“Policy doesn’t live on Parliament Hill. It lives on Keele street. On Malvern street. On Lawrence East. On St. Clair West. It’s shaped by the educators who feed kids out of pocket. The nonprofit leaders burned out by bureaucracy. The elders holding space in churches, mosques, and temples. The young workers inventing careers that didn’t exist ten years ago, because the old pathways were blocked....”
STORY - PAGE 8
Written by Paul Junor
A trailblazer in fashion, social entrepreneurship, and women’s health, Woods is the founder of Mayana Genevière, a Toronto-based ethical lingerie brand that’s doing far more than creating beautiful undergarments. Since launching in August 2010, Woods has used her work to challenge societal norms, dismantle harmful taboos, and elevate conversations around birth, breastfeeding, and the evolving experiences of women.
Her brand Mayana is described as “A social enterprise on a mission to challenge harmful stigmas around bodies, birth, and breastfeeding.” The mission is front and center on Instagram, and also comes to life on the company’s website, mayanageneviere.com. It’s here that visitors learn about the company’s sustainable materials, studio-level craftsmanship, and bold purpose.
“I created Mayana not just to make beautiful, functional intimates, but to spark critical conversations,” Woods explains. “My mission is to pull back the curtain on how: fashion, capitalism, and cultural narratives have shaped, and harmed, women’s health, identity, and liberation.”
This commitment has led to the creation of what Woods calls “The world’s first and only trueto-size, clasp-free nursing bras.” She holds six patents aimed at redefining comfort and accessibility for breastfeeding women, an achievement born not just from innovation, but from lived experience.
On LinkedIn, Woods outlines her purpose in clear terms: “I design sustainable, ethically made-in-Toronto intimates, actually made in our
studio. We create an experience that is true luxury, postpartum, peri/menopause, post-cancer, or fuller cup. We specialize in supporting the ever-evolving journey of women and their bodies.”
She isn’t exaggerating. With over 15 years of industry experience and personal insight, Woods is uniquely positioned to speak at the intersection of fashion, health, and justice. Her areas of focus are wide-ranging, including:
• Slow Fashion & Made in Canada
• Fashion & Anti-Racism
• Decolonizing Fashion & Feminism
• Breastfeeding Stigma & Nursing Justice
• Menopause & Breast Health
• Body Image & Capitalism
• Undergarments & Women’s Health
• Endometriosis Awareness
Each topic adds depth to her holistic approach, one that treats clothing as a tool for liberation.
In October 2022, Woods co-founded High Heels & Hot Flashes, a bold platform centering Black and racialized women navigating menopause. It adds another layer to her expanding portfolio of impactbased ventures. She also hosts events like Girls Night Out: Grown-Up Style, designed to help redefine midlife and menopause in empowering ways.
Woods has become known for her fearless storytelling. Karleen Pendleton Jiménez (writer, filmmaker, scholar, and educator) summed up Woods’ power best:
“I had no idea how many lives, histories,
and nations go into making one beautiful piece of clothing. Nadine decolonizes fashion. She shows you the damage of oppression with real examples. You’ll never put on a piece of clothing again without thinking about the world. With grace and wisdom, Nadine challenges her audience to understand their responsibility as consumers.”
Woods doesn’t just talk. One of her signature campaigns, Bust the Stigma, is a grassroots storytelling initiative that brings women’s truths to the streets, literally. From a breastfeeding flash mob at a Blue Jays game to wall-poster sessions in public spaces, the campaign breaks silence and shame around women’s health. Topics range from postpartum healing and menopause to body positivity and breastfeeding.
“The goal is to create safe spaces where women’s voices are heard through bold public activation and community-driven storytelling,” she explains. “We’re shifting culture and destigmatizing women’s bodies one powerful moment at a time.”
Woods has shared her insights on major stages. She has spoken at: Shopify, the University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, and the Women’s Healthy Living Show. She’s delivered keynotes on everything from racial capitalism to ethical consumerism and breast health.
Her work has caught the attention of the media, including a May 2015 feature in Toronto Guardian titled “Mayana Genevière Lingerie by Toronto’s Designer Nadine Woods.” More recently, she was profiled in The Forum Pitch (September 2023),
preneur was chronicled.
In that piece, Woods opened up about how the idea for her business was born after struggling to find comfortable, functional undergarments as a new mother. The experience ignited a movement.
As a woman of color in the social enterprise space, Woods knows the uphill battle of funding firsthand. “Until we secure the right partnership,” she says, “We rely on our own resources and are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of our community.”
A grant from the Canadian Women’s Foundation recently enabled her to begin a new series of bold, uncensored conversations around body literacy and breastfeeding. “We’re working with an amazing Toronto agency to amplify our message; look out for exciting things to come.”
Since 2023, Woods has advanced her purpose with precision. She’s built a brand that challenges the fashion industry’s extractive practices and offers a regenerative model grounded in ethics and empathy.
Her philosophy is clear: “I’m committed to building businesses that center people and the planet, not profit at any cost. I’m always open to connecting with those who share this vision.”
For Woods, undergarments are political, cultural, and deeply personal, and she’s not asking permission to make change.
To learn more about Nadine Woods and Mayana Genevière, visit: www.mayanageneviere.com
Photo Credit: Helen Gaidatsis
Toronto Caribbean News
Did you know Ontario grows watermelon, ginseng, and sweet potatoes too?
If you grew up thinking fresh watermelon had to come from Georgia, ginseng from Asia, or bok choy from a Chinatown grocer, you’re not alone. Many Afro/ Indo-Caribbean families across Canada still carry food memories rooted in the islands, or the global south, but there is a growing truth we can’t ignore: some of the most diverse and surprising crops are being grown right here in Ontario.
Whether you are a parent trying to cook healthy, culturally familiar meals on a budget, a teacher pushing food literacy in the classroom, or an urban professional trying to shop local with intention, here’s the good news: Ontario’s farmland has more to offer than you think, and your food dollars can help preserve it.
Let’s cut to it: Ontario farms are growing over 200 different food and farm products, many of which speak directly to the Afro/Indo-Caribbean palate. We are talking: bok choy, watermelon, sweet potatoes, even ginseng.
So, why don’t more of us know this? Local food conversations often leave us out.
Angela Cammaert of the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture puts it plainly, “Choosing local means you’re supporting local farm businesses and sustainable farming practices, but it is also a key way to put the focus on the importance of preserving that rich farmland.”
She is right, but let’s expand that lens. Preserving farmland in Ontario also protects our access to affordable, fresh food in a climate where inflation is touching everything, and where diaspora communities are often the last to benefit from so-called “green” or “local” initiatives.
Think about it:
• Sweet potatoes, long a staple in Caribbean and African cuisines, are being bred and grown specifically for Canada’s cooler climate.
• Watermelons, once thought to be Southern U.S. imports, now ripen beautifully in Ontario fields during the summer.
• Ginseng, with its deep medicinal history in global herbalism, is thriving here, and Ontario is now the largest producer of North American ginseng in the world.
Then there is Ferrero Canada, investing in hazelnut trees right here in Brantford to fuel their chocolate empire. Holland Marsh growers are supplying the province with bok choy and napa cabbage. Ontario food is more global than most grocery stores.
This isn’t a feel-good fluff story. It is a call to think differently about what
local means. Supporting Ontario-grown produce is about building food systems that respect culture, climate, and community.
Yes, visit a farmers’ market. Yes, take a road trip and buy fresh from the farmgate, but beyond that, ask your grocer, “Where did this come from?” If you see Ontario on the label, choose it. If you don’t, ask why.
Our food tells our story, and our story is evolving. Ontario farmland is producing more than ever, including the very foods our ancestors brought with
them, craved, and cultivated, but farmland is disappearing. Fast.
If we don’t fight for it, we will lose future access, food autonomy, and cultural continuity. So, the next time you slice into a juicy Ontario-grown watermelon, or roast sweet potatoes from a nearby farm, remember you are supporting our local farmers To learn more about Ontariogrown products, visit: homegrownofa.ca Follow: @ontariofarms + @ homegrownofa on Instagram and Facebook. Let’s feed the future together!
our readers, our neighbours, our business owners, our changemakers.
Let’s be honest—there’s a rising frustration in our Caribbean community here in Canada. We’re out here doing everything right. We work hard, we raise our families, we contribute to the economy, and we hold each other up in ways that go unnoticed. But when it comes to real support—from the systems meant to serve us—we’re constantly overlooked.
Whether it’s housing prices out of control, grocery bills climbing, or small businesses struggling just to survive, the same communities keep falling through the cracks. And when we speak up about it, we’re met with silence, or worse—dismissal. We’re told to wait our turn, be patient, trust the process.
But here’s the thing: we’ve been patient. And the process? It wasn’t built with us in mind to begin with.
We see it every day: immigration delays tearing families apart, youth struggling to find their way in an education system that doesn’t reflect them, and seniors—after decades of contributing— still getting the bare minimum. Even during crises, when other communities get fast-tracked support, we’re left at the back of the line, holding each other up because the government doesn’t.
And that’s exactly why this newspaper exists.
Toronto Caribbean isn’t just here to report the weather and publish events—we’re here to amplify your voice. To tell the stories no one else wants to talk about. To make sure our community is seen, heard, and not erased by media outlets who never truly represent us. We’ve been doing this for years, even when the odds were against us, because we believe our stories matter—and we believe in each other.
But let’s keep it real—keeping this platform alive takes more than passion. It takes resources. It takes community support. We’ve never had the luxury of corporate funding or billion-dollar advertising accounts. What we have is you—
And right now, we’re asking you to step in and stand with us.
We’re growing—and we’re looking for motivated people from the community to join us. We’re hiring community sales reps—people who can help connect local businesses, professionals, and services with our readership. It’s commission-based, flexible, and you’ll be making a real difference by keeping Caribbean-owned businesses visible and supported.
And for those of you who already run businesses, this is your reminder: advertising with us isn’t just marketing—it’s community building. When you support independent Caribbean media, you’re helping keep our voices alive and our people informed. You’re ensuring that we’re not dependent on big media to tell our story on their terms.
We’re not just watching from the sidelines—we’re out here doing the work. Supporting families. Giving a platform to the voiceless. Sharing the good, the bad, and the beautiful from across our Caribbean diaspora in Canada.
And yes, while we’re based in Toronto, our hearts are with every Caribbean-Canadian community across the province and country—from Jane & Finch to Mattawa. We saw the damage that hit Mattawa recently with those storms. And while we weren’t there physically, we were paying attention. Because that’s what community does—we look out for each other, no matter where we are.
This is your paper. This is your platform. And now more than ever, we need each other. If you’re tired of being ignored, if you’re ready to help push our stories forward, or if you just want to be part of something real and rooted in community—reach out.
trish@carib101.com | 647-722-6298
Together, we can build something stronger. Something they can’t ignore.
Is your child addicted or just online? The hidden mental health crisis
behind screens
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
Really, this isn’t just a “screen time” issue. It’s a full-blown youth mental health emergency, and it’s happening right under our noses.
In mid-June, a peer-reviewed study dropped in JAMA that should have rattled every North American household with children. It found that kids who showed signs of addictive screen use (particularly through social media and smartphones) were two to three times more likely to report suicidal thoughts, or behaviours than their peers. Two to three times. Let that land.
A day later, the Dutch government stepped in and advised parents to keep children under 15 off social media entirely. Their reasoning? Not just mental health concerns like depression and panic attacks, but: poor sleep, social withdrawal, and rising physical symptoms too. While
Dr. Kay
PAUL JUNOR
paul@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
Canada and the U.S. hesitate, Europe is sounding the alarm. What are we waiting for?
Here is what we know: suicide is now the fifth leading cause of death among U.S. preteens. In Canada, over a third of Ontario secondary students are spending five-plus hours a day glued to screens during their free time, and 20% already show signs of problem use. That is addiction, and there is no going around this issue
We are not talking about kids watching documentaries, or messaging grandma. We are talking about compulsive scrolling, dopamine loops, algorithmdriven validation, and fractured sleep. Phones aren’t just in their hands; they are in their heads. Canadian youth aged 16–24 report alarmingly high rates of anxiety (40.3%) and depression (32.3%). It is obvious, the connection is causal.
As Dr. Yunyu Xiao, lead author of the JAMA study, put it plainly: “It is not the total amount of time spent on screens that predicts suicide-related behaviors or mental health issues, it’s the quality and emotional dependence on screen use that matters most.”
In other words, it’s about how deep they are in. Let’s frame this clearly: these apps are designed to hijack atten-
tion and reward emotional vulnerability. Endless scroll, algorithmic bait, likes-aslove—they are not accidental features. They are engineered hooks, and while adults struggle to manage it, we have left young brains to fight a digital battle they were never wired to win.
That is why this is a public health one. Governments are starting to wake up. Some provinces have already banned cellphones in schools. Others are floating age restrictions for social media access. Necessary moves, yes, but far from enough.
Until we name the real enemy, the design of these platforms, not just their presence, we are doing nothing more than chasing symptoms. A screen-time tracker won’t fix a dopamine feedback loop. An app limit won’t solve a 14-year-old’s fear of missing out or cyberbullying-induced anxiety. We need systemic shifts: transparent tech regulation, mental health education, and culturally competent support for parents and teachers.
Let us also acknowledge the racial and cultural dimensions. Many racialized families are already dealing with limited access to culturally safe care, economic stress, and intergenerational trauma. Now we are adding digital dependence to the pile, often with fewer resources, or representation in the research and response. If
we ignore this intersection, we ignore our most vulnerable kids. So, what now?
We start with the community. Educators, caregivers, elders, we build spaces where young people can unplug and be seen without filters. We advocate for policies that go beyond bans and aim for healing, and most critically, we talk to our children. We ask not how much they’re online, but why.
If a 12-year-old feels more understood by their feed than by their family, we have already lost the plot.
