Breaking Point

FRANCES SESAY, PIERCER’S CHOICE, CEO

How Vulnerability Became her Ultimate Superpower

The air in Sierra Leone carries a weight that Toronto’s West End can never replicate. It is thick with salt, history, and a heat that feels like an embrace. Frances Sesay was only three months old when she first felt the bite of her destiny. There was no sterile chair, no surgical steel, and no numbing agent. “A local medicine woman pierced my ears with a needle,” Frances recalls, a faint smile touching her lips as she reflects on a story her mother told her. “I’m just glad I didn’t get it done with a gun.” That sharp, ancestral initiation was the first sensory detail of a life that would eventually define her purpose.

The journey from that medicine woman’s needle to the CEO’s chair at Piercer’s Choice was not a straight line. It was a jagged, intentional path carved through the concrete of Toronto’s West End. Growing up around Jane and Finch, Frances was the girl who lived for the open air. “I was outside all the time,” she says, laughing. “My sisters would say, ‘Oh, you smell like outside. Go away.’ I was a kid in the mud. I lived outside.” That smell of outside was the scent of a spirit that refused to be contained by four walls.

She was the bubbly, social choreographer of her neighbourhood, demanding perfection from her friends as they rehearsed dance routines to Aaliyah. “I was like, ‘We got to make sure we execute. We can’t disrespect the queen,’” she says. The first time the world tried to handle her, to tell her where she belonged, Frances pushed back. In middle school, she was a Green Giant: tall, social, and a floater between groups. Then came the moment at Oakdale Public School that set her internal compass. She was part of a cooking club and also on the basketball team. One day, a game and a cooking event collided.

“I remember deciding I did not want to go play the game,” Frances explains. As she walked toward the school, her entire team marched past her, their faces set in stone. “It was like, cold shoulder from everybody. I was like, ‘This sucks.’ But I was okay with my decision in the end because I was happy to be a part of what I was doing.” That moment was her first masterclass in power. She realized she was comfortable making decisions that made other people unhappy if it meant she remained whole.

That resolve was tested when her teacher cornered her mother at graduation. “He told my mom, ‘She should not

be going to Westview. Send her to St. Joseph’s Morrow Park,’” Frances remembers. Suddenly, the girl from the zone was thrust into a predominantly white, all-girls Catholic school. “I felt like a fish out of water,” she says. In response, she revolted. She built a fortress of badness to keep the world at bay. “I purposely did badly in school. My grades were like 40, 50. I am smart, I just purposely was like, ‘I don’t want to be here.’”

The tension peaked at 8:30 AM in a portable cafeteria. Frances describes the morning she woke up simply wanting to fight. “I vividly remember the thought process of like, ‘I want to fight somebody today.’ I was just angry.” The fight was fast and brutal, ending with a suspension. “I went and sat in the class mostly hyperventilating, but also happy,” she says. Looking back, she sees the retrospective coherence of that anger. She was not fighting the girl in the portable; she was fighting the hour-and-a-half bus ride, the uniforms, and a system that didn’t see her Sierra Leonean roots.

The transition into adulthood was a series of odd jobs, and a humbling stint cleaning apartment building in Oshawa. “I remember vividly one day going to clean up pop cans after a festival... and I’m like, ‘Is this really where I’m at in life right now?’” This brought her to her next experience managing buildings where she observed the psychology of power. She watched regional managers refer to human beings as numbers. “He’s referring to tenants by their unit number. ‘What’s going on with 1201? What’s going on with 1808?’” Frances refused to do the same.

She saw the woman going to the food bank and the man struggling with rent. She saw the humans behind the units.

The pivot to her true calling came in a moment of stillness with her partner, Cal. He suggested piercing. Most people would have dipped their toe in; Frances dove into the deep end. “I told myself I am going to give myself 30 days of solidly looking into piercing.” She found the Piercing Bible and read it cover to cover, twice. “First time just to take it all in. Second time to actually actively make notes on it.”

At the time, she was working on an assembly line at a Lindor box factory. It was a repetitive, soul-crushing grind, but it was there she found her clarity. “I was on the assembly line... and I prayed. I’m

like, ‘God, can you please give me a step up from this so that I can get the next step into an apprenticeship?’” Within days, the agency called. She took a receptionist job at a steel company, using her downtime to finish an online anatomy course and get her bloodborne pathogen certificate. She was strategic, creating a spreadsheet of every shop in Scarborough.

When a shop finally said “Maybe,” she pushed the envelope. “I told them, ‘Look, I can come after work just to help... unpaid.’” To secure the apprenticeship, she had to leave her stable corporate job with its benefits, a move that made her sisters send her “real” job postings for years. “They were devastated,” she says of her corporate bosses. “They were like, ‘What? You’re leaving to become a piercer?’” Frances knew. She accepted $500 a week to clean and learn because she believed in the craft.

“I took a chance on myself,” she says firmly. Today, she understands that she is a facilitator of healing. She sees the women who come to her to reclaim their bodies after miscarriage or assault. She has integrated her history, her Sierra Leonean identity, and her corporate discipline into a business that serves as a sanctuary.

When asked what she would tell the next generation of Black women looking to build something unconventional, her voice is steady and unapologetic. “Be intentional and do not listen to the naysayers. The validation might not come until years later from other people, but you have to find whatever it is you need to do within to keep going. Most of the time people are projecting their own experience onto you.”

Seven years into her career, the “Green Giant” from Oakdale has found her rhythm. She no longer smells like the outside of someone else’s playground; she smells like the success of her own making. She has staked her course, and in every piercing, she proves that the only validation that truly matters is the kind you give yourself.

Photo Credit:

Khadijah Husbands

Written by Simone J. Smith TCN Now

You May Have Noticed Something Different: Welcome to TCN Now

So, you may have noticed the name change on the cover.

After more than a decade as Toronto Caribbean News, we are stepping into a new chapter as TCN Now. The name may be different, but the heart of what we do remains the same: serving our community, sharing important stories, celebrating Caribbean culture and creating a platform for voices that deserve to be heard.

This change did not happen overnight, and it is not simply a new logo or a fresh design. It reflects how our readers consume news today and how our organization has continued to grow beyond the traditional newspaper model.

When Toronto Caribbean News began, the printed newspaper was at the centre of everything we did. It brought community stories, business features, health information, cultural celebrations, interviews and important current affairs directly into homes, businesses, restaurants and gathering places across the Greater Toronto Area.

Print remains an important part of our identity, and it will continue to be a strong part of TCN Now.

However, the world of media has changed. News no longer waits for the next edition to be printed. Stories develop by the hour, conversations happen in real time, and readers expect information to be available wherever they are. They want to read it online, watch it on video, hear it through audio and engage with it through social media.

TCN Now represents our commitment to meeting that need.

The word “Now” reflects immediacy, relevance and the importance of being

present in the conversations affecting our communities today. It represents our goal of providing timely reporting while still taking the time to examine the deeper meaning behind the headlines.

We want TCN Now to be a place where readers can learn what happened, understand why it matters and consider how it may affect their families, businesses and communities.

Our focus will continue to include the stories that have always mattered to our readers: Caribbean culture, local business, health, education, entertainment, immigration, family, community leadership and current affairs. At the same time, our editorial vision will continue to expand as we explore the broader issues shaping life in Canada and around the world.

While we remain deeply rooted in the Caribbean Canadian community, our stories are not limited to one audience. The experiences, challenges and accomplishments found within our community are connected to much larger conversations about affordability, housing, education, healthcare, employment, technology, politics, public safety and opportunity.

We believe responsible community media has an important role to play in those conversations.

“Our community deserves journalism that is timely, courageous and willing to examine difficult issues with honesty,” says Simone Smith, Chief Communication Officer at TCN Now. “TCN Now will continue to celebrate our culture and accomplishments while also creating space for the conversations that can move our communities forward.”

That balance is important to us. We will continue to celebrate success, highlight community leaders and recognize the individuals and organizations making a positive difference. We also understand that community journalism cannot focus only on celebrations. It must be willing to ask difficult questions, examine uncomfortable issues and give attention to concerns that may be overlooked by larger media organizations.

TCN Now will not shy away from those subjects. Our purpose, however, is not to create unnecessary division or controversy. Our goal is to encourage understanding, accountability and constructive progress through responsible reporting, thoughtful analysis and respectful discussion.

The transition to TCN Now will also create more opportunities for our readers.

