Lockdown Legislation 040120

CHARLES AYODELE

MICHAEL THOMAS/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

The country is in lockdown mode, and as of Tuesday, March 24th, only what the Ontario government deems essential services, like supermarkets, pharmacies, the LCBO, and marijuana outlets are open for business, which means everyone else is hiding from a non-partial killer named COVID-19.

From schools to entertainment events and most things in-be -

tween, everything is closed which means, that the television and social media have become man’s best friend. Ontarians listen closely to their Mayor, and Premier via these channels to find out what is happening and to look for solutions. With tons of people forced to stay at home and having no other source of income, it is fair to say that this epidemic has the nation under siege indefinitely.

Almost daily the Mayor, Chief Medical Officer of Health and Premier take to the television and radio to inform Ontarians of the seriousness of this situation, and to reassure them of the government’s plans to fight this disease as well as to update them on the importance of staying safe and healthy.

Continued On Page 5

DONISHA PENDERGAST

This empowering young woman comes from a family of many accomplishments that have impacted millions of people around the world.

Donisha Pendergast is the granddaughter of Bob Marley, the famous Jamaican singer and songwriter, but she has made a strong and independent legacy for herself in her own right.

Pendergast was born and raised in Jamaica and started acting in theatre at the age of 17.

“People always told me how dramatic I was,” she laughs. “So, I wanted to make use of that, and I really enjoyed the stage because I grew up on the stage.”

From the time Pendergast was a little girl, she was touring all over the world with her family. Her mother, Sharon Marley, is also a Jamaican singer. She was in the group Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers along with her younger sister and brothers.

“I saw how to use the stage as a platform to make social impact, and how many emotions were associated with performance and I really enjoyed that,” said Pendergast. The budding actress ended up getting the role in a production without telling her family and missed many classes for rehearsals. It wasn’t until the PR campaign started to promote the show for audiences to come see, that she told her parents she was in a play.

“At first they were very distraught because they wanted me to finish school,” said Pendergast.

But her mother came around. “My mom

has always been very supportive, because she knows that I am a very free-spirit. When the show opened up, my mother was at every show for the first two months, every single night,” said Pendergast.

Being part of the Jamaican production also helped Pendergast blossom into her other talents. She is also a dancer, poet and model, but above all, she is a storyteller.

After acting in Jamaica for four years almost every single day, Pendergast went to Howard University in Washington, DC.

“From being on stage in Jamaica six days a week, I went to being on stage for an hour and a half once a week for a class. A lot of the characters that we were encouraged to audition for were black American characters and African American characters from the deep south,” said Pendergast.

The Jamaican actress felt she wanted to do more stories of her people and her experience.

This was around the same time her grandmother, Rita Marley, invited her to become a Youth Ambassador for the Africa Unite Youth Symposiums.

“My grandma had started doing this series called Africa Unite where she went to different parts of Africa every year starting with Ethiopia in 2005, Ghana in 2006 and South Africa in 2007. I went with her every year,” said Pendergast.

In 2007 she was asked to speak on a panel. Although she had been on a stage many times before, being on this stage was different. This is when she found her calling to also be an advocate.

“I found a different part of my voice. I found a different way to express myself that I didn’t know that even I had,” said Pendergast.

world. The earth became my classroom,” said Pendergast. “I became really intent on being a better student and being a better teacher.”

Pendergast spends her time in Canadian and American classrooms, lecturing on the same stages as Magic Johnson, Desmond Tutu and Martin Luther King Jr III and speaking to audiences of up to 15,000 young people about the power of one love and activism for social healing.

She is currently studying film at Ryerson University on a scholarship and is expected to graduate this semester. Pendergast has been backstage on tour, on stage for theatre, and on stage for public speaking, but this is a stage that no one in her family has crossed before.

“First of all, graduating from the class Covid 2020 is quite interesting because I don’t even know if we’re going to be having a graduation ceremony. One of the reasons I did take this scholarship to go back to school was because I wanted to get a photo of me graduating and my mom, and my dad, and my grandma being there, because I don’t have that. Coming from a family of artists, a lot of them didn’t get to finish school,” said Pendergast.

“I did it, I defied the odds. I did all of the activism, I travelled, I spoke to people, I helped heal people, I helped to carry stories and still go back to school,” said Pendergast.

Alongside other founding directors of Manifesto Jamaica, Pendergast’s commitment to global community work has special focus on her healing works in Jamaica, especially with the youth of Faces of Tivoli Gardens Youth Organization, who she has been mentoring since the violent incursion of May 2010 among many other projects. Pendergast and her team created a healing garden with herbs and invited the community to come out, to plant and establish a sense of new growth.

She grew to become miserable at Howard and left to be with her family in Miami without completing her degree there. Instead, she enrolled in film school in Miami.

“I wanted to do something more. I wanted to go into film because I felt it was important to start writing our story. There’s a quote that I learned that said, “Until the lion learns to tell his own story, the tale of the hunt, will always glorify the hunter,” said Pendergast.

In the fight for human rights, she wants the world to know that it wasn’t easy for the ‘hunter’, that she is fighting hard against the hunter. Since then, her works as a speaker and cultural ambassador have taken her through much of the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and North America.

In between the three-year film program, Pendergast completed a documentary called RasTa... A Soul’s Journey, a Canadian feature length documentary which took her to eight countries including Israel, Ethiopia, India and South Africa as a guide, to seek out the roots and evolution of RasTafari. She had one more semester to complete but didn’t end up going back.

“It was hard for me to go back to school

“I didn’t live there, I couldn’t represent their story, but what I could do was empower the young people to learn how to make change in their community, sustainable change, like creating programs and finding funding or partners,” said Pendergast.

In addition, as a healer and community organizer she built a school for girls in the Mara Masaai region in Kenya with Free the Children. Pendergast has also marched through the snow for justice with the Idle No More movement and the Indigenous youth and ancient elders of Canada.

She encourages artists of all kind to use their platform for good and to impact political change.

“What are we doing as artists today? The thousands of people that we’re singing to on these stages, are we just singing to them to make sure that we sell tickets? Or is the message right, and righteous and empowering greater humanity in the world? What is the point of our art today?” said Pendergast.

Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News

Photo: Smart N Adjatey aka @shotpicturesgh

Turned away time and time again, he was unsure if he would get this job. He had just been fitted with a hearing aid, which was made possible by Starkey Hearing Foundation on March 3rd, 2020. Imagine his surprise when he got the job. The hearing aid had given him the confidence he needed. He could hear and communicate, showing that he was fit to do whatever he was asked.

The above story is true, and one of many stories that was shared during my interview with Tamiann Young, the Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean division of Starkey Hearing Foundation. Since 1984, Starkey Hearing Foundation has provided free hearing aids in more than 100 countries, and has carried out more than 1.5 million hearing healthcare services globally.

In order to accomplish this, they have trained local partners and health workers in other countries to provide sustainable care for the patients that they serve. These specialists, who play a critical role in eradicating preventable hearing loss, all attend Starkey Hearing Institute. It is why their global advocacy and impact on hearing loss to this day is unmatched.

Since 2017, Starkey has fit more than 2,400 Jamaicans with hearing aids. On, March 2nd, and 3rd, in honour of World Hearing Day, 782 Jamaican patients were fitted and provided with after care during a twoday mission in Kingston. The World Health Organization realized that awareness needed to be raised on how to prevent hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. It is now recognized as World Hearing Day, with the 2020 theme being; Hearing for Life; don’t let hearing loss limit you.

Starkey Hearing Foundation’s mission falls in line with the World Health Organizations theme: to give the gift of hearing to those in need, empowering them to achieve their potential. I had the pleasure of interviewing Tamiann Young, and she shone some light on how Starkey Hearing Foundation is collaborating with governments and health leaders to make healthcare service more accessible for people around the world.

“The Starkey Hearing Foundation family have been in Jamaica since 2017, and have come year after year with missions both here in Kingston, Jamaica and in Montego Bay so that they can reach every single Jamaican who has a desire to hear and are not able to afford a hearing aid. It brings tears to my eyes very often. It means a lot to us.” (Most Honorable Juliet Holiness)

“What was the day like? How was the energy on March 3rd?” I asked. “The ceremony was well attended, and the community and our sponsors showed up to show their support.” Tamiann begins, “You can tell that there is an absolute need for hearing healthcare services in Jamaica and the Caribbean region. We continue to receive support

from the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, and the wife of the Prime Minister, the most Honourable Juliet Holness,” Tamiann explained enthusiastically. There is discussion of establishing a technical working group to guide the development of a National Policy for hearing health in Jamaica. If there ever was a time to do it, now is the time. Our organizational support comes from some great people in our community: Dr. Georgia (Audiologist), who assists in diagnosing and treating hearing loss, the University of the West Indies, Guyan Channer representing Kingston Public Hospital, Jamaica Association for the Deaf, and the National Council for Senior Citizens. They let us use their space to store our supplies.”

Tamiann went on to explain the nature of her work, and what is being done

for the communities in Jamaica. “We are sup plied with a list from partners of patients who cannot afford hearing aids, or after care. Once we have fit them, our patients are provided with all the information, and supplies needed to care for themselves after receiving hearing aids. We stay in contact with our clients, and handle their repairs.”

In true community fashion: Jamaica Public Service, Bob Marley Foundation, Tastee, Wata, Budget Car Rental, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and other distinguished organizations and people have all chipped in to make this possible. Founded on the vision of William F. Austin, “So the World May Hear,” Starkey Hearing Foundation continues working to bring the gift of hearing to people in Jamaica. Learn more at www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org.

Photo: Starkey Hearing Foundation

Corona can’t stop connection; how Digicel is keeping us connected with our family and friends

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

“We are in a time of uncertainty and hearing the voice of our family and friends on the other side of the phone or getting an answer from a text message makes the circumstances more bearable.” Adriana Pirela (Chief Marketing Officer, Digicel International)

Now, more then ever, telecommunications have become a part of our day-today lives. Telecommunications (also known as telecom) can be explained as the exchange of information over large distances by electronic means. This can be: voice, data and video transmission. Our elders would be more so familiar with the telegraph, which first came to be in 1837. Now, telecom is one of the fastest developing industries in the world. Our technologies now include: telegraph, telephone, radio and television broadcasting, fibre optics, satellite, mobile phones and, the Internet.

What is the purpose of global communications? Social connection. With advancements in technology, we are now able to reach out and connect with loved ones all over the world. Research has shown that the lack of social connection can be more detrimental to our health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure. In an article written by Emma Seppälä (August 26th, 2012, Psychology Today), social connection improves physical health and psychological well-being. Con -

necting with others strengthens our immune system, and can help us recover from diseases faster. It can also help to lower rates of anxiety and depression, which are possible when you are dealing with extreme isolative situations.

Thankfully, providers have been finding ways to help during the current global crisis. With this being a Caribbean publication, it is important that we service our community by providing them with options, and ways in which they can stay connected and informed about what is happening in the Caribbean. The service we are most familiar with is Digicel.

The Digicel Group has led the charge for 14 years. They currently operate in 31 markets in the Caribbean delivering amazing value, great service on a renowned network.

To help our Caribbean community stay in contact with family and friends back home, Digicel International has launched multiple packages to support their customers. Until March 31st, when you send Top Ups exclusively via digiceltopup.com or the Digicel Top Up App, Digicel International will give additional credits to the people receiving the recharge.

They are offering special Top Up services specific to certain islands:

Staying connected with Haiti 5X: Anyone living in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada that sends a $10 or more Top Up to Haiti through digiceltopup.com or in the Digicel Top Up App will help their loved ones receive 5X more Top Up and 5GB of data.

Staying connected with FREE100 Promo: Anyone living in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada that uses the code FREE100 to send Top Up through digicelt-

opup.com or in the Digicel Top Up App will help their loved ones receive 100% bonus credit.

The FREE100 promotion is valid for all Top Ups from the: United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada to Antigua, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Bermuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands, and the British Virgin Islands.

Staying connected to El Salvador: Anyone living in the United States that sends a $5 or more Top Up to El Salvador through digicel-

topup.com or in the Digicel Top Up App will help his or her loved ones receive 5X more Top Up.

Digicel customers now have free access to the official Government COVID-19 information number. This has been provided so that customers will be able to know what to do and where to go if they have further questions. As a global communication provider, Digicel, like many other leaders, have made adjustments to support their community. The goal is to keep the Caribbean diaspora connected regardless of the circumstances. It easy. You just have to go ahead and Top it Up!

Does Ford’s COVID-19 legislation miss

Premier Ford reassured the public that he and his government have their backs and that together this epidemic can and will be beaten, “Its absolutely critical,” Ford said, “I repeat critical that we are vigilant and take every step possible to slow the spread of this virus and prevent our health care system from being overwhelmed by a spike and a number of cases, we are all in this together. We all need to do our part, and we will get through this.”

In the same breath Ford pleaded with manufacturers to help in any way they can by switching their business to make much-needed things like: ventilators, face-masks, surgical gowns, protective eyewear, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, swabs, medical gloves, and lab testing equipment. “My message to business owners in Ontario is this; if you can retool your business to make these products if you can supply these essential items, we need to hear from you now.”

Ford told Ontarians that food will remain on the shelves, and they will have access to their medications and essential products like power and telecommunications, but he urged the public to stay home if you don’t have to venture outside. To all the snowbirds and Canadians coming back home Ford said, “You must isolate, the heath of your friends, your children, and your grandparents depend on it.”

While most Ontarians listen silently to the premier’s message Brian Lilley a Toronto Sun reporter challenged Ford for what he called not been on top of things, to which the Premier replied, things are constantly changing, and so does my reaction.

Speaking of reaction, the Ontario Federation of Labour also reacted to Ford’s response in connection with the COVID-19 crisis and Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had the privilege of speaking with Miss Patty Coates who is the president of the federation.

the mark?

Coates was asked if she had her way what would she have done differently in this case, to which she commended the Ford government on waiving the doctors note for workers who have to stay home in quarantine, and also making sure that these workers would not lose their jobs, “But I think we need to ramp things up a bit as well,” she said.

“We speak on behalf of all workers. Those that are in the union as well as those who are not unionized, that are immigrants and temporary workers, newcomers, and racialized workers some of whom are just one paycheque away from being evicted from their houses, not being able to provide food nor medication for their families. Now we are less than a week away from April 1st, when rent is due. How do these laid-off people cope? There should be at least a 21-day paid emergency leave, unemployment benefits alone cannot take care of these workers and their families”

More information on The Ontario Federation of Labour open letter to the premier can be found here http://ofl.ca/ letter-to-premier-needed-support-forworkers-in-ontario-during-covid-19-pandemic/

Ontarians and Canadians, in general, are looking desperately for answers as well as solutions as the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months. Premier Ford as recent as Thursday, March 26th, announced a 17-billion-dollar plan that will get Ontarians help where it is needed most.

The plan is to make sure the front-line health care workers are fully equipped to do their job, starting with 72 assessment centers up and running province-wide, 1,000 acute care beds and 500 new critical care beds are to follow soon.

On Friday, March 27th, the Premier and his team issued a province wide emergency alert via cell phones for citizens who have traveled and return home to self-isolate. He also announced a 10-billion-dollar rescue plan to help business improve their cash flow, which will include 6 billion in tax deferrals and another 1.9 billion dollars in WSIB payment deferrals for up to six months.

The Premier’s final words in this update read like a prayer, “I want to thank the people of Ontario for the strength they have shown over this crisis, thank you and God bless the great people of Ontario.”

Selina McCallum TC REPORTER selina@carib101.com

Simone J. Smith

TC REPORTER simone@carib101.com

Michael Thomas

TC REPORTER michael@carib101.com

Stephen Weir

TC REPORTER stephen@carib101.com

Dave Rankin TC REPORTER dave@carib101.com

Christina Gwira TC TECH REPORTER christina@carib101.com

Paul Junor TC EDUCATION REPORTER paul@carib101.com

Noel Cunningham FOOD | CULINARY noel@carib101.com

Dr. Vikas Puri HEALTH | WELLNESS drpuri@carib101.com

Errol A. Gibbs PHILOSOPHER errol@carib101.com

Simone J. Smith HUMAN SPECIALIST simone@carib101.com

Dave Rankin AFRICAN HISTORY dave@carib101.com

Paul Junor EDUCATION paul@carib101.com

Brittney Channer SOCIAL JUSTICE brittney@carib101.com

Christina Gwira TECHNOLOGY christina@carib101.com

Jay Brijpaul REAL ESTATE jay@carib101.com Fazaad Bacchus FINANCE SPECIALIST fazaad@carib101.com

Andrew Stewart FAMILY INSURANCE andrew@carib101.com

Kayla Karim CARIBBEAN SPORTS kayla@carib101.com

PUBLISHER | EDITOR Grant Browning grant@carib101.com

EDITOR | PROOFING Alanna Zelau alanna@carib101.com

Trish Browning trish@carib101.com

Inspirational quotes

Coronavirus affecting creatives? Here’s why it shouldn’t

SELINA McCALLUM

salina@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

On Monday, March 16th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced during an afternoon press conference that all Canadians should stay home if they are able to. That is when the quarantine really started to kick in as stores had already reduced their hours or closed down indefinitely.

For people who work in the creative industry, especially those who are self-employed, like videographers, photographers and artists, self-isolation can be difficult. For some photographers who use studios, most of them have now shut down. In addition, with the government encouraging people to practice social distancing, creative folks who film events, take photos of groups, or teach classes full of eager students, can no longer do that.

This begs the question, how will creatives make money in the next few weeks? If you’re a creative and the coronavirus has affected you, here’s some insight from other creatives in Toronto on how they’re coping in their quarantine.

