The Year In Review 122718 by TCN-Now

VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 23 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27 2018

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

2018 was quite the year; Outlined by moments and events that were both overwhelming good and bad. For the most part, it could be described as one of the most tragic years in decades, with occurrences of many horrific and fatal incidents such as school shootings, hate crimes, terrorism, and natural disasters. Events that though ap-

palling in nature, ignited a great degree of togetherness across the world. However, there were those swift great moments in the year that brought about euphoria and celebrations, like Canada’s historic move towards becoming the second country in the world to legalize recreational Cannabis and the widely televised and much

KABRENA ROBINSON/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

discussed Royal wedding as well as many worldwide celebrations of progress and developments in politics and even science. 2018 can be highlighted as the year of reflection and strive for change. Continued On Page 7

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

Charmaine Williams Advocating for the People City Councillor

Written by Alyssa Mahadeo Toronto Caribbean News

Resilience is the true strength of women, their capacity to recover and bounce back from any difficulty is a true testament to how far they have come and the respect they have garnered over decades of trials and tribulations. Newly elected Brampton City Councillor Charmaine Williams has been a member of the Bramalea community since 1980. Her family moved here from England and settled in the Brampton area, where she grew up, laid her roots, got married and started a family of her own. “Growing up, Bramalea was such a close-knit community, with many young families so there where a lot of residents that grew up in Bramalea and we have this memory and this nostalgia of how it was living in Bramalea,” Williams explains. “So, when we were ready to raise our own kids, many of us came back, and you’ll find now that many of the communities are changing back into young families.” As a homeowner and proud mother of five beautiful children, she knows the challenges that Brampton residents face

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and understands the need to build a better Brampton for all families, seniors and small business owners. Before she entered the world of politics, Charmaine had been drawn to working with children. Professionally, she is a certified Multi-Systemic Therapist, behavioural consultant and counsellor and during her 19-year career, she has been a voice on behalf of families and children of all ages coping with domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, neglect, trauma and other personal challenges. “Since 1999 I’ve been working very closely with families and my career has morphed from being very child-centred and child-focused to working indirectly with the child and working more with the parents over time,” Williams explains. “The progression that brought me to where I am now in politics has been an effect of working with a child, wanting to make the change with a child, and realizing the best way to work with the child is to get into the school system.” In working with the school system, Williams realized that there was still much to be done with regards to the family, and the child’s home, so she began working directly with families and parents in order to positively influence the most change with the children she worked with. “I started noticing a lot of similarities on how not-for-profit organizations are running and realizing that while you can do a lot of great work in the home, there is so much that needs to be done within our system,” Williams says. Through working with these families and seeing the barriers they would have to face and navigate through Williams posed the idea of pursuing a position in politics, because that’s where a lot of the systemic changes happen. Williams received support and encouragement from her peers who recognized that this type of leadership position is something that she would excel at. She considered the idea and saw the potential changes that could be made and decided she would run, but not before being presented with another more serious obstacle that would challenge her resilience as a woman. After giving birth to her fifth child in September of last year, Williams suffered

from a brain hemorrhage.

“I had a pretty severe brain hemorrhage that left me almost blind,” Williams recalls. “I couldn’t see and I was not able to walk, I was in the ICU and it was pretty traumatic I almost died.” Regardless of her debilitating health, Williams knew that now being a mother of five children, she couldn’t just stay in a bed in the hospital. “I had to get myself up and get myself better for my family, and so I pushed myself to recover and get back on my feet,” Williams says. Once she was up and about, she revisited the idea of running for office. After what she had just recovered from, people tried to discourage her from running, pointing out that she had just survived this life-threatening trauma, and she now had five kids to take care off. Williams would not be dissuaded and registered anyway, demonstrating her determination to pursue what is possible, motivated by the impact and changes that she could influence to better the Brampton community. “I had a lot of doubters, and people who didn’t think I could win this,” Williams says, speaking to us from her office at city hall. “Anything is possible, we work to motivate young women of color and women are strong individuals, I don’t want anyone to put up barriers for themselves because you can do it, and I know it can be difficult, but you have to push yourself.” While she was in that hospital bed, Williams looked at her kids and knew that she couldn’t leave them to anyone else. Her kids needed her, and she was determined to get better for their sake and for the sake of the community and families that need her to advocate for them. “I really want to see Brampton be a safe and secure community, I want people to go out into the community without feeling like they have to look over their shoulders, I want kids to go to school in an environment that is nurturing and encouraging of people regardless of skin color, and I want people to feel like Brampton is their home, I want to make sure that I am leaving behind systems in place that can help everyone succeed.”

Thursday, December 27, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

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Holiday Party held in partnership between the Jamaican Canadian Association and Western Union SHAUNA-KAY CASSELL shauna-kay@carib101.com

TC REPORTER On December 15th, 2018, Western Union and the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) celebrated with a Holiday Family Fun Day for the community as a way to give back, and to provide a celebration to those who were unable to return home for the holidays. It was held at the JCA Centre at 995 Arrow Road between 1-6pm. Approximately 80 participants joined in a Caribbean-style celebration, hosted by DJ Jonathan Juiceman Shaw.

The DJ ignited the room with energy and holiday music, as he facilitated the constant blend of games all afternoon. With each game, there was a winner, and a prize to be given out. The spin-the-wheel game had participants coming up to see which number between one and four, the pin would land on. Every number, except number four, had its own special prize; such as pens, coconut water, hats or bandanas. For number four, players sang to the audience. Surprisingly, no one shied away from the singing. It must have been that warm family-vibes of love and unity that enraptured the halls. “When Western Union approached me about the event a couple months ago, I was thrilled at the idea. I liked that it would be a family event. For us it was about letting the community know who we are as an organization. What better way to partner and to reach out to the community,” said Adaoma Patterson, President of the JCA. Children participated in their own cookie-eating competition. One young participant walked away with a gift basket, too big for

her to carry, that was filled with GraceKennedy products. The Limbo game for adults was a hit as well. All five adults participated, until one winner emerged. She too, took home a basket of GraceKennedy products. On the hour, ticket numbers were called, and participants received Western Union jackets. “Western Union is big on supporting the community and tries to collaborate in different ways to reach the community. This is the first time we chose to partner with the JCA” says Olivia Mihaljevic, Senior Marketing Analyst of Product Marketing. There was this familial spirit that bonded the participants together. “This is the first time that the mandate was to say thank you to our customers and the community. It was all about showing gratitude to the community, and recognizing that as a community we have hard times,” says Koree Haye, Multicultural Advertising Agency of Western Union. “We need to be consistently present. It’s not about Western Union, but it’s about showing appreciation to our customers that are so loyal to our brand. We

wanna be organic,” says Avneet Sandhu, Western Union Canada, Director of Product Marketing. The same message of the importance of community and giving back was expressed over and over by the Western Union team. The community also had a chance to convey their appreciation. “I wanted to deliver money to my daughter in Savanna La Mar, Jamaica. It took all of three minutes. So I would say, Western Union is number one in my books,” says Desmond Bartley. “I tried money gram and other agencies and they failed me. Western Union never fails. So thank you Western Union,” another woman expressed. The feeling of gratitude and appreciation was mutual between the community and Western Union. The Holiday Family Fun Day wrapped up with music from DJ Juiceman who kept the crowd bouncing to the rhythm. Truly, everyone left the Holiday Party in a good mood, with numerous prizes in hand, smiles from ear to ear, and all filled up with the spirit of a Caribbeanstyle Christmas.

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Spot the Civic & Win! Performance Honda Mayfield ALYSSA MAHADEO alyssa@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Sometimes it pays to take a selfie! On Wednesday, December 12th Performance Honda Mayfield, the newest Honda dealership in town announced the winner of their first-ever social media-based contest #SPOTTHECIVIC. As the GTA’s newest Honda showroom serving the residents of Brampton and Caledon, they launched their first contest this summer as a thank you to the community, with the First Annual Spot the Civic Photo Contest! This summer they started their contest by parking a 2018 Honda Civic SE at various public locations throughout Brampton and Caledon. Over the next couple of months, residents were encouraged to find the Civic rolling around the city, take a selfie with the car, and post it to their social media with the #SPOT THE CIVIC. The contest ran for four months before a winner was chosen at the end of November. Residents were able to visit SPOTTHECIVIC.CA weekly for the approximate time and location of the vehicle, then they could go to that location take a selfie in front of the side of the vehicle. Every location that was submitted was counted as an entry. Christmas came early this year for the lucky Grand Prize Winner, Brampton resident Tracy Ann Aldrich, driving away with a free two-year lease on the dealership. “I wasn’t even going to take a selfie, but the gentleman that was there

encouraged me to take a photo with the car,” shares Aldrich of her winning selfie experience at tha Caribram Event Honda sponsored in Brampton this past summer. “My friends always make fun of me for posting selfies, but I told them after I found out I won the car, you guys can’t make fun of me for posting selfies now, because I won a car!” Tracy was selected as the winner from thousands of entries during Performance Honda Mayfield’s first annual SPOT THE CIVIC contest. She is a current Honda driver and loves Honda. The 2018 Honda Civic SE features include a sleek and sporty exterior with 16” aluminum-alloy wheels, proximity key entry system, unique Honda sensing technologies, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 2.0-Litre 4-cylinder engine and eco assist/ econ button. It really is quite the prize, and everyone knows how much Brampton loves Honda! As Brampton’s newest Honda showroom serving the fine folks of Brampton and Caledon, Performance Honda is committed to supporting local communities. They are a proud part of Performance Auto Group, which organizes fundraisers year-round and regularly donates to local and national charities. They are particularly known for our annual presentation of the United Way Golf Tournament, CIBC Run for the Cure and Plaid for Dad that raises funds for Prostate Cancer Canada. Performance Honda is especially grateful to Knights Table for their hard work to feed and nurture our community in Peel Region. They are committed to helping the Knights Table deliver food throughout Brampton and surrounding areas. Performance Honda is encouraged and motivated to drive change! They want to send a very special thank everyone who participated over the last six months in their first annual Spot the Civic Photo Contest!

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2018; the year in review KABRENA ROBINSON kabrena@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Continued From Page 1 #Metoo continues to make an impact One of these moments involves the dominance of the #MeToo movement that garnered the world’s attention, spreading awareness of sexual assault in 2017. The movement was progressive as ever this year. The viral #MeToo hashtag (first initiated by Tarana Burke ten years ago), was reignited on October 15th, 2017 after American actress Alyssa Milano tweeted encouraging survivors of sexual assault to speak out using ‘#Me Too’ in their tweets. The hashtag spread like wildfire online with more than 500,000 mentions on Twitter and 12 million times on Facebook in the first 24 hours alone. Millions of women posted #MeToo on social media to say that they had been sexually assaulted, abused or harassed. The great awareness brought by the hashtag to sexual assault cases created a major shift in the narrative of the patriarchal power structure and how sexual assault cases are often regarded and dealt with by society. The Harvey Weinstein case in 2017 opened the gate to many more revelations and testimonies from survivors. The impact was so drastic that according to a New York Times article, at least 200 prominent men have lost their jobs after public allegations of sexual assault. A few, including Weinstein, face criminal charges. The article goes on to state that at least 920 people came forward to say that one of these men subjected them to sexual misconduct. And nearly half of the men who have been replaced were succeeded by women. This many would say was a tremendous milestone for female empowerment. #MeToo in Canada In Canada, several stories emerged at the start of the year about past allegedly inappropriate behavior of members of Parliament, both male and female, from the four main federal parties. This national conversation influenced many changes to the MPto-MP code of conduct, the Senate harassment policy, new rules within the respective political parties, enhanced training for staff on Parliament Hill and new protections for federal workers. Women in Politics The impact of the movement and the surge of feminism and female empowerment across the world also had some degree of influence on politics. On November 6, the United States held its midterm elections. Democrats reclaimed a majority in the House and a record number of women and visible minorities were elected to Congress. Among the history makers were Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, the first two Muslim women ever elected to the House of Representatives. This year was deemed as a “historic year for minority

