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“You need to be who you are; you can’t have a mask that slips off. You need to be consistent with your values.” ~ President Barack Obama (44th President of the United States) President Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, was in Toronto on Thursday, January 23rd to speak in The Global Institute of Conscious Economics event series, Future of Work & The New Economy.

The Global Institute for Conscious Economics is a platform that promotes the connection between consciousness and better business outcomes. There was an estimated six thousand people that filled every corner of the Metro Convention Centre’s combined halls. In the space was a true reflection of the goal that Conscious Economics

desires for the future; bringing unlikely groups around the same table. Every table that was sponsored by a business or financial institution had five youths seated at the table. Some of these youths were from marginalized communities or Neighborhood Improvement Areas.

What was remarkable about this event was that members of the business community sponsored tickets for youth under the age of 25 years old. With most tickets selling for as high as $275, the youth were given tickets for free. I happened to be sitting at The Canadian Black Chambers of Commerce sponsored table during the event.

Yes, I was one of the lucky young people to snag myself a seat.

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FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

ZAHRA BENTHAM A woman in her season

“Here I was. Sitting across from Octavia Spencer. I remember thinking, OMG! Pinch myself. Is this for real?” ~ Zahra Bentham (Thoughts on Set of Madam C.J. Walker) Rookie Blue (ABC/Global), Cracked (CBC), Private Eyes (Global), Ransom (CBS/Global), Save Me (CBC GEM), Queen of the Morning Calm (WFF, 2019) and White Lie (TIFF, 2019). Whew! It is quite a list of notable work that has been stacked up by our woman empowered, and for the commencement of Black History Month, Toronto Caribbean Newspaper thought that this was the best time to feature this young woman. Why? In a few months, she will be observed on the big screen in one of her largest roles to date in the highly anticipated film Self Made that tells the story of America’s first black, self-made female millionaire and beauty mogul Madam C.J. Walker. We are proud to present to you our woman empowered Zahra Bentham.

Zahra’s entertainment career started in a familiar place for most Africans living in the Diaspora. She started singing in church at the age of seven or eight years old, and although it may have seemed insignificant at the time, there was a fire in this young woman that was not going to be extinguished.

Along with being a talented performer, Zahra was also a superior athlete. “I re-

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ally got into basketball, and throughout school, I played on AA/AAA basketball teams. I guess I was pretty good, because I was made team captain, and had the opportunity to travel across Canada and the United States playing a sport that I truly enjoyed.”

Her life began to change when she started attending the notable Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts where she studied: Drama Focus, Music Theatre, and Dance Intensive for her four years there. Basketball was still very much a part of her life, and she played right through high school on the Wexford Collegiate basketball team.

It was time to graduate, and time to make a tough decision. Would she continue to play a sport that had become such a part of her life, or would she follow her other passion, the arts? This decision was an extremely difficult one for Zahra.

“Basketball had become such a part of my life, but when I really looked at it, for me it didn’t have the longevity that I was looking for. My family took it really hard because they had spent a lot of time with me on the road, but there was something about being on stage. It was a whole new experience, and I fell in love with it. I made the decision to stick with acting because of my time at Wexford.”

And just like that, Zahra’s new life began. She instantly began to feel the pains of being in this beast of an industry. Just getting herself an exceptional agent took her about a year. As you can imagine that must have been frustrating, and extremely challenging. Adding to the challenges, her very first gig was a reality show called “Kidz for it” which didn’t even air. The show was shot in Toronto and had a music and dance focus. Zahra had auditioned as a singer, and although she was disappointed, she remained determined and consistent.

During her growth in the industry, Zahra would go on to train with celebrated acting coaches Tom Todoroff and Robyn Kay. Working with them helped Zahra learn how to make strong choices, get over her nerves, and feel grounded and confident when preparing for an audition.

They helped her with questions she had about clothing, hair, makeup, body language, memorization skills, and most importantly, helping her get her scenes to a place where it felt like it was second nature for her.

Her first onscreen appearance was on Foxfire, a movie starring Angelina Jolie. This was an inspiring movie for Zahra, because for the first time, she saw some of the actresses that had gone to Wexford with her. Seeing this helped her realize the possibility of having that lead role. Her inner flame began to burn brighter, and this led to her first lead role in the comedy feature film Guid-

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ance as Jabrielle Crain. The film made its world premieres at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival and was reviewed as an amusing riff on an increasingly familiar theme. This experience was another spark because this time, Zahra got to work closely with the writer, and director of the film.

All of this led to her latest colossal role; Zahra is set to play Nettie, the sweet and proper wife of Ransom (Kevin Carroll), in the historical story of Madam C.J. Walker. Her journey into this role started in January 2019. Pilot season takes place in L.A. usually at the beginning of each year.

Actors come from all over the world to audition for movies. Zahra had decided to go down there with a fellow actress and friend Mouna Traoré to see what she could do to further her now blooming acting career.

It was a stressful time but having Mouna there made things a little easier. “Mouna and I prayed a lot during those months in L.A. We wanted to be part of a series together. “After giving it her all, she flew back to Toronto, and prayed to be picked up for the role. Ever the optimist, throughout her periods of doubt, she would always say to herself, “This is my role. I am going to get this! This is my season.” Then it happened. She got pinned.

Getting pinned means that both the casting and production saw something in her, which meant that she might get the part. To add to her excitement, she found out that Mouna had also been pinned. The prayers had worked, and both Zahra and her friend received what they had asked for.

Zahra recalls first sitting across from Octavia Spencer, and all that she felt being on the set of Self Made. “When I looked at the script, I saw that I would be in a lot of scenes with Octavia. Nettie is a member of the National Association for Coloured Women and a great support to Sarah (Madam C.J. Walker) and her growing business. Being on set was one of the best experiences of my life.

I got to kick it with Tiffany Haddish who is exactly what you see on stage, hilarious. Obviously working with greats like Blair Underwood and having my friend there has made this part of my journey even better. I am honoured, and grateful to be a part of this. It will be released on March 20th, and I hope everyone is ready for this well needed history lesson. “

If you want to catch up on Zahra’s latest work, you can find her on Spinning Out, a Netflix show that aired January 1st, 2020. In the show, Zahra plays the role of Alana, an upperclassman in college, a determined young woman wanting to make something of life.

Her incredible journey is one to be exalted. Keep going Zahra. You have a whole community routing for you.

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LOCAL NEWS

PAGE 3

Canadians of African descent: Going forward, guided by the past SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

”Members of the wider community are here, but so are individuals from our African continental community, our Underground Railroad descendant community, our Caribbean and Latin American community. We’re just so happy to see everybody celebrating together.”

Irene Moore-Davis

This is my second year making the trek Southwest to Windsor for their Black History Month kick off, which was held on Friday, January 31st, 2020. The event was free to the public and was jointly hosted by: the Essex County Black Historical Research Society, the Windsor West Indian Association, and the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

They have had some dedicated sponsors who continue to collaborate with the organizations to pull off the over 20 Black History Month events and activities planned for Windsor and

Essex County in the month of February.

Morris Sutton Funeral Home, the University of Windsor Department of History, The University of Windsor Human Rights Office, and the City of Windsor Office of Cultural Affairs sponsored the kick off. Acknowledgements were also given to Essentials Citizens Association, The Guardian Club, and The Black Coalition.

“It’s not just about the Underground Railroad, even though that’s a story we love to tell most around here.

There are fantastic stories from every decade that really matter.” ~ Irene Moore-Davis

I always enjoy seeing the youth come out to learn about their history, and it was encouraging to see that parents made the effort to bring their children out to the event. There was a lot of visual stimulation; they had artistic performances (poetry, drumming and song) by local artists Teajai Travis, Mbonisi Zikhali, Kionna Wilson, the Cameroonian Association of SouthWestern Ontario Dance Group, and the Hidaya Diaspora Junior Dance Group.

It was great to see avid historian, author, and President of the Essex County Black Historical Research Society, Irene Moore-Davis contributing her time to the community. When

you get a chance, do search our Women Empowered Feature to learn more about this wonderful talent. Irene has greatly contributed to the recording of the history of the Windsor/Essex area.

She keeps herself busy with committee roles at: Essex County Black Historical Research Society, the North American Black Historical Museum, the Northstar Cultural Community Centre, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Leadership Windsor/Essex and Book Fest Windsor.

Some other key people who were in the room that night included Constable Neil McEachern, and Gemma Grey-Hall. Constable Neil McEachern hails from the sunny island of Trinidad, and happens to be Windsor Police newest Diversity Officer. He is currently the face of the police in the community, and part of his job is talking to community groups and visiting schools in the Windsor area. He understands the need for relations, and work with members, and organizations in the community to bring about positive change.

A spectacular force (who I like to refer to as the connector) is none other than Gemma Grey-Hall. She is the current President and Chair at West of Windsor Inc, as well as the Major Gift Officer at the University of Windsor.

What I appreciate about Gemma is her

ability to build connections in the community. It is because of her that I was able to connect with President Irene Moore-Davis and Constable McEachern. As soon as she saw me, she did it again by connecting me with a prominent, and relevant woman. You will have to stay tuned for that.

The night would not have been complete if we didn’t honour the trailblazers who have come and gone. All in attendance were reminded to look at our examples: Daphne Clarke, Shelley Harding-Smith, Brian Kersey, and Frieda Parker Steele. We must remember the stand that they took for their communities and continue to honour their work by doing what we need to do to carry on our great traditions.

To find out black history highlights, and to see the official release of the 2020 Windsor-Essex County Black History Month Activity Schedule of local black heritage and cultural events, visit the Tourism Windsor Essex website.

“We have a great history. We have all the tools within us to do the work that needs to be done.” ~ Irene Moore-Davis

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Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

salina@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Continued From Page 1 -- This event brought people together who want to see a change in the way the economy is run, and the outcome it brings. The Global Institute of Conscious Economics offers a modern perspective of the new economy. They promote a model of: people, planet, and profit working in harmony. Rhiannon Rosalind, is the CEO and sole shareholder of The Economic Club of Canada. She is also the cofounder and CEO of the Global Institute for Conscious Economics.

She has hosted some of the most influential people in the world. Names like: Michelle Obama, Amal Clooney, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and former President of France, Francois Holland have all graced her stage. Rosalind is also the youngest woman in Canadian history to be inducted into the Most Powerful Women in Business Hall of Fame.

She interviewed President Obama, the first African American president in America, for an hour. Her first question to him was his approach for becoming very well known and liked.

“I calculated at some point during my presidency that I was probably the most photographed and recorded human in history, which is kind of a disturbing thing to think about. If people are photographing you that much, then you can’t really fake it.

You need to be who you are, you can’t have a mask that slips off,� said President Obama. “You need to be consistent with your values.�

President Obama also talked to the young people about future skills, the importance of human connection, battling climate change and mental health tied to social media. When asked what his favourite thing about Canada is, he said, “You’re just so reasonable. Canadians are super reasonable.�

It was great to see some local talent up there on the stage. Sophie Trudeau gave a speech, and talented performers from Toronto, Jessie Reyez and Quincy Morales, performed.

â€

SELINA McCALLUM

“We bought as many tables as we could because we wanted our members to be in the same room as the first black president. It’s nice knowing that we are also connecting youth to entrepreneurs.� ~ Andria Barrett (President Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce)

The Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce remains committed to connecting and bridging the economic gap and increasing trade within the black business diaspora and between mainstream local and international markets. They enhance black businesses and communities by promoting, developing and sustaining economic growth and prosperity within all local and the global markets.

Barrett is determined to ensure that black business professionals also have a seat at the table. “We believe in economic empowerment and economic power. We feel that our community is underrepresented as business owners and entrepreneurs, and we are underrepresented in chambers of commerce or boards of trades,� said Barrett.

The CBCC is a national non-profit, bilingual, non-partisan organization. Their mission is “To become the Hub of the Canadian Black Business Ecosystem by creating value and collaborating opportunities between all the players in this emerging ecosystem.�

They plan to do this by offering programs and services for youth such as: mentorship, entrepreneurship services, and a chamber business club. “We focus on the youth. We have young, professional and junior chambers. We want to encourage young members in our community to start to think about entrepreneurship,� said Barrett.

The President of the Canadian Black Chambers of Commerce hopes that in the near future, black businesses will not have to have the word “black� in front of it. “I want us to have a bigger voice when it comes to business in Canada. At one point it won’t be black businesses in Canada. Business in Canada will mean you walk into a room and you will see equal representation, diversity and inclusion,� said Barrett.

The head office of CBCC is located here in Toronto, but they hope to have many chapters in every province across Canada.

Barrett says that they would like to be the main resource and hub for entrepreneurs seeking help on starting their business. “There’s a lot of information out there, we just don’t know what we don’t know,�

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

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Dave Rankin AFRICAN HISTORY dave@carib101.com

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

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Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 7

Former Senator Meredith disrupts Black History Month event

TC REPORTER

An event that set out to uplift and empower the black community for the start of Black History Month did not go as planned. The National Black History Month Expo took place in the Global Kingdom Ministries building on February 1st, 2020 in Scarborough from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., but there was a turn of events.

The four-part event’s purpose was to pay tribute to the legacies and accomplishments of black Canadians while encouraging cultural exploration, discovery and celebration.

The event opened with a sold out prayer breakfast and networking session.

However, former senator Don Meredith’s appearance caused an uproar. Naturally, there were some upturned eyebrows from some formidable leaders in the black community.

Meredith resigned from the Senate of Canada a week after the ethics committee recommended he be expelled from the Red Chamber for his alleged relationship with a teen in 2017.

Farley Flex: Media Consultant, Music Promoter, Artist Manager, and Motivational Speaker, was disgraced at the fact that Meredith was given an opportunity to speak at the prayer breakfast.

“We need to move our community forward. You can’t advance if you’re not holding the people who are taking our community backwards accountable, especially if you embrace it or don’t address it,” said Flex.

Talkin Tales; interweaving history and motivational speaking MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

If storytelling is your thing and you want to be educated by a posse of storytellers of all kinds all in the same space, the event to attend is Talkin Tales. From poets, dancers to musicians and more. When? on February 8th, 2020. Where? Ajax Community Centre, HMS Room, 75 Centennial Rd., Ajax, from 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm. Doors open at noon (12 pm) admission $5.00 individual and $15.00 for a family of four.

The list of performers for this event are as follows: • Author/Storytellers: Kesha Christie, Fiona Ellis, Adam Myrie, Elaine Robinson, Sashoya, Aisha Francis, Rakhee Neebar, Ken Bowen, Julie Thompson • Poet/Spoken Word Artists: Brown Girl Diary, Shakkoi Hibbert, Safiya Airall Mason, Jan Alicia Jennings, Lamoi • Entertainment/Creatives: Steven Laylor – MC, Rasmorgan, Deewani Dance Crew, Riddim Fit youth Dancers, Bro Negus This Afro Caribbean Heritage event is in its second year and is an event that is geared

towards the entire family with something for everyone including a vendor’s marketplace where folks can discover some of Durham Region’s locally established businesses. Not to mention a performance from the founder of Talkin Tales herself Kesha Christie.

Christie is an Afro-Caribbean Storyteller whose niche is Caribbean and African folklore, Aesop fables and original works. As an animated edutainer for all ages, she ignites the imagination and carries her audience on an amazing journey from tale to tale.

Through her stories and workshops, she interweaves history and motivational speaking.