Ryan Malcolm-Campbell, also known as Mr.Koa on Instagram, had to discover another skillset when he was injured in his third year of playing basketball in university.

“The first thing I did was start a clothing line which was called the King of Arts, that’s what koa stands for,” said Malcolm-Campbell.

After graduating, he was able to focus more on his clothing line and took it upon himself to buy a camera and teach himself photography.

Though his clothing company started in 2013, he has been self-employed as a full-time photographer for the last three years taking photos of weddings, celebrities and athletes. He says he has received most of his clients from word of mouth.

Malcolm-Campbell is using this time to work on skills he’s never had a chance to before.

“I’m using this to my advantage. I’m actually really enjoying it. I’m used to

being home and working on me, on stuff. I actually don’t really even have time to learn new things. I rarely have the time to stop and teach myself new skills,” said Malcolm-Campbell. “During this time, I’m taking courses on programs that have been challenging to me.”

When it comes to being financially stable, Malcolm-Campbell says that it’s important to budget wisely and suggest these tips.

“For everyone it will be a case by case basis. Be aware of what your necessities are and what you’re spending things on. When you get a big gig or a contract, make sure you’re putting some of that money somewhere whether it’s an investment or just a savings account,” said Malcolm-Campbell.

“People might be taking this time to rest or spend with their family. I read somewhere that some people are feeling pressured to create during this time, but that isn’t for everybody,” said MalcolmCampbell. “If you are the type of person that likes to work on things, then this is definitely the perfect time to do something.”

Instagram has really had a huge role in helping creatives put their work out there and still stay in touch with fans. Haviah Mighty, a female rapper from Brampton, posted a photo with the caption, “My career thrives on rooms with 200+ people, so, not quite sure what to do with myself in these times (other than create).”

Over the past few days, Mighty has been doing live streams on Instagram from her room, showing her dedicated fans her music process of how she puts beats together and works with samples.

Tristian Barrocks is a Digital Storyteller from Toronto. He is also another creative using Instagram Live to his advantage.

“I educate people on how to use stories and identifying their story to further progress their career or their creative journey,” said Barrocks. “Our story is our perspective, and our story is what brings value.”

To tell a good story, Barrock believes you need to have three things: authenticity, passion and craftsmanship.

During his quarantine, he’s balancing between spending time with loved ones and creating.

“I’m creating things for myself. I am creating time for my family. I’m making time for more of the relationships I have because in all honesty, I’ve neglected them because I was so focused on my career,”

said Barrocks.

The digital storyteller says he’s also making content for other creatives that centre around understanding the entrepreneurship part of being a creative working for yourself.

“Our problem isn’t how to hold the camera, our problem is how to do our taxes,” said Barrocks.

For creatives, it’s also important to have multiple streams of income. Barrocks suggests marketing yourself and your brand will help you bring in more income.

“This is a time to take inventory of yourself and ask yourself what you bring to the table. It’s being a storefront owner, without actually having a storefront. What makes you valuable?” Said Barrocks.

“I think that creatives have to understand that the new currency, is the currency of ideas and thoughts. Your perspective is going to drive the value of your personal brand and stock price. It’s no longer about who can shoot the best photo, but who can give me an amazing perspective on a creative concept of marketing this product,” said Barrocks.

Joshua Tubbs, founder of Customatic, says not much has changed for him during this quarantine as he is also a Senior Video Editor for an advertising company and is working from home.

or small media teams is to work with pro duction houses.

them that you’re there solely to work with them,” said Tubbs. “A production house that has a lot of business, they’re obviously going to hire freelance photographers and freelance editors. If you don’t want to focus so much on the sales and admin side, and just want to create, then working alongside companies helps.” harder.

continues to make money, you’ll have re sidual coming in,” said Tubbs.

suggests making templates, presets, and animated titles that people can continue to buy for their own projects.

feel in this moment of uncertainty. I think it’s important to re-evaluate and look at yourself and say, “Hey what do I want to do? What have I always wanted to do?” It doesn’t mean you have to create or learn something, maybe it means to try some thing different,” said Tubbs.

Gourmet Black Coffee

Enhance with Rich 100% Certi ed Organic Ganoderma Lucidum

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The nature versus nurture conundrum is an age-old discussion that remains relevant to this day. What has become understood is that both genetics and environment are a key component of peoples make up. It is hard to pinpoint the balancing point, or to identify exactly what we see when we interact with others, but it cannot be denied that if you want to know more about a person; take the time to learn about their past experiences.

There was a study published in the Journal of Labour Economics that found environment, rather than genetics seems to have the most profound effect on the offspring of entrepreneurial parents. They found that adopted children were 20% more likely to become entrepreneurs if their biological parents were also entrepreneurs. If the children’s adoptive parents were entrepreneurs, it was 45% more likely children would also become entrepreneurs (Poppick, March 20, 2015).

I thought that it would be interesting to get some insight from a young person in the community who has been raised by entrepreneurs. One young lady that I work with happens to have entrepreneurial parents. Many of you know Grant and Trish Browning as the owners of Carib101 Media Group, the parent company to Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, MyTCNTV Network, and Carib101.com.

A well-known fact is that children with entrepreneurial parents are more likely to start their own businesses. New research quantifies that and goes a step further by suggesting why. I would like to present to the community the insight of one of our developing entrepreneurs. It explains what she has learned about being in business at the tender age of 11. I was amazed at the wisdom of such a young woman, and it is inspiring to see that we indeed have a bright future that will be lead by incredibly, bright minds.

Makayla B.

(Junior Writer, Toronto Carib -

So, as you may or may not know, my parents own the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper,

which is the newspaper in your hands right now, or the site you are reading this on. My parents have brought me with them to their work every day since I was around probably six months or younger. So, I’ve grown up around them doing business with many people.

It started off as a twelve-page newspaper and then rocketed up to being a forty-eight-page newspaper! That’s four times the size of when they first started. Once the newspaper was printed they put it all in a Nissan Altima and delivered it. A Nissan Altima is a very small car and they delivered around probably 10,000 newspapers, and that’s a lot for such a small car.

They upgraded the number of pages that were in the newspaper; they also upgraded their modes of transportation. They went from a Nissan Altima for delivering and traveling, to a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Cargo for delivering and going to certain events, and a Honda Pilot (LX or EX I don’t know) for transportation and going to events. Of course, my brother and I are right there with them.

Growing up around my parents, I learned a few things about business and there are many values that I have learned being a child of entrepreneurs. One of those values is that sometimes you will come across problems that seem impossible to solve but you should not give up. You should always try your best and/or use that problem to your advantage.

Some other values I learned are: when times get tough you hold down the fort, try to pull through and never give up. There will always be problems when you start a business. Don’t worry if you start small, your business will gradually grow, so continue to believe in yourself.

Be confident and build long lasting relationships. Build up slowly, start small then make your way up. Watch where you tread, and know that one minute “wasted” is a minute you will never get back.

I have learned that I have to be a people person and surround myself with positive people, leaders that inspire others on the team.

Every business has problems when they start off. If you don’t regret a choice you made than it must have been the right one. Never be afraid to take risks, and practice the three P’s: Patience, Persistence, and Politeness.

TUESDAY

TUESDAY

The Corona shift; from sell first to serve first

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

The last few weeks has left many business owners flummoxed, and for good reason. While the exact effect of the coronavirus on the global economy is unknown, it is clear that it poses a tremendous risk.

As of Wednesday, March 24th, 2020, all non-essential businesses in Ontario have been closed down for the next two weeks, and this has sent business owners into a frenzy. During times of uncertainty, desperation becomes common, and this

is why you have seen a rush of ads, sponsored ads, and posts from business owners pulling out all stops to ensure that their business stays afloat.

According to Centre for American Progress, in 2003, the SARS epidemic shaved 0.5% to 1% of China’s growth that year and cost the global economy about $40 billion (or 0.1% of global GDP).

“The outbreak is the world’s most pressing uncertainty.” Kristalina Georgieva (International Monetary Fund Managing Director)

This is the time for many business owners to get out of crisis mode and get into creative mode. Believe it or not, no one actually buys your services or products. What people buy is a solution to a problem. This is why it is important to turn your brand into a service. Think to yourself, “How is what I am doing going to solve someone’s immediate problem, especially

during this time?”

Think about your least favourite person to talk to. It is probably someone who monopolizes every conversation. If they are braggers, this makes speaking with them intolerable. Just like you don’t like receiving jargon riddle sales emails, or talking to a self-absorbed blabber, buyers don’t like reading or listening to salespeople talk in length about their product or service. You think that it is informative and interesting. Prospects perceive it as unnecessary, and irrelevant.

So! What do you do? How do you promote your service or product without selling it?

Start by focusing on developing relationships with people. Focus on the conversation; take the time to learn your potential clients. People are bullshit detectors, and they know when someone is trying to sell them. Every email you write,

voicemail you leave, demonstration you give, and phone meeting you have in the next few weeks should place focus squarely on your client.

The approach. Building long-term relations by providing information, trends and ideas to your clients without necessarily pushing for the sale. By doing this, people will start to see you as a trusted resource. It is about turning selling into helping. Selling may bring you a customer today but helping will retain customers for life. Stop creating content that sells. Start genuinely helping others.

The more you focus on understanding the community’s problems, the more they will trust that you are the one they should continue working with. Time to start shifting from sell first to serve first. The more you focus on understanding their problems, the more they will trust that you are the one they should be working with.

Peel District School Board receives failing grade on anti-black racism report

PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

The release of the final report on Friday, March 13th by the Ministry of Education concerning anti-black racism by the Peel District School Board (PDSB) was highly anticipated.

This release, which came five months after it was launched, provides observations and recommendations pertaining to issues of: human rights equity, antiblack racism, human resources practices, leadership and governance and trustee conduct.

The report which is available at

the Ministry of Educations website detailed the ways in which anti-black racism affects black students. Issues include: higher suspensions, expulsions and detentions rates, lower enrolment in academic courses, overrepresentations in applied courses, lack of diversity among guidance staff, and poor leadership and trustee relationships. Overall, the report gave the trustees a failing grade in many areas.

The Minister of Education Stephen Leece noted in a news release on March 13th, “The Government of Ontario will consider this report, its recommendations and the resulting ministerial directions as it works to develop a broader province-wide policy. The accounts of systemic racism and discrimination documented in the report are deeply troubling and will not be tolerated after decades of inaction. I want to see swift implementation of my directions to drive the necessity and positive change that students deserve.”

The Minister’s statement shows

commitment to ensuring that immediate changes are set in place to bring equity. According to Jamil Jivani, Ontario Advocate for Community Opportunity, “It is clear that immediate and robust action is needed.”

The announcement by the Minister is an important step towards building a public school system that gives a child regardless of race, background, or postal code a fair start in life. The Minister of Education in his response to the report came up with 27 ministerial directions, which include deliverables, timelines and expectations that he mandated that the PDSB must comply with. These were necessary to ensure that there is accountability and authenticity in fulfilling the directions.

Stephen Leece mentioned in the news release, “The Government of Ontario is positioning the PDSB to immediately strengthen its governance and leadership practices to focus its attention on ensuring that all PDSB students can realize their full potential in classrooms and schools where they are supported, respected, valued and

welcome.” This is truly visionary in scope.

The PDSB had a closed meeting on Tuesday, March 24th to respond to the ministry review. The public was not present due to the coronavirus pandemic but it was live-streamed. The meetings agenda and the closed meeting can be seen at www. peelschools.org/trustees.

The ministerial directions focused on: ensuring there is a regular report on equity, a diversity audit plan in place, a learning plan for senior staff on equity and anti-black racism, as well as a collection of race-based data on suspensions.

In the light of the harm to the community, particularly to the black community, the Board shall give full and fair consideration to making a responsive and respectful apology. There is much to look forward to in the coming months from the PDSB as it puts these directions into actions. These positive steps will go a long way in bringing equity, justice and fairness.

The M&R League; basketball for the community by the community

A business graduate, first-generation Canadian, proud Guyanese, and civil servant, Roy Singh is living his best life, and in doing so has found a way to give back to the community.

Roy told the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “In high school if you were smart you were a nerd. If you were involved in charities that was your whole life.” Roy felt like he was a mixture of all. He viewed himself as the cool guy who was compassionate, wanted to give back and took school seriously.

It all started for Roy in 2011, when he and his older brother were seeking to join a men’s basketball league, with hopes

of playing together. Sadly, they were unable to due to age, background and skill level. But that didn’t stop either of them. After looking further into other leagues they took the issue onto themselves. They rented community centres and schools once a month throughout the city. With a small group of eight, and players constantly referring friends and relatives, M&R Basketball catapulted into an inclusive basketball league with over seven years operating.

Today, M&R Basketball is a nonprofit men’s basketball organization for players from all walks of life, specializing in: officiated games with licensed referees, player uniforms, multiple photographers, stats, and highlights. Unlike most leagues, they were built for the community by the community. Their first two seasons consisted of over 85% local talent involving groups of long-time friends growing up together.

When asked what this basketball league symbolizes, the founder of M&R Basketball, Roy Singh said, “This basketball league symbolizes a brotherhood more

than anything else and it also symbolizes community involvement.” Roy told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper that his league has nothing to necessarily do with talent, but it has to do with who the players are on and off the court and if they’re a good representation to the community.

M&R Basketball is providing a competitive, safe environment where brotherhoods are built. They have a zerotolerance attitude regarding disputes, prejudices and substance abuse, and the safety of their players and supporters is their number one priority.

Roy told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “I am trying my best to push not only the West Indies community forward, but to make a safe environment for everyone that is more than just music.” he explained, “I feel a lot of the things that I see out there are great, but it’s mostly in a negative light on what really the Caribbean culture is about. I feel as if a lot of people promoting the music and comedies are setting us back, to be honest. What I do is very different.”

It comes as no surprise that Roy

Singh is very involved within charities. He works with small and large charities such as: Hydrocephalus Canada (brain diseases in adolescences), Yellow Brick House, and Markham Food Bank etc. “Basketball is just a small fraction of what we do. Our involvement with the community, employment and global awareness is what sets us apart from anyone else,” Roy noted. Roy Singh solely funds M&R Basketball. Roy recalls only accepting a sponsorship once. “I did reach out to the West Indies community before and only one responded. It was kind of a shocker especially because we are doing things with a West Indian audience, and over 80% of our players are West Indian.”

Since inception M&R Basketball’s saying has always been “The League Powered by the Players” and they stay committed to ensuring their players are always appreciated and heard. They stay involved with the community and they continue to draw awareness to those in need. That is what creates what is the M&R Basketball culture.

The WEll-BEING Playbook: The workplace is now virtual, but work can still be done

The workplace will never be the same again. We are now in a new normal when it comes to work and corporate life. Water cooler talk has been replaced with coffee and Zoom. Board meetings and trainings have been taken online through Google Hangouts and GoToMeeting. More and more, we are realizing that “that meeting”, could have truly been a phone call. The workplace will never be the same again. But will the issues that have been historically and statistically plaguing the corporate landscape die with this new normal? Or will these problems simply be amplified and feed deeper into the lives of workers?

Enter the WEll-Being Playbook. This digital well-being resource “focuses

on the well-being and self-leadership of the most marginalized” within the workforce. Created by Karlyn Percil, neurosuccess coach, elephant storyteller and lifestyle speaker and backed by a team of culturally and racially diverse well-being practitioners, “the WEll-Being Playbook is designed to help organizations provide more racially and culturally relevant wellbeing options for their employees.” The playbook was launched a short time before the COVID-19 pandemic hit to much praise and fanfare. Organizations and employees alike saw the immense value in what had been created.

And then COVID-19 hit. Are organizations now more concerned about going remote than about helping to ease the “emotional tax” that sometimes comes with working a job? Yet, the question still remains: how do we manage our mental health with new work-fromhome (WFH) setup that many organizations have been forced to adapt? In the past, Sally from HR (a fictional character, created by Kelechi Okafor) was only relegated to office hours. Just a week ago (at the time of writing), one had the ability to

move into a safe space outside of work, after hours. One was able to enter and create space and room to decompress and re-center oneself, prepped to fight another day. But now, the person who used to be a trigger only at work, is now, sitting across from us on Zoom. It is because of these sudden changes that it was necessary for me to reach out to Karlyn Percil for a follow up interview. Our original interview took place on March 11th, 2020. However, the workplace as we knew it has drastically changed within the period of a fortnight. When asked about how she has personally been affected by COVID-19, Percil states, “every house is affected.” Within her effective and popular Success Planner based on the Oxygen Mask Theory, Percil refers to the concept of the “five houses”. The five houses are: financial, personal, family, health and wellness. All the upcoming workshops and events that she had planned for 2020 have been postponed. She is now looking to pivot and bring these same events online so that people can still participate and continue through their healing journeys in this new normal.

As an empath Percil felt, “the collective pain of the Universe. I felt my own pain […] I gave myself permission to grieve what I thought 2020 would have been.” She took the time to do the “emotional flossing” to come into alignment with how she can help others during this uncertain time. Now, Percil is in a place to open up capacity and is doing so by re-opening the virtual Sister Talk Circles, as well as creating capacity for heart-to-heart sessions for women of color.

The work of The WEll-BEING Playbook is just in its infancy. We are at the beginning of a new age. As a digital resource, organizations have no excuse to lay aside the work that needs to be done in providing the resources that BIPOC women need within the workplace. The playbook provides, “culturally relevant practitioners, offerings and spaces where the lived experiences and the unique challenges marginalized people face inside and outside the workplace are prioritized.” Workplace culture is being re-defined, right in front of our eyes. With the WEll-BEING Playbook in play, I am confident that the workplace of the now, will be one that is truly equitable, inclusive and positive for all.

