The Warnings We Ignored

Volume 1 • Issue 2

Wednesday, August 12 2026

Toronto Caribbean News - Now! Formerly The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper

“T...”

FULL STORY - PAGE 8

PAGE 2

FEATURE

TCN Now | www.TCN-Now.com | Wednesday, August 12, 2026

NADINE FOSTER

Photo Courtesy of Brampton Flower City Pageant

Chaos: Brave: Mother: Living: Bold: Legacy The porcelain tile of a bathroom floor is unforgivingly cold, a clinical white that reflects the harsh fluorescent hum of a retail world that never stops moving. For Nadine Foster, this was the moment the world went quiet. The air in the room did not seem to reach her lungs; her chest tightened with the crushing weight of what felt like a heart attack.

Around her, colleagues panicked, their voices muffled as if they were underwater, one of them screaming, “What is wrong with her?” because they could not comprehend the invisible war she was losing in real-time. This was a physical manifestation of a woman who had spent years existing for everyone else until her body finally refused to carry the weight of her own silence.

Before the crown of Mrs. Brampton 2026, before the serial entrepreneur labels and the polished LinkedIn profiles, there was a girl in Mississauga who grew up watching the cracks in the world. Living in social housing, Nadine was a witness to the fallout of broken systems: abusive relationships, families struggling to survive low incomes, and children transitioning through an adoptive system that often left them without a support network. This was her first wound: the realization that the world was not a safe place for everyone.

Her response was a quiet, fierce vow, “I want to be a better parent.” She dreamt of adopting a household of teenagers, of being the safety net she saw so many others lack.

The system has a way of trying to fit free spirits into rigid boxes. In her Caribbean household, her creative hobbies: modeling for Walmart and Sears, the fashion design, were dismissed as nonsense. She was pushed toward Early Childhood Education (ECE), a field her family deemed respectable. For two years, she worked as a kindergarten teacher’s assistant, but every day felt like a slow erosion of her soul. She watched children being structured into a single mentality; their curiosity stifled by rules that ignored the depth of their individuality. “I’m a free-spirited person,” she realized, “And I can’t do this.”

The transition into the retail sector was her first act of rebellion, a choice

met with zero support from those who should have cheered her on. She worked four jobs: barbershop, summer camp, grocery store, school, to fund her move into fashion merchandising. She told herself that if she was going to break her back, she was going to be successful at it; and she was. She rose through the ranks, becoming a visual trainer and a district manager, navigating a world that often treats retail workers as invisible statues waiting to hand over a size two dress.

Then, life happened. The “mama bear” emerged. When she had her daughter and then her son, Nadine fell in love with being a mother with a depth that was both beautiful and consuming. She stopped working to open a home daycare, ensuring her children had her 24/7. She became a protector, a woman who would kill for her babies.

Yet, as they grew and she prepared to return to the workforce, she discovered that the girl who had left the retail sector and the woman who returned were two different people.

The retail system she re-entered in 2019 was a battlefield. As an African Caribbean woman and a mother, she was suddenly viewed through the lens of being a liability. She was no longer the extra-small model; she was a beautifully thick girl in a size-two world. Superiors would tell her, “You have so much confidence for someone your size,” a backhanded compliment that bit into her sense of self. When she returned from a back injury sustained while lifting boxes at Ralph Lauren, she was told her hair (locks) didn’t fit the aesthetics of the brand. She was criticized for not pulling her weight while she was on a recovery schedule.

This was the war: a toxic combination of corporate gaslighting and a personal identity crisis that manifested as mental chaos. For years, she suffered from what doctors misidentified as thyroid issues or physical ailments, only to finally receive a diagnosis that felt like both a relief and a trap: Bipolar Disorder. “I was relieved because I was able to put a name to something,” she says, “But then I got scared because now I have an identity that has a stigma behind it.” She began to question every decision she

had ever made: was it her, or was it a manic episode?

The system continued to press in. At one company, she found herself working for vocal Trump supporters who mocked COVID-19, even after Nadine lost an aunt to the virus. They made derogatory comments about people of colour, telling her to interview “That Black girl” because “You guys have more in common.” They questioned her boundaries, her weight, and her sensitivity, all while she was quietly falling apart.

The wisdom of Nadine Foster came from taking accountability for her own boundaries. She realized she could not coach women on empowerment if she was not living it herself. She began to understand that her life moves in waves and that she has the power to determine if the water is dangerous or merely open.

She has moved from the concept of healing to the concept of becoming. Nadine Foster today is a woman who has come face-to-face with herself, a feat many people die without ever achieving. When the crown of Mrs. Brampton is removed and the business titles are stripped away, the truth that remains is simple but revolutionary: she loves who she is, with all her faults. She is no longer just existing as a liability or a mama bear, or a retail manager. She is a woman living her story in real-time, understanding that she is always becoming, sometimes more of herself, sometimes less, but always purposefully.

As she stands now, reflecting on the journey from the social housing units to the pageant stage, the image returns to that cold bathroom floor. The twist, the retrospective coherence, is this: that blackout was the catalyst for her to stop being a glass woman and start being the curator of her own peace. She survived the sharks to find the open water, and now, she is the one teaching other women how to swim.

Written by Simone J. Smith TCN Now

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Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | www.TCN-Now.com | TCN Now

NEWS & VIEWS

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What happens when law meets carnival SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

The elevator chime at 66 Wellington Street West usually signals the start of a deposition or the arrival of a highpriced courier, but on this Thursday evening, as the doors slid open to Suite 4100, the sterile, hushed atmosphere of Toronto’s financial core shattered.

Instead of the rhythmic tapping of keyboards, there was the syncopated pulse of soca. Instead of the smell of stale coffee and toner, the air was thick with the scent of jerk spice and Caribbean hospitality.

You could feel the tension before you even stepped inside. It was the delicious friction of two worlds colliding: the buttoned-up, smart casual precision of a top-tier law firm and the uninhibited, vibrant energy of Carnival season. This was the WeirFoulds Caribbean Fête, and if you were not in that room, you were missing the heartbeat of a cross-border powerhouse.

Standing near the window, overlooking a city that felt suddenly too grey, was Kayla Theeuwen. As the

Chair of the Caribbean Practice Group, she navigates the complex legal architecture of six different jurisdictions, from the BVI to St. Kitts. She moved through the room with the ease of someone who can argue a $500 million shareholder dispute in the morning and host a world-class fête by sunset.

Next to her, Frank Walwyn, a senior litigator whose resume reads like a map of the Eastern Caribbean, shared a laugh with a guest. These are the people who handle multi-jurisdictional fraud investigations and Privy Council appeals while maintaining a spotlight ranking in Chambers Global.

The discovery here was the realization that this firm invests in the Caribbean. Between the conversations about asset recovery and Mareva orders, you heard the deeper narrative.

This is a group that spearheaded pro bono constitutional challenges to laws criminalizing same-sex intimacy across five countries. They are moving the needle on human rights.

The room was a mosaic of people. The culture of the event was a masterclass in retrospective coherence. You start with the image of a prestigious law firm (one of Canada’s oldest, dating back to 1860) and you expect something stiff, but the twist is that their deepest expertise lies in a region known for its warmth and resil-

Photo Courtesy of Kite Studio

ience. The smart casual dress code was a cheeky nod to the fact that while the work is high-stakes (billion-dollar restructurings and hotel receiverships) the people behind it have not lost their soul.

By the time the sun began to dip below the Toronto skyline, the meaning of the evening became clear.

WeirFoulds has found a way to honour the very jurisdictions that fuel their practice. They are not just visitors in the Caribbean legal space.

As I left the 41st floor, the soca music fading as the elevator descended, I thought back to that opening chime. The room was still humming with vibrant energy and Caribbean hospitality. The twist? The most serious legal minds in the city are the ones who know exactly how to throw the best party. If you weren’t there to see the movement of relationships firsthand, there is only one thing to say, “Damn. You should have been in that room.”

Tel: 905-265-0009

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TCN Now | www.TCN-Now.com | Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Canada’s Freedom: Remembrance without real accountability SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

The scent of charred ribs and sweet jerk chicken hangs heavy over the August crowd, a sensory mask for a hollow celebration. In parks across Canada, politicians adjust their lapels and deliver practiced orations on the virtues of freedom, marking another Emancipation Day with the easy grace of those who have never known a cage.