Here’s the truth; not all screen use is harmful. Some of it is joyful, creative, and connecting, but when kids start losing: sleep, friends, and peace of mind, and we call it “normal teen behavior,” we gaslight an entire generation into silence.
This moment demands courage. Not blame, not shame, just the willingness to name what is real, and respond with care and strategy. As Dr. Xiao put it best, “When screen use becomes compulsive, interferes with daily life, and is difficult to control, it can signal a mental health risk.”
We need action, because our kids are crying for help through glowing screens, and too often, we scroll past.
Morris’ new book unlocks the true price of greatness
sightful, engaging, and transparent. She spoke openly about the many challenges she’s faced. Through unwavering faith and persistence, she’s turned adversity into greatness. She greeted and took photos with many guests, savouring each moment. Above all, she expressed deep gratitude for how God has used her to impact lives.
on.” She acknowledged the profound influence of her beloved aunt as well: “In loving memory of my late beloved aunt Icild Palmer, a.k.a. Sis Mack (her nieces and nephews affectionately called her Aunt Icy).” It was through her aunt’s involvement in the church community that Kay connected with many ministers and congregations across Toronto.
She continues, “Together, we’ll explore what it means to walk through the path of destiny, step into purpose, and embrace the price of greatness.”
The launch of The Price of Greatness: The Roadmap to Navigate Destiny by Dr. Kay Morris on Saturday, June 7th, 2025, at A Different Booklist was unforgettable. Surrounded by friends, family, supporters, and community members, the event radiated warmth and pride. Hosted by Andria Thompson, the afternoon reflected the deep support Kay has earned over the years.
As a celebrated singer, humanitarian, and founder of the Kay Morris Foundation, Dr. Morris is no stranger to service. Her philanthropic work spans decades, and her presence continues to inspire.
During the launch, she was in-
In the book’s dedication, she writes, “I thank God for bringing me this far by faith and for allowing me to author this book. It will be used to transform the lives of His people and for the advancement of His Kingdom here on earth.”
She goes on to dedicate the book in loving memory of her late parents, Rev. Dr. Dorine Chambers and Rev. Wellesley Chambers. “They laid a solid foundation in my life from early childhood. Their Christlike principles and godly values helped me press through my most difficult times,” she reflects.
Dr. Morris also paid tribute to her mother. “My dear mother was my: mentor, prayer partner, counsellor, and friend. Their cherished memories and legacy live
“Her love, kindness, and selflessness opened many doors for my singing ministry here in Canada. I am forever grateful.”
In the book’s introduction, Dr. Morris lays out her core message: “Achieving something remarkable and moving the seemingly insurmountable mountains in life takes more than desire; it takes commitment, resilience, and the willingness to embrace a journey filled with challenges.”
As a Christian minister, scripture is central to her worldview. She quotes Jeremiah 1:15, which speaks of God’s purpose for each life before birth. She writes, “This book is not just a guide; it’s a companion for your journey.”
The book dives deep into the pain, sacrifice, and spiritual warfare that often accompany the pursuit of a higher calling. More importantly, it reveals the beauty, growth, and triumph that await those who stay the course.
The ten chapters include:
• The Vision and the Mission
• Pain is the Process to Greatness
• Beauty for Ashes
• The Journey to Greatness Comes with a Price
• Faith and Courage
• Serve with Love and Compassion
• Adversity as a Steppingstone
• Provision for the Vision
• Embracing the Royal Priesthood
• Mentorship
You can find The Price of Greatness: The Roadmap to Navigate Destiny on Amazon.ca.
We have all done it. Scrolled past Niagara sunsets and Muskoka mornings, only to double tap a filtered Santorini shot from someone we haven’t talked to since high school. Ontario? That’s just home. We don’t vacation here.
Why not? As someone who travels often, and posts about it even more, I will say this with love: we have got a travel complex. We are so caught up in the dream of “away” that we miss the magic sitting just north of the 401.
This piece is for you if you have ever looked at Ontario and thought, “Meh,” you are not alone, but you are also not seeing clearly. I recently spent three days in Blue Mountain, and what I found there shifted my whole perspective. This place has levelled up.
Let’s unpack that “grass is greener” travel bias first.
sydnee@carib101.com
Empowerment has a variety of benefits, and Street Voices is doing just that as a non-profit organization.
Joel Zola, the Founder and Executive Director of Street Voices, started the Black-led organization in 2014 as a homeless youth at the age of 19. While homeless, Zola noticed a lack of platforms for homeless youth, especially for Black youth, and their voices were not being represented. At the time, Zola created a magazine for homeless
There is a name for what we do: exotic bias. We overvalue things that feel foreign and undervalue the familiar. That means you will fly ten hours to lounge on a beach but won’t drive two to hike an ancient escarpment., and while social media feeds us a curated diet of Italian villas, Jamaican coastlines, and Dubai skylines, Ontario gets overlooked by its own people.
Vacations are tied to status.
You can’t flex a trip to Algonquin the way you can a weekend in Paris. Somehow, even though the woods may offer deeper rest, they don’t come with bragging rights. That’s not fair, but it’s real.
Ontario tourism doesn’t help itself, either. With a fraction of the marketing budgets that global hot spots have, our own province struggles to make itself look exciting in a world dominated by TikTok travel influencers and AI-generated wanderlust.
That doesn’t mean the beauty isn’t here. It just means we have stopped seeing it. Ontario is vast, wild, and rich with layered experiences if you know where to look. From deep Indigenous histories to world-class freshwater lakes, from culturally rich towns to culinary scenes that rival the best of the big cities. We just need to relearn how
to be tourists in our own land.
That brings me back to Blue Mountain. You probably know it as a winter haven: ski trails, snowboarding, that whole après-ski life, but Blue Mountain in the summer? It’s something else.
They have rebranded, restructured, and reimagined what it means to visit. It’s not just a ski hill anymore, it’s a four-season powerhouse. Think curated adventure meets cultural richness with a focus on sustainability and community care. Real talk: it’s giving elevated Ontario.
What struck me first was the vibe. The Blue Mountain Village is buzzing with over 40 restaurants, shops, and patios, but still feels intimate. You will find culinary gems, live music, family events, and enough patios to satisfy even the most committed mimosa lover.
It’s not all leisure. Adventure lovers can get into zip-lining, treetop trekking, mountain biking, and one of the best gondola views in the province. Not to mention spa treatments, hiking trails, or simply laying on the grass watching people fly overhead on a coaster.
It’s a reminder that Ontario can
be the whole experience, and for families, solo travelers, couples, or friend groups, it’s accessible, inclusive, and refreshingly affordable. No airports. No currency exchange. No 6-hour layovers. Just joy.
Even more powerful is what is happening behind the scenes. Blue Mountain is working with local businesses and the Village Association to ensure that tourism supports the community. That’s rare. It means your travel dollars stay local, supporting real people, real culture, and a vision of Ontario that’s sustainable.
This is just the beginning of a new series where I will walk you through the real Ontario, its hidden gems, vibrant people, and unexpected beauty. Next up, I will give you the full scoop on what Blue Mountain has planned for summer 2025, including some exciting news specifically for our Afro-Caribbean community.
So, before you book that flight to “Anywhere but here,” pause. Ask yourself: “Is the problem the place, or is it our perception of it,” because Ontario’s not boring. We just forgot how to see it.
Blue Mountain? It might just be the wake-up call we needed.
youth called “Street Voices,” which has since expanded to become an online platform featuring articles, podcasts and visual content.
With the opportunity to learn more about what Street Voices does and an insight into a career in media, the organization held their Street Voices Media Mastery Panel as part of its Street Voices’ Media Training series on June 18th, 2025. Attendees learned about the organization’s four facilitators.
The first course is the Digital Marketing Starter Kit, led by Selina McCallum, who has done a lot of things in the city. She has a film festival, works for the Toronto Arts Foundation, and is all-around creative. The second course, Intro to Videography, was led by M Works, who also has a film festival and has worked with a lot of notable artists
in the city. Duke led the Intro to Podcasting course. Duke can be found on EXTRA GRAVY, a popular local podcast in the city. Kadiatu Barrie, the host and curator of the panel, is Street Voices’ Media Training Manager and led the networking workshop.
Along with learning more about the facilitators, attendees got to learn more about Street Voices’ programs, which have wrapped up, but will be available once again in the fall.
Street Voices also covers events and has a directory with a variety of free and customized services under health, legal, food and programs. They will also be expanding into a creative agency and create content for potential customers. “We plan to pivot into a social enterprise model,” said Zola.
Street Voices has provided employment benefits in terms of hiring
young Black youth in the community. People have also come to the organization to build their experience. Volunteers have also come in to leverage their volunteer experiences, leading to them working for: CBC, the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Arts Foundation.
“At its core, the reason why it was created was to create a voice and create a platform,” said Zola who has highlighted and amplified certain things and created opportunities for people who want to work in the media industry.
Zola would like to expand Street Voices’ programming that provides more in-depth education beyond an intro for the participants. He would also like to expand outside of the GTA into other parts of the world and empower marginalized voices everywhere.
Toronto’s Afro/Indo-Caribbean Communities Face a Familiar Pattern; Being Impacted, but Never Consulted
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
This is for Toronto’s Afro-Caribbean, IndoCaribbean, and diasporic communities: teachers, truckers, nurses, Uber drivers, hairstylists, freelancers, cultural workers, and small business owners. The people whose day-to-day lives shift when trade deals are made behind closed doors. This is for those tired of being left out of the conversation, yet always expected to carry the cost.
Canada just killed its digital services tax. The same tax meant to make big tech platforms like Amazon, Meta, and Google pay their fair share. Why? Well, because the U.S. didn’t like it, and they threatened retaliation. So, in the name of “reviving” trade talks, Ottawa backed down. Yep, our government is at it again.
On the surface, it looks like diplomacy, but let’s call it what it is; Canada once again bending to American pressure, while marginalized communities across Toronto bear the economic fallout. Afro/Indo-Caribbean workers (especially those in gig work, retail, education, and culture) are caught in the crosshairs.
Meanwhile, in Toronto, the contradictions pile up. Police continue to be deployed as first responders to mental health crises. Chinatown residents uncover buried histories of displacement and racism, and Caribbean communities ask, “When will our stories, our safety, and our economic survival matter at the policy table?”
This is about whose lives are pro -
tected by policy, and whose are expendable in the name of trade.
Let’s break this down. The digital services tax (DST), set at 3%, was Canada’s attempt to claim revenue from multinational digital giants profiting off Canadian users and businesses without paying into the local economy. It would have raised an estimated $7.2 billion over the next decade, but the U.S. called it “discriminatory,” and threatened $2.3 billion in retaliatory tariffs.
Instead of pushing forward, Canada blinked. The federal government suspended the tax, with Freeland stating the goal is to “Strengthen Canada-U.S. economic ties.”
When Canada caves to U.S. pressure, it’s not Bay Street execs who feel the squeeze. It’s the underpaid warehouse workers. The substitute teachers with rising rents. The Uber Eats drivers whose platforms don’t pay local taxes yet take 30% off every delivery.
Who are those workers? Largely racialized. Largely immigrant. Largely Toronto-based, and deeply tied to the Afro/ Indo-Caribbean diaspora.
At the same time this tax reversal plays out nationally, Toronto faces another reckoning: who gets to feel safe in this city?
Recent protests have reignited demands to stop using police as mental health responders. The statistics don’t lie; African Caribbean residents are disproportionately subjected to force during these calls. Yet funding for community-based crisis response remains inconsistent, and transparency is thin.
If you’re Afro/Indo-Caribbean and navigating mental health, whether as a frontline worker, a parent, or a youth, it’s hard not to feel like your crisis needs to be palatable to be seen as legitimate.
Meanwhile, in Chinatown, a different kind of unveiling is happening.
Community groups have exposed hidden histories of displacement, how development projects bulldozed Chinese businesses and homes without consultation. Sounds familiar?
Caribbean Torontonians know this script. From Little Jamaica’s gentrification to the shuttering of African Caribbean cultural hubs, the pattern is clear; our stories are erased, then tokenized. Our histories are paved over, then commodified.
Yet these grassroots efforts in Chinatown are sparking hope. They show the power of naming the past to reclaim the future. Afro/Indo-Caribbean groups are doing the same: documenting, archiving, demanding memorials, and building intergenerational legacies.
Scrapping the DST won’t suddenly lower your grocery bill, or stop landlords from hiking rent, but it sends a clear message: economic policy will always protect profit over people unless people push back.
This trade maneuver won’t impact everyone equally. Those with investment portfolios and international assets will be just fine, but the Caribbean Canadian freelancer trying to monetize their online content? Still underpaid, still overtaxed. The immigrant-owned delivery service trying to compete with Amazon? Good luck. The cultural curator trying to build economic independence through storytelling? Still unseen.
Toronto’s Afro/Indo-Caribbean communities deserve policies that work for us. Here are some questions we need to be asking our government:
• Why are racialized communities never at the trade table, but always in the fallout zone?
• Why does “economic growth” always mean “gentrification” in our neighborhoods?
• Why do we only hear about public safety when someone’s harmed, but never when communities are healing?
It’s time we ask more than just what’s happening; we need to ask who it’s happening for.
Policy doesn’t live on Parliament Hill. It lives on Keele street. On Malvern street. On Lawrence East. On St. Clair West. It’s shaped by the educators who feed kids out of pocket. The nonprofit leaders burned out by bureaucracy. The elders holding space in churches, mosques, and temples. The young workers inventing careers that didn’t exist ten years ago, because the old pathways were blocked.
The DST reversal is one piece of a bigger puzzle, and it’s not just about trade. When governments backpedal to please global powers, who’s left holding the bill?