“Entrepreneurs are resilient. Women entrepreneurs are doubly resilient.” This was the line that stuck out to me the most during my recent interview with Sophia Ruffolo, founder of femmebought. femmebought is an online platform, global women’s business directory and education hub connecting women-led businesses to the people who support them, including clients, investors, industry experts, peers and communities. Launched in August 2018, femmebought currently has over 600 members in their directory; more than 10,000 people in their online and offline communities and has educated over 700 entrepreneurs. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic,

So here we go again. I feel like everywhere we turn there’s something about the Coro-

In the news and on social media, all I have been seeing is the damage this virus is causing and theories on how to prevent it and cure it. Let’s talk about what is being done by the government to help Ontarians cope with this pandemic.

On March 16th, 2020, Premier Doug Ford and Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, declared publicly their intentions to introduce legislation that, if passed, would immediately provide job-protected leave to employees in isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19, or those who need to be away from work to care for children be -

Last in, first out: women entrepreneurs are feeling the hit of COVID-19 the hardest

femmebought has been focusing their efforts on finding grants, loans and funding to assist members and female entrepreneurs during this difficult time.

As with many businesses during this trying time, femmebought has been impacted negatively by the effects of COVID-19, nevertheless, they are sticking to their mandate to help and support women entrepreneurs. “I changed my strategy, immediately”, Ruffolo states, “we went from community to support hotline, in some ways.” She strongly believes that, “business isn’t frozen, if we don’t freeze it. We’re freezing it and we don’t have to”. Several entrepreneurs on the platform have converted their in-person businesses into the virtual equivalent. One member who owns a distillery has been creating hand sanitizer and providing it to their Chicago community for free. Another member has taken her fitness classes online, even going a step further to provide online fitness classes for children. “Women entrepreneurs are so resilient. They’re able to convert their business in a matter of minutes and hours, not days and weeks”.

In addition to this, femmebought has released resources for business owners to take their business virtual, without becoming virtual noise. “It’s dark, because, this is just the beginning. […] We’re seeing women entrepreneurs taking a much closer look at their finances”, she goes on to say. A part of the daily resources in which femmebought is providing includes the compilation of a list of Canadian, US and global grants and loans that can be applied to; “we recognize that the Canadian government is offering loans to businesses. We’re waiting for the forms to come out.” Through their research, femmebought has been able to locate several grants and loans coming out for restaurants and those in the hospitality industry, as well as for businesses and those in the performing arts.

Through this effort Ruffolo is noticing a lot of gaps in information regarding what’s out there for female entrepreneurs, “the thing we’re seeing compiling this list is that more and more companies are issuing these grants [and loans], which is amazing, but they haven’t yet had the chance to

COVID-19; How are workers protected?

cause of school or day-care closures.

This legislation may be coming into effect because according to Premier Ford, “While everyone’s concerns about their health and safety is top of mind, the last thing we need is anyone worrying about job security as the COVID-19 situation evolves.” This is the reason why he directed the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development to draft legislation that will protect workers and their families during this difficult period.

Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, Monte McNaughton also said, “Mothers and fathers who need to care for children or dependants shouldn’t have to worry about losing their job”. She also noted, “The same goes for people who receive medical or public health advice and are required to take precautions as a result. They shouldn’t have to worry about losing their job. In this time of uncertainty, we need to support employees who must isolate or quarantine themselves, or who need to care for a loved one.”

This proposed legislation if passed would provide job protection for employees unable to work if:

• The employee is under medical investigation, supervision or treatment for COVID-19.

• The employee is acting in accordance with an order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

• The employee is in isolation or quarantine.

• The employee is acting in accordance with public health information or direction.

• The employer directs the employee not to work.

• The employee needs to provide care to a person for a reason related to COVID-19 such as a school or day-care closure.

The legislation also makes it clear that an employee will not be required to provide a medical note if they take the leave. The measures would be retroactive to January 25th, 2020, the date that the first presumptive COVID-19 case was confirmed in Ontario.

Many workers will be eligible for Employment Insurance sickness benefits. They are reviewing current access and eli-

put the information together for people to be able to apply. So, we’re even looking at grants beyond the COVID-19 relief efforts”. Ruffolo is also speaking with banks, to see what is available for female businesses, along with partners and communities to understand what is needed. Part of Ruffolo’s concern is that the current effort that companies and governments are making, will still leave female businesses out in the cold. Female businesses are the fastest growing number of businesses, as well as being the newest in the entrepreneur ecosystem. As such, more times than not they don’t have the financials to be able to apply for business loans or qualify for relief.

Through all of this, Ruffolo believes that there is a silver lining. She believes that this new normal has the ability to create positive momentum and to make businesses recession-proof. For access to the grants and loan list that femmebought is updating on a daily basis, please feel free to visit the femmebought website at: www.femmebought.com, or connect with femmebought on all social media channels @femmebought.

gibility for emergency assistance which is available through the Ontario Works Program to support individuals who are impacted by the coronavirus and who are not able to meet their basic living expenses.

“The health and well-being of Ontarians continue to be our government’s number one priority,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

“These job protections could also contribute significantly to limiting the spread of COVID-19,” said Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance. “We are giving everyone the tools they need to put their health and the health of others first, without fear of losing their jobs.”

We are in a time where, according to Simone Smith (Chief Reporter, Toronto Caribbean Newspaper) “We can either choose to let panic feed on our mind and body, and let it grow stronger at the expense of our life, or, we can choose to see our situation in perspective, stay positive, and end the panic then and there.”

Stay safe everyone, remember to disinfect surfaces around your work and home, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and when you sneeze, or cough do it into your sleeve!

SALE PRICE

APRIL 1ST - APRIL 14TH

Cancellations of student testing due to virus pandemic

PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Parents, educators and teachers expressed concerns about Ontario students writing their province-wide tests before the global coronavirus outbreak. The standardized tests which are given to elementary students in grades 3 and 6, and high school students in grades 9 and 10, has been estimated to cost about $52 million per

year according to the Ontario Education Workers United. Teachers unions, parents’ groups, and teachers have been calling for its cancellation given the on-going job actions by teachers’ unions.

The government finally made the decision to cancel the testing in an announcement on Tuesday, March 16th after the decision to add two extra weeks after March Break. Schools will remain shut after April 6th in a statement from premier.

In his announcement, Minister of Education Stephen Leece explained; “During the COVID-19 global pandemic students are feeling immense pressure in their academic journey. Given these extraordinary circumstances the government is taking immediate action to continue protecting the health and safety as well as reduce

the burden on students.”

The government stated that they consulted with vital stakeholders before they made that decision. “Over the past few days, the ministry consulted with parents, students, educators and administrators on the future of standardized testing for elementary and secondary. Following our consultation and as part of our plan to protect students and staff all remaining standardized tests for 2019-2020 school year has been cancelled,” Leece expounded.

Many people will be happy. The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is an independent provincial agency of the government of Ontario, which was initiated in 1996, and has been testing since 2002.

According to the EQAO homepage it assesses how well Ontario’s public education system is developing students: reading, writing and math skills. The decline in the Math performance of students has raised concerns over the years, and many see the cancellation as not just saving money but enabling the teachers to spend more time teaching than preparing students for testing.

Leece stated, “I want to be clear; this cancellation will not impede student graduation.” There is no doubt that he will release more details in the coming weeks to placate the fears and concerns of many grade 12 students. This cancellation marked the first time that it has ever occurred. This is undeniably one of the farreaching effects of this pandemic.

Another deadly virus discovered in China

friends posting about the virus on their feed as if was the end of the world. So what exactly is the Hantavirus and should we really be scared for our lives? First things first, the Hantavirus was discovered in1993. It is nothing new and was not created in a lab this year.

The coronavirus outbreak has only just begun, but apparently the world has begun panicking about another deadly virus. This article discusses the issues surrounding misinformation, and why it is important to always check your sources.

I was doing my daily social media check-in and saw that the Hantavirus is now #1 trending on Twitter with people in panic. A few moments after, I saw my

It was truly unfortunate that on the eve of the Ministry of Education’s review of antiblack racism at the Peel District Board of Education (PDSD) that a trustee at the February 25th public meeting called police. This incident shows how fractured the relationship has become between the PDSB and the black community. According to the March 12th edition of the Mississauga News, Vice-Chair David Green reported, “I’m in fear of my life,” and that he felt threatened by parents at the February 25th meeting.

This all started when China’s Global Times tweeted that a man from Yunnan Province died while on his way back to Shandong Province for work on a bus on Monday. The 32 other people on the bus were also tested for the virus, prompting fears of another coronavirus-like global pandemic.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that are spread mainly by rodents and can cause varied diseases in people. It can cause Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and haemorrhagic fever with renal syn -

He stated that, “When somebody tells us they feel unsafe, we have a duty and legal responsibility to respond and to call the police. I can appreciate that (the) presence of the police can feel threatening and I apologize for the negative impact of having them attend.” PDSB’s chair Brad MacDonald apologized at the meeting for summoning Peel Region Police at the February 25th meeting in response to the trustee’s fears about feeling threatened.

At the March 10th public meeting, there was a standing room only as the black community showed up to voice their objections to the treatment of black students. Dr.Tope Adefarakan spoke on behalf of the parents. According to the March 12th, Mississauga News, she stated, “The police being called at the last board meeting is definitely concerning. The trust is quite broken between the Board and the black community.” She noted that the board has been “criminalizing” children by calling the police, and the same thing was repeated when the board calling the police on the parents. In her words, “There you

drome (HFRS). The disease is not airborne and can only spread to people if they come in contact with urine, feces, and saliva of rodents and less frequently by a bite from an infected host.

CDC noted that early symptoms of Hantavirus include fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, along with headaches, dizziness, chills and abdominal problems. If left untreated, it can lead to coughing, shortness of breath and can be fatal, with a mortality rate at about 38%. While the initial symptoms of HFRS are similar to HPS, it can also cause: low blood pressure, acute shock, vascular leakage, and acute kidney failure. HPS can be passed on from person to person, while HFRS transmission between people is extremely rare.

There may also be as many as 150,000 cases of HFRS each year, with more than half occurring in China, whereas the coronavirus has infected 414,661 people

are, dehumanizing the very people that are trying to hold you accountable. We will not be silenced. We will continue to advocate for our children. They are our future and we will not be stopped.” She did not mince wo rds.

As reported by Sumran Dhunna on March 10th on Facebook, the delegation asked clear questions to the trustees:

• “Are you acting in the interests of black students or the police?”

• “Is it Peel District School Board or Police District School Boards?”

These questions were followed by five specific demands that were made:

1. Have a third party produce a report on the violent policing experienced by black students

2. Clearly identify who will be held accountable for perpetrating anti-black police violence in schools

3. Remove school resource officers and reintroduce a motion on this removal

worldwide and killed over 18,552 as of March 24th, 2020.

People are blaming China for this virus outbreak. Some are going so far as to repeat the claim that the coronavirus and now the Hantavirus are the result of lab experiments.

Overall there is no need to overact since the Hantavirus is primarily spread through direct contact with infected rodents, not by human-to-human transmission. Let’s say you are unfortunate enough to come in contact with this virus; you probably wouldn’t be able to pass on the virus by touching another person. The likelihood of Hantavirus adding to the already crazy situation that we are in globally is small, but it is important to know what is happening all over the world. If the Coronavirus has taught us anything, it is to pay attention to world issues and realize that it could always happen to us.

at the next meeting

4. Collect race-based data and make it available to the public

5. An Afro-centric alternative school with a decolonized curriculum should exist in Peel

The culmination of this delegation saw the protestors led by Dr. Tope kneeling on the floor chanting, “Black Students Matter. We will not be silenced. We will not be stopped.”

According to parent advocate Mangaljit Dabb there were several changes that were subtly done by the board such as: removing black Trustee Kathy McDonald from parent involvement committee, calling the police on the black community, reducing the time parents can delegate (or make a presentation) to the board from ten minutes to five, and issuing a trespass letter to Idris Orugha and a letter of warning to parent advocate Kola Iluyomade for supposedly uttering derogatory remarks about schools and trustees in emails.

JONELL PANTLITZ jonell@carib101.com

500+ Canadians stranded in Guyana

ent’s flight changed from March 30th to the 22nd.

This flight was said to have approximately 330 Canadians, but unfortunately, on the morning of Saturday, March 21st, the Guyanese government shut down the country’s two major airports: the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and The Eugene F. Correia International Airport.

The Prime Minister of Canada sent out a warning to all Canadians abroad to return home due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus. This might have seemed like a simple task by the Prime Minister, but it wasn’t or isn’t for a lot of Canadians abroad and in the Caribbean.

Especially for Attorney Dave Deonarain. His parents and family, along with other Canadians are stranded in Guyana. Dave told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper that on Friday, March 20th, he was made aware by checking the High Commission of Canada to Guyana website, that Caribbean Airlines was providing a flight from Georgetown direct to Toronto on Sunday, March 22nd. He paid an additional $500.00 CDN to have his par-

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The Canadian High Commission office in Guyana has not answered the phone since at least Monday, March 16th, 2020, and there is no voicemail. Canadians in Guyana cannot register with the Canadian High Commission to make Global Affairs aware of their presence.

“I have vociferously made my opinions about how awful it is to know that the High Commission of Canada in Guyana has not answered the phone since at least March 14th, 2020, and there is no answering machine. Based on news reports, the same level of disgusting service on the part of the Canadian government’s Foreign Service has also manifested in Peru as well. Though the Canadian government is patting themselves on the back for the flight to Peru, I see no action in the way of saving their Canadian-

Guyanese citizens when they can do so if they put a little bit of effort into it,” Deonarain said.

Guyana is facing a high degree of political confusion due to the recent elections and there are many Canadians who went back to vote. There is said to be a minimum of at least 500+ Canadians stranded in Guyana.

According to Guyana Chronicle on March 16th, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have also brought attention to what they believe was an unwarranted behaviour on the part of Canadian High Commissioner, Lillian Chatterjee. According to Commissioner Trotman, Lillian Chatterjee walked into the meeting unannounced. “Presumably, she came in there to impose her will on the meeting,” Commissioner Desmond Trotman told the media. He added, “She barged into the room as if it is that she was the new ruler of the land.”

Vincent Alexander also said, “I think she was intervening in the announcement being made by the returning officer and she was running in the room telling us what we should do with relation to what was happening outside.”

Is this what the Canadian High Commissioner has placed in Guyana to intervene in the country’s elections? Should this behaviour even be tolerable, by GCOM and more so Canadian-Guyanese?

The attorney’s mother, Mina Deonarain, also shared frustration with Stabroek News on March 26th, at seeking to get in touch with the Canadian High Commission in Guyana. She and her husband, both in there 60s, had travelled to Guyana in January to avoid the bitter Canadian winter. They make such winter trips annually, sometimes staying in Florida.

Toronto has had a large Guyanese diaspora since the 1970s. The Canadian government should not forget about them. Dave explained to Toronto Caribbean Newspaper that, Guyanese-Canadians are hard-working taxpayers that own businesses, so they do not typically rely on welfare, and have been part of the Canadian fabric since the 1960s. “Since PM Pierre Trudeau’s immigration amnesty policy in the 1980s, literally all of the Guyanese-Canadians in my parent’s generation are staunch Liberal supporters and will vote Liberal till they die. This is their time of need. Please do not abandon them.”

Corona media madness; setting limits on your use of social media

it seems to be the only way to connect with friends and family. This does however warrant an examination of how the increased use of these communication methods is affecting us mentally, physically and socially.

A study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that the more time young adults spend on social media, the more likely they are to have problems sleeping and reporting feelings of depression (Hurley, K, 2020, PSYCOM).

On February 28th, 2020, 6.7 million people mentioned the coronavirus on one day (Forbes Magazine, Online). The pervasiveness of social media is now estimated to increase to over 3.02 billion users worldwide by 2021. One can only imagine how these numbers will change in the upcoming weeks due to the lockdown, and quarantine of billions of people across the globe.

Whether it is: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or texting, social media and upgraded digital platforms now make it easier than ever to connect with friends and family. With the current state of affairs,

Unless you live under a rock, there’s no escaping the constant updates of the Coronavirus. At nearly every hour, there are headlines about new cases confirmed or the fatality rates rising. With all of the devastating news happening around the world right now, it’s common to feel anxiety, fear and unhappiness.

Amid all of the darkness though, there are some who choose to be a light.

One of those people is Daniel Jean.

Another study coming from the same school found a correlation between time spent scrolling through social media apps and negative body image feedback. Participants in the study who spent the most time on social media had 2.6 times the risk of having body image concerns (Hurley, K, 2020, PSYCOM).

Young people are the biggest concern. The UCLA Brain Mapping Center found that receiving a high number of likes on photos showed increased activity in the reward centre of the brain, which provides proof to the idea that teens are influenced

to like photos regardless of content, and more so based on the high number of likes (Hurley, K, 2020, PSYCOM).

What does this all mean? It does provide some proof to the fact that social media can cause some serious issues if not managed. Research has shown that it can increase feelings of inadequacy. Social media uses tend to compare themselves to other users. They will try to measure up the ideal lives they see, not realizing that most of what they see is not real.

Have you heard of social anhedonia? It is a type of schizotpy that causes a numbness of feelings. You may not feel happy, and the activities that you would normally enjoy doing (exercise, sex, mediation, reading) may not satisfy you anymore.