We applaud the 1834 abolition as if it were a finished project, a neat closing of a dark chapter, but beneath the rhythm of the steel pan and the flutter of celebratory banners, the world where this story takes place remains structurally unchanged.

Canada recognizes the date, yet it refuses to settle the bill.

This is the Canadian paradox: we have officially recognized Emancipation Month, yet the Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS) is still forced to ask for a National Commission to examine the enduring impacts of the very history we claim to be honouring. We celebrate the end of a system while ignoring

the architectural remains it left behind. Emancipation Day, without a rigorous institutional examination, is not progress. I see it more as remembrance without accountability. It is a national performance that allows the audience to feel virtuous without ever having to leave their seats or change their lives.

The evidence of our failure is not hidden; it is written in the cold, unyielding ink of government spreadsheets. We have abolished discriminatory laws and erected a Charter of Rights, yet the outcomes for African/ Caribbean Canadians remain tethered to a colonial past. Consider the most qualified among us: Statistics Canada reveals that African/ Caribbean workers are often the most educated racialized group in the federal government, yet they remain the least paid.

They have the degrees, the pedigree, and the proximity to power, but the structural ceiling is made of reinforced glass.

Look closer at the sectors we take for granted. In Ontario, African/ Caribbean adults represent only 5% of the population but comprise 14% of those in custody. This is not an accident of geography or a failure of individual character; it is a systemic residue.

Even our cherished labor history is stained.

The early unions, the bedrock of the working class, were often established with whites only clauses, barring African/ Caribbean workers from the very protections meant to ensure dignity. One such ancestor of these exclusionary practices is the modern-day union Unifor.

When the foundations of your labour, your

housing, and your justice are built on exclusion, freedom becomes a moving target that most can never quite hit.

The central question of our age is a provocation: What does freedom mean when we have never fully investigated the conditions that followed emancipation? We have had academic research and public inquiries, but they are patchwork measures, disconnected and toothless. We treat anti-Black racism as a series of unfortunate incidents rather than a pervasive crisis that permeates the Canadian psyche.

If Canada truly acknowledges this history, what exactly is it prepared to do about the conditions that history helped create? We are living in a house with a rotting foundation, painting the walls with recognition while the floorboards give way. To acknowledge the past without making amends is a form of gaslighting. We must ask: Is the government ready to move beyond symbolic gestures and confront the unconscious biases that dictate who gets a bank loan and who gets a prison sentence?

We need more than a report; we need a rational awakening. The proposed National Commission on the Legacy of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism must be built on the trifecta of data, testimony, and accountability. It cannot be another document destined for a dusty archive; it must have the power to compel institutions to respond. This Commission must follow the Truth and Reconciliation model used for Indigenous communities, co-

ordinating across federal and provincial lines to address a history that predates the very existence of Canada as a country.

“This body must interrogate every sector individually: employment, education, housing, healthcare, and immigration,” shares Nicholas Marcus Thompson, CEO of the BCAS during our chat last week. “It must hear directly from the affected communities, ensuring that their traumatic experiences are not just collected but utilized to drive legislative change. Accountability means measurable outcomes. It means checking if a policy actually changed the paycheck of the Black woman in the federal public service or reduced the number of Black men in solitary confinement.”

The challenge for Canada is to stop playing baseball with the lives of its citizens and start making amends. We must treat this as a crisis of national identity. As Nicholas Marcus Thompson suggests, “How do you get treated for being an alcoholic if you don’t even accept, you’re an alcoholic?”

As the sun sets on another Emancipation Day celebration, and the smell of the BBQ fades into the evening air, we are left with the same question we started with.

The party is over, and the lights are coming up. Canada has acknowledged the past; now it must show us the bill. Until we have a Commission with teeth, Emancipation Day is merely a ghost of a promise, a retrospective coherence that we have yet to actually earn.

We are waiting for Canada to finally admit it.

59th Parade highlights culture, and community PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

Thousands of revellers filled the streets for the Grand Parade of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival on Saturday, August 1st, 2026, bringing colour, music and celebration to Toronto’s waterfront. Masqueraders in vibrant costumes danced to the pulsating sounds of soca, calypso and reggae, creating a spectacle that reflected the energy and creativity of the Caribbean diaspora.

The 59th parade brought together visitors from across Canada, the Caribbean, the United States and beyond. Revellers converged at Exhibition Place before moving west along Lake Shore Boulevard toward Jameson Avenue and returning to the festival grounds. The parade began at approximately 11:30 a.m., following a delay of about 30 min-

utes, with Toronto Fire Services trucks leading the procession.

The Festival Management Committee (FMC), a non-profit organization responsible for the festival, has faced challenges over the years while working to stage one of North America’s largest Caribbean celebrations.

Among the dignitaries attending were Ontario Premier Doug Ford, MPP Charmaine Williams, MPP Mohamed Firin of York South–Weston, MPP Doug Downey, MPP Raymond Cho and MPP David Smith. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also attended, wearing a costume from Tribal Carnival. Interviewed by Brandon Gomez about her experience playing mas, Chow said, “It’s joyous. It’s about freedom. It’s about liberation and tradition.

And a lot of imagination and creativity. It’s so beautiful and everyone is having a great time, and it doesn’t matter who you are. You all belong.”

Twelve mas bands competed for the coveted Band of the Year title. They included: Toronto Revellers, Saldenah Carnival, Tribal Carnival, Carnival Nationz, Sunlime Mas, E.P.I.C Carnival, Lavwaymas, Fantazia Carnival, Concept Costume Creators, Freedom Mas, Atlantic Mas and Lux Carnival.

According to the FMC’s official final results, Toronto Revellers captured first place and the Band of the Year title, followed by Saldenah Carnival in second, Carnival Nationz in third, Tribal Carnival in fourth and E.P.I.C Carnival in fifth.

The FMC also received positive news days after the parade. On August 4th, 2026, Parliamentary Secretary Karim Bardeesy announced, on behalf of federal Minister Marc Miller, $61,000 in funding through the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program. The investment is intended to support local artists, artisans and heritage performers and provide opportunities to showcase Caribbean-Canadian cultural traditions through music, dance, costumes, storytelling and cultural demonstrations.

For many spectators, the parade remains more than an annual street celebration.

It is a public expression of Caribbean identity, heritage and belonging, allowing generations to see their culture represented in one of Toronto’s most visible public spaces. The costumes, music and performances are also the result of months of work by bandleaders, designers, dancers, musicians, volunteers and masqueraders. That human effort is an important part of the story and helps explain

why organizational shortcomings can have an impact beyond inconvenience on parade day.

The concerns raised by volunteers should therefore be treated as feedback that can strengthen the festival rather than as a dismissal of its achievements.

These concerns deserve attention, particularly as the festival prepares for its 60th anniversary in 2027. One volunteer suggested greater collaboration with the Toronto Carnival Executive Committee and bringing together specialists from different fields to help strengthen planning and execution.

That is how institutions improve.

The 2026 Grand Parade demonstrated the enduring power of Toronto’s Caribbean community to create joy, culture and connection.

It also offered an important reminder: a festival of this scale requires not only spectacular costumes and music, but strong infrastructure, communication, volunteer support and careful planning.

As the FMC looks toward 2027, the challenge is to build on the celebration while listening seriously to the people who help make it possible.

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | www.TCN-Now.com | TCN Now

Why Brampton’s real estate market is falling behind

BY JAY BRIJPAUL TCN REAL ESTATE REPORTER Brampton is facing softer prices, while neighbouring cities such as Mississauga, Burlington, and Georgetown show greater resilience, driven by differences in supply and demand, employment, infrastructure, demographics, and buyer psychology.

Real estate markets rarely move in unison. Though people often refer to the “GTA market” as a single entity, each city has its own dynamics. Just an hour from Brampton, some communities are seeing steady price growth, while others are experiencing declining values and slower sales. For buyers and investors, understanding these distinctions is essential to making smart decisions.

Brampton, one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities, has long attracted young families and first-time buyers. During the pandemic, rapid price gains were fueled by low interest rates, strong immigration, and investor demand. Today, the market has shifted.

Rising borrowing costs have eroded purchasing power, and Brampton has seen a sharper rise in listings than nearby cities. Buyers have more choices, homes take longer to sell, and bidding wars are rare.

