Tracking & Tracing - 062420 by Toronto Caribbean Newspaper

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VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 11 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 2020

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TRACKING & TRACING

SIMONE J. SMITH/TORONTO CARIBBEAN “When it comes to the greater good, your privacy is null and void.”

This quote is going to hold significance as you read through this article. Last Friday, on my show “A Better Tomorrow,” I came across a news story on Thursday evening with the title, “UK Residents to Wear a RFID Microchip under their Skin from January 1, 2021.”

I was interested, so I began to dig deeper into the story. By Friday morning, there were three to four articles discussing the idea, and I proceeded in bringing the information to the public. By Sunday, afternoon, there were eight to nine different articles debunking the story as a myth. As I researched, I also noted that some of the articles that had originally been posted had been taken down.

I found this peculiar and disheartening because this week’s cover story was built around this story. I stepped back from it all, and then began my research again. Being in the media has taught me the importance of objectivity, and to take my time presenting information that may shock or incite emotions. Continued On Page 8

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Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The ever embracing and expanding “You pretty for a dark-skin; what the f#@K does that mean?”

Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News

There is a raspy-ness, to her voice. One that can best be described as intoxicating; she sings through you. She captures you with her lyrics about love, and love lost. Pain and pleasure; these themes are layered, encapsulating the listener’s emotions. There is a lot to be said about this Jamaican born, R&B sensation. Her music, rooted in soul, R&B, and hip-hop, continue to pay reverence to her Jamaican roots. Her rise to the top has not been a smooth one, but over the years, her fans have watched her steadily climb to musical heights. She has taken over the R&B world with a passion that is displayed in: her music, her onstage performances, and her unique sense of style. Her audiences are not just fans of her music, they also look to her for: inspiration, to learn about self-love, and create in themselves the confidence that she proudly possess. Allow me to pull back a layer, and introduce you to the song-writing, songstress, Jayd Ink. “My name was inspired by Mick Jagger’s daughter; Mom really liked the name.” Jayd started off as a songwriter. She just preferred being behind the scenes. “Songwriters want to be performers at some time. I am an introvert and an extrovert, all at the same time. I started off writing poetry. I am a big Tupac fan. He was brilliant to me. He was vulnerable, and it came out in his poetry. It was what helped me decide to sing my own songs and release them.” My friend asked me to go to his studio to record a song. I free-styled the song and was like, shoot! This does not sound to bad.” It was after this discovery that she became obsessed with writing. She shared with me that writing became like therapy to her. She just kept writing until she had book, after book of her words on paper. What she found most difficult was getting her music out. As an artist, you have to do a fair bit of travelling, and at that time she was not able to. She knew she would have to take a different route. “I decided to sing my own songs, to see if I could get some attention as an artist.”

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This is when the world was introduced to a creative genius; one who has the ability to merge her lyrics with precise, graceful arrangements. Anyone raised in a Caribbean household can understand the pushback that comes when you tell your parents that you want to do something in the creative arts. Well, it was no different for Jayd Ink. “My family is not from a musical background. I don’t blame parents for pushing back. They want the best for us. They are a working generation. I wanted to own my own business. My mom said you have to have: plan A, plan B, and plan C. They have seen the up’s and down’s in my career. They see that I am good at what I do. They see the recognition. They witness it. They see what it looks like to fight for your dreams. They see my passion. They see my drive. My family keeps me grounded.” Jayd continues to establish her presence in the R& B world, and her accomplishments cannot be denied. Her song “Deep Under,” was premiered on the TV show “POWER” (Season 3, Episode 6). She has also been featured on a song with rapper T.I., where her vulnerable side was displayed through her deep and meaningful lyrics. One of her most powerful experiences was when she was chosen as the winner of an interactive musical experience called “THE LAUNCH.” Here she had an opportunity to work with celebrity mentors, and each week she was able to reflect on what it felt like to become an overnight, chart-topping sensation. During the show, Jayd revealed that she was in a devastating car accident that left her with numbness in one leg. She shared her gratefulness to her physical therapy team, and family for helping her get her movement back, so that she could continue to pursue her passion. In 2019, Now Magazine voted her song “Privacy,” on their Spotify Playlist: 101 best Toronto songs of 2019. In the same year, she teamed up with Full Crate, on his first release “Low Key.” Full Crate did a phenomenal job blending dancehall with R&B for a song that set the charts on fire. It was also the first time that Full Crate had performed as a co-lead on a track. “I haven’t had that ‘I made it moment!’ I try not to get caught up. I have been there before, and I know now it is an on-going journey.” February 2020 The SoundCloud Creator Forum was held in Toronto, and it brought together rising artists who have expanded their brands

with the help of the streaming service. Jayd Ink was showcased that day, along with Toronto-bred talents: Anders, TOBi, and Amaal Nuxx. Jayd recently released her EP, “Bound by Nothing”, which features “Dark Skin,” a tribute to her skin tone, which delves into topics surrounding beauty standards and loving the skin she’s in. The video begins with Jayd lying in a milky bath. The droplets pool, and then slide down her glowing ebony skin. When the beat drops, viewers are transported back to a forgotten era of hip-hop and R&B. The mesmerizing visuals continue, and her love for self is seen in each clip. There is one scene when she experiences the jean moment; you know curvaceous girls; when you are trying to pull your jeans up over your ample God given gift. The hook tempts you to listen a little more, “Your pretty for a dark skin.” I spoke with her about that line, and she provided me with some poignant insight “Your pretty for a dark skinned girl! What does that even mean?” “It was a personal message for myself.” Jayd tells me. “It took me awhile to release this. I realize that this light skin, dark skin oratory, affects many women. I created this song three years before it came out. It was originally free styled. I got through the first verse easily. One take. The second verse was harder. It was emotional for me. It took a couple months to write. We are all on a quest to find ourselves. It is important to me to love myself. I have to embrace myself in order to expand in life. I am working on being vulnerable. I have always had to be tough. I have always had to be strong. I did a lot of reading. I learned about meditation. Tuning in to myself. I write from a space of love. 90’s music is filled with love, and I am attracted to that. Throughout the rest of the video, there are beautiful images of darker skinned women of all ages. Her message was clear. “It is important to align with yourself. I have to love me, in order to teach people to love themselves.” Within the first week, she amassed almost 1 million streams on Spotify alone. For those who know her personally, Jayd’s success is no surprise. For those who don’t know about Jayd, now you have the opportunity to witness the rising of a star.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 3

A venture into the unknown world of African scientists SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

This article was spawned from an article I wrote called, “BrainTech RoboticsSTEM Learning identifies a large gap in African student’s education.” In this article (located in the current edition, definitely check it out), I was quizzed on famous African’s in tech (STEM), and I failed the quiz miserably. Not wanting to remain in my ignorance, I went on a quest. I was not only going to learn about some famous African scientists, I was also going to prepare my community so that they would be prepared for this type of question in the future. Interestingly enough, finding Africans who focused on STEM was not very difficult. It made me think, “Why are these people not highlighted more in our education system?” As a community paper, it is our responsibility to share pertinent news stories with the people, but we also have to educate at the same time. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper would like to present to you, “A venture into the unknown world of African scientists.” African scientists have assisted in launching us into space, discovered new disease treatments and developed worldchanging technologies. For some reason or another, many of their achievements and contributions in the science, technology, and engineering and mathematics fields are forgotten or go largely unrecognized. Some say that this is a result of systemic racism. In this article we are going to present African men and women who have pioneered in the technology and science world. We must pay homage to these people, and provide role models for our young people outside of the musicians and athletes that they look up to. Dr. Charles Drew Dr Charles Drew is responsible for creating the first blood bank. Born in 1904 in Washington, D.C., Drew attended Amherst College in Massachusetts and then McGill University of Medicine in Montreal, and graduated in 1933. (https://www.cdrewu. edu/) During a time when Harvard would only accept a handful of African applicants a year, he received a deferred acceptance. He attended McGill University and earned the J. Francis Williams Fellowship, an award given to the top five students in the graduating class. He practiced medicine in Canada in 1935, and continued to advance his education. He began work in the pathology department at Howard University, and was eventually promoted becoming the Chief Surgical Resident at Freedman’s Hospital. He pursued his doctorate at Columbia University in 1938, and not long after was sent to work with John Scudder, who had been given a grant to start the first blood bank.

His legacy was defined in 1940, when he became the director of the “Blood for Britain” project. The project shipped blood and plasma to help treat civilians and soldiers who were fighting during World War II. Drew is the person responsible for standardizing the protocols for collecting and storing blood, and many innovations that are now mainstays of blood collections, such as mobile blood banks, are a result of his work (https://www.nlm.nih. gov/). Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African American woman to earn a medical degree. She is also the author of the America’s early medical textbooks, a guide for women and children entitled the “Book of Medical Discourses.” She was born in Delaware, but she spent much of her early years in Pennsylvania. She began practicing as a nurse in 1852 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. This was before the profession required a specific training course. In 1860, she graduated from the New England Female Medical College (https://www.nlm.nih.gov/). She moved to Richmond, Virginia where she served a community of 30,000 people, many of who were freed slaves who otherwise had no access to medical care. After retiring from the practice of medicine, she wrote her medical text in 1883. It was based on notes she had taken during her years as a doctor. Rebecca died in 1895. Marie M. Daly Marie M. Daly became the first African American woman to earn a doctoral degree in chemistry when she graduated from Columbia University in 1947 (https:// www.acs.org/content/acs/en.html). She studied how compounds produced by organs such as the pancreas contribute to digestion. Daly went on to teach at Howard University for two years and then pursued her postdoctoral research at the Rockefeller Institute in New York. She joined the research and teaching staffs of Queens College, City University of New York, Howard University, and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. After joining the departments of biochemistry and medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1960, she studied how cholesterol relates to hypertension (high blood pressure) and how muscle cells utilize creatine, an amino acid that plays an important role in energy consumption in muscles. She continued her work to increase the enrolment of racial minorities in graduate science programs and medical school, and established a scholarship fund for African American science students at Queens College in her father’s name. Christine Darden Born in 1942 in North Carolina, Christine was a skilled mathematician, data analyst and aeronautical engineer. After working at NASA for over 40 years, she became one of the world’s experts on sonic boom pre-

diction, sonic boom minimization and supersonic wing design (www.nasa.gov). She earned a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a teaching certificate, before working as a teacher in Portsmouth, Virginia and at a Virginia State College. So, this is one of the names that I should have gotten and didn’t when I was quizzed by Patrick Monize. Her life was chronicled in the book “Hidden Figures,” became a “human computer” for NASA’s Langley Research Centre. Recognizing an unhealthy balance in her work environment, she approached her supervisor and asked why men with the same level of education as she had were hired as engineers while she wasn’t. Shortly after, she was transferred to the engineering section, where her first assignment was to write a computer program for sonic boom (https://www.nasa.gov/). She spent the next 25 years working on sonic boom minimization. In 1989 she became the technical leader of NASA’s Sonic Boom Group of the Vehicle Integration Branch of the High Speed Research Program. Throughout her career, she also served as a technical consultant on government and private projects and authored more than 50 papers in high-lift wing design. She continues to encourage people, including her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren to always be curious. Gladys West For all my directional challenged individuals, it is imperative that you give a silent clap for Gladys West. She is the person re-

sponsible for developing the GPS technology that allows satellites to locate you anywhere on earth. Born as Gladys Mae Brown in 1930 in Sutherland, Virginia, she was not eager to work in the tobacco fields or factories where her family worked, Instead, Gladys devoted herself to her education. She graduated as valedictorian from her high school, and won a full-ride scholarship to Virginia State College. Here she earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mathematics by 1955. Gladys was the second black female ever hired at a military base in Dahlgren, Virginia known as the Naval Proving Ground (now called the Naval Surface Warfare Centre). She was one of just four black employees. She had the ability to solve complex equations longhand, and became a programmer on some of the earliest supercomputers. In the 1960s, Gladys participated in award-winning research that proved the regularity of Pluto’s orbit relative to Neptune. I now know that for every two orbits that Pluto makes around the sun, Neptune makes three. Beginning in the 1970s, she programmed an IBM computer to precisely model the irregular shape of Earth. The data generated by West’s complex algorithms ultimately became the basis for the Global Positioning System (GPS). Dr. Charles Drew, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Marie M. Daly, Christine Darden, Gladys West; I now have five very strong reference points that I can intelligently speak about when referring to Africans in STEM. What a relief!

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Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

It’s not just about talk, it’s about solutions; Carifika Canada presents Mental Health Matters SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“Sometimes it is overwhelming; it is like you are feeling a hundred different emotions, and being unable to deal with any of them. Sometimes it is a silent ache. Eerily quiet; like when you are flying and your ears haven’t popped yet. The only sound you recognize is the sound of your own voice, and those thoughts frighten you to your core. Sometimes it feels like you are trapped on a boat, surrounded by sharks. People who are safely on the shore are offering you their best advice on how to get back, but giving advice, and being in a situation are two different things. They are not privy to your current feeling; they don’t feel the fear. They are not feeling your helplessness because they are not seeing the sharpened teeth, snapping at you as you look over the side of the boat. “Then there are those moments when you feel like you are on fire; it is an indescribable pain. You self medicate hoping the pain will stop, but it only dulls it for a moment. This is my mental health crisis.” (Anonymous) The discussion surrounding African mental health has always been a little tricky to navigate. Many Africans on the continent,

and living in the diaspora are not open to acknowledging psychological problems. Our people are apprehensive about seeking professional help for mental health challenges, which is consistent with research surrounding the willingness to explore mental health services. One of the largest scientific and professional organizations of psychologists in the America’s (American Psychological Association) is at about 121,000 members, and less than 2% of these members are Black/ African American. It is no wonder that Africans in the diaspora are worried that mental health care practitioners are not culturally competent enough to treat their specific issues. This is one of the reasons why on Sunday, June 28th, 2020 from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm EST, Carifika Canada will be hosting a Mental Health Town Hall Meeting featuring community mental health professionals residing in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The team at Carifika Canada understand that: cohort effects, exposure to mental illness, and increased knowledge of mental illness are factors that could potentially change beliefs about symptoms of mental illness. I was honoured when they asked me to be a part of this town hall. What I like most about what is being prepared for the community is the fact that they have moved from just talking about mental health, to offering concrete, and practical solutions that our community can utilize. This comprehensive and interactive town hall meeting will: •

Address what mental health is, and

• • •

•

some of the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that accompany these thoughts and feelings. Help members of the community identify the types of mental health challenges you might be encountering Explore PTSD due to trauma and addressing trans-generational trauma Provide solutions, which include coping mechanisms and indigenous solutions. This will be beneficial for those who do not have access, or the funds for a therapist Understand the physical and psychological manifestation of mental health in the body

Our community is fortunate to have a dynamic group of mental health experts who will be dissecting each topic, and providing their own personal and professional insight. I would like to introduce to you the Carifika Canada Mental Health Town Hall Meeting panel: Keith Cunningham, MSc., RP. Keith is a licensed clinical mental health and trauma specialist with the College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario. His expertise includes individual and family therapy to children, youth and their families across Toronto. Kerry Wilson- Behavioural Management Consultant Former member, advocate, and mentor within the Jane and Finch community, mother to a disabled son, and the managing director of S.E.R.F, Kerry Wilson has harnessed the wisdom, insight and understanding of

culturally sensitive behavioural therapy. With a focus on client-centered and holistic approaches to self-care, Kerry uses her knowledge base and community reach to ensure her clients achieve their personal and professional goals, while ensuring behavioural stability, family interaction, and interpersonal success. Leo D Edwards A transplanted Grenadian, who now calls Canada home, Leo D Edwards has an impressive academic career, having received his Community Work Diploma from George Brown College, bachelors in social work (BSW), and professional certification in AntiRacist Research and Practice (CARRP) from York University, as well as a masters in social work (MSW) from the University of Toronto. Richard Miller (Founder of Keep6ix) Richard Miller is a driven community leader, dedicated to assisting underserved youth. After experiencing and witnessing misrepresentation, racism, corruption, and injustices experienced by black youth and minorities, Richard decided to establish Keep6ix. It is his passion to bring healing to individuals who have been through traumatic experiences, by ensuring resources and programming are available to prevent incarceration. The hope with this mental health town hall is to let individuals know they are not alone, and that it is okay to talk about their personal challenges, and seek help. For more information about how you can be part of this meeting, visit Carifika Canada at www.carifikacanada.org

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So many challenges, and so much to endure - Young people speak on COVID-19 experiences JONELL PANTLITZ jonell@carib101.com

TC JR. REPORTER

As a community newspaper, we are concerned with what is happening in our community, and we are determined to stay connected with everyone on all levels. This is why we understand that change affects young people in many ways and every person has a different story. I was asked to tell some of those stories. From my personal experience, there are ups and downs with everything that is happening. Being a black student in a time like this has been hard, but also powerful. Having a voice is one thing, but using it is an amazing feeling. Being a part of something historical is a pleasure that cannot be explained. Apart from that, isolated learning has been difficult. Many days, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t open my laptop. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the will power to do anything. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good thing that slacking off didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop me from meeting deadlines. This online shift overall has given me a lot of free time that I had no clue what to do with it. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think we realize as students how much of our life is spent in a school. With the free time: I started trading, I joined a lot of online workshops, and I am more aware of my mental health. I spoke to some other young people my age, and after sharing my stories, I asked a simple question, what about you? Kaysia (High School-Graduate) Not everyone has the ability to adapt to a new environment as quickly as some do. Many of us get depressed easily. We have more anxiety attacks than we used to, and even feel socially drained most days. We encounter so many challenges and endure so much pressure. Truth be told; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to actually accept reality most times. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to live in the moment and pretend that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only a matter of time before things get better. So I say this to say that change really has a positive impact on teens as well as it has its negative. We have more distractions at home than if we were actually supervised

while sitting in a classroom. Many have the mind-set of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m home, so I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really have to do the work because no one is there to see to it that I do.â&#x20AC;? Some youths understand a lesson better by: hearing the instructorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of explaining, being given the chance to participate in class discussions and being present. I believe that there is more school-related work being issued online than when we were in an actual classroom. Online classes have also affected study patterns in more ways than one. From experience, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tiring to be staring at the screen for so many hours. Every day is just another day for children going to school during this pandemic. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see the need to be revising notes again because everything is just being projected online. Anushka (University-student) I had to leave my apartment closer to my University and return to my family home which was probably the most negative part of my experience. I think the events in the world have mentally affected me more than physically - the realization that the world can easily shut down. Isolated education worked just like any online class, with the exception of being able to go discuss your concerns with your professor face to face. At first, I did not want to study at all. It was difficult to get my mind in that place. I eventually developed a schedule, but it still was not the best experience. I think the quality of my work was also affected. My younger siblingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (who I try to help) biggest difficulty is getting them to find the willingness to work. Shaina (High School-Graduate) In my opinion, change doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have much affect on the younger generation because we tend to adjust to situations quicker than the older generation may have. That being said, distance learning and in school learning are two different things because we as students do not get one on one time with teachers, which means it may be a bit more difficult for some students to reach an understanding. With studies online, most of us tend to stop caring and to start losing focus on our studies. The best way to learn about the experiences of young people is to actually talk to us. I hope that this has been an eye opener. We are all in this together

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Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

Photo Credit Caribbean Tales

CaribbeanTales International Film Festival celebrating its 15th year anniversary virtually SELINA McCALLUM salina@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The coronavirus has interrupted many events this summer and forced organizers to adapt to the new rules of social distancing. Many events have moved online, and recently the CaribbeanTales Film Festival (CTFF) has also done the same as it will be celebrating 15 years of talented, established and emerging filmmakers of Caribbean heritage. Diana Webley is this year’s Festival Director for the 2020 CaribbeanTales International Film Festival. For the past two years she has served as Associate Festival Director for CTFF. She has been working at Harbourfront Centre for 15 years as a Senior Producer and Artistic Associate responsible for daily operational aspects and programming themes for their year-round festival and event season. Webley talks about what movie lovers can look forward to at this year’s virtual event. “We have a jam packed line up of eight nights of film. It is loaded with Caribbean content and stories to share that are definitely resonating with what’s happening right now outside our window. I think that these stories are going to mean so much more to everyone,” said Webley. The Festival Director speaks on the festival having more of an international reach this year. “We have a night that’s looking to truth to power. It’s an activism night. We have films from the states, Trinidad, and Jamaica that are featured on that night, and I feel that we are going to reach a wider audience now that we’re virtual. We can open the doors to others, friends of the Caribbeans,” said Webley. “I’m truly happy in one way being able to reach more people.” CTFF will be announcing its 2020 livestream programming on Wednesday, July 8th at 7 p.m. on the CaribbeanTales-TV (CT-TV) online platform. The international film festival will run from September 9th to October 22nd

CT-TV. CaribbeanTales-TV.com is an innovative digital streaming, subscription video-on-demand platform that provides access to over 300 culturally diverse films and TV programs, from the Caribbean and its wide diaspora. New films are added monthly. The evening’s festivities will include special congratulatory messages, a retrospect of CTFF’s history and the cast talkback and screening of CTFF founder Frances-Anne Solomon’s award-winning film Hero: Inspired by the Extraordinary Life and Times of Mr. Ulric Cross. The film has garnered several awards including: TTFF 2018 People’s Choice Award, 2019 AMAA Award for Best Diaspora Narrative Feature and the Ja’Net Feature Narrative Award from the Pan African Film Festival where it was the Opening Night film. CaribbeanTales was pleased to announce their latest feature, CT-TV Live Events, which will include masterclasses, webinars, watch parties and screenings featuring conversations with filmmakers from around the world. Events will screen live and also be available to watch later on. “Everybody has Youtube and Zoom, but we have our own video on-demand platform that has been in existence since 2013, and now we’re about to use it for this platform that we probably never thought that we should have to do before this pandemic,” said Webley. “I’m excited to launch our CaribbeanTales TV.” Webley speaks on the impact the livestream events will have for CaribbeanTales. “CaribbeanTales has been around so long that possibly only the Caribbean community knows about it. The outreach and impact will be tremendous from being online, especially if we’re able to geo-map where directors want their films to go. For example, we have a film that is done by a Japanese, Caribbean and Cuban filmmaker that definitely wants the world to see their work, and what they’re doing,” said Webley. “This could offer the opportunity for the festival to be outside and online in the future.” Webley breaks down what CaribbeanTales means to her. “To me, CaribbeanTales means continuing the legacy by sharing our stories through film and raising a glass to our stories. It means allowing our stories to live on for the next generation,” said Webley.