Here’s what we need:
• Real consultation with racialized communities before major economic shifts
• Investment in digital equity, not just digital profit
• Local platforms supported by policy, not just tech giants protected by loopholes
• Recognition of our histories, not just when they’re convenient, but when they’re uncomfortable
• And safety, not just in crisis, but in everyday dignity
To Afro/Indo-Caribbean communities in Toronto: you don’t need to beg for seats at tables that were never set for you. It’s time to build new tables. Name the truths, and demand policies that honour (not exploit) our place in this city.
Toronto Caribbean Carnival returns with bigger funding and bigger vibes
paul@carib101.com
There was high anticipation surrounding the official launch of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, held on Saturday, June 14th, 2025, at the Scarborough Civic Centre. This marked the second consecutive year the launch moved away from downtown Toronto.
For diehard carnival lovers used to Nathan Phillips Square, the new Scarborough venue meant trekking east. Add a $5 advance entry fee (or $10 at the door) and some guests weren’t thrilled. Still, those in attendance were met with big news: a $4.65 million funding commitment for the festival over the next two years. Of that, $3.15 million will come from the federal government.
This injection of funds is a major
win. For years, organizers and advocates have pushed all three levels of government to support the festival, the largest of its kind in North America. Last year, the Festival Management Committee (FMC) launched a formal advocacy campaign. A petition drew attention to the chronic underfunding the event faces.
Jennifer Hirlehey, Executive Chair of the FMC, penned a letter outlining the festival’s economic impact and cultural importance. Around the same time, MPP Dr. Jill Andrew passionately addressed the Ontario Legislature, stressing a $2.5 million funding gap and calling for immediate support.
The 2025 launch brought promising developments. Federal Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree announced Ottawa’s $3.15 million contribution, spread across 2025 and 2026. Meanwhile, the Ontario government, led by Premier Doug Ford, will raise its funding from $125,000 to $1.5 million.
These contributions will relieve some of the financial strain on organizers and help ensure the 2025 carnival season is: safe, fun, and welcoming.
Minister Charmaine Williams re -
minded attendees that North America’s largest cultural festival is an economic engine and a reflection of Canada’s longstanding commitment to multiculturalism.
The launch event featured a lineup of local and international talent. Some of the Mas bands that showcased their costumes included:
• Carnival Nationz
• Saldenah Carnival
• Toronto Revellers
• Tribal Carnival
• Epic Carnival
• Freedom Mas
• Luvway Mas
• Costume Creations
• Sunlime Carnival
Live performances lit up the stage. Artists like: Jaxx, Jfyre, Terry Gajraj, and Ossie Gurley brought high energy. Dance troupes like Dance Caribe and Hummingbird Tassa dazzled with Caribbeanthemed routines. Two top steel bands: Pan Fantasy and Panatics, delivered vibrant sets that had the crowd dancing along.
Here’s what’s coming up in the
2025 Toronto Caribbean Carnival season:
1. Junior King & Queen Showcase + Junior Carnival Parade
Saturday, July 19th – From Malvern Community Centre to Neilson Park
2. The OCPA Calypso Kaiso Showcase Saturday, July 26th – Hungarian House
3. King & Queen Showcase
Thursday, July 31st – Lamport Stadium
4. Toronto Panorama: Keepin’ Pan Alive Friday, August 1st – Lamport Stadium
5. Carnival Village Friday, August 1st – Saturday, August 2 at Sankofa Square
6. Grand Parade
Saturday, August 2nd– Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)
7. OSA Pan in D Park
Sunday, August 3rd – Neilson Park
For more events and full details, visit torontocaribbeancarnival.com
Canadian researchers uncover how COVID policies, not the virus, drove 2020 deaths
MICHAEL THOMAS
michael@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
A team of Canadian researchers who analyzed geographical, temporal, and all-cause mortality data from the U.S. and Europe concluded it wasn’t the virus that caused so many deaths in 2020, it was faulty pandemic control policies and harmful medical treatments.
The authors of this 356-page paper (Joseph Hickey, Ph.D., Denis Rancourt, Ph.D., and Christian Linar, Ph.D.) have studied allcause mortality since the pandemic’s early days. They argue the data shows “strong evidence” that excess deaths can’t be explained by a novel, contagious virus like SARS-CoV-2, as many initially believed.
The spike in deaths began almost immediately after the World Health Organization’s March 11th, 2020, pandemic declaration. The question is: how, and why? The public was led to believe the first wave was due to a fast-spreading virus, but the re -
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com TC REPORTER
searchers say the reality was far more complex.
They examined international data, comparing cities across: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Rome, and Milan with American cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. None of the data supported the dominant narrative.
According to their abstract, “The data reveal several definitive features that are incompatible with the viral spread hypothesis (in comparison with qualified predictions of the leading spatiotemporal epidemic models).”
Their research went further. They examined international air traffic, including flights from China and East Asia. They analyzed where people died: hospitals, homes, or long-term care, and considered social factors like poverty, minority status, and overcrowded housing. Still, the pieces didn’t fit, until they looked at the treatments.
The researchers discovered patterns they called “F-peaks.” These were sharp increases in deaths caused by dangerous medical interventions, especially invasive mechanical ventilation and certain drug regimens, as well as pneumonia triggered by stress from lockdowns.
Many Canadians saw these F-peaks firsthand in 2020 and beyond, especially in underfunded hospitals and care homes. The
largest peaks occurred in areas where public hospitals served low-income, or marginalized communities.
“In regions where poor neighborhoods are situated in proximity to wealthy neighborhoods (like The Bronx in New York City and the boroughs of Brent and Westminster in London) exceptionally large Fpeaks occurred,” the researchers noted.
They concluded that excess deaths seen in the U.S. and Europe from March to May 2020 couldn’t have come from a contagious respiratory virus. Instead, government policies and medical interventions disproportionately harmed the elderly and the poor.
In the researchers’ words, “This means the paradigm that a spreading viral respiratory disease caused the excess mortality during COVID is false. That paradigm is disproved by empirical observations of high-resolution geo-temporal variations of age and frailty-adjusted excess mortality … on two continents in the Northern Hemisphere.”
They continued, “Instead, the excess mortality appears to be entirely iatrogenic and induced by the imposed so-called pandemic response.”
Fear and guilt were also tools governments used. Recently leaked WhatsApp messages revealed that UK health officials
(including former Health Secretary Matt Hancock) made policy decisions for political reasons, not science.
According to journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who shared the files with The Telegraph, the so-called “Lockdown Files” exposed over 100,000 private messages revealing how key COVID policies (like lockdowns, mask mandates, and vaccine rollouts) were shaped by optics and politics.
For example, on December 13th, 2020, with Conservative Party members resisting another lockdown, adviser Damon Poole suggested, “We can roll pitch with the new strain.” Hancock replied, “We frighten the pants off everyone with the new strain,” and Poole agreed: “Yep, that’s what will get proper behaviour change.”
In another exchange, Hancock asked, “When do we deploy the new variant?”
You get the point. Canadians know what it feels like to be lied to, by people still in office, and by those who’ve quietly exited the stage.
In Ontario, that list includes a former Prime Minister, a former mayor, the Premier, public health officers, and the Leader of the Opposition. They were all onboard the COVID bandwagon, and all played a role in pushing policies that, according to this research, cost lives.
Is the beauty industry finally taking us seriously? Inside JIBE’s bold Caribbean reframe
fierce and focused. JIBE was for the seasoned esthetician looking to level up. The natural product maker blending herbs and hustle. The international buyer who wants Caribbean-made goods on global shelves.
The Toronto-based Afro-Caribbean business owner craving authentic connection, and yes, the cultural tastemakers who knows that true luxury comes from legacy.
Beauty is about power, and in Jamaica, that power is being reclaimed, redefined, and redistributed through the unapologetic force that is the Jamaica International Beauty Expo (JIBE).
Held at the sprawling Montego Bay Convention Centre, JIBE is the cultural and economic meeting ground for African Caribbean: beauty entrepreneurs, wellness innovators, educators, and creatives from across the Caribbean and the diaspora, and if you are paying attention, you will notice that JIBE is doing something few industry events dare to do: putting us at the centre, not the margins.
This wasn’t just for influencers and hairdressers, though you’ll find both here,
This is where you come if you believe beauty is a business, not just a vibe, and that we deserve a bigger piece of the pie. I had eyes and ears in Jamaica, and what I was told was that from the moment you stepped into the Montego Bay Convention Centre, JIBE hit different. It was colourful and intentional. Curated but soulful. Professional without losing the pulse of what makes Caribbean culture shine: rhythm, resilience, and realness.
The presentations? World-class. You were not just hearing brand pitches, attendees had an opportunity to deep dive into sector trends, practical skills from certified experts, and unapologetic truth-telling from icons in the field. Presenters shared actionable insights for people who want to move from side hustle to empire.
The networking? Strategic. JIBE
helped to build bridges between local vendors and international buyers, between wellness advocates and corporate sponsors, between creatives and investors who actually see them. Whether you were in the media lounge, a product demo, or the after-hours mixer, the energy is one word: aligned.
This year, JIBE’s international influence hit new heights with the Canadian AfroCARICOM Business Association bringing a strong delegation of Toronto-based brands to the island. Names like: Keisha Pinto Events, Lorna Inspires, The O Spot, and Higher Love Yoga showed out. “The Jamaican International Beauty Expo was a flawlessly executed event, shared Craigg Slowly, Dir Stakeholder Relations, Canadian Afro-CARICOM Business Trade Association. “It highlighted many entrepreneurs and businesses in the beauty and wellness space. As one of the partnered organizations from Canada, the Canadian Afro-CARICOM Business Association was honoured to be part of the event by bringing to the island of Jamaica a number of Toronto based businesses to participate as exhibitors at the expo.”
Their presence signaled a shift. Diaspora entrepreneurs came to build together. To collaborate, innovate, and reinvest in
the communities that birthed them. JIBE, led by a powerhouse team, Expo Coordinator Suzette Brown, Creative Director Ricardo “Rudii” Richards, and Canadian Ambassador Keisha Pinto, among others, understood the assignment.
The beauty and wellness industry is a multi-billion-dollar sector, and Jamaica has long played a major role; from skincare to spirituality, fashion to fragrance. JIBE ensures that this legacy is uplifted, monetized, and passed on.
If you are in the business of beauty, wellness, or culturally rooted lifestyle brands and you are not plugged into JIBE, you’re missing the moment. JIBE is a blueprint for what beauty can be when people, Caribbean people, and creatives are in the driver’s seat. So, the next time someone asks you where the real beauty industry is headed, tell them this: it’s in Montego Bay. It’s at JIBE, and it looks like us.
Want to connect, vend, or bring your brand to JIBE next year?
Visit jamaicainternationalbeautyexpo.com and step into a space where your business is celebrated.
PAUL JUNOR
paul@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
The launch of a new creative course, Equity in the Future of Healthcare, marks a pivotal moment in education and health equity. This course is the culmination of the Future of Healthcare Program, a bold initiative made possible through a partnership between the Peel District School Board (PDSB) and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)’s Faculty of Community Services and School of Medicine.
Announced in a press release on Thursday, June 5th, 2025, this innovative 13week course will begin on September 17th, 2025. It will offer 25 high school students from five PDSB schools a rare opportunity to explore health equity through real-world university experiences.
According to the press release, this course:
• Models a new way for secondary and
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
I didn’t make it inside Rebel Nightclub last Saturday night but let me tell you; I didn’t need a ticket to feel the heat.
I heard the lineups wrapped around the building. The energy spilled onto the street. People packed the place to witness something they already knew would be legendary. Hundreds more didn’t get in, and yet? Nobody seemed mad, because just being near Alkaline that night felt like being part of history.
paul@carib101.com
There was a powerful show of support at The Walnut Foundation’s Annual Walk the Path Walkathon, held on Saturday, June 7th, 2025, starting at the Paul Palleschi Recreation Centre in Brampton. Over 200 participants joined the walk, raising more than $76,000.
High-profile officials in attendance included Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, MPP Sonia Sidhu, MP Ruby Sahota, Carlton Darby, Leader of the United Progressive Party, and Brampton City Councillor Rod Power.
In a press release issued on May 21st, 2025 (timed to align with Men’s Health Month)
post-secondary institutions to work together to tackle systemic barriers in education and healthcare.
Connects students from equity-deserving communities with university faculty, mentors, and hands-on learning environments—fostering not just academic growth but also a deep sense of belonging and purpose.
• Reflects a shared commitment between PDSB and TMU to create equitable pathways into education and ensure tomorrow’s healthcare workforce reflects the communities it serves.
The five schools selected to pilot the course are:
• Bramalea Secondary School
• Chinguacousy Secondary School
• Jean Augustine Secondary School
• Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School
• Mississauga Secondary School
Each of the 25 students will receive weekly support from TMU mentors at their home schools. Upon completing the course, they will earn a credit from TMU’s Chang School of Continuing Education, usable toward a university degree if they choose to study at TMU. TMU faculty members will play a direct role in teaching the course, which fo -
cuses on understanding health equity and inequity through case studies, personal reflection, and academic frameworks that examine: power, privilege, and the social determinants of health. Students will explore how: access, delivery, and representation shape equity and justice in Canada’s healthcare system.
Guest lectures, lab visits, and immersive learning in fields like nursing, medicine, midwifery, nutrition, public health, and social work will enrich their experience.
This initiative is about inspiring the next generation of health leaders and ensuring they reflect the communities they come from. Rashmi Swarup, Director of Education at PDSB, shared:
“This course is a significant milestone, not only in students’ personal academic journey, but also as part of our broader commitment to equity, access, and excellence in education. Parents have already shared how proud they are seeing their children step into spaces they once thought were out of reach. This partnership is changing that. Peel students are seeing themselves in roles they never imagined, and that changes everything.”
