2020: The Year Of Conspiracy Facts

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2020: THE YEAR OF

CONSPIRACY FACTS

SIMONE J. SMITH/TORONTO CARIBBEAN What a year it has been!

2020 will go down in history as the year that the world blew up. This pandemic has caused upheaval in every facet of our lives, and to make it worse, many of us have become numb to the fact that we have lost our freedoms.

It all happened so quickly; one day we were out and about, and the next

we couldn’t leave our homes. We were forced to stand in lines, separated from others. We were told we could not see our loved ones. Any major life event was cancelled. Thousands of businesses have disappeared. The world is a mess.

Throughout this craziness, we have had to depend on our media sources to provide us with updates on how

to navigate what is happening. Many of us have willingly listened to what mainstream media has provided to us as answers. Then there are those of us who have taken time to dissect what we are being fed, researched information, and started asking questions. The moment anyone started doing this, they were labelled “Conspiracy Theorist.”

Continued On Page 16

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PAGE 2

FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

SHONTELLE DUBOIS The transformation specialist “Some of the transformations that happened were not because of me. It wasn’t me it was God.”

The opening shot to her story is a staircase.

The staircase is older and falling apart. It pans to a shot of a beautiful woman leaning on the railing breathing deeply. You then see her doing quick steps on the stairs, and then her sitting in meditation. The scene switches, and you see this same beautiful woman, climbing the stairs with her daughter in one arm, and groceries in the other. Her face is sad, yet determined, and I sat in anticipation waiting to see what else would happen.

766 lives changed. 20 happy brides. 9,788 workouts crushed.

This is the first thing you see when you click on our Woman Empowered ABOUT US page. It is only after hearing her story that I understand how significant these numbers are. Interestingly enough, it took awhile to get her on the phone. Between her busy schedule and my own, we kept missing each other, but when we finally were able to speak, for me, the wait was worth it. It is my honour and delight to present to the community, the final Woman Empowered of the year, the sensational Shontelle Dubois.

Shontelle grew up in Scarborough, Ontario with her mom. During her teenage years she resided in Markham, and then finally moved to Jane and Finch.

There is a lot about her story that Shontelle has not shared with anyone. I was happy that she trusted me to talk about it.

“When I was younger I was abused by my mother. Child Services was called to my home regularly. Teachers would call home because they noticed that I would come to school with bruises, and even dried blood on my face. Neighbours would call the cops on my mom because they would hear her either yelling or beating me.

To this day, I don’t know why my mom treated me so badly. My theory has been that unlike my siblings, I looked the most like my father. He had left her after she had me. Was that enough for her to be so cruel? I guess I will never know.”

Shontelle shared more horrific stories of the abuse she had to endure. Her mom used to always make fun of her, and for the longest time, she thought she was ugly.

“I was ashamed of my black gums so I would cover my mouth when I laughed. It became normal to feel not good enough, and this reflected in my relationships. She would compare me to my sister who was lighter skinned and ensured that I knew that my dark skin made me ugly. What I realize now is all of this taught me how to stand on my own, and the ability to endure emotional, and verbal abuse became a tool of endurance.”

Shontelle was finally taken out of the abusive situation when she went to live with her dad at the age of twelve. The reach of her mom’s abuse did not stop when she left home. She didn’t find out until

she went to university that her mom had also ruined her credit.

“My grandmother had told me that she had set aside money for me to go to university. When it was time for me to draw out that money, I found out that my mom had used it all. My credit was shot, so this meant that I could not get OSAP or any financial loan. I had to work three jobs in order to get through school, but do you know what that did for me?

To this day, I have never borrowed money from a bank; I have never had a credit card. I don’t owe anyone anything. Everything that I have I worked hard for.”

Along with the struggles of her day-to-day life, in her fourth year of university Shontelle had her first daughter. Unlike her mother, Shontelle’s aim has always been to be the best mother possible to her daughter, and to show her the love that she didn’t receive as a child.

When her daughter was about seven years old, Shontelle was involved in a terrible seven-car accident. She was rushed to the emergency room, and her injuries included: a sciatic nerve injury, severe back pain and extreme vertigo. Her back pain was so severe, she could not stand up straight for months, and she was bedridden due to the numbness in her legs. She had to undergo three years of rehabilitation to regain full mobility, and during this time she fell into a deep depression.

“I lost a lot of money, I wasn’t working, and somehow I still had to find a way to pay my bills. During this time I became a full blown diagnosed binge eater.

I had no control over my eating habits. I would wake up and eat large amounts, then fall asleep. I would repeat this behaviour every two hours.

Naturally, I gained a lot of weight. I ballooned up to 245 pounds. One day I looked at myself and said that enough was enough. My daughter looked up to me, and she became my motivation. I slowly began to change my eating habits, hired a trainer, and began to exercise. I lost all the weight that I had gained. As I shed the weight, people took notice.”

“Nothing makes you work harder than hope.”

Nigel D. Birch Jr Once Shontelle started to feel better, she had to then focus on making the money needed to pay off all of her overdue bills. She tried to return to work, but new management had taken over during her time off.

With new management comes a turnover of staff, and Shontelle found herself out of a job. Here she was five months behind in her rent, with eviction notices being served to her monthly. She tried to get into a woman’s shelter but the waiting list was extremely long. Things were looking hopeless for her.

With the idea of being homeless becoming a scary reality for Shontelle, she knew she would

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have to go for broke. She handed out her resume everywhere without much success. Employers would tell her that she was either overqualified or not qualified enough for the positions she was applying for.

They say that when God is ready to step in he will, and that is what happened the day that she realized that the elevators in her apartment were not working. She lived on the 23rd floor and had to take the stairs up and down each time. Then came the day that during one of her stair climbs she stopped and took a look around her. The thought that came to her mind was, “I wonder if I could train people here.”

The stairs were filthy. There were blood, bottles, and cigarette butts. This was the spot where youth in the building would hang out. She did not let that deter her. Shontelle went to the dollar store and bought cleaners and a mop head. She spent the time cleaning that staircase and did so every day.

She had to do her own marketing, so herself and her daughter printed out posters and posted them all over the neighbourhood.

“A lot of people would make fun of me, but I kept doing it. The first client I trained made a 30-day transformation, and then slowly people started coming.

By the end of the first year, I had about 12 consistent clients. I saved every penny I got and opened my studio in Vaughan.

I take my personal shortcomings and bring them into my business. I call on God a lot. It was when I was sitting in the stairwells, that I knew that I was called to do this.

I take no bullshit. You are either coming in here to be transformed or go find yourself at GoodLife!”

Shontelle is not short of clients. She currently has a 3,000-person waiting list.

What speaking with Shontelle reminded me is that we are all here for a purpose. Regardless of your situation, you have the ability to overcome all adversity.

Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News

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PAGE 3

The Icon, the legacy, the dynamic Denise Jones SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“One day at a time we carry on, and I guess it’s our turn with the torch to run this next leg of the race. I’ll do my part with honour.

Mom, you will always be a legend in my eyes. Thank you for setting and being the standard.” Jesse Jones This year in general has been a struggle, and my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones during this time. Transitions are hard to navigate emotionally, regardless of what they are, but the ones that are permanent always leave a space that is never truly filled.

On December 3rd, 2020, the Caribbean diaspora lost a phoenix, which had risen through the Toronto entertainment industry, and left behind a legacy that will always be aspired for. Denise Jones died at her Brampton home, surrounded by family.

She had been diagnosed with brain cancer last year, and up until that point, this super force had established a level of excellence that had not been seen until her time.

She was known as the friend who opened her door on New Year’s Day every year. She was committed to her community, and showed it in her words, as well as her actions. She worked alongside the Jamaican

Canadian Association, as well as the Black Business and Professional Association. She became a common face at the Harry Jerome Awards, and was a recipient of a HJA in 2014.

She was the recipient of a Government of Ontario Community Service award, a Ministry of Citizenship Ontario Government Award, and the African Canadian Achievement Award. During her time in Sudbury, Denise was the theatre critic and arts reporter for CBC Radio, and upon moving to Brampton later in her life, she served as the executive director for the Peel Multicultural Council.

For her work in entertainment and the development of the Canadian music industry, she has been awarded her the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Urban Music Association of Canada, and the Bob Marley Memorial Award. To add to her list of accomplishments, Denise served as Vice President Education and Vice President Marketing of CanSPEP (The Canadian Association of Special Event Planners).

The biggest names in the entertainment industry have spoken about Denise as a mentor. Kardinal Offishall honoured her memory on Instagram by letting the world know that artists got to where they were because they stood on the shoulders of giants like Denise Jones. It was Denise who shared the importance of reggae to Canada when she founded the Juno’s reggae category.

To reggae superstars like Exco Levi, Denise was, “A brilliant manager, friend, mother and teacher.” Under her management, Exco won five Juno Awards, and was nominated for another two. He won a Harry Jerome Award, and was inducted into the Brampton Walk of Fame.

Just writing this makes me take

stock of my life. What an honour it was to have this woman existing during our time.

For those who are unaware of the magic she brought to this world, let’s take a short, historical look at the dynamic Denise Jones.

Denise Joe was born on April 23rd, 1956 in Port Antonio, Portland Parish (East Jamaica). Her draw to the arts started in Jamaica. She was an actress in several stage productions, and even after coming to Canada where she attended the University of Windsor, she returned back home to share the experiences of what she had learned.

She found love in her husband Allen Jones – who also happened to be an actor – got married and made a permanent move to Canada. The family started their life in Sudbury, moved to Scarborough, and then in 1997, moved to Brampton, all the while trailing success behind them.

She had her first son Jesse, in 1981, and then had Jerimi, their second son, not too long after. During this time, they were slowly growing their empire, putting on plays and theatre productions, making weekend trips to and from Toronto for their productions at the JCA (located on Arrow Rd).

It wasn’t long before the Jones had established their roots in the entertainment world. Their love for the arts sparked the creation of Jones & Jones Productions in 1987, and the Rhythm Canada Talent Agency three years later. At that point, if you were an up-and-coming reggae artist, you would benefit from “Keeping up with the Joneses!”

Almost immediately, Jones & Jones was heralded as one of the premier music promotion and brand marketing companies in Canada. They produced over 30 concerts and plays annually, as well as talent search

competitions. In 1997, the Star named Jones one of Toronto entertainment scene’s people with clout.

They are the company behind JAMBANA™, One World Festival - the second largest Afrocentric cultural event in Canada.

At its height, the festival drew over 45,000 attendees and was named one of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals in 2015. They brought the likes of Toots and The Maytals, and just last year, Jamaica’s rising star Koffee was brought down for a concert.

Her scope of contributions was also seen in the local communities across the GTA. Denise was instrumental in the Peel District School Board’s establishment of Black History Month celebrations and served as a board member for the: Brampton Board of Trade, Obsidian Theatre Company, Canadian Independent Record Producers Association, and Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation of Canada.

Just before she was diagnosed with brain cancer, Denise had embarked on resetting her career. She became a professor for the Concert & Festival Management course at Ryerson University. As a professor, this allowed her to share the wisdom that she had acquired over the years.

This beautiful soul has left behind her husband Allen, and her two sons Jesse and Jerimi, as well as her mother Louise Oates, sister Devan Oates, and brother Gary Oates. She has left with us a legacy that will forever go down in history.

“Don’t let your address define you. Choose your career from what you love and know that change is OK. Not one but five careers are possible for your generation.” Denise Jones (100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women in 2018)

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PAGE 5

A maximum of $500 may be available for students in Toronto gency Fund, many young people will PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“A thirteen-year-old suffers from a hair loss condition called alopecia.

Though she is currently receiving regular treatment, with no money to buy a wig, she endures low self-esteem, which has strongly impacted her ability to attend school. Her teacher applied to the Emergency Fund and was able to get this young girl a fitted wig.

The young girl now attends school regularly, participates in class, and has made a strong group of friends.�

As COVID-19 continues to impact students, parents and caregivers within Toronto schools, there is much support that students can access.

There are many challenges that families faced during this unprecedented time especially financially.

Many of these families are not aware that they can access emergency funds to help them out. The Toronto District School Board has a partnership with United Way Greater Toronto, which helped to support diverse community groups within its schools. In addition, the Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) are involved in initiatives such as nutrition programs as well as hearing and optometry clinics, in addition to its program after 3:30 p.m.

It has just added the “TFSS Emergency Fund� which is “set up to provide children and youth with immediate support in emergency situations. It could be a warm coat, a pair of shoes with no holes, or even decent food to see them through the weekend.� Sadly, without the TFSS Emer-

go without these things. https: //tfss. ca/tfss-emergency -fund/

The brochure that advertises the TIFF Emergency reveals data that, “One in every three children in Toronto lives in poverty and 245,000 children attend TDSB schools.� This indicates over 80,000 kids are in financial need. This has been exacerbated by COVID-19 that has heightened economic inequities in Toronto, particularly in hotspots.

A teacher recounts the story of a student who just arrived in Canada.

“It’s been a cold winter and as a new immigrant, my student just wasn’t ready for it. He was missing boots, a good winter coat and a proper Canadian toque! I took him to the store where he chose his own style, which made him feel very proud. He doesn’t miss school anymore!�

In order to access the TFSS Emergency Fund parents, caregivers or guardians have to fill out an Emergency Fund Application Form with the assistance of any principal, teacher, or professional support services staff member. A maximum of $ 500 may be available for each student.

The TFSS brochure notes that, “Requests come from all corners of Toronto and are as varied as the children we are here to support. As long as requests help students succeed, we are able to grant them.�

TFFS gets donations from the wider TDSB school communities that can be directly debated through payroll deductions or from corporations, foundations and individual donors.

Anyone can donate to the TFSS at www.tfss.ca. For parents, caregivers or guardians who need emergency financial help, they can call 416-3946880 or email info@tfss.ca

CANADA’S LEADING CARIBBEAN NEWSPAPER Selina McCallum TC REPORTER selina@carib101.com

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The statements, opinions and viewpoints made or expressed by the writers do not necessarily represent the opinions and views of the Toronto Caribbean, or the publishers. Toronto Caribbean News Inc. assumes no responsibility or liability for claims, statements, opinions or views, written or reported by its contributing writers, including product or service information that is advertised.

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Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

The labour market is in a ‘She-cession’; is the Ford government neglecting working women?

JANIECE CAMPBELL janiece@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the economy, there’s a noticeable impact on a certain demographic. Women, especially mothers.

A mid-2020 study from the Royal Bank of Canada reported that approximately 1.5 million Canadian women had lost their jobs within the first two months and accounted for about 45% of the decline in hours worked. In the beginning, the figures seemed to be evenly split between unemployed men and women, but a clear divergence was seen once men were being rehired as certain industries opened up again whereas many women were forced to quit due to a lack of childcare options once schools closed down.

Since April 2020, immediate employment impacts were most severe in female-dominated industries such as hospitality and food services, recreation, retail and education services. This has resulted in the women’s labour force participation plummeting to low levels that society has not seen in over thirty years.

Not to mention, women of colour in particular are facing far higher unemployment rates than white women. According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate for minority women was 10.5% in November, compared to 6.2% for white women. Women of colour also had a slightly higher unemployment rate in comparison to their male counterparts at 10%.

“Women have been the loudest voices in the room, desperately pushing the government for changes to prevent a second wave of the COVID-19 virus. The impact on black, Indigenous and racialized women of colour and low-income women has been devastating,” said MPP and NDP Women’s Issues & Culture Critic, Jill Andrew in an op-ed for NOW Magazine.

“Ontario’s post-pandemic recovery must include – to name a few things – investment in public education and childcare, more affordable housing, and legislated

pay equity to address the gender pay gap.

Without an intersectional feminist recovery, the yawning inequities in our society which existed long before COVID-19 will only get worse.”

Catherine Fife, the NDP’s Economic Growth and Job Creation Critic, says that according to Statistics Canada, November’s job numbers reflect a lack of support from the Ford government for women getting back into the workforce.

“Doug Ford failed to cap class sizes and protect our schools from COVID-19 because he didn’t want to spend the money on hiring more educators, and now he’s refusing to expand the testing of students and staff that he should have done months ago. We see a growing number of outbreaks in schools as the virus spreads, and it’s left working women anxious about their kids’ safety with impossible choices as they juggle their responsibilities. For many, returning to work just isn’t an option.

Every month, the Ford government sees evidence that women are being disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they haven’t proposed any supports that will directly support women in re-entering the workforce. Last month’s budget contained no new money for education or childcare centres.”

Prior to Premier Ford being elected, he ranked least trustworthy among women, according to data from CBC’s Vote Compass survey. The results, derived from a total of 83,673 people, in which 42% were women, revealed Ford’s average score was 1.6 out of 10, with 59% of all women scoring him at zero out of 10.

Already facing over two years’ worth of scepticism from women across the province, now is the time that the government needs to make appropriate investments in social services, or we will see devastating consequences for our economy and a threat of wiping out decades of progress for a generation of women.

“Without a she-covery, Ontario’s economy will continue to falter. The Ford government needs to invest in women and their families as the priority by expanding access to childcare and making our schools safer. This will allow women to get back to their jobs and drive the economic growth that our province desperately needs,” concluded Catherine Fife.

NEWS

PAGE 7

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NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

What are you agreeing to? Six things you should know about Instagrams new Privacy Policy & Terms of Service thought I would highlight some of the information you might have missed.

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“We’re making some improvements and updating our Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.

Read more about our changes.” Instagram

In the last few weeks, you may have seen a little bubble appear at the top of your News Feed telling you that there are going to be changes to your Instagram account. I can almost guarantee you that many of you reading the article right now will blindly scroll down to the bottom to check the box. We have to if we want to continue using Instagram, but have you looked at what you are agreeing to?

Many of us don’t know and don’t care until it affects us directly, especially when it comes to privacy. We are not inclined to read the terms and conditions. When you are trying to get something accomplished it is easy to hurry the process and click “Agree” to get it out the way.

