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“If you kick God out, then the devil remains,” words of wisdom from worldfamous pastor Arthur Pawlowski who is known virally for the words “GET OUT,” which he used to evict the health official and her police entourage from his church here in Canada.

He was one of the final guest speakers on day one of The Awakening World Truth Summit Part III, A Race Against Time. The team at TCN.video and the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, organized the two-day summit, and they did not disappoint.

Day one started out with award winning medical journalist Dr. Michael Yeadon, who was the V. P. and chief scientist at Pfizer for a number of years. If there were a man that Big Pharma would be nervous about, this would be your guy. It could be why his interview was significantly disrupted during the summit, so much that the hosts Brandon V, and Simone Jennifer Smith had to arrange to interview him on another day.

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nouncing the myth of the so-called “injection for the world” that was created to piggyback on the virus scheme, Yeadon has made many false prophets very uncomfortable. There have been hit pieces written about him, he has been called a spreader of disinformation, and he has been ridiculed on places like Twitter which seems to be a popular trend these days depending on one’s views.

Continued On Page 8

PAGE 2

FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

DENYSE BABOOLAL

“The hatred, the jealousy and those who tried to degrade me; I use that to slap them back. I use that as my driving force to accomplish things. I guess that’s why I’ve accomplished so much. Because they questioned me.” Denyse Baboolal As a little girl, this week’s Women Empowered, was sure of one thing – she wanted to dance. Today, the Trinidadian cultural icon that is Denyse Baboolal has achieved far beyond her initial dreams. A woman of many hats, some of her titles include dancer, choreographer, singer, radio personality, and a non-profit consultant. With a desire to uplift the IndoCaribbean culture and an impulse to never stay stagnant, the sky is the limit when it comes to this woman!

When Denyse was born, she was sent to live with her maternal grandmother, due to her parents being newly married and beginning their careers.

Growing up, she recalls her grandmother being a strict Hindu woman, though at the same time, being the one to encourage her to dance. Through the arts and the grooming of her grandmother, she drew closer to her religion and spirituality, something she describes as being embedded in her. It’s practically destiny that she has a name that translates to “divinely touched.”

With her mother being a teacher and her father being a nurse, they instilled in her and siblings to never be idle. Constantly on a busy schedule, Denyse recollects doing an activity every single day after school; from karate and dance, to modelling and cricket. Soon, Denyse’s family would relocate to New York, where her father received a nursing job. When it was time to make life plans of her own, Denyse received a scholarship to study dance in India. Though, as strict Caribbean parents would, they refused to let her go, seeing as that she was their first born and only girl. A small bump in the road, she wouldn’t let that deter her from diving headfirst into her passion. However, her parents gave her a different perspective.

“I wanted to pursue dance in college. That same year, Superman (Christo-

pher Reeve) was riding a horse and fell off. He was paralyzed. My mom said, “If you do dance, let’s say something happens and you get paralyzed. That’s the end of your career. What’s the purpose in majoring and putting your whole life into something and God forbid your career is over? You need to have a profession and do dance on the side.”

Finding the perfect career field was a little tricky at first. She didn’t have the desire to learn all the lengthy terminology that came with nursing like her father. She didn’t have the patience to deal with other people’s children like her mother. She decided to try her hand at business, being inspired by her grandmother who was an entrepreneur. She started off with an associate degree in Business Management from Borough of Manhattan Community College, while also studying West African dance, HipHop, Jazz, and vocals. She later obtained her Bachelor of Science in Public Administration at Empire University, completing a six-month vocal training and three-month cosmetology course in the process. To top off her impressively extensive schooling, she eventually earned a master’s degree in Not-for-Profit Management at Capella University.

Her love for the arts continued to thrive throughout her education. By 2004, Denyse was a renowned dancer, dancing for elite clients such as the Trinidad & Tobago consulate, the Guyana consulate, and the Brooklyn Museum.

Her most memorable performance took place in front of a crowd of nearly 10,000 at the Lincoln Center in 2000. She took part in eleven performances, ranging from religious dances to classical dances and even showcasing Chutney, an artform originating from her home country.

The show was so exceptional that the New York Times wrote a feature on it the next day, with the headline “Chutney is not just a spicy food.”

“The adrenaline of all of it… when you gave, you didn’t feel anything in the moment. But the next day! I couldn’t even get up. I couldn’t walk for the week. My ankles were blue and black!

But that performance was the highlight

She lives the Culture. She breathes the Culture. She is the Culture Photo Credit: Gabriel Lalgie

of my entire career.”

In 2008, after leaving her twelveyear job at Verizon where she was the top seller for eleven years, Denyse packed up her accolades and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There, she was ready to open her cultural business; a Puja store, which is a storefront dedicated to selling religious goods for Hindu worship. Familiar to the Indo-Caribbean community, they begged her to open a dance studio for their children, with some even paying upfront for months ahead. Though primarily hesitant, Denyse and her late husband would move the racks of clothing in the store to the back to make room for her forty one student dance class.

That was the beginning of her company JayaDevi School of Dance which would in two years become the first non-profit Indo-Caribbean arts organization in South Florida, JayaDevi Arts Inc.

Today, JayaDevi Arts Inc. offers several programs and is not only limited to dance. The organization owns a record label and produces CD’s, as well as is a safe space for Caribbean women who are victims of domestic violence to find refuge and seek psychological help. With art as its main product, it is considered home to a multitude of dancers from all backgrounds, with some as young as four and some as old as seventy six.

“When we do devotional dances, I instill Hinduism and the culture in all of the dancers. Even if you’re in this class as a Christian or a Muslim. If we’re doing something depicting one of the deities, we ask if you can comply by observing a vegetarian fast. Also, before depicting a god or goddess, they have to research and learn more about them or even sketch who it is before they dance.”

A visionary leader and an essential advocate for members of the Caribbean diaspora, Denyse believes that her next major step in preserving her WestIndian heritage is opening a local community centre.

“We want to create our own individual cultural centre that will encompass all that we already do, but still incorporate a space for summer camps where kids can learn the Caribbean way

of life. We also want to provide life-skill classes and to be able to rent out spaces to have banquet halls.”

She continues. “In American venues, they want us to come by 5pm and be done by 11pm. If they close at 11pm then that means they want us to end the party by 10pm. That’s not the Caribbean way. If I have to find a babysitter, dress up, take time to do my makeup, hair and nails, we going all night! We want to be able to have a centre that will cover all these things for all Caribbean people, both Indo and Afro. Anyone can come and experience our world, where we party until whatever time! And with this, we’d be able to hire our own people.

We could teach them how to cook, especially the younger generation. Most of these millennials don’t know how to cook! Everything is chicken nuggets and hot dogs, that’s not we food! We need to learn how to make our food!”

Perfectly intertwined with culture and community, Denyse tirelessly continues to preserve and rejuvenate the sacred artforms in her city and across America. For over two decades, her efforts to restore Hindu spirituality through expressive movement have not gone unnoticed. Always thinking lightyears ahead and unwilling to stand still, her plans for the future include a 10th year installment of the United Phagwah/ Holi Celebration – a festival of colours and diversity that she founded and produced, a musical dance drama in New York, and a community healing in 2022.

For more information on upcoming events at the dance school, visit the JayaDevi Arts Inc. page on Facebook.

Written by Janiece Campbell Toronto Caribbean News

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NEWS

PAGE 3

The Government has weaponized fear, and guess who their targets have been?

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

By layering confusion and uncertainty on top of fear, you can bring an individual to a state in which they can no longer think rationally. Once driven into an illogical state, they are easily manipulated. I have no doubt driving people into a state where logic and reason no longer registers is the whole point behind much of the conflicting information we’re given. ~ Dr. Peter Breggin Did you know that fear is contagious?

Yes, we humans were created with chemicals that can actually trigger a social response in each other. This excreted chemical factor is called pheromones.

Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside of the body of the secreting individual, to impact the behaviour of the receiving individuals.

People may actually communicate through body odour. We can literally pass stress on to others. Emotional contagion is a real thing. This is what happens when you are being influenced by the emotions of people around you.

Why does this matter Simone?

Well, for the last year and a half, governments around the world (with few exceptions) have been purposely creating an environment of fear for their citizens. From the very beginning of this pandemic, you couldn’t turn on the television without facing ticker tape detailing the number of hospitalizations and deaths.

As a journalist, what I always found interesting was the fact that for stations that claim to be unbiased sources of information, they did not provide balanced coverage of the pandemic. For some reason, it was always bad news. We never heard about the 90+ per cent of the global population who actually recovered from the virus. We didn’t hear about the so-called COVID-19 cases that were not actually cases because these people did not have any symptoms at all. If they were mentioned, these people were called “asymptomatic,” which meant that we had to be AFRAID of people who were not showing any signs of sickness.

Stations like CNN, Global News, BBC all refused to put any of the data into context, such as reviewing whether the death toll actually differed significantly from previous years. No. What they did instead was use catastrophism, making each and every case a state of emergency, again instilling fear in anyone watching.

It is no wonder we have people walking around outside, or driving in a car by themselves with masks on. We are all living in a state of fear that has been beautifully orchestrated by the group of people who were put in power to protect us, our

government.

Governments are using fear to control and manipulate their citizens, and this is not a new phenomenon. Most recently, members of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviour (SPI-B) admitted it. They are a subcommittee that advises the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) in the U.K. They have now retracted their initial involvement, and are saying that they made a horrible mistake.

In the newly released book, “A State of Fear: How the UK Government Weaponised Fear During the Covid-19 Pandemic,” written by Laura Dodsworth several of the SPI-B members actually spoke out.

“‘In March [2020] the Government was very worried about compliance and they thought people wouldn’t want to be locked down. There were discussions about fear being needed to encourage compliance, and decisions were made about how to ramp up the fear. The way we have used fear is dystopian.

The use of fear has definitely been ethically questionable. It’s been like a weird experiment. Ultimately, it backfired because people became too scared’ …”

Another member of SPI-B said they were ‘stunned by the weaponization of behavioral psychology’ during the pandemic, and that ‘psychologists didn’t seem to notice when it stopped being altruistic and became manipulative.

“They have too much power and it intoxicates them.”

Yes readers, many of us have been under psychological control, and we had

no idea that it was happening to us. I don’t want you to be hard on yourself; it is important that you take the time to come to terms with what has been going on. I am going to introduce another aspect of psychological control, and that is keeping people in a state of confusion.

Premier Ford has used this control device so many times; I don’t even know where to begin. Let’s take the holidays. First, family Christmas was on, then off, then back on, then off again. Then we found out that he had vacationed with his family when he said that we couldn’t go to cottages. Then they told us not to fly anywhere for the holidays, and we found out that members of the government had gone away for vacation, yet nothing was said to them.

When you create a state of confusion, people become ever more reliant on the messaging. Instead of feeling confident about making decisions, they end up waiting for instructions from the Government, and that is exactly what happened to most of us right here in Canada.

THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT! The fear that you are feeling has been carefully manufactured. We can free ourselves from this control device by no longer believing everything that is fed to you by mainstream media. If we start taking back our power, the engine that drives this fear will dry up. WE just have to stop feeding into it.

Knowledge, my friends, is power.

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Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 5

A day of education and enlightenment about Indigenous history and culture PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

As Canada celebrates National Indigenous Month during the month of June, the Canadian Congress on Inclusive Diversity and Workplace Equity (CCIDWE) held an important virtual online event on Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021. It was promoted as a day focusing on “Education and Enlightenment about Indigenous History and Culture: Honouring Children of Residential School System.”

It is truly fitting that this event occurred in the light of the remains of 215 Indigenous children, which were discovered at the former residential school on May 5th, 2021 in Kamloops, British Columbia. It was promoted by the Canadian Congress on Indigenous Matters and is intended to “Honour the thousands of children who lost their lives in the Residential School System while discussing the way forward as a nation, strategies to protect the Indigenous Peoples and enable the socioeconomic development of their communities.”

The objectives of the virtual event were; • Honour the lives of the 215 children and others who are yet to be found • Encourage Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants through inspirational messages • Empower them with strategies for success in leadership and entrepreneurship • Teach them how to cope with mental health challenges and traumatic events • Discuss collective decisions and actions to stand with the Indigenous people • Challenge participants to become change agents and social justice advocates It issues a clarion call “Let us work, march together virtually to honour the children who lost their lives in the Residential

School System. Let us work together as a people on the way forward as a nation.”

The event was hosted by Alex Ihama, Executive Director of CCIDWE who apologized on behalf of all Christian denominations for the injustices that were meted out on the children at these residential schools. Stan Chic Ilo stated in the chat, “I am a Catholic priest at this conference. I join my voice to apologize for the terrible atrocities in the name of our church. I have committed myself in my own way of joining this fight.”

Chief Greg Henhawk of the Mohawk of the Bear Clan hosted the day’s event. He engaged in an informative and fascinating educational journey to educate the audience in his Indigenous 101 presentation. Julie and Richard PellissierLush gave the official opening and recited a moving poem on behalf of the missing children.

Laura Forythe gave a good overview of the Metis in Canada and recounted some interesting facts about the lived realities of the Metis in Manitoba.

Dr. Natalie Welch of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian (INC/USA) presented on sports as a pathway to Indigenous development.

Angela Adslt of the Tahitian Nation (British Columbia) spoke about Indigenous community development and property.

Tia Kenneday spoke about the importance of the role of youth in truth and reconciliation and emphasized their importance in aboriginal community.

Jamie Schmale, MP spoke about on behalf of the Provincial Conservatives party and recalled the apology that former Prime Minister Stepher Harper issued to the Indigenous community.

The keynote speaker was Senator Jane McCallum of the Eastern Lands First Nation (Manitoba). She gave an informative and educational speech as a survivor of the residential school system and talked about ways that reconciliation efforts can be advanced in Canada.

Her life has been heavily influenced by the teachings, ceremonies, experiences and knowledge she acquired as a dentist working with Manitoba First Nations communities. Overall, this online virtual event was truly enlightening, and it provided hope that true reconciliation and healing will occur in Canada as the Indigenous communities overcome the trauma of residential schools.

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

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Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

Exposing the mistreatment of mental health patients in Jamaica; A psychiatric refugee’s story JANIECE CAMPBELL janiece@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“What I hope will happen by telling my story is that when doctors are treating someone with a mental illness, they won’t just be treating an illness or a set of symptoms, but that they’ll be treating a human being.

There’s a whole person there that has had trauma, pain and they have all the same needs as everyone else.”

Roxanne Stewart-Johnson Mental illness is a prevalent issue in Jamaica that not many citizens take seriously. A growing cause for concern, the developing nation’s adult rates of mental health challenges range from 3-5% with psychosis, 15-20% with depression and anxiety, and 30-40% with personality disorder, according to a study by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute. Though the statistics are striking, the sad reality is that many Jamaicans are not adept at dealing with mental illness, with many believing it stems from the work of demons or the practice of “obeah.”

“In Jamaica, it’s very easy to be branded as someone who’s weird. It’s very easy to be a pariah in a culture that views any kind of oddity in a negative way. So, with things like mental illness, you can very easily find yourself socially isolated because people don’t want to have anything to do with you,” says Roxanne Stewart-Johnson, a mother of two living with bipolar disorder. “There’s a stigma and there’s a lot of ignorance around mental health. I had a friend tell me that someone at church told them not to visit me anymore because they thought that the devil was in my house.”

Roxanne, originally from Jamaica, was diagnosed in college after experiencing an episode of psychosis, which incited fear and caused her to run into oncoming traffic. After several failed attempts at finding a psychiatrist that would treat her with compassion while also dealing with the heavy side effects of medication (that doctors did not warn her about) including weight gain, hypersomnia, and hallucinations, her life momentarily took a turn for the better. She fell in love, got married, and gave birth to her first son, Benjamin.

But her highs were then followed with a series of lows.

Three months after giving birth, Roxanne experienced psychosis once again and had to be hospitalized. On this occasion, she was heavily sedated with lithium and haloperidol, both used to treat mania. Conscious and complicit, nurses then told her that the doctor would administer an injection. Before she could get more information, it was lights out. When she woke up, she was unable to speak properly; she had a stutter and couldn’t put sentences together coherently. She’d been given six weeks’ worth of fluphenazine, an antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia, without her consent.

Roxanne’s perfect love story also soon went awry when her now ex-husband began showing signs of domestic violence through wielding a hot iron near to her as she slept and through verbal abuse. At the same time, she was having troubles at work, having disagreements with her mother, and to her surprise, she became pregnant for the

second time.

Unfortunately, the psychiatrist that saw her through her first pregnancy passed away, so Roxanne was off to find a new doctor. She aimed to be on little to no medication alike her first time around. A friend recommended Dr. Jacqueline Martin, the doctor who would activate her fight or flight response.

Upon meeting for the first time and without looking at her prior history, Dr. Martin suggested that Roxanne abort the baby and be hospitalized. Unwilling, she insisted on keeping the baby and fulfilling a full-term pregnancy. The second time they met, Roxanne wanted a refill on her prescription of quetiapine, a low-dosage medication that helped her sleep. Though she had no symptoms of psychosis and didn’t exhibit any harmful behaviours, the doctor then became aggressive, threatening to put her on an unsafe combination of multiple drugs and forced hospitalization. Dr. Martin then asked her to sign a waiver, an agreement to proceed with all of this while totally absolving herself of any responsibility should the baby die or be harmed in the process.

Knowing her requests would continue to be ignored by healthcare professionals, at thirteen weeks pregnant, Roxanne made a lone decision to leave everything behind and seek asylum abroad. Without telling her husband or her family, Roxanne and her son boarded a flight to Canada and never looked back.

“I was hearing so many good things about Canada on the news. At the time, the whole thing with the Syrian refugee crisis was happening, and Justin Trudeau was saying he wanted to help them. This was also the Trump era, so many immigrants were avoiding the United States. So, I said Canada’s cold, but that’s where we’re going!”