Many Brampton investors who once relied on basement apartment rentals to offset mortgage payments now face higher financing costs, stricter rental rules, and a more balanced market, prompting many to sell. The market currently favours buyers.

Despite current challenges, Brampton’s long-term prospects remain strong. Ongoing population growth, transportation projects, and relative affordability could attract more buyers once confidence returns.

Mississauga stands out for its mature, diversified economy, major employment centers, Pearson Airport, and a strong professional workforce. Limited undeveloped land, especially for detached homes, keeps supply tight and demand high.

Burlington has become one of GTA’s top housing markets. Its location between Toronto and Hamilton, excellent schools, waterfront amenities, and high quality of life attract affluent buyers. Barriers such as the Niagara Escarpment and Greenbelt lands limit development, so strong demand and a tight supply keep

prices resilient.

Georgetown, once a commuter town, now appeals to buyers seeking quieter neighbourhoods and better value while remaining connected to the GTA. Many families priced out of Mississauga and Oakville find more space here without sacrificing a manageable commute.

As remote and hybrid work reshape priorities, Georgetown benefits from buyers who value lifestyle as much as proximity to Toronto.

Oakville stands out for excellent schools, waterfront neighbourhoods, luxury homes, and high incomes, factors that cushion it against market downturns.

Luxury buyers here have greater financial flexibility and are less affected by rate changes, keeping Oakville’s high-end market stable.

Guelph and Orangeville attract buyers seeking affordability and quality of life. Guelph offers a diverse economy, a top university, and strong job growth. Orangeville draws those seeking small-town charm within GTA commuting distance.

Each real estate cycle brings new opportunities. Mississauga, Burlington, and Oakville remain stable, thanks to limited supply, strong employment, and higher-income buyers, appealing to those seeking long-term security. Georgetown and Milton are poised for growth as demographics and lifestyle preferences change.

Brampton, despite sharper price declines than in nearby cities, has strong long-term fundamentals: continued population growth, new infrastructure, relative affordability, and robust employment in logistics and manufacturing provide a solid foundation for recovery.

As surrounding cities become more expensive, Brampton’s relative affordability will attract more working families. Its strong labour pool is likely to draw new industries, fuel economic growth and set the stage for future price increases.

Real estate moves in cycles; today’s quiet communities can become tomorrow’s standouts as affordability, confidence, and the economy shift. For buyers and investors, the key insight is to focus on long-term demand drivers.

Understanding why markets move matters more than simply tracking prices. As in the stock market, the key is to buy low, sell high, and keep your eye on the bigger picture.

NEWS & VIEWS

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Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | www.TCN-Now.com | TCN Now

PAGE 7

The Gift Bag wasn’t the best part of The Suite Oasis SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

The humidity of a Toronto August usually suggests one thing: survival, but at the corner of 58 Berkeley Street, the heat felt less like a burden and more like a red carpet.

There is a specific kind of tension that exists just outside a door you know is locked to the public. Your invitation is personalized, non-transferable, and, most importantly, vetted. To the 345 creators, athletes, and tastemakers standing in line, the Tropical Luxe dress code was a uniform for the initiated. You don’t just walk into The Suite Oasis;

no miss and sir, you are summoned into it.

Stepping into Transmission Studios, the industrial grit of the city vanished, replaced by a curated pass-through experience that felt less like a marketing event and more like a high-stakes family reunion. The air was thick with the scent of Miss King’s Kitchen and the rhythmic pulse of DJ Mars Forever, whose sets served as the heartbeat of the room. This was a world where “You don’t find it. It finds you.”

The discovery phase began at the ShopShay Official station, where the it-crowd huddled to craft custom charm keychains.

While their hands were busy selecting charms, their guards were down. Suddenly, a TikTok creator with a million followers was debating the merits of gold vs. silver with a local business professional. Nearby, the Soleil Experience portrait studio captured the camera-ready glow of guests who knew they looked good. These were social currency, ready to be minted for the digital world.

As the night progressed, the focus shifted from the products to the people. You

might have been holding a Kraken Rum cocktail or a zero-proof Sobrii, but the real refreshment was the conversation. The Well Connected, led by founder Jackie Clarke, acted as a cultural concierge. Jackie’s vision was clear: Toronto Caribbean Carnival deserved the same luxury and intentionality as an awardseason gifting suite. After a one-year hiatus, the return felt like a homecoming, a family affair where the Caribbean diaspora’s influence was celebrated through immersive food, travel, and lifestyle experiences.

The brands: from Fujifilm Printlife to Cloré Beauty, were woven into the fabric of the evening so tightly they felt like guests themselves. You didn’t feel advertised to when you entered a draw for a trip to The Bahamas; you felt invited to a lifestyle. You didn’t just grab a BioSteel for the sake of it; you took it because it was the Official Sports Hydration Partner of a weekend that requires marathon-level energy.

As the clock neared 11:00 PM, the larger narrative began to reveal itself. The Suite Oasis was designed for connection. The

Hero’s Journey of the evening was the transformation of a group of strangers into a solidified community. The tension of the door had been replaced by the warmth of the room.

The memorable ending returned us to the very beginning: the official Suite Oasis tote. As guests began to filter back out into the Toronto night, their bags were heavy with the tangible: travel materials from Antigua and Barbuda, skincare from Mario Badescu, and snacks from Honey Bun Jamaica, but the cheeky twist? The most valuable asset was the retrospective coherence of the night: the realization that while you came for the brands, you stayed for the bond.

The products were the tangible takeaway, but the relationships were the real takeaway. Long after the Jerk Dogs were finished and the last cocktail was poured, the digital echoes of #SuiteOasis would serve as a reminder to the rest of the world that for one night, Transmission Studios was the most important room in the city. and if you were not there? Well, there is always next time the Oasis appears

Lab-grown meat raises global questions MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

Bill Gates-backed lab-grown meat continues to gain attention as government approvals expand across the United States. Several companies developing cultivated meat have received support from major investors, including Tyson Foods, while regulators have approved limited commercial sales under federal oversight.

Supporters argue the technology could provide a more sustainable source of protein while reducing the need to slaughter animals. Critics, however, continue to question its long-term health effects, environmental impact, transparency, and consumer labelling.

What exactly is lab-grown meat?

Lab-grown, or cultivated, meat is produced by collecting animal cells and growing them inside controlled bioreactors using nutrients and growth media. The goal is to create meat that closely resembles conventional meat in taste, texture, and nutritional value without raising or slaughtering livestock.

Since 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have jointly approved limited commercial sales of certain cultivated chicken products in select restaurants. The FDA oversees the cell collection and cultivation process, while the USDA regulates processing, inspection, and labelling.

How safe is lab-grown meat?

Federal regulators maintain that approved cultivated meat products undergo extensive safety reviews before entering the marketplace. To date, regulators have not identified evidence that approved products pose an increased cancer risk.

However, because the technology is relatively new, independent long-term studies on health outcomes remain limited. This uncertainty continues to fuel debate among researchers, consumers, policymakers, and industry groups.

Federal approval versus state restrictions Although cultivated meat has received federal approval in the United States, several states have taken a different approach. States including Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, and Nebraska have introduced laws restricting or banning the manufacture, sale, or distribution of cultivated meat products. As a result, the legal status of these products varies depending on where consumers live.

Outside the United States, Singapore became the first country to approve the commercial sale of cultivated meat in 2020.

Labelling remains a key issue One of the most debated aspects of cultivated meat is how it should be labelled. Current regulations permit labels such as cell-cultivated protein, cultivated chicken, or plant-based alternative protein. Consumer advocates have argued that labels should clearly distinguish cultivated products from conventionally produced meat.

Some organizations have promoted legislation, including proposals similar to the Fair Labels Act, which would require more explicit labelling standards for cultivated and plant-based protein products.

Environmental and safety concerns Researchers at the University of California, Davis have suggested that current production methods for cultivated meat may have a greater environmental impact than conventional retail beef because of the energyintensive purification processes required for production.

The researchers concluded, “Labgrown cultivated meat faces significant challenges, primarily high production cost, immense difficulties in scaling manufacturing, and uncertain environmental benefits.”

Researchers and critics have also identified several technical challenges that continue to be studied, including: • •

Preventing contamination from bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria during cell cultivation.

Maintaining sterile nutrient solutions and growth media.

• • • •

Understanding the long-term effects of growth factors and other bioactive ingredients.

Preventing contamination from production equipment.