You can expect faster digital updates, expanded online coverage, original interviews, video content, commentary, audio features and deeper reporting on issues affecting Caribbean Canadians. Our printed edition will remain a place for important stories and thoughtful features, while our digital platforms will allow us to respond more quickly and provide ongoing updates between editions.

This multi-platform approach also opens new doors for advertisers, local businesses and community partners.

For years, businesses have trusted Toronto Caribbean News to help them connect with an established and engaged audience. Under TCN Now, those opportunities will continue to grow.

Partners will no longer be limited to purchasing space in a printed edition. They will be able to participate in cam -

paigns that may include print advertising, online promotion, sponsored content, social media, video, audio and communityfocused initiatives.

This means businesses can reach people in more places, tell their stories in more creative ways and build stronger relationships with the communities they serve.

It also means TCN Now can continue supporting the entrepreneurs, organizations, professionals and community groups that play such an important role in Caribbean Canadian life.

As we move forward, we are not leaving the legacy of Toronto Caribbean News behind. We are building upon it.

The trust, relationships and community support developed over the years have made this next chapter possible. Every reader who picked up a copy, shared an article, sent us a story, advertised with us, offered feedback or supported our work has played a part in the journey.

Our history will remain part of who we are. We will continue to honour Caribbean culture, support local businesses, recognize community achievements and provide a platform for perspectives that deserve greater attention. The difference is that we are now preparing that mission for the future.

Toronto Caribbean News began as a newspaper. TCN Now is becoming a complete Caribbean Canadian media platform. This is a new name, a renewed direction and an expanded commitment to the communities we serve. Welcome to TCN Now.

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

Marlon almost didn’t hire her. On paper, she was the wrong choice. Fewer years of experience. No big-name companies on her résumé. The algorithm ranked her third out of five candidates, but something did not sit right.

During the interview, she asked better questions than anyone else. Real ones. The kind that told you she was trying to understand the people behind the work. Marlon went against the data. Six months later, she became the most trusted person on his team.

The problem is we have too much information, and we are starting to trust the wrong parts of it. We are living in a moment where artificial intelligence can scan thousands of data points in seconds, flag pat-

PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

The shootings that occurred during Toronto’s annual Salsa on St. Clair festival on Saturday, July 12th, 2026, sparked widespread reaction from political leaders, police officials and members of the community. The violence led to the cancellation of Sunday’s festival as Toronto Police secured the area and launched a homicide investigation.

Two people were killed, and five others were injured after gunfire erupted near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue. Police estimated that approximately 13,000 people were in the area after 8:00 p.m. when the shooting occurred.

Public responses came quickly from: Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Councillor Mike Colle, mayoral hopeful Brad Bradford, and the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR).

Chief Demkiw addressed the media following the shooting, describing the at-

Three times trusting your gut wins

terns, and recommend decisions faster than any human ever could (monday.com, 2026). That speed feels like certainty. It feels like control, but faster decisions are not always better decisions.

AI is built to recognize patterns. Humans are built to recognize meaning, and those are not the same thing. One study in cognitive psychology found that humans are heavily influenced by recent experiences, a bias known as the availability heuristic (Kahneman, 2011). In plain language: what just happened to you feels more important than what is actually true, and that is where AI shines.

If you feed it months of customer feedback, project data, or performance reports, it can spot trends your brain simply cannot hold at once. It can tell you if a big problem is actually affecting two out of 100 cases (that is just 2%) not the crisis it feels like in the moment, but here is what AI cannot see.

It cannot see the silence in a room after a difficult conversation. It cannot measure the weight of someone trying not to fall apart at work. It cannot quantify trust, and that is where things start to break, because some of the most important decisions you will ever make are about people.

AI might tell you an employee’s productivity has dropped by 15%. That’s data. Your instinct might tell you they are going through something they have not said out loud yet. Both can be true. Only one can see the full human story. This is where most leaders (and institutions) get it wrong. They treat data as the final answer instead of one piece of the conversation.

When AI and your instincts disagree, that is the moment you are supposed to slow down. Instead, many people rush. They assume the machine must be right because it is objective, but objective just means measurable, and not everything that matters can be measured.

Consider this: if AI flags one employee as a top performer based on output, but your experience tells you they are quietly eroding team trust, what do you do? If you follow the data blindly, you may scale dysfunction. If you ignore it entirely, you may miss something real. The answer is learning when each deserves the lead.

Use AI where scale overwhelms you. When you are tracking hundreds of interactions, thousands of comments, or patterns across time, it becomes an extension of your awareness. It helps you see what you would otherwise miss. When the decision

Salsa tragedy shakes Toronto community

tack as a brazen act of violence carried out in a crowded public space. He acknowledged that the incident had shaken “The sense of safety and security that Torontonians expect and deserve.” He also renewed his call for stronger criminal justice reforms, arguing that those responsible for deadly criminal acts should face first-degree murder charges whenever appropriate.

Toronto Police also stated that officers would maintain a visible presence at events across the city while adjusting security plans based on intelligence and evolving threats.

Mayor Olivia Chow released a video urging federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree to strengthen efforts to stem the flow of illegal firearms entering Toronto from the United States. Meanwhile, the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights criticized the federal Liberal government’s gunban policies, arguing they have failed to curb the flow of illegal weapons.

According to WaveRoom, Toronto Police identified the two homicide victims as 25-year-old Shaquan Quashie and 20-yearold Cesar Vernaza. Police indicated the two men were known to one another and appeared to have been targeted when gunfire broke out between two groups. Five bystanders were also hospitalized.

Among those present that evening

sits in the realm of human behaviour: motivation, resilience, trust, leadership, your gut is a data set built over years that no system can replicate.

The real risk is outsourcing your judgment, because the moment you stop questioning the recommendation is the moment you stop leading, and leadership, at its core, is about being responsible for the decisions you make, even when they are difficult, even when they are uncertain. Marlon questioned the data. He asked himself a simple but uncomfortable question, “What might this system not be seeing?” That question changed everything.

The future is whether we have the discipline to consider AI versus human instinct. To let AI sharpen our thinking, but not replace it. To let data inform us, but not define us, and most importantly, to remember that behind every data point is a human story that no algorithm will ever fully understand.

Marlon trusted his gut that day, because it was informed by something deeper than numbers, and sometimes, that is the difference between a good decision, and a transformational one.

was Mary Galvan, who helped organize the festival’s first media launch more than two decades ago while working with TLN and Ancaster Pope Advertising. Reflecting on the tragedy, she wrote on Facebook, “My heart breaks for every victim, every family, every witness, every vendor, and everyone whose life was forever changed that night. This tragedy does not define the spirit of this community, but it is now forever part of its story.”

Educator and community organizer Derek Chica also urged caution in how the incident was reported. Writing on Facebook, he expressed hope that police would conduct a thorough investigation while criticizing early media speculation linking the shooting to gangs or social media conflicts without confirmed evidence. He argued that unsupported assumptions risk fueling fear, racism and further division at a time when communities should be focused on healing.

Ironically, the tragedy occurred during a year in which Toronto has seen a decline in shootings. According to Chief Demkiw, shootings are down 26% compared with the same period in 2025. As reported by the Toronto Star, he acknowledged that despite encouraging long-term trends, “A weekend like this shakes our community.”

At a vigil held near St. Matthew’s United Church, Pastor Miguel Rojas reminded those gathered that healing requires col-

lective strength. “Gun violence destroys life and leaves wounds that can’t always be seen. Pain will not have the final word.”

Dr. Kathy Kamkar, clinical psychologist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), also emphasized the invisible effects of violence. She noted that witnessing a shooting can be psychologically traumatic even without physical injury, explaining that hearing gunfire, fleeing for safety or fearing for one’s life can trigger lasting trauma responses.

Community leaders continued the conversation during a July 20th, 2026, roundtable at the Columbus Centre attended by representatives from: the Toronto Police Service, Telelatino Network (TLN), and local organizations. Participants discussed bail reform, illegal firearms, public safety and broader community concerns. Although Mayor Chow and Chief Demkiw were not present, organizers viewed the discussion as an important first step toward long-term solutions. For many residents, the shootings have permanently altered the memory of what has long been one of Toronto’s most vibrant and peaceful neighbourhood festivals. While the violence will remain part of the community’s history, its future will ultimately be defined not only by tragedy, but by healing, compassion and the collective determination to ensure that such violence is never repeated.