Let’s talk about what really went down. This was for us, the diehard fans, the cultural keepers, the dancehall lovers who know every bar, every beat, every meaning behind every line. Alkaline came to connect, and even if you weren’t physically there, you could feel it; online, in conversation, and in the corners of the community still buzzing about it days later.
Alkaline’s New Rules Canada tour stop was an emotional return. A homecoming for an artist who’s selective about his appearances, but always shows up big when he does. Coming off his blowout Wembley Arena show in April with 12,000 people, Toronto got a more intimate, but no less of a powerful experience.
Kereena Beckford, his manager, called the night, “An epic event that left fans feeling great.”
The club was filled to the rafters, the floor vibrating with every bass drop. When Al-
TWF issued a powerful statement: “A Call for Men and Boys to Prioritize Their Well-Being.” The release underscored the purpose of the Walkathon: to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer prevention and to spotlight health challenges facing Black men.
“This annual event brings together individuals, families, and advocates to highlight the importance of early detection, health education, and community support,” it stated.
Anthony Henry, President of TWF, emphasized the urgency:
“The statistics are alarming, but knowledge and early action can save lives. Through this campaign, we’re calling on the community to walk with us, figuratively and literally, in the fight against prostate cancer.”
Dr. Gervan Fearon, Honorary Chair of the Walkathon, shared his personal journey with prostate cancer.
“I know firsthand how vital early detection is. When I was diagnosed, I had little to no symptoms, and worse, I didn’t even know what the symptoms were. A routine screen -
Lisa Barnoff, Interim Vice-Dean, Community, Culture and Belonging at the TMU School of Medicine, emphasized: “We see healthcare professionals as the frontline of public health advocacy. In this respect, representation in the medical field is critical and has been shown to improve patient care and outcomes and reduce health disparities. Ultimately, we are supporting student career aspirations that will benefit society as a whole.”
Nadya Burton, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Students, and Pedagogy in the Faculty of Community Services at TMU, concluded: “The Faculty of Community Services at TMU is excited to welcome students from the PDSB to our campus. Our commitments to community, health, and equity are at the heart of this course. Healthcare and equitable access are among the most pressing issues of our time. Supporting students who will be the healthcare providers and leaders of the future will extend our ongoing commitments to social justice and collective well-being.”
Mirjan Krstovic, Resource Teacher at PDSB, added: “This program is not just about preparing students for careers in healthcare, it’s about helping them see themselves as change-makers and equity leaders in their communities. We are excited to build pathways to post-secondary success while empowering students to imagine and shape a more equitable future.”
kaline hit the stage, it was chaos, in the best way. This was music as a memory. Rhythm as resistance. Art as affirmation, and it felt like a collective exhale from a city that’s long needed that kind of release.
He performed over an hour straight, no breaks, no filler, just a raw, relentless string of fan favourites. Here is the part that hit hardest: just days before the concert, Alkaline dropped “Heart Scars,” a haunting new single about: grief, growth, and honouring those we’ve lost. Released in collaboration with Sponge Music, the track already had over 200,000 YouTube views by showtime, and when it played live? The room held its breath.
“This song,” one fan told me, “It was therapy with basslines.”
Alkaline isn’t loud on social media. He is not out here chasing trends or dropping tracks just to stay visible. That’s exactly what makes his presence so magnetic. He is intentional. His silence has weight, and when he does speak, especially through his music, you
listen.
Kereena Beckford put it best: “Alkaline’s selectiveness has resulted in him continuously raising the bar and catering to his fans, who are the true arbiters of success and relevancy.” Facts.
Now, with the Jamaica leg of New Rules coming up on July 5th, 2025, at Trelawny Stadium, the pressure is on, but Toronto has set the tone. If this city was the prelude, Trelawny will be the crescendo.
For those of us who didn’t make it inside Rebel Nightclub? We still felt the impact. We show up for each other. We carry the stories back. We translate the energy into memory.
So no, I wasn’t there, but thanks to the people who were, I felt it, and if you listen closely, you will too. Head over to Spotify, and check him out yourself: https://open.spotify. com/artist/2LIAgeQ5NZurwixfoG3CWZ?si=cCgpU5ORfy8RkknL-IVOg
ing likely saved my life. That’s why I’m passionate about raising awareness, especially for Black men who are at greater risk. If sharing my story encourages even one person to get checked, it’s worth it. Let’s walk this path together and take charge of our health.”
The Walnut Foundation, co-founded by Dr. Winston Isaac and Simon Samuel, is a dedicated Black men’s health and prostate support group committed to improving the health and well-being of men and their families. The organization fosters open discussions, provides culturally relevant resources, and creates space for connection, healing, and empowerment.
TWF’s mission is simple and direct: “To provide Black men and their families with the resources, data, and support they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives, with, or without prostate cancer.” Its vision is equally bold: “A world where every Black man has equitable access to proactive and preventive healthcare and a healthy prostate. Through our commitment to education, advocacy, and support, we aim to transform health out-
comes and pave the way for a healthier, more informed community.”
At the heart of the foundation’s work are seven building blocks for men’s health:
• Know your family history
• Get screened early
• Trust your family doctor
• Understand your numbers
• Participate in research Join a men’s health group
• Donate
President Henry reaffirmed the power of the Walkathon in a follow-up statement issued on June 8th, 2025:
“This is a movement. We’re walking for our: fathers, brothers, sons, and friends. Raising awareness and empowering our community to take charge of their health.”
While the goal was $50,000, the campaign surpassed expectations. Donations will be accepted until September 30th, 2025. To learn more or contribute, visit: https:// thewalnutfoundation.com
This week’s Community Highlight is packed with impact, insight, and inspiration. From BOF Capital shaking up wealth-building for Black entrepreneurs and homeowners, to a bold new book rewriting everything you thought you knew about global history, to essential border tips from CBSA for your summer travel plans. Let’s get into it.
BOF capital unveils groundbreaking investment funds to empower Black entrepreneurs and homeowners Black Opportunity Fund (“BOF”) is proud to announce the launch of BOF Capital Inc. (“BOF Capital”), a game-changing, first-of-its-kind initiative dedicated to tackling systemic economic barriers and building generational wealth for Black communities. Its’ initial two privately sponsored funds represent a groundbreaking shift; investment funds designed by and for the Black diaspora across North America.
BOF Capital is launching two groundbreaking investment funds aimed at fostering economic inclusion:
• BOF Capital Growth Fund: An impact focused fund investing in Black-led businesses, providing financial backing, mentorship, and market access to help entrepreneurs scale and succeed. The Fund will target initial capital commitments of $100 million.
• Ourboro BOF Capital Opportunity Fund: In partnership with Ourboro Inc., a housing investment fund, designed to increase Black homeownership through an innovative shared equity model, ensuring more Black Canadians can build wealth through home ownership. The Fund will target initial capital commitments of $50 million.
BOF Capital is pleased to announce the appointment of Gajan Kulasingam as its Managing Partner. Mr. Kulasingam, a seasoned finance executive with extensive experience in impact investing and economic development, will lead BOF Capital’s strategic direction, ensuring its funds create meaningful, long-term impact for Black entrepreneurs and homeowners.
“I am honoured to have the privilege to lead BOF Capital. We know that access to funding has long been a barrier for Black entrepreneurs, limiting opportunities for growth and success,” said Gajan Kulasingam, “We also understand the importance of homeownership for wealth generation and socioeconomic mobility for Black Canadians. BOF Capital is tackling these inequities head-on, providing the financial backing and strategic support needed to
help Black businesses thrive while ensuring more Black families can achieve homeownership and build generational wealth.”
At its core, BOF Capital is about community-driven economic empowerment. By addressing systemic barriers to funding, BOF Capital is creating an ecosystem of support where Blackowned businesses can grow and scale, families can secure housing and build equity, and generational wealth can ultimately be catalyzed within Black communities. Said Craig Wellington, CEO of BOF, “We are creating innovative and sustainable pathways to economic empowerment by directly addressing the funding and opportunity gaps that have historically limited Black Canadians and those across the diaspora, from building generational wealth.”
For BOF Capital, the numbers tell a clear story: systemic barriers continue to hinder wealth creation for Black entrepreneurs and aspiring homeowners. Most recent data reveal that Black-owned businesses receive less than 1% of total growth capital, limiting their potential for growth and success. At the same time, homeownership remains one of the most powerful drivers of generational wealth, yet only 44% of Black Canadians own homes, compared to 72% for the general population. BOF Capital understands that closing the wealth gap starts with closing the homeownership gap, ensuring more Black families have access to the financial resources needed to build long-term stability and prosperity.
“We’re very proud to partner with BOF Capital to unlock home ownership for Black Canadians,” said Nicholas Pope, Co-Founder & Chief Investment Officer of Ourboro. He added, “As a social impact business, catalyzing generational wealth creation for a historically underrepresented community is core to our values as a business.” BOF Capital is pleased to announce the constitution of its Board, represented by Lori Hall-Kimm, Narinder Dhami, Kurankye Sekyi-Otu, Christine Williams, Noberta Faustin, Craig Wellington, Dennis Mitchell, Ray Williams and Colin Lynch.
Each of these individuals brings invaluable knowledge and expertise to BOF Capital, and their work will directly contribute to the firm’s commitment to bridging the investment gap for Blackled businesses and creating accessible pathways to homeownership for Black Canadians.
As the latest phase of the Black Opportunity Fund’s transformative strategy to disrupt traditional models of philanthropy, BOF Capital is redefining traditional financing models that have historically underserved Black communities.
To learn more about BOF Capital – please visit https://bofcapital.comTo learn more about Ourboro – please visit https://ourboro.com
New Book “Secret Origins of Cultures on Earth” offers a quietly ex-
plosive rethinking of global history
“Secret Origins of Cultures on Earth” by W.K.S. invites readers on a sweeping journey through time, myth, and memory revealing a deeper story of who we are and where we come from.
A new book is turning heads, and challenging long-held assumptions about: civilization, ancestry, and cultural memory. Secret Origins of Cultures on Earth is not a conventional history book. Written by researcher and storyteller W.K.S., the work blends anthropology, mythology, ritual, and suppressed narratives into an expansive reimagining of our shared human past.
Spanning continents and centuries, Secret Origins traces cultural lineages from the Khoisan peoples of Southern Africa to the spiritual traditions of Oceania, from the mythic architecture of the Andes to the legacy of Black America. With each chapter, the book builds a case for rethinking the foundations of identity, time, and civilization. Rather than treating myth as fiction and spirituality as superstition, the book approaches both as powerful archives of memory offering insight into the forces that shaped language, beliefs, migrations, and collective consciousness.
Structured like a ritual and written with both clarity and mystery, Secret Origins explores themes such as:
• Ancestral memory and its erasure through conquest and colonization
• Spiritual and philosophical practices across diverse global traditions
• Sacred architecture, altered states, symbolic rituals, and mythic figures
• The intersections between genetics, oral tradition, and suppressed histories
At a time of renewed global interest in decolonizing knowledge and recovering hidden truths, this book speaks to a growing audience of curious, spiritually minded, and intellectually adventurous readers. W.K.S., who has spent years compiling oral traditions, visual histories, and lesser-known academic sources, presents this work as a resource, reflection, and invitation to remember.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reminds travellers to plan ahead when crossing the border this summer
Every day, the CBSA works hard to protect Canadians, support the economy and ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods across the border.
The CBSA plans and prepares for long weekends and summer travel. They monitor traveller volumes and prioritize efficient processing of travellers at land ports of entry and at international airports, without compromising safety and security. If you encounter wait times at the border, it is likely because they are working behind the scenes to: conduct examinations, seize drugs, firearms or stolen vehicles, or prevent high-risk individuals from entering Canada.
Here are some travel tips to help you plan for your trip:
• Have your travel documents readily available to present to an officer. This will speed up processing times at the border.
• Be prepared to declare. Declare everything you have with you upon entry into Canada. If you arrive by land, you are responsible for everything inside your vehicle.
• Goods purchased abroad: If you are a resident of Canada, personal exemptions allow you to bring goods, including alcohol and tobacco up to a certain value, back to Canada without paying regular duty and taxes. Make sure you know the value of goods you are bringing back in Canadian dollars and have your receipts available for the officer.
• Surtaxes on certain U.S. goods. If you’ve purchased goods in the U.S. and are bringing them into Canada, you may have to pay a 25% surtax in addition to regular duties and taxes. For residents of Canada, this surtax applies only to goods exceeding your personal exemptions limit. Consult the lists of products surtaxed: complete lists of goods subject to the surtax. Visit the CBSA website for more details on how these surtaxes apply at the border.
• Flying into Canada? Use Advance Declaration and make your customs declaration up to 72 hours in advance of your arrival into Canada at participating airports.
• Driving into Canada? Check border wait times to plan your route.
• Early mornings are the best time to cross the border to avoid wait times.
• The Monday of the long weekend tends to be the busiest.
• Consider an alternative port of entry with shorter wait times or less traffic.
• Check the port of entry’s hours of operation on the official CBSA Directory of Offices and Services.
• If you are using a GPS application (such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze) to direct you to a port of entry, consider checking different navigation options (such as fastest and shortest routes) to determine the preferred route of travel
• Know before you go: review the restricted and prohibited goods to avoid the possibility of penalties, including fines, seizure or prosecution. Make sure you have the information you need before attempting to bring items into Canada.
• When travelling with children who are not your own or for whom you don’t have full legal custody, we recommend you have a consent letter from the parent or legal guardian authorizing you to travel with the child. They are always watching for missing children, and in the absence of the letter, officers may ask additional questions.
Feeling burned out by your feed? What if rest was the real flex?
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
If you are tired of always being “on,” scroll ing through other people’s lives while yours slips into burnout mode, it might be time to power down. Not just your phone, but your mind, your hustle, and the con stant mental checklist that refuses to shut up.