NEWS

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NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Is Global Surveillance a thing of the Future? SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Continued From Page 1 -- Let’s take a step back for a moment, and revisit two movies that now seem way before their time; or were they. The Manchurian Candidate (2004) This update to the original movie stars Denzel Washington, who plays Captain Ben Marco. He suffers extreme trauma during his time in the first Gulf War, and when he returns home, life for him is never the same. He is haunted by dreams of what did happen, or what didn’t happen during the war. As Marco investigates, he discovers an implant in his back. After having the implant analysed, Marco realizes that it is a Nano technological experiment connected with Manchurian Global, a powerful private equity firm with major political connections. Enemy of the State (1998) This movie stars Will Smith as a Washington, D.C., lawyer whose life is dismantled bit by bit because he possesses proof that a congressman was murdered for opposing a bill that would make government snooping easier. For some reason, in 1998, they are already talking about “the surveillance society,” an America in which underground computers at Fort Meade monitor our phone calls for trigger words like “bomb,” “president” and “Allah.” I shine a light on these movies because long before COVID-19, talks about our privacy being infringed was already a discussion, and most recently, this rhetoric is being revisited, but this time it is being discussed in the terms of public safety. “What rights do you give up, when it comes to public health safety?” I was introduced to a video where a young American woman was sharing her experience with getting her contact-tracing certificate. In the video, certain words stuck out to me: TESTING, TRACING, AND TREATMENT. It was for these reasons that contact tracing has taken precedence in the fight against COVID-19. Well, what is contact tracing? This is technology that will allow health officials to notify you if you get a test that is positive

for COVID-19. Most COVID-19 contact-tracing apps use Bluetooth signal strength to infer distance between smartphones and define exposure status based on distance from, and duration of proximity to, an individual subsequently identified as infected. Some of these apps have already been released in Alberta, Australia and Singapore using a framework developed by Singapore’s Government Technology Agency. Once you have been told that you are at risk of having COVID-19, you are forwarded to a tracer, and that tracer will do some research on you, and give you a call. They will tell you that you need to be isolated for a minimum of 10 days. You will have to show visible evidence that you are isolated, meaning that no one can be in the place you are staying. If you are quarantined, you must be by yourself for 14 days. A contact tracer will provide you with any social services needed. This means you can’t go shopping, and in some cases, they will even remove children from your home. You can’t be in contact with anyone, even if you are totally healthy. The trained contact tracer will ask you questions like, “Whom did you come in contact with.” They will instruct you to look at your phone and open your social media so they can see who you have been around. You can keep getting quarantined again, and again, and again She also introduced a Voluntary Quarantine Form, and in the form, they state that if you do not comply with the request, they may use a detention order, enforced by the police. I found this odd, because if the form is supposed to be voluntary, why is it being enforced? In America, there is now widespread sharing of information between law enforcement and medical practitioners, all because of COVID-19. It has come to the point where businesses will be taking your information in case, they must contact you if someone was infected. Why? Well so you can quarantine, even if you did not contract COVID-19. America appears to be following China and Korea, who have a centralized data system, and people are tracked using GPS. In India, they released a contact tracing app that they say is voluntary, and citizens were told that they did not need to download. Only issue, if you want to go anywhere (travel, work, stores, train), you must show the app, showing that you are not infected. This means that you can’t do anything unless you have this app. Aarogya Setu, which means “bridge to health” in Sanskrit - was launched just nine weeks

ago. In New Zealand, you must scan your QR code to do anything. What does this all mean? It means that the nations are able to enforce contact tracing without military, or police presence. Now let’s return to that microchip piece. In an interview with Jay Walker, CEO of Apiject Systems, CBN news highlighted the company, which is now in a $138 million public-private partnership with the White House for a project called Project Jumpstart. They are currently innovating a way to deliver millions of vaccines to Americans using eye drop technology, and potentially using RFID chips on a voluntary basis to track vaccine use. This will all be to aid public health officials in case there are future outbreaks. In his interview Jay stated that the technology has the capability to utilize RFID chips that are connected to the dosage amount. He claims that there is no personal information on the chip, just information on the dosage. It is for health officials to analyse where a vaccine is most needed in an area. The US has not decided if they want to turn on that technology as of yet. In some states, they are actually stating that if you refuse vaccination, they can bring you to your doctor, and plunge a need in your arm. Their words, not mine. CBS This Morning did a story “Technology Implants; Microchip could improve lives but cost our privacy.” The story shone light on some compelling facts. One being that every time you use the chip, it leaves a digital footprint, which can cost you your privacy. Although some businesses in Sweden have implemented the use of microchips, it is hard not to be weary of a non-stop, potential connection to your body that cannot be turned off. “It is very easy to hack a chip implant,” the interviewed bio hacker warned, “Do not put too much personal information on this chip.” Mr Bill Gates was back in the news a few weeks back when he mentioned the possibility of having a “digital certificate” for health records “eventually,” but he did not say these certificates would be “microchip implants.” When asked about the claim, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation told Reuters, “The reference to ‘digital certificates’ relates to efforts to create an open source digital platform with the goal of expanding access to safe, home-based testing.” A Digital certificate is further described as an “electronic document” used to identify an individual and associate the identity with a public key. Like a driver’s license or a passport, it provides proof of a person’s identity. Let’s take this a step further. The

Greater Game India did an article titled “COVI PASS – UK Introduces Biometric RFID Enabled Coronavirus Digital Health Passports. The article reports on the UK government’s preparation for the rollout of COVI PASS – Biometric RFID enabled Coronavirus Digital Health Passports to monitor nearly every aspect of citizens’ lives in the name of strengthening public health management. The COVI-PASS website bills this piece of technology as “the World’s most secure Digital Health Passport.” Exposed in this article is also a plan to chip the human race through the digital identification program ID2020, which was exposed in the Italian parliament by Sara Cunial, the Member of Parliament for Rome. As countries continue to implement digital tracing technology, privacy and surveillance experts have shown their hesitance, warning that any digital data collection should include a sunset clause, which means that there is a specific date that data will no longer be collected. Also, the data collected must only be in relation to the coronavirus pandemic and must be deleted when it is no longer needed. Now, what does this have to do with us, the great people of Ontario Canada? Well, the Ontario government has launched a new contact tracing strategy that will help prepare for a potential second wave of Covid-19 this fall. How are they going to do this? Part of the strategy includes a mobile app that will use Bluetooth technology to notify other users if they have come in contact with someone who tested positive for the novel coronavirus. It will also allow users to contact their local public health unit by using a form through the app. Last Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed Ontarians that we would be the first province to test the tool. The use of the app is completely voluntary, and eventually, it will be implemented nationwide. Prime Minister Trudeau is encouraging Canadians to download this app on their cell phones. “It will be up to individual Canadians to decide whether to download the app or not, but the app will be most effective when as many people as possible have it.” The app will be available to download on July 2nd, 2020, and officials have stressed that the mobile app will not collect personal data or health information from its users. There is more to come, and I hope that our community will continue to do their research. Change is coming, whether we like it or not.

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PAGE 10

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

NIA Centre encourages Toronto artists to ‘Keep that Energy’ SELINA McCALLUM salina@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The NIA Centre for the Arts is a Torontobased charitable organization that supports, showcases and promotes an appreciation of arts from across the Afro-Diaspora. In Swahili, Nia means purpose. The organization released a oneand-a-half-minute video on their social media at the end of May, which celebrates all artists and highlights a few black artists that the NIA Centre has worked with. The video was made in collaboration with Pique Studios. “You inspire more people than you realize. And during these times, we look to you for hope,” said the narrator in the beginning of the video. Shots of artists singing, dancing, editing and playing instruments at home flash on the screen as the narrator continues to speak about creating or not creating in these uncertain times. “Those who are creating, and those who aren’t. Those who are surviving, thriv-

ing, or just getting by,” says the narrator. Alica Hall, the Executive Director of the NIA Centre, is responsible for the overall organization and projects. “It was in early April that we started to think about doing something. We know that artists are already vulnerable given the unpredictable nature of the creative industry. They’re usually unemployed and doing precarious jobs or working really hard to make ends meet in order to also fund and support their careers as artists,” said Hall. “So, artists have been particularly hard hit. We were really hearing from folks about the sense of loss.” The NIA Centre is committed to connecting community members to artistic and cultural experiences all year. It was initially funded through the Youth Challenge Fund in 2008 to address the roots of youth violence and disengagement. Since then, NIA Centre has connected thousands of young people and emerging youth artists to mentors and opportunities in art and employment. The Centre has offered programs in music, spoken word, literature, visual arts, theatre, dance and interdisciplinary arts often in partnership with artists and arts organizations. “We are consistently raising awareness that we’re creating a space for black people to gather, experiment art and reflect with our community and on our narratives. We want to create a legacy for the black community in Toronto and Canada,” said Hall.

Hall speaks on her favourite part about working with NIA Centre. “Working with artists is the most rewarding part of the work that I do. Being able to support an artist whether it’s providing folks with opportunities to grow in their careers or better understanding how to navigate the arts world. Anytime I get the opportunity to work with, collaborate and present with an artist is a great feeling,” said Hall. Hall recognizes that now more than ever before, people are turning to and appreciating art, and she wanted to ensure artists knew that when they saw the video. “Many of us at home are turning to artists to keep us inspired, learning, and entertained. We’re reading books, watching shows, and listening to music. We wanted to celebrate black artists in particular and what they’re doing during this time. Whether they are using their energy to create or rest,” said the Executive Director. “We wanted to recognize that artists are helping us get through these times and we wanted to honour the creativity and strength of our community.” One of the very talented black artists NIA and Hall has worked with is Alexis Eke, an illustrator and graphic designer from Toronto. Eke first worked with the NIA Centre earlier this year in February for Black History Month. “To me I feel like the video was portraying how everyone has come up with their own way to create, whether that’s digital art or performance art. It was a way to be

more personal with the artistic community in Toronto,” said Eke. “I think it was a video to make us all feel a bit more like a community.” Eke’s artwork is inspired by renaissance portraits and traditional Japanese art. She aims to illustrate black women in a contemporary light. Eke has worked with extremely well-known brands like Nike Jordan, Adidas, and Palm Bay Spritz. “A huge theme in my artwork is portraits of black women. I’m really passionate about expanding the representation in the artistic community and having more people who look like me in art and showing their art in galleries,” said Eke. “There needs to be more representation in the artistic community for black female designers and artists. Representation encourages the younger black artists who are considering a career in art to feel encouraged when they see another black artist in the same field.” The Executive Director of the NIA Centre says what the slogan for the video ‘Keep that energy’ means to her. “Keep that energy, to me, speaks to this moment that we have to rest if possible while investing in ourselves. I think that investment can take many forms, it can be, taking time to read, taking time to live a well-balanced life, and doing things that you haven’t been able to do. Keep that energy to me, is about positive vibes and really utilizing this time that we have, focusing on things that are keeping you positive and uplifted,” said Hall.

#Activism or ‘#slacktivism’; is your online voice really loud enough? JANIECE CAMPBELL janiece@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

You know the phrase ‘it’s a small world’? It seems to be growing truer each day. As wide and populated as this planet is, isn’t it crazy how interconnected we can be? There’s actually a term for this: time-space compression. It defines the impact of technological innovations such as the Internet that condense physical social space and additionally increase the speed of communication transmissions. In simpler terms, what does that mean? Well, it’s essentially how you’re able to get those lengthy Whatsapp messages from your auntie. Within one mere tap, any post could be instantly received on the other side of the globe.

There’s one digital-age invention that is the epicenter of keeping many of us connected – the hashtag. Through the use of a number sign, we’re given the ability to follow specific conversations and threads at any time, in any location. But who knew that such a simple symbol would assist in changing the world? The most revolutionary hashtag at this very moment may be #BlackLivesMatter. Originating in 2013, following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, it initiated an earth-shattering movement. It wouldn’t be long before the use of the hashtag became unfortunately common, as the entire world slowly tuned in to the reoccurring bouts of police brutality against black people. The untimely death of George Floyd brought this hashtag back expeditiously, generating 8.8 million tweets on the day of his death and an average of nearly 3.7 million tweets per day in the subsequent two weeks. Most trending hashtags such as #KONY2012, #MeToo or #BringBackOurGirls all have a similar evident purpose – to raise awareness and show solidarity. Hashtag activism has become a uni-

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versal wonder, giving society a voice to collectively condemn injustice and ultimately demand change. It has become an easily accessible and low-cost resource for many to support a cause while also offering an opportunity for further education. This form of online activism has very clearly made its mark in effectively garnering awareness and navigating a conversation that needs to be had. Though the use of these hashtags tend to ignite global unrest, is a single post really doing much to help or is it all a waste of time? The biggest issue with hashtag activism is the debate on whether it actually makes a difference or if it’s just a way for people to feel like they are making a difference. This brings about the term “slacktivism,” a word to define those individuals who share a post from the comfort of their beds and then roll over, believing that small act will somehow change the world. Recently, activists promoted #BlackOutTuesday, a specific day to refrain from posting personal matters unrelated to Black Lives Matter. Many users posted a solid black background including the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, a bare-minimum attempt at

solidarity. While the posts were very likely well-intended, what did a plethora of black screens accomplish? In my opinion, not much at all. Instead, many viewed it as counterproductive, as it ended up harming the message and erasing the channels of a lot of helpful information that many worked so hard to vocalize. In this age of constantly flowing information, it isn’t far-fetched that very soon, we’ll be consuming the next hottest topic and these hashtags will dwindle down to nothing more than just a trend. As days pass and the media coverage begins to die down, it’s safe to say that slacktivism isn’t enough, but it is definitely a start. After all, each movement has to begin with one post. It’s heavily encouraged to continue sharing out information daily, but the current use of this hashtag is miniscule to real life engagement. It’s one thing to spread awareness, but what’s awareness without funding? What’s awareness if people aren’t taking their voices to the streets and applying pressure? We’re all socially aware of the problem at this point, it’s a matter of what you will do next to combat it.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 11

BrainTech Robotics STEM Learning identifies a large gap in African students’ education but there’s real fun, too. Participants of the program have an opportunity to work with peers their age who share the same passions.