Canada’s Housing Crisis: Why supply, not foreign buyers, is the core issue

BY JAY BRIJPAUL TCN REAL ESTATE REPORTER

For years, whenever housing affordability became an issue, foreign buyers were often blamed. The prevailing narrative held that overseas investors were driving up prices and making it harder for local families to buy homes. In response, the federal government introduced the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act in January 2023. The legislation prohibited most foreign nationals and companies not controlled by Canadians from purchasing homes in major Canadian cities, a restriction later extended to January 1st, 2027. Now, as that deadline approaches, Ottawa is signaling a policy shift.

Rather than reopening the market entirely, the federal government is reportedly looking to Australia’s model to guide post-2027 policy. In Australia, foreign buyers are largely barred from buying existing homes, but are incentivized to invest in new construction, redevelopment, and vacant land that expands the housing supply. If implemented in Canada, this targeted approach could help revive Ontario’s struggling new-home sector, providing builders with crucial financial backing through well-regulated foreign investment.

Research indicates that even before the ban, foreign buyers accounted for about two percent of Canada’s housing market, fewer than 10,000 homes out of about 460,000 sold annually. Given such a small share, banning foreign buyers was unlikely to resolve the affordability crisis.

Turning to immigration, Canada faces a rapidly ageing population. With baby boomers retiring in unprecedented numbers, fertility rates well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, and rising life expectancy, the country’s workforce is at risk of shrinking. Without continued immigration, economic growth would falter, and governments would collect less tax revenue to fund healthcare, pensions, and essential services. Ultimately, im-

migration is not just a matter of social policy, it is an economic imperative.

Canada’s housing shortage is a complex issue decade in the making, driven by more than immigration and foreign buyers alone. Even if population growth slowed, the shortage would persist because too few homes have been built to meet demand. The biggest barriers include slow, complex approval processes for zoning, planning, and permits, which add costly delays for developers and push prices higher as labour and material costs rise.

Canada is building about 259,000 homes per year, but CMHC estimates that restoring affordability requires 430,000 to 480,000 new homes annually over the next decade. Canada should not have to choose between immigration and housing affordability; it needs both. The key is to coordinate immigration policy with a bold national housing strategy that accelerates construction, streamlines approvals, expands infrastructure, and invests in skilled trades. When population growth and housing supply are aligned, immigration remains an economic asset.

The shortage is also about the types of homes available. Developers are building more small shoebox condos, driven by high land prices, rising construction and financing costs, and hefty fees, which make larger, familysized units less profitable. While these smaller units appeal to investors and first-time buyers, they don’t meet the needs of growing families, creating a mismatch between supply and demand.

The path forward requires a balanced, strategic approach. By encouraging foreign investment that directly increases housing supply; while safeguarding home availability for Canadian buyers and generating revenue for affordable housing and infrastructure, the country can address both demand and supply challenges. Ultimately, success will depend on aligning housing policy, immigration, and investment to ensure every Canadian has access to a home that meets their needs.

Why the Taste of Downtown Yonge Is Toronto’s ultimate community revolution

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

I stood in the center of Sankofa Square, where the air usually vibrates with the frantic, sterile energy of corporate Toronto. To most, this neighbourhood is just a destination, a collection of shopping malls and transit points, but I was looking for the lived experience buried beneath the concrete. My intention was simple: I wanted to see if the city still had a pulse that was not dictated by a headline. I wanted to eat with my neighbours, not just pass them.

The third tour, Taste of Downtown Yonge: Summer Street Eats, launched June

MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

UK regulators have authorized the first phase of human testing for a new Ebola vaccine, allowing researchers to begin clinical trials involving healthy adult volunteers. The decision follows the declaration of a public health emergency on May 17th, 2026, when scientists at the University of Oxford accelerated development of a vaccine targeting the latest Ebola outbreak.

Under normal circumstances, vaccine development can take close to a decade. In this case, researchers say the candidate vaccine was prepared for clinical testing in approximately eight weeks using an established vaccine platform previously employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Volunteers are currently being recruited in the United Kingdom, and the first

27th, 2026, with two tours every Saturday and runs weekly for eleven weeks (ending September 5th, 2026). The focus of the summer tour is on new businesses, new experiences and new hangouts in the Downtown Yonge area.

We began at QISHR Coffee House, tucked inside a historic, newly renovated building. As I held a cup of coffee made from roasted cherry husks—the steam acted as a sensory anchor, pulling me away from the void of the downtown rush. This was an immersion into 15th-century tradition.

Our guide, Jackie English, the project manager and a master storyteller, unearthed the city’s bones. She shared layers of Toronto’s history that I, even as a seasoned writer, never knew. She spoke of the evolution of the streets we walked, transforming the spectacle of the downtown core into a deeply human narrative.

Jackie’s enthusiasm made the history feel as fresh as the coffee in our hands.

As we moved to & Banh mi, I saw the journey of the independent maker. The crunch of the baguette mixed with the care -

fully curated meats had me salivating. Behind the counter was a story of passion, a small business solving the problem of urban isolation through flavour.

Then, we transitioned to Marriott Hotel Trios, where the angle shifted again. Here, the luxury was secondary to the accessibility; it was a surprise hot spot that proved high-end culinary craft belongs to the community.

By the time we reached Mieluna, tasting flavours that span the globe, the strategic brilliance of the Downtown Yonge BIA and Tour Guys became clear. Pauline Larsen, the Executive Director and COO of the BIA, and Jason Kucherawy, the owner of Tour Guys, have created a supreme tasting experience and tour; they have also built a vehicle for community service. By subsidizing the price (offering a $150 value for just $20) they are using accessibility to turn first-time visitors into regulars.

Why should you spend your precious Saturday in downtown Toronto? Well because most events treat you like a statistic, but this tour treats you like a neighbour.

Oxford Ebola trial sparks questions

doses are expected to be administered in the coming weeks.

According to the vaccine developers, the current Ebola outbreak is centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They report that the outbreak has resulted in 625 deaths and 1,792 laboratory-confirmed cases.

Researchers say the outbreak is being caused by the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus, marking the third known outbreak involving this strain. They also note that there are six recognized species of Ebola, each presenting unique challenges for treatment and vaccine development. At present, they say, no approved vaccine or treatment exists specifically for the Bundibugyo strain.

Scientists involved in the project argue that containing the outbreak has been especially difficult because ongoing regional conflict has created a highly mobile population, making it easier for the virus to spread across affected communities.

Dr. Katrina Pollock, chief investigator for the University of Oxford trial, said the rapid response reflects years of preparation rather than shortcuts. “We are doing phase one early-stage trials of new vaccines all of the time, precisely to be ready for exactly this kind of outbreak,” she said.

Researchers also say they are col-

laborating with partners in Uganda and expect clinical trials to expand into Africa. Trial participants will be monitored for 12 months so scientists can assess both the vaccine’s effectiveness and any unexpected side effects.

According to the Oxford team, the speed of development was made possible by using the same vaccine platform that gained international attention during the COVID-19 pandemic through the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

The vaccine candidate has already undergone laboratory testing in mice and macaque monkeys before being approved for human trials. It is being manufactured to clinical standards by the Serum Institute of India, which has reportedly produced and stockpiled approximately 620,000 doses.

Based on the available pre-clinical data, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency authorized the Phase 1 clinical trial. Alex Sampson, one of the researchers involved in the project, said the existing platform allowed scientists to move quickly once the outbreak was identified. “As soon as we heard there was an outbreak, we were able to scale up really, really quickly,” he said.

Sampson rejected suggestions that the accelerated timeline meant safety stan-

World Cup sparks Canada’s asylum debate

It is a two-hour immersion capped at 15 participants to ensure it stays intimate and story driven. It is a strategic effort to strengthen the downtown core as a lived-in, connected neighbourhood.

We finished our journey and I looked at the strangers sitting beside me, people who were just faces in a crowd two hours ago, and realized we were now a collective. Every detail, from the ancient beans at QISHR to the final bite of strawberry crepes, had been purposefully designed to break our isolation.

The Taste of Downtown Yonge: Summer Street Eats is a revolution in urban storytelling. It is a challenge to stop being a visitor and start being a part of the city’s evolution. If you can imagine the warmth of that historic room and the sound of the city fading as you connect with a stranger over a shared plate, you are already halfway to booking your seat. Do not just read the headlines about Toronto’s growth; come and eat the story for yourself. I walked in looking for a meal, but I walked away knowing more about the city I call home.