A Caribbean island where cul ture, nature, and calm exist in harmony. Known as The Isle of Flowers, this French
sign this.
So, if you are a busy: professional, wellness entrepreneur, creative, or just a soul in need of deep restoration, take a minute, this article is for you.
According to Pleblit’s 2025 Well ness Travel Trends Report, travellers are craving slower, screen free, nature based escapes. Martinique’s lush forests, hot springs, eco resorts, and soul soothing traditions hit every note. It is quiet joy. Still mornings. An actual exhale.
Below are four unplugged expe riences that invite you to return to your self:
Aux Bains de Cluny
Tucked into the quiet town of Schœlcher, just northwest of Fort de France, Aux Bains de Cluny is a sanctuary rooted in ritual. Think: hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, and deep tissue healing paired with local traditions. Whether you book a quick mas sage, or a multi day detox package, this thermal spa treats stress like the illness it is and prioritizes healing at the pace your body actually needs.
Families, seniors, teens, everyone is welcome.
Eden Paradise Spa
Cradled in the southern hills, Eden Para dise Spa is all eco everything with a touch of Caribbean luxury. The Green Key certi fied retreat features: solar heated pools, steam rooms, and floating loungers sur rounded by jungle bliss. Signature Kreol massages use locally sourced oils to soft en your muscles and your mindset.
It’s a private escape where sus tainability meets sensuality, and where digital detox is a gift.
Hôtel
Bambou (Creole Calm, Caribbean Comfort)
Minutes from Trois Îlets, Hôtel Bambou offers Creole charm wrapped in wellness focused elegance. You will eat well, sleep well, and most importantly, breathe well. Saltwater pools, tropical gardens, and rooms designed to restore you from the inside out.
Floating breakfasts? Yes. Locally sourced produce? Always, and the rum is
poured with purpose. Hôtel Bambou isn’t flashy, but it is full of soul. It’s the kind of place where you feel held.
Iloma Hotel & Spa – Peace with a View In Sainte Luce, Iloma’s tranquil landscape is paired with ocean breezes, walking trails, and wooden cabanas that make you forget your phone exists. The spa of fers everything from sea view massages to customized hydrotherapy. Kids, or no kids, you will find your rhythm: yoga, hik ing, stillness, or sailing.
It’s a choose your own calm kind of place.
It is an unfortunate truth that we live in a world that rewards burnout and calls it ambition. Martinique reminds you that: joy, clarity, and restoration are neces sities. When you give yourself permission to pause, the world doesn’t fall apart. You just start coming back together.
So, go. Unplug. Unwind. Unfol low everything that’s draining you, be cause the real flex in 2025? It is at peace.
Trump’s debt gamble; Is he a madman, or visionary?
STEVEN KASZAB
steven@carib101.com
TC COLUMNIST
America’s federal government is indebted to the tune of some $350 tril lion, a debt acquired over many decades, from pre–World War I to the present day. America saw an opportunity to gain power and influence and also to do good for the cause of democracy, so it became the policeman of the world. Doing so
required massive amounts of weapons, trained soldiers, established and forev er‑expanding intelligence agencies, and growing the scientific community ten fold. This cost massive amounts of rev enue.
Foreign nations, whether democ racies, or dictatorships, became accus tomed to the protection of America, so long as they stayed within the anti‑com munist orbit of influence. Ending the Cold War and introducing Russia to the nations of the free world, was a goal achieved in thought but not in practice. In any case, America still stands as a shining protector of peace and freedom, but at a cost.
The Trump Administration rec ognized that their national debt was out of control and that severe, unprec edented methods were needed to pay it down and change the course of American eco‑political history. Its policies included:
What programs are needed stay; all else goes to the garbage bin.
Social programs are expensive, so: re duce, reimagine, and deport.
• Foreign Affairs: There will be a cost to being an ally of America and receiv ing its protection.
• Debt will be paid through tariffs, deregulation, and future economic growth.
• America’s military will become a
mercenary force, available for hire by friendly nations.
• An overall policy of “Continentalism” has been introduced. North America is the target.
• The survival of the economy and business sector trumps all environ mental needs.
• State legislatures will bear the bur den of non‑central issues and port folios such as social, educational, and policing matters. Former federal ob ligations will shift to state and local authorities, including their taxation programs.
• A readjustment of the federal and state government’s obligations is un derway.
At every turn, the Trump Administration strives to reduce its national debt. Those living in America illegally are considered too costly, targeted for deportation and the seizure of their properties. Regula tions deemed unnecessary, or too costly for the business sector are revoked. So cial, or political debate and protest are censored, or crushed. Why are these actions being tak en, and by whom, and for what reason?
The Trump Administration represents those who help elect them to office, mas sive corporations with a great deal of skin in the game. Corporate America sees the
national debt as the element that will force America’s economic and financial collapse. This has happened before on a smaller scale: the Great Depression, bank ing institutions going insolvent, large cit ies going bankrupt, nations in the E.U. un able to manage their national debt cycles. Could Trump and Co., along with the multinational corporations that sup port the president, be on the right side of history? Perhaps. Sure, they’re doing everything wrong, but the goal itself may be correct. Social programs are a huge concern, so why not rethink them? Instead of deportation, why not allow people to become citizens? Make those with educational debts repay their debts through community service, national service in the military, NGOs, or locally. Communicate the goals and purpose the Trump Group professes but communi cate them well. Donald Trump has never been able to communicate well, and the American population must understand what is going on. The whole world must understand the purpose of Trump’s ap parent madness.
The Goal: A global financial melt down hopefully diverted. A huge national debt acknowledged, and a payment plan devised. This requires sound, intelligent communication. A great communicator was, and is, needed. Trump, Kennedy, or Vance do not stand up to this challenge.
It is not one Island; it is a lifetime; Bahamas welcomes the world to experience it all
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
For those of us who live and breathe service: educators, community advocates, cultural builders, it’s easy to forget: we matter too. That is why I said yes to an invitation from The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism to join them for an intimate event in Toronto.
The evening was a full-circle reconnection with Canadian travellers, especially
MICHAEL THOMAS
michael@carib101.com
TC REPORTER
Are you dealing with: insomnia, headaches, fatigue, tinnitus, or heart palpitations? Have you noticed strange antenna-like structures installed on your apartment rooftop in recent years? Were they there before 2020? Did your building management consult you, or anyone, before adding them?
If you answered yes to the first question and no to the last, keep reading. You’re about to learn who might be putting your health at risk, and why.
The short documentary 5G: The Untold Story went viral recently on YouTube. It’s the first film to spotlight real-life health impacts linked to the 5G rollout. Viewers were struck by the disturbing stories of everyday people affected by decisions made by global governments and tech giants in the name of faster internet.
Take Stockholm, Sweden, where 5G launched in full force in 2020. Complaints
those of us craving space to breathe, feel joy, and remember who we were before the deadlines and daily grind took over.
If you are reading this and have not seen your passport in months, if you have been telling yourself “Just one more week” for the past year, this is for you. You give and give. You carry your community, but when was the last time you carried yourself somewhere soft?
On June 24th, I found myself at Hotel X in Toronto, surrounded by vibrant energy, Bahamian music, and a powerful reminder from the Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, “You don’t have to go far to find what you’re looking for.”
He wasn’t wrong. We are in a moment. The Bahamas is building a new narrative. One where: culture, sustainability, and community are centered. One where rest is
from residents poured in almost instantly. Healthy people began reporting severe symptoms within days of activation. They described the same issues mentioned above, and more.
Per Bjursten, an engineer, shared his personal ordeal:
“I lived in my apartment for over thirty years. When they upgraded to 5G, I saw large antennas pointing straight at my unit, just 22 meters away. Every night around 10 or 11, my heart would race. On weekends, the problem lasted from Friday night until Monday morning.”
When Bjursten’s ex visited, she lasted just 30 minutes in the living room before suffering a severe headache and bursting into tears. “What’s going on here? Is it the 5G towers?” she asked.
Mona Nilsson, co-founder and director of the Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation, warns,
“Most people are uninformed or misinformed about the health risks of 5G antennas and towers.”
She believes today’s regulatory limits are designed to serve industry profits, not public safety. “The situation goes against everything we should expect from a democratic society,” she added.
Here’s what’s even more alarming: the global 5G rollout happened with no pub -
political. One where the diaspora is: expected, respected, and reflected.
With 16 unique islands, 100,000 square miles of clear waters, and non-stop flights from Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary, The Bahamas is leaning in hard. They are shifting the script from “escape” to “intention.”
Whether you are drawn to the historic streets of Nassau, the untouched beauty of The Exumas, or the community pride of Junkanoo celebrations, every corner is a soft place to land.
They’re not coming quietly. In 2024 alone, over 122,000 Canadians visited The Bahamas. That number’s set to rise with expanded airlift in 2025, including:
Direct Saturday flights to Freeport (from Toronto & Montreal via Sunwing)
• Air Canada flights to Exuma & Nassau
• Club Med charters to San Salvador
Beyond logistics, what they are really offering is healing. Space. Ocean therapy. Cultural connection. Wellness is finding joy in your body again. It’s waking up without stress clenched in your jaw. It’s feeling the sun hit your skin and knowing, you chose this.
This is an invitation to take your power back through pause. The Bahamas is calling the diaspora to return, and they are doing it in a way that: honours tradition, celebrates innovation, and makes room for us.
So, the next time someone says, “Where are you going this year,” consider responding with this, “I’m going somewhere I don’t have to be strong.”
Rest is resistance. Joy is medicine. Travel is transformation, and The Bahamas? It’s the reminder we all need: you’re allowed to rest, even when the world is heavy. See you on the sandbar.
lic input, and no independent health studies, only government overreach and corporate greed.
5G emits 10 to 100 times more microwave radiation than older systems like 3G, or 4G. According to Dr. Lennart Hardell, a professor of oncology, says there’s a rising risk of brain and ear cancers in people who have used cell phones regularly for over ten years.
Investigative journalist Per Shapiro joined a 5G-related inquiry and visited a woman living under a roof stacked with antennas. Her daughter, she claimed, suffered frequent nosebleeds. Shapiro sat on a table in the home despite her warning. At first, nothing happened. Four minutes later, a sharp pain began in his arm.
“It got stronger and stronger,” he said. “By the time I left, it felt like an elephant on my chest. I could barely breathe.”
Since July 3rd, 2024, 438 scientists and medical professionals have signed the 5G Appeal, calling for an immediate moratorium. Existing research already links radiofrequency radiation (RF) to serious health risks.
Still, Nilsson says the industry has ignored the evidence.
“The industry shows no interest in our findings or in the health effects of their 5G technology.”
Governments and telecom companies insist 5G is safe because of so-called “safety limits.” Those limits only account for
short-term exposure. They don’t address chronic, long-term health damage: cancer, sleep disorders, heart problems, and more.
So why are these standards protected so fiercely? Simple. They are vital to industry operations. Most countries follow outdated guidelines from groups like: ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection), WHO (World Health Organization), and the EU.
According to Nilsson, the WHO has accepted funding from telecom giants to promote these safety limits, despite growing evidence that they’re harmful.
She even exposed attempts to suppress critical reporting.
“A representative from Ericsson, the world’s top provider of 5G base stations, emailed the editor of our first published case study and asked for it to be withdrawn.”
Sweden isn’t alone. In Toronto, Canada, 5G antennas crowd the city skyline. One tower stands ominously at Lake Shore Blvd West and Kipling, just steps from a school bus stop where children gather daily.
Many government-subsidized buildings across Toronto also host visible 5G antennas. For some, this raises the chilling possibility: are poor communities being targeted for depopulation?
Whether you believe it or not, the public deserves full transparency, genuine scientific research, and a real choice.
Why Toronto’s New Noname Book Club Chapter Is more than just a book club
The Toronto Chapter of Noname Book Club officially launched on May 31st, at A Different Booklist, following dialogue between rapper and organizer Noname, and community advocate DeiJaumar Clarke, who played a key role in forming the local chapter.
Noname (born Fatimah Nyeema Warner in 1991 in Chicago) first entered the creative world through slam poetry. After completing a creative writing course in school, she transitioned into rap, gaining recognition for her appearance on the track “Lost” and in Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap mixtape. Her debut project Telefone (2016) received wide acclaim for its intimate story-
telling and melodic production. You can learn more about Noname’s music on Apple Music.
The Noname Book Club, launched in 2019, is described on its official site as a “Black-owned business connecting community members both inside and outside carceral facilities with radical books.” Every month, the club highlights a work by a Black author.
Guided by a clear political and educational mission, the club is grounded in two core beliefs:
• Building community through political education is crucial for our liberation.
• Black people everywhere should have access to unlimited educational materials.
There are now 20 chapters in the U.S. and five international ones in: London, Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, and Toronto. In April 2021, the club expanded to include prison chapters, sending books directly to incarcerated members.
The club also runs the Radical Hood Library, a community initiative that includes:
• Teach-ins
• Movie screenings
• Prison program packing
• Book drives
The site states: “Not only are we committed to offering free resources to friends and family behind bars, but we also think it’s important to have revolutionary literature freely available in our local community. Our goal is to one day open physical library locations in every Black hood across the country.”
The first book discussed at the May 31st, 2025, event was Africa Is Not a Country by Dipo Faloyin. Published in 2022, the nonfiction work is subtitled Notes on a Bright Continent, and it challenges stereotypes about modern Africa, especially those perpetuated in the U.S. and U.K.
Faloyin (American-born, Nigerianraised, and based in London) is a senior editor at Vice and contributor to several major publications. The Guardian’s Jeffrey Boakye praised the book as “An exhilarating journey through the myths, misconceptions and stereotypes of modern Africa... A masterpiece in historical journalism, bristling with insights
and perspective-widening truths. Anyone seeking enlightenment needs to read this.”