Reducing reliance on antibiotics during large-scale manufacturing.

Managing waste products that accumulate inside bioreactors during extended production.

Many of these concerns relate to manufacturing challenges rather than confirmed consumer health risks, and research in these areas continues.

What about Canada?

Canada is also exploring cellular agriculture and other alternative protein technologies.

Health Canada regulates these products through its novel foods’ framework, which requires companies to submit scientific evidence before products can be approved for sale.

The department has stated, “After reviewing all available information, Health Canada’s scientific opinion is that foods derived from healthy cattle and swine are as safe as those from traditionally bred animals.”

As research advances and additional products enter the marketplace, questions surrounding regulation, consumer choice, transparency, environmental sustainability, and long-term health effects are likely to remain central to the public conversation.

York Medical School expands training

BY ADRIAN REECE TCN REPORTER Canada is investing in its medical field. York University, one of Toronto’s most prominent institutions, is opening a new School of Medicine in Vaughan, with programming slated to begin in September 2028. The school will be located in the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct, alongside Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital.

Ontario is providing $55.8 million to support the new medical school, which will focus primarily on training family doctors and other primary-care physicians. The announcement comes as communities across the province continue to face challenges accessing family doctors and timely medical care. The Ontario Medical Association says more than 2.5 million Ontarians do not currently have a family doctor.

During the COVID-19 era, finding a family doctor became particularly difficult

for many Canadians. Physicians were often managing full patient rosters and were not accepting new patients. For people without a regular doctor, this could mean relying on walk-in clinics, emergency departments or waiting for appointments and referrals.

York’s new medical school represents an attempt to address part of that problem by creating more opportunities for students to enter medical training and eventually serve communities that need physicians.

The road to medical school is long and highly competitive. Applicants may face standardized testing, interviews and demanding academic requirements, while competing for a limited number of seats. For many aspiring physicians, gaining admission can take multiple attempts. Others may eventually shift their career aspirations after being unable to secure a place.

The numbers illustrate the pressure. According to the Association of Facul-

ties of Medicine of Canada, 14,693 applicants applied to Canadian medical schools in the 2024/25 cycle. There were 3,262 first-time, first-year medical students enrolled nationally.

The United States, by comparison, enrolled 23,440 first-year medical students in 2025. While the two countries have different populations, medical education systems and admission structures, the comparison highlights the scale of medical training capacity south of the border.

York University’s medical school will begin with 80 undergraduate medical students and 102 postgraduate residents. At full capacity, those numbers are expected to grow to 240 undergraduate students and 293 postgraduate residents annually.

While those numbers alone will not solve Canada’s physician shortage, they represent an important step toward expanding the country’s medical workforce.

The school’s primary focus will be

community-based medical education and primary care. Postgraduate training will include areas such as family medicine, psychiatry, general internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, geriatrics and general surgery.

This creates opportunities on multiple fronts. More students will have a chance to enter medical school, while communities will gain access to physicians trained with a strong emphasis on primary care and community needs.

Canada needs to create space for more qualified students to enter medicine. York’s new medical school will not solve every problem in the health-care system, but it moves the country in a necessary direction.

As the school grows, the hope is that more Canadians will have access to the doctors they need, and that aspiring physicians will have more opportunities to become the professionals their communities need.

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NEWS & VIEWS

TCN Now | www.TCN-Now.com | Wednesday, August 12, 2026

The Silence That Shook a Nation SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

You sat at your kitchen table, staring at the news, feeling that familiar knot in your stomach. You remember the pandemic. You remember the lockdowns, the masks, the fear. You remember trusting him because he was the expert, the scientist, the one who knew.

Now, he would not even say what colour tie he was wearing. Senator Josh Hawley asked him that. Fauci took the Fifth. What happened to the truth, and more importantly, why didn’t you question it sooner?

The room was so quiet you could hear the hum of the air conditioning. Dr. Anthony Fauci sat alone at the witness table, hands folded, eyes fixed on the senators across from him.

For three hours, he spoke only one sentence, repeated 111 times like a broken record, “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.” Not once did he elaborate. Not once did he look up. The man who once commanded daily press briefings during the deadliest pandemic in a century had nothing left to say. In that silence, something broke…

On July 29th, 2026, Dr. Fauci appeared before the U.S. Senate Com-

mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, chaired by Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), to answer questions about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and related research funding. Within minutes, he began invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. He did so 111 times, even when asked harmless questions like “What day of the week is it?” or “What colour is your tie?” by Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).

Senator Hawley later explained he was testing whether Fauci’s blanket invocation was in good faith, arguing that a presidential pardon should remove the legal basis for such a claim.

The spectacle dominated headlines for days, but the real story was what the silence revealed about power, protection, and the public’s willingness to outsource its critical thinking.

Dr. Fauci received a broad, preemptive pardon from President Joe Biden on January 19th, 2025, covering federal offenses related to his government service from January 1st, 2014, through January 19th, 2025. Republicans on the committee, including Paul and Hawley, argued that this pardon nullified Fauci’s Fifth Amendment claims for questions within that scope, citing the 1896 Supreme Court case Brown v. Walker, which holds that a pardoned witness “May not stand upon his privilege.”

Yet Fauci’s legal team maintained that the pardon did not cover conduct after January 2025, including his testimony itself, which could still expose him to perjury charges, or potential state-level prosecutions. The result: a legal gray zone where Fauci could

remain silent without admitting guilt, while Republicans could frame his silence as evasion. Both sides gained political capital; the public gained confusion.

Long before the hearing, there were signs that something was off.

Senator Hawley accused Fauci of using at least eight federal employees on federal time to solicit and secure personal cash awards totaling over $1 million, including a $900,000 Dan David Prize and a Smithsonian award. Federal law prohibits federal employees from soliciting personal cash awards, let alone using subordinate staff to do so.

Senator Hawley later introduced legislation to close loopholes around federal cash prizes, but the damage was done. These were public records, email trails, and financial disclosures. Yet most people looked away, trusting that institutions would police themselves.

They didn’t Here is the uncomfortable truth: we wanted to believe. After years of pandemic hardship, lockdowns, and conflicting guidance, the public craved certainty. Dr. Fauci represented stability, expertise, and moral authority. To question him felt like betraying the very people who had kept us safe. Cognitive psychologists call this “authority bias” the tendency to trust figures of institutional power even when evidence suggests otherwise. Add to that the sheer complexity of the issues: virology, federal funding rules, constitutional law, and most people outsourced their judgment to whoever spoke with the most confidence. That is human nature, but it is also how concentrated power becomes more trusted than evi-

dence.

This is not just about Dr. Fauci.

It is about what happens when we stop asking questions. When we let institutions decide what is true for us. When we confuse loyalty with truth. The public is left with competing narratives, “accountability” versus “political vendetta” and little new factual clarity on pandemic decisions. Meanwhile, ordinary people who lost jobs, loved ones, and mental health during the pandemic are left wondering: Who was really looking out for us? The hearing didn’t answer that. It only deepened the divide.

The truth is many of us participated in this failure of public reasoning.

We trusted too easily. We questioned too little. We let fear and fatigue do our thinking for us, and now, we are left with a system where power can hide behind legal technicalities while the public gets spectacle over substance.

Wait. We were given warning signs. Why didn’t we question this?

Who benefited from our failure to question it? The next time a figure of authority tells you what to believe, ask yourself: What are they not saying, and why? The cost of silence is complicity.

The next time an authority figure speaks, ask yourself: what evidence supports this? Who benefits from my acceptance? What warnings am I ignoring? Don’t wait for the next hearing.

Don’t wait for the next crisis. Start now.

Share this story. Demand accountability. Support independent journalism and remember: the truth needs your voice.

Black Theatre School celebrates transformation PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TCN REPORTER

It was truly a visually stimulating, emotionally inspiring and spiritually uplifting experience as the Watah Theatre and Black Theatre School celebrated artistic excellence, community and the launch of a new literary work.

Founded by d’bi.young anitafrika, Watah Theatre has been nurturing Black artists since 2008. The Black Theatre School, which grew from this longer tradition of arts education and community-building, offers an immersive professional theatre training residency guided by the Anitafrika Method.

The evening also celebrated the 20th anniversary production and literary publication of the multi-awardwinning classic The Sankofa Trilogy.