With an emphasis on youth, her workshops teach communication and leadership skills and she also will be the recipient of the 2020 Hon. David C. Onley Award at this year’s 36th Annual Great Valentine Gala.

Christie is a member of Durham Storytellers, and Storytellers of Canada. In the Afro-Caribbean tradition, stories are meant to be told orally to preserve culture, demonstrate life lessons and promote unity.

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had the privilege of speaking with this edutainer on the subject of Talkin Tales and more, Christie said, “As Caribbean people, there are two places where we learn initially: the first place is from the family storytelling and the second is at the market place where if you don’t know about something you can acquire that knowledge from someone there.”

“Talking Tales gives the visitor such an opportunity,” she said, “It is a place to learn, meet up with friends, try new products, and even advise on healthy living, as well as financial, advice.”

When asked how did Talkin Tales come about? Christie said, “I go around Durham mostly and the GTA sharing the older stories. I noticed that Durham had a lot of storytellers, but not a lot of them looked like me.

I wanted to create a platform where we can do what we do, and in creating this platform I wanted to bring along with me and showcase the talent we have in Durham as well as the GTA.”

As to where she sees Talkin Tales going in the future, Christie told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “I want to continue to have this platform where young people, and up and coming artist, can share their gift and also take it on the road across the GTA.”

Speaking of sharing gifts, Christie was asked what does performing do for her?

To which she answered, “As a storyteller, it is such a huge responsibility, because we are sharing the past, the present and the future, we are sharing what was, who we are and who we can be, so when I get up there I know that the story is mine to hold. The message must be given to the audience and as they respond to your delivery, you receive their connection.”

The Talking Tales founder also had some advice for the younger ones who would like to follow in her footsteps, “Stick with it.

Not everyone will understand what you are doing. Not everyone will see your vision and if there isn’t a platform for you, create one.

Connect with like-minded people and trust me, the support will come and eventually everything will work out great,”

More information on this event can be found at www.talkintales.ca

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address.

Although the morning was sold out, the rest of the afternoon leading up to the concert was quiet.

The Canadian premiere of Kony, a feature film about two lovers caught in the conflict and the choice between love and duty, was delayed due to technical difficulties. The following Success Summit was cancelled.

Bererton was supposed to be one of those speakers, but he left the event. Robert Small an African-Canadian artist was one of the speakers. For 26 years, Small has created a poster called “Legacy” that features famous African-Canadians. Small has played a significant part in elevating the awareness of black history across Canada and internationally through his art.

“We need to take control of our own image, as well as our destiny,” said Small. For Small, Black History Month is about educating yourself on the great leaders of the past.

“Black History Month is knowing your history, and knowing how it can empower you as an individual by showing that many people in the past accomplished great things, and you can accomplishment great things too,” said Small.

Small feels that Meredith’s presence is not what Black History Month is about.

“His actions are contradictory to the spirit of Black History Month. He made a mockery of what black men should stand for,” said Small. “It’s doing our community a disservice. We aren’t celebrating our failures; we’re supposed to be celebrating our victories.”

The Black History Month Expo ended the day with a concert that featured reggae artists, African artists and dancers. It is unfortunate that the appearance of one person seemed to have such an unfavourable effect on what could have been such a memorable event. This is a part of life; everyone has lessons to learn.

LET’S TALK REAL ESTATE

SELINA McCALLUM

Flex let his business partner, Rodrick Bererton, know he was leaving because he didn’t want to be in the same space. “If you don’t stand for something, in my opinion, you stand for nothing,” said Flex.

Bererton commends Kingsley Cato, the President of the BHM Expo, for hosting a positive event, but was disappointed when he saw that Meredith was scheduled to speak at the breakfast.

“When I saw former senator Meredith there, I was immediately appalled. As a father to daughters, and in my work capacity, somebody who comes into contact with young women (some who have been sexually assaulted), I have a lot of empathy and awareness in terms of the harm that people like former senator Meredith can do to people’s lives,” said Bererton. “It is nothing that we should be applauding or even condoning.”

The Senate Ethics Officer, Lyse Ricard, released a detailed report in March documenting Meredith’s relationship with a woman known as “Ms. M.” Due to the evidence, Ricard believes that Meredith and Ms. M had intercourse three times, including once when Ms. M was 17 years old.

“To my knowledge, this individual has never made a public apology for his actions that had him removed from the senate.

He has never taken responsibility for that,” said Bererton.

Meredith has denied many of the allegations against him by the woman in question, but he admitted he had sexual intercourse with her on at least one occasion when she was over 18.

The President of BHM Expo and Samantha Bachan, the Corporate Sponsorship Coordinator were unaware of the former senator’s past.

Cato said that they were not expecting that reaction when they invited Meredith to speak at the breakfast. Once the men approached them and told them of Meredith’s history, they asked Meredith not to make his

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LOCAL NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020 Photo: Robert Small

When the hero is YOU! The legacy poster’s 26th year celebrating local hero/heroines Hero is Me!”

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“When you read these powerful stories from our history, it empowers us to act better” ~ Robert Small (Executive Director of LEGACY Enterprises) One thing that can be said about Robert Small is that he does not mince words. When I finally got the chance to speak to Robert, he was a little frustrated because he had just dealt with an issue that had to do with his latest poster. “People get offended that you ask them to pay for the poster. There is indifference. It is almost like people don’t realize that there is value to teaching our children their history. We went on to discuss the idea of value, and the fact that people sometimes expect him to give them his posters for free.

Not only can this be a slap in the face, it also can suggest that the hard work that he has put into creating these posters are not valuable.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last 10–15 years, the name Robert Small is commonly heard around the larger Caribbean community here in Toronto.

He has appeared in the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper several times before, and along with being: the Founder of African-Canadian Entrepreneurs for Success (ACES), a current board member of the Ontario National Association of Black School Educators (ONABSE), and an active member of the Caribana Arts Group, he has also been recognized as the first black Canadian artist to appear on mainstream media outlets (TSN, Much Music, CBC Radio, and Toronto Star).

Born in the city of Toronto to Bajan parents, Robert Small is one of the most acclaimed artists of our time. Art became a passion early for him, and this passion stayed with him throughout his life. This father of two graduated from the University of Windsor with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. He also obtained a Certificate in Criminology. It was after finishing school that he returned to his first love and began selling artwork to reduce student loan debt.

In 1995, Robert created a poster honouring black Canadians that became known as “The Official Black History Month Poster.” The name of the poster was changed to “LEGACY” in 2007. Robert’s posters have not only been sponsored by community businesses they are now sold internationally.

During our short discussion, Robert remembers when he used to hand out these posters individually to people in Scarborough.

He knows he has come a long way, which is why I could completely understand why he was a little frustrated at the beginning of the interview. During my time with him, Robert opened up about his creative process, and why he picked this year’s theme, “When the

“History is important, it is empowering!”

What is great about talking to Robert is that not only did I learn about his process, but I got a history lesson as well. “There are people who really sacrificed a lot in order for us to have a great life,” Robert began. “This year was focused on heroic people; people who have done something in the face of adversity.

Did you know that our existence in Toronto is because of 31 people?” What I found is that some historical records indicate that Canada’s immigration history is actually steeped in anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia and sexism. It took a group of very brave people to want to step up to the government and demand reforms to immigration legislation.

We owe our existence to these 31 people for helping to remove barriers to individuals and groups who were once denied entry into Canada.

These are the hero’s/heroine’s that Robert wanted to honour this year. These men and women have faced danger, and combated adversity through acts of ingenuity, courage and strength. The honourees for 2020 are: Minnijean Brown-Trickey A member of the Little Rock nine who helped integrate the public-school system in the United States and now a citizen of Canada.

Kike Ojo-Thompson This formidable woman is a well-known expert on equity. She is the founder and principal consultant of Kojo Institute.

Tony Smith One of the first former resident of the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children to speak out publicly about the historical abuses that occurred there.

Joseph Seraphim Fortes An outstanding figure in the early history of Vancouver, and the city’s first official lifeguard Yvette Hélène Yende-Ashiri An ardent and relentless advocate for women’s rights, social justice and positive change Carl Nicholson The Executive Director of the Catholic Centre for Immigrants (since 1994) and Executive Director of the Catholic Centre for Immigrants Foundation.

“I close myself off from everything. I watch fun light-hearted shows when I am creating,” Robert tells me. “I was watching programs that were heroic and deep. My choices this year included Glory, and The Flash. I began my career as a cartoon illustrator. That was my beginning. When I watch those things, I feel liberated, and it takes me back to a time when I was at the peak of my creativity.”

It was such an honouring to get a peak into the mind of the creator. My only question is, when are you drawing me Robert?

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LOCAL NEWS

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Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Looking Ahead!

MyTCNTV Network leveraging new technology to reach the global community SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“From the moment that I sketched the MyTCNTV out on a pad of paper, while sitting by the fire pit, my vision has been to build a station that provides real, unbiased news and educational shows, while synergistically promoting an open, free society dedicated to human development.” ~ Grant Browning (CEO, and Founder Carib101 Media Group)

Working beside a creative genius is an experience. It is hard to read them sometimes, but over time you learn that the best thing to do is just leave them alone to create.

This can most definitely be said about Grant Browning, CEO, and Founder of Carib101 Media Group. The group encompasses three entities, two of which the Toronto Caribbean community are very familiar with. First, there is Carib 101 Radio, an online radio station launched years before its time, and then there is the beloved Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, which in less than a decade, has grown to become one of Canada’s leading, and largest Caribbean newspapers.

A lot less is known about MyTCNTV Network, an online digital television network, which is the first of its kind in the GTA. The one advantage that Grant has over most in the media landscape is his vast knowledge of social media, marketing, and design. The Internet has become a visual medium. According to Media Digest, 2016/2017, Cisco was forecasting that video would account for 85% of all North American Internet traffic by 2020. Facebook caught wind of this, and started their LIVE platform pushing them into the #2 video platform in Canada. This is something that Grant saw as well; the power that video has. It is being estimated by experts that in the next two–three years, we will see more video platforms online because video conveys so much more information in a much quicker period (Media Digest, 2016/2017).

Grant saw the media challenges we have today and decided to take on that challenge. His insight has allowed him to see that as a global community, we need to deliver across the continuum, from communications planning, right through to programmatic offerings. What does this mean?

It means knowing your viewership base.

Knowing the best way to capture attention and develop strong relationships with viewers. Having a key awareness of what is influencing viewer’s behaviour. It means dissecting what today’s trends are and how they will evolve.

MyTCNTV Network was spawned from what Grant noticed when Carib 101 Radio began to provide visuals on Facebook LIVE to their viewers. He noticed that people were paying a lot of attention to the videos; people are drawn to what interests them. In a world that remains in a permanent state of distraction, Grant realized that he would have to build something that was more frequent, diverse, with content, versus simply creating a single piece of content to endure. Welcome to the world of MyTCNTV.

The show is currently supported and can be viewed on: mytcntv.com (Official Website), Facebook Live, Periscope, YouTube, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV. The station is now building momentum and has picked up some wonderful shows that are sure to peak a viewer’s interest. Currently the shows include: On Point (Tuesdays at 4:00 pm EST) This show is essentially for anyone who is curious and passionate about politics, which includes most of us. Each week, a team of political analysts explore policies, debates and the campaign strategies of some of Canada’s most revered politicians.

Hear2Help You (Tuesdays at 5:00 pm ET) A show that is devoted to educating, empowering, and elevating Africans living in the Diaspora; the show is a collection of lectures and guest interviews that are meant to: encourage, inspire, and motivate people to help themselves and to help others.

What Matters (Tuesday at 6:00 pm ET) Provides an authentic platform to showcase the change makers, activists, entrepreneurs, and doers in our communities. The show changes lives through courage conversations, introspection, and learning.

In the Now (Fridays at 12:00 pm ET) In the Now with Sim & Chris is focused on delivering relevant news stories from around the world, as well as giving you a behind the scenes look into the lives of successful Africans living in Africa and throughout the Diaspora.

Shaping Life (Fridays at 1:00 pm) Every Friday, you have the opportunity to connect with health and wellness experts who want to help people develop individualized strategies for improving their health.

2020 was a time of new beginnings. For Grant, he saw this as an opportunity to make the changes needed to provide the best educational and informative shows in the digital media realm. Changes include finding inspired show hosts who are open to growing with MyTCNTV Network, providing high-profile opportunities to build public awareness through advertising, and now, the station has a store that gives viewers access to a highly popular, and well recognized product, ORGANO.

ORGANO currently operates in over 40 countries and continues to grow.

The core beliefs of the ORGANO brand are aligned with what Carib101 Media Group believes in: loyalty, family, education, and unification. The gold behind ORGANO is an herb called Ganoderma. Ganoderma is known as the powerhouse of mushrooms and has been used for over 2,000 years for its ability to support a healthy immune system because it helps support the growth of your body’s own active immune system cells. Grant himself is an advent user of their products, and this is why he wanted to incorporate it with the platform.

Media continuous to evolve, and Grant’s vision is evolving with it. “I plan to stay relevant and reach the right audiences at a time when technological advancements are growing at an exponential rate.”MyTCNTV Network will succeed in this environment because its leadership is always looking ahead to leverage new technology to reach the right audiences more efficiently at the right time and place.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

LOCAL NEWS

PAGE 11

Report cards, but no comments!

Fallout from labour dispute between teachers’ unions and government PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Now that almost all of the teachers unions are in a legal strike position with the government, there are many potential effects from this ongoing dispute. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (EFTO) is now in Phase 4 of their job action. The Ontario Secondary Teachers Federation (OSSTF), which have been in a legal strike position since November 2019, are continuing their series of one day rotating strikes which have targeted publicly funded school boards across the province.

Strikes were held on December 4th, 11th, 18th, January 11th, 18th, 21st,

and February 5th and 6th. One of the effects of the job actions by OSSTF has been the decision to not provide comments on any of the secondary provincial report cards. In a news release by John Malloy (Director of Education, Toronto District School Board) dated January 23rd, “As per the sanction secondary teachers will be inputting student marks electronically, but will not be writing comments. As a result, semester one report cards will be produced for secondary students with marks only and distributed following the completion of the semester.”

Consequently, students will be able to get a report card with a numerical value but no written comments. Furthermore, “For those students applying to College or University marks will be submitted to the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) and to the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) on time to avoid any impact on application deadlines.” Students will not have to be wor-

ried or concerned about the job action effecting their admission to post-secondary institutions. `

ETFO has been in a legal strike position since November 2019. In a news release to parents in January, the TDSB gave specific details regarding the report card process. It indicated that Term 1 report cards would not be provided to the school administrators for the various subjects. According to John Malloy, “As teachers will not be entering learning skills and/or comments electronically, we are not able to produce Term 1 report cards or the Kindergarten Communication of Learning. I want you to know that this difficult decision was made after careful consideration and a thorough review of options. It is not possible to produce accurate reports for the TDSB’s approximately 174,000 elementary students given the significant resources and time required to do so.”

This means that parents will not

be able to get up-to date information about their children’s academic performance in their elementary classes. The director noted, “It is important to note that teachers are still expected to assess and evaluate students and respond to your inquiries.”

The Minister of Education Stephen Leece in a response to the lack of report cards noted, “Yet again, teacher union leaders are risking student success and preventing parents from seeing valuable information about their child’s performance in class. It underscores our government’s insistence that teacher unions cancel these strikes that are hurting our kids. And it only strengthens our belief that parents want our government to invest in front-line services, not in compensation and other demands, for some of the highest-paid educators in the country.”