SIMONE SMITH

The programs have six empowerment building stages:

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“Simone. Off the top of your head, tell me about a popular African person in Tech?” I sat on the phone, quiet for a moment. I know this. Well, I should know this. So why couldn’t I think of someone right away. “Those women from the movie Hidden Figures,” I responded, laughing because I had not given a name. I was speaking with Patrick Monize, CEO & Founder of BrainTech Robotics STEM LC, and I had no idea that our interview would have started of with a quiz. “It’s okay Simone,” he laughed. “There are a lot of people who cannot answer that question. Our students know basketball players, baseball players, hip hop artists, but who knows a black programmer, black engineer.” “I think that maybe I am the perfect candidate for one of your programs,” I replied, a little embarrassed, but now intrigued. Patrick Monize identified a large gap in African student’s education, and quickly filled that gap when he established BrainTech Robotics STEM Learning Centre. “It is clear that we are not up to speed in the realm of STEM learning,” Patrick began. “My partner Christopher Lafayette and I are working together to provide access to programs that students cannot find in school. We knew when we looked at our education system that we needed to build this platform.” BrainTech Robotics has found a comprehensive way to bring the world of technology to our young people. Their programs are hands-on, and promote the usage of behaviours and skills. The programs offered build facility with core literacies and their application. Yes, they talk real science,

Build mastery and confidence It is important that our youth take ownership of their decisions. Many underestimate their abilities, and BrainTech helps them recognize what they are truly capable of. Holistic approach to clear misconceptions Students will learn more about mind-set, and how their mind-set impacts their sense of self. Increase representation This program is wonderfully supportive of the underrepresented females in STEM programs. Participants are able to witness strong race representation in leadership roles. Recognize and showcase talents Participants have the chance to showcase their talents during design focal events. Encourage exploration and discovery Students are encouraged to engage both independently and collectively using technology and innovation. They learn to embrace new technologies without fear or hesitation. Engage real world applications Success is achieved when students are able to apply what they have learned to real life scenarios. STEM engagements teach youth to adapt the concepts that they learn to various iterations when solving a problem or issue. What I truly appreciated about this program is the fact that is being marketed to young African women. “Women have a place in STEM,” Patrick tells me. “When we are looking for participants for the programs, our first choice is usually African women living in the diaspora. We do welcome all students who would like to be part of the program, but our aim is to empower our young African women between

the ages of 7 – 17. There is a need for equitable representation of women, especially women of colour in STEM careers.” “How has COVID-19 affected your efforts?” I queried. “I couldn’t have asked for a better circumstance,” Patrick replied. “You look for the positive in all situations. There has been a lack of interaction because of COVID-19. Our students are not doing their work, and because of this, we are providing FREE access from May 15th - August 15th. We have 100 kids so far, but our goal is to enrol 2,000 students on the portal. We want to be able to show the school boards that this is what students want.” This summer, students across North America will have access to four products provided through BrainTech Robotics: POLLI (Personal Online Learning) Students have a chance to bring their imagination to life through powerful programming languages such as JavaScript, HTML and Python ARIS Digital Sandbox Flowing lava, rising oceans, Mars surface discovery, animal migration. The Digital Sandbox is an exciting, new learning tool that opens a world of possibilities for chil-

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PAGE 12

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

A mandate to educate black men; the Walnut Foundation Walks the Path for prostate cancer MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

For the last five years now, no matter the weather: family, friends, and supporters have been doing The Walnut Foundation’s highly anticipated ‘Walk the Path’ Walkathon. The walk helps in raising awareness and funds to help men - particularly black men - who are disproportionately affected, to get a better understanding and take responsibility for their prostate health. This is done through diverse Prostate Cancer education initiatives. The current global pandemic, and the necessary social distancing guidelines inspired the team at The Walnut Foundation to go virtual with

the walkathon this year. This year it runs from May 1st - June 30th, 2020, instead of being only one day. To complete the 10 km, participants have been walking in their homes, their yards, and communities, taking safety precautions into consideration. Registration is ongoing and can be confirmed via e-mail to info@thewalnutfoundation.com. Donations are welcome and can be made by credit card at www.thewalnutfoundation.com or by cheque to The Walnut Foundation: PO Box 74053 Kingspoint Plaza PO Brampton, Ontario, L6V 4J7. Donations of $20 and above will receive a tax receipt. On Father’s Day a special Walkathon Challenge for the whole family will be announced across all their social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) @ TheWalnutFounda The Walnut Foundation was founded in 2007 and is a charitable, not-for-profit organization established by two prostate cancer survivors with different treatment experiences, and a shared passion for: addressing the prevalence of the disease in black

men the silence in the community, and the need for greater insights and information on well-being. We spoke with one of the founders and First Vice President Mr. Anthony Henry, about the progress being made since Toronto Caribbean Newspaper’s initial article last year. Henry affirmed that he and his organization are trying to adapt to all the changes brought about by COVID-19. “Our meetings are held online now,” he said, “Where normally we would have gotten together in person, the virtual walk allows them to do so and still stay active while being on lockdown. It has been challenging because people are accustomed to getting together for the walk.” There was a survey done last year which involved Prostate Cancer Canada. It revealed that over 70% of black Canadians are in the dark when it comes to knowing that they are at higher risk of getting this disease than other races. Henry was asked why the ignorance concerning something so detrimental? “I believe it’s the secrecy surrounding it. Nobody

wants to talk about it. If you don’t talk, you don’t share. You don’t gain the understanding, and that is one of the reasons that The Walnut Foundation was created, because the mandate here is to educate.” Henry stressed that the key here is getting tested at 40 instead of 50 and monitoring your numbers to know where you stand on the prostate health scale all the time. As black men don’t wait around and say, “I don’t want to be touched there. Take control of your health. it could literally mean your life.” “If we can change the perception, get people talking, maybe we can get them looking at this sooner in conjunction with their health care professionals,” Henry reiterated. “I was in a conference call a couple of weeks ago talking to some researchers in the U.S, and what they find is that when black men are aware of the risk factor, we get tested earlier, and our outcomes are even better than that of the general population.” For more information on this subject please visit www.thewalnutfoundation. com

Not your average 17-year-old; Meet the ‘World’s Most Powerful Girl’ JANIECE CAMPBELL janiece@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Can you remember what you were doing at nine years old? I bet that it was nowhere near meeting a national world leader for your own documentary. That was the reality for Zuriel Oduwole, the “World’s Most Powerful Girl,” a title dubbed by former United States Secretary of State, John Kerry. Today, at age seventeen, she is a filmmaker and girl education advocate, all while being a full-time student. Her venture into the film industry began when she entered a competition, where participants were given an assignment to create an artistic representation of a historical revolution. Striving to stand out from her peers who chose American or European events, young Zuriel extensively researched unique untold stories. A girl whose roots run

deep in the continent of Africa, she chose the June 4th ‘Rawlings Revolution’ in Ghana. After reaching out to the president of Ghana at the time to use as a primary source for her documentary, he responded by inviting her to the country to be interviewed in-person. The rest was history… literally! With a total of seven films under her belt currently, Zuriel says that picking up a camera showed her a much bigger picture. “Filmmaking led me to start my entire education initiative. When I went to Ghana, I saw children who were around the same age as me who were out in the streets instead of being in school. As someone who went to school in America from Monday to Friday, I couldn’t understand why they weren’t in school.” On a quest to make a global difference in children’s education, Zuriel has met over thirty world leaders. Taking on the challenge of shaping outdated mindsets, she recognizes the privilege of being an education advocate while still being a child, as she offers a different perspective that forces leaders to listen. After meeting with the president of Mozambique, a country where 48% of girls were married under the age of eighteen according to UNICEF, Zuriel helped to give girls across the country a much brighter and

hopeful future. “I simply said that if these girls are able to stay in school and continue their educations, then they wouldn’t get married off at such young ages. It took about eighteen months in total but in the end, a policy came out outlawing girl marriage in the entire country.” Having written opinion columns for several foreign newspapers regarding global issues, an excerpt from her latest piece entitled “Is America’s Approach to Fixing Racism Wrong?” questions the justice system and race-related issues in both Canada and America. “What is the root cause of racism in North America, especially that unique blend that seems to cause the injury, death, and then incarceration of people of African descent aged 15-49 in the hands of their nations law enforcement officers. What is it that other races, especially caucasians, see when they look at or encounter African immigrants, irrespective of what generation they are? Is it hope, friendship, help, support, opportunity, development, growth, inspiration? Or do they see a basket full of the exact opposite of all I had just mentioned? And if that’s what they see, why do they see that? What have they been sold and why did they buy what

they were sold? What if the challenge is the sellers are selling an expired and outdated product, and because no one is turning away from their stores or checking the validity of the products, they just simply, keep selling? What if we all deliberately begin to sell a new set of products, a fresh set of goods, and a kinder and gentler narrative? A storyline you would want others to tell about you? What if we all change our walk to mean we all rise or fall together, and even if one of us falls, we go out of our way to help that person onto his or her feet, because we want to see only by choice – the good and the possibilities in that fallen person, just like in the movie The Blind Side.” As she plans to continue her advocacy work, Zuriel aspires to become the president of the United States someday so that she can have a positive effect on policies in and outside of the country. She concludes with a piece of advice directed to the youth. “Make sure that you have dreams. All of the things I’m doing right now started with a dream. I was once told ‘if your dreams don’t scare you, then they are not big enough.’ I use that and apply it to everything I do.”

We are reopening slowly, yeah! We still have to be careful JONELL PANTLITZ jonell@carib101.com

TC JR. REPORTER

Finally, we are slowly but surely re-opening Ontario and hopefully, soon enough, we can go back to our regular lives, where if someone sneezes on us, all we worry about is a common flu/cold. Ontario is in the second stage of reopening. Many states in the United States of America have also started to open. But it is essential to keep in mind that although countries, cities and provinces are in the process of re-opening, it doesn’t mean we can go about doing whatever we want without thinking about our health. According to Live Science, The Cen-

tres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released additional guidance to help individuals reduce their risk of COVID-19. The basic rules haven’t changed: wash your hands, maintain social distancing and cover your face with a mask. However, CDC also provided some of the most detailed instructions yet for how to navigate everyday activities, such as checking out a library book or even hosting a party. Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, said at a press briefing on June 12th “I know people are eager to return to normal activities and ways of life, but it’s important that people remember that this situation is unprecedented and the pandemic has not ended.” We still need to follow the proper protocols to remain safe. The CDC explained that in general, the more closely you interact with others, the longer the interaction lasts and the greater the number of people you interact with, the higher your risk of getting COVID-19. They also stated that indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, and people should maintain a distance of at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) between themselves and

others, as well as wearing face coverings, to cut the risk of COVID-19 spread. According to the Government of Ontario, Ontario is gradually reopening businesses, services and public spaces on a regional basis as progress is made in the fight against COVID-19. The Government of Ontario website states, “We are reopening Ontario in three stages. Through all stages, public health and safety will remain the number one concern, while balancing the needs of people and the economy.” There will also be time between the launch of each stage to assess conditions before moving to the next. Here is a recap of the stages: Stage 1 Opening businesses that can immediately meet or modify operations to meet public health advice and workplace safety measures. Stage 2 Taking a regional approach to opening more businesses and services such as restaurant patios, hair salons and swimming pools, as well as community, recreational and outdoor spaces, while emphasizing public health ad-

vice and personal responsibility. This stage of re-opening includes pools. Stage 3 Reopening most remaining workplaces and community spaces, while carefully and gradually lifting restrictions. Public health advice and workplace safety guidance will remain in place and available. Large public gatherings will continue to be restricted. One thing we know for sure is that Ontario is taking a regional approach, with regions that demonstrate readiness based on key public health indicators reopening first. Most areas were allowed to enter the second stage last Friday, June 12th, except for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas, some regions that border the United States and those with COVID-19 outbreaks among migrant workers. Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex, Premier Doug Ford has urged patience. He says the province will re-evaluate its readiness on Monday, June 22nd. For information on how to be safe during re-opening visit Live Science or Government of Ontario websites.

NEWS

Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 13

Etana’s new single is “Bubble-ing” hot MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Try thinking of a crooner that puts all the feelings of a soul singer into a reggae ballad. Who comes to mind? Think about a female Reggae artist that is as equally passionate as Gladys Knight. Now who comes to mind? Etana is a reggae Diva with the range of Whitney Houston, mixed with some Jamaican lingo. This can be heard when one listens to her latest track called Bubble, which the singer said comes from just wanting to spread more love in these troubled times. This crooner grew up in August Town Jamaica, but moved to Florida at an early age. She started doing back up singing for Mr. Richie Spice, and is now lighting up the planet with her unique style of reggae vibes as only she can. On her recent single, Etana gives the impression that she has really and truly found the love of a lifetime, and has no intention of letting go. She is willing to do hard-time to keep her man if that is what it takes. This artist has proved that she is

not to be taken lightly. Her album “Reggae Forever” was released on March 2018, and was number one on the Billboard reggae albums chart for two consecutive weeks, making her the first female in more than two decades, in reggae, to gain top position twice on the chart. The single is available now as an instant grat track. The pre-order of Gemini releasing is on June 19th via Freemind Music - Zojak World Wide. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had the honor of speaking with Etana at length about her musical journey, life and children. The crooner discloses that the soulful sounds and all the feelings people hear when listening to her songs comes from her life’s journey. All the pain, the struggles, and the happy times; they all make up the package that is Etana. I asked Etana about the inspiration behind the song Bubble. “It is just a love song written to pull people together. A statement was put out that said people were having problems, that there were high separation and divorce rates due to COVID-19.” Etana told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper that after moving from VP records, she started her own team Freemind Music, and it was an experience for her to find out the cost of doing things herself, but she is no weakling and success followed her. Soon after the release of her first independent album, and while touring she got the good news that she was number one on the Billboard Reggae albums chart.

“I think touring had a lot to do with that,” she said, “It was also surprising to me to learn that my first project, that I created with my own team independently got nominated.” As for her expectations about her music the reggae crooner said, “When I put out music I never expect anything except for my fans to hear it, and then they decide where it goes after that. Any project that I have done, I release it and I just let my fans take it away. That makes me happy and grateful because it is done for them.” Even though the reggae star has all this going on, she still finds time for family life. “I get up in the morning and make sure my two girls’ teeth are brushed, and make them breakfast. I take my daughter to dance and the other one to karate. I have had to be teacher, mommy, playmate and more.” Etana was asked how she would like to be remembered and she answered, “As the one who gave people strength through music positively.” Etana’s album called Gemini can be purchased through the iTunes store or pre-ordered.

Resignation of Toronto’s Police Chief signals new era PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The announcement of Toronto’s Police Chief Mark Saunders’ resignation on Monday afternoon at the Toronto Police Headquarters was met with shock and disbelief by the Mayor, the Premier and many members of the black community. The chief has been with the Toronto Police Service for 37 years, and he rose

up through the ranks to achieve its highest position. The Chief in his announcement stated, “Here I am after 37 plus years working with what I believe to be the greatest law enforcement agency in the world. I’ve watched this organization grow, listen and serve the greatest continents fourthlargest city in the world, and the most diverse in the world. I look forward to being a full-time dad and a full-time husband, and that’s not as an exhausted by-product who walks through the door at the end of the day.” There has been much speculation in the media as to the reasons why the Chief left eight months before his contract expired on April 30th, 2021. The renewal of his contract by the Toronto Police Services Board was a surprise to many. It was only the second time in 40 years that a police

chief was able to serve for a second term. Chief Saunders did not give specific reasons as to why he decided to leave early. In 2017, he took some time off for medical leave, when he received a kidney from his wife, but that was not a factor in his decision to retire early. In many ways, Chief Saunders’ control of the Toronto Police Service has been marked by many incidents that will be permanently etched in the psyches of Torontonians. Last year was the deadliest year in the history of Toronto with 78 people being killed, an increase by 19 deaths from the previous year. In addition, there was the North York van attack, which killed 10 and left 16 people injured, as well as the shooting on the Danforth. The most negative occurrence was the handling of the case of serial killer, Bruce McArthur who

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admitted to killing eight people from the gay village between 2010-2017. There has been attention given to defunding the police and redirecting some of its resources to: community programs, social services and mental health supports. According to the June 8th issue of True North Wire, two Toronto city councillors, Josh Marlow and Kristyn Wong-Tam have put forward a motion that would cut the Toronto Police Service’s budget by 10% which is approximately, $122 million. Their motion states, “It’s time to defund the police budget and re-balance our use of public funds toward ensuring that our communities are supported in ways that avoid having to have the police show up at the door in the first place.”

PAGE 14

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Challenges, conflicts and tensions continue to surface at the Peel District School Board the 12 Trustees and senior board officials. She interviewed the Chair, Vice-Chair, Director of Education, Peter Joshua as well as two Trustees: Kathy Macdonald and David Green as well as the mediator retained by the PDSB. The focus of her investigation was not on all of the 27 Ministerial Directions but on: one, six, seven, eight, twelve and sixteen.

PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Arleen Huggins issued the investigation into the Peel District School Board’s compliance with the Minister’s binding Directions on March 13th, 2020. As a lawyer with expertise in human rights, her 27-page report highlighted specific areas of concerns with respect to the dysfunction at the PDSB. The report was sent to the Minister on May 15th, 2020. It raises some significant and disturbing revelations from her investigation. In her report, which took less than three weeks from the time that she was asked by the Minister of Education, Stephen Leece on April 27th was complete and thorough. As part of her investigation, she was able to gain access to: Board’s minutes, transcripts, emails and communication with

•

• • •

Direction one was to, “Identify, address and resolve dysfunction between and among members of the Board and between members of the Board and the Director of Education and Associate Directors” and required a Mediator or conflict resolution expert. Direction six requires the Board to create and implement a mandated Learning Plan for Trustees. Direction seven focused on creating racial diversity of the Board. Direction eight requires the Board to, “Retain an expert to conduct a robust and transparent appraisal of the Director of Education’s performance relating to addressing anti-black racism, Islamphobia and other pressing areas of eq-

•

uity, as well as board governance and human resources practices.” Directions twelve and sixteen focuses on the independence and neutrality of the HRCO within the Board and the development of an Anti-Racism Policy.

In her investigation, Ms Huggins was able to uncover significant problematic and troubling areas of: friction, tension and challenges between two Trustees who have been at the forefront of advocating for social justice and racial equity for racialized and students of colour and the other ten Trustees. There has been a lot of coverage in the local press and mainstream media about these challenges, conflicts and tensions between the director of education and the Superintendent of Equity who is on medical leave. Ms.Higgins reported, “There is no evidence that the Board has a willingness to engage in the necessary work to gain an understanding.” In addition, she wrote that the board has,” Failed to understand that its mandate includes engagement with communities, and respectful collaboration particularly with black communities are essential to move forward and out of the current

crisis of non-confidence.” Her strongest criticism was directed at the Director of Education Peter Joshua. “He has not demonstrated the necessary capacity to lead the implementation of the directives nor in some cases did there seem to be any sense of urgency.” In her summary, she notes, “The dysfunction at the Director’s office remains unaddressed, and I have seen no evidence of a plan to resolve the issues underlying the dysfunction. The Director of Education has not demonstrated the necessary capacity to lead the implementation of the binding directions.” On Monday, June 8th, Minister of Education, Stephen Leece spoke on the update, “As outlined in the Education Act, I am required to provide a final opportunity for compliance from the board. My expectations are clear; the board must change, or I will take further action. We cannot and will not sit idle while families and students continue to feel isolated, victimized and targeted.” He has given the PDSB a last chance to collaborate and formulate a plan by June 22nd. If there is no progress made, he will have no choice but to send in a supervisor to take over the board.

African-Canadian fathers assemble to reframe the discussion on being a “Black Dad” SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

thers across the globe. I was very happy when Ed Gough (aka Dr. Vibe), invited me to be part of the annual Dad Fest on Saturday, June 20th, at 3:00 pm. It was great experience being a silent participant, because it gave me an opportunity to experience African men from across Canada speaking on fatherhood, and their personal stories of: triumphs, challenges, and life lessons.

“Legacy building is important.” Paul Osbourne James (Dad Fest Attendee)

“Brothers, too many people die with a bill not a will.” Dr. Vibe (Host, Dad Fest)

“Thank you for always coming home dad!” This is a statement I have spoken many times to my own father. I cannot remember a time when my father was not active in my life. It is my dad who instilled many of the values that I have right now. Research continues to suggest that father’s play a significant role in the growth and development of a child. Whether it is a young lady, or a young man, fathers have a strong influence on a child’s school adjustment, social competence and psychological well being (Cooper, 2015). There seems to be a projected and overwhelming negative image of African fathers. Much of the discussion has centered on the negative impacts of a fathers absence. What is not taken into consideration is that there are some involved, loving, passionate African men, who remain active in their children’s lives, even if they may not be involved romantically with their child’s mother. A great example is a study that was done comparing Caucasian and Latino fathers; it was found that African fathers reported higher levels of engagement in caregiving and play activities (Cooper, 2015). What is not being discussed is the positive impact African men have on the lives of their children. We as a community must continue to focus on the roles and contributions of African fathers. Now, more than ever, we have to reframe the discussion, and shine a positive light on the involvement and engagement of African fa-

When I clicked on to the Zoom meeting, I was pleasantly greeted with heart-thumping baselines, and familiar tunes that were being spun by the one and only Dj Benjamin DeGraff. That was new for me, and a welcoming surprise. Slowly, I saw men filtering on to the call, but it didn’t feel awkward because everyone was enjoying the music. There were some quick introductions, and then Dad Fest kicked of with their first panel of guests, which included: • • • • •

Mark Smith (Founding Members of Lions Club) Dalton Higgins (More than a Haircut) Cassius Washington Smith Jermaine Spence Brandon Hey (Black Daddies Club)

This powerful group of panellists shared their expertise, and passion for fathering discussing: what co-parenting looked like during COVID-19, how they were taking care of their mental health and the mental health of their children, managing emotions, and how they were keeping their children engaged during the pandemic. One item of importance that was shared was the fact that children were not getting enough physical activity. Most recently, The Hospital for Sick Children has launched the Centre for Healthy Active Kids. Their focus is on understanding how nutrition and physical activity impacts a child’s

life, and they explore early intervention and prevention strategies that promote healthy, active living (http://www.sickkids.ca/Centre-for-Healthy-Active-Kids/index.html) After the first panel discussion there was an intermission, which was skilfully utilized to engage fathers in attendance with tips for black families during COVID-19, and Father’s Day poll questions. This gave the fathers a chance to speak for themselves, and express their own specific viewpoint on a selection of questions, and thoughtful insights. I thought I would share the 10 poll questions for our readers to think about: How being a parent is one of the best parts of my life? • I put so much into parenting; I don’t have time for myself. (Yes/No) • I honestly believe I have all the skills necessary to be a good father. • A man can be a good father even if he doesn’t live with his child. • Being a father is the most important thing in my life. • All children need strong relationships with their father to grow up well. • Any man can father a child, but it takes a special person to be a good dad. • A stepfather or other man can be just as good a dad as a biological father can be. • What is the most important part of being a good father? (financial support, teaching about life, providing direct care, providing love, providing protection, disciplining and being an authority figure) • How did you feel when you found out you were going to be a father? “Being present without the pressures of work schedules has allowed me to connect with my son at a more relaxed pace... And allowed me to be with my daughter as she grows.” Nicholas Barham (Dad Fest Attendee)

After the short intermission, Dwayne Morgan gifted attendees with poetry from his book “Period & other lessons from my daughter.” The poems were well received, and the moderators took all attendees off mute so that they could honour Dwayne with words of encouragement, and with a round of applause. His poems were a great introduction to the second panel session that included panellists: • • • •

Keith Hill Jr. (Author & Entrepreneur) Tchaka Adofo (Canadian, Jamaican Born) Jermaine Spence (Community Support Worker) Bro.Kofi (Energy Healer, Holistic Health, and Wellness Coach)

In this panel session they discussed: strategies to engage children through education, generational plans that they had in place for their children, the type of values black men should have as fathers, how the community can better support black families at this time, and Afrocentric curriculum ideas that can be found online. “COVID has been an opportunity to ground with my family and especially my boys. We have all agreed that we love each other.” Rudi Williams Dad Fest, 2020 was a tremendous success. Even though the attending fathers were not able to meet in person, they focused on discussions that further promoted positive development and reduce existing disparities. The success of the event supports the importance of spaces that provide men with opportunities to openly acknowledge and process the ways in which intergenerational experiences have guided their lives, and how settings of this nature are particularly supportive and therapeutic for African-American males.