There is also a real chance that you could become addicted (if you are not already). Every time you check your phone or social media account, you trigger addiction areas of the brain because your brain is searching for that high. Take a cell phone away from a child, or limit access to the

Internet, and watch the withdrawal symptoms appear almost immediately. You will see them emotionally shutdown, and their ability to focus becomes limited. Another aspect of humanity that you might notice decreasing is the ability to interact with others, and a development of social phobias.

We are all familiar with FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). People actually experience some anxiety because they feel like other people are having fun without them. Depression becomes a real part of your life if you don’t feel smart enough, as interesting, or as successful as other. It is like a doubleedged sword; don’t go on, your missing something. Go on, you feel inadequate. Now, we are not telling you to never go on your social media but practice social media distancing. Set limits to your time on your device. It is time to start recognizing and experiencing the world away from the current digital madness. Protect your mental health and practice moderation.

A New York native of Haitian descent, Daniel Jean is a part of many who will not let the virus be a burden on their mental health. Instead, he uses comedy as an outlet to spread joy and put smiles on faces.

He is an entertainer, influencer and radio host at Shade 45. With nearly 600K followers on Instagram, Jean uses his platform to create original pranks and skits on current trends. He says that within all the seriousness of preventing COVID-19, we should still be promoting laughter.

“The media is stressing us all out with the coronavirus. We’re seeing a lot of negative news. But when you log onto social media, it’s non-stop with the jokes and entertainment. Even though it’s a serious thing, at least it makes the day go by faster.”

Jean recently received viral success through a 10-minute interactive skit uploaded to YouTube. In the skit, men in protective suits jokingly move a cough-

ing man aboard the subway. They believe the man has the virus and begin spraying him with disinfectant while using wipes to clean the train. The skit shows live reactions and amusement of unknowing passengers. Some of the men in suits spray under the passengers’ feet, while another displays a huge rip in the suit’s backside.

“A lot of my videos are over the top, so I wanted to go viral doing something positive,” says Jean.

The skit was an attempt to highlight the recent efforts that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) had been doing to keep the subway systems clean. Along with making people smile, his goal was to utilize a significant organization like MTA to educate people on what’s going on worldwide.

“All of my friends and family have felt terrible recently and rightfully so about the recent Coronavirus scare,” he says. “With all of the grim news going on about

the infection, I wanted to be one of the few and the original to use their platform to not only encourage but to bring joy and laughter to people who are suffering from the aftermath of the effects of the illness.”

Now, where does the wild idea for a group of people to hop on a train in makeshift hazmat suits spraying Lysol come from? Jean says, “a lot of them come off the top of my head. I’ll think of a situation and just do it. Someone may come to me and say, ‘I have a school bus, what can we do with that?’ I’ll think of an idea. ‘What can we do with this hearse? I’ll come up with another idea.”

Among all the cheerfulness, he continues to remind followers that the virus is not something to play with. For those longing to go outside and revert back to normal everyday life, Daniel Jean reminds them: “Please stay home, watch TV, read a book, or watch motivational things. Your safety should come first.”

TUES - WED RICE SPECIALS

Bone/Boneless Chicken, Bone Goat, Boneless Goat, Shrimp, Stew Chicken, Potato & Channa

THURS - FRI RICE SPECIALS

Bone/Boneless Chicken, Bone Goat, Boneless Goat, Shrimp, Stew Chicken, Potato & Channa WEEKDAY SPECIAL Jerk Chicken Rice & Peas or Roti Wrap Available until 3pm

Take on the challenge; virtual CN Tower climb for nature

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Step 1774, step 1775, step 1776; finally, I have made it to the top! Success!

For some, climbing the CN Tower is another check on their bucket list. For others, it is done for charity and it is a great way to get some exercise and give back.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the CN Tower Climb for Nature and

has become the World Wildlife Fund’s most powerful fundraiser. Each year, donations are collected to support the vital conservative work done by WWF. From: protecting caribou calving grounds in the Artic, preventing ship collisions with orcas in the Pacific, to using nature itself to fight the ever-growing climate crisis across the country, each year, people take the time to support this great cause, and put themselves to the test; climbing one of the tallest freestanding structures in the world; The CN Tower.

The CN Tower was completed in 1976, and was built by Canadian National Railways. It took 1,537 workers 40 months to build the tower. The original cost of construction was $63 million. There are a total of 1,776 steps and 144 flights to the top. The CN Tower stands at 553.33 m (1,815 feet, 5 inches). The average climber takes 30 to 40 minutes to

make it to the top. According to the WWF, the fastest climb time is seven minutes and 52 seconds. You thought COVID-19 would stop this event from happening. No way! Although most climbers will be unable to climb the tower this year, support for the wildlife is still needed – now more than ever. So, the CN Tower is closed until at least April 14th, 2020 and as a result, WWF-Canada is transitioning the 2020 CN Tower Climb for Nature to a virtual event that will still take place on April 4th and 5th.

With technology, our virtual reality is limitless. Instead of climbing 1,776 steps up the tower’s 144 flights, they are challenging the community to do a “virtual” CN Tower Climb for Nature. There is more then one way to accomplish this challenge. You can get outdoors and walk 17,760 steps (an equiva-

lent of about 13 km) for wildlife, go up and down the stairs 144 times, or use the stair machine at home.

If you are interested in becoming involved, some training is involved. This will include a mixture of full-body workout sessions at the gym four or five times a week. If this is a usual thing for you, you are ahead of the game. Remember that climbing stairs, and longer than usual walks can work your calf muscles, so give them a good stretch before you start the challenge. To learn more about WWF, visit them at https://www.worldwildlife.org/. On the day of the climb you can use a phone or fitness tracker — and the hashtag #VirtualCNTowerClimb — to show your donors and the community that you have achieved your goals for nature.

High level entertainment during lockdown with Idris Elba

On March 16th, British actor and producer Idris Elba announced on social media that he’d tested positive for COVID-19.

The superstar who is known for the TV series Luther and films like Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, No Good Deed and Beasts of No Nation, now has no choice but to selfisolate. “This morning, I got some test results back for coronavirus, and it came back positive,” he told his Twitter followers. “Yeah, and it sucks.” He added: “I didn’t have any symptoms. I got tested because I realized I was exposed to someone who had also tested positive.”

For someone as active as Idris has been over the past couple of decades, it must be tough staying in one place, even if his abode is as luxurious and as spacious as we’d expect. Thankfully though, his activities have not been restricted to just onscreen appearances. The talented actor has also shown

himself to be a writer (Turn Up Charlie, 2019), producer (Idris Elba: Fighter, 2017) and director (Yardie, 2018).

With this in mind, it’s perhaps more likely than not that he’ll use the time to conceive yet another brilliant initiative with a view to it landing on our cinema or TV screens sometime in the years ahead. For inspiration, he may even take time to don his gown, pop some popcorn, layback and enjoy a few of his previous editions. Likewise, if you’re in a lockdown or self-isolation situation, and are looking for some high-level entertainment to pass the time, nothing beats a good old Idris Elba movie. Here are three movies that I can recommend you watch.

The Take (2016) Richard Madden plays Michael Mason, an adventurous pickpocket with low self-esteem and a day-to-day survival ethos. Idris Elba is Sean Briar, the bad-ass US Cop that doesn’t suffer fools gladly and is ready to dispense his brand of justice where necessary.

In Paris, a terrorist plot to bomb the French Nationalist Party HQ unravels when the planter, Charlotte Le Bon (Zoe), refuses to see it through for fear of actually causing fatalities.

The situation gets complex when Mason steals Zoe’s bag because what the brooding thief doesn’t know is that it contains a bomb.

The bag gets dumped, minus a saleable mobile phone, but as a result of the devastation caused by the inevitable bomb blast, Mason becomes a wanted man.

With a bag of turmoil on the streets of France, prepare yourself for corruption, action and more twists than a can of sauced spaghetti - things are about to get a lot worse before they get better.

Idris is on the case. And he’s angry. Let the mayhem begin.

Legacy - Black Ops (2010)

Scarred both physically and mentally, Malcolm Gray (Idris Elba) is a Black Ops soldier absent without leave and holed up in a dingy motel room in Brooklyn.

Elba plays a man at odds with not just himself, but also with his former wife and former squad members as he tries to piece his life back together and find the peace that the memories from his service days won’t allow him.

Written and directed by Thomas Eromose Ikimi (Limbo, The Home Front) and with cinematography by Jonathan Harvey (Misfits, Far from the Maddening Crowd), Legacy - Black Ops is a gritty, edgy and somewhat gloomy affair turgid with shadow and squalor.

Elba’s portrayal of a character stranded at the edge of sanity, combined with the darkness, gloom and desperation pouring from the visuals makes this one a

must-watch movie, especially for die-hard Elba fans.

The Losers (2010)

Turning a great comic book into a great movie takes some skill. Many have tried and many have failed. I won’t mention any titles this time around. Thankfully, courtesy of its entertaining script, some smooth editing, and some joyously larger than life characters brought to life by a great cast, what we have in The Losers is a colourful, charismatic cinematic bonanza.

In this film, Elba plays Roque, a member of a CIA Special Forces team that is betrayed and left for dead. Their aim is retribution, and to achieve this, they need to take on the CIA.

By Elba’s side are Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen, Rampage) as Clay, Chris Evans (The Avengers, Captain America: The First Avenger) as Jensen, Columbus Short (Stomp The Yard, Whiteout) as Pooch, Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Star Trek) as Aisha and Oscar Jaenada (Caninflas) as Cougar. You can’t take this movie too seriously. Remember, it began as a comic book for crying out loud. But if you enjoy glossy, high-octane entertainment, and snappy tongue-in-cheek exchanges between some of Hollywood’s finest actors, this is a movie you’re likely to enjoy.

“the underutilized tool” in the pursuit of economic freedom, Part II

another growing field; aquaculture.

Horticulture:

“ In the last edition, we had a chance to explore the many avenues for people to explore in the agricultural sector, and the great returns that they can receive on their investment into agriculture. We discussed the options that include: organic farming, horticulture, aquaculture, conventional farming, bee keeping/farming, supplying farm tools and equipment, provision of services such as agricultural techniques consultation, farm labor, cold storage and transportation. We were able to delve into organic farming in Jamaica, and briefly touched on horticulture. This edition we will finish our discussion on horticulture, and take a look at

In 2017 when I was in Tanzania, an Ethiopian family invited me to a traditional Ethiopian dinner. The food was great, however, one pleasant surprise that stood out for me, was receiving a wonderful beverage that tasted somewhat familiar. It tasted like the sorrel drink I was accustomed to drinking in Jamaica. When I asked if it was, I was told that it was actually hibiscus; I later learned why the two tasted so closely alike.

Sorrel is a species of the hibiscus plant, which is native to West Africa. This plant, over the years, has been a popular plant among Jamaican farmers and is known for having medicinal and nutritional value. However, it is relative that we know that the “ornamental” hibiscus can be used for the very same purposes. I was told by my Ethiopian friend that it is quite popular in Belgium and was surprised to learn that it is sold for a ‘pretty penny’ there. He was equally surprised when I told him that one of its most common uses in Jamaica was to create perimeter fencing

between neighboring properties. My great grandmother used the hibiscus plant to separate the clothes drying area from the rest of the yard. It’s time to look at this plant and other ornamental plants more seriously.

Aquaculture:

This area of farming is usually understood as raising fish for the purpose of consuming them as food but there is also the area of ornamental fish farming.

In Jamaica, ornamental fish are mainly sold locally through pet shops and pet fish vendors on the street. The value of the total ornamental fish produced and sold locally is to the tune of $15 million, and there is room for more people to become stakeholders in this industry. This value represents 90% of Jamaica’s total production and the remaining 10% is being exported to other countries, primarily the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom. It is important to note that Jamaica has the potential to increase the export market to over US$10 million over the next four years.

These are just a few examples of how agriculture can be used to build Jamaica,

create more jobs, increase our Gross Domestic Product (G.D.P), and address the issues of pauperism and to a degree crime, (which in many ways is systemic of the poor economic conditions to be found in many places in Jamaica).

As a nation, we must move from the foolish notion that, “If yuh use cutliss yuh agguh wutliss”; meaning, “If you use a cutlass (machete) as the tool or means of earning your living, you are going to become worthless.” The idea is common in Jamaica that if one pursues a career in agriculture, they are destined to a life of economic distress, but that is so far from the truth. When agriculture is approached properly it can actually create wealth not only for the immediate farmers, but also for the nation as a whole.

Thomas Jefferson, former President of the United States of America stated, “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.” When I consider these words, I must conclude, “This man was on to something, he was right on the money here.“

poetic word the

BY GLORIA O’KOYE

*Intro*

Dreams Dreams

They say We’re just dreaming...

They say Dreams Dreams They told us Our dreams meant nothing.

Dreams may not get recognition, When it is first planted as a seed.

Sturdy is the roots, Future growth Is closer than what it seems.

Storms and pests Will consume what it can, Or what the Gardener Allows.

Harvest shall be plentiful, When problems are treated Head on.

Some crops may wither, But more will continue to sprout.

A kernel produces fields, Eventually Feeding a sea of mouths.

Like icebergs The surface doesn’t reveal, What’s underneath Where it counts.

Like a game of poker, Every progress Shouldn’t be shown All at once,

Surprises Are jack-in-theboxes, Dreams are special treats And Privileges.

Carefully choosing team players, Some will build or crumble Empires Before completing its creation.

Dreams are blue prints

To immeasurable infrastructures... Many will fear, Only reason to continue pushing

Failures are bless ings in disguise... Discouragements Are like storms, Temporary set backs When there’s a glorious rainbow in sight.

Dreams built civili zations

Alongside river banks, Look how far dreams Taken us From the jump...

*Outro* Dreams Dreams

Kitchen King; serving authentic Jamaican Cuisine since 2012

REPORTER

What do you think makes a successful restaurant?

Our dreams are Royal And Mean Everything! Believe in your dreams And take the steps to accomplish them.

Be patience and you will eventually see its fruition.

some of KK’s delectable offerings, I had to ask Michael some questions.

What makes Kitchen King’s food unique?

“The food is cooked fresh daily and we cook in small batches. That way we control our flavours and serve good quality. He further explains that for him it’s always quality over quantity.”

What’s your number one seller on the menu?

“The jerk chicken without a doubt” he quickly answered and smiled. “8 of 10 customers order the jerk chicken, then oxtail would be the second favourite.”

What makes Kitchen King Jerk chicken different?

“The seasoning and preparation are key. Our chicken is marinated in homemade spices and slow cooked on a Jerk pan all year round over coals and cooked to perfection.”

Kitchen work is not for the faint of heart, even more so managing and cooking at the same time. I had to ask Michael what keeps him going? He explained that the customers keep him going but most of all his passion for authentic Jamaican food and his aim to leave a legacy and to pave the way for others that they too can have a dream and know that it can be a reality.

“To be successful in the restaurant business you have to listen to your customers, be willing to adapt, stick to crowd favourites, be willing to take feedback, be open to changes but always stay grounded. The location is a bonus, but food has to be good because the food speaks for the business.”

What’s your advice to anyone who wants to open a restaurant?

“Be ready to work hard, make sacrifices and don’t expect to be rich. There is profit but it comes with hard work and time. Focus on what matters, get involved, be consistent and not greedy.”

I had the opportunity to try their curried goat, braised oxtail, red peas and even took a jerk chicken for the road. The food is authentic and flavorful. Michael let us in on a little secret that Kitchen King is also a must-stop for most celebrities that comes to Toronto. They have cooked and catered for some of the top names in the game.

What’s also unique about Kitchen King, Michael added is that you can also catch some of Jamaica’s traditional food, such as tun cornmeal, stew peas with corned pork or beef. They also offer teamed fish to order along with Jerk pork fresh off the grill.

So, the next time you want a taste of Jamaica and you are in the Scarborough area remember Kitchen King is the place for authentic Jamaican food. You can catch daily lunch specials from 12 pm - 3 pm Monday - Friday for $5.99 You can also find them on ubereats.ca.

They have a great atmosphere, food, and staff. They have a lot of options on their menu for you to choose from. You can’t go wrong.

How to identify a car with high resale value: 4 considerations An introduction to adaptive cruise control

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle and are concerned with its future resale price, here are four things you’ll want to pay close attention to.

1. MODEL

Popular car models are a safe bet. There will always be buyers for Honda Civics, Toyota Corollas, Ford F-150s and other triedand-true models. Discontinued vehicles, on the other hand, are far less in demand.

2. COLOUR

Unless you’re getting a high-end sports car, you should avoid bright paint colours like red or yellow. Most people prefer black, white, silver or grey cars, and you restrict the pool of interested buyers by choosing an unconventional hue.

3. FEATURES

A car equipped with a navigation system, a backup camera, adaptive cruise control and other modern accessories will be easier to sell than one with only standard features. You can expect these extras to be available in an increasing number of vehicles in the years to come and therefore in ever greater demand among car buyers.

4. EXTENDED WARRANTY

Getting an extended warranty on your new car may pay off. In addition to covering the cost of certain repairs when the manufacturer’s warranty expires, it’s also a selling point for potential buyers, as it makes your car a safer investment. After all, used car buyers tend to worry about purchasing a secondhand vehicle only to discover undisclosed issues down the line. Since car warranties are based on the vehicle identification number (VIN), they’re valid for the full term, regardless of ownership.

Thinking ahead and making smart choices when shopping for a car is important. However, it’s equally crucial that you take proper care of your vehicle after you buy it. Stick to the recommended maintenance schedule, and deal with problems right away, before they get worse. Also, be sure to hold onto all your receipts, as you can use them as proof that you took proper care of your car.

You’re probably familiar with the cruise control function featured in most cars, but are you acquainted with the ins and outs of adaptive cruise control? Here’s what you should know.