The trilogy has had a significant impact on the theatre community and has been recognized with multiple awards

and nominations. Its 20th anniversary production was presented by Watah Theatre at The Theatre Centre in 2025.

An internationally acclaimed dub poet, playwright-performer, director-dramaturge, activist-scholar and author, d’bi. young anitafrika has played a pivotal role in developing Black theatre and arts education in Toronto and beyond. They have served as faculty with Soulpepper and Obsidian Theatre and have led work connected to the national Black Womyn in Theatre Digital Archive project.

The celebration of the Black Theatre School was timely. Its work speaks to the continuing need for spaces where Black artists can develop without having to separate artistic practice from identity, history, community and lived experience. The school is rooted in African diasporic philosophies, including Ubuntu, Sankofa and Iwa Pele, and is grounded in Black feminist thought.

The current Black Theatre School is a nine-month immersive residency. Its emphasis on practitionercentred learning, ensemble integrity and Critical Dub Pedagogy creates an environment in which artists are encouraged to examine what they create, how and why they create it. The school

is presented as a space for transformation, creative expression and community embodiment.

According to its website, the school supports multi-hyphenate theatre makers working across writing, devising, dramaturgy, directing, design, producing, stage weaving and performance. With biomyth monodrama and pantodub theatre at its creative core, the school aims to cultivate holistic artists prepared to generate original work and take on multi-leadership roles within contemporary theatre ecosystems. d’bi.young anitafrika’s doctoral research also centres Black woman’s theatre and explores the epistemological, ontological, cosmological, ethical, aesthetic and somatic emancipation of the oppressed self through storytelling. This research informs the broader practice and pedagogy that shape the school.

The power of the program was reflected in the testimonials shared by artists who experienced it.

Josemar described the experience as deeply spiritual and life-transforming, saying it grounded them in purpose and sharpened their focus.

KayGeni recalled that participants “Cried together, laughed together” and

experienced the school as “A coming home.” Kabrena Robinson described the experience as fertile ground to grow as a multidisciplinary artist and reconnect with the roots of her voice, while developing a decolonial, Black feminist approach to creation.

These reflections speak to the school’s broader purpose: not simply to train artists, but to create space for artists to discover, strengthen and share their voices within the community.

The testimonials also reveal the emotional dimension of this approach.

Josemar spoke of purpose. KayGeni spoke of belonging. Robinson spoke of reconnecting with the roots of her voice. Together, their reflections suggest that the school’s impact extends beyond the stage and into the artists’ understanding of themselves and their communities.

It was a celebratory occasion that gave fellow artists, supporters of the Black Theatre School and community-minded individuals an opportunity to show their appreciation for the ongoing significance of this unique institution and its future.

For those interested in learning more about the work of Watah Theatre and the Black Theatre School, visit their official websites: watahtheatre.ca.

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Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | www.TCN-Now.com | TCN Now

FEATURE

PAGE 13

Photo Credit: David Muir

MINISTER EDMUND BARTLETT The Boy Who Scripted Jamaica’s Future From Sugar Fields to Global Influence The kerosene lamp flickered against the wooden walls of a small house in a Westmoreland hamlet, casting long, dancing shadows that looked like giants to a young boy with a pencil in his hand. There was no electricity to hum in the background, no running water to splash in a sink, only the rhythmic rustle of the surrounding sugar cane fields and the heavy, sweet scent of the harvest.

In his notebook, the boy wrote his name, over and over, but with a strange, prophetic addition: Sir Edmund Bartlett, LLD. He was a child of the soil, a village child raised by a collective of uncles and aunts who owned nothing but their community, yet he was already drafting a life that did not yet exist in the geography of a sugar cane village.

Jamaica, in those days, was a character that demanded resilience before it offered reward. Young Edmund grew up in a world where the village supported the child, a place where individual success was a communal victory. His education began not in grand halls, but in basic schools run by neighbours who had a little knowledge and a large desire to impart it. This was the making of him, a foundation built on the value systems of the church, where he learned his foundation of morality: what was right, what was wrong, and what it meant to be an acceptable member of a human story.

There was a moment, in those teenage years, when the pulpit called to him. He was so deeply involved in the religious life of his community that he saw himself becoming a minister of religion. He wanted to speak to the souls of people, to guide their narratives. He did

not realize then that he would eventually become a minister of a different sort, but the core mission remained the same: people engagement. Those early prophecies in his notebook (the knighthood and the doctorate) were not just vanity; they were a young mind projecting itself into a future where he could stand on the world stage.

The transition from the sanctuary to the political arena was fueled by the fire of university life. At the University of the West Indies, Edmund became a powerful elocutionist, a young man who understood that words were tools for building or breaking. He organized national debates, unearthing young talents who could articulate the Jamaican struggle. It was here that the political leader began to emerge. He was noticed by the leadership of the day for his ability to position and highlight the potential of others.

As you can guess, the road was not paved with easy victories. At 25, Edmund found himself campaigning in the middle of a state of emergency. The air was thick with tension; every step of the campaign felt like navigating a minefield where the government used the law to suppress the opposition. “They were arresting somebody here, somebody there,” he recalls of that difficult period. He lost that first election, but he didn’t lose his vision. He retreated into the private sector, working for Texaco, where he learned the cold, hard logic of marketing, sales, and the service sector. He was learning how to tell a story that people would listen to and be able to connect with.

“Tourism didn’t happen by way

of design,” Bartlett says, his voice carrying the weight of four decades of service.

“Tourism really came about through political fortuitousness.” When internal party disruptions forced a regrouping, he was asked to leave his comfortable Kingston seat and return to the west, to Montego Bay. He was told that if he was to be responsible for the west, he had to be responsible for its main economic activity, tourism.

He had no background in the industry, no formal history in hospitality, but he understood Jamaica. He understood that tourism was not just about beaches and recreation and fun. He saw the industry as a consumption-driven activity that, if managed correctly, could be the fastest way to transfer wealth from the rich to the poor.

He began to view the tourist as a participant in a grand exchange of enduring trust and confidence. You leave your home, fly 9,000 miles, and land in a place you do not know, trusting that the water is clean, and the people are kind.

To Minister Bartlett, this was the ultimate human story. He stopped treating tourism like a side-show and started treating it like a resilient economy. He moved beyond the extractive nature of the business and focused on human capital development, certifying 40,000 workers so that a housekeeper or a sous-chef was a certified professional with mobility.

Today, the boy who wrote “Sir” in a kerosene-lit room is a man who has been married for over 50 years, a father, and a grandfather who still finds joy in the click of dominoes, the strategy of cricket, and the rhythm of a dance floor. He has

been named to the Global Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent, yet he still speaks of himself as a village child.

He is a man who has spent forty years in the house of power, but he warns the next generation that power is nothing without the capacity to convert ideas into material goods and services. He has become one of the country’s most influential curators of its tourism story by realizing that the story is about the people.

When you look at Minister Bartlett today, you see the LLD and the equivalent of the knighthood he once dreamed of, but beneath the titles behind his name, there is still that boy from the sugar cane village, standing in the dark, writing a story that he knew would one day belong to all of Jamaica.

He leaves us with a lingering question, one that defines his legacy: If tourism is the storytelling of a nation, are we telling a story that makes our people the protagonists of their own prosperity, or are they merely background characters in someone else’s vacation?

Photo Credit: Sanj P Photography

Written by Simone J. Smith TCN Now

PAGE 14

FOOD

TCN Now | www.TCN-Now.com | Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Jerk Peach-Glazed Chicken with Coconut Corn Rice; Caribbean heat meets the sweetness of an Ontario summer There is something about August that makes you want to squeeze every last bit out of summer.

The evenings are still warm, the barbecue is still getting plenty of use, and markets and roadside stands are overflowing with some of the best produce we will see all year. Corn is everywhere, peaches are finally sweet enough that you can smell them before you even cut into them, and if you are anything like me, this is also the point in the summer when you start realizing that you have probably grilled enough burgers and hot dogs to last until next May. That is when it is time to switch things up a little.

For this edition, I wanted to come up with something that still felt Caribbean at its heart, but also celebrated the fact that we live here in Canada and have access to some incredible local ingredients during these few short weeks of summer.

The result is Jerk Peach-Glazed Chicken with Coconut Corn Rice, and trust me, there is a lot going on with this one.