women in politics.” Also, as the rest of the word was cheering on the new era for female advancements, so was the small island of Barbados who elected Mia Mottley as its first female Prime Minister, adding to a growing list of woman-led countries in the Caribbean community. However, while the year has seen some major growth in the area of female empowerment and representation, there is still a far way to go as women are still greatly underrepresented in politics around the world. Currently, there are only 20 women holding the office of Head of State or Head of Government, which represents only 3% of the total number of international leaders. The Royal Wedding and Diversity Another main event that brought about celebration was the much anticipated royal wedding for Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle. Unlike any other royal wedding, the excitement that captured the world was due to it being “the most diverse Royal Wedding in Britain’s history”. Markel, now Duchess of Sussex, is of mixed descent. The wedding that had millions tuned in across the world, did not fall short with incorporating the Duchess’ African-American roots with a wedding adorned by elements of the black church, gospel music and an attendance list that greatly mirrored an occasion that for many symbolized a step further for inclusivity and modern culture. New Reign While the year brought a great surge of excitement and intrigue with the British Royal Family and the wedding, there were also significant revolutions in politics taking place in other countries. The Cubans saw the end of the six-decade Castro era as they welcomed Miguel Diaz-Canel as their new president, replacing Raul Castro in April, a change in leadership that might prompt some adjustments to a nation deeply identified with the Castros, who led the successful revolution in 1959 which resulted in the most enduring communist system in the Western Hemisphere. While in May, Iraq, and Syria rejoiced for the first defeat of the Islamic State (a group that has been labeled as a terrorist organization by the United Nations and many individual countries). Both countries have been at war with the Islamic State since 2014. The defeat declared as “end of the war” comes after months of fighting to uproot the militant group in the regions. Canada Makes history with Cannabis Legalization Canada also had its own major innovation by making history when they became the second country in the world after Uruguay to formally legalize recreational use of Cannabis and the first G7 and world’s largest country with legal sales on October 17, 2018. The much anticipated moment was met by fanfare and celebration from many Canadians, some even gathering in parks and concert venues to smoke and welcome the new change. Cannabis was banned in Canada from 1923 until regulated medical cannabis became legal in 2001. Canada’s Wave of Tragedies While the year was marked by many moments of celebration and innovation, there

were some unfavorable and fatal incidents that captured the attention and sympathy of Canadians and people around the world. In the month of April two very traumatic incidents had the entire country in dismay and mournfulness. On April 6th, a deadly bus crash in Saskatchewan left 16 people dead and 13 injured. Among the dead were 10 players ranging in ages 16 to 21, and six team personnel from the Humboldt Broncos, a junior ice hockey team. This has been dubbed as the country’s biggest news story of the year and brought forth a great outpouring of support from people across the country. The town with a population of 6,000 united in support of their lost loved ones, as donors worldwide raised $15.2 million for victims’ families. A couple of weeks later, the nation was shaken by another horrific incident. On April 23rd, a van plowed through pedestrians in the Yonge and Finch area, deliberately hitting almost everything in its path. The incident resulted in 10 deaths and 16 injuries, some critical. Alek Minassian, 25, was identified as the suspect and faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder. The incident has been ruled out as “the deadliest vehicleramming attack in Canadian history”. The tragedy joined many Torontonians and others across the country together in a state of mourning with a #Torontostrong vigil and the memorial scene in Lastman Square and an impromptu memorial in Olive Park. Several crowdfunding campaigns were also set up to raise money for the victims’ families to cover expenses. Both events marked a rather dim and melancholy chapter of the year in Canada. Escalated Gun Violence in the US The US also saw 2018 as a year plagued by numerous heinous acts involving gun violence. A total of 328 people has been killed and 1,251 people injured in mass shootings in 2018, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. 2018 was sullied by horrific incidents of gun violence in schools, places of worship, watering holes and malls throughout the year. In fact, this year, school shootings were at a record high in the US. According to data from the US Naval Postgraduate School, there were 94 school gun violence incidents this year in the US — a record high since 1970. Though these many incidents caused a lot of fatalities, it brought into focus the conversation on gun control. Many mass shootings and student-led protests for gun control in 2018 have prompted numerous organizations, from advocacy groups to retailers, to take a position on the debate. After a shooter left 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in February, surviving students launched a nationwide protest movement that included a series of high-profile demonstrations called the “March for Our Lives”. Natural Tragedies The US was also shaken by a series of natural disasters that left in its trail great destruction to communities and homes and also tragic losses. The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season experienced two of the most destructive storms in the United States history, Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael.

In September, Florence made a landfall in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, accompanied by a huge storm surge and widespread flooding. The hurricaneravaged communities suffered a total of 53 deaths and billions in property damages. Floodwaters in North and South Carolina persisted for two weeks after the devastation and much of the area is still recuperating. Not long after in October, hurricane Michael struck parts of Florida. According to weather reports, it was the strongest storm on record in the Florida Panhandle, and was the fourth-strongest landfalling hurricane in the contiguous United States, in terms of wind speed. Florida cities were destroyed beyond recognition by this powerful hurricane that wrecked many homes, businesses, and agriculture. At least 34 were killed with 1,135 Floridians still unaccounted for. The Great Rescue While these catastrophes devastated Americans and the rest of the world tuning in, there were brief moments that brought relief. In late June, the news that twelve boys and their soccer coach were stranded in a cave in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province gripped the attention of the world as they watched the great ordeal and rescue that lasted for 18 days. After news of the safe rescue, news outlets around the world both major and small as well as the rest of the world that was eagerly watching shared in the joy and relief. Buju Free at Last Another liberating moment at the top of the entertainment news cycles, was the release of international reggae/dancehall superstar, Mark Anthony Myrie famously known as Buju Banton. The entire Caribbean community and fans of the popular artist around the world were in a frenzy after the news of his early release from prison after eight years at the McRae Correctional institution broke. Banton arrived in Kingston Jamaica on December 7th to a heroes welcome and great fanfare from supporters who now anticipate his return to the music scene. He is now set to perform his first concert on March 16th, 2019, at the National Stadium in Kingston Jamaica. Prosperity and Progress Looking back at all the major events that unfolded in the year 2018, the ones that brought us shock, sadness and grief to the moments we were able to rejoice and bask in joy and celebration, is a constant reminder for us to reflect and assess the changes that ought to be made in the coming year. Numerous times this year we were reminded of just how powerful and essential unity in times of adversity is. Whether we were mourning and paying respects to lost lives, being a humanitarian in times of need, cheering on a rescue mission, celebrating revolutions and innovative changes or even challenging the status quo, the common denominator was a collective effort and cohesion. Heading into 2019, let us reflect on the things that impacted us the most this year and which element of it each of us can contribute to or change in a positive way.

PAGE 8

local news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

Sixth Annual Soup Kitchen hits 15,000 people served since inception JELANI GRANT

jelani@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The TARIC Islamic Centre held its annual soup kitchen and meal delivery service, delivering meals for 3,000 people. The first Sunday of December saw six shelters receive food, achieving a milestone of 15,000 people served in the six years TARIC has been organizing the charity. All of this achieved through volunteer work made up of members of the mosque and surrounding neighbours. One of the organizers of the soup kitchen and delivery, Imraan Assim accredited this achievement to the more than sixty volunteers they received each week during the program’s deliveries. “It’s really just a lot of good-hearted souls that come together,” Assim said. “I think people want to do good and want to make stuff like this happen. They just need a couple of people to really step up and do the organizing behind the scenes so when they walk in the food is there laid out on the table so all they have to do is grab a serving spoon, a hair-

net, gloves, and start dishing out.” This year, six shelters were serviced including Bethlehem United Shelter, Ernestine’s Women Shelter, Youth Without Shelter, and Eva’s Satellite. Assim said the ingredients for each nutritious meal are given thorough quality control during the assembly line packaging to guarantee 100% freshness. Meals included rice, noodles, chow mein, baked chicken or jerk chicken with steamed vegetables, and dinner rolls. Assim said though most of the deliveries were within a 10-15 minute range of the mosque, the organizing of who would go where made the day run smoothly. During the day’s activities, a point person was appointed for each delivery with turn-by-turn instructions; ensuring services were provided in a timely manner. During preparation for this year’s service, the organization asked around for other things people in the shelters and surrounding neighbourhoods need, besides delicious meals. “We’ve had volunteers step up, go out and do runs for toiletries and other essential items.” In addition to the meals, shelters were provided with toiletries, feminine products, hats, gloves, as well as baked goods such as cookies and gourmet cupcakes. They serve hundreds of meals each week to senior’s homes, low-income complexes and over fifteen emergency/

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crisis shelters in Toronto for women, men, and youth. TARIC is sure to acknowledge the shelter employees in attendance as well, making sure they get something to eat as well. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mayor John Tory, plus representatives from some of the shelters and senior’s programs, have acknowledged the work done by TARIC. The program was initiated by several first-generation Canadians born to Guyanese parents who migrated to Toronto in the 1970s. “In year one, after four weeks we completed about 1,200 meals and we were high fiving each other…This past year on week three we did 1,000 meals in that single week,” Assim said. During the first year of Syrian refugees staying at a hotel near the mosque, the volunteers running their regular soup kitchen program had the idea of serving the 500 people in need of meals on Family Day. “Despite all of our efforts to get them Arab cuisine, they enjoyed the pizza more than anything else,”

Assim said. He told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper the objective of the soup kitchen and meal delivery is to provide charity as a celebration of the Islamic month of Prophet Muhammad. Honouring the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, this is called Rabbi’ al-Awwal, which is marked between the 12th and 17th of the third month in the Islamic calendar. “We do this every year as a charitable act to celebrate his birth,” Assim said. The TARIC Islamic Centre is a mosque established by the Toronto And Region Islamic Congregation (TARIC) and The World Islamic Call Society. They are located on the northeast corner of Highways 400 and 401, the Islamic Centre is one of the largest in the city with a Muslim population of over 400,000. With the help of some of the mosque’s members, this program has served as an extraordinary example of Muslims living with both Canadian and Islamic values through selfless community service.

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PAGE 10

local news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

The Annual Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) Children’s Christmas Party brought a Caribbean Christmas to children SHAUNA-KAY CASSELL shauna-kay@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) held their Annual Children’s Christmas Party at the JCA center for children of all ages on December 9th, 2018. Approximately 75 children and their parents from the Greater Toronto Area joined in the Christmas celebration, planned by a committee made up of four members: Natalee Johnson, Director, Children and Youth Affairs, Natasha Douglas, Kendra Douglas-Gannon, and Atavia Malandrino. Three of the members of the planning committee were relatives of the late Mrs. Raphaelita Walker. She and her husband, Mr. Gifford Walker have been active members of the JCA for over forty years. Since that time, they have consistently played the role of Mr. and Mrs. Claus for the children’s Christmas party. Mrs. Walker, or more familiarly known as Aunt Raph, passed away over a year ago. But, the seed of community building and the gift of giving had already been sown. “It was like she knew the time was coming,” said Douglas. Now, Douglas, her sister, and cousin teamed up with Johnson to start planning at the beginning of the year in an effort to continue Aunt Raph’s legacy of serving the community. “JCA is not just a hub, it’s a family, and a place where legacies are left behind. The Christmas party is a great example of that legacy,” says Johnson referring to the Walkers and the generation that has come after them, who are still involved in the JCA. “My mom brought me, and I brought my children, who are now 20 and 16 years old. Now I want other children to have the same experience” affirmed Douglas.

The planning committee gave the children a Caribbean themed Christmas party. The hall was filled with children enjoying the various activities including; selfie kiosk organized by the Founder, Angella Smith, arts and crafts led by volunteers, and the folk performance by Ms. Letna, the Jamaican folk performer. Ms. Letna, adorned in her traditional costume, brought the Caribbean experience to the children by telling them stories about Christmas in Jamaica, intentionally speaking in her native dialect, Patois. “We wanted children of color/Caribbean to see a proper representation of themselves and their culture,” said Douglas. There was even a black Santa who distributed gifts to the children, and the reggae Christmas music appropriately set the ambiance for the theme. All of which, made it feel like we were in fact on the island of Jamaica. The Jamaican Canadian Association’s (JCA) mission is to deliver programs, including services to the community. The organization provides a physical hub, and advocates to improve the well‐being and equity of Jamaican, Caribbean and African‐Canadian communities within the Greater Toronto Area. It is a volunteer-led organization and has existed for over 56 years. The organization hosts a number of events throughout the year for the community, including the Annual Children’s Christmas party. In an effort to support families who could not afford to send their children, JCA sponsored six children. “Adaoma Patterson, the president of the JCA, was very instrumental and made a big difference,” expanded Douglas. The Christmas party was truly a big success this year, and the team really worked hard to deliver a memorable experience for the children. “We couldn’t have planned the Christmas party without the help of our volunteers and sponsors,” says Douglas and her team. “It was great to have them there. Thank you to all.”

