“In 2025, mainstream media continues to systematically underreport one of Canada’s most pressing human rights issues: the exploitation of temporary foreign workers who sustain our food supply, healthcare, and service sectors...”
Rising Beyond Barriers: The Journey of Tanya C. Walker
At first, you are told, “Girl, it’s a man’s world. You need to grow up and work twice as hard.” Your morning alphabet cereal decodes, spelling: “Ivy League, UBC, and U of T.” You glance twice in the mirror, one day realizing that both your fashion sense and professional future are in for an uphill battle, as your forehead reads in French, “Here died Wolfe.” Why? Unfairly considered, not only are you a woman, but you are also quite young and inexperienced.
Add to this the classification as a minority raised by an immigrant family—what do you do? Lisa took a walk downtown along Yonge Street, stopping at the corner in front of 1 Adelaide Street East to find a person who can calmly embrace our disposition and counter our feelings of unfairness with relief through her own personal insight. Who better than a litigation lawyer who begs to differ with a resounding argument?
So, we headed up to the 25th floor for Lisa’s appointment with Ms. Tanya C. Walker. Even more impressive than George Jefferson, Tanya moved on up to a “deluxe full” office in the sky. Sauntering with a confident click in her heels, she holds her legally brown head proudly atop her nearly six-foot frame. Walker glides through her firm, beyond any required preparation, to welcome us.
Her smile sparkled with an affirmed knowingness: she is good enough. Why? That name on the wall said it all. After her signature smile, we toured the firm before sitting down. In customary Walker Law hospitality, we were offered light refreshments and eased into our discussion.
In the heart of Toronto’s legal world, at the vibrant corner of Yonge and Adelaide, stands a woman who challenges the conventions of her field, and wins. From the sacred halls of Catholic elementary schools to the bustling skyline office of Bay Street, Tanya C. Walker’s path has been anything but ordinary.
Born to Jamaican parents and
raised in Canada, Walker emerged from a foundation where core values, discipline, and faith shaped both her dreams and her determination. Early in life, she absorbed the hard lessons of a world that, too often, reminded her: “Girl, it’s a man’s world. You need to grow up and work twice as hard.” Even the morning cereal spelled out a future full of ambition: Ivy League, UBC, U of T. Each glance in the mirror revealed not only a young woman, but a pioneer ready to take on uphill battles, her very brow branded with the unyielding history of those who came before.
Her journey is marked by the dual challenges of youth and inexperience, compounded further by being a minority and the daughter of immigrants. Yet, Walker turned these labels into launching pads, not limitations. I set out to find the source of such resilience, and the elevator rose to the 25th floor, where Walker’s law firm commands a panoramic view of the city, and of possibility.
Ms. Tanya C. Walker greeted us with the poise of someone who has long since realized her worth. Her signature smile, sparkling with quiet confidence, set the tone for a tour of the firm’s sleek halls and bustling offices. Hospitality was more than a custom; it was an extension of Walker Law’s core values, and our conversation flowed as easily as the light refreshments offered.
Reflections on injustice and identity Walker’s story is not just one of professional triumph; it’s a narrative woven with the threads of adversity faced and overcome. During a 2012 interview, she cited Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” as a touchstone for her own experience with injustice. “I can relate to the injustices Pecola experienced because of the gender, class, and racial discrimination I have faced in my own life,” she shared, drawing a compelling parallel to the quiet assessments she’s encountered based on pedigree and background rather than
intellect or competence. “I feel a connection with Pecola in that frustration when we interact with people who do not know us but are quick to make judgments about us.”
The cool nerd: Breaking stereotypes from the start Walker recalls her high school days as a time of balancing relentless academic diligence with a zest for life, participating in cultural celebrations like Caribana while also being, as she calls it, “the cool nerd.” She questioned everything, refusing to conform to expectations about friendship dictated by skin colour, or gender and forging bonds across traditional divides. Her curiosity and drive for understanding have remained steadfast, fueling her journey through a profession that so often demands proof of belonging.
A moral for the next generation Tanya C. Walker’s ascent is a testament to the power of self-belief and the courage to challenge assumptions. Her story teaches us that true greatness is not measured by the schools we attend, or the titles our parents hold, but by the persistence with which we pursue our dreams and the integrity we bring to every challenge.
Moral of the story: In a world eager to define you by your differences, let those very differences be the source of your strength. Stand tall, question boldly, and never let others limit your vision of what’s possible.
Litigation lawyer Tanya C. Walker was serving a term as Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada; elected by her peers as not only the first Black elected female Bencher from Toronto in the 220-year history of the Law Society, but also as one of the youngest sitting Benchers. Her sights are still set on the seat as Superior Court Judge.
Written by Lisa Thompson Toronto Caribbean News
Photo Credit: Lisa Thompson
Will U.S. chemical loopholes poison Canada’s food and legal system?
SIMONE SMITH
When Americans vote on their: food, air, and water policies, Canadians often end up breathing the consequences. It seems like now is no different with the latest U.S. House Appropriations Bill, which includes two quiet, but deeply concerning provisions: Section 453 and Section 507. These sections could become legal backdoors for toxic exposure, weakening the safeguards that Canadians rely on to protect: our health, our food, and our environment.
Section 453 proposes shielding chemical and pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits, even when those products harm people. If passed, farmers, families, and entire communities will lose their right to sue if a pesticide causes cancer, or illness, as long as the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) hasn’t officially flagged it. Even if new science proves a product harmful, or if past EPA assessments were flawed, or outdated, the legal door would stay closed. The implications are chilling.
Section 507, on the other hand, is about PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” These synthetic substances don’t break down in the environment and have been linked to cancer, hormonal disruption, and developmental issues. Section
507 would block the EPA from regulating PFAS in sewage sludge, one of the key ways these chemicals enter soil and water systems. In short: it tells regulators to look away.
Why should Canadians care?
Canada imports a huge portion of its: fruits, vegetables, grains, processed goods, and consumer packaging from the United States. Many of the pesticides used in U.S. agriculture show up in Canadian grocery stores often at residue levels higher than what Canadian regulations allow. We have seen this before.
Take glyphosate, the controversial herbicide found in Roundup. In 2021, Canada raised its allowable limits under pressure from multinational agrochemical companies, many based in the U.S. This happened despite growing scientific concern, despite international backlash, and with very little public consultation. Why? Well, because our trade agreements and regulatory harmonization strategies often mean that what the U.S. does, Canada follows.
Have you heard about Agent Orange? Agent Orange wasn’t just sprayed in Vietnam. It was tested in New Brunswick in the 1950s to 1980s. Millions of kilograms of defoliants were sprayed near CFB Gagetown, leaving a legacy of toxic exposure that still affects communities today.
From the Great Lakes to the jet stream, pollutants don’t ask for passports. When U.S. industries dump more into the air and water due to weakened rules, that mess doesn’t stay put. It drifts north, seeps in, and settles here. Studies during the
clining air quality in Canadian border communities.
So, what happens if Canadians are harmed by U.S.-origin chemicals, and we can’t sue? We are in legal limbo. If Section 453 passes, even Canadians affected by products like glyphosate may lose the ability to seek compensation in U.S. courts. Canadian law doesn’t always have jurisdiction. Worse still, it sets a precedent: if the U.S. can shield its companies from accountability, what’s to stop Canadian lawmakers from doing the same?
We should be asking tough questions:
• Will Canadian regulators tighten import inspections if U.S. protections erode?
• Can provinces act independently to shield their residents?
• What happens to Canadian food safety if U.S. companies get blanket immunity from lawsuits?
These are part of an unfolding policy shift that demands public attention, before it’s too late. It’s about your strawberries in February. Your takeout burger wrapper. The air your kid breathes near a border town. It’s about whether your community can hold a company accountable for harm, and whether our government has the spine to push back when U.S. deregulation puts Canadian lives at risk.
So no, Canadians don’t vote in Congress, but we do vote with our oversight, our advocacy, and our vigilance. The ripple effects of Sections 453 and 507 are coming whether we like it or not. The only question is: will we be ready, or will we be blindsided?
Canada’s safety doesn’t stop at the border. When U.S. corporations get a free pass, we often pay the price. It’s time to raise our voices, demand transparency, and remind our leaders: imported goods shouldn’t come with imported risks.
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Celebrating Culture, Community, and Connection This Carnival Weekend
This weekend, the streets of Toronto come alive in a way only they can— vibrant music, colourful costumes, infectious energy, and the shared joy of Caribbean culture. It’s time once again for Toronto Caribbean Carnival, and while many know it for the breathtaking parade and pulsating soca rhythms, its roots run much deeper.
The Carnival, which began in 1967 as “Caribana,” was gifted to Canada by Caribbean immigrants as a celebration of culture, freedom, and resilience. Inspired by the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, the event honours a legacy of survival and spirit— tracing back to a time when enslaved Africans used celebration as a form of resistance and self-expression. When emancipation finally came, they danced through the streets in masquerade—claiming space, culture, and joy that was always theirs.
And more than 50 years later, that spirit continues.
This isn’t just a parade. It’s a living, breathing, moving tribute to the generations that came before us. It’s community coming together through music, food, fashion, and rhythm. It’s children waving flags, grandparents cooking big pots of food, and strangers becoming family under the summer sun.
But what makes this weekend truly special isn’t just the spectacle— it’s the people. The connections. The feeling of home, even in the middle of a crowd of thousands. It’s the opportunity to take a step back from the rush of our lives and be present—to laugh, to hug, to hold hands, to celebrate who we are and who we’ve come from.
So if you’re heading to the
parade this weekend, or simply catching up with family and friends at a backyard lime, take a moment to look around. Soak it in. These are the memories that last. These are the moments that remind us why we work so hard.
Support your friends with small businesses who are popping up with food tents, handmade crafts, or carnival-themed merch. Follow your local artists and performers online, share their work, show up for their shows. Our community thrives when we pour back into it.
And remember—not everyone has someone to celebrate with. If you know a senior who can’t get out to the festivities, maybe drop by with a plate of food. If you know someone who recently moved to Canada or is experiencing their first Carnival, invite them to come along. Let’s be intentional about keeping our arms open and our tables welcoming.
In a world that’s constantly trying to rush us, festivals like these slow us down just enough to feel something real. Whether it’s the beat of the drum, the smell of jerk chicken in the air, or the sweet voice of someone saying, “I’m so glad you came”— there’s a kind of healing in this togetherness. Let’s never take that for granted.
To our community near and far, whether you’re celebrating on the Lakeshore, hosting your own backyard jam, or reflecting quietly on what this weekend means—we see you, we love you, and we’re grateful for the culture you carry and share.
Happy Carnival weekend. Be safe, be joyful, and most importantly—be together.
Four baby
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
You stand in the soft glow of your kitchen light, spoon in hand, watching as your baby grins, lips spotted with apple puree. Each bite feels like love, like protection, but what if that innocent smile is at risk from the very foods you trust most?
It sounds like the plot of a medical thriller, but this is reality: behind reassuring labels, some of the most common baby foods: organic, storebought, or homemade, may be laced with heavy metals known to harm the developing brain. The first 1,000 days of your child’s life set the stage for everything ahead, and repeated, invisible exposures to toxins like arsenic and lead during this time can have consequences that last a lifetime.
Let’s uncover the four unex-
foods you didn’t expect to contain heavy metals; What every parent should know
pected baby foods that experts say every parent should rethink.
Brown rice syrup – The “healthy” sweetener with a dangerous secret
Once heralded as a more natural alternative, brown rice syrup is now under scrutiny for its alarming ability to concentrate inorganic arsenic, a neurotoxin with links to developmental delays. Some rice-based syrups have tested above 100 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic, ten times the FDA limit for water.
Expert tip: “Parents may not realize that even organic sweeteners like brown rice syrup can carry concentrated doses of arsenic.”
Apple-cinnamon blends – Tasty, but a hidden source of lead
The aroma of apples and cinnamon is a childhood classic, yet beneath that familiar scent may lurk lead. Sourced from contaminated regions, cinnamon has been identified as the culprit in massive 2023 recalls of apple-cinnamon baby foods, some containing lead at levels 2,000 times above safety recommendations.
Expert tip: “Spices like cinna-
mon can be a major source of lead in baby foods, even in small amounts.”
Teething snacks & rice-based puffs –Small, crunchy, and cumulative They dissolve on the tongue and ease sore gums, but teething snacks and rice puffs (offered throughout the day) can add up to big trouble. Rice is a magnet for arsenic, and repeated servings can push exposure far beyond safe limits, according to lab reports.
Expert tip: “Because these snacks are eaten so frequently, even low levels of metals can add up fast.”
Multigrain cereals — Not as safe as they seem
The “multigrain” promise offers comfort, but many such cereals are mostly rice. Testing has found that some contain over 80 ppb inorganic arsenic posing unexpected risk for babies expected to thrive on these staples.
Expert tip: “Even mixed-grain products can be dominated by rice, making them a hidden source of arsenic.”
A growing body of scientists and pediatricians warn; no amount of
arsenic, or lead is truly safe for infants. A few seemingly harmless spoons of baby food can, over time, lead to developmental hurdles, learning challenges, and increased risk of autism, even when parents do everything right. During critical stages of brain development, repeated exposure through everyday foods can have lifelong impacts.
What can parents do?
• Choose alternatives: Try baby foods and cereals made from oats, barley, or other non-rice grains.
• Check recalls: Stay alert for baby food recalls regarding heavy metals.
• Favour simple snacks: Use whole, single-ingredient foods whenever possible.
• Seek support: If you suspect exposure, or harm, consult legal and medical experts in neurodevelopmental safety.
Your love is the ingredient that matters most. Scrutinize, question, and protect, because your child deserves a future built on safety, a safety that only you as a parent can offer.
Two days. One Caribbean spirit. Endless Vibes at Harbourfront
PAUL JUNOR
paul@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
The first-ever Caribbean Vibrations Festival turned Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre into a vibrant, pulsing tribute to Caribbean culture over two unforgettable days: Saturday, July 12th, and Sunday, July 13th, 2025.
Crowds gathered to experience the: food, music, stories, and spirit of
everyone.
“We’re proud to bring together the sounds, flavours, and stories of the Caribbean under one roof to celebrate our shared identity and community spirit,” said Alain Arthur, Executive Producer of Caribbean Vibrations TV, in a press release issued ahead of the event. The festival was described as “A dynamic two-day celebration of Caribbean food, culture, music, and artistry,” a vision realized with energy and style.
On Saturday, hosts Kevin Carrington (“The Voice”) and Dr. Jay (“The Soca Prince”) set the tone. With top-tier Soca, calypso, reggae, and dancehall music keeping spirits high, the main stage came alive.