BY ADRIAN REECE

TCN REPORTER

The conclusion of the FIFA World Cup has sparked a new debate in Canada after approximately 175 individuals from countries including Egypt, Ghana, Colombia and Kenya reportedly sought asylum after arriving to attend the tournament.

Canada has accepted significant numbers of immigrants and asylum seekers in recent years, making refugee claims a familiar part of the national conversation. However, these latest claims have prompted questions about the intentions of some applicants. While it is expected that international visitors will travel across the world to attend one of the largest sporting events on the planet, critics argue that individuals who can afford to attend such a prestigious tournament may face greater public scrutiny when they later apply for asylum.

Many Canadians distinguish between people fleeing persecution and those they believe may be using temporary travel opportunities to gain permanent entry into the country. Whether that perception is ac-

curate or not, it has become part of a broader national discussion about immigration policy and border management.

Public opinion has also been shaped by growing concerns over affordability. Rising housing costs, inflation and pressure on public services have left many Canadians feeling financially stretched. As a result, some believe the federal government should place greater emphasis on addressing domestic challenges before expanding commitments to newcomers or increasing international assistance.

Many Canadians remain deeply compassionate toward people escaping war, persecution and hardship. At the same time, a growing number believe Canada must first strengthen conditions at home before it can continue providing support abroad. For these Canadians, improving housing affordability, healthcare access and economic stability has become a higher priority.

These concerns have contributed to declining trust in the federal government. Critics of both the current Carney government and the previous Trudeau administration argue that immigration levels and

government spending have weakened confidence in Ottawa’s ability to manage the country’s economic challenges. Others have responded by embracing more conservative political positions centred on fiscal restraint, immigration reform and affordability.

Many Canadians simply want affordable housing, lower living costs and the ability to provide for their families without constant financial pressure. Those concerns increasingly influence how immigration policy is viewed.

Canada continues to be recognized internationally as one of the world’s most multicultural societies. While many Canadians remain proud of that identity, public attitudes toward immigration and foreign aid appear to be shifting as economic pressures continue. Increasingly, some Canadians are asking whether the country’s current immigration levels are sustainable while so many citizens struggle with the rising cost of living.

The outcome of these asylum claims remains uncertain. Immigration officials will determine each application based on Canadian law and international refugee obligations. Nevertheless, many Canadians will be

dards had been lowered. “We are doing all the same tests that we would normally do, just we’re able to do them in parallel, so it means a lot of teams working in lots of different places around the clock, but we are still doing everything that we would normally.”

Researchers also acknowledge that the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was associated with a rare blood-clotting condition that affected approximately one in every 100,000 recipients.

They say it is possible the new Ebola vaccine could carry a similar risk, although they argue that the potential risk is significantly lower than the mortality associated with Bundibugyo Ebola, which they estimate kills one-third of those infected.

Pollock described severe side effects as “very rare” and said the research team carefully considered the ethical implications of testing the vaccine in healthy volunteers before seeking regulatory approval.

One question that remains unanswered is how the experimental vaccine performed in the animal studies beyond meeting the safety and efficacy thresholds required for regulators to authorize human testing. Detailed results from the mice and macaque monkey studies had not been published at the time of writing.

watching closely, believing the government’s decisions will reflect its broader approach to immigration.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has approved 26 applications from the group as of July 20th. If accurate, those approvals have further fuelled debate among Canadians who believe government resources should first be directed toward addressing domestic needs. For many critics, the frustration extends beyond immigration alone. It reflects broader dissatisfaction with government spending, economic management and declining affordability. They argue that Canada possesses the resources to improve quality of life but has failed to prioritize policies that directly benefit its own citizens.

Until Canadians see measurable improvements in housing affordability, economic opportunity and the overall cost of living, many will likely remain skeptical of increasing immigration levels or expanding foreign assistance programs.

Two Crises Reveal How Fragile Canada has Become

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

The call came just before dawn. Andre had worked the line in Windsor for nearly twelve years, long enough to measure his life in shifts instead of seasons. Nights, mostly. The rhythm of machines, the quiet pride of building something that moved, but this time, the voice on the other end was different: careful, rehearsed. Production was slowing. One shift cut. Maybe more.

He did not hear tariffs. He heard “Do I have enough to cover the rent? Groceries? My daughter’s school trip?”

What is happening to Andre is not isolated. It is the human face of a policy decision made hundreds of kilometres away in Washington, and it is already reshaping parts of Canada faster than most people realize.

According to the Bank of Canada, U.S. trade restrictions have already reduced Canadian exports in key sectors, with steel exports cut roughly in half and lumber exports down about 20% compared to 2024 levels (Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Report, April 29, 2026). That is fewer orders, quieter factories, and decisions like the one Andre just had to review in his mind.

The problem, in plain language, is this: Canada built an economy that depends heavily on selling to the United States. Now the rules of that relationship are changing, and ordinary workers are absorbing the shock first.

The numbers confirm what work-

PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

ers are already feeling. Canadian exports to the U.S. have dropped 5.7%, and the trade surplus has shrunk by nearly 20%, while tariffs on Canadian goods have climbed close to 10% (Ivey Business School / Western University, May 2026). Unfortunately, numbers alone do not tell the full story. They do not show how pressure moves, how it starts at the border and ends at the kitchen table.

Here is how it travels.

When U.S. buyers face higher tariffs, they order less from Canadian companies. Those companies respond by cutting costs, delaying expansion, or trying to find new buyers. When that fails (or takes too long) jobs become the adjustment mechanism.

We are already seeing that shift. General Motors reduced production at its Oshawa plant from three shifts to two, a move Unifor warns could affect more than 2,000 jobs across the plant and its supply chain (Reuters, May 6, 2025). That is how one policy decision ripples outward: factory to supplier, supplier to trucking company, trucking company to local businesses, and the impact is not evenly spread.

Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and New Brunswick are among the provinces most exposed, with more than 70% of their exports tied to the U.S. market (RBC Economics). Cities like Windsor (already economically concentrated) sit directly in the blast radius (Oxford Economics).

This is where the story becomes uncomfortable, because while governments and corporations talk about adjustment, not everyone has the same capacity to adjust.

Large firms can pivot. They have legal teams, international networks, and capital reserves. They can redirect exports to Europe or Asia, absorb short-term losses, or renegotiate contracts. In fact, nonU.S. markets now account for 36.4% of Canadian exports, a sign that this pivot is

already underway (Ivey/Western, 2026).

Smaller businesses (those tied to a single U.S. buyer or a narrow supply chain) do not have that flexibility. For them, this is not a strategic shift. No, my friends, it is survival.

That raises a harder question: Who gets protected in a crisis, and who gets left exposed?

The Bank of Canada notes that tariff-affected industries represent only about 1% of Canada’s total output and employment, but account for roughly 15% of exports (Bank of Canada, 2026). In other words, the damage is concentrated. Easy to overlook nationally. Devastating locally, and while economic strain builds quietly in industrial corridors, another system (more visible, more immediate) is breaking in plain sight.

Across Canada, emergency rooms are under pressure that is no longer temporary.

One in ten emergency physicians has already left the field, according to recent reporting, with many others reducing hours due to burnout (CBC News). Doctors are tired and they are exiting.

At the same time, demand is surging. Canada recorded 16.1 million emergency department visits in a single year, with approximately 180,000 patients waiting more than 48 hours for a hospital bed (Global News / CIHI data). With numbers like this, it is clear as day; our system is thinning.

Here, too, the burden is uneven. Some hospitals are stretched. Others are overwhelmed, but the public does not yet have a clear map of where the crisis is worst, a gap in data that mirrors the lag we often see in economic shocks.

These may seem like separate stories (trade and healthcare), but they share a deeper pattern. Both systems are being asked to absorb sustained pressure without enough structural resilience.

In trade, that pressure comes from external policy shocks. In healthcare, it comes from internal capacity limits, but in both cases, the result is the same: the strain moves downward, landing on workers, patients, and communities.

In both cases, the response so far is partial.

Federal measures and business strategies are helping companies adapt, but they are not eliminating the underlying vulnerability. The Bank of Canada has been clear: firms are adjusting, but exports in affected sectors remain significantly lower (Bank of Canada, January 2026).

In healthcare, provinces are announcing funding and recruitment efforts, but they are struggling to retain the workforce they already have. So where does that leave people like Andre, or the patient waiting overnight in an emergency hallway?

Somewhere in between reassurance and reality.