Thursday, December 27, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

island news

Inspiring Entrepreneurial Minds with a Little Motivation SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Heading into the end of the year, we have heard discouraging stories of multiple shootings, unnecessary chaos, and political turmoil. I know that for those who are sensitive to this information, as well as sensitive to the astronomic changes that are occurring (winter solstice, and recent full moon), times can look extremely bleak. It is times like this that any good information is seen as a blessing. Well, here is some great news, especially for the young people who live in the Brampton area. It has been noted that there are a lot of young people who are not finding jobs across the GTA. If they do find jobs, they are not meaningful, or substantial enough to support a lifestyle. It is because of this that, we are finding a lot of young people taking that brave step to start their own businesses. As amazing as this sounds, many of these new businesses never make it past the third year, and like all vicious cycles, our young people are pulled right back into the rat race. To further explore the issue, half of the entrepreneurs who are currently heading up small and medium companies - which currently make up 98% of all businesses – will be retiring in the next decade. So, how do we best support our young Canadian entrepreneurs? This is a

great question that sparked the minds of a group of progressive individuals. The team at the United Achievers’ Community Services are a non-profit charitable multi-service organization focused on developing Peel Region’s Caribbean and African communities. They currently provide culturally sensitive programs, counseling support, community resources, education, and training; they have also decided to take it a step further by developing a program aimed directly at supporting young entrepreneurs. For the last two decades, United Achievers Community Services has provided competent, and culturally appropriate services to individuals, families, and groups living in the Peel area. They are aware of the current needs and understand some of the emerging needs that Africans continue to face here in Canada. This knowledge allows the team at UACS Inc. to assist the community by providing pathways to achieve good health, mental well-being, and a better quality of life. The most recent emerging need, “It is the need for black youth to be confident in their abilities and to create paths of success in the business world,” says Angela Carter, the Executive Director of United Achievers’ Community Services. “Our goal is to assist black youth in being comfortable with themselves and their identity, by developing confidence in their abilities and teaching them the necessary skills needed to survive working in the business world.” On Monday, December 10, 2018, Brampton Community Youth participated in a new dynamic youth entrepreneurship-mentoring program. Black Leaders of Tomorrow is a three-year program for youth who aspire to

be entrepreneurs. The program provides the opportunity for black youth to gain valuable knowledge and skills to run a business successfully. The youth will attend workshops on various aspects of managing a business, creating business plans, and have an opportunity to sit down with business mentors. The community has an opportunity to participate in two ways: they can be either mentors or mentees. As a mentee you have to: identify as an African youth, be between the ages of 16-24, aspire to own a business, reside in the region of Peel, have a passion/ talent they want to develop and embrace the African culture. As a mentor you have to: be an experienced business owner or manager, be aged 25 years or older, have a strong positive sense of African identity, and have a passion for helping youth. One important factor to remember is that both mentor and mentee must be willing to commit a year to the program. Finally, the youth enrolled in the program have the opportunity to participate in a competition, where they are eligible to win a start-up grant for their business. For more information visit www.unitedachievers.org, or they can be located at 36 Queen Street East, Lower Level, Brampton, ON, L6V 1A2. They can also be found on: Facebook @uacspeel, Twitter @unitedachievers, Instagram @uacspeel We here at the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper are proud of United Achievers Community Services for the work that they are doing in Peel, and we hope for their success in the New Year!

William Osler Healthcare System advances to new heights in 2019-24 Strategic Plan KAYLA KARIM

kayla@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Hospitals are constantly searching for new ways to execute their programs and services to communities today and for future generations. William Osler Health System is taking strides to improve that. “This isn’t just Osler’s plan. It’s everyone’s plan because it’s about how people in our communities access and experience the quality health care they need, when and where they need it, and we all have a role to play in making that happen,” Dr. Brendan Carr, Osler’s President, and CEO shared. Dr. Carr also stated that the 201924 Strategic Plan “Going Beyond for Healthier Communities” outlines the priorities that the William Osler Health System has for the next five years. “The population in our communities is growing, people are aging, and incidence of chronic disease and complex illnesses are

rising.” Dr. Carr said. “Faced with increasing patient volumes and precious resources, we recognize the need to re-imagine the way we deliver health care in our hospitals and in partnership with other health service providers, across the health system. Our new strategic plan is directed at pushing the boundaries to champion sustainable change that alters the way patients access, engage and experience the health system.” Osler’s five-year plan looks to have a lot of potential with realistic priorities that focus on delivering safe, high-quality patient care. The plan will make the best use of human and financial resources while leveraging today’s technology. By doing so, this will also improve access to services and support selfcare and attract employees who are experts in their respective fields. Patients will witness technology playing a much bigger role in how they receive care and how services are accessed across the health system, ranging from virtual face-to-face conversations with clinicians to reporting symptoms to a care team via mobile phone apps. Osler expects that by 2024 the following goals will be achieved: •

Patients and families are sitting at Osler’s

•

key planning tables and regularly contributing their ideas to help shape programs and services that reflect their needs People will be better able to manage their chronic diseases at home because they have the tools, education, and resources to confidently manage their chronic diseases, minimizing unnecessary hospital admissions and visits to the emergency department Patients will have greater access to the services they need, when they need them, due to a better-coordinated health system and the use of virtual technologies Osler will become an employer of choice and a hub for innovation thanks to a culture that inspires people to actively contribute, champion and model new, effective and more efficient ways of using Osler’s valuable resources to deliver safe, compassionate, high-quality care.

Dr. Carr wanted communities to know that “this isn’t just Osler’s plan. It’s everyone’s plan because it’s about how people in our communities access and experience the quality health care they need, when and where they need it.” For more information about Osler’s strategic plan, please visit www.williamoslerhs.ca.

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

island news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

Huge tourism numbers for Christmas JAMAICA -- Jamaica’s tourism made massive improvements in arrivals and gross earnings for the December 21-23 pre-Christmas period. According to figures provided by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and revealed by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett Wednesday, for the period, preliminary airport arrivals stood at 34,081, a 12.8 per cent increase over the 30,202 arrivals during the same period in 2017. The estimated gross earnings for this period were US$51,240,784, an increase of 17.1 per cent over the estimated US$43,773,994 for the same period of 2017. The JTB was unable to provide figures up to Christmas Eve, December 24, as the numbers for Kingston were not yet tabulated, but the tourism minister said that these, too, would be made public as soon as they are available. He told the Jamaica Observer Wednesday that he welcomed the improvements, which he described as “massive” and “huge”, especially in light of recent negative publicity in the foreign press about Jamaica’s

crime problems. “This performance is huge, especially when you take the negative publicity into consideration, and it shows that the states of emergency have really changed the way visitors perceive their safety when they are in Jamaica,” Bartlett said. “We have never had figures like this before in the sector. It is the highest number of visitors we have had during the period and it is going to be even more massive when we release the figures for the period up to January 1,” he added. Jamaica also recorded its best summer arrival figures this year, with stopover arrivals trending upwards, helping to create an excellent summer period from May to August, with provisional estimates showing stopover arrivals up by six per cent over last year. During the summer the country recorded 884,324 visitors, compared to the 834, 292 in 2017. These figures contributed to total visitor arrivals (May-August) of 1,312,494, which was a 4.4 per cent increase over the same period in 2017.

Bartlett described the period as local tourism’s “best summer ever”, and noted that, in terms of the bigger picture, provisional estimates indicate that between January and August of this year, Jamaica welcomed 2,955,007 visitors, an increase of 4.7 per cent over the same period last year. This figure comprised 1,714,060 stopover arrivals and 1,240,947 cruise visitors. He said this was an indication of the best “high season”, which begins in December. However, he said that his ministry is not taking this success lightly, and is aggressively targeting new and traditional markets to attain double-digit growth and promote Jamaica as the ideal winter destination. He also indicated that direct employment in the industry should increase with 12,957 new rooms in the pipeline requiring new staffing. This will create the need for more than 29,538 new jobs over the next five years, with close to 2,000 at the supervisory level and just over 2,000 at managerial levels. - Jamaica Observer

We need water JAMAICA -- Water restrictions in several communities across the Corporate Area and St Catherine on Christmas Day tempered festivities as residents desperately sought to secure the now scarce commodity. Residents of ‘Brook Valley’ and Sherlock Crescent in Duhaney Park, St Andrew, formed lines by a communal tap to fill containers as well as to shower, while others opted to do their laundry and cook a the location, the Jamaica Observer was told Wednesday during a visit to badly affected areas. One resident, who gave her name as Elaine Cummings, said that her community has been having water issues for approximately four months, and that in the last three weeks things have worsened. “Is about four months now it on again, off again. It come 2 o’clock before day, and by 5:30 [am] it gone. The likkle weh wi store wi affi use it; it finish, so now wi affi find some well guh catch water. Wi affi a walk and search fi find some low pipes and full up wi container. By wi full dem up and carry dem home, dem finish. Mi affi walk far guh find people yard weh have water and get a likkle shower,” the woman said. “It’s rough. The whole day Wednesday (Christmas Day) nobody don’t cook. For the whole day nobody nuh cook, a KFC wi eat. The whole a Kingston 20 nuh have nuh water,” she added. But a Sherlock Crescent resident, who gave his name only as Marlon, is concerned that a number of health issues might arise as residents are being forced to improperly dispose of household waste. “We affi a guh one place name ‘Back Bush’ guh catch likkle water and bathe inna pan — flash up. Wi affi a join line fi bathe. Wi affi get up and go ‘round there early a morning time, 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock, fi go bathe. A ‘round deh wi wash; a ‘round deh suh wi do everything. Anytime you want to use the bathroom a di bucket yuh affi use. Wi go ‘round deh and full the bucket fi flush the toilet. Some use bag and that a ghetto lifestyle. A serious thing me a tell you. “By the time you come from work, tired, you affi go ‘round deh go full pan and walk wid it pon your head and you a pay water

bill. That nuh make nuh sense. A joke thing! A three days now mi nuh bathe,” he told the Observer. An elderly woman who gave her name as Zereita was observed doing her laundry amid what residents are now calling a “water crisis”. Others were seen with coal pots engaged in cooking. She mentioned that she has been seriously impacted by the restriction since the weekend. “From over the weekend coming down, is just Wednesday (Tuesday) at 10:00 [pm] we got back a little. Christmas was still very good, though, and everybody was good, it was just the water problem. Today (Wednesday) it has been really low and just coming from the outside pipe,” she said. The National Water Commission (NWC) on Monday announced that several issues were affecting the entity’s operations, triggering major lock-offs across the Corporate Area. NWC said that water lock-offs would affect Christmas Day activities in some households, even as it carried out repair work on several broken pipelines. Wednesday, Duhaney Park resident Keisha said it was the “worst Christmas” experienced by her and family members in recent years. “It’s been about three days and no water at all. We need water, man, and worse the new year coming. We can’t start it like this. The food was good Wednesday (Tuesday) but, my God, the water situation was bad. You mostly get water in the nights and a morning time there is no water. When it touch like seven in the morning, there is no water. “You have a bottom pipe where other people go and catch water, so that is what we have to be doing now. Is 2018 a guh 2019 and people still affi a carry water. A time that stop now. We affi a wait until hours a night fi bathe. Yuh can’t sleep; yuh affi a wait up fi see if water a come fi catch up. So we need water,” she said. Mark Lettman was seated outside his gate in Duhaney Park when the Observer spoke to him about the current water situation. “It’s about three months now since

this problem here a gwaan. Night-time a the only likkle way wi get water inna the pipe and it low, low, low. NWC have serious pipe problems ‘cause more time yuh see the pipe dem buss up down the road, so yuh nuh have nuh water because dem affi turn off the water. When dem turn it on back, yuh nah get nuh whole heap a water. Right now mi affi store two drum a water fi mi bathroom. When it (the water) come a night, it go weh back by seven in the morning,” Lettman said. In Patrick City, Romaine Mitchell said he has been having water issues for approximately three weeks. “Wednesday (Tuesday) was Christmas and wi nuh get nuh water. ‘Round ya suh (at communal pipe) pack up Wednesday. A nuff people — more than 100 — a try fi get water. A whole heap a people; all entertainer and entertainer wife line up ‘round ya fi catch water a di likkle pipe. Mi feel bad ‘bout all a this because a big holiday and no water. “People fi a stay a dem yard and gwaan easy. Water fi a flow. A holiday and nobody nuh get fi cook because a this water thing. Nuh Christmas wi nuh get, suh everybody a wait pon new year. We a hope and pray seh water come because water a life, enuh. Without water yuh can’t do nothing,” he said. Over in Spanish Town, St Catherine, a woman who identified herself as Boom explained that she is patiently waiting for water to complete laundry she started days ago. “No water wi nuh get fi Christmas. Wi uncomfortable bad. A inna the night wah day wi wait up and catch water. Sometimes it come inna the night fi a likkle while, then it gone again. You can’t really get to do nothing substantial. It’s never a sure thing. Mi a wash from when and mi can’t rinse yet,” she said. An Ellerslie Pen man, who asked not to be identified, said that the community has been struggling with water issues for about three months. “From dem seh dem a change out pipe fi run new pipes pon the bypass a problem. No water now nuh surprise me. The only thing is that this mash up the Christmas big time,” he said.. - Jamaica Observer

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island news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

PTSC to be upgraded in 2019 TRINIDAD -- The Public Transport Service Cor poration’s (PTSC) goal for 2019 is to transform into a modern, technologically advanced service with a fleet of 500 working buses. There are plans to acquire 300 new buses in the coming year, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said in an interview after a function to commission a 1000-kilowatt Cater pillar generator at City Gate. The generator was purchased locally from Tracmac at an estimated cost of $4 million.

Sinanan said the purchase of the new buses has already been approved by Cabinet. “This is part and parcel off introducing a new modern public transportation system. It is a government-to-government arrangement where they are working with the Chinese government to have a supplier of 300 buses being financed by the government of China,” he said. “I cannot say the brand of buses yet neither how much it’s going to cost as the process is ongoing. PTSC and the Embassy of China are

already in conversation.” Sinanan said what will be different fol lowing the arrival of the new buses is the “way we manage the fleet because what we are hoping to do is to have the fleet managed in real time, meaning that you can stay at a station or at a bus stop and you would know when the bus is coming and how far it is away.” PTSC’s general manager Bashir Mo hammed said mid- 2019 a PTSC app will be launched.