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PAGE 16

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Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Does your doctor have harmful bias? How the racialized community can protect themselves from medical bias W. GIFFORDJONES MD DIANA GIFFORD-JONES TC HEALTH REPORTER

“This week is the first of a two-part column – this week from W. Gifford-Jones and next week from Diana Gifford-Jones – offering our perspectives on race relations and health.” Racial inequities have been a sore on society for as long as I remember. During my youth, racism was endemic, systematic and blatant. Two occasions stand out from my time at Harvard Medical School, where I had two black classmates. One lived in Atlanta, and when planning a road trip to Florida, I said I’d drop by to see him. He replied, “Don’t do it. This will cause trouble for me.” On another occasion, travelling by train to Boston, I asked a black student to join me for lunch. He replied, “I’m not allowed to go

to the dining car.” Both these fine men went on to illustrious medical careers. But now years later, its clear we still have problems. Not surprisingly, the implications of racial inequities extend to our health. Does race factor in medical decisions? Does it affect treatment? You can bet it does. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that North American blacks have not fared well. Blacks have borne 35% of deaths, while they comprise 13.4% of the U.S. population. Dr. Elizabeth Chapman, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin, wrote in the Journal of General Internal Medicine that implicit bias among physicians impacts clinical decision making that perpetuates disparities, even when they strive to deliver equal care. Her research showed that unconscious judgements built on negative stereotypes affects diagnosis, treatment and patient follow-up. Gender disparity in healthcare is also an issue. One study, published in BMJ Open, reported women were significantly more likely to require three or more pre-referrals before they obtained a consultation for bladder or kidney malignancy as com-

pared to men. Chapman cites another case in the health journal Mind Over Matter of men suffering chronic obstructive lung disease as being more often correctly diagnosed. Women with the same problem were more likely to be labelled as having a psychiatric problem. Chapman says autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease, affect women more than men. An American study showed it required 4.6 years before the diagnosis was made in women. During that time women visited 4.8 doctors and 46% were told that they were too concerned about their health and were chronic complainers. Chapman says it’s a deep-seated bias that women’s symptoms are associated with stress and anxiety. According to Chapman, it’s African American women who receive the worst treatment and that it’s unfortunately a common problem. Why does it happen? If the doctor has a racial bias, he or she will have a general impression that African American women are more likely to be uncooperative or less likely to do what the doctor has pre-

scribed. Moreover, the gender and race of patients influences whether these doctors follow the usual treatment guidelines. It’s not only African Americans and women that face physician bias. Chapman points out that some doctors do not understand “normal aging.” This can lead to misdiagnosis for older people. For instance, they may diagnose Alzheimer’s disease when the trouble is a deficiency of vitamin B12. To overcome bias, Chapman suggests doctors should take the Implicit Association Test, developed by psychologists at Harvard University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Washington. You can try it online. What can you do to protect yourself from medical bias? Be your own best advocate. You must never forget that you own your body. Get a second, or even a third opinion. Talk with your doctor about your concerns and change doctors if necessary. I know from long experience that racial issues have staying power. We can see it in our society today, just as evident as when I encountered it as a trainee more than 70 years ago. And I’ll never forget not seeing my black classmate in Atlanta.

Removing key barriers that prevent young people from achieving their economic purpose PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The PC-led government announced on Thursday, June 8th the creation of the Premier’s Council on Equality of Opportunity. In the news release from the Office of the Premier, Doug Ford states, “At a time when the world is facing some of it’s most difficult challenges, we have to do everything we can to help our next generation of leaders overcome the social and economic barriers before them. Our young people are the future of the province and I truly believe this council will be a strong advocate that will set them down the path to even greater success.” This youth council will act as an

advisory group that will provide important advice to the government to ensure that 20 youth between the ages of 18-29 are given a voice so that their issues are recognized. The government is looking for youth from across Ontario to join the council, especially those who have expertise in areas such as: community service, business, education, and government services such as youth justice and childcare. The membership will be intergenerational and cross sector and will include a chair and vice-chair. In its advisory role, it will provide advice to the government on long-term strategies that it can engage in to help youth who are impacted the most by COVID-19. According to the Minister of Children Todd Smith, “The Premier’s Council on Equality of Opportunity will allow our government to hear directly from those who have faced economic challenges in our province. The council’s knowledge, combined with the insight gained from engaging with communities and youth across Ontario, will help our government as we work to remove the key barriers that

prevent young people from achieving their economic purpose.” Premier Doug Ford appointed Jamil Jivani, an author, lawyer and community organizer, who also serves as Ontario’s Advocate for Community Opportunities as the chair of the council. Jamil will also head the new anti-racism council for the government of Ontario. He stated, “For decades, youth from disadvantaged communities have face barriers to succeeding in our economy. COVID-19 has made these issues worse. As chair of the Premier’s Council on Equality of Opportunity, I will work with a diverse group of leaders to help the government give young workers especially disadvantaged youth a fair chance to succeed in Ontario’s workforce.” The focus will be on ensuring that children, families and youths who have pressing needs are attended to. The government has allocated $1.5 million that is intended to help black youth from marginalized and vulnerable communities. Jamil states, “We want to impact policy in that we

can see real action. A lot of previous administrators have been about talk.” Liberal members Mitzie Hunter and Michael Coteau were quick to respond. They reminded the government that it disbanded the previous Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities (PCYO), which gave advice to the Premier and the Minister of Children and Youth Services on issues affecting youth. The previous council was involved in local communities, and were able to give youth input to government’s decision-making. In addition, this council had 25 members and was geared towards youth between 16-25 years of age. The mandate of this council in the 2016-2017 budget was to advise the government with respect to outcomes for at-risk youth and ensuring that programs and services were amenable to diverse groups and sectors. The Liberal members state that the PC-led government has wasted two years. There is much hope that this new council will really change the lives of our youth.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

History in the making: Malike Sidibe discusses his photography projects in depth in Nikon interview series SELINA McCALLUM salina@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

At only 23 years old, Malike Sidibe is an award-winning photographer whose work has been featured in several exhibitions in New York. He has worked with The Met Museum, TIME, The New York Times Magazine, Business Week, Nike, Footlocker, Nikon, and Instagram. Sidibe was born in Man, Cote d’Ivoire and moved to Guinea when he was 3 years old. He fell in love with photography at age 12 when his father gave him his first camera. From Guinea, he moved to New York City in the summer of 2010 at the age of 13. On Wednesday, June 17th, the young, black and talented photographer was interviewed by Nikon’s own Mike Corrado, who has been working with Nikon for 35 years and a photographer for over 40. Creator’s Hour: My Defining Images is a series by Nikon where they interview world-renowned photographers via video chat on the stories behind their very best photographs. Throughout the month of June, Nikon has been broadcasting original content and hosting activities meant to educate, inspire and entertain. Near the start of the video, Sidibe discusses how he learned to use his camera. He thanks an after school program called NYC Salt that taught him how. “Salt did a lot of things for me, so when talking about this topic, I don’t even know where to start. Since joining the program, they would give me assignments to go out and shoot and introduce me to editors in the photo industry,” said Sidibe. “They helped me find my passion for photography.” Sidibe has done portraits, editorial, studio and creative set design photography. After speaking on how he got started on his career in photography, Corrado brought up Sidibe’s defining photos to discuss every detail. His work is a reflection of his creative nature. He draws inspiration from the people he meets and the places he has lived. He is a high-energy creative photographer producing inno-

vative portraits and images full of spirit and colour. The first photo Corrado brought up on to the screen is from Sidibe’s personal project called Mamiwata. “Mamiwata is like this mythical goddess that is worshipped in West Africa. People believe that she lives in the water. She is spiritual and comes to you in your dreams,” said Sidibe. “Growing up, I just heard stories about her and she’s been around me all my life.” On Sidibe’s website it states, “In Trinidad and Tobago Mami Wata plays the role of guardian of nature, punishing overzealous hunters or woodcutters. Those who have had encounters with her have described her energy in many ways.” Sidibe says he stood over the model while she was in the water to take the photo. He completed the project while living in LA for a year. He joked about not being able to swim and was glad that the model, who was recommended by a friend of his, could swim. The photographer truly knows how to capture images that make your eyes hungry for more. The colours that he brings out in his photos, and the emotion he captures is extraordinary. Sidibe recently took photos of the Black Lives Matter protests happening in New York for the New York Times Magazine. He posted a few of the photos on his Instagram account, which has over 50 thousands followers. “So grateful to see my work on the cover for @nytmag in print,” wrote Sidibe for his caption under the photo he posted on Instagram. “Thank you @ kathyryan @bigbabygenius for my first major cover and spreads in this week’s issue. I am beyond humbled that you trusted me to tell this story through my lens. As a young black man the importance of this topic cannot be understated,” he wrote. The photo is of a crowd of people on the street at night, while a man above them on a pole holds a long stick that is attached to the America flag. Spray painted in black on the flag is the words in big, bold, capital letters, “I can’t breathe”. “This was an incredible opportunity that took me out of my comfort zone but this is a topic that needs to be addressed until real change comes and we all have to be a part of that change in ways that may make us uncomfortable sometimes,” wrote Sidibe. To see more of Sidibe’s work, visit malikesidibe.com

NEWS

PAGE 17

JEAN J. FELICIEAN FEBRUARY 1O, 1937 - JUNE 03, 2020

It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my best friend Jean. To articulate the loss of Jean from my life is difficult to put into words. She is someone that I connected with from the moment we met. Jean exemplifies what it means to have a true friend - she was a beautiful person in every way. Jean had the wonderful opportunity to travel the world. She visited places that she once said "I only dreamt about" Exotic countries such as Japan, China, Singapore, Mexico, Netherlands, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Panama and so many other destinations throughout the United States and the Caribbean. Jean was an excellent travel partner who would always go with the flow and enjoy every travel experience to it's fullest - with a glass of white wine, of course! She used to say that she would try everything at least once - and she did! Jean was born in Port of Spain in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. We quite often traveled to these two beautiful islands as well. I enjoyed hearing about her childhood stories in Trinidad, especially about the special times she shared with her favorite brother Mathew. Fortunately, while Jean was still able to travel, we took one more trip to T &T, so that Jean and Mathew could go up to Mount St. Benedict to light candles - that was such a memorable day! Jean will be missed by many who knew and loved her. Her brother Mathew and wife Thelma, her friends Googly Eyes, Gehmebo, Gladys, Froggy Girl and of course, Peter and Masako as well as Joan (the windmill lady) who regularly called Jean in the hospital. Also, many nephews and nieces in Trinidad and also her God daughter Karen in Atlanta, Georgia. Jean, I will always remember you, my precious friend. When I have a difficult day missing you, I will look up at the sky and ask "Which part you is?" Rest Easy, Jeannie. Until we meet again, Gentle Giant A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Trinidad.

NEWS

PAGE 18

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

“Daddy is not here this year!” Reflections on Father’s Day celebrations for deceased and absent fathers LA SHAWNA GRIFFITH lashawna@carib101.com

BARBADOS TC REPORTER

BARBADOS -- Father’s Day! The time of the year when we celebrate the male figures in our lives that have gone above and beyond to instill strict values in us: their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Usually in Barbados, families take their father to lunch at any of the popular hotels on the island, or some of them have a more laid-back celebration with a beach picnic at any of the beaches on the island. The celebration of Father’s Day began one hundred years ago on June 19th, 1920, when a young woman wanted to honour her dad. Before this, in May 1909

Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, sat in church listening to a Mother’s Day sermon when she was struck with the idea of creating a special holiday to honour fathers too. 111 years later we have Father’s Day which is celebrated in the Caribbean, Latin American Countries as well as: Argentina, Canada, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore, and South Africa. But while everyone is celebrating their love for their fathers on Father’s Day, I decided to look at those who do not have a father in their lives. What is it like for someone who has lost his or her father? I sat and watched the sadness on my mother’ face when she lost her father (my grandfather) Father’s Day was not easy, as they were separated by thousands of miles. My mother resides in Barbados, and my late Grandfather resided in the United States of America. Regardless of the distance, they would make the effort to talk to each other every single Father’s Day. As a child, I looked forward to

those conversations with my grandfather. It was my chance to update him on everything that was happening in my life. We spoke for hours until the credit on the phone would die. Now that he is deceased, Father’s Day for my mother is a day for her to reflect on the happy memories that she shared with her father over the years. For a family who has lost their father, celebrating the day will be hard for them, but they can take solace in the happy memories that they shared with their loved one. On the flip side, there are the persons who on Father’s Day are reminded of their parents’ absenteeism. If I use myself as an example, growing up, I never met my paternal grandfather. I have no idea what he looks like, or who he is for that matter. I always wondered what he would sound like and if he would be proud of all of my achievements. Father’s Day is not celebrated in my household as it was years ago. I would create a Father’s Day card during Sunday

school for my father and give it to him with a kiss on his cheek. As I got older, circumstances changed, and I now contact my father on WhatsApp to wish him a Happy Father’s Day. One of the things that I realized with writing this article is that there are numerous male figures in our society who may not necessarily have children but have been the dominant male figure for children in their community. When asked, some persons said that they always saw their male class teachers as positive role models and even police officers that scared them straight. For those whose fathers are absent, take the time to reach out to your father, and see if you can start a relationship. Sometimes dads who are absent in a child’s life are scared of the role of fatherhood because truth be told, it is not easy. Take the time to call them and have a chat with them because one thing that COVID-19 has taught me is that time is a prized commodity.

Rise of a Champion - Andrew Robinson’s journey to the IBO Crown - Part 1 MKUU AMANI

mkuu@carib101.com

UK TC REPORTER

UK -- On March 24th, 2018 Birmingham boxer Andrew ‘D’Animal’ Robinson and Brighton’s Nicky Jenman went toe to toe for twelve rounds at the Genting Arena in Birmingham. The International Boxing Organization Continental Middleweight Title was on the line and, after a hard-fought contest, it was Robinson who emerged victorious. It took ten rounds to decide the victor but the new Champion’s journey to the title began way before the bell had been rang to signal the beginning of the first round. “I’ve sacrificed everything to make it in this sport. I missed my babies’ first steps, their school plays and their swimming lessons, but it’s all been so that I can provide for them and give them a good life and a Dad they can be proud of.” Andrew Robinson. 2012 was a year that will be remembered by many. And for many different reasons. From recollections of the highly rated London Olympics to heart-rendering thoughts of the Afghan War, mentioning that year is liable to provoke a wealth of diverse memories. It was the year we suffered the tragic death of the magnificent African American singer Whitney Houston. It was

also the year that saw US President Barack Obama re-elected for a second term, and that a stoppage-time goal scored by Sergio Aguero won Manchester City the Premier League. And for twenty-seven-year-old Andrew Robinson, 2012 was the year that he made his professional boxing debut. The date was June 22nd, 2012 The young boxer who grew up in Birmingham, travelled to the city of Wolverhampton, where - in the same West Midlands venue that British boxing hero Henry Cooper had knocked out Chip Johnson in 1965 and Jefferson Davis in 1966, he would fight the 31-year-old middleweight southpaw, Bobby Wood. By the time his bout with Robinson had come around, Walsall lad Bobby Wood had become a seasoned professional boxer, making his 22nd professional appearance. Fifteen years have passed since the Civic Hall last staged a professional boxing event, but in those days, according to some, it was the best boxing venue in the UK. It was there, surrounded by the red, white and blue ropes that enclosed the squared circle, amidst the sweat and heat of an atmosphere charged by a vocal and passionate Midlands crowd, that Robinson’s pro boxing career began. Fighting on the undercard of the Jason Welborn versus Scott Haywood Midlands Area welterweight title fight, and under the watchful eye of referees Gareth Morris and Terry O’Connor, Robinson grabbed his first pro win. The light heavyweight bout was scheduled for six rounds and went the distance, with Robinson grabbing the victory

via a 59-55 points decision. Looking back, Robinson said “I came late to it (the sport). I wasn’t one of those boxers who start at the age of eight or nine. I was eighteen and had previously been a power builder. Of the four mates that I joined the gym with in Dudley, I was the only one who stuck it out even though it was two and half hours there and back every day from my home in Redditch.” Robinson, speaking to BCB Promotions. Oct 2019. His next outing took place in Birmingham. He was up against another southpaw making his debut, Vaclav Skromach. This time they fought at Super Middleweight. Robinson, now the slightly more experienced of the two boxers, stopped the Czech Republic born fighter in the final round of their bristling four-round encounter. He stayed at super middleweight for his next three bouts Following his win over Skromach came some eye-catching victories. A return to Wolverhampton Civic Hall for a points win against Dan Phelps before heading to Walsall Town Hall, for the first time in his professional career. While all the hype surrounded the headline British Welterweight Title fight between Frankie Gavin and Jason Welborn, and the British Light Heavyweight Title fight between Martin Gethin and Ben Murphy, a memorable performance by Robinson also caught the eye. He made light work of Nuneaton born John Mason - the first-round stoppage came with just three seconds left in the round and extended his unbeaten run to four straight wins. A busy, unbeaten 2013 for Robin-

son galvanized his growing reputation in the sport. The Mason win was the first of six bouts that year. A points win over the Lithuanian Kiril Psonko came next before Robinson headed to Dudley, where he carved out a points win against Jody Meikle, also known as One Man Riot in a light heavyweight encounter. Back at super-middleweight, Robinson claimed victories over Gilson De Jesus (pts), Kieron Gray (pts), and in his final bout of the year, Mark Till (pts). Hull boxer Luke Allon was making a return to the ring after a four-year absence when he fought Robinson in March 2014. His one defeat in five bouts during a stint that lasted from 2008 to 2010 suggested that he may be capable of causing Robinson some problems. But he unraveled in the fifth round and was floored twice as Robinson secured a stoppage victory. By October 2014, and courtesy of a further succession of exceptional performances, Robinson’s form and impressive win streak had done enough to convince Frank Warren and Queensbury Promotions that he was ready for his first title challenge. On a fight card including Dereck Chisora versus Tyson Fury, Billy Joe Saunders versus Chris Eubank Jr and Frankie Gavin versus Bradley Skeete, Robinson, now 13-0-0, would challenge for the vacant WBO European Super Middleweight title. In a televised clash scheduled for November 2014 at Excel Arena in London, he was up against the big-hitting Londoner, Frank ‘Wise Guy’ Buglioni.