With no regrets, Roxanne would soon give birth to her second son, Salem in Toronto. After a lengthy series of court hearings, her and her children would later be granted refugee protection by the Canadian government. She then pursued and completed her Master of Journalism degree at Ryerson University. While it’s a blessing that she successfully made it out, many other mental health patients in Jamaica will continually deal with physical and sexual abuse at the hands of healthcare workers as well as have their human rights being violated. Roxanne aims to be the ground-breaking voice for those who are silenced back home.

“I definitely want to see more accountability and transparency within hospitals. I would love for a body like the United Nations to look at Jamaica and countries alike and see how mental patients are being treated inside those institutional walls.

There’s a lot of silence, and people that are speaking out aren’t believed because we have a mental illness,” she says.

She continues. “I’d also like to see more patient autonomy and respect for their rights, where they’re allowed to make decisions about their treatment. I know for most of the doctors that I went to, none of them spoke to me about the side effects associated with these drugs and they didn’t ask for my informed consent. I don’t even think they knew about the side effects themselves!

A lot of patients are being forcibly treated without giving their informed consent or without consent period.”

For more information on Roxanne’s inspirational story, watch “A Psychiatric Refugee” on YouTube, a thought-provoking twohour documentary where she delves deeper into her personal experience of fleeing Jamaica’s abusive psychiatric system.

NEWS

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NEWS

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Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

The Awakening World Truth Summit Part III; A race against time MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Continued From Page 1 All this and more has not been able to deter this scientist in his quest to let the world know that they were and are still being lied to by the pharmaceutical companies, politicians and a handful of want to be slave masters.

A recent hit piece about Yeadon revealed the fear that the pharmaceutical companies have for him. Due to his credibility, the media reports that he is responsible for big injection hesitancy and false narratives.

Other speakers on day one were: Mitchell Gerber who spoke on the tyranny that he has witnessed in his over twenty years standing up to the China Communist Party, as well as Ontario’s only Mr. Chris Sky who introduced to us his newest book, “Just Say No!” Kerry Lee Crawford and Simone Jennifer Smith were able to get through half of an interview with Robert F. Kennedy Ju-

nior, but like Dr. Yeadon, the interview was disrupted, but not before Robert shared his thoughts on exactly what we as a people are dealing with when it comes to COVID-19 and the plans behind it.

One of the most powerful interviews of the day was with veteran physician Sherri Tenpenny, and you definitely have to watch the replay of Brandon V’s interview with Trudeau’s half-brother Kyle Kemper.

Day one ended with Kerry Lee Crawford interviewing what could only be described as the Holy Trinity: Pastor Henry Hilderbrandt, Pastor Tobias Tissen, and Pastor Arthur Pawlowski.

Day two took place Sunday June 27th, 2021 and also featured a powerful cast of speakers and educators like the incomparable Mr. David Icke who never disappoints, Dr. Zev Zelenko, Vlad Sobolev, Adam Skelly of Adamson Barbecue, Dr. Francis Boyle, and local activist Impenetrebel who stopped by to show his support of the summit.

Three people hosted the Summit with a conviction for spreading the truth: Mr. Kerry Lee Crawford, Mr. Brandon Vydelingum and the one and only Miss Simone Jennifer Smith. This article will just scratch the surface, and anyone and everyone is encouraged to go to TCN.video and check it out yourself, it really is an experience that no one should miss.

Every speaker had one destination in common, just different routes of arrival.

The arrival point was to educate and mobilize the masses in such a way that they will realize their full potential and end this “Medical Fraud” that has been forced on humanity sooner rather than later.

Chris Sky really knocked it out of the ballpark when he said that he had travelled almost the entire country and Ontarians are the most sheepish people he has met. They just blindly obey, and what’s worse, they help their slave masters enforce the rules, but in the end, Sky urged them to “Just Say No,” and stand up for their rights.

Kyle Kemper was on point and he basically had these words for his brother Justin Trudeau’s regime, “Say I’m sorry.” Kemper said he believes there is room for healing if the people with the evil agenda confess.

Doctor Sherri Tenpenny was dynamic in detailing the harm that is done and is on-going due to these fraudulent injections campaigns. Tenpenny spoke at length about the amount of money that is thrown around to make sure the best minds that include doctors, scientists and powerful people of all walks of life, are bought and paid for by the players in this evil agenda.

Mr. Courage himself “Adam Skelly” spoke of the oppression he faced publicly

by Ontario’s officials. Skelly has the government in court right now. He was treated like a criminal just for opening his barbeque restaurant during the first lockdown. He shared his thoughts about what he felt during the

government cross examination, “When you have no truth, lies are all you have to rely on.”

He calls the government case against him “bogus.”

Speaking of bogus, the final speaker Dr. Francis Boyle spoke at length with Kerry Lee about the US government, the FDA and how they have a history of corruption.

He used the example of giving Saddam Hussain bio-weapons to use against his people.

He closed by saying, “I have decided to use my talents to make this world a better place.”

Hats off to Grant Browning and the team at TCN.video and the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper for having the backbone to stand up and help educate their community, country and the universe in a time when most media outlets have been bought off by pathological liars, and have become journalistic prostitutes. As David Icke said to his host Simone, “You’ve got to have a relationship with truth, not with public opinion.”

The summit surpassed its past numbers with over four million page visits in two days. What this goes to show is that there is a need for the truth, and finally last weekend, truth seekers were provided with a platform where they could go for answers.

Want to gain access to all the interviews?

Log on to https://TCN.video and click on “Exclusives” in the top menu.

TIONS POST-PANDEMIC VACA

3 advantages of using a travel agency Are you planning to go on vacation in 2022? Whether you want to head to a sunny destination, take a road trip across the country or go on an adventure to a remote locale, it’s in your best interest to use a travel agency.

Here are three reasons to rely on the expertise of a travel agent.

1. GET INVALUABLE ADVICE If you choose a travel agency that specializes in a particular destination or the type of vacation you want to take, you’re sure to benefit from insider information. The agent can give you advice on things to do, sites to see and places to stay. This will help ensure your trip is a success.

2. SAVE TIME AND EFFORT Although it’s possible to book your vacation online, it often requires many hours of research and planning.

Make things easier on yourself by letting a travel agent do the work for you. These professionals have industry knowledge and access to information that can prevent you from making costly mistakes.

3. RECEIVE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT As a result of the pandemic, there’s a lot of uncertainty in the tourism industry. Hiring a travel agent is the best way to make sure you don’t neglect any important details prior to departing for your vacation. If you encounter a problem during your stay, a trusted agent will be able to provide advice and help you find a solution.

In addition, travel agencies often receive exclusive offers and discounts from big travel companies that they can pass on to their clients. For these reasons and more, consider booking your next vacation with a travel agent.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

NEWS

PAGE 9

Youth 4 Success platform provides opportunities for social connection PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The global pandemic and the dependence on remote learning have created many challenges for youth worldwide. In order to connect youth socially and bridge the academic gap initiated by online schooling, the organization Youth 4 Success has come to the rescue.

According to its website; youth4success.com, the organization “Focuses on removing barriers that Canadian youth face when it comes to employment and higher

education. We believe that everyone deserves equal access to employment and education.” It identifies four barriers that Canadian youth face when it comes to access to employment and education. These include the following: Drug Education Its website notes that this is a significant problem among Canadian youth. According to Statistica survey approximately 33% of youth in Canada between the ages of 1519 and more that 50% of young adults between the age of 20-24 have used drugs.

Education Gap The dropout rate across Canada has been estimated to be 14% and is as high as 50% in low-income communities according to the 2016 Statistics Canada census.

Criminal Record Youth who have a criminal record faced

enormous barriers to obtaining gainful employment. If they have been convicted of a crime there are additional challenges that can cause discrimination and stigma.

Language Newcomers to Canada face significant barriers. Almost 50% of them speak another language other than English or French at home.

Its mission drives the Y4S Platform, “We believe that everyone deserves equal access to employment and education.” In order to achieve this purpose, it holds seminars, workshops, talk series, as well as weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual events to ensure that the four identified barriers are overcome. These provide a safe space for youth to bring questions forward, improve their communication skills and foster new friendships.

It is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization that operates in four major

cities in Canada: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Edmonton. There are plans underway to include: Vancouver, Regina, Hamilton and Kitchener.

Y4S is intentional about developing online content that is targeted to youth using their social media platforms. It is constantly recruiting volunteers and any student in high school, college or undergraduate can complete a volunteer registration form at form.jotform.com/211575522376255.

Many of the volunteers serve as tutoring assistants to help students in academic subjects such as Science, Mathematics, English and French. Students who are interested can check their: Website: youth4success.com Instagram: canaday4s Twitter: Your 4 Success Facebook: Youth 4 Success YouTube: Youth 4 Success Canada

You want to find the criminals; you just have to follow the money MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

If you thought that all that is happening around us is by chance, think again.

If you are wondering why 99% of the world’s media sounds like a wellrehearsed gospel choir, with the news anchor being the preacher and you are still waiting for the sermon to change, well wait no more.

Things would never move with such speed if the 1% at the helm were not in control of 99% of the world’s finances.

If you are not familiar with the words Vanguard and BlackRock, please

use this article as a humble eye-opener to the ballpark where most of the big games are played including “The Great Reset” aka (Klaus Schwab’s wealth-theft scheme), the game you are watching now.

Two asset management firms largely own Big Pharma and mainstream media: BlackRock and Vanguard, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. From most of the food you consume, your electronics, your online payment, airlines, entertainment, petroleum, firearms and a host of other things that citizens consume, these are all being held in a financial stranglehold by these two companies.

It is said that the wealth of these two companies is beyond most of the planet population’s imagination. A Bloomberg report states that both these companies in the year 2028 together will have investments in the amount of 20 trillion dollars.

That means that they will own almost everything.

Not only do these two companies

own a large part of the stocks in almost all big companies, but they also own the stocks of the investors in those companies.

Imagine that reports from Oxfam and Bloomberg say that 1% of the world, together owns more money than the other 99%. Even worse, Oxfam says that 82% of all earned money in 2017 went to this 1%.

Who are the people behind these companies? Here is a clue: the Rothschilds, Orsini family, the American Bush family, the British Royal family, the du Pont family, the Morgans, Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, are all Vanguard owners.

Owning stuff is one thing, but what is interesting is how these companies are using their wealth to transform humanity in their own direction and for their own selfish purposes.

It should come as no surprise why mainstream media, who financially back these two companies, operates the way they do. With this type of financial clout behind them they are a well-oiled propa-

ganda machine specializing in the spread of false narratives based on fear and lies.

Now for a look at Big Pharma, the big names in the race to inject humanity with their untested “Death Shot” are all in bed with these two companies Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, and AstraZeneca all have ties to BlackRock and Vanguard in more ways than one, and as if that was not enough, these two companies own all the scientific institutions that produce medicine as well.

I am guessing by now you have gotten a clearer picture of what humanity is really up against. They are companies within companies that own each other and will stop at nothing to enslave the rest of humanity. Imagine these so-called elite calling the elderly “A bunch of useless eaters.”

Then just picture another half of a criminal foundation saying, “Black people should get the death shot first,” all in the name of millions, billions and trillions.

Nubian Book Club empowers, uplifts and inspires Black youths during summer 2021 PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

It is hard to believe that it is thirteen years now since the Nubian Book Club (NBC) has been making a difference in the lives of not just Black boys and girls, but their parents, caregivers, guardians and community supporters.

Donna Cardoza as well as committed parents, educators, students and guardians, started it in 2008. Donna has received widespread recognition for her community work by the Town of Markham in 2009. She was presented with the 2009 YMCA Peace Medallion and the 2011 Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship. In addition, in 2016 she was named as one of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women.

Professionally, Donna is a Community Support Worker with the Toronto Dis-

trict School Board (TDSB), the largest school board in Canada. For 11 years, Donna has provided her home as a safe space distinguished by being an environment of: love, caring, belonging and connection for youth, families, educators and community members who see the potential in Black youths and motivate and inspire them towards excellence in all areas of their lives.

During the summer of 2020 and for the upcoming summer 2021, there will be a virtual online presence of NBC because of the pandemic. I was able to interview Donna, and had an informative discussion about the success of NBC over the years.

I have been privileged over the years to attend many NBC and I have witnessed first-hand the benefits accrued to the participants. Some of her promotional material states, “NBC is an intergenerational book club (from pre-K to 100 years old). We engage in reading, learning, unlearning, and relearning by discussing current and global issues. We have guest speakers, we hear words of wisdom from great mentors, enjoy food, fellowship, friendship, swimming and networking. It was born from Nubian Excellence at Milliken Mills High School (YRDSB) to help African and Afro-Diasporic students learn about and share knowledge of their

heritage and the wider community.”

Donna believes that it does take a “village to raise a child,” She told me, “Everything is grounded in relationships, whether family, friends or work.” For her, “A good leader is an influencer.” Even though NBC started in York Region and involved the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) it now involves five other school boards.

Nubian Book Club’s four stated goals are: • Nubian Book Club recognizes that literacy is holistic and co-operative. We motivate students by getting them to engage in what is most important to them.

• We promote social literacies such as networking, authentic engagement and discussions around high interest, non-fiction texts.

• The book stimulates discussion. Speakers and participants make connections to different texts and to share various experiences.

• We expose students to people they may not otherwise meet and reinforce the value of reading and gaining knowledge and experience. They learn that literacy is something that enriches and creates community.

Donna is indebted to the many facilitators who have played an active role in NBC over the years, and continue to do so. They include: Dr.C. Camille Logan, Dr.Carl James, Dr, Kim Tavares, Dr. Vidya Shah, Clayton La Touche, Cecil Roach, Tisha Nelson,Anton Skerritt,Jeewan Chanicka , Darcie Sutherland, Pierrette Walker-Ennis and Prince Duah.

Donna is grateful that the NBC was able to support Hole Primary School in Free State, South Africa by building their school library and sending thousands of books to them. Books were also sent to Nigeria. She told me that NBC was able to raise $2,000 that provided scholarships for twenty students.

The focus of NBC Summer 2021 will be “Towards Liberation for Black Students and Their Communities.” There is no need to buy books or obtain pre-reading materials. Excerpts of books will be made available during each NBC session.

The book that will be discussed is “We Want to do more than Survive,” by Dr. Bettina Love. Donna told me that there are 208 people registered so far. The sessions will be held on Thursday, July 8th, 22nd and August 2nd, 2021.

PAGE 10

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Doctors for the Truth in Portugal attacked for questioning government protocols SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“Informed consent is not important.”

(President of the Medical College in Portugal) As I hung up the zoom call, all I could do was sit there and stare at the screen.

What I had just heard was not only chilling, but also a reminder to me that I have to keep writing; I have to keep sharing the truth. If what I was just told was true, world, we are in a lot of trouble. Human rights as we know are about to cease to exist.

I receive hundreds of emails a day from people all over the world. They each share with me their stories, and although not all may make it to the paper, I know that for those who I speak to, having someone hear their story is enough.

An email came in from a young woman named Fatima Santos. In her email she explained to me certain events that were happening in Portugal.

Now, you might be thinking, what does Portugal have to do with the Caribbean?

To that I say, everything right now. What we are seeing play out in society is happening on a global level. It is almost like monkey see, monkey do when it comes

to the decisions that are being made by governments across the world, so at this point in our lives, everything is connected, and we are all affected.

In her email, she shared with me a bombastic Portuguese court decision that some Portuguese citizens are not impressed with, and for good reason.

Many of them have sent the Health Ministry questions regarding COVID-19, and the support for the measures taken by the government like lockdowns, mask mandates, real death numbers, and PCR tests.

Well-known doctors and scientists in Portugal prepared the questions.

The government under freedom of information should have answered, but they did not. In her mind, we are being played.

Fatima connected me with Dra Margarida, an MD and medical doctor.

She is an anaesthesiologist, and she has been asking questions throughout this pandemic. The religious COVID-19 followers have attacked her, but she is followed by all of us that know something is wrong. She has been fighting with knowledgeable citizens in a scientific and legal manner, trying to fight it through the right channels. She has not given up yet because she feels the support of many of her colleagues.

Fatima strongly feels that it is very important that in Portugal, Canada, the Caribbean and all over the world, people know what is happening and start asking the right questions, before it is too late for humanity.

After reading this passionate

email, I immediately arranged a meeting with Dr Margarida, and my interview with her was shocking.

“Last April,” Dr Margarida began “I started to speak out, first alone, and the fifteen years of us. We have an organization called Doctors for the Truth in Portugal (https://worldmdsforthetruth. com/category/countries/portugal-countries/news-portugal-countries/).

Two days after we began working, asking questions, and digging for the truth, the Natural College of Doctors came at us, and they started to persecute us for speaking out. I almost lost my job, and it has been very difficult.

Around October, November 2020, we started to question our authorities about the pandemic. We gave them twenty-two working days to respond.

They did not respond.

We asked them twelve questions about the pandemic. Our queries were about: scientific details, if lockdowns work, transmission by symptomatic people, security and efficacy of vaccines, proof of how many deaths actually came from COVID-19. I found out that out of the 1,700 deaths that were claimed to be COVID-19 deaths. Only 152 actual confirmed deaths.”

I actually stopped the interview there and had her repeat the numbers. It was unbelievable what I was hearing.

“Yes Simone,” Dr Margarida explained, “We are in our 5th state of emergency, and 4th lockdown, all over 152 actual deaths from the virus. People are slowly but surely waking up. There is a movement of parents now, thirty fami-

lies who put forth a lawsuit for aggression to minors, and child abuse because of the pandemic measures.

The only help we have in Portugal is the law. The politicians are ignoring our constitutional rights, human rights, and the Nuremberg Code. On June 24th, the Digital Passport was approved for sports events, weddings. They have told us that at these events, you can only have six people at your table, and you are not allowed to dance or sing. Can you believe that?

We no longer have freedom of movement. We are not allowed to leave our regions unless you have a negative test, or you are vaccinated. This became official on Friday, June 25th, 2021 at 3:00 pm.”