“We want to improve the collaboration between us and our commuters via the app. We should be able to populate Google Maps where you can go and find a route. For example, if you want to go from Point Fortin to Toco you would know which routes and which bus to take via the app,” he said. - Trinidad Guardian

THA officials promise to do more in 2019 TRINIDAD -- Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles pledges to contin ue making Tobago a better place to live in the new year. Asked about his resolutions for the is land for 2019, Charles said: “I plan to continue to build an island society that is gentler, kinder, em powered and reflecting patriotism and pride.” He said he will also encourage Tobago nians to “aim for excellence in all areas of endeav our and to go beyond ordinary” and work towards improving the economy “by building on the thrust started in tourism, agriculture, light manufacturing and specialized services.”

On the issue of Tobago’s autonom y, Charles said what is uppermost in his mind is “to seek to bring closure to the issue of antonym for Tobago.” The Chief Sec re tary said used the Christmas holidays to “get some well-deserved rest” after the many issues he had to address in 2018, including the Sandals Resorts’ project, alle gations of fraud at the THA’s Tourism Division and the breakdown of the inter-island sea bridge. Many of those issues were brought to the public’s attention and kept on the front burner by THA Minority Leader Watson Duke, who is hop ing that his actions on those issues will propel him

into a “natural” leadership position. “The Minority Council will naturally emerge as a unifying force for all Tobagonians who desire to build a better Tobago firstly for the peo ple of Tobago, then for Trinidad and the rest of the world,” he said in response to a query on his New Year resolutions. He added: “We will become the political vehicle through which Tobago will desire for a bet ter air and sea bridge, better public transport, bet ter education and an improved and effective private sector.” Duke, a Tobagonian, who also heads the Public Services Association, spent the Christmas

season resting with his family in Tobago. THA Presiding Officer Dr Denise TsoiaFatt-Angus, who spent the Christmas hol idays in quality family time and connecting with close friends as we all enjoy this season,” said her New Year’s resolution is” to continue to be of signif icance in the lives” of people with whom she asso ciates. She is also in “excited anticipation for what 2019 can mean . . . for all of Tobago.” Minority Councillor Dr Faith B. Yisrael said as a Hebrew Israelite she does not celebrate Christmas but uses the season to help others. - Trinidad Guardian

Gift to NCRHA speeds up cancer tests for children TRINIDAD -- Testing will soon be available locally for children with blood diseases, including cancer, with almost immediate results so that treatment can begin immediately, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh announced Wednesday. The minister said this was made possi ble after the North Central Regional Health Author ity (NCRHA) was presented with a flow cytometer by the Royal Bank of Canada. The clinical lab in strument analyses of blood or bone marrow cells to determine whether a high white cell count which can indicate blood cancer. At present, blood sam ples have to be sent abroad for testing and there is a waiting period for results which can cause a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Deyalsingh said the flow cytometer is ex pected to be commissioned by the end of January 2019. “It is already here,” he said during a visit to the Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital, Er ic Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount

Hope Wednesday. “About one year ago, we started working on this and it is a gift from the Royal Bank of Cana da. When things are gifted to us there is a process in terms of ethical reasons so that was done and the procurement is done and the machine is here and we are hoping to have it up and running by the end of January,” He said medical technicians are current ly being trained to operate the instrument. Deyalsingh, who was accompanied on the visit by NCRHA CEO Davlin Thomas, chairman Steve De Las and other hospital and ministry offi cials, delivered Santa Claus hats and toys to the young patients. During a stop at the Just Because Foun dation Oncology and Cancer Paediatric Ward, Deyalsingh was told that currently there are four children warded who have been diagnosed with cancer. There are also children warded with Type 1 diabetes and other blood diseases, including

Keanu Alleyne, 10, was rushed to the Paediatric Accident and Emergency Unit on Saturday by his mother, Laurel David. David said on Friday her son began feel ing unwell. “He began throwing up, complaining of chest pains, body pains and dizziness. I gave him something to drink and his energy perked up but 45 minutes after he began feeling the same way again so I gave him a drink of sorrel and his energy perked up again so by this time I began to suspect that its either two things. “I brought him here and they tested him and his reading was 600. They kept him at the A&E overnight to get it under control and then at 11 am on Sunday they warded him and I have been here with him since.” David said her son, who is very active and swims and runs, thinks the illness is his fault and that he will die soon. “With my quick thinking, I brought him here and was able to save his life. I have a lot to

learn yet but I am reading up and doing research, plus I have the much-needed care and support at the hospital here and I have been told that people with this Type 1 can live long healthy and normal lives. “I have faith that my son will live a long, happy and healthy life now that he is being treat ed,” she said. Deyalsingh said it was important that children diagnosed with an illness understand that it is not their fault. “It is difficult for a child to understand, so that is the main reason as to why education is im portant so that parents, family and the children can understand that they can live with it and control it and live long normal lives. Medical advances made it possible for children to live long happy and re warding lives,” he said. - Trinidad Guardian

Stiffer fines for illegal hunting from January 1 TRINIDAD -- The Ministry of Agriculture said there will be stiffer penalties for illegal hunting next year now that Presid ent Paula-Mae Weekes has as sented to the Finance Act 2018, which increases fines for infractions under the Conservation of Wildlife Act. From January 1, poachers will face fines as much as 50 times higher than currently exists. The minister also has the power to increase the limit of prescribed fines. In a statement, the ministry said while there are tougher fines for environmentally sensi tive species (ESS), including the scarlet ibis, there is a need for an increase in fines for illegal capture of wildlife which have not been declared an ESS. This, it said, is to demonstrate the severity of an offence, the potential impact it has on conservation

efforts and the intention of the government to deter illegal hunting. The ministry also expressed concern about recent reports of illegal hunting and con sumption of protected species, including the red howler monkey and the lesser anteater, as well as an upsurge of smuggled wildlife from neighbouring Venezuela and Guyana. “These and other indiscretions must be met with the appropriate legislative action to increase: fines, surveillance and co-operation amongst the Ministries of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; National Security; and Health, especial ly as there is a real threat of the introduction of zoonotic diseases,” the ministry said. The release also stated that Agricul ture Minister Clarence Rambharat is committed to

monitoring activities during the hunting and closed seasons to determine what further actions are re quired to strike the balance between hunting in the open season as well as the need for the sustain able management of wildlife resources and public safety issues. From 2019, the fines for hunting ac tivities include: $10,000 for hunting in a game sanctuary (up from $1,000); $10,000 for hunting protected animals without a special game licence (up from $1,000); $1,500 for failing to produce a State game licence (up from $100); $4,000 for fail ing to obtain a State game licence (up from $400); $10,000 for hunting while disqualified (up from $2,000); $10,000 for hunting during the closed season/exercising dogs during the closed season (up from $2,000); $5,000 for failing to give place

of abode/giving false place of abode (up from $100); $10,000 for assaulting, obstructing/resist ing a game warden (up from $1,000); $10,000 for payment of compensation instead of fine (up from $200); $10,000 for export of animals with out permission (up from $2,000); $5,000 for of fences without fines specified (up from $200) and a $10,000 limit of the minister to prescribe fines under the regulations (up from $200). This month, T&T acceded to the Con vention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the only global convention spe cialising in the conservation of migratory species, their habitats and migration routes. - Trinidad Guardian

Thursday, December 27, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

feature

PAGE 17

A ‘Real Naturelle’ Alternative to Skincare What started off as a personal venture for Alayna Allen to find the most ideal skincare products that had natural yet simple ingredients, flourished into a fruitful business that has now been crafted into a fulltime passion project and career. Real Naturelle is the name of Allen’s skincare line. A business that caters to providing handmade natural oil-based hair, body, and face products designed for all skin and hair types for everyday and seasonal use. “My main goal when I started was just to find products that were more natural and smelled good”, said Allen” “I was really shifting away from using store bought lotion and things like that because I noticed that among myself and some of my peers that there were more and more skin conditions happening that I didn’t remember hearing about, so I decided I was going to make a conscious effort to not use products that were water based.” This led her to her first skin care project, which was creating the ideal replacement for regular body lotions that were not only healthy and natural but could be used on a daily basis. She then started doing a lot of research and went through many trial periods with incorporating different natural ingredients to reach her goal of finding the perfect end result. “I started creating my own combinations with fragrance oils or essential oils that hit the target aromas that I was looking for but still were not water-

based, so no filler added preservatives or anything like that was exactly what I was going for.” Allen went on making her personalized body oils for two years until close friends and family members who noticed the difference in her skin appearance and how well her product worked for her began to make their own request for her body oil. It all began from there. Not long after, Allen started receiving orders for her product from people outside of her immediate circle. It was then that she had to decide whether or not she wanted to turn this new-found personal interest into a full-time lucrative business. She officially branded her business in August 2017 and the growth she has experienced from then has been impressive. For Allen, venturing into the business of crafting and selling natural skin care products was never an initial goal but shared that her prized trait of being a problem solver was what really led her to become a full-time entrepreneur. “I found that a lot of people shared the same frustration I had with regular skin care products but many were not taking the initiative to do something about it and that’s where it began for me when I decided to mix and make my own products”, she said. After entering the market, Allen soon discovered that making products for a wide variety of people would mean catering to different skin types and the different skin care issues experienced by people who

were now requesting her products. With this in mind, she started to expand her product line from just making body oils that were essential for her own personal use to body butter for extremely dry skin and baby oils for more sensitive skin types, as well as facial oil and hair oils. This expansion has allowed the business to reach a wide range of people who Allen says provides a customer base of mostly repeat customers and new ones as she progresses. “The reception I have received is what has allowed me to continue because starting your own business, especially as a start-up when you fund it yourself, is hard and some days you are not sure if it’s worth it but since I officially launched, I have received really good reception from customers.” Allen also added that having over 15 years of customer service experience has made her very keen to this area becoming something that she prides herself on incorporating into her business. The market for skincare products is a very broad one with natural product lines becoming more popular and accessible as the need for it grows. Allen says that this actualization was an initial challenge for her that she is gradually learning to navigate through. “I think the sense that I carry about my products is what makes me different from many of those other natural skincare lines”, said Allen. Unlike most 100% natural skin-

care lines, Allen places a lot of emphasis on making her products with scents that people can enjoy and “be excited to put on.” “I was very fond of Bath & Body Works and those type of fruity scented skin care products and most natural skin care lines only use essential oils because they want to be 100% natural and for me that was not the end all be all with my products, it was more than they didn’t have preservatives or water in it but more so being a product that people would be happy to wear and not just for the sake of not having dry skin.” Allen added that as early as 2019, she hopes to expand her business beyond Canada to the U.S with hopes of creating more products to suit the needs of different customers. “I believe if you are a business owner and you want to succeed you have to have a certain drive and excitement,” said Allen “In my spare time I find myself working on stuff that is related to my business like looking at ways to improve the business and make it grow and I appreciate all the current support that I have gotten whether it be from a small note or feedback on your products because sometimes as a small business owner you don’t get to have that type of interaction with your customers, so I greatly appreciate the fact that I do.” Written by Kabrena Robinson Toronto Caribbean Reporter

entertainment

PAGE 18

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

Buju Banton’s first concert takes place in March. Each of his shows will give back to charity

Billboard has confirmed that Buju Banton’s first concert appearance will in fact take place in Jamaica. The event will take place on March 16th, 2019 at the National Stadium in Kingston. Confirmation of the much anticipated firstshow comes just days after popular international music producer, DJ Khaled visited Jamaica, meeting with Buju and other reggae and dancehall artistes on the island. Billboard details that Buju with his 10-piece Shiloh Band will perform a full 90 minute set at the Long Walk to Freedom concert, which is being presented by Miami based, Best of the Best Productions and Kingson’s Solid Agency, which is managed by Sharon Burke. Buju had indicated his desire

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A Hand Foundation,’ which aims at assisting with the needs of at-risk children. Budufuco said a portion of proceeds from the Kingston show will go to the foundation and further to that, performances across the Caribbean in the aftermath, will see the artiste, aligning himself with non profits in those territories, to achieve the same. - EBuzzTT

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to spend time with family and loved ones post release, but mere days after being released from prison, photos emerged of the reggae icon, in studio. Videos are also now emerging of the artiste out and about, seemingly preparing for something major. Buju’s last performance, before his 9- year- incarceration was in Miami at the event held in his honor. The “Before the Dawn” concert held at the Miami Bayfront Park Amphitheater on January 16th, 2011, saw a number of reggae hit makers grace the stage in the aftermath of Buju’s initial 11 month incarceration in the US before he acquired bail. That event attracted a crowd of some 10,000 persons. Joseph Louie, best knows as Joey Budafuco, a member of Buju’s management team, told Billboard that the concert event is still in its planning stage but noted that there will only be about three or four opening acts, since it is important that Buju has ample time for his performance. It was further revealed that Buju has established a non profit organisation- ‘The Lend

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

A brief guide to winter camping Winter camping isn’t as daunting as it may seem. With the right preparations, novice and experienced campers alike can hole up in a warm, cozy tent on snow-covered ground. Much of the gear you need for winter camping is the same as what’s required for summer camping (a tarp, a knife, waterproof matches, fire starter, a flashlight, a first aid kit, kitchen items, personal items, etc.). There are, however, a number of other things you’ll need in order to deal with the cold and snow. Here are some of the basics you should take with you when winter camping. MUST-HAVES • A four-season tent, a sleeping bag rated for winter camping and an inflatable sleeping pad. • Warm clothing that stays dry (that means no cotton: consider synthetic or merino wool), as well as hats, gloves and other winter apparel. • Waterproof boots that provide solid traction. GOOD-TO-HAVES • Hand and toe warmers. • A foam pad to put under your sleeping pad for extra warmth. • A small shovel to clear snow on your campsite. • Portable power packs (electronic equipment loses power faster in cold weather). • Meals that are quick and easy to make since cooking and cleaning in mitts can be a challenge (for instance, freezedried meals for which you just add hot water).

