions about this experimental prod uct’s safety, and thinks that the public deserves much better from the FDA.

Upside notes that it uses genetic engineering to keep the cells growing, however, it does not share which genes are being used. This is crucial information that consumers and policymakers need to know to make informed decisions in the best interests of public health.

Hanson also has concerns about the use of genetically engineered cells as part of the production process, revealing that such cells “can promote cancers”

Now that who Upside is, and what they are about is clear; it is time to look carefully at the investors and back ers behind this plan to feed humanity “make-believe meat.”

The list goes like this: Cargill, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, and Kimbal Musk (brother of Elon Musk) are some of the players who were brought on board in 2017 as investors.

Anyone who understands what Bill Gates is about will not be surprised that now he is bought into the gene-ed iting sector as well.

According to Upside Foods, other investors in the company include: Tyson Foods, the world’s largest poultry producer, Whole Foods, which is owned by Jeff Bezos, and Amazon and Whole Foods CEO John Mackey.

Gates, Branson, Cargill, Tyson Foods, and Kimbal Musk invested in Up side during its Series B funding round in 2020. This is a project, which raised $161 million.

It is especially important to note that Kimbal Musk was named 2017 Social Entrepreneur by the Schwab Foundation, a sister organization to the World Eco nomic Forum.

The WEF has repeatedly praised lab-grown meat, claiming it “Can help end hunger.”

In closing, no one can deny that Bill Gates and Klaus Schwab are in the business of depopulation, therefore, the rest of us, especially if we eat chicken, beef, or seafood, must do our homework, and know where, and from whom our food supply comes.

safe to eat but consumers, is it really?

Inflationary pressures along with economic uncertainty are disproportionately impacting Canadians

it “likely.” The vast majority answered that it was “somewhat likely” (44%) or “likely” (42%).

This survey was conducted after a Royal Bank of Canada report that Canada could be headed for a recession as early as the first quarter of 2023. That same report found that the average Canadian house hold could lose $3,000 of buying power next year.

this year, with 46% believing it will help them get better deals. 72% will shift to other brands if their preferred one is too expensive, 70% will buy from retailers that sell at the lowest possible prices, 69% and seek out sale items.

Three more weeks until Christmas; you take a look at your bank account, and you are dismayed because with energy bills soaring, food prices at a peak, and infla tion sucking the last cent out of your ac count, you have no idea how you are go ing to buy gifts for your loved ones this Christmas.

While there is so much joy and ex citement at Christmastime, it can also be a source of anxiety if you lack the funds to give your family the Christmas you want. Yes, we know that Christmas is not just about gift giving, but everyone loves the idea of receiving and giving the perfect gift.

This year, some of us are going to be trying to figure out how to provide a nice Christmas meal for our loved ones; that alone is going to be a financial burden if you don’t have a lot of money. After pay ing for housing, energy, gas, groceries and other monthly bills, most of us are left with an increasingly smaller amount of money for discretionary expenses. And some of us aren’t even spending that money at all - but rather saving it to weather the storm that is ahead.

The word “recession,” has been floating around the alternative and main stream media loop, and the question has come up, “Are we in a recession?”

A survey conducted by Nanos Re search on behalf of CTV News asked more than 1,000 Canadians if they believed it was likely Canada would have a recession next year. The results came back that 9 out of 10 Canadians believe there could be a recession in 2023, with 4 out of 10 calling

Yes folks, inflation is making peo ple more price-sensitive, and eight out of ten consumers will cut spending if the economy continues to get worse. What does this mean for retailers?

1,700 Canadian consumers and 700 Canadian small businesses were sur veyed on their outlook on Christmas. The results of the new Intuit QuickBooks Holi day Shopping Survey highlighted how fragile consumer confidence and demand for competitive pricing could spoil the holiday season for retailers. If the econ omy worsens this year, 84% of Canadian consumers plan to reduce their holiday spending. 67% of consumers are planning to buy fewer gifts for friends and family to mitigate financial impact.

Deloitte Canada’s Holiday Retail Outlook reveals consumer spending na tionwide will substantially drop this holi day season to levels below 2020. Accord ing to the report, inflationary pressures along with economic uncertainty are disproportionately impacting Canadians across different income levels and spend ing cuts will impact: restaurants, travel, groceries, and will span across several sec tors as consumer sentiment continues to wane.

The report found:

• 48% of Canadians expect the econo my to be worse in 2023, and 41% have seen their household finances worsen this year

• Overall holiday spending will fall 17% this year, to $1,520, with the biggest cuts in non-gift electronics (-55%), travel (-30%), and non-gift clothing (-27%)

• 37% of consumers will shop earlier

• 76% of survey respondents expect prices to rise this holiday season and, 68% question if retailers may be rais ing prices more than needed, a con cern that has been creating tensions across industries. Additionally, supply chain challenges have trained con sumers to find substitutes, with 61% indicating they’ll try new brands if what they want is out of stock

The current economic situation has left both traders and consumers dismayed. Traders say that due to the rising price, retail shops are losing business. On the flip side, consumers say that despite no change in incomes, expenditures keep in creasing, and this is putting undue stress on consumers.

Consequently, even some of the biggest companies in North America are suffering from declining sales, shrinking profits and weaker earnings results. Many of them were already barely making it after two very complicated years for our economy with: a pandemic, supply chain problems, inflation and soaring commod ity prices making conditions extremely difficult for these businesses.

Even big names such as McDon alds and Disney have been closing several locations in an attempt to cut costs and survive the downturn that is unfolding before our eyes. Some of the other larger corporations who have been closing loca tions nationwide include:

• Best Buy

• Microsoft

• Bath & Body Works

• Chipotle

• Office Depot

• Gap

• AT&T

• Sally Beauty Supply

If this is not scary to you, it should be. When even some of the biggest brands out there are being forced to make some deep cuts to reduce operational costs, slashing jobs and closing up shop in the process, then you know for a fact that the storm is com ing. The worst part is that conditions aren’t likely to get any better for consumers or businesses any time soon.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has warned consumers and businesses to postpone large purchases during the holi day season in anticipation of an economic recession. In an interview with CNN, he advised consumers to keep their cash safe and avoid unnecessary spending. Due to the recession fear, he advised Americans to avoid purchasing high-ticket items such as expensive cars and televisions.

“If you’re an individual consider ing purchasing a big-screen TV, you might want to wait, hold onto your money, and see what transpires. The same is true with: a new automobile, refrigerator, or what ever else. Just remove some risk from the equation.”

Many small businesses, especially retailers, rely heavily on holiday season revenue. In fact, 80% of the small business es surveyed say the 2022 holiday season is more important to their overall financial health than last year’s holiday season. The stakes are high. What can small businesses do to get ahead of these trends?

One way out of this pinch is to support your small businesses and “BUY LOCAL!” There is a potential $10 billion op portunity for Canadian small businesses if consumers direct their holiday spending to support local businesses.

This year, Canadians should start turning to small businesses as the go-to destination to secure the perfect, unique holiday gift. Small business owners can unwrap success by equipping their busi ness with the right tools and resources.

We are in for a rough ride; so hold on, buckle down, and make the best of the holiday season as you possibly can.

North America will experience a winter it may not forget easily

STEVEN KASZAB steven@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

ful. Just ask the citizens of Buffalo - Niag ara Region who just experienced historic snow falls, especially around the Great Lakes. They are having snowfall as high as 211 inches, with an average snowfall of 79 inches within hours. Climactic episodes like this present us with many questions and concerns about public and private actions needed to take place, so we will all be safe.

Severe snow falls happen when high levels of moisture are present in the air, and driven upward by high winds freeze, falling as hail and snow. This winter season has such high levels of moisture. La Nina is back this winter, the third year of this weather pattern. There is a large sup ply of warm air available that can and will be moving into cold masses producing precipitation.

tection. Last year the US Insurance Industry experienced historic financial draws upon its reserves, caused by: hurricanes, twist ers, demanding winter snowfalls with se vere weather, flooding in the off seasons, and droughts throughout the west and southern regions. Canada has experienced weather severity on both coasts, while the western region experienced droughts in the summer (wildfires), and severe cold in the winter.

The public needs to “Hope for the best, be prepared for the worst.” What can the public do to be prepared?

• Get weather, natural disaster property insurance. No one expects the roof to collapse until six feet of snow in oneday drops onto it

properly installed. It is a good weather survival tool

• Stay informed through media, news and personal contacts about weather events and patterns

• Create a family - neighbourhood weather watch and support group

• Have propane, BBQ, lighting, batteries and cooking-heating equipment avail able at first need

The weather services warn us that our winter will be severely cold, and with the high degree of moisture within our weather systems, snow will be plenti

A coast-to-coast survey of 1,508 Canadians commissioned by First Onsite Property Restoration this spring has shown just how concerned Canadians are about their weather experiences, and the fear of not being prepared for whatever is to come. A concern for how, why and if the in surance industry will be able to assist those inflicted by weather damage annually.

Whatever the natural disaster or weather event, a massive stress has been placed upon our assurance of financial pro

• Take the time to insulate all exposed and interior pipes, walls and attic areas. While in the attic inspect for mould, the presence of animals and undo moisture

• Make a habit of inspecting your home and property, especially before and during a weather event

• Have appropriate medical supplies and training should you be called upon to serve

• If possible, get a generator and have it

There is an Arctic Vortex hovering above the North Pole, keeping the cold weather up there, but this vortex can extend at times as far as Texas. The Farmer’s Alma nac has warned us of the approaching re cord breaking cold, spooning southward. The EU and UK will also experience colder weather, with active weather events chal lenging the region and possibly threaten ing their populations.

Overall plunging temperatures and above average snowfall is expected, with multiple storms within the Gulf and Southern Regions of America. The greater the moisture count in our atmosphere, the greater the chance that North America will experience a winter it may not forget easily.

It has been four years now since the Afri can-Canadian Christian Network (ACCN) launched its first robotic team. In addi tion to facilitating the Independent School 2023 Program, the ACCN has been involved in several initiatives over the years. During the summer of 2022, it hosted a free virtual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Camps that featured CODING 2 & CAD (Computer Aided Design).

In 2018, with the assistance of First Robotics Canada (FRC) and Ryerson University, the ACCN launched a Robotics team called ACCN Techtronix. It consisted of 25 youths from different areas in Toronto

who were mentored by engineering stu dents. The team went on to win the Design Challenge in 2018 and by 2019. Thanks to the support of the FRC and the University of Toronto Scarborough, another team was created. It was named UMOJA FRC team 7712, and it provided opportunities for more Black youth to become involved in Robotics.

There is a testimonial from Dr.Walter and Erica Joseph whose daugh ter participated in the inaugural Robotic Team on the website; It reads, “It is a tre mendous opportunity to have my daugh ter involved in the TECHTRONIX. The expe rience is helping her to expand her passion for building, and has strengthened her ability to work within a team, in addition to helping to prepare for a future career in electrical engineering.

It is an invaluable life experience that is helping to inspire and equip her to be a leader in the field of science and tech nology. We encourage every parent to con sider getting their children involved in this program, and to watch with excitement

the tremendous difference it makes in their lives.”

In a GoFundMe campaign launched in 2021 titled, “Supporting Umo ja Robotics” to raise funds for its Robotics team UMOJA which competed in the 2021 First Robotics competition. They raised $ 6,000 out of a goal of $15,000. The cam paign states, “We are pursuing the Game Design challenge, which is an opportunity for teams to design a FIRST Robotics Com petition game and compete against other teams for a chance to pitch their game to the FIRST Robotics Competition Game De sign Team.”

As the first and only black robotics community team in Canada ACCN intends to address the under-representation of Black youths in STEM fields by encouraging their participation in these technical fields. They want to create equitable spaces for young people and dismantle systems that are barriers to their success. We want to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators by en gaging them in exciting mentor-based

programs that foster well-rounded life ca pabilities including: self-confidence, com munication, and leadership.

On Saturday, November 19th, 2022, the ACCN hosted a free community Robotics Event at Black Creek Community Centre in York Gate Mall. It was titled, “U BOT U CAN” and it provided opportunities for the Black community to: meet the Ro botics team, hear from First Robotics Cana da, and test drive the robot, and sign up for the UMOJA Robotics team.

On Saturday, November 26th, 2022, meeting #1 was held for the ACCN Robotics UMOJA Pre-season at the York University Bergeren Centre for Engineering Excellence.

Parents, past team numbers, and future members were invited to learn about the plans for the 2023 UMOJA Ro botics Team.

Anyone interested in learning about the UMOJA Robotics Team can check: Website:accntoronto.com Facebook: African Canadian Christian Net work (ACCN)

“U BOT U CAN!” ACCN addresses the under-representation of Black youths in STEM fields

PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Reggae legends Serani and Gyptian bring summer vibes this winter

their parts for the track.

SYDNEE WALCOTT

With the beginning of the winter season being right around the corner, a new dancehall track is set to make people feel like summer has returned.

As people gear up to celebrate the final holiday season of the year, reg gae legends Serani and Gyptian are bringing those fun and positive summer vibes back with the release of their debut dancehall party anthem “She’s Got It.”

“It’s a musical adventure,” said Gyptian when sharing how he felt about working with Serani. He even described how collaboration between the two of them was overdue.