Chances are you haven’t read all of the text concerning the changes to the Terms of Service for Instagram, which takes effect on January 16th, 2021. Don’t worry. I took the time to comb through the terms, and I

Your data will be used for ads Ads are coming to Instagram, and the terms outline the fact that the ads will use your data, photos, and even the metadata (geolocation data) for targeting purposes. Yep! They are going to target you and lure you to buy products. This is no surprise. They have been doing this on Facebook anyways, so some of you might already be used to it.

Terms and systems will be in place to combat abuse and violations of terms (Censorship) In order to provide a positive and inclusive space, they have developed tools and are offering resources to the community that will help make user experiences an amazing one.

They will have teams and systems that work to combat abuse and violations of terms and policies, as well as harmful and DECEPTIVE behaviour.

They may share your information (if they think it is harmful) with other Facebook Companies or law enforcement. This sounds great, but we have to be mindful of who these teams consist of. What does this mean to our freedom of speech? Let’s take a look at the Community Guidelines.

COVID-19: Community Guidelines Updates and Protections “As people around the world confront this unprecedented public health emergency, we want to make sure that our Community Guidelines protect people from harmful con-

tent and new types of abuse related to COVID-19.”

Ahh! Here it is. They are working to remove content that has the potential to contribute to real-world harm, including through our policies prohibiting coordination of harm, sale of medical masks and related goods.

That means that if you post anything that is against what is being propagated regarding COVID-19, it will be removed. This is already happening on YouTube and Facebook. This is censorship in full effect.

They say that they will continue to look at content on the platform, assess speech trends, engage with experts, and provide additional policy guidance when appropriate to keep the members of Instagram safe during this crisis.

They do not claim ownership of your content, but you grant them license to use it.

They do not claim ownership of the content that you post on or through the Service and you are free to share your content with anyone else, wherever you want. However, they need certain legal permissions from you (that “Agree” that you check) to provide the Service.

When you share, post, or upload content that is covered by intellectual property rights (like photos or videos) on or in connection with their Service, you grant them: non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to host, use, distribute, modify, run, copy, publicly perform or display, translate, and create derivative works of your content This license will end when your content is deleted from

our systems.

Permission to use your username, profile picture, and information about your relationships and actions with accounts, ads, and sponsored content.

When you say yes, you give them permission to show your username, profile picture, and information about your actions (such as likes) or relationships (such as follows) next to or in connection with accounts, ads, offers, and other sponsored content that you follow or engage with that are displayed on Facebook Products, without any compensation to you.

You agree that we can download and install updates to the Service on your device. (Contact tracing apps, etc) They can also terminate or change the Service, remove or block content (censorship) information shared on our Service, or stop providing all or part of the Service if we determine that doing so is reasonably necessary to avoid or mitigate adverse legal or regulatory impacts on us.

This is another way of saying that if you don’t follow their rules, they will delete your Instagram account.

To some, this means nothing, and you are going to press “Agree” to the new terms and conditions. There are those who may be uncomfortable with these new terms, and rightfully so. It is really your decision how you proceed, and I would recommend you thoroughly looking over the terms before you continuing using this platform. Once again, knowledge is power!

Teachers call for school closures and more testing PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Toronto schools, with seven schools being closed until January, Toronto teachers have raised the alarm. The enforcement of stricter student screening protocol since December 7th, 2020 and increased asymptomatic testing are slowly being seen across Toronto schools.

On December 9th, 2020, the Ontario Secondary Teachers Federation (OSSTF), which represents approximately 55,000 education workers, sent an open letter to the provincial government and Toronto Public

Health.

The letter calls for, “Extended asymptomatic COVID-19 testing and for schools to remain closed for the first two weeks of January.”

The letter presented by OSSTF has the signatures of diverse presidents of teachers’ unions and it is making a request for the government and health experts to close all schools. In addition, they want students to be completely online commencing, January 4th, 2021. The letter was sent to: the Minister of Health, Christine Elliot, Stephen Leece, Minister of Education, Dr.Eileen deVilla, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Heath to Dr.Kathy Wilterow, Interim Director of TDSB, as well Alexander Brown, Chair of TDSB.

In the open letter which address the asymptomatic testing in school, it states, “The current pilot project of school-based voluntary COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic cases has focused and clarified the COVID-19 produced in some select schools in Toronto, resulting in the closure of two Toronto District School Board elementary schools to date. On behalf of all teachers and education workers

at the TDSB, we are calling on the Ontario Ministry of Education and Health, Toronto Public Health and the Toronto District School Board to extend this pilot project in order to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in schools across the city on a regular and on-going basis “

There is a sense of urgency in the letter as it is borne out of genuine concerns for the health and safety of those who work in the Toronto public school system. It states that despite Premier Ford’s public utterances that he is willing to go to any ends to combat the pandemic, he has: • • •

Refused to provide adequate funding to reduce elementary school classes to a accomplish safe physical distancing Refused to provide timely or adequate funding for the upgrade of school air exchange systems Provided adequate resources for contact tracing

The letter is clear on what it wants from the respective authorities. It notes that, “Public

Health spokesperson referred to the current-recording setting numbers of positive COVID-19 tests as the ‘Thanksgiving effect.’

We want you to ensure that schools cannot contribute to a similar surge effect of positive cases after the winter holiday. For this reason, we are calling for these actions to protect the health of: teachers, education workers, our students, their families and the community at large, and to provide access to data on asymptomatic case transmission within schools. Teachers, education workers, and families deserve to have a race-based understanding of how healthy schools are.”

There has been no official response from the designated individuals with respect to the letter. Premier Ford has hinted that schools may be closed for two weeks after the Christmas break. At present, twenty schools are shut due to a positive outbreak.

Immediate action is required on the part of the provincial government to deal with these burgeoning numbers. Many are optimistic that the government will do the right thing.

NEWS

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 11

We all need a good laugh to start our new year; Toronto Caribbean Newspaper welcomes Cartoonist Sue Roberts SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“The Patois language dictionary is sure to enhance communications between Jamaicans and the visitors that grace our island home.”

Philip Rose (Former Regional Director of Canada, Jamaica Tourist Board)

I don’t think you can understand the delight that I felt when Mas Edgar, and Ras Ernie entered my mailbox.

Opening my mailbox can be a painful experience at times; I am overwhelmed by questions, disturbing news, and people reaching out with concerns that they have. Every now and then I get

a reprieve, and when I received an email from Ms Sue Roberts, my day came to a relaxing end.

There is this misconception that cartoons are only for children, but there are many adults who enjoy either watching or reading cartoons. Cartoons are associated with childhood memories, and at one time were used to convey social messages in a satirical way. Reading cartoons can have a positive impact on the adult mind, and that was exactly what I was experiencing that afternoon.

I laughed and the stressful day that I had didn’t seem so bad anymore.

After a little bit of research, I learned that cartoons are: great stress busters, helps improve health, helps improve imagination, and can teach valuable lessons.

What Sue had done in sending me that email, was remind me of my childhood, and that is a powerful thing.

Sue’s interest in Jamaica began around fifty years ago. She visited the

island in 1971 and lived there for ten years. While there she worked in advertising and promotions, and this helped her learn about the Jamaica culture, as well as the Jamaican dialect. Promoting Jamaica is what Sue says is what she does best.

She is committed to promoting Jamaica, and this is what led her to coming up with her two popular characters Mas Edgar, and Mas Ernie.

The idea started as a book. It was when she was living in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth. “The location was the perfect atmosphere to start writing about my unique experiences,” Sue tells me. “It had the ocean to one side and the arid plains on the other.” Here she had an opportunity to comb through her thoughts, most of which were written on bar napkins. She tells me that her best research had taken place in rum bars across the island. Locals enjoyed teaching her about the culture, and Sue enjoyed learning. “My knowledge on the subject of Jamaica knows no

bounds,” Sue explains.

After speaking with Sally Henzell (Jake’s in Treasure Beach), Sue then took her research a step further and created her cartoon characters. She wanted to ensure that her book made it easier for people to understand the lifestyle and culture of the island. Her book has been reviewed by Mr Lloyd Wilks (Former Consul General of Jamaica), and has been referred to as “Jamaica inna mi Pocket.”

Guess what Toronto? Ms Sue Roberts has decided to share the Adventures of Mas Edgar the Country Cow, and Ras Ernie the Cattle Egret with us each edition. Her cartoons are a great break from some of the harshness that we have been experiencing and will allow some of us to embrace the Jamaican culture, or revisit old times.

Either way, prepare yourself for the crazy adventures that Mas Edgar and Ras Ernie go on. I think that we are all in for a treat.

New year, new music; emerging Toronto artists to look out for in 2021 JANIECE CAMPBELL janiece@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

As the largest centre for music in all of Canada, it’s safe to say that music and the artists that create it are a vital part of Toronto’s culture. Home to some of the biggest names in the industry today, the city is vibrant with remarkable talent that is one-of-a-kind.

This week, I wanted to introduce you to two emerging female powerhouses that are guaranteed to blow your minds: Locklyn and Melanie Durrant. Both with albums being released in early 2021, the two have their own incomparable sounds that need to be added onto your playlist ASAP!

Locklyn, a young lady with much promise, boasted her captivating range in her newest singles, “90’s Love” and “Energy”. Fueled by an infatuation for 90’s R&B/ soul music, she describes her music style as taking the vibes from that era and mod-

ernizing it with a 21st century flare, something that she feels sets her apart from other artists today.

Pursuing music was the be-all and end-all in Locklyn’s life. As a little girl, she constantly would entertain family and friends any chance she got with live performances on her living room coffee table.

“I’ve been singing since I’ve been able to talk, I’ve always wanted to do this. Even in elementary school – I don’t want to call myself a nerd or anything, but I was always one of the kids in band and choir practice every day after school,” she said.

With a keen ear for music, she prides herself in being the first singer in a not-so-musically-inclined family. Nevertheless, her family, especially her mother, is her driving force in making music she loves and striving for ultimate success.

“When I was little, my mom always told me to do whatever makes me happy. I was constantly around positivity and chasing my dreams, and I was blessed to have that opportunity.”

As advice to those singing little girls at home that dream of seeing themselves on that big stage someday, “do it,” Locklyn says simply. “You’re never going to please everyone, and that’s okay. Don’t mind anyone else’s opinion. If it makes you

happy, just do it!”

You can keep up to date with Locklyn’s upcoming album release by following her on Instagram: @theofficiallocklyn.

Melanie Durrant, an addictingly fierce ball of fire recharged her illustrious career with her latest single, “Ride with Me.” She describes her edgy new hit as “Lady Marmalade meets ZZ Top.”

Refusing to conform to a singular lane, she dips her toes in a variety of genres for an unparalleled sound like no other.

“I’ve been told I’m very eclectic, I’ll take that as a compliment,” she says with a laugh. “I do a lot of different music styles, and they seem to meld into one. Because I’m into so many different genres, it’s difficult to put myself in a box. I think that’s been an ongoing thing when people ask me what kind of music I do. It’s R&B/soul but then I just did a song with all of that and rock & roll. I’ve done reggae and I always lean towards jazz. It’s a little bit of everything.”

Growing out of a musical family, it’s not a surprise how naturally Melanie’s stellar vocals shine through. In fact, she was constantly reminded that pursuing music was her calling; she was humming before she could even talk! A seasoned

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vocalist, she is a 3-time JUNO award nominee that has collaborated and shared the stage alongside many great names including Kardinal Offishall, Common, Jay-Z and Sean Paul.

A wacky individual with a carefree lifestyle, Melanie is the poster child for living in the moment. Regrettably, COVID-19 is the only thing to get her down this year.

“I’ve kind of been a hermit from the start, so that hasn’t changed for me.

But at least, I’d get breaks before where I was able to go and perform. Without being able to do that right now, it’s kind of devastating and a little depressing. I feel like getting on stage and performing is therapeutic and addictive, I’m really missing that.”

To conclude our chat, Melanie offered a little advice to singers looking to break out into the industry. “Every day counts and use it wisely. It’s becoming more and more apparent with this COVID crap as we’re locked down. You got to protect your mental health by doing what makes you happy.”

You can keep up with Melanie Durrant as she prepares for the busy year ahead by following her on Twitter and Instagram @melaniedurrant.

NEWS

PAGE 12

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Institutionalize and cooperate racism is “well and alive� in Canada’s public service workforce Charter of Rights. This systemic practice of black employee exclusion has for decades turned the dreams of many black employees into a lifetime of pain and suffering.�

The lawsuit calls on the federal government to put in place a concrete plan blackclassaction.ca/diversity-plan to diversify the public service and empower black employees.

This claim also wants restitution for the nearly 30,000 black public service employees who have been beaten down by these racist systemic practices for decades.

“This practice of black employee exclusion has deprived black Canadians of opportunities, and fellow Canadians of the benefit of full black employee participation in service of their country,� said Toronto Employment and Human Rights lawyer Hugh Scher who is also representing the employees in this case.

Before this claim, the federal government acknowledged the issue of systemic racism across Canada and within government institutions.

Even though Prime Minister Trudeau said, “Canadians must now go back and reflect on the building blocks that elevated these organizations and examine whether they were built on a racist foundation,� it seems that those statements fell on deaf ears.

“Canada’s public service presents

MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Current and former black public service employees have filed a lawsuit against the Canadian government. The lawsuit is claiming that systemic discriminatory barriers in hiring and promotional practices have kept them from reaching their full potential as workers here in Canada.

The claim, that has been filed in the Federal Court of Canada, contends that the federal government’s systemic practice of leaving black employees behind has contributed to economic and psychological hardship for thousands of employees dating back as far back as the 1970s.

In a press release Toronto lawyer and former Crown Attorney Courtney Betty said, “Black Canadians are overwhelmingly underrepresented in the upper echelons of the public service, we are asking the federal government to fulfill its legal obligations of equality as guaranteed by the Canadian

itself as a ‘merit-based, representative and non-partisan organization that serves all Canadians. While laudable as a principle, many Canadians, particularly black Canadians, have experienced a different reality,� the words of Chris Aylward, National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. “The government must do what is necessary to right these wrongs and ensure that these injustices do not continue.�

“Justice delayed is justice denied.

There is never a convenient time to advocate for justice,� said plaintiff and retired RCMP Staff Sergeant Alain Babineau. “Black Canadians can no longer stand by silently and allow these systemic practices to continue. It is time to take meaningful action to end systemic discrimination and racism within the public service.�

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper spoke with Attorney and former Crown Attorney Courtney Betty about this troubling practice. “There is a history,� Betty said, “going back at least fifty years where black public service workers have not been properly promoted and therefore lost out on compensation that they should have had, so we are asking the government to remedy that.�

“We are also asking the government to create a framework for the existing 15,000 black public service workers, to make sure that the past injustices are not repeated against them.�

Betty commended the workers for they bravery in bringing this issue forward and called what they did “a moment in time.�

His advice to all black workers around the country who have been mistreated, “Now is the time to speak up because there are thousands of other black workers who share your plight and would like to be able to support you in trying to achieve change.�

Betty Told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper that he joined the Department of Justice so that he can achieve some form of justice and equity for his community.

“In many ways,� he said, “what I saw was a lot of injustices especially when it came to immigrants from the Caribbean.

The immigration policies were to deport many individuals from the Caribbean while other communities were essentially given a pass.�

The former Crown Attorney closed the interview by saying, “I think this is a unique opportunity for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to fulfill the vision of his father Pierre Elliot Trudeau who have laid the foundation for multiculturalism and how great we can be.�

For more information on this class action lawsuit please check the links below. blackclassaction.ca blackclassaction.ca/diversity-plan

“The world is a book and those who do not travel only read a page.�

Saint Augustine From New Years’, the United Kingdom will be adding additional flights to Antigua and Barbuda. Additionally, American Airlines, Delta and United Airlines will also have increased flight schedules to Antigua in the coming months from U.S. gateways.

Sunwing Airlines and WestJet are yet to announce resumption dates for flights to Antigua and Barbuda from Canada, but the airlifts are expected to resume early in 2021.

With the winter season, Antigua and Barbuda will see a boost in airlift as the demand for the destination increases amongst travelers seeking to escape the cold weather.

TVISHA MISTRY

tvisha@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Antigua and Barbuda After a long air halt, Air Canada makes its first trip to Antigua since March on December 6th. On arrival, Air Canada passengers and flight crew were greeted with a water salute. The Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Charles Fernandez and the CEO of Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority, Colin C. James were on hand to greet the crew and passengers.

Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Charles Fernandez said: “We are heading into the holiday season with increased airlift as consumer confidence is returning.�

CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Colin C. James said, “We’ve been constantly engaging with airline partners, and most importantly engaging with the travel trade to keep the interest and the drive in the destination.�

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Anguilla “We have worked very hard with the Ministries of Tourism and Health to create the best and most innovative solution for our short stay guests, in particular, to enjoy the rich and rewarding Anguilla experience,� said Kenroy Herbert, Chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board. “Our approach balances the twin priorities of protecting the health and safety of our guests and our residents while providing the exceptional vacation experience that we are known for.�

Antigua progressed to phase two of reopening after opening its doors to visitors on November 1st. Tourists can explore a wide range of certified tourist attractions, resorts, and tours and excursions to gain the full Anguilla experience.

Guests can dine at several certified restaurants and are encouraged to join in activities at certified companies and locations. To find out about the certification of service providers, guests are asked to contact their hotel resort and inquire with locals.

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Grenada Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) introduces an immersive 360 virtual reality experience. Partnering with local services, the GTA launched two videos, of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

The GTA provides an enhanced Grenada experience for visitors, without them having to be physically present in the destination. The first video features a hiking excursion in the breathtaking Grand Etang Rainforest, with views of the extrusive lake.

The second video highlights popular picture-perfect destinations in Grenada. Also including the world-famous Grand Anse beach.