The last book in the Toronto chapter’s lineup is Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh, which was set on Friday, June 20th, 2025. The novel, set in Nigeria, follows Obiefuna, a teenager sent to boarding school after his father, Anozie, catches him in an intimate moment with another boy. Set against a backdrop of a military regime poised to criminalize samesex relationships, Blessings is described as
“An elegant and exquisitely moving story that asks how to live freely in a country that forbids one’s truest self, and what it takes for love to flourish.”
More than just a literary discussion group, the Noname Book Club is a space of empowerment and education. It: centers Black radical thought, fosters critical dialogue, and offers a loving space for shared growth and collective liberation.
All book club titles are available at a discounted rate at A Different Booklist.
To get involved with the Toronto chapter of the Noname Book Club, visit nonamebooks.com.
JASON A. FARMER
The untold story of J-Vibe, a musical chameleon who is quietly shaping the global sound
When the beat drops, you feel him before you see him.
It’s the kind of sound that sets trends, and behind that sound is Jason A. Farmer, better known in the studio, on tour, and across liner notes as J-Vibe. If you have ever swayed to “Heaven Sent” by Keyshia Cole or felt the fire of Estelle and Sean Paul’s “Come Over,” you’ve been touched by his magic. Here’s the thing; J-Vibe’s story is about: humility, hustle, and a deep, lived love for the craft.
This is for the ones who’ve been grinding behind the curtain. For every musical director, studio rat, self-taught instrumentalist, or Caribbean kid whose dreams outpaced their geography. J-Vibe made music make sense for a generation raised on riddims and rhythm and blues.
Born with music in his blood and reggae in his bones, J-Vibe started crafting melodies at age eight. His musical upbringing was eclectic: ska, Motown, rock, country, and gospel mixed in the same air that carried the basslines of Sly & Robbie, and by his late teens he was already composing, arranging, and producing polished tracks, some of which climbed the UK charts.
2003 was the turning point. That year, J-Vibe earned his first Grammy nomination for his work on Third World’s Ain’t Givin’ Up, a milestone project that announced his arrival as more than just another studio name. He was now in the room, and making the room move.
Fast forward to 2008. Keyshia Cole drops “Just Like You,” and the world hears “Heaven Sent.” Soulful, haunting, and unforgettable. The track earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song, and it’s no surprise; it was co-composed and produced by J-Vibe, who played every instrument on it. That same year, Estelle’s “Come Over” (featuring Sean Paul) hit the airwaves, another gem produced by the man who was now becoming a quiet powerhouse in both reggae and R&B.
It was clear that J-Vibe had a gift for giving artists their clearest, most resonant voice, and doing it without ego. “I’m here to serve the song,” he says. “Not the other way around.”
By the time he snagged a Grammy win in 2016 for Morgan Heritage’s Strictly Roots, J-Vibe was curating vibrations. Whether on a Grammy-nominated reggae album, or Rihanna’s upcoming reggae-rooted project, he brought the same attention to detail and musical depth.
He doesn’t just plug in beats. His studio is often just him and the instruments, letting the energy speak before the mic ever turns on, and when he hits the road, it’s with the same fire. J-Vibe has toured as lead keyboardist and musical director for Ky-Mani Marley, even opening for rock legends Van Halen. Let that sink in.
Now, in 2025, J-Vibe is still setting the pace. His latest produc-
tion work on “Spark Up,” the infectious anthem by Collie Buddz and Busy Signal, is climbing global playlists and kicking off The Spark Up Tour. Powered by live instrumentation and a beat that feels both ancient and brand new, it captures J-Vibe’s full-circle ethos: roots, elevation, and energy.
He is not done. He just wrapped production on Collie Buddz’s upcoming album and has projects brewing with: Lila Iké, Protoje, J Boog, Sizzla, and Common Kings. I “If the vibe’s right, and business is right, let’s build,” he says. “Come humble. Come ready.”
If you catch J-Vibe in the studio, or backstage, you won’t find a diva. You will find a big brother, one who listens more than he talks, and leads by doing. Ask him for advice and he’ll hand you this:
• Learn an instrument.
• Do more listening than talking.
• Be confident, not cocky.
• Learn the business; read a damn book.
• Love it. All of it.
It’s old-school wisdom with a newage purpose. A reminder that while the game has changed, the greats still live by code.
J-Vibe represents something too rare in today’s music ecosystem: cultural fluency paired with sonic evolution. Reggae, hip-hop, jazz, pop, gospel. He speaks all their lan-
guages, and translates them into something global, soulful, and clean.
More importantly, he builds community in a cutthroat industry. He gives young artists space to find their sound. He uplifts collaborators instead of overshadowing them. He is proof that you can be elite without being exclusive, prolific without being performative, and in an era when clout often overshadows craft, that’s revolutionary.
“Live, love, laugh, and most importantly, listen,” J-Vibe says. “I am the future of music.”
So, if you are an artist, a fan, or a dreamer searching for your own rhythm in a noisy world, do yourself a favour: follow the sound that feels both grounded and electric. You will likely find J-Vibe behind it, smiling, playing, producing, and vibing.
That’s what happens when reggae royalty meets R&B soul. A movement is born, and it is one hell of a ride.
Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News
Photo Credit: Sanj P Photography
Alimi A. Banjoko
RUSTIC WATERFRONT HIDEAWAY IN THE HILLS
Located near the small town of Mattawa, our four-season family owned resort sits on 147 acres of pristine waterfront & sprawling woodlands! Featuring 15 pet-friendly cottages steps away from the beachfront, the Mattawa River Resort offers a little something for everyone.
Our four-season resort has plenty of year-round activities, such as fishing, boating, hiking, swimming, skating, skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and a variety of other seasonal activities!
Seasonal RV Sites now available - Enjoy your own private campfire, and become a part of our resort community.
Corporate Retreats, Community Events, Family Reunions, Weddings and more - we've done them all! We offer a variety of packages to suit your specific event and special requirements.
YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL IS ON ITS WAY.
City of Toronto property taxes pay for vital City services like road maintenance and parks.
Please pay your bill by the due date.
When Is surgery the right move for a pain in the knee?
W.
Osteoarthritis comes on slowly, but with time, it steals your comfort, your mobility, and eventually, your independence. For those living with bone-on-bone agony in their knees, or hips, the prospect of surgery can feel like a lifeline, but be cautious. Sometimes, the best scalpel is the one that stays in the drawer.
Orthopedic surgeons are fond of saying, “We can fix that,” but just because they can doesn’t mean they should; not right away. Too often, patients are shuffled down the surgical assembly line before they have tried the basics: weight loss, physiotherapy, mobility aids, proper
footwear, and anti-inflammatory strategies. One Canadian study showed only one in five patients fully pursued these nonsurgical options before being referred for surgery. That’s medical malpractice by neglect.
When surgery is the right decision, it can be life changing. Total knee and hip replacements have excellent longterm success rates. Roughly 85 to 90 percent of patients are satisfied, and for many, the pain relief is dramatic. But “dramatic” doesn’t mean instant, or perfect. Recovery is no picnic. There’s the risk of infection, blood clots, nerve damage, or a replacement that never quite feels right. And if you’re under 60, there is a good chance you will outlive your implant and face the joyless prospect of revision surgery, a second round of surgery that’s: more complicated, more painful, and far less predictable.
Hip replacements generally have even higher satisfaction rates than knees. The anatomy is simpler, the rehab tends to be smoother, and most patients are walking pain-free in weeks, not months. If you’re weighing your options, a worn-out
hip often responds better to surgery than a badly arthritic knee.
If there were a winner of a popularity contest for pointless procedures, arthroscopic knee surgery for arthritis would be it. This minimally invasive surgical technique may be useful for other problems, but not for osteoarthritis. High-quality trials on both sides of the Atlantic have shown this surgery does little for long-term pain. Yet the instruments are busy, and the surgeons are billing.
There are lesser known, but promising, surgical options. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, or “partial knee replacement,” is one. If arthritis is confined to just one side of the joint, this more conservative approach can offer pain relief with a smaller incision, quicker recovery, and lower complication rates.
Other treatments are emerging outside the operating room. In Germany, genicular artery embolization (an outpatient procedure that targets inflamed blood vessels in the arthritic knee) reduced pain and improved quality of life for 87 percent of patients within a year. In Canada,
early clinical trials using stem cells harvested from patients’ own bone marrow are showing promise, and researchers in Switzerland are even using engineered cartilage grown from nasal cells to resurface damaged knees. Call it the rhinoplasty of joint repair!
None of these treatments should be step one. Real care means starting with education, patience, and conservative treatment. In one study, patients who used a decision-making aid often chose to delay surgery after learning about other options. Not because they were afraid, but because they were informed.
We’re not anti-surgery. We’re prowisdom. If you’re suffering, you have diligently tried proven approaches to halting the creep of osteoarthritis, and nothing else helps, by all means talk to your surgeon. Go in with your eyes open and your brain turned on. Ask tough questions. Demand alternatives. And remember, as Ben Franklin put it: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Or, as we would put it, don’t let the surgeon be your first therapist.
The Holy Trinity of Guyanese Street Food: Cassava Ball, Potato Ball & Egg Ball
Let’s get one thing straight — there’s street food, and then there’s Guyanese street food. We’re not talking about overpriced pretzel carts or trendy fusion stands. No, this is about the kind of food that comes wrapped in wax paper, handed through a mesh window or scooped from a steel pan on the side of the road. It’s cheap, it’s spicy, and it’s damn satisfying. And when it comes to real-deal Guyanese snacking, nothing hits quite like the trifecta of cassava ball, potato ball, and egg ball. This isn’t just food — this is heritage rolled up, deepfried, and served hot with a side of pepper sauce.
You can call them “balls,” you can call them “fried heaven,” but make no mistake — these are cultural artifacts, born from necessity, passed through generations, and proudly carried into today’s kitchens by aunties, vendors, and hungry folks who know what real flavour tastes like. Let’s get into it.
A Bite of History
Guyanese cuisine is a crossroads — African, Indian, Indigenous, Chinese, European — all wrapped into one pot. You’ll taste echoes of West Africa in the spices, Indian rhythms in the use of curry and dhal, and the deep roots of the land in ingredients like cassava and plantain.
Cassava, the starchy tuber that carries much of the Caribbean’s culinary legacy, dates back to the Indigenous peoples of the region — the Arawak and Carib. They used it for everything: bread, porridge, even liquor. Cassava isn’t just food; it’s survival. Especially in its bitter form, it has to be processed carefully — grated, squeezed, and cooked — or it can be toxic. But once you tame it, it becomes this beautiful blank canvas with a slightly sweet, earthy taste that works perfectly for a hearty snack.
Potatoes, on the other hand, were a colonial import. They hit the shores through European trade and quickly became a staple. Cheap, filling, easy to grow. Indo-Guyanese cooks embraced them like an old friend and turned them into dishes like aloo curry and, yes, the potato ball. And then there’s the egg ball — Guyana’s take on the Scotch egg. Think of it as culinary rebellion. The Brits brought the original meat-wrapped version, but Guyanese cooks flipped the script and made it their own, wrapping that egg in cassava or potato instead. Same golden crunch, but with roots that run deeper.
Why These Balls Matter
This might sound dramatic — but these snacks are identity. Every Guyanese person, at home or abroad, has a memory tied to them. Maybe it was the school tuck
shop where you bought one for $20 with change from your lunch money. Maybe it was a street corner in Georgetown, steam rising from the fryer, and that one vendor who always gave you the crispiest one. Or maybe it’s the memory of your mother’s kitchen, flour dust in the air, hot oil in the pan, and you sneaking the first one off the plate before it cooled. These aren’t just snacks. They’re home, childhood, and community in edible form.
Let’s Break Them Down
Cassava Ball
What it is: Mashed cassava seasoned with garlic, scallions, thyme, and hot pepper, rolled into balls and deep-fried until golden brown. No filler. Just roots and fire.
Texture & Flavour: Crispy outside, soft and chewy inside. A little sweet, a little smoky, and just the right hit of heat if you season it right.
How it’s traditionally made: Cassava gets boiled till fork-soft, then mashed and seasoned. Some folks add a bit of flour or baking powder to help it hold shape. You form it into balls and drop them into hot oil. That’s it. No need to overthink it.
Cassava Ball Recipe
Ingredients:
• 2 lbs cassava (peeled, cut into chunks)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 scallions (finely chopped)
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 hot pepper (minced – wiri wiri or scotch bonnet)
• Salt & black pepper to taste
• ½ tsp baking powder (optional)
• 2 tbsp flour (only if needed for binding)
• Oil for frying
Instructions:
• Boil cassava in salted water until tender (about 20–25 minutes).
• Drain and remove any stringy core. Mash until smooth.
• Stir in garlic, scallion, thyme, pepper, salt, and baking powder.
• If the mix is too soft, add a bit of flour — but don’t overdo it.
• Roll into golf-ball-sized shapes.
• Heat oil in a deep pan or pot. Fry balls in batches until golden brown (3–5 minutes).
• Drain on paper towels and serve hot with mango sour or pepper sauce.
Potato Ball
What it is: Seasoned mashed potatoes rolled into balls and fried until crispy. Op-
tional bonus: a spicy beef or chicken filling hidden inside.
Texture & Flavour: Golden and crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside. The flavour is clean and homey — think of mashed potatoes with a kick.
How it’s traditionally made: Boiled potatoes mashed and seasoned, then rolled into balls. Some get filled with spicy ground meat for a little surprise. Some roll them in breadcrumbs before frying.
Potato Ball Recipe
Ingredients:
• 2 lbs potatoes (peeled and cubed)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp curry powder
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 scallions (chopped)
• 1 hot pepper (minced)
• Salt to taste
• Optional: seasoned ground beef or chicken
• 1 egg (beaten, for coating)
• Breadcrumbs (for coating)
• Oil for frying
Instructions:
• Boil potatoes until fork-tender, then mash smooth.