Is eliminating teachers a priority to reduce the education budget?

“There Are No Fakes” Revelations of Indigenous exploitation, abuse and violence SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“There Are No Fakes is a journey into that darkness, and a brilliant exposé of how greed can corrupt a thing of beauty.” ~ John Ferri (TVO Vice President of Current Affairs and Documentaries) Coming across this story must have felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Jamie Kastner, and as a filmmaker you live for these types of stories. On February 1st, 2020, TVO presents the world broadcast premiere of TVO original “There Are No Fakes”. Filmmaker Jamie Kastner dives into the shadowy world of art fraud in Canada and brings into question the legacy of Anishinaabe artist and Canadian icon Norval Morrisseau with a 114-minute-long documentary about what is referred to as the largest art fraud scam in history.

Most people can agree that noth-

ing is worse then buying something at top dollar, spending that hard-earned money, and finding out that you did not get what you paid for. This TVO original “There Are No Fakes” reveals a dark tale of Indigenous art fraud and explores the legacy of the Canadian artistic icon Norval Morrisseau. Attached closely to this story is Kevin Hearn from the Barenaked Ladies.

The story begins with him buying a piece called “Spirit Energy of Mother Earth” from Maslak-McLeod Gallery. According to Kevin, when the painting was sold to him, he was led to believe that the piece was an original.

In his interview with CBC on January 31st, 2020, Kevin explains how he was led to believe that the picture was real. He was shown the back where Morrisseau’s name was spelt in English. There was a little thunderbird on the back. He was told that the thunderbird was put on a painting if Norval thought it was really special.

Naturally, Kevin was very proud of his art piece until he found out that it was a fake.

He did his own investigation, which shone light on some controversial facts.

The Ontario Court of Appeal ended up siding with Hearn and awarded him $60,000. Why was this their decision? According to the CBC Report (January 31st,

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2020), it was on the grounds that the gallery had been deliberately elusive in proving that the painting was real. Kevin saw this as being less about the money, and more about doing what is right.

So why watch this documentary?

Well, what starts out as a story about art fraud, evolves into revelations of Indigenous exploitation, abuse and violence.

Documentary watchers will have a chance to hear the actual stories, experience some jaw-dropping moments, some amusing, and some horrifying. Through all of this, a forgery ring is also discovered, and arrests were made after the filming of the documentary.

This amazing team consists of some remarkable film artists: Jamie Kastner: He is the Director/Producer of the documentary, and he specializes in the genre of unique, uncommon feature documentaries. His films have been featured at TIFF and Hot Docs.

Laura Baron Kastner: She is the Producer and is known for her keen eye for technical detail and precision. Her focus is on feature documentaries.

Mark Anthony Jacobson: This self-taught aboriginal artist (referred to as a master woodland artist) is the Executive Producer.

Michael Hannan: Michael comes with 20 years of editing experience. Under his belt he has a Gemini Award, a Canadian Screen Award Nomination, and a Best Editing in a Documentary Program Nomination.

Kevin Hearn: Unintentionally became involved in the situation but is best known as a multi-instrumentalist from Barenaked Ladies.

Derek Rogers: With 29 years in the field, Cinematographer Derek Rogers has worked in documentary, TV, movies and commercials.

Cave 7 Productions: This Toronto-based production company specializes in unique feature documentary films. They have appeared on BBC, Bravo and TVO. If you don’t get a chance to watch this riveting documentary on Februar 1st, “There Are No Fakes” will be shown again on February 3rd and February 5th. This one is for the art lovers. NO fakes round here!

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LOCAL NEWS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Cancellation of EQAO testing; fallout from teachers’ unions and government impasse PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

As the labour disruption in the publicly funded education system continues the annual testing of grade 3 and 6 students in reading and mathematics, as well as the grade 9 math tests are now in jeopardy. EQAO (which is the pseudonym for the Education Quality and Assurance Office) was started under the leadership of Dalton McGuinty in 2004. It was part of a new Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat that was intended to increase support for teachers and students.

Avis Glaze, became the CEO and the first Chief Student Achievement Officer with a mandate to “Improve reading,

writing, math and comprehension skills, and to create a foundation for future student learning and success.” With declining results in the EQAO math scores, there have been voices, which have been calling for the elimination of the EQAO testing altogether.

A Facebook page titled, “Boycott EQAO,” was been created by Kathy Rogers-Harley to encourage parents and guardians to boycott EQAO. As a public page, anyone can see what is posted, but only members can post or make a comment. It has been estimated that it costs the Ontario taxpayers approximately $50 million each year to administer the grade 3, 6, 9 tests as well as the grade 10 reading and writing test. In an article titled, “EQAO Testing in Jeopardy,” by Isabel Teotonio (Tuesday, January 7th edition of the Toronto Star), the Ontario Secondary Teachers Federation (OSSTF) President Harvey Bischof mentioned, “We won’t participate in EQAO testing.” OSSTF has over 60,000 members including: high

school teachers in public schools, as well as support staff and French language elementary and secondary schools.

The Grade 9 math tests for firstsemester students were scheduled for January 13th to January 24th, while for second semester, it is originally scheduled for June. The Grade 10 literacy testing is scheduled for March. The ongoing teachers’ unions and government dispute has made it difficult for teachers to adequately prepare, plant and organize the annual EQAO testing.

The Minister of Education, Stephen Leece is aware of the disruptions and doubts about the administration of the province wide EQAO grade 9 math assessments. In a statement on January 8th, 2020, he noted, “The EQAO Grade 9 math test provides valuable information to students, families, and the province about how students are performing in critical math skills and concepts.

It also supports improved teaching and learning. It should not be in jeopardy

for our students. Regrettably, due to escalation by union teachers, and the withdrawal of services by OSSTF some secondary students will not be prepared for assessment this Monday.” This corresponds to January 13th, 2020, when the test was supposed to start. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has already indicated that it will have to cancel the upcoming EQAO test as a result.

Many parents and guardians have breathed a sigh of relief. The Boycott EQAO campaign is in full steam. Minister Leece is not very happy with the potential cancellations of EQAO testing. In his statement he noted, “It is unfair that union actions are undermining student success. They are jeopardizing the learning experiences of Ontario’s future leaders. The government believes in setting students up for success and providing students, parents and the province with data and insights needed to make critical policy decisions.”

Let’s talk vaping; what is the big deal?

JONELL PANTILZ jonell@carib101.com

TC JR. REPORTER

Are you a smoker? Or maybe I should ask, are you a vaper? It seems to be the new popular thing of my generation, (Gen Z) society in general.

Lately, there has been a lot of attention given to smoking/vaping.

For anyone who may be clueless about “vaping” according to the Center Of Addiction, “Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, often referred to as vapour, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device.” The term is used because e-cigarettes do not produce tobacco smoke, but rather an aerosol, often mistaken for water vapour, that actually consists of fine particles.

According to Vaping Daily and

Dentalcare.com, “The first smokeless, non-tobacco cigarette device was patented by Herbert A. Gilbert in 1967. This non-tobacco cigarette was thought to be a safe and harmless method of smoking by replacing burning tobacco and paper with heated, moist, flavoured air.”

It was in the 2000’s that a Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik made the first e-cigarette. In 2006 his employer Ruyan Group (now Dragonite International) helped him introduce his invention to the world (first to Europe).The first e-cigarette appeared in the United States in 2007 and has become a very popular trend among people. Since then, vaporizers have gone through many modifications.”

Now that we have covered the fundamentals about the Vape/E-cigarettes, let’s cover the misinformation spread by health officials that reveals their bias against vaping.

Ottawa hosted its 12th annual conference on Smoking Cessation Through State-of-the-art Clinical Approaches. The first suspicion was that the vaping industry experts were not invited to participate; the conference did high-

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light a series of presenters, including Dr. Stanton Glantz as the keynote speaker.

The Ottawa Sun reported that Dr. Glantz made a series of statements stating, “It is a myth that e-cigarettes are helping people quit smoking. There is evidence that vaping products are helpful as part of smoking cessation programs, but research looking at people outside of supervised programs suggests these products can make it harder to quit smoking.”

Although advocates tout vaping as a solution to smoking, research shows that, for every adult who quits smoking using e-cigarettes, 80 kids started vaping. It is also true that each day, about 2,000 people younger than 18 years smoke their first cigarette, and over 300 people younger than 18 years become daily cigarette smokers.

It was also reported that the number of people who vape in the UK has increased from 700,000 in 2012 to 3.6 million in 2019. “Of these, 54% had given up smoking,” says Darryl Tempest, Executive Director of the Canadian Vaping Association. The New England Journal of Medicine, states that vaping has an

18% success rate compared to the 10% success rate for those who quit smoking with other NRT products.

Based on the findings of the Royal College of Physicians, it has been concluded that vaping nicotine e-liquid is at least 95% less harmful than combustible tobacco. Between 2017 and 2018 current youth vapers increased by 74% in Canada and 46% in the US, compared to 2% in the UK where nicotine levels are capped at 20 mg/ml. Note that in the UK, where youth vaping rates are much lower, there are no restrictions whatsoever on flavours. There is some evidence that the high nicotine levels, not flavours, are responsible for attracting youth.

CVA has many recommendations to address youth uptake, while allowing adult smokers to make informed decisions and protect themselves from black market products. All vaping product sales, including flavoured e-liquids are limited to adult-only access retail environments.

For more information visit: canadianvapingassociation.org.

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Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

One People, One, Nation, One Destiny; Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary Celebration in the Oil and Gas era, which is held in partnership with the University of Toronto at the George Ignatieff Theatre, University of Toronto

SIMONE SMITH

March 29th, 2020 Golden Jubilee Cocktail Reception, Cultural Evening and Awards Ceremony at the P.C. Ho Theatre

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Ms. Anyin Choo (Consul General Guyana to Toronto), spoke openly about the Consulate’s focus throughout the planning process, which is to mobilize the Guyanese community here in Canada. It is about uniting the community across the: ethnic, religious and political spectrums. Celebration! I heard this word often, and soon learned what the Guyanese community had to be proud of.

They are proud of the fact that as a nation they celebrate all practiced religious holidays. They honour one another’s culinary artistry, and the many cultural traditions that are found throughout the community. In 2019, Guyana was awarded the Destination Stewardship Award, which highlights a country, region, town, village or community that is making bold moves towards sustainable tourism management at the destination-level. Guyana has made great strides in improving the long-term competitiveness of tourism business and destination, preserving and conserving cultural, historical and natural heritages, enhancing the well-being of communities, and promoting sustainable tourism and good practices to other tourism stakeholders.

“You may know and many people know that there’s a sentiment that some-

On Wednesday, January 22nd, 2020, Toronto Caribbean Newspaper made the trek down to the Consulate General of Guyana in Toronto. We joined a dynamic and diverse group of Guyanese Canadians who have joined together to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Republic of Guyana. The General Toronto Area has the second largest Guyanese diaspora community, at 125,000+ strong.

Hosting the event was the 50th Republic Planning Committee, who are committed to being inclusive, non-partisan, and ready to organize and bring together Guyanese in the diaspora to celebrate the achievements of Guyana as a nation. There will be a number of events to mark the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Celebrations, and this gathering was a way to fill the media in on what was happening so that we can inform the community. Here are a few events that we can look forward to: February 22nd, 2020 Flag raising ceremony and Interfaith Service on at the Scarborough Civic Centre March 28th, 2020 Guyana Talk on Sustainable Development

times Guyanese can’t always come together to plan something but we are very proud to say today that this process has reflected all segments of our diaspora and we’ve worked very hard to ensure that everyone feels welcome and everyone feels that their voice counts.� ~ Brandon Chung (Chair, Guyanese-Canadian 50th Republic Anniversary Celebration Committee)

What I appreciated during my visit is hearing that the committee was actively imploring young people to take part in their community. Brandon Chung, who is only in his 20’s, is also the chair of the Guyanese Canadian Young Professionals Association. He recognizes that a generational disconnect exists. This is not only found in the Guyanese community, but in the West Indian community in general. Young people may identify as Guyanese because their grandparents or their parents are Guyanese. Even though they may identify as Guyanese, they really take no interest in their culture. Brandon has taken it as a personal charge to work with the YPA to bring the older cohort, and the younger cohort together.

“We’re all volunteers, and so everyone’s trying to take on this responsibility amid their day jobs, the jobs that pay bills, so volunteerism is big for us. But we need to be considerate with new folks.� ~ Jillian Williams (Co-chair of the 50RAC)

The committee has brilliantly divided up the work so that it makes it easier to garner volunteers to help. They have found it’s useful to set up subcommittees to deal with the immense amount of work it will take to make the celebrations great.

“One of the pillars of the 50th

committee is to ensure that whatever your religion, sex, creed, sexual orientation, or any parts of the human right’s code are indeed impacted by the decision making process, so you’re part of the decision, not a part of the result of the decision.� ~ John O’Dell (Chair for the Awards and Recognition Committee)

It is incredible to see how organized the committee is. As an outsider, I instantly saw that each member had taken on his or her responsibilities wholeheartedly. I had the chance to also meet Shirley Daniels (Committee Secretary), and the very lighthearted Treasurer Omar, who let me know that his job entailed keeping track of the funds, making sure that sponsors are acknowledged, and keeping the executive committee entertained to the best of his ability. He did a great job that night; he had the whole room howling at his silliness, and playful attitude.

The Consulate and the Planning Committee have connected with some powerful sponsors who are dedicated to making this 50th Anniversary something to be talked about for years to come. The Planning Committee expresses their sincere gratitude to: e-Magic, SmartWorX, Citrus Personnel Inc., Caribbean Airlines, Victor’s Collection Agency, Pine Point Banquet Hall, Arts Mortgage Camp Inc., Demerara Distillers Limited and their agent here in Canada Woodman Wines & Spirits, the Give Help To Kids Foundation and Westway Medical Clinic. Together, they have all gathered with the same aim, to make this celebration a success.

It’s a legendary Reggae family affair; another Jones and Jones Production tional line-ups including two pioneers, credited as part of the Jamaican styles that influenced New York City’s DJ and rap/hip hop movements throughout the 70s and 80s.

Famous for combining comedy, social commentary, and music, Jamaican toaster Professor Nuts will also be on hand, as well as legendary ‘speed rapper’ General Trees, and five-piece reggae-dancehall masters, Warrior Love Band. Representing the home-front hat tip is five-time Juno Award winner Exco Levi & High Priest, and soulful, Reggae-Jazz fusionist Kaisha Lee will round out the sound.

Yours truly, the one and only Master T will be the host. It will also feature Toronto-area DJ Joshua Lucas who will be sure to have the crowd moving to his legendary vibes.

Canada’s largest Caribbean newspaper (Toronto Caribbean Newspaper) interviewed both the incomparable Reggae Legend Miss Judy Mowatt and Jesse Jones (Head of Brand Partnerships, Jones & Jones) as he talked about this legendary event.

Jones told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “Years ago we did a tribute to the legendary Bob Marley and this was an opportunity to tribute the great works of Bob during Black History Month. The artists all did their renditions of a Marley tune

MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Jones and Jones Production is into its fifth year with a tribute to the legends of Reggae and they promise a Reggae experience to remember for the entire family.