You have the heat, spice and unmistakable aroma of jerk seasoning. You have sweet, juicy peaches cooked down into a sticky glaze with Scotch bonnet, lime, ginger and brown sugar. Then you have creamy coconut rice mixed with lightly charred sweet corn to calm everything down and bring the entire plate together.

It is sweet, spicy, smoky and creamy, and somehow it all works.

Now, before anybody starts sending me messages asking when peaches became part of traditional jerk chicken, let me get this out of the way: they didn’t. That is the point.

Fusion cooking is not about pretending something is traditional when it isn’t. At its best, fusion takes flavours and techniques that already make sense together and gives them a little room to meet somewhere new.

Caribbean cooking itself tells that story better than almost any cuisine in the world. The food we know today throughout Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, Haiti and the wider Caribbean did not develop in isolation. African, Indigenous, Indian, Chinese, European and Middle Eastern influences have all found their way into Caribbean kitchens over generations. Ingredients travelled, people travelled, recipes changed according to what was available, and families put their own spin on things.

That ability to adapt without losing the soul of the food is part of what makes Caribbean cooking so exciting.

This recipe plays with that same idea.

Jerk remains the foundation. The allspice, thyme, Scotch bonnet, ginger, garlic and green onion give you those flavours you immediately recognize.

Nothing about biting into this chicken makes you wonder where the Caribbean influence went.

The peaches simply bring something different to the conversation.

A really ripe peach has a deep sweetness with just enough acidity to stand up to spice.

Once you cook it down with brown sugar, lime, ginger and Scotch bonnet, it turns into a beautiful sticky glaze that clings to the chicken and caramelizes around the edges on the grill.

Then comes the corn. Fresh Ontario corn in August barely needs anything done to it.

When it is good, it is sweet, juicy and crisp right off the cob. Give it a little char and suddenly you get those slightly smoky, almost nutty flavours that work beautifully beside jerk seasoning.

Instead of simply serving corn on the cob beside the chicken, we are cutting those kernels off and folding them into coconut rice. That coconut rice is important because this chicken has some personality.

Depending on how enthusiastic you get with the Scotch bonnet, there can be some serious heat happening on the plate, and the creaminess of the coconut milk gives your mouth somewhere to go between bites.

Every bite has a little something different: spicy chicken, sweet glaze, smoky corn, creamy rice, fresh lime and herbs.

It tastes like summer. More importantly, it tastes like a summer meal you would actually want to make again.

A little respect for the jerk Before we get cooking, we have to talk about jerk.

There are plenty of bottled jerk sauces and seasonings available, and some of them are very good. If you are pressed for time on a Tuesday evening, I am certainly not going to judge you for reaching into the fridge for your favourite one.

However, if you have the time, making the marinade yourself is worth it.

Traditional Jamaican jerk is much more than simply making chicken spicy. Allspice, or pimento, is one of the defining flavours. Thyme gives it that earthy fragrance, while green onion,

garlic and ginger create the aromatic base. Scotch bonnet brings both heat and a distinct fruity flavour.

That last part is important. People sometimes treat Scotch bonnet peppers like their only purpose is to see who can survive the meal. There is actually tremendous flavour in them. Yes, they are hot. Very hot. However, underneath that heat is a fruity sweetness that is completely different from simply dumping hot sauce over something.

For this recipe, that fruity quality is exactly what makes Scotch bonnet work so well with peaches.

You can also control the heat. Removing the seeds and inner membrane will reduce some of the intensity. Using half a pepper rather than one or two will obviously make a difference as well.

The goal isn’t to make dinner painful.

You should still be able to taste the chicken.

For families where some people love heat and others don’t, my suggestion is to keep the marinade moderately spicy and then make the peach glaze hotter. That way everyone can enjoy the chicken, while the people looking for some extra fire can brush on more glaze.

Chicken thighs are my first choice here because they remain juicy and forgiving on the grill. Bone-in, skin-on thighs will give you fantastic flavour, while boneless thighs make this dish incredibly easy to eat and cook a little faster.

You can use chicken breasts, but watch them carefully because the sugar in the glaze can caramelize faster than the chicken cooks if your barbecue is too hot.

This is one of those recipes where medium heat and patience are your friends.

We are not trying to cremate dinner. We want char. There is a difference.

Jerk Peach-Glazed Chicken with Coconut Corn Rice Serves: 4–6 Preparation time: Approximately 30 minutes, plus marinating Cooking time: Approximately 40–50 minutes For the jerk chicken • 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs • 4 green onions, roughly chopped • 3 cloves garlic • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated • 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, seeded for less heat if desired • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme • 2 teaspoons ground allspice • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg • 2 tablespoons soy sauce • 2 tablespoons brown sugar • 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil • Juice of 1 lime • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar • 1 teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper For the peach glaze • 3 ripe peaches, peeled if desired and diced • 2 tablespoons brown sugar • 1 tablespoon honey • Juice of 1 lime • 1 teaspoon lime zest • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated • 1 small clove garlic, minced • ¼ to ½ Scotch bonnet pepper, finely minced, depending on desired heat • 1 tablespoon soy sauce • ¼ cup water • Pinch of salt For the coconut corn rice 2 cups long-grain rice or jasmine rice 1 can coconut milk Approximately 1½ cups water or chicken stock 2 ears fresh sweet corn 2 green onions, finely sliced 1 tablespoon butter ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste Freshly ground black pepper Juice of ½ lime Small handful of chopped cilantro or parsley For serving • Lime wedges • Sliced green onion • Fresh cilantro or parsley • Extra peach glaze • Fresh sliced peaches, optional Instructions 1. Marinate the chicken • Place the green onions, garlic, ginger, Scotch bonnet, thyme, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg,

• • •

•

soy sauce, brown sugar, oil, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper into a blender or food processor.

Blend until you have a thick, fairly smooth marinade.

Place the chicken thighs into a large bowl or resealable bag and pour the marinade over them, making sure every piece is well coated.

Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours. If you can prepare it in the morning and leave it until dinner, even better. Overnight also works beautifully.

Because the marinade contains lime juice and vinegar, there is no need to leave the chicken sitting in it for two days. We are marinating dinner, not conducting a science experiment.

2. Make the peach glaze • Add the diced peaches, brown sugar, honey, lime juice, lime zest, ginger, garlic, Scotch bonnet, soy sauce, water and a small pinch of salt to a saucepan.

• Bring everything to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

• Cook for approximately 10–15 minutes, stirring regularly as the peaches begin to soften and break down.

• Once the mixture becomes thick and glossy, use the back of a spoon to mash some of the peaches.

• Leave a few small pieces intact if you prefer some texture, or blend the glaze if you want it completely smooth.

• Taste and adjust as needed. If it is too sweet, add another squeeze of lime. If you want more heat, add a little more Scotch bonnet.

If you went a little too far with the pepper, additional peach or honey can help calm it down.

• Remove the glaze from the heat and set it aside.

• Keep this glaze separate from anything that has touched the raw chicken because it will be brushed onto the meat near the end of cooking.

3. Char the corn • Place the corn directly on the barbecue, in a grill pan or in a cast-iron frying pan over medium-high heat.

• Turn it occasionally until there are goldenbrown and lightly charred areas around the cob.

• You do not need to blacken every kernel. The goal is to create little pockets of smoky flavour.

• Once the corn is cool enough to handle, stand each cob upright on a cutting board and carefully slice off the kernels.

• Set the corn aside.

4. Make the coconut rice • Rinse the rice under cool water until the water runs mostly clear.

• Add the rice and coconut milk to a medium saucepan.

• Add enough water or chicken stock to bring the total amount of cooking liquid to what is recommended for the rice you are using.

• Add the salt and bring everything to a gentle boil.

• Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed.

• Remove the pot from the heat and leave it covered for another five to ten minutes.

• Fluff the rice with a fork.

• Fold in the butter, charred corn, sliced green onion, lime juice and chopped cilantro or parsley.

• Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.

At this point you should have creamy, fragrant rice with little pops of sweet corn running through it.

Try not to finish the entire pot before the chicken is done.

5. Grill the jerk chicken • Preheat the barbecue to medium or medium-high heat.

• Remove the chicken from the marinade and allow the excess to drip away.

• Lightly oil the grill grates if necessary.

• Place the chicken onto the barbecue and cook for approximately five to seven minutes on the first side before flipping.

• Continue cooking until the chicken is almost done.