Gyptian described both himself and Serani as cool dudes who were able to bring in natural positive vibes as two of them were in the studio doing each of

Happiness is what Gyptian wants listeners to feel when they listen to the track because happiness is what Jamai can music is all about. He also wants viewers to use their music as a learning tool and learn something while they en joy their music.

Gyptian also touched on the subject matter featured in a lot of newer songs, and the negative messages these songs can send to listeners. These nega tive messages in songs usually include lyrics that promote violence and lyrics that promote mistreatment and degrad ing towards women.

“Music is what speaks to every nation,” said Gyptian who shared that having songs with positive messages will bring people back onto the right path.

“Whenever you’re bringing something new, you have to have all the antidotes, and all the ingredients,” said Gyptian. With underground music now making its way to the forefront through exploitation, Gyptian shared how impor tant it is to understand what goes into making certain types of music operate.

Gyptian had no problem col

laborating with Serani in the feature, be cause they both complement each other and make a good team.

The song was released in late November, and produced by Trizo of Konsequence Muzik, and distributed by ONErpm Afro-Caribbean.

The music video for the track is posted on Gyptian’s VEVO page on You tube and has racked up over 186,000 views so far.

Since childhood, both artists have always been passionate about mu sic and were supported by their parents to pursue their dreams.

2005 was the year when Gyptian made his way into the limelight with the release of his song “Serious Times.” The song became a mega hit that year and the Jamaica Observer Newspaper cited him as the Best New Artist of 2005 in his home country Jamaica.

“Hold Yuh,” one of Gyptian’s most well-known songs, was released in the summer of 2010 and became a Bill board hit reaching 77 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, and 69 on Canadian Hot 100.

The song is now certified gold in

the United States and certified platinum in the United Kingdom.

Gyptian’s other popular hits in clude: “Keep Your Calm,” “I Can Feel Your Pain,” and “Love Against The Wall.”

Before he became a singer, Sera ni started as a producer during the mid2000s. He co-produced Billboard-top ping hits like Sean Paul’s “We Be Burnin” and Tony Matterhorn’s “Dutty Whine.”

Serene struck gold as an artist when he released his 2008 Dancehall track “No Games.” The song charted at number 53 on the Billboard Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop chart.

The track’s success led to him being signed to Universal Records be fore setting into a joint-based label with Phase One Record.

The song is now certified plati num in the United Kingdom.

Serani received another ma jor boost in his music career in 2019 for Burna Boy’s song “Secret” which features both Serani and US singer Jeremiah.

Serani is determined to see his career soar as he is currently dabbling with different genres for several albums.

SIMONE

SMITH

simone@carib101.com

Bing! Your phone goes off, and you go to check your text.

“We are pleased to announce that because of the high cost of heating in the province of Ontario, Doug Ford has recently introduced a one-time pay ment for all Ontario households. (Reply “INFO” to complete your one-time pay ment)”

“Well that is incredible,” you say to yourself. It is the Christmas Season, this is a perfect time for the government to be providing this payment, and you

start to reply “INFO…”

STOP!

The Ontario Energy Board is reporting a 25% increase in energy scams in recent months. Scammers are using phone calls, texts, emails, social media ads, and home visits.

Scammers are becoming more creative, which means residents need to keep their guard up. They might pretend to be: the government, your bank, your employer, someone that you owe mon ey to, or even an old friend. Scammers use phone calls, emails, or fake websites to trick you into sharing your personal information. These tricks are sometimes called “phishing.”

Statistics from the Canadian An ti-Fraud Centre show 2021 was a historic year for reported frauds, with losses totalling $379-million. Of that $379-mil lion, Ontario residents represented $142

million in losses reported to the Cana dian Anti-Fraud Centre in 2021. It is es timated that only 5% of victims report their frauds to law enforcement or the CAFC.

The Ontario Ministry of Energy and the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) are working together on a campaign to raise awareness of scams. They are aware that scammers in Ontario are using aggressive tactics and targeting vulnerable populations, often to push them into signing contracts.

Their awareness campaign slo gan is “Don’t be afraid to say No,” and they have provided a series of facts and talking points for your use:

• Frauds are being presented through phone calls, texts, emails, social me dia ads, and home visits

• Some involve messages from com panies who claim to be affiliated

with, or endorsed by, the OEB

• Some companies falsely include the OEB’s name and logo in their mes saging

Others claim to offer rebates or to help consumers apply for financial assistance under energy bill payment assistance programs like the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) or the Low-in come Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).

Don’t be afraid to say no. Energy utilities, the Ontario Energy Board and the government do not phone, email, or text to promote energy saving pro grams, or to offer an in-home inspec tion. We encourage people to talk with friends or family members who might be more vulnerable to scammers.

You can contact the Ontario Energy Board at 1-877-632-2727 or visit oeb.ca/scams to learn more.

“Don’t be afraid to say No!” The Ontario Ministry of Energy and the Ontario Energy Board raise awareness of scams

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

A multitude of studies have shown that African Caribbean’s experience dispari ties in health outcomes when compared to the Canadian population at large. Heart disease and stroke are among the leading causes of death among Canadi ans and African-Caribbean communities and are among those with the greatest increases in risk factors for: heart disease and stroke such as hypertension, diabe tes, chronic stress, and obesity.

One suggested on-going stress or is anti-Black racism, which we believe is a major contributing factor to the dis parities in health that African-Caribbean people experience. Living with both soci etal and personal racism has been shown to worsen multiple chronic illnesses.

Another theory is one that sur rounds the “Health Immigrant Effect,” in which foreign-born individuals arrive in Canada in better health than Canadian natives, but experience significant health declines as they settle in, and immerse themselves into the Canadian lifestyle.

In a research study titled, “Chron ic health disparities among refugee and immigrant children in Canada,” adult newcomers aged 15 years and older selfassessed their health status and noted that they experienced significant health

declines within as little as 2-4 years after their arrival in Canada.

Compared with those born in Canada, recent newcomers experienced a lower incidence of chronic diseases in cluding: heart disease, cancer, and dia betes; however they experienced a slow increase in the incidence of chronic dis eases over 20-25 years until it was at the same rate as those who were Canadian born.

When and where ethnic Carib bean’s migrate to and emigrate from matters in health statuses. Knowing this has implications for policies related to health and well-being in support of eth nic Caribbean origin individuals who re locate to Canada.

Differences in health among mi grant groups are related to the length of stay in host countries. We examined the health of people reporting Carib bean ethnic origins within and outside of Canada; and the possible associations between length of stay and poorer physi cal and mental health outcomes.

The Healthy Immigrant Children study examined the health and nutrition al status of 300 immigrant and refugee children aged 3–13 years who had been in Canada for less than five years. Many newcomers spoke about their struggles to attain their desired standard of living.

In another study titled, “National origins, social context, timing of migra tion and the physical and mental health of Caribbeans living in and outside of Canada”, analyses were conducted on population data collected in Canada (2000/2001, 2003, 2005), Jamaica (2005) and Guyana (2005). Physician-diagnosed

and self-rated health measures were used to assess physical and mental health sta tuses.

Rates of chronic conditions were generally higher among people report ing Caribbean ethnic origins in Canada compared to those living in the Carib bean region. Self-rated fair or poor gen eral health rates, however, were higher among participants in the Caribbean re gion.

Then there is the mental health aspect of this. Higher rates of any mood disorders were also found among Carib bean region participants in comparison to those in Canada. Logistic regression analyses revealed that new Caribbean immigrants (less than 10 years since im migration) in Canada had better physical health than those who were more estab lished.

Those who immigrated more than 20 years ago showed consistently better health conditions than those who had immigrated between 11 and 20 years ago. This healthy immigration effect, however, was not present for all chronic conditions among all Caribbean origin migrant groups. Mood disorders were highest among new immigrants com pared to older immigrants.

I looked at a final study titled, “Common mental health problems in immigrants and refugees: general ap proach in primary care, and the spoke of migration trajectory being divided into three components: pre-migration, mi gration and post-migration resettlement, with each phase being associated with specific risks and exposures.”

The prevalence of specific types

City of Toronto Archives hosts Black Women in Leadership Photography Exhibition

PAUL JUNOR

It was an inspiring and uplifting evening on Saturday, November 19th, 2022, when the City of Toronto Archives hosted the Black Women in Leadership Photogra phy Exhibition. The opening reception was held at 255 Spadina Rd and will run until August 2023. It is free to attend and is open to the public Monday to Fri day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At the open ing event, there were about 50 people in attendance who circulated with the individuals who were part of the exhibi tion whose pictures were prominently displayed.

The exhibition was made pos sible due to funding from the Canadian Heritage Community Support, Multicul turalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Pro gram. In the promotional booklet, which was present at the opening reception, it highlighted the team at the Black Art

ists’ Network in Dialogues (BAND) gallery and Cultural Centre which is led by Kar en Carter. Karen is the Director and Cofounder of BAND. In the description of the exhibition, the promotional booklet describes in detail its significant contri butions.

It states, “There is very little of fered for public consumption or reflec tion on Black female leaders, artists, revolutionaries, change makers, visionar ies, and other authorities spanning every discipline in Canada: bringing into ques tion who holds this type of knowledge and records and tasks us in finding ways in which we can give it back to the com munity to both empower and educate.” It notes that the purpose of the exhibi tion “sought to address this gap with this project ad celebrate the decades of work and the legacies of these women. Pho tographs, written and oral stories, and personal memories are all records that we can learn from. It is important that we know our history. We can learn a lot from these women and from the ways in which they have influenced change.”

The exhibition features more than Black women leaders, many of whom came to prominence in the 1950s and 1980s. It was during this time period

that there were many fundamental politi cal, social, cultural, and economic chang es during this time in Canada.

Some of the women include: Camille Orridge and Chris Leanard who did vital political work during the AIDS epidemic, Gloria Swain and Dr.Beverley Bain who demonstrated against police violence for marginalized communities, Vivine Scarlett and Charmaine Headley’s contributes to the Toronto dance and ar tistic community, Rosemary Sadlier; past president of the OBHS and Paulette Se nior, President and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation.

The exhibition featured the work of four Toronto-based visual artists. They include:

• Janice Reid - portrait photographer who focuses on Black female sub jects

• Jon Blak - works as an artist and edu cational outreach mentor to at-risk youth

• Leyla Jeyte - a Somali Canadian vi sual artist showcases experiences of Black women

• Patrica Ellah – a Nigerian Canadian artist focused on recording and cel

of mental health problems is influenced by adversity experienced before, during and after resettlement. Specific challeng es in migrant mental health include:

• Communication difficulties because of language and cultural differences

• The effect of cultural shaping of symptoms and illness behaviour on diagnosis

• Coping and treatment

• Differences in family structure and process affecting adaptation

• Acculturation

• Intergenerational conflict

• Aspects of acceptance by the receiv ing society that affect employment, social status and integration.

In order to address these issues, a com prehensive policy model has been rec ommended to make immigrant health a priority for both federal and provincial governments, including a migrant sensi tive health strategy complemented by mandatory cultural sensitivity training for providers and administrators, and the inclusion of migrant-specific variables in the national health census.

Included in this model there could be a systematic inquiry into pa tients’ migration trajectory and subse quent follow-up on culturally appropri ate indicators of: social, vocational and family functioning over time that will allow clinicians to recognize problems in adaptation and undertake: mental health promotion, disease prevention or treat ment interventions in a timely way.

ebrating community

The exhibition was curated by Sarah Edo and Belinda Uwase. In their curatorial es say in the promotional booklet, they pro vided informative information about the project.

They wrote, “This exhibition is rooted in Black pride and the exploration of the professional portrait making process. The Black Women in Leadership project was conceptualized in 2019 and focuses on addressing a gap in archives and pub lic records about Black women who have been influential leaders in our communi ties.” In shedding more light, they note,” The women represented in this exhibit are all exemplary leaders in their respec tive fields and communities, these wom en also serve as a reminder that the path to success for each of us can be vastly different. Representation allows us to ap preciate both the diversity and complex ity of the past and the potential of our futures. Black women are not a monolith, and neither are their stories.”

Anyone interested in the Black Women in Leadership Exhibition can view it online: bandgallery.com/black-women-in-lead ership-introduction

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Why do Caribbean’s experience disparities in health outcomes when compared to the larger Canadian population?

Linguistic racism in Canada; how it has reared its ugly head in more visible ways

ciety.

Linguistic racism has reared its ugly head in more visible ways recently. These racist acts can be overt or covert in nature. On an overt level, others may openly mock speakers. On a covert level, they may be told that they are unintelli gible because they speak with an accent.

make decisions about how to linguistical ly present themselves to others in order to avoid discrimination. Doing this may:

• Diminish the congruence between a person’s perceived authentic self and outward presentation

• Require additional cognitive effort

forming to context-specific standards of appropriateness (Flores & Rosa, 2015).

Canada is a multicultural country, and Canadians come from a vast range of: na tions, races, religions and heritage, and as a result, a diverse population is now one of the distinctive features of Canadian so ciety.

It is unfortunate that amongst the main forms of racism that exist in Canada, there is one specific type that is not highlighted or discussed. It is a form of discrimination that targets the cultural and linguistic practices of the BIPOC com munity. It is when languages and varia tions are undervalued and seen as infe rior to dominant, mainstream languages, such as standard English used predomi nantly by White, affluent members of so

In extreme cases, speakers of minoritized languages have been told to undergo accent reduction training so they can become intelligible and there fore be understood by others. These of fers are disguised and framed as “friendly advice” supposedly with good intentions of helping an individual advance socially.