It is all happening on Saturday, February 8th, 2020 at The Rose Theatre, Brampton, Ontario. The doors open at 7 pm, and the legendary show begins at 8 pm.

Reggae and Dancehall fans can anticipate a stunning headline performance from genre pioneer and icon Judy Mowatt who, in addition to being a critically acclaimed solo artist and the first female nominated for a Grammy award in the reggae category for 1985’s Working Wonders, was also a member of ‘I Three’, the backing vocalists for Bob Marley.

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which went over really well and here we are now doing our fifth annual Legends of Reggae event. Even though technology has been of great help musically, with social media and all that, I think it has made us crave the real-life experiences more than ever. Because of that five years ago, we sat down as a family and thought to ourselves, how do we invigorate that experiences of nostalgia and yesteryear? How do we tribute those who are still with us who are legends in their own right and are here to receive the flowers, while still paying respects to those who have passed on in one event? That is how Tribute to the Legends really came about.�

When asked to describe what the audience should expect, Jones said to Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “I think it’s a musical rockumentary, it’s really an opportunity for those who know music to reconnect with the things they know and love. If you are a Reggaeologist then this is the show for you. If you just love Reggae, in general, this is a learning experience and a show. There is something here for everyone, and there will be more future surprises on it’s way too.�

It is said that you cannot speak of Reggae legends without speaking of Judy Mowatt, and Toronto Caribbean Newspaper has the evidence. With well over five decades of music and hits under her belt

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Mowatt is indeed a force to reckon with, yet, she is exceptionally humble.

Mowatt was asked by Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, what makes you tick? To which she answered, “It is the most high that makes me tick It is his spirit that is within me.

It is God that inspires all these songs. “In the 70s and 80s, I went through some painful situations that really challenged my life, and the most high made me put those situations into writing. I soon realized that this was not just exclusive to me, but to other women as well. When I write, I am writing not just for me, but am writing that it may uplift, bring solace, strength, and encouragement to other women.�

This musical Reggae icon has some concerns about the direction that some artists have taken their music. “Today,� she said, “You don’t know where the songs are going, and some of them are so derogatory. It is taking the minds of the people in the gutter, in a place where they can’t see any solution.�

Mowatt promises her audience a spirited performance with songs from yesteryear and songs from her gospel side as well. She wants the public to know that all are welcome.

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1% Donation will be made for Each Home SOLD

PAGE 16

FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

the poetic word Poetic Epiphany Friendship

BY GLORIA O’KOYE It was said That it’s a blessing, Having a friend that gives...

Receives...

Loyalty, Love, and Trust.

True friendships is rare like endangered orchids, Plucked fresh before maturity...

Not being able to reach its full prime.

To seek and call one As a friend...

Is like finding a pearl That dropped into the Mariana Trench.

Solid friendships Are not to be taken for granted.

Strong friendships will persevere after A twisted pathway of tests.

LALA’S FUSION KITCHEN & LALANN’S FUSION JUICE She knows the way to your heart!

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“I want people to have an experience, regardless of where you are.” ~ Alana Malden (Lead Chef at Lala’s Fusion Kitchen) It has been a rough couple years for entrepreneur Chef Alana Malden, and while speaking with her about her budding business, I recognized two things: you have to have a strong belief in what you want to do, and you need great support systems to help you keep the faith.

As a community newspaper, we believe that our community has an undeniable amount of world-changing talent, and this talent needs to be fostered, and supported. Speaking with new business owners like Alana, allows us to showcase the type of entrepreneurial drive that exists in our community, and sharing stories like hers is important in creating confidence and drive in others who have thought about starting their own business. New businesses can be a huge benefit for the local economy, and with entrepreneurship education, support programs, and community engagement we can together cultivate entrepreneurship and small business success. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper is pleased to present to you, Lala’s Fusion Kitchen and Lalanns Fusion Juice.

What started off as a small buzz, turned into Alana Malden’s dream business. Like many popular chefs across the world, Alana’s cooking started off as a hobby. “I truly enjoy infusing different flavours around the world to appeal to the taste palette. I use Indian, Italian, East Asian and incorporate the foods from different backgrounds to entice the taste buds, but I always keep the Caribbean flare.”

She decided to take her flare for food and offer a service unlike other catering services. Lala’s Fusion Kitchen would set a menu that people could pre-order

from, and then she would prepare the meals and deliver them to her clients. Her goal is to appeal to people who are on the go and may not have the time to always come home and cook. She also has had the opportunity to service larger events and gatherings.

The menu goes out on Tuesdays with what is going to be offered for that week. You can pre-order your meals for Thursday, Sunday and Monday. Looking at her menu list had my mouth watering: seafood pasta with Argentinian shrimp, fire-roasted red peppers and garlic, smothered in cheese sauce and served with garlic bread; grilled salmon, and you can choose your flavours from: jerk, herb crusted, garlic butter, lemon pepper, teriyaki, blackened, or Caribbean style; she even has breakfast specials on Sundays that include: ackee and salt fish, corn beef and cabbage, and her Ultimate Egg Sandwich.

Within her first few months of business, Alana saw that there was a need and an interest in her service. She also discovered the power of social media and has learned to utilize it strategically to promote her business. “Social media can really reach people if you use it the right way,” Alana tells me during our sit down. “After promoting on my Instagram for a while, people began to ask me to email them price lists. All of a sudden people were truly interested in what I was doing.”

Alana’s entrepreneurial spirit cannot be denied. To add to her budding catering business, Alana elected to go into business with her long-time friend Laureann Penaydo, after having an in-depth discussion with the owner of Sunrise. “I walked into Sunrise and spoke with the owner about my business. He shared with me the needs of his clients, and one thing that he pointed out was that there was a need for different juices. I spoke up right away and told him that I could make juices. Honestly, I had never made juices, but I was not going to give up on an opportunity that had been so beautifully laid out for me.”

She decided to give it a try, and the next Monday, she walked into Sunrise with 120 bottles of homemade juices. “I was juicing carrots till 4:00 in the morning,” Alana tells me. The long nights paid off because after the owner tasted her juices, he

asked her if she would be able to do two more of his locations. Just like that Lalanns Fusion Juice was born, and it became the sister company to Lala’s Fusion Kitchen.

News of the company’s juices caught wind, and her product was requested and then sold at three Willy’s Jerk locations, The Gospel Café, and Spotlight Caribbean Kitchen.

Alana and Laureann had to pause the business after Alana found out that her father had cancer. She has a very close relationship with him and caring for him took precedence over the business. Business slowed down, and things got hard, but she was rejuvenated when her partner registered her business for her as a Christmas present. It was a wonderful surprise, and a reminder that there were people who believed in her. “I am doing this for my dad. I don’ want him to worry about me. He has always been a stable force in my life, and I realized that I had to do something. There is no time to waste. My son just finished college, and I want to be an example for him.

I have a lot to prove not only to my family, but also to myself. I have to knock this out the park.”

Alana had focused her attention back on to both of the businesses and has amped up her social media game. She has found success in attending business networking events and has a whole new plan that she is ready to role out this year. One fun aspect of the journey for her this year is the opportunity that she has been given to instruct cooking classes in the Food District at Square One. “There are other cooking classes offered featuring cooking from all over the world, but one thing that they do not have is a Caribbean cooking class. This is where I come in. There are some administrative tasks that need to be dealt with, but I am looking forward to working within the community teaching about my passion.”

You can learn more about Lala’s Fusion Kitchen by checking her out on Instagram @lalasfusionkitchen. If you are interested in ordering an individual meal, or planning an event, you can send her a message via DM Instagram, call the business line at 647-793-7234, or email lalasfusionkitchen@gmail.com.

“When people believe in you, there is success in that”

FEATURE

Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

10 washable hygiene products A beginner’s guide to reusable diapers In North America, approximately 40 billion diapers end up in landfills every year. What’s worse is that even though some of their components are technically biodegradable, diapers take at least 250 years to decompose. While the plastic content of a single diaper isn’t harmful, the combined environmental impact of billions of diapers leaching plastic into the soil is potentially catastrophic. The solution?

Adop­ ting reusable diapers.

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THEY? One concern about reusable diapers is that they’re not as effective as the disposable kind. That may have been true in the past, but modern reusable diapers are equipped with waterproof banding that prevents leaks and strong, secure Velcro or snaps to ensure they’ll stay on.

HOW CONVENIENT ARE THEY? All you need to do is dump the solids in the toilet and then put the dirty diapers in a plastic-lined bin until you’re ready to wash

them. Most manufacturers recommend you wash them twice and add an extra rinse to ensure no detergent remains. There are also laundry services that can clean the diapers for you.

HOW EXPENSIVE ARE THEY? The outright investment for reusable diapers is more expensive than the one for their disposable counterparts.

How­ ever, in the long run, using these diapers may save you money.

First, you won’t need to buy any more disposables. Second, using them for more than one child will save you even more money. Finally, thanks to effective sanitization procedures, it’s common to sell them to another family once you’re done with them.

PAGE 17

Given the monetary and environmental costs associated with single-use hygiene products, switching to washable versions is a no-brainer. You can now easily find the following reusable items:

Most of these reusable items are offered in a variety of sizes and styles.

But to reduce your carbon footprint as much as possible, be sure to privilege locally made products.

1. Tampon applicators 2. Sanitary pads 3. Menstrual cups 4. Cotton swabs 5. Diapers (including special swimming diapers) 6. Wipes 7. Facial tissues 8. Toilet “paper” 9. Incontinence protection 10. Makeup removal wipes

Be sure to carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and sanitizing your reusable hygiene products. Other­wise, they could present a health risk.

How to apply the principles of sustainable design to your home renovation projects

Raising a child isn’t easy, and you’ll need to make many difficult choices as a parent.

Thankfully, choosing reusable diapers is an economically and ecologically sound decision you can stand behind.

The zero-waste grocery store: what you should know

Thanks to the rising consumer demand for sustainable products and services, zero-waste grocery stores are popping up worldwide. If you’re unfamiliar, this kind of supermarket is one that offers the same types of goods found at a regular grocery store, minus all the packaging. Here’s what you should know.

• You’ll also need Mason jars or another type of container to transport your dried goods, sauces, cleaning products and other items.

WHY RECYCLING ISN’T ENOUGH Though packaging materials can usually be recycled, producing them requires a combination of raw materials and energy. In addition, recycling itself isn’t a completely green process, as it requires a considerable amount of water and chemicals. Reusing and reducing are greener practices by far.

• It’s recommended that you fill your bags and containers with only as much as you need.

HOW ZERO-WASTE STORES OPERATE The main objective of zero-waste grocery stores is to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Here’s how it works.

• You’ll need to bring reusable bags to carry your fruits, vegetables and bread home.

• You’ll need to weigh your empty containers and write their weight down so it can be deducted when you pay at the cash.

If you don’t already have the reusable containers you need, most zero-waste stores carry them.

Are you ready to reduce the amount of waste your household produces? If so, look for zero-waste stores, farmers’ markets and bulk stores in your area.

Adopting sustainable design practices is a key component in fighting climate change.

Here’s how the average home­ owner can make their renovation projects greener.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DESIGN? The guiding principle behind sustainable design is that the negative environmental impacts of erecting and maintaining modern buildings can be minimized by implementing certain practices. These include curtailing waste, reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources, conserving water and creating healthy, functional spaces.

Building an energy efficient home with recycled materials is a prime example of how sustainable design methods can be used to construct residential buildings.

HOW CAN I APPLY THESE PRINCIPLES? Homeowners who are renovating can implement sustainable design practices in a number of ways. Here are some ideas: • Flooring options. Reclaimed wood, such as from scaffolds, is a great way to revamp your floors. Plus, they’re pre-seasoned and won’t warp once installed.

• Paint options. Eco-friendly paints, which contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a good option. For an even greener choice, seek out retailers who sell recycled paint.

• Surface options. Countertops made from recycled materials are increasingly popular and vastly more sustainable than those made from man-made materials such as engineered stone. Some companies also offer ceramic tiles made from recycled television screens.

• Plumbing options. If updating a bathroom, opt for low-flow toilets, faucets and showers.

• Furniture options. Consider looking for reclaimed furniture, or furniture built from recycled and upcycled materials.

WHERE CAN I FIND SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS? Most hardware stores carry at least some of these materials. Low-flow fixtures, for instance, are readily available. In addition, there are suppliers and artisans who specialize in offering sustainable and recycled products.

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CULINARY MATTERS

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Caribbean food culture and tradition Rooted in black history NOEL CUNNINGHAM noel@carib101.com

CULINARY MATTERS

Maya Angelou once said I have great respect for the past. If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going. This is a philosophy that I lived by and one that I think about deeply as it relates to culinary and my cooking style. Last year for black history month I featured a taste of the Caribbean where I shared each Caribbean Island’s national dish and how culture influenced their cuisine. This year I want to focus on the culture and tradition that shaped our gastronomy.

Caribbean food has a distinct flavor and rich history from the people who came to the islands. Arawak, Carib, and Taino Indians were the first inhabitants of the Caribbean islands. These first inhabitants occupied the present day islands of British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Trinidad, and Jamaica. Their daily diet consisted of mainly vegetables and fruits such as papaw, yams, guavas, and cassava. The Taino started the process of cooking meat and fish in large clay pots.

The Africans introduced okra, callaloo, fish cakes, saltfish, ackee, pudding and mangos, and the list goes on.

Most present day Caribbean island locals eat a present diet that is reflective of the main ingredients of original early African dishes, and includes cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, plantains, bananas and corn meal. Cultural diversity is what makes Caribbean cuisine so bold and famous because it’s deeply rooted in our history.

Caribbean cuisine consists of culinary influences from Africa, France, Spain, India, Dutch, America, Britain, and Asia. In these water-soaked, tropical countries, fresh fruits and vegetables make up a significant portion of our diet.

The islands in the Caribbean have been fought over and owned by various European powers in the past, mainly the British, French, and Spanish. All of these cultures, as well as their respective culinary traditions, have played a role in forming the multinational cuisine of the Caribbean as it is now. The indigenous population of the Caribbean added their own touch as well.

America is responsible for introducing beans, corn, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, and chili peppers to the Caribbean. In fact these particular foods had never been seen in Asia, Europe or Africa, so America actually introduced these foods to the rest of the world via the Caribbean. So it’s no wonder Caribbean cook-

ing is so rich and creative.

When Columbus arrived in 1493, the Spaniards introduced other foods, notably coconut, chick-peas, cilantro, eggplant, onions, and garlic. European colonists, including the Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, British, French, and the Swedes came later to the islands with their culinary trademarks. Some of the foods introduced by them were oranges, limes, mangoes, rice, and coffee.

Tradition of the famous Sunday dinner “The Sunday Dinner” is a beloved event in which the extended family comes together to share in a weekly feast. It is a practice that evolved from the 17th century onwards; it became customary for plantation owners to give enslaved Africans Sundays off, even though many were not Christian. Traditionally, this dinner is served mid-afternoon after church service in a buffet style with a variety of meats, side dishes, and scrumptious desserts.

This dinner can be served at anyone’s home or even within the walls of the church.

Caribbean food is soul food.

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FEATURE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

ADRIAN FORTE It’s not all about making money, it’s all about LOVE!