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PAGE 20

NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

the the poetic poetic word word Exhausted

BY GLORIA O’KOYE Tired of what’s going on within these streets, I don’t always want to have to say Or post up, RIP It’s exhausting.... There is an addiction... Watching our people displayed on the screen An addiction... To keep spilling blood onto a rep sheet As if we don’t already have to fight for our rights to TALK Or RUN Or BREATHE IN PEACE! We have to constantly watch for our backs In our hometown streets Isn’t it exhausting? For Oscar winning performances Stating race Taking up space in the emergency... Endangering dogs lives Just to put a person gasping for air Trapped by many knees So exhausting! When young cats aim to be top dog Only to get put down By internal warfare... Vultures perching up on trees They mock While they wait for a hearty feast IT’S EXHAUSTING! Commotions Planted within peace Getting the point across That human’s shouldn’t be treated differently Choosing sides When roles

became corrupted If done right in the first place Would’ve there been any riots? How much longer? We need some solutions Instead of repeating insanity!

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What shall we do? Where to start? Where to go? Let’s Switch up! Replenishing... Spread our wealth Like others with theirs So our economy won’t be Exhausted! Replenishing... There is a war on our mind state Never leave your heart unprotected Replaying images and clips To blindside our vision We must remain focused Brainstorming What works? What doesn’t work? What’s been tried? What needs to be tested? There’s need to be action Instead of black boxes Causing confusion and silence! Replenish! We need a solid game plan So this would be a speck in history Instead of stretched baggage! No more exhaustion We been exhausted for too long To keep saying It’s been exhausting!

NOEL CUNNINGHAM noel@carib101.com

CULINARY REPORTER

“Our company is on a mission to introduce premium Jamaican honey to the rest of the world, and provide Jamaicans with the familiar taste of home through our products.” Ken Benjamin A few weeks ago, I got a message on Instagram from Lignum Honey reaching out to share their product with me, so I could use it in my recipes or provide feedback. When I met with the owner Ken Benjamin; we had a good talk about honey and business; but after I tasted the honey, I decided I couldn’t keep this liquid sunshine secret to myself. In 2019, Kenneth Benjamin (a software consultant), and his family were returning from their vacation to Jamaica. While he was at the airport he realized a lot of people were taking back honey and coffee. Right there and then, he put on his business hat and started thinking, “How can I get Jamaican honey in Canada?” After doing some research he found out that a few companies had done it, but they faded out after a while. Although this news was disheartening, he was not going to let that stop him. He put the ideas out there to friends and family and received enouraging feedback. Ken now realized he had something going. He quickly booked a flight to Jamaican, and within 48 hours, he was home honey hunting. He went to Jamaica and met with the Chief Plant Protection Officer of Agriculture, Minister Hugh Smith, and several others who helped to make his dream viable. He purchased his first stock thinking he would give this a try to test the market. Little did he know, the market was waiting for him. “Lignum Honey believes that the finest honey in the world can be found within the shores of the island paradise of

Jamaica.” After receiving his first batch of honey from Jamaica, Ken did a soft launch in December 2019 at the black-owned Christmas market and sold over 250 bottles within a few hours. After this, by just word of mouth, the honey created a buzz and everyone was reaching out wanting this new Jamaican honey. In under 10 days, they sold all the stocks they had on hand. Lignum Honey sources its 100% natural raw honey from only the finest apiaries in Jamaica, that are committed to natural and responsible practices. “Our honey is freshly bottled after extraction and is not processed to maintain the highest nutritional integrity possible. The combination of the tropical climate and abundant floral sources that flourish in nutrient-rich soil of the island results in a delectable tasting honey that cannot be found anywhere else on earth.” “Lignum honey is curating perfection with its five different flavors of honey. If you thought all honey is equal then you are wrong.” The Mango Blossom is the purest honey, heavy with the redolence of mangoes collected naturally by the honey bees from the blossoms of mango trees grown in Jamaica. A deliciously smooth flavor with fruity notes of mango. A drizzle of this over freshly baked treats will taste just like eating liquid sunshine. Blue Mountain Coffee honey. Coffee flowers from the blue mountain of Jamaica coffee farms are the primary nectar source for this single-origin honey. Similar to the coffee grown in this part of the world, this distinctively floral honey tastes delectable, with rich notes of lavender and jasmine, and an undernote of cinnamon. Logwood honey is the honey produced from the blossoms from the logwood tree known for its high quality and light, golden color. This honey is perfect for sweetening your tea. Logwood honey is exclusive only to Jamaica. Multifloral honey can vary quite a bit from batch to batch as the flowers and plants will change due to the weather. This is both the most common type of honey and also the rarest. Because it is composed of nectars from flowers blooming at a particular period of time in a particular place,

it is essentially impossible to reproduce it exactly from year to year. But often, it has a predominant nectar, or a particular mix of flora, that gives it a recognizable flavor that makes it a prized honey from year to year. My favorite, the scotch bonnet pepper honey is a beautiful marriage of sweet honey and the delicious spice of Jamaican scotch bonnet pepper. This is the only honey that was infused with other ingredients. All the others are naturally flavored from the blossoms. Ken says the aim of Lignum Honey is to create a legacy for his family, and to be able to push the culture of Jamaica further. He believes that Jamaica has way more to offer than just reggae music and rum. What makes Lignum Honey unique? It starts with an unwavering slew of sustainability, and it’s 100% natural with no pasteurization. It is like drinking honey straight from the honeycomb. That’s the experience we want to give in a bottle. “Successful people are consistent learners.” If you have a business idea inside you, Ken encourages you to pray about it, and ask for guidance from the creator. “Lean not on your own understanding. Take a shot at what you want to do. The knowledge gained will succeed the failures if that’s what happens.” Currently Lignum Honey is Ken’s side gig, but his aim is to go full time by the end of 2020. Ken recommends keeping a jar of local honey in your home no matter what. It helps with your immune system and allergies. During my dialogue with Ken, I could hear the passion, drive, and determination for honey, and bringing a taste of Jamaica to Canada. Lignum honey can be purchased online at www.lignumhoney. com. You can also visit their Instagram and Facebook @Lignum.honey for honey inspiration and creative ways to enjoy your honey. You can give Linum a call at 647866-7716. Lignum Honey has some great products in store for you. Stay tuned for the ginger honey, and other Jamaican flavors such as the strawberry honey.

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PAGE 22

FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

THE DIVINELY DEDICATED

DANIEL COLE Photo Credit: OAkridge

“Geography matters to your rise in life. I have always believed that we don’t rise to the level of our gifts and potentials; we rise to the level of our systems, be it political or socio-economic. It takes more effort to thrive in certain places.” When Daniel Cole speaks of his life narrative, it is synonymous to the phoenix rising from the ashes. Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Daniel Cole has first hand experience of being raised in a polygamous home. When I first read his bio, it was the detail that caught my interest. I was curious as to how this had shaped him as a man. He started by giving me his thoughts on polygamy. “African fathers pride themselves on how may children they can father. My mom was the second wife, and that was the beginning of my struggle. I have never seen a peaceful polygamous home. There was a lot of drama. With all the drama, one thing that my mother ensured was that I was disciplined. She also ensured that I had a strong sense of spirituality.” To this day, Daniel displays a discipline and diligence that is unicorn in fashion. His pursuit for higher education, and continuous personal development has their genesis in his childhood. “I remember days when my mom would make me stay home, and read. I was not out playing. I was home reading a book I didn’t want to read. As a child, you need to grow holistically. I did not have a social life. I truly believe that part of my life has positively, and negatively affected me.” “You have mentioned that word discipline a few times during our dialogue. What did discipline look like for you Daniel,”

I prompted. “Discipline looks like spending a lot of time by myself, working on my education. It also shows in my religion. Every Friday, Monday, and Tuesday, the whole family would fast. I would be like ‘Mom, your killing us!’ In our day and age this type of forced fasting would be seen as abuse. I would sometimes sneak into the kitchen, and get some food the day before the fast. I knew I wouldn’t be eating. It was quite extreme. I don’t blame them; this was just how I was raised. This is what they knew and they taught us.” His discipline played out tremendously in his working life. From a young age, his upbringing set a tone for inevitable success. “I started out my career in Sales and Marketing, working for a Telecommunication company called Vodafone while pursuing a Diploma in Computer Science at the time. To be working and studying at the same time is one thing, but to work in sales, study, and live in Lagos is a different ball game. I often joke with some of my friends now, telling them, “If you can survive in Lagos, you can survive and thrive anywhere else in the world.” After completing his Diploma in Computer Science, he immigrated to South Africa. He has strong opinions on relocation. I know that it is not easy to leave your home, and venture to another country, so I was curious as to what prompted him to make that decision. “Geography matters to your rise in life. I have always believed that we don’t rise to the level of our gifts and potentials; we rise

to the level of our systems, be it political or socio-economic. It takes more effort to thrive in certain places. I went to God to empower me to help people back home. Some of my friends back home are struggling; and it is not because they are not brilliant, the socio-economic situations do not allow them to thrive. The country is not giving them the opportunity they need to become a success. There are people filled with potential, but they are finding it difficult to rise. I don’t know if I would have achieved what I have if I stayed in Lagos I came here six years ago. It was not comfortable the first two years, but it was way better than back home.” Daniel has always been an avid reader. He told me of a time when he spent his whole salary buying books. He has even taken it to the next level, and has taken courses from prestigious universities across the world. Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, University of Washington, Case Western Reserve University to name a few. He is currently pursuing a degree with the University of South Africa. “I love education. I love studying. If I have nothing to do, I look for what university is having what, and I apply. I take one course from a prestigious university every year.” In his first two years living in South Africa, he started writing a column on Success and Personal Development for a Community Newspaper that now has over 35,000 copies in print. He also currently writes a success column for the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper. He founded a training company (The International Institute of Personal De-

velopment, South Africa), an organization positioned to deliver training on different personal development courses such as: negotiation dynamics, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution. A few years ago, he co-authored a book with Stewart Andrew Alexander alongside other authors across the world. He followed this up with a small e-book “The Science of Success” which is available on Amazon. He continues to add to his resume, hosting on show on Radio station, 89.1 (Alex FM) with a listenership of over 130,000. To stamp his seal of success, he recently signed a content partnership with the YouVersion Bible App, which licensed him to write and publish a Devotional plan on the platform. With over 340 million people using the App, his devotional content is now accessible to a global audience. Daniel Cole’s story, journey and short life experience is that of hope, faith and resilience. “I believe no one should go through life as a spectator. We all have gifts, talents, abilities, and my life mission is to ensure I use what I have and know to help people rise and become the best version of themselves.”

Written by Simone Smith Toronto Caribbean News

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PAGE 26

FOOD

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Caribbean Style

BEEF STEW

Tender and Flavourful NOEL CUNNINGHAM Ingredients noel@carib101.com

CULINARY EXPERT

This easy beef stew recipe is a favourite of my grandmother. This is a musthave dish for her at least once per week. This hearty stew is packed with aromatics, potatoes and carrots which lends the stew a depth of flavours you can’t resist. It’s the perfect homemade dish for a simple midweek dinner or on a Sunday with rice and peas and a fresh garden salad. What kind of meat do you use for beef stew? I usually recommend using chuck meat for beef stew. Chuck meat is cut from the front shoulder. It’s a relatively cheap cut, with great flavour for stew and has lots of connective tissue and fat, making the best choice for stews. The flip side is that chuck is made up of different muscles, so you’re more likely to get irregular pieces—some leaner, some fattier, some more tender, some tougher. Overall, it averages out in a good stew. If you find prepackaged meat labelled “stew meat” at the store, it’s good to ask the meat counter worker what type of cut was used. A good stew will take at least an hour max to cook. This beef stew is the ultimate, hearty, melt-in-your-mouth comfort food, and so easy to make. This is a great recipe to use in your slow cooker on a busy day. Now is your chance to make your own beef stew at home just like mama did. You will enjoy the inviting aroma while it is cooking, to the rich taste in every bite of this beef stew. This recipe promises warmth, comfort and satisfaction.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1 tablespoon canola oil 2 1/2 pounds boneless beef stew meat (such as chuck), cut into 1-inch cubes Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 medium white onion, finely chopped 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1teaspoon smoked paprika powder 3 tablespoon tomato paste 1 scotch bonnet pepper seeded and minced 2 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons) 1 cup beef stock or water 1/2 teaspoon pimento 4 sprigs fresh thyme 2 stalks scallion 1 tablespoon soy sauce 2 potatoes washed, peel and diced 1 large carrot washed, peeled and diced

Directions Heat oil in a pot over high heat until smoking. Season with the first seven ingredients. Add beef to the pan and cook without moving until wellbrowned on one side, about 6 minutes. Stir to loosen the meat. Add tomato paste and stir to combine then add beef stock or water if used and cook for 15-20 minutes then add remaining ingredients and simmer over low flame, stirring constantly and adding water as needed. Continue cooking until meat is tearapart-tender when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes and serve with rice or pasta.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 29

Chiropractic and men’s health drpuri@carib101.com

HEALTH SPECIALIST

Unfortunately, a great number of men do not seek care until after they experience some sort of pain. In the event of Father’s Day and June being Men’s Health Month, help encourage your grandfather, father, brother and other loved ones to get a complete chiropractic assessment! Chiropractic care has many benefits for men of all ages such as: decrease in hypertension, increased immunity, improved muscular energy and strength, better posture, headache relief, improved quality of sleep, and an overall healthier level of wellbeing. Let us look at these in greater detail. Decrease in hypertension The risks of high blood pressure can become fatal over time, not to mention heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death worldwide. Many patients are led to treat this with prescription medication, which can become costly and ineffective

Increased immunity Fathers are often seen as the backbone of a family; therefore, their health is essential. Similarly, our spine is the medium used as the connection between our mind and body. Spinal misalignments, known as subluxations, decrease nerve flow out to our body, increasing stress hormone levels and the result is decreased immunity. In summary, these spinal “disturbances” exaggerate the flight or fight response which has a negative effect on immune function. However, when subluxations are removed through chiropractic adjustments, stress hormone levels reduce and our immune system is free to work more effectively at defending our bodies against bacteria, fungi, and (in light of the COVID-19 pandemic) even viruses. Improved muscular energy and strength It is common for men to experience lower back pain from all the hard work or the physical activities they often partake in. Whether it be from being a handyman or lifting heavy

objects around the house. These physical stresses are often the cause of spinal subluxations that negatively impact our health. In men this can especially manifest as decreased libido, mood, and digestive issues, along with body aches and pains. Slouching and bad posture can also lead to back pain and make you feel extremely uncomfortable. Ultimately, our spine controls our posture and if you notice that your dad, grandfather, brother, friend or colleague experience pain or are uncomfortable while sitting or standing properly, it is likely that their spine is misaligned. Your chiropractor will check if your body has a noticeable posture imbalance, such as a higher right shoulder, and also test your flexibility and mobility. Ultimately, all men can benefit from chiropractic care by getting a spinal adjustment. Headache relief Men get headaches for a variety of reasons such as: stress, exhaustion, or an underlying condition. Regardless of the cause, we need to listen to what our body is telling us and treat it. Over the years, research has concluded that headaches can be treated safely with chiropractic care without risking side effects that may be linked to medications. Studies have also shown that chiropractic care can help decrease both the intensity and frequency of migraine headaches.

The COVID-19 pandemic we are currently facing has definitely increased stress levels which can lead to increased headaches, and chiropractic care can help ease this condition. Improved quality of sleep Quarantine may be the perfect time for all men to catch up on their sleep and the quality of sleep is crucial in letting our mind and body get the rest that it needs. Believe it or not, this can be determined by your spinal alignment. For example, subluxations in the spine affect the quality of sleep. Discomfort felt in the spine can make you experience periodic wakefulness. Increased stress hormone levels caused by spinal subluxations also prevent the body from relaxing enough to initiate restful sleep. Treating these subluxations is extremely important in improving your quality of sleep. Chiropractic adjustments balance out our hormone system, decrease stress hormones, and allow everyone including men to get a better night’s sleep. In summary, what better way to show appreciation for all the father figures in our life than improving their health through chiropractic care. Happy Father’s Day everyone!

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Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

HEALTH

PAGE 31

Integrative health practices that draw on nature’s many wonders; the restorative potential of light therapy W. GIFFORDJONES MD DIANA GIFFORD-JONES COMMON SENSE HEALTH

What would you do if you sprained your ankle during the COVID-19 pandemic? Or, what if you got a bad cut? You may feel that the last place you want to visit these days is a hospital. But do you have options? Maybe it’s time to learn more about light therapy. It’s sometimes called low-level laser therapy or low-intensity light therapy. And with one of the many portable devices available on the market, you can safely treat yourself at home. So, what should you know about this therapy as you get older and invariably develop various aches, pains, injuries and infections? Dr. Mary Dyson, Emeritus, Professor at King’s College (University of Lon-

don, England), is an international expert on wound healing. She reports that light therapy provides a jump-start to the body’s natural healing process, delivering energy that’s transformed into biochemical energy. The end result is increased blood supply and accelerated healing. Dr. Tina Karu, Professor of Laser Biology and Medicine of the Russian Academy of Science in Moscow, is an expert on basic laser research. She too has published articles about the positive healing qualities of laser therapy. Dr. Fred Kahn, Director of the Meditech Laser and Rehabilitation Centre in Toronto, explains that light therapy triggers the release of endorphins, morphinelike substances that inhibit pain sensation. It also increases cortisol, the forerunner of cortisone, and angiogenesis, and the formation of new blood vessels. Kahn says many medical conditions benefit from this therapy. The majority of his patients suffer degenerative arthritis involving the lumbosacral spine. And 60% of these patients also have degenerative disc disease causing compression of the spinal nerves.

The impact of stress and how to manage it Stress can impact your health and wellbeing. Understanding where it comes from and how it can affect you is crucial to remaining mentally and physically fit. Here’s what you need to know. WARNING SIGNS It’s important to be able to recognize if stress has become a problem. The symptoms below are common and not a cause for alarm when they occur occasionally. However, if they get worse or become ongoing, this could indicate that something’s wrong. Watch out for: • Increase or decrease in appetite • General fatigue • Mood swings • Difficulty concentrating

• Headaches • Irritability or aggressiveness • Sleep problems POSSIBLE SOURCES If you realize you’re living with too much stress, you need to identify its source. Think about your relationships, both personal and professional, your home life, your job and how busy you are. You should also identify daily irritants such as a long commute, as these tend to add up and can impact your mental health. WHAT YOU CAN DO Once you have an idea of where your stress comes from, you’ll be in a position to take steps to improve your situation and health. In some cases, it’s a matter of adjusting an aspect of your life, such as how much work you’ve taken on, or working out a problem in a relationship. Importantly, things like meditation and therapy can help as well. Whatever you do, don’t let stress take over your life. Over time, it can cause you to develop serious health issues and poor coping mechanisms like consumption of fatty foods, alcohol and drugs.