David Rudder, calypso legend from Trinidad and Tobago, delivered a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing performance. The audience sang every word, proof of Rudder’s enduring impact and
the emotional resonance of his music. Ammoye, a 7-time Juno Award nominee, showcased her vocal range and magnetic stage presence. Fusing reggae, soul, and dancehall, she captivated the crowd with effortless flair.
Closing the night, Dwayne Morgan, recent Order of Ontario recipient, offered a masterclass in dub poetry, his verses both sharp and soulful.
Sunday’s events opened on the Stage in the Park with a high-energy roster of DJs including Steph Honey, Chozenine, and Carl Allen, spinning reggae, Soca, Afrobeat, and more. Music filled the air, kids danced freely, and families explored the diverse offerings from dozens of local vendors.
From Caribbean cuisine and handmade crafts to cultural storytelling and dance, the festival reflected the breadth of the Diaspora’s creativity and contribution.
One of the most anticipated moments came when Laura Williams was announced as the winner of an allinclusive trip for two to Jamaica. Sponsored by the Jamaica Tourism Board, with flights provided by Air Transat and accommodations by Palladium Hotels & Resorts, the giveaway was a fitting tribute to the festival’s spirit of celebration and connection.
On Tuesday, July 15th, Caribbean Vibrations TV shared a heartfelt wrap-up on Facebook, “Two days. Endless moments. One unforgettable celebration of Caribbean culture. From the rhythms to the rum, the fashion to the flags, the vibes were unmatched. Moments that made us: laugh, dance, and feel right at home.”
To stay updated on future events or Caribbean culture year-round, visit: Caribvibetv.com
From production shocks to border surprises, companies must adapt fast
STEVEN KASZAB
steven@carib101.com
TC COLUMNIST
are sourced globally, meaning businesses must now manage sudden expenses, adjust sourcing strategies, and build flexibility into their planning. Expect the unexpected. The cost of a single material can spike more than 25–50% overnight, something few businesses have prepared for.
What are we seeing today?
Sudden price jumps mid-production
Vendors choosing between absorbing costs, or passing them on
A shift toward U.S.-based sourcing for stability
• Increased interest in long-term customized projects for cost control
• Manufacturers reengineering products to avoid tariffed materials
• Teams dedicating time to constant research and industry updates
How to stay ahead
• Use exchange rates strategically to offset tariff costs and protect your margins
• Prioritize domestic suppliers to avoid tariffs altogether
• Plan relentlessly. Know your products, their origin, and every cost detail
Cross-border business? Be ready If you’re heading south, know exactly what’s in your vehicle and where it was made. Carry full documentation. Even if you’ve stayed under your $800 dutyfree limit, you may still face additional charges at the border. Most goods are now tariffed. It’s less about policy and more about profit; plain and simple. Business is evolving. Costs are rising. Staying informed isn’t optional—it’s survival.
“Tariffs are a heavy, progressive, and graduated income tax.” — Karl Marx
I didn’t choose this path. It chose me, in a hospital room, recovering from fibroid surgery, wondering how many other African Caribbean women would silently suffer through the same pain I endured, and for what? For “beauty.” For conformity. For products that claim to celebrate us while poisoning us.
That was my wake-up call. I know this story all too well. I am one of the many African-Caribbean women who spent decades using hair relaxers, scented lotions, and synthetic braiding hair, products that promised beauty, but delivered pain. My fibroid surgery was a personal wake-up call, one that forced me to confront a truth we have been taught to ignore; beauty shouldn’t hurt.
Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Lizzie Fletcher, Doris Matsui, and Ayanna Pressley introduced landmark legislation in the United States
that could change the game: The Safer Beauty Bill Package. It’s a set of four bills designed to ban some of the most dangerous chemicals from beauty and personal care products, increase supply chain transparency, and protect those most at risk—namely women of colour and professional salon workers.
African-Caribbean women have always been over-exposed and underprotected when it comes to health. A 22year Boston University study found that African-American women who regularly used relaxers were at a 50% higher risk of uterine cancer. Another study showed a 30% increased risk of breast cancer from long-term use of lye-based products. Even synthetic braiding hair, a staple in our cultural expression, has tested positive for carcinogens and volatile organic compounds.
While Canada limits formaldehyde concentration in beauty products, countless other harmful chemicals still fall through the cracks.
We deserve better, and we are not the problem; regulation is.
The United States FDA has only banned or restricted 15 cosmetic chemicals since 1938. The European Union? Over 2,400. In the past two years alone, states like California and Vermont banned over 40 chemicals combined.
MoCRA, passed in 2022, was a start, but it didn’t go far enough. The Safer Beauty Bill Package picks up where MoCRA left off targeting the racial and occupational inequities in who bears the burden.
This hits close to home.
As a Canadian woman of African-Caribbean descent, we are told to be proud of our roots but punished by systemic negligence when we try to care for them. Whether it’s a 12-year-old girl in Brampton trying her first relaxer before picture day, or a hair stylist in Scarborough spending 12 hours a day braiding synthetic hair, our people are exposed daily, and not by choice.
It’s not enough to tell our girls to “love themselves” if we’re handing them toxic tools to do it.
The Safer Beauty Bill Package demands:
• A ban on the worst chemicals, including lead, mercury, formaldehyde, phthalates, and parabens.
• Full transparency, so consumers can finally know what’s in their products, and what those ingredients actually do.
• Targeted protections for salon workers and communities of colour, including federal oversight of synthet-
ic hair safety.
• Supply chain accountability, forcing brands to clean up their act from ingredient sourcing to shelf.
This is a diasporic issue. What happens in the American beauty industry reverberates throughout the global African beauty market, including here in Canada. While we work to hold Canadian policymakers accountable, we must also amplify and support progressive legislation like this.
We need courageous leadership, on both sides of the border.
I am calling on: educators, health advocates, nonprofits, aunties, cousins, stylists, and sisters: talk about this. Share the stats. Challenge the brands. Ask your MP what they’re doing to ensure regulatory modernization in Canada mirrors these bold moves in the U.S.
We cannot afford to be silent when our health is on the line.
My fibroid journey taught me that beauty should never come at the cost of my body, my peace, or my future. I don’t want another woman, especially not our girls, to go through the confusion, pain, and neglect I did.
Let’s demand better. Together. Beauty should empower us, not endanger us.
Black youth shine at Lifelong Leadership Institute Graduation Ceremony
paul@carib101.com
It’s been nine years since the Lifelong Leadership Institute (LLI) launched its flagship program, Leadership by Design. What began as a bold idea has grown into a transformational leadership journey for: Black, African, and Caribbean high school students in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
On Saturday, June 28th, 2025, LLI celebrated the graduation of Cohort 22 at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. More than 50 Grade 12 students walked across the stage, surrounded by proud parents, community
leaders, and supporters from across Ontario, even as far as Niagara. Under the guidance of LLI Chair Trevor Massey and the Board of Directors, the celebration offered a moment of legacy and pride.
Kurt Davis, Ambassador to Jamaica, was among the distinguished guests. In his remarks, he praised the LLI for its focus on mentorship, skills training, and community empowerment. “You are equipped and empowered to take on the challenges before you,” he told graduates.
Student voices from Cohort 22 echoed this message of empowerment. Chiamaka Achiso, who is heading to the University of Ottawa, reflected on the experience. “This program makes us feel, see, and know that our voices matter,” she said.
Ethan Walling, a York Region District School Board graduate pursuing engineering at the University of Western Ontario, emphasized the traits
he developed: “Leadership means being resourceful, resilient, self-aware, and focused.”
Angelika Bell, graduating from William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute in the Toronto District School Board, shared her excitement about attending Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, after receiving several scholarships.
The evening included a standout performance by Juno Award–winning artist Lorraine Klaasen. The daughter of South African jazz legend Thandi Klaasen, Lorraine’s voice filled the room with energy and emotion. Her multilingual music, rooted in Soweto and shaped by global influence, reminded the audience of the unifying power of culture and legacy.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Avis Glaze, renowned educator and former Director of the York Region District School Board, offered wisdom, humour, and heart. In a personal and engaging
speech, she spoke about her journey from Ontario to British Columbia, her decision to marry at age 60, and the origins of the Lifelong Leadership Institute.
Dr. Glaze’s message centered on the deep, generational lessons she learned from her grandmother. With storytelling charm, she shared proverbs and sayings that left the audience inspired and reflective. “It is never too late,” she said, referencing both life choices and the pursuit of leadership.
The celebration concluded with personalized congratulations from LLI Directors to each graduate. Many students received special scholarships in recognition of their academic excellence and leadership potential. For more information about the Lifelong Leadership Institute and how to get involved, visit www.lifelongleaders.on.ca.
How Tied Visas Sustain Exploitation of Caribbean Migrant Workers in “Polite” Canada
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
Multicultural Canada. North America’s melting pot. It is often framed as a vibrant mosaic: flag-waving unity, multicultural festivals, inclusive rhetoric, but for many Afro - Indo - Caribbean workers, particularly those coming through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), this shining image belies a troubling reality, one shaped by structural racism, tied visas, and exploitation.
The program that brought Caribbean workers to Canada decades ago still shackles them, not to fields, but to employers. TFWP’s structure (with closed work permits tied to a single employer) creates dependency and vulnerability. As Amnesty International’s 2025 report put it, “Many migrant workers … came to Canada hoping to secure a better future, yet instead, they felt they were treated like slaves. Labour exploitation of migrant workers is not the result of just a few unscrupulous employers. Instead, the programme enables abuses”
In 2023, Canada issued 239,646 closed work permits, with about 70 % of recipients coming from: Mexico, India, Philippines, Guatemala, or Jamaica (Human Rights Research). Meanwhile, the UN special rapporteur called TFWP a “Breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery (Amnesty International)
Of the 44 workers Amnesty interviewed, most reported: unpaid wages, 70–80-hour workweeks, zero rest days, racist abuse, unsafe housing with no clean water, and threats of deportation. One Cameroonian woman was forced to work 70 - 80 hours per week on a farm, fell ill, and was left without status when she protested (Amnesty International).
These conditions aren’t reserved for rural sectors alone. Afro - Caribbean professionals in urban settings face subtler racism: being passed over for promotions, denied rentals, or told they “Don’t fit the culture.”
can avoid hiring Canadian workers through loopholes in TFWP, even as unemployment rises. Labour experts warn such program expansion deepens exploitation rather than alleviating labour shortages (The Star).
Why should Canadians care?
In 2025, mainstream media continues to systematically underreport one of Canada’s most pressing human rights issues: the exploitation of temporary foreign workers who sustain our food supply, healthcare, and service sectors. Despite their essential contributions, these workers face tied visas that trap them with specific employers, precarious residency status that leaves them vulnerable to abuse, and discriminatory policies that deny them pathways to permanent residency. The silence around these injustices reflects deep structural problems in how news organizations: prioritize stories, allocate resources, and navigate political sensitivities around immigration and labor rights.
The media’s failure to adequately cover migrant worker issues reveals a troubling pattern of selective visibility that privileges some stories while marginalizing others. Shrinking newsroom budgets have decimated investigative journalism capacity just when it’s needed most to expose complex systemic problems.
Meanwhile, the very workers suffering these injustices often can’t speak out due to fear of deportation, or employer retaliation, creating a perfect storm of silence that allows exploitation to continue unchecked. It’s a democracy problem that requires citizens to: actively seek out these stories, support advocacy organizations, and demand that mainstream outlets stop treating migrant worker rights as a niche issue when they’re fundamental to our economic and moral foundations.
The consequences ripple across society:
• Food security: Tied-visa workers are essential in agriculture and food processing. Any disruption impacts all Canadians.
• Public health: Workers suffer from mental health trauma, isolation, and inadequate healthcare, straining local services and communities.
• Human rights credibility: Canada’s global standing rests on Agenda 2030 ideals, like: decent work, reduced inequalities, and strong institutions. Yet tied visas and systemic exploitation contradict those Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Agenda 8 (Decent Work) and 10
(Reduced Inequalities) are directly undermined.
Under the United Nations 2030 Agenda, Canada has committed to:
• SDG 8: Protect labour rights and promote safe working environments for all.
• SDG 10: Empower marginalized racial and migrant communities.
• SDG 16: Ensure responsive, inclusive institutions.
Canada’s continued use of tied visas exposes real contradictions between its international commitments to the United Nations 2030 Agenda, especially: SDG 8 (Decent Work) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and the documented experiences of systemic exploitation and discrimination among temporary migrant workers. These issues have not been fully remedied due to structural and legislative gaps, as well as challenges in policy coordination and enforcement.
The federal government is well aware of the abuses under the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme (TFWP), where tied visas bind workers to one employer. Incremental measures like inspections have been introduced, but comprehensive reform, such as replacing tied visas with open work permits to allow job mobility, has not been undertaken. There are reported: political, economic, and operational reasons for this inertia, including concerns about labour market impact, regulatory complexity, and competing stakeholder interests.
The government is reportedly developing a national strategy for the 2030 Agenda that focuses on: building awareness, ensuring integration across government agencies, fostering partnerships, and increasing accountability through transparent monitoring and reporting. Ongoing consultations and engagement with stakeholders are being used to identify and address policy gaps, including collecting better disaggregated data to assess progress and respond more effectively to systemic inequities.
Agenda 2030 serves as a global benchmark for Canada’s human rights credibility. Its goals require systemic changes. Scrutiny ensures Canada is held accountable and addresses contradictions between its stated values and actual treatment of marginalized populations. Without clear and coordinated action, Canada risks losing credibility and perpetuating systemic abuse.
Our challenge and collective vision As engaged citizens, Canadians (including
members of the diaspora and allies) have both the right and the responsibility to advocate for a fairer, more inclusive approach to migrant worker policy. You can participate by contacting your elected representatives at provincial and federal levels, submitting petitions, participating in public consultations, and joining coalitions with other communities and organizations that share your priorities. Attend town halls, write letters, and use social media to raise awareness and demand independent oversight and clear government accountability. For the diaspora and allies, here’s how we move forward:
1. Abolish tied visas and implement open work permits that allow job changes without fear. Migrant Rights Network calls explicitly for this transformation.
2. Permanent residency for all food sector and tied workers, including those in Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programs and caregivers.
3. Enforce national housing and labour standards across provinces and regulate recruiters and agencies.
4. Fund mental health supports that are culturally competent to address trauma from migration, racism, and isolation.
5. Demand government transparency and accountability—who gets hired, promoted, and protected—and create independent mechanisms to investigate anti- Black discrimination.
6. Build coalitions across Black, Indigenous, racialized, and non-racialized communities to elevate these issues in boardrooms, unions, and municipal forums.