There are things individuals can do, but they are limited. Workers can retrain, diversify skills, or seek industries less exposed to U.S. demand. Communities can support local businesses and push for regional investment. Patients can advocate, organize, and demand transparency in healthcare data, but individual action regrettably, cannot solve systemic exposure.

That responsibility sits with governments and institutions, whether through trade diversification strategies that go beyond rhetoric, or healthcare reforms that address staffing, capacity, and workflow at the same time. What matters now is whether these systems can distribute it fairly, because right now, they are not.

Andre still goes to work. For now. The line still moves, just slower, but uncertainty has entered the rhythm: quiet, persistent.

Leadership Program shapes future changemakers

radio and television experience in Jamaica and Canada, served as master of ceremonies. Through engaging stories and humour, he reminded graduates that perseverance, leadership and hard work remain the foundation of lasting success.

Several current and former students reflected on how the program transformed their lives.

A spirit of celebration, pride and optimism filled Victoria College on Saturday, June 27th, 2026, as the Lifelong Leadership Institute (LLI) marked two major milestones: the graduation of Leadership By Design’s Cohort 23 and the program’s 10th anniversary.

The graduating Grade 12 students began their Leadership By Design (LBD) journey in September 2023. Over the past three years, they participated in leadership workshops, CIBC Hackathons, Pursue STEM and Pursue Business initiatives, summer programs and community-building activities designed to prepare them for academic success and civic leadership.

Despite entering high school after experiencing the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the graduates demonstrated resilience, academic excellence and a commitment to serving their communities.

Veteran broadcaster Michael Andrew Cuffe, with more than 40 years of

Star Lewis, a member of the inaugural 2016 cohort, spoke about how Leadership By Design encouraged her to pursue opportunities she once believed were beyond her reach. She credited the program’s mentorship with helping her gain admission to Queen’s University, where she plans to pursue graduate studies combining business and law.

Cornell University student Imani Reid, a graduate of Cohort 2020, reflected on balancing academic excellence with athletic achievement. Now studying Electrical and Computer Engineering, Reid highlighted the discipline and confidence developed through Leadership By Design while excelling in provincial track and field competition.

Grade 10 student Yeab Melaku, a member of Cohort 2025 and a student at University of Toronto Schools, shared lessons about leadership and personal growth. Quoting LLI Chair Trevor Massey, he reminded the audience, “LBD is like a buffet, you have to take what you want and discard what you don’t.” He described effective time management as one of the

program’s greatest lessons.

Graduating student Joshua Dorman, valedictorian of St. Marcellinus Secondary School, praised the mentorship and leadership opportunities that prepared him for the next chapter as he begins studies in Commerce at Queen’s University.

Other graduates also highlighted experiences that shaped their educational journeys. Ifechi Okwuagwu, a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School, will study Mathematics and Economics with a minor in Computer Science at the University of Toronto. Ife Akinloye, a graduate of Milton District High School, described the University of Toronto’s Pursue STEM program as a life-changing experience that inspired his decision to study Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Isabella McLeod reflected on participating in the “We Are Canada Project,” which documented the stories of accomplished African Canadians. Aniyah Millet Morgan shared lessons learned during the 2026 CIBC Hackathon, while Michael Akinola discussed the practical business knowledge he gained through the Pursue Business program before beginning Commerce studies at McMaster University.

Music added warmth and emotion throughout the celebration. Juno nominee and Dora Award winner Jonelle Sills, accompanied by pianist Vlad Soloviev, delivered stirring performances that inspired the audience. Ontario Tech University en-

gineering student Cayden Holland also impressed guests with piano performances of Beethoven’s Für Elise and Bob Marley’s One Love.

One of the evening’s most emotional moments honoured 17-year-old Chloe Chukwuda Chizea, who passed away in November 2025. Remembered as an exceptional student leader and co-president of her school’s Black Student Union, she was celebrated for her kindness, determination and commitment to excellence.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Mary Anne Chambers, Chancellor of the University of Guelph. Drawing on more than four decades of leadership experience, she encouraged graduates to dream boldly and embrace every opportunity to lead with purpose, reminding them that dreams create possibilities that inspire innovation, hope and meaningful change.

The evening concluded with the presentation of 10 scholarships recognizing outstanding academic achievement. Presented by leaders from CIBC and PepsiCo Canada, the awards reflected the collective investment of educators, mentors and community partners in developing the next generation of leaders.

As Leadership By Design celebrates its first decade, the accomplishments of Cohort 23 stand as a testament to the program’s enduring mission: equipping young people with the confidence, character and leadership skills to shape stronger communities and brighter futures.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF

TOURISM

PHILIP ROSE

Protecting Jamaica’s Soul: The People’s Guardian

The steam from the cup of corn soup rose in a thick, fragrant cloud, momentarily blurring the world of 1980s Kingston. For fifteen-year-old Philip Rose, the metallic tang of new braces was a constant, nagging reminder of what he could not have: the satisfying, rhythmic crunch of roast corn his friends were currently enjoying. As he stood by the roadside vendor, he was looking at the man stirring the pot. It was nearly summer, the time of bun and frolic for a schoolboy with every advantage, yet the vendor’s face was a mask of doom and gloom. In that sensory collision of heat, spice, and silent despair, a young Philip realized that his holiday meant the vendor’s hunger.

The customers were leaving. The ecosystem was breaking.

This was the first lesson in human chemistry, a subject Philip would master long before he ever looked at a balance sheet. At Wolmer’s Boys’ School, the air vibrated with the clack-clack of dominoes and the sharp, competitive patois of boys from every strata of Jamaican society. While textbooks on Geography and Accounting lay open, Philip was busy studying the dusty theater of the schoolyard. He watched how a well-timed joke could bridge the chasm between a banker’s son and a street vendor’s child. He was learning that the most valuable currency in Jamaica is the ability to relate to people from every walk of life.

He was never going to be the accountant his father envisioned, counting walls and numbers in a silent office. The touch of travel during a gap year in Italy had already rewired his brain. There, amidst ancient ruins and living history, he saw how a culture could be packaged not as a static museum, but as a breathing, vibrating experience. He returned to Jamaica as a strategic storyteller who understood that a sunset is just a sunset until you attach a soul to it.

When he joined the Jamaica Tourist Board in 1998, he gave them a wry smile and a three-year promise. Thirty years later, he is still there, because the story of Jamaica is a narrative he is still fiercely protecting.

Philip Rose’s career is a masterclass in attentioneering, the surgical capture of global eyeballs for local benefit. As a leader, he pushed the JTB into the digital frontier long before social media was a corporate standard, recognizing that attention is the lifeblood of distribution. During his tenure in Canada, he transformed a mature market into a record-breaking engine, driving an 11% increase in visitors, but for Philip, the 4.5 million projected visitors are merely the score. The game is something much deeper.

The game is found in the kitchen of the Courtleigh Hotel, where an eighteen-year-old Philip once worked in every department. He can still hear the voice of the General Manager asking a question that would define his leadership: “What did the dishwasher say?” When Philip admitted, he had not spoken to him, the manager dropped a truth that would become Philip’s North Star, “The dishwasher is the only person who knows exactly what the guest did not eat.”

This is the unexpected angle of Philip Rose. He does not just negotiate high-stakes airline partnerships with LATAM or Copa because he likes the math of seat capacity. He does it because he knows that every flight into Sangster International is a victory for the St. Elizabeth farmer and the craft vendor whose children stay in school because of those arrivals. He is a man of profound contradictions: a seasoned diplomat who will stridently defend luxury brands yet argue with equal fervor that a jerk pan conversation is the industry’s true north star. He refuses to let Jamaica become a little

Hawaii, a hollowed-out version of its authentic self.

The weight of this responsibility became visceral when Hurricane Melissa tore through the island. While the industry was paralyzed by the howl of the wind and the terrifying silence of disconnected lines, Philip did not hide behind sanitized press releases. He emerged as a human anchor. He remembers walking into a hotel in Montego Bay just days after the storm. He saw the staff sweeping, cleaning, and smiling, despite not knowing if their own homes were still standing or if their next paycheck would ever come. He cried.

“How can I, or anyone who works with me, ever turn their backs on them?” he asks now, his voice thick with a dedication that transcends passion and enters the realm of purpose. He lives by a Bob Marley philosophy, “My life is for others. If it’s for me alone, then I don’t want it.”