WHAT’S ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL?

Adaptive cruise control allows you to both maintain a fixed speed and sustain a set distance from the car ahead of you. Depending on the car model, a laser or radar calculates the distance and speed of the vehicle you’re following. This enables it to automatically adjust its pace if the car in front of you slows down or another driver cuts you off. Some systems will even slow you down to a full stop if necessary.

Your vehicle will accelerate to the programmed speed again when it’s safe to do so, like when the vehicle in front of you picks up speed or switches lanes. As is the case with traditional cruise control, you can manually accelerate and brake at any time.

A FEW PRECAUTIONS

There are several things to be mindful of if you’re using adaptive cruise control.

• The system’s range can vary from model to model, and some will only function at speeds above 30 kilometres per hour.

• The laser detection feature may not function properly in bad weather or when the car ahead of you is very dirty and doesn’t reflect light adequately.

• The system may not be able to detect a stopped vehicle.

• This tool doesn’t in any way exempt you from paying attention to the road. Notably, you need to engage the brake if the car in front of you suddenly stops.

Adaptive cruise control can be a useful feature, but you need to have a thorough understanding of how it works. Only use it once you’ve familiarized yourself with the relevant information in your owner’s manual.

Chipped windshields: repair or replace?

If your windshield gets chipped, it’s important to fix it right away. Chips and cracks rarely stay small and can compromise the strength of your windshield, thereby limiting the protection provided in the event of an accident. Besides, if you deal with the problem promptly, you can often forgo a replacement in favour of a repair. Here’s what you should know.

WHEN IS REPAIR POSSIBLE?

A professional can usually repair a chipped windshield if the following five conditions are met:

1. The chip’s no larger than a loonie.

2. There’s at least a 4-centimetre gap between the point of impact and the edge of the windshield.

3. The chip isn’t within the driver’s field of vision.

4. There are no more than two or three chips to repair.

5. Only the outer layer of glass is damaged.

If these five conditions don’t apply, then chances

are you’ll need to replace your windshield. And you’ll want to have this done as soon as possible, as it’s a matter of your safety.

DID YOU KNOW?

Depending on the specifics of your insurance plan, you may be reimbursed for the costs of your windshield repair. Moreover, the repair shouldn’t affect your premiums or insurance record. Check with your provider to be sure.

NICHOLAS “FOX” FARRELL

Beaten down, but not defeated!

One police got on top of him and stepped on his spine. He pulled him backwards (later on he found out that it cracked his L5). He choked him while another Police Officer was still masing him. One officer grabbed one arm and put it behind his back. Another one grabbed his other arm. They still weren’t done. One grabbed his leg. Then they took his knee and broke it.

I sat there listening in shock. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. In front of me was Nickolos “Fox” Farrell, International boxer, Canadian Junior Middleweight Champion, and Olympic Qualifier. As he told me his story, I saw the quiet, subdued man who had entered my office, come to life. His compelling story played out in front of me, and demonstrated heart, character, and determination. His story, although sad, describes the life of a champion, someone who will not give up, even when others think he is out.

Hailing both from Jamaica and Trinidad, Fox grew up boxing. At the age of nine years old, he was already winning championships. His earliest memories come from his first gym Cabbagetown Boxing Club, “There were a lot of champions there that were just in their element. When you’re in the presence of champions, if you want to become then you can become.” One of his favourite memories is when Sugar Ray Leonard came to Cabbagetown and gave him personal lessons. He was only 11 at the time “The greatness of Sugar Ray and he’s talking to me? He saw something in me. The movement. My hand speed; I was very sharp.”

Fox praised his father for helping him achieve such greatness at such a young age. “He understood hard work and what it took. You know, I couldn’t get mad over Michael Jackson’s father being hard on him, because mine was like that too. Waking up in the morning, taking the train. Running down one soccer field to the next, doing that 8-10 times. Then going to school, going to the gym and staying focused. There were times when I wanted to go out and play other sports. I had friends knocking on the door asking for me to come out and play. ‘Oh no, he’s training right now,’ my dad would tell them. I understand why he was so focused on me. When I was in the ring, you saw all that focus.”

Fox’s life went from 0-100 at a very young age. By the age of 20, he had captured the Canadian Junior Middleweight champion-

ship, and a string of Ontario titles, just before qualifying for the Olympics. Days before his Olympic fight, he even had a sit down lunch with then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. His stardom allowed him to meet legends Shaquille O’Neal, and he was honoured when Bob Marley’s children, recognized him and asked him to join them at one of their concerts. The stage was set for Fox’s reign, but life had something else in store for him.

Fox began to feel ill the night of the concert, which happened to be right before his fight. He wanted to tell his coach, but he knew doing that would put a halt to his Olympic dream. He couldn’t take aspirin or any medication because if it were found in his system, he would be disqualified. “I told myself that I must be nervous, but I don’t get nervous. I love to hear the people! I didn’t know before my fight that I contracted mononucleosis. I didn’t kiss anybody, how did I catch it? I didn’t drink from anybody.”

Fox went on to fight but lost. He remembers his coaches yelling at him. He was not himself, and he still had not told anyone he was sick. His emotions ran high, and at his press conference they spilled out on national television. “So Nick, how was your fight?” A reporter questioned. Fox responded, “You know, some fights can make you or break you, but it seems like this fight kind of broke me.” “I said it in a cracked voice because I really didn’t know how to answer that. I wanted to tell him that something was wrong with me, but if I said something, they were going to think it was an excuse. I wish I’d said something then, because the doctor would have checked me and told the whole world that Nick Farrell had mono and he still fought a champion.

Devastated Fox, returned home, got better, and started training again. He began looking for sponsors, but this was difficult for him at the time. “I’m a Canadian champion and I’m looking for sponsors. I can’t find anyone to sponsor a black champion, a Rasta champion.” In order to continue to live his dream, he found himself a full time job, and was also hustling VHS videos on the side. It was during one of his VHS sales that his life changed forever.

On September 4th, 1999, Fox and his brother met a friend at Jackson Square in Hamilton who wanted one of the videos he was selling. While there, an incident began when Police Officers who approached Fox and

his friend. According to Fox, the three were profiled right away, and back up was called. The Police Officer began to beat Fox’s friend, and although Fox’s brother wanted to leave, Fox did not feel right leaving his friend who was being beaten severely. Eventually, they had to leave, so they went to a store to buy some blank tapes. When they came out, about 20 Officers surrounded the store.

The story moves quickly here, and he shares the horrific details of the severe beating that he and his brother received at the hands of Hamilton Police. They were both mased, kicked, thrown to the ground, punched, sexually abused, choked. “People thought it was a movie,” Fox told me. They charged Fox and his brother for assaulting a police officer and fined $5,000 in damages. It took four years and almost 20 times to get remanded. “They wanted my brother and I to plead guilty, and then when I tried to sue them, they said my limitations ran out. But they put limitations on my body. It took me a long time to get myself back up. I had to find a way in myself to want to be alive. It was like learning how to walk again as a baby.”

Fox never did get back to where he wanted to. His body had taken such a severe beating, that he was not able to fight anymore. So, he decided that he was going to find a way to give back to the community that had supported him. Fox began to teach kids and teens how to box and stand up to bullies. His gym Hadaway Youth Boxing located at 747 Barton St, hosts three classes a week where students between four and eighteen-yearsold learn self defence that builds their confidence, and helps them learn anti-bullying strategies to avoid conflict. His work was honoured when he received the John C. Holland Award for his coaching and mentoring of black at-risk youth.

“It took me a long time to get myself back up but now, my motivation is to help our youth.”

Written

by Dave Rankin Toronto Caribbean News

Photo: Reena Rampersad

COMFORT CANNED FOOD RECIPES Esential Eats

NOEL

CUNNINGHAM

noel@carib101.com

CULINARY EXPERT

As the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak moves its way around sending everyone into self-isolation and self-quarantine forcing most non-essentials workers and students to stay home we are all going through different moods and phases as we all face the pandemic together. As the news and virus starts to spread, everyone goes out and panic buys all the groceries they think they will need to last them for at least 14 days. We all know food is life, food is medicine but one of the best things about food in this time, is that it brings comfort. During this time, I recommend cooking all your favorite foods that you love and enjoy preparing. This will ease your mind of what’s happening in the world. I’m sure we all purchased extra canned food and are now wondering what we can create with these. This week I’m sharing with you two recipes that use all pantry basic ingredients that you can easily make in the comfort of your own home. From a twist on a classic shepherd’s pie to a sausage pasta. Make sure to add these recipes to your meal plan rotation even the kids will enjoy these meals.

Corned Beef Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients

• 1 tin corned beef

• Ketchup

• 2 spring onions, finely chopped

• 1 medium tomato, diced

• 1 stalk scallion

• Salt and pepper

• 1/4 cup water or beef stock

• 1 lb. Irish potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes

• 1 tin corn

• 1/2 cup milk

Directions

1. Set the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large pot of boiling water cook pota toes until tender. Drain, then mash with butter, milk, salt and pepper until creamy.

2. In a heated frying pan sauté onion and tomato then add corned beef, season with salt, pepper and add ketchup. Stir to combine then add water or stock to loosen up.

3. In a baking dish add corned beef mixture, then add corn and top with mashed potato. Bake 15 to 20 minutes until golden.

Farfalle Pasta with Vienna Sausage Ingredients

• 1 pack farfalle pasta or pasta of choice

• 2 tins Vienna sausage, sliced

• Oil for frying

• Salt and pepper

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 cups tomato sauce

• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes

• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a frying pan fry the sausages until crispy, then add onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir to combine, then add tomato sauce and cooked pasta, add crushed pepper flakes and stir to combine. Serve while it’s hot; top with cheese and garlic toast to take it up a notch and for more flavour and enjoy.

FIRST TIME HOME

ashtoncollege.ca

3

key

nutrients to monitor when switching to a plant-based diet

Going vegetarian or vegan means you’ll need to review and adjust your eating habits. In particular, you’ll need to secure alternative sources of protein, iron and zinc. Here’s how.

PROTEIN

The proteins we consume act as basic building blocks in our bodies, allowing us to build and repair tissue and to make hormones, enzymes and other important chemicals. While meat is a great source, vegetarians can get their fill by consuming dairy or eggs. Vegans can get theirs from nuts, pulses and soy products such as tofu, tempeh and textured vegetable protein (TVP).

IRON

Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin, which uses iron to bind oxygen molecules and deliver them to cells throughout our bodies. We don’t produce iron, so we have to get it from food. While iron is present in plants, it’s about twice as hard to assimilate than the iron contained in meat, which is why we need to eat more plants to get the same amount of iron.

Good sources of iron include dark green vegetables like spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale as well as quinoa, pulses and tofu. In addition, eating fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C can help us absorb iron.

ZINC

Our immune system needs zinc to function properly, but it’s hard to get it from non-animal sources. Nuts, whole grains, pulses and wheat germ are good sources of zinc. However, much like iron, the zinc in plant matter is harder to assimilate, so you’ll need to eat more of the foods it’s found in.

Reducing or eliminating your meat consumption is likely to improve your health, especially if you adjust your overall diet to avoid deficiencies. However, it’s a good idea to consult a healthcare professional for advice.

In addition to protein, iron and zinc, vegans and vegetarians should also keep an eye on their intake of vitamin B12, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and iodine.

How adopting a plant-based diet could save you money

Did you know that adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet could save you money? Here’s why plant-based meals are more affordable.

CHEAPER PROTEIN

The vast majority of plant-based proteins like beans, lentils, peas and tofu are cheaper than the lean animal proteins recommended by public health agencies, including fish and chicken. In addition, dehydrated textured vegetable protein (TVP), which is often used as a replacement for ground beef, is cheaper and can be safely stored for months at a time.

AFFORDABLE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

While the importance of eating a lot of fruits and vegetables is well understood and central to most nutritional guidelines, there’s a persistent misconception that they cost a fortune. This is likely because out-of-season fruits and vegetables need to travel long distances, thereby inflating their sale price.

In practice, it’s possible to eat lots of fruits and vegetables on a budget. In-season produce is often affordable, especially when locally sourced. Frozen fruits are also typically less expensive than their fresh counterparts and they aren’t any less healthy, although you should privilege those with no added sugar. Finally, remember that you don’t need to use the freshest vegetables to make soup.

Adding a few vegetarian or vegan meals to your weekly meal plan will allow you to save money and may even convince you to make a permanent switch to a plant-based diet.

Benefiting from a plant-based diet

Are plant-based diets bad for athletes?

There’s a widespread belief that adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet will impede an athlete’s endurance and strength. However, this is simply not true. In fact, all the nutrients an athlete needs to perform at their best can be obtained from a plant-based diet. Here’s how to do it.

CARBOHYDRATES

Everyone needs carbohydrates, but athletes rely on them more than most people. This is because carbs are easily converted into glucose and thus, into energy.

As it happens, most carbohydrates we eat come from plantbased foods. Whole grain breads and pastas are a very good source of carbs, as are beans, rice, oats and fruits.

PROTEIN

Athletes need protein to help their body repair muscle and to optimize the formation of glycogen, a complex molecule used in long-term storage of glucose. Many of the carbohydrate sources listed above are also good sources of protein, as are eggs, dairy and various forms of soy, including tofu and textured vegetable protein.

MICRONUTRIENTS

Zinc, iron, calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12 can sometimes be difficult to obtain in sufficient amounts without consuming animal-based foods.

While lentils, pulses, tofu and cashews are great sources of iron and zinc, their high fibre and phytic acid content makes these minerals harder to absorb. Fortunately, this is easily resolved by consuming foods rich in vitamin C, which helps with absorption.

Calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12 are easily obtained from fortified almond or soy milk. Okra, bok choy and kale will also provide a

lot of calcium, while mushrooms such as maitakes and Portobello are rich in vitamin D.

Finally, supplements are your best bet for iodine.

THE BOTTOM LINE

As long as athletes eat a varied diet that meets their nutritional needs, they can perform optimally without eating meat or animal by-products.

Discovering textured vegetable protein

As more people eliminate meat and animal products from their diet, the food industry is adapting by offering an increasing number of plant-based products. Textured vegetable protein (TVP) is one such innovation, and here’s why it’s gaining in popularity.

IT CAN REPLACE GROUND MEAT

Rehydrated TVP has a texture that’s remarkably similar to that of ground beef. This makes it a popular choice for things like spaghetti sauce, shepherd’s pie, hamburgers and tacos. As a bonus, it’s cheaper than ground beef.

IT’S DRY AND EASY TO STORE

In addition to being affordable, TVP keeps for a very long time in its dried form. It’ll stay fresh for as long as six to nine months at room temperature and for even longer if frozen or refrigerated. Note, however, that it’ll only keep for three days in the refrigerator once rehydrated.

IT’S EASY TO COOK WITH

Preparing TVP is as easy as adding an equal amount of hot liquid, such as water or broth. If using it in a dish that contains liquid, you can simply incorporate the TVP in the sauce or stock. It’s a highly versatile ingredient that absorbs seasonings well, so it can be used in a variety of cuisine styles. It can also be used as a way to boost the nutritional value of any dish.

IT’S RICH IN NUTRIENTS

TVP contains almost twice as much protein as ground meat. It’s also rich in dietary fibre, iron and calcium. Even better, it’s low in both fat and sodium. Its calorie content is effectively the same as ground beef, meaning it provides just as much energy at a fraction of the cost and fat content.

TVP is easy to find in bulk stores, grocery stores and natural food stores. It offers a convenient alternative to meat and could be especially useful when transitioning to a plantbased diet.

textured soy protein, soy meat or soy chunks.

TVP is made from soy and sometimes referred to as

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COVID-19 crisis provides an opportunity to adopt a healthy lifestyle

hectic working days do we take our bodies for granted? Lack of time often comes at the expense of shedding proper sleep, proper nutrition or proper exercise from our lives. So, get in the habit now, build a framework to your day that includes these foundations of health and wellness.

cooking as a family. We have time to do some fresh juicing and preparing fresh stews and soups. We have time to enjoy our meals as a family and get in the habit of healthy and enjoyable eating. It is also a great time to get in a regular routine of adopting a healthy vitamin and supplement routine.

Unsettling times are causing unprecedented stress in our life, leaving us feeling helpless and distraught. We are social beings and socially being isolated is harming our spirit. The uncertainty of the situation, financial burdens, lack of routine are leading to anxiety and depression. In a self-sabotaging manner, we are chronically glued to the TV and the doom and gloom being broadcast is drowning us deeper into fear and despair.

So, what can we do to bring some control back to the situation? What can we do to raise our body, mind and spirit to a healthier state of well-being?

Before us lies a great opportunity to set a mindset and routine that we can carry over into our regular “normal” lives. We have time to learn and adopt positive lifestyle changes that will bode

1. Sleep: It is important to sleep 7-9 hours per night. But the ideal amount is different for each person and depends on various factors like age, level of activity, stress levels and health status. Nevertheless, our brains love routine and our internal biological clocks follow a circadian rhythm closely tied to the 24-hour cycle in nature. For that reason, you should really try to get to bed at around the same time every night and wake up at about the same time every morning. (Yes, even on weekends.)

2. Nutrition: When we are constantly on the run getting kids to school, rushing to work, eating quick lunches, and throwing together dinner between picking up kids and dropping them off to extracurricular activities, our diet is often deficient of essential nutrients we need to stay healthy. We now have time to learn new healthy recipes and experiment with our

3. Exercise: Regular exercise has been shown to significantly improve your health. Its greatest benefits include helping you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, maintain muscle mass and reduce your risk of chronic disease. Additionally, research has shown that exercise can lift your mood, boost your mental health, help you sleep better and even enhance your sex life.