“Your only competition should be yourself. You shouldn’t get distracted by looking at whatever people are doing. You should only want to be better than you were last time… that’s how I manage to keep climbing.” ~ Adrian Forte (Executive Chef/owner of Chef De Jour) This week I had the opportunity of sitting down with one of Toronto’s top chefs who is taking the scene by storm. Many of us are familiar with the quote, “Work in silence and let success make the noise.” This is exactly what restaurateur, consultant, and food stylist Adrian Forte is all about.

When my editor asked me to do this week’s Classic Man Feature, the first person I could think of was Adrian Forte. Not because his birthday is in February, but because I know Adrian is a true classic man. If at some point you have dined at Dirty Bird or AF1 canteen in Toronto, you would have tried Adrian’s creations.

Known for his inventive take on Canadian cuisine, as well as on classic Jamaican dishes, Adrian is the Executive Chef/Owner of Chef De Jour, a chef consulting company.

When it comes to the spotlight Adrian is no stranger. Adrian has been featured in international and local publications, as well as on television shows. He has worked with several top brands and celebrity chefs.

Born and raised in Cooreville Garden Kingston 20, Jamaica, Adrian attended George Headley Primary and then went on to Calabar High school. During this time, Adrian would be traveling to the US to visit his beloved grandma. He also had the privilege of visiting his dad in Canada.

Adrian moved to New York City at the age of 12.

Two years after his grandma passed away from cancer, he moved to Canada to live with his father.

His dad encouraged him to stay and study in Canada because it would be more profitable, and he did just that. “My original plan was to be a professional footballer,” Adrian tells me during our talk.

“Finding a passion for culinary was a no brainer” said Adrian because he grew up in a family of cooks, almost everyone is a good cook. He decided to make it a career.

“In order to know where we are going, we must remember where we have come from.”

Cooking was a way to tip a hat to his grandma, one of his biggest personal influences.

She was a chef at Adrian’s school cafeteria back in Jamaica. His earliest memories of cooking are with his grandmother in his family’s kitchen. She taught him fusion cooking long before fusion cuisine was a thing. Back then he thought it was weird cooking. When I asked Adrian about his earliest inspiration for culinary, he quickly answered his grandmother. He has no qualms telling anyone that he is a grandma’s boy. He credits his style of cooking to his grandma.

After migrating to Canada, Chef Adrian completed his high school diploma. He has never looked back and has been in the culinary industry since then. He later went on to further his education at George Brown College in Culinary Arts.

In 2015, Adrian appeared on the Food Network hit TV show, Chopped Canada Season 2, Canada’s Chef in Your Ear, Chef in Your Ear Junior, Hogtown BBQ on Bell, as well as several noted national television appearances demonstrating his culinary skills and creativity. Some of his work was featured in the Toronto Star and Toronto Life.

Along the way, he has also won numerous awards such as: Best New Restaurant Openings in Toronto on blogTO, Voted NOW Magazine’s Toronto’s Best Fried Chicken, named Best Sandwich Shop in Toronto by Notable.ca, and chosen as Best New Restaurant for Fried Chicken in Toronto by blogTO.

“Life is a lesson and experience is the teacher.”

The 32-year-old chef opened his first restaurant at age 24. Gangster Burger has satisfied A-lister celebrities such as Drake and Iggy Azalea. It was the hot spot when celebrities came to town. Things didn’t work as planned and that was closed. Chef Adrian being determined started doing pop up dinners, then he opened his Dirty Bird food truck; that was doing well, he then opened the Dirty Bird restaurant in 2015 then AF1 Canteen in 2017. Things still didn’t work as planned and they all closed down. Which leaves me with the question how do you handle the loss? “It’s a loss

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when you didn’t learn, I’m not scared to fail. You must make the mistake early and learn. Door A, B, then C people are too scared to fail,” explains Chef Adrian.

“It’s not just a profession; it’s a lifestyle.”

Any advice for young chefs?

“Have a thick skin and be a sponge, have heart and passion. It’s not all about making money it’s all about love; money will come after. Do it for love and not fame.”

If you are wondering what’s next for Adrian, then I have some news for you.

You can say that Chef Noel dropped it here first. Adrian is eyeing his first cookbook titled “Forte Feeds.” This book will showcase Adrian’s traveling, eating and incorporating different country’s cuisines with his own contemporary style.

Chef Forte’s future is a promising and exciting one. He has boundless energy, passion and drive. Alive with fresh ideas. A unique and diverse bounty from every corner of the earth, the sky’s the limit.

Written by Noel Cunningham Toronto Caribbean News

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PAGE 26

FOOD

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

JAMAICAN-STYLE RED PEAS SOUP

Soothes the Soul

is a combination of red kidney beans cooked in a flavorful herb infused coconut broth with potato, carrots, yams, dumplings, beef and pigtail

NOEL CUNNINGHAM Ingredients noel@carib101.com

CULINARY EXPERT

It’s the time of year when the weather is all over the place and we need something to keep us warm. In light of black history month I am sharing a red peas soup recipe that you can make at home to warm things up. Soups and stews were common among the slaves on weekends when they get a break. They would boil their meat and add whatever provision they could get to make a meal.

This tradition passed down to us is why these hearty soups are popular in the Caribbean.

In Jamaica, it is customary for most households to prepare soup especially on Saturdays. However, red peas soup is an old favourite that soothes the soul any day of the week with some corn and sweet potato!! Some of the popular soups include gungo soup with beef or ham bone and pumpkin soup with chicken feet and sometimes chicken back.

Most of us are focused on getting healthier and making healthier options when it comes to how we eat for 2020. Adding soup to your diet is a great way when it comes to healthy choices because they are filling, nourishing and satisfying.

This hearty red peas soup recipe is so flavorful, comforting and warming.

It is perfect for chilly evenings. This soup

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

3/4 lb. pig tail (cut in pieces) optional 1/2 lb. stew beef (cut in pieces) 1/2 lb. red peas 1 pack Grace cock soup 1/2 lb. yam, peel & diced 1/2 lb. sweet potato, peel & diced Pimento seeds 2 stalks escallion 1 sprig thyme 1 green scotch bonnet pepper 1/4 lb. pumpkin, diced 1 canned coconut milk 3 garlic cloves, smashed 1 cup flour ¼ cup cornmeal

Directions 1. Rinse pig tail and beef with vinegar and water 2. Boil pig tail for about 5 minutes to get rid of excess salt 3. In a large pot with water, add beans, pigtails and beef to cook until beans are tender. Constantly add water and stir. By doing this the big and pigtail and beef should be getting tender.

4. Once beans and meat are almost cooked go ahead and add all remaining ingredients.

5. Use the flour and cornmeal to make small dumplings or spinners, 6. Add the coconut milk, salt and pepper to taste. Stir regularly to prevent sticking.

7. Lower flame and allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and enjoy!

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HEALTH

Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 29

Fix your posture: Why does it matter?

DR. VIKAS PURI drpuri@carib101.com

HEALTH SPECIALIST

exercise program for you in conjunction with a program of chiropractic adjustments to restore proper spinal alignment and function, will ensure the best results.

But now the question is what a good posture looks like? Here’s a quick posture check-in: When sitting, your feet should rest on the floor or footrest, if they don’t reach the floor. Relax your shoulders and keep your forearm parallel to the ground. Don’t cross your legs, and your ankles should be in front of your knees. Keep your knees at or below the level of your hips. Your shoulders should be back but relaxed and your ears should line up over your collarbones. Avoid sitting in the same position for long periods of time. When standing, bear your weight primarily on the balls of your feet. Keep your knees slightly bent and shoulder-width apart. Stand straight and tall with your shoulders pulled backwards and stomach tucked in. Do not push your head forward, backward or to the side unnecessarily. All of this becomes important when considering your ergonomics at work. What is your workstation set up? Do you stand for long periods of time? Then you may need proper footwear with cus-

tom orthotics to maximize your posture. A footrest to stand on will also off load your spine. This is especially important in assembly line workers. For office workers, ensuring our chair is adjustable so our forearms are parallel to the ground when using our computers or writing is important.

Have a footrest to place your feet on and a comfortable lumbar support on your chair so your lower back curves are maintained.

Top of monitors should be set to eye level.

When your workstation is set correctly, you will tend to be a lot more productive when you are not in pain.

Research has shown that improved posture improves our nervous system health, reduces risk of injury, decreases stress levels and improves our health overall. In fact, posture is currently a predictor of Alzheimer’s disease. With poor posture, abnormal proprioception (sense of where we are in space) input into the brain begins to decay our gray matter in the brain and can lead to things like Alzheimer’s disease down the road.

So, sit up straight, correct that posture and take your health to the next level!

INTRODUCING ASWAGANDHA HERBAL POWDER AS A REMEDY TO ALL YOUR SECRET AILMENTS!

Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng or natural Viagra, is an Ayurvedic herb commonly used in traditional

SECURE Indian medicine. Ashwa means horse in Sanskrit and it enhances energy, support aging, and stimulate sex drive.

THE HORSE POWER…. As men age, they can begin to experience a slowdown in testosterone production and the bodily functions it's related to. This condition known as male menopause in some circles, is extremely common yet not always SET ALIGHT discussed. It's time to bring the problem to light and discuss honest solutions which can include the use of various THE FIRE OF DESIRE herbal therapies. Ashwagandha has been used for thousands of years as an aphrodisiac, as an enhancer of cognitive function, to relieve stress, for greater energy, and to promote male vitality.For men, this Ayurvedic herb IN YOUR LOVER…. can have far reaching effects on proper hormone function and long term health.

Amazing list of Ashwagandha's common health benefits:

Enhances sexual vitality Helps to lessen stress and anxiety Supports healthy vitality and energy Works as an immune system booster Aids in the restoration of cells Helps to diminish exhaustion and fatigue Works to support the nervous system Supports the improvement of red blood cell count Works to maintain healthy body weight Encourages muscle development and strength Helps to control your Thyroid Preventing Parkinson Disease Incredible results for lowering Cortisol and Thyroid Hormones

$

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Charlie’s West Indian Food Mart 3057 Hurontario St. Tel: 905-896-3663

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(Dundas & Hurontario) 905-273-4600

NORTH YORK

Uthayas Supermarket (Kipling & Steeles) Tel: 416-740-7971

7 Benefits for Women: Promotes Graceful Aging Revitalization

Menopausal Support Mood Booster Fertility

Sexual Potency

Memory Support

Need More Info: Please Google Ashwagandha benefits Weight Gain: Taking Ashwagandha regularly with milk increases weight naturally.

Antioxidant: The antioxidant property of Ashwagandha prevents breast, lung and colon cancer.

Rejuvenation: Ashwagandha is a very good Rejuvenation which helps to stay healthy and young.

EAST YORK

SCARBOROUGH

Trupti Enterprises 2 Thorncliff 416-421-0191

India Town Supermarket (Markham & Lawrence) Tel: 416-438-1013

SARBOROUGH

SCARBOROUGH

Charley's West Indian Food Ltd 1154 Morntingside Ave. Tel: 416-283-1441

SCARBOROUGH

Charloo's West Indian Food Inc. Victorio park & Eglinton Tel: 416-759-7680

MARKHAM

New Spicyland (Markham & Steeles) Tel: 416-335-3030

PICKERING

Eraa Supermarket (Neilson & Finch) Tel: 416-292-2622

New Spicyland Supermarket Harwood / Taunton Tel: 905-426-1114

SCARBOROUGH

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New Spicyland Supermarket (Sheppard/ Markham) Tel: 416-292-9769

Marche Tharsini Tel: 514-737-1261

For Free Consultation: Nagil NS Herbal Health Care Centre, 2387 Eglinton Ave. East, Unit 1, Scarborough, ON M1G 2M5 Tel: 416-751-1428 Toll Free: 1-866-909-0095 Email: greenishcanada@gmail.com

OIL REMEDY FOR ALL KINDS OF JOINT PAIN

OIL REMEDY FOR ALL KINDS OF JOINT PAIN

Good posture is good health, we hear this so often. But have you ever thought, why?

Is it going to lower your muscle pain and discomforts? Yes, you are guessing it right.

Bad posture and “poor” postural control are the major contributors to pain, particularly neck and back pain. Posture is the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, or lying down. The key to good posture is to maintain a proper position of your spine. Your spine has three natural curvatures, your neck, mid back and low back. Correct posture should maintain these curves, but not increase them.

Slumping or slouching regularly, as in hunching over laptops and cellphones, or engaging in other forms of bad posturecan lead to slew of issues over time. Poor

posture can lead to muscle fatigue, spasms and increased pain. This leads to degeneration of your spine which in turn can make your spine more prone to injury like a herniated disc. Many of us perceived “poor posture” as a result of biological adaption of faulty, comfortable positions being practiced over weeks by humans, which is unlikely to change without an actual effort.

Correcting your posture may feel awkward at first because you have become so used to sitting and standing in a particular way.

It is about breaking the postural habits you have developed. So, get into the habit of sitting correctly. It may not feel comfortable initially because of your muscles which have not been conditioned to support you in the correct position. But there are many exercises to strengthen your core and back muscles and will help you correct your slouching posture. With a bit of practice, good posture will become second nature and one step closer to helping your back in the long term.

The best thing you can do for yourself is get a complete postural assessment from a licensed chiropractor. Subsequently having the chiropractor develop a specific

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Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

Sea salt vs. table salt: which is healthier?

If you think you’re making a healthier choice by sprinkling sea salt on your food instead of regular old table salt, think again. Any type of salt, be it kosher salt, celery salt, garlic salt, table salt or pink Himalayan salt, contains the same amount of sodium, which is to blame for an increased risk of hypertension, cardiovascular events and kidney disease. The only healthier choice when it comes to salt is to avoid consuming it in excess.

North Americans eat nearly 3,400 milligrams of salt a day, more than twice the recommended amount. Using more herbs and spices to season food is a good way to cut down on sodium.

5 things to know about tinnitus Tinnitus, which is the hearing of a sound without an external source, is a common condition affecting nearly a third of North Americans over 55. However, age-related hearing loss isn’t the only cause, and here’s what you should know.

1. It manifests in many ways. Typically described as a ringing in the ears, tinnitus can also sound like clicking, hissing, buzzing or roaring. It can also be loud or soft, low-pitched or high-pitched, continuous or intermittent and in one or both ears.

2. There are two types. In rare cases, tinnitus can be objective, meaning the noise is triggered by a physiological problem like abnormal muscle contractions in the ear region, and can be heard by a doctor during an examination. Much more frequently, however, tinnitus is subjective, meaning only the affected person can hear it.

3. It has many different causes. Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying issue. The most common cause is hearing loss, either due to aging or to exposure to loud sounds. Other likely causes include earwax buildup and middle ear bone issues. More rarely, it can indicate vascular issues or a problem with the temporomandibular joint, where the lower jaw meets the skull. It can also be caused by a host of medications, so if you notice it, consult your doctor as soon as possible.

4. It can be treated. If tinnitus is due to a medication or an underlying condition that’s treatable, it’ll likely go away if the cause is dealt with. In other cases, environmental measures, such as fans, televisions, radios and white noise machines, can distract from the noise and reduce the anxiety and stress some people experience because of it. Cognitive-behavioural therapy has also been shown to be effective in helping people learn to live with tinnitus.

5. Stress can make it worse.

Stress is likely to increase the negative psychological effects of tinnitus. For this reason, the avoidance of stressful activities and stimulants such as caffeine is often recommended.