This purpose is what gets him up at the crack of dawn, even when his senior position allows him to delegate the grind. It is why he developed the Diaspora strategy, turning Jamaicans abroad into a grassroots army of ambassadors because a story told by a brother is ten times more persuasive than a magazine ad. He understands that he stands on the shoulders of the corn soup man, the fisherman, and the dishwasher. Without them, he is just selling beautiful beaches that can be found anywhere.

Yet, for all the accolades (the WAVE awards, the “Top Supplier” titles, the lectures at Ryerson University) Philip remains grounded by the two most important people in his world. There is the corn soup man, who never knew he was teaching a future director how to lead, and there is his daughter.

She is the one who watches him receive accolades and then reminds him, with a smile, that he is still on “Daddy

duty” and needs to make her a hot chocolate. She is the one who chose the destination for her sweet sixteen trip, not a party, but a journey back to Italy, where Philip’s own story once pivoted.

Philip does not think about legacy, a word he finds borderline pretentious. He thinks about the retrospective coherence of his journey. He is still that boy from Wolmer’s, reading the room, valuing the dishwasher’s data, and protecting the spirit of a people who create the feeling he sells to the world.

He realized long ago that the greatest scenery in Jamaica is not the Blue Mountains, or the white sands of Negril. The greatest scenery is the reflection of a guest who finally feels seen, because they were served by a people who were, in turn, seen and protected by him.

Philip Rose is still serving that corn soup man. He is still stirring the pot, ensuring the heat never goes out, and making sure that when the summer comes, no one is left standing in the doom and gloom of an empty street.

The braces are gone, the clackclack of the schoolyard has faded into the hum of international boardrooms, but the mission remains singular. He stays because the story of Jamaica, the story of genuine human connection, is a narrative he is still, thirty years later, proudly and loudly protecting.

Written by Simone J. Smith TCN Now

Photo Credit: David Muir

Photo Credit: Sanj P Photography

Island Heat Meets Summer Sweet: Jerk Salmon with Coconut-Lime Orzo and Grilled Peach Salsa

Summer food should feel bright, fresh and easy, but it should never be boring. This is the season when the grill is working overtime, fruit is at its sweetest, and nobody wants to spend the entire afternoon standing over a hot stove. It is also the perfect time to take familiar Caribbean flavours and introduce them to ingredients that people may not normally think of pairing together.

That is exactly what this recipe does. Our jerk salmon with coconut-lime orzo and grilled peach salsa brings together heat, sweetness, smoke and freshness in one colourful plate. The salmon is bold and savoury, the orzo is creamy without feeling heavy, and the grilled peach salsa adds a juicy sweetness that makes the entire dish taste like summer.

This is not a traditional Caribbean dish, and it is not trying to be. It is a fusion recipe built around flavours many of us already know and love. Jerk seasoning, thyme, Scotch bonnet, coconut, lime and green onion meet tender salmon, Mediterranean-style orzo and ripe summer peaches. The result feels familiar and new at the same time.

It is also a meal that looks impressive without requiring restaurant-level skill. Serve it for a family dinner, a backyard gathering or a special summer evening. Much of the preparation can be done ahead of time, and the final cooking comes together quickly.

Why this combination works

At first, jerk salmon, coconut orzo and peaches may sound like three separate ideas, but each part has a purpose.

Salmon is rich and buttery enough to handle jerk seasoning. Its natural oils help it stay moist on the grill and allow the spices to cling to the fish.

The coconut-lime orzo balances the heat. Orzo may look like rice, but it is actually a small pasta. It cooks quickly and absorbs the flavours of coconut milk, garlic, thyme and lime. The result is silky and comforting without the heaviness of a cream sauce.

Then comes the grilled peach salsa. Peaches become sweeter and more fragrant on the grill, while the slight char adds depth. Lime juice, red onion, fresh herbs and Scotch bonnet keep the salsa bright, sharp and savoury.

Together, the three elements create balance. Every bite has heat, sweetness, creaminess and acidity without allowing one flavour to overpower the others.

A note about jerk seasoning

Jerk is much more than adding hot pepper to meat or fish. A good jerk flavour should include herbs, warm spices, aromatics, sweetness and acidity as well as heat.

Traditional jerk recipes and family versions vary, but Scotch bonnet, thyme, allspice, green onion, garlic and ginger are often central to the flavour. In this recipe, those familiar ingredients are kept light enough to complement the salmon.

A prepared jerk paste can save time, but check the sodium and heat before adding extra seasoning. For the freshest flavour and the most control, make the marinade from scratch.

Ingredients

For the jerk salmon

• Four salmon fillets, approximately 170 to 225 grams each, skin on or skinless

• Two green onions, roughly chopped

• Two cloves garlic

• One tablespoon freshly grated ginger

• One Scotch bonnet pepper, stem removed

• One teaspoon ground allspice

• One teaspoon dried thyme, or one tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

• Half a teaspoon ground cinnamon

• A quarter teaspoon ground nutmeg

• One tablespoon brown sugar

• One tablespoon soy sauce

• Two tablespoons fresh lime juice

• One tablespoon orange juice

• One tablespoon olive oil

• Half a teaspoon salt, or less if your soy sauce is salty

• Freshly ground black pepper

For the coconut-lime orzo

• One and a half cups dry orzo

• One tablespoon butter or olive oil

• Two cloves garlic, finely minced

• Two green onions, thinly sliced, with white and green parts separated

• One teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, or half a teaspoon dried thyme

• One cup canned coconut milk

• Two cups chicken or vegetable broth, plus extra if needed

• One teaspoon lime zest

• Two tablespoons fresh lime juice

• Half a cup finely diced red bell pepper

• Half a cup green peas, optional

• Salt and black pepper to taste

• Two tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley

For the grilled peach salsa

• Three ripe but firm peaches, halved and pitted

• One teaspoon oil for brushing

• Half a ripe mango, diced

• A quarter cup finely diced red onion

• One small jalapeño, or a small piece of Scotch bonnet, finely minced

• One green onion, thinly sliced

• A quarter cup chopped fresh cilantro

• Juice of one lime

• One teaspoon honey

• A pinch of salt

For the honey-Scotch bonnet drizzle

• Two tablespoons honey

• One tablespoon lime juice

• One teaspoon melted butter or olive oil

• A very small amount of finely minced Scotch bonnet, to taste

• A pinch of salt

Preparing the jerk marinade

Place the green onions, garlic, ginger, Scotch bonnet, allspice, thyme, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, soy sauce, lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, salt and black pepper in a blender or small food processor. Blend until you have a thick, slightly textured paste.

Taste the marinade. Scotch bonnet peppers can vary greatly in heat, so begin with less if you are unsure. For a milder version, remove the seeds and inner membrane. You can also use half a pepper in the marinade and reserve the rest for the salsa or drizzle.

Pat the salmon fillets dry and place them in a shallow glass dish or resealable container. Spoon the marinade over the fish and gently rub it across the top and sides. Marinate for approximately 30 minutes. Avoid leaving the salmon overnight, as the lime and orange juice can begin changing the texture of the fish.

Preparing the grilled peach salsa

Choose peaches that are ripe enough to be sweet but still firm enough to hold their shape on the grill.

Cut each peach in half, remove the pit and lightly brush the cut sides with oil. Preheat the grill to medium-high and clean and oil the grates.

Place the peaches cut-side down and grill for two to three minutes, or until grill marks appear and the fruit begins to soften. Turn and grill the skin side for another minute. Remove from the heat and allow them to cool slightly.

Dice the peaches and place them in a bowl with the mango, red onion, pepper, green onion and cilantro.

Mix the lime juice, honey and salt in a small cup, then pour it over the fruit and toss gently. The salsa should taste bright and slightly tangy, with sweetness from the fruit and a gentle kick of heat.

Add more lime if it is too sweet or a little more honey if the peaches are not fully ripe. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Cooking the coconut-lime orzo

Heat the butter or olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the white parts of the green onions, garlic and thyme. Cook for about one minute, stirring until fragrant.

Add the dry orzo and stir for another minute. Lightly toasting it adds a subtle nutty flavour.

Pour in the coconut milk and broth. Stir well and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook uncovered, stirring regularly so the orzo does not stick.

After approximately eight minutes, stir in the red bell pepper and peas, if using. Continue cooking until the orzo is tender but not mushy, usually ten to twelve minutes in total. Add a splash of broth or water if it becomes too thick before the pasta is fully cooked.