Kahn adds that over the last 20 years he has treated hundreds of patients suffering from pain due to spinal disc disease. Many of these patients had previous back surgery or were scheduled for an operation. By using light therapy, he has been able to relieve their pain in a high percentage of cases. Another large number of patients suffer from a variety of sport injuries. Others complain of pain in the shoulder and neck due to long hours of working at the computer. These younger patients respond quickly to light therapy. But light therapy treats more than aches and pains. It helps several skin conditions such as psoriasis, allergic contact dermatitis, acne, ringworm, impetigo, herpes lesions and warts, many of which fade away after 5 to 10 treatments. The current epidemic of diabetes is causing more patients to suffer from chronic leg and foot ulcers due to decreased blood supply. Conventional medical treatments often involve compression, which requires months for the healing to occur, and pain medications become the common prescription for coping. Infected

ulcers can require antibiotics. But light therapy can have a dramatic effect on healing these ulcers. A study published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment reported an average 83% improvement from light therapy, with no side effects. At times, patients are informed of only their “medical” options. Few are told about the restorative potential of light therapy. Why? Because schools of medicine around the world have neglected to train physicians in integrative health practices that draw on nature’s many wonders. Light therapy is a natural approach to muscle injuries, cuts and wounds, ulcers, and other ailments. It does not require prescription painkillers and is a non-invasive treatment. Today, any treatment that reduces the use of painkillers is a step in the right direction. During our lifetime it’s hard to escape life’s aches, pains, injuries, infections and aging joints. Even without a viral epidemic it’s convenient to have a light therapy home unit on hand for use as needed it. Several types are available, some more expensive than others depending on the quality.

What’s the best way to wake up? Does it take you several minutes, or even hours, before your brain starts working in the morning? This phenomenon, known as sleep inertia, was recently studied by researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. They found that the sound you wake up to may play a role in how long this state lasts. WHAT IS SLEEP INERTIA? Sleep inertia pertains to the transition phase between sleep and wakefulness. Depending on the person, this state of drowsiness can last up to four hours, although it typically lasts somewhere between 15 and 60 minutes. The state is characterized by inattentiveness, slow reaction times and an overall lack of alertness. These symptoms result in a higher risk of mistakes, which can be a problem if someone needs to operate machinery or make crucial decisions. WHAT DO ALARMS HAVE TO DO WITH IT? The study found that people who woke up to music reported feeling more alert than those who woke up to classic alarm sounds, such as a beeping noise. Researchers hypothesize this is because the rhythmic and melodic nature of music isn’t as disruptive

as the harsh noises of an alarm. If you suffer from persistent sleep problems, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss them. Over time, poor sleep can increase your risk of developing serious health issues.

PAGE 32

COMMUNITY

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Western Christian Democracy Why the incongruity? - Pt. 1

ERROL A. GIBBS errol@carib101.com

PHILOSOPHER

Western, democratic Christian nations claim Christianity as the religion that can save the world. Paradoxically, 30,000 – 40,000 Christian denominations call into question the unanimity in faith belief. Catholics (including Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox) constitute some 1.2 billion of the estimated 2.2 billion people worldwide who count themselves as Christians (Barrett et al. 2001, Adherents. com website). Interestingly, Christian democratic development is rooted in the fissures of the Catholic-Protestant divide. Why the incongruity? Western political leaders seem to imply that Western constitutional democracy is synonymous with Christianity. However, there is not a preponderance of the evidence that postmodern Christian democracy confirms such a proposition. Notwithstanding, the Judeo-Christian tradition clarifies that otherwise nebulous idea of equality. Christian literature teaches that all people are born equal in the image of "God" that all human beings share (a) the same origin, (b) the same nature, and (c) the same destiny. (Reference: Copyright © UNESCO 1979 (United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural

Organization). Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (Adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at its twentieth session Paris, November 1978). Notwithstanding, 6,000 years of records of human history tell a different story about inequality of birth. Intellectual observation would reveal that human beings are not born equal in the image of audacious "man." The architects of the "human ecosystem" in Western countries makes it empathically clear (by their practice of degrading others) that the design does not comprehend the empowerment of people of colour, or the optimization of their lives. Paradoxically, the clerics continue to pontificate, "All men are created equal." They never provide context or challenge the constitutional writers and the practitioners of racial and cultural superiority. They rarely let their voices resonate against human beings' subjugation, illtreatment, and mass incarceration in stark contradiction to the original constitution for humankind (the Christian Bible). Specifically, the teachings of Jesus Christ and the great prophets of other religions. We may have overlooked the need to call upon the white clergy. They are remarkably silent in matters regarding coloured lives. Yet! Their voices might have the most significant resonance with the established political hierarchical order. The paradox of all paradoxes is the Christian west striving to "democratize" the world - not by loving, caring, and sharing - nor with faith, hope, and mercy - not by empathy, fairness, and justice. Does Christianity democracy

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have the “moral capacity” to transform the world, underpinned by such incongruences? Western leaders claim tremendous success by comparing democracy to other systems of governance, such as feudal monarchy, totalitarianism, and postmodern communist dictatorships. Absolutely! Democracy is superior to these different regimes, past and present. Sadly, the leaders of some regimes opportunistically draw a parallel to some Western democratic leader’s behaviour as equivalent to theirs. The "moral evidence" demonstrates that the heights of injustice in the administration of "unjust laws" are represented in Just Mercy - A Story of Justice and Redemption. Copyright © 2014 by Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the "Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)," says, "The opposite of poverty is not wealth. In too many places, the opposite of poverty is justice" (Reference: Bryant Stevenson's TED Talk). In 2012, EJI won a historic ruling in the US Supreme Court holding that mandatory life-without-parole sentences for all children 17 or younger are unconstitutional. Stevenson's work fighting poverty and challenging racial discrimination in the criminal justice system has won him numerous awards. Bryant is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and the Harvard School of Government. He is the recipient of 14 honorary doctorate degrees. The disparities that are so glaring to non-Christians and some Christians alike cause them to ponder the complicated relationship between Christianity and democracy. The democratic Christian west

in 2020 is experiencing a "crisis in leadership governance" (spiritual, moral, social, intellectual, and physical). In the book, "Poor Leadership and Bad Governance," Edited by Helms, Ludger, (2012), it provides a chronology of 'wicked problems' facing leaders in our postmodern ear. Evidence is in the principal problem facing leaders in postmodern democracy by an enormous buildup of the global Prison Industrial Complex (PIC). Too many disadvantaged peoples of color, the PIC paints a picture of a "constitutionally legal" substitute for the industrial-scale strictures of plantations of the Southern United States and the colonies. (Internet Reference: Plantation Life, National Humanities Center). This "deficit-financed" PIC suffocates the growth of a more "just society." Notwithstanding, powerless individuals are becoming aware that they are powerful. They are the light of the world, striving to illuminate the darkness of indifference to people of colour. Undergirded by these "thought perspectives" lie the irrefutable evidence that even the powerless have control of their destiny, enabled by their spiritual connection to God. Civilization brought itself out of the Dark Ages or Early Middle Ages, the early medieval period of western European history—specifically, the time (476–800 CE). More importantly, the world ended 400 years of unrelenting Black African enslavement (1600–1900 CE), and the United Nations (UN) gave the Declaration of Human Rights to the world in (1984) (Continued in Part 2 of 3).

LIFE

Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 33

Resolve to succeed despite life’s contrary circumstances rologist, psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor wrote, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” History abounds with stories of great men and women who despite life’s contrary circumstances and the odds stacked against them has gone on to put a dent in the universe and leave behind footprints in the sand of time. Federick Douglas, who was paralyzed from the waist down, rose above his physical limitations to become the president of the United States. Viktor Frankl, imprisoned at several concentration camps by Nazis. His wife and family were killed, but despite these circumstances, he wrote the book, “Man’s Search For Meaning” one of the ten most influential books in the United States. At the time of his death in 1997, the book had sold over 10 million copies and had been translated into 24 languages. Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer, yet, she was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. In the face of life’s contrasting odds, they lived a life of impact

DANIEL COLE

daniel@carib101.com

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Most people settle for what life gives them. The Irish playwright and political activist, George Bernard Shaw once said, “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” Life is full of contrary circumstances that stand in the way of our success and progress. William Federick has rightly observed, “There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet.” In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl, the Austrian neu-

and significance. What’s your excuse? The works of the great composer, Ludwig van Beethoven transcends time, but he was deaf. When his magisterial 9th Symphony premiered in 1824, the composer had to be turned around to see the audience cheering — he could not hear the audience’s rapturous applause. Widely regarded as the greatest composer who ever lived, Beethoven dominates a period of musical history as no one else before or since. You are either making an excuse or making a difference. A lot of success in life comes because of tough personal choices people have made in spite of their bad start. It’s too easy to blame our parents and home life for our problems, but it’s all about the daily choices we have to make as adults in the now. Life is hard, and success comes at a price. John Maxwell said, “You can pay now and play later, or you can play now and pay later. But either way, you are going to pay.” Make hay while the sun shines. Put in the work for your dream. The difference between excellence and mediocrity is ef-

fort, and the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the “extra”. Success takes courage and sacrifice. Remember, if it was easy, everyone would do it. In life, you will fail your way to success, but if you don’t give in, and you don’t give up, with dedication and hard work, you will succeed. Aristotle has rightly said, “The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.” John Locke once said, “Things of this world are in so constant a flux that nothing remains long in the same state.” In other words, life and circumstances are always changing and we need to be hopeful in that and be glad that negative circumstances are not fixed forever. If life changes, then so can we. In your resolve to succeed, beware of pursuing things for which you are not gifted. Sometimes our “finding a way to win” is sheer stubbornness. In the end, the ridicule we get is deserved. Some things are not meant to be, and sometimes, it is impatience that sends us off on a tangent.

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LIFE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

“This was the Karma for some of the things I did in my life!” Reliving my past trauma

I want to grow up. Or do I? BY MAKAYLA B. 12 YEARS OLD TC JUNIOR CONTRIBUTOR If someone were to interrogate you and inquire about what part of being an adult is fun and why, what would you say? Would you say because you can do whatever you want? Or maybe because you can eat whatever you want and stay up as late as you want? Well if I were asked that question, I’d probably say being able to do whatever you want would be the most fun. I would be able to buy a dog. I can’t right now because I am not allowed to have a pet. The reason for that is because I used to have a pet fish, and I was too young to take care of it, so my parents had to for me. Being an adult may sound fun, but it’s not all fun and games. Though being an adult may sound fun it also can get challenging at times. Depending on the job you have, and if you enjoy what you are doing, going to work seems like it can be a drag. Adults have: expenses (paying bills, food costs, etc.), they have to keep their house clean, if they have kids, they have to deal with all types of bad behaviour, and of course, there is traffic. So while being an adult may be fun, it also has its challenges. Adults have many responsibilities, and although it might seem like it is fun being an adult, the challenges and the responsibility do not seem fun at all.

EMPOWERING OUR YOUNG MINDS OF TOMORROW TORONTO CARIBBEAN NEWS INC.

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

“Hola” Really Simone! That is the only thing you could think of to say right now? I was nervous. Okay! I am going to admit something here. It is hard to pinpoint a feeling when you are in a stressful situation. You want to feel everything, yet nothing at the time. I am glad that I was even able to describe a feeling at that moment. If you are just joining us, my name is Simone Jennifer Smith. At the age of 33, I had successfully found myself imprisoned in Panama. Yeah! I know. I definitely want you to join me on this journey, because I think that we all can learn something from it. I certainly did. I was catching everyone up on my first morning in the holding cell in Panama. Here I was, cramped and ache, knowing that this was just the beginning of my current woes. The girls looked at me curiously.

They all appeared relatively young (25 – 35), and for some reason, seemed calm in their situation. “Hola,” the older one of the three said. She then followed up with a train of Spanish. I could only look at her blankly and say, “Perdón, pero no hablo español.” I had been dating a Latin American man for four years, and that was all I could come up with. Geez! Looking back at it, I realize that I had lost an opportunity to learn a language. She giggled, unaffected by my lack of vernacular. She said something to the other girls, and they nodded, and looked back at me interested. When you watch movies, they always showing these holding cells a certain way. Angry women. A mean looking heifer, glaring icily at everyone. An emotional young girl, scared out of her wits. Crying uncontrollably. Panama was none of that. I don’t know how long these women had been there, but for some reason, that first initial interaction put me at ease. The heavy steel door swung open, and an officer stepped in with plastic trays of food. He handed them out to us, and I looked at it not sure what to make of it. I can’t describe what was in front of me. I think it was supposed to be eggs, but not sure. There was some type of meat on the plate. Sausage perhaps. I just looked at it unsure of what to do. I looked up to see what the other

girls were doing. They had already started eating, and they seemed focused on the task at hand. I looked back down at my plate and thought to myself, “Why not?” I tentatively took a small bite. Hmmm! The egg thing was bland with no taste. The sausage; it reminded me of the wieners from Jamaica. I mixed them together and kept eating. I was in no position to be demanding lobster and champagne. I washed my meal down with some watered down coffee, and set my tray to the side. There was a small stall that served as a washroom and a shower. I quietly dismissed myself, and grabbed my small essentials to clean up. My Caribbean people will understand this. There was a time when you didn’t have an option of hot, or cold water. Your shower was cold. Well, I went right back there. I stood on the edge of the toilet shower with my rag, and soap. I promise. I did my best, but it takes some time to adjust to pissing, and then standing up and taking a shower in the same space. I have to admit that after the shower, I was able to sort through my thoughts a little better. I knew in my heart that this was supposed to happen to me. This was my Karma for some of the things I had done in my life.

Emotional intelligence isn’t just recommended, it’s a necessity! GARCIA AKUA

garcia@carib101.com

COSMIC CORNER

Greetings family I’m sending you all an abundance of healing energy and love as we journey together through these trying times. Fear has seemed to be an underlying theme this year. Fear of war, fear of COVID, fear of each other and now fear of brutality and death. We’re six months into 2020, passed the halfway mark, still with fear in the air. We often fear what we do not know, the unknown in most cases causes anxiety, so fear is a natural response. However, we have a source of guidance in the Cosmos to provide us with some clues for moving through fear to love. No matter where we are in the world, we all share the same Sun, Moon and planets. We all fall under the same Zodiac wheel, which is likened to the Womb of the Solar System. The Zodiac holds within it the organizing principles of our Solar System. If we believe in our daily horoscopes or not we can all agree that some days are better than others. We can feel the energy shifting at any given moment. The Cosmos connect us

all and if we continue to find answers. As previously discussed, this year every planet will go through a retrograde period. Mercury has just entered it’s season as Venus is getting ready to come out of retrograde. By now most of us are more familiar with Mercury Retrograde. Mercury goes through the phase at least 3-4 times per year. Mercury is the planet that influences travel, thoughts, communiation, and technology. During the retrograde phase, the planet slows down which can have some disruptions to its area of influence. This a good time to back up needed files and information. When traveling take caution, double-check directions, and give yourself a little extra time. Be clear and intentional with your communication as misunderstandings are also typical around this time. It is not the best time to sign contracts or make major purchases, if need be, do your due diligence, read the fine print before signing. Mercury will be retrograde in the sign of Cancer from June 18th to July 12th. Cancer is a water sign of emotions, feminine energy, maternal energy as well as the home. Mercury in Cancer is calling us to lean out of our minds and into our hearts. There is a saying that says ‘home is where the heart is at.’ This is a message we can take from this retrograde phase, there is nothing to fear. We can rest our racing minds from all we have been trying to process. Most of us are mentally and emotionally drained at this point. This Mercury retrograde is calling us to slow down our minds and spend time

with this nurturing maternal energy Cancer brings. Please note, in this placement, we can also be more emotionally triggered, especially by things pertaining to the home, childhood wounds, and/or issues with a maternal figure. As stated a lot of us are already emotionally triggered by the amount of fear we have thus ingested. Do not take things personally, we are all battling our inner emotions at this time. Be gentle with yourself, be gentle with others. Take some time over the next few weeks to unplug from all the external triggers. Tap into the divine feminine nurturing energy that is available to us all, we are all cradled in the womb of the solar system. Mercury ruling the thoughts and mind, in the placement of Cancer, our emotions, we have an opportunity to reflect on what emotional intelligence means to each of us. We have the power to reprogram our minds with love, rather than living in a state of fear. When we spend time time with our fears and triggers, we can unpack the whys behind them. This gives us an opportunity to now create a positive solution to the why instead of being cripled by fear. Every day it seems it’s something new across the various media forms, but every day is also an opportunity to heal. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is certain. So in order to face our fears and continue pushing forward with love, emotional intelligence isn’t just recommended, it’s a necessity.

LIFE

Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 35

Tuthmosis the 3rd; the first warrior to record his feats on the battlefield in great detail his ascension to the throne. However, those arduous days and nights spent with the military give Tuthmosis 3rd the experience, which actually set him up to be one of Kemetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest Nesew or King. While we can only speculate about what type of pharaoh or nesew he would have been if he had taken the throne before his time. We do know Tuthmosis 3rd became the first person to record his feats on the battlefield in great detail. Today we can refer to them on the walls of AmunRaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Temple at Karnak. Originally, his scribe Thanuny, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first war correspondent, recorded them in a journal. Immediately after the passing of Hatshepsut, there was an uprising in the eastern parts of Asia. The king of Kadesh, an ancient city of Syria, marched an army of approximately 10-15 thousand men to the city of Megiddo in order to â&#x20AC;&#x153;rebel against his majesty.â&#x20AC;? In the eyes of the Tuthmois 3rd, this meant war. *As a side note, the city of Meggido is the biblical city of Armageddon where in Revelations 16:16 tells us â&#x20AC;&#x153;The

DAVE RANKIN dave@carib101.com

AFRICAN HISTORY

Of all the glorious accomplishments Hatshepsut made during her reign, it was her foresight to ensure that her stepson, Tuthmosis 3rd received a first rate education from the finest minds of Kemet. I like to think that she knew in her heart that Kemet would need the kind of ruler that the people would be proud of. Little did she know of the animosity Tuthmosis 3rd had towards her. We could only imagine what would have been brewing in his mind during his 22-year co-regency. It must have been difficult for a child at his age to: have to be schooled among the priesthood, join the military, and the obvious delay of

kings of the world will have their final battle against the forces of God.â&#x20AC;? According to the book When Egypt Ruled The East, the authors advise us that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was the twenty-fifth day of the eighth month, in the twenty-second year of his reign, that King Thutmose 3rd passed the fortress of Tjaru on the eastern frontier of Egypt.â&#x20AC;? Tuthmosis 3rd and his army marched to the loyal city of Gaza in ten days. After a days rest, his troops then proceeded north towards Yehem. This trip took about eleven days. Here, he sent out scouts, which advised him of the enemyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defense at the fortified city of Meggido. With his enemy in waiting, a decision had to be made on how to approach any further. He called a council of war to discuss the options. Three possible scenarios were on the table. Two of them were easy, one of them, a little more difficult. Tuthmosis 3rd selected the hardest route possible as he thought his enemies would not expect him to do. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will march on this road to Arunaâ&#x20AC;Ś let him of you who will follow my majesty.â&#x20AC;? His loyal troops followed him on

that narrow road, where â&#x20AC;&#x153;horse must follow horse and man behind man.â&#x20AC;? At the helm on golden chariot, Tuthmosis 3rd lead his troops without any problems for three days, setting up camp before the battle. The battle began at dawn, with Tuthmosis 3rd leading the charge. The Kemetian force appeared to take their enemies by surprise as the army of Kadesh did not expect them to arrive at the point they had. This forced them to retreat within the city walls. The armies of Kadesh suffered considerable loses, especially the numerous chariots and horses that were abandoned when they fled. In so many ways, this had saved them, as the Tuthmosis 3rdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s men were so enthralled with their newly found spoils, they had failed to take the city in one swift move. In all, the Kemetian forces had to erect a â&#x20AC;&#x153;blockade, which lasted seven months to starve them (the armies of Kadesh) into submission.â&#x20AC;? Ultimately, the heads of the armies of Kadesh fell and began the legend of Tuthmosis 3rd as Kemetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Warrior King.