I sat there in shock. We have been hearing murmuring about the vaccine passport, so to find out that it has already been implemented in another country shook me to my core.

Something very interesting that she shared with me, I would like to share with you. Hospitals in Portugal are filling up, and guess who these beds are occupied by, 1,000 people fully vaccinated individuals. My question was, I thought that the vaccine was supposed to prevent this from happening, so why are fully vaccinated people in the hospital?

Something does not make sense.

Things are shifting in this world, and for some this shift is not for the good. We are now giving up our freedoms blindly, with no pushback. It is a good thing that there are some brave souls ready to fight for us.

Love Brampton Bicycle Clinic collects, repairs and donates 118 bikes to families ADRIAN ADORE

adrian@carib101.com

PRP REPORTER

118 Brampton residents, young and young again, received refurbished bicycles this past weekend from the Love Brampton Bicycle Clinic.

Members of the Peel Regional Police Divisional Mobilization Unit, who co-host the Love Brampton Bicycle Clinic with Love Brampton, Bramalea Baptist Church, and Heart Lake Baptist Church, have spent time this past spring reaching out internally within our organization to collect used bicycles for the program.

This program focuses on giving Brampton residents access to transportation where there would otherwise be a barrier for them. Collecting used bicycles, making the required repairs and then delivering the bikes to members of

the Brampton community is an opportunity for this dedicated team to contribute to their well-being.

118 bicycles in total were collected which is a testament to the compassion and generosity of Peel Regional Police personnel.

On Saturday, June 26th, 2021, 118 eager cyclists received their renewed wheels. Of note, four more bicycles received repairs in the process.

Peel Regional Police would like to thank all of the citizens, employees and community partners who participated in the donation, collection, repair

and delivery of these bicycles. Now more members of the community are mobile for work and play, while in the process, sharing in the continued effort of wellbeing and safety of the community.

Let’s not forget to use our hand signals while using our bicycles folks, and to everyone using the roadways, please follow the rules of the road. Don’t operate any transportation while impaired or distracted. Remember, road safety is a shared responsibility.

Working with our partners for the well-being and safety of our community.

NEWS

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 11

Sandy Daley Pivots around the pandemic with Chronicles of a Black Woman: A Sketch Comedy umnist. Sandy’s syndicated column, ‘Real Talk With Sandy’ was published in New York, Toronto and Barbados. Her previous screenwriting projects include “Untamed Chicks”, “Daddy’s Not Around: DNA” and her current project, a teen series, The Wright Girl: all starring black leads.

Winner of the Governor Generals’ Award for Excellence, the Rising Star Award from Centennial College and named Toronto Fringe Festival Artist of The Year in 2020, Sandy continues to lead the way as a determined, passionate artisan who has learned how to adapt and adjust to whatever life throws at her. A long-time advocate for social justice and women’s rights, Sandy is the founder of the Whose Body Is It, Really?

Empowerment Symposium for the prevention of sexual violence against women, and Mothers Against Violence Against Black Children. The organization fights systemic racism against Black children. Sandy Daley’s craft is very much a part of the woman she is and the legacy she is building.

Her critically acclaimed first novel, “Whose Vagina Is It, Really?” made the bestsellers list, and the second edition is looking to be released in July 2021. The exciting news that she shared with me in our interview is that this will soon be a play, under the blanket of the Toronto Fringe. Sandy is also doing work on her “Chronicles of a Black Woman: A Sketch Comedy” that will also screen virtually at the 2021 Toronto Fringe Festival, July 21st-31st.

Inspired by the worldwide fringe movement, Toronto Fringe was founded by a cluster of local indie artists in 1989 to offer the “fringes” of the performing arts

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“Simone, in life, you have to learn to pivot.” Sandy Daley Creatives, I want you to know something; you are not alone with your feelings of confusion, disappointment and frustration of not utilizing the “extra time” the pandemic offered us. Many people are blaming themselves for this lack of productivity, this lack of motivation, this lack of creativity.

I want to interject your thoughts here by letting you know, despite what social media will tell you, not everybody is being productive during the pandemic.

The story that I am going to share with you today is surrounding this topic, and how one young woman fought against these feelings and was able to create work that is pivotal during this time.

Sandy Daley’s passion and commitment to the honesty of her work is well documented, and she is no stranger to the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper. A Torontonian, originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Sandy hit the ground running, starring in Christene Browne’s, “Another Planet” and winning the Spirit Award for Favourite Col-

community a platform to create art at a grassroots level. It’s theatre by the people, for the people.

The Toronto Fringe Festival has become the largest theatre festival in Ontario, showcasing 150+ productions every July at 30+ venues around downtown Toronto. They will be moving forward this summer with an online festival. The Digital Toronto Fringe runs July 21st - 31st and features on-demand Fringe content, live digital events, watch parties, digital lobby gatherings, a virtual patio and more!

Guess what? Fringe keeps ticket prices lower than any other arts festival in the city, at $13, because we believe everyone should be able to afford to see theatre, and this only means that we can go ahead and support our very own Sandy Daley.

“Chronicles of a Black Woman: A Sketch Comedy,” leans on her own experiences as a Caribbean woman, single mother and storyteller for the project.

Sandy brilliantly portrays three different characters: an Afrocentric Black woman, a Caribbean woman and a single mother.

She brings these characters to life with a mix of raw emotions and the truth of a lot of our realities. This project delves into the feelings of Black women as they navigate a society that is fraught with systemic racism.

During our short interview, Sandy shared with me the birth of this project, and why it is a pertinent piece.

“Last year there was a reckoning that was worldwide,” Sandy begins. “Writing helps me work through my issues, and this last year has brought up many issues.

I wanted to speak about experiences as a Black woman.

I wanted something to speak to the narratives that are said about Black women, so I do so by playing these three different characters. It examines how Black women are seen, and how she wants to be seen.”

Sandy shared with me the three characters in her project: “Monica is the Afrocentric Black woman, Pauline is the Caribbean Woman, and Vivian is the single Black mom. They are all me. We all have a piece of these women in us.”

With everything shut down, Sandy was praying that the theatres would open. “When the theatres didn’t open up, I had to pivot. We couldn’t find a space. I immediately thought, why not animation.

The Fringe saw our issues and offered us editors and animators. I thought it would be cool to have a complete animation project, and successfully we were able to do it. I have a team of seven creative individuals who helped me pull it off.

Simone, in life, you have to learn to pivot.”

“CHRONICLES OF A BLACK WOMAN: A SKETCH COMEDY” can be seen during the Toronto Fringe Festival, July 21st - 31st.

Keep up with Sandy Daley: FACEBOOK: @womanincontrol INSTAGRAM: @thesandydaley TWITTER: @thesandydaley WEBSITE: chocolatedollzproductions.com

Brampton pledges to join The BlackNorth Initiative to advance its anti-Black racism agenda stakeholders, uplift the social, cultural and economic position of Brampton’s Black community.

PAUL JUNOR

The City of Brampton issued a press release, which indicates that its City Council had unanimously pledged to be part of The BlackNorth Initiative. The BlackNorth Initiative (BNI) was founded on June 10th, 2020 and is led by the Canadian Council of Business Leaders against anti-Black systemic racism.

According to its website wwwblacknorthca it is “On a mission to end anti-Black systemic racism throughout all aspects of our lives by utilizing a business first mind-set. We believe that if corporate Canada can boldly take on the challenge to add gender diversity to Canadian boardrooms and executive suites by declaring policies, setting specific targets, holding itself accountable, it can do the same work to create representation for Black Canadians.”

The press release describes three initiatives that The BlackNorth Initiative has been involved with: business mentorship,

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The City of Brampton under the leadership of Mayor Patrick Brown has been at the forefront of addressing anti-Black racism.

Brampton City Council approved the creation of the Black African and Caribbean Social, Cultural and Economic Empowerment & Anti-Black Racism Unit on June 10th, 2020. This unit has already accomplished some positive and proactive things since its inception and aim to: • •

Develop an action plan to eradicate systemic anti-Black racism in Brampton.

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homeownership bridge program and a mental health program for Black youth. The celebration of its one-year anniversary was marked with a statement from Wes Hall, Founder and Chair. “In order to welcome a new and truly inclusive era and to create an equitable future for all Canadians, we need to redouble our efforts. Corporate Canada cannot allow complacency or inertia to rob Canada of this historic opportunity. Now more than ever, we need the support of our allies.”

The list of all its accomplishments can be seen on its website. It is fitting that Brampton, which is one of the most culturally diverse and ethnic cities in Canada, is partnering with the BNI. The Equity Office at the City of Brampton will work to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all individuals and promote a harmonious environment both inside the City and for its residents.

Gwyneth Chapman, Senior Advisor, Economic Empowerment and AntiBlack Racism stated in the press release, “The BNI fills and identifies a massive vacuum - the lack of support for Black

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businesses and professionals in corporate Canada. This is an opportunity for corporations and influencers to assume a level of social responsibility in the elimination of systematic barriers for racialized communities across the country. Their advocacy for success and involvement of Black talent, businesses, youth, and the community is admirable. This is an unprecedented initiative and l am very excited about the possibilities to come.”

Mayor Brown stated, “This pledge reaffirms the City of Brampton’s commitment to end systemic racism in our city. We have a broader perspective and reach into the Black community to listen, listen and commit to making real, impactful changes that will help remove systemic barriers that exist in our city.”

David Barrick, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton stated, ”Working with external organizations, such as the BNI, and building community partnerships will play a crucial role in helping us develop this plan and lean on a network of experts to bring this plan to action.”

NEWS

PAGE 12

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

New Technology Mentorship Program seeks high school students from across Canada ing, video game design and many more technological fields. There are partnerships between: Athlete Tech Group, BlackMINT and RBC Future Launch and Rising Star to offer twenty-five mentoring positions.

Athlete Tech Group (ATG) is a Black owned and minority led business. ATG utilizes education, media and events to build well-rounded athlete entrepreneurs. A byproduct of this success is creating wealth for reinvestment back into local communities, skills programs, and even new career opportunities for athletes themselves.

BlackMINT is a Canadian nonprofit organization focused on getting more Black youth in the technology sector. Their mission is to mentor Black youth, provide them with practical skills, career advice, and the help that they need to become confident, career-focused and aspire to be leaders in technology. They want Black professionals to make up more than 5% of the tech workforce in Canada by 2030.

PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The release of press information regarding a new technology program for high school students from across Canada is good news for those interested in the tech sector. The press release revealed some interesting data. It states, ”Technology is the fastest growing industry in the world, creating the most jobs; but yet, the Black community only represents 2.6% of the Canadian tech system.”

The program is intended to empower Black high school students to learn technological skills to help them prepare for careers in data science, cloud comput-

RBC Future Launch is RBC’s commitment to empowering Canadian youth for the jobs of tomorrow. RBC is dedicating $500 million to help young people access meaningful work experience, skills development, networking and access to mental well-being supports and services.

In the press release, Randy Osei, Founder of and CEO, Athlete Tech Group states, “We need to get more Black youth engaged and excited about Canada’s bustling technology sector. Black Canadians continue to be grossly underrepresented in the tech industry. Rising Star will help open doors and create a sustainable bridge between Black Canadians and ‘Silicon Valley of the North’ as we look to break barriers to employment and drive social participation.”

In addition, Bernie Uche, CoFounder BlackMINT states in the press release, “For far too long, Black kids have been pushed away from pursuing careers in the tech sector. We believe technology can improve Black futures and the Rising

Star Program will give Black kids access to opportunities that may have previously seemed beyond their reach. We’re grateful for the support of Athlete Technology Group and RBC Future Launch as we embark on this exciting endeavour.”

This mentoring program will be nine-months long and will provide twenty-five Black students ages 15-18 with modules on programming, hardware and robotics, technical communication, data science, UI/UX, video game design, cloud computing, ethics and compliance, tech entrepreneurship, digital media, software development, computer networking and security.

Black students who complete this program will be awarded $20,000 in scholarships that can go towards their post-secondary expenses. Students have up to July 5th, 2021 to apply at www.athletetechgroup.com/rising-star.

Focused Dreams Forward Foundation; Siblings with a passion for serving others to utilize athletics and education to advance their lives. Their hope is that this will support the initiative of relieving poverty and build thriving, functional communities.

The event was well supported by other organizations that see, and understand the vision. Some of their sponsors included:

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

•

It was a beautiful Friday afternoon, and the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had been invited to the Focused Dreams Forward Foundation golfing charity event. Yes that is right. Your favourite journalist Simone Jennifer Smith was golfing. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was there for a good cause.

I first learned about the event through one of the sponsors from The Wine Shop. Ms Anandie Aiello. She had first heard about the event from one of the founders Mr John Wiggins, and she invited me to be a part of it. I didn’t know what to expect, but what I experienced was friendship, fellowship, and fun.

John and Tracy Wiggins, siblings whose passion is serving others, founded the Focused Dreams Forward Foundation. The charity was formed to contribute towards the enrichment of academic and athletic opportunities for youth in the Caribbean. Their goal is to positively impact over 20,000 youth in the Caribbean.

As a team they have worked to create and implement programs designed to build self-esteem and leadership skills for at-risk students, while also providing remedial education in key focus areas including literacy, mathematics, and technology application. They want to empower youth RY 10TH

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Although we ended up getting rained out, it did not stop the fun. Players gathered under an umbrella, enjoying food, drinks and great company.

I had an opportunity to catch up with John Wiggins, and he was able to share with me his vision for Focused Dreams Forward Foundation.

“January 2019, the foundation was officially recognized as a charity,” John began. “Everyone has a purpose, and my sister Tracy and I have always felt that we wanted to give back to the youth in the Caribbean.

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I saw what Masai Ujiri was doing with the youth in Africa, so I thought, why couldn’t I do this for the youth in the Caribbean. I went to the islands to see how I could help. I can’t write cheques, but I can use my platform to bring awareness.”

John began sending shoes, and equipment to the islands, but that just was not enough for him. Something kept pushing him to do more. He shares with me that the journey was not an easy one, and COVID-19 definitely did not make it easier,

“Administratively it was complicated. Setting up a charity is no joke. We experienced a lot of scrutiny, and there is a lot of paperwork. The process was frustrating. It took two years to finally be recognized as an approved charity. Another aspect of this work that I had to learn the hard way is that operating something here in Canada, and doing work in the Caribbean, means you have to deal with a lot of red tape. You have to deal with the politics, and that can be overwhelming at times as well.

COVID-19 put a wrench in our plans. We got our status and then everything shut down. WE were unable to execute. The whole purpose of the foundation was to bring people together so that we as a community could do more for our communities in the Caribbean.”

Finally, despite the numerous pandemic restrictions, they were able to pull off their second charity golf event.

“Our first event was September 29th, 2020. We locked in June 25th, 2021 last year. We held on to the date, not knowing if we would be able to do it. Thankfully, the restrictions dropped, so it all worked out.”

I also had the opportunity to speak with Ms Anandie Aiello, Regional Retail Manager at Andrew Peller Limited

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(The Wine Shop). She shared with me why she thought it was important that they get involved.

“Naturally, seeing someone who is part of my Alumni (Windsor University), doing such great work, I had to be a part of it,” she shared openly. “I am proud of John and Tracy for pushing through and getting all of these people together for a good cause. It gave me the opportunity to meet some amazing people, and what a beautiful day out of the office. I see great things for the Focused Dreams Forward Foundation team, and they will always have my support.”

John took some time to share with me some of the work that will come from these different charity events. He has personally been travelling to Barbados and St. Lucia for the last five years with the NBA to help facilitate Return to Play. This program brings the NBA to the Caribbean, and John has seen what this does for the youth on the islands.

“It is important that we not only establish, but we sustain programs. I wanted to make sure that we were able to carry on the momentum after the NBA left.”

So what is next for Focused Dreams Forward Foundation?

“I am bringing back the dinner/ dance party,” John tells me laughing.

“These are the types of events we grew up on, so I am bringing it back. There will be more to come on that. It is a tradition that has gone away. I am hoping to throw the first one in the fall.”

We have to recognize that there is potential in the people in the islands. We need to invest in our people. Our youth in the Caribbean are smart, talented, and athletic. We have to invest in that.

NEWS

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 13

How to use only words to vanquish evil, and defend your freedoms and sovereignty today

BY JOHNATHAN FREELANCE REPORTER In this article, I will teach you a very specific and effective strategy to fight evil using only words. Words have incredible power. Used correctly, they create massive results.

The small group of evil people fancy themselves ‘magicians’ practicing ‘dark magic’. They use symbols and sigils. (Look at corporate logos). They ‘cast spells’ through documents like the ‘leaked liberal memo’. In some ways, they really are magicians.

Most of the world is under a spell.

They convinced people to ‘wear masks’ to ‘protect others’. In reality, masks suffocate and cause daily brain damage from oxygen deprivation. Masks are part of their occult ritual ‘magic’ initiation. They convinced people that injecting and infecting yourself with poison are ‘good’ for you. The more severe the ‘reaction’ was the better it was ‘working’. It is in fact ‘working’ in that it is poisoning and permanently sterilizing people. This small group convinced people that suffocat-

ing their own children, punishing them through isolation, and injecting them with the same toxic poison is ‘good’ for them. Their occult mantra is, “Stay Safe, stop the spread, 6’ away, 6’’ testing swab, 6 people or less.” Yes, many people really are under a ‘magical spell’.

Here is how you fight this evil.

Words have power. Incredible power.

Don’t believe me? Call someone an idiot and see how quickly he or she react. Likewise, tell a stranger you care about them, and it will elicit a completely different response. It is just “air shaping sounds,” yet these words create reactions.

The written word is even more powerful. The written word manifests and creates reality.

Most know they should ‘set goals’. Few know how to do it properly.

Done correctly, it quickly creates a new reality. Use it only for good, evil has unintended consequences. It is a four-step process. a) Define a specific goal. b) Set a deadline.

c) Believe it is possible. d) Expect it to happen.