• If using meat filling, take a bit of mash, flatten it, spoon in the meat, and seal it up.
• Roll into balls. Dip in egg, then breadcrumbs.
• Fry in hot oil until golden brown. Drain and serve with tamarind sauce or pepper sauce.
Egg Ball
What it is: A hard-boiled egg wrapped in cassava or potato mash, then deep-fried to golden perfection.
Texture & Flavour: Crispy outside, creamy egg inside, with that signature Guyanese fire. Every bite is layered — first crunch, then the seasoned mash, then the firm egg.
How it’s traditionally made: Boiled egg, dried and cooled. Wrapped in cassava mash like a meatball around a marble, then deep-fried. The trick is making sure the cassava layer is tight so it doesn’t crack open in the oil.
Egg Ball Recipe
Ingredients:
• 6 eggs (hard-boiled, peeled)
• Cassava mash (see cassava ball recipe)
• 1 egg (beaten for coating)
• Breadcrumbs (optional)
• Oil for frying
Instructions:
• Make cassava mash as above.
• Wrap each boiled egg fully in cassava mash, smoothing out the surface.
• Dip in beaten egg and coat in breadcrumbs if desired.
• Fry in hot oil until evenly golden brown.
• Drain and serve with mango sour or your hottest pepper sauce.
BONUS: Mango Sour Recipe
Seriously — none of these balls are complete without a proper mango sour. It’s the dunk that brings the fire and tang.
Ingredients:
• 2 green mangoes (peeled, chopped)
• 2 cups water
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 hot pepper
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp vinegar or lime juice
Instructions:
• Boil mango with garlic and pepper until soft (about 15–20 min).
• Blend everything with the boiling liquid until smooth.
• Add salt, sugar, and vinegar to taste.
• Let it cool — or refrigerate. It’s fire.
Wrapping It Up (Literally and Figuratively)
Whether it’s cassava, potato, or egg — these balls are more than just something to snack on. They’re symbols of who we are, how we blend cultures without losing our roots, and how we turn humble ingredients into food worth remembering. They were born in homes where money was tight but flavour was plenty. They fed generations of Guyanese kids after school, sat proudly at birthday parties, and lined the counters of vendors who kept the tradition alive. In a world trying to reinvent the wheel with “gastro this” and “artisan that,” these snacks stand firm. No frills. No nonsense. Just bold, deep-fried, Guyanese pride in every bite.
So next time you’re hungry and craving something that hits all the right notes — crisp, spicy, comforting, and proud — roll up your sleeves, light the stove, and fry up a little taste of home.
STEVEN KASZAB
steven@carib101.com
INSIGHT TO SOCIETY
Business in making houses for the citizenry used to be a traditional ex change of capital for homes built to last. Then the pandemic happened, supply chains weakened, and the quality of hous
The housing crisis will never end until we take profit out of the equation
ing declined, yet the price of housing con tinued to rise substantially. Meanwhile, wages for working people have remained the same, or declined in the past decade, no matter what our political pundits say. Life has not gotten better for the working class; it has only become more difficult.
All the while, our politicians pat themselves on the back, claiming that nonprofit housing is being built and that the private sector promised to reduce its prices. They promised! They also received a great deal of money from all levels of government to do so. Yet, corporate wel fare within the housing sector continues, and prices remain out of reach.
The government must become the: initiator, developer, and builder of its needed housing starts, not the private sector. Only the government can enforce the budgeting and cost controls that spi ral out of control when left to the private sector. The myth believed by many, that only the private sector can run the busi ness of housing, is horse shit propagated by that very sector.
Houses are being built using limited materials and contract trades. So, why not combine an educational pro gram to train young people to do skilled labour jobs? Cut the cost of labour in half
by training an entirely new generation of builders, electricians, painters, and land scapers. In doing so, we can create qual ity housing, sustainable careers, and eco nomic empowerment at the same time. We don’t need to accept a broken
status quo. What we need is bold action, a shift that removes greed and replaces it with a focus on: quality, accessibility, and long‑term benefit for everyday people. Only then can we truly claim that housing is a right and not a commodity.
What every school principal knows about support staff (that parents should too)
BY GEORGE SHEPPARD
As school students embrace their impend ing freedom, the onset of summer truly begins. In the hectic environment of a school, teachers and students often take center stage. They work from September to June to build rapport, create a commu nity that is unique and special. It becomes ‘our place’. Throughout the daily hustle and bustle, students of all ages gravitate to their various groups; for some sports teams, various clubs, while others are con tent to stand alone. While school can be a bastion of energy, there is always room for caution, to be openminded to the un expected.
For many years, public education was my home. As a school principal, it was my responsibility to anticipate problems, advocate for the needs of all students, and provide the message to parents that “Your children are safe here.” About 10 years ago, I was principal of a rural area school. The school held a strong presence in the community. Its events were attended by
all.
As the school district undertook their regular reconfiguration and assess ing how to create upheaval, the district superintendent came to my school to dis cuss matters. He was there to reveal the path forward, and I was expected to fall in line. As we chatted, he said, “You are the most important person in this school, be cause you set the tone and direction for students and teachers.” Talk about an ego boost! However, there is a limit to vanity. My response was swift and sincere. I told him that teachers at the classroom level are the keys to success. For students, they require consistency, stability, fairness, and kindness. A school could be very poorly run at the administrative level, yet the in dividual student can excel with effective teaching.
However, while that was a large part of my overall approach to successful education, our system really rests on the shoulders of unsung heroes. School cus todians and bus drivers rarely take centre stage. They go about their daily tasks with
a quiet sense of responsibility and humil ity. They have a ‘fly on the wall’ point of view of the daily happenings. They see fairness on display and injustice as it qui etly creeps in, often in the form of bully ing, or students being excluded.
I have been lucky to have had custodians who cared. They took pride in the appearance of the school. Their work is frequently taken for granted or overlooked. Having coached many sports teams, I would take these teams to other schools to compete on a regular basis. Without fail, someone would comment how clean ‘our school’ was in comparison, a badge of honour for our custodians.
I would regularly talk with the custodians. I was once told I shouldn’t carry out a bag of trash as I was ‘the prin cipal.” My response? We all play different roles in the lives of each child, with one no more important than the other. My custo dian noticed which students need things beyond the classroom. They saw who did not have lunch, what child did not have winter boots, and which student was con
stantly picked on. While I was weighed down by policy, procedure, and schedul ing, they were able to see joy and happi ness in its raw form.
As for school bus drivers, in the rural areas, they are members of your community who know the state of affairs. The bus driver is the first person a student meets that marks the beginning of their school day. A chipper and welcoming, “Good morning George,” makes all the dif ference. Sadly, these bus drivers also see children get on the bus who are: troubled, scared, and withdrawn. They will notice, and they will readily share their concerns. Report cards are issued, lockers emptied, and in my mind of an older gen eration “School’s out for summer” by Alice Cooper blasts. As we part way for summer, let all: teachers, parents, students, and yes principals salute the unsung heroes of our school community. No matter what type of organization you occupy, be sure to ac knowledge it truly takes many at all levels to create meaningful success.
What are they really saying? How projection exposes more than you think
SIMONE SMITH
simone@carib101.com
HUMAN SPECIALIST
This is not a new topic. It is something that I have spoken about before. If you’re someone who lives in the community: educator, organizer, healer, writer, auntie, mentor—this is for you. You move through the world listening, holding space, translating the unsaid, but sometimes, what you hear isn’t the full truth. It’s a mirror, and if you pay close enough attention, it tells you everything you need to know.
Lately, I have been listening differently. To what people say. The tone, the deflection, the sharpness wrapped in soft words. I have noticed a pattern that is hard to ignore: projection, and it’s everywhere.
Projection is not just a psych term tucked in a therapy textbook. It’s a real, everyday reflex people use, mostly without realizing, to offload emotions they can’t face. Fear. Shame. Guilt. Insecurity. Rather than own those feelings, some folks hand them to you wrapped in accusation.
Let me paint it plain. You have probably heard someone say, “I just
don’t trust them” but no one gave them a reason not to. Or “They think they’re better than everyone,” but that “everyone” wasn’t even thinking about them. These aren’t random observations. Often, they are projections, anxieties dressed up as warnings, insecurities disguised as intuition. When someone constantly accuses others of what they themselves fear being, you have got a pattern worth noting.
I have been paying more attention lately. In rooms I walk into. Conversations I witness. Spaces where people claim to be speaking the truth but are really just telling on themselves. The more I listen, the more I see people using others as emotional dumping grounds for their own discomfort.
Projection is a defense mechanism, one we all use at times, but unchecked, it can: fracture relationships, distort perceptions, and silence accountability. It puts people on the defensive when they have not done anything wrong. It fogs up real connection.
When you really listen, not just with your ears, but with your discernment, you can start to tell the difference. Here’s what I’ve learned:
• Projection often reveals the speaker’s emotional weather. When someone is storming inside, they will try to make it rain on you.
• Repeated accusations can be a sign
of unresolved conflict. If they keep calling people liars, it might be because they struggle with the truth.
• Disproportionate responses are red flags. When someone’s anger doesn’t match the situation, pause. That heat might be coming from somewhere deeper.
Let me be clear; projection is largely unconscious. People are not always aware of what they are doing. That is why we can observe.
So, next time someone throws shade, slow down. Ask yourself, “Is this
about me, or is it about them?”
When you speak, check yourself too. What are you carrying? What are you casting? Are you owning your emotions, or outsourcing them?
The more honest we are with ourselves, the less we need to project, and the more we truly listen, the more we understand about ourselves.
You would be surprised what people reveal about themselves when you stop reacting and start really listening. Try it. The truth is often in plain sight; spoken loud, hidden deep.
Four powerful ways to leverage relationships for personal and professional success
DANIEL COLE
daniel@carib101.com
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
True success is never a solo pursuit. Relationships are the invisible architecture of human achievement; they are the fundamental framework for the actualization of our goals, dreams, and life aspirations. The phrase “No man is an island,” is not merely a poetic gibberish, but a sociological truth. The architecture of nature is interdependent, and the framework of sustainable success is a good relationship. Human existence thrives on interconnectedness. From ecosystems to civilizations, no entity flourishes in isolation.
Long-lasting relationships shouldn’t be built on a transactional foundation. However, it is inherent in human nature to reciprocate kind gestures, favours, and goodwill. Therefore, this underpins the necessity to be strategic and intentional about the quality of people and relationships we build and surround ourselves with. We are always one relationship away from a completely different life.
The philosopher Immanuel Kant asserts, “Relationships are not means to an end, but an end in itself.” While leveraging relationships is encouraged, it has to be done within the boundaries of ethics and mutual benefits. Strategic relationships are pivotal to achieving personal and professional aspirations.
The American sociologist and Stanford University Professor Mark Granovetter put forward the theory of “the strength of weak ties.” He highlights how diverse connections (beyond close-knit circles) facilitate access to novel opportunities, resources, and information. Our growth, therefore, is not merely a function of individual effort, but of the relational ecosystem we nurture.
Relationships function as intangible bank accounts, where acts of kindness, empathy, and generosity serve as deposits, and requests for support constitute withdrawals. A common pitfall, as observed in organizational behaviour studies, is the tendency to seek withdrawals without sufficient deposits, eroding trust and goodwill.
Sustainable relational capital demands consistent investment in others’ wellbeing. Relational capital, a subset of social capital, refers to the value derived from interpersonal networks built on trust, mutual respect, and shared goals. Below are some principles for leveraging relationships for career and personal advancement:
Inventory and prioritization: Conduct a systematic audit of your network, including professional contacts, social media connections, family, and acquaintances. Identify 5–10 individuals with significant influence, or access to resources aligned with your goals. Assess the depth of these relationships: Do you have direct access? Do you maintain regular, meaningful contact? This exercise, rooted in network analysis principles, ensures intentional engagement with high-impact connections.
Strategic engagement: Reach out to prioritized contacts with authenticity and purpose. While outcomes are not guaranteed, the probability of success increases with proactive outreach. For instance, a 2018 study in Administrative Science Quarterly found that individuals who actively leverage their networks for career advancement are 30% more likely to secure promotions than those who rely solely on merit.
Reciprocity and balance: The law of reciprocation governs sustainable relationships. Excessive withdrawals (constant demands without giving) deplete relational equity, fostering perceptions of opportunism. Conversely, consistent deposits, such as offering support, or sharing resources, strengthen bonds. Behavioural economics suggests that reciprocal altruism enhances trust, creating a
Excusitis: The Dream Killer
BY GRANT BROWNING DRIVEN TO SUCCEED
We’ve all done it.
“I’m too tired.”
“I don’t have time.”
“The market’s slow.”
“I’ll start Monday.”
Excuses — polite little lies we tell ourselves to feel better about standing still. But here’s the truth: excuses won’t pay your bills, and they sure as hell won’t build your dreams.
Excusitis is real — a mindset disease that infects your drive, clouds your judgement, and slowly kills every goal you once had fire for. It’s subtle at first. You convince yourself the conditions aren’t right. You blame your job, your past, the weather, your boss, your knees, your kids. Then one day,
For reality tv, drama is what brings in the views. However, there’s a fine line between what’s okay and what’s concerning.
Love Island US season seven is currently airing episodes, and one thing that stood out to viewers the most about this current season was the toxic drama between islanders Huda Mustafa and Jeremiah Brown. The two first linked together from day one and seemed to be inseparable, becoming the first couple to be selected for a date.
However, things began to go south as the season progressed. While both had their faults leading to the other islanders
you look up and realize you’ve been standing in the same place for years, surrounded by a graveyard of your own potential. The problem with excuses is that they often sound like valid reasons. But a “reason” doesn’t change your reality. Results do. That’s why I say: excuses are just distractions dressed up in logic.