Remove from the heat and stir in the lime zest, lime juice, green parts of the onions and chopped cilantro or parsley. Season with salt and black pepper. The finished orzo should be creamy and loose enough to spoon onto the plate. It will continue to thicken as it sits, so add a little warm broth before serving if needed.

Grilling the salmon

Preheat the grill to medium-high and make sure the grates are clean and lightly oiled. Remove the salmon from the marinade and allow the excess to drip off. Leave the seasoning on the fish, but remove any large, wet clumps that may burn.

For skin-on salmon, place the fillets skin-side down. Close the lid and cook for four to six minutes, depending on thickness. Carefully turn the salmon and cook for another two to four minutes.

The fish is ready when it flakes easily with a fork and remains moist in the centre. Avoid repeatedly flipping it, as salmon is more likely to break when handled too often. A wide, thin spatula works best.

The salmon can also be baked on a parchment-lined sheet at 220°C, or 425°F, for ten to fourteen minutes. Broil for the final one to two minutes for extra colour, watching closely so the marinade does not burn.

Making the honey-Scotch bonnet drizzle

Mix the honey, lime juice, melted butter or olive oil, minced Scotch bonnet and salt in a small bowl.

Begin with very little pepper because the heat will be more noticeable in the uncooked drizzle. Taste and adjust. You want sweetness first, followed by lime and a gentle kick of heat.

Bringing the plate together

Spoon a generous portion of coconut-lime orzo onto each plate. Place a jerk salmon fillet over the orzo or slightly to the side.

Top the salmon with grilled peach salsa, allowing some of the fruit and juices to fall onto the orzo. Drizzle a small amount of honey-Scotch bonnet sauce over the fish.

Finish with fresh cilantro, sliced green onion, a lime wedge and a few extra pieces of grilled peach, if available.

The deep seasoning on the salmon contrasts beautifully with the pale coconut orzo and the orange, yellow and green colours in the salsa.

Adjusting the heat

Not everyone at the table will have the same tolerance for Scotch bonnet pepper. Keep the salmon moderately spicy and serve extra honey-Scotch bonnet drizzle on the side so each person can control the heat.

For children or guests who prefer mild food, prepare one or two fillets with a separate marinade using no Scotch bonnet. The thyme, allspice, ginger, garlic, lime and brown sugar will still create a flavourful jerk-inspired coating.

Remember that removing the seeds does not make a Scotch bonnet harmless. Wear gloves when cutting it, avoid touching your face and wash the knife, cutting board and blender carefully afterward.

Making it your own

Fusion cooking should feel flexible. The goal is to understand how the flavours work together and then adjust them to suit your table.

When peaches are unavailable, use nectarines, pineapple or firm mango. Pineapple creates a sharper, more tropical salsa, while mango makes the dish softer and sweeter.

The same marinade can also be used with chicken thighs, shrimp or firm tofu. Adjust the cooking time, but keep the orzo and salsa the same.

A summer recipe worth repeating

The best summer recipes make people curious before they even take the first bite.

This jerk salmon does exactly that. The smell of the spices on the grill draws people in, the peaches add an unexpected twist, and the coconut-lime orzo turns it into a complete meal.

The sweetness of the fruit works naturally with the jerk spice. Coconut softens the heat, and lime wakes everything up. Nothing feels forced.

It is also a reminder that Caribbean-inspired cooking does not have to remain inside a narrow box. Our ingredients, techniques and flavour traditions can travel, adapt and influence dishes from around the world. Fusion is at its best when it is thoughtful, balanced and respectful of the flavours being used.

This plate is colourful, full of personality and flexible enough for a weeknight or special occasion. Most importantly, it tastes like summer.

The next time you want something different from the usual burgers and hot dogs, pick up a few salmon fillets, find the ripest peaches at the market and bring a little island heat to the table.

One bite of smoky jerk salmon, creamy coconut-lime orzo and sweet grilled peach salsa may be all it takes to make this your new summer favourite.

BY DIANA GIFFORD-JONES COMMON SENSE HEALTH

There is good reason for an afternoon snooze

ternoon snoozes offered no reward.

Winston Churchill once said, “Nature has not intended mankind to work from eight in the morning until midnight without that refreshment of blessed oblivion.” He was justifying his habit of an afternoon nap, a practice he said that gave him “Two days in one.”

Many hot climates around the world have embedded some form of shuteye during the midday heat. Spain and Mexico’s siesta. Italy’s riposo. Greece has quiet hours. In China, the midday sleep is widely accepted. The Japanese have the practice of inemuri, literally being present while sleeping. Dozing off is seen as evidence of demanding work, not laziness.

In North America, napping has an image problem. The adulation we have for snoozing babies and toddler’s turns to scorn when teenagers put their feet up. Office workers risk being fired if they put their heads down. Good luck finding a spot in

school and college settings where students can have a safe snooze. There is a widespread conviction that we need to power through the day, and that doing so is the definition of industrious.

Churchill thought differently, and he was not alone. Leonardo da Vinci slept in short bursts throughout the day. John F. Kennedy was known to retreat for a brief afternoon sleep. Albert Einstein slept about ten hours at night and still enjoyed daytime naps. They were hardly lazy men.

Researchers in Japan showed that even a short daytime nap measurably improves alertness, mental performance, and fatigue. Waking at just the right point in the nap reduced the grogginess many people complain about after sleeping too long.

European researchers studying older adults in both China and Europe found napping was not good or bad. Like Goldilocks, it seemed to be “just right” when it was neither too short nor too long. Moderate naps were associated with better cognitive performance, while marathon af-

Neuroscience can explain it. The brain is like a busy office. All morning, papers pile up, phones ring, and sticky notes cover every surface. A short nap is the cleaning crew. Memories are sorted. Unimportant information is discarded. New learning is filed where it can be found later. Meanwhile, stress hormones decline, and the nervous system shifts into a more restorative gear. That is one reason people often wake feeling clearer, calmer, and more creative.

The sweet spot is about 20 to 30 minutes in the early afternoon. That is long enough to recharge without descending into deep sleep, where waking can leave you feeling as though you have been hit by a truck instead of refreshed.

Of course, there is an important caveat. If you are routinely sleeping for hours every afternoon, because you are exhausted, that is another matter. Long or frequent naps can sometimes signal poor nighttime sleep, sleep apnea, medication

effects, or underlying illness rather than helpful restoration. In health and sickness, context always matters.

I will admit that a nap still feels like an indulgence. It even feels wrong to relax when many people around the world are lurching from one crisis to the next. It is hard to settle in for forty winks knowing so many people are worrying about war, paying the rent, or simply getting through another day. I would enjoy a midday snooze more if I knew everyone had the same carefree opportunity.

Guilt has never been a substitute for sleep, and the evidence is clear: a short afternoon nap is one of the healthiest habits many people forego. We all should do it more.

So, if anyone accuses you of laziness, simply tell them you are following the latest international research. Then nodded off in the recliner.

BY SIMONE J. SMITH HUMAN SPECIALIST

He does not call it abuse. He calls it stress. A rough patch. A misunderstanding that got out of hand, but every morning, he wakes up already tired from watching. Watching her tone. Her mood. The way a sentence might turn sharp without warning. He replays conversations in his head while brushing his teeth. He edits himself before speaking. He shrinks, just enough, to keep the peace.

This is what abuse can look like when no one is looking.

An abused man often lives in a constant state of alertness, always scanning for what might go wrong next. Over time, that pressure settles into the body. It shows up as: anxiety, insomnia, irritability, or a quiet emotional numbness that feels like disappearing from your own life (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, CAMH).

The deepest damage is harder to name. It is the slow erosion of identity. When abuse is emotional or psychological, it rewrites reality. A man begins to doubt his memory. His judgment. His worth. He asks himself questions that would have once felt absurd: “Was that my fault?” “Am I overreacting?” “Is this just what relationships are?” (Udada), and then comes the silence.

Many men are taught early that vulnerability is weakness. For men, that pressure is compounded. Expressing pain can carry social risk: being labeled aggressive, unstable, or difficult. So, emotions are managed, suppressed, buried (SAGE Journals).

That silence is not indifference.

BY HERBERT HILDEBRANDT POLITICAL PARLEY

In recent weeks, acrid wildfire smoke has blanketed large swaths of Ontario, raising the question: is this an anomaly or a new norm? President Trump reacted predictably, threatening tariffs and shining a light on potential mismanagement of forests and wildfire mitigation programs in Ontario.