Four ways to hit the slopes this winter Ready to hit the slopes? Here are four activities for anyone heading to the mountains this winter. 1. Downhill skiing: also known as alpine skiing, this is the most popular way to zip down the mountain slopes. Ski resorts have downhill ski runs for all ability levels: groomed runs of all different pitches, runs with moguls, runs where you can weave through trees, and for expert skiers, there are backcountry bowls. 2. Cross-country skiing: moving off the slopes and onto flat paths or rolling landscapes around the mountain, cross-country skiing can be a leisurely paced activity or a great way to work up a sweat. It involves special skis that leave you free to lift your heel and to, aided by your poles, propel yourself forward with a walk-and-glide technique. 3. Telemark skiing: this activity combines elements of downhill and cross-country skiing, requiring participants to navigate ski runs strapped into skis similar to those used on cross-country trails. Telemark skiing further differentiates itself from

While the above list isn’t exhaustive, it’s a great place to start. The only thing that remains is to set aside a weekend, choose a park and book your site.

other types of skiing with its special turning technique, which involves skiers dropping their knees and lifting their heels. It’s a great option for veteran skiers looking for a new challenge. 4. Snowboarding: on a snowboard, you can tackle all the same terrain as you can on downhill skis. However, carving through the snow on a board is a wholly different, but equally exhilarating, experience. In addition to the above, many ski hills also offer tobogganing, tubing, snowshoeing and sometimes skating. Curling up next to a roaring fire with a cup of hot cocoa is another great way to enjoy yourself.

Ice fishing: five ways to stay safe Ice fishing is a fantastic way to enjoy winter’s natural beauty in the company of friends and family. However, venturing out onto a frozen lake isn’t without its perils. Remain safe while reeling in your next big catch by doing these five things: 1. Closely inspect the ice. Know that clear blue ice is the strongest, opaque white ice is only half as strong (or twice as fragile) and dull grey ice is very fragile (and therefore extremely unsafe for fishing). 2. Measure ice thickness. If you’re fishing on a water way or off the coast (in other words, anywhere besides a lake or pond) check the ice in several spots, as currents and tides result in uneven ice formations. A minimum thickness of 10 centimetres

is recommended if the ice is blue and 20 to 30 centimetres if the ice is snowy. 3. Fish in a group. Never head out alone on the ice and make sure that everyone you’re with is familiar with emergency protocols. Always be aware of where all members of your group are located. 4. Exercise caution. Don’t go out on the ice when it’s dark out, avoid drinking alcohol and be mindful that even thick ice isn’t 100 per cent safe. 5. Bring the right equipment. The following items are indispensible for ensuring your safety and comfort while out on the ice: a lifejacket, a warm snowsuit, spare clothes, a first aid kit, a flashlight, waterproof

matches, a survival blanket, hot drinks and ice picks.

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And let’s celebrate Christmas in this home with tall Windows, granite counters and hardwood floors. The entire Caribbean family is invited because there are 5 bedrooms, 5 washrooms, main floor laundry and double car garage. We can make all the noise because it is on a corner lot.

In a good mood in this 2-Year New Townhouse with an Open Concept Main Floor, Modern Kitchen and internal access from the garage. Dance all night in the master bedroom with walk in closet and bath. Spend Christmas morning in the basement drinking eggnog at the bar.

Someone to clean this upgraded house with with New Oak Floors. Someone to cook in the modern Kitchen. Someone to shower in the new washroom. There Is No Neighbor Behind or In Front. Santa like the best woman from the Caribbean.

You own the space and don’t have to pay rent. Deals like this comes occasionally. You can now own this fully equipped restaurant in a busy food court. All you need to know is how to cook. Jingle our bells and you will need Santa sacks to take it to the bank.

While he was trying out the gravy from the pepper pot Mrs. clause made from the state-of-the-art kitchen. Santa was working all night by the wet bar in the basement. All the reindeers were laughing away because they have lots of space and 4 washrooms. This home is a gift for the right buyer.

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Thursday, December 27, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Three unique wedding reception ideas If you’re getting married, but the thought of a traditional wedding recep tion leaves you cold, try one of these three fun alternatives: 1. BRUNCH RECEPTION For early birds, a morning ceremony and brunch reception is the way to go. Ask your preferred breakfast spot to cater and then serve all of the breakfast clas sics with espresso drinks to wake your guests up. Just because it’s early in the day doesn’t mean you have to have a dry wedding — mimosas anyone?

create a signature cocktail for the night. With this type of reception you can use a smaller space to accommodate your guests. A wedding reception that breaks with tradition can be more memorable, fes tive and affordable than the stan dard dinner and dancing that follows most nuptials. Your options are limited only by your imagination.

2. BACKYARD BARBEQUE If you prefer to spend your Saturday nights drinking beer and hanging out with friends, why not have a backyard wedding? Find a caterer that specia lizes in barbeque and get dirty with some ribs or pulled pork. Serve local craft beers and set up some oldfashioned lawn games.

How to supplement your wedding invitations with a wedding website Wedding invitations traditionally include a few different cards and a whole lot of infor mation. If you’re planning a wedding and want to cut down on the amount of paper you send, a wedding website is the perfect way to communicate with your guests. Building a wedding website is easy and often times free. Use one of the following host sites: • withjoy.com • minted.com • weddingwire.com • theknot.com Alternatively, you can build your wedding website using Wordpress.com; they even offer a free wedding theme.

RSVP CARDS Your guests need a way to tell you whether or not they can make it to your wedding. You can include this with your invitation, or have people respond on your website. Both options are acceptable, but keep in mind that some of your older guests may not understand the lack of a response card. WHAT TO PUT ON YOUR WEDDING WEBSITE Use the website to let your guests know about accom modations, the gift registry and directions to the venue. You can also include some photos of the two of you, introduce guests to your wedding party or add local fun facts for people from out of town.

PAGE 29

Your wedding checklist

Wedding planning can get overwhelming. In many cases, there are tasks that should be completed up to a year ahead of the event. This handy checklist will help you stay on top of all of the important details right up to the big day.

NINE TO TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE • Decide on a wedding budget and track all your expenses accordingly. • Set a date. • Make a guest list. • Research venues for your ceremony and reception and book the one(s) that you like. • Decide if you want a bridal party and ch oose who you want to be part of your day. • Start collecting your guest’s addresses. EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE • Shop for and purchase a wedding gown. • Book your vendors for the day: photographer, DJ or musician, florist, cake maker and caterer (if food isn’t in cluded with your venue). • Register for gifts. • Build a wedding website that your guests can visit for extra information concerning your wedding.

3. COCKTAIL PARTY Do you find banquets a bore but still want to dance the night away? Host a cocktail party! Your venue can pass around lots of appetizers and you can

WHAT NEEDS TO BE ON THE INVITATION All basic information about your wedding needs to be on the invitation. This includes the full names of the bride and groom to be, the location of the wedding and the date and time it’ll take place. Traditionally, your pa rent’s names would also be included, but if you’re paying for your own wedding, you can take or leave this tradition. Include the URL to your wedding website so people know how to access it.

seasonal

SIX MONTHS BEFORE • Choose an officiant. • Shop for and purchase bridesmaid’s dresses. • Order the invitations. • Buy your wedding bands. FOUR MONTHS BEFORE • Reserve transportation to and from the ceremony and reception venues, if necessary. • Have a cake tasting and finalize the cake design. • Schedule hair and makeup appoinments and don’t forget to book trial runs for both. • Make a plan for decorating your cere mony and reception spaces. THREE MONTHS BEFORE • Choose and order the groom’s outfit. • Start thinking about the music and ch oose songs for the ceremony and the first dance. You may want to make a se parate list for party music. • Have a tasting with your caterer

• •

to set the menu. Start planning the rehearsal dinner. Select wedding favours and order them.

TWO MONTHS BEFORE • Send out the invitations. • Make sure the bridesmaids and groomsmen have their outfits. • Have the first wedding dress fitting. • Shop for and buy gifts for your bridal party. ONE MONTH BEFORE • Meet with your officiant to go through the ceremony. • Make sure you have your marriage li cence. • Start making a list of people who’ve con firmed that they’ll be attending. • If another dress fitting is required, do it now. TWO WEEKS BEFORE • Book an appointment to have a mani cure and pedicure the day before. • Have the final dress fitting and bring it home. • Book the groom’s suit or tuxedo fitting. • Track down people who haven’t responded yet. • Confirm number of guests with your venue and caterer and don’t forget to order meals to feed your DJ and photo grapher. THE WEEK BEFORE • Make a seating chart. • Delegate any day-of tasks to your wed ding party and family. • Supply your photographer with a list of pictures you want and your DJ with a detailed playlist. • Write out cheques to pay your vendors. THE DAY BEFORE • Relax while you get your nails done. • Give the payment cheques to someone you trust in order to pay your vendors. • At the rehearsal dinner, give gifts to your bridal party. YOUR WEDDING DAY • Have the flowers delivered to the wed ding venue. • Make sure the venue is decorated according to your vision. • Keep calm and enjoy.

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health

Thursday, December 27, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Three signs dentures need to be replaced Dentures are produced from high-quality materials that are ca refully crafted to fit the uni que contours of your particular mouth. Nonetheless, they’ll eventually need to be replaced. Here are three signs that it’s time for new den tures.

3. YOU’RE IN PAIN Dentures do more than replace teeth:

they also maintain the jaw’s bone struc ture. However, bone loss and the gradual deterioration of dentures can impact the temporomandibular joints and lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD). The condition is characterized by jaw pain, headaches, tinnitus, earaches and facial nerve pain. A new set of custom-designed dentures can counteract this problem. If your dentures have become old, loose or damaged, visit your denturist and get a new set made as soon as possible.

Sciatic pain during pregnancy: what it is and how to treat it It’s no secret that pregnancy can be hard on a woman’s back. Indeed, between 50 and 80 per cent of women experience lower back pain during pregnancy. Often times it’s a particular kind of pain called sciatic pain, or sciatica, for which there are treatment options such as physiotherapy. WHAT IS SCIATICA? Sciatica is pain radiating along the scia tic nerve, which is the longest nerve in the body, beginning at the lower back, exten ding down to the buttocks then branching out down the legs and to the feet. Sciatic pain usually begins in the lower back and spreads downward. It manifests itself in different ways: numbness and tingling or

How massage therapy helps with stress Stress causes your heart rate and blood pleasure to rise and your muscles to tighten up. This isn’t a problem when it’s temporary, but when stress and its effects become chronic, your health can suffer. Due to muscles remaining tense at all times, chronic stress can lead to joint aches and pains, headaches, chronic back and neck pain and other issues. The tricky thing about stress is that the physical and mental effects of it can create more stress. But massage therapy helps to break this cycle by combatting the physical symp toms. Massage techniques, which involve rubbing, stroking, stretching and applying pres sure to the muscles, help return muscles to a relaxed state, reducing stress-related aches and pains. Moreover, mas sages tend to be a relaxing experience in general. They typically take place in a peaceful environment and thereby afford the patient a sense of calm.

1. YOUR DENTURES ARE OLD Although resilient, dentures de teriorate over time and small cracks and fractures may eventually appear. This is problematic as these crevices provide a home for bacte ria to thrive. Oral infections, there fore, may result from using old den tures. On average, dentures last between seven and 10 years. 2. YOUR DENTURES ARE LOOSE When some or all of your natural teeth are gone, the underlying bone structure deterio rates and changes over time. It’s for this rea son that dental professionals recommend having your dentures inspected and relined every two years. When changes in your jaw have become too drastic and looseness per sists after relining, replacement becomes ne cessary.