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available for tourists including, scuba diving, sport fishing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. Fitness enthusiasts are welcomed to part take in beach workouts, yoga, spin classes, pilates, or private one-on-one fitness classes being offered.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health and Health Authority of Anguilla officials announces the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines in Anguilla. Anguilla and the other overseas British territories will be provided with COVID-19 vaccines as a result of the procurement of the United Kingdoms. The vaccines are expected to be on the island as early as January 19th, 2021.

“Although Anguilla has had only six COVID-19 cases and no deaths thus far, as we welcome visitors from global destinations including those where the virus is prevalent, it means that Anguilla continues to be highly vulnerable,� declared the Hon. Parliamentary Secretary, Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie. “However, with the testing protocols we have in place, our enhanced public health facilities, and now the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine in January, we are confident in our ability to successfully and efficiently manage, treat and contain any incidence of the virus that may occur.�

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

NEWS

PAGE 13

Nine tips for good health during the holiday season W. GIFFORDJONES MD DIANA GIFFORD-JONES TC HEALTH REPORTER

This year, the holidays aren’t what they should be. At least the vaccine’s roll-out brings anticipation that 2021 will see a return to normal. Until then, what would be our health advice to cooped up readers in this unusual holiday season? Here are a few suggestions: Say hello Connecting with extended family by phone is our best option for now. It’s a great time to reach out to old friends too. Behavioural scientists at the University of Chicago and UC Berkeley report we underestimate the positive impact of connecting with others for both our own and others’ well-being.

Their research shows that we tend to abhor a conversation with a perfect stranger un-

til we have it. So, when the pandemic subsides, say hello to whoever sits beside you on a park bench.

Try social media There are important cautions about social media. Health promotion is not always the norm, for instance for children accessing adult content. But having a strong social network is associated with positive mental health and well-being. Harvard researchers have shown that using social media as part of everyday routine and responding to content that others share is positively associated with social well-being, positive mental health, and self-rated health. (We invite you to connect with us on Instagram!)

Visit a museum University of Melbourne researchers have investigated the experiences, motivations and needs of older museum visitors and found these spaces can play an important role in building social and inter-generational connectedness and in supporting general health. Research by the University of Leicester in the UK shows that museums provide a sense of optimism and hope, self-esteem and resilience, rest and sanctu-

ary, and a safe, rich environment to access arts and culture. If you haven’t experienced a virtual exhibit or an online performance during the pandemic, it’s not too late. Give it a try over the holidays.

Read a book Reading fires up neural pathways. Studies show it improves memory and empathy.

Immersing yourself in books helps fight depression, cuts stress, and reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Share a recipe Connecting online this holiday to share a recipe or even cook together creates bonds, supports self care, and creates a space for conversation. Even baking tasty treats can boost self-esteem. Donna Pincus, professor of psychological and brain sciences at Boston University, says, “Whether it’s painting or it’s making music [or baking], there is a stress relief that people get from having some kind of an outlet and a way to express themselves.”

Go for a walk in the woods “Forest bathing” is good for the soul. But even a walk around the block is worthy. Get

outside daily.

Try a natural remedy Read the archive of columns on our website to learn why you should consider natural approaches as your first line of defence against common health problems.

Hug somebody Within your household this season, we hope you have somebody to hug. Mutually reciprocated embraces relax muscles, increase circulation, and release endorphins in your body that elevate your mood. One study exposed 400 people to the common cold and found that those who reported more hugging in their lives fared better, a tribute to social connectedness.

Be happy The research is overwhelming: happiness is good for your health. Your heart, immune system, stress response, and pain management all improve in performance when you are happy, and the effects are lasting.

So as Doris Day sings, “Stay with the happy people”!

Healthy holidays to all our readers.

You deserve a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“Young people should be able to get a safe, affordable place of their own when they’re ready. Folks should be able to rent without the constant threat of eviction or bank breaking rent hikes. And buying a home should not be out of reach for hardworking families.” Andrea Horwath (NDP Leader)

No matter where you live in Ontario, no matter your financial situation, your age, identity, or ability, you deserve a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home.

Unfortunately, for too many families, it has become harder and harder to afford a good home, although housing is a basic human right and requirement for good health. According to the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights the right to housing is protected under international law, and Canada has endorsed such

rights.

With that being said, according to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, approximately 15 percent of the province’s households are currently in dire need of affordable housing (https://ontario.cmha. ca/). The high cost of rental accommodations has created a critical shortage of affordable housing and is a leading contributor to poverty in Ontario. What does this mean for people who are part of that 15 per cent?

It has been proven that adequate, suitable and affordable housing contributes to our physical and mental well being. It helps with feelings of personal safety, and also assists in decreasing stress. These factors result in better mental health outcomes.

When housing is inadequate or unavailable, personal as well as community well being can suffer (https://ontario.cmha.ca/).

Families have been priced out of the neighbourhoods that they grew up in and away from their community support systems. Meanwhile, renters have been trapped in an endless cycle of instability and risk. Government loopholes have left renters vulnerable to escalating rent prices and unfair evictions. With COVID-19 wreaking havoc on the economy, and a lack of secure affordable housing, Ontario is on the brink

of a homelessness crisis.

Last month, Andrea Horwath and the Ontario NDP Caucus unveiled Homes You Can Afford, a comprehensive housing plan that ensures: a market of affordable housing, helps first-time buyers with their down payments, and provides renters with the financial help and security that they deserve.

Horwath believes that housing is a fundamental human right, and that everyone deserves a comfortable, affordable, and stable place to call his or her home.

The Home in Ontario Program (HOP) will help people buy their first place by contributing to their down payment with a shared equity loan of up to 10 per cent of the home’s value. The bonus is that repayments on the loan won’t be necessary until the homeowner sells or moves out. Homeowners will have the option of buying back the government’s share at any time.

The Homes You Can Afford plan also helps 311,000 households pay the rent with direct financial help, and protects all renters from bad intentioned landlords.

The plan also looks to build 69,000 affordable homes and 30,000 homes with support, in addition to implementing a Housing First strategy to tackle the growing crisis of homelessness.

The NDP is also committed to: •

• •

• • • •

Making renting more affordable and giving renters more security by closing loopholes on ‘renovictions’ - where landlords evict people so they can jack up the rent between tenants Making it easier to buy and keep a home, and strengthening home buyers’ protections Taking on the billionaires, speculators, and bad developers whose actions are causing the housing market to spiral out of control Giving survivors of domestic violence a safe place to go with the supports they need Addressing homelessness, and giving more people safe and stable housing options Supporting a For Indigenous, By Indigenous housing strategy Tackling the housing shortage that exists in areas of Northern Ontario

That’s right. You heard it. You might have the ability to buy your own home in the next couple years. For many, this will be a dream come true.

PAGE 14

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

FDA banned Aspartame twice?

If that is the case, how is this product legal now?

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

It tastes oh so sweet, is virtually caloriefree and has no aftertaste, which may be why aspartame is one of the most popular artificial sweeteners on the market.

I can almost guarantee that you have probably consumed an aspartame product in the past few days. You might have even consumed it in the past few hours.

I am sure that at some point during Holiday Season, we will all definitely consume some aspartame, but what if I told you that you could be slowly doing yourself harm?

Aspartame is one of the most controversial products on the market and for good reason. There have been many studies done on the dangers of consuming aspartame, and we are going to go into those, but first, let’s take a look at where it came from.

Aspartame was discovered by accident by a scientist named James M. Schlatter in 1965. He was researching an anti-ulcer drug and happened to lick his finger (which seems dangerous to me)

and discovered this sweet taste. This is what was then named Aspartame. It is made up of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. When the product is consumed, it is broken down into these amino acids and a small amount of methanol in your body. These components are naturally found in several foods including: eggs, fruits, meats and vegetables.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, over 1,000 studies find no evidence of harmful effects. The National Cancer Institute concurs that there are no links between consuming aspartame and increased risk of cancer. In 2002, “Aspartame: Review of Safety,” was published in the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. In the review it states that aspartame has been approved for human consumption by regulatory agencies in more than 100 countries for over the past 20 years, representing billions of man-years of safe exposure.

Naturally, there are two sides to this argument, so I am going to present the other side as well. There have been doctors who have studied aspartame and have not reported the same positive results noted earlier in the article.

Dr H.J. Roberts is an expert on aspartame and has reported that aspartame acts as a psychoactive drug causing psychiatric and behavioural problems,

especially if it interacts with anti-depressants.

Dr Walton is a psychiatrist who conducted a study as to whether individuals with mood disorders were particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of aspartame. In his study he found that there were significant negative effects found in participants who had a history of depression. The negative effects were so bad that the study had to be stopped early even though the researchers were staying within the allowable intake of aspartame for their subjects.

Reginall Bundrage, a pathologist who has worked at the EPA reported that he told his superiors that there is no way that aspartame should be on the market because it was killing so many people.

“That was in 1990 and it’s now 2010 and it’s still on the market killing people.”

Did you know that the FDA banned Aspartame twice? If that is the case, how is this product legal now?

It was banned following three independent scientific studies of the artificial sweetener. It was concluded that regular aspartame intake resulted in a high probability of inducing brain tumours. A study conducted in 1977 discovered that of 196 animals used by Searle for testing aspartame, 98 died.

Aspartame accounts for over 75% of all reports to the FDA relating to adverse reaction to food additives.

These reactions are extremely serious,

including seizures and death. There are some adverse effects of aspartame, and below are chronic illnesses that can be triggered or worsened by ingesting aspartame: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Brain tumours Multiple sclerosis Epilepsy Chronic fatigue syndrome Parkinson’s disease Alzheimer’s Mental retardation Lymphoma Birth defects Fibromyalgia Diabetes It is particularly hazardous to fetuses and infants

There is no surprise that the sweetener industry, and major sweetener users (Nutrasweet, Equal, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé and Monsanto) have challenged findings like these.

Once again, as consumers, it is your responsibility to be aware of what you are putting in your body. If you notice adverse symptoms appearing after consuming certain products, consult your doctor, and don’t ignore what you are feeling.

It is very important, especially during this time to be taking better care of our mind, body, and soul.

NEWS

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 15

Justice for Justice McLeod’s Campaign in full effect cal involvement as a member of the judiciary in 2018. Desmond Cole in a blog on February 27th, 2018 about the FBC, “Raise serious questions about ethics and conflict of interests.� On February 27th, 2020 concerns were brought up about the FBC’s connection to the Liberal party. In a subsequent, Toronto Star article written on February 28th, 2018 article titled, “Black advocate must put cause ahead of career,� he was critical of the role of the FBC and Justice McLeod’s role as fostering, “The strong appearance of conflict of interest and partisanship.�

On November 30th, 2020 a hearing was held by the Ontario Judicial Council to investigate a complaint that Justice McLeod failed, “To uphold the integrity, impartiality and independence of the judiciary who he communicated with and met with politicians on behalf of FBC, inappropriately used the power and prestige of his judicial office to advance the interests of the FBC and lent the prestige if the judicial office to FBC fundraising.� (as reported at https://www. ontariocourts.ca/ocj/files/ojc/decisions/ 2018-molead-EN.docx).

There was much community support galvanized with 5,000 signatures at the

PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The last two years have been particularly challenging and difficult for Justice Donald McLeod. Having been called to the Bar in 1988 and appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in September 2013, he has been suspended for over a year now. In many ways, he has been a pillar of the black community and has been involved in positive leadership and mentoring youths. As the founder of 100 Strong Black Men, Stand United Canada and the Federation of Black Canadians (FBC), he has received many awards for his outstanding community contributions.

It was his leadership role with the FBC that triggered questions about potential conflict of interest with respect to his politi-

Justice for Justice MacLeod Facebook page.

It states, “We support the total dismissal of all allegations against Honourable Justice McLeod.�

The hearing was held over a fourday period in front of a four-person committee from November 30th to December 4th.

On December 20th, 2018 there was the dismissal of the complaint by the Judicial Council.

Unfortunately, there have been additional allegations against Justice McLeod (as reported by www.thewhig.com on March 11th, 2020) He is facing allegations of perjury for his role with the FBC at the first hearing.

The details of the allegations can be seen at www.ontariocourts.ca. He has been suspended with pay and is not presiding as confirmed

by Jill Arthur, Court of Justice Communications Officer in the October 3rd, 2019 edition of Law Times.

Kahmaria Pingue has started an online petition at change.org titled, “Back in the RING Again: We are demanding Fair Treatment for Justice McLeod.� The petition states, “In our view, these new allegations, undermine trust between the community and our public institutions. We are concerned that

the establishment is placing one if the few black judges of the Ontario Court of Justice under disproportionate scrutiny.� The petition acknowledges his invaluable contribution to the black community. It notes, “The allegations diminish and tarnish the important and appropriate role that black leaders, including judges can play in their communities.�

The hearing started on December 8th, and Day 5 continued on December 14th.

Twitter activists played a role in attacking the work of Justice Donald McLeod. He stated that, “Their myopic worldview threatens the Justice McLeods of the world: individuals who are beloved and respected by ordinary black people for remembering where they came from after achieving improbable success.� He concludes that, “Justice McLeod’s predicament has all the signs of a cause de jure in today’s media environment. Who knows if it will get the attention it deserves. Hopefully the eventual outcome actually strengthens, rather than hinders, the potential for diversity in Ontario courts.�

Jamil Jivani (National Post, December 4th, 2020)

If you decide to accept the COVID-19 vaccine shot, PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH ness Unit. He also happens to be on the COVID-19 response team. Dr Shepherd was born and raised in the Soviet Union and became a Military Doctor in St. Petersburg Russia.

He is an expert on: bio-weapons, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, high yield explosives and pandemic preparedness.

He has stated that the COVID-19 vaccines are very similar technology to the bio-weapon used to develop viral weapons.

He has a firm understanding of the depopulation plan that has been put in order and confirms that mandatory vaccinations will be at our doorstep very soon. He is actually very shocked that North American people are so passive concerning what is happening in the world right now. He believes that this fake pandemic is the means by which a communist global government will be ushered into existence, and this government cannot be voted out.

In 2014, an article was published by the Economic Times of India titled, “Controversial vaccine studies: Why is Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation under fire from critics in India?� In 2009, several schools in Khammam district (Telangana) became a site for observation studies for a cervical cancer vaccine that was administered to thousands of girls between nine and fifteen years of age.

The girls were administered the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine in three rounds that year under the supervision of state health department officials. The vaccine used was Gardasil, manufactured by Merck. Tragically, months later, many of the students had become ill and, by 2010, five of them had died.

A report was released about an incident that occurred in December 2012, in the small village of Gouro, Chad, Africa. The claim is that five hundred children were locked into their school and threatened that if they did not agree to being force-vaccinated with meningitis a vaccine, they would receive no further education.

These children were vaccinated

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“COVID-19, means the ‘certificate of identification of vaccination with artificial intelligence, and 19 is the year in which it was created.�

There are a lot of strong views regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, and it is hard to tell fact from fiction.

I wanted to write this article encouraging people to remain open to both sides of the vaccine discussion. I know that for some of us, taking this vaccine is a must because of our professions. If you are a frontline worker, or a teacher, it might seem irresponsible to refuse it. Some of us just want life to get back to normal, and if taking the vaccine will do this, then why object?

This is all good reasoning, but as a journalist, it is my job to ensure that you have accurate information about aspects of life that affects you and your family. I want to present information that you will not find on mainstream media regarding vaccines. I have found research from other parts of the world that speak to the travesties of certain vaccines. Before you make any pre-judgments, sift through the information and compare it to what you have heard or seen about vaccines. This information could possibly save your life.

COVID-19 vaccines have been called, “Biological Weapons of Mass Destruction,� by Dr Igor Shepherd, a Wyoming Medical Doctor, and the Manager for Wyoming’s State Public Health Department/PreparedRY 10TH

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without their parents’ knowledge. This vaccine was an unlicensed product still going through the third and fourth phases of testing. Within hours, 106 children began to suffer from headaches, vomiting, severe uncontrollable convulsions and paralysis.

The original report was written in a small, local newspaper called LaVoix.

The newspaper stated that forty children were finally transferred to a hospital in Faya and later taken by plane to two hospitals in N’Djamena, the capital city of Chad. After being moved around several times, many of these sick children were finally taken back to their village without a diagnosis.

An African Fact Checker claims that this story was false. If that is the case, what actually happened to the vaccinated children?

According to the 2015 evaluation, the incident was a case of “mass psychogenic illness.� Psychogenic means that the causes were mental or emotional rather than physical. Apparently, physicians who did not find cases of paralysis, examined all the supposed infected children. It was also stated that all of the affected individuals recovered without incident. The symptoms were triggered in part by the occurrence of crises among other patients, and even an unvaccinated child complained of similar illness.

If this were true, why would their government award each family ÂŁ1000 in what has been described by their parents as hush money? The groups behind this project were PATH, WHO, UNICEF, and the Gates Foundation, and during the investigations, it was discovered that in fact, the whole project was run by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“The vaccine is completely worthless, and the government knows it.�

Dr. Russell Blaylock (Nationally recognized, board-certified neurosurgeon)

The USA Food & Drug Administration advisory committee had a meeting on October 22nd, 2020. The meeting included a

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by Steve Anderson, PhD, MPP Director, and Office of Biostatistics & Epidemiology Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

On slide 16 of the powerpoint presentation was a working list of possible adverse event outcomes that are associated with the imminent rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. There are 21 conditions (most of which are possibly life threatening) that are listed as possible adverse outcomes of the COVID-19 vaccines. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Guillain-BarrĂŠ syndrome Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis Transverse myelitis Encephalitis/myelitis/encephalomyelitis/ meningoencephalitis/meningitis/ encephalopathy Convulsions/seizures Stroke Narcolepsy and cataplexy Anaphylaxis Acute myocardial infarction Myocarditis/pericarditis Autoimmune disease Deaths Pregnancy and birth outcomes Other acute demyelinating diseases Non-anaphylactic allergic reactions Thrombocytopenia Disseminated intravascular coagulation Venous thromboembolism Arthritis and arthralgia/joint pain Kawasaki disease Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Vaccine enhanced disease

Again, I am not asking you to take my word for it. I am simply providing you with information that you can check out, and then make a decision that is best for you. My goal is to make you better media consumers, and it starts with learning how to shop for your information. Knowledge is power.