I came across a research study that focused on this topic and shed light on “Social Cognitive and Affective Ante cedents of Code Switching and the Con sequences of Linguistic Racism for Black People and People of Color.” In the re view, they explicitly link a racial linguistic perspective that examines the on-going social and historically constructed rela tionship between language and race in the minds of perceivers and some psy chological mechanisms that may be in volved in the linguistic choices people make, and the consequences of these lin guistic choices.

On a day-to-day basis, people

• Result in added stress and negative health effects

It is why BIPOC individuals who live in North America may revert to code switching. Code switching describes the act of alternating between languages, or dialects of the same language (Gumperz, 1977). It is practiced at the individual lev el, and at the level of a community, and aids in establishing social boundaries during interactions and between group members.

Related constructs to code switching within psychology include:

• Cross-cultural code switching

• Cultural frame switchings

• Shifting

• Passing

All of these constructs involved the idea of altering aspects of oneself (e.g., speech, behaviour, mannerisms) in service of con

Although code switching has re ceived little attention in affective science, recent theoretical and empirical work has shed some light on decisions people make about how they are linguistically present in society. You would be sur prised at the extent that people manage their own impressions in the eyes of oth ers while also figuring out the thoughts, feelings, and intentions of one’s interac tion.

So, now that we have placed a spotlight on this topic, how do we tackle this at the societal level?

A good starting point would be to acknowledge the existence of a racebiased monolingual standard ideology that favours white, affluent mainstream speakers. We need to recognize that it is not uncommon for multilingual speakers to shuttle back and forth between dif ferent languages and language varieties when they communicate with other mul tilingual speakers.

In the long term, linguistic shame and guilt must be replaced by linguistic pride. Embracing and harnessing differ ent languages and language varieties can be a win-win situation for everyone.

Government of Canada releases fall economic statement to support small business

• Introduction of a new Tax-Free First Home Savings

• Eliminate interest on the federal por tion of Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans

• Create a new, quarterly Canada Work ers Benefit

In November 2022, Chrystia Freeman, Deputy Prime of Canada and Minister of Finance released the 2022 Fall Economic Statement (FES).

There were significant changes announced to help Canadians maintain the recovery from the: economic, social, and financial fallouts from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government announced it would engage in the following:

• Continue EI and pension payments

• Enhance veteran’s benefits

• Double the Canada Student Grant

• Enhance the Canada Workers Benefit

• Increase both Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement

• Deliver a Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit

In addition 4.2 million Canadians will see an increase in their pay, and 11 million struggling Canadians will receive more financial assistance. The Fall Economic Statement acknowledges that the April 2022 budget anticipated reducing Cana da’s deficit to a mere 2% of GDP this year. It is now predicted that it will be 1.3% of the $2.8 trillion dollar economy.

There has been the addition of 400,000 more jobs to the Canadian mar ket and there has been an increase by 103% in the economy compared to the pre-COVID-19 levels.

On Thursday, November 17th, Ruby Sahota, Member of Parliament is sued a press release that listed four areas in which there will be targeted and fo cused investments to help our businesses: start up, scale up and access new interna tional markets.

These are:

1. Lowering credit card transaction fees for small businesses

The government will enter into negotiations with the credit card industry, and with businesses, to find a way to lower transaction costs for businesses. If this does not lead to a negotiated outcome they will move forward with regulating credit trans action fees in the coming year.

2. Response to the Inflation Act (Clean Tech Investments)

FES 2022 makes a clear commitment to ensuring Canada’s global competi tiveness. In light of the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States, our government will make the following investments:

(i) The Investment Tax Credit for Clean Technologies

This proposes a refundable tax credit equal to 30% of the capital cost of investments in Electricity Generation Systems and Industrial zero-emission vehicles.

(ii) The Investment Tax Credit for Clean Hydrogen

There are consultations on how best to implement an investment tax credit for clean hydrogen. The U.S. Inflation Reduction invented heav ily in clean hydrogen, introducing Carbon intensity tiers to guide the level of investment. This is a system that Finance is considering.

3. Sustainable jobs

Through FES, they are officially outlining the: design, operations, and investment strategy of the Canada Growth Fund initially announced in the 2022 Budget

4. Launching a Canadian Innovation and Investment Agency

Through FES they are officially launching the Innovation and Invest ment Agency, which will help some of Canada’s most innovative compa nies scale up, commercialize, grow, and create jobs in a changing global economy.

Anyone interested in learning details the Fall Economic Statement (FES) can check: Website: budget.canada.ca

“Where are you from?”

“You speak English well for someone who looks like you.”

“You don’t sound Black.”

PAUL JUNOR

JUNOR

On Saturday, November 19th, 2022, the first cohort of the Festival Management Com mittee (FMC) Building Black Entrepreneurs Program graduated. The graduation was the culmination of a ten-month period starting from January 2022 and ending in October 2022.

The graduates received a Certifi cate of Completion awarded in partnership with George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology. In this Black Business Man agement Course, nine courses were offered.

with a capstone project in which business entrepreneurs pitched their businesses to funders who assess their pitch with feedback.

The Building Black Entrepreneurs Program (BBEP) is an innovative and creative program that is tailored to empower Black entrepreneurship, and to expand its contri butions to the economy through the creation of: wealth building, social capital and genera tion of wealth.

The BBEP is specifically tailored to empower entrepreneurs who have an inter est in the Caribbean Festival Network by pro viding opportunities for sustainable business growth, development, and success that will transcend the carnival time.

The BBEP is free to entrepreneurs in sec tors related to the festival such as:

• Arts, culture, entertainment, musicians and artists

• Food and beverage, hospitality, and tourism

Health, beauty, and wellness

Retail, manufacturers, service providers, and technology

• Has access to technology to attend

• Lives in Canada

The BBEP nurtures entrepreneurs in four main ways:

Providing business management training

This is made possible through customized and culturally appropriate business train ing, which covers a range of diverse online courses from financial literacy to brand de velopment taught by qualified teachers and professional business experts.

Supporting relationship building

The fostering of key relationships between industry experts to mentor and work with entrepreneurs to create new networks, re sources, and services for each unique busi ness. Online and in-person symposiums are established to connect with: great speakers, successful Black entrepreneurs and those with skill sets that are invaluable.

Business advising and client support

The staff of the BBEP is uniquely trained to focus on the entrepreneurial, design and delivery of the program that ensures the suc

cess of diverse entrepreneurs by raising the entrepreneurial mindset to foster good busi ness practices.

Creating business opportunities

The BBEP provides vending, marketing, and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs to put themselves and their businesses out to the market.

The staff of the BBEP consists of a professional support team that includes Mi chelle Lochan (Managing Director), Yvette Martin (Program Manager), and Anthony Berot, (Technology Manager). The BBEP is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada’s National Ecosystem Fund’s Black Entrepreneurship Program.

There is an expectation that more than three hundred Black entrepreneurs will be trained over the three-year period of the funding.

Anyone interested in the Building Black Entrepreneurs Program can check: Website: bbep.ca Facebook: bbep.ca Instagram: bbep.ca

For example, let’s look at how they responded to the pandemic shall we. Warn

ings of such a pandemic have been historical ly recorded for many decades. Proof was in the pudding in fact. There was talk of a mass death event caused by influenza-like illnesses over a hundred years ago. It is not like these politicians did not have historical examples to base their preparation upon. The Spanish Death killed over a hundred million globally. Historical fact. Influenza itself kills millions across the globe annually. America, Russia, China and other military establish ments have been experimenting upon mak ing such illnesses into weapons for decades. What did our elected officials do? Not much.

Did they...

Make sure there was enough skilled staff trained and available at all times?

2. Make sure healthcare equipment is func tional and not out-dated.

3. Continue public scientific studies into how to fight such illnesses?

4. Make sure senior homes do not become prison cells for seniors should a breakout happen. Make these homes climate con trolled, with up to dated equipment and masks.

5. Education centres are self-regulating and controlled, with no need to keep

student’s home.

6. Not rely upon private concerns to pro vide lifesaving vaccines and antidotes.

In the region that I live in, politicians have been realizing these needs, but passing them onto the next administration with excuses like: solving these problems cost too much money, the science is not here yet, there is no need to prepare for something that most likely will not happen. Don’t they look like fools?

Millions have died and suffered because of the politician’s lack of interest, preparedness and investment in community safety. Politicians lack what young Scouts and Guides have plenty of, namely imagina tion and courage. A politician does not want to rock the boat, make their electorate con cerned over things that probably won’t hap pen. Many politicians lack the understanding of why they are in the jobs they hold, which is “To Serve the Community.”

Our governmental officials have known for many years about the missing Ab original women, and the stories of abuse in government managed schools, and yet they do nothing, hoping that the horrors of the past will not come to light. There are in most

government vaults studies upon studies re garding all the possible things that could happen, how to improve the community’s lot, and yet most studies remain hidden.

Our officials spend our money willynilly, making decisions that affect us behind closed doors. Responsibility, transparency and most importantly accountability is truly lacking when one speaks about our politi cians. Elected or appointed for years, they be come dictators, until election time reappears.

We need to be prepared for what’s coming folks: weak economies, huge nation al debts, an aging population reliant upon their unprepared national authorities to care for them. Poverty, racial and social struggles continue unabated while politicians make good dough, fail to solve our national prob lems, and then off to the private sector they go.

Who do these men and women re ally work for?

They have a plan, and they’re not sharing it with us. If those in power are not prepared, who will suffer the wrath of our world? Like the person living on a flood plan, reality tells them one day the land will flood, and yet they do nothing, only to ask for our help when needed. What a crazy world!

PAUL

is lacking when one speaks about our politicians

STEVEN KASZAB

The life and times of trombonist Don Drummond - A comic book series

MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com TC REPORTER

Trombone Man: Ska’s Fallen Genius - A comic book series is the tragic story by an influential musician named Mr. Don Drummond.

Drummond, who was a trombonist with the legendary Ska band “The Skatalites,” is featured in this full-color 32 -page comic book volume, which will hit stores in early summer 2023 and will later be published as a full-length novel.

Here is a look at Mr. Adam Reeves, the man behind this interesting project.

Reeves is a: lifelong ska and reggae devotee, co-author, and publisher of Alpha Boys’ School: Cradle of Jamaican Music. The

other writer in this book is Heather Augusyn. He trained as a journalist at Brighton College of Journalism and wrote for trade magazines including the leading UK trade paper for the natural and organic products industry. This is Reeves’ first venture into comic creation, and he is confident about getting this project done.

I spoke with Reeves at length about this project, Reggae, and his future story-tell ing plans.

“I’ve been a fan of Jamaican music since the 1980s growing up as a teenager,” Reeves said.

“The UK, particularly London, is the second home for Reggae, because so many West Indians came to the UK in the 1950s and brought with them the “Sound System Culture” and later the live Reggae music in dustry, recording industry, and Reggae was always around for us.”

Reeves said that Reggae always went hand in hand with the rest of the music that he and the youths of that era listened to regularly.

Later in his life, he got into Ska mu

sic and that was where his interest in the Skatalites came into play.

Speaking of Drummond Reeves said, “I knew a little bit, nobody knew too much except he was a trombonist who al legedly had mental problems, and that he murdered his lover, apart from that there was nothing else available.

We knew that his girlfriend made a record, and I knew somebody who had that single which was called “The Woman Ah Come” by Margarita on Juke Reid’s Treasure Isle label.”

Reeves said that it was historian Heather Augusyn’s coverage of Don Drum monds’ life in her book called “Don Drum mond the Genius and Tragedy of The World Greatest Trombonist,” that opened his eyes to a lot of information on this troubled musi cal genius.

From there, Reeves said he had the idea that this man’s story would make a great movie, but he wanted to do a comic book se ries.

Reeves explained to me how expen sive it is to make comic books. “I am not an

artist and so I will have to pay one, I wanted to publish it myself, I wanted to take full control, so I figured I could through crowd funding.

I invited the global Reggae fan base and the global West Indian community around the world to support it, and I have been crowd-funding since the middle of No vember. I have one week left.”

Some of the people behind this project include: Costantino Pissourios (Aka Versioncos)14 digital artist, Nicholas da Silva of Dread and Alive Comics to name a few.

When asked about other future comic books, Reeves said, “This is going to take some time. It is issue number one, and it might be series number one as well, because I do have plans for other Jamaican music se ries after we do this one.”

In conclusion, Reeves would like the public to know that this is a project that high lights music and creativity against all odds. Don Drummond, like many Reggae musi cians, came from poverty, yet still he made his mark musically.

If there were a takeaway here, it would be that survival is for the fittest.

Can you improve muscle mass even as you age? As Mickey Mantle, star player of the New York Yankees, remarked, “If I knew I was go ing to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.” Such is my worry in my 99th year.

I was recently having more difficulty getting up from chairs and recalling patients who admitted they could no longer stand up from the toilet seat. They had slowly devel oped “sarcopenia,” weakened muscles from aging that robs one’s independence.