Here is an example of noble, proper goal setting. Take a picture of the following.

Post it on your social media. Broadcast it widely. Print off a copy. Tape it on trees in the park. Put it on bus shelters. Make sure as MANY people as possible read this. Every time ANY part of the goal is reached - CELEBRATE that success. Simple actions.

MASSIVE results.

Three-month Goal List: General population begins to fully understand the “infection” is caused by the “injection”, and that there never was a ‘contagious’ virus. Only mainstream media spread the virus, the message of fear.

Population discovers sterilization and deaths via VAERS. Groups begin immediately halting all vaccinations / GMO injections. Expected Date: July 15th, 2021.

Restaurants and small business owners realize the rolling lockdowns are part of a five-year destructive capitalism plan. They realize it never was about ‘health’, but rather a pretext to destroy businesses to acquire patents and prop-

erties for cents on the dollar. They defy future lockdown orders, and fight fines using resources like the JCCF and Constitutional Rights center. Expected Date: August 15th, 2021.

Faith leaders begin questioning why the church of Costco and church of Walmart are always fully open. They see the attack on Christianity, repetition of the #6, and realize their flock needs a shepherd. They get educated fast and hold full services. Expected Date: August 15th, 2021.

People become genuinely curious about what is really happening. They question why there are staged cyberattacks (cyberpolygon), why money is being printed at 10x the current rate (manufactured hyperinflation), why Gates has purchased so much farmland (manufactured food shortages), and why they are paying taxes that are used against them (lockdowns and fines). They fight back.

Expected Date: September 15th, 2021.

People, Police, and Military turn to independent truthful media. They begin to defend their sovereign freedoms.

Expected Date: September 15th, 2021.

Free online summer Coding Camp offered for Black youth between Grades 8 - 12 PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The African Canadian Christian Network (ACCN) since its formation in 2007 has been at the forefront of the delivery of specialized programs for Black youth.

According to its website: accntoronto.com, it is “A network of Black churches and allies with a social justice agenda, working together with communities, governments and institutions to improve the life outcomes for Black youth and their families.”

The vision of ACCN is “To see Black youth achieving academic success, becoming leaders and role models, leading lives free from violence, and contributing as citizens of their communities.”

One of its signature programs has been offering scholarships to Black boys and girls through its Independent School Program.

Rev. Alvin Nicholson, ACCN Board Chair states, “ACCN continues to seek support for our Black youth to remove barriers to success in areas such as Education, Employment, Family and Crime Prevention. Our partnerships with these prestigious institutions allow our young people to get on the right trajectory to a great education while honing in on their remarkable leadership skills. It is important that our young people be defined by the social and civic contribution they make with the opportunities they are given, rather than be defined by the communities in which they live.”

The ACCN Action Plan states that it will engage in activities to assist youth and families through; •

Exposure to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, plus High Skilled Trades)

• • •

Mentoring for parents (P2P) and Youth GLEEM- Growing Leaders and Empowering Everyday Mind) Promoting Academic Excellence in Public and Independent Schools Supporting anti-violence initiatives

One of the greatest initiatives of the ACCN has been its involvement with the first ever Black robotic team; ACCN Techtronix. It raised $3,640 through a Gofundme campaign towards the team’s involvement in robotic completions.

Its Parent 2 Parent (P2P) program offers mentoring for parents by parents.

P2P involves three specific delivery programs through circle families, online parent support community and a community parent education program (CPEP).

P2P is offered through the involvement of three specific partners. They include Generation Chosen Anchoring Youth from Volatile Communities, Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators (ONABS) Parenting Committees and the Black Family and Child Network.

ACCN is committed to its mission and believes in the untapped potential residing in Black youth. They believe that with the right tools, knowledge and opportunities Black youth have bright futures and will assume their rightful place at the table in all sectors of society.

ACCN is offering a free online summer coding camp for Black youth in Grades 8 -12.

Coding has become important in the revised grades 1-8 elementary math curriculum and in the recently introduced new grade nine math curriculum. The camp will run from July 5th - July 30th on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm or 12:00 pm -2:00 pm.

No prior experience is necessary.

Students will learn coding fundamentals, game design, app development, java and robotics and design a project. There is limited space and registration will be first come, first served. There are currently 205 registrations and they are at capacity.

NEWS

PAGE 14

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Tax Reform for 96 hours OMNIYA ALI

amniya@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Tax Reform Bill April 28th, 2021 marks the day that the people of Colombia could no longer suffer in silence. As a response to the proposed tax reform, people said enough is enough, taking to the streets.

As seen all around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic had dire effects on the economy of Colombia. The already suffering economy took another big hit this past year with the gross domestic product dropping by 6.8%, the deepest crash in half a century. In addition to that, unemployment became more prevalent. The tax reform in question entailed increasing taxes for middle class and wealthy individuals in an attempt to trim deficits and help the poor. If given the chance to be implemented, the reform would have af-

fected anyone with a monthly income of 2.6 million Pesos ($850.78 CAD) or more, it would also have increased taxes imposed on businesses, as well as the removal of various income tax exemptions.

Instilling fear in many, the government saw almost immediate backlash.

Colombia’s biggest trade unions, joined by many middle-class people afraid of slipping into poverty organized the first rallies in which tens of thousands of people marched in the capital Bogotá, while other demonstrations took place in other major cities and small towns. In four days time, change had been accomplished.

President Iván Duque announced the withdrawal of the bill.

Health Reform Bill Although demonstrations were initially peaceful, there was a large police presence at the marches from the start. In addition to the tax reform bill that received no acceptance from the Colombian population, a health reform bill that suggested a more privatized system was proposed.

Although some, such as the former Health Minister Fernando Ruiz, defended the bill, asserting that it would provide the tools necessary for emergencies such as the

coronavirus, critics said it would lead to health care monopolies by strengthening the role of private health promotion companies.

As expressed by Senator Alexander López on twitter “The people’s struggle in the streets against years and years of injustice has achieved the shelving of a reform that would have destroyed health as a right and commercialized it even more in favor of a few.” Marking yet another victory for the people, the health bill was nixed and as promised if the bill did not progress, Health Minister Fernando Ruiz announced his resignation.

Police Violence Although demonstrations began with a focus on the tax reform, the concern was expanded to the health bill, inequality and police violence. As observed by Human Rights Watch, death tolls have reached up to 63 individuals with the alleged aggressors being the police. The Colombian Federation of Education Workers, which led many protests, has reported thousands of human rights violations, denied by the government. Some of these violations include over 2,000 instances of police violence, more than 1,600 arbitrary

detentions and 25 confirmed acts of sexual violence, 65 eye injuries, and 346 forced disappearances of protestors, with Indigenous, Afro and poor communities being the primary targets of repression.

What’s Next?

Under pressure, President Duque has seemed compliant with public needs.

However, after announcing the withdrawal of the current tax reform bill, he also stated that tax reforms are still “necessary” for Colombia, suggesting that plans may be implemented again once the unrest settles down.

Rather than addressing the state violence exhibited towards protestors, news outlets are drawing attention to the “vandalism” of the demonstrators. Additionally, President Duque continues to authorize the deployment of more troops to suppress demonstrators.

Concurrent with all the unrest, rejection, and denial of injustice, in the midst of the worst health and economic crisis in Colombia, the government seems determined to pay billions of dollars for 24 Lockheed Martin fighter planes. This understandably has received a roar of disapproval from the general population.

Our students need to return to normal this September; NO Quadmester/Cohorts this fall PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The Ontario Ministry of Education in its directives to school boards released in May, 2021 has instructed them to consider quadmesters and cohorts for the fall of 2021.

These specific directives apply to high school students who will have to take two classes per quad and split their time between virtual and in-person learning.

There has been criticism levelled by diverse education stakeholders at the quadmester model and adoption of cohorts. This prompted Joanne Pearson to petition the Ministry of Education, Ste-

phen Leece, Ontario Minister of Education, Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario and Yael Ginsler, Assistant Deputy Minister of Education. The petition is titled, “No Quadmester/Cohorts this fall. Kids need a return to normal this September.”

As of Tuesday, June 23rd there were 17,172 signatures with a goal of 25,000 signatures. The petition posed a very important question, “Why are we taking away our kids’ right to be normal?”

This question is crucial to the reopening plans that the Ontario Ministry of Education intends for school boards. The petition notes, ”We are in a completely different situation than last school year as teachers and students will be vaccinated.

Once again. Students are being asked to sacrifice by not being able to engage in social relationships at school, sports or clubs and have to go to the same classes all day everyday for a week. We have taken away their lockers and cafeterias and libraries and put directional tape on the ground for them to follow. We are asking

too much of our kids. You need to reconsider.”

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) initially indicated that it would be adopting the quadmester model based on the Ministry of Education’s directions, but later retracted after opposition. A letter released notes, “Following that message, we heard from many members of the community, staff, students and families that the quadmester model was not an ideal learning model and we committed to continuing to explore ways to best meet the needs of both students and staff at this time when we are still making adjustments due to the pandemic.”

The TDSB indicated that due to increased level of vaccinations of its education workers and pupils, and reductions in the overall number of cases of COVID-19 it has adopted a modified semester model for its high school students. The Board states,

“In this model, students will take four courses, two each during alternat-

ing weeks. In accordance with Ministry instructions that all in-person learning be full day, they will continue to be cohorted but will now be part of four cohorts (one for each class) and class sizes will return to the regular class sizes (dependent on grade, level and subject) as per the Workload Accord. In-person students will be full-time in person while virtual students will be online full-time. The modified semester offers more face-to-face time between students and teachers, encouraging an opportunity to build relationships and support an increased sense of belonging in class. It also offers a slower pace by learning over a longer period of time than the quadmester model.”

The Peel District School Board (PDSB) has accepted the quadmester/ cohort model and called it “community learning,” while the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) indicated that it will okay remote/cohort for the new school year.

NEWS

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 15

After all, who wants to admit they wet their pants; understanding urinary incontinence associated with aging, or the result of a radical prostatectomy for cancer of the prostate gland. For women, it’s often due to repeated pregnancies and the strain on pelvic muscles during labour.

Urge incontinence is the issue when you feel a sense of panic. “I’ve got to go quickly to urinate or I’m in trouble.”

The sudden, intense urge to urinate is followed by an involuntary loss of urine.

The risk factors include obesity, which increases pressure on the bladder and surrounding muscles, and smoking, where continually coughing exerts stress on pelvic muscles.

Constipation is another factor.

Grunting and pushing with bowel movements of hard, compacted stools further injures pelvic muscles and causes nerves to become overactive, which increases the urge to urinate frequently. Taking 2,000 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C at bedtime triggers results. If it does not, increase to 4,000 the next night. Then eat a high fibre cereal and a hot drink in the morning. A bowel movement will follow. As a cardinal

W. GIFFORDJONES MD DIANA GIFFORD-JONES TC HEALTH REPORTER

Urinary incontinence is one of the most common problems of aging. It instills, needlessly, the prospect of embarrassment and a fear of leaving the house. Comedians quip, “If you don’t know when you need to go, by the time you find out, you’ve already gone!” In fact, it’s no laughing matter when a sneeze, cough, or even just standing up causes urine suddenly to leak through your clothes.

Stress incontinence occurs when pressure in the urinary bladder is greater than the ability of the muscles to hold back the flow of urine. In men, it may be

rule, don’t ruin your colon with laxatives.

Making changes in lifestyle can help to ease this problem. Decrease caffeine, alcohol and other diuretics. Stop smoking. Avoid acidic foods.

Remember dams that leak must be strengthened. So do exercises. Imagine trying to pick up a marble and hold it using the muscles in your pelvic floor. Do this eight times several times a day and continue daily for three months. Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day. This simple procedure usually improves incontinence as it bulks up pelvic muscles surrounding the urethra (the tube that carries urine to the outside) and helps to stop dribbling of urine.

If the muscles have become so weak that they fail to respond to this exercise your doctor may suggest electrical stimulation to trigger muscle response.

Artificial bulking agents made of biocompatible material are available to help improve urethral function. A cystoscope is inserted into the penis or vagina and the bulking agent is injected around

the urethra. This may take two or three sessions to get the required result. But results are not as good in males who have had a radical prostatectomy.

If all this fails, surgery will be suggested. For women this usually means a vaginal operation, but some surgeons prefer an abdominal one. A sling operation is currently the most effective. The rationale behind this surgery is quite simple. By placing a sling under the urinary bladder, it will not only be lifted, but the procedure will also change the angle, decreasing the loss of urine.

For males with significant urinary incontinence that have had a radical prostatectomy, an artificial urinary valve can be inserted which closes the valve on a continual basis. A small pump implanted under the scrotum skin can open it.

Urinary incontinence is called a “closet problem.” After all, who wants to admit they wet their pants. But too many North Americans suffer from this disorder in silence when they should be getting help.

Are alternative drugs being ignored because of the substantial economic opportunities that come from vaccine manufacturers? about health dangers, including cancers caused by drinking milk from hormonetreated cows but was ignored. Since 1993 the FDA has received criticism for using rGBH despite being banned in both EU and Canada.

Former FDA employees have made efforts to shed light on FDA practices and shady behaviour. In an interview with PBS, MD Raymond Wesley, who was once considered for the FDA commissioner position, reflected on the process and stated, “It was clear that people like myself who care about drug safety had become too controversial. They didn’t want someone who was going to focus on toxicity and effects.”

User fees paid by the industry through the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) are used to speed up the review and approval process to meet target dates for drug manufacturers. They have been the primary source of the FDA since 1992 and have climbed from 35% to 71%, while sections that monitor safety, ensure manufacturing standards, and check for accuracy have shrunk, according to the Boston Globe.

Ron Kavanagh, a former drug reviewer from 1998-2008, says that target dates for PDUFA do not leave enough time to review submissions. Kavanagh told Project on Government Oversight (POGO), “Reviewers were told not to worry about studying all the material.”

In 2009, nine members from the FDA wrote an anonymous letter to Barack Obama to shed light and clean up the cor-

AMANDA WILLIAMS amanda@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

One of The Food and Drug Administration’s responsibilities is to ensure the safety, efficacy, and security of drugs to protect public health. Still, over time, approved drugs have caused an epidemic of harmful side effects even when properly prescribed. An article from Harvard University shows 53,000 excess hospitalizations and about 2,400 excess deaths occur in the United States every week.

Is the FDA somehow dropping the ball? Research indicates that the FDA has a history of misconduct, fraud, and conflicts of interest and is dismissed as the revolving door of money, perks, and opportunities.

In 1984, Monsanto employee Margaret Miller was asked to submit a report on recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) to the FDA to determine its safety. Miller later left Monsanto to work at the FDA, where she was responsible for deciding whether or not to approve the same report she worked on while at Monsanto. Five years later, MD Samuel Epstein warned the FDA commissioner RY 10TH

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rupt FDA. The letter revealed that medical devices get approved against unanimous opinions of scientific staff. Former Chief Scientist Frank Torti Sr. of the FDA responded by sending out an email to employees to silence any other potential whistle-blowers.

More than half of the experts hired to advise the government on the safety and effectiveness of medicine have financial ties to pharmaceutical industries. The Center for Responsible Politics shows that between 2009-2011 prescription drugs, biotechnology, and medical device companies spent more than $700 million lobbying Congress and the Obama administration.

In an analysis taken from the Open Payments website, findings indicate that between 2013 to 2016, 93% of funds for personal payments to the 16 top-earning advisers came from the same drug makers they previously reviewed.

Many retired FDA officials later found lucrative jobs at the same companies they were regulating. While federal law prohibits the FDA from using experts with a financial conflict of interest, FDA had waived these restrictions over 800 times in only two years.

In 2015, Professor Charles Seife and his students found evidence of fraud in medical trials, including fake x-ray reports, forged retinal scans, phony lab tests, and secretly amputated limbs. Out of 600 clinical trials investigated, 100 cases clearly stated which study, drug, and pharmaceutical companies were in-

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volved. The FDA covered up details in the other 500 cases.

The FDA knows about dozens of scientific papers floating around whose data is questionable. One of them is the RECORD-4 Study that was declared “unreliable” but is still available on the Lancet without mentioning any objectionable practices. Even as wrongful death lawsuits multiplied, the FDA failed to notify the public.

The FDA hides drug-related misconduct by using the “Orange Box,” a clinical listing of drugs in the United States. Once fraud was announced, the FDA did not change their drug ratings, claiming that they do not want to confuse the public by telling us about problems that do not pose immediate risks.

Today, government health officials and their experts ignore the widespread advocacy for Ivermectin as a cure for COVID-19. While the government is aware of trials that clearly show its effectiveness, health officials believe they are insufficient. Are alternative drugs being ignored because of the substantial economic opportunities that come from vaccine manufacturers?

MD Marcia Angell, former editorin-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, says, “It’s time to take the Food and Drug Administration back from the drug companies.”

What do you think?

PAGE 16

FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

How to plan an eco-friendly summer getaway The amount of pollution generated by the tourism industry, particularly by airplanes and cruise ships, is prompting an increasing number of environmentally conscious globetrotters to rethink the way they travel. If you want to minimize the carbon footprint you make during your next vacation, here are some tips to help you plan an eco-friendly getaway.

TRANSPORTATION If you plan to travel far away from home, taking an electric car or relying on public transit can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your trip. Alternatively, consider opting for a destination closer to home. You may be surprised by how much there is to discover within an hour’s drive of where you live.

gredients from producers in the area. If you can find organic products, all the better. Most importantly, avoid eating at fast food chains that give out singleuse packaging and utensils.

ACTIVITIES People of all ages can enjoy a variety of recreational pursuits that don’t have a negative impact on the planet. For example, you could hike in the mountains, observe wildlife, tour an organic farm or go padd­ling on a lake.

Happy travels!