• During the final few minutes, brush the chicken generously with the peach glaze.

• Flip the chicken, brush again and allow the glaze to caramelize for a minute or two.

• Repeat once more if you want an extra sticky

• • •

coating.

Watch the heat carefully because the sugar in the glaze can burn quickly.

Boneless chicken thighs should reach an internal temperature of at least 74°C, or 165°F. Remove the chicken from the barbecue and allow it to rest for approximately five minutes before serving.

That resting time gives the juices a chance to settle and also gives you enough time to get everybody to the table before someone starts stealing chicken directly from the tray.

6. Bring everything together • Spoon a generous amount of coconut corn rice onto each plate.

• Place the jerk peach-glazed chicken over the rice.

• Drizzle a little extra warm peach glaze over the chicken.

• Finish with sliced green onion, fresh herbs and a squeeze of lime.

• Add a few slices of fresh peach on the side if you want to dress up the plate even more.

That bright orange peach, green herbs, golden corn and dark caramelized jerk chicken make for one seriously beautiful plate. And yes, we eat with our eyes first.

Make it your own The nice thing about recipes like this is that they are meant to be played with. If you do not eat chicken, the same peach jerk glaze would be excellent on grilled salmon. Shrimp would also work beautifully, although you would want to cook them quickly and glaze them right near the end.

For a vegetarian version, try thick slices of grilled cauliflower or firm tofu that has been marinated in the jerk mixture first.

You can also take the coconut corn rice in different directions. Add black beans for something heartier, throw in diced red pepper for more colour, or even add a little fresh pineapple if you want to push the tropical side of the dish further.

Personally, I would keep the peaches as the star because there is already enough happening here.

You can make most of the meal ahead as well. The jerk marinade can be prepared a day or two in advance, the peach glaze will keep in the refrigerator for several days, and the corn can be grilled earlier in the day.

Then when everyone gets hungry, all you really need to do is cook the rice and throw the chicken on the barbecue.

That is exactly the type of summer cooking I like. Nobody wants to spend a beautiful August evening trapped in the kitchen while everyone else is outside laughing, talking and enjoying themselves. The best summer recipes give you something impressive without making you work so hard that you miss your own gathering.

This one does that. It is also the kind of dish that starts conversations. Someone will taste the glaze and ask what is in it. Someone else will immediately recognize the jerk. Then somebody is going to hit a slightly bigger piece of Scotch bonnet than everyone else and suddenly become very interested in their glass of water.

That is part of the fun. Food has always been one of the easiest ways for cultures to meet.

Sometimes that happens through migration and generations of history. Sometimes it happens because somebody standing beside a basket of ripe Ontario peaches starts wondering what would happen if they threw one into a jerk glaze.

Both can lead somewhere delicious. Fusion does not have to erase tradition. In fact, the best fusion dishes usually work because they understand the tradition they are starting with.

Jerk already gives us heat, smoke, spice, sweetness and aromatics. Peaches simply amplify the fruity side that is already present in the Scotch bonnet and brown sugar. Corn brings another natural sweetness, while coconut connects everything back to flavours that feel completely at home on a Caribbean plate.

Nothing feels forced. It is familiar and new at the same time. That is exactly what I wanted from this recipe.

There are only so many warm evenings we get in Canada, and by the time August rolls around, you know they are numbered. Soon enough the barbecue will be covered, the fresh peaches will disappear from the market and somebody will start reminding us how many shopping days are left before Christmas.

I am not ready for that yet. For now, there is still some summer left. So grab a few peaches, pick up some fresh corn, fire up the barbecue and bring a little island heat to the table.

Just remember one thing when you reach for that Scotch bonnet. You can always add more. Taking it back out is a whole different story.

HEALTH

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | www.TCN-Now.com | TCN Now

PAGE 15

When standing up makes you sick

BY DIANA GIFFORD-JONES COMMON SENSE HEALTH It was like opening a time capsule when I met up with my college roommate after 35 years. We laughed about our good times together and recalled all the confidence we had about our futures at age twenty. Then the conversation turned to our children, and she told me about her daughter’s long struggle to obtain a diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS. Once that diagnosis became clear, it is easy to point to a distinguishing symptom. For people with POTS, standing upright triggers a debilitating racing of the heart, but for the 2-3 million people in North America estimated to have the condition, figuring it out is no easy job.

Experts are not sure why, but it is a condition that tends to strike young women, aged 15-35, most often from comfortable, and White families. This fits my roommate’s situation. It may be that POTS could be found in other segments of society, but neither patients nor doctors are making

the connection.

The root cause of POTS lies in the body’s remarkable automatic control system (the autonomic nervous system) which manages heart rate, blood pressure, circulation, digestion, and temperature control.

When we stand, gravity pulls blood toward our legs. A healthy nervous system immediately responds. Blood vessels tighten, the heart adjusts, and enough blood continues to reach the brain.

In someone with POTS, that response does not work properly. The body struggles to maintain circulation when upright, and the heart often speeds up dramatically to compensate.

The result can be dizziness, fatigue, weakness, exercise intolerance, difficulty concentrating, and a pounding heartbeat. Some sufferers feel better when they lie down, but not all. When the autonomic nervous system is out of whack, all bets are off.

Historically, and to date, many patients have struggled to find an explanation, because routine heart tests and blood

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work may appear normal, some are told their symptoms are due to stress or anxiety.

During the American Civil War, physician Jacob Mendes Da Costa described soldiers who suffered from racing hearts, fatigue, chest discomfort, and poor exercise tolerance. The condition became known as soldier’s heart. Although it was not the same diagnosis as POTS, researchers believe these individuals may have had problems involving the autonomic nervous system.

Over the decades, doctors continued to encounter patients who became ill when upright, but it was not until the 1990s that researchers formally described and named POTS. Scientists now understand that POTS is not one single disease. Different patients may have different underlying causes. In some, nerves that regulate blood vessels may not function properly. In others, there may be abnormalities involving the immune system, blood volume, or the body’s response to infection.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented attention to POTS. Some

people recovering from COVID developed persistent symptoms including rapid heart rate, dizziness, and exercise intolerance.

Researchers began investigating whether viral infections could trigger autonomic disorders in susceptible individuals.

Although POTS is often associated with younger people, it can occur at any age. In older adults, symptoms may be mistaken for medication effects, dehydration, heart problems, or the normal challenges of aging.

For my roommate and her daughter, and like many other families, it was a long and frustrating journey to the diagnosis of POTS. Ultimately, it took a team of specialists at the Mayo Clinic to design and initiate a four-week intensive program of physical, mental, and behavioural changes to daily routines that enabled them to return to normal life.

With better knowledge about what is going on, there comes an appreciation for the extraordinary things the human body does, even when just standing up.

LIFE

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TCN Now | www.TCN-Now.com | Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Why must you reach court before care?

BY SIMONE J. SMITH HUMAN SPECIALIST You are standing on a street corner, heart racing, mind spinning, and the first person who sees you does not call a doctor, they call the police. That is the brutal reality for too many African men in America, and the Lil Nas X case has ripped the curtain off a system that offers mercy only after a crisis. In August 2025, Montero Lamar Hill (known to the world as Lil Nas X) was arrested in Los Angeles on felony charges of battery on police officers and resisting an executive officer.

By April 2026, a judge granted him entry into a two-year mental-health diversion program, with charges potentially dismissed if he complies with treatment and stays out of trouble. The court accepted that his later-diagnosed bipolar disorder was a significant factor in the incident, calling his behaviour “Aberrant from his normal conduct.” Here is the question that should keep you awake: why must an African man reach the courtroom before he reaches care?

California’s mental-health diversion law, Penal Code section 1001.36, was

designed to offer treatment instead of punishment for people whose mental illness played a significant role in their alleged offence. To qualify, a defendant must have a diagnosed mental disorder, show that the disorder contributed to the conduct, agree to treatment, and not pose an unreasonable risk to public safety. If successful, the case can be dismissed, and the record restricted.

On paper, this is progress: treatment, housing, and case management can replace jail and conviction, but in practice, diversion remains court-controlled treatment: participants waive rights, attend progress hearings, submit to monitoring, and face the threat of prosecution if they fail. This is treatment offered under the pressure of possible imprisonment.

The deeper wound is who gets this chance. Research shows that African and Hispanic men are more likely to experience criminalization rather than medicalization when mental illness is involved, while White women are more likely to be steered toward treatment.