PAGE 16

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

2020’s Top 9 Conspiracy Facts SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER Continued From Page 1 -- The term “Conspiracy theory” at one time struck fear and anxiety in the hearts of public figures, particularly journalists and academics. Since the 1960s, information that fit this term was considered off limits to inquiry or debate.

There are different theories to how this word came to be, but it was the Central Intelligence Agency that played the greatest role in effectively weaponizing the term.

In 1976, The New York Times requested access to certain CIA documents, specifically ones labelled 1035-960 (The Warren Report). Here they discovered a detailed series of actions and techniques for “Countering and discrediting the claims of the conspiracy theorists, so as to inhibit the circulation of such claims in other countries.”

I completely understand why if someone wanted to keep people from finding out information that would damn them, they would find a way to discredit the information. This has been happening for years, and I don’t think that this is going to change.

As a paper, one thing that we pride ourselves on is our ability to provide actual FACTS to our community. Cambridge Dictionary describes facts as something that is known to have happened or to exist, especially something for which proof exists, or about which there is information.

Naturally, we as a team thought it was best to end the year by presenting to our community knowledge that they can bring into the New Year. I am honoured to present to you, 2020’s Top 9 Conspiracy Facts!

FACT 1: Lockdowns do not save lives “The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms specify that severe societal restrictions must be justified by the severity of the threat and the necessity of the interventions.” Joel Kettner (MD MSc FRCSC FRCPC)

I wrote this article, “Unnecessary Lockdowns – The Verdict is in; lockdowns do not save lives.” On November 26th, 2020. I thought it would be appropriate to start with this one, especially due to the fact that we are now entering another lockdown

We are nine months into this pandemic, and lockdowns did very little to save lives, and they were definitely not worth thousands of businesses closing and the severe economic costs. I mentioned that medical professionals reported that lockdowns slow the development of herd immunity, which helps a society move past the virus.

Experts were slowly coming out to speak against these rolling lockdowns that were happening globally. Lockdowns are now being viewed as one of the biggest medical and economic blunders of all time.

Sweden for example, acted on scientific advice to handle their COVID-19 spread. They advised their citizens to take sensible social distancing steps, but didn’t close their schools or small businesses. The Swedes are actually in a much better place than us in the Western world.

We have experienced a surge of people getting the flu before and there was not the need for a lockdown. Case in point, January 2018. Adam Carter wrote an article for CBC titled, “Hamilton hospitals over capacity as flu season surges.” A particularly bad flu season across Canada had caught some hospitals off guard. Some cities, like Calgary, were saying it was the worst flu season on record. It was a particularly severe strain of influenza A, H3N2, and an early run of influenza B that made the 2018 flu season particularly nasty.

The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed 15,572 cases for the season as of January 6th, 2018. The FluWatch report reported that the level of influenza activity was in the higher range of expected levels for that time of year.

I had a chance to review the numbers in Ontario that were updated on December 21st, 2020 at 10:28 (tinyurl.com/yap4lnbq). According to the data, Since January 15th, 2020, Ontario has had a total of 158,053 COVID-19 cases. If you do the math for yourself, you will see that in 2018, we should have gone into lockdown, but we didn’t. Why not?

FACT 2: COVID-19 is not as deadly as we have been made to believe

I have found that people sometimes need to see the numbers to make sense of what is going on. I located some stats at Statista Canada (tinyurl. com/ycow2hpd), and I would like to share them with you.

As of December 17th, 2020, there had

been 488,638 confirmed coronavirus cases and 13,916 deaths from the disease in Canada. Almost 12.9 million people had been tested for COVID-19 infection. Let’s do the math. 13,916/12,000,000 = 0.0012 people have died because of COVID-19.

Does that constitute the hysteria that the media has caused with their slanted reporting.

Reports have come in that governments around the world have been marking all deaths involving a positive case as a COVID-19 death, regardless of whether they died of a pre-existing condition or other cause of death, like a heart attack.

On June 23rd, 2020, Ontario Minister of Health Christine Elliot confirmed that, “In some cases, there are situations where there are other preexisting conditions that may actually be the cause of the loss rather than COVID-19. COVID-19 is there but may have not been the cause of death.”

Yet, each day, media engages fear by posting the number of cases that are happening in areas across Ontario. They do it incrementally, and they don’t present whole numbers for people to analyse. Well, let me not say that. They do, but they direct your attention to the climbing cases. It is a way more effective way to scare people.

FACT 3: Masks do not seem to be working?

One of my favourite articles of the year was written on July 8th, 2020 and it was titled, “Masks On, Masks Off – Is widespread masking a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic?

In this article, I highlighted why the wearing of masks was nonsensical. On April 6th, 2020, the World Health Organization released information in a release “Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19.” tinyurl.com/yco5qag3

According to them, there was limited evidence that wearing a medical mask by healthy individuals in the households or among contacts of a sick patient, or among attendees of mass gatherings would be beneficial as a preventive measure. There was no evidence that wearing a mask (whether medical or other types) by healthy persons in the wider community setting, including universal community masking, could prevent people from becoming infected with respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.

Our very own Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Theresa Tam, went live on CTV News, on March 30th, 2020, and stated that current evidence didn’t support the public needing masks. In her words,

“The government was prioritizing the supply of masks for frontline workers. Continuous scientific evidence shows if you are sick, put on a mask to prevent droplets from spreading. Putting a mask on a person who is asymptomatic (NO SYMPTOMS) is not beneficial if you are not infected. If you are in close contact with someone who has the virus wear the mask.”

According to an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine: (tinyurl.com/ y8e5dctf)

“We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection. The chance of catching COVID-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.”

On our very own provincial website two statements are made: face coverings will not stop you from getting COVID-19, but may help protect others, and face coverings will not protect you from getting COVID-19. Do I have any more questions regarding this topic? If not, let us move on.

FACT 4: You do not have to wear a mask everywhere

The information that I am presenting below is directly from (tinyurl.com/yb73ua3o)

We have been made to believe that we HAVE to wear masks everywhere, but the FACT is, that is not true. I provided a short list of what is found at the link above, but I think it gives you enough to know that what we are being told in mainstream media, and what the governmental websites are showing us are drastically contradicting.

Workplaces You do not need to wear a face covering when you are working in an area that allows you to maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from anyone else while you are indoors.

Residences and dwellings Residents do not need to wear a face covering in: • University dorms, retirement homes, longterm care homes or other similar dwellings except when they are in a common area and can’t maintain 2 metres from others • Residences for people with disabilities (any residences listed in the definition of “residential services and supports” in subsection 4 (2) of the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008) Temporarily taking off your face covering

You can take off your face covering temporarily: • To receive services that require you to take it off (for example, at the dentist, when receiving some personal care services such as facials, or when you have to verify your identity) • To engage in an athletic or fitness activity • To eat or drink • When necessary for health and safety purposes FACT 5: Social credit score is now a reality I will not forget the first time that I saw the first episode of the third season of Netflix’s dystopian series Black Mirror. In the episode, Bryce Dallas Howard stars as a woman who had fallen victim to the evils of a social credit score.

This was essentially an individual rating based on social media clout. Everyone owned and was subjected to an app that allowed them to rate their interactions with each other. So if you were kind to others, you would be rated higher than someone who wasn’t so nice. As a result, your rating gave you a class ranking; the lower you fell, the more you were shunned socially, financially, in the workplace, etc.

Now it seems like George Orwell’s prophetic “1984” has come to life.

China now has a “Social Credit System,” where a low score can ruin your life in more ways than one. If you have a low score, you are prescribed an embarrassing ringtone, you are banned from flights and this is just the beginning of the dystopian nightmare that is now daily life in China for tens of millions of people.

A low social credit score can potentially exclude you from well-paid jobs; make it impossible for you to get a house or a car loan or even book a hotel room. The government will slow down your Internet connection, ban your children from attending private schools and even post your profile on a public blacklist for all to see.

What the government claims is that its purpose is to enhance trust and social stability by creating a “culture of sincerity” that will “restore social trust.”

What it has actually created is a culture of fear and a nation of informants, and I will tell you why. One of the ways that people can improve their own social credit score is to report on the supposed misdeeds of others.

The question I have is, how long is it before this reaches Canada?

FACT 6: We are no longer under a STATE OF EMERGENCY A state of emergency is defined under the Emergency Measures and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA) as “a danger of major proportions that could result in serious harm to persons or substantial damage to property.” A state of emergency also requires that the government’s normally available resources (including legislation) may not be reliable or may be insufficient.

On December 10th, 2020, I wrote an article about Bill 195 Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19). What this Bill did was end the state of emergency, but then introduced a new power that allows the Ford Cabinet to extend and amend some of the emergency orders without the involvement of Ontario’s democratically elected Provincial Parliament. It allows the provincial government to extend powers given to them under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act indefinitely in thirty-day increments.

The Bill also allows the Cabinet to invest one single Minister with the power to amend emergency orders unilaterally. Guess who has that power? You know it, Premier Doug Ford.

We entered a state of emergency on March 17th, 2020. Bars, restaurants were ordered to close their doors and had to rely on takeout delivery services. We were not allowed to visit our friends or family, and anything that looked like an event was prohibited.

What many of us don’t know is that on July 24th, 2020 the state of emergency was declared OVER! FACT 7: Our World Leaders were prepared for this; Reviewing Event 201 “To be clear, the Centre for Health Security and partners did not make a prediction during our table-top exercise. For the scenario, we modelled a fictional coronavirus pandemic, but we explicitly stated that it was not a prediction. Instead, the exercise served to highlight preparedness and response challenges that would likely arise in a very severe pandemic.”

John Hopkins Centre for Health Security

On Friday, October 18th, 2019 from 8:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., at The Pierre Hotel in New York, an invitation-only audience of nearly 130 people attended an exercise named Event 201. A team from the John Hopkins Centre for Health Security, along with: the World Economic forum, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, funded by the Open Philanthropy Project hosted a 3.5 hour pandemic tabletop exercise that simulated a series of dramatic, scenario-based facilitated discussions, confronting difficult dilemmas associated with response to a hypothetical, but scientifically plausible, pandemic.

In attendance were 15 global business, government, and public health leaders. The simulation exercise highlighted unresolved real-world policy and economic issues that could be solved with sufficient political will, financial investment, and attention now and in the future, in the case of a global pandemic, kind of like, I don’t know, the COVID-19 Pandemic.

With details that are so similar to what has happened with the COVID-19 pandemic, why has there been so much confusion? Why did we as a nation not have a plan

When you get a second, you should take a look at the scenario that was presented at Event 201. There are also some links to videos that go over preparedness modules. The similarities to what is happening right now are scary. tinyurl.com/y9zvl94s FACT 8: Freedom of speech is no longer free There are an increasing number of world governments using the pandemic to suppress criticism and undesirable information. Yes, even the Toronto Caribbean News and our sister station MyTCNTV network have had our articles, and videos censored on platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

We are not special in any right; there are many other freedom fighters all over the world that have been silenced. In countries such as Egypt and Singapore, restrictions led to troubling prosecutions of: lawyers, anti-harassment activists, and opposition politicians.

In Cambodia, Human Rights Watch found that at least seventeen people have been arrested on fake news charges for comments they made about the coronavirus. There have been a number of authoritarian states such as: Russia, Iran, the Philippines, Honduras, and Singapore who have taken similar steps. They harass their journalist, and have adopted new laws specifically aimed at suppressing fake news.

On its official home page, the South African government has issued a warning; “Anyone that creates or spreads fake news about the Coronavirus COVID-19 is liable for prosecution,” and Chinese social media networks like WeChat have reported censoring COVID-19 related terms since December 31st, 2019.

Slowly but surely we are starting to see the same type of censorship here in North America.

Popular names including: Del BigTree, Alex Jones, and David Icke have been booted off Facebook, and YouTube for presenting information contrary to what mainstream media propagates.

FACT 9: We can live a normal life, even during a killer pandemic (History Lesson)

Did you know that American life went on as normal during the killer pandemic of 1969

H3N2 (or the “Hong Kong flu,” as it was more popularly known) was an influenza strain that the New York Times described as “one of the worst in the nation’s history.”

The first case of H3N2, was reported in mid-July 1968 in Hong Kong. By September, it had infected Marines returning to the States from the Vietnam War. By mid-December, the Hong Kong flu had arrived in all 50 states.

There are some key differences with how things are being handled in North America now, then how it was in 1969. Schools were not shut down nationwide, other than a few dozen because of sick teachers. Facemasks weren’t required or even common.

Though Woodstock was not held during the peak months of the H3N2 pandemic (the first wave ended by early March 1969, and it didn’t flare up again until November of that year), the festival went ahead when the virus was still active and had no known cure. If you see any photos from Woodstock, you can agree there was no social distancing.

H3N2 has so far proved deadlier than COVID-19. Between 1968 and 1970, the Hong Kong flu killed between an estimated 1 and 4 million, according to the CDC and Encyclopaedia Britannica, with US deaths exceeding 100,000

Aside from the different reactions to H3N2 and COVID-19, the similarities between them are striking. Both viruses spread quickly and cause upper respiratory symptoms including fever, cough and shortness of breath. They infect mostly adults over 65 or those with underlying medical conditions, but could strike people of any age. Those who had H3N2 and survived describe a health battle that sounds eerily similar to COVID.

That generation approached viruses with calm, rationality and intelligence,”

I urge readers to evaluate evidence with an open mind. Be mindful of commentators who slant their coverage with loaded language. They know that no one has time to investigate everything.

They know that many of us rely on commentary from popular new sources, but we as sensible media consumers should have opinions that change based on new data presented to us.

Thank you for riding with us this year. We promise to provide you with information that will allow our global community to live fulfilled and meaningful lives.

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PAGE 18

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

A Mother’s Love; Sherika Harris fights to ensure she can save her son’s leg LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH lashawna@carib101.com

BARBADOS TC REPORTER

BARBADOS -- Five-year-old Rafael Lee is an exceptional child. At a mere age of five-years-old he is already able to read, spell and solve mathematical problems.

His mother Sherika Harris described him as being a little genius at his young age.

“I do not want to say little genius, but that is what I experienced. He started reading at 18 months old. I did not know he could read. I discovered that he could read. I was actually shocked he could read. It was just one of the instances that I was amazed by him. Every day he amazes me. He started saying his times tables by the time he was two. By the time he was three he learnt his 12 times tables. It is just the little things he can do. He can do mathematics in his head. That is how I know that his brain is engaged. I discovered he had learned German by himself.”

In spite of his stellar academic

achievements Rafael has a rare condition Type 2A Tibial Hemimelia (TH) which only one in a million children have.

According to paileyinstitute.org Tibial Hemimelia is described as a shortened leg with knee and ankle deformities. Most of those deformities are varus in the ankle and knee flexion contracture in the knee. There is also typically instability of these joints due to lack of collateral ligaments. The patella and quadriceps muscles may be present or absent but will have limited function if present. The tibia may also present as an alage- a fibrous remnant that does not appear on X rays. The fibula may be normal or dysplastic and is often dislocated from the knee.

There are usually associated deformities of the foot as well.

Rafael was born in Jamaica at the University Hospital of the West Indies, (UWHI) Mona Jamaica. His mother Sherika Harris said when she first realized something was wrong with his right leg was after she saw him for the first time following her delivery. Dr. Clarke (who at the time was from the Department of Orthopedics at UWHI) told her that the best decision was to amputate Rafael’s leg.

“Dr. Clarke indicated to us that the condition is very rare, and most would not see it in their lifetime. Based on

the advice of the consultants that he met with they recommended that we amputate his leg,”

Recounting the experience Harris got emotional as she said she had to make a decision if she should listen to the advice of orthopedic experts and amputate her newborn son’s leg.

“I was a new mother. It was my first and only child. As my son just came out how could I even think about that?”

Determined to find out if there was a way to save her only son Harris travelled to the United States of America where she was referred to the Paley Institute who told Harris that Raefel would need three major surgeries and physical therapy in order for his right leg to be fully functional.

“He told us he would need three major surgeries and physical therapy.

When we got the cost that was our major concern. They said the surgery and physical therapy would cost $250,000 USD,” she said.

Harris noted that she realized that she could not possibly afford to pay the fee as both her and Rafael’s father Atai Lee do not earn enough to be able to foot the bill; it would cost them $35.7 million Jamaican Dollars.

Determined to give her son a

better life Harris began to think of ways in which she could raise the money to pay for her son’s surgery. Thus, she has established a GoFundMe page and had some small fundraisers.

“The money is not coming to us, it is going straight to the hospital. What we have been doing is to gather all of the money that we have gotten from fundraising and once it meets the hospital threshold of $10,000 USD, we send it directly to the hospital. We are not keeping the money for ourselves; we are very transparent with our donors as the money is to help Rafael’s leg. We are doing everything we can to help this little boy.”

Harris said that plans are being conceptualized for another fund-raising event in 2021. Although the event is to assist with the financial costs associated with the treatment for Rafael, she also wants to use the event to sensitize Jamaicans about the disabled community.

“What we are seeking to do is to ensure that Rafael gets the help that he needs as well as spread awareness for his condition which is so rare in the disabled community. The more awareness we bring to the cause is the more we can help other persons who may be affected by it.”

Welcome to Fred’s Kitchen HRISHIKESH DAS GUPTA hdg@carib101.com

CULINARY REPORTER

“Food is my life. Cooking is my passion.