Packaging is often needed to protect food and other types of goods from impact, moisture, bacteria and damage that could compromise the quality of the product. However, if you’re an eco-conscious consumer, you should favour items made by companies that seek to minimize their environmental impact.

SOLUTIONS Many companies have designed packaging inten­ded to minimize their carbon footprint. Often, this means opting for less and lighter packaging. In many cases, there’s also an emphasis on using re­cycla­ble or renewable materials, such as: • 100 per cent recycled paper and cardboard • Biodegradable polythene film • Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) • Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) • Recycled polystyrene foam • Bio-based materials (corn starch, cellulose, sugar cane, algae, etc.)

• Sustainable inks (water-based, natural polymers, etc.)

In addition, be sure to get your car inspected and serviced before you hit the road. This way, a mechanic can adjust the tire pressure and make other repairs that improve your vehicle’s fuel consumption.

If you enjoy cycling, consider a bike tour for your next adventure. Plan a route that allows you to end the day at a comfortable inn or try your hand at bikepacking.

Additionally, reusable packaging is increasingly popular. This gives these containers — be they bags, boxes or bottles — a second life that helps keep them out of landfills and recycling centres.

ACCOMMODATIONS Camping allows you to immerse yourself in nature while also using less water and electricity. Just be sure to properly dispose of your garbage and bring biodegradable products such as dish soap and shampoo. Another option is to rent a room at an establishment that has an environmental certification.

The next time you go shopping, take some time to consider the environmental impact of the pack­aging used for the products you want to buy. You can also consult the manufacturer’s website for more information to help you make an informed decision.

FOOD Buy supplies for hikes and picnics at a local farmers market, and dine at restaurants that source their in-

Why you should buy ugly produce From crooked carrots to asymmetrical apples, an increasing amount of imperfect produce is finding its way onto the plates of consumers. Here are a few reasons to opt for so-called ugly fruits and vegetables.

A look at eco-friendly packaging

AN ECO-FRIENDLY AND AFFORDABLE SOLUTION If you want to do your part to protect the environment, buying imperfect produce that would other­ wise go to waste can be a good place to start. In ad­ dition to helping save the planet, you’ll also save mo­ney. This is because ugly fruits and vegetables tend to cost less than their shapely counterparts.

It’s also worth noting that most physical imperfections have absolutely no effect on a product’s taste or nutritional value. Sure, it might be trickier to peel and chop misshapen produce, but practice makes perfect. Next time you’re shopping for fruits and veggies, keep an eye out for less-than pretty items that are still entirely edible.

FOOD LOSS VS. FOOD WASTE Whereas food loss occurs when farmers can’t sell produce due to its appearance or for other reasons, food waste refers to goods thrown out after they’re purchased by grocery stores, restaurants or consumers.

FEATURE

PAGE 18

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Tan lines and good times CAMPING

10 food safety tips Improper storage, handling and prepara­ tion of your food when camping can make you sick. Here are a few helpful food safety tips to keep in mind during your next out­ door adventure.

7. Keep your cooking utensils and work sur­ faces clean at all times.

1. Prepare and freeze several dishes ahead of time. The frozen meals will last longer and help keep other items cool.

9. Use different utensils for each food item, and never let raw meat touch cooked meat.

2. Place high-risk foods such as meat and dairy products on the bottom of your cooler. Keep more frequently used items on top to avoid leaving the lid open.

10. Immediately cover and store leftover food in your cooler.

3. Use ice blocks, as they melt slower and last longer than ice cubes.

8. Rinse meat, vegetables and fruit with po­ table water before eating.

Lastly, you should keep in mind that highrisk foods that are kept out of the cooler for more than two hours have too much bac­ teria to safely consume.

Being alone doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.

Here are five solo activities you may want to try this summer.

4. Place your cooler in a shady spot away from direct sunlight, and regularly add ice to make sure your peri­ shables stay at or be­ low 4 C.

1. Visit a museum. You can choose which ex­ hibits you want to explore and not worry about being rushed or taking too long.

5. Eat fresh or cooked meat within two to three days.

2. Go to a movie. You can visit either a thea­ tre or drive-in. Once the movie starts, it won’t matter if you’re there alone. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

6. Wash your hands of­ ten, especially before cooking and after tou­ ching raw meat.

3. Relax at the park. Take some time to read,

3 fat biking tips for beginners Though fat biking in winter is becoming in­ creasingly popular, this outdoor activity can also be enjoyed in the summer. If you’re interested in trying this sport as the weather warms up, here are some tips.

ding in sand and snow is part of the thrill of fat biking. However, to avoid injuring yourself, you should first practise how to safely perform the manoeuvre on begin­ ner-friendly trails.

1. TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY Even though the fat bike’s oversized tires make it easier to ride over rough and bumpy terrain, you should avoid hairpin turns and steep slopes on your first few ou­ tings. It’s best to start with short, flat trails until you get the hang of riding your fat bike.

3. PACE YOURSELF If you come out of the gate running, you’re going to tire yourself out pretty quickly. It’s better to start off slow and gradually in­ crease your pace as you gain more expe­ rience.

2. LEARN TO CONTROL YOUR SKIDS Experienced riders will tell you that skid­

5 summer activities to enjoy solo

In addition, make sure to keep your fat bike in good working order by maintai­ ning the right tire pressure, lubricating the chain and keeping it clean.

do yoga or picnic at a nearby park.

4. Attend an outdoor show. Once you’re there, you’ll be swept up in the festive at­ mosphere and probably won’t need any­ one to talk to.

5. Eat at a restaurant. Take the opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal without ha­ving to worry about making conversation.

This summer, don’t deprive yourself of doing things you like just because you’re alone.

Instead, make the most of the season and be open to trying new things.

Fall in love with trail running Trail running can be demanding, but many people enjoy it. Here are a few reasons this activity is becoming increasingly popular.

PHYSICAL HEALTH On top of the usual benefits of running, trail running challenges your balance, co-ordination and agility. Running up and down hills, along winding trails and over uneven ground forces you to adjust your pace and stride to suit the terrain. Not only is it more challenging, but the movements are less repetitive, reducing the risk of in­ jury. In ad­dition, the ground is softer than asphalt, which limits the impact on your joints.

MENTAL HEALTH Running over uneven terrain requires in­ tense concentration. This increased focus helps you stay present instead of thinking about your worries and concerns. Plus, the benefits of spending time in nature and breathing in fresh air are well known. For these reasons, running outdoors can help relieve stress and keep your mind sharp.

What’s more, the beautiful scenery helps you focus less on your performance and more on enjoying yourself. In particular, it encourages you to slow down and admire your surroundings. There’s nothing like reaching your destination and being re­ war­ded with a stunning view and a sense

of accomplishment.

Lastly, trail running is simply fun. It can be freeing to let yourself trample through dust, mud and puddles. If you don’t mind getting a little dirty, head out and explore the trails in your area this summer.

PAGE 20

FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Teaching women how to love themselves, one curl at a time SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“That’s why I started LUS (Love Ur Self) Brands. Here, we create easy-to-use products designed to disrupt the stigmas and agendas that profit from women masking their natural features instead of enhancing them.” Sahar Saidi (Founder of LUS) Curly hair, don’t care is the thought I have when I think of the business that we are featuring this week. For my curly hair girls, this feature is for you. We all know the challenges that come with having curly hair. The tugging, the pulling, the 101 products that we need to tame the mane; It can be overwhelming sometimes. So, what do we do? Most girls turn to protective styles because that way, we don’t have to deal with the nonsense.

What if I told you that there is a series of products that will limit the heartache, and the stress of dealing with the beautiful challenge that God has bestowed unto you?

I had first noticed the brand in their commercials that appeared on local television. I ignored it (like I usually do), because every product says that they can do wonders with curly hair, and then when you try it, it is like every other product. Sisters; I know you hear me.

I was surprised when I received a message from the public relations company that represents LUS (Love Ur Self ). They offered a trial package for me to try out, so I said why not. The worst that can happen is that I am disappointed, again.

Well let me tell you, I was not disappointed, if anything, I was pleasantly surprised. The products not only made my hair look great, but I have never seen my curl pattern come out the way it did after using their 3-Step System. It is for this reason that I want to present to my Toronto Caribbean Newspaper readers, the brand the product line that is bringing the curl back, LUS.

Their mission is to encourage women to genuinely love and accept themselves for all that they are and for all that they are not. They incorporated the idea of loving yourself right into their company name LUS (Love Ur Self ).

They have three unique formulas for Wavy, Curly and Kinky-Coily hair types.

All products are free of sulphates, silicones, phthalates, mineral oil, other harmful ingredients, and are dermatologist tested and approved.

The Love Ur Curls Curly 3-Step System includes a Gentle & Moisturizing Shampoo, Ultra Hydrating & Detangling Conditioner, PLUS an All-in-One style cream customized for Wavy, Curly and Kinky-Coily hair. Their Elixir Oil contains 7 Pure Oils + Vitamin E and iare non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores or cause acne) and contains high amounts of essential vitamins and minerals which have countless benefits on hair, skin, and nails.

All in all, I was really impressed with their packaging, delivery and customer service. I had a chance to connect with Sahar, and she shared her passion for helping other women feel beautiful.

“Tell us about LUS, how did this all begin for you?” I queried.

“I started LUS because even with 15+ years of work experience and a global MBA under my belt, I couldn’t land the type of corporate role that I wanted. I have always been very entrepreneurial and felt that starting a company was ultimately what I was meant to do; so, in a way not being able to find a job after completing my MBA was one of the greatest ‘one door closes, another door opens’ moments of my life.”

I was curious. What was her hair story? “As a child I was relentlessly teased for having curly hair. I remember feeling so selfconscious about it and would beg my mom to straighten it for me. Eventually, as a teenager, I started to learn how to care for and style it but would need about 5+ products to achieve great results, not to mention the fact that it used to take me about 1.5 hours to wash and style it.

I knew that this struggle was not unique to me and that there had to be a way to simplify the curly hair process while helping people fall in love with their curls. That’s ultimately what drove me to start LUS.”

“What do we need to know about curl patterns?” I asked Sahar. Somehow, she had been able to bring out my curl pattern, something that I had never been able to do.

“Curl patterns can be loose and wavy, very tightly coiled, and everywhere in between. In the curly hair community, there is a “hair typing” system that defines these various patterns by a number-letter sequence, starting with 2A for very loose waves and going all the way to 4C for the tightest coil.

The most important thing to know, though, is that no matter your curl type, your hair is beautiful just the way that it naturally grows out of your scalp! With the right products, and a little patience to learn the right

care and styling techniques that work for your unique curls, we believe everyone can start to understand what ‘curly hair simplified’ really means, and with that, start to actually love having curly hair.”

For the readers, they have a great quiz on their website that will help you determine your curl pattern, in under 30 seconds!

After you finish reading this article, you can visit lusbrands.com/quiz

“We have tens of thousands of customers who have told us that for the first time in their life, they feel confident and beautiful wearing their hair in its natural state,” Sahar shares with me. “It’s the most incredible feedback my team and I could ever get because we genuinely want people to feel confident and love their natural beauty. Feedback like that makes all of our hard work worthwhile.”

I was curious about some of the challenges she had faced. Pulling off a product that has this type of impact could not have been easy.

“The hardest part of developing the line was creating products that actually work!

I interviewed and met with over forty different labs and cosmetic chemists before commissioning four labs to begin actual formulations, based on my specifications.

I spent approximately six months just testing various formulas on my own curls (literally washing and styling my hair every single day). I was shocked to learn how hard it is to make products that actually do what they claim to do, and realized then, that’s why nothing on the market targeted toward people with curly hair actually works.

When I finally tested what is now our ‘All-in-One Curly Styler,’ I immediately knew I had created liquid gold for curly hair! For the first time in my life, I was able to achieve moisture, definition and gorgeous curls with just one styling product. I even slept on it and woke up the next day and my curls were still intact and beautiful - that had NEVER happened before!”

From there, Sahar engaged friends and family in the city of Toronto with varying curl types to start testing her formulas on their hair. She collected their feedback, went back to the labs to work with the chemists to iterate (and reiterate) on the formulas until they had perfected them.

Putting products out to market that were innovative and actually worked was the main goal in starting LUS for Sahar and it turned out to be her biggest challenge.

“Looking back, I am so happy I persisted through that challenge. We have now shipped over 3.5 million bottles to over 800,000 customers all over the world. Clearly using my own curls as a testing ground for developing the line was worth it after all.”

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Our staff is familiar with the diverse traditions of the customers we serve. Let us help ensure that your unique preferences are accommodated. Talk to us today and we’ll explain all your funeral options and help you through your immediate or pre-arrangement needs.

h

Cemetery

Serving Ajax, Pickering and Scarborough since 1993

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Duffin Meadows

Vehicle Entrance

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w w w. m o u n t p l e a s a n t g r o u p . c o m

Duffin Meadows Cemetery is a business name of Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries.

PAGE 22

FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

The Plant Based King

JASON CHRISTO “If you’re bored, you haven’t found your purpose.”

With over 12.9 thousand followers on Instagram, and over 4,000 online fitness students, Our Classic Man is not a new face to anyone who is in the fitness industry.

After years of seeing the health of those around him deteriorate, our Classic Man decided to take charge of helping as many people as possible make changes in their lives.

He noticed that a lot of his clients wanted to try more plant-based meals incorporated into their lifestyles, but they lacked the time and knowledge to put together creative, healthy and delicious plant based meals.

As a former eater of meat, he advocates the importance for some people to transition strategically or simply reduce meat intake rather than a complete elimination. His company Plant Meals was created to help improve the state of the planet, which is being negatively impacted through animal farming.

If you are one of those people who are looking to transition from meat to a plant-based diet, there are a few tips that you can pick up from this dedicated health expert. He can teach you how to maintain your muscle mass by using filler foods that include macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) that can take your muscle building to the next level.

Thousands of people later and with a drive stronger than ever, he continues on his mission across the world to improve the mental and physical health of the global community so that they can live their best lives possible. I would like to introduce to the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper readers, the Plant Based King; Jason Christo.

“Everyday is a new day.

Today is your day.”

I had just caught Jason at the end of his workday. When I called him for

the interview, he was just finishing up training one of his clients.

“I train seven days a week,” Jason told me. “It is normal that I am busy most of the time. I like it that way.”

Jason was born in North York General Hospital. His father is from England, and both his parents are from Jamaica, and he moved to Canada. They came here early in their lives, and both settled in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Jason had to deal with real life issues at an early age. “I think that I was eleven or twelve years old when my parents split up. I ended up moving in with my grandparents at sixteen years. The break up did cause some issues, but despite that I had a really good childhood.

I was an athlete. At three I was on ice skates. I started playing competitive hockey. Growing up living in Brampton, I had a lot of Indian friends, White hockey teammates, and a Black family. I lived a very multicultural life.”

Anyone who is an athlete knows that injuries come with the territory. Jason shares with me how this caused some disruption in his life.

“I had a lot of shoulder injuries and head injuries. I was about seventeen years old, and I had one to many concussions. I had to hang my skates up because doctors were not clearing me to play. This was very difficult. I spent my whole life playing and looking to play in the NHL. The year that I got injured, all of my friends got scholarships. This was tough for me, but I realized that I would have to figure it out.”

He transitioned and did a firefighting course at Humber College for one year. At the end of the year, he knew that this was not something he wanted to do for the rest of his life so he transitioned again and decided to go to University.

“When you play sports your whole life,” Jason shared with me, “You think you are going to make it big time, but I didn’t, so I had to go back to

school to upgrade my marks. I ended up going to York University for Psychology.

My goal was to put the same drive and passion into my education.

I decided I wanted to become a doctor.

I became a straight A student, which was easy for me because it has always been about my mind-set. Whatever I put my mind to I get done.

Halfway through university my sister got very sick. She was diagnosed with Lyme disease. The doctors said that she was having a mental health episode, and I spent the last couple years in the hospital with her, raising money. This is when my thoughts shifted again.”

His family had to find help for her in America because to them, Canadian doctors were failing her. It was going to cost $30,000 for her treatment, and Jason tells me that this tested my resolve, and resilience. What he didn’t realize was that this was taking him down the path to his future. He then shared with me an experience that changed his life forever.

“In my last year of university, I had a near death experience. I was on thirty-six hours of no sleep. I was drinking coffee trying to stay awake.

I told my grandfather I was going to take a two-hour nap. Now, let me share with you that I am a Type 1 diabetic, I had to learn early how to take my blood every day, mitigate health factors, and adjust. Not eating or sleeping for thirty-six hours was the worst thing that I could do.

I asked my grandfather to wake me up. I was sleeping, but I remember being a conscious soul. I was just there in a place that I did not recognize. It was foggy. I had no idea where I was. I remember hearing my name softly, someone calling me. The voice pulled me back to where I was.

When I woke up, there were paramedics surrounding me. It was like a rebirth for me. I started to look at everything differently. I began to question everything; I questioned what was happening around me.

I started to focus on taking care of myself first. I finished my degree, but had lost interest. I was still finding myself. I was intuitive, and knew I was good at working with people, but no one would hire me. I started to dive deep. I spoke with God, my higher self. I had to fight through it, and put my life together.”

“Hard work and dedication are my favourite foods” This experience launched him into the fitness industry, and he began to specialize in health and wellness.

“I have helped people with Type 2 Diabetes and blood pressure in 60 days. It is about helping people cure themselves.

I went plant based about five years ago. Eating meat made me feel like a hypocrite. Back in the day, how we had to hunt food was different.

Today what we are seeing is factory farming. The energy level of the animal has to be considered when we are eating these animals. If I am going to talk about love, compassion and empathy then I have to practice it.

I started changing how I was eating. It was tough. I lost fifteen pounds of muscle in a month. I started teaching myself on how to build muscle on a plant-based diet. To think, once I got the hang of things, I was able to gain back twenty pounds.”

Through trial and error, Jason has found his place in the world.

“It took some time, but now I find purpose in the work that I do.