Ontario’s 2025 wildfire season produced 643 fires and burned 597,654 hectares, nearly four times the area burned in 2024. The province later added $90 million to cover wildfire management and suppression costs for that season.

Those numbers show why the debate cannot be reduced to whether firefighters received enough emergency money once the fires started. Ontario ultimately pays the bills. The more important question is whether the province is investing early enough in personnel, aircraft, prevention and forest management to reduce the damage before emergency spending becomes necessary.

Ontario has traditionally financed wildfire response through a base allocation, supplemented by additional Treasury Board funding when conditions require it. That gives the province flexibility because fire seasons vary significantly. It also means the published budget can

Men are suffering abuse silently

Speaking up can cost something. Men fear not being believed. They fear ridicule. They fear losing access to their children, damaging their immigration status, or being told outright that men cannot be victims. In that environment, silence feels safer than exposure (Government of Canada Publications), but silence has a cost. It allows abuse to deepen, and to hide.

Not all abuse is physical. In fact, some of the most damaging forms leave no visible trace. Coercive control. Financial pressure. Isolation from friends and family. Public humiliation. Threats tied to reputation, parenting, or legal status. These tactics are often misunderstood or dismissed, which delays recognition, and help (Udada).

You might recognize it in subtle shifts:

• A man who stops showing up.

• A colleague whose confidence suddenly drops.

• A friend who drinks more, speaks less, and laughs differently.

What looks like withdrawal is often survival. So, what changes this? It starts with belief. When a man says he is being hurt, the response he receives in that moment can determine whether he ever speaks again. Dismissing it as a joke (or minimizing it) reinforces the very silence that trapped him, but a simple, steady response, “I believe you,” can interrupt that cycle. From there, support must be practical, not performative.

• Trauma-informed counseling that does not shame masculinity.

• Culturally competent services that understand the lived realities of Black and immigrant men.

• Safe housing for those who cannot safely leave.

• Legal guidance where custody, immigration, or protection orders are at stake.

These supports do exist. In Canada, public directories and municipal resources (including Calgary’s domestic violence services) acknowledge men as survivors and point to crisis support, including spaces specifically for men of African descent (City of Calgary). Systems alone are not enough. Culture has to shift. In many communities, masculinity is still defined by en-

Ontario is mismanaging wildfire prevention

understate the province’s probable costs and provide an incomplete picture of its readiness.

Money approved during an emergency can cover aircraft rentals, overtime, fuel and outside assistance. It cannot quickly produce experienced crew leaders, pilots, mechanics or incident commanders.

Ontario added 68 permanent firefighting and support positions for the 2026 season and increased compensation for firefighters, pilots and aircraftmaintenance engineers. It has also committed more than $500 million for six new DHC-515 water bombers, although those aircraft are not expected until the early 2030s at the earliest.

These are substantial investments, but they also illustrate the long lead time involved. Ontario cannot wait for an extreme season before deciding that permanent capacity is required.

The second issue is how Ontario manages the forests themselves.

After commercial harvesting, aspen, birch and other broadleaf vegetation often regenerate faster than spruce and pine. Forestry operators use herbicides, primarily glyphosate, to suppress that competition and help commercially desirable conifers become established.

A Canadian Forest Service report estimated that herbicides were applied to approximately 70,000 hectares of On -

tario forest annually, representing about one-third of the area being regenerated at the time of the report. More recent forest audits confirm that glyphosate remains in active use. In the Boundary Waters Forest, aerial herbicides were applied across thousands of hectares during the latest audit period, with glyphosate identified as the herbicide used.

Glyphosate does not ignite forests, and current evidence does not prove conclusively that spraying caused Ontario’s recent wildfire seasons but there appears to be a correlation. Fire growth is heavily influenced by wind, fuel moisture, temperature, vegetation and topography.

The legitimate policy question is whether long-term conifer-focused regeneration is producing more uniform and combustible landscapes.

Deciduous forests, mixed forests and conifer forests behave differently during fires. Aspen and birch generally retain more moisture during the growing season, while dense spruce and pine stands can carry intense crown fires when conditions are dry. Replacing broadleaf competition with large, similar-aged conifer stands may therefore increase fuel continuity in some managed areas.

Ontario also faces accumulated fuels created by decades of aggressive fire suppression, along with insect damage, windfall, logging residue and the

durance, how much a man can carry without breaking, but what if strength was redefined as self-protection? As honesty? As the ability to say, “This is harming me, and I will not stay silent?”

That shift does not start in institutions. It starts in trusted spaces: barbershops, churches, community groups, diaspora networks, where men already speak, just not always about this, because the truth is, many abused men are trapped between trauma and silence, and the silence itself becomes part of the injury.

For many abused men, the first wound is the abuse; the second is being told they should have been strong enough to endure it alone.

decline of Indigenous cultural burning. The province’s own silvicultural guidance recognizes prescribed fire as a possible tool in areas affected by blowdown or insects.

The solution is not to stop fighting fires or immediately prohibit every forestry herbicide. It is to connect wildfire planning with forestry planning.

Ontario should establish a transparent, multi-year wildfire budget based on the average cost of recent seasons, rather than relying so heavily on emergency additions. It should publish annual figures for staffing, aircraft availability, hectares treated with herbicides, prescribed burns, fuel reduction and community protection work.

The province should also commission independent field research comparing fire behaviour in sprayed conifer blocks, untreated mixed wood regeneration and selectively managed forests. Future forest-management plans should preserve strategic deciduous corridors, reduce large areas of continuous conifer fuels and expand prescribed and Indigenous-led burning near vulnerable communities.

If we do not act decisively, we may pay a high economic price, courtesy of US President Donald Trump and his ‘art of the deal’ nuclear negotiation tactics.

Dream homes, broken hearts: Inside Canada’s rental scam epidemic

BY JAY BRIJPAUL REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST

It began with hope: a Brampton family, a fresh start, a cozy basement apartment, and a friendly landlord just a message away, but on moving day, their dream home was already occupied, and the landlord had vanished. They were not the only victims. Police soon uncovered a web of deceit: at least seventeen families had lost more than $60,000 to a single scam artist.

Rental fraud is surging across Canada, and social media has become the new hunting ground. In 2025, Canadians reported more than $704 million in losses from fraud, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, a figure experts say is just the beginning, as most victims never come forward.

Searching for a home in Ontario has become a frantic race. With rents soaring and vacancies evaporating, desperate

tenants feel pressured to act fast. Scammers exploit this urgency, using stolen photos and too-good-to-be-true prices to reel dozens of hopeful renters within hours. The so-called landlord is often, overseas or too busy to meet. Prospective tenants are urged to send deposits immediately to lock in the deal. Once the money is sent, the landlord vanishes, leaving behind empty promises, fake keys, or nothing at all.

For newcomers, the dream of a welcoming Canadian home can quickly unravel. Unfamiliar with the rental system, they are particularly vulnerable: scammers may request passports, banking details, or social insurance numbers before a property is even shown. Sometimes, both deposits and identities vanish in an instant. International students searching from abroad are especially frequent targets.

While basement apartments, harder to verify and often paid in cash, are common targets, no listing is truly safe.

Scammers now target condos, detached homes, and even luxury rentals. Some rent an Airbnb or a vacant property for a weekend, show it to several families, collect deposits from each, then disappear before the fraud is discovered. Others hijack genuine listings by swapping out photos and contact information.

Technology has turbocharged rental scams. With artificial intelligence, fraudsters can whip up fake IDs, clone voices, and create professional-looking emails or leases in minutes. Canadian authorities warn that AI-driven scams are now so convincing that even the savviest renters can struggle to spot a fake.

Before you send a deposit, watch for red flags: rent that is far below market, a landlord who refuses to meet, high-pressure sales tactics, or requests for untraceable payments. If the lease or photos seem off, or your gut tells you something is not right, trust your instincts.

Protect yourself: always visit the property in person, verify the advertiser’s identity and ownership, search online for duplicate listings, and scrutinize the landlord’s ID and the lease. Avoid untraceable payments, keep records of all communications, and consult a trusted expert if anything feels off, before you send a dime.

To protect yourself in the rental market, always view the property in person and confirm that the person advertising it genuinely owns or manages it. Search the address online to spot duplicate listings with mismatched contact details, and carefully review the landlord’s ID and the lease documents. Avoid paying by cash, cryptocurrency, or other untraceable methods, and keep detailed records of all your communications and receipts. If something feels off, seek advice from a realtor, lawyer, or trusted friend before transferring any funds.