Sarcopenia begins at about age

45 and causes skeletal muscle mass and strength decline at a rate of about 1% a year.

By age 65, people who spend most of their time inactive on the sofa watching television have lost half of their muscle tissue! Losing muscle mass equates to getting weaker.

Deteriorating muscles mean less and less mobility. Moreover, weakened mus cles are a risk factor for serious injuries, such as from a fall. The harder collapse can make head injuries more likely, for example. For the elderly, this can sometimes mean death in a matter of days.

Women should take great precau tion. Why? Because they tend to start out with and maintain less muscle mass than males. More women also live longer than men, so there’s more time to develop sarco penia.

What did I decide to do about sar copenia? Certainly not make the mistake of Mickey Mantel and wait too long. Nor is it a good idea to start the wrong type of exercise.

For instance, there’s no sense in rushing out to purchase running shoes. Re search has shown that joggers are not pro tected from sarcopenia. In fact, people who were runners in their youth can be at greater risk of sarcopenia if they don’t take up exer cises that focus on preservation of muscle and bone. Running is not the answer for the aging body.

The best defence against muscle loss is good nutrition and moderate weight training. For years, I’ve kept small weights on my desk. I’m careful to focus on consistency, not infrequent bouts of lifting too much weight in a show of strength. Research has shown that through moderate weightlifting, people between 62 and 72 years of age can double their strength in 12 weeks of training.

It’s a problem though when bore dom sets in with lifting weights. Yet the growing challenge of getting up from a deep sofa can motivate a new routine. I decided to try another method to fight sarcopenia.

I remembered that years ago Charles Atlas, an expert in bodybuilding, created a following of famous people who swore by his method. Joe DiMaggio, the New York Yankee baseball player, was a fan. And who would be foolish enough to pick a fight with another follower of Atlas, heavyweightboxing champion, Joe Louis?

Atlas called his technique “Dynamic Therapy” (DT). I decided to find out how it would affect my biceps muscles.

The good news is there’s no need to purchase equipment. Very simply, DT now called isometric exercise, pits individual muscles against each other, again and again. Just clench one fist, then the opposite one, and push against each other for 10 seconds. You can do this simple exercise several times a day. I noticed improved strength in my bi ceps within one month.

Don’t wait until you can’t get up from a chair. Maintain your strength and en joy a better quality of life.

Peel School Board opens Centre for Indigenous Excellence and Land-Based Learning

munities in Peel as well as the PDSB. The space is expected to be utilized by many stakeholders who will take advantage of the rich learning experiences that will be afford ed by this environment as well the benefits of Indigenous Ways of Knowing.

and difficulties of gaining access to educa tional spaces in which they can thrive: men tally, emotionally and spiritually marked in inclusion, belonging, tolerance, acceptance and connection.

On Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022, Peel School Board opened the Centre for Indig enous Excellence and Land-Based Learning. The announcement was made in a press re lease from the PDSB which indicates, “This event served as a milestone and a demon stration of the steadfast commitment to wards reconciliation and paves the way for system transformation.” This introductory step is intended to set in motion the process in which staff and students will be identified to become part of the Centre which officially opened in September 2023.

The Centre was the result of a col laboration between the Indigenous Educa tion Team, Treaty Partners, Indigenous com

Nicole Reynolds, Coordinating Leader of Indigenous Education states, “We are thrilled to be able to welcome Indig enous students, families and community members to a space that honours their in herent rights to their culture. This is an ex citing step the board is taking toward their commitment to reconciliation and educa tional sovereignty.”

The conception of this Centre is a direct reflection of the PDSB’s intention to transcend the requirements of the Ministe rial Directives. It shows the board’s bold ac tions to ensure that it responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada’s Calls to Action, as well as the agree ment to the rights of Indigenous peoples as seen in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, First Na tion, Metis and Inuit students. They know first-hand the challenges, hurdles, obstacles

• The Centre will be able to serve multiple purposes which include the following:

• The worksite for the Indigenous Educa tion Team

• A place to provide curricular learning grounded in anti-colonial practices, and Indigenous ways of knowing in classroom settings for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students

• An affinity space where Indigenous stu dents can access cultural education

• Used as field centre for schools to ac cess and receive experiential learning opportunities

• A space for capacity building and pro fessional development for staff toward reconciliation

• A place to build partnerships and net work with community and treaty part ners

Rashmi Swarup, Director of Education for the PDSB writes in the press release, “I rec ognize that this work is long overdue. I look forward to working in solidarity with the In digenous Education Team, treaty partners, and Peel’s Indigenous community to create a space that nurtures a sovereign approach to education.”

In a separate letter dated Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022, Director Swarup ac knowledges,

“While work has been done across the system to recognize and celebrate In digenous: heritage, knowledge and contri butions, this venue brings all of this work together in a way that creates access for: First Nation, Metis and Inuit students to con nect with: community, culture, tradition and languages and build relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communi ties.

We must recognize, however, that these are initial steps in a larger journey that needs to focus on reconciliation through Truth and a deeper understanding of educa tional sovereignty.”

Can’t get up from a chair? It might just be sarcopenia; not cancer, but a deadly word

W. GIFFORDJONES MD

TC HEALTH REPORTER

DIANA GIFFORD-JONES

The Bag of Toronto is a project that was cre ated by Nick Milum and Derek Liu to help lo cal businesses during the height of the pan demic in 2019. At first, they were known as Bag of Bloor, and only had local businesses in the Bloor area contribute to the bag. Due to its massive success, other businesses from nearby neighbourhoods wanted to get in volved too.

“My intention was to allow commu nity members to show their support for busi nesses during, the year and during a time when it was particularly needed. Our inten tion was totally just to provide that ability for neighbours and community members to show their support, and to get the treats and

Blood donations: The gift we take for granted

and 100,000 donors are required to maintain the nation’s blood supply. This is a challenge to accomplish in itself. There are racial com munities that have particular needs not be ing serviced. For many of these people, there is a shortage of donations from their specific genetic community, causing a life-or-death situation.

“Most of the time, blood really never sees race” says Madeline Verhovsek, a hema tologist from St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Ham ilton. Matching blood transfusions between donors and recipients is usually an easy en deavour, but in some special cases blood types available are not sufficient. Sometimes a person with a special unique medical con dition or complications may require extend ed matching, challenging the system’s blood pool. In some cases, people from specific ethnic communities are required to donate to their kin and community members.

One such condition is sickle-cell anaemia, which affects people living in ma laria prone areas of Sub-Saharan Africa and The Middle East Regions. Sickle cell anaemia can require patients to experience up to 25 transfusions annually. While there are four

main blood types (O, A/B, A and B), there are other antigens contained in blood, and their genetic codes can vary.

Blood from the Black community is like gold to the Canadian Blood Services, mostly because of its rarity and availability. That is not to say that the Black community does not donate blood, but rather that there are stumbling blocks placed before racialized community members. If you have malaria, you are not allowed to donate in Canada. In America those who have had malaria are not banned for life.

Margaret Mediema of Canadian Blood Services (Director of Philanthropy) said “Canadians must realize and acknowledge that some governmental policies are a hin drance to people donating their blood, mar row and stem cells.”

Sikh Nation, a community-based organization, raises the Sikh community into donating their blood. They want safe supply, but also adequate supply, so when there is a need the supply is there.

The ban that disallowed LGBTQ community members to donate has been re-imaged recently. That community with a

Bag of Toronto

the goods that they’re excited about receiv ing from the local businesses that they know and love in Toronto,” said Milum.

Now, Bag of Toronto partners with over 120 Toronto businesses. They’ve distrib uted more than $160K to the local economy and donated over $12K in profits to charities in each local neighbourhood.

Bag of Toronto went from working with one neighbourhood, to five in 2020 and now eight in 2022. They give back to a local charity in all of the neighbourhoods.

“We realized that when we were ex panding to new neighbourhoods, we want ed to kind of continue with that model of giving back to a charity. But Sistering isn’t as local of an organization to folks who live in Riverside. So, we wanted to choose a hyper local charity, that really does great work in that neighbourhood. And that’s why we’ve kind of expanded with that model. So now there’s a charity for each neighbourhood. So, each bag that’s purchased, some of the profits that are from that bag, go directly to that charity in that particular neighbour hood. So, if you buy a bag of Queen West, you’re also supporting community work that’s being done in Queen West.” said Mi

lum.

Bag of Toronto doesn’t only hap pen during the Christmas holiday, but they’ve also launched the project for Valen tine’s Day and Mother’s Day as well.

“It’s been really nice to see that the support continues throughout the year. But we’re pretty excited for 2022 holiday sea son, as we’re turning the corner into that, just because it’s obviously a time when ev erybody’s thinking about giving. And we think that this is a pretty great gift to give to somebody and also to your community.” said Milum.

People in all neighbourhoods are loving their bag. One review on their web site says, “I loved every single thing in that bag! Thank you so much!!! I will now check out these retailers too.” Another says, “The bags are so thoughtfully put together and make wonderful gifts. Delivery always reli able. Love this concept.”

It’s hard for small businesses to sometimes compete with big box stores, so Milum wanted to make it as easy as possible for future customers to sample things from local stores.

“We’ve tried to make this really

historic rare blood record has been organiz ing community drives, as well as blood stor age with the Canadian authority’s assistance and cooperation. Those that help themselves through organizing and determining action seem to achieve wonderful results.

In our crazy energetic world, finding the time to donate is another problem. The business world has often responded to this difficulty through: employees encouraged blood drives, paid wages while donating, and promoted blood donations. The blood agency and activist organizations diligently pursue those employed in super active jobs, such as truck drivers and seasonal workers to encourage and achieve blood donations.

Governmental action to lower the barriers to donating blood, especially within Black and an African and Asian population seems to be achieving its necessary goals. The Indian community of Brampton has re sponded well to the presence of increased donation centres in Brampton. Sikh Canadian activists point out that blood donation is per fectly in line with Canadian Sikh values - to save lives.

easy. You can purchase the bag online, you can get the bag delivered straight to your door, you can personalize it a little bit. We’re trying to bring that big box efficiency a little bit to a more local gift. I think it’s just a great opportunity for businesses to get their prod ucts in front of customers that they might not have had otherwise. And just continue to get their name out there.” said Milum.

Milum only moved to Toronto in Fall 2019. “I am a newcomer to Toronto. And so something that I noticed about the city moving here, and something that was told to me a lot is that each neighbourhood is so distinct and each neighbourhood is re ally proud of their culture and unique flavor. For Toronto to continue to have that, it’s so important to support these local businesses, so that selling feature, and that business that we’re also proud of in Toronto remains,” said Milum.

The last set of deliveries and pickups will be taking place this weekend. Visit bagoftoronto.ca now to order a bag while supporting a local charity in that neighbour hood.

Kiwanis Club of Toronto Caribbean hosts fundraising campaign for Haiti

at the Consulate General of Jamaica, which is located at 303 Eglinton Ave E. near Yonge & Eglinton.

The Kiwanis Club of Toronto Caribbean has been active in improving the quality of life for individuals in the community for many years. They are dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Each community has different needs, and our members are empowered to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children, such as fighting hunger, improving literacy, and offering guidance.

It currently meets every third Friday of the month at 7:00 pm virtually (via Zoom) however pre-COVID their meeting place was

On Sunday, November 6th, 2022, the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Caribbean re leased a media advisory regarding a fun draising campaign that it will be involved with for the month of November. It will cul minate with a live online telethon event on Saturday, November 26th, via JAMM-X. The press release states, “This is all with the in tention to ship medication and clean water supplies to Haiti in order to help with the looming cholera epidemic which is threat ening the lives of 1.4 million children.”

There has been international me dia attention that has focused on the liv ing conditions of Haitians for the past few weeks. After the 2010 earthquake which re sulted in the loss of about 200,000 lives, the subsequent outbreak of the waterborne dis ease, cholera resulted in the death of 10,000 people and illness among 820,000. Due to the increasing security crisis from gang vio

lence, which has spread across the country, Haiti’s government has requested a special ized armed force “to quell the violence, and Canada is leading the delegation.”

Furthermore, cholera was never present in Haiti until it was introduced in 2010 when U.N peacekeepers from Nepal, improperly allowed latrine sewage to get into a tributary of the Artibonite River. Since officials reported the presence of cholera on October 2nd, 2022 there have been over 6,800 suspected bases and 100 deaths.

Cholera is easily treatable if de tected early, but causes serious problems if no treatment is applied. Jeanty Fils Exalus, speaking on behalf of Haiti’s Health Ministry states, “Cholera is gaining ground. We have to mobilize way more resources.”

I interviewed Sharon Barnes-Sim monds, President of the Kiwanis Club of Toronto Caribbean regarding the fundrais ing campaign, and she provided me with updated information. She told me that the campaign is a joint venture between the

Haitian consulate and the Jamaican consul ate. Global Medic is an important partner and they will donate the clean water tablets and other supplies as well as hygiene kits, which will be trucked to Florida and then airlifted by the US Army directly to Haiti.

The Kiwanis Club will pay for the trucking costs to get the supplies to Florida. Sharon advised that Health Partners Inter national of Canada (HPIC), which is the only charity licensed by Health Canada to handle donated medicines, have agreed to help as well. They will provide the medication kits at hugely discounted costs to the Kiwanis Club.