And that’s not all, it can also help you maintain good energy levels. In short, exercise is powerful and can change your life.

Another key component of exercise success is to stick to your routine. It seems to be easier for people to maintain an exercise routine in the long term if they make it a habit and do it regularly.

more, making a schedule or exercising at the same time every day are good ways to sustain your routine and make it last. For example, you can make exercise a habit by planning to work out right after work every day.

You don’t need to be a high-performance athlete or used to working out for hours to start exercising today. The American College of Sports Medicine’s current recommendations for physical activity include at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week. These 150 minutes can be configured any way you want. For example, you can do a 30-minute workout five times a week or a 35 to 40-minute workout every other day. However, recent studies have shown that packing this minimum requirement into one or two training sessions per week can be as beneficial as spreading the sessions throughout the week

A review of studies concluded that replacing an unhealthy behavior with a new healthy habit is a great approach to maintaining it in the long term. Further-

Overall, it’s important to start slowly and increase the intensity as you build your fitness level up. Lastly, even though a daily amount of physical activity is needed for good health, allowing your body to rest is important too. So, use this time as an opportunity for positive change. We will talk about implemented lifestyle changes for mind and spirit next time. Wishing you all a healthy and safe week ahead!

Black History Month (BHM) 2020

Part 3 of 3 is a continuation through suggestions 9, 10, 11, and 12. The final 3 suggestions, 13, 14, and 15, will appear in a forthcoming summary article. The 15 suggestions represent thoughts, observations, and experiential knowledge since the inception of BHM 25 years ago (19952020). Some readers might query the broad scope, though brief, of each suggestion in the context of what they may consider as local challenges of the black community.

The aim is to propose permanent macro-level ("root cause") solution perspectives to begin new high-level dialogues regarding black empowerment over the next 30 years (2020-2050). Observably, the three most populous countries that blacks have adopted (postenslavement) and have become citizens of - are the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. These countries wrote their constitutions in 1258, 1787, and 1867 respectively. Unfortunately, black people did not have status as human beings during these periods of subjugation, exclusion, and isolation by these nations.

Suggestion Number 9. A Constitutional Perspective: Over the centuries,

these nations have penned constitutional amendments, rights, and acts to include black and aboriginal voices into the political process. Yet, inequities abound in the twenty-first century. Scholars and fellows could revisit these constitutions to seek opportunities to address language that is contrary to the sovereign rights of human beings, and "egalitarian societies." Constitutional amendments may not necessarily change the ideological intent of the original word, consistent with a twenty-first century understanding of humanity.

The human family is the integral building block of society with the needs of the child at the nucleus. This "spiritual doctrine" should be a "constitutional doctrine" of the first order. Paradoxically, children are born "unequal" in traits, and social and economic standing of their parents. Privileged children are born into generational wealth and advantage. The assumption of "born equal" in any aspect than the "spiritual" gives rise to "moral alibis" that inadvertently justify inequities. The statistical probability of being born or born healthy portrays the life of some troubled youths who are the children of disfranchised families.

Suggestion Number 10. A Legal Perspective: Laws are a predicate of a nations' constitution. Can a just law be other than that which squares with the moral law or the law of God? A just law "improves" the state of humanity. Conversely, an unjust law "worsens" the plight of humanity - author of Just Mercy - A Story of Justice and Redemption. Copyright © 2014 by Bryan Stevenson, founder and ex-

ecutive director of the "Equal Justice Initiative," says, "The opposite of poverty is not wealth. In too many places, the opposite of poverty is justice."

Conspicuously, minority communities tend to focus principally on criminal justice laws and policing as their topmost concern. This faculty of legal scholars and fellows could also examine how the execution of the composite of complex human laws influence human lives, in particular, the lives of blacks and indigenous people. Only self-governing (autonomous) legal clinics could help to establish the essential legal building blocks to tackle other inequities such as endemic in healthcare, housing, and financing lending.

Suggestion Number 11. A Theological and Technological Perspective: The assumption of separation of Church and State is an enigma as both bodies attempt to order human life (a house with two masters). Can the clergy or the political leaders manage God's creation and His created beings without a "Theological" (Spiritual) and "Technological" (Physical) perspective of the universal needs of humankind? The constitution of nations ought to have explicit language that acknowledges this highest order of leadership, lest the rule of countries degrades into a state of constitutional instability.

Political leaders face insurmountable challenges to manage countries that are becoming increasingly diverse. Paradoxically, the clergy pontificates that God appoints leaders. Herein lies an opportunity to include this great appointment and accountability to constitutional steward-

ship. This new leadership approach will help to create a "moral" and "philosophical" framework to deal better with the challenges of the postmodern era of great cultural diversity.

Suggestion Number 12. A Black Entrepreneurial Perspective: Black entrepreneurs can be a formidable frontier for creating black wealth and empowerment. The challenge, though, is to develop a "blueprint" to bolster the requisite level of professionalism and "business intelligence" to penetrate markets in other minority and mainstream communities. Black entrepreneurs are missing an "economic boon" by not having access to these untapped marketplaces. Similarly, significant business opportunity losses are occurring within the native black community.

This faculty should create a "think tank" of multi-disciplinary black professionals as an agency to collaborate in a public-private partnership. Likewise, to pen a governance infrastructure and standards to heighten the capacity for the administration of black businesses. The new model should incorporate "Ten Knowledge Areas of Black Business Administration," as a basis for professional certification. A college and university network with a strong focus on Project and Business Management Analysis could pilot an accreditation program that could ultimately extend through the Diaspora, the Caribbean, and Continental Africa.

The last 3 suggestions, 13, 14, and 15, will appear in a forthcoming summary article.

Brian

bwatson@unisonins.com

Silly Nomads book review series

BY MAKAYLA B.

11 YEARS OLD

TC JUNIOR CONTRIBUTOR

So, in a time like this with this COVID-19 threat, everyone really needs a pickerupper; something to make them laugh. Something to change everyone’s mood, from sad, sombre, miserable, disheartened, gloomy, glum, lugubrious, moody and blue, to happy, joyful, merry, cheerful, delighted, ecstatic, heart-warming, cheery, blissful and boisterous!

There are quite a few books that can do that, but one of them is the series: Silly Nomads expertly written by the marvellous M. E. Mohalland and skilfully illustrated by Kate Santee.

This amazing story has been weaved, trapping the reader, like a bug in a spider’s web. This story is about two boys who always find something to do. The brothers have untamed imaginations and are able to take charge and create their own fun. They definitely understand that you are responsible for your happiness.

The entrancing story takes place in Palmerston Close, Jamaica. It starts off when brothers, Suhcrom and Nadih, who watch a documentary about Nomads, sparking that wild-fire of an imagination and giving them the idea to be Nomads the next day, and that’s what they did.

The brothers spend many days enjoying their time together and being Nomads, until something happens, suddenly causing the brothers imagination trains to change course and head in an entirely different direction.

In the next few editions, I will go into detail about my favourite parts of the book, and why this is probably the best book for young people to read while they are quarantined. Look forward to sharing.

A better decade for Simone Jennifer Smith:

reliving my past traumas, Part IV

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

“Sometimes in life, a sudden situation, a moment in time, alters your whole life, forever changes the road ahead.” - Ahmad Ardalan, Baghdad: The Final Gathering

I have never liked connecting flights. I find them tedious and annoying. You have to get off your flight, and sometimes sit around an airport for hours waiting for the next flight. Our flight to Costa Rica was a straight flight, but for some reason, we were unable to book a flight straight back to Canada.

Hey! Are you just joining me? This might be a good time to go back and read the last couple of articles in this series. It will make sense as to why I am talking about connecting flights. I don’t want to lose you. If you are a new reader, it is all about context, especially with my story.

Okay! Where was I yes! We were on our way back from Costa Rica, and I had

a connecting flight in Panama. Before we boarded the plane, we had stopped into the Duty Free to pick up some liquor and small souvenirs. Peter (my boyfriend at the time) spoiled me quite a bit. That day I wanted perfume, and Juicy Couture was one of my favourites. “Can I get this please?” Duty Free had a sale on Juicy, and I knew that whatever I asked for I would get. “Sure! Why not? I know you like it so go ahead.” Peter smiled at me. He enjoyed spoiling me because he always said that he liked seeing me smile. We picked up our purchases and boarded the plane. It was about an hour flight to Panama. So, we strapped in and chatted about our plans for our return to Toronto. Peter was starting a new job, so he was excited to get back and jump into his role. I had just started my business, and it was doing very well. We knew we had work to do once we got back, and we were ready to get going.

It didn’t seem to long after our take off that the Captain announced that we were going to be landing soon. When I look back at it now, it all seemed normal. I had no idea that everything was about to change for me, and this change would set the course of my life.

Once the plane landed, we grabbed our hand luggage, and exited using the tarmac. We were told to have our passports out

so that the Panamanian authorities could check our information. As we neared the door, I noticed that the authorities were already there to greet us. The one thing that I found odd upon approaching them was that there seemed to be such a large number of officers. I swear there was about twenty of them standing at the gate entrance and they were systematically checking everyone’s passport.

A female officer came up to me and took my passport. She quickly looked down at it, looked at me. She gestured to two other officers who were standing nearby. She said something to them in Spanish, and then one of the male officers who she had gestured came up to me. “Simone Jennifer Smith,” he said in broken English. My stomach knotted up instantly, and for good reason. “We are putting you under arrest and holding you for the United States Government.”

My whole world stopped. I swear. In that second, everyone around me seemed to freeze. I looked back at Peter’s face and he was white as a ghost. He just stared at me with such pain and shock in his eyes. I wanted to run, but where was I running too? The officer took out the handcuffs and put them on my wrist. I felt so helpless. I couldn’t talk. My mouth went dry, and in that moment, every emotion disappeared.

Just quarantine and chill!

I hope you all are doing well, adjusting to the daily changes going on around us. All around the world we are witnessing quarantines and lockdowns. Schools have been closed along with many businesses. It is indeed a time of great uncertainty and instability. However, if we look carefully, we can find the silver lining, there is always something to be thankful for.

Like always, let’s look to the cosmos to see what story the stars are telling us. Well, I am happy to say there is good news! We have recently welcomed a cosmic new year with the beginning of spring. Despite the doom and gloom, nature is calling us to bloom! Spring is the season of renewal. It is when we witness the transformation of life. The trees begin to bud new leaves, the birds start to return, life is happening. Spring reminds us to plant new seeds, it is the time for new beginnings.

Speaking of new beginnings, we also have a beautiful New Moon in Aries to be grateful for. As we have discussed in my previous articles, New Moons are times to set new intentions. It is a time to reflect and set goals. The New Moon March 23rd was in the sign of Aries. This means the Moon is positioned in the zodiac constellation that represents Aries. Aries is the sign of self and sometimes likened to a child or head as it is the 1st sign of the zodiac. Ruled by the planet Mars, its qualities are ambition, aggression, and fire as Mars is the planet of war. Its element is fire, which helps one to ignite one’s ideas and dreams.

So, what does all of that have to do with good news in these hard times? The good news is we all have the opportunity to finally slow down and do some selfwork. We have the opportunity to spend quality time with our family, especially our children. While outside may speak fear, nature is speaking life. We can set goals to bring more life, more love and more balance into our lives right now. We also have the time to begin to apply these goals without the pressures and distractions from work.

We have been provided with the time to really get to know ourselves. You have the time to truly think about what makes you happy and what you need to let go or improve. Don’t like your job? You

have time to complete your resume and find a new job, and you can start to looker deeper. Why don’t you like the job? Is it aligned with your purpose? Are you feeling fulfilled or drained from it? You can apply this self-work and other work to various situations in your life. Then you can set new goals that are more aligned with who you truly are.

The truth is this virus is scary. Staying inside will help us all stay safe. Let’s use this time to the best of our advantage. Aries is the child; reconnect with your inner child. Watch childhood shows, have some indoor fun, get creative. Spend some quality time with your children. We spend so much time working; this is a chance to take care of yourself. The universe is saying this is a time to take care of your needs without distraction. Just as the moon and other planets go through different phases, so do we.

An ancient Egyptian phrase reminds us of this, ‘As above, so below.’ This too shall pass. We are transitioning into a new time. Cherish this time we have now. Life will return as the message of spring speaks to us. So, don’t worry about what you cannot control. Set new goals for the new life you want to live after all of this. Do your spring-cleaning, plant your seeds and just quarantine and chill!

Active learning during global coronavirus crisis

students will be able to continue their coursework and credit accumulation, even when we aren’t able to be in a classroom setting. Online resources have been prepared and are available to students.”

Over 2 million elementary and secondary students have extra weeks off from schools in Ontario. The Minister of Education Stephen Leece issued a Ministerial Order to close all publicly funded schools for two weeks following the March Break, which will extend from March 23rd to April 6th in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Subsequently, Stephen Leece wrote in an open letter to public school parents on Sunday, March 22nd,”The fluidity of developments around COVID-19 means we are preparing if closure period is further extended. Specifically, we are working to ensure that

Throughout ancient Kemet’s history, most of their pharaohs have come into power through succession. In lament terms, a father dies, and the eldest son takes his royal duties as the next ruler. This is the way it has been for millennia. Our series has countless examples of this. From Menes, the first to unify the nation, to the Mentu-hotep’s of the Middle Kingdom, it was no different. However, our most recent entries into Kemet’s history have shown us that the process of natural selection may not always go as planned. The reliance of tradition is what truly binds a nation.

On Friday, March 20th, the Ministry of Education released a “Learn at Home” online portal, which provides resources for parents to use with their children. These online lessons are to help students with their math and literary skills and because they are optional, they will not be graded as part of students’ final grades. They are not meant to replace the learning at school and are “Curriculum link” according to the Minister.

There is a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) courses. The new e-learning website offers a plethora of essential courses from Grade 9-12 for high school students. Ontario-certified teachers in conjunction with the Ontario College of Teachers prepared them. The ministry plans to update the courses in the coming weeks.

For elementary students from Kgrade 6, the government will rely on educa-

tional programming from Television Ontario (TVO) to offer carbon-based Math, Science and Language classes. In addition, Scholastic is offering free online courses that children can access at home. In an article by CNN on March 15th, the educational company launched a “Learn at Home” website with daily courses available from Pre-kindergarten to grades 6 and higher. It is divided into four sections based on grade level with five days of work currently available.

Fifteen more days of work will be subsequently available. No sign up is required and the website is accessible on any device that has internet and is free and available 24/7.

Indigenous educators have made K-8 online lessons available according to CBC. CA on March 17th. According to Chris Scribe, director of Indian Teacher Education (ITEP),”I want to offer these online Facebook social media classes for parents who are at home with their kids, just as they so they can connect with their learning.” Starting March 17th, he and other teachers went “Live” as they offer Facebook lessons adapted toward differ-

ent grade levels. No high school classes have been prepared as yet. Radio times.com has made hundred of titles free to anyone who has Internet access. There are many online Math resources available.

• Math is fun! (http://mathisfun.com)

• Math Playground (http://www.mathplayground.com/games.html)

• Algebra basics (http:/www.algebrabasics.com),

• Algebra Help (http://www.alfebrahelp. com)

Discovery Geometry (http://www.keypress com).

• For other subjects, Khan academy has lessons on all subjects (www.khanaacademy.com).

Science materials are available at stao.on.ca and for Ontario students from K-12 learning resources are available at https://www.ontario.ca/page//learn-at-home.

With that being said, let’s begin our look into the life of our next pharaoh and how the tradition of the nation helped him get there.

Born of a minor wife, Mutnefert, Tuthmosis 2nd did not come to throne because of anything special. He was the lastborn son of Djehutymes 1st, and baby to four other siblings. In other words, he was last in the pecking order and not of full royal blood. Tuthmosis 2nd would have to wait a very long time to be even considered for the position he was thrown into. To be truthful, the position may have skipped him if it wasn’t for the untimely passing of both of his older brothers, Wadjmose and Amenmose, who died during their father’s reign. Thus when Djehutymes 1st had transitioned into the ancestral realm, a young Tuthmosis 2nd became the 4th pharaoh of the 18th dynasty.

Tradition has told us that the way to the throne is through the woman and to cement this, Tuthmosis 2nd married his older half-sister of full royal blood, the famed Hatshepsut. According to various sources, Tuthmosis 2nd’s reign could have began

anywhere between 1493 or 1482 BCE. While some historians attest to approximately thirteen years of rule, others have agreed with four years. The high priest and historian Manetho wrote that Tuthmosis 2nd ruled for thirteen years. This is what I will use for the purpose of this article. The marriage between himself and Hatsheput had produced a daughter, Neferure. Tuthmosis 2nd also had a son named Iset with a lesser wife prior to his passing. Later on this son became known as Tuthmosis 3rd.

Tuthmosis 2nd did not participate in any military campaigns like his predecessor and father; he did encounter battles of his own. Right at the beginning of his reign, the Nubian neighbors had started a rebellion, which was quelled with the quickness. I came across a source that stated that as punishment Tuthmosis 2nd had put “everyone to death, with the exception of a son of a royal” who was taken as a hostage. The second happened in the area of what was called the Levant, present day Middle East, against the Shosu Bedouin. (As a side note, I don’t under-

stand why we still call that area the Middle East when we can’t identify a Middle West). Regardless, both campaigns were successful, but the real battle was at home.