Take the classic “I didn’t have time.” No — you didn’t make time. You gave your time to Netflix, scrolling, or whatever was more comfortable.
See, comfort is the true enemy of commitment.
If your goals don’t scare you a little or demand more from you than you’re used to giving, they probably aren’t worth much. And if you’re constantly avoiding discomfort, you’ll never know what you’re capable
having separate conversations with both Brown and Mustafa, the latter’s behaviour has been concerning for both the other islanders and the viewers watching at home.
While Love Island is all about building a connection with one person, the islanders are encouraged to explore their options as more islanders (known as bombshells) will continue to arrive as the season continues. On multiple occasions, Mustafa has attempted to prevent Brown from exploring other connections, even going as far as to name-call and make rude comments to any bombshell who looked in Brown’s direction.
While paired with Brown, Mustafa was controlling, spoke to Brown rudely and made a lot of complaints about him. Things got out of hand when America voted for Brown to be paired with bombshell Iris Kendall. Mustafa was clearly unhappy about that. When Brown and Kendall, along with islanders Hannah Fields and Jose “Pepe” Garcia and Olandria Carthen and Jalen Brown, got back from their dates, Mustafa did not show any happiness for them and eaves-
virtuous cycle of mutual benefit.
Emotional deposits: Small, genuine gestures: compliments, check-ins, or celebrations of others’ achievements build emotional capital. Maya Angelou’s insight, “People will never forget how you made them feel” is corroborated by psychological research on emotional intelligence, which links positive emotional experiences to stronger interpersonal trust.
Leveraging relationships must be distinguished from opportunism. Ethical relational strategies prioritize mutual benefit over exploitation. Over-emphasizing transactional outcomes risks commodifying relationships, undermining their authenticity.
The adage “your network is your net worth” encapsulates the transformative potential of relational capital. A single well-leveraged relationship can unlock opportunities, be it a career breakthrough, a mentorship, or a collaborative venture. Historical examples, such as Steve Jobs’ partnership with Steve Wozniak, illustrate how complementary relationships catalyze innovation and success.
Yet, relational capital is not a static asset; it requires ongoing cultivation. Casual or unproductive associations drain time and energy, while meaningful connections yield exponential returns.
of.
Let’s be blunt: no one who built something remarkable did it by being comfortable. The people living the life you envy — they’re not better, smarter, or luckier. They just got honest with themselves, cut the excuses, and decided to do what most won’t.
That’s the line in the sand: Are you committed, or just convenient? Excuses give you an “out,” but they also block the way forward. And once you start relying on them, it gets easier to justify every shortfall. “I didn’t hit my target because of the leads.” “I didn’t promote because my boss doesn’t like me.” “I didn’t make progress because life’s just busy right now.”
Sound familiar?
Here’s a better approach: own it all. The good, the bad, the unfair. Own it. When you stop blaming and start taking responsibility, you unlock power. Power to change things. Power to outwork problems. Power to build something that actually lasts.
Excuses might make you feel safe, but they’ll never make you successful. So today, do a gut check. What’s your go-to excuse? Identify it. Call it out. Kill it. Then, replace it with action. It doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be forward. Because at the end of the day, excuses are free — but your dreams will cost you everything. And they’re worth it. Let the others stay comfortable. You’ve got something to build.
dropped on a conversation Brown had with the rest of the men about exploring his other options. Mustafa was furious, which led to a crash out, where Mustafa had a lot to say to and about Brown, with profanities being involved.
When it was time for the islanders to recouple and choose who they wanted to be with, Brown opted to turn a new leaf and start fresh with Kendall. This left Mustafa devastated.
While Mustafa eventually opted to explore her options, she went about it in a way that went against the girl code. She whispered in Garcia’s ear to pull him for a chat and pursue him, knowing he was with Fields. This move did not have any positive reactions because Fields was always there for Mustafa. Carthen even told Mustafa during a conversation she should have spoken to Fields before speaking to Garcia.
The other islanders have voiced their concerns with one another, and some have had conversations with Mustafa, saying she needs to change her behaviour. However, it doesn’t seem as if she wants to hear
them out and would shift the blame onto others instead of taking accountability.
While drama makes for good reality tv, Mustafa’s behaviour is deeply concerning with fears from viewers that history will repeat itself in the near future. Across social media, fans of the show are calling for Mustafa to be sent home and are encouraging her to seek help and work on bettering herself before getting into a relationship.
“On a human level, I wish the best for Huda and think she deserves happiness, but that girl NEEDS to stop making men her whole life, focus on growing and GET OFF TV,” said one user.
“Huda is supposed to be the most “emotionally mature,” but calling the new bombshell s all types of names over a man she met 72 hours ago...” tweeted one user.
As I continue to watch the season, I can’t help but feel the same way. Everyone deserves to be loved, and I do hope Mustsafa will find her person. As for now, Mustafa should work on channeling her emotions in a more positive light.
Navigating your work life balance with cannabis is not impossible
can contribute to a more balanced and productive work environment for many.
It’s crucial to first clarify the parameters. We are not discussing high-precision, or crucial jobs where any level of impairment could pose a significant safety risk. Think surgeons, pilots, heavy machinery operators; for these roles, strict zero-tolerance policies on impairment, regardless of the substance, remain paramount and are often legally mandated. Furthermore, every employer has the right to establish their own cannabis policies, and employees are expected to adhere to these. However, for a vast swathe of Canadian workplaces, from creative agencies to administrative roles, retail, and many tech sectors, the landscape is becoming more flexible and open to understanding the potential upsides of responsible cannabis use.
One of the most compelling arguments for a positive role of cannabis in the workplace stems from its therapeutic applications, particularly medical cannabis. Many Canadians use cannabis to manage chronic pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other debilitating conditions. For these individuals, legally prescribed cannabis can be a crucial tool for maintaining their health and, by extension, their ability to work effectively. Prior to legalization, employees using medical cannabis often faced stigma or fear of repercussions. Now, with a clearer legal framework and growing societal acceptance, employers are increasingly recognizing their duty to accommodate these employees, similar to any other prescribed medication. When properly managed, this accommodation can lead to a more engaged and less distracted workforce. An employee whose chronic pain is adequately managed, or whose anxiety is lessened, is likely to be more: focused, present, and productive. Research by organizations like the Conference Board of Canada has indicated that workplaces with “mature” cannabis policies (those that proactively address both recreational and medical use with clear guidelines and support) report higher employee engagement and productivity, and even reduced presenteeism (where employees are at work,
but not fully functional due to illness or discomfort).
Beyond medical use, the conversation extends to responsible recreational use outside of work hours, and how it might indirectly contribute to employee well-being and, consequently, workplace performance. In a high-stress, always-on world, employees are constantly seeking ways to unwind and manage stress. For some, cannabis, particularly strains with lower THC, or higher CBD content, can offer a form of relaxation and stress reduction that aids in better sleep, improved mood, and a clearer mind for the next workday. Unlike alcohol, which often leads to hangovers and impaired next-day performance, responsible cannabis use can, for some individuals, result in a more restorative experience.
The key lies in the principle of “fitness for duty.” Just as an employee is expected to arrive at work free from alcohol impairment, the expectation is that they are not impaired by cannabis while on the job. Many employers are shifting their focus from blanket bans on cannabis use to policies that emphasize impairment at work, regardless of the substance. This approach fosters a culture of responsibility, where employees are empowered to make personal choices outside of work, provided those choices do not negatively impact their ability to perform their job safely and effectively.
The normalization of cannabis can contribute to a more open and understanding workplace culture. When employees feel they can be honest about their medical conditions, or responsible lifestyle choices without fear of judgment, it builds trust and psychological safety. This, in turn, can lead to earlier disclosure of potential issues, allowing employers to offer support and accommodations proactively, rather than reacting to a decline in performance, or a workplace incident.
Of course, challenges remain. The science around cannabis impairment, particularly delayed effects, is still evolving, and clear, objective measures of impairment are not as readily available as for alcohol. This necessitates ongoing education for both employers and employees about responsible use and recognizing signs of impairment. Open dialogue, clear communication of policies, and a focus on overall employee well-being are essential for navigating this evolving landscape.
While the initial apprehension surrounding cannabis legalization in Canadian workplaces was understandable, a more nuanced perspective is taking root. By focusing on impairment rather than mere presence, accommodating medical needs, and fostering a culture of trust and open communication, many Canadian workplaces are finding that responsible cannabis use, when balanced with individual employer restrictions and job-specific demands, can contribute positively to employee well-being, engagement, and ultimately, a more productive and harmonious work environment. This new understanding is promising, suggesting a future where responsible cannabis use can indeed be a part of a thriving Canadian workforce.
How homeowners in Ontario are transforming vacant yards into valuable garden suites
Many homeowners are transforming unused backyards into fully legal, self-contained laneway, or garden suites to address housing shortages, rising costs, and changing family needs.
Whether you want to accommodate aging parents, support adult children, or create rental income, secondary suites offer a practical and profitable solution. Here’s everything you need to know to build and execute it correctly.
What are laneway suites and garden suites?
Laneway suites are distinct living units located at the back of a residential property that faces a public laneway. Garden suites are similar but are designed for properties without laneway access. Both are fully separate homes, each with a kitchen, bathroom, and individual entrance. While these suites cannot be sold separately, they can be rented out or used for extended family living.
Why build one? The benefits add up Laneway and garden suites are strategic options:
• Rental income: Offset your mortgage or create retirement income.
• Multigenerational living: Stay close to loved ones while preserving independence.
• increased property value: Homes with secondary suites typically sell for a higher price.
• Contributing to the community: Help address Ontario’s housing supply issue.
In Toronto, homeowners who built a $400,000 laneway suite saw a resale value increase of up to $500,000 compared to similar properties without one.
What the law permits
Under Ontario’s More Homes Built Faster Act, you can now construct up to three residential units on most lots, often without development charges. However, you still need to follow local zoning bylaws, which may include:
• Emergency access: An unobstructed path at least 0.9 m wide leading to the main road.
• Tree protection: Mature trees may determine where, or if you proceed with construction.
• Height and size restrictions: Generally, up to 6 m tall and approximately 800 to 1,000 sq. ft.
Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, and other municipalities have simplified their processes, making them easier for builders to access. However, it is important to check with your local planning office before beginning.
Considering a secondary suite?
Building a secondary suite requires several steps:
Verify zoning and eligibility: Confirm that your lot qualifies. Review laneway access, emergency routes, lot size, tree protection regulations, and heritage designation.
Obtain a current survey: A land survey is essential. It establishes your property boundaries, structures, and grading.
Put your team together
You will need:
• A designer or architect adhering to the Ontario Building Code
• A structural engineer, if needed.
• A contractor experienced in laneway and garden construction.
Arrange financing: Most suites generally cost between $300,000 and $500,000 to build. Op-
tions include: Refinancing your mortgage.
• Securing a construction loan.
• Ontario’s Secondary Suite Loan: You can borrow up to $80,000 at 2% interest for a period of 15 years.
Submit for permits: Once your drawings are finished, submit them for city approval. Expect the permitting process to take three to four months.
Commence construction: Construction usually takes six to eight months.
Final inspections: You must pass municipal inspections before renting or occupying the unit. Plan utility hookups and consider metering requirements early on.
Prefab homes tend to be more affordable Prefab homes are becoming more popular. The units are eighty percent complete and can be assembled in just a few weeks. You save on labour costs and reduce waste because they are factory-built. Your pricing is
more predictable compared to building from scratch. Prefabs are eco-friendly and consist of detached dwellings on residential lots. Fewer inspections are needed because they are prebuilt, which helps save time when applying for a permit.
If you create a garden or laneway suite, you might qualify for a GST/HST new housing rebate if its appraised value is less than $450,000.
Laneway and garden suites go beyond being just housing trends; they offer homeowners a versatile, future-oriented solution. They provide flexibility, financial stability, and even the chance to age in place while renting out their primary residence. However, careful planning, consulting the right professionals, and staying updated on changing regulations are crucial for success. Your backyard holds more potential than you may realize. With the right vision and support, it can become your most significant investment.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
YOUR HOROSCOPE
for the week of June 29 – July 5, 2025
THE LUCKIEST SIGNS THIS WEEK: GEMINI, PISCES, AND LEO
ARIES: Your fire’s strong and steady, but pause first. Old faces may reappear—don’t repeat past mistakes. Trust instinct, not nostalgia.
TAURUS: You’re torn between comfort and curiosity. Money or love could shift suddenly—don’t panic. Change often brings needed clarity.
GEMINI: Your charm’s magnetic this week, but be mindful. Mercury’s tricks can twist meanings. Clarity still wins over charisma.
CANCER: Feeling extra sensitive, especially around home or love. Use that energy to reset emotional boundaries—not reopen old wounds.
LEO: Mercury retrograde may stir confusion in communication. Don’t roar louder—listen carefully. Love and money may act strange.
VIRGO: Work may feel overwhelming and dramatic. Stick to structure, and you’ll thrive. Protect your peace and get rest.
LIBRA: Your peacekeeping will be tested soon. Speak your truth gently but firmly. Not everyone deserves your calm energy.
SCORPIO: This week’s energy invites deep release—grudges, patterns, or people. Letting go isn’t losing. It’s growth, plain and simple.
SAGITTARIUS: Life feels exciting but a little foggy. Enjoy yourself, but pay attention. Truth may hide in distraction.
CAPRICORN: Big picture thinking returns this week. Don’t wait for perfect—progress gets messy. Focus on realignment, not total restart.
AQUARIUS: Mental clutter could cloud your judgment. Stop overthinking the small stuff. Silence reveals truth—scrolling only adds static.
PISCES: Your dreams are loud and vivid. Neptune retrograde lifts the fog. Feel deeply, but verify what’s real.
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.
