Stranded Canadians 041420

CHARLES AYODELE

STRANDED CANADIANS

JONELL PANTLITZ/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

“The simple fact that there are still thousands of Canadians stranded all over the world demonstrates that Prime Minister Trudeau’s warning came way too late.” Dave Deonarain (Barrister & Solicitor)

In the last edition, we shed light on what was happening with the over 500 Canadians stranded in Guyana.

On April 5th, 2020, Trans Guyana Airways facilitated two flights via Barbados for Canadians to return to Toronto. The flights were said to have

transported 28 Canadians to Barbados, where an Air Canada flight was waiting to transport Canadians to Toronto. An Eastern Airline flight also had 51 passengers who left for Miami to make connections for Canada.

With the development and spread of COVID-19, The Canadian High Commission has been busy trying to ensure citizens return home safely. According to Kaieteur News, the Canadian authorities have been in contact with nearly 400 Canadians to offer them the option of returning to

their country.

High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee says, “It doesn’t matter if Canadians were born in Guyana, once they have a Canadian passport, we have a duty to assist,” she told News-Talk Radio Guyana 103.1 FM/Demerara Waves Online News. If more Canadians would like to leave Guyana, they can call 608-7012 for assistance. “We hope that more Canadi-

Continued On Page 5

“I would walk into my auditions with my infant son with me. I would feed him, put him down to sleep in the stroller, and pray that he wouldn’t wake up during my audition.”

How important are your goals to you? Just how committed are you to your goals? What are you willing to sacrifice in order to achieve that goal?

What I have learned from some of the brilliant women I have interviewed for our Women Empowered Feature is that if you find yourself fully committed to your dream, the motivation to achieve it will follow. It is why Vinessa Antoine has risen to peaks of success, and her star power continues to rise.

Going by the nickname Vee, or Nessa, this resolute Tobago native was born on July 21st, 1983 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I had the opportunity to speak with Vinessa about the importance of focusing on the excitement of discovery, improving herself as an actress, exploring and experimenting with her talents, and using her motivation to fuel her during the hard times.

Vinessa’s career started at the age of four when she studied ballet at the Royal Academy of Dance in Toronto, Ontario. “I danced until high school,” Vinessa tells me. “My parents asked me if I wanted to go to University and I said no way. Dance was what I wanted to do, and I was going to do it. They gave me an option, but let me know that if I decided to go the dance route, I was on my own. You know West Indian parents; they have very old school thoughts on what they think an acceptable career path should be.”

VINESSA ANTOINE

Never taking anything for granted!

With that, Vinessa left and headed of to Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City. On her own it was difficult but not impossible. While dancing, she worked three jobs, which allowed her to make enough money to survive in the big city. She danced for three years, and decided that she was going to do acting lessons as well. “I wanted to be that Broadway chick too,” Vinessa explains. “I was 21 years old, and I wanted to express myself in a multitude of ways.”

Her hard work began to pay off when she accepted her first role on the show Soul Food, playing Bird’s best friend. It was at this time that she discovered she was pregnant. “The last episode I was pregnant, and they didn’t know it. It was horrible because I was nauseated most of the time. Imagine my surprise when the actor who played Bird’s husband walked up to me and said, “You are pregnant. I can tell because you are glowing.”

It was after Soul Food that Vinessa’s life began to ramp up. Her manager and agent decided to drop her, so with her son strapped to her back, Vinessa made the trip to Los Angeles. “I had no car, and only a few dollars to my name. I ran from audition to audition. I booked a lot of commercials (more than I anticipated), and this is how I survived when I was out there. I would walk into my auditions with my infant son with me. I would feed him, put him down to sleep in the stroller, and pray that he wouldn’t wake up during my audition. It was a struggle, but I am a tenacious person.”

After some time out in LA, Vinessa came back to Toronto and began to do some work here.

It is awesome to see how quickly life seemed to move for her from this point, and we spoke about what she learned while in each of her roles.

“I have had the opportunity to play some great roles. One of my first roles when I returned to Canada was in the show ‘Being Erica.’ I learned a lot by watching the lead, and I took the lessons and applied them in my future roles. I was cast in a show called ‘Heartland,’ which was really fun for me because I had the opportunity to learn how to ride horses. I had a chance to do some stunt work in my next role on a show called ‘Haven.’ I like the fact that it was a role that allowed me to be a little rebellious, and a little naughty. I felt the same way about my character in ‘NCIS.’

In ‘Lucky 7,’ I played Isaiah Washington’s daughter, which was an experience in itself. It was also the first time that they pulled the plug on a show while we were shooting. It was like, ‘Yeah, we are done here,’ and the crew just walked off set. I was disappointed because it was going to be the first time that I was really exposed to the American audience. My exposure came when I was on General Hospital. This role grew my fan base. It was very fast paced, and during my time on the show, I had to learn a lot of lines, and there was a lot of dialogue. It was not my favourite role. I just was not able to sink my teeth into it.”