The Vibe-A-Thon on Saturday starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m. will fea ture four JAMM-X DJs, Rosie Murray, Marcus Ouija, Bigg G, and Mix Master Magic.

Donations can be made via Etrans fer to kctorontocaribbean@gmail.com or via PayPal at https://lnkd.in/eqP-5eA2 and is being collected up to the end of the month however the campaign officially ends on Giving Tuesday, November 29th.

DESMOND LOREN BROWN

debuts children’s

Jamaican-Canadian writer

book, “The Boy and The Honeybees”

Kids develop an opinion about science at an early age. As par ents and teachers, there are plenty of ways to ensure your kids have a great time while learning, and at the end of the day, the best way to make science (or any subject) fun for your children is to engage all their senses. One way to engage them is through the power of storytelling.

It was a great day on Thursday, October 6th, 2022, when Desmond Loren Brown, a Jamaican-Canadian writer, and journalist at CBC News published his first children’s book. His fictional debut novel titled, “The Boy and The Honeybees,” describes stories about Marvin, a child who grew up in the com munity of White Hall in St. Thom as and is fascinated by honey bees. He enjoys watching them and has many uplifting mo ments in his playful encounters with them. These adventures are captured in detail in the novel.

The book shares the ad ventures of Marvin, a boy from the rural community of White Hall in St. Thomas parish, Jamai ca, who loves to watch and play with honeybees.

Marvin’s mother knows a lot about honeybees and teaches him about their importance to the natural ecosystem and how these tiny creatures have such a mighty job — how they polli nate flowers to help plants grow and make the honey they share with us.

“It’s a children’s book that every member of the family should read and will enjoy read ing,” Brown said.

“Honeybees are extremely important to the ecosystem and play an important role in food production and security. In recent years we have been hear ing and reading a lot about how millions of honeybees are being lost. I want to encourage both children and adults to do what they can to protect the honey bees.”

There has been a lot of media coverage of Desmond Lo ren in the Caribbean press. On: Wednesday, November 23rd, Thursday, November 24th, Fri day, November 25th, and Sun day, November 27th Desmond

was featured in: Our Today, Dominica News Online, Barba dos Today, and the Grenadian Voice News.

Brown is making an ap peal to Caribbean families everywhere, particularly in Canada, the United States of America and the United Kingdom to con sider gifting at least one child with a copy of The Boy and the Honeybees.

“I’d like people to get a copy of the book for their own family, whether you are living in: Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, or elsewhere. I am asking you to also consider sending one or two copies to a child or children back home, whether it is your relatives, friends or even to the primary school you attended,” Brown said.

“Of course, The Boy and the Honeybees is also great for children everywhere. It’s a children’s book that every member of the family should read and will enjoy reading.”

Furthermore, Brown be lieves that there is much that children can learn about the beauty and importance of hon eybees. By fostering a love for reading and learning, the novel will have a major influence on young people not just in Jamaica but all over the Caribbean.

This is especially impor tant to Brown due to his aware ness of so many people who lack the power of reading. He notes, “When I was growing up, there were many children and adults in my community who could not read. Reading is fun and it’s beautiful. It’s a foundation for learning. All children should be afforded the opportunity to both read and learn and I hope The Boy and the Honeybees can play even a small part in this. Of course, The Boy and the Honey bees is also great for children ev erywhere.”

In addition to sharing the incredible beauty and impor tance of honeybees with children, Brown hopes The Boy and the Honeybees will encourage reading and learning, especially among young children in Jamai ca and the rest of the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Brown says he will be reaching out to a num

ber of organizations, as well as wealthy, influential individu als to help him get copies of his book into the hands of children in the Caribbean and beyond.

“It’s my hope that organizations and individuals, especially celebrities with a Caribbean connection or who just love the Caribbean will partner with me to send books to children in several countries,” Brown said.

He says requests will be made to get books to children in countries, including, but not limited to: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lu cia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

I interviewed Brown on Thursday, December 1st, and he is keen to get his novel in the hands of Black families. He believes that Caribbean people living in Toronto can learn a lot about the importance of honey bees. There is respect that they deserve due to their vital role. He is convinced that increasing our environmental awareness of their importance will contrib ute to an appreciation and effort to ensure that their survival is maintained.

Brown invites you to join Marvin in The Boy and the Hon eybees to learn how love can be shown through respect, and how you can help the honey bees too. Copies of the can be obtained at:https://books.fries enpress.com/store.Loren-The or Amazon: https://www,amazon. com/Boy-Honeybees-Desmond

Anyone interested in learning about the work of Desmond Lo ren can check: Website: desmonloren.com Twitter: @desmond_loren Facebook: Desmond Loren

Photo Credit: Jeff Lockhart

Photo Credit: Sanj P Photography

Written by Paul Junor Toronto Caribbean News

In the Caribbean, creatives are rarely taken seriously.

Being a creative in the Caribbean region is a tough space to navigate, despite the great strides that Caribbean creatives have made in the creative sphere. In gener al, the Caribbean does not shine a light on the creative arts. While artistic expression is enjoyed as a hobby, or as a source of enter tainment, it is not considered a serious or viable career path.

Our culture has a habit of ignoring art’s present and potential contribution to society and the economy. Unfortunately, it’s often an uphill task to convince others that creative work is viable work, and not simply a fun pastime.

But all is far from lost, especially when we have imaginative minds that are focused on educating the public about the lucrative and beneficial possibilities within the creative sphere. This young man recog nizes that creative work harnessed appro priately can serve to bolster the economies of Caribbean states and foster meaningful social development.

His name is Gian Franco, and he is a Los Angeles-based film producer from Trinidad and Tobago. He has worked at Mi crosoft, Amazon and consulted for Com cast and Liberty Media. Last year his film Venus as a Boy premiered at the Tribeca film festival won an audience award and was distributed on Hulu. As a producer from the Caribbean, and a champion for our home-grown content creators, it’s his mission to bring Caribbean voices to the world stage.

In 2020, he returned to Trinidad to develop a Caribbean-based TV franchise. What he found was limited infrastructure that stymied the incredible hotbed of Ca ribbean talent. He immediately set to work, collaborating with fellow creators to figure out a way to distribute and amplify the unique and wonderful stories and perspec tives of Caribbean creative such as: Machel Montano’s Bazodee, Kingston Paradise and Green Days by the River.

He developed a streaming plat form, Pavilion+. Pavilion+ empowers and elevates our culture-makers both artistical ly and financially, allowing them to retain

creative control and copyright while draw ing the world to a centralized platform to immerse in our collective voices.

Starting at $4.99 a month, you can choose from the largest selection of exclu sive Caribbean movies and TV shows. There are hundreds of hours of content, includ ing never before seen shows from across the Caribbean islands and classic movies and TV shows that haven’t been available for years, all easily available On-Demand, all in one place. Movies and TV shows on the service feature people who: look like us, sound like us and share stories that re flect our experience exclusively from Carib bean creatives.

Now there is no longer a need to go to different platforms to find different ti tles from across the Caribbean. Watch any where anytime you want once you have an Internet connection.

Readers, you know me; I had to get the inside scoop on how this resource ful, and brilliant mind brought this project to fruition.

“I am from Trinidad and Tobago,” Gian begins. “At one year old I moved to London and at 14 years old I moved back to Trinidad.

It was always about stories for me. Stories about our culture. Do you remem ber the Desmond’s Simone?”

“I sure do,” I replied. Who could for get the series theme song “Don’t Scratch My Soca.” With 71 episodes, it remains Channel 4’s longest running sitcom in terms of the number of episodes produced.

“Well,” Gian continues, “In 1992, cable descended on the community in the Caribbean. We went from two channels to 60 channels. Things became a little more Americanized and began to shift a little more away from the culture.

In 1998, I had the opportunity to start working in the tech industry. The In ternet was starting to rise, and I had the foresight. I did my undergraduate degree in Computer Science, and Management. I started a website called Sound Village, it was like the MTV of the Caribbean. That was an internal project for my company Cataphysic. It allowed me to start building relationships with the creative community.

I was asked to become part of Trinidad’s 2020 Plan. I realized that we had incredible resources in the Caribbean, and it struck me that brain drain was real.

At New York University, I did my MBA, and I was able to work at Microsoft, and Amazon, and really got into the tech nology field. I learned ways to leapfrog and help the Caribbean catch-up. I wanted to start the Warner Brothers of the Caribbean, and this gave birth to Pavillion Entertain ment in 2014. I actually left Amazon to

launch that business.

One of our first projects was the Caribbean version of Family Feud, but there was a lot that went into it. In North America, you get a ranking of all of the top shows that played the night before. This is important because advertisers will use this data to see if they want to advertise. This is only in the UK, Canada, and the U.S., not in the Caribbean. We didn’t have data to show that this was the number one show, and this stagnated it. There were limited re sources to do this show. The economics be came unmanageable, so we had to rethink the whole idea.

Industry development would have to be the way to go; it was about building an ecosystem. From 2016 to 2022, I have worked with content creations, I worked with Flow for two years, and so as a function of doing that, I met every creative working in the region.”

What Gian learned was that the biggest need was in distribution. He start ed tracking where the industry was, and where it was going.

“I saw that streaming was going to be the way, so I began meeting with creators, and now we have a massive cata logue that we can distribute to the globe. It feels good to know that we can pay the content creators for the work that they have done.”

One thing that I learned dur ing my talk with Gian is that he is forward thinking. He has been working on this proj ect for over 18 months, and I was curious as to how his mind worked.

“Working at Microsoft, you learn to create and move on. I had to get very comfortable working at a scale. My head is always three to five years in the future. For me, it is following through. I think about it and then I execute. What you see today, we were planning 18 months ago. It is like you are always living in the future.

This is one of the most amazing things that I have ever done. I have actu ally gone to people’s houses and got their content off their hard drives. My goal is to get Oliver at Large on Pavillion +. With a streaming platform, you always have to have new content to feed the beast.”

It was an incredible discussion, and it is nice to know that someone is seeking solutions and exploring possibili ties that take us beyond where we are, to where we imagine is possible, by providing the platform for creative talent to flourish and ideas to blossom and bear fruit, that redound to the benefit of us all.

Photo Credit: Emily Sandifer

What have we learned in 30 years? An

excerpt from a column

W. GIFFORDJONES MD

DIANA GIFFORD-JONES

SENSE HEALTH

This week entails a visit to the Gifford-Jones archives. What follows is an excerpt from a column on diabetes published thirty years ago. What has changed in society? You be the judge.

November 1992:

Diabetes results from an abnormal han dling of food by the body. Normally some food is converted into a sugar called glu cose. This stimulates the secretion of the hormone, insulin, which acts as a “key” to allow glucose to enter the cells. Glucose is then used as “fuel” to provide energy.

There are two types of diabetes.

on diabetes

Type I is inherited. It usually occurs before 30 years of age. In these cases, the pancre as produces little or no insulin. It’s believed that the immune system in some people gradually destroys the pancreatic cells, which produce insulin.

Type II normally strikes after age 40 and these patients are often grossly overweight. The pancreas still produces some insulin, but it’s like a tired, over worked horse that’s been badly treated for many years. The little insulin produced is also less able to penetrate the cells, a con dition called “insulin resistance.”

Too many people have been mis led by Sir Frederick Banting’s discovery of insulin in 1921. This hormone, like a blanket that puts out a fire, prevents diabetic coma and eventual death. But insulin cannot ex tinguish the smouldering diabetic ashes, which may cause a variety of catastrophic complications later in life.

This smouldering condition af fects the large and small arteries of the body. Like plumbing coated with rust, the arteries become narrowed. This is known as atherosclerosis. Prime targets are the

published thirty years ago

coronary arteries resulting in premature heart attack.

Diabetics also suffer more often from diabetic retinopathy. The arteries at the back of the eye become more numer ous, weakened, and often rupture releas ing blood into the vitreous chamber of the eye. This causes adhesions, which tug on the retina and may cause detachment of the lining that sends images to the brain.

About 30% of Type I diabetics and 5 to 10% of Type II diabetics develop chronic renal disease. High blood sugars cause degenerative changes in the nerves triggering numbness and pain in the feet. Damage to blood vessels and nerves also cause impotence in males.

Families must ask themselves a paramount question. Is self-indulgence worth this terrible price? If the answer is “no”, the next point is equally vital. Weight loss under normal conditions is not easy. But when diabetes strikes, losing pounds becomes a delicate balancing act. Blood sugar must be controlled while at the same time shedding pounds.

Prevention of Type II diabetes by

controlling weight gain is the only sensible route. A first step to avoid obesity is to buy a scale. The next step is to step on it every day.

Avoid sugar like the plague. The problem is that hidden sugar wears a coat of many colours. It’s disguised in packaged foods, cereals, and soft drinks. Indirectly it’s a major source of obesity and Type II diabetes. Don’t compound the problem by adding more sugar to your food and bever ages.

Eat whole grain foods such as pasta along with fresh fruits and vegeta bles. These foods slowly release sugar into the blood following a meal and place less stress on the pancreas.

Exercise, exercise, exercise… Don’t expect help from the government or public health associations. They’ll protect you from dirty restaurants, but not from Type II diabetes. Their failure to take an ag gressive stand on this matter is the most flagrant lapse of responsibility in the his tory of medicine.