As Tuthmosis 2nd’s health began to fail, he wanted to appoint his son as successor. His wife, Hatshepsut had her own ambitions for the throne, which probably caused a rift between the two. With both Tuthmosis 2nd and her stepson, Iset not having full royal blood as her own. Hatshepsut wanted to keep the bloodlines as pure as possible. And like so many Kemetian queens before her, she became co-regent and ruled beside a very young Tuthmosis 3rd. The details of her historic reign will be reviewed in our next installment. But as for her husband Tuthmosis 2nd, he died in his early thirties having started a few construction projects only to be forgotten by his more famed wife and half sister. Thus was the story of a young man, born a minor wife who became pharaoh by circumstance.

The impact of Covid-19 and the courts of Ontario

NANA ADJIE-POKU

nana@carib101.com

LEGAL SPECIALIST

For the safety of the members of the public, anyone experiencing any of the symptoms of Covid-19 are advised not to attend court. Please avoid all unnecessary visits to the courthouses.

The following rules have been implemented and apply to the various levels of courts in Ontario.

Pursuant to the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, all limitation periods for any legal action, have been suspended for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency.

Superior Court Matters

Civil and family court

All matters scheduled to be heard between March 13th, 2020 and April 3rd, 2020 have been suspended. Only urgent and emergency matters will be heard. These matters will be 1) any matter relating to public health and safety and Covid-19 and any family law or child protections matters that are deemed urgent.

Civil (Small Claims Court) and commercial list

Only urgent and time-sensitive motions or applications where there will be immediate repercussions will be dealt with as well as any outstanding warrants issued regarding small claims court or superior

court civil proceedings.

In regard to these matters, all urgent materials must be emailed to the respective courts listed on the Ontario court website below. Please note that the materials being emailed must not exceed 10MB.

Criminal court

All criminal matters have been suspended effective March 17th, 2020. If you were to attend court in March, your matter has been adjourned to be heard on June 2nd, 2020. If you were to attend court in April, your matter has been adjourned to be heard on June 3rd, 2020 and, if you were to attend court in May, your matter will be heard on June 4th, 2020. This may be further adjourned by the Courts.

Any urgent criminal matters will continue to be heard remotely.

Provincial offences

All Provincial Offences Act matters scheduled until May 29th, 2020 will be rescheduled. Notices will be mailed out to the addresses on file for defendants.

For more information and/or updates, please visit www.ontariocourts.ca news releases.

Tribunal Matters

One of the most asked about tribunals are matters before the Landlord and Tenant Board. Please be advised that all evictions that were made pursuant to orders of the Landlord and Tenant Board have been suspended. A landlord may still serve you with the eviction order, but it will not be enforced until further notice to all parties. Most of the tribunals are still receiving applications and documents electronically. All in-person hearings have been suspended.

Distracted driving penalties in Canada

Distracted driving has become the number one risk on Canadian roads, contributing to eight out of every 10 collisions. Nationwide there were 310 deaths and 32,213 injuries involving a distracted driver in 2016 (the most recent year with available data).

In response to this serious problem, many Canadian provinces have recently introduced stiffer penalties for distracted driving. Here are some of the changes:

• Ontario now gives motorists pulled over for distracted driving a summons to appear in court and a fine of up to $1,000. Additionally, drivers will lose three demerit points.

• British Colombia, who already had a hefty penalty for first-time offen-

ders (four demerit points and a fine amounting to $543), just raised the maximum fine for a second offence to $2,000. Ontario has the same fine for second-time offenders.

• Quebec recently raised the maximum fine for a first offence six-fold — to $600. The province will also deduct four demerit points.

These charges aren’t restricted solely to cell phone use. Any activity distracting motorists from the road can get them pulled over for distracted driving, including:

• Programming routes into a navigation system

• Selecting music on a portable media player

• Putting on makeup

• Turning around to get something from the back seat

For the full list of distracted driving penalties across Canada, visit the Canadian Automobile Association’s website at caa. ca/distracted-driving/distracted-driving-laws-in-canada.

Nicholas Ledra Biosa Technologies Ltd.

CHRISTINA GWIRA

christina@carib101.com

TECH SPECIALIST

The process of getting a doctorate degree, for anyone, is no small feat. The process of getting a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical science as a black man in North America, brings with it its own set of challenges. However, founder and CEO of Biosa Technologies Ltd., Nicholas Ledra, was able to surpass these distinct trials and give birth to his multi-award-winning company Biosa Technologies Ltd. Within the heart of many a Canadian immigrant child, is the desire to make the most of the life that we have been given, in this new country. Ledra also had these same sentiments and his passion to achieve the highest heights in his education came from a place of making his Guyanese parents proud.

Completing his bachelor’s at the prestigious, yet, sometimes problematic University of Toronto (U of T) was a challenging time for Ledra. Yet he persisted. Most recently, there has been many thoughts, movements and attention brought to the way in which U of T treats their black students. Nevertheless, Ledra was able to use his time at U of T to catapult his studies to the United States, and complete his masters, as well as his Ph.D. in the state of Florida. With its close proximity to the Caribbean, Ledra was able to become connected on a much deeper level with his heritage. It would be correct to say that this melange of experiences: being of Caribbean heritage; studying in one of Canada’s most prestigious universities as well as completing his post-graduate education in the United States, provided a solid foundation to springboard the success of his company.

The name BIOSA has its roots in the Greek root word “bio”, which means life. It was through a particular plant sciences university class at U of T, as well as his conjoined masters in biochemistry and ocean science that Ledra’s interest was tuned into learning and doing more for the environment. The supervisor for his Ph.D. was researching the possibility of a tie between extended fertilizer use and autism spectral disorder, which again, prompted him to think about the issues that industries like mining and petroleum leave in their wake. Within numerous discussions with friends and family, Ledra began to notice the economic and ecological damage that many Western companies were doing to the environment of Caribbean nations. Unfortunately, these crimes against the natural resources and ecosystems of these countries were, and unfortunately, still are met with very few consequences from these countries’ respective governments. However, the aftermath of these events continues to make an impact on our homelands till this day. From these combined experiences, Ledra decided that there had to be another way to still be on the forefront of industry and technology, while also respecting the environments and ecosystems that we as humans have been blessed with.

Fast-forward to 2020, BIOSA was recently the 2020 Aird & Berlis Starupsource Market Entry Award winner. This is one of the many awards that BIOSA has won. Other awards that the company has gathered include but are not limited to the recipient of 2018 & 2019 NSERC-Engage Awards, the recipient of the 2019 MiTACS Award and the winner of the 2019 LaunchYU Accelerator Program. Ledra strongly advises that budding entrepreneurs should consider joining the LaunchYU Accelerator Program. Of the program, Ledra says, “it’s a program that I would recommend for any entrepreneur […] you don’t necessarily need to be York University Alumni or [a] student”. The program is an intense 6-8-month training that teaches you how to become a businessperson within that timeframe”. Ledra also states that, “you have to be humble and you have to be receptive because there are times [during that program] where they tell you that you need to do things this way […] and some people drop out. But you need to believe in what you do”. The program walks you through the business model canvas and is a challenging learning process. However, LaunchYU Accelerator Program also provides a psychological component which many accelerators and hubs seem to miss out on. Every 2-3 weeks, a trained psychologist is made available to the members of the cohort and helps to meet the psychological needs that new and existing business owners that they may encounter throughout the process. Ledra also says that the network of his peers was also a very valuable piece that he appreciated through his time at LaunchYU.

As a community, it is good to know that businesses such as Ledra’s are out here, making our community proud in spaces and sectors where we are generally unseen. With the current COVID-19 pandemic that we are all facing, BIOSA is charging towards the forefront with solutions and products to assist. For years before COVID-19 hit, Ledra had felt like he was “chicken little”, warning of the sky falling. He had done extensive publicity to alert organizations that there was a great need to upgrade the current infrastructures in place to be able to handle the potential – and now, very real – effects of situations like pandemics. One of the grants that BIOSA won from Innovation Solutions Canada, is slated to help BIOSA create personal protective equipment such as gowns and masks. This equipment provides a 3-in-1 solution: it blocks chemical gases, is antimicrobial and provides radiation protection. As we are currently warring against COVID-19, the antimicrobial piece of this research and project is of uttermost importance.

The company will be taking the next 8-10 months to focus on providing various BIOSA solutions that can assist Ontario and Canada at large recover from COVID-19. They are currently working hard on generating masks, as well as disinfecting sprays and washes for vehicles, especially emergency response units and buildings, using their technology.

With all that is going on in our society and world today, it is good to know that one of our own is making positive change and lasting impact on this very real and present danger that we are all facing.

3 great reasons to get a stair runner

Installing a stair runner can be a great way to showcase a beautiful staircase. Here are three other benefits they provide.

1. More traction. If you have kids or pets, you may worry about them safely climbing up and down the stairs. A stair runner provides extra grip, minimizing the chan ces of slips and falls.

2. Less noise. Does someone in your home barrel up and down the stairs, making lots of noise? If you’re tired of the continuous stomping, a stair runner will muffle the sounds of feet on the stairs.

3. Better protection. A beautiful wood staircase must be treated carefully in order to stay in good shape. Unfortunately, it’s a part of the house that naturally takes a beating. Fortunately, stair runners will help prevent them from getting scuffed or scratched.

Stair runners can be a beautiful addition to your home’s overall design, but if they’re installed incorrectly, they can be a safety hazard. Be sure to get yours laid down by a professional to ensure that it doesn’t cause an accident.

6 creative ways to use your attic

Are you thinking about converting your attic into usable living space? If so, here are six things you may want to do with it.

1. A MASTER SUITE

The sloped ceiling is perfect for creating a comfy bedroom you’ll love to curl up in.

2. AN OFFICE

If you work from home, the attic is likely isolated enough from the rest of the house to provide you with a distraction­free work space.

3. A PLAYROOM

If you don’t have a basement, let the kids use the attic as their space to hang out, study and play.

4. A LUXURIOUS BATHROOM

Do you need another bathroom in your

busy household? If so, converting your attic may be the solution.

5. A YOGA OR MEDITATION SPACE

If you yearn for a quiet space to call your own, use the attic to create a relaxing athome studio.

6. A GUEST SUITE

Give your guests a quiet space to relax when they come to visit. If you have the room for it, you could even install an adjoining bathroom.

In short, with a little imagination, your attic can be used to create almost any type of room. Just make certain to adequately insulate the walls and to install a staircase. This ensures that the space will be comfortable and accessible for the entire family.

Home renovation health and safety tips

Are you planning to renovate your home? If so, you should know that your abode is about to become a construction zone. This means that there will be tools, dust and other health and safety hazards to contend with. Here’s how to protect yourself and your loved ones during a home renovation.

1. Get an inspection. If your home was built before 1990, have someone come in to inspect it for traces of asbestos. You don’t need to be renovating extensively to run the risk of exposure to this harmful material.

2. Protect yourself. Even if the inspection doesn’t turn up anything, wearing a mask at all times is a good idea. Anyone working on the renovation should also wear gloves, eye protection, hardhats and steel toed boots to prevent injuries.

3. Protect your home. Lay down tarps so your floors don’t get stained or scuffed and protect any furniture you couldn’t move out of the vicinity of the construction zone.

4. Ventilate. Make sure there’s a window open and fans running while the dirtiest work is underway. This will keep fresh air flowing into your home.

5. Clean daily. At the end of every day, vacuum and mop the floors and wipe the dust off of all surfaces.

6. Use non-toxic products. Opt for VOC­free paint and water ­ based solvents, as these won’t release chemicals into the air.

7. Do dirty jobs outside. Designate a space in your yard for cutting, sanding and other tasks that generate dust and dirt.

If you’re going to be living in the house while it’s being renovated, it’s a good idea to keep one room in your home closed off. This will provide you with a haven to retreat to in the evenings.

Making your dream home: advice for the would-be builder

Are you thinking about building your own home? While there are many advantages of designing a space that works for your family in every way, here are some things you should consider before breaking ground.

LOCATION

Do you want to live in the city or suburbs? If so, it may be hard to find an unoccupied plot. In this case, you may need to look further away from your desired location in order to find land where you can build.

BLUEPRINTS

If you build the house in a subdivision, you may be able to use pre ­made builder’s plans. However, for a more cu­

stomized home, you’ll need to hire an architect instead.

LIFESTYLE

When making design choices, it’s important to think about how you plan to use the house both now and in the future. For example, a steep set of stairs may not seem like a big deal right now, but they may prove difficult if you choose to raise a family or grow old in your home.

If you do decide to build, remember that the home will eventually need to be sold. For this reason, it’s a good idea to make design choices that aren’t so luxurious that you’ll be priced out of the area or that are so quirky that other people won’t want it.

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.

ARIES

You’ll finally succeed in selling your home. If you’ve li ved there for many years, you’ll feel nostalgic and maybe a little rueful about the change.

TAURUS

You have everything it takes to become a public figure. Your ideas and opinions could bring people together to defend your interests. People will listen attentively to what you have to say.

GEMINI

A complicated financial situation won’t make a difficult romantic relationship any easier. It’s important to be affectionate with your partner, despite your concerns.

CANCER

You’ll start the week ready to conquer the world. However, certain people will be upset and as a result, you may not be very kind to them.

LEO

Some reflection about your ca reer is a must this week. Your health concerns will lead you to make a lifestyle change that eli minates stress. Prepare yourself for a new beginning.

VIRGO

Your social life will be in full swing this week. You’ll be surrounded by people and you’ll accept every invitation, regardless of how much it strains your budget.

LIBRA

Linger

Sin

Total

Salmon for bagels

Type of evergreen

Sports ring

____ out (overeat)

Weep

Farmer’s measure

Formerly

Propel

Bareheaded

Christening

Holds

Meet Arvin

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

You’re inspired to begin a new project. Making the right decisions now will guarantee that you have a comfortable retirement later. The future is built one day at a time.

SCORPIO

You may take a spontaneous trip with friends this week. Travel and communication may be difficult, however, so you’ll need to learn to let go.

SAGITTARIUS

A meeting at the bank is all it takes to secure the financing you need for a certain project. As a result, you’ll be thrust into action this week. In your personal life, affection takes on new importance.

CAPRICORN

Compromises will need to be made if you want there to be harmony around you. You’ll be in charge of organizing a professional event that will bring many people together.

AQUARIUS

At work, you do your best to make all your customers happy, but some people just can’t be satisfied. Don’t take it personally; you’ll still accomplish the impossible.

PISCES

If you’re single, you’ll be more popular than ever and will fall in love at first sight. Take the time to get to know the other person before declaring your love.

Winkie’s

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 969

The luckiest signs this week: VIRGO, LIBRA AND SCORPIO

PUZZLE NO. 969

PUZZLE NO. 706

FOR SALE FOR RENT

BUSINESS/PROPERTY: Operational Profiting Business with existing government contract and local businesses. 15,000 Sq including 4 bedroom house with machine shop. Available for purchase or lease. Call Harry 416419-0685

WASHER: Whirlpool Heavy Duty Super Supreme capacity washer. Eight cylinders, 2-speed motor. $425.00. Call Jim 647-308-0482. Email: amos.johnson11@yahoo.ca

FOR SALE FOR RENT

ROOM: Furnish Rooms for Rent in Brampton.Close to Shoppers World Female students or working person prefer . Non Smoker ,no pets, ground level walk out to large backward. Call 416-9999720.

1 BEDROOM : Chingucousy/ Bovaird 1 bedroom basement Apt. for RENT,in a quiet Christian home, April 1st mature working person only, walkout entrance and share laundry, strictly no Pets/Smoking. $950.00 Call 905 495 7092

OPPORTUNITY SEEKING MALE/FEMALE FOR A COOK/CLEANER TO WORK IN A PERSONAL CARE HOME IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO.

CALL MARTHA 416-922-7674 OR EMAIL RESUME kennedyresidence1@rogers.com

CAREGIVER: Experience Caregiver looking for a full or part time position to work in a home taking care of seniors. Available on weekends. Call Kristine 647971-8983.

TRAVEL COMPANION: Do you love to travel? I’m looking for someone to travel with as company. I am Pete, 45, phone 416 264 3024. email golden7words@ yahoo.com

SERVICE: Fountain of Truth Ministries Pastor: Reverend Maxine Campbell Worship Address: 2170 Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke Percy Johnson School – Cafeteria Sundays: 10.am – 2. pm Teaching, Worship, Ministering For info call: 416 748 0211

MISSISSAUGA: Mississauga Missionary Baptist Church invites you to join us at 1620 Dundas St West, each Sunday at 10am for praise, worship and in-depth Bible teaching with Pastor Sean, 416-219-9137

Covid-19 is infectious to our health and wealth. With lockdown, many businesses are laying off employees, creating an added financial stress for an already stressed population. Our Government took swift action to address the problem but with all the roadblocks created by the pandemic, financial relief will be sluggish. Here are some insights on the impact for real estate.

Rent deferral: Tenants who cannot afford to pay their rent should inform their landlords in advance. Failure to pay rent can cause eviction. Ontario’s Premier commented on this: “That’s why I have directed that all eviction orders be suspended until further notice. We want to make sure you and your family can stay in your home during this difficult time. So, you can put your health and the health of others first.” When

Covid-19 Cures

bank, BMO, and National Bank of Canada are allowing homeowners to defer their mortgage payments for up to six months. Homeowners in financial difficulties should contact their lender and explore their options. Postponing mortgage payments is similar to kicking the ball down the road. Eventually, the homeowner must pay up the backlog or they can be in default. Another alternative is to refinance and increase the remaining years of payment in order to reduce the monthly payment. With the recent interest rate drop, if your mortgage is coming due in a year or two, it is a great time to renew. To break the mortgage, the lender may charge a penalty. Another option is to extend the number of years and then blend it. Let’s assume that there is a mortgage on the property for an additional two years; you can negotiate three more years at the lower mortgage rate so on average, the rate drops over the five years.