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else a sharp, shooting pain. WHY DOES SCIATICA OCCUR DURING PREGNANCY? Sciatica typically is experienced in the third trimester; at this stage, the weight of the growing baby and uterus can put direct pressure on the sciatic nerve. HOW IS SCIATICA DURING PREGNANCY TREATED? A physical therapist can help alleviate sciatic pain without recourse to medica tion. The treatment typically involves a combination of some or all of the follo wing elements: •

• •

Specific stretches and exercises fo cused on decreasing pain, managing inflammation and restoring mobility and strength Bracing or taping Massages

Along with developing an exercise rou tine to do at home, physical therapists pro vide tips for dealing with sciatic pain from day to day. If you wish to pursue this form of treatment, obtain a referral for physiotherapy from your doctor or obstetrician.

If you’re dealing with chro nic stress, talk with your doctor about using mas sage therapy for treatment. For a safe and effective the rapeutic massage, seek out a certified massage thera pist.

Six tips for fending off back pain Back pain brings more people to the doc tor and causes more people to miss work than nearly any other health issue. It’s also the leading cause of disability worldwide. There are, fortunately, a number of things you can do to decrease the risk of expe riencing back pain. Here are six preventive measures recommended by the Mayo Cli nic. 1. Practise good posture: practise good posture both when standing and sitting. Don’t slouch when standing and when possible, choose a chair with good lower back support, armrests and a swivel base. 2. Use correct lifting procedures: let your legs do the work when picking up so mething heavy but avoid heavy lifting when possible. 3. Maintain a healthy weight: being over weight strains back muscles. 4. Engage in aerobic exercise: aerobic ac tivities that don’t strain the back (such

as walking, jogging and swimming) in crease strength, endurance and the func tioning of back muscles. 5. Do core exercises: strengthening your core helps condition back muscles. 6. Do flexibility exercises: good flexibility in the hips in particular is essential as li mited hip mobility causes inflammation, strain and pain in the back muscles. If you begin to experience back problems, don’t engage in exercise or activities that strain the back. See your doctor to receive a treatment plan. Acute back pain (lasting no more than six weeks) should get better with home treat ment. For chronic cases, some people ch oose to see a chiropractor. Chiropractic treatments aim to correct the alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure so as to allow the body to heal itself without sur gery or medication. Speak to your doctor about this option.

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yoga

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

Take time to reflect TRISHA CURLING

trishacurling@carib101.com

YOGA SPECIALIST

The New Year is fast approaching, and it is common practice for most of us to reflect on what we have accomplished this past year and to set goals for the year ahead. This approach may also be utilized when it comes to our yoga practice. Our bodies and the reasons why we do things are ever changing. Our circumstances change, so we must continually re-examine our position on things. Are we fulfilling a goal, are we

nurturing a void? We always go to our mats for different reasons. It’s also true that when we perhaps have time away from our mats that it is the time when most reflection is done. This time away can help to pull us back to it. Some part of that may be to fulfill goals like the achievement of a particular pose, getting stronger, and/or to relieve pain in some part of the body. These are all valid and excellent goals. Yoga has the ability to not only allow you to achieve all of these things but to also take us on a journey of further self-discovery. There is something about being still and/or moving on our mats that allows us to get quiet with our breath and become closer to our inner selves. This is how we also come closer to filling voids. Feeling depleted and/or broken at different times in our lives are very real. There are times of yearning for more or try-

ing to figure out what the answers are. It may seem silly to some that going to sit or move on a mat by doing a bunch of poses can help to fill a void, but it really can. That quiet, that meditation, it forces us to reflect and find perspective when maybe we can’t in other situations in our lives. The noise is eliminated and when we practice with consistency, the nervous system is trained to calm and be in a state of more homeostasis. These are some of the contributing factors that help us to fill some parts that may be missing. It’s wonderful to get stronger, leaner, and even ease pain. The beauty of the practice I think is found in the totality of the experience. It’s achieving all of those things coupled with its’ ability to fill our spiritual and emotional cups. The New Year is a wonderful time to invite these experiences that the mat holds

for us. A time to be, to reflect, to move, be still, and to build deeper relationships with ourselves. Let’s take some time on the mat, so that our life away from it may be more enriched. Conclusion: As you come to your mat at the closing of this year, think about where you were emotionally, physically at the beginning of this year. Do you feel like you have grown in the ways you expected? Do you feel like you stayed true to your path in yoga and in life? What are some changes you would like to make going forward. What are some of the amazing surprises you achieved in your practice, in life? These are a lot of questions, but they are necessary in continuing to move forward.

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community

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

Reflection Time; 10 questions to help you reflect on 2018! year, it will make dealing with future issues with greater ease.

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

Can you believe it? It is the end of the year already, and 2019 is fast approaching. This is usually the time that I like to reflect on what I have learned in my year. What lessons have I learned from my mistakes? What have I done for myself to continue my evolution? What have I done in terms of service for my community? Finally, what changes do I need to make for this upcoming year? Reflection is needed because if not, we continue to just exist not live. It is of vital importance to review your life and to see how you continue to be an impact on your family, your friends and your society. This week I want to present to you some prompts that will help with this reflection process. Where did you encounter struggles this year, and what did you do to deal with it? We all have our share of struggles in life, and at times it seems impossible to deal with. Look back at your struggles and write them down. Remember the feelings that came with the struggles and think about how you dealt with them. This is a great practice because you already know that next year will bring its share of burdens. If you can reflect on how you dealt with it this

What is frustrating you? How do you plan to deal with that frustration? What is currently frustrating you? Be honest with yourself, or you are going to carry these same frustrations into the New Year. Analyze how you have been dealing with your frustrations. Is it working for you, or is it just causing further frustration? Become aware of your coping deficiencies and begin to find different ways in which to deal. What made you curious this year? How does learning feel different when you’re curious? Every day we are learning whether we regard the lessons or not. Your mind is stimulated by curiosity, and this prompts future learning. Once you did learn something, I am almost sure that it only prompted further questions. This is a good sign that you are growing. What do you want to learn more about, and why? Now is the time to take what you learned into further consideration. Nothing just happens in life; it is all in divine order; you just have to acknowledge how this order will play out in your life. Take the time to further self through education. What lessons were learned from failure this year? Oh boy! This is a difficult one. The lessons from failure hurt the ego the most. It is acknowledging again that you are human, and that you will make mistakes. The glory of mistake is that you can correct them and

become a wiser, stronger individual. What can/should you do with what you know? Through all this failing and learning, you have to implement all the lessons in your day-to-day life. This is another opportunity to document your year and take the lessons learned to further yourself. This is not selfish if you are doing so in order to be a better person for your community. What are your next steps? Which of those steps will come easiest? The next steps are crucial; they are going to determine how your New Year will look. Work from the hardest task to the least; deny your gratification in order to move through your stages successfully. Where will the terrain become rocky? You have to be realistic; difficulties will come in this journey of life. There will be mountains and molehills. How you navigate them will be determined by what you have learned in this last year. Documentation of failures and success are necessary in order for you to truly have an innerstanding of your journey. What can you do now to navigate the road ahead with the most success? I have mentioned documentation a few times throughout this article. I encourage you to write things down. There is a little more downtime during the holidays and using this time to reflect is essential. I want you all to continue to be successful, regardless of where you are in your journey. Respectfully, Simone Jennifer Smith

Closeout and start again COLLEEN LINDBERG colleen@carib101.com

LIFESTYLE COACH

Well, it’s that time again. The holiday spirit is upon us and you know what that means. It’s almost the end of 2018. I am not sure about you, but it baffles me to think that we have gotten this far in the year already. Time is flying by and I really think it’s important to reflect on that and make a decision for 2019 to get the things that we want. So first, I do this on New Year’s Eve, but really anytime between Christmas and the start of 2019 is a great time to do a reflection on the past year. I inventory my goals from 2018 and see how close I came to achieving them. Of course, some of them I crushed out but others I totally forgot that I had even written them down. It’s common and ok, just remember we can only adjust for the future, we can’t change

the past. So, through this reflection, I also ask myself “What did I learn this year?” “What were highlights of the year?” “What did I really want, and did I get it?” “What was my biggest failure?” It’s great to write this down as well, as later on in life you never know when you might want to reference it back. Secondly, I define my goals for the next year. Taking into account what happened this past year, who I am now, what I am aiming for this next coming year. I write them down and then I print them for my goal board that I keep in my office, so they are always there for me to reflect on. A couple other things you can do is create a vision board for you to see all your goals on it for this year. I also encourage people to create a vision for the year. A simple statement to remind you of what you are aiming for. It could be something simple like “To live a life of health, love, and connection” or “This year will be a year of personal growth, exploring new possibilities and adventure”. Sometimes it’s hard for us to set goals. We don’t know where to start. So how about reflecting on these areas and see if there are any goals you want to set

here. 1. Health – lose weight, gain weight, compete in something, explore a new activity, take a dance class, start to run, regular massages, travel/vacations 2. Career – get a promotion, look for a new job, find a way to increase your revenue 3. Personal Development – read a book a week, attend x amount of events this year, buy that course, listen/create your own podcast 4. Relationships – start dating, meet new people, sign up for the class you always wanted to attend, more social events, dinner parties, regular date nights/kids’ nights, attend more activities at your children’s school 5. Philanthropic – volunteer for a charity, attend more charity events, donate more As you can see there are numerous things, we can set goals around, it’s up to you though to figure out what you really want this year and then from there start to put that goal into motion. Create a plan to achieve it and let’s have an amazing 2019!

Thursday, December 27, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

life

PAGE 35

Do I need my spouse’s consent to sever a joint tenancy? VALERIE DYE valerie@carib101.com

LEGAL SPECIALIST

When a home is jointly owned by two persons, both parties own the entire property as opposed to each party owning half. Jointly held real estate property is convenient for the reason that it has the right of survivorship which means that if one owner dies the other owner becomes the sole owner of the property. It Is for this reason that jointly owned real estate is more common among married couples. It is not unusual for marriages to go sour. When this happens one spouse may not wish the other spouse to inherit the entire property

upon his or her death. In such cases, the spouse will need to sever the joint tenancy and transfer 50% of the ownership of the home to himself or herself thereby changing the ownership from jointly owned to ownership as tenants in common. Can one spouse transfer half of a jointly held property to himself without the consent of the other spouse or without a court order? The answer to this question depends on whether or not the transfer is deemed as a disposal of property. Section 21 of the Family Law Act provides as follows: No spouse shall dispose of or encumber an interest in the matrimonial home unless, (a) The other spouse joins in the instrument or consents to the transaction; (b) The other spouse has released all rights …. by a separation agreement; (c) A court order has authorized the transaction or has released the property from application under this part, or

(d) The property is not designated by both spouses as a matrimonial home…. In light of this provision would a conveyance by one spouse of one half of the property from himself as joint tenant back to himself as a tenant in common be considered the ‘disposal’ of an interest in the matrimonial home? This question was answered in the Ontario Court of Appeal case of Re Horne and Evans , In that case, the husband owned a home jointly with his wife. He wanted to leave half of the property to his daughter from a previous marriage after he died. He transferred his interest in the property to himself thereby severing the joint tenancy and creating a tenancy in common with his wife. This allowed him to leave his half share of his property for his daughter in his will. After the husband’s death, the wife challenged the transfer stating that he ‘disposed’ of his interest in the property without her permission. In its decision, the Court of Appeal held that a

conveyance by one joint owner to himself as a tenant in common does not dispose of an interest since the same two parties continue to own the property, but in a different manner. The only thing that changes is that the survivor does not have an automatic right to own the entire property upon the death of the other owner. The Court further stated that it was not the intention of the legislation to dictate the manner in which spouses should own their matrimonial home. Subsequent cases such as Zeligs v. Janes further highlighted the principle that one joint owner can transfer his share of the property to himself and thereby sever the joint tenancy without the need for the other owner’s consent or a court order. It would seem, however, that, at least in the case of the matrimonial home, transfer of one’s interest in a jointly held property to a third party is not permissible as this will result in a change of ownership.