If you think you may have tinnitus, consult your doctor. If they fail to find a cause, you’ll be referred to an audiologist.

PAGE 31

Should you treat varicose veins?

Varices are damaged vessels in which blood tends to accumulate, often because of a loss of elasticity in the vascular tissue, causing them to become enlarged and twisted. Nearly 30 per cent of all people are affected by this common condition. They typically form on the legs — in which case they’re known as varicose veins — and while they’re often thought of as a cosmetic issue, they can cause complications.

Left untreated, varicose veins will spread and worsen. Over time, they can cause skin discolouration, venous ulcers and sometimes blood clots. Fortunately, there are many treatment options, including:

vessels through small incisions.

• Compression stockings. Using this special garment effectively compresses the vessels and prevents varices from worsening.

These treatments aim to destroy the affected veins, forcing blood to travel through healthy vessels. They’re generally effective, but will likely need to be repeated, as varices tend to be a chronic problem. However, lifestyle changes can reduce their severity, so don’t hesitate to ask your doctor about what habits you can adopt to increase the effectiveness of your treatments.

• Sclerotherapy. Medication is injected in the blood vessels to shrink them.

• Laser and radiofrequency ab­ lation. Laser or radio frequencies are used to heat and destroy the affected tissue.

• Surgery. Damaged blood vessels are removed surgically.

• Ambulatory phlebectomy. A less invasive way to remove the

How daylight saving time affects your health Changing the clock to daylight saving time (DST) is more than an inconvenience. In fact, the practice may have health implications that far outweigh its purported benefits. Here’s what you should know.

YOUR INTERNAL CLOCK Your body regulates a plethora of functions thanks to your hypothalamus, a region of the brain that acts as a central clock. This clock keeps time by using cues like socialization, temperature, food intake and light, all of which change gradually throughout the year. A gradual change is manageable, but switching to DST is an abrupt shift that has a number of consequences.

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS Studies indicate that there’s an increase in heart attacks following both the fall and spring time chan­ ges.

Some researchers report that there are up to 24 per cent more cases than normal the Monday following the spring switch.

In addition, emergency room vi­sits increase following the time change. This is due to the higher incidence of automobile and work­ place accidents, both of which are likely caused by the immediate cognitive effects of the time change.

Changing the clocks also has mental health consequences. A change in sleep patterns can trigger seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and exacerbate existing

conditions like depression and anxiety.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS DST causes a phenomenon called “social jetlag,” which refers to a discrepancy bet­ ween our social and biological clocks. Many studies have found associations between social jetlag and obesity, smoking, alcohol use, depression and cardiovascular symptoms. Furthermore, research indicates that the sustained stress put on our bodies by social jetlag increases the risks of cardiovascular and endocrine problems.

While DST is a fact of life for many people, it’s possible to limit its impact by adjusting your bedtime a few days in advance.

PAGE 32

COMMUNITY

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

WHO AM I? PART 2 How can I become the person I could be?

ERROL A. GIBBS errol@carib101.com

PHILOSOPHER

Who am I? How can I become the person I could be? This article is strictly about my attempt to transform myself - in the hope that others would join me to help change the asymmetric world that I have created.

I must renew my trust in the systems of religion, academia, science, and politics that have become a double-edged sword in my growth and development - great achievements on the one hand, and human failures on the other hand.

After a deliberative search over 2000 years, I have discovered that my capability is not in question. I have achieved greatness in every field of human endeavor (https://www.biographyonline.net/events/ greatest-achievements.html). I stand at the pinnacle of achievements in science and engineering, medicine, politics, sports, and arts and entertainment.

I have introduced the world to "The Human Genome Project" (HGP) (https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project). I can read nature's complete genetic blueprint for building a human being. "Artificial Intelligence" (AI) is now at my command. I have created super-intelligent

machines, though I am ambivalent and fearful about the prospects of losing control of the machines (https://futureoflife. org/background/benefits-risks-of-artificialintelligence/?cn-reloaded=1).

Notwithstanding, the transformation that I seek may not lie in the "machines" that are coming. I need a foundational principle upon which to predicate my decisionmaking in the future. I also need to actualize myself as the most significant creation, and to achieve my highest potential - to influence - positively the survival of others and myself. Intuitively, the better world that I desire begins with my intrinsic values rather than my extrinsic needs and wants.

Although I have mastered the latter, my transformation lies in mastering the former.

This worldview has enabled me to comprehend the foundation for my transformation that requires only a simple change in my philosophically perspective of life. It lies in the true nature of selfactualization that undergirds my growth and development from five fundamental aspects, such as my (1) spiritual, (2) moral, (3) social, (4) intellectual, and (5) physical development. These are the most compelling philosophical, analytical, and empirical arguments for cultivating a better world.

Hierarchically, each foundation provides me with the most exceptional opportunity to "reverse engineer" some of the decisions and actions that I have taken regarding critical aspects of my survival.

Material compulsion satisfies my physical needs - substantially but temporarily.

These five foundations should underpin

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the broad spectrum of challenges that I face daily, whether the activities are religious, academic, political, scientific, or conceptual.

The choice now lies before you and me to embrace (1) spiritual development as absolute, underpinned by unconditional love for others. It is the highest exception of us because it is intrinsic to our spiritual existence. It will help us to break down barriers of intolerance between others and ourselves - irrespective of race, religion, colour, culture, or station in life, as we strive to live daily - a life of impartiality as the highest moral attribute.

To embrace (2) moral development for its indispensable transcendental and transformational attributes. It enables us to understand when political or corporate obligation comes into conflict with the imperatives of moral leadership and moral authority - undergirded by moral responsibility and moral accountability. It takes great courage to be a "moral leader," but the enhanced benefits to human social interaction are immeasurable.

To embrace (3) social development to enable us to build strong relationship bonds with those whom we do not have a common bond or heritage. It will help us to heal the broken trust between others and ourselves, and with the diverse international community of peoples and nations. More importantly, to empathize with and contribute to a better understanding of the needs of fellow beings - irrespective of differences in social, economic, and intellectual status.

To embrace (4) intellectual development to help us to achieve great heights beyond rational reasoning, and to develop the "intelligence capacity" to make critical life-saving and life-enhancing decisions. To understand better, the trichotomy among "Spiritual Intelligence" (SQ), "Human Intelligence" (IQ), and "Artificial Intelligence" (AI). Likewise, to apply all three bits of intelligence to ensure our survival as a viable species in our complex world - underpinned by SQ, IQ, and AI.

To embrace (5) physical development because it helps us to better understand the complex dual nature of our physical well-being and a healthy environment.

Humans are an integral biological component of the living and breathing universe.

Our health depends upon the living trees to cleanse the atmosphere of toxins as nature's prescription for the biosphere and human civilization to coexist - healthily.

You and I have the genius capacity to explore further the five foundational perspectives that I have discovered to chart the journey forward. They are neither explicitly religious, academic, scientific, nor political, but simple to comprehend and potent in the application and measurable outcomes. They do not demand the creation of new infrastructure or vast sums of money, but merely a different approach to the assessment of our fundamental needs that transcend the material. I can become the person that I could be when I awake to the understanding of the inclusivity of all humanity.

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PAGE 34

LIFE

Greek Gods, Mayan Gods, Norse Gods…

What about Egyptian Gods? Part I

BY MAKAYLA B. 11 YEARS OLD TC JUNIOR CONTRIBUTOR Every culture has its own God(s) and Goddesses, but how much do we know about these all-powerful and all-mighty beings?

Not many sources have accurate information about God(s) and Goddesses from the past, but pretty accurate information on current God(s) and Goddesses and religious beliefs.

The Egyptians had many Gods and Goddesses. Each God or Goddess represented, controlled, or had the power.

The Egyptian God Ra is the God of the sun.

Osiris is the son of Geb (the God of earth), and Nut (the Goddess of the sky) after he was killed and brought back to life he became the God of death.

Osiris’s wife, Isis, is the Goddess of magick. The son of Osiris and Isis, Horus, is the God of the sky, after his uncle, Set, killed his father, ending Osiris’s reign. Horus got revenge and killed Set. Many Gods and Goddesses suffered the consequences of Osiris’s death because Osiris couldn’t retain the throne. Horus then ruled as pharaoh. Since then, other pharaohs considered themselves descendants of Horus.

Nephthys (the Goddess of the rivers) was the wife of Set, sister to Isis. Nephthys had helped Isis revive Osiris. Of course, there had to be a God of chaos, storms, evil, and dessert! No not that type of dessert, I mean the desert type very sandy, not sugary.

As a result of Set’s evilness, Osiris probably perished in agony. Even if all the Gods and Goddesses teamed up they couldn’t evade Osiris’s death. Set even had a partner in evil and crime; his name was Ammit, The Devourer of Souls. Anyone who Ammit met he welcomed them by afflicting and wounding them.

All right so you know a little bit about the major Gods and Goddesses, but what about the others that are minor gods and goddesses? Check in with me next edition!

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Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Don’t assume, ask! My journey through The Four Agreements, Part III SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

I am going to honestly admit, the last few weeks have been a struggle. A few weeks ago, I discovered The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, written by Don Miguel Ruiz. My discovery of this beautifully written book has changed the way that I think about life, and how I have wanted to conduct my life. The book illuminates the source of many of our selflimiting beliefs; the beliefs that tend to rob us of joy and just create unnecessary pain and suffering. The Four Agreements can be viewed as codes of conduct that when practiced can rapidly transform a person’s life. There is a reason that it has been a New York Times bestseller for over eight years.

What the book failed to tell you is just how difficult it can be to implement these four agreements. What I decided to do for my readers is take it upon myself to implement these agreements (one agreement biweekly), and then report on how they had affected my life. Report one; the agreements are extremely hard to follow, and until I began to bring the agreements into awareness, I did not realize just how domesticated I was.

I thought that because of my rebellious nature, I was impervious to the rules. I didn’t think that I had given into the beliefs and agreements that had been laid out for me. I thought that I was resistant to it all, but unfortunately I was wrong. I realized in the last few weeks that I am actually auto-domesticated. I have made agreements with myself that have domesticated me and have kept me stuck in a way of thinking.

I have found that my Achilles heel happens to be taking things personally, and making assumptions. It was important that I went through this exercise to figure it out, because now I am making adjustments to deal with these clear deficits in my character. Today, I want to tackle making assumptions.

The thing is, assumptions are sneaky. You find yourself doing it and don’t even realize it until it is too late. One psychological term for assumptions is fundamental attribution error. Lee Ross coined this term and what occurs is there is a tendency for people to under-emphasize situational explanations for an individual’s observed behaviour, while over-emphasizing dispositional and personality-based explanations for their behaviour. In other words, people have a cognitive bias to assume that a person’s actions depend on what “kind” of person that person is rather than on the social and environmental forces that influence the person.

A very common example of this is you are driving down the street and someone cuts you off in traffic and races away.

What we might say right away is, “What a jerk! Why are they driving that way? They are such a jerk!” Many of us don’t take that extra minute to think, “Hmmm! I hope that person is okay!” We never think that maybe the person just heard that their wife or husband was just in a car accident and they are rushing off to the hospital. We assume right away that the person themselves are idiots, instead of thinking of the situation that may have caused them to be driving the way they are.

Now, I will say this; that person might just be an idiot, and think that they are in a new instalment of The Fast and the Furious. The thing is that we do not have proof of it, so the worst thing that we can do is make assumptions. When you make an assumption about something you accept it to be true without any real proof. We are just hardwired this way, which is why it is such a difficult agreement to keep. It is natural to immediately fill in any missing information by making up our own story; it is the way that we make sense of people and situations. The problem with this; most of the time our story is incorrect because we have not gathered any true Intel about what ever it is we are assuming.

These next couple of weeks, I want you to think about some of the assumptions you make on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. Have you ever made an assumption that turned out to be wrong? What were the consequences? Feel free to comment, and let me know. Don’t feel bad. Believe me; we all do it.

Change is in the air, literally!

GARCIA AKUA

garcia@carib101.com

COSMIC CORNER

Peace and love family. We can all use an extra dose of good vibes after the last couple of weeks we have had.

Australia is still recovering from the drastic fires, a new outbreak of an airborne disease, the coronavirus is the new scare and the world is mourning the loss of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and the other families due to the helicopter crash. There is a collective feeling of fear and sadness in the air these days. In these tragic events, we tend to unite and come together. Let’s look to the sky for some clarity.

On January 24th, we had our first New Moon of the year. New Moons are times of setting new goals and intentions.

As the Moon grows in size, so should your

efforts to attain the goals set out. Our first New Moon was in the sign of Aquarius. Often mistaken for a water sign, Aquarius is the last Air sign of the zodiac. Aquarius represents intelligence, uniqueness, freedom and collective thought.

During this Moon phase, we also had very strong influences from Uranus, the planet of sudden and unexpected change.

As we make our own goals for ourselves, we are reminded by this New Moon that change can occur at any time. Our actions and decisions are connected to the collective. We are not alone in our unique outlook, but it is through our unique energy print, we can truly connect and find our tribe. Grief and tragedy can easily trigger depression and anxiety, especially during the winter months when vitamin D is low. This New Moon is also showing us that 2020 is going to call for healthy vulnerability; we will need to lean on each other to get through the hard times but also to achieve our goals during the good times.

It’s going to take a level of emotional intelligence to determine how we respond to emotional triggers.

Change is inevitable; sometimes

it’s painful and hurts so that we can value what really matters. Change is in the air.

The Corona Virus is in the air in the east; Kobe’s helicopter went down out of the air.

However, we can use the element of air to speak life into our situations and circumstances. We can use the power of prayer and affirmation to comfort our loved ones and ourselves when change rocks us at the core.

As we begin to process all that is going on around us, our priorities and goals will become a lot clearer. When faced with tragedy, a normal response is to evaluate where you are in life, what and who is important, and what truly matters. Now let’s set goals around things that bring us freedom and life. There are currently no planets in retrograde; this is a beautiful opportunity to put your words and thoughts into action. The next time we meet, we will start preparing for our first retrograde of the year, but until then, get really clear on your intentions. Continue to release what is no longer serving you and be prepared to face and embrace change in all its various forms. Change is in the air!

LIFE

Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 35

Assuming the throne of a nation at just 10 Years old Ahmose 1st – The Liberator of Kemet Part I DAVE RANKIN dave@carib101.com

AFRICAN HISTORY

Could you imagine having to learn about the deaths of your father, and brother within three years of each other as a child? That they died in combat attempting to liberate the country at the hands of foreigners. Then without enough time to grieve, having to assume the throne of a nation as early as ten years old.

With the weight of the responsibilities that would rest upon this newly

appointed ruler; what do you think that those types of circumstances would do to a child? Would cognitive development be in question? How about the child’s deductive reasoning skills? Well, that’s a different question to be posed.

Are you even considered to be a child at that point? Well even with our struggles, with our day-to-day focuses, could we measure up to what this child had to face back then? Through the myriad of questions we could throw out there, the question that sticks is how this child, grew up equipped with the fortitude to become one of Ancient Kemet’s greatest leaders.

It seems to be beyond comprehension.

Or is it?

As we approach another “African Liberation Month” also known as Black History Month, examples like the one we will be exploring in this two part series

should be used as the spark that enables us to lean on the strength of our ancestors. For as they overcame the impossible with far less, we can as well.