COMMON

Peel Regional Police News

Lifestyle matters more than a vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian diet

What is the difference between vegan vs vegetarian lifestyle?

RACHEL MARY RILEY rachel@carib101.com

Are you aware that certain types of diets such as: vegetarian, vegan and pescatar ian can help you with weight loss, but can’t help you sustain the lifestyle you desire?

These types of diets have their pros and cons. Do you believe that these types of diets can help you for a lifetime and keep off weight for good? During my years of study, my personal conviction with these diets and having heard of other ex periences, I have found that it made them

Doing these diets has its bene fits, but does it assist with your journey of healthy living and weight loss? Question for us to individually ask ourselves. I have come to realize that doing these diets can help but cannot help with a long-term con

According to a Healthline article, a vegetar ian does not eat any animal flesh such as meat, poultry, or fish. A vegan is a stricter vegetarian who also avoids consuming dairy, eggs, and any other ingredients de rived from animals (Petre, 2021).

What is a vegetarian diet?

Vegetarian society, a vegetarian is some one who does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish, or by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetarian diets contain various levels of fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, nuts, and seeds. The inclusion of dairy, honey, and eggs depends on the type of diet you follow. People who do not eat meat or poultry but do consume fish are considered pescatarians, whereas parttime vegetarians are often referred to as flexitarians. Although they’re sometimes considered vegetarians, pescatarians and flexitarians do eat animal flesh. So, they do not technically fall under the definition of vegetarianism (Petre, 2021).

What is a vegan diet?

So, a vegan diet not only excludes animal

flesh, but also dairy, eggs, and other in gredients that come from animals. These include:

• Gelatin

• Honey

• Carmine

• Pepsin

• Shellac

• Albumin

• Whey

• Casein

• Some forms of vitamin D3

Vegetarians and vegans often avoid eating animal products for similar reasons.

The largest difference is the de gree to which they consider animal prod ucts acceptable.

For instance, both vegans and vegetarians may exclude meat from their diets for health or environmental reasons.

Vegans also choose to avoid all animal by-products because they believe this has the largest impact on their health and the environment.

What is a pescatarian diet?

The pescatarian diet is a vegetarian diet that includes fish or other aquatic animals.

Sometimes people who follow this eating plan are also called pesco-vegetarians or pescatarian’s.

Besides the inclusion of seafood, there are no strict guidelines that deter mine what is pescatarian versus what is vegetarian. There are no rules that define how often you need to eat fish to be con sidered a pescatarian. For example, you may be a vegetarian who only occasion ally eats fish, or you may include it in every meal.

Not all pescatarian compliant choices are inherently healthy, so it’s impor tant to make balanced choices. Versions of this eating plan emphasize nutrient-dense foods can be a healthful way of eating.

Through my experiences doing this type of diet is not always sustainable for a long term, because 90% of individu als and clients I have known don’t have sustainable healthier lifestyles. These diet challenges open a pathway for clients to create new habits, but some fall into the gap of gaining weight.

Do what is best for you. Lifestyle matters more than dieting if you’re trying to change and maintain healthier habits.

5 great reasons to sleep in the buff

Sleeping naked has many physical and mental health benefits. Here are five good reasons to put your pajamas back in the drawer.

1. You’ll fall asleep fast. Sleeping au natu rel keeps your body cool, which can help you fall asleep quickly.

2. You’ll prevent infections. Letting your ge nitals breathe at night can help stave off the growth of bacteria, yeast and fungi that are likely to cause infections.

3. You’ll sleep deeper. If you sleep in the nude, you won’t have to worry about your pajamas riding up and causing dis comfort. You can move freely and fall

into a deep, uninterrupted sleep.

4. You’ll keep your skin healthy. Your skin can breathe easy when you don’t wear anything to bed. Plus, sleeping in the nude may help your body release excess oils and get rid of toxins.

5. You’ll increase your self-esteem. Slee ping naked can feel awkward at first, es pecially for people who have a difficult relationship with their body. However, it can help you make peace with your im perfections and teach you to love your self for who you are.

If you give this practice a try, you may be surprised at how well you sleep.

The consequences of neglecting your children’s dental health

Poor oral hygiene can have serious, long-term effects on your children’s health, and young kids don’t usually have the maturity or dexterity to take care of their own teeth. Therefore, it falls on parents to help children maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Here’s what could happen if you ne glect your kids’ dental health. Your children could develop:

• Gum disease

• Painful cavities

• Sensitive teeth

Dental treatments can be expensive, time consuming and at times unplea sant. To avoid unwanted trips to the dentist, it’s important to teach your kids good habits and monitor your little ones to ensure they properly brush their teeth.

To help keep your children’s teeth heal thy, make an appointment for a clea ning and checkup at a dental clinic near you.

Are you allergic to exercise?

If working out literally give you hives, you may be allergic to exercise. Here’s what you need to know.

A serious condition

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA) is a serious but rare allergic reaction that can trigger a variety of symptoms, inclu ding rash, nausea and low blood pressure. The severity of these symptoms can vary from person to person.

Typically, a reaction occurs when an in dividual’s immune system becomes overstimulated during or after physical exertion. However, EIA is not fully un derstood because it’s difficult to repro

duce the precise conditions for it in a lab.

In some people, EIA is food dependent. This means that the reaction only oc curs when the individual combines physical activity with certain foods, such as wheat, shellfish or peanuts. Fortuna tely, those affected this way can simply avoid eating their trigger foods to prevent a reaction.

Keep in mind, EIA is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. If you think you may have this condition, you should see your doctor right away.

• Dental abscesses

• Persistent bad breath

• Tooth decay

DID YOU KNOW?

Cavities in baby teeth must be treated. This is because dental de cay is caused by bacteria, which can spread and damage teeth growing below the gumline.

sleep

Are you wondering if your child’s getting enough sleep? If so, here’s an overview of what you should know.

0 to 12 months old

Infants who are less than four months old can sleep up to 18 hours a day. After this initial period, babies sleep between 12 and 16 hours a day. To help ensure a sound sleep, choose a firm mattress and maintain a consistent nap and bedtime schedule.

One to two years old

Most toddlers sleep between 11 and 14 hours a day. To help your little one get the rest they need, it’s best to limit late-night naps, focus on quiet time before bed and maintain a sleep routine.

Three to 10 years old

At this age, most children sleep between 10 and 13 hours a day. They may also need

to take one or two naps during the day. Make sure you keep a consistent bedtime routine and avoid offering your kids caffei nated beverages before they go to sleep.

11 to 18 years

old

Teenagers need eight to 10 hours of sleep a day. While it’s normal for them to want to stay up late, a pre-bedtime routine can help them get a good night’s rest. Remind your young adult that their bed is for slee ping and electronic devices don’t belong in the bedroom.

Does your child have insomnia? Do they have trouble waking up or seem to sleep too much? Are they frequently tired in the morning? If something doesn’t seem right, consult a health care professional who can get to the root of your child’s sleep pro blems and make recommendations tai lored to their needs.

How much

does your child need?

The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking

tisocial. However, the truth is that intro verts have a lot of power. The challenge today is our social culture only makes room for a narrow personality style, the extroverts. We live with a value system that places a premium on charisma and showmanship.

“I need space from a world that is filled with millions of mouths that talk too much but never have anything to say.”

Our lives are shaped as profoundly by

Introversion and extroversion are two of the most exhaustively re searched subjects in personality psychol ogy. Our choice of friends, how we make conversation, how we resolve conflict or differences, how we show love, and the career we choose are all influenced by

On social media, the loudest is considered the wisest. The belief that the ideal self is gregarious, alpha, and com fortable in the spotlight is not a true rep resentation of all personalities. Talkative people, for example, are rated smarter, better-looking, more interesting, and more desirable as friends. We substitute or equate velocity and volume of speech with ingenuity and competence - even though there is zero correlation between the gift of gab and good ideas. Introver sion is often perceived to be lazy, socially awkward, slow, hard to get along with, and dull, to name a few. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The world has both been shaped by extroverts and introverts. A few inven tions by introverts include the following:

The theory of gravity, postulated by Isaac Newton

The theory of relativity, postulated

by Albert Einstein

• Google, co-founded by Larry Page

• Harry Potter, by J.K Rowling

• Schindler’s List, directed by Steven Spielberg

• The theory of evolution, by Charles Darwin, to name a few

We have the Martin Luther Kings of this world and Rosa Parks, who both stood for the same thing, fighting white suprema cy and racial discrimination of their time. However, while we still remember MLK for his fights and many great speeches, one of the few words we remember Rosa Parks saying was “No.” Two characters, but that word sparks a revolution. She won’t give away her seat for a white passenger. Parks didn’t have the stuff to thrill the crowd, she’s not given to oratory skills, but even in her quite boldness, she was heard. The true power of an introvert is the ability to tune in to their inner worlds, keeping to themselves and unfazed by the opinion of others.

Let’s look at some of the distinc tive qualities of an introvert. Introverts focus on the meaning they make of the events swirling around them; extroverts plunge into the events themselves. Intro

verts recharge their batteries by being alone; extroverts need to recharge when they socialize. Introverts express them selves better in writing than they do in conversation. They prefer deep conversa tion to small talk.

The reality is there is no such thing as a pure extrovert or pure intro vert. Such a person would be in a lunatic asylum. Social interaction helps our cog nitive development. The assertions that introverts are faring better than their ex troverted counterparts in the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown lack empirical re search backing and seem counterintui tive. Introversion and mental health are two different case studies.

To introverts, your superpower is your ability to manage your solitude. The ability to connect to your inner self, to birth ideas and thoughts that will make our world a better place, not intimidated, not cowering, and not apologetic. In the age of digital noise and social amplifica tion, staying true to your creative ability is your greatest asset. Be careful of ener gy exchange; choose your circle unapol ogetically. Remember, the last frontier of privacy is your mind.

Power, politics and money; the very mix that keeps a few at elite status

phone, it was noted that respondents showed high levels of stress and fear, perhaps showing that the 44% was ac tually lower than the actual percentage. The pandemic has made it easier to hide illegal operations and offer malcontents opportunities of fraud, theft and misdi rection.

Economists and Law Enforce ment Officials have pointed out the other side of this coin of corruption. The reason bribery is executed is because it is the only way to speed up procedures. This could also imply that bribery fuels cor ruption at all levels of government.

In September 2022 the World Bank reported that improving govern ment effectiveness and transparency will fight corruption within the public sector, while admitting that within many societ ies corrupt behaviour is deeply rooted: historically, economically and within their political cultures. Ultimately there is a very strong relationship between pow er, politics and money.

ment and maritime ports sectors are the three main sectors where corruption has significant sway. The health sector is plagued by widespread corruption, while human development suffers. A person can wait for toilet paper or pay someone for a roll. Need a quick surgery to save a loved one? Pay the medical administra tor, nurses and doctors for an immediate response.

Corruption in land administra tion can undermine land reform and citizens trust in the government as a whole. Corrupt officials allow the illegal encroachment of land speculators upon Aboriginal and poverty-stricken lands. Corruption in maritime ports directly af fects trade and the investment climate in countries, while also affecting the prices of imported products.

The first world also experiences this pandemic of corruption, but it is hid den, less openly accessible to the public. Land developers looking for a favour or two can approach local government of ficials making small salaries. One hand washes the other. Ever ask yourself how a public official can start their public ca reer being worth say $400,000, and after ten years of public service, leave office a multi-millionaire?

While the survey was carried out by

The health, property manage

How do smugglers of illegal products and human smuggling get away with it? They pay off some public officials. Interestingly, 68% of the Mexi can respondents spoke to bribing public officials.

Power, politics and money; the very mix that keeps a few at elite status, while the rest of us working stiffs carry on living. Fear of loss is often the tool that builds corruption actions. Fear of loss of anything, like your money, land, family members, prestige and health can cause you to react in the negative, and do the unexpected, like bribing another to get what you want and need. John Steinbeck wrote, “Power doesn’t corrupt, Fear cor rupts...perhaps the fear of a loss of pow er.”

DANIEL

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

When I got to the border, I knew exactly what to expect. The lawyer’s office had sent me instructions letting me know what I needed to say to the customs of ficers. Without a passport, I was at the will of the system. I shook off the nervousness as I pulled up.

“Citizenship,” the officer asked. “Canadian,” I replied.

He stuck his hand out to collect my paperwork.

“Sir; I do not have my passport; I am heading over for a court procedure, and I was given this letter to show at the border.”

Now the real nervousness was setting In; reliving my recovery

and quickly looked over it.

“Okay! You are heading down to immigration. Show them this when you arrive and they will tell you what to do.”

I collected my documents and slowly pulled over to where another cus toms officer was directing other cars. I was directed into a spot, and I shut off my car. The officer came over to the car, and I slowly opened the door.

“Citizenship,” he asked. “Canadi an,” I replied.

“Why were you sent down to im migration?”

I repeated the same information that I had relayed to the previous officer.

“Alright, well you leave your doors open, and proceed to the double doors on the right hand side.”

What I appreciated was how nice they were being. No attitude, no conde scending tone, just doing their job. I en tered the building, and as usual, there was a jail-like feel to it. The walls were grey, benches were grey, and floors were grey. The people sitting in the room all looked like life was ending for them. On

the right hand side were the numbered kiosks with officers attending to families.