I love what I do. I wake up in the morning and I look forward to creating new dishes.” Fredrick Robert, Owner of Fred’s Kitchen

Master Chef Fred is making a variety of dishes with over 30+ years of extensive experience with his friendly staff at Fred’s Kitchen. The Jamaican cuisine is located at 2515 Hurontario St., Mississauga. Marcia, Kayon, Isabelle and Tetann, the courteous and affectionate team members of the restaurant pro-

vide exquisite customer service with Fred so that customers are pleased with their meals. Fred and his team are always open to suggestions and accommodate every customer’s request. The team also ensures the kitchen is always up to code and maintains health guidelines. That is why, Fred’s Kitchen has been acclaimed as one of the best Jamaican take-out food spots in Mississauga. Every passer-by is attracted by the aroma of the flavored jerk chicken and jerk salmon and order the meals to enjoy Fred’s creative dishes.

After tasting, the customers always appreciate all the hard work Fred puts into the meals for its authenticity.

“The food is delicious. From the jerk chicken down to the curry goat, you can tell the food is made with tender loving care.” Mike Cheta, a regular customer of Fred’s Kitchen Being a part of Humber College’s Cook Apprenticeship certificate program, Fred used to participate in culinary competi-

tions. He received numerous awards and recognitions including a gold medal from Taste of Canada for creating a buffet platter in 1986. Since then there is no looking back for him. His amazing platters have been served in popular hotels and restaurants across Canada. Every day Fred thinks about his culinary journey and thanks God for the kindness. The appreciation he receives from customers brings tears to his eyes. To show his gratitude, every year Fred’s Kitchen organizes an annual appreciation Christmas party for the community and his loyal customers.

The pandemic has brought extraordinary challenges for our community and for all of us this year. However, Fred always believed in “the tradition MUST go on and wanted to give back!”

Fred’s unwavering loyalty, commitment and outstanding philanthropic leadership for serving the community, connected with Victoria Nelson; President of The Congress of Black Women (Mississauga) Housing Corporation Inc. for Camille’s Place. In support of the so-

cial well-being and health of seniors, they were identified at the building and a nutritious hot meal was delivered to their door. On the same day, Fred opened his restaurant and provided a free hot meal to his loyal customers.

“Thank you Freddy for your warm embrace and supporting the community during this unprecedented time of COVID.” Linden King, Chair for the United Way Greater Toronto Black Community Advisory Council.

I asked Fred to share his secret mantra and he politely mentioned, “Politeness, Timeliness, Humbleness and Consistency.” Fred is happy that he has chosen the carrier he is passionate about and motivates staff as a leader to perform the best to their abilities across every service.

Fred’s personal favorite creations are the jerk sea mussels and oxtail linguine. Chef Fred also offers private catering and prepares the meals according to the customer’s request.

PAGE 20

FEATURE

the the poetic poetic word word Tis The Season

BY GLORIA O’KOYE The season to be jolly is near!

Families gather to rejoice and celebrate, A feast of laughter and love fills the air!

A time where children jumps for joy As schools close, Even grown folks act childlike For snowmen and snowball fights!

Hot cocoa and eggnog made fresh from The pot!

Gingerbread houses and sugar cookies fill up homes, Rum cakes and sorrel finishes as soon as it’s on sight!

A time for festive behaviour, Movie nights and cookouts all the time A time to spend with one another A time to be grateful, Just please be mindful Of those that may not enjoy this time!

For those who lost Loved ones and holidays feel empty, We hear and love you!

For those who don’t believe for personal reasons, It’s okay We got you!

For those who have to deal with Not-so-nice family, We welcome you With our homes, arms or whatever it takes To support you!

For those out in the cold, May we provide Not for likes or brownie points, But just compassion To see you well, Just tell us how We won’t ask why For those behind those walls, We stand with you!

May letters and calls go beyond your fill And memorable care packages bring out Your smiles And your mind Outside the cells!

May you continue to better yourself And continue to do right Loved ones are patiently praying And strangers who will stand by your side!

For those with reasons kept hidden Just know you don’t have to utter a word May peace, hope and joy overflows your cup, And attentive ears are on standby Whenever you want to be heard!

This is the season to be jolly, This the season to be mindful Because holidays may not feel the same For everybody Respect one another For our uniqueness, And we shall get Through the season in harmony!

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

SUGA SUGAR WINES

Brewing local fruit wines year round LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH lashawna@carib101.com

BARBADOS TC REPORTER

A Barbadian Christmas is not complete without a Farmer’s Choice ham or a tasty glass of sorrel. For forty-year-old Renee Sobers, the owner of Suga Sugar Wines a company which operates from Rock Hall, St Lucy, she decided that instead of doing the traditional sorrel drink that she would make a sorrel wine.

Sobers said she was seeking to make a wine that reflected a Barbadian Christmas when she had the idea to try using sorrel.

“I wanted to make a wine for the holidays that was part of our Bajan culture and traditions. What is more traditional than sorrel? So, I thought, ``Why not make a wine?” Since the start of the Christmas season her sorrel wines have been in high demand.

Sorrell is the Jamaican name or a type of hibiscus flower known as the Roselle. The dried sepals of the hibiscus flower create the red colour that we see when we drink sorrel. It is infused with hot water and spices such as ginger and allspice. It is a refreshing drink that is enjoyed year-round, but its festive colour and delicious taste is perfectly suited for Christmas.

Sobers started her company in March 2020 in the midst of the lockdown in Barbados. She said that being laid off from her profession, as a massage therapist, was the catalyst that made her realize she needed to utilize her talent to make a viable business.

“Wine brewing has always fascinated me, and it really was just a hobby, to be honest. I initially made wines and shared them with family and friends. I always would receive good reviews from them, but I never really considered making it a viable business. Well, this all changed in March of this year when COVID-19 caused me to become laid off from my profession as a massage therapist. This is how Suga Sugar Wines began,” she revealed.

The mother of six children who range in age from nine-years-old to nineteen-years-old explained that her business Suga Sugar Wines is a micro business that brews whatever local fruit is in season.

“We at Suga Sugar Wines are a micro-operation that brews small batches of seasonal Barbadian fruit into wines as we use fruits that are readily available on the island. We keep the batches small which

causes us to have a limited amount per season.

However, we do carry a year-round product like Rice Wine and Ginger Wine.

We only carry Rum Punch and Punch De Creme during the Christmas season and these two products are the only two products we carry that are not wines.”

Sobers said her biggest achievement thus far with her business is being able to see the growth she has made in nine months.

“Seeing my hobby grow from single bucket dabbling to bottling, to having a viable business with glass bottles, proper sanitization, labelling and available in shops is awesome, to say the least.”

The owner of Suga Sugar Wines had a bit of advice for anyone seeking to become a business owner, which is to stop thinking about it and do it.

“Stop thinking about it and do it. You do not have to jump headfirst into the unknown. Start the process, do your homework, and just start.

There is an old Bajan saying, ‘De world ain’t mek in a day!’ This means you will not get everything done at once. Thus, I say start small and use that fear of failure to fuel your fire.”

What is next for Renee Sobers and Suga Sugar Wines?

“My next goal is to have an online website so people can order wines.” Sobers also wanted to share that she has had great experiences in Canada and is hoping to bring her company Suga Sugar Wines there someday in the nottoo-distant future.

“Yes, I have a very special place in my heart for Canada. Visiting the country from the time I was eighteen and staying as long as six months sometimes. I have visited Halifax, Toronto and some places in between. Canada is a beautiful country. I have a goal that our products continue to grow.

I am cognizant that at this time my goal to have my products in Canada is a bit unrealistic, as I am still at the baby stages of production. However, I know if I work hard it can become a reality.”

To contact Renee Sobers from Suga Sugar Wines email Sugasugarwines@ outlook.com

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PAGE 22

FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

BRANDON HAY

Changing the image of the black father

“The question I was asking myself was what could we do about this?

What is the solution? What can we do? So, in 2007, I created the Black Daddies Club, a movement built on love.”

I don’t know if it was the title of some of his panel discussions that caught me, but upon doing some more research, I knew who I wanted my year-end Classic Man to be.

He has facilitated controversial, yet popular discussion series including: “Queer as Black Folk,” and “Monogamy isn’t relevant.” He has also taken on the task of helping black fathers care about fatherhood.

In doing so, he feels it will help them stay focused on higher goals, like keeping their kids from repeating the cycle.

He has developed a continuous support system for black men and fathers to share their challenges and/or experiences, all the while working with the community at large to address issues that African families face living in the northern diaspora. He works with the media to provide more positive images of black fathers, and 2020 is a powerful year for him.

The Black Daddies Club is celebrating its 14th year anniversary, with the start-up of another dynamic series, Sunday Dinners, a monthly virtual conversation with black men from around North America, and other continents. During these virtual sessions, men have a chance to speak to blackness, masculinity, as well as to where they are currently emotionally and mentally.

I would like to present to the community, our final Classic Man of the year and the founder of The Black Daddies Club, the dynamic daddy, Brandon Hay!

“My father, and myself had a traditional or what I see more I

thought was traditional relationship, which was, it wasn’t consistent.”

Within minutes of speaking with Brandon, I knew that I was speaking to a man who had felt pain.

He recalls his youth in fine detail, and for the hour that I was speaking with him, I learned just why he is so passionate about being a father.

“I was one of seven children,” Brandon began. “I saw my dad, but it wasn’t consistent. He tried the best that he could. There were times he was supposed to pick me up and it wouldn’t happen. I came to Canada when I was ten-years-old, and went back when I was sixteen-years-old.

I spent a lot of time angry with my dad, and I internalized it. Believe me when I say that it was hurting me more than I knew.

I was around 23/24 when I found out the woman I was dating was pregnant. We had only been together six months, but I knew I didn’t want them to have the same experience. I was raised by a single mother, and without the presence of a consistent father figure, I was afraid. I was afraid that I wouldn’t know how to be a good father.”

One thing that Brandon told me he noticed was how people assumed he would walk away from raising his own kids. Then he noticed that other black fathers in his community had low expectations of themselves, too. He was determined to do better.

His second son was on the way, when he found out his dad had been murdered by an eleven-year-old, who in turn was killed by the people who hired him.

“He was shot nine times.

When I saw his body for the first time after the murder, I bawled. It was the first time I had cried so hard in my life. My brother and I went to the police station, and they said that the case was normal. For $200.00 my dad

was murdered, and that was normal.

I realized then that there was a normalization of crisis situations. I knew I had to handle these emotions. I didn’t want my dad’s death to be in vain.”

The only thing was how was he going to do it? Now the father of three sons, he would have to learn how to be a father on the fly. “I didn’t have practice on how to be a dad. I grew up watching Cosbys, which was not my reality. How was I supposed to be a better father?” This thought was the birthplace of The Black Daddies Club.

“I want to talk about the redefinition of fatherhood. Whether it’s Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods, Serena and Venus Williams, they’ve all said that they’ve had or their fathers were instrumental in their success.”

When the idea first came to him for The Black Daddies Club, he was unsure of the name. He didn’t want to seem discriminatory. Brandon shared with me the story about when the name became affirmed for him.

“I went to check my cousin in prison for the first time with my mom. After visiting him, I realized I had to call it Black Daddies Club. I wanted an inclusive space to say to me what mattered. I decided to take some marketing courses, and this is when I learned about small fire events. I did my first small event in: Malvern, Kensington Market, Brampton and North York.

I was disappointed by the turn out. There were only 40% men and 60% women. The target market I was focused on hitting was not coming out, so I had to change my course of action.”

This is when he decided to take the conversation to the audience. He started to have discussions that were male focused in barber-

shops across the city. It worked well because the barbers acted like cofacilitators. Men felt comfortable speaking in a space that allowed them to be free, and unhinged. These small discussions turned into outings. As a group, Brandon noticed how powerful it was. The image of 10-12 fathers walking into a space with their children does provide some persuasive imagery.

“It is important to create spaces for honest dialogue.”

Brandon has defied many of the odds that society has set up for him. He completed his Masters in Environmental Studies (2015), visited Costa Rica where he learned how to centre himself and get in touch with nature, and has created a movement that has revitalized the idea of fatherhood in the African community.

“The one thing I can honestly say is that when these black fathers come to our programs, they discover one thing right off the bat. They’re not alone. That is key.”

Brandon’s larger goal is to have a Black Daddies Club throughout the diaspora. He believes that we become better fathers by being present and seeing fathering in action. Black fathers need support, and what better person to provide it to them than Mr Brandon Hay.

“Our goal is not just to create programs, it’s to create change, is to create policy change, is to create a movement built on love.”

Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News

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Store Hours

Monday-Friday 9 am to 9 pm Saturday 9 am to 9 pm Sunday 9 am to 7 pm

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PAGE 26

FOOD

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Sorrel Jamaican

A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

How to use Jamaican sorrel?

Sorrel is used in many creative ways here in Jamaica, but it is most popuNOEL lar for its juice. Over the years culiCUNNINGHAM narians has utilized the sorrel by making it into chutneys, ice cream, noel@carib101.com cakes, sauces and many more delectable condiments and treats. This CULINARY EXPERT season if you are looking to do more with the beloved sorrel you can create ice pops, salad dressing by Nothing says Christmas is here like blending your sorrel drink with oil, the sweet scent of sorrel in the atmo- vinegar, and honey to create a sorrel sphere mixed with pimento berries, vinaigrette. cloves and ginger. Traditional, a true Here is a sorrel drink recipe Jamaican Christmas is not complete to get you in the festive mood. Dried with a glazed ham, rum cake and sorrel can be found in any Caribbean sorrel spiked with rum and wine. store.

Sorrel is the most popular Jamaican holiday drink during the Christmas Ingredients and New Year season.

• 1 lb. sorrel

The hibiscus sabdariffa flow- • 2-4 oz. ginger, washed and clean ers, known as sorrel is a type of hi- • 2 quarts water biscus which was introduced to Ja- • Sugar to sweeten maica from Asia in the 18th century. • Wine (optional) Sorrel is usually harvested in late • Splash of rum, optional November to early December. The • 8-12 pimento grains dried flowers are used to make the drink. Because of its popularity it Directions can now be found all year round but Wash sorrel thoroughly, using the more popular in its fresh form dur- fingers to lift it from the water. ing the holiday season.

Put into stainless steel container.

The drink has many health Bring water to a boil with the ginger benefits including, controlling high and pimento grains to a rolling boil. cholesterol levels, managing high Once water starts to boil add sorrel blood pressure, enhancing the func- and turn off flame. Allow to steep for tions of the liver and a high source 4-6 hours or overnight. Strain and of Vitamin C. It has now become a sweeten to taste and add rum and year-round drink in Jamaica and the wine if desired put to chill or serve Caribbean. with ice cubes.

In some African countries the flowers are known as roselle or Chef Tip: The longer you have your bissap. In Nigeria the drink is called sorrel in the refrigerator the better zobo. the flavor will develop.

FOOD

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 27

For the passion for cooking HRISHIKESH DAS GUPTA hdg@carib101.com

CULINARY REPORTER

COVID–19 ensured that everyone would remember the year 2020. All major food events and cultural programs were cancelled across Canada. Every restaurant adopted new restrictions. Numbers of food explorers were minimized to taste authentic dine-in places. Meanwhile, I started to explore the hidden gems around me, and discovered two black women empowered restaurants in Scarborough: Rose’s Halal Kitchen and Spice It Up. The journey and delicious dishes of Rosemarie and Joy touched my heart.

During the summer of 2020, I stepped into Rose’s Halal Kitchen for the first time. The moment I stepped in Rosemarie welcomed me with a beautiful smile.

I ordered the jerk chicken and requested urgent delivery. I was tired and concerned with the increasing number of COVID-19 cases at that time. Furthermore, I was not expecting any exceptional taste or service.

However, Rosemarie prepared all the meals according to my requests and delivered expediently. The delicious food and immaculate service were beyond my expectations.

Therefore, I visited the take-out restaurant again the following week to taste other

items from the menu and to learn more about Rosemarie’s journey.

Rosemarie, a cancer survivor and mother of five children, has always been interested in opening her own restaurant.

With the inspiration of her son Shawn and daughter-in-law Zora, she opened a catering place and featured her work in Toronto Halal Food Fest 2016. The flavourful jerk chicken thrilled everyone, and the audience feedback motivated them to open a restaurant in the same year.

The family-owned business offers flavourful rice and fresh jerk chicken cooked in steel barrels. Rosemarie mentioned she always has a conversation with God through her prayers and God gives her the courage to achieve her goals. Check it out if you are looking for a halal Jamaica takeout place, which is almost non-existent in Toronto.

Spice It Up Restaurant run by Joy Brooks Walters, is a well-known Caribbean restaurant in the Kingston and Lawrence road area. The service is top-notch and the team goes above and beyond to offer the best dishes to the customers. The jerk chicken, curry goat menus are delightful but the biggest takeaway for me is the waffle chicken.

As a well-known and award-winning BBQ jerk restaurant in Scarborough, Joy never gives up regardless of her struggles and always serves the community with her delicious meals. Joy was more focused on international cuisine in her initial days, but later she realized the food lovers are demanding more Caribbean dishes. Therefore, she attempted to incorporate new flavours in her Caribbean dishes successfully.

Joy has a unique quality that I have never seen in any other restaurant. She always listens to her customers, imagines out of the box, and prepares an adorable dish based on their request.

During the pandemic, Chef Joy collaborated with Emmanuel Life Management Centre organization, and Hear 2 Help.

She offered her restaurant area for a weekly food bank to serve the vulnerable community affected by the pandemic. Chef Joy and her team offered complimentary soup to every client at the food bank. Joy strongly believes that the only way to beat the pandemic is to stand for each other.

I am thankful to both of them for being such an inspiration.