Most Egyptologists list Ahmose 1st, whose name means, “The Moon is born,” as the founder of the 18th Dynasty. Normally, a new dynasty would be formed after a break in the line of the royal family. Since there was no break in this case, High Priest Manetho’s research gave the world enough information to truly understand the expulsion of the Hyksos and the rejuvenation of royal blood on the throne. History shows that a new dynasty would suffice. While the dates for when Ahmose 1st took the throne may vary from 1570 BCE, to 1560 BCE, I have even seen a source as early as 1539 BCE. Manetho attributes the length of his reign to a little over 25 years.

When Ahmose 1st (sometimes spelt Amosis) was named successor of the throne at ten years old, his given royal name was Neb-Pehty-Re meaning, “The Lord of Strength is Re.” Again at such an early age, what must have been going through his mind at this time is unfathomable.

While there is little written about his life as a child, there are things that we do know. One, Ahmose 1st followed in the tradition of marrying several of his sisters, with Ahmose-Nefertari being his chief wife. The second, without the support of his mother, Ahhotep who served as regent, this remarkable figure in our history could have gone down a very different path. In the upcoming edition, we will take a look at the life of Ahmose 1st, and learn more about what made this child a leader in his own right.

Pros and cons of mandatory E-learning courses PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

EDUCATION

On March 15th, 2019, the new PC-led government made the unexpected announcement that beginning in the fall of 2020, it will be mandatory that all secondary students take a minimum of four E-learning credits as part of their graduation requirement to obtain the grade 12 high school diplomas. This came as a shock to many in the educational sector, as the government did not release specific details in terms of how it would be implemented and how it will be equitable for all students. Subsequently, there has been much discussion, debates and dialogue regarding the many unknowns with respect to this announcement. It has been the focus of ongoing conversations between: teachers, trustees, principals, teachers colleges and ministry officials to unpack what is involved in the delivery of these courses. The government later revised the requirements from four to two

courses on November 21st, 2019.

Ontario currently has an E-Learning Strategy which is a digital education platform that makes available high-quality online courses that students can access no matter what their background, circumstances, learning challenges or residential areas. These courses are available and accessible 24/7. People for Education (led by Anne Kidd) presented a session on “The pros and cons of Elearning” on Saturday, November 2nd, 2019. The presenters included: Alison (Slack) Barron, who helped to develop Ontario E-learning Beyhan Farhadi, who undertook doctoral research examining the relationship between E-learning and educational inequality, and Maxim JeanLocus (President of and CEO of Contact North) which runs 116 online learning centres across Ontario providing 600 small, rural, remote, indigenous and francophone communities with access to post-secondary education and training.

Alison mentioned that there are three reasons why E-learning should be used. Firstly, online courses give students in smaller communities access to a larger variety of courses. Secondly, consistency is possible in the design of centralised courses. Thirdly, there is a high completion rate for these courses based on statistical analysis. Beyhan focused on the

lack of research surrounding E-learning program implementation and assessment. Important questions were raised that still require answers. These include: • • • • •

(i) Who will be consulted to design Elearning programs? (ii) How will E-learning enrolments be counted in school funding models? (iii) How will the system support students with no technological access at home? (iv) How will student privacy be protected? (v) How will the Ministry of Education assess the effectiveness of Elearning?

Maxim focused on the ways that education in Ontario can address the Ministry’s E-learning plan. He is supportive of the philosophy of online courses and suggested,

There have been several responses to the proposed E-learning requirements for high school students. A survey conducted in May and June 2019 received responses from thousands of secondary students across the province.

The Ontario Student Trustees (OSTA) found that 95% opposed the government’s proposed mandatory E-learning

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plan. In addition, Robin Pilkey (Chair of the Toronto District School Board) wrote a letter to the Minister of Education, Stephen Leece on December 4th, 2019. He expressed specific concerns. “I want to make it clear that we are not against Elearning but we are concerned about the mandatory nature of this plan, the timing and the general lack of information available for parents/guardians, students and staff.” He was also concerned about students having to select courses for graduation. “We fear that the lack of information on mandatory E-learning courses could harm our students’ achievement and well-being levels and, ultimately, hinder their graduation and post-secondary education plans.” These fears are well-grounded, as the Ministry of Education has responded by saying that they will consult other education stakeholders to acquire more information.

There is no doubt that online courses will be more acceptable. There are real concerns regarding the lack of evidence-based planning regarding the design, implementation, and evaluation of these E-learning courses. It is unrealistic to expect students to take two separate online courses without the proper structures in place to ensure that there is integrity, validity and authenticity to these credits.

PAGE 36

LIFE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

4 tips for last-minute tax filers

Are you scrambling to try and file your taxes before April 30? If so, here are four tips to help you meet the deadline.

1. Make sure you have the right documents. You need a T4 slip from all employers you’ve had during the year, as well as statements for investment income. If you misplaced a tax slip, you can request a copy from the issuer or access a duplicate on the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Account portal.

2. Take advantage of online services. File your return using CRA’s electronic filing service to avoid the hassle of getting an envelope postmarked by the deadline. If you’re registered for My Account, you can also use the agency’s auto-fill service, which completes sections of your return using information and statements that the CRA has on file.

3. Don’t overlook potential deductions.

Millions of dollars in deductions and tax

credits go unclaimed by Canadians every year. Commonly overlooked deductions include moving expenses, charitable donations, medical expenses and money spent on public transit passes and tutoring services. Many Canadians also forget to claim a tax credit for interest paid on a student loan.

4. Explore payment arrangements. Waiting until the last minute to file can impact your ability to pay your tax debt in full before the deadline. If you’re eligible, CRA may allow you to make smaller payments over time. The agency’s Payment Arrangement Calculator can help you formulate a payment plan based on your financial situation and the applicable interest.

Keep in mind that hiring a tax professional is an effective way to ensure you file your return on time, avoid expensive errors and identify the deductions you’re eligible to claim.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

3 reasons to hire professional painters Painting can be a messy, time-consuming task. While some homeowners are capable of doing the job themselves, many choose to hire professionals instead.

Here are three reasons you should do the same.

1. TO SAVE TIME Experienced contractors can complete painting jobs quicker than the average homeowner. Not only will you avoid squandering your own time, but the job itself will be completed faster than you expect.

2. TO GET GREAT RESULTS Professional painters take pride in their work and do far more than just apply the required colour. They also prepare walls, repair small imperfections and make certain to properly set up the area. Following these steps ensures that the results are as close to perfect as possible.

3. TO AVOID MISTAKES Many people fail to realize that different rooms require distinct types of paint and that special brushes and rollers are needed in certain situations. Professionals are fully aware of these things and also have all the necessary drop sheets, pans and other equipment.

A pro house painter is a key ally when it co­mes to refreshing your home.

Not only do they have the skills needed to do a great job, but they’ll also make sure the work is done right.

4 ways to avoid a renovation disaster Whether you just bought a fixer-upper or are upgrading your home, avoiding renovation mistakes will save you time and money. Here are four rules to follow that will ensure your next project goes smoothly.

1. HAVE A PLAN Taking the time to plan your project will save you time and money in the long run.

Make a list of every improvement you want to make, decide on the order in which they should be completed and then establish a timeline and budget.

2. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED More often than not, you’ll encounter unexpected issues when renovating your home. Always allow yourself more time and mo­ney than you think you’ll need.

This way, unforeseen complications are less likely to delay completion.

3. MAKE ROOM IN THE BUDGET Whether you’re completing the work yourself or hiring contractors, you should al­ low for a contingency of at least 15 per cent and ideally 25 per cent. The additional funds will allow you to deal with unexpected problems.

4. DON’T DIY EVERYTHING Trying to do everything yourself can be over­ whelming. More importantly, some things need to be done by professionals, no matter how handy you are. This includes structural as well as electrical work.

By following these tips, you’ll avoid making mistakes and help ensure that your next home improvement project goes smoothly.

HOME & GARDEN

PAGE 37

5 money-saving tips for your home renovation projects It’s no secret that renovating can be expensive. Here are some simple ways to save.

1. PLAN CAREFULLY It’s best to have a detailed plan before you renovate. This will help you see where you can cut expenses, allow you to stay on budget and ensure that the work gets done quickly and efficiently.

2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT CONTRACTOR Hire people that come with the best recommendations and who provide you with a detailed estimate, even if they charge more than some competitors. A contractor who quotes a cheaper price than everyone else may not be reliable.

3. DO SOME OF THE WORK YOURSELF What you can contribute to the project will depend on your abilities. Some may be comfortable tiling a back­ splash or painting walls themselves. Others might prefer to simply clean up after. Every bit helps to keep costs down.

reusing and repurposing materials you already have at home and buying some items second hand. In addition, hardware stores now offer recycled paint, which is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than new paint.

5. SELL OLD MATERIALS In addition, be sure to recoup some of your losses by selling old materials. Recycling centres often pay for copper and other scrap metal, and other items can be sold at yard sales or online.

Finally, make sure any contractors you hire are fully certified and insured. Otherwise, you’ll be liable for any accidents and damages that occur during the renovations, which is likely to wreck your budget.

4. GIVE OLD ITEMS A SECOND LIFE You can save money by

How often should you inspect your roof?

Your roof is an integral part of your home and plays a big role in shielding you and your loved ones from the elements.

Though roofs last a long time, they must be inspected regularly and repaired as needed.

So, how often should you inspect your roof?

Most contractors recommend checking it twice a year; once in the spring and once in the fall. However, if you’re not comfortable climbing on top of your house, it’s best to hire a professional roofer to perform the inspection.

Some things to look for are: • Soft spots • Shingles that are loose or curling • Loose material around the chimney • Anything protruding from the roof • Large amounts of shingle granules in the gutters Biannual inspections are crucial, but they aren’t the only time your roof should be given attention. Be sure to also visually check them after big storms, especially those with heavy precipitation and strong winds.

Your roof’s lifespan depends on its material. Slate, copper and tile roofs can last for up to 50 years, while wood shake roofs last for 30 and cement tiles have a lifespan of 25 years. Asphalt shingles will typically last around 20 years.

PAGE 38

TECHNOLOGY

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Getting with the times: are we truly leaving a legacy?

CHRISTINA GWIRA christina@carib101.com

TECH SPECIALIST

This is going to be a bitter article to swallow. You have been warned.

A major concern that I have had with the black community has been its lack of acceptance of technology. This has been the main reason why I took on this role as a tech contributor, but also as a reporter for the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper. I’ve been in the tech industry since I was 17 years old, and it’s not until recently that I’ve begun to see more brown faces within the space. I’m always so happy to see my fellow brothers, sisters and elders in the field; it brings a joy to my heart like no other. However, I have a bone to pick with some of the elders.

You’re really not making an effort to get with the times, and it shows.

We are in a new age. We can take back what was lost and shape it into something new for us. It’s a beautiful and wonderful thing that my generation and the generation after us are being immersed into technology and all its nuances, but even then, not so much, and certainly not to the degree that other cultures are being exposed. Little black boys and girls are introduced to technology through the iPad and the iPhone, but how many of them are given the opportunity and put into positions to learn about the things that make these devices tick?

We are fearful to get onto Facebook, because we’re scared of “evil eye,” but it could be that that very same platform is what could help your new busi-

ness gain new customers and clients.

Help you pay off your mortgage. “No, I don’t need a website”, I’ve heard many an Aunty and Uncle tell me, but the lines of people who used to throng to your shop dwindle with each passing day. The landlord raises the rent each time your renewal is nigh.

Let them who have ears, hear.

There is a computer in the house, but you aren’t aware of how to turn it on; you have a powerful smartphone in your hand, but need to call junior to unlock it for you and get into your email.

Enough.

You have the power within you to plug into this new era. You have the ability to learn about these new things and apply them to your life. Make it better. Easier. You are not too old. You are not too young. You have the capabilities to make use of this great era that we are in! Oh! What our ancestors wouldn’t have given to live in the days that we live, to have what we have.

There are classes, most are free that can help you. A great place to start is at the local libraries and community centers. There are free classes that can show you everything: from how to turn on a computer, how to navigate the internet, to how to use word processing software like Word or Google Docs. If you want to expand a bit more on what you already know, there are free websites like www. freecodecamp.org that can show you, letter by letter, how to code in languages like HTML and CSS.

Places like UDemy, Teachable all have a variety of courses that one can take for us to empower ourselves. There are also community organizations that we can tap into, created by people like us and for us. I want to see ALL OF US, not just the young ones, plug into this digital age. You can do it. We can do it. Let us do it. Let them who have ears, hear.

FUN

Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | www.TOCaribNews.com | Toronto Caribbean News

PAGE 39

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 2 TO FEBRUARY 8 2020

ARIES

The luckiest signs this week: LEO, VIRGO AND LIBRA

If it’s been a while since your kids moved away from home, you may decide to sell the house in order to gain a little more freedom.

If you’re in a new rela­tionship, you can expect a mar­riage proposal.

TAURUS

There will be lots to talk about this week. At work, you’ll ex­pand your client base and suc­ceed in bringing your staff to­gether to make things run more smoothly. Your suggestions and advice will be appreciated.

PUZZLE NO. 701 ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 701

HOW TO PLAY :

GEMINI

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

Finances are a source of stress for many. Take the time to get in touch with the right people who can help you find practical solutions and give you a break.

CANCER

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

You’re practically ready to con­quer the world. You’ll undoubt­edly have the inspiration to take on a stimulating professional or personal challenge.

LEO

You appreciate good company and devote yourself to those you love. Some may take ad­v antage of your good nature, and you’ll let them continue to for a while.

PUZZLE NO. 964 44. Nobleman 48. Topped a cake 49. Damage 53. Pump, e.g.

54. Tree outgrowth 55. “____ and Peace” 56. Stitched 57. Maize spikes 58. Oven-cleaner chemical DOWN

ACROSS

1. With it 4. Doe’s mate 8. Iranian ruler, once 12. “Bells ____ Ringing” 13. Perm 14. Cassette 15. Astaire

specialty 17. At any time 18. Remove 19. Dull person 20. Bath powder 23. ‘60s do 25. Unsociable 27. Bring to court 28. Pea home 31. Bird cry

32. Heroes 34. Gold source 35. Years in a decade 36. Use a wok 37. Of sound 39. Hawaiian wreath 40. Inactive 41. Papa’s mate

1. Fedora, e.g.

2. Distinct period 3. Zing 4. Wound’s leftover 5. Yellowfin or albacore 6. Curves 7. Full of merriment 8. Shorthand, for short 9. Contain 10. Impersonator 11. Corral group 16. Art ____ 20. Social grace 21. Soothing plant 22. Waterfowl 24. Breather

26. Drum’s accompaniment 27. ____ sauce 28. Swimming hole 29. Said aloud 30. Take out of text 33. Drool 38. Pig’s cry 39. Encumbered 41. Young lady 42. Tooth pain

43. Cat call 45. Site 46. Bring up 47. Blockheads 50. Drill 51. Cheery 52. Poet’s before

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 964

VIRGO

It’ll be a stressful week for one reason or another. You’ll be mo­tivated to take better care of yourself, if only by doing more exercise.

LIBRA

Unforeseen circumstances can put you behind schedule. Leave some time between appoint­ments to avoid stressing if things run late. This is an excellent time to strike out on your own.

SCORPIO

Some friends will invite you to join them on a spontaneous trip.