Joy Generators KATHY McDONALD kathy@carib101.com

SCHOOL TRUSTEE

It is dizzying when you think that another Christmas has just ended. As I stop and reflect on the true meaning of the Christmas season and all that there is to be thankful for, I am filled with joy, gratitude, and hope. The symbolism around celebrating the birth of Christ and the anticipation of the possibilities can easily be transferred to the African, Black, and Caribbean community in the educational realm. I hope that everyone from the aforementioned communities will be resolute in pursuing excellence in all educational journeys. There are several things that have transpired during 2018 that has been a great source of joy. However, I will be discussing my top three joy generators. First and foremost, I was given a mandate by the residents in wards three and four in Brampton to continue to affect positive changes that will benefit the students of Peel Region. For this, I am truly joyful. Very close to me in the “joyful arena” was hearing that Judge

Donald Mcleod was cleared of judicial misconduct. It was clear to the four-person panel that Justice McLeod’s actions at no time undermined the public confidence in the judiciary, that Judge Mcleod is a role model in the black community especially to black youth and in many other circles, for example, the educational arena and that most importantly he was always transparent as he invariably would seek clarity and ask for direction when engaging in his advocacy for marginalized individuals and members of the black community. Lastly and by no means least I am overjoyed at the outcome of my August 29th, 2017 “Poverty Motion”. On Wednesday, December 19th, 2018 at the Peel District School Board (PDSB) Instructional Programs/Curriculum Committee Meeting, The Focus on Poverty: Action Plan was received by the members present. The Director of Education for the PDSB, Peter Joshua; a Research Officer, Kim Bennett; a member of the Workplace Equity team, Jaspreet Pabla and a PDSB principal, Craig Caslick present the one-year action plan with the “Focuses on Poverty” initiative. The working group that participated in developing this plan consisted of over twenty-two individuals from various departments within the board. This multidepartmental collaborative action plan targeted five specific action areas along

with expected changes and impacts. In the near future, the actual timeline will be presented but the urgency of this work was not lost on any individual present. The five action areas are Student Success and Well Being, Awareness and Understanding of the Impact of Poverty, Support for Families Living in Poverty, Equitable Allocation of Human and Material Resources and Equitable Participation in Programs. Some of the specific actions and targeted activities that will be explored: launching a poverty awareness and understanding campaign and deconstructing what poverty in the PDSB looks like by examining our data; supporting students that have significant family responsibilities and engaging community partners and resources. Taking a detailed look at how Board resources are allocated and taking the decisive step to overhaul how Board resources are distributed within the Board. Mr. Joshua was resolute in his resolve to ensure that vulnerable students will be treated equitably and he is cognizant of the fact the equality is not equity; the PDSB will seek to foster external partnerships for supplementary resources; the PDSB will work to ensure that vulnerable students have access to programs and supports as well as responsive differentiated instruction and the Board is also committed to nurturing strong positive relationships.

I would strongly encourage individuals to visit the PDSB website peelschools.org and review the logic model as well as the five action areas. If you are from another Board you may want to reach out to your trustee and inquire if any such initiatives exist within your child’s school board. In the absence of an action plan that supports students and families in poverty, join forces with your trustee to implement a similar action plan. Christmas can be a very joyful time, a time when people are filled with the euphoria of hope. It is this hope that fuels my desire to see vulnerable students excel in the educational arena. It is up to you the public to hold us as a board accountable and keep guard to ensure that this report does not end up on a shelf. The fate of this work is partly in your hands. When the board begins its community consultations or asks for feedback please lend your voice. All voices matter and are important as we develop a comprehensive strategy to combat the adverse effect of poverty. While the PDSB cannot eliminate poverty, we can ameliorate its impact on our students. So, journey with me as we strive to ensure that no child is left behind and that the full potential of all students is realized. Walk Good! Belle Marché.

PAGE 36

life

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

Is justice really attainable? BRITTNEY CHANNER brittney@carib101.com

JUSTICE WARRIOR

Hello Readers! We have finally come to the end of the year and essentially my last article for the year 2018. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for reading my articles every edition and inspiring me to keep in tune with social justice as it occurs within Canada and around the world. When I received the opportunity to write for the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, I knew instantly that I wanted to use my platform and educate those of social injustice, and how it affects civilians around the world. To those who can remember my first social justice article for the newspaper, I questioned the return of real social justice and posed the question if justice can be attained. In that article, I concluded that real justice is practiced when we implement it every day with the choices we make. This is seen with how we treat our neighbors, friends and our family. Furthermore, I concluded that justice is truly effective when it is practiced not only for self but for everyone else. However, I pose this question to myself and most importantly to all readers and ask, do you still believe real social justice can be attained in today’s society? In the heavily flawed world that we live in and with the regular occurrences of injustices around the world, can Martin Luther King’s dream of living in a society where people are judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin exist? As I remember the particular headspace I was in when I wrote that exact article, I was hopeful to the idea of attaining justice if we as individuals think of our fellow man through our actions. However, as the year comes to an end, I do have to be honest with my readers by suggesting that this idea of social justice and change may not be as easy as I suggested in my first article. Practicing social justice by thinking about our fellow man may seem easy on paper, but due to recent events in

the news around the world, successfully achieving this objective may seem a lot more difficult. For example, in world news, we have seen how major issues surrounding Mexican migrants at the U.S border have been developing within the last couple of months. As of recently, tragedy and a horrific example of injustice occurred when a 7-year-old migrant girl who was taken into custody by U.S Border Patrol died due to dehydration and exhaustion. It was reported that the young child had gone several days without food or water and her, along with her father and other migrant families, who were crossing into the U.S in hopes of asylum, were held in a detention center under scorching and unbearable conditions which ultimately contributed to her death. As a social justice writer, events such as the example provided above, I find to be very alarming. It seems that inequality and the disregard for our fellow man, woman, and child continues to be an ongoing trend within society and the idea of social justice for all, seems to be nothing more than an unattainable figment of one’s imagination. Throughout the year of 2018, there has been more than a few instances where justice was called into question, having many people such as myself ask, “Are we trying to draw water from an empty well?” Whether you have an answer to such a mind-boggling question or not, I think what many may agree on is the fact that what we are doing to combat social injustice, inequality, discrimination, racism etc... is not enough and a deeper look at why such injustices continue to increase in occurrence and severity is required. So, as the year comes to an end, I ask the same question that I started my first social justice article with; how does modern day society attain real social justice that works for all? My response? Through constant work and dedication. By accepting the fact that change will not come overnight and potentially may not be seen during our lifetime, if we continue to seek what is right for humanity, with constant social action and much needed time, I do believe it is possible for true social justice to be attained. But for now, the real work continues. Have a Happy Holiday and a Prosperous New Year!

Thursday, December 27, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Three practical accessories for your laundry room Here are three laundry room accessories that’ll save space and make cleaning clothes a breeze.

you don’t have enough room, use a collapsible rod or a retractable clothesline that you can pull out as needed.

1. A WALL-MOUNTED DRYING RACK If your laundry room is small, install a wallmounted drying rack that you can simply lower when needed. You could also get a bottomless drawer equipped with rods — just open it up and spread out your laundry. If you prefer standing models, pick one that folds to save room.

3. A DEEP SINK Get yourself a big sink or washing tub. You’ll be able to soak your clothes to remove stains or wash them by hand if they’re very delicate. A sink or tub can also be used to dye fabric in.

home & garden

Bright choices for bathroom lighting For bathroom lighting that’s both functional and appealing, there are a few rules you’ll need to follow when it comes time to choose your fixtures. The main light source, generally located in the middle of the room, should give off dif-

Install a ceramic tile backsplash in five easy steps

2. DRAW GUIDE LINES Draw a vertical line across the middle of the surface you want to cover. Then, place a tile spacer at the edge of your backsplash (at counter level, for example). This will indicate where you should place your first row of tiles. Using a level and a pencil, draw a horizontal line to mark the placement.

For additional lighting, choose wall-mounted fixtures or spotlights that you can install above or alongside the mirror behind the sink. Make sure that they shine light evenly over your face when you’re in front of the mirror to facilitate shaving and makeup application.

AVOID: • Harsh lighting • Spotlights directed towards the bathtub • Fabric lampshades

A wall-mounted or folding drying rack is ideal for a small laundry room.

1. PREPARE THE SURFACE If you’re installing the tiles in your bathroom or laundry room, make sure the wall you use is covered in water-resistant gypsum. This will provide the best protection against moisture and mould. Furthermore, the surface must be smooth, clean and dry. If the wall is painted, sand it gently.

fuse, indirect light. Opt for a ceiling light or a chandelier, for example.

If you want to create a unique atmosphere, try placing light strips along the bottom of the walls or installing embedded lights in the shower. Make sure you choose fixtures that are moisture resistant. Finally, install a dimmer switch so that you can adjust the intensity of the light to your liking.

2. A COLLAPSIBLE ROD Install a rod in your laundry room so that you can hang clothes that don’t go in the dryer. If

If you’re looking for a way to enhance the look of your kitchen, bathroom or laundry room, try putting in a ceramic tile backsplash. Here are five steps to follow.

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3. PLACE THE TILES Starting at the middle of the bottom row, use a trowel to spread ceramic tile adhesive on a small part of the wall. Place the tiles by lightly pressing on each one, referring back to the horizontal line you drew to make sure they’re level. Place a tile spacer between each tile and repeat until the surface is entirely covered. Let dry for 24 hours. 4. APPLY GROUT Remove the tile spacers and wipe your ceramic tiles with a damp sponge. Apply the grout so that it fills the grout lines bet ween the tiles. Smooth it out, let it dry, and then clean the tiles. Don’t apply grout to the edges of your backsplash (between the first row of tiles and your counter, for example). You’re better off using caulking for these spaces. 5. SEAL THE GROUT LINES Seal your grout lines by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Several coats might be necessary. Finally, clean your backsplash with a damp cloth, and admire the results!

Install wall-mounted light fixtures or spotlights close to the mirror above the sink.

Expand your living space into the garage Transforming your garage into a workspace, a den or a recreation room will allow you to not only expand your living space, but also give you the opportunity to let your imagination run free. When it comes to converting your garage, creativity isn’t just allowed — it’s encouraged! Do you live for playoff season? Install a home theatre system, plenty of sofas and a popcorn machine in your garage. If you have enough space, build a bar and buy mini appliances (fridge, blender, etc.). Your guests will love spending game night in

the comfort of your unique space. Are your children particularly active? Transform your garage into a playroom. A mag netic dart board, a ping-pong or foosball table, a sound system and a video game corner will keep your kids occupied for hours. There are endless uses for your new room. What will you build: a dance studio, an artist’s workshop, a reading nook, a home gym? The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

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automotive

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

LEXUS puts style at the forefront Lexus has two models of note to keep an eye on this fall. The first is the 7th-generation ES sedan, which was completely made over. Built on a new global architecture, the GA-K, this ES is longer, lower and wider than its predecessor. Its overall design is more expressive and, accor2019 Lexus ES 350

ding to Lexus, the body is 32 per cent more rigid. It’s also the first time this model gets its own unique F Sport edition. All of the ES 350 models are powered by a 302-HP 3.5-litre V6 with 267 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s the same V6 that Toyota recently introduced in its Camry. The engine is coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission. For the ES 300 hybrid, a 4th-generation hybrid powertrain combines an ultra-efficient 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder with a compact electric motor and an auto-recharging hybrid system. Together, the powertrain outputs 215 HP and offers an estimated fuel con sumption rate of 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres (city/highway combined). The other big newcomer for

Lexus Lexus UXis the UX, a compact crossover based on the Toyota CH-R. It’s offered as either a classic gas-powered version or a gas-electric hybrid. In both cases, the standard engine is Toyota’s 2.0-litre 4-cylinder. The gas engine outputs 168 HP and the hybrid, 176. All UX models come with Apple CarPlay.

fun

Thursday, December 27, 2018 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

PAGE 39

WEEK OF DECEMBER 2018 30 TO JANUARY 5 2019

ARIES

The luckiest signs this week: CAPRICORN, AQUARIUS AND PISCES

You’ll use somewhat manipulative techniques to clear the air between family members. Your organizational skills will shine this week and you’ll be the family hero.

TAURUS

You’ll invite family and friends to celebrate the New Year with you. Two families that don’t usually get along will be brought together by your generosity and attention to detail.

PUZZLE NO. 672 ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 672

HOW TO PLAY :

GEMINI

You’ll want to feel useful this week, so you may host more than one gathering while also taking extra good care of your loved ones. Even when you’re a guest, you offer to help out by serving people and cleaning up.

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

CANCER

You’ll really enjoy the holiday festivities this year and you’ll find yourself performing in some way. People will take notice of you when you say or do something outlandish.

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.

LEO

You’ll meet at least one person of a different ethnicity at a party this year. After learning about their culture, you’ll be inspired to incorporate their food and music into your daily life.

VIRGO

PUZZLE NO. 935 44. Emergency signal 48. Slightly open 51. Get 53. Underground chamber 54. Pen 55. Jolly 56. Nights of anticipation 57. Pairs 58. Type of wood 59. Auto-mishap reminder

21. Inheritances 23. Electrified atom 25. Building sites 26. Gaze 27. Lively 28. “____ and the Fatman” 29. Certain exam 30. Flooring material 34. Guards 35. Small dog

37. Type of tire 41. Cut into cubes 43. Hem 45. Speak wildly 46. Square 47. Swallow’s home 48. False front 49. Mouth part 50. “Long, Long ____” 52. Exercise room

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 935

DOWN

ACROSS

1. Blacken 5. Fitness facility 8. Asks for alms 12. After-bath garment 13. Coffee vessel 14. Sunburn soother 15. Mimicked

16. Cauldron 17. Cluster 18. Newspapers and radio 20. Submissive 22. Leak 24. Markets 28. Write hastily 31. Disintegrate 32. Company

33. Awakened 35. Clergyman 36. Cabbagelike veggies 37. Boring routine 38. Shade of blue 39. Choose by ballot 40. Ancient 42. Accustomed

1. Prepare for a test 2. Belief in future success 3. Under the covers 4. Decorated again 5. Eat late 6. Punctual 7. Card game stake 8. Supporters 9. House addition 10. Infant’s sound 11. Jet ____ 19. Apprehends

You’ll be the life of the party this week, and everyone you come into contact with will enjoy themselves. Just be careful on the road at night.