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HEALTH

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 29

Four natural ways to protect our elderly community; creating the first line of defense W. GIFFORDJONES MD DIANA GIFFORD-JONES COMMON SENSE HEALTH

It was 1949, and I was making rounds at the Massachusetts General Hospital with Professor Edward D. Churchill, an original thinker who taught medical school students and residents the importance of science in surgical practice. The X-ray showed a small mass in one lung in a very frail elderly lady. If it was a benign lesion, an operation might kill her. If it was malignancy and we did not operate, it might end her life.

After much discussion, Professor Churchill asked a question I’ve never forgotten, “How would you treat your own mother?”

I told this story to Diana while discussing the number of people dying in se-

niors’ homes due to COVID. What treatment would we want for our family members?

It’s reasonable to expect more infections in seniors’ homes this winter. Vaccines are on the way and hopefully they will help end this nightmare. But in the meantime, loved ones will die.

So, prevention must be practiced, including refraining from gatherings, wearing facemasks and complying with social distancing rules. There’s no guarantee to evade the virus, but these steps will decrease risk.

Yet, for loved ones in these group residences, this is not enough. In addition to these structural defences, we should help them ensure that their natural biological defences are as robust as possible.

Unfortunately, this first line of defence has not received due attention.

There’s an avalanche of information about fighting the virus from pharmaceutical companies, institutes of health, university-based labs, and expert researchers around the world. We are counting on these groups to make breakthroughs in medicine that will cure diseases and pro-

5 reasons to increase your flexibility Flexibility plays a key role in your overall fitness. In fact, stretching your muscles and joints on a regular basis can make a variety of everyday activities easier. Here are the five main benefits of increasing your flexibility.

1. It improves your posture and balance 2. It increases your range of motion 3. It reduces your risk of getting injured 4. It helps your muscles work more effectively 5. It reduces aches, pains and muscle tension Furthermore, stretching after you exercise facilitates muscle recovery and repair. It also prevents lactic acid from building up and causing muscle soreness.

tect us from future pandemics. But where are the common-sense messages about good old-fashioned prevention and protection that come naturally from our immune systems?

In fact, you can find the ingredients for a strong immune system if you go looking. But there are no mega-milliondollar budgets to push this information to you on the nightly news or in commercial advertising.

COVID-19 is caused by a viral infection. So, look at the research on the prevention of viral infections for guidance on how to care for your loved ones.

Doctors of orthomolecular medicine specialize in nutritional supplementation to maintain health. They deserve attention for two reasons. One, natural remedies don’t kill people and if these approaches show results, then they should be a priority in treatment. Two, research by these scientists, including published clinical trials, continues to prove the efficacy of natural supplements for both the prevention and treatment of disease.

So, how do we protect our loved

ones? Dr. Damien Downing, a British allergist, has written on vitamin D deficiency in relation to viral infections. He recommends 4,000 international units (IU) daily for three months and then 3,000 IU daily in order to reduce risks of contracting viral infections and to prevent disease from becoming severe leading to death. This is because vitamin D enhances immunity, decreases inflammatory responses and acts as an antioxidant.

Other research shows that the addition of zinc 30 milligrams (mg) daily also beefs up immunity and eases inflammation. Magnesium at 400 mg daily eases the constriction of arteries caused by viral infections.

Finally, don’t forget vitamin C, 1,000 mg three times a day. Split the dose because vitamin C is water-soluble and some is lost in the urine. It has been shown for decades to be a potent antiviral agent.

So, for our loved ones, we would insist that these four safe, inexpensive vitamins and minerals be given. Afterall, you can’t replace your mother.

How to follow the pegan diet

Keep in mind that stretching shouldn’t be painful. Though it’s normal to feel a pulling sensation, a sharp or stabbing pain means you’ve over-extended your muscles or joints, which can result in injury.

The pegan diet purports to focus on improving health by reducing inflammation and stabilizing blood sugar. Created by American physician Dr. Mark Hyman, it combines certain key principles from veganism and the paleolithic diet. Here’s a look at what the pegan diet entails.

ACTIVITIES TO TRY Stretching is just one of many ways to improve your flexibility. You can also try yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, Pilates, ballet and more. Consider signing up for a beginners’ class in your area.

RECOMMENDED FOOD Unlike veganism, this hybrid diet doesn’t prohibit eating meat. However, the pe­gan diet encourages eating grass-fed, pasture-raised sources of animal protein and making meat a side dish rather than the main course. Fish and eggs are also permitted.

As for fruits and vegetables, they should make up three-quarters of your diet. How­ ever, low-sugar fruits and non-starchy ve­ geta­bles are preferable. Gluten-free whole grains and sources of healthy fats, such as nuts and seeds, are allowed in limited quantities.

RESTRICTED FOOD While the pegan diet is arguably less restrictive than a vegan or paleo diet, certain foods are strongly discouraged. These include: • Gluten • Sugar • Processed foods

• Refined oils • Food additives • Dairy products

The diet also discourages eating most grains and legumes.

PROS AND CONS On the plus side, the pegan diet focuses on consuming an abundance of healthy, nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables and fats. Eating these foods can help foster good heart health, prevent disease and reduce inflammation.

The downside is that the diet restricts a number of healthy foods, which can potentially result in nutritional deficiencies. It can also be an expensive and time-consuming diet to maintain.

Always keep in mind that before you make a significant change to your diet, you should con­sult with your do­ctor, a nutritionist or a dietitian.

The solution to COVID-19 starts with keeping your distance.

• Wear a face covering.

• Keep 2m apart from anyone outside of your household.

• Limit your close contact to your household only.

• Wash your hands often.

Stopping the spread starts with you.

Visit ontario.ca/coronavirus to learn more Paid for by the Government of Ontario

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

COMMUNITY

PAGE 31

Gift ideas for your pets Whether you have a golden retriever or a goldfish, your animal companion deserves a special treat at Christmas. Here are a few possibilities.

• • • • •

Cat: a massage station, roller circuit toy or hammock Dog: a bandana, heated bed or organic treats Ferret: a tunnel system, ball pit or harness for outdoor excursions Hamster: a new wheel, wood chews, sand bath or hideout Rabbit: a comfortable cushion,

• •

scratching pad or treat dispensing toy Parrot: a woven ball foot toy, clim­bing net or puzzle board Fish: a live plant, new hideout or automatic feeder

Visit a pet shop or veterinary clinic in your region to find the perfect gift.

Holiday music: give yourself the gift of a Christmas album Nothing compares to listening to an entire Christmas album while you decorate the tree, prepare a meal or wrap gifts. Here’s why you should add a few more holiday albums to your collection this year.

You’ll create a festive atmosphere Traditional carols are an ideal way to set the mood and spark fond memories of holidays past. Alternatively, you can choose an album that reimagines Christmas classics with a country, pop, jazz or techno twist.

With options that span every style and genre, there’s a holiday album to suit every type of occasion, whether it’s a boisterous party or an in­timate gathering.

You’ll help support local artists The music industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, as it forced artists to cancel live performances. Buy­ing a holiday album from a local singer, musician or band is a great way to discover new talent and give the regional music scene a much-needed boost.

Visit a music store in your area or follow local artists on social media to find out about new holiday releases.

How to help people in need during the holidays The holidays are an ideal time to give back to your community. If you have the means and want to help the less fortunate, here are a few local causes you can support.

wrap your gifts in exchange for a donation to a local cause. This is a great way to give back to your community and check a task off your holiday to-do list.

Toy drives Numerous local groups and businesses organize fundraisers to ensure every child in the community gets a present at Christmas. In some cases, you might be matched with a kid so you can use information about their age and interests to buy a personalized gift.

Food baskets Many organizations collect non-perishable items to support low-income families during the holiday season. As a volunteer you can help sort donations, pack boxes or deliver baskets. Alternatively, you can make a donation to your local food bank.

Gift wrapping Look for kiosks set up in stores and shopping malls where volunteers will expertly

To find out how you can help members of your community during the holidays, reach out to charities and organizations in your area.

LIFE

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 33

The cost and danger of indecision indecisive person, the following phrases are sure to be found, “Let me sleep over it, maybe, am not sure, you decide, I will think about it, am still thinking about it, give me more time, to name a few” I call this analysis paralysis.

When the stakes are high, decisions are often difficult to make. Uncertainty is the driver of indecision. In his book, Thinking fast and slow, Daniel Kahneman wrote, “An unbiased appreciation of uncertainty is a cornerstone of rationality - but it is not what people and organizations want. Extreme uncertainty is paralyzing under dangerous circumstances, and the admission that one is merely guessing is especially unacceptable when the stakes are high. Acting on pretended knowledge is often the preferred solution.”

There is nothing more inspiring than a progressive life. However, sometimes, indecisiveness is often a product of too many options available to us. It is said that the only way to predict the future is by creating it, in the same vein, sometimes, the only way to predict the outcomes of our decisions is by taking it.

Indecisiveness makes you vulnerable; it projects a lack of self-confidence,

DANIEL COLE

daniel@carib101.com

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Indecision will cost you. It will cost you opportunities, it will cost you your dream, it will cost you time, and it may cost you your future.

So many people are stuck in life not because they are clueless about the choices they have to make, but they aren’t confident enough in the outcomes of those choices and are overly concerned about making the right ones. The realities are, there are no guarantees in life, and that is why faith is needed. An indecisive life is not worth living.

At a certain point in our lives, we’ve all been indecisive. We overly analyzed our actions, and as a result, we find it difficult making up our mind. In the archive of an

poor self-image, lack of self-respect, low selfesteem, and overly dependence on external views or validation. Make the coming year your year of decisiveness. Be confident in the integrity of your own choices, you won’t always be right, but you are better off making up your mind on things that are crucial to your life and destiny.

Here are a few insights on how to manage indecisiveness.

1. Use the 10-10-10 rule in decision making: Ask if what you are deciding on would still matter in 10 minutes, 10 months or in 10 years. The longer the benefits of the decision, the better the chances that the decision is worth taking with thoughtful consideration. Decisions like this may require critical thinking. Take your time to make your choices.

2. Equip yourself with adequate information: The quality of information at your disposal is directly proportionate to the quality of your decisions. More information gives you better insight, a more informed perspective on your decision.

Get yourself abreast with all relevant information that will help you fine-tune your thinking process in making up your mind.

3. Write down the pros and cons: Think of the benefits and consequences. Ask, what is the worst-case scenario, and can you survive or live with it? Take time to think about your decision or choices through, but don’t get stuck at thinking.

Be proactive and take a bold step.

4. Seek counsel: Success leaves clues, so also does failures. Reach out to those who have once taken similar decisions you are about to take. You will learn more from mistakes made by others, than learning from your own experiences.

5. Trust your gut feelings: There is no absolute certainty that things will turn out exactly the way you’ve planned, sometimes you just have to trust your gut feelings and use your instincts. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 11:3 “If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything.”

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LIFE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Washing of the day and reliving my trauma!

To be grateful or not to be

BY MAKAYLA B. 12 YEARS OLD TC JUNIOR CONTRIBUTOR “The year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instil in us.”

Anonymous Another year ends. Though this year wasn’t the best of years I’ve learnt a lot.

Due to COVID I haven’t really had the freedoms I used to have, and that has reminded me that I have many things to be grateful for.

Throughout my life I have had many privileges, and most of those I’ve taken for granted, due to the fact that those things were basically the normal for me. Things like going to the movies, eating from restaurants, and many other things are all things that I really liked doing, but wasn’t really too grateful for them due to the fact that it was, like I said before, kind of normal for me.

Surprisingly, I even miss going to school, which I guess you could say is kind of odd. The reason I miss school is because something as simple as seeing my friends every day is something I really miss, and also just getting to mess around with them and pull pranks on people.

Our current situation has probably also helped many other people realize how many things they have to be grateful for. All in all I have many things in my life that I should be grateful for, especially seeing my family on Christmas.

EMPOWERING OUR YOUNG MINDS OF TOMORROW TORONTO CARIBBEAN NEWS INC.

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

I started to see girls heading to the back room with all the beds. I had just finished my food, and I was in observation mode again. I have always been an observer. There is something about being in the corner of the room and taking in everything that you see. I had watched the girls eat and socialize; enjoying each other’s company. I saw them taking me in, wondering.

The sun had started to go down, and I felt my first cool breeze of the day. As it glazed over my skin, I closed my eyes and once again, took in the beauty of how it felt.

Writing this, I think it was when I really learned how to stop and be grateful in my moments.

Somehow, I knew I was going to be fine, but how the hell do I come to that conclusion in my current situation?

I opened my eyes and tilted my head up. The rays of the sun were peaking through the holes in the roof….

Oh shoot! I thought to myself. I had already noticed the abundance of lizards gathering on the roof. Things were so different here. Then my mind went to my first night here; where was I sleeping?

I felt my anxiety starting to creep, so I figured that this was the time to speak with Andrea again. The girls were starting to clean up, and more were heading to the back.

I got up and walked back over to the makeshift kitchen. Andrea was busy cleaning and looked up when she heard me coming.

“Hey Simone,” she said with a warm smile. “How was dinner?”

“Oh my God,” I exclaimed. “It was so good, you have no idea. Ummm! I have a question. What do we do about our dishes?”

“Take them over to the room next to us,” Andrea said, gesturing to her right. “Wash them up quick, and you better hurry up and get in line for the shower. We each have 5 minutes to bathe, and the time goes quickly with this many women in one house. Lights out in about an hour.”

She handed me a washcloth, and some powdered soap. “Do you mind washing these pots out for me as well?”

“Of course,” I replied. I felt grateful to this woman who now I know God sent into my life.

I quickly walked over to the room on the right that Andrea had pointed to. As

I rounded the corner, I heard giggling, and then saw a line of girls starting to stretch past the shower room and splitting in the space between the large bedrooms. I heard the shower running, the splashing of water. I was taking in every piece of this experience.

I turned into the room and saw four sinks bolted into the wall. It kind of reminded me of sinks in primary schools. They were so small. I saw that the last one in the back was unoccupied. Other girls were washing their pots and pans, busying themselves in their task. I walked to the sink and placed my plate and the pots on the floor. I had noticed the other girls had done the same thing, so I just followed them.

I finished washing the dishes and headed back to the kitchen. I looked to my right and saw that in the short time I had been washing the dishes the line-up had grown. Andrea was right; things did move very fast.

The kitchen had cleared out, and Andrea was speaking to one of the women in Spanish. She saw me come in and gestured to where I should put the dishes. “Go get in line Simone,” she said to me. “I will get you set up with a bed after you finish.”

I dropped off the dishes and walked to the back. It was time to wash off this day.

The Age of Aquarius; its time to reset for the level up!

GARCIA AKUA

garcia@carib101.com

COSMIC CORNER

Greetings star family! I hope you are all well and keeping your wits as we close out this memorable year of 2020. It’s kind of crazy that we are in the last weeks of December.

This seems like the longest, yet shortest year.

So much has changed since January. The world as we knew it is nothing like it was less than a year ago.

So what’s next? Where do we go from here? How do we move forward after this year of uncertainty? We stay open; we stay grounded, and follow our truth.

Many people have been asking me if I have predictions for 2021. The predictions made for 2020 came through a lot quicker than I expected. The combination of Pluto, Jupiter and Saturn all in Capricorn told us that we would be facing restrictions, themes of death and rebirth and expanded consciousness. Our Cosmic new year starts in March with the spring equinox. By Spring we were: facing global lockdowns and restrictions, death was plaguing the collective through the media with COVID-19 cases, and we had

to get creative in the way we do things.

Healthy vulnerability was another major theme I spoke a lot about as well. The potent Capricorn energy is very independent, but in order to expand we would need help from others who we trust and hold us in high esteem. Between the pandemic, global protests, election debacles etc., we needed each other to stay mentally, emotionally and physically well. Our spiritual practices also were key in keeping us sane.

As we move into 2021, the themes of healthy vulnerability continue as we move into Aquarius energy for most of the year.

Uranus, the planet of change and awakening, rules Aquarius. It seeks collective healing through knowledge and innovation. We need to start thinking new thoughts to create our new norm. Life as we know will not return, time does not go back.

On December 21st Jupiter will join Saturn in Aquarius for a cosmic phenomenon called The Great Conjunction. You may have seen posts or articles going around online about this generational shift in energy, starting a new 200-year cycle. We are entering the unknown.

Aquarius can be unpredictable with it’s Uranus influence. Saturn is asking us to set the boundaries needed to make proper use of our time. Saturn rules karma, if we do not use our time and boundaries effectively we will face the consequences and those consequences can happen at any time.

Jupiter is asking us to expand our consciousness. This is a brand new time,

brand new energy, so we will need to think in a brand new way. Jupiter expands consciousness and luck. Aquarius is an air sign, air element rules thoughts and ideas. With this alignment, we can expand the way we think, if we are willing to stay open. The Great Conjunction will bring great change. Despite how it appears, we have been called to create this new world. We are witnessing the beginning of a new 200-year cycle. It’s time to level up!

My predictions for 2021, prepare to expect the unexpected. Make sure you are stocked up on food supplies, cash flow and your essential goods. Ensure you stay open around your career and work methods, because we will see more businesses moving online. Learn new skills, so you can think in new ways and see things from different perspectives. Level up your spiritual development.

As one cycle closes and another one begins, we will have unfinished business to take care of. Shadow work will be a theme as we shift into new energies; a lot of releasing will have to happen. Stand in your truth! As we release what no longer serves us, our own inner truth will become clearer. Your truth is your focal point, your truth is your inspiration, and your truth will set you free!

Star family give thanks! We have survived and creatively thrived this year. Give thanks you have life and another chance to start anew. Give thanks that you are the trailblazers, the pioneers of our ancient future. It’s time to reset for the level up!

LIFE

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 35

The top 3 reasons to oppose the Hybrid Model PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

YOUTH EDUCATION

On Wednesday, December 9th, 2020, between 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, a Hybrid Education Action Forum was held to draw attention to the: challenges, issues and difficulties related to hybrid learning.