Vinessa’s most recent success has been playing the role of Marcie Diggs in the show Diggstown, which premiered on March 6th, 2019, on CBC Television. The story follows a corporate lawyer who reconsiders her priorities after her aunt commits suicide following a pernicious pros-

ecution. Marcie teams up with a group of lawyers who struggle to keep personal disappointment and demons out of their practice. The team works actively in the community finding justice for their diverse clients, as they explore topics of racism, poverty and gender bias.

The show balances provocative and poignant stories, and keeps the viewers hooked with the emotional drama that happens out of the courtroom. With clients facing: homelessness, unemployment, and imprisonment, the lawyers have to untangle the facts to find the truth ensuring that their clients are treated fairly. “What makes this show so gripping,” Vinessa tells me, “Is the fact that the people and cases in the show are relatable. These cases are real, and it is about people going through extraordinary situations.” The show is currently being broadcast on CBC Gem’s, and earlier last week, Diggstown was picked up and will be airing on BET’s new streaming platform BET+.

Vinessa’s final word for young actors and actresses; “Know who you are. People will try to make you into something they want. No one can do you better than you.”

Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News

It has been a strange time for many of us: not going to work, extra time on our hands, dealing with the uncertainty. Many of us are turning to social media as a way to tune out the noise. Edison Research’s Infinite Dial reported that in 2019, more than half of Americans listened to podcasts. Podcast creation continues to grow, with over 700,000 podcasts and 29 million podcast episodes in reported last year.

With these mindboggling numbers, I can only imagine how intimidating it could be to start a new podcast. What would you talk about? How can you differentiate yourself from the over 700,000 podcast that are already in play?

Dr Onye Nnormon’s students inspired her. Dr O is an assistant professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and she is a member of the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Family

and Community Medicine. As a racialized woman, Dr O has always been very vocal about how racism impacts an individual’s health. Her students raised some questions, “How do we stay well when we have to deal with microaggression? How do we deal with this harsh realization that we are going to face barriers because of the colour of our skin, even in this time?”

These questions are what helped to cultivate the birth of a podcast that she refers to as, “Course 201. Staying well, thriving and finding joy.” Race, Health and Happiness puts black, indigenous, and people of colour on the main stage. The main purpose is to demonstrate how people have thrived and survived systemic racism, and how they overcome and enjoy life despite the challenges.

Dr O with the help of Dr Karl Kabasele, Obadiah George, Semipe Oni, and Bhavna Samtani, have created their own niche in the podcast world, and on Monday, April 6th, I had an opportunity to join in on an episode of Race, Health & Happiness.

“I can remember to this day, three-year-old Celina, singing naked at the top of the stairs, singing her favourite Rod Stewart song, ‘If you want my body, and you think I’m sexy….”

I happened to catch the episode

starring the one and only former MP Celina Ceasar-Chavannes. It was a quick but revealing look at: her journey to finding her seat at the table, the importance of showing up as your authentic self, and how she has learned to tap into the strength of her inner child.

I really want you to check out the interview for yourself, so I am not going to give everything away. Celina’s story is an experience. Her uncanny memory brings the listener back to the time when she learned that she had the ability to speak her truth. She is honest about the fact that she was not the greatest child: she would be the one saying the cuss words on the playground, be playing kissing tag with the boys, all the things that nice girls should not be doing. She does admit that it was her intelligence that saved her through elementary school, middle school, and high school. Even though she was acting out, she was still bringing home those A’s.

Some of her painful memories include watching her father come home very sad. She didn’t know it at the time, but her father was facing racism at work. There was also the time that she sent out 732 applications, got four interviews, two-second interviews, and no job. It was at this time that her life began to change.

That was the birth of Resolve Research Solutions.

I could hear the pain in her voice when she spoke about the burden of responsibility that she carried during her time in Parliament. “It was my responsibility to speak up and give back. They couldn’t fire me for four years. I love my people. I was going to talk. I was going to say the things that were weighing on those who couldn’t talk.”

Those who knows Celina, knows that she works hard, and she parties harder. “I have fun! I will Fete! I will go 100 in the Fete! I work twice as hard as everyone else, but I take care of myself. I will never be afraid to have fun!”

Stories like Celina’s are important to the make up of our history. Her story, and many others must be explored on a higher level, and Dr O has found a way to do that. Congratulations to the team at Race, Health and Happiness. We thank you for giving back to the community.

Reference Links: The Infinite Dial; Edison Research: https://www.edisonresearch.com/infinite-dial-2019/ Race, Health and Happiness: http://racehealthhappiness.buzzsprout. com/

Routines, work, and mental health; Devising a clear plan for your psychological well-being

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com TC REPORTER

“No one is an island in this.”

It has been an interesting year. 2020 promised to be the start of a new decade, a time of hopes, dreams and opportunities. What 2020 turned out to be is a contradiction to all of our beliefs.

In my daily conversations with all levels of the public, the resounding sentiment is about the difficulties adapting to our new life changes. Everything has been thrown off, and for some, this has