LIBRA

This time of year always incurs extra expenses. Even people you don’t know will appreciate your generosity with those in need. Giving is as much for you as it for those you give to.

SCORPIO

You’ll feel the need to move, dance and socialize this week and won’t want to miss a single event. You’ll help get parties started by suggesting fun games and activities.

SAGITTARIUS

Make sure you get enough rest during the week so you can stay up and party on the weekends. You’ll also need to catch up on sleep after being sick for a few days.

CAPRICORN

You’ll bring people together unexpectedly, which will lead to additional planning for you. You’ll go to great lengths to make your loved ones happy. Take care of yourself though, because a pesky flu might derail your plans.

AQUARIUS

You’ll be extra helpful while you’re a guest at other people’s homes. You’ll organize a party for your loved ones and with your encouragement, everyone will enjoy themselves.

PISCES

Convince your family to buy a group lottery ticket this week because luck will be on your side on New Year’s Day. Plans you’ve been making with family will solidify and a spontaneous group trip will make one of your dreams come true.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

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PAGE 42

real estate

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

Win-Win Negotiations JAY BRIJPAUL brijpaul@carib101.com

REAL ESTATE PRO Four friends buy a coconut and must share it equally. How can they do that? Cut it equally and that would be fair, right? Upon further investigation, the first friend wants the water and the other, the nut; the third, the shell to carve, and the last, the outer fiber to burn! God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. To become a top negotiator, become an investigator. Look for the various stress points. Stress points are important is assessing what course of action to take. For example, time stress. If during your investigation you discover that the seller’s property has been on the market for over one month and the seller needs to move in two weeks, you can offer a lower price

with a quick closing. I once negotiated an offer where the seller wanted a monthly retirement income. The buyer purchased the home at a bargained price and the seller took back the mortgage, creating steady cash flow and deferring some of his tax obligations. That’s a win-win negotiation. Try this the next time you are negotiating: Become a Parrot! Repeat and Flinch! Let’s assume that you are at a dealership, buying a car and the dealer wants $10,000. You can repeat the amount in a questionable manner, then flinch and stay silent. “Ten thousand Dollars?” More often they would respond, with a lower price. To move the negotiation forward, always respond with “You have to do better than that” Most of the time the salesperson will use the “higher authority negotiating trick.” They will say, “Let me talk to my Manager.” You can answer that by saying “Your Manager always goes along with your decision, right?” In negotiating, whoever has more options often wins!

A good negotiator must have many soccer, always kick the ball back into their coroptions or the perception of having more op- ner and let them decide! tions. If the seller has four offers on the table, Splitting the difference is a great nethen he has the options. The buyer must know gotiating trick. However, work the negotiation which option to use. Look for the main reason until it is about to fall apart and then suggest why they want to sell and that’s their hot but- splitting. Ask the seller who wants to sell quickton! ly; “If I can give you a quick closing, what is the I recall negotiating a transaction lowest price you are prepared to take?” Repeat where I found out that the seller had inherited the statement in a questionable manner and rethe property, needed it sold immediately and member to flinch and remain silent. Finally, you wanted to take the next plane out of the coun- can say, “we are only $5,000 apart, what do you try. After a discussion with the buyers, I manu- suggest?” factured many options. On behalf of the buyer, Trading is another way to negotiate. I offered the seller a low price, a big deposit, a Towards the end of the negotiation, ask the plane ticket, and shopping money. The buyers other party what else you can do to help them got the home at a great price and the seller got and then respond, “If I can do that for you, what what she wanted. can you do for me?” In one of my negotiations, Find their hot button and keep press- the buyers sold their home before purchasing ing it until you give them a headache. Then, sell and required storage. The seller would accomthem aspirin. Flinch and then offer the solution! modate their needs only if the price was right. It’s like the mouse who says, “Forget the cheese, Since the buyer did not want the hassle of movjust get me out of this trap!” Always look at the ing the furniture twice, they agreed. situation from the other person’s point of view. The art of negotiating is a good skill to If you are the buyer, then pretend that you are have and there are times when we need others the seller and think through the process. Do not to negotiate for us. A good negotiator on our Ad-B&W-Indra+Justin2_Ad-B&W-Indra+Justin2 12/21/17 PM well Page 1 give everything at once! Like a good game of side4:29 is a job done.

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finance

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

Holiday shopping is upon us FAZAAD BACCHUS fazaad@carib101.com

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Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, please put a penny in the old man’s hat! Well, it is that time again, the time when carols ring and your worries are put away for a little while. Gosh, how I miss the parang though! In as much as a white Christmas is beautiful, the Lara Brothers blasting away in St James is quite the moment to behold. And don’t forget how many Christmas cards you looked over just to find the right one for your special friend (you know I mean the girlfriend). But of course, my articles are meant to be financial in nature, so enough reminiscing of Christmas cards and the good old parang days. Let’s talk about life in Canada and

shopping galore. This year again you will be spending money on toys, new toys, and as customary the many gift exchanges from offices to home. This is a season of spending! It brings good feelings, and no one should take that away from you. But my article is to advise you on spending wisely. The first rule is that if the gift is cheap, it is quickly used up or quickly forgotten. But how can Grandma afford to buy four expensive for her four grandkids? It’s just too much! And normally those four kids will each receive gifts from both sets of grandparents, and their parents. This means that each child may end up with three or four gifts! This is wrong! Each child should be given one expensive and good quality gift where the money is contributed by all giving parties. This way the child does not favor one parent or grandparent over the other and cherishes his gift. It’s hard to buy what you want, it’s what the in thing is for kids. Could I tell my child that a tablet is not good for him, that he should run and play? I would like to, but all his friends have one. But still I must choose care-

fully, what games is he playing, and how is he interacting with his new toy. Is he learning to value it, or is it just another commodity? These values that we teach kids about their toys are priceless, the values and the sacrifice that goes into buying things for them must not be taken for granted. Here’s an idea, take your child to the bank and open a savings account for him. Let him see the first deposit is from you, let him hold the book knowing that his money is in the bank. Teach him that when he does chores at home, he can earn money to deposit into his account. Let him know that at Christmas time and at birthdays he will have an extra special amount again so that he could deposit in his account and you will see the value of such an action over time. Little things mean a lot and charity begins at home. Teach a child values when he is young and when he is old, he will not depart from it; some of you are very familiar with this verse. I urge you to spend quality time with your family this Christmas and give your children the gift that is greater than all, your love and time.

Life Insurance - Policy loan vs collateral loan ANDREW STEWART andrew@carib101.com

FAMILY ADVISOR

We hear the word “loan” every day, it can be good for us personally or for our business. With so many options out there on where and how to get loans, it’s no wonder we tend to only view it as when we need to acquire money. But not all loans are created equal, these loans can actually be an asset to you by providing an income stream and the added benefit of not having to actually pay it back. Hold the phone did I just say to not pay back a debt? So, what are some of the key differences between taking a policy from your life insurance policy vs using it as collateral at a bank? What is a policy loan? A policy loan is simply an insurance company using the cash value of a life insurance policy to give money to the owner of the policy (unlike term life insurance, which does not accumulate cash value). Before, policy loans were issued at very low-interest rates, but now they can be as high as 7%. As cash value builds in a whole life policy, policyholders can borrow against the accumulated funds

and receive the funds tax-free. It’s hard to say when a whole life policy cash value would be available for a loan although, it is generally accepted that at least ten years must pass before a policy loan is an option. Another beneficial aspect is you don’t have to repay the loan. However, if the loan is not paid back before death, the insurance company will reduce the face amount of the insurance policy when the death benefit is paid. Interest can significantly cut into the death benefit, so it would be smart to at least make interest payments. Unlike traditional loans where you would need to qualify based on a number of factors, including credit rating, current, and future income levels, net worth, etc. There are no qualifications needed for this loan. Just simply call the insurance company and ask for the money. Lenders are essentially taking a risk every time they approve someone for a loan; therefore, anything that can mitigate at least part of that risk is a vital part of their business. This is where collateral comes in, it reduces the risk that a lender takes on and also any loss that might come from a borrower defaulting. What is leverage and how can you use it? Leverage is, quite simply, taking out a loan. The loan can be secured or unsecured. A loan is secured when a specific asset is assigned as collateral security for the loan. The lender can, if necessary, seize the property provided as collateral and liquidate it to repay the debt. A real estate mortgage is a good example of

a secured loan. If an asset is assigned as collateral security, the lender will also evaluate the nature of that asset (value, liquidity, etc.) For example, residential real estate can be leveraged based on a 75% - 90% margin, meaning that if a house is worth $100,000, a bank will loan up to $90,000. At a 75% margin, a bank will loan $75,000. Now many lenders will provide the same benefit secured by a life insurance cash. You may use the loan proceeds to invest in a business or property, purchase other assets or pay living expenses. In these cases, the interest on the loan and a portion of the insurance premiums may be deductible for tax purposes. The tax savings can help reduce the cost of borrowing. Once again when the borrower dies, the life insurance policy’s death benefit will repay the collateral loan. Any remaining death benefit will be paid to the beneficiaries designated within the insurance policy. You can also decide to pay the interest directly or add to the loan balance (known as capitalizing). When interest is capitalized, compound interest (interest on interest) will arise. This can be an issue with respect to interest deductibility. To ensure full interest deductibility, it is easier that the interest is paid annually out-of-pocket but each year a new loan is given for the same amount as the interest cost. These two strategies are additional ways you can prepare and save for your retirement. If you want to learn more, contact your advisor for more information.

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PAGE 46

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Thursday, December 27, 2018

West Indies Clinch T20I Series against Bangladesh KAYLA KARIM

kayla@carib101.com

TC REPORTER The West Indies 190 beat Bangladesh 140 by 50 runs to clinch the T20I series. After about three months of playing their shortest and arguably their most favorite format of cricket in India and Bangladesh, the West Indies had some hardware to take home. The series was tied at 1 when 26-yearold Evin Lewis’ 36-ball 89 to post 190 followed by Bangladesh’s openers taking charge. There were then two no-ball calls that had the West Indies fired up. Bangladesh went 65 for 1 in the fifth over and eventually lost 7 for 31 to fold for 140 in 17 overs. Twenty-year-old fast bowler for the

West Indies, Keemo Paul showed off with a career-best 5 of 15. In the fourth over, there was a no-ball call, which Carlos Brathwaite argued against and on-field umpire; Tanvir Ahmed called the no-balls off Oshane Thomas. This collapse happened on the back of an eight-minute passage and the play was stopped. Brathwaite did not hold back when chatting with referee Jeff Crowe. Assistant coach, Mushtaq Ahmed also intervened and the match continued shortly after. Thomas recorded 30 off that over bowling nine balls including three sixes and two fours. Lewis had a great start earlier in the evening hammering Abu Hider for 27 runs in the third over, with the first three balls being consecutive sixes. He finished the over with a fourth six. Lewis was on pace for recording the fastest T20I century striking for two more sixes but Mahamudullah quickly ended that chance bowling him in the 10th over. Rovman Powell and Nicholas Pooran continued to improve West Indies success with 37 runs for the fifth wicket. Carlos Brathwaite said that he was “prepared to risk sanctions” for protesting against the call and holding up play for eight

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minutes. His strong and animated response came after a controversial no ball call off teammate Oshane Thomas. Bangladesh had a 191 chase in the fourth over when Thomas was falsely pulled up for overstepping by on-field umpire Tanvir Ahmed. West Indies wanted a further review for the on-field call after Linton Das failed to strike the ball to mid-off. Match referee, Jeff Crowe refused the replay and said that they could not opt for it, further confirming the call. Brathwaite shared at the post-game press conference, “sanctions may come and go, but if you don’t stand for something, you fall for everything. If the sanctions are to be handed, I would gladly take it. My team-mates need to be stood up for and as the captain of the ship, I will stand up for them.” This issue didn’t surface only in the final match. Brathwaite felt that the calls were unfair in several series prior. “I went to the match referee after the second game. I didn’t think the 50-50 decisions were going in our favor,” Brathwaite said. “Those decisions went for Bangladesh. I never ever want to accuse someone of cheating. I will stop short of that. They are professionals as well.

I don’t think they would go out there to be biased or, for lack of a better word, cheat.” “I didn’t accuse them of cheating, but I made my point clear to the match referee that every 50-50 decision in the ODI series and T20I series up to that point went against us. Traditionally, we haven’t played the best cricket, whether red or white ball. But I found that every time I have been playing for the West Indies, the decisions have hampered us. It happened earlier in the fourth over, so a point needed to be made.” Brathwaite shared that he asked Crowe about reviewing laws when he was taking a stand for his team. He did commend the referee however saying that after some stern words he asked the referee for him and his team to regroup, which was granted, and the issue was resolved. The debate about laws has been ongoing and with Brathwaite making the third umpire check each delivery for a no-ball, the incident has reopened the conversation. England visits in the Tour of West Indies. The 5-day series starts on January 23rd, 2019 at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.

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