The online forum featured Beyhan Fardi, a postdoctoral visitor (2020-2021) at the Faculty of Education at York University.

Her research focused on the relationship between e-learning and educational inequality in the Toronto District School Board. Her most recent post on May 11th, 2020 was titled,

“Centering Social Justice and Equity in Online Synchronous Learning.” The forum describes the hybrid model as occurring, “When a teacher instructs students in their classroom and online at the same time.”

OEWU was able to put together a list of resources that provided information to help combat against Hybrid Learning in your school board. The resources can be found at the Ontario Education Workers United Linktree site (https://linktr.ee/NoHybrid).

OEWU presented the top three reasons to oppose the hybrid model, which are: 1. It’s bad for student learning Students receive less attention and support.

2. It’s inequitable Working class and racialized students, who live in the neighbourhoods hardest hit by COVID-19, are more likely to be enrolled in online learning. As a result, they are the largest group of students

without a dedicated teacher.

3. It erodes trust in public education When students’ learning needs are not met, families lose trust in public education. Those who can, opt for private schools.

The online forum provides a letter template that will be sent to trustees addressing some of the fundamental issues. It reads, “Students are not passive spectators in their learning.

Forcing students home to watch their peers receive feedback from a dedicated teacher, while they watch from the outside is not providing equal quality education to every student in our board.

Teachers and education workers dedicate a lot of time and effort to create a wholesome learning environment for all students. By forcing them to split this time even further to teach students in class, while at the same time somehow supporting students and watching them on a Webcam, you are diminishing that support and experience for

everyone. There are privacy concerns, lack of equitable access to technology and other issues that are being ignored by those adopting this model.”

There is no doubt that hybrid learning is challenging for both teachers and students. It has also created stress on parents too, who often have to share computers or laptops with their children. OEWU sees it as, “Unsustainable and educationally unsound.”

The fact that so many boards have adopted it across Ontario makes it seem like the preferred mode of learning.

The template letter to the trustees states that, “Forcing through hybrid learning breaks the promise made to our constituents as a guardian of our schools. If more teachers need to be hired to cope with these unprecedented times then hire more teachers, but don’t set the precedent that only some students’ education matters.”

The provincial government has continued to maintain its support of hybrid learning.

Tutankhamun’s shows dedication to the nation; The boy who would be king part II DAVE RANKIN dave@carib101.com

AFRICAN HISTORY

The reign of Tutankhamun’s predecessor Akhenaten left the nation of Kemet in a weakened state on so many fronts. As outlined in previous articles, Akhenaten had closed down many of the temples, which strengthened his religious reformation to the ancient deity Aten and in the process, he stripped away some of the luxuries that were bestowed upon the clergy. Of course, this definitely upset the order of things.

The clergy were used to a certain amount of leeway from previous nesew that they no longer received with Akhenaten. He also moved the capital city to Akhetaten,

and deteriorated relationships with nation states under the empire. For reference, there is a report that a prince of Jerusalem wrote to Akhenaten begging the nesew “to care for his land.” However, this fell on deaf ears as the Hittites and Habiru successfully plundered the prince’s land. With this entire going on in Kemet, it is no wonder why many historians have labelled Tutankhamun as “The Redeemer.”

With the passing of Akhenaten, Tutankhamun had to make moves in order to restore the confidence of the nation. Henceforth, his actions had a sense of “redemption.”

Tutankhamun moved from his birthplace and current capital city Akhenaten or El-Amarna, to the southern capital of Thebes. As the authors of “When Egypt Ruled the East’’ put it, “This act sealed the fate of Akheaten. All the nobles, officials, mercenaries, artisans, and serfs… naturally returned along with royal court to the ancient capital.” Akhetaten quickly became a ghost city.

The next order of business was the devotion to Aten. This naturally dissipated as

Tutankhamun and his advisers were quick to recognize that in order to right the ship that had gone wrong, the worship of Amun had to be restored and the temples reopened.

So, the “boy king” who was born Tutankhaten changed his name to the familiar Tutankhamun, which means “Beautiful in Life for Amun.” His wife Ankhesenpaten did so as well, changing her name to Ankhesenamun, which now meant “She Lives for Amun.” The temples were reopened, festivals were celebrated, and the clergy went back to receiving their luxuries as years passed. If we were to place a date of when these actions took place, we would be looking around Tutankhamun’s 4th year of reign.

As part of Tutankhamun’s position as the “Redeemer” he attempted to rebuild diplomatic relationships with nation states under the empire, especially with the Mitanni.

There is some evidence of his success in this area as represented by some of the gifts that were present in his tomb labelled as KV55 located in The Valley of the Kings. Despite his actions to improve these relationships, there

are recorded battles with the Nubians and Syrians as depicted in a tomb relief. While Tutakhamun would still have been a boy at this time, the commander of the army General Horemheb would have led the campaigns.

Tutankhamun also commissioned building projects. In Karnak, he had a succession of “sphinxes” or Horemakhet laid out along the road leading up to the temple of Mut. At the temple in Luxor is where he would make his greatest impression. Tutankhamun had the walls of the court around the great colonnade of Amenhotep the 3rd marvelously decorated. There were a number of monuments that were defaced by Akhenaten that were restored. Reliefs were also created which show that traditional festivals, like the Opet were once again celebrated.

Tutankhamun’s actions clearly showed that he was dedicated to the nation in ways that Akhenaten was not. However, despite his devotion the history books tell us that his reign was unexpectedly cut short for reasons unknown. This is something we would have to take a look at in our next entry.

PAGE 36

LIFE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

The greatest liar in the world RALPH BRYANT

ralph@carib101.com

BLACK MINDS MATTER My name is Ralph Bryant and I am the greatest liar in the world.

Five years ago, I had what would be considered by most as a perfect life. I literally lived in the greatest city in Canada.

(Burlington, Ontario, voted by Macleans magazine in 2019), and had a great job with a Fortune 500 company.

I served on the parent council at my kid’s school, coached rep soccer, and I even had a beautiful white wife, who was everything a man could want. Yet, I was not happy. In fact, I was in the darkest place anyone could possibly imagine.

Despite having my family, my friends and my career, I felt increasingly alone, isolated and desperate, creating a need to numb these feelings with: alcohol, sex, drugs, going deeper and deeper into a manic depressive rabbit hole, flat lining to a hospital stay in the mental wing from which I never thought that I’d recover.

It also led to a complete evaluation of my entire life; the many things I had done wrong, the few I got right. I needed to understand how someone, who seemingly had everything, could wake up every morning, look into the mirror, and feel as if he had nothing, and was nothing.

Today, everything is different. It feels as if I’m inhabiting a different body; a brand new mind. I have created a successful podcast focused on black fathers and culture, I’m publishing my second book of poetry. I am living a life of purpose and meaning, which has made me a better person, a better father, and happier and more optimistic than I ever thought possible.

In order for me to find healing, I needed to confront the painful truth of my family. I am a third generation sufferer of

mental illness. I’ve been in some combination of therapy and pharmaceuticals since I was thirteen years old. I held back my deepest feelings; we are too often committed to antiquated ideas about mental issues as a sign of masculinity — this has to change.

I realized that I have an incredible opportunity to share my story of recovery, mental wellness and childhood trauma to help remove the stigma our community has about the conversation around mental health.

In many ways, the tragedy of the Coronavirus has instilled in me a sense of great purpose. It has reignited my love of writing and creativity. My business partner, Roy Kataha, and I have created Black Fathers Media, an independent, blackowned creative company that develops authentic content for underrepresented and non-traditional audiences.

Our first show, Black Fathers Matter, is an irreverent video podcast, where two black male friends and fathers, talk about race, class, culture and everything in between. Next year, we will be launching an erotica show for black women called My First Time.

As a sales and marketing professional, I made tens of millions of dollars for large corporations. But there was rarely the opportunity to grow, to use my talents to uplift myself, or my community. This is that opportunity.

My biggest, and most exciting, project is Shackles Lost, which is a multimedia documentary and spoken word project, telling one black man’s struggle with mental illness. As I seek to reflect not only on my past trauma, there’s also the chance for the healing I so desperately, desperately want to receive.

The biggest lesson that Coronavirus has taught me, and so many others is that you have to control your own destiny.

Now. We must all live our purpose because we never know when everything will be taken away from you. For so many, mental health is a silent struggle that burrows deep inside. By sharing my story. I hope to bring light to so many of our people living in shadows of shame. I hope that by sharing my story, I am bringing healing light to our communities.

Social media: tips to keep your teen safe If you have a teenager, they likely spend time on social networking sites like Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. But do they know the risks? While social media networks help kids keep in touch with friends, it can also expose them to people who intend to hurt them.

From cyberbullying to sextortion and data breaches to inappropriate content, there’s a lot to be wary of on the internet. That’s why it’s important to talk to your teen about how to use social media safely and respon­ sibly. Here are a few ground rules you should es­tablish: • Don’t share personal information like your address, phone number or date of birth • Don’t post photos or videos of another person on social media without their consent • Don’t go alone (or without an adult) to meet someone you meet online • Don’t send intimate pictures of yourself to anyone, even if you trust the person Remind your teen that once words and photos are shared online, they may be im-

possible to delete and easily misused. Even if a post doesn’t seem like a problem now, many employers use social media to screen candidates. Explain to your teen that they could miss out on their future dream job because of an inappropriate comment or video they post today.

Finally, here’s a tip to help reinforce the notion with your teen that anyone can see what they post online. Before they send or share anything on social media, encourage your teen to ask themself this question: “Would I feel comfortable if my teacher or grandmother saw this?”

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

Why is it so hard to forgive?

TARA MYSHRALL tara@carib101.com

COMPELLED TO CHANGE As we roll into the end of the year many are happy to see 2020 go. It has been a difficult year globally for us, the pandemic, fight for racial equity, struggle to keep small businesses alive are just a few of the events that have us sprinting towards something new.

Before I run into 2021, I wanted to ensure I was surrendering what no longer severed me. I am leaving the need to be right and any resentments of the past here and stepping free of those restraints. The past can make us try to balance the score or get in a state of always being right or justified.

I recently decided that the best way to move forward was to actually forgive and forget. To truly release the wrongdoings of others. This means the lessons have been received by my soul, but I am letting go and forgetting the pain or feelings of resentment that come along with it.

Forgiveness is such a powerful tool.

I really learned this with my son’s father. We had a relationship on and off for over 20 years. There were countless infidelities and lots of forgiving. Our last stand was toxic, and I was very angry when I witnessed these behaviors with my own eyes.

That night replayed in my mind for a few years, as did the pictures and events with the other woman that came up that I couldn’t unsee. I was left feeling less than desirable, unattractive and ultimately like I was lacking something. To the outside world I showed up confident and secure but inside I had a heavy burden of unworthiness to bare. These feelings made

me question myself as a woman.

Time passed and slowly the pain eroded, however when I reflected, I was always keeping score and his actions weighed on my mind. Even during the 20 years of on and off, there was never real forgiveness. The weight of the resentment kept me from shining my light. My love for the world couldn’t fully emanate as the darkness and remnants of the deceit still lingered.

Last year I found out my ex had cancer and I finally could offer forgiveness.

My son and I stood by his side through cancer and I am happy to say that he is on the other side of it and healing now.

I learned how to forgive from a place of pure love. That love started with love for myself. As I learned to love myself more, I could extend love out to others, with no strings attached. I could extend boundaries that made me feel safe and know in my heart that I deserved them.

There were no thoughts of getting even or getting over it. There were just thoughts of love and healing that I wanted for him.

They say that forgiveness is for yourself and I do believe that. I have learned so many lessons through these experiences but freeing my soul of the anger and feelings of unworthiness that arose after the betrayals were the most powerful for me.

The animosity and hurt weighs us down and affects how we show up in this world.

The day I offered forgiveness to my ex I freed myself and I can honestly say all I want for him is the best now. I have learned it wasn’t about me, it wasn’t that I was unworthy, it wasn’t that I was too masculine or that the other women were better.

Real forgiveness releases us from the negative impact of an action. Caring around resentment or need to get even only burdens our heart. Impacts our trust and always has a heavyweight to bare.

When we forgive, we release it all and we free ourselves. So, as we release 2020 what can you forgive and shed to be lighter and brighter in 2021?

How to maintain friendships (even when you’re apart) If you’re unable to see your friends in person, either because you live in different places or you need to keep your distance during the pandemic, there are plenty of ways to ensure they remain close.

In particular, doing the following will let your friends know you va­lue them:

Connect with them Thanks to technology, it’s easy to keep in touch with your friends. You can chat on the phone, exchange text messa­ges, hop on a video call or play games to­gether online. If you want to do something special, consider mailing your friend a hand-written letter and including a few photos of the two of you.

• Spend distraction-free time with them • Communicate openly and listen deeply • Provide encouragement • Ask for feedback • Set and respect boundaries • Express your appreciation • Resolve disagreements and apologize if feelings are hurt • Offer your help when needed • Be honest but kind

Show that you care Even if you can’t see each other in person, or as often as you’d like, there are things you can do to maintain strong friendships.

Remember, it’s important to cherish your friends. They’ll be there to support you through the hard times and make the good times more meaningful.

LIFE

PAGE 37

PAGE 38

HOW TO

How to style your curtains Are you considering updating your curtains? If so, here’s what’s fashionable when it comes to this window treatment.

wider, the curtain rod shouldn’t be more than one-and-one-third the width of the window.

HANG HIGH Installing curtain rods closer to the ceiling will make the room feel larger. The extra height visually increases the vertical space occupied by the windows and creates the illusion of a higher ceiling. If possible, hang your curtains 10 to 15 centimetres above the windows to maximize their impact.

GO FULL Curtains look best when they’re full, so make sure you have enough fabric to adequately cover the intended area. The rule of thumb is that the combined width of the panels should be two to two-and-ahalf times the width of the window.

GO LOW Contemporary curtains are long and should hit the floor or even puddle onto it. However, pudd­ling curtains are best reserved for drapes that stay open since they need to be restyled every time they’re opened or closed. Curtains that skim the floor shouldn’t hang more than 1.5 cen­timetres above it.

To find curtains you love or the fabric to make them, shop at stores in your area.

2. USE ERGONOMICS TO STAY COMFORTABLE Whether you sit or stand while you work, keep your back and neck straight and ensure your computer screen is at eye level.

Choose a mouse and keyboard that are a good size and effortless to operate. Also, use ergonomic pads to protect your wrists.

Avoid slouching or keeping your arms at odd angles.

Have you recently started working from home? If you need a good-size office space but don’t have a spare room, here are a few options to explore.

• Basement. As long as it has adequate head­room, your finished basement (or a portion of it) can be a great place for an office. However, this isn’t the best solution if your basement has moisture issues.

• Attic. Some attics can be converted into usable living space. This isn’t a small renovation, however, and you may need to install electrical outlets, solid flooring and much more to support your setup.

the main house may offer the ultimate distraction-free work zone. However, this can be a costly project. The funds may be better allocated if spent on renovations to the main house.

When deciding how best to make room for your home office, be sure to assess all of your needs. Furthermore, find out if the re­novations will affect the resale value of your home.

• Addition. This isn’t a budget-friendly option, but it could add permanent value to your home. Additions can be built above, be­hind or to the side of a house.

• Outbuilding. An office space that’s completely separate from

4 hacks for your at-home office 1. INVEST IN A GOOD CHAIR Considering the number of hours you’ll likely spend sitting at your desk per week, it’s worth taking the time to select a chair that’s a good fit. Pay attention to back, thigh and arm support. On the other hand, you may want to consider investing in a standing desk.

How to make room for a home office

• Garage. If you rarely use your garage to park your car, it can be made into an office. You’ll undoubtedly need to invest in a number of up­dates to make it a comfortable space to work.

GET WIDE Add visual width to your windows by opting to go broad with your curtains. Mount rods that extend 7.5 to 15 centimetres past the window frame on either side. Although you can go even

Working from home can be challenging.

Here are some helpful tips to make your office a productive, comfortable and functional place to work.

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

3. SET UP A SECOND MONITOR An additional screen can make coding, designing, writing, researching and other tasks easier. This small upgrade can seriously en­hance your productivity and allow you to better juggle multiple tasks.

4. PERSONALIZE THE SPACE Use art, paint, wallpaper and office accessories to decorate your space in a way that’s cohesive and energizing. Consider adding touches like a fragrance you love, a quote that inspires you or a novelty vase to hold fresh flowers.

Lastly, invest in quality electrical lighting.

Bright overhead illumination and a good desk lamp will help reduce eyestrain and in­crease productivity.

What is grandmillennial style?

Grandmillennial style, also known as granny chic, offers a new take on an old tradition. In opposition to minimalist white spaces, this eclectic style embraces patterns, ruffles and heirloom furniture but juxtapo­ ses them with abstract art and mo­dern accents.

GET THE LOOK Raid your parents’ or grandparents’ basement or head to local flea markets, thrift stores and furniture shops to stock up on the following: • Patterned everything. Curtains, rugs and furniture in classic prints like toile, floral and plaid are a must.

• Embellished items. Look for accessories, lamps and other decor with ruffles, pleats, fringe and scalloped edges. Extravagant chandeliers and ornate mirrors are also on theme.

• Traditional collections. Unearth that old collection of decorative china, antique figurines or bohemian crystal and proudly display it.

• Needlepoint pillows. Without a doubt, no grandmillennial bed­room or living room would be complete without at least one of these. Bonus points if it’s inscribed with a sassy saying.

Keep in mind that the colour scheme of grandmillennial style is generally monochromatic or analogous. This allows the space to be layered yet still feel cohesive.

FUN

Wednesday, December 23, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 39

WEEK OF DECEMBER 20 TO DECEMBER 26, 2020

ARIES

The luckiest signs this week: GEMINI, CANCER AND LEO

Try not to tire yourself out too much before the holidays begin.

You need to rest and recharge your batteries, especially if you want to get rid of a bad cold or prevent it from coming back.