A 2025 study found that mental illness was associated with arrest across groups, but African and Hispanic men had

weaker associations between illness and treatment. Another analysis found that prosecutors were more likely to grant pretrial diversion to White defendants than to African or Latinx defendants with similar legal characteristics.

The disparities occur at every decision point: who is seen as symptomatic rather than defiant, who is taken to a hospital instead of booked, whose family can secure expert assessments, whose behaviour is interpreted as temporary illness, and who has the resources to complete treatment.

California-specific research warns that limited demographic monitoring, inconsistent cultural competence, and inadequate service availability undermine the promise of diversion for racialized communities.

The Lil Nas X case forces us to ask whether celebrity status provides resources, visibility, and legal capacity unavailable to people with similar symptoms but less money and social capital. His public disclosure may help some people recognize symptoms and seek treatment; research on celebrity mental-health disclosures has found potential public-health benefits, including increased help-seeking.

Visibility has a cost: a diagnosis

can become a headline, a redemption narrative, or a shield against questions about police conduct. Recovery concerns the person’s health and autonomy; public redemption concerns how audiences revise their moral judgment; institutional accountability concerns police conduct, prosecutorial choices, and racial inequity. One cannot substitute for another.

So, what can you do? Demand that your local courts publish diversion data by race, gender, charge, and income, and track completion and dismissal rates.

Ask prosecutors and judges what safeguards prevent diversion from becoming net widening, drawing more people into court surveillance rather than reducing it.

Support community-based mental-health services that offer care before a crisis, not after arrest.

When you read about the next African man in diversion, ask: would an unknown person with the same symptoms get the same chance? The answer will tell you whether this system heals divisions, or just manages them.

The Gordie Howe Bridge: A monument to political posturing

BY HERBERT HILDEBRANDT POLITICAL PARLEY The Gordie Howe International Bridge opening should have been the easiest political celebration imaginable. After years of construction and court battles, Canada and the United States finally opened a six-lane, 2.5-kilometre crossing between Windsor and Detroit on July 27th, 2026. Its 853-metre main span is the longest cablestayed bridge span in North America, and the entire project is valued at $6.4 billion Canadian. The only other bridge to cross the Detroit River opened in 1929, 100 years ago!

The symbolism could hardly be richer. Gordie Howe was born in Saskatchewan, became a legend in Detroit and remains revered on both sides of the border.

The crossing bearing his name links Highway 401 directly to Interstate 75 and was built by thousands of workers from both countries. It should have produced an uncomplicated moment of gratitude.

Instead of jointly celebrating it, the two countries turned the opening into another petty episode in a badly mishandled relationship.

Donald Trump deserves his fair

share of the blame. He threatened to obstruct a bridge that Canada financed, treated toll revenues as another bargaining chip and then announced 50% tariffs targeting $20 billion in Canadian goods. Canada responded by cancelling the planned joint opening ceremony and so it came to be that American and Michigan officials were absent from the Canadian celebration of a bridge that connects Michigan and Ontario.

This is nothing but political bumbling on one side and performative indignation on the other.

The elbows up movement may have provided Canadians with a temporary emotional release, but slogans are not an economic strategy. Refusing American products, cancelling trips and turning every negotiation into a test of national pride may feel satisfying, yet Canada is not dealing with a distant or optional trading partner. We are dealing with the country that buys almost three-quarters of everything we export.

In 2025, 71.7% of Canadian merchandise exports went to the United States. That was the lowest share since the early 1980s, but it still represented overwhelming dependence. The United States

also supplied 58.8% of Canada’s imported goods. From the American side, two-way goods trade with Canada totalled US$719.5 billion in 2025, including US$336.5 billion in American exports to Canada and US$383 billion in imports from Canada.

That works out to US$2 billion in goods crossing the border every day.

The Windsor-Detroit corridor alone supports $300 billion in annual trade between Michigan and Ontario. Cars, auto parts, food, machinery, energy, and raw materials do not recognize political slogans. Many products cross the border several times during manufacturing before reaching the consumer. A tariff imposed at one stage does not punish some abstract foreign government. It raises costs for factories, retailers, workers, and families on both sides.

Canada should diversify its trade, but we should stop pretending diversification can quickly replace geography. Europe is an ocean away and Asia is halfway around the world from us. The world’s largest consumer economy is directly beside us, connected by roads, railways, pipelines, power lines, and supply chains built over generations.

The United States also benefits

enormously from Canada, but the imbalance in dependence is obvious. Canada needs the American market more than America needs the Canadian market. That is not an insult, it is basic arithmetic, and serious countries build policy around arithmetic rather than wounded pride.

The Gordie Howe Bridge should stand as a monument to what the two countries can accomplish together. Instead, its opening became a monument to the moral bankruptcy of modern politics, where leaders would rather deny the other side a photograph than celebrate a generational achievement.

Trump should stop treating allies like enemies and every transaction like a shakedown. Canadian leaders should stop mistaking theatrical defiance for leverage.

We can defend Canadian interests without sabotaging the relationship that underwrites much of our prosperity.

Sometimes national leadership requires swallowing pride, lowering the elbows and doing the unglamorous work of repairing a relationship. The bridge is finally open, and it is high time our politics crossed it.

LIFE

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | www.TCN-Now.com | TCN Now

PAGE 17

Empty Condos, Big Questions: Should Taxpayers Bail Out Developers?

BY JAY BRIJPAUL REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST The federal and B.C. governments are rolling out a $1.45 billion rent-to-own scheme to snap up more than 2,200 empty condos, promising to help first-time buyers while putting ghost units to work. If Ontario follows suit, the taxpayer tab could soar past $3 billion.

Prime Minister Mark Carney frames the plan as a lifeline for young Canadians desperate to break into the market. Premier David Eby assures the public it is a smart investment, not a lifeline for struggling developers.

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre brands the program a transfer of wealth from the have-nots to the have-yachts.

Skeptics wonder: Should government really be playing landlord with unwanted investor condos?

Canada’s condo boom, fueled by cheap money and a surging population, saw developers race to build ever-smaller units. Now, thousands of these shoebox

condos in Metro Vancouver sit empty, not due to a housing shortage, but because they do not fit what buyers want. Critics argue that swooping in to rescue developers sends the wrong message. Why not let prices fall and let the market do its work, without a taxpayer safety net?

I understand that developers cannot start new projects because their capital is tied up in unsold inventory. The housing sector is a major source of employment, so a downturn leads to significant job losses and harms the broader economy. Instead of burdening taxpayers, why not allow foreign buyers to invest in newly built condos to let the market recover naturally?

With rental vacancies rising and rents beginning to ease, some ask: is this the best use of $1.45 billion? Instead of buying up condos, governments could fasttrack permits, invest in infrastructure, support non-profit builders, and train more skilled workers, measures that increase supply. Or why not invest in modular construction factories to lower costs and boost affordability?

The buyout plan is heavy on ambition and light on details. Who gets to buy in? How will the rent-to-own model work?

What if property values slide? Carney admits the fine print is not finished. Taxpayers deserve answers before billions go out the door, and if this sets a national template, more condos (and more risk) could land on public books. Critics say governments should have steered developers away from building so many micro-units in the first place. If the project was popular, the developers would be laughing. Why not allow developers to arrange a rent-to-own option with potential first-timers rather than the government?

Pulling thousands of condos off the open market could keep prices artificially high and make bargains scarce for would-be buyers. In a healthy market, surplus inventory brings prices down. Critics warn this move could backfire: less supply, higher demand, and stubbornly steep prices.

For some, the answer is simple: Let the market run its course. Buying up

investor-grade condos under the banner of affordability does not just risk taxpayer money, it may undermine trust in government priorities.

A smarter approach is to target only well-located units that genuinely serve affordable housing goals, rather than sweeping up every leftover condo on the block. That way, governments can help where it counts, without upending the market or breaking the bank.

Canadians already feel squeezed by taxes and rising costs. Lavish spending on risky bailouts only erodes public trust.

Rather than rescuing developers, that $1.45 billion could chip away at Canada’s mounting debt.

At the end of the day, it was developer greed (not public need) that filled skylines with tiny, unsellable condos. Now, instead of letting them face the music, taxpayers are asked to pick up the tab. Maybe it’s time to rethink who really wins, and who pays, when the market stumbles.

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