Systemic racism can no longer be denied in Ontario You can go back 60 or 70 years. People out there are feeling pain. These issues are deeply rooted; they stem from a history of racism and abuse.â&#x20AC;? Peel which includes: Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga has about 50% of people identify as a visible minority according to statistics quoted in the June 15th issue of the Caledon Enterprise. Peel Council introduced a resolution that stated outright that there is an anti-black racism crisis in the region and that there is resolve to erase it. According to Johanns Downey, Caledon Regional Councillor, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is time to act. Our school board is on fire. Our black community is suffering. We have a lot to do,â&#x20AC;? (Caledon Enterprise). In the words of Bancy Polsinelli (Peelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interim Chief Administrative) stated, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We may be miles away, but the issues are not new to us. They are being seen in a new light .We know action is needed.â&#x20AC;? Peel region is expected to have a community well-being and safety plan in place by Jan 1st, 2021. It will involve, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Engaging black communities to address racial inequities related to COVID-19, pro-

PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

EDUCATION

The pernicious and pervasiveness of antiblack racism has been acknowledged within Canada by many levels of government. The RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki, who initially denied the reality of systemic racism in Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national force retracted and admitted that it did. Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau recognized its existence during Black History Month, 2019. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario initially denied it on June 2nd, admitted on CP24 on Thursday, June 4th,â&#x20AC;?Our history is different than the United States, but we have our own history of racism here in Ontario. RY 10TH

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viding funding to mental health/housing/ harm reduction programs for marginalized communities and ensuring social agencies in Peel that serve the black community are funded equitably through the region,â&#x20AC;? (Caledon Enterprise). In addition, there will be several town hall meetings that will be held over the summer focusing on addressing systemic racism with the area municipalities. In the City of Toronto, a motion was passed by the Board of Health to recognize â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anti-black racism as a public health crisisâ&#x20AC;? (Global News, June 8th, 2020). According to councillor Joe Cressy, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anti-black racism is a public health crisis. Black Torontonians are twice as likely to live in poverty than visible minorities. 40% of black children live in poverty compared to 15% of non-racialized children. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a public health crisis. Black women earn 57% for every dollar than nonracialized men earn, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a public health crisis.â&#x20AC;? Toronto Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s John Tory has given full support to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board of health to focus on rearranging resources to address the social determinants of health

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with respect to ta racialized minorities. He has indicated that he is open to recommendations for the 2021 budget given the challenges that are placed on the city due to the fallout from CIVID-19. The focus will be on tracking anti-black racism in the community. A coalition of black health leaders called on the Ontario government to declare that there is a public health crisis in the province. The joint statement reads, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We cannot be silent in the face of on-going horror black people are experiencing in Ontario, across Canada, and in the United States.â&#x20AC;? Liben Gentemikarel, Executive Director of TAIBU Community Centre called for diversity on the board of health, and has requested a 10-year anti-black racism action plan, as well as an anti-black racism initiative. There is positive momentum to significant and long-lasting solutions to social, political and economic problems that affect the chances and opportunities of racialized minorities.

PAGE 36

LIFE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Queens University’s new Faculty of Law diploma program NANA ADJEI-POKU nana@carib101.com

LEGAL SPECIALIST

After winning a successful bid to the Immigration Consultants of Canada Refugee Council in 2019, Queen University’s Faculty of Law will be launching a new Immigration and Citizenship Law Graduate Diploma commencing August 2020. The University will be the only educational institution providing this program in English. For those wishing to enroll in the French-language program, Université de Sherbrooke will be the only institution offering these programs in French come September 2021. Previously, various private colleges delivered the immigration consultant certificate program, one of the final streams that I enrolled in this past six months. Over the years there were complaints about the former program as there were consultants providing services way below the competency level, and the duration was way too

short for complicated content such as immigration law. I can honestly say that the former curriculum was mediocre in comparison to other certificates or diplomas I attained. I felt the quality of the teaching was substandard and was not worth the money I paid. I can also say having a previous background in law was an asset so I am eager to see how this program will be. The new program will commence online classes as of January 2021 and will be a two-year program consisting of nine courses that will be offered in both academic and competency formats. It will be the University’s third program to be launched in an online format in the past four years. The reason behind the online format, according to the Dean of Law, Mark Walters is that “Offering programs online may help Canadians understand the law and may promote access to justice, which is a key value of the law school.” In the immigration law industry, your skills have to equal your knowledge and this program promises to embed these in each of the courses, which will distinguish from previous programs that were offered via the private institutions. I am happy to see that this course will be offered more efficiently to allow future applicants to be able to learn at a comfortable pace and not feel rushed having to learn a twoyear program within a six-month duration.

Bidding on a home? Ask for repairs Unless a house is brand new, chances are that something in it needs to be repaired. Here’s what to consider when requesting a home be fixed prior to purchase. DETERMINE WHAT’S IMPORTANT Home inspections typically turn up a host of issues, but only some of them should be cause for alarm. Be on the lookout for: • Galvanized water pipes. They tend to corrode over time, although it’s common to simply repair them. • Orangeburg water pipes. If the home has these pipes, they should be replaced entirely. • Roofing issues. If a serious problem is found, sellers may agree to replace it. • HVAC or heating problems. If the HVAC system is nearing the end of its lifespan, get it inspected in case it needs to be replaced.

FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE When requesting repairs, prioritize major problems as well as anything that’s a safety concern. Asking for little fixes all over the house is unlikely to be well received. It’s not worth putting the transaction in jeopardy for minor cosmetic issues. KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT Keep in mind that sellers aren’t obligated to accept repair requests. In fact, in a seller’s market, they may simply refuse because they know they’ll get another offer. Finally, keep in mind that it’s sometimes better to get a cash credit than it is to get the owners to make the repairs. Speak with your realtor to determine the best option.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

Shopify X Walmart: Will this marriage topple Amazon? CHRISTINA GWIRA christina@carib101.com

TECH SPECIALIST

It seems that most of my articles for the past couple of months have surrounded two things: podcasts and Shopify… and with good reason. Firstly, with the advent of quarantine, work-from-home orders and the like, more people were looking for something to do and be preoccupied while doing the mundane. However, Shopify has also been continuously popping up in the news, and this week is the same: Shopify is in the news again for doing something big. I got the news on Monday, June 15th, 2020 that Shopify and Walmart were teaming up in a big way. What kind of way might you ask? Walmart is planning on bringing Shopify onboard to assist them in overhauling the eCommerce department of their business. Next to Amazon, Shopify is slowly becoming the darling of the internet: a rising stock price; a BOOM in traffic to ALL Shopify stores since COVID-19 hit; a partnership with Facebook barely a month ago (we reported on that, check the previous edition) and now this partnership with the legend that is Walmart. But what does this mean for the little guy, people like you and I? Well, at the moment, we can’t use or tap into the possibility of this partnership just yet. People everywhere are gunning for Amazon’s spot and Walmart more than anyone. They’ve been slowly lagging behind in the eCommerce race and have continued to lose market dominance to Amazon’s speedy delivery, massive warehouses and even on price, but barely. I must say, if before you were ignoring the behemoth that is Amazon, you better think again. I myself had never purchased from Amazon till I was unable to purchase goods from my local favorites. I wasn’t able to find products in store due

to COVID-19, so I went online, to Amazon, to see whether I could stock up. Lo and behold not only was I able to stock up on what I needed, I was also able to get it at a great price WITH free shipping. From what has been revealed, the Shopify-Walmart partnership would allow (at the present moment) American merchants to sell their products on Walmart’s soon to be rolled out, brand, spanking new, Shopify powered marketplace. Shopify anticipates that approximately 1,200 merchants will be using the new Walmart marketplace to sell their products. Can you imagine the possibilities? This would provide Shopify shop owners with the opportunity to get in front of some 120 million people, who currently use the current iteration of the Walmart marketplace on a monthly basis. Of course, with news of this partnership, there came the jump in Shopify’s stock price. Touted as the darling of the Canadian markets, Shopify has beaten long-standing RBC as Canada’s most valued publicly traded company. At the time of this writing, Shopify’s current stock price sits at $817.36 USD, a far cry from the $300+ it was trading at at the beginning of September 2019. This is something that I cannot stress enough, especially as a web designer, but also a member of the black community. If you have a product that you would like to sell to the masses, the best thing that you can do is start your online store today. Don’t wait till tomorrow. As each day passes on, there are more and more opportunities to bring your vision to the world. With tools like Shopify and the internet at large at your back, you have the power to be able to change the tide for your generational tree. This partnership could be just the thing that could catapult your business to the next level. I am hopeful and very excited to see how Shopify plans to integrate the standard Shopify backend with the Walmart marketplace. Funny enough, I have a client who is currently working on integrating his store with Amazon… maybe he should wait a while and see what this partnership could look like for his business...

TECHNOLOGY

PAGE 37

PAGE 38

HOW TO

HOW TO CHOOSE LIVING ROOM FURNITURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Whether you want to spruce up your living room or completely remodel it, choosing new furniture can be a challenge. Here are some tips that can help. IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS Consider how the space will be used. If you watch a lot of TV or enjoy frequent movie nights, opt for a comfortable couch with enough space for the whole family. For avid gamers, an entertainment unit with shelves to store consoles and controllers is a practical purchase. A coffee table that can be adjusted to various heights is a great solution if you tend to eat your meals in the living room. Additionally, a sofa bed is a versatile choice if you need your living room to double as an occasional guest room. You should also determine how much storage you’ll need to ensure the space is functional and free of clutter. ASSESS THE SPACE Measure the dimensions of your living room before you go shopping to make sure you choose pieces that fit. If you want to maximize the space’s potential, sketch out a few different floor plans. Keep in mind the location of windows, doorways, base-

HOW TO LIVE A LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE

If you want to increase your lifespan, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help prevent illness and injury. Here’s what you should do to live a long life. EAT WELL An abundance of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fish packed with omega-3 fatty acids are vital components of a healthy, balanced diet. You should also limit your consumption of trans fat, salt and refined sugar. STAY HYDRATED Drink at least two litres of water every day to help your body absorb nutrients, regulate your temperature and eliminate waste. You can supplement your liquid intake with broth, milk and juice that’s low in sugar. WATCH YOUR WEIGHT If you’re overweight, you risk de veloping a range of health problems such as cancer, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. You’re also more likely to experience joint pain and reduced mobility. GET ENOUGH SLEEP Adults should sleep between se ven and nine hours every night. To optimize your rest, establish a consistent sleep schedule and invest in a quality mattress and pillow. You should also avoid eating and limit your use of electronic devices before bed.

board heaters and floor vents when you design the layout. You should also take note of whether direct sunlight will create glare on the TV screen or potentially fade furniture fabric. ESTABLISH A BUDGET Evaluate your financial situation and inquire about financing options for big-ticket items. Once you know how much you can afford to spend, decide on a budget and stick to it. Keep in mind, however, that while quality pieces are more expensive, they’ll also last a lot longer. It may be worth shelling out a bit more for furniture if it’s well made. SETTLE ON A STYLE When buying new furniture for your living room, it’s best to choose pieces with colours and textures that complement one another. Additionally, deciding on a design style will help guide your choices and allow you to successfully pair wood, metal and glass pieces. From the whimsy of bohemian chic to the crisp simplicity of Scandinavian, there’s a wide range of styles to select from. Choose one you love and pick your items accordingly. TEST EACH PIECE Before you purchase a sofa or chair, try out the floor model to make sure it’s comfortable. If you find a few items you like in the same store, ask if they can be placed side by side so you can see how they look together. You should also bring along paint chips, swatches and photos to help you find furniture that matches what you already have. To simplify your search for living room furniture and help you create a cohesive space, consider hiring a professional interior designer.

REMAIN ACTIVE Health experts recommend that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise every week. In addition to providing physical benefits, an active lifestyle helps boost your mood, improve your memory and reduce stress. Choose an activity you enjoy to ensure you stay motivated. EXERCISE YOUR MIND To delay or prevent cognitive decline, you should challenge your brain on a regular basis. Reading, learning new skills, solving puzzles and playing games are all great ways to stimulate your brain. MAINTAIN YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE Regularly visiting friends and family helps decrease feelings of depression and anxiety. Social connections can also strengthen your immune system and lower your risk of developing dementia. Plus, group activities are often a great source of entertainment and laughter. LEARN TO MANAGE STRESS From ulcers and irritability to migraines and high blood pressure, stress can have serious consequences on your health. Explore various ways to relax and reduce stress such as breathing deeply, listening to music and practising yoga. CONSULT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS Depending on your age and health, you should visit your doctor, dentist, optometrist and other health-care specialists every few months or years. If you experience any concerning or persistent symptoms, schedule a consultation right away. In addition to adopting these healthy habits, you should avoid smoking and limit your alcohol consumption to the recommended amount.

FUN

Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 39

WEEK OF JUNE 21 TO JUNE 27, 2020

ARIES

The luckiest signs this week: VIRGO, LIBRA AND SCORPIO

If you have a move coming up, there will be little time to spare this week. Luckily, you’ll manage to stay on top of your schedule and plan your days carefully to ensure smooth sailing.

TAURUS

Your kids are over the moon about the start of the summer holidays, and you’ll spend a lot of time driving them around this week. You’ll be approved for a loan or get a great deal on a major purchase.

PUZZLE NO. 712 ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 712

HOW TO PLAY :

GEMINI

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

If there’s been something wrong with your relationship recently, don’t put off talking to your partner about it. Communication is the only way to fix the problem.

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.

Show your employer or significant other that you can be bold. Take matters into your own hands. When you do, you’ll gain respect in all areas of your life.

LEO

If your relationship is relatively new, your partner will show signs of a deeper commitment. You may even consider living toget her or starting a family. Your imagin ation will run wild this week.

PUZZLE NO. 2 45. Slick 48. Unpleasant 52. Unruly kid 55. Diamond calls 57. Distinctive time 58. Price 59. Chimney duct 60. Walking on ____ 61. Highly impressed 62. Printed words 63. Like a ____ of bricks

ACROSS 1. Find a sum 4. Basis 8. Husband’s spouse 12. Scheduled to arrive 13. Jealousy 14. Constant 15. Slippery fish 16. Pile

17. Stared at 18. Piece 20. Security device 22. Mischievous child 24. Consuming 28. Door fastener 31. Found’s companion 34. ____ good to be true

35. Yield to commands 36. Kind of grain 37. Skin condition 38. Long scarf 39. Old stringed instrument 40. “____ So Cold” 41. Wait on 43. Filled dessert

DOWN 1. Summer coolers 2. Fencing event 3. Snack store 4. Tailor again 5. Wallet stuffer 6. Shaped like an egg 7. Printed mistake 8. Calendar divisions 9. Climbing plant 10. Lawyer’s payment 11. Discontinue 19. Detroit, e.g. 21. Used scissors on 23. Scheme 25. Urge

26. “____ but the Brave” 27. “Life ____ On” 28. Certain haircuts 29. Clarinet’s cousin 30. “King ____” 32. Rowing device 33. Stair 37. Cruising 39. Floral wreath 42. Cast a ballot 44. Map graphic

46. Place for hay 47. Santa’s time 49. Sofa 50. Set of three 51. Knitter’s material 52. Bathing-suit part 53. Uncooked 54. Had food 56. Semiformal wear

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 2

VIRGO

You’ll have a sudden urge to treat yourself. You deserve a few extra moments of happiness, so take the time to pamper yourself. You’ll be influenced by your friends’ opinions while shopping.

LIBRA

Whether you’re single or not, someone from work will make advances that take your breath away. You’ll feel some kind of pres sure from the people around you.

SCORPIO

Summer is here and you have a big family trip planned. If you’re driving to your destination, don’t forget to pack a map or update the GPS.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll be overjoyed by your children’s report cards. Their success will make it hard to refuse them anything. Be prepared for them to ask for the moon, or at least something outside of your budget.

CAPRICORN

If you’re not sure where your relationship stands, now’s the time to start a conversation with your partner. This will strengthen your bond.

AQUARIUS

You’ll contemplate starting your own business, which will eventually be very profitable. If you’re single, a special someone will enter your life, although they might be discreet and reserved at first.

PISCES

In order to find your path in life, both professionally and personally, you need to build up your selfesteem and learn to respect yourself.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

Meet Arvin This seven month old Angel was rushed to Hospital after he began to have trouble breathing. It was discovered that he suffered from a condition where very little blood was flowing to the lungs and there was not enough oxygenated blood circulating through his little body. Due to extremely low oxygen levels he was rushed into the operating room for emergency surgery where a shunt was placed to increase blood flow to his lungs. This saved his life. Due to his small size however, this temporary treatment would only allow him to survivelong enough to undergo future surgeries. After a few days, he was able to breathe on his own and drank his first bottle of milk one week after surgery. In the next few years, Arvin will need one or two more surgeries before he is completely cured.

@tccfangels #tccfangels | to donate www.tccfangels.com

FOR SALE FOR SALE WESTMORELAND: GrangeHill House Spot/Land for sale close to Negril é Sav.. $21000.00 CA. Clear Title after Cash Payment. 647-267-6949 REDUCED FROM $700,000 CAD TO $600,000 (NEGOTIABLE): RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL - 4 bedrooms, library, family room, Nany’s room, enclosed garage, 40 ft open balcony, additional 40 ft building on 10,000 sq. ft. land.If interested, please call 905-660-4744 or email: shahs@rogers.com

FOR RENT SALE FOR ROOM: Furnish Rooms for Rent in Brampton.Close to Shoppers World Female students or working person prefer . Non Smoker ,no pets, ground level walk out to large backward. Call 416-9999720.

FOR RENT SALE FOR

WANTED

1 BEDROOM : Chingucousy/ Bovaird 1 bedroom basement Apt. for RENT,in a quiet Christian home, April 1st mature working person only, walkout entrance and share laundry, strictly no Pets/Smoking. $950.00 Call 905 495 7092

CAREGIVER: Experience Caregiver looking for a full or part time position to work in a home taking care of seniors. Available on weekends. Call Kristine 647971-8983.

FORWANTED SALE HELP

TRAVEL COMPANION: Do you love to travel? I’m looking for someone to travel with as company. I am Pete, 45, phone 416 264 3024. email golden7words@ yahoo.com

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY SEEKING MALE/FEMALE FOR A COOK/CLEANER TO WORK IN A PERSONAL CARE HOME IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO. CALL MARTHA 416-922-7674 OR EMAIL RESUME

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PERSONALS

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FOR SALE WORSHIP

FOR SALE WORSHIP SUNDAY SERVICE: Fountain of Truth Ministries Pastor: Reverend Maxine Campbell Worship Address: 2170 Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke Percy Johnson School – Cafeteria Sundays: 10.am – 2. pm Teaching, Worship, Ministering For info call: 416 748 0211 MISSISSAUGA: Mississauga Missionary Baptist Church invites you to join us at 1620 Dundas St West, each Sunday at 10am for praise, worship and in-depth Bible teaching with Pastor Sean, 416-219-9137

POST YOUR CLASSIFIED UP TO 30 WORDS FREE!

Subject To Space Availability - Call 647-722-6298 Some restrictions may apply. Contact us for more information.