Stay focused, stay dedicated and work hard. Anything is possible.”

Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News

www.danforthfoodmarket.com We’re simply the best West Indian store in town.

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Store Hours

Monday-Friday 9 am to 9 pm Saturday 8 am to 9 pm Sunday 9 am to 7 pm

Store Hours

Monday-Friday 9 am to 9 pm Saturday 9 am to 9 pm Sunday 9 am to 8 pm

Lawrence Ave. E .

Store Hours

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

Finch Ave. E.

Store Hours

Mond-Thurs 8:30 am to 8 pm Fri.-Sat. 8:30 am to 8:30 pm Sunday 9 am to 6 pm

Dixie Rd.

Dundas St. E.

Store Hours

Mond-Thurs 9:30 am to 9 pm Fri.-Sat. 9 am to 9 pm Sunday 9 am to 6 pm

Stafford Dr.

Rutherford Rd. South .

Finch Ave. W .

Bloor St. E.

Danforth Food Market 1225 Dundas St. Dixie & Dundas Missisauga 905-949-9990

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Specials in Effect Thu. JuLY 8th until Wed., JuLY 14th, 2021.

Although we strive for accuracy in both copy & illustration, unintentional error may occur, we reserve the right to correct any error. Specials Available While Quantities Last. We reserve the right to limit quantities.

Danforth Food Market 144 Kennedy Road South 289-298-0399

Glidden Rd.

Store Hours

Monday-Friday 9 am to 9 pm Saturday 8 am to 9 pm Sunday 9 am to 7 pm

PAGE 26

FOOD

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

KEEP DIY CALM Curry CURRY Recipe ON AND

NOEL CUNNINGHAM noel@carib101.com

CULINARY EXPERT

Curry is a must have for me at least once per week at home, I think I am a curry addict.

Whether it’s curried chicken, goat, oxtail or fish I have it. Curry is common throughout the Indian subcontinent but made its way across the world and of course the Caribbean. The people who came brought their food which inspired our cuisine today and the beloved curry spice is one of them. One of the most interesting things about curry is the diversity this one word encompasses.

The flavor can vary widely depending on local ingredients and the culinary traditions of the region.

Two major categories of curry are Indian and Thai.

Indian curry which was adopted by the Caribbean is a combination of toasted spices ground into a powder, called a masala, usually containing cinnamon, cardamom, and fenugreek as the three main ingredients, which Thai curries usually don’t have.

Thai curries often call for a wet curry paste and use coconut milk or coconut cream. You’ll see herbs and spices like lemongrass, galang and kaffir lime leaves.

Here is your chance to make your own curry spice. These are ingredients that

are in your cupboard along with a delicious curry oxtail recipe. Many of you have heard of curry goat but have you tried curry oxtails? Once you try it, I am sure you will love it. Creating your own curry blend is great because you can tailor the taste to your likeness.

Curry Spice Blend Ingredients: • 1 tsp. Hungarian paprika • 1 tsp. ground cumin • 1.5 tsp. cayenne pepper • 2 tsp. ground coriander • 2 tbsp. ground turmeric • 1 tsp. ground cardamom • 1 tsp. salt • 2 teaspoons ground fenugreek (optional) • 1 tsp. ground nutmeg • ¼ tsp. teaspoon ground cloves • 1 tsp. ground pimento • 2 tsp. ground ginger • 1.5 tsp black pepper Directions: Combine all the spices in a bowl and mix thoroughly to combine.

Curried Oxtail Ingredients: • 4 lbs oxtails cut and trimmed • 2 teaspoon salt • 2 tsp of black pepper • 3 tbsp curry powder (see recipe) • 2 tbsp oxtail seasoning • 2 tbsp vegetable oil • 1 onion (diced) • 5 cloves garlic (diced fine or crushed) • 1 scotch bonnet pepper

• • • •

4 allspice berries (pimento) 4 sprigs thyme 5 cups water 2 tbsp grated ginger

Directions: 1. Trim off as much fat as you can off the oxtail pieces, wash and drain. Season with salt, black pepper, oxtail seasoning mix well and let marinate in the fridge for a few hours.

2. Heat the oil in a heavy/deep pot on medium heat, then add the diced onion and garlic. Turn the heat down to low and cook until translucent. Now add the curry powder (heat still on low) and toast for 3-4 minutes. This step will release the spices which make up the curry blend.

3. Add oxtail to pot and stir until fully coated with curry spices.

4. Meanwhile, in the same bowl you marinated the oxtail, add water using a spoon to stir around to get up any remaining marinade then set aside.

5. Place the lid on the pot and bring to a boil. It will release natural juices. As it comes to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer, cover the pot and let it go for about an hour to two. Add water if needed.

Remember to stir frequently and add boiling water as needed. Then remove the lid, turn up the heat add thyme, scallion, pimento, and adjust seasoning to taste.

Leave to simmer for an additional 15 minutes. You can add 1 cup of broad beans to make it extra delicious.

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HEALTH

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 29

Eat healthy without breaking the bank W. GIFFORDJONES MD DIANA GIFFORD-JONES COMMON SENSE HEALTH

How would you like to have a cart full of healthy foods and still save money? Anyone who does the grocery shopping will tell you, it is more expensive to buy the ingredients for a healthy diet like vegetables, nuts, fruit and fish than the refined grains, processed prepared foods and meats of an unhealthy diet. Is there a way to buy healthy and keep costs down?

Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, Professor of Nutrition at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, emphasizes that it is worth spending the time to spend your grocery dollars wisely. “We have seen again and again that people who eat more

fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancers and other chronic diseases.”

His colleague, Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, notes that planning makes a big difference in the food budget. He says, decide what you need for a week’s meals and buy only those items. Try to incorporate healthy meals that take advantage of store deals.

Build meals around items you already have in your pantry, and plan menus that are suitable for cooking extra portions that can be easily reheated for another meal.

Blumberg adds, look into the refrigerator to make good use of the things you already have. For items that have a long shelf life, buy bulk. Remember, when buying perishable foods consider what you will use promptly and freeze the rest.

Avoid purchasing ready-made meals. They are invariably more expensive than buying the ingredients.

There’s also a myth that organic selections are more nutritious than conventional counterparts. Dr Alice H. Lichtenstein, professor of nutrition and science policy, also at Tufts, says all fruits and veg-

etables (whether fresh, frozen, cooked or raw, organic or conventional) are healthpromoting choices from a nutritional standpoint.

Another misconception is that gluten-free foods are better for health than those that contain gluten. But Dr. Mozaffarian says replacing refined wheat products with refined rice and corn products may have some health gains but also possible harms. Gluten-free diets, according to studies at Tufts, were significantly lower in protein, magnesium, vitamin E, and dietary fiber and higher in calories that most people do not need.

The point is that unless you are in the one percent of the population that suffers from celiac disease or the six percent that are thought to have non-celiac gluten sensitivity, there is no need for gluten-free foods. Save your money.

A few years ago, researchers showed that, on average, it cost $1.50 a day more to choose healthy foods when shopping in a supermarket. They also wisely suggested that you could save that much by saying “no” to coffee, dessert or some

The truth is we need this plant to live well MICHELLE CLARKE michelle@carib101.com

HOLISTIC CORNER

What is Weed? Weed is what we affectionately call Marijuana across the Caribbean.

That distinct, smoky, woodsy scent that quickly changes the aromatics of any air space.

Marijuana is known to change the mental focus of the smoker. Depending on the level of THC of the particular crop it can have a more physical relaxing effect or can have a creative mental effect. Yes, it affects everyone differently when smoked.

This article is covering CBD Oil, but because of its illegal history in the Caribbean, we tend to overlook its medicinal values. This is just the very beginning of this conversation. Quickly, CBD that is smoked does have a different effect, especially as the farming and legalization of Marijuana starts to establish itself on the marketplace.

It’s important to note that THC Levels that are too high (21% mg) can have an adverse effect on a person who is already suffering from depression or insomnia for example. We will discuss this further in the next issue and tie it together in Part 2 of Gut, heart and mental health: The Rela-

tionship.

Due to the recent events with the Olympics banning Sharcarri Richardson, the Fastest Woman in the world, for the trace amounts of CBD/THC in her system, I thought it be fitting to quickly go over some of benefits, uses, types, of the marijuana and hemp plant and its compounds.

We have been taught to criminalize hemp and see the users of it as less than capable. It can be argued that more research in regard to the effects of high THC levels vs. low THC levels are needed. However, the immediate benefits for so many illnesses make CBD Oil a comfortable, and affordable option. Let’s look at this comparison chart: CBD Oil Helps: • Chronic Pain CBD Oil Helps: nerve, inflammation, fibromyalgia, arthritis – affecting the A2A adenosine receptor system and the endocannabinoid system’s CB1 & CB2 Receptors; suppresses Cytokines (small, key proteins crucial in controlling growth and activity of immune system cells and blood cells). Also, protects the body from oxidative stress damage.

If you can ease off: Oxycontin, Vicodin, Aleve •

Anxiety CBD Oil Helps: calms the mind and eases intrusive thoughts – chemical balance

If you can ease off: Xanax, Ativan, Valium •

Depression CBD Oil Helps: helps balance brain chemicals, to reduce moodiness and sadness.

If you can ease off: Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin

•

Insomnia CBD Oil Helps: reintroduces homeostasis throughout the brain and body, bringing calm and relaxation to mind and body.

If you can ease off: Ambien, Lunesta

•

ADD/ADHD: CBD Oil Helps: increases dopamine, while adjusting the necessary brain functions needed for mental clarity.

If you can ease off: Adderall, Ritalin, Dexedrin

•

Brain Health and Function CBD Oil Helps: CB1: found mainly in the nervous system, affecting appetite, and concentration as two main examples CB2: key activator or suppressant of other compounds and receptors systems such as the lymphatic system

other goodie. These savings translate to better health for individuals and tremendous savings for families and governments in terms of health care expenditures down the road.

Finally, consider the impact of smarter shopping in terms of food wastage and environmental concerns. It is estimated that 30% to 40% of the North American food supply goes unconsumed every year.

That is a matter of disgraceful waste and economic inefficiency. But the amount of food and food packaging that ends up unused in landfills is also an environmental problem that industry, governments and consumers all share. As consumers, when you shop, make a point of refusing to buy products in excessive or non-recyclable packaging.

While there are still big challenges around easy and equitable access to nutritious and affordable food, you can take steps toward smarter shopping. In this uncertain world, remember this sage advice: a dollar saved is also a dollar earned.

If you can ease off: CBD/Hemp Indica Strains has more CBD than THC, no “high” feeling, but a peaceful ease into calm and relax. Also stimulate appetite.

THC/Marijuana - Sativa Strains have less CBD and higher THC, so “high” feeling, mentally energized and boosts creativity.

CBD Oil has science backing it now!

Nature and Holistic Medicine has been backing its usefulness for centuries and since the beginning of time! When we introduce the right type/form of CBD into our bodies, there will be signs of almost immediate and significant improvements.

CBD Oil has been used in the Sickle Cell Anemia Community to manage pain, and amongst those with Epilepsy to stop and control seizures! Imagine a natural internal human system that has been deprived, and largely unaddressed even as modern medicine has become more innovative. For generations the medical and pharmaceutical communities have tried to mimic nature, and simply cannot without the worse side effects. Nature heals and cures, and CBD/Weed/Hemp/Marijuana has it own receptor systems that aid other receptor systems in their proper function!

Can we now gain a little more respect for this plant with a bad reputation? The truth is we need this plant to live well, to help us CBCD...Correct Bodily Dysfunctions!

COVID - 19 FACTS

JULY 4TH 2021

As of July 4th 2021, Canada has received over 50 MILLION vaccine doses 78.3% of adults (18+) in Ontario have received at least one dose 46.3% of adults (18+) in Ontario are fully vaccinated!

Anyone ages 12 and up is now eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective!

Free vaccines are available to everyone who lives in Canada TO BOOK YOUR FIRST OR SECOND VACCINE:

covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ 1-833-943-3900 KAMAL KHERA

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT - BRAMPTON WEST (905)454-4758 KAMAL.KHERA@PARL.GC.CA

MP Kamal Khera volunteering at a vaccine clinic and administrating vaccines in Brampton

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

COMMUNITY

PAGE 31

Being an entrepreneur is not easy DAVID ANDERSON d_anderson@carib101.com

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Being an entrepreneur is not easy. It is a lifelong journey that is riddled with ups and downs. Like the late great Nipsey Hussle used to say “life is a marathon not a race” and that I believe applies to everything in life.

In school the first person to hand in a test looks confident, smart and trustworthy to the other peers. What many fail to realize is that the first person that hands in a test as fast as they can leaves room for error and mistakes. Taking the time to proofread and re-evaluate each answer has proven to boost test marks drastically. I know this because I used to hand in many tests throughout high school without proofreading because I thought I was not good at catching mistakes. This resulted in unfavourable grades.

In college I realized the importance of proofreading my work and this resulted in me being the last student to finish each test. Even if I knew the answer I would reread what I said to ensure it was the best fit possible. This built something in me called character. It took a while for me to understand that my past does not define me. It only amplified me. As I look back now, I could have gotten better grades in high school. If I only applied the knowledge I know now, I may have gotten my Masters degree or went to school to be an architect. These are thoughts that used to run through my mind until I realized that I was trying to speed up the race. I did not understand what a marathon was until these last couple of months.

Since I started my business I have been able to see my hard work manifest itself as opportunities and partnerships. It has only been eight months since I have decided to support entrepreneurs, scale their business and reach their goals. Utilizing skills I have learned professionally and personally I have been able to positively impact others.

If you were to tell me that I would be a physical education teacher, business consultant, contributor for the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper and an Associate

Director of a community organization one year ago, I would not believe you. I would have never have thought my idol Dame Dash would repost my Instagram post and Nipsey Hussle’s official DJ would comment under my post.

These may seem like nothing to you, but these are small milestones for me.

This shows that what I am doing is working.

This is an example of hard work manifesting itself. The greatest gift of all as an entrepreneur is unexpected support. Being able to give and receive support puts you in the 2% of go-getters.

Don’t wait for the right opportunity; take it now! Whether you like it or not your goals will positively or negatively impact others. Your job is to realize many people cannot see your vision until it manifests itself. It’s the sad truth about society and I regret informing you. In order to do better we must be better!

In order to win the marathon in life, you have to provide value to others.

We must be able to give without a thought of receiving in return. A wise man once said, “The energy you give will be the energy you receive.” I never really understood what that meant until I started giving my time and resources to those in need. The amount of appreciation and gratitude

that is displayed on people’s faces is priceless. Whether it is handing out food to the homeless or running a youth program, I am able to offer my time without expectation of payment. This is called a growth mindset.

The sky’s the limit if you believe in yourself and your journey. Understand there will be struggles and you will notice your weaknesses. Your job is to work on this so you can support others and navigate through similar situations.

I understand what it feels like to be lost, selfish and anxious in this world.

On my path to success I have learned that watching interviews, podcasts and reading books that positively stimulate my mind has helped me stay motivated. What I listen to impacts how I think and behave in many environments. This is a warning that you want to seed your mind, ears and eyes things that will help you create in life.

New levels come with new struggles, experience and knowledge. Don’t be afraid to climb new heights and don’t be discouraged if it takes longer than others.

Compare yourself to who you were yesterday and you will be successful today and tomorrow.

LIFE

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 33

The skills needed in a fast-changing world DANIEL COLE

daniel@carib101.com

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

“The top skills and skill groups which employers see as rising in prominence in the lead up to 2025 include groups such as critical thinking and analysis as well as problem-solving, and skills in self-management such as active learning, resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility. On average, companies estimate that around 40% of workers will require reskilling of six months or less and 94% of business leaders report that they expect employees to pick up new skills on the job, a sharp uptake from 65% in 2018.” World Economic Forum

The meaning attached to the word “jobs” is currently undergoing a revolutionary

change. The conventional seemingly “topnotch” jobs are undergoing a massive threat from the influx of what newness has to offer to the human experience. Aspirations are currently undergoing an absolute disruption, and the conventional day to day hustle of the average man needs some re-aligning and re-thinking to avoid wasting sweat and resources on gaining skills in areas of absolute irrelevancies. It is time to pause and think.

According to Business Insider, “Many businesses that lasted throughout the pandemic were forced to strip their operations to the bare essentials. Waiters were replaced with QR codes, hotel check-ins were completed through online apps, and real-estate tours turned virtual.” The pandemic has exposed skills and services that are of low consequence to the human need, the call is on those affected to adjust and re-skill themselves.

People who are locked in dead-end jobs with an elusive sense of job security don’t need much motivation or inspiration, they need strategies, additional or a new set of skills and innovation to pivot, in order to stay relevant in the marketplace. One must be careful to not confuse busyness for pro-

ductivity. There’s a need for strategic pursuit; to pursue that which is necessary in the most competitive space to attain global relevance.

The speed of disruption in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in various industries is unmatched by our individual readiness. However, what we have seen is an increased pace of technological adoption to mitigate the gap as we gradually adjust or come to terms with our new reality.

According to the World Economic Forum report of 2020, “The Future of Work”, employers expect that by 2025, increasingly redundant roles will decline from being 15.4% of the workforce to 9% (6.4% decline), and that emerging professions will grow from 7.8% to 13.5% (5.7% growth) of the total employee base of company respondents. Based on these figures, we estimate that by 2025, 85 million jobs may be displaced by a shift in the division of labour between humans and machines, while 97 million new roles may emerge that are more adapted to the new division of labour between humans, machines and algorithms.

The question employees, employers, and business owners must answer is, “Given

the ongoing global economic unrest, and its uncertainties, to what degree is the product or services you are rendering relevant to the current human need and how can technological adoption be leveraged for scale and efficiency?”

The World Economic Forum highlights the following as the top skills that will be in high demand by 2020: Complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management, coordinating with others, emotional intelligence, judgment and decision making, service orientation, negotiation and cognitive flexibility.