First time buyers: If you are buying a home for the first time and your money is in RRSP or invested in stocks, then, wait until the stock market rebounds before purchasing. With a 40% in the stock market, it is not the best time to cash in. First time buyers who already purchased and are waiting to close

seller if they are willing to extend the closing or abort the sale.

New home purchase: Check with the builder because the closing date might be pushed back. If that is so, then buyers who have already sold their homes must be proactive. With buyers who sold their existing homes, hopefully their sales contract for their current home has an option to extend the closing date. If that is not possible, then reach out to the buyer. Some buyers are accommodating and would either extend the closing date or arrange to complete the transaction and allow you to rent back on a month to month bases. If that is not possible, then the only option is to search for month to month rental accommodation.

Sellers with a tight timeline: With the current outbreak, many sellers are postponing selling their homes. This will create scarcity and trigger a short-term seller’s market. When a home is on the market, strangers visit, and it is easy for homeowners to be infected. It is best to provide good online photos so that buyers can make an informed decision. Ask your realtor to allow only one showing at a time. Leave the home during showing. It is a good idea to sanitize the entire home, from the doorknobs, stairs rail and even the cupboard doors. Ask the visitors to sanitize their hands before entering and to avoid touching things as much as possible. Ask the realtor to check if the buyers should be in self-quarantine. Restrict the visits to a maximum of four peo-

ple. Children should not be allowed.

Prospective buyers: Prospective buyers should postpone home shopping. It is best to re-evaluate your financing. If Covid-19 prolongs, then, our economy may suffer a heart attack, meaning that everything stops. Resuscitating the economy may be ambitious and recovery might be slow. This can trigger a recession and home prices may drop. RBC Economics suggests that things are about to get rocky. Senior economist Robert Hogue said that the “light was on in the housing market in February but that it is about to be turned off. The world has changed in March, and so has the outlook for the Canadian housing market. Fears of the spread and social distancing are set to decimate house viewings and buyers are likely to take a wait-and-see approach.”

My prediction: The economy will contract in the first half of 2020 because of Covid-19, coupled with low oil prices and a depreciating Canadian dollar. In the second half, our children will be back at schools and we will be working harder than before. The economy will rebound, and we will recover. According to Lynn Lewis, CPA, CMA, CIM®, CIMA, FCSI®, Portfolio Manager & Investment Advisor at TD Bank, “the worst thing to do during a panic is to panic. That’s because panic leads to hasty, short-term decisions that jeopardize your long-term best interests.”

bhajan evening

173 Advance Blvd., Unit 50, Brampton, ON L6T 2X7 — in support of tccf —

Venue: Peel Arya Samaj Mandir

Tickets $5.00

Date: Saturday, April 25th, 2020 @ 6:00 pm

Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers & performers for their support towards this great cause. All proceeds go towards helping to save a child’s life. Even angels need guardians. Help our Angels by calling TCCF at 905-840-5369 and make the $20.00 A Month Pledge. Assisted over 280 Critically-ill Caribbean Children Even angels need guardians.

Featuring Youths from various Mandirs Refreshments will be free A Youth Talented Evening Show of Singing and Dancing by Great Performers www.tccfangels.com

COVID-19 and your investment portfolio

The continued spread of COVID-19 has resulted in increased stock market volatility and wreaked havoc in the markets during the first three months of 2020. The recent year-to-date decline of over 25% on the major North American stock indexes will have a negative effect on everyone’s investment portfolios. When you receive your first quarter statement, it may come as quite a shock.

How did we get here? Well the Coronavirus was first discovered somewhere in December of 2019 and presumably in a wet market in Wuhan, China. It started to spread there, and the Chinese Government made a decision to lock down Wuhan to contain the virus. Other countries while understating the risk involved,

These last few days have been surreal. It’s hard to know what’s going to happen in the next weeks but my view is to try to stay positive, as much as we can.

I’ve been using this time to do more things that I enjoy: listening to audiobooks, regular at-home yoga and of course spending more time with the family (not that I have a choice right now lol). I’ve reduced how much time I watch the news. I found it was adding more stress to the situation, but I do check for recent updates. Staying in contact with loved ones abroad, friends and clients across Canada is now a full-time job.

This can also be a good time to reassess what’s important in your life. Relationships that don’t support or enhance, your business or profession from top to bottom and your financial plan. If you are struggling financially, track your spending, figure out what you can live without, learn how to create a budget, and please start an emergency fund. There is no better time to learn how to manage your finances than

didn’t act with such drastic measures and virus soon infiltrated their own population by way of travelers from infected areas. Cruise ships were amongst those affected and so far, Italy has been the hardest hit. By late February fears regarding the virus began to slowly escalate and its effects on markets began gradually. The market dropped slowly every day, and everyone was waiting for it to come back up after enduring a 10% correction, but that was not to happen. A pandemic was announced in early March, travel suspended, public gathering curtailed, borders closed, international travel banned, flights cancelled, restaurants closed, supermarket shelves running empty and the list continues… then it hit us like a ton of bricks in a matter of one week. It was like Black Monday in 1987 all over again. In the last two weeks the Canadian government announced monetary measures to help combat the negative effects of the downturn. While the outlook is not one of doom and gloom, the recent downturn has affected everyone. By now you would recognize that we are experiencing a difficult and unprecedented period in the worldwide economy and life in gen-

the present.

Switching gears to what’s happening across the board with insurance companies. How it affects your current policies and how you can take advantage of new policies and procedures being put in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Life insurance policies remain unchanged. If an insured were to pass away due to Covid-19 the death benefit will be paid out required by the insurance companies. If your life insurance policy has a cash value as a component, you could potentially access some of that cash if your current cash flow has been affected by COIVD-19.

Disability insurance is designed to replace your income if you’re unable to work due to sickness or injury. With disability insurance, you likely will not be entitled to any sort of financial relief unless you have been tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms that are preventing you from working. The main issue is the waiting period that most disability policies have within their contracts, which can be a 30-90 day waiting period. Time spent in self-quarantine or job loss due to economic fallout caused by the coronavirus is not covered.

Critical illness insurance will not pay out a claim if you’re diagnosed with Covid-19. The reason is that Covid-19 is not listed as a specific covered illness.

Applying for and getting insurance coverage is a big question now. Advisors and insurance companies are not

eral as we know it has changed drastically. We don’t know how long this will last and whether we will see resurgence when everything seems to have quieted down.

When you receive your statement, it is important to understand that you haven’t lost money; it’s only a paper loss or an unrealized loss. While the value of your units has declined, a loss happens only when you choose to sell. Over time the value of these units recover and capital growth begins all over again. During a significant economic downturn, it is tempting to make drastic changes to your investment strategies. However, history has taught us that a well diversified and adequately structured portfolio is capable of weathering difficult periods and it’s important to stay focused on your long-term goals.

The biggest mistake a client can make during a market downturn is to cash out their investments, doing this means you sell at a loss and you never get the gain when the market is coming back up, hold strong. Please don’t hesitate to speak with me about any concerns you might have about these recent events.

exempt from following Covid-19 health guidelines and almost all business practices have been encouraged to move to a Non-Face-to-Face environment. Because of this, insurance companies have loosened their underwriting restrictions.

Since most paramedical service providers have suspended their activities until further notice we still want to provide the best offer, at the earliest convenient time. Insurers have adopted using an accelerated underwriting approach.

Ages 0 to 50 years old can now purchase up to $1,000,000 of life insurance without having to complete a medical exam and up to $200,000 of critical illness coverage without a medical exam. This means your advisor can have a virtual meeting with you to explain the product, complete an electronic health questionnaire and have your policy delivered to home or have an eContract emailed, all without having to break the social distancing protocol.

If you have recently traveled, your application will be postponed (depending on where you traveled) until you have been back in Canada for a minimum of 14 to 30 days. If you’re currently diagnosed with Coronavirus, most carriers will not be able to offer coverage at this time.

I’ve been consulting with clients virtually for over three years and most enjoy the convenience and ease conducting business this way provides.

4 tips to help you pick out your new golf clubs

How hybrid clubs can improve your game

Over the last 10 years, hybrids have increasingly become a staple club among regular golfers. If you’re iffy about adding one to your own bag, here’s what you should know.

WHAT ARE HYBRIDS, EXACTLY?

Hybrid clubs are those with a design borrowing from both woods and irons. They’re forgiving and far-hitting like woods but retain the familiar swing mechanics of irons.

The weight of hybrid clubs is concentrated low in the head of the golf club and toward the back. Compared with long irons, the clubs they typically replace in your bag, hybrids have more loft and longer shafts. These characteristics allow you to hit the golf ball higher and further when compared with a long iron and more consistently than a wood.

HOW TO HIT A HYBRID

Hybrids should be played like an iron and not a wood. This means you shouldn’t try to sweep the ball but instead hit at a downward attack angle. Hybrids won’t usually take divots, but you should strike the ground after the ball as though to take a divot.

As for ball position, you should line up as you would with a 3-iron: with the ball toward the front foot, but not as far forward as with a wood.

OTHER USES FOR HYBRIDS

Hybrids are also great for punch shots and hitting from difficult lies, which is why they’re also known as rescue clubs. Moreover, they can be used for pitch shots around the green. This requires that you choke down on the grip and use a putter-stroke.

If you’re looking to take a few strokes off your scorecard, using a hybrid club may be the answer.

Whether it’s your first set or an upgrade, if you’re getting new clubs this spring, you’ll want to choose wisely. Here are some tips for finding the perfect set.

1. SIZE UP YOUR CLUBS

When you swing a golf club, the length of the shaft will affect the accuracy and power of your shot. Longer clubs can improve your distance, but only if you have a smooth, consistent swing.

As a rule, beginner to intermediate golfers should be more conservative about shaft length to ensure better contact and shot accuracy. To determine your optimal shaft length, have a golf pro analyze your swing.

2. GET THE RIGHT FLEX

There are five ratings for shaft flex: extra stiff, stiff, regular, seniors and ladies. The general

rule is the longer you hit the ball, the stiffer the shaft needed. If you’re uncertain about which flex is right for you, have a pro calculate your swing speed.

3. PICK YOUR IRON TYPE

There are two types of irons: blades and cavity backs. Blades, also known as player irons, are for accomplished golfers. They provide skilled players with improved control and feel.

Beginner and intermediate golfers should stick with cavity backs, also known as game-improvement irons. Cavity backs have a larger sweet spot and are more forgiving than blades. The easiest ones to hit are what are known as super game-improvement irons.

4. CONSIDER A CUSTOM SET

There’s a common misconception that custom clubs are for expe -

rienced players. To the contrary, beginner and intermediate golfers often benefit the most from customized equipment. If you go this route, work with a pro to get clubs that are tailored to your swing.

Before you make a purchase, schedule a club fitting at a local golf store or pro shop. This will give you the opportunity to demo the clubs you want on site and benefit from expert advice.

A beginner’s guide to golf etiquette

Etiquette is fundamental to the game of golf. Before playing your first round, be sure to have a good grasp on the basic dos and don’ts.

UNDERSTAND THE RULES

It’s a good idea to first familiarize yourself with the rules of the game as outlined by Golf Canada. In addition, you should learn the specific rules and regulations of the course you’re playing. These are often printed on the scorecard and posted in the clubhouse or pro shop.

FOLLOW THE DRESS CODE

Wear a collared shirt with either khakis, golf slacks, a golf skirt or golf shorts. You’ll also need golf shoes. Some clubs have a more specific dress code, so always check in advance.

BE RESPECTFUL TO FELLOW GOLFERS

Show consideration to other players on the course by following these conventions:

• Be punctual. Arrive promptly for your tee time to avoid holding up the group behind you.

• Care for the course. Replace divots, repair ball

marks, rake bunkers and keep golf bags and carts off tees and greens.

• Make sure your phone is off or set to silent.

• Don’t move or talk when another player is hitting the ball.

• If your ball is in danger of hitting someone, yell “fore.”

• Allow the player who’s furthest from the pin to play first.

• Respect the pace of play. If your group is slow, allow the golfers behind you to play through.

• Don’t step in another player’s putting line, as you could leave an imprint on the green.

As a final tip, seek out golf partners who know the game well so you can listen to their advice and follow their example.

UFC 249: Fight of the Decade hangs in the balance as COVID-19 threatens to cancel the long-awaited showdown

For over four years, MMA fans have been anticipating the fight of the decade: a legendary battle between Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov and Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson. Sadly, due to unfortunate injuries sustained by the two fighters, the fight has been cancelled and rescheduled on many occasions. Finally, when both the combatants were fully recovered, the UFC scheduled the long-awaited battle for April 18th, 2020. This time, fans were convinced that the highly anticipated showdown would finally happen. Disastrously, only a month before the listed fight date, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of all non-essential businesses and gatherings in America. Once again, the Khabib - Ferguson brawl is in jeopardy of being canceled.

Why the hype?

Throughout their careers, Khabib Nur-

magomedov and Tony Ferguson have made names for themselves in the MMA community. Both warriors have extraordinarily dynamic and entertaining fighting styles, and their resilience in the octagon allows both fighters to brawl and put on a show.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, born in the harsh, isolated mountain ranges of Dagestan, Russia, is a two-time Sambo world champion and current UFC Lightweight Champion. He is an unbeaten fighter, holding the longest undefeated streak in MMA with a record of 28-00. Khabib is known for his incredible strength and wrestling skills. His highpressure fight style, paired with almost superhuman strength, allows him to toss and maul his opponents in the octagon. Khabib also has a remarkably extreme lifestyle: it involves stringent diets, running in the mountains to build endurance, and wresting bears (yes, he actually does that).

Tony Ferguson, born in California, is known for his fast, dynamic fighting style; and his ability to take the fight to his opponents, whether it’s on the ground or standing up. Although he’s an incredibly skilled martial artist in the octagon, Tony is even better known in the MMA community for his hilarious training techniques and odd behaviors.

Videos of Ferguson’s unusual training sessions show him kicking metal pipes, swinging weights while standing on an exercise ball, and attempting break dancing moves while suspended on bungee cords.

The juxtaposition of a robust, dangerous, mysterious Khabib, versus the goofy, unpredictable Ferguson, has fans picking sides in anticipation of the fight. The difference in the competitor’s attitudes has also led to hilarious trashtalk between the two fighters, with Ferguson and Khabib launching into amusing insult-battles at press conferences.

Money talks

UFC president, Dana White, has stated that the organization is doing its utmost to allow the fight to unfold as planned. In response to the global pandemic, the contest has already been moved to a closed venue where only essential employees will be allowed entrance. Furthermore, the location of the showdown remains undisclosed by the UFC to prevent a large mob from gathering outside.

The UFC president has expressed his desire to follow through with the fight. Unfortunately, the absence of a crowd strips the organization of thousands, if not millions of dollars. The UFC is a massive organization with hundreds of

employees that keep it running smoothly. Of all the revenue the company collects from shows, an immense amount of it is spent on paying for the venue, employees, referees, doctors, fighters, technicians, and so on. Fans unable to attend the event will still likely purchase pay-per-view tickets to watch the fight from home. However, a $50 pay-per-view ticket can hardly compare to the hundreds or even thousands of dollars spent by each fan attending a UFC event.

Although the UFC president and fans both want the fight to go through, the organization may choose to postpone the battle again. The showdown between Khabib and Ferguson is one of the most highly anticipated matches of all time, and the lack of a real audience at the fight will result in a severe loss of profit for the UFC. The UFC has a responsibility to not only protect its business but also its employees from the global pandemic. While the MMA community would be saddened and disappointed by the cancellation of the fight, the safety of its staff, fighters, and business is the highest priority of the UFC.

As fans of the sport, the best we can do is hope that the showdown will occur before the start of a new decade and that both fighters can remain safe and healthy in the interim.

On this day, March 25th: First Test Cricket match played at Newlands, Cape Town v England

tea cynaroides commonly known as the ‘king protea’ is South Africa’s national flower.

Basil Grieve and The Honourable Charles Coventry. The two Test matches constituted their entire first-class career.

KARIM

kayla@carib101.com

As many sit at home during this time, all are able to reflect on past moments. March 25th happens to be a significant day in the cricket world, with the first ever Test match played at Newlands. The South Africa national cricket team also knows as Proteas, represented South Africa men’s international cricket. Pro -

South Africa entered and hosted the England cricket team in the 1888-89 season. In that year, South Africa became the third Test-playing nation after facing England at Port Elizabeth, and soon after a match was played at Cape Town.

Despite being a Test match by the rules, this event was not necessarily named a ‘Test’ until South Africa formed the Imperial Cricket Conference with England and Australia in 1906. Instead these games were listed as ‘Major Warton’s XI’ vs ‘South African XI’. C.A. Smith, a decent medium pacer from Sussex, captained South Africa and for two the Major Warton’s XI,

South Africa was very weak losing both tests to England as English spinner Johnny Briggs claimed 15-28 in the second Test at Cape Town. Despite losing, Albert Rose-Innes of South Africa made history becoming the first South African bowler to take a five-wicket haul in Tests at Port Elizabeth.

South Africa was unable to erase the negative history that they had engraved during the beginning of the 20th century, as their early Test record remains the worst among all current Testplaying nations with ten losses and just a

The low point of this early period for the South African team was the English tour of 1895-96 where South Africa humiliated 3-0 in 3 Tests by an English side for the first time remotely comparable to a full-strength team and lost all of the tests by 288 runs.

It was not until 1906 that they began to emerge as a quality international team when they recorded their first Test win against England taking them seventeen years.

Today, in 2020 South Africa has become one of the most successful nations in international cricket, performing in several matches annually, between ODIs, World Cup matches and of course