I sat down and took out a book. I already knew the drill; you could be sit ting in immigration for hours at a time, so I learned to not sit there and look impa tient. I sometimes think that when you are tapping your foot, and looking impa tient, the officers will take even longer on purpose. I strategically took this time to read, and learn something. It made the time pass, and I refused to let the officers know that they were affecting me.

After about 30 minutes, my name was called and I was called up. They went through a list of questions, and col lected my fingerprints. I was only in there for about an hour before they released me to get to court. I had made sure that I gave myself time, so I was not nervous or anxious with how long they had kept me.

I got back into the car and con tinued on with my drive.

When I got to the courthouse, I parked my car, and hurried into the main building. Walking in brought me back to the day that I arrived in Buffalo. This time

I did not arrive in cuffs that were visible, but I still felt a way. There are three types of people who work in a courthouse: courthouse staff and officials, lawyers, and criminals. The majority of people were dressed up, but you can always tell what side of the law a person is on. It was the look on their faces: downtrodden, anxious, nervous, serious; it is just an un pleasant vibe.

I had to go through security, and check in at the main desk. I was then given the number of my courtroom, which was on the fourth floor. I located the elevators and stepped in. As soon as I got out, I saw Mark (my lawyer), standing down the hall by what I assumed was the courtroom that my case was being handled in.

He was on the phone, but took the time to wave me over. Now the real nervousness was setting in. I was okay because I knew what to expect right up to this point. What was going to happen in the next couple of hours was a mystery to me…

Participating in housework from an early age

Helping out around the house from an ear ly age can be empowering to your children. It helps them develop their resourceful ness, self-confidence and sense of respon sibility. Even toddlers are able to take on some small household chores.

For example, kids under the age of three are quite capable of putting away their toys, throwing their trash in the gar bage can and making sure their boots stay near the door. They can also help you cook by rinsing vegetables and placing ingredi ents in a mixing bowl. Once they’re be tween the ages of three and five, you can

trust them with more complex tasks. They can help you set the table, put away their folded laundry, mix dry ingredients for reci pes, etc.

Encourage your children to par ticipate by turning household chores into a game. Try challenging them to put away as many toys as they can in two minutes, then start the timer. They’ll be motivated by the race against the clock! Be patient with tod dlers though, as they need more time to perform certain tasks than older children. And remember to always congratulate them on a job well done.

So, you’ve been struck by Cupid’s arrow and have no idea how to tell your chil dren that you have someone new in your life. Before even considering telling them anything, you have to make sure that the relationship is serious. Have a candid con versation with your partner before you decide how to proceed. Once you’ve made sure you’re both on the same page, you can start planning how you’ll break the news to your kids. Here are a few tips to help you out.

Wait until you’re alone with your children, then tell them that you met someone. Don’t be too solemn about it; your kids might perceive the situation as negative. On the other hand, it’s impor tant not to be too casual either, or you run

the risk of making them think you’re trivi alizing their emotions.

Keep it simple: tell your kids what your partner’s name is and if he or she is also a parent, for example. There’s no need to go on about how great they are, as your kids might think that you’re trying to discredit their other parent or compare your new flame to the old one. Answer their questions honestly and give them some time to process the news.

There’s no perfect way to tell your children that you’re in a new rela tionship. It’s best to just be open and frank and to listen to what they have to say. Keep these tips in mind and every thing should go smoothly.

The officer took the paperwork from me

How to tell your children that you’re romantically involved

SEAN SEURATTAN sean@carib101.com

THE HEIGHTENED CHEF

The battle for your cannabis dollar; licensed mass producers vs craft producers

small businesses and still maintain a fair market share. Here we will discuss the ad vantages and disadvantages of both in hopes of bettering your decision about when to spend your dollars and where.

The main difference between the two types of producer is essentially the scale at which they operate. As their name implies, mass producers are using huge in dustrial facilities to create the largest vol ume of cannabis in the shortest period of time possible. Craft producers have much less output but focus on generating higher quality products.

Mass producers are necessary to maintain a sustainable equilibrium for the cannabis industry. They ensure the reliabil ity of accessible cannabis for the new or casual consumer. The volume at which they produce enables them to lower production cost significantly, which would ideally lead to lower retail cost and drive competition.

to manage such a massive amount of growth, attention to individual plants or hard to manage strains must be sacrificed. Entire crops must be handled in a fashion that protects the whole because a single infection or infestation could destroy it all. This often leads to less than desirable farm ing practices even if technically legal.

ment license was ever issued. Corporate entities are attempting to colonize the can nabis community with capitalist intent. Craft Producers are trying to overcome Black Market stigma by legitimizing their

These large-scale producers also face a number of disadvantages that could be detrimental to the entire community if we are all forced to have them as the only source for cannabis. Foremost is the lack ing quality of what gets produced. In order

Craft producers are essential to the cannabis ecosystem’s survival and growth. They provide for the heart of the cannabis community. This analogy is cho sen carefully because though it is a relative ly small organ, it drives the rest of the sys tem. The small core consisting of 30% of cannabis consumers who consume most regularly, generate 90% of the cannabis in dustry’s revenue. These consumers de mand only the very best quality of the very best products. Only smaller scale produc ers can afford the time and attention re quired to achieve this level of quality. Inno vation resides here because the best is only the best until something better comes along.

The Canadian government has chosen currently to make large-scale pro duction limited to a very few who have the

massive amount of start-up capital re quired and can fit through systematically biased hoops. This is easily reflected by who sits in the boardrooms and executive seats at the heads of these companies. It further rewards these individuals with not even a notion of competition by excluding all other producers as unsafe. This has al ready driven the cannabis sector into stag nation to the point where investors mar kets wide are looking for an escape hatch. Until changes are made to the existing bu reaucracy a network of reliable craft pro ducers large enough to balance mass pro ducers will remain unseen.

The bottom line to your dollar is that in times of emergency when your wal let is thin, or time is short, or your experi ence is small, buying mass produced li censed cannabis is ok. However, if you fall into anything other than those categories, you should be looking to spend your hardearned dollars on Craft Legacy products that are not only better for you, but also better for the industry altogether. This will help create a more vibrant and healthier marketplace for cannabis and its extremely diverse demographics of consumers.

How to reduce the ecological impact of electronic devices

Electronic devices have become a ubiqui tous part of daily life. Unfortunately, when it comes to how they’re manufactured and discarded, they can damage the envi ronment. Here are a few strategies to re duce the impact yours have on the planet.

• Limit them. Minimize the number of elec tronic devices you use. Keep them to a minimum and only buy ones you absolu

tely need.

• Protect them. Purchase a sturdy case to safeguard your device and keep it in good condition for as long as possible. Look for cases made with recycled materials. Also, consider installing a geolocation app to easily find your device if it gets lost.

• Repair them. Look for local companies that repair electronic devices. If yours breaks, ask if you can have the problematic com ponents restored instead of buying a new device.

• Buy them used. Visit thrift stores in your area to find affordable, second-hand elec tronic devices that are still in good wor king order.

6 places to help you declutter

Adopting a minimalist lifestyle is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Here are some places that can help you declut ter your life.

1. Second-hand stores

If you have furniture or clothing you no longer need, donate them to a thrift store in your area to give them a second life.

2. Libraries

Borrow books, CDs, movies, video games, board games and more from your local

library. This way you can enjoy a variety of pastimes without hoarding items at home. If needed, you can even access a computer, printer and photocopier.

3. Entertainment venues

Have fun among friends without adding clutter to your home. For example, board game cafes offer access to hundreds of games, while sports bars can save you from spending money on a big-screen TV. Ar cades let you to test your gaming skills wit hout investing in multiple consoles and

7

Are you planning a trip? If you want to conduct yourself in a manner that’s mind ful of environmental, economic and so cio-cultural concerns while you’re abroad, adopt the following behaviours.

1. TAKE ONLY THE ESSENTIALS

Packing light reduces the weight of your luggage and can help minimize green house gas emissions. It also gives you space to bring back handmade souvenirs that support the economy in the regions you visit.

2. PUT TRASH IN THE RIGHT PLACE

Make sure you clean up after yourself. If you can’t immediately find an appropriate

• Recycle them. Look for drop-off locations in your area that collect used electronic devices to recycle them.

If you take steps to reduce the environ mental impact of your electronic devices, it sends a clear message to the companies that make them to review their practices.

pool halls are perfect for competing at snooker.

4.

Tool rental stores

Rent power tools instead of buying them. This way you can complete your home re novation projects without investing in equipment you’ll only use once. As a bonus, you can ask store employees for their advice.

5. Gyms

There’s no need to invest in heavy equip

ways to travel responsibly

place to get rid of your garbage, carry it with you until you do.

3. CONSERVE WATER AND ENERGY

Going on vacation doesn’t give you the green light to be wasteful. Take short showers, and don’t leave your hotel room lights on when you’re away for the day.

4. FOLLOW THE RULES

Whether you’re visiting a beach, park or tourist attraction, respect the associated rules and comply with all guidelines that are in place.

5. OFFSET YOUR CARBON EMISSIONS Estimate your trip’s carbon footprint with

an online calculator. Then, help counteract the total by purchasing carbon offsets from a recognized organization.

6. SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

When you return home, talk to your friends and family about your adventure and give them tips on how to travel res ponsibly.

7. PLAN YOUR NEXT TRIP

When organizing your next trip, consider trying slow tourism. This involves travelling for a prolonged period at a slow pace to have a more meaningful experience.

To plan an excursion in line with your values,

ment or accessories to stay fit. Most gyms have everything you need in one place so you can vary your workouts.

6.

Municipal pools

Visit an indoor or outdoor pool. This way you won’t have to install one in your back yard. Many establishments also let you bor row accessories like boogie boards, balls and floaties.

To find out what other public facilities are available, check with your municipality.

don’t hesitate to reach out to a local travel agent for advice.

5 things you should know before adopting a mouse

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

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

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

3. They mark their territory. Male mice mark their territory with their urine, which has a strong smell. Neutering will dimi nish this instinct. It’s important to regu larly clean their cage and replace their bedding.

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

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

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

How to choose plants for your aquarium

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

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

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

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

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

Is your pet at risk for diabetes?

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

Types

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

Symptoms

Diabetes generally affects middle aged or

older pets but can occur in young animals as well. Dogs and cats that are overweight, inactive or have inflammation of the pancreas may be predisposed to the di sease. Here are some signs to look out for:

• Increased water consumption and urination

• Weight loss combined with an increase in appetite

• Decreased appetite

• Cloudy eyes (more common in dogs)

• Chronic or recurring infections

• Decrease in energy

• Dull or dry coat

Treatment

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

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

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

7 fun facts about pets

Did you know that cat and dog noses are as unique as hu man fingerprints? Here are seven more interesting facts about pets.

1. Dog remains were found alongside hu man ones in a 14,000-year-old German burial site. Dogs are thus believed to be the first type of animal that humans do mesticated.

2. Despite how often cats are represented as happily sipping milk from a saucer, most are lactose intolerant and can’t digest dairy products of any kind.

3. Cats only meow to communicate with humans. In fact, past infancy, felines ra rely meow at each other.

4. Dogs’ noses are wet because they’re co vered with mucus that helps them to ab sorb scents from the air. They also use their tongues to sample smells with their mouths.

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

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

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

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

Recently, I made a trip from Brampton to Scarbrough. I showed a client a condo in Etobicoke. With snail-paced traffic, the en tire drive took five hours. The condo was roach infested, dirty and dilapidated. The price was $325,000 whereas in Timmins, you can buy a modern 4-bedroom home for less than $200,000.

Timmins is about six-and-a-halfhour drive from Toronto. It is the fourthlargest city in Northeast Ontario. Timmins has a population of about 43,000, big enough for a city and small enough for a healthy balance between work and life. There are many employment opportuni ties in forestry, mining, retail, health and technology. Timmins has a superior tele communication system. It is stable and ca ters for high-speed internet access. Many young professionals who can work from home are leaving the GTA for Timmins. There are several daily flights to Toronto, bus services and major highways. In less than 90 minutes, you can commute from Timmins’s Victor M. Power airport to both Billy Bishop or Pearson international.

A buyer in Timmins who invests 20% down on a home priced at $200,000 would need to put $40,000 as a down payment and pay a monthly mortgage of $935.00. In the GTA, a similar home would sell for around $1 million and a 20% down payment of that would be $200,000. The mortgage payment will be about

$4,676.42 per month or five times more than a home in Timmins. A buyer can buy a home with $10,000 in Timmins but in the GTA, that’s only 3 month’s rent.

Property tax, utilities and other municipal services are about 30% cheaper in Timmins than the GTA. Rent for an aver age 2-bedroom apartment is about 37% less as well. An average family earns about the same after-tax income when com pared to the GTA.

Timmins’ much lower cost of liv ing leaves more cash for families to save and enjoy. A city with all the amenities like the GTA, that is affordable and without traffic jams, is inviting. Instead of spend ing hours crawling through the GTA traf fic, everything is within a short, stress-free drive. The air is refreshing with 55 kilome ters of nature trails, multiple provincial parks, cross- country skiing resorts and many gourmet restaurants. Timmins has hundreds of lakes, cottages and camp grounds. This town has the region’s largest shopping center, a multiethnic downtown and plenty of niche shopping.