Protect The Financial Security Of The Ones You Love

African fashion styles for women and men including lace, African prints, shoes, jewellery and much more. 2464 Weston Road, Unit 117B Toronto, ON - M9N 0A2 Tel: (416) 619-0037 www.lemuorah.com

• Paying too much for insurance? • Considered a high risk driver? • Specializing in Auto, Home and Commercial Insurance • Call for a fast and easy quote!

BIANCA TOMLINSON B.A Hons, RIBO

CALL - 647 973 7589 AiA Insurance Brokers Ltd. 5875 Hwy 7, Unit # 200 B, Vaughan, ON L4L1T9. Tel: 416 504 0990 www.aiainsurance.ca

VINYL RECORDS

WANTED

Paying top dollar for quality record collections. Interested in LP’s, 45’s, and 78’s ALL GENRES OF MUSIC WELCOME!

CONTACT CHRIS AT

716-930-1319

AUTO

INSURANCE

LIFE INSURANCE Only $45/month for $500,000 Age 35 Non Smoker for a 20 Year Term GET A QUOTE BY PHONE

Call 647-867-7809 Get a Quote Online PurchaseLifeInsuranceOnline.com

Ages 1 - 80, Term, Whole Life and Non Medical Options Available

Are you looking to make an extra $500-$750? Get fit & inspire others to do the same! College students. Stay at home moms. Someone looking for P/T or Career business. Someone looking to build a business.

DON’T DELAY CALL TODAY!

Call or text Michael

647-870-3630

Bramalea Physiotherapy & Wellness

BRAMPTON 18 Kensington Rd. Suite 200 Brampton, ON L6T 4S5 905-792-7757 ETOBICOKE 81 The East Mall, Suite 105 Etobicoke, ON M8Z 5W3 416-251-7000 WHITBY 814 Brock Street North Whitby, ON L1N 4J5 905-430-5605

BACKYARDIGAN Food Truck

Sandra's Multicultural Fashion Boutique & Custom Sewing Alteration Done on Premises Can restyle any outfit

Catering available for: • Weddings • Special Occasion • Backyard Party • On Site Catering

Specilizating in Wedding, Men's Suit, Traditional Indian Wear, Motorcycle Leather Jackets, Pants and much more

TEL: 416-456-9834

Tel: 416-418-7881 TEL: 705-291-1100

RKB Accounting & Tax Services Personal, Self-Employed, Corporate Tax filings for USA and Canada, Financial Statements, Bookkeeping, Payroll, HST, and WSIB Services 100 Hanlan Road Unit 3, Woodbridge ON L4L 4V8

TEL: 647-692-5677

www.backyardian.com backyardian4444@gmail.com

REGGAE MUSIC WANTED Cash for Jazz,Soca, Soul LPS and Reggae 45's Also buying speakers, turntables and stereos

Marcus 416-844-9990

PAGE 42

REAL ESTATE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

How I got evicted JAY BRIJPAUL brijpaul@carib101.com

REAL ESTATE PRO

The cool summer breeze had departed as the morning sun rose. I sat on the patio and drained the last few drops of coffee. My thoughts went back to the hearing I had at the Landlord and Tenant Board. I had fallen behind with my rent. I had received an order to vacate my home by a certain date, but I knew that it was a long process. I resolved to flout the order and stay. After the termination date in the order, my landlord applied through the court’s enforcement office, known as the sheriff’s office, for eviction. Such must be done with the Sheriff’s office in the area where the rental property is. I knew that time was on my side since my landlord would have to put aside an entire day for this project. He would also have to complete an application for

eviction plus pay about $350.00 plus mileage charges. I received a regular mail from the Sheriff’s office. It was a notice to vacate the property. I had another month and then had to leave by 8:30 a.m. I knew that if I didn’t move, my landlord would call the Sheriff’s office and schedule a date for eviction. He would have to inform the Sheriff’s office by 11:00 a.m. on that day otherwise the eviction would be aborted, and my landlord would have to pay an additional $240.00 to reschedule. Usually, at around 11:30 a.m. on the date given for eviction, the Sheriff would advise the landlord of the exact date and time the eviction will happen. This can range between one to five days from then and it is only tentative. I was on a mission; I wanted to drag the process out as long as possible. It is a requirement that my landlord must be able to grant entry to the home. If not, the eviction order can be cancelled. I installed a second lock on the door hoping that I could stay longer. The doorbell rang, followed by a loud knock and shortly after the sound of drilling of my locks began. The Sheriff was pleasant. He gave me two hours to leave the premises. I started packing

slowly and called a few friends for help. Help never came. Two hours later, I was asked to step out of my home. I knew that I could have avoided the eviction by paying the rent arrears along with the fees incurred by my landlord after the termination date but before the date I was given for eviction. I would have had to file a sworn affidavit stating the amount paid to the Landlord and Tenant Board prior to the date of eviction. This motion can only be given once in any given tenancy agreement and this was my second time. As for my belongings, I knew that I would have 72 hours to retrieve them. During that time, my landlord could leave them in the rental unit or store them in a safe place close to the rental unit. The law required that he gave me access between 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If I did not retrieve them, then he could sell or dispose of them. If my landlord failed to comply, I could file a complaint with the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit or with the Landlord and Tenant Board. It’s been about five months since my landlord decided to evict me. First, he gave me the N4, Notice to End the Tenancy for Failure to Pay Rent, then there was the hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board

which took a few months to schedule and finally the eviction. Some of my friends got away with longer because their landlord was too lenient at the beginning and gave them a few months to catch up while some landlords failed to use the Board prescribed forms and had to start over. I had tried to ask the Board to postpone the hearing for a later date because I was not feeling well but they declined. Now, I owe the landlord close to ten thousand dollars and he may want to collect. One form of collection my landlord might take is to garnish my wages, where my landlord will receive a portion, usually 30 % or less, from each of my paychecks, until my debt is repaid. For him to do so, he must obtain a judgement against me. A judgement is an acceptance by the court that my landlord has a claim against me. He must know where I am currently residing and where I am working. I felt responsible for what happened. My landlord would have worked out an arrangement with me. With a judgement against my name and a bad tenant review, it will be difficult to find another rental accommodation and whenever I manage to find a job, he can garnish my wages.

PAGE 44

FINANCE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

How is the falling market affecting your retirement plans? FAZAAD BACCHUS fazaad@carib101.com

FINANCE SPECIALIST

Over my 30 years in this industry I have seen many clients who prefer to make very little return on their investments at the expense of their overall retirement plan. What causes a person to say that “I would rather have a small return than take a bigger risk for a better return?” Most people would rather take a small loss over a large gain coupled with large potential losses. Ask yourself, would I take an investment where I can earn a 7% return but can suffer a 7% loss just as well or am I more comfortable with a 3% return and a possible 3% loss? When the markets behave as they have done this year, those who are with the

7% typical return investments have seen their investments sink much faster. Most investments of this caliber have been down 7% and more year to date and it’s daunting to keep watching your money fall. The urge to get out of these investments, quit and sell become your watchwords. If you do, you might have just made a huge mistake. Have you heard of paper losses? Paper losses or unrealized losses are very different from realized losses. If you sell then the loss is realized and you take the loss with you. In planning for your retirement it’s important to talk with your advisor about your overall expectations and what is your expected average return. Investments are not constant and can also be quite volatile. This year for example we saw the markets fall approximately 20% in the month of March. This is isn’t of course, our normal or caused by fundamentals; this was pandemic which by the way hasn’t come to an end as yet. I have clients who refused to open their statements at the end of March to look at their quarterly statements, fearing what it may look like. Fortunately most of

my clients are close to where they started at the beginning of year and we are well positioned for the rest of the year. It’s important to talk with your advisor, if you have one. It may be a good time, now that the market has revived, to review your risk tolerance and make adjustments where possible. You might not be able to stomach another fall or worse yet if we have a second wave of COVID-19 and the markets tank. It may be a good time to consider investments with lower risk, especially if March was a tough month for you. Another possibility to talk to your advisor about is getting into some guaranteed investments. There are some segregated funds that provide guarantees on principal, but that’s not as important as a monthly income for your retirement. Some companies will offer you a guaranteed income for life so you never run out of money. Whenever you pass away the residual balance will be paid to your beneficiaries. There are options you have, but talk to a qualified advisor.

Business insurance after COVID-19 ANDREW STEWART andrew@carib101.com

FAMILY ADVISOR

On June 19th, 2020, areas of Ontario like Hamilton, Durham, Niagara, and several other regions will join most other parts of Ontario in moving to Stage 2 of reopening from the COVID-19 global pandemic shutdown. This will allow for outdoor dining at restaurants, resumption of business at hair salons and barber shops, as well as for public swimming pools and other services to operate. After enduring the hardest four months for businesses who were either forced to shut down entirely or reduced to partial operations owners are happy to be reopening but they still will have to embrace reality and prepare for the longlasting impacts of COVID-19. As part of the process, many owners have asked if their business insurance covers COVID-19-related business closure or interruption. In this uncertain climate, businesses are looking to understand how they can manage this crisis, limit their continuing financial losses, and perhaps seek avenues for financial relief. An obvious potential avenue for relief an owner should think about is their insurance policy. All businesses

should be speaking with their representative as to whether their existing insurance coverage can respond to COVID-19-related financial losses. The lifeblood of any business is cashflow and policies such as these are there to protect when a business is inoperable due to physical damage, such as a fire or structural damage. Disasters of this caliber can quickly, albeit temporary, close businesses, resulting in severe loss of income. Generally, commercial insurance policies and traditional business interruption policies do not offer coverage for business interruption or supply chain disruption due to a pandemic such as COVID-19. Some businesses have sued on the basis that “COVID-19 contamination” on surfaces in their office or store is physical damage to their property and it has rendered the property unusable or uninhabitable. Some policies also include coverage for civil authority interruptions, which is when a governmental authority such as the police orders the closure of businesses. Although this coverage is mostly limited to circumstances where there has been physical loss or damage, the definition of this coverage can vary by policy. There is a possibility that if operations of a business are restricted due to a governmental order prohibiting access, coverage may apply. Businesses that operate and draw most of their income from hosting and organizing large events are especially affected. Normally they would purchase event cancellation insurance which covers cancellation fees or other out-of-pocket expenses, but potentially lost income an-

ticipated from the event. Within event cancellation insurance policies, infectious or communicable diseases can either be included or excluded from coverage. Policyholders should be incredibly careful in how they describe the cancellation of their event for their claim. For example, most event cancellation insurance will not apply if the reason for the cancellation is poor attendance, regardless of the reason for that poor attendance. But it may apply if the event is canceled for health and safety reasons. “The future depends on what you do today.” - Mahatma Gandhi Insurers are stubborn and are not easily persuaded to change their policies regarding pandemic coverage and business interruption. Our government will hopefully listen to its residents and recognize when policyholders have been given a bad hand. An interesting development in the United States is taking place in New Jersey, where the state legislature is considering a bill to require insurers to pay COVID-19 business interruption claims expressly excluded by a policy “virus” exclusion. With the government supporting small employers with the temporary wage subsidy program (CEWS), defer payment of any tax payments until August 31st with no interest or penalties and financial support through loans and access to credit (CEBA), it will be a slow recovery but for now, it seems we are all on the same page.

FINANCE

Wednesday, June 24, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 45

Five ways homeowners lose money while banks get rich CLEVE DeSOUZA cleve@carib101.com

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

While COVID-19 pushes Canada into a recession, home shoppers should rejoice. You read that right. Now could be the time to buy a home. Ignore the naysayers. Buying opportunities exist in every market, even during a global pandemic. When you hear about rising home costs on the nightly news, remember they’re talking about the overall market. Individual neighbourhoods still buck the national trends. And motivated sellers always are open to leaving money on the table. For most Canadians, a personal home accounts for most of their wealth. The process of buying a home needs to be

taken with care, especially if you are a firsttime home buyer. Buying a home to keep up with the Jones is not a smart strategy; however, if you intend to grow, then the pursuit of home ownership is beneficial. This process can be daunting and overwhelming, especially for first-time home buyers. Across the nation, 67% of us own our own homes, which is one of the highest rates of home ownership in the world, according to Statistics Canada. Here are ways homeowners lose money while banks get rich. Location, location, location Buying in the wrong location and at the wrong time could cost you dearly. You may have heard the saying “LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION is the key to buying real estate. What does this really mean? Imagine a farmer seeking fertile ground to plant seeds. The farmer needs to understand what makes a location fertile or futile. Home buyers need to understand that location makes homes appreciate in value. If you pay $1,000 in closing costs and interest to the bank, your home should gain more

than $1,000 in value. Paying more than the property is worth Paying more than the property is worth also helps the bank and hurts you. The emotional surge you feel when you see that home you love can quickly get you to pay more than it is worth. Fortunately, real estate is forgiving and over time you may get back on top. Be careful, though. Falling in love with a house could set you back and you may end up paying more interest to the bank than you should. Ridiculous interest rates Falling for low payment options while not understanding interests and costs is another pitfall to avoid. The concept is the same as the credit card offers you get in the mail promising 0% interest for 6 months. At the 7-month mark, a ridiculous interest rate kicks in and you’re stuck with a high balance. Sometimes low monthly mortgage payment options include unusually high interest. Your monthly payment is low, but a high percentage of the payment is interest. Over time, you pay more interest than you might with a higher monthly payment.

Understanding prepayment options You need to understand prepayment options and amortization in order to plan how to pay your loan off early. Amortization is the length of time it takes to pay off the mortgage. If your initial amortization is 25 years, a few extra payments a year can significantly reduce this time and the interest cost. Decision to switch homes frequently Endless amortization by perpetually changing homes without a sound economic strategy steals away your equity. Buying and selling real estate comes with significant costs. The decision to switch homes is music to a banker’s ears because they stay in your pocket longer. If your home is appreciating well, stay put, or consider refinancing if you really need to pull equity. While the above are general guidelines to avoid losing money, there is nothing that replaces getting help from trusted professionals. It makes no sense to be house rich and cash poor.

MAKE THE $20/mth PLEDGE AND AID IN HELPING CHILDREN IN THE CARIBBEAN IN NEED OF URGENT MEDICAL CARE THE CARIBBEAN CHILDREN FOUNDATION HAS HELPED OVER 265 CHILDREN

Rahsaan is taller because of you! Meet 16 year old Rahsaan Abel who was suffering from severe kyphoscoliosis, a curvature of the spine. With your help, The Caribbean Children Foundation (TCCF) has been able to partner with SpineHope in the treatment of scoliosis patient Rahsaan. Today he is smiling and doing well!

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SPORTS

PAGE 46

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, June 24, 2020

West Indies Cricket returns for the Sandals Tour of England 2020 KAYLA KARIM

kayla@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

One of the first live matches to return will be the Sandals Tour of England 2020 where the West Indies will defend the Wisden Trophy in three back-to-back Test matches. On July 8th -12th 2020, West Indies and England will play behind closed doors to ensure the maximum safety for all of the

players. West Indies players have all been tested for COVID-19 ahead of the tour, with the exception of Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul who declined the invitation to travel to England for the tour. The West Indies squad will make their return in new training and playing kits during the Sandals Tour of England as a part of a new three-year partnership with Castore. The new kits feature lightweight performance enhancing fabrics and an ultra-modern maroon, dark blue and pink design that the players love, according to Stanroek News. The new partnership with Castore will supply the team ids for Test, T10 Internationals and One Day International games covering the men’s, women’s and age group from Under-15 level

upwards. The new Test ‘whites’ will be revealed ahead of the upcoming Test series. Fans will be excited to see their favourite players on the pitch, although the match will be behind closed doors, the players are just as happy to be back. Kemar Roach will face off against his fellow Barbadian, Jofra Archer .Despite these two being friends, Valkerie Baynes from ESPNCricinfo reports that, Roach admitted there is no room for friendship in the upcoming Test match. “Jofra has made his decision and I think he’s done a fantastic job so far in his career but obviously there’s no friendships and stuff in this series…It’s all about winning and playing hard cricket so when we come up against Jofra I think we’ll devise a fantastic plan to counter him. I’m looking

forward to that battle and we as a team are doing the same” The fourteen man Test squad and list of eleven reserves are as follows: Jason Holder, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Chemar Holder, SHai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach. The proposed match schedule is as follows: • July 8-12: 1st Test at Ageas Bowl, Southampton • July 16-20: 2nd Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester • July 24-28: 3rd Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

Warrior Profile: The Lioness Amanda Nunes’ rise to the top of the MMA game MARCEL MARIAK marcel@carib101.com

TC JUNIOR REPORTER

When most people think of mixed martial arts, the visual that most commonly comes to mind is the stereotype of two big, burly, violent men slugging it out in the middle of the ring. Unfortunately, this cliché is based in truth: historically, the vast majority of MMA fighters and combat sports athletes in general, were male, and even in 2020 the gender demographic of fighters continue to lean towards men. In more recent times, female MMA fighters have started to emerge on the big stage of professional fighting, with notable names such as Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, and Cris Cyborg climbing to the forefront of the MMA world. Despite the rise of several outstanding women in the fight game, one female warrior has taken centre stage as one of the greatest fighters of all time. In this issue’s Warrior Profile, we

explore the life and career of one of the most phenomenal fighters currently competing in the UFC: Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes. Early life and career Nunes, like a great many famous combat sports athletes, was born in Brazil in 1988. She began training karate at only four years of age, and continued to train and compete in various martial arts throughout her adolescence, including boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In early 2008, at the age of 20 years old, Nunes made her professional MMA debut with the Prime MMA Championship. Unfortunately, Nunes’ first fight ended in disaster for the Brazilian, with her being submitted with an arm bar only thirty seconds into the first round. After such a profound loss, many fighters would’ve hung their head, taken off their gloves, and concluded that a life in the ring isn’t for them; but not Amanda Nunes. In hindsight, it would seem that the harsh defeat sparked something in Nunes: a “fighting spirit”, so to speak, which would carry her to victory against several worthy opponents in the future. Nunes stepped into the professional fighting spotlight only sixteen days after her defeat, and proceeded to defeat

her opponent in only 11 seconds. After that, Nunes would continue to smash her way through her foes, losing only three more fights out of a total of 24 matches. Currently, Amanda Nunes’ professional record is 20-4, and despite being a brown belt in Judo, and a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, the majority of her victories have come by way of knockout. Professional accolades and achievements When it comes to achievements, Amanda Nunes is one of, if not the most accomplished female fighters of all time. She boasts many accolades and records which include becoming the first female “champchamp” by holding both the Women’s Bantamweight and Featherweight UFC titles consecutively, being the woman with the most UFC wins (12), being the woman with the most UFC title fights (7), and the woman with the longest UFC winning streak (11). On top of her already impressive list of official accomplishments, she has won multiple awards and accolades from various MMA media sources. She was named the 2016, 2018, and 2019 female fighter of the year, as well as won both the Knockout and Upset of the Year prize for her stunning defeat of Cris Cyborg.

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Fighting style When it comes to providing MMA fans with spectacular fights, Nunes never fails to deliver. Her exciting, high-pressure fighting style, paired with her outstanding physical stature, makes her an instant fan favourite. Due to her intense training regimen and above average height, Amanda Nunes often finds herself in the ring with challengers that are considerably weaker and smaller than her. As a result, her favourite fight strategy is to take the fight to her opponent, and win by any means at her disposal. Her training in multiple both striking and grappling disciplines makes her a lethal force in both the stand-up and ground-fighting game with some of her most spectacular finishes coming from an assortment of knockouts and submissions. Amanda Nunes is not only an outstanding female athlete she’s also a trailblazer and an inspiration for women all around the world who are considering a career in combat sports. With her excellent fighting style and seemingly endless list of accomplishments makes her an instant fan favourite. That, paired with the fact that she’s only 32 years old, means that as long as she can remain injury free inside the cage, she has at least a couple more years to continue delivering stunning performances and gaining even more accolades!

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