Nothing brings you more joy than breaking up your winter routine and burying your feet in the warm sand.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll experience a whole range of emotions. You may clean up your circle of friends, as some of them are parasites who don’t deserve your time.

CAPRICORN

You may be pressured to make a big decision. Before you do, however, you should take the time to gather all the available information so you can weigh the pros and cons.

AQUARIUS

At work, you’ll find yourself with a mountain of urgent work to be completed. This situa­tion may be stressful, but it’ll prove useful to your professio­nal develo p ment.

PISCES

Even if you prefer to remain on the sidelines, you’ll be in the spotlight this week. You’ll find yourself in a situation that re­ quires you to come out of your shell, such as on stage or in front of a crowd.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

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

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REAL ESTATE

PAGE 42

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Surfing the waves in real estate JAY BRIJPAUL brijpaul@carib101.com

REAL ESTATE PRO

Recently I saw the resurgence of multiple offers. A home was listed on the Toronto Multiple Listing website for just one day and there were thirty-five showings within six hours.

The home was not underpriced. I presented an offer on behalf of my client for twenty thousand dollars above the asking price.

There were eighteen other offers and we did not make it to the final race. Recently, Stats Canada reported that if an average buyer should buy a home in Toronto today, then they would need three quarters of their family income to carry the cost.

With the drastic increase on home prices, the cost of rental accommodations shot up. The average rental for a two-bedroom condo is now over $2,000. Rental price for a house is about $3,000 plus utilities.

There is a shortage of rental properties and investors are cashing in.

Richard, a first-time investor, bought a home in Pickering last September for $600,000. He borrowed the required 20% down payment from his current home as a home equity line of credit. The other 80%was financed by the lender. His tenant pays $2,800.00 plus utilities every month, a little short of Richard’s carrying cost of $3,000. This is great since Richard literally financed the property fully and we did not take the principal reduction on his mortgage into account.

His investment property climbed by ten percent in just five months. Richard is $60,000 wealthier in five months and he has generated an income stream of $33,600 annually. In a few years, his mortgage owing will decrease and the rent will increase. Richard explains that the interest paid on his line of credit and his mortgage and property tax on the rental property is tax deductible. He is a careful investor and is happy with just one rental property.

With inflation, the buying power of the dollar drops. Over the past ten years, Canada’s inflation rate stayed at about 2% yearly and as such in ten years, prices should only climb by 20%. However, real estate prices have more than doubled, defying the current inflation rate. The rapid rise in real estate in the GTA is because of low supply and high demand. Immigration is a major contributing factor. Most people choose to live within

proximity to work and many buyers do not want to travel long distances. This trend is happening only in the big cities while the suburbs are suffering. To surf the waves, we must get on top; we must be prepared.

First time buyers should be prequalified before shopping. This way, they can buy within their price range. Rebecca wanted to buy a home with an in-law suite. Her purchase price must not exceed $600,000. Her job requirement poses a major restriction and she settles for a condo in the city. Her rational is that instead of paying rent, she can contribute towards her own home. Joan, another first-time buyer, chooses to relocate to the suburbs where she can enjoy a home with all the amenities of a million-dollar Toronto home for a price tag of $600,000. She has the flexibility to work from home.

In a market where properties are scarce, it’s best to buy first before selling. Manpreet sold his home in October with an end of January closing. He then proceeded to search for another property. The market changed direction and prices climbed substantially. His loss was enormous because prices climbed at a rate of $15,000 per month. Sue, on the other hand, bought first and then decided to sell.

The property she bought went up by $50,000 in a few months and her current property gained a whopping $30,000 in value. Time is on her side.

With bidding, many buyers are losing out once their offers are subject to financing and inspection. Sellers tend to go with unconditional offers. This is a dangerous strategy for buyers with limited down payments.

Shushan was pre-qualified by the bank for $850,000. There were six other offers on the home he purchased. His realtor advised that an unconditional offer is the best way to secure the property. The sellers accepted the offer but prior to the closing date, Shushan’s lender reported that the property was appraised for $800,000. Shushan had 20 % or an equivalent of $170,000 as his down payment.

The bank financed 80% of $800,000--that’s $640,000. Now, Shushan needs $210,000 ($850,000- $640,000) to complete the transaction. In desperation, he arranged a private second mortgage for $40,000 at 12 % which costs him an extra $421.00 monthly.

It’s difficult to predict the outcome in real estate. What is certain is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to own a home.

With high rent, it is tough to save for a down payment. First time buyers should look at alternative ways to get out of the rental trap.

Homeowners should use some of the equity in their current home to re-invest in a second home. Do not overextend because the wind may change.

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PAGE 44

FINANCE

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Investment yield curve FAZAAD BACCHUS fazaad@carib101.com

FINANCE SPECIALIST

What’s in store this year for investors? This is a good question. This has been the longest running bull market, meaning a gain market in the last thirty years. The environment has been accustomed to a seven year cycle and it was expected that we should have seen a recession somewhere about 2015. Well 2015 has come and gone and if you are like most investors, you are probably wondering when the next recession will be, especially if you think it’s overdue.

Clients are wondering and watching in both hope and fear. Advisors and financial professionals are also watching but with a different sets of metrics.

One of the number one way professionals look at the market indicator is

through a measurement called the yield curve. A yield curve is a line that plots yields (interest rates) of bonds having equal credit quality but differing maturity dates. The slope of the yield curve gives an idea of future interest rate changes and economic activity. There are three main types of yield curve shapes: normal (upward sloping curve), inverted (downward sloping curve) and flat.

A normal or upward yield curve indicates that there is an expected period of expansion. When investors see the curve as being normal, they are encouraged to invest as there is expected growth in the economy. When the curve is flat, it may represent either moving from an upward to a flat or a negative to a flat. When moving from an upward position, this yield curve tends to worry professionals as it is indicating a flattening of market expectations, it may revert to an upward slope or could move negative.

The fear is always when the yield curve moves to a negative position. When this happens, more often than not it signals that a recession is forthcoming. Portfolio managers tend to look at this curve

and begin analysis to see when the recession might actually hit, which could be as early as six months from the inversion. All the same, they do look for other factors like housing starts, unemployment etc, to be able to come to a prediction.

Currently the yield curve is positive, housing starts are still high, and unemployment is still low. This means that there is no sign of a recession. However, no sign does not mean impossible, it just means that all the fundamentals for a good market are still in front of us.

So as an investor, what direction should you take? Well each investor can tolerate a certain amount of risk, but no investor wants a loss. A loss happens when you close off your account, a common mistake when markets are down. If you are uncertain about the markets, you can ask you advisor to assess the amount of risk in your portfolio and de-risk, meaning lowering your risk. Perhaps you may consider adding more bonds in your portfolio or simply reduce your equity position.

At the end of the day, staying invested is usually better for you.

Tomorrow is not guaranteed so be special #Mamba9 ANDREW STEWART andrew@carib101.com

FAMILY ADVISOR

Sunday, January 26th, 2020, will be a day that I and so many others won’t forget. It’s the day that felt like the world stopped for a moment in disbelief. The day when at first you saw the news you hoped it was a hoax or fake. I remember very vividly where I was, what I was doing and the first sentence out of my mouth when I found out.

I was on my couch watching TV with my youngest daughter on my lap. My partner’s mother was on her phone and read out loud in a shocked voice “Kobe Bryant dies in a helicopter crash.” My first words were “No way that is real” then I turned the channel to CNN and there it was.

The 41-year-old NBA legend Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others killed when their helicopter crashed in Calabasas California. Then my phone starting ringing and messages started flowing in. The story kept changing, first,

it was five people then it was all his daughters were involved then it was Rick Fox that was on the helicopter. When the dust finally started to settle the other victims were John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their basketball-playing daughter Alyssa; mother and daughter Sarah and Payton Chester; Mamba Academy basketball coach Christina Mauser; and pilot Ara Zobayan.

We lose people every day, minute by minute, but fairly or unfairly it seems that when a celebrity passes away tragically the world stops and tunes in. The other families devastated by this event get caught up in the wash and are mentioned less. People around the world are touched or affected in some way. It changes us inside and we are never quite the same again.

Within minutes of the story breaking, there were millions of social media posts honoring the Bryant family with pictures, videos, and pop-up shrines.

I wrote in one of my tribute post that I admittedly wasn’t a Kobe Bryant fan.

You see sports encourages us to choose who our favorite player is, which team, country or city we represent and I chose not to be a Kobe Bryant fan for whatever reason. But what I had to admit to my friend who is a diehard Laker fan was his tenacity to be one of the greatest basketball players to have ever lived.

This is why the title of this article is Mamba 9. Kobe was synonymous with what he called the Mamba Mentality. To sum up, what Mamba Mentality is, it means to be able to constantly try to be the best version of you. The 9 people who lost their lives that day were going to a place to be their versions of their best selves. As I write this article I’m still in a daze and hurting. I try to understand, be empathetic to the family members left behind but all I keep saying is “I don’t know what I would do if that was me.”

Since then I’ve been glued to my phone watching an interview by an athlete, movie star, or celebrity sharing their personal stories about Kobe Bryant. Tragedy has this uncanny way of bringing us together because of our grief and disbelief with the situation. I have made a pact with myself to turn up the volume of my Mamba Mentality. To fight fear whenever it enters my heart and mind regarding goals I want to accomplish. To treat each day with more respect and be a do just a little bit more each day to spread joy and love to people.

I encourage all of you reading this article to channel your inner Mamba Mentality and strive to be the best version of yourself starting today! Thank You, Kobe Bean Bryant!

Celebrating Black History

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SPORTS Gone but never forgotten: Kobe and Gianna Bryant

PAGE 46

KAYLA KARIM

kayla@carib101.com

TC REPORTER Kobe Bryant was not only known as an athlete, but a role model for many of his fans. His ‘Mamba Mentality’ that transcribed into his attitude and work ethic made him internationally known. Kobe, a person who can be identified by just his first name was known for his dominance in the NBA and his leadership off the court. He won five championships, had 15 All-Star Game appearances, four All-Star MVP Award, two NBA Finals MVP Awards and a regular-season MVP Award. He retired in 2016 after a 20 year run in the Association.

On Sunday January 26th 2020, the never expected happened.

Kobe Bryant along with his daughter Gianna Bryant and 7 other people were on a helicopter that lost control and crashed killing every person on board. The chopper was on its way to Gianna’s basketball practice, a game that Kobe and his daughter shared.

This news was instantly spread around the world and within the day, memorials were set up honouring the international icon. Sunday was still game day for some teams including the Toronto Raptors. They were facing the San Antonio Spurs in Texas and heard the news only 30 minutes prior to tip off. Upon hearing the news, the San Antonio Spurs organization held a moment of silence for the individuals that were lost in the crash, and then when the ball was tipped

both teams took 24 second violations in honour of the legend.

Around the league as the news was delivered, players paid tribute in their own ways. Many teams took 8 and 24 second violations to remember Kobe, other teams showed up to practice in jerseys that were numbered 8 or 24 to show their respect.

And while Kobe will be painfully missed, there was also his daughter Gianna Bryant who was becoming a star herself.

Gigi, as many knew her, was a WNBA star in the making. She was an active basketball player and was a fan of the University of Connecticut Huskies Women’s team. Mambacita, her other nickname that goes hand in hand with her dad’s ‘Black Mamba’ nickname, was honoured by the UCONN Huskies with a No. 2 jersey.

Team USA guard Sue Bird, a former Husky declined to bring the ball across midcourt resulting in an 8-second violation – again to honour Kobe Bryant.

The father and daughter attended several UCONN Husky games over the past few years sitting courtside and taking in the talent on the hardwood.

Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife and mother of his 4 kids spoke for the first time since the accident saying:

“My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them.

We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe -- the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna -- a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.”

Kobe, Gianna and the 7 other passengers on the flight will surely be missed by the NBA, WNBA and around the world.

Toronto Caribbean News | www.TOCaribNews.com | Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Maple Leafs playoff struggle Maple Leafs playoff spot hangs in the balance MARCEL MARIAK marcel@carib101.com

TC JUNIOR REPORTER

Despite their recent improvement under new head-coach, Sheldon Keefe, the Maple Leafs have a tough fight ahead of them if they want to catch a spot in the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Leafs’ play has improved dramatically since the firing of former head coach, Mike Babcock.

They broke their losing streak and began to look like a cohesive unit on the ice. Unfortunately, their performance is still very shaky.

Leafs’ head coach, Sheldon Keefe, described their gameplay as “immature” after a loss to the Chicago Black Hawks a few weeks prior. The Leafs lack consistency and struggle to carry a winning streak for any meaningful amount of time.

If the Maple Leafs want a guaranteed playoff spot, they’ll have to be at least third in their division. At the moment, they hold fourth place in the Atlantic Division. Above them in the standings with only a two-point lead are the Florida Panthers (there’s no ice or snow in Florida, yet they play better than the Toronto Maple Leafs… interesting). Prima facie, securing the playoff spot for the Leafs seems easy: they simply have to win a few of their next games. Unfortunately, the Panthers are a very dangerous team. They currently hold a sixgame winning streak and have played one less game than the Leafs; giving them lots of leeway for error.

With the inconsistency of their gameplay, it’s difficult to predict whether or not the Leafs will be able to fight their way into a playoff spot. Sure, even if they don’t get into the top three in the standings, they can still catch a seat in the playoffs by being a wildcard; but no team wants to have their playoff spot hanging by a thread.

Although the Leafs are now under more pressure to perform, they still have over thirty games left in the season to secure a play-

off spot. The Maple Leafs won their last game against the Nashville Predators (5-2). The Leafs were playing on the road, but that didn’t stop them from putting on a show. They started the game strong after a beautiful pass from Rasmus Sandin set Nylander up for an impressive breakaway goal. Nashville tied up the game soon after but the Leafs quickly took back the lead with another first-period goal and kept their lead for the remainder of the game. The whole team played well. They looked calm, collected, and confident in their play. Leafs’ goaltender, Andersen, performed well as usual; saving multiple point-blank shots and helping carry the Maple Leafs to a decisive victory on the road.

The win gives hope to Leafs fans and players alike. After a tough start to the season that included injuries, firings, and drama both on and off the ice, nothing would be sweeter than seeing the Maple Leafs win a spot in the playoffs. If that’s to happen, though, the Leafs need to improve their game big time! Winning games means nothing if they can’t maintain a consistently high standard of play. Consistency is even more important if they manage to get into the playoffs, where they’ll be facing off against the best hockey teams in the world and every mistake or blunder will be exploited.

If the Leafs make it into the playoffs, the truth is that the chances of them winning the Stanley Cup are slim. When pitted against powerhouse teams like the Washington Capitals or Boston Bruins, the Maple Leafs are notorious for cracking under pressure. Hopefully, Sheldon Keefe can continue having success as the commander of the Maple Leafs. Ever since he became head coach, the team has experienced tremendous improvement.

Regardless, of whether or not Toronto will find success in the playoffs or even get a spot; hardcore Toronto hockey fans will always be proud and supportive of their hometown boys. Until the playoffs, all we can do as fans is support our team and keep our fingers crossed, hoping for a swift improvement in consistency.

Still, there’s always a chance that the Maple Leafs will find their rhythm and evolve into a truly fearsome hockey club! We’ve seen this team’s true potential on the ice before; all they need is to consistently maintain a high level of play. If they can manage that, the Toronto Maple Leafs will quickly become a force to be reckoned with.

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