This modern city has a colos sal young population. Timmins devotes excessively in education. It has four local school boards and offers English, French and French Immersion. Université de Hearst, Northern College, Collège Boréal, and Contact North offers a range of op tions for career improvements. The public libraries have a selection of free services including adult and children’s programs, internet access, books and video learning.

It gets cold in the winter with an average daily temperature of -12 C. Snow is from early November until March. Spring warms up to about 6 C and an average summer day to 24 C. Fall, with its vibrant colors, is around 9 C. Here, the seasons are all picture perfect, and the air is pristine

and less humid.

Timmins is known as the “city with a Heart of Gold.” This is shown in many services especially health care. The city has a prize-winning referral and teaching hospital called The Timmins and District Hospital (TADC). It offers medical, surgi cal, critical care, maternity, newborn, pe diatric, long-term care and mental health services. Access to health care is quick and efficient.

With superior health care servic es, cheap shelter and a lower cost of living, many seniors are ditching the GTA for Tim mins.

Noel and Mabel recently sold their GTA bungalow for $1.2 million. They bought a home in Timmins for $150,000 and a condo in Florida for $125,000. Dur ing winter, they live in their condo and in

the summer enjoy beautiful Timmins. All the extra cash from the sale of their bun galow provided them with an opportunity to splurge.

With younger families, childcare is essential. Timmins has a highly regulat ed system catering for infants, children in day care, pre-school or elementary school. There are family centers which offer a wide range of free play-based programs for chil dren from birth to age 6 and act as a relief service for parents and caregivers.

Families who are struggling to make ends meet should consider relocat ing to Timmins. There are plenty of oppor tunities. Home price is reasonable. We do not need to shuffle between two jobs to make ends meet. Commuting time can now become family time.

How to remodel successfully despite supply chain issues

Are you considering renovations but reluc tant to risk supply chain delays? A successful remodel isn’t out of the question if you take a proactive strategy. Here are some tips to keep your reno budget — and patience — under control.

• Phased approach. Divide your project into a series of mini projects. You’ll get a sense of satisfaction from small gains and keep the reno mess under control.

• Flexible timeline. Plan your project timeline before you start. First, identify stages that depend on the arrival of cru cial materials and supplies. Then, build extra time into those stages to give yourself a buffer.

• Temporary storage. Clear away space on your property or rent a storage unit. This will give you a place to keep mate rials while you wait for the rest to arrive.

• Contingency budget. Build extra room in your budget for the unexpected. With transport costs in flux, you may sud denly find that materials prices have in creased. You may also need to factor in added labour costs.

Talk to a local designer or contractor. They’ll have the inside track on building supply chains and can suggest creative substitu tions and workarounds.

A short guide to storm doors

Storm doors provide an added layer of protection and insulation to your home. They also help circulate air during the summer when paired with a screen. Here’s what to consider before buying a storm door.

1. Size. Storm doors come in various standard sizes, including 32, 34 and 36 inches. Before buying one, mea sure the opening bet¬ween the door jambs, not the door itself.

2. Frames. There are three main frame styles for storm doors: fullview, mid-view and high-view. Full-view storm doors feature a full-length glass pa¬nel that co vers the entire door. This feature is ideal for sho¬wing off your home’s entry and letting in natural light.

The glass panel on mid-view storm doors covers most of the door but stops about 45 centimetres from

the bottom. This style is perfect for en tries you use daily, as the bottom kick plate protects the door from damage.

Finally, high-view storm doors feature a small window at the top and a large bottom panel. This style offers enhanced re¬inforcement and is most suitable for areas prone to high winds.

3. Material. Storm doors are typical ly made of steel, vinyl or aluminum. Steel doors are dent-resistant, rot-re sistant and warp-resistant, while aluminum ones are affordable and lightweight. Vinyl is another excel lent choice because it’s durable and comes in various colours.

Finally, you can also choose screen types, including ones that are retractable or entirely interchangeable. Visit your local home improvement store to find the right storm door for your home.

ARIES

You won’t be at a loss for words this week. However, it’s important to have all the information before you speak. You may have to translate something to avoid confusion.

TAURUS

You’ll feel the need to buy something expensive to satisfy your luxu rious side. You may overspend on Christmas presents. It’s important to expend your pentup energy.

GEMINI

Give yourself time to think. You may feel a need to deepen your spirituality to solidify your convictions and values. You may be tempted to take a pilgrimage.

CANCER

You’ll be around a lot of people this week. Remember to wash your hands to avoid catching their germs. Your immune system is fragile. Try to get some rest to replenish your strength.

LEO

You’ll be pressed for time. Your obligations will take prece dence over your hobbies. You must try to find balance in all aspects of your life.

VIRGO

It’s time to take a getaway. Even if your trip is still a few months away, you’ll start getting ready. It’s a good idea to book a hotel or cottage for spring break.

LIBRA

Prepare to be annoyed. You can’t keep putting things off. Once you’ve finished everything, you’ll celebrate or have free time to try something new.

SCORPIO

You’ll close a deal that will shake up your career. You’ll work hard on a personal project to reach new heights. You’re feeling especially bold and competitive this week.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll have a lot of work to do, and it’ll take a long time to sort out the details. Try to let go and enjoy the present moment. You’ll change your views on life to align with your values.

CAPRICORN

You’ll be in the spotlight this week. You’ll be the only person who can accomplish a specific task and receive some form of recognition from upper management.

AQUARIUS

It’s time to switch up your routine in your personal and romantic life. Don’t hesitate to accept invitations to go out. Your friends will surprise you, especially if you’re single.

PISCES

If you want to get into real estate, now’s the time to go for it. You may also feel the need to redecorate your home just before Christmas to impress your family.

FOR SALE FOR SALE

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

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

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

FOR SALE HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

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

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

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

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

Drivers needed for:

• Scarborough/Pickering/ Ajax

• North York/Rexdale/ Malton

• Brampton/Mississauga

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

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

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

FOR SALE WORSHIP

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

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

SALES REPS WANTED

Five questions homeowners

CLEVE DeSOUZA

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Making the choice to sell your home is a very personal matter and depends on a lot of factors. Some are external, such as market conditions, while others are more specific to your individual needs. If you are trying to decide if now is the right time to sell, here are some practical questions to ask yourself to help you decide.

Do I need to sell?

People toss around the idea of selling their home for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons really demand strong con sideration, such as a job relocation or a change in financial situation. Others, how ever, are more about preference, such as a desire to live in a different neighbourhood. When deciding if the timing is right to sell or not, start by identifying your reason for selling and establishing whether it is a need or a want.

What can I sell it for?

This next point of consideration is more de

pendent on the market, and what prospec tive home buyers are willing to pay for your home, should you decide to sell it. Howev er, no matter what the market is willing to pay, you will still need to decide if that price is something you and your family are will ing to accept in exchange for your home. You also need to ask yourself if, given the likely sale price, you can buy a replacement home. Be sure to calculate current interest rates into the equation if you plan to secure a mortgage on the new residence.

Can I convert it to investment property?

If you are planning to move across the country, or financially need to sell in order to buy something else, then the answer to this question may be a no. However, if you are just planning to move across town and have some extra room financially, it may make a lot of sense to hold on to your exist ing home and convert it to rental property. Depending on what the market rate is, you can likely cover all the expenses associated with the home and even put some addi tional income into your own pocket as well each month.

What improvements are needed?

Most prospective home buyers want to purchase a home that is move-in ready. They don’t want to have to spend weeks renovating or worry that the roof might start leaking a month after they close. Be cause of this, it is a good idea to make any

necessary repairs to the home, as well as any upgrades or improvements, prior to placing the home on the market. Not only will this help your home to sell easier and more quickly, but you will also likely get a higher price as well.

What are the professionals saying?

Before you make that final leap to list your home for sale, take the time to engage with a real estate professional or financial strategist and hear what they have to say. Many times, homeowners don’t see their own homes in the same way a buyer would or don’t really understand the home sell ing process. Having a third party provide advice up front can be eye opening. Good questions to ask include things like esti mated time to sell the home, expectations for home showings, and strategies for deal ing with clutter and pets. Take their recom mendations into consideration, especially when it comes to things like staging fur niture, cleaning recommendations, and buyer incentives.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home, and then buying another, can be a massive undertaking. Be sure to arm yourself with as much information as possible and then make an informed deci sion that will be best for your financial situ ation and family.

4 steps to protect your online bank account

Online banking has made it easier than ever to manage your bank account from anywhere in the world. While convenient, online banking doesn’t come without risks. Here are four steps to take to pro tect your account.

1. Create a strong password

Use a passphrase that incorporates upper and lowercase letters, numbers and spe cial characters. Avoid using personal in formation, such as your name and date of birth, to ensure your password is difficult for hackers to guess.

It’s a good idea to change your online banking password every three to six months to lower the odds of your

pass¬word being stolen or decoded.

2. Don’t use public Wi-Fi Avoid using online or mobile banking while connected to public Wi-Fi. If a ha¬cker taps into the unsecured network, they can access your personal informa tion, including your bank account login.

3. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication provides a se¬cond layer of security when logging into your online or mobile banking ac count. For example, you can choose to receive a one-time code via text message or an automated phone call to verify your

identity. This makes it difficult for hackers to unlock your account.

4. Monitor your account regularly Consult your bank statements and review your transactions weekly. If you notice anything amiss, contact your bank imme diately. If possible, sign up to receive no tifications from your bank that instantly alert you of suspicious activity.

Although online banking can potentially lead to hacking and fraudulent charges, the above practices will help you stay safe.

Pros and consof robo-advisers

Robo-advisers are financial software pro grams that automate the investing process. They use complex computerized algo rithms to buy and sell investments based on the information you provide. Here are some of the pros and cons.

Advantages - Here are a few advantages of robo-advisers:

• They’re affordable. Human advisers ty pically take one to two per cent of your portfolio’s value as a fee. Robo-advi sers, on the other hand, charge a frac tion of that. This is ideal for individuals and small busines¬ses with tight bud gets. When you pay less in fees, you also have more money to invest.

• They’re accessible. Many human advi sers only accept clients with a certain net worth. Conversely, most robo-ad visers don’t require a minimum invest ment. This allows anyone to reap the benefits of investing with¬out pre-existing wealth.

• They’re easy to use. Most robo-advi sers have simple interfaces that allow you to view your investments and add funds from any¬where in the world.

Disadvantages - Here are why robo-ad visers may fall short for some investors:

• They’re limited. Robo-advisers can’t grasp your entire financial situation. This makes them unsuitable in circu

mstances that entail a high amount of risk.

• They’re generic. Most robo-advisers in vest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which is great for diversification. How¬ever, they may not be a good fit if you want to dabble in diffe¬rent kinds of securities.

Additionally, robo-advisers can’t give per sonalized advice. Therefore, they aren’t a good option for people looking for stepby-step guidance and counselling.

Finally, it’s important to consider your investment strategy, risk to¬lerance, retirement plan and assets before deciding if a robo-adviser is right for you.

Is it the right time to sell?

should ask themselves

5 things to consider before driving abroad

Are you planning a trip abroad and thinking of renting a car while you’re there? Follow these tips to ensure you’re prepared.

1. Driver’s licence. Depending on your des¬tination, you may need to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) to legally drive on the roads.

2. Rules of the road. Find out about speed limits, tolls and alcohol regu lations in the country you’re visiting. If you have to drive on the left-hand side, watch a few videos on the inter net. This will help you anticipate the manoeuvres you may need to make in the opposite direc¬tion, such as changing lanes and going through roundabouts.

3. Signage. You may have difficulty in terpreting the road signs if you’re not

visiting an English-speaking country. Do your research, so you know what to expect.

4. Child car seats. If you’re travelling with young children, ask the car ren tal agency to provide you with car seats. Some Canadian models don’t meet the safety standards in every country.

5. Insurance. Determine if your insu rance pro¬vides overseas coverage or if you need to purchase insurance through the car rental agency. Also, make sure you have sufficient liabili ty coverage.

Visit travel.gc.ca and talk to a travel agent for valuable advice. They’ll tell you what to look out for and what type of vehicle is best for the region you’re visiting. Have a good trip!

4 types of shoes you shouldn’t wear while driving

Did you know that your choice of foot¬wear can affect your safety behind the wheel? Here’s an overview of four types of shoes you shouldn’t wear while driving.

1. Wedges have thick soles that can prevent you from accurately feeling the gas and brake pedals. This can cause you to misjudge how much pressure you’re applying.

2. Stilettos have sharply pointed heels that can get caught in the floor mat. The heels can also interfere with your ability to pivot your foot from the ac

celerator to the brake pedal.

3. Flip flops don’t secure to your heel, which can interfere with braking and ac¬celerating. They can also easily slip off and become stuck under a pedal.

4. Large boots restrict your ankle mo vement and can make it difficult to use the gas and brake pedals. Kneehigh boots can also catch against the seat, affecting your reaction time.

A comfortable pair of flat walking shoes with thin, grippy soles offer the safest dri ving experience

you’ll want to clap when you land

You’ll want to rush off the plane. You’ll want to dive into the ocean. You’ll want to switch your phone to ‘Do not disturb’. This is the magic of Barbados. visitbarbados.org