The ideal thing to do, therefore, is to critically do a self-assessment of whatever values or skills you are bringing to the marketplace juxtaposed with our world current demand and reality. In the years to come, more machines will replace the human decisionmaking process. Artificial intelligence and robot adoption are already on the rise; the narrative is now more of A.I and consciousness ability.

Perhaps it is time to relearn and unlearn.

PAGE 34

LIFE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Stuck in the middle of a riot; Part VI; reliving my past trauma SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

“Simone.” I heard my name, but it seemed like part of my dream.

“Simone. Wake up love.” I opened my eyes. Andrea was standing over me smiling. It took me a second to realize where I was. That was starting to become normal for me; not realizing where I was.

“Oh! How are things out there?”

“Things have calmed down finally,” Andrea shared. “The armed guards had to come in to calm things down. Do you know that the inmates escorted the jail guards right out of the prison,” she said laughing.

“Oh wow! So now what,” I queried?

“Well, they are going to get the prison back under control, so you just lay low. I heard that two of the inmates escaped, so they are searching for them. What a crazy day, right. You just stay here. The best thing to do is just to stay out the way. I will be right back okay.”

She turned and walked away. I closed back my eyes hoping to fall back

asleep. Unfortunately, sleep did not want any part of my life at that moment. I kept my eyes closed and focused on staying calm.

The prison had finally calmed down. I could hear the shouts of the guards, and women speaking loudly. I could tell that things had calmed down because women had begun to filter back into the home. I heard the clinging and clanging of pots and pans, which meant that it was almost dinnertime.

I waited a couple more minutes and then I opened my eyes. The sun had started to go down. It seemed so peaceful after what seemed like a day from hell. I slid out of the bunk and went into the common area. I saw two armed guards standing at the door. It looked like most of the girls from the house had made it back. I was curious as to who had escaped.

I scanned the room for Angela or Andrea. I finally saw Angela talking to a group of girls. I walked over to the group.

The girls were talking excitedly about something and Angela was laughing.

“What’s going on?” I asked Angela.

“Oh the girls are telling me about the two prisoners that escaped,” she said laughing.

“What a hot mess. They say that these girls are gone. They won’t find them. I should have ran, but where am I running to.”

Everyone seemed to be in a jo-

vial mood; meanwhile, I had no idea how to feel. It was almost like this was normal for many of them; just another day at the office. Meanwhile, all I could think about is the fact that I was held up at knifepoint.

There was nothing normal about that.

I stood there for a moment listening to the girls gibber. It would have probably been more entertaining if I understood what they were saying. I went back to scanning the room to see what else was happening. The guards were still at the door, and more women were filtering back into the room. I heard a sizzle, and then the smell of onions wafting from the kitchen. I guess it was done. The riot was finally under control, and things seemed to be back in order.

“Let’s go get ready for dinner Simone,” Angela said to me as she began to walk back to the kitchen. Everyone in the home had a job, and within the little cliques, everyone had something to do. I was responsible for taking care of the pots and dishes. This meant that I would give Angela all the pots she needed, and I was responsible for the clean up after as well. It was the way I paid my dues. The girls had been helping me out, so I did what I could.

As I headed back into the room, my only thoughts were, thank God it is over, and I made it through. Now, I was just hungry.

Cancers; Welcome yourself home back to you, your home is within GARCIA AKUA

garcia@carib101.com

COSMIC CORNER

Happy July and Happy Birthday to our Cancer season babies! We made it through the intense energies of June, welcome home to you.

June was filled with intense energies, we had two eclipses and Mercury Retrograde to handle. The eclipses brought up a lot of deep emotional issues and the retrograde brought on some confusion and misunderstandings, now it’s time to come home to the nurturing energies of Cancer season.

With Mercury out of retrograde we begin to get some clarity into the themes we were dealing with in June. Our last Full Moon gave us an opportunity to release the emotions that were keeping us stuck in old structures and systems. We spoke on the importance of creating generational health in order to maintain generational wealth. With this mental clarity we can

now look to create safe spaces for our mental and emotional safety.

We often get overwhelmed with our emotions. Emotions are represented by the water element. When overwhelmed we can feel like we are drowning in our feelings. The misplaced and repressed feelings impact our self worth. Cancer energy is nurturing waters, we can step into these waters and soothe our emotions. We can nurture the parts of ourselves that have been repressed. We can step into these waters and change our narrative.

With the New Moon in Cancer on July 10th, we have the opportunity to come home to ourselves. The symbol of Cancer season is the crab. The crab has it’s home on its back. It is always at home within itself. Are you at home in your body? Our bodies are our temples, we should respect the messages our bodies send us. Are you overworked? Are you resting as needed?

What types of food are you putting into your body? The body always keeps the score. When feelings are not expressed, they lodge in our bodies and manifest as dis-ease. This can range from depression and anxiety to physical ailments. However, if the body can hold dis-ease, it can also hold our healing. What is your body saying to you?

Our feelings are also key to our manifestations. We manifest what we FEEL

worthy of. If we are feeling good and lean into that feeling, chances are we will have more good feeling experiences. If we are feeling down and don’t shift those feelings, we will manifest more negative, low frequency experiences. The seat of our intuition is in the body, you know, that gut feeling. So if we are not in touch with our feelings and bodies, we are aimlessly recreating these experiences for ourselves. If you do not feel worthy of better things you cannot imagine or visualize the outcome much less bring it to fruition. We have to feel so that our feelings can reveal our healing.

Cancer season is all about our emotions, nurturing and family. Use this New Moon to set some goals around feeling your feelings. Begin to process the revelations around your family and how you were taught to handle your emotions.

How would you like to feel in relation to the goals you want to manifest? Do you value yourself and family enough to feel worthy of what you want for yourself and family?

Remember generational health is needed to create and maintain generational wealth.

Let’s start with a wealth of emotional safety and security so we can feel worthy to manifest the life we want and deserve. Welcome yourself home back to you, your home is within.

LIFE

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 35

Ontario Ministry of Education provides summer learning opportunities PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

YOUTH EDUCATION

There have been concerns expressed by education stakeholders about the academic learning gaps that students are experiencing because of the pandemic.

The Ontario Ministry of Education has listened to these concerns and decided to provide academic support to students to help narrow this learning chasm.

On Thursday, June 24th, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Leece made an announcement regarding 2021 summer learning opportunities for Ontario students.

In a press release, Minister Leece states, “To further promote student academic success, to reduce learning gaps, and to ensure that students are fully en-

gaged in their studies, Ontario has expanded summer learning to the largest program ever in our history.”

There will be an investment of $62 million towards summer learning programming that will go beyond the regular offering of summer courses to ensure that students are able to acquire the requisite foundations to prepare for their next level of education.

This academic programming will be offered virtually by school boards across Ontario in July 2021. The press states, “To build upon this, and with the support of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, we are permitting school boards to offer in-person summer school in August with strict health and safety measures in place.”

The reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases across Ontario and the increasing vaccination rates among adults and youth aged 12 to 17 are the basis for the Ministry of Education to open up school one month before the start of school in September. The press release states, “We will continue to ramp up vaccination efforts ahead of September to

deliver a safe, and more normal in-person learning experience.”

In addition, attention is being focused on helping students who have been severely impacted by the interrupted learning as a result of the challenges that ensued from the pandemic. $85 million will be spent on programs that are geared towards positive mental health, math and reading supports.

There will be a further $80 million that will go towards targeted mental health assistance and hiring additional education workers for the 2021-22 school year. Students who are in Grade 9 to 12 can enrol in summer school in order to perform the following: • • •

Earn credits toward their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) Upgrade their mark for a class that they have already completed during the 2020-21 school year Recover or earn a credit for a course they did not earn or complete

Students who are in Grade eight can get involved with a Reach Ahead Program

in which they are able to obtain a high school credit course before they commence high school. Students will require the permission of their principals to okay their participation. In addition, there will be math and literacy support that will be offered by school boards. Grade eight students will be able to access help to build their: numeracy and reading, writing and oral communication skills to prepare them for Grade nine.

There will be community-focused programs geared towards Indigenous students and First Nation students, Black students, and students who need to improve their reading, writing and math skills in partnership with Frontier College.

Students with special education needs will be able to access support from their local school boards to prepare them for September. Students who are struggling with reading can access reading intervention programs by contacting their principal.

There are made-in Ontario online resources for Grades 1-8 and 9-12 that parents, guardians and students can access for free at ontario.ca/page/learn-at-home.

LIFE

PAGE 36

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Seven ways to avoid burnout as a young creative GLORIA O’KOYE

gloria@carib101.com

CREATIVE SPEAK

Art has been with us since our ancestors roamed the Earth. From that moment we discovered different creative forms such as: oral, visual, musical and many more artistic traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Art was there to document and help us make educated guesses and theories of how humans had evolved during its very existence. It provided entertainment, passing down knowledge and wisdom through different lineages and amplified the voices of people and beliefs.

Art has played a huge role in social justice, bringing awareness to on-going movements and much more. It has been used to send out messages and directions for others to find freedom, boost up morale for activists, and spark up the public to do deep reflection on the issues that plague their surroundings. It is a powerful tool and gift that creatives put to good use and have a sense of responsibility to nurture and cherish it.

However, when taking on such a huge lifelong role to use art for advocacy, it must be stressed that self-care is essential to avoid being burnt out, which would hinder the main goal. It is quite common to see artists get mentally and emotionally exhausted when they put all of their energy in their advocacy creations. This is especially true when it comes to our creative youth whose passion gets ignited quickly and often fizzles out from being overwhelmed. Most of the time the artists can bounce back after taking a hiatus but there

are some that never want to return to their art because it is beyond recovery. So, what are some ways to avoid total burnout?

These are some suggestions that I have collected over the time from established advocates and creatives and have used on my own art practices: •

•

•

It is okay to give yourself a break if you feel overwhelmed, allow yourself to take time away from your art to process your emotions and explore activities that bring you peace and joy.

Set about three minutes when you wake up or before you go to bed to have a free write session. This helps to unclog anything that has been on your mind, which may cause creative blockage and stress.

Hydrate yourself with water and other fluids and nourish your body with food, get your beauty sleep because the world feels worse when you are thirsty, hungry and/or tired.

•

•

•

•

Be strategic with your creativity; try to spread out your artistic masterpieces instead of trying to push everything all at once. This will give your supporters and the public to take in your messages.

Find your support group, this could be your loved ones or fellow creatives that share similar passions as you.

Whoever it may be, a support system is key to a healthy life of advocacy.

Being out in nature and away from noise pollution is a great way to rejuvenate yourself and bring out your creative juices.

Create just for fun! Something that is often overlooked but to create without the heaviness is refreshing and your art will be renewed.

To my young creatives, continue to be the change and use the gifts to do the necessary work that this world needs but also to put yourself first!

Dwayne Harewood Audio passionate about sound LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH lashawna@carib101.com

SPOTLIGHT FEATURE

If you reside in the Dash Valley, St George area you may have heard the loud music emerging from DRH Audio. The company, which was founded by Dwayne Harewood, provides custom-made speakers and audio installation.

Because of this it was no surprise

that I chose Harewood to be this week’s Spotlight Feature.

Harewood said that he began his business over two decades ago after being curious about sound systems for years, which was propelled by dismantling his uncle’s car stereo.

“I would conduct daily experiments with my uncle’s stereo, which was in the house, because of this I was able to learn the foundational knowledge of sound systems. I learned the frequencies of the sound system and the frequency values that a speaker has. Every speaker has its own personality so you have to get to know it, to know what it can do.”

His curiosity and love for sound led to him registering his business and deciding that he would sell his services to per-

sons across the length and breadth of the island.

“I would document every speaker box that I designed. At first, it was a childhood hobby until one day someone requested that I build a speaker box for them.

My response was I do not build speaker boxes for people; I build them for myself as a hobby, but the customer persuaded me to do the job, so I did it and that was the start.”

The former Lodge School student is now training his twenty-year-old son Dwayne Junior into the inner workings of the business and said that he is looking to leave behind a legacy for his son to follow.

“My son loves audio installations, and he makes sure that all the wires are perfect and looking good. He installs spea-

kers, stereos, amplifiers, reverse cameras and he also assembles speaker boxes and prepares them for carpeting.”

Harewood said that it is through the grace of God that he has been able to keep his doors open for the past two decades.

“I would have to say that it is through the grace of God. But I have remained consistent with my availability as well as offering a quality product and service to the people of Barbados.”

His advice for any young person seeking to become an entrepreneur is to ensure that they are prepared to take the hardships with the good and be prepared to give their all to the business as it becomes a part of who they are.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

Fear will arise. Do it anyway TARA MYSHRALL tara@carib101.com

COMPELLED TO CHANGE Do you ever notice that when you are on the right path in life, that’s when fear shows up? When we actually commit to ourselves and explore our internal world, surrender to healing or being of service, that seems to be the same moment when we are tested or confronted with fear. Something will go wrong, life may become overwhelming or something tragic might happen.

When we actually sit with ourselves and listen to the direction from our soul, often that’s when the fear arises. That is why a lot of people never go within and never go on this journey of trusting themselves. The fear can be crippling and it can feel like it’s preventing our growth because it’s super uncomfortable.

Some people tell me that I walk with this confidence, I’m here and I’m 100% confident, but I’m plagued with the same fear, same self-doubt that many of us are and part of being brave enough to work through fear is saying that you need help.

Your small voice, your inner self might ask you to do something that you are afraid of. Listen to this voice. Feel the fear and work through it. Feel the feelings that arise. Don’t let fear control you. When you commit to yourself and living a deliberate life, you will be guided. You aren’t left alone to suffer.

If you need help dealing with what arises, seek out help. I have worked with coaches and therapists and I take care of

my mental and physical health. It is so important to get help. You don’t have to do this alone. Listen to that voice, work through the fear, and watch as the guides show up in your life. One foot in front of the other. One step at a time. You don’t have to know the entire journey, you just have to take the next step.

Fear may be an indication that you are on the right track. Fear shows us that we have room to grow and that there are lessons for us to learn. It reveals that there are parts of our being that need to be developed and strengthened, so you can realize your true power.

Fear is an opportunity to start to develop self-trust. You will start to show yourself how strong you actually are. You can change the limiting beliefs that you have about yourself and you can trust that you are enough, that you will know what to do, that you can handle it and that you are supported. You can feel the fear but still move forward.

You don’t have to be shocked when it arrives. Instead you can recognize, “Oh I’m feeling very afraid, it must mean that I am growing or that I have something to learn.” If we can take an eagle-eye perspective on our life, we can zoom out and see that everytime we experienced seasons of fear, it’s because we were growing into new aspects of ourselves. We can then realize that fear is part of the process, it’s a tool that helps us grow.

You don’t have to do everything alone, the right people, opportunities, and events will arrive when you are ready. They might not show up the way that you expected, but they will show up. Honor yourself, honor your journey, and empower yourself.

Be open to flowing with life. Be open to connecting with yourself and all that the world has to offer. Feel the fear, but do it anyway.

Should we have another child?

Is it true that having a third child will raise our cost of living that much more? Certain factors have to be taken into consideration when deciding whether or not to have another child. For example, the arrival of a third child may require you to buy a bigger car or move to a bigger house. It will definitely mean extra costs for most outings, as family packages are generally designed for two adults and two children. On the other hand, you already have everything you need: bed, stroller, clo­thes, toys, etc. And best of all, you possess all the necessary parenting skills.

Parents of a third child aren’t scared of little things like a few teething problems. Or­­ga­nized and resourceful, these parents tho­roughly enjoy their youngest offspring and feel much more relaxed about the whole idea of parenting. While the oldest two are having fun together, Mom and Dad can take the time to look

after the baby without feeling guilty.

And what about the pride the older kids feel when they help their parents by bringing a toy or picking up the pacifier that’s fallen on the floor? Families with three children learn to share and communicate with each other; they learn to split everything in three rather than down the middle. According to many experts, children from large families often grow up to be more generous and responsible as adults.

Still wondering whether or not you should have another child? Start by asking yourself about your habits and your lifestyle. Do you mind if your routine gets turned upside down again? Do you have enough time and energy to devote to a larger family? Can you afford a third child? If you answered yes to the above, then there’s no need to ask yourself any more questions.

LIFE

PAGE 37

PAGE 38

HOME

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

How many bathrooms should you have in your home?

If you’re building a new home or want to renovate an existing property, you may be wondering how many bath­ rooms you should install. Here are some tips to help you make the right choice.

3 ways to use your garage Garages are versatile spaces that can serve multiple purposes. Here are a few ways you can use this part of your home.

1. AS A WORKSPACE If you plan to use your garage as a workshop, you’ll need plenty of storage.

Consider installing shel­ves along the walls to give yourself en­ough floor space to work on various projects. In addition, you should invest in a large workbench as well as sturdy hooks that can hold heavy tools.

2. AS A STOREROOM If your garage will be used to house all your odds and ends, it’s a good idea to invest in a variety of vertical storage solutions including shelves, racks and pegboards. Just

make sure you leave enough space to move around a parked vehicle. In addition, you can install magnetic strips to hold your tools and ceiling hooks to hang bikes and ladders.

3. AS A LIVING SPACE If you don’t have a car, you can turn your garage into a living room, crafting area, rehearsal space or home gym. Keep in mind that you’ll need to insulate, light and heat the space.

Before you decide to make upgrades to your garage, it’s a good idea to set a budget. For a complete make­over, consider hiring a professional contractor.

KNOW THE DIFFERENT TYPES Bathrooms can be categorized as full baths, three-quarter baths, half baths and quarter baths. Full bathrooms have a sink, toilet, shower and bathtub. Three-quarter baths have a shower, sink and toilet but no tub.

Half baths, also known as powder rooms, only have a sink and toilet. Quarter baths have just a toilet.