TAURUS

Stress and exhaustion will make you feel like you’re in the middle of a tornado, and you won’t know which way is up. Luckily, you’ll regain your footing just in time for the holiday celebrations.

PUZZLE NO. 725 ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 725

HOW TO PLAY :

GEMINI

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

You’ll demonstrate your ability to be organized and efficient both at work and in planning various holiday events. You’ll complete all of your tasks on time, which means you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation with peace of mind.

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

A few friends might suddenly sug­gest that you join them on a trip. You won’t have to think about it for long before you accept. You’ll likely participate in a mul­ticultural holiday cele­ bration with your loved ones.

CANCER

LEO

PUZZLE NO. 15 40. Rural hotels 41. Sign 45. Large vases 47. Skin of an orange 48. Ms. Winningham 50. “____ a Living” 53. Besides 54. Hem 55. Floral necklace 56. Narrow board 57. Poverty 58. Position

ACROSS 1. Kettle and Bell 4. Has 8. Latest word 12. Swiss mountain 13. Brawl 14. Forget 15. As ____ your request 16. Contribute a

share 17. Building’s location 18. Florida Key, e.g.

20. Musical beat 22. Goose’s cry 24. So-so grade 25. Pertaining to the eye 27. Bagel topper

28. Function 31. Itty-bitty 32. Charm 34. English beverage 35. Cease 36. Bled, as a color 37. Pleasing 39. Band’s booking

DOWN 1. Plan out a route 2. Pub offering 3. Moved at full speed 4. Exam type 5. Chablis, e.g.

6. Santana’s “She’s ____ There” 7. Sound systems 8. Curious 9. Throw off 10. “Gone ____ the Wind” 11. Flower part 19. ____ lodge 21. Spells

22. Inventor Elias ____ 23. Unfold 24. Held tightly 26. Shipment 28. Implements 29. Perceived 30. Gobbles 33. Postal carriers 38. Take the gold medal 41. Luxurious resorts

42. Holler 43. Southwestern land formation 44. Smudge 45. Yearning 46. Clarinet component 49. Lemony refresher 51. Casual shirt 52. Tend a baby

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 15

The anticipation of the holiday season will fill you with emo­t ions. For one reason or another, parties and get­t ogethers will be very different this year. As a re­sult, you’ll feel a strange sense of nostalgia.

VIRGO

You might receive a marriage pro­posal from a complete stranger or from your long­time partner while on vacation. Your week will be packed with surprises, and your heart will be filled with joy.

LIBRA

You’ll have a lot of projects to fi­nish up at work before the holi­days.

Luckily, everything will go as planned. You’ll end the year on a high note, which will give you a great sense of accomplishment.

SCORPIO

You’ll rush to finish decorating your home after you find out at the last minute that you’ll be hosting a big holiday party. Since you want to impress your guests, you’ll pull out all the stops to make your home feel like a win­ter wonderland.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll want to take a few days off work this week to focus on mat­ters at home, including your chil­dren and several upcoming gath­erings.

You’ll be warmly praised for your involvement in a com­munity activity.

CAPRICORN

You won’t keep quiet this week. You’ll speak up about issues that others prefer to keep to them­selves. You’ll also hear a few ru­mors that you’ll want to imme­diately confirm with the people involved.

AQUARIUS

You’ll likely make a few more holi­day purchases, and they’ll defi­ nitely exceed your budget. Fortu­nately, these gifts will be greatly appreciated by your loved ones and you’ll receive a lot of praise.

PISCES

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

This will be a busy week. You’ll have a lot of urgent preparations to manage. If you need to go to the office, you’ll likely be the first to arrive and the last to leave. This will give your boss more confidence in your work.

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PAGE 42

REAL ESTATE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

The raging housing pandemic JAY BRIJPAUL brijpaul@carib101.com

REAL ESTATE PRO Toronto housing is on fire, and COVID-19, a lifeless germ is the culprit. Affordability, unfortunately, has become the victim. The shockwave is widespread, and many businesses are on life support. The housing inferno is at its boiling point. House prices went up by almost 25% this year. To put this into perspective, a home that was worth $600,000 in January this year went up by another $150,000 by the year end. For COVID-19, there is light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine but for housing, the train is picking up momentum.

With massive unemployment, city wide lockdowns and mortgage deferrals, its logical to believe that the real estate market will change direction. While house prices are surging, condo prices are tumbling. This is an unusual trend in normal times, but things are

abnormal. A few years ago, mask wearing was for bandits and now socializing has changed to social distancing. Parents are working from home while their children are attending schools virtually. This arrangement requires more private space. Condo living cannot accommodate for the sudden shift in lifestyle. Families are exploring new ventures.

The pandemic sparked government interventions, one being lower interest rates.

A five-year mortgage can now be financed at 1.7%. With low interest rates, buyers can qualify for more debts. As a result, many buyers who would have otherwise qualified to buy a condo, are buying houses instead. With the pandemic, short term rentals, which are mostly condos, are dribbling. As a result, investors are ditching their condos and buying freehold properties. The demand for freehold properties is climbing while the demand for condos is dropping. In addition to that, many newly built condos are up for sale.

These units are small and cannot accommodate the modern family. With an increasing supply, the condo market will continue to suffer.

Some sellers with freehold properties are postponing selling because of the pandemic. Seniors prefer to stay in their homes instead of moving to a retirement home. The supply chain is disrupted and that creates scarcity.

Many buyers who worked from home are relo-

cating to smaller towns where they can buy a detached home for about the same price as a GTA condo. Because of this, out of town properties are sprinting uphill.

Homeowners who were experiencing financial hardship earlier in the year opted for mortgage deferrals. The drastic price growth becomes their life raft during turbulent times.

With more home equity, many are able to refinance, centralizing their debts into a new first mortgage and lowering their monthly payments. The price gap between homes and condos continues to grow. As a result, it is becoming more difficult for buyers hoping to sell their condo and use the proceeds to buy a house to do so.

With low interest rates, a fall in condo prices and a rise in home prices, the condo market will rebound. Many first-time buyers will give up renting and buy condos instead. This move will add fresh oxygen to the stifling condo market, lighting it on fire. For buyers who are waiting for the price to plunge, this is one of the best times to buy condos because they can negotiate a lower price.

With the pandemic, many small businesses are suffering. It is estimated that over 10,000 restaurants will not survive the pandemic. This will certainly affect jobs and the end result is that some homeowners will continue to

have a hard time meeting their monthly financial obligations.

There are many lessons to be learnt from this pandemic. We will never look at the world the way we used to see it pre COVID-19.

Online shopping will outpace in-store because it is time saving and convenient. As a result, many retail businesses will either close shop or move to online. Employers realize that it is more cost effective if their employees can work from home. With the new trend, commercial real estate will suffer and more people who can work from home will social distance themselves to smaller towns. Virtual classrooms, from elementary to university, will become the norm and families will be looking for more space.

Herd immunity occurs when over 80% of the population is inoculated for COVID-19.

This will take a while and it is too early to predict the future. A different strain of virus can emerge, sending us into panic mode and we do not know how long the vaccine will protect us.

With a connected world, it is easy for viruses to spread and we are not prepared to handle it.

Homeowners are taking on more debt. Interest rate is low and will remain low for a few years. When the pandemic is over and the economy picks up, interest rates will climb to curb inflation. My advice is to reduce debt and stay financially strong.

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PAGE 44

FINANCE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Climb the ladder to success by celebrating along the way CLEVE DeSOUZA cleve@carib101.com

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

One of the best ways to have more in life is to celebrate more. Celebrating success is an established way to encourage more success.

For the final quarter of 2020, we’ve been focused on helping you achieve more out of life. It’s proven that in order to have more, you must be more and do more. This week, we conclude a three-part series focused on how to live that equation. In the first article, we explained how changing your mind-set and attitude leads to being more. In the second article, we offered tips for doing more.

Today, in our final 2020 article, we talk about the final piece of the equation - having more. The key to this step is enjoying your achievements.

Think about a child’s excited reaction to seeing a dog on the street. A child

who loves dogs will joyfully point out every dog they see. Even shy children will ask about the dog’s name and if it’s friendly enough to pet. The child may talk about the dog long after the encounter ends.

Children don’t hold back when they experience a victory. Neither should you.

It’s not difficult to see how this plays out. If you typically sleep until 8 a.m. before dashing immediately to the office, then one of your goals could be to get up at 6 a.m. and exercise before work.

It’s worth celebrating the first time you are out of bed at 7:30 a.m. When you get to the office, tell your friends that you feel great because you had time for a short workout this morning. The first time you rise at 7 a.m., give yourself a small reward. You’re exercising now; maybe you can indulge in your favourite candy.

Once you start noticing and celebrating your successes, you’ll find yourself experiencing even more of them. Rising at 6 a.m. quickly becomes a habit. Celebrating your progress also makes the inevitable failures a little easier to bear. The key to failures is to learn from them so you don’t repeat your mistakes. When the going gets rough, you can draw on the energy created from early successes.

It’s never easy to change. But in this case, you will quickly see benefits come from making changes to your mindset and habits.

To recap our series, it all begins by changing your mind-set. Carol Dweck, an American psychologist and author, encourages us to view our basic qualities as attributes that can grow and change over time. For example, Dweck argues we aren’t born with a predetermined intelligence levels. Instead, our intelligence grows as we learn. She calls this belief a growth mind-set. Those who have fixed mind-sets and believe growth isn’t possible don’t grow. Adopting a growth mind-set is the first step.

The second step in the process is doing more. We must stop procrastinating.

Now is also the time to view mistakes as a gift. Our mistakes inspire us to learn to do better. Surround yourself with experienced and qualified advisors who can help you grow.

Many of us lack the mind-set to see opportunities and won’t put in the hard work necessary to have more. But if you invest in yourself now by changing your mind-set and doing more, you will reap the benefits in 2021.

An intimate interview with the creators of Black on Track ANDREW STEWART andrew@carib101.com

FAMILY ADVISOR

Have you felt like 2020 was a massively difficult year? Or that it turned out to be a great year (a blessing in disguise)? I wanted to interview Jonathan and Tristan, clients of mine, and creators of Black on Track to look back on 2020 and how the pandemic/lockdowns affected their finances, work, and personal health goals. I’ve known Jonathan for many years and attended his wedding to Tristan in 2016. I’ve had the opportunity to see them grow and flourish in their respected fields and am honored to call them friends.

Jonathan and Tristan established Black on Track (BoT) in 2020; a platform for black visionaries to share their knowledge and experiences with black and racialized individuals in Canada and globally. BoT focuses on areas including personal finance, the arts, entrepreneurship, education and community, leaders, and aspiring leaders.

I asked Jonathan and Tristan if they’d be willing to share their year in review.

So here we go!

Coming into 2020, what were your finance and health goals?

Finances: “We were looking to pay down as much debt as possible, such as our line of credit and credit cards. Getting our credit scores higher as much as possible because our mortgage renewal was coming up this year.

Healthwise we recognized that getting older is no joke. We wanted to make it the year of us getting back on track with our health.

We decided on getting a personal trainer who would focus on physical strength and nutrition. We wanted to change what we put into our bodies from a food perspective.“ How did the lockdowns/pandemic alter those goals?

“Financially it put us in a much better place than before the pandemic. We stopped paying for the commuting cost of going in and out of the city, buying lunch, eating out. It helped tremendously with those costs. From a health perspective, it gave us a lot more time. There were fewer distractions and time constraints so there wasn’t any justification for us not exercising. We stuck to our exercise plan and ate the right foods, so it paid off. Hopefully, once normalcy returns, those habits will stay true.

We believe our habits have changed permanently regarding how we save and what we spend. “ Looking at 2021 answer these three questions: 1. What have you done differently to prepare?

“Mentally we take a lot more time to think about what our next steps should be. Before we would just sit down and talk about what we wanted to do for the year. Now we put pen to paper and have a written plan. We discuss money a lot more, it’s become an exciting topic to discuss because we are saving so much more. We had a lot of debt which deterred us from speaking about it.

Now that most of our debt is paid off, we’re happy to take the time to sit down and have a dialogue about what 2020 looks like. Defined goals that we’re saving for- our home renovations and vacations. Concerning our health goals, 2021 will be about maintenance. We’ve set the habits and plan

this year so next year will be the test.

Due to the social restrictions because of COVID-19 we’ve become comfortable with less socializing.“ 2. What are some successes that will help you in 2021?

“We were able to renew our mortgage six months before the renewal date.

Secured a great rate and because it was initially on our plans for 2021 it accelerated our plans. Additionally, we are targeting black-owned professionals and businesses for guidance when advice is needed and to support the business with our dollars to keep it with the community.

Our purpose of starting Black on Track was to seek out and promote professionally run black-owned businesses.

Our personal experiences in the past when engaging with black business was that they felt they could take us less seriously than their other ethnic customers. With everything that has happened this year. it has enlightened us to the fact that these businesses didn’t have the opportunities for mentorship to gain that refinement as to enhance their businesses.“ 3. What emotions do you have going into 2021?

“We are excited!!! Jonathan said pride is the biggest emotion for him. Proud of their accomplishments and being life partners. Also, very proud of the direction the black community is heading. We’ve found and now are forcing ourselves to have a great deal more influence and power than we’ve had before. It will be up to us to share that with everyone, from our youth to our seniors.“ Thank you, Jonathan and Tristan. Hopefully you the reader enjoyed this interview and I look forward to engaging with you in 2021.

October 29, 2020 – February 21, 2021 Virtual Programming Highlights • October 29, 7 pm:

Exhibition Opening Reception • November 26, 7 pm: Art & Book Club • November 28, 2 pm: Artist Talk – The Photographers • January 28, 2021: Artist Talk – Painting and Textiles Owen V. Gordon (Jamaican/Canadian, 1946-), Extreme Social Distances, 2020, oil on paper, 55.8 x 76 cm, Courtesy of the artist, Nicholas Metivier Gallery and BAND

Visit pama.peelregion.ca to learn more

PAGE 46

SPORTS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Is Tony Ferguson’s Career Over?

The downfall and doubtful future of El Cucuy’s UFC career MARCEL MARIAK marcel@carib101.com

TC JUNIOR REPORTER

One of the primary reasons why combat sports have been so popular throughout history is their unpredictability. From the gladiatorial combat of Ancient Rome to the highly technical engagements of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, people have been drawn to combat for millennia for one primary reason: the game can change in the blink of an eye. This is an attribute that few other sports and competitions share. In soccer, for example, once a team has a 4 - 0 lead, you might as well go home early and beat the traffic: not in combat sports. In the fight world, it’s common to see a fighter who’s been losing the entire battle to defeat his opponent with a single stunning strike or timely submission. This uncertainty is what keeps fans glued to their screens till the final bell. As it turns out, the unpredictability of combat sports extends past the ring and into the boardroom.

Ferguson’s Impressive Resume Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson is a famous UFC fighter, who up until recently, boasted an impressive 12-fight winning streak. He rose to fame in the UFC organization after winning The Ultimate Fighter #13. Tony also made a name for himself online with his entertaining antics and unorthodox training routines which involved kicking metal pipes and suspending himself from the ceiling using bungee cords. He has defeated several big UFC names in his 12-year long career including Kevin Lee and Cowboy Cerrone.

Ferguson was supposed to fight former Lightweight Champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, in late 2015 but the fight fell through after Khabib got injured in training. The battle was subsequently rescheduled and cancelled four more times for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020, with the bout being cancelled due to health issues on both sides and the coronavirus pandemic.

After the fourth cancellation, Ferguson agreed to fight Justin Gaethje for the Interim Lightweight Title. While many in the combat sports community predicted an overwhelming victory for Ferguson, fate had other plans. Unfortunately, this bout would be the beginning of a downward spiral for Tony’s career.

Tony’s Cracked Chin Sadly, for the fans hoping to see Ferguson challenge Khabib for the belt, Justin Gaethje made an incredible showing at UFC 249. Gaethje used his hard-hitting brawling style of fighting to keep Tony on his heels throughout the fight. Tony was unable to answer back with any significant strikes as his opponent wore him down throughout the fight. In the fifth round, Gaethje hit his foe with several powerful strikes that wobbled Ferguson and caused the referee to end the match. This defeat marked the first time in Tony’s career that he had been defeated by knockout; and as his winning streak shattered, so did his chin.

Jump to UFC 256 on December 12th, 2020. Tony Ferguson stepped back into the cage against famous submission fighter, Charles Olivera. Once again, Tony’s fans were hopeful that their favourite warrior would be able to capture a victory and re-inject some momentum into his career. Once again, the odds weren’t in his favour. The fight was largely dominated by Olivera. Despite his best efforts, Ferguson seemed to be on his back foot the entire bout.

At the end of the first round, Olivera put a killer armbar on Ferguson as the round was coming to a close. For over 8 seconds, Ferguson refused to submit to the brutal armbar and was saved by the bell. Despite narrowly avoiding a

first-round submission defeat, Ferguson’s arm was clearly injured by the attack, with UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier exclaiming, “I couldn’t even watch, I was looking away. He might have broken his arm.”

Throughout the rest of the bout, Olivera continued to hurt Ferguson with smart takedowns and accurate striking. When the final bell rang after three rounds, it was clear who won. Olivera took home the victory by unanimous decision and Tony sank deeper into his slump.

Ferguson’s Retirement Looms After the fight, UFC president, Dana White had some harsh words to say about Ferguson. He said that despite Tony being an incredibly talented and tough fighter, “It’s possible Tony Ferguson is on a decline. He needs to go home, take some time off, and think about what he wants to do next year.”

Although White didn’t directly call for Ferguson’s retirement, it’s clear that the president believes that Tony’s time in the organization has run out. With Ferguson on a two-fight losing streak, and with younger, more athletic fighters demonstrating their ability to beat him, there’s a good chance that El Cucuy may soon be a piece of UFC history.