Our ancestors survived enslavement, indenture, and displacement. Today, Afro - Indo - Caribbean Canadians continue to contribute to Canada’s: social, economic, and cultural heartbeat. Yet the very structures meant to include us: immigration protocols, labour regulations, often trap us instead.
We are not a footnote in Canadian history. The choice is ours: tolerate polite exclusion, or transform Canada into a nation that honours inclusion indeed, not just in festivals and speeches.
This is our invitation to collective action, pandemic- era coping-story writing, Papageno - effect resonance: to break invisible chains and to say, loudly and clearly, we belong here.
Trump-Era Tariffs threaten Canadian manufacturing and economic stability
redefined what it means to survive in this economy.
Before Trump, our financial rhythm mirrored the Toronto Stock Exchange: fluctuating, but familiar. We had slow months and strong ones, but we adjusted and stayed steady. Now, we spend our time hunting for clients who not only need our products but are willing to absorb rising costs. While our sales team focuses primarily on the Canadian market, we still do business with U.S. clients, though less and less. Tariffs have made our work harder.
Many of our American customers don’t fully grasp how tariffs affect them now, or how much worse it might get. In contrast, Canadian businesses are sharply aware of the impact. I recently spoke with an old friend who owns three cosmetic firms: two in Canada, one in the U.S. He didn’t mince words, “If the tariffs stay the same or increase, I’ll have to shut down all three.” That means over 300 people, already struggling to find steady
work, would be out of jobs. He sounded exhausted and defeated.
When the economy stumbles, consumers pull back. They stop buying anything they don’t absolutely need. Prices rise. Rent becomes harder for businesses to manage. Sales drop. The spiral continues.
This financial free fall demands action, but the government refuses to intervene in private industry. Meanwhile, businesses press forward as if everything is fine: building, expanding, ignoring the warning signs, but the signs are there. The economy is slowing. When development halts, unemployment will rise. Defaults will follow. We’re bracing for heavy losses, both public and private.
A town clerk in a nearby municipality told me that more than 38% of residents already miss their property tax payments; some indefinitely. That’s a red flag. The economic burden is building, and no one seems to have a plan.
American isolationism has crept across the border, infecting even nations that once championed openness. In Canada, politicians talk about unity, but how long will that last? There’s a growing movement to boycott American goods. Who loses in that trade war? Not just corporations. American workers. Farmers. Families. People like us. I used to find comfort in studying history, tracking its cycles, using its patterns to make sense of the present. I can’t read the future the way I once did. This stress, whether personal, professional, or national, feels unrelenting.
My company isn’t a massive corporation. We can’t afford three more years of policy chaos. I’ve always felt a deep responsibility to our 35 employees and their families. That pressure weighs heavier now. Most days, I dread the news. It rarely brings hope.
Why are African asylum seekers still left on the street?
MICHAEL THOMAS
michael@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
A new report by United Way Greater Toronto exposes the harsh reality African asylum seekers face when trying to rebuild their lives in the GTA. From unaffordable housing and job discrimination to racial bias in services, the data paints a clear picture.
Displacement and disrespect: Earlier this year, the world watched as African asylum seekers were forced to sleep outside Toronto shelters. This wasn’t due to a lack of shelter space in general; many recalled a different response when Ukrainian refugees arrived. Then, hotel rooms were available. One Ukrainian man, staying in a hotel and receiving monthly cheques, still called his situation “animal life.” That quote made mainstream news, with translation provided. No such platform was given to African migrants.
Back in 2022, when asked if financial incentives would be offered to Cana-
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
dians housing Ukrainian refugees, thenImmigration Minister Sean Fraser replied, “Everything is on the table.” That same level of urgency, compassion, or infrastructure has never been extended to African, or other racialized asylum seekers.
The disparities are everywhere: The report, co-produced with the City of Toronto and supported by the Regions of Peel and York, outlines several glaring issues:
• Many African asylum seekers can’t find stable housing and often encounter discrimination, or overcrowding
• Credential bias, systemic racism, and blocked access to training prevent qualified people from finding work.
• Culturally relevant services are scarce, especially for Black newcomers.
• Anti-Black racism seeps into every sector: housing, healthcare, employment, and social support.
One woman who moved from Toronto to Cornwall hoping for relief was met with closed shelters and silence. Cut off from her community, she had no option but to return to Peel. Others relocated to Niagara and faced the same: racism, legal barriers, and unemployment. Most came back to the GTA, still without solutions.
Real people, real pain: “I don’t
want to mention the company, but the interviewer told me he couldn’t hire a Black person, or an African,” one asylum seeker said. “They don’t trust us. I think there should be job placement programs for immigrants. It’s not easy.”
A frontline service provider noticed the same pattern: “When I look at the Ukrainian portfolio, I see a specific pathway created just for them. That’s discrimination at its finest. It’s hard not to see it.”
These stories are repeated across the report. “For Black refugees in Ontario, race and immigration status shape every outcome,” it reads. “They face poor housing conditions, economic stress, cultural isolation, and outright discrimination.”
I’ve experienced this myself. Years ago, I called about an apartment. The landlord (who sounded friendly on the phone) gave me a viewing time. When I arrived, she looked at me and said the unit was already taken. I reminded her she had invited me. Her silence told me everything.
Voices of change: I spoke with Adaoma Patterson, Director of Community Investments at United Way Greater Toronto. Her words cut through the noise: “There is no place for anti-Black racism (or any racism) in our community. People who come here aren’t deficits to Canada. They are assets. They contribute in many ways: economically, socially, and culturally.”
Jonathan, an asylum seeker from Zimbabwe, shared his experience. “I left my country because I didn’t feel safe. I spent a few years in South Africa and arrived in Canada in 2023. I heard from others that when they got here, they were told there’s no accommodation. How can people land in a country they don’t know and be told to fend for themselves?”
I also connected with Jean de Dieu Basabose, lead researcher of the report. “We started the study in response to the 2023 refugee crisis,” he explained. “Hundreds of new asylum seekers were sleeping on the streets. Most were African. We needed to understand their experience.”
When I asked him about the root of the problem, his answer was clear: “AntiBlack racism shows up everywhere. Other refugees face challenges too, but for Black asylum seekers, there’s always an added layer, because of their skin.”
Basabose understands this firsthand. He was once an asylum seeker himself.
Building Toward Solutions
Despite the damning findings, there’s a glimmer of hope. United Way Greater Toronto has launched a $400,000+ initiative to support 200 African asylum seekers, with plans to help at least 50 find secure housing. That’s a start, but it’s only a start.
“If AI could think like us, would we trust it more?”
Centaur is a brainchild of researchers using Meta’s Llama language model and a dataset called Psych-101, a massive collection of data pulled from 160 psychology experiments and over 10 million real human choices.
The point? To build an AI that can simulate how people make decisions, even in unfamiliar situations.
Imagine teaching a robot how to make a choice, not just any choice, but a decision that feels human. Something like, “Do I take the risk? Do I wait it out? Do I trust this person?”
That’s the big idea behind Centaur, a new artificial intelligence (AI) model that’s been trained to think in ways that mimic how we make decisions.
No, this isn’t science fiction. Let’s break it down together. I’m not here to drown you in tech-speak. I want you to see why this matters, especially if you’ve been side-eyeing AI like it’s a nosy neighbour with too many opinions.
What is Centaur, really?
Think of it like this; most AI models are like students who memorize the answers. Centaur is trying to think through the problem like a human would.
So... does it work? Sort of. In many tests, like one called the “two-armed bandit” (imagine a slot machine with two levers, and you have to pick the one that pays out better), Centaur made choices eerily similar to what actual people did.
Sometimes, it even outperformed older cognitive models that were custombuilt for specific experiments.
That’s impressive, but it also raises a question you might be asking right now, “If it’s doing human-like stuff, does that mean it thinks like us?”
Not so fast. Just because it acts like us doesn’t mean it understands us
Some scientists are excited about
Centaur. Others? Not so much. Critics argue that just because a model mimics our decisions doesn’t mean it feels anything. Or, that it truly understands what it’s doing.
Take this weird flex: In one memory test, Centaur remembered 256 digits in short-term memory. Most humans can barely juggle seven. It also responds in under one millisecond. That’s not just faster than your best friend answering a group text—it’s faster than most human reaction times, period.
So, yes, Centaur is useful. But it’s also... not us.
Why does this matter to you?
Let’s zoom out. Whether, or not AI models like Centaur truly think, they’re teaching us something new: about psychology, about memory, and maybe even about our own decision-making patterns.
Researchers can now run entire experiments in code before testing them with people. That means faster discoveries, more precision, and a better understanding of how we act and react as humans.
Here’s why that should matter to
you, especially if AI still feels like someone else’s business. This is the era where AI stops being a black box of mystery and starts becoming a mirror. Not a perfect one, but one that reflects our fears, our patterns, our hopes.
Learning about AI doesn’t require a PhD. Just curiosity. I want you to feel comfortable asking questions about this stuff. AI isn’t just for tech bros in hoodies. It’s shaping mental health, education, justice, creativity, your world.
Models like Centaur might not explain how the brain truly works, but they are helping scientists get a little closer. As AI continues to move into everyday life, understanding how it “thinks” is going to be part of how we protect how we think. So, the next time you hear about an AI trying to be more “human,” don’t just scroll past. Ask yourself, “Is it really learning, or just performing? What does that say about us?
When it comes to AI, the real story is about us, what we choose to teach it, and what we learn about ourselves in the process.
Can predictive policing undermine justice and community trust in Toronto?
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
In the bustling city of Toronto, a new form of law enforcement has quietly taken root; predictive policing. Marketed as a high-tech solution to crime, this AIdriven approach uses data analytics to anticipate criminal activity before it occurs. Ostensibly, it promises safer streets and more efficient policing, but beneath the surface lies a troubling history of bias, surveillance, and the potential erosion of community trust, especially among African-Caribbean and racialized neighborhoods.
What is predictive policing? At its core, it is a method relying on artificial intelligence (AI) and large datasets, from crime reports to arrest records and geographic information, to identify patterns and forecast where crimes might happen, or who might be involved. Governments and police forces across North America have embraced this technology with the hope of preventing crime proactively rather than reacting after the fact. The question remains, at what cost?
Why does predictive policing raise red flags in racialized communities?
To understand the implications, it’s essential to recognize how technology mar-
PAUL JUNOR
paul@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
Now in its 18th year, the Nubian Book Club (NBC) remains a vibrant intergenerational space for: dialogue, reflection, and community building. Serving families across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), NBC unites facilitators from six school boards and two universities, making it a truly collaborative and culturally grounded initiative.
This summer, NBC launched a dynamic three-part series anchored in the 2025 theme: Liberation Through Collective Legacy: Honouring the Past, Designing Futures. Across two virtual sessions and one in-person gathering: elders, families, youth, and community members came together to: reflect, share, and imagine futures rooted in ancestral knowledge, storytelling, and freedom dreaming.
Session One: Elder Wisdom and Col-
ries with human biases. Datasets used by predictive policing systems often reflect historical inequalities: over-policing in Black and racialized neighborhoods, disproportionate arrests, and systemic social injustices. When an AI tool is trained on such skewed data, it risks encoding and amplifying the very biases human officers already carry.
Research and community voices, supported by experts in equity and justice, have flagged that predictive policing disproportionately targets African-Caribbean and racialized individuals. Instead of protecting communities, it can lead to heightened surveillance, wrongful stops, and an increased police presence that strains community relationships. This technological veneer often obscures accountability and perpetuates cycles of mistrust.
How does this impact mental health and social justice?
The experience of constant surveillance and policing contributes to psychological stress and trauma within already marginalized groups. The constant awareness of being watched, or potentially targeted can exacerbate feelings of alienation and distrust toward societal institutions meant to protect. For community educators and wellness advocates, such as those supported by communications consultancies like Hear 2 Help, these realities underline the urgent need for culturally conscious and empathetic storytelling that centers lived experiences rather than abstract data points.
Social justice advocates argue
that predictive policing does not address the root causes of crime, such as: poverty, systemic racism, and lack of access to resources. Instead, it diverts attention and funding away from community-led programs aimed at healing and empowerment. The approach is reactive and punitive rather than preventative and restorative.
What are the ethical concerns around ai and law enforcement?
The ethical landscape of AI in policing is murky. While proponents highlight increased efficiency and crime reduction, critics warn of opaque algorithms lacking transparency, or accountability. Who builds these models? What data are they trained on? How are decisions reviewed?
These questions are crucial when AI systems wield power that affects people’s freedom and livelihoods.
Moreover, the deployment of predictive policing raises practical concerns regarding privacy and consent. Is it acceptable for a machine to infer potential criminality based on location, or associations? The risk of false positives (where innocent people are flagged) can lead to harmful consequences.
Can predictive policing be reformed, or replaced?
Some argue reform is possible through transparent algorithms, community oversight, and ethical AI guidelines. Regulations like those discussed in responsible AI frameworks encourage law enforcement agencies to adopt bias mitigation practices and public accountabil-
Honouring the past, shaping tomorrow: The Nubian Book Club’s 2025 Legacy Series
lective Legacy
The series opened with “Learning from Collective Legacy: The Power of Elder Wisdom,” a session that celebrated the knowledge and strength of elders. Esteemed speakers: Cecil Roach (retired Associate Director, York Region District School Board), Madge Logan (retired Superintendent, North York School Board), Michael Lashley (former Consul General of Trinidad and Tobago), and Aina-Nia Ayo’dele (CEO, Aina-Nia Learning Journey Inc.), shared personal stories, insights, and lessons drawn from decades of work as educators, activists, and community leaders.
Through their words, participants were reminded that legacy is lived. It’s something we actively shape each day. The speakers reflected on past struggles for justice and offered guidance for navigating today’s systemic challenges with humility, courage, and love. Attendees left inspired to honour the sacrifices of those who came before them and to mentor the next generation of changemakers.
Session Two: Sankofa and Storytelling Across Generations
The second session, “In the Spirit of Sankofa: Learning Across Generations,” centered on family storytelling. Fami-
ity measures. However, others believe the core premise of forecasting crime is fundamentally flawed and cannot be disentangled from systemic issues.
Community-first solutions emphasize investing in: education, mental health supports, economic opportunity, and cultural empowerment to reduce crime organically. Writers and strategic storytellers bring indispensable perspectives that humanize these issues, blending psychological insight with journalistic rigor to shift narratives from fear and control to empathy and equity.
What can Toronto citizens and policymakers do?
Residents and decision-makers must critically question the promises of predictive policing. Engaging directly with affected communities, demanding transparency in technology use, and supporting alternatives that prioritize social justice are vital steps. Media outlets, including cultural platforms like the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, play a crucial role in amplifying these conversations and holding power accountable.
In the end, predictive policing reflects values we choose for our communities. Will Toronto embrace policing that: builds trust, uplifts marginalized voices, and addresses structural inequities? Or will it allow biased algorithms to dictate who deserves safety and who remains suspect?
As this debate unfolds, it’s imperative to keep asking: who really benefits from predicting crime, and who pays the price?
lies from the NBC community including Miguel, Sojourner, and Makai San Vicente, as well as: Racquel, Simone, and Kimberly Brown, shared intimate reflections on how: social justice values, identity, and purpose are passed down through: conversations, struggles, and joy.
These stories revealed the power of families as spaces of resistance and transformation. The dialogue highlighted how children and youth carry essential wisdom, and how learning across generations strengthens Black identity and possibility. The evening underscored the sacred role families play in affirming culture and shaping future leaders.
Session Three: Co-Designing Futures Through Freedom Dreaming
The final session, “Freedom Dreaming: Co-Designing Legacies for Tomorrow,” was held in person and drew inspiration from the work of the late Dr. Octavia E. Butler. Participants reflected on her essay, “A Few Rules for Predicting the Future,” and explored questions such as: What does it mean to dream collectively? How do we write a future that honours our ancestors?
In small group circles, participants engaged in thoughtful conversations and contributed to a collective
poem titled, What It Means to Be a Good Ancestor. The evening concluded with shared food, laughter, and community connection in the warm, welcoming home of NBC co-lead Donna Cardoza. Over 80 participants joined, supported by: Camille Logan, Vidya Shah, and more than a dozen dedicated facilitators.
Together, they broke bread, built bonds, and deepened relationships, embodying the spirit of collective legacy in action.
As the 2025 NBC summer series closes, it leaves more than just memories. It offers a call to action to honour the past with purpose. Live the present with integrity. Shape the future with imagination.
Through: intentional storytelling, deep dialogue, and visionary dreaming, the Nubian Book Club continues to serve as a liberatory space where Black voices are heard, affirmed, and celebrated.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every elder, family, youth, and facilitator who helped make this series unforgettable. Together, we’re creating legacies that future ancestors will proudly inherit.
Major Community Highlights: Anniversary Celebrations, Enhanced Benefits, Cultural Festivals, Creative Opportunities, Industry Support
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com TC REPORTER
Welcome to our Community Highlight Section, where we celebrate the vibrant events, initiatives, and achievements that strengthen Toronto’s Caribbean community. This curated collection showcases the: organizations, programs, and celebrations that are making a positive impact on: families, youth, and cultural connections across the Greater Toronto Area.
Keele Community Hub to host free family celebration honouring FYI’s 30 years of youth empowerment
Hello Community Friends,
I hope you’re well. I’m reaching out from For Youth Initiative (FYI), a Toronto-based nonprofit that has supported thousands of Black, racialized, and newcomer youth over the past 30 years.
This summer, we’re celebrating a major milestone, FYI’s 30th Anniversary, with a free, family-friendly community event on Tuesday, August 12th, 2025, at our Keele Community Hub. The celebration will feature youth performances, food, music, and our annual Back-toSchool Essentials Drive, which provides over 200 backpacks and school supplies to youth in need.
Anne Ondercin, CFRE (she/her) Development Director | For Youth Initiative
Helping families get ahead with a more generous Canada Child Benefit
As families raising children across the country received the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) on July 18th, 2023, the Honourable Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth), announced that the benefit amounts have increased for 2025–26. Families can now receive up to $7,997 per child under the age of 6 and $6,748 per child aged 6 through 17. This represents approximately a $200 increase from the previous year and will help parents manage everyday expenses like groceries, clothing or childcare, providing added support as they raise their children.
Beyond the CCB, the Government
of Canada is advancing other initiatives to make life more affordable and support families’ well-being:
• The National School Food Program, backed by a $1 billion investment over five years, is expanding and enhancing access to nutritious food for children across Canada; and
• The Canadian Dental Care Plan is transforming access to oral health care by helping make the cost of dental care more affordable for eligible Canadians.
These efforts, combined with investments in affordable childcare, housing and health care, reflect the Government of Canada’s commitment to bringing down costs for Canadians and helping them to get ahead.
“The Canada Child Benefit is about giving families the breathing room they need to thrive. With this year’s increase, Canada’s new Government is delivering meaningful relief, helping parents cover the costs of raising their kids, from diapers to school supplies. We are investing in Canadian families, because when families are strong, the economy is strong, and we make Canada strong.” – The Honourable Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)
City of Brampton marks Emancipation Day with JAMBANA One World Festival Celebration at Chinguacousy Park
The City of Brampton is inviting residents to JAMBANA One World Festival on August 4th, 2025, a free and family-friendly cultural celebration that honours the: strength, resilience and contributions of Black communities.
In partnership with JAMBANA and Jones & Jones Productions, this vibrant event will feature live music performances including the legendary Fab5, cultural vendors, food and fun activities for all ages.
Save the Date | JAMBANA One World Festival
Date: August 4th, 2025
Time: 1 to 9 pm
Location: Chinguacousy Park, 9050 Bramalea Rd, Brampton
Emancipation Day, recognized annually on August 1st, commemorates the abolition of slavery of people of African descent across the British Empire including Canada. This annual event is part of the City of Brampton’s continued commitment to recognizing and celebrating
the diverse histories and contributions of Black Canadians
Brampton’s Black Economic, Social, Cultural, Youth & Civic Development Unit
The City’s Black Empowerment Unit aims to develop an action plan to eradicate systemic anti-Black racism and uplift the: social, cultural and economic, civic and youth status of the Black community through effective ongoing consultations, engagement and conversations. Learn more at brampton.ca/beu
POV Film and Publicis Groupe Canada invest in the Next Generation of BIPOC Creatives with New Advertising Training Program
If the only constant in life is change, Publicis Groupe Canada and POV Film are fully embracing it with a new program that nurtures, invests and builds opportunities that lean into the lived and human experience at the heart of diversity and inclusion. Together the two organizations have teamed up to launch the Advertising Training Program (ATP): a free, first-of-itskind initiative designed to equip BIPOC creatives in the Toronto area with the tools, experience, and connections they need to thrive in the advertising, media, and communications industry.
Afterall, advertising, media and communications to Canadians should be as diverse as the communities it represents, but it’s not. Yet.
ATP is opening doors for the next generation of talent.
BIPOC professionals remain significantly underrepresented in advertising, media, and communications. The collaboration between POV Film and Publicis Groupe Canada on the ATP is a bold response to bridge this gap.
“We’ve sought feedback and had long discussions with many BIPOC creatives who are trying to gain a foothold in this industry to learn what the barriers of access are for them and to find meaningful ways to address them,” said Biju Pappachan, Executive Director, POV Film. “By taking the time to understand their experiences, we can develop a better solution that is tailored to their unique needs.”
Partnered for three years, POV Film, a charity training underrepresented creative talent, and Publicis Groupe Canada, the Canadian subsidiary of Publicis Groupe, the world’s largest communication group, created ATP in response to what aspiring creatives and industry professionals say is missing: access, support,
and opportunity.
“The introduction of the ATP is a vital step towards reshaping the industry to better reflect Canadian diversity,” said Stephanie McRae, Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Publicis Groupe Canada. “By increasing BIPOC representation, we’re not only opening doors for individuals but also enriching the industry’s creative fabric. While many companies are decreasing their D&I efforts, at Publicis Groupe Canada, it continues to be a priority. Creativity is our business, and it will only become more powerful when it’s shaped by diverse voices.”
ATP enables BIPOC creatives (aged 18-30) to develop the skills and social capital they need to thrive in creative careers – an industry that needs their perspectives.
Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, indicating that the program is giving them access to an industry they once believed was out of reach due to a lack of connections. “The Advertising Training Program helps them develop career skills by equipping them with industry knowledge, networks, and a platform to showcase their talent and value to potential employers. The ATP has opened up new pathways to new possibilities for them.” says Biju Pappachan.
ATP is inspiring broader industry engagement and support, including Canada’s store - Canadian Tire
As part of ATP’s ongoing commitment to providing meaningful industry exposure and skills development for emerging creatives, Canadian Tire has extended generous support to the program. The company partnered with Publicis Groupe Canada to co-create a Pitch Challenge, offering participants the opportunity to work on a real-world business problem and present their ideas to a panel of Canadian Tire marketing professionals. More than 20 Canadian Tire employees contributed their time and expertise: helping craft the brief, mentoring participants, and providing invaluable feedback throughout the process.
In addition to this hands-on collaboration, Canadian Tire is committing a financial contribution to support further training for five participants pursuing careers in Creative Art Direction. This funding will cover the cost of a specialized course in art direction, currently being developed in partnership with post-secondary institutions.
What
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
You don’t forget moments like this… It was Wednesday, July 9th, 2025, and I was sitting in CIBC Square, watching a room filled with immigrant professionals, mentors, employers, and government representatives. One by one, people took the stage to honour the journey of some really incredible individuals. That day, I learned what mentorship really is: a lifeline. A door. A second chance.
The TRIEC Mentoring Partnership (TMP) Impact Awards 2025, co-hosted by TRIEC and CIBC, was a bold, beautiful reminder that mentorship is one of Canada’s
PAUL JUNOR
paul@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
Since 2005, the Durham Black Educators’ Network (DBEN) has created lasting impact across the Durham region. Founded to strengthen the educational experience of: Black, African, and Caribbean students, families, and educators, DBEN continues to bridge equity gaps through mentorship, cultural celebration, and advocacy.
From the beginning, DBEN cultivated a meaningful partnership with the Durham District School Board (DDSB), a relationship that empowers African-Canadian employees and fosters inclusive leadership within schools. At its core, DBEN is driven by one mission: to ensure that Black students and families feel: seen, supported, and celebrated.
One of its proudest initiatives (the Cultivating Awards) began in 2012 as a way to spotlight Black excellence within Durham’s school system. Originally called the “Activating Student Success Awards,” the program evolved alongside DBEN’s growing reach and vision. Now, over a decade later, these awards recognize the: brilliance, resilience, and leadership of Black youth in over 20 distinct categories.
As stated in the awards program, “We’re forever evolving, always listening, and always working to meet the needs of our community. Through: mentorship, culture, advocacy, and education, we’re here to ensure Black students and families feel seen, supported, and celebrated, because when we rise together, cultivating the possibilities around us, nothing can stop us.”
The evening began with greetings from Trustee Michelle Arsenault and Director Camille Williams-Taylor of the DDSB. Andrea Walters, Principal and Chair of DBEN, shared heartfelt words reflecting on the organization’s growth, “This year marks an extraordinary milestone, 20 years of DBEN. For two decades, we have proudly championed Black excellence, strengthened community partnerships, and created spaces where Black students, families, and educators feel seen, heard, and empowered.”
A powerful message from the DBEN Awards Committee highlighted the evening’s deeper meaning, “We gather not just
most overlooked superpowers, and one we desperately need to tap into, now more than ever.
Over 200 guests gathered to celebrate a program that’s supported 27,000+ skilled newcomers over the last two decades, but the numbers only tell part of the story. The real impact lives in the faces, the fireside chats, the proud mentors who have walked beside someone through the most uncertain chapter of their life, and refused to let them settle for less.
I heard stories like Raunica Ahluwalia’s, a former newcomer now a Professor at Seneca Polytechnic and Ramy Bakir, once unsure how he would fit in, now leading a design team at Syllable Inc. I listened to mentors share how guiding others helped them grow too. I watched employers like Loblaw and CIBC be honoured for real, measurable leadership: 100 and 2,000 matches made, respectively.
Somewhere in all of this, something inside me shifted, because if you’re like me (a born-and-raised Canadian) you might have walked into that room thinking mentorship
was about “helping someone out.” I walked out realizing it’s about building a better country.
Canada talks a big game about skilled immigration, but what happens after people arrive?
Too often, talent gets lost in translation. Credentials are questioned. Networks don’t exist. People who were: engineers, educators, strategists back home are suddenly taking “survival jobs” just to make rent. One mentee shared that after a year of rejection, he began to wonder if moving to Canada was a mistake. His mentor didn’t just help him fix his resume; they helped him rebuild his sense of self.
TRIEC’s model is intentionally designed. One mentor. One mentee. One professional conversation at a time. The program doesn’t try to fix broken industries overnight. Instead, it exposes the invisible doors, and shows people how to walk through them, how to pivot into adjacent roles, how to navigate cultural norms, how to align what you know with how this country works.
“We’re not in it for the short term,”
said Charmaine Bryan (Communications Specialist, TRIEC Mentoring Partnership). “This isn’t a tick-box exercise. It’s about lasting change.”
Here’s the part that floored me: mentorship doesn’t just change the mentee. Mentors grow too: learning, unlearning, building empathy, expanding their worldview. In fact, many said the experience helped them become better leaders, managers, and people.
So, what does success look like? It’s seeing skilled immigrants get back to the level they were at before they arrived, especially if it is something that they enjoy doing. It’s watching Canada stop wasting talent. It’s when TRIEC can say, “We’ve worked ourselves out of a job.”
Until then, events like the TMP Impact Awards are a crucial reminder: we all have a role to play. Whether you’re a professional who can spare a few hours a month, a company ready to invest in equity, or someone who simply believes that potential deserves a chance, this is your invitation. The next success story could start with you.
to hand out awards, but to bear witness, to the light, the promise, and the unstoppable spirit of our young people. Each recipient carries a story of hope, of persistence, of rising even when the path wasn’t easy. It’s about showing up, even when no one is watching.”
That message closed with a reminder of how excellence shows up every day, “It shows up in ways big and small; in quiet resilience, bold leadership, creative brilliance, and in the choice to keep going. These young people are walking proof that when we invest in our youth, they don’t just succeed, they soar.”
The keynote speaker, Dr. Leland Harper, delivered an electrifying address that blended: philosophy, race, and justice with practical inspiration. A professor and author of Multiverse Deism and Racist, Not Racist, Antiracist, Dr. Harper energized the audience with a message rooted in knowledge, pride, and forward momentum.
The award, and award winners were:
TAIBU Community Health Centre Resilience Award
• Anaiah Allen-Brown- student at Donald A. Wilson Secondary School
• Ruth Mutsago –graduate from J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate
Mark Joel Trailblazer Award
• Brianne Olu-Cole-graduate from Donald A. Wilson Secondary School with plans to pursue a degree in Communications & Media Studies
The Olive Branch of Hope Cancer Support Services Award
• Divine Finuma –graduate from Henry Street High School with plans to become a doctor
Evelyn and Elisha Steele Scholarship Award
• Allana-Ruth Weekes-graduate from Dunbarton High School with plans to be a surgeon
• Mya Wiafeh-graduate from Donald A. Wilson Secondary School, plans to become a doctor
Lisa McGregor Academic and Sports Leadership Award
• Kymani Allen-graduate from Ajax High School who excelled in academics & athletics
The Durham Region Police Service Award
• Atia Sappleton-graduate from Brooklin High School with interest in a career in law
The Powell Planning and Associates Award: Planning for Evolution
• Cherine Anderson-graduate from Dunbarton High School with plans to study Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
Leland Harper Young Writer Award
• Mya Foster-graduate from Pickering High School with plans to study Cinema and Media Arts-Production at York University
Power in Me Award
Abdul-Raheem Mohamed-graduate from G.L. Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Queens Rising Award - Elementary - Grade 7 or 8
• Gabrielle Weathers – student at Sir. Samuel Steele Public School
• Jaydeen Robinson - student at Walter Harris Public School
The Arts on Fire Passion Award
• Taleyah Taylor –student at J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate
The Syfox Stepping Up Award
• O’Neil Grose - student at Sinclair Secondary School
• Noah Payne – student at Pineridge Secondary School
Community Leadership Award
• Eva Kariuki-student at Julie Payettte Public School
• Jeremiah Herbert-student at Bolton C. Falby Public School
• Jordan Gomez-student at John Dryden Public School
• Kayah Toney-grade 8 French immersion student at Cadarackque Public School
• Renee Spencer Hinds-student leader at Westney Heights Public School
• Alexis McKenzie-student leader at Pickering High School
• Maya Huntley-Grade 12 French Immersion student at Ajax High School
• Sabrah Banton-student leader at Pickering High School
• Taddacea Roberts- Grade 11 honours student at Ajax High School
• Tamaira Yearwood - student ambassador and leader at R.S. Mclaughin Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Dwayne Morgan-Literary & Performing Arts Award
• Carter Bryce - graduate from Ajax High School with plans to become a writer
Kiburi Pride Award
• Anonymous - graduated with 99% average and member of LGBTQ+ community
The ETFO Student Success Award
• Anisha Baptiste – graduate from Pickering High School plans to become a teacher
Crowd - Funded Leadership & Resilience Award
• Michael Ogunmola-student at R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate and Vocational Institute
White Owl - Miller Waste Systems Academic Award
• Ashaun Green - graduate from Durham Alternative Secondary School
The Ontario Principals & Council Trade Award
• Dante Kirk - graduated from Durham Alternative Secondary School
Ifarada Centre of Excellence Award
• Maya Grant-Byron – graduate from Donald A. Wilson Secondary School
Education Perfect Leadership and Academic Award
• Ali Futa - graduate from Port Perry Secondary School, plans to study engineering
Queens Rising Award-Secondary - Grade 12
• Ava Banfield-graduate from J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate, strong interest in STEM
The DBEN Volunteer of the Year Award
• Bundom Chijindu - student leader at Pineridge Secondary School
Educators Award
• Eleanor McIntosh- a founding member of the Ontario Alliance of Black School
• Educators (ONABSE) and DBEN are board members of The Black Opportunity Fund Inc
Special Recognition Award
• Margaret Lazarus - a founding member of ONASBSE and first chair of the DBEN and presently a Superintendent with the Durham District School Board
To learn more about DBEN or to get involved, visit: www.dben.on.ca
What would you do if you knew you were always being watched?
I’m writing this column with a pencil and paper, in a therapeutic affirmation that what results comes only from me and my thoughts. I’m making a point about authenticity. There is something truly cathartic – and healthy –about “being oneself”. One’s authentic self. No mirrors. No makeup. No pretenses.
Authenticity is hard to define. Put simply, you might say it is an alignment between a person’s internal state and external expression. I wonder how many people feel they have achieved personal authenticity. How many even try for it?
Common sense would suggest being authentic is tied to health and happiness, but I need to set down my pencil and resort to a keyboard and research repositories to find out how significant the relationship is.
It turns out, the results are compelling and not surprising. Authenticity is a key mechanism producing healthy personal relationships. It reduces strain at work and is associated with higher job performance and satisfaction. In online contexts as well, authenticity is positively associated with selfesteem and negatively with anxiety.
Humans have a self-destructive gene. Why do so many people engage in foolish behaviours that are so clearly not in their best interest? Smoking is the obvious example, but there are many, many more, and the consequences are detrimental. When people consistently make outward life choices that don’t align with their internal values and beliefs, it triggers a chronic stress response, one that ultimately takes a toll on their health.
Think about what you are doing now, tonight, or tomorrow. If you are not
Eight uncomfortable truths about Bird Flu
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
I want you to not do what you usually do; hear about something in the news, get overwhelmed by the science, and quietly hope it goes away.
This isn’t one of those stories you can afford to scroll past.
In 2025, we are watching bird flu (yes, bird flu) make a disturbing leap. It’s no longer just killing poultry and wild birds. It’s now infecting dairy cows, cats, alpacas, pigs, and increasingly, humans.
We’ve been here before, but this time, we need to slow down and ask better questions. This is about: bioethics, global equity, food justice, and what it means to be informed, not inflamed.
Here’s what you really need to know, and why this moment demands more
than just scientific jargon.
This virus isn’t staying in its lane. H5N1 is mutating, and it’s doing it quickly. Now it’s showing up in mammals with genetic changes that help it infect beings like us. These aren’t just freak occurrences. When a virus learns to live in cows and cats, it’s only a step away from us.
It’s now spreading from mammal to mammal. Outbreaks among mink, sea lions, and cattle show that the virus can transmit directly between mammals. That’s the part public health experts quietly lose sleep over, because once it’s spreading efficiently between animals like us. It’s game on.
This kind of mutation? Scientists already created it. Back in 2011, Dutch scientists engineered a more contagious version of H5N1 that spread through the air between ferrets, a model for human flu. Only five mutations were needed. It was meant to “help us prepare”, but who really gets to decide how much risk is worth it? Not us apparently!
It’s already infecting humans. Since 2022, we have seen 74 reported cases in the Americas alone, with severe illness and deaths, in-
comfortable with it being splashed on the frontpage of the national newspaper, then reevaluate and get things fixed! It may mean coming to terms with hard habits to break. It may mean a few tough discussions, but beware, because the days of being able to hide our private problems are coming to an end.
We are being observed and listened to. The humourous advice used to be, “Don’t pick your nose in the front yard.” The neighbours could be watching. Now, in the privacy of your own home, you can’t express dissatisfaction with a mess on the floor without an advertisement for a vacuum cleaner popping up on your smart phone sometime soon after.
For better, or for worse, the world has become – in large part thanks to the unrelenting tsunami of invasive technology – a fine habitat for the exposure of inauthenticity, because we are being watched even when we think we have some privacy. We must adapt or perish.
So, no better time than now to be your authentic self. Take a moment to reca-
librate. What would you not want to broadcast on a jumbotron? What misdoings need your management and corrections? How can you fix your problems before they get out of hand?
It seems to me there are just two options. One, cut out of your life anything you currently feel you need to hide. Get rid and be done with it. If you can’t talk about it with your spouse, your kids, or your neighbours, you had better have a good reason – as in, you are an intelligence officer – otherwise, dismantle these things and banish them forever away.
Alternatively, talk about them. Bring them out in the open. Invite reasonable minds to work out the details with you, so that you can be an authentic individual. We are up against tough circumstances, bitter fighting, and dangerous affairs in this crazy world of ours. We would all be a lot better off if we accepted each other for who we are and stopped all the fooling around.
in 2025 that no one wants to talk about
cluding the first U.S. fatality in late 2024. Even more alarming? Some infections in farm workers have been mild, or asymptomatic, which means we may not even be seeing the full picture.
It’s in our food chain. Yes, really. The virus has shown up in commercial milk supplies, and some cats died after drinking contaminated raw milk. Now there is federal testing in place, but what about the rest of us, especially racialized communities already underserved in food safety conversations?
Governments are spending, but not explaining. The U.S. government has allocated nearly $200 million toward controlling the outbreak, but who’s translating this information for the public? Where’s the clear, culturally relevant communication about what’s really going on?
Gain-of-function research is back in the spotlight. GOF research (where viruses are made more dangerous in labs to “study” their pandemic potential, is under fire again) especially post-COVID. Even well-meaning science can have unintended consequences. Who is accountable when experiments meant for prevention cross the line into reck-
less risk?
We are asking the wrong questions.
• Why are public dollars funding research that could lead to a lab-created pandemic?
• Why aren’t culturally grounded communities being included in these conversations?
• Why do we only hear about these risks after the damage is done?
It’s about calling out the global tendency to treat vulnerable people like collateral in scientific curiosity. Whether you are: an educator, an activist, a parent, or someone who just wants to know what the hell is really going on, don’t let this moment pass. We have the right to ask:
• Who’s making these decisions?
• Who benefits from the risk?
• How do we make sure our voices are in the room, before the next outbreak hits?
This is a systems story.
It’s a power story.
It’s our story too.
A park with purpose: Honouring Louis March’s lasting legacy in Regent Park
On Sunday, July 19th, 2025, the City of Toronto officially renamed the Sumach-Shuter Parkette to Louis March Park, a meaningful tribute to a man whose life’s mission was to build safer, more hopeful communities. Louis March, who passed away in July 2024, was a respected advocate for youth empowerment and community safety. As the founder of the Zero Gun Violence Movement (ZGVM), he spent over 30 years confronting gun violence and addressing its root causes across the city. His influence was especially felt in Regent Park, where the newly renamed park now bears his name.
The renaming ceremony drew a
powerful crowd. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Councilor Chris Moise (Toronto Centre), March’s wife Wendy, his son Troy, and representatives from Regent Park Mothers of Peace and ZGVM all gathered to honour his legacy.
Located at 485 Shuter Street, Louis March Park recently underwent a series of upgrades to better serve the local community. The improvements include:
• A redesigned playground
• New park furniture
• Enhanced lighting
• A tree planting initiative
• A splash pad for children
• A new off-leash dog area
The parkette’s name change followed a consultation process involving March’s family, community leaders, and local residents. In an official statement, Councilor Moise emphasized that the decision reflected broad community support. “This location was chosen by Regent Park community leaders, with strong local input and in consultation with the March family,” the statement read.
March’s bond with Regent Park ran deep. He regularly met with Mothers of Peace, a grassroots group supporting families affected by gun violence. His presence brought comfort and direction to women navigating the grief of losing loved ones to senseless acts. “Louis spent significant time engaging with residents, responding to violence, and combating stigma,” the statement continued. “His mentorship and leadership built trust and pushed for meaningful change.”
Moise echoed March’s unwavering belief: “Everyone deserves to live in a safe, supportive, and opportunity-rich environment—regardless of their postal code.” He called March’s passing a profound loss for Toronto.
On his Instagram page, @chrismoiseto, Moise captured the symbolic importance of the renaming, “This park reflects our community’s commitment to safety, care, opportunity, and love.” March’s contributions didn’t go unrecognized during his lifetime. He received:
• The Province of Ontario Volunteer Ser-
vice Award (2008)
• The Mayor’s Community Safety Award (2021)
After his passing, the City of Toronto expressed condolences and pledged to carry his work forward. One of his most memorable sayings was also shared, “Continue to think big and then go out and make even bigger things happen.”
Although the ceremony was a celebration of March’s legacy, not everyone supported the renaming process. A small group of protestors gathered prior to the event, expressing frustration over a lack of broader consultation. They argued that more voices should have been heard before the city finalized its decision.
Still, the renaming stands as a powerful symbol, a space rooted in: healing, unity, and resilience. In naming the park after Louis March, Regent Park gains a living monument to a man who spent his life fighting for: peace, justice, and the power of community.
DANNY STONE
Helping the community step into greatness one interaction at a time
In a city as diverse and dynamic as Toronto, true leaders often emerge not from the grand stages of politics, or corporate boardrooms, but from the heart of communities, driven by an unwavering commitment to uplift and empower. Danny Stone, a name synonymous with inspiration, resilience, and profound impact, stands as a testament to this truth. Through his multifaceted work as: an inspirational speaker, life coach, entrepreneur, and author, Stone has become a pivotal figure in Toronto’s Black Caribbean community, consistently offering a beacon of hope and a pathway to self-actualization.
Stone’s journey is one that resonates deeply with many within the Black community. Having navigated a childhood surrounded by the challenging realities of low-income housing, drugs, crime, and violence, his decision to pursue higher education and sports at a young age marked a critical turning point. This conscious choice, to detach from limiting environments and embrace a path of growth, laid the foundation for the transformative work he now champions. It’s this personal narrative of overcoming adversity that lends an authentic and powerful voice to his message, making him relatable to those facing similar systemic barriers.
“Make a choice in your life, which way do you want to go?” This question, often posed by Stone, encapsulates the core of his philosophy. He believes firmly in the power of individual agency, emphasizing that while circumstances may shape us, our decisions ultimately define our trajectory. This message of personal responsibility, coupled with actionable strategies for self-improvement, has resonated deeply with countless individuals, particularly young Black men and women
seeking to carve out their own success stories.
Danny Stone’s contributions extend across a broad spectrum of initiatives aimed at fostering growth and well-being within the Black community. His work in mental health advocacy, particularly for Black men, is a crucial area where his impact is deeply felt. He has participated in, and organized panels dedicated to addressing the unique mental health challenges faced by this demographic. In a society where Black men often face immense pressure and systemic barriers, Stone makes efforts to create safe spaces for vulnerability and support by working to destigmatize seeking help and encouraging open conversations about emotional well-being.
As an author, Stone’s approach is characterized by directness, empathy, and a relentless focus on actionable results. With his book, “You Have The Keys, Now Drive,” he works with individuals to: dismantle limiting beliefs, cultivate positive habits, and align their actions with their deepest desires. Testimonials consistently praise his ability to “light a fire” under readers, pushing them beyond their comfort zones to achieve personal and professional breakthroughs. His words transcend mere motivation; it’s about equipping individuals with the tools and mindset necessary for sustained success. Whether it’s turning a passion into profit, navigating career transitions, or simply finding clarity in a complex world, Stone’s guidance helps people “Step into their greatness.”
His speaking engagements are often described as electrifying. With a style that is energetic, humorous, and refreshingly candid, Stone has captivated audiences from diverse backgrounds, including universities, colleges and even international diplo-
matic conferences. His keynotes, such as “Driver of Your Destiny” and “Living Your Legacy,” empower listeners to take control of their lives, overcome fear and self-doubt, and consciously build a future that reflects their values and aspirations. For the Black community, these messages are particularly potent, offering encouragement and a roadmap in the face of historical and ongoing systemic challenges. He challenges individuals to consider their contributions and how their daily lives are actively shaping the legacy they leave behind.
Beyond his direct coaching and speaking, Stone leverages his platform as an author and entrepreneur to amplify his message. His podcast, “The Grind and Gratitude Show,” serves as a vital resource with almost 200 episodes since 2020. It offers free access to his insights and interviews with other experts who can further guide listeners on their journey to personal and professional fulfillment. The podcast’s emphasis on “Grind until you find it and be grateful when you get it” encapsulates a powerful ethos that resonates with the resilience inherent in the Black community. It’s a call to persistent effort combined with an appreciation for every step of the journey, no matter how small.
Danny Stone’s company: Champion You further underscores his commitment to accessible: empowerment, wisdom, motivational content, and practical advice. He currently has a new modular online course called Speak to Impact available at http:// championyou.net/speak that is meant to assist clients with their public speaking skills.
His work with organizations like the YMCA, George Brown College, and the University of Toronto, among others, demonstrates his broader com-
mitment to community development and youth empowerment. Drawing from the cultural communal strength in his Jamaican upbringing, he said “What was fostered in me from a young age, I want to foster in others.” By collaborating with these institutions, Stone extends his reach and amplifies his impact, nurturing the next generation of Black leaders and innovators. He’s a proponent of effective communication, highlighting its critical role in business, careers, and overall impact, especially as individuals mature and navigate an increasingly complex world.
In essence, Danny Stone is more than just an inspirational speaker, or life coach; he is a community architect. He doesn’t just motivate; he activates. He doesn’t just inspire; he equips. In a city where the Black community continues to strive for equitable representation and opportunity, Danny Stone stands as a beacon of possibility, a testament to the power of self-determination, and a living example of how one person’s commitment can ripple outwards, transforming lives and strengthening a community, one interaction at a time. “I just want each person to be a little bit better than before we started our conversation.” His legacy is not just in the words he speaks, but in the tangible changes he ignites in the lives of those he touches.
Written by Sean Seurattan Toronto Caribbean News
Photo Credit: @TrudyEStone
Photo Credit: Sanj P Photography
Alimi A. Banjoko
Canadian referral platform is helping mortgage agents, real estate professionals, insurance advisors, accountants, entrepreneurs, influencers, and everyday connectors generate income while offering clients trusted, vetted services.
In today’s relationship-driven economy, your network is one of your most valuable assets. What if there was a way to turn that social capital into steady, long-term income, without selling products, chasing leads, or adding to your workload? Enter EarnX™
This Toronto-based referral and marketing platform is quietly reshaping how professionals think about earning. Once a partner refers a client, EarnX directs them to one of their licensed professionals to support them. Currently our roster includes:
• Mortgage brokers
• Investment specialists
• Accounting
• Real estate agents and brokerages
• Legal service providers
• Financial consultants
• Construction and renovation experts
• Even a global, streaming, entertainment platform with a Share & Earn component!
• More services being added regularly!
Each professional is vetted to ensure they meet EarnX™’s red-carpet standards for service, integrity, and client care.
E ARN
What makes EarnX™ truly different? It’s a referral loop with a lifetime income model. Partners are paid for the initial service and for every future service that a client uses within the EarnX™ network, even years down the line. No follow-up needed. No pressure to resell. Just ongoing income from one trusted introduction.
“I realized I’ve been referring people for free for years,” says one new EarnX agent. “Now I earn for doing what I already do—connecting good people to great services.”
Amy Barroso, New Brunswick
EarnX™ provides a platform that enhances your professional credibility. It aligns you with service providers and creates meaningful value beyond a typical referral commission. In a time when trust matters more than ever, offering clients access to a vetted, white-glove network of professionals elevates your brand and sets your business apart. No matter your profession, you’re likely already referring clients, friends, or followers to services they need—often without getting paid for it. EarnX™ changes that. It allows you to support your network with real solutions while earning lifetime referral income. Here’s how EarnX™ fits seamlessly into different professions:
• A mortgage agent working on a tough file can refer their client to EarnX™ for legal, financial, or private lending solu-
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tions—earning income while the client gets expert support.
• A business coach with a client ready to buy property can use EarnX™ to connect them with a trusted real estate brokerage.
• An influencer with a financially-minded following can offer access to vetted mortgage, investment, and advisory services—all while earning on every successful referral.
• A realtor with an investor-heavy network can introduce EarnX™ to clients interested in private lending,real estate investment opportunities or accounting services and earn as those services are used.
Partnering with EarnX™ instantly elevates your credibility by showing your clients that you’re you’re well-connected. It allows you to offer a suite of professional services without having to build or manage them yourself. It’s like adding multiple divisions to your business without the overhead. This service makes you the go-to resource your clients trust for more than just your core service.
EarnX™ deepens your client relationships and also attracts new ones who value comprehensive, well-connected support.Becoming an EarnX™ agent requires no licensing or product knowledge. You’re not selling services—you’re simply introducing your clients to a platform that does the work for you. With transparent tracking, timely payouts, and zero overhead, EarnX is quickly becoming one of the easiest, most scalable passive incomes for professionals across Canada.
We focus on cholesterol but ignore loneliness. We cut carbs, but don’t move our bodies
W.
I have a strong belief in personal responsibility. From an early age, I was taught that my own daily decisions will determine my future. You will know, for example, where I heard that sugar is the “white devil”. It’s a conviction that helps me avoid it. For another, if I don’t use my muscles as I age, I know I will lose them. There’s a set of problems we’re not talking about. In fact, in our personal hopes and efforts for good health, we are often obsessed with fear about the wrong risks.
We focus on cholesterol but ignore loneliness. We cut carbs, but don’t move our bodies. We chase step counts,
yet deny ourselves: sleep, nature, purpose, or joy. If my father championed common sense, I want to build on his message with something just as important: whole-life prevention of ills, with ills very broadly defined.
That means looking beyond: pills, blood pressure, and protein intake. It means stepping back from the microscope and seeing the full human picture, and increasingly, large-scale studies are proving the factors that most powerfully protect our health and wellbeing are often the ones we’re least likely to track on a fitness app, or even in most doctors’ appointments.
Take the Harvard Study of Adult Development, an ongoing project that began in 1938. It’s one of the longest studies of adult life ever conducted. Its key finding? The most consistent predictor of long, healthy lives isn’t diet, wealth, or even exercise, it’s the quality of relationships, also called “social fitness.” Close social ties were more protective than any single medical metric. Loneliness, on the other hand, has
been shown to have health effects comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
In recent years, there have been dozens of studies that explore the impact of multidimensional lifestyle interventions; in other words, these studies test the effects of health care programs that blend physical activity, social connection, nutrition, stress reduction, and other treatments. The findings consistently show superiority over single-focus strategies for managing diabetes, and reducing cardiovascular events, stroke, and depression, just to name a few. Illness is not always a precision fix. You may be better off tending to broader dimensions of your life.
It’s worth knowing about the FINGER trial from Finland too. It’s one of the first major randomized controlled trials to show that a blend of modest lifestyle changes (better diet, light exercise, cognitive engagement, and social activity) could slow decline in older adults, even among those at higher risk of dementia. It’s research like this that is sparking a healthy wave of organizations addressing social
isolation. GenWell, found at genwell.ca, is one example.
This is the new frontier in prevention: living in a way that protects your health, because it supports your humanity. This isn’t about rejecting advances toward more technical, lab-driven medical breakthroughs. I have huge respect for medicines that cure or manage diseases and for surgeons and their scalpels. I’m proud of what science can do. Too many of us have outsourced health to lab results, forgetting that daily habits, environments, and emotional lives matter as much (sometimes more) than our biomarkers.
Let’s shift the lens. Let’s talk about what really keeps us well. Not fear, not fads, not guilt, but meaningful, joyful, intentional choices, sustained over time.
What does this mean for you? You can start by making an old-fashioned phone call to a friend, a neighbour, or a family member you haven’t connected with for a while. Make a date to get together, go for a walk, cook a meal, and do it with the music turned on.
Grenadian Oil Down: A One-Pot Caribbean Classic Steeped in Soul and Smoke
If there’s one dish that truly captures the heart of Grenadian cooking, it’s Oil Down. It’s more than just a national dish — it’s a cultural event in a pot. Ask any Grenadian, and they’ll tell you that Oil Down isn’t just food; it’s tradition, pride, and family all rolled into a smoky, coconut-simmered medley of flavour and history. This is rustic island soul food at its finest, and it deserves a place at the table.
What is Oil Down?
Oil Down (often pronounced more like “oil dong”) is Grenada’s beloved onepot meal, made with layers of salted meat, dumplings, breadfruit, ground provisions, callaloo, and a rich coconut milk base that cooks down until everything is perfectly tender and infused with flavour. The name “Oil Down” comes from the coconut oil that remains at the bottom of the pot once all the liquid has simmered away. Every family has their own version of Oil Down, with slight changes in ingredients or technique, but the essence stays the same: it’s hearty, humble, and rooted in community. Traditionally cooked over an open fire in the backyard, it’s as much about the experience of making it as it is about eating it.
A Dish with Deep Roots
Oil Down is a true expression of Caribbean heritage. Its origins trace back to the blending of African, Indian, and Indigenous culinary traditions. Breadfruit, a starchy fruit brought to the Caribbean during colonial times, forms the base. Saltfish and salted meats recall a time when preservation was a necessity. And the dumplings, or “flour pap,” tie in the love of stick-to-your-ribs carbs that stretch a meal and feed a crowd.
More than just nourishment, Oil Down reflects the island’s resilience. It’s the food of Sunday limes, family gatherings, and community cookups. It’s what you make when you want to bring people together without fuss or pretense.
Over the years, this dish has stood the test of time, surviving colonization, economic struggles, and cultural shifts. It’s a dish that speaks volumes through silence—just a bubbling pot, a smoky fire, and people coming together. You can smell the history be -
fore you take that first bite. You can feel the generations of hands that passed down the tradition.
In many ways, Oil Down is also a culinary protest—a refusal to let convenience or fast food erase what has always made Caribbean food special: patience, care, and a deep connection to the land.
Key Ingredients (And Why They Matter)
Breadfruit: The starchy heart of the dish. It soaks up all the coconut milk and seasoning, becoming creamy and rich.
• Salted Meat/Fish: Common options include salt beef, pig tail, saltfish (salted cod). These add salt, umami, and depth.
• Ground Provisions: Think green bananas, yam, dasheen, cassava — these add texture and earthiness.
• Dumplings: Often just flour and water, rolled into small logs or discs. Adds chew and body.
• Callaloo: A leafy green similar to spinach. It adds colour and helps soak up the rich coconut base.
• Coconut Milk: The star of the show. Simmered down until only the seasoned oil remains.
• Herbs and Spices: Garlic, onion, thyme, chive, turmeric, black pepper, scotch bonnet (for heat).
Each ingredient has its place and purpose. It’s not just about flavour — it’s about balance, texture, and layering. Even the humble dumpling, made from just flour and water, serves a powerful purpose. It holds flavour. It fills the belly. It reminds us that the simplest things, when treated with respect, can be deeply satisfying.
Cooking the Traditional Way
Back home in Grenada, Oil Down is often made outdoors over a wood fire in a big pot called a “calla pot.” There’s no rushing this process — it’s slow cooking at its best. You layer everything strategically: meats and hard provisions at the bottom, then breadfruit, then softer veg and dumplings, then pour over that luscious coconut milk seasoned with herbs and spices. The pot is then covered and left to do its magic. The goal? No stirring. The liquid should absorb and cook
down into the food, leaving you with a rich, fragrant, oil-slicked bottom. That’s the treasure right there.
As the coconut milk simmers away, it transforms—caramelizing, reducing, and infusing the entire pot with a depth that can’t be rushed. The aroma is almost hypnotic: smoky, savoury, slightly sweet, and full of anticipation.
When done right, you can almost peel the pot like an onion—layers of flavour, colour, and texture slowly revealed as you serve it up.
The Recipe: Our Take on Grenadian Oil Down Ingredients:
• 1 medium breadfruit (peeled, cored, and cut into wedges)
• 1 lb salted pig tail or salt beef (soaked overnight and parboiled to reduce salt)
• 1/2 lb saltfish (boiled and flaked)
• 2 cups coconut milk (fresh or canned)
• 2 green bananas (peeled and halved)
• 1 small yam or sweet potato (peeled and chunked)
• 1/2 lb cassava or dasheen (optional, peeled and chunked)
• 1 small bunch callaloo or spinach (roughly chopped)
• 2 cups flour (for dumplings)
• Water (as needed for dough)
• 1 onion (sliced)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 3 sprigs thyme
• 2 scallions (chopped)
• 1/2 tsp turmeric or curry powder
• 1/2 scotch bonnet pepper (optional, sliced)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
Dumplings (Flour Pap):
• Mix flour with a pinch of salt and enough water to form a stiff dough.
• Roll into small logs or discs. Set aside.
Directions:
1. Prepare salted meats and fish: Soak pig tail or salt beef overnight. Boil until tender and salt has reduced. Boil saltfish separately and flake.
2. Layer the pot: Start with meats
and ground provisions (cassava, yam, bananas), then add breadfruit wedges. Scatter onion, garlic, scallions, thyme, turmeric, and scotch bonnet over top.
3. Add dumplings: Place them throughout the pot. Pour the coconut milk evenly over everything.
4. Top with greens: Add callaloo or spinach over the top. Add a bit of water if needed to just barely cover contents.
5. Cook covered: Simmer on low heat for about 1 to 1.5 hours. Do not stir.
6. Check the pot: When the liquid has mostly absorbed and you see seasoned coconut oil at the bottom, it’s done.
7. Serve: Dish it out hot, straight from the pot.
The Experience of Eating Oil Down
The first spoonful hits different. The breadfruit is creamy but firm. The salted meat has softened, lending bold flavour without overpowering the dish. The dumplings hold onto that seasoned coconut oil like little flavour bombs. The heat from the pepper lingers gently. Every bite is a story. And it’s not just about flavour—it’s about feeling. Oil Down isn’t plated with precision or served in silence. It’s ladled into bowls while laughter echoes. It’s eaten with your hands sometimes, under shade trees, with fingers and smiles greasy from the coconut oil. It’s not dinner. It’s a vibe.
Final Thoughts
Oil Down isn’t a fast food. It’s not a plate you throw together on a whim. It’s a slow, patient reminder of the old ways. When people gather under mango trees with a big pot bubbling away, they’re not just making lunch — they’re building community.
This dish is deeply Caribbean, but uniquely Grenadian. And whether you’re from the island or discovering Oil Down for the first time, cooking it feels like an act of cultural preservation. So if you’re looking for a dish that will warm your belly and tell a story in every bite, this is it. Get your pot ready. Let’s oil down. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just what’s in the pot. It’s who you’re sharing it with.
Canadians, demand justice system priorities that make sense
BY HERBERT HILDEBRANDT POLITICAL PARLEY
Canada did not put Tamara Lich and Chris Barber on trial for what they did. It put them on trial for who and what they represented.
Their so-called crime? Mischief. Not assault, not arson, not sedition, just mischief. A petty charge so low-level it usually does not make the docket unless someone spray-paints a mailbox or uproots a street sign. Yet here we are, watching the Crown prosecute Lich and Barber with the tenacity usually reserved for mob bosses, or war criminals. Forty-five days in court. Dozens of witnesses. Millions in taxpayer dollars, and now requesting 7-8 years in prison as well as the forfeiture of Chris Barber’s famous Big Red truck. All to make an example of two people who dared to disrupt the narrative and sparked the global resistance that finally ended the COVID madness.
Meanwhile, Canada’s justice system is hemorrhaging legitimacy in cases that actually matter. Since the Supreme Court’s R v. Jordan decision in 2016, which
set firm ceilings on trial delays of 18 months in Provincial Court and 30 months in Superior Court, nearly 800 criminal cases have been stayed across the country due to unreasonable delays. We are not talking about traffic violations. These include homicide, assault, drug trafficking, and perhaps most damningly, 268 sexual assault cases, some involving weapons, or bodily harm, according to a CBC analysis.
One Toronto defence lawyer called the trend a “complete collapse” of timely justice. Women’s advocacy groups call it a “chilling message” to victims. They made the time, consequences be damned, but when it comes time to chase down: the rapists, the child traffickers, and the violent gangsters there just is not enough time. It is high time that Canadians take note.
The Lich/Barber trial was never about public safety, it was about warning ordinary Canadians what happens when you challenge the regime. These two are being punished not for inciting violence (which they never did), but for daring to question state authority during a time when questioning was treated as heresy.
Lich, notably, helped organize
logistics and communications during the Freedom Convoy. She gave speeches invoking the Canadian Charter. She encouraged nonviolence. Her presence, calm and principled, gave the movement a moral core, and that is precisely why she had to be broken. She made a mockery of the political class and its media courtiers, and she reminded Canadians that their rights do not come with expiry dates.
Barber, a small business owner from Saskatchewan, did what the unions used to do: stand up for working people against bureaucratic overreach. For that, he too was dragged through the mud, labeled a radical, and was accused of “counselling mischief.”
The Emergencies Act was invoked for the first time in Canadian history, not because Canada was under siege, but because Ottawa’s corridors of power were briefly humiliated on the world stage by honking truckers and Canadian commoners in hot tubs and bouncy castles across from Parliament Hill. The media called the protest an “occupation.” The Prime Minister called its supporters “racists and misogynists.” And when the smoke cleared and
the trucks left, the state didn’t let it go. It doubled down.
They needed to send a message: protest is fine as long as it’s the right kind of protest. Burn churches? Block rail lines? Shut down pipelines? You might get a photo op, but park your truck and quote the Charter? Straight to jail, it seems.
There is no world where prosecuting a minor mischief charge with this kind of aggression makes sense unless your goal isn’t justice, but deterrence. This is lawfare, the slow-motion strangling of civil dissent using the cold hands of judicial process. It is, to borrow a phrase, the process becoming the punishment.
The Crown didn’t just prosecute Lich and Barber. It persecuted them.
Every Canadian - regardless of their opinion on vaccines, lockdowns, or honking - should be chilled to the bone, because if they can grind two citizens through a years-long legal meat grinder over a non-violent protest, then none of us are safe when we step out of the government line.
Corporate lobbying is killing climate action; here’s the real fix
STEVEN KASZAB
steven@carib101.com
INSIGHT TO SOCIETY
North America, Asia, and the EU kept growing their economies, and their carbon footprints.
Electric vehicles (EVs) could have been part of the solution, but leaders shelved bold ideas, citing high costs. Now, EV battery plants are everywhere, and thousands of cars sit idle in parking lots. Meanwhile, working families can’t afford them, and utility bills? Up. Way up. There was a plan, but it collapsed fast. Why won’t our leaders take bold action? Here’s what they could do but won’t:
Mandate a shift to EVs by forcing businesses to electrify their fleets.
Cap energy prices to stop runaway hikes from private electric, gas, and oil companies.
End energy subsidies that prop up billion-dollar corporations. In 2024 alone, governments handed over more than $1.3 trillion to energy gi-
ants. Did they clean up their act? Not at all. They just padded their profits.
• Protect forests. The Amazon, and forests across Russia and North America, once filtered the air we breathe. Now they’re burning or being bulldozed thanks to greed.
Let’s be real. Elected officials only seem to care about the public once every four years during campaign season. The rest of the time? They serve political parties and corporate donors. Many are already planning their exits lining up cushy gigs in the very industries they once regulated.
Why do politicians trust the private sector so blindly? Well, they are the private sector. First, last, and always, any concern they show for everyday people is strategic, not sincere.
Here’s the hard truth; natural disasters can be managed. Greenhouse gases can be cut, but none of that happens
without real cooperation between business and government. Right now? That relationship is rigged.
Until we remove the private sector’s grip on government, nothing will change. Lobbying by corporate giants must end, legally and permanently. Full stop.
Politicians must release public financial statements before running for office, and again six months before retirement. Why? To expose hidden wealth and offshore accounts. Ever met a city councilor, member of Congress, or Parliament who isn’t secretly stashing cash somewhere? Me neither.
What’s worse: privacy laws are used to protect the very people and companies putting us in a climate crisis. We don’t lack solutions. We lack political will. Until we strip away the power of the corporations controlling our laws, climate justice remains out of reach.
Ways to create islands of calm in our sea of obligations
BY GEORGE SHEPPARD
In our relentlessly connected world, taking a break has become something of a radical act. We wear our exhaustion like a badge of honour, measure our worth in hours worked, and mistake motion for progress. Yet, somewhere between our packed calendars and perpetual notifications, we’ve forgotten one of life’s most fundamental truths: rest isn’t the enemy of productivity: it’s the most essential ingredient.
The evidence supporting the power of breaks is surging. Some companies and agencies have implemented a four-day work week. Their secret isn’t working longer hours, but working smarter, understanding that the human brain operates in natural rhythms that demand time to recharge.
During these seemingly “unproductive” moments, our minds get a reprieve from a self-imposed “Go, Go, Go” mode, to a state where our brains make connections, process experiences, and generate creative insights. It’s during a
walk in the park, not hunched over a keyboard, that we often solve our most pressing problems. The solution that eluded us for hours suddenly appears while we’re making coffee or gazing out a window.
Yet we resist. We’ve internalized the traditional work ethic so deeply that rest feels like moral failure. We apologize for taking lunch breaks, check emails during vacations, and feel guilty about afternoon naps despite knowing they enhance cognitive function. This resistance stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of how human beings work best.
The Japanese have a concept called “ikigai”—the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Ikigai isn’t achieved through relentless grinding; it requires the space to reflect, to listen to ourselves, to understand what truly matters. Breaks provide that essential space.
Taking a break doesn’t always mean dramatic gestures, sabbaticals, or month-long retreats, though these have
their place. Sometimes it’s as simple as stepping away from your desk for ten minutes, closing your eyes and breathing deeply, or leaving your phone in another room while you eat lunch. These microbreaks accumulate, creating islands of calm in our sea of obligations.
The workplace culture is slowly recognizing this truth. Progressive companies are implementing policies that encourage actual breaks, not just the lip service of “work-life balance” while expecting 24/7 availability. They’re discovering that employees who truly disconnect return more engaged, more creative, and more resilient.
We don’t need to wait for institutional change. We can start by giving ourselves permission to pause. This means challenging the voice that says we’re being lazy when we’re being strategic. It means understanding that saying “no” to one thing allows us to say “yes” more fully to another.
The paradox of breaks is that they make us more, not less, capable of han-
dling life’s demands. A well-rested mind sees solutions where an exhausted one sees only problems. A refreshed spirit approaches challenges with curiosity rather than dread. A body that’s had time to recover can sustain effort over the long term.
Perhaps most importantly, breaks remind us that we are human beings, not human doings. Our value doesn’t solely derive from our output, but from our capacity for: connection, reflection, and growth, qualities that flourish not in the hustle, but in the pause.
So, take that walk. Close that laptop. Let your mind wander. Listen to the grass grow. In a world that profits from your exhaustion, choosing rest isn’t just self-care, it’s an act of quiet rebellion, a declaration that your humanity matters more than your productivity metrics.
The work will still be there when you return, but you’ll be better equipped to meet it.
“Rule
#1: Care less, live more!”
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
HUMAN SPECIALIST
If you are a builder: of community, of narrative, of space for those marginalized by the mainstream, there comes a moment when the weight of other people’s opinions becomes too heavy to carry. For those of us, like myself, who write from the intersection of advocacy, culture, and psychological truth, the compulsion to care too much about belonging, acceptance, and criticism stands in direct opposition to true empowerment and impact.
Here’s why caring less is: strategic, radical, and backed by both science and wisdom traditions.
Emotional energy is finite; Protect your focus
Research on finite willpower and decision fatigue proves our psychological energy is limited per day. Every moment you spend ruminating about others’ judgments, you’re siphoning energy away from the work and relationships that actually matter. Stoic philosopher Epictetus bluntly advised, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” Investing less in external noise frees you to do the deep, necessary work—for yourself and
your community.
Other people’s opinions are mostly out of your control
Cognitive-behavioral psychology is unambiguous: Most anxieties over other people’s perceptions are projections built from uncertainty and past experience, not fact. Stoicism, echoed by Marcus Aurelius, instructs us to master our response to externals. You can’t control someone else’s expectations, or biases; you can only control your actions and values. Radical clarity starts when you redirect attention away from approval-seeking and toward honest self-accountability.
Perfectionism and people-pleasing destroys creativity
Neuroscience shows that chronic social vigilance (the hyper-awareness of others’ approval) triggers the brain’s threat response, shrinking creative risk-taking and innovative thought. As a strategic storyteller and community educator, I have seen the greatest insights emerge when I stopped editing myself for imaginary critics and wrote, and lived, unapologetically.
You can’t lead or heal while operating from fear
Whether building curriculum for equity leaders, or co-creating mental health initiatives, I have learned this: You can’t: disrupt, advocate, or empower while worrying about stepping on toes. As Audre Lorde taught us, our silence will not protect us. If you truly serve marginalized leaders and communities, your clarity depends on
sometimes making people uncomfortable and standing firm in your values.
Greatness demands discomfort, and that’s healthy
Scientific studies confirm that resilience is built through stress and adversity, not avoidance. Philosophers from Seneca to Viktor Frankl remind us that a meaningful life is not an easy one. The more you practice defending your boundaries and values (even when faced with pushback) the stronger your sense of self and mission becomes.
The world trains us, especially as Afro/Indo Caribbean and racialized thinkers, to shrink our dreams and dilute our voices to fit someone else’s palatable frame. True equity-centered work demands cultural fluency, emotional intelligence, and a fierce rejection of inherited guilt. Stoic composure, psychological selfawareness, and radical honesty are revolutionary tools.
If you want to build, lead, and move people to change what needs changing, stop caring so much. That’s when your clarity, your impact, and your joy begin.
DANIEL COLE
daniel@carib101.com
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Humans are fallible, and we all have wisdom gaps, whether we admit it or not. Wisdom and good decision-making skills come with age and experience; the version of you 10, 20 years ago is not the same version of you today. You have grown, you’ve matured, and you now see life through the lens of clarity and the benefit of hindsight. Be that as it may, our existential reality is punctuated by success and failure, victories and defeats. To err is human, but liv-
How often do we start each day with the painful residue of yesterday? The haunted
BY GRANT BROWNING DRIVEN TO SUCCEED
In both business and life, it’s easy to find ourselves paralyzed when faced with financial stress, economic uncertainty, or simply the challenges of everyday operations. But here’s the truth: the only real way to move forward in these moments is through action. It’s that simple. When the pressure mounts, don’t freeze—put your head down, push forward, and take massive action.
The Power of Massive Action
There’s a distinct difference between just taking action and taking massive action. The concept is explored in depth in Grant Cardone’s book, The 10X Rule, where he identifies four levels of action:
• Do Nothing
• Retreat
• Normal Action
• Massive Action
We’re all taking action, whether we’re aware of it or not. But only at the fourth level, massive action, do you start seeing results that truly drive you forward. It’s not about how many hours you work—it’s about the intensity, focus, and commitment you bring to every task,
Whenever a Black woman levels up and gets into a relationship with a loving man who steps up big time, negativity always seems to follow.
It seems like rapper Megan Thee Stallion is having the time of her life with her new boyfriend, NBA player Klay Thompson. While many are happy for her after hearing about the positive comments the rapper made about the Dallas Mavericks player, there are people who seem to be unable to help themselves by
From self-destruction to self-compassion: Why you must stop blaming yourself now
memories of our past mistakes, because we struggle to forgive ourselves. I believe the ultimate goal of life is not to live it so cautiously that we avoid making mistakes. We are, by nature, imperfect beings, finite in knowledge, prone to error, and shaped by the limitations of our circumstances. Guilt and regret, those persistent specters of the past, arise from our capacity for self-reflection, a double-edged sword that allows us to learn from our mistakes, but can also imprison us in cycles of selfreproach.
The philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once observed that life can only be understood backwards but must be lived forward. This tension between retrospection and forward motion lies at the heart of our struggle with guilt. If left unexamined, regret becomes a corrosive force, eroding self-worth and stifling potential. Yet, when confronted with wisdom, it transforms into a crucible for growth.
How should we handle guilt and regrets?
Reframe your past self not as a villain, but as a person navigating limited awareness, experi-
ence, and capacity. You did the best you could given your age, knowledge, experience, wisdom, or the lack thereof. If you know better, you will do better. The renowned author and civil rights activist Maya Angelou said it best: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” This is not about evading accountability, but about embracing compassionate realism. You are not who you were ten years ago, and the judgment you apply retroactively is often filtered through a more mature lens. Accept that what was done cannot be undone, but it can be understood, integrated, and redeemed.
In addition, release guilt over things that were never yours to carry, including survivors, or success guilt. This is a subtle psychological trap, often rooted in over-identification with the pain of others, or a distorted sense of justice. You are not the author of everyone’s story. You are only responsible for your role in it.
Much of our regret stems not from outright wrongdoing, but from the internalized tyranny of perfectionism. We measure our
Action: The Key to Unlocking Success
every opportunity, every challenge.
Taking massive action means putting yourself out there more than the competition. It’s about being relentless and treating success as your duty, your responsibility. It might seem crazy to some, pushing yourself beyond the norm, but guess what? If you’re not facing new challenges, you’re not pushing hard enough. Massive action generates new problems, but those problems are often stepping stones toward greater success.
Fear as Fuel
It’s also important to recognize that fear isn’t something to be avoided—it’s something to use. Fear is often the signal that tells you where opportunity lies. When fear strikes, most people retreat or freeze, but successful people use that fear to push forward.
In business, when media and external events, such as financial crises or unexpected challenges, trigger widespread fear, the average person contracts and holds back. But those willing to take action during these moments can actually turn fear into a competitive advantage. Cardone encourages us to operate with a “Whatever It Takes” mindset, where we don’t shrink back, but instead, use those moments of fear to rise above and act when others won’t.
By pushing through fear, you not
having something negative to say.
On July 9th, 2025, it appeared Megan had soft-launched her relationship with Thompson after posting a picture on Instagram of herself lounging around a hot tub with Thompson sitting in the background.
Three days later, Thompson posted a series of photos on Instagram of the two of them from their vacation. In the pictures, the two were seen holding hands and kissing.
On July 16th, 2025, the couple made their red-carpet debut at the Pete and Thomas Foundation Gala in New York City. The nonprofit foundation, named after Megan’s late parents, Joseph Pete III and Holly Thomas, was founded by the rapper in 2022 and is rooted in supporting: women, children, seniors and disproportionately affected communities in Houston, Texas and around the world.
Megan was gushing over how happy she is with Thompson when she told People how the two met. “It was such a meet-cute, it was like a f***ing movie. I won’t tell you how, and I won’t tell you when, but it was a movie,”
only differentiate yourself from others—you start gaining momentum. Success doesn’t happen by waiting for the perfect moment. It happens when you get out there and take action, no matter the circumstances.
The Right Mindset for Action
Cardone’s philosophy extends beyond just effort—it’s about mindset. He argues that financial success doesn’t come from simply saving money and working harder. Instead, it comes from thinking bigger and having a clear plan. This is where most people get it wrong. They think that just working hard and saving will somehow lead to wealth. But in today’s world, with inflation rising and the economy constantly shifting, working harder isn’t enough.
You need a wealth plan. This means investing intelligently, using leverage, and creating passive income streams that outpace inflation. It’s not just about saving; it’s about using your earnings to build assets that work for you, creating a snowball effect that propels you forward even when you’re not actively working.
Shifting Your Focus
You might ask, “But how do I begin?” The first step is shifting your focus. Instead of being consumed by the problem at hand, focus on the solution through massive action. Take
worth against arbitrary timelines, social comparisons, or idealized expectations, many of which are neither rooted in wisdom nor reality. This is particularly prevalent in high-achieving individuals and creatives, who often bear the invisible burden of “not enoughness.”
You have to replace idealism with clarity. Life is seasonal, iterative, and nonlinear. Success is cumulative, not instantaneous. The good book, the Bible, says in Ecclesiastes, “To everything there is a season.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s elephant metaphor (eating it one bite at a time) echoes the principle of patient process.
Your growth, therefore, must be measured not by how fast you get there, but by how faithfully you respond to where you are. Let self-expectation be proportional to your present capacity, not your imagined ideal.
Guilt and regret are not enemies but guides if we allow them to be. The past cannot be rewritten, but its weight can be lightened through acceptance, recalibration, and purposeful transformation.
immediate steps, even if they are small. The habit of consistently taking action will build momentum, and over time, those small steps add up to big wins.
Start by doing something today— reach out to a potential client, review your financial strategy, or get started on that project that’s been sitting on your to-do list. It doesn’t matter how big or small the action is, as long as you’re taking steps forward. You can’t afford to wait for everything to be “perfect” before you move. If you do, you’ll never start.
Conclusion
In the end, success isn’t handed to you. It’s earned by those who are willing to put in the work, take massive action, and stay consistent in their efforts. Whether you’re dealing with a financial setback, business challenges, or a global crisis, the solution is clear: act now, and keep acting.
If you’re not sure where to start, just remember: the first step is to get moving. Don’t wait for the fear to subside, don’t wait for the “right time”—because, in business and in life, action is the only thing that moves you forward. So, stop hesitating, take the reins, and create your own results.
said Megan, who referred to Thompson as “The nicest person she’s ever met in her life.”
Thompson also had nice things to say about Megan and how proud he is of the work she’s been doing in giving back and raising money to help those in need, and how honoured he is to be by her side.
“Well, it feels incredible because Megan is such a special person, and she inspires so many around the world. I’ve seen it firsthand,” Thompson told US Weekly when asked about how he felt about attending the gala alongside the rapper.
As mentioned earlier, many people are happy for the new couple and are wishing them the best. However, some just don’t know how to keep their negative comments to themselves. Comments were made about Megan being a pass-around and that she should keep her relationship private. Others are accusing Thompson of being a simp.
While some will find their person in their first relationship, others will have to meet a few people before they meet their person,
and that’s okay. That’s what life is all about. However, referring to Megan, or any other person in that matter as a pass-around is wrong. Just because a person has dated a few people, it doesn’t make them a pass-around. Sometimes a relationship just doesn’t work out, and when that happens, people should be allowed to heal, move on and start over with someone who will step up.
Another annoying issue is that men have a habit of referring to a man who treats a woman right as a “simp.” News flash to those men, being a good person does not make a man a simp. If you want to have a strong and healthy relationship that lasts, both you and your partner must do right by one another. If not, don’t expect your partner to stay around for much longer and vice versa.
We all deserve to have a love that makes us happy. When we see someone who’s head over heels in love, just be happy for them because they found an amazing person who cherishes them.
Roll Up 2025: Spirit Leaf Scarborough celebrating cannabis within Hip Hop culture
of the past.
Stepping into Roll Up 2025 felt like entering a space where the air crackled with genuine excitement and shared passion. There was an undeniable sense of coming home, a feeling that this was where cannabis truly belonged, celebrated within the existing fabric of culture, rather than clumsily inserted into it.
From the moment attendees streamed into Timeless Tree Studios, the energy was palpable. The venue, with its four immersive themed rooms, provided a dynamic backdrop for an evening packed with diverse experiences. Far from a sterile trade show, Roll Up 2025 immediately immersed you in a world where cannabis was a natural accompaniment to creativity and connection.
The heart of the event, undoubtedly, was the high-octane All Style and Breakdance battle tournament. Witnessing raw talent and explosive energy as dancers went head-to-head was a visceral experience. The beats, spun by a live DJ, pulsed through the space, driving not just the dancers, but the entire crowd into a collective rhythm. It was a powerful reminder of how art forms, like dance and music, thrive on authentic expression, and here, cannabis was simply part of that authentic backdrop, a tool for focus, or relaxation, not the sole purpose. The dance battles, more than just a competition, became a metaphor for the shifting landscape of cannabis integration: fluid, dynamic, and inherently compelling.
Beyond the dance floor, the outdoor consumption lounge offered a dedicated space for connoisseurs to “roll up and chill.” This wasn’t a clandestine corner, but a curated, open environment where the aroma of cannabis mingled with laughter and conversation. It underscored a crucial point: responsible consumption is best fostered in welcoming, social settings, rather than being confined to the shadows.
Food vendors dished out an array of tantalizing treats, ensuring attendees were well-fueled for the night’s festivities. The culinary offerings hinted at the versatility of cannabis and its ability to enhance diverse experiences. Here, it wasn’t about infusing anything with THC, but rather enjoying delicious food in an environment where cannabis was simply part of the overall experience.
Interspersed throughout the evening were engaging cannabis brand displays and demo booths. This wasn’t about hard selling, but about genuine interaction and education. Representatives and even executives from various brands like The Loud Plug mingled with attendees, sharing insights and showcasing products in a relaxed, informative manner. It felt more like a community gathering than a corporate exhibition, fostering real connections between consumers and the innovators in the space.
One such example was a blunt rolling competition put on by CEO Steven Conville and his team at Kronic Relief that challenged the community’s most veteran rollers to put their artistry to the test. This approach, of celebrating the plant and its community, is what sets events like Roll Up 2025 apart. It’s a move away from the ineffective practice of trying to “insert” cannabis into existing cultural niches and towards the more organic, authentic celebration of cannabis *within* culture.
Jasper Ly, the driving force behind Roll Up 2025 and owner of Spirit Leaf Scarborough, has long been a proponent of community-centric cannabis initiatives. His vision for this event clearly extended beyond mere commerce, aiming to cultivate a space where passion for hip hop and respect for cannabis could flourish together. When asked what lasting impressions, he hoped attendees would take away from an event like this he stated, “I want people to remember that cannabis has a place in all aspects of culture…I just enjoy facilitating the fun,” further solidifying the event’s commitment to education and thoughtful engagement within the cannabis community.
As the dance battles concluded, the energy remained high, fostering an atmosphere of continued connection and celebration. Attendees danced, networked, and reveled in the collective good vibes. Roll Up 2025 wasn’t just an event; it was a declaration. It affirmed that the future of cannabis culture lies not in forced integration, but in authentic celebration, where the plant is a natural, welcomed element in the vibrant tapestry of human expression and connection.
Jasper Ly and his team at Spirit Leaf Scarborough located at 875 Milner Ave have not only put on a memorable event but have also laid down a blueprint for how to truly celebrate cannabis within culture, paving the way for a more organic and joyful path forward.
Photo Credit: Instagram @conradculley
Fraud in the GTA is becoming more advanced and widespread, especially in the real estate sector. We’ve heard of fraudsters stealing home titles, remortgaging properties, and fleeing with their profits. There are also cases where scammers pose as landlords, collecting rental deposits from many unsuspecting tenants before disappearing. Recently, I came across one involving false pre-construction home sales.
Moiz Kunwar, a 28-year-old man, allegedly impersonated a real estate agent by offering fake homes, false financing options, and misleading promises while pretending to be a trusted developer. He reportedly operated under a company name that closely resembles a well-known builder, Paradise Development Homes Limited. Notice how similar it sounds to the legitimate Paradise Developments Inc.? That was intentional.
Police are currently investigating over forty cases involving alleged fake pre-construction sales, in which Kunwar collected more than half a million dollars in illegal deposits from unsuspecting buyers. Kunwar advertised the properties at low prices and offered very low mortgage rates. It is suspected that Kunwar would take prospective buyers to the development sites and show them specific properties, which were later completed and sold to legitimate buyers. Kunwar’s buyers only realized they had been scammed when
Dream homes or deception. Six red flags every buyer should watch for
their original closing date passed, and they did not own the property. One buyer paid a $170,000 deposit, expecting to close on a five-bedroom home by January 1st, 2025. According to victims, Kunwar provided all the paperwork, including purchase and sale agreements, and introduced them to a fake financial firm, Empire Financing, where he was listed as the president.
As the number of victims exceeds 40, this case serves as a warning that not all real estate deals are as they appear, especially in a market where desperation meets deception. Many families have saved for years and then believed they had found a great deal, complete with exclusive VIP access and early pricing. They signed the paperwork, handed over the deposit, and then it disappeared. How can you protect yourself? Here are six red flags every buyer should watch for:
• The company name might look correct, but it isn’t. Always verify the developer’s name with official records. A single word, letter, or number can differentiate a legitimate home from a scam. The developer will also have a sales office that you can visit.
• The agent is not registered. In Ontario, all real estate professionals must be licensed with RECO — the Real Estate Council of Ontario. Verify their registration at reco.on.ca.
• You’re being asked to send money directly to an individual, or a numbered company. That’s a major red flag. Deposits should always be made into a brokerage, or builder’s trust account. If you have the account number, you can visit the bank to verify if it is a trust account.
• There’s pressure to sign immediately, leaving no time for a lawyer to review
the agreement. Every buyer deserves adequate time to consider and verify.
• It sounds too good to be true: VIP pricing, guaranteed approvals, no competition. Be cautious of any deal that skips due diligence. Remember, the bigger the bait, the bigger the hook
• The paperwork is minimal; there are no floor plans, no Tarion warranty, no builder license details. Legitimate builders will provide all of this upfront.
Scams like these are becoming more sophisticated. But with some knowledge, buyers in Canada can stay protected.
So, here’s what you can do to protect yourself:
• Confirm the builder’s registration with
Tarion and the Ontario Home Builders’ Directory
• Verify credentials of agents, brokers, and lawyers
• Never hand deposits directly to individuals.
• Consult your lawyer for review.
• And most importantly, take your time. Ask questions—Google the company. Look for complaints or lawsuits.
Protecting your investment starts well before making an offer. Today, many buyers face uncertainty, legal costs, and emotional stress, but you don’t have to be among them.
In real estate, doing your homework isn’t optional, it’s essential. Stay sharp, stay safe, and remember, the best deal is the genuine one.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
YOUR HOROSCOPE
for the week of July 27 – August 2, 2025
THE LUCKIEST SIGNS THIS WEEK: LEO, ARIES, AND SCORPIO
ARIES: It’s go-time. No more half-stepping. Something you’ve delayed? Tackle it head-on. Action creates momentum, and momentum is your best friend right now.
TAURUS: You want calm, but life’s testing your patience. Delay isn’t denial. Use your legendary stubborn streak wisely—don’t bulldoze through the noise.
GEMINI: Your energy’s bouncing everywhere—classic Gemini. This week, one convo might unlock something big. Talk, poke the bear, but don’t spread thin.
CANCER: You’ve been guarding your cards. Now’s time to play one. Vulnerability might bring the clarity you’ve been avoiding. Let people in—wisely.
LEO: Your season’s here. Spotlight’s on you, so shine. But don’t just perform—connect. Big energy earns big returns if it’s genuine.
VIRGO: ou’re in fix-it mode. But not everything’s yours to fix. Stick to your list. Say “not my circus” and mean it.
LIBRA: Still weighing your options? Try something radical— make a decision. Even “wrong” choices move things forward. The universe can’t meet stillness.
SCORPIO: You see what others miss. That instinct? On point. Use it to navigate, not control. Real power is quiet, not loud.
SAGITTARIUS: Restless? That’s your cue. Shake the routine. Adventure doesn’t need travel— just bold thinking. Do something different, even in small ways.
CAPRICORN: Hard work’s your default. But even you need air. Delegate, pause, breathe. Burnout doesn’t make you a warrior—it makes you tired.
AQUARIUS: Your mind’s way ahead. Now make something real. Don’t just think outside the box— build a new one. Time to produce, not ponder.
PISCES: You’re absorbing too much. Step back. Not everything’s yours to carry. Guard your energy like it’s cash—especially around chaos.
CROSSWORDS
HOW TO PLAY :
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.
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.
PUZZLE NO. 136
PUZZLE NO. 846