ASSESS YOUR FAMILY’S NEEDS It’s important to consider how many people are in your family as well as their accessibility requirements. For exam­ ple, a bathtub may be difficult for a person with limited mobility to step over, but it’s convenient for bathing young children. If you have teenagers, an extra full bath or three-quarter bath is probably a wise investment.

KEEP THE LONG TERM IN MIND You should be mindful of the future when installing or re­novating a bathroom. In ad-

dition to considering how the needs of your family members are likely to change over time, you should think about how your choices may impact the resale value of your property.

If you need advice on your renovation project, consult a building contractor in your area.

FUN

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 39

WEEK OF JULY 4 TO JULY 10, 2021

ARIES

The luckiest signs this week: LEO, VIRGO AND LIBRA

You’ll have a lot of running around to do. Remember to grab your list before you head to the grocery store, otherwise you’ll have to make two trips. You’ll be in the mood to chat, and some people will try to pick a fight.

TAURUS

HOW TO PLAY :

You’ll calculate your vacation budget more than once to make sure you can afford every activity. However, since details are easily overlooked, it’s best to plan to do more rather than less, even if it means sa­crificing some things later.

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

Your initiative will be at the forefront. At work and elsewhere, you’ll create oppor­tunities for yourself and take full advan­tage of them. You’ll feel more energized after drinking a second cup of coffee and taking your vitamins.

PUZZLE NO. 739 ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 739

GEMINI

CANCER

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.

You’ll likely review your finances before leaving on vacation, which may generate some anxiety about spending money. But don’t forget that happiness is priceless. As for matters of the heart, love will come knocking when you least expect it.

LEO

PUZZLE NO. 29 unit 42. White House office shape 43. Loafed 48. Seed 49. Gobble up 50. Not all 51. “The Defiant ____” 52. Arid 53. Cigar remnant

ACROSS 1. Netman Lendl 5. Garden plot 8. Poses 12. Grow weary 13. Hawaiian wreath 14. Oaf 15. Small bags 17. Cognizant of

18. Little bit 19. Red condiment 21. Beat it!

24. Opulent 25. Shower 26. Ruglike wall hanging 30. Coffee container

31. Erect 32. Lobster eggs 33. Answer 35. Pop 36. Mentally healthy 37. Furry swimmer 38. Settle 41. Roller-coaster

DOWN 1. ____ a living!

2. By way of 3. Picasso’s work 4. Honey source 5. Ran, as dye 6. Slippery swimmer 7. Apostle 8. Slow-moving animals 9. Positive atoms 10. “Swan Lake” costume 11. Come to a halt 16. Glazed ____ 20. Got a hole in one 21. Provoke 22. Central part 23. Flees 24. Increase

26. Burrowed 27. Jog 28. Came by horse 29. Twelve months 31. Water vehicle 34. Biblical songs 35. Anxiety 37. Mare’s morsel 38. Corporate symbol 39. Baker’s chamber 40. Close

attention 41. Salt Lake ____ 44. Paddle’s cousin 45. Go bad 46. Large bird 47. Young society woman

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 29

You’ll want need to spend time with those around you. Doing so will give you a chance to take a break from work. You’ll indulge in longer lunches so you can better con­n ect with your colleagues, employees and associates.

VIRGO

You’ll take advantage of your vacation to complete a few projects, both work­related and around the house. Don’t forget to take a break though, and remember to set aside some quality time for yourself.

LIBRA

Your love of life will prevail, and there will be an opportunity to celebrate in some way. You might select some reading material for your vacation, but it won’t be easy to de­cide. Also, make sure certain responsibili­ties don’t get overlooked.

SCORPIO

Change is long overdue, and now’s the time to take action. Whether you’re on vacation or not, you’ll start implementing a new bu­siness strategy or looking for a better job. You’ll also freshen up your decor at home.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll participate in training sessions, con­ferences and negotiations at work. In your love life, you’ll get tired of being at your partner’s beck and call. It’s going to take a lot of effort to change certain habits at home.

CAPRICORN

If a vacation is fast approaching, you won’t be able to truly get away from it all, as cer­tain matters will keep you in contact with the office. In your love life, you’ll meet some­one who keeps you waiting before your next encounter.

AQUARIUS

You’ll be able to tie up loose ends and finish the projects you’ve been putting off for quite some time. Avoid improvising your vacation plans. Given the circumstan­ces, many tourist spots will be completely booked, so make your reservations this week.

PISCES

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

You’ll want to spend your vacation at home. However, you’ll quickly find that projects like improving your gardens and landsca­ping get in the way of more fun activities and your ability to relax. This will be the theme of your vacation.

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We are in the process of expansion and constantly looking for the best of the best!

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PAGE 42

REAL ESTATE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Liquid real estate makes for a good cocktail JAY BRIJPAUL brijpaul@carib101.com

REAL ESTATE PRO

Liquid real estate is partial ownership of properties that can easily be converted to liquid cash quickly, such as a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Selling a property is complex and may take a long time to close. REITS, on the other hand, can be bought and sold like stocks. A REIT is an investment company that buys, manages or finances income producing real estate such as shopping centres, medical buildings and apartment buildings.

A REIT is like a well-managed rental property but on a grander scale.

You can own units in luxury apartment buildings or major shopping centres. The idea is to pool money from different investors and then use that capital to buy or finance real estate. REITS are specialized. Some REITS may focus on owning and managing medical buildings while others choose to acquire rundown properties, modernize them, and charge higher rent. Canadian REITS are usually a safe, low risk investment with a clear agenda.

While buying an investment property will require a hefty down payment, a unit share in a REIT is relatively cheap.

Some REITS have a mixed portfolio of properties. This provides stability for the company because if one sector of the economy is down, the other sector might be up. The trust will collect rental income, pay all bills and then distribute the profit (usually between 85%-95%) to the unit holders. REITS enjoy a benefit where the income earned is not taxed at the trust level. More income gets into the hands of the unit holder and, as such, is treated as regular income. Having REITS in a RRSP or a TFSA is an excellent tax saving strategy.

When investing in REITS, look for reputable companies and their current portfolios. Choose REITS based on what part of the real estate market is about to boom. For example, as baby boomers age, health care is an area of immense potential. Companies such as health-peak

properties that invest in medical buildings, retirement homes and outpatient care will outperform in the long run.

There are three fundamental metrics to consider when buying REITS: 1. Cap rate. Cap rate gives an indication as to the true value of properties in the REIT. To calculate the cap rate, divide the net operating income by the current market value. Cap rates above 6% are considered decent, considering the current interest rate.

2. Funds from operations (FFO). Funds from operation is the actual cash flow from the REIT. It is arrived at by taking the net income from all sources and subtracting depreciation expenses and any losses; for example, in the sale of assets.

3. Adjusted funds from operations (AFFO). The adjusted funds from operations are arrived at by making certain adjustments to the FFO. When calculating the FFO, an average cost for maintaining and repair of the property is used. With the AFFO, the actual expenses are taken. The AFFO is a better indicator of the REIT’S Performance.

Let’s use the above fundamentals to assess a REIT. SmartCentres are usually identified with the prominent penguin’s logo. According to their 2020 NOI, the company has an admirable cap rate of 11.1%. The adjusted funds for operation (AFFO) works out to be $2.11 per unit.

With an average price of about $29.00 per unit, the rate of return is 6.8%. This is an excellent rate of return considering having cash sitting at almost zero interest in an account. With a net asset value (NAV) of $29.00 and over 168 strategically located shopping centres, low vacancy and around 200 other projects under development, unit shares can reach near $50.00 in a few years. SmartCentres payout ratio for 2020 was 90.2% and in addition the trust has a low debt-to-asset ratio of 52%.

When compared to actual real estate, REITS have some drawbacks. High management fees can erode profitability. An increase in interest rate can trigger increased borrowing cost and consequently a lower yield. Since publicly

traded REITS must pay out almost 90% of their profit, REITS generally have weaker growth. A unit holder does not have control over the day-to-day operations as compared to direct investment.

Don’t confuse a REIT with syndicated mortgages. Syndicated mortgages allow small investors to pool their money together for a large-scale development with the promise of a healthy return. Syndicated mortgages are extremely high risk.

REITS makes a great cocktail when mixed with other real estate investments. It allows investors to enjoy real estate ownership without the worry.

However, actual real estate always outperforms in the long run. I will consider having 10% of my portfolio in REITS and the remainder in rental properties. It is a safety net to free up cash quickly if needed. REITS are excellent wealth builders in long term savings such as a RRSP or TFSA account.

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FINANCE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Five key topics that help teens understand money CLEVE DeSOUZA cleve@carib101.com

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

It’s no secret that raising teenagers is expensive. Parents open their wallets to pay for sports, food, dates, and so much more.

What may be less known, though, is that parents need to hand out financial advice alongside the cash.

If you’ve got teenagers, then now is the time to talk about money. The discussions you have today create the base for financial success in adulthood.

Five financial topics every family should discuss include: Acquiring money is not the goal Talk to your kids about their values and priorities. Then, explain how money makes those possible. For example, if your teen longs to attend a pricey sports camp, get out your calculator and determine how much she needs to save each week to go to camp in 2022. Don’t wait for your teen to land a job to start the conversation. You can talk about goals the first time

Grandma includes a few dollars in a birthday card.

A written budget is a way to quantify priorities and goals Show your teen the household budget.

Make sure he or she understands the family budgets for 20% of its income for longterm savings; 50% for needs; and 30% for wants. No matter what your teen is earning, it’s a good idea to start the habit of living within a budget.

Discuss your child’s long-term and short-term goals Everyone needs financial goals. For a young child, the goal might be to save cash to spend on vacation souvenirs. For pre-teens, special clothing is a common goal. By the time your son or daughter is a teenager, he or she has larger goals. No matter how large (or small) the goal, make sure your teen uses the SMART system to define goals. S stands for specific (I want to buy a used car); M stands for measurable (I need to save $10,000); A stands for achievable (I will find a job); R stands for relevant (the car will help me get to school); and T stands for time-bound (I want to buy the car before my 18th birthday).

Credit cards are loans, not free money When you use a debit card, the money immediately comes out of your bank account. When you use a credit card, though,

you don’t see the bill right away. Encourage your teen to track their credit card spending so there are no surprises at the end of the month. Pay the balance in full and on time each month.

Compounding interest puts your money to work Saving money is one thing but saving it in a way that harnesses the power of compounding interest is a vast improvement.

Compound interest occurs when the interest you earn gets added to the principal amount your teen has saved. For example, if your teen gets $1,000 from their grandparents, they could deposit it in a savings account and earn 1% annual interest. In a year, they would have $1,010. When it’s compounded, that means the interest is added back into the original amount.

Now, your son or daughter is earning interest on $1,010. How much they stand to gain depends on the interest rate and frequency of compounding.

As you prepare your kids for adult life, you expect tough discussions about lifestyles, goals, and relationships. For much of that, you trust the words of your partner, family, and religious leaders. When it comes to teaching your kids about finances, trust the words of experienced financial advisers.

RDSP the unsung hero for individuals and parents with disabled children ANDREW STEWART andrew@carib101.com

FAMILY ADVISOR

Income is a vitally important part of a person’s life. But when someone is unable to work due to a disability, the income stream can be cut off. The impact on that person’s livelihood and personal goals can be devastating. Many factors affect the long-term financial security of a person with a disability. The government assesses the amount and sources of family income to determine grants and other benefits before a child with a disability reaches the age of eighteen. After the age of eighteen, it’s the grown child’s income that will determine the grants and benefits.

With the likely chance of cash flow limitations, this generally leads to lower savings amounts, less frequent contributions that affect the ability of compounding and tax-deferred growth. Unfortunately, it is difficult to accurately forecast the financial and emotional toll of disability over the long run. Coupled with the lack of awareness of savings and assistance programs, many Canadians are still uneducated about their options and benefits, causing them to leave money on the table.

Unforeseen events such as the death of a caregiver, family dynamics, and personal attitudes make it more difficult to attain disability savings goals.

Each disability has its own set of circumstances, so there is no one-sizefits-all time horizon. Some people are born with disabilities that they manage

throughout their lives. Some experience deteriorating health over time. And some develop disabilities at a specific point in their lives. Not all disabilities qualify for an RDSP. An RDSP has two distinct phases: • The accumulation period can last until the individual is 59 years of age • The withdrawal period must begin in the year the individual turns 60, although earlier withdrawals are permissible under some circumstances Sadly, as of December 31st, 2016, among Canadians age 49 and under who were eligible to claim the disability tax credit, fewer than one in three (about 29%) had opened an RDSP. Why open an RDSP An RDSP is a savings plan that is intended to help parents and anyone with written permission from an RDSP holder contribute to an RDSP to help save for the longterm financial security of a person who is eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC).

Up to $200,000 can be invested within the plan, with no annual contribution limits.

Unlike the RRSP contributions are not taxdeductible and can be made until the end of the year in which the beneficiary turns 59. Similar to the RRSP all earnings and growth accrue on a tax-deferred basis.

An added advantage of RDSPs is that beneficiaries under age 49 have access to Canada Disability Savings Grants (CDSGs) and Canada Disability Savings Bonds (CDSBs). The government contributes generously to the CDSG! Depending on your family income, this is a matching grant of up to $3,500 annually that the government pays into a beneficiary’s RDSP. CDSGs are higher for families in lower and middle income. When the annual family

net income is less than $93,208 for every $1 saved, they will match up to $3 on the first $500 and $2 for every $1 contributed on the next $1,000. When annual family net income is equal to or greater than $93,208 the CDSG is $1 for every $1 contributed up to $1,000.

The CDSG has a lifetime maximum limit of $70,000 per beneficiary. An RDSP holder can apply for this grant if he or she is a resident of Canada, with a social insurance number, who is eligible for the disability tax credit, and who is 49 years old or less on December 31st of that year.

Lower-income families who have dependents with disabilities may be eligible for a Canada Disability Savings Bond (CDSB). If you have a low income (less than $31,120) and cannot invest yourself, the government will still save for you! The federal government will invest $1000 each year for 20 years!

You need the Disability Tax Credit to open an RDSP account. Some people with disabilities receive the DTC easily.

Other people have a harder time. To determine if you are eligible, you must answer ‘yes’ to each of the following two questions:

Do you have a mental or physical disability that is expected to last, or has lasted, one year or more?

Does at least one of the following statements apply to you?

• You are blind.

• You need extensive therapy or treatment.

• You are limited in activities that people need to do regularly (for example: speaking, hearing, walking, using the bathroom, eating, getting dressed, remembering, banking, finding your way around, dealing with emergencies.)

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PAGE 46

SPORTS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Lightning strikes the same place twice Montreal struck down twice in Stanley Cup Finals MARCEL MARIAK marcel@carib101.com

TC JUNIOR REPORTER

Although Toronto hockey fans aren’t usually too enthusiastic about the Montreal Canadiens playing well, Canadian hockey fanatics are excited about the possibility of the Stanley Cup returning to its home city. At least they were until Montreal’s lessthan-stellar performance on the ice put them into a losing position in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Montreal Canadiens went into the final series of the playoffs as considerable favourites against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After the Habs won their Conference Finals series 4-2, the nighttime streets of Montreal were alive with celebrating fans. They were ecstatic to see their team appearing in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1993 when they won the cup. The festivities got so out of hand that

Montreal police had to disperse crowds of fans with tear gas after they began flipping cars and participating in various other forms of mischief.

Canadian hockey fans from coast to coast hoping that the Stanley Cup would finally return to its home country after nearly three decades away. Unfortunately, the dreams of Canadian fans are all but lost with Montreal falling behind in the series after two disappointing losses.

At this point, you might be wondering: how did the oldest team in the NHL manage to get stomped twice in a row by a team from Florida? We don’t know the exact strategies and secret techniques behind their spectacular downward spiral, but here’s the breakdown of Games 1 and 2.

Game 1 Game 1 of the finals was played at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, Florida. The Lightning quickly capitalized upon their “home field” advantage by scoring a firstperiod goal that would set the tone for the remainder of the game.

In the second period, Habs goalie, Carey Price made several valiant efforts to prevent the rival from scoring. He blocked a handful of close-range shots and even saved a near-certain goal with an excellent

glove save. Unfortunately, the Lightning forced a second goal after less than five minutes of second-period action to double their lead and make Montreal’s job much harder. The Canadiens managed to score a goal to keep themselves in the game when Ben Chiarot tipped in his teammate’s slap shot by the Lightning’s goalkeeper.

Despite Montreal’s goal, they were unable to build any momentum in the game as the Lightning regained their twogoal lead only two minutes into the third period. From there, the remainder of the game was a downward slope for Montreal as Tampa Bay tacked on two more goals to win the game 5-1.

Game 2 With Game 2 also played in Florida, the Tampa Bay crowd was looking forward to seeing their team extend their lead against the visitors. Despite being away from home for the second game in a row, the Habs were still high in spirit and motivation. This time, Montreal was able to prevent Tampa Bay from scoring in the first period and the puck switched hands often as both teams tussled for possession.

The second period was a different story. After the intermission, the Lightning took control of the game and opened the scoring midway through the period. This

time, Montreal came back to score a goal and tie up the game only a few minutes later. With the score equal and the clock winding down, it was anyone’s game.

That’s when Blake Coleman of the Lightning scored an incredible buzzer-beater goal with only 0.3 seconds left in the period to put his team ahead as the second period came to a close.

In the third period, the disheartened Montreal Canadiens made a few attempts on goal but were ultimately unable to add any points to their scorecard. The Tampa Bay Lightning took advantage of the momentum they had built in the second period to score one more point and end the game with a score of 3-1. Going into Game 3, Montreal now has a looming task of coming back from a two-game series deficit.

There is good news though, Montreal can technically still come back to win the cup. After all, they did it against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the Playoffs; coming back from a 3-1 deficit to steal the series in Game 7 (although we don’t like to talk about that here in Toronto). There is still hope on the horizon, but the Canadiens have a steep climb ahead of them if they are to reign victorious and raise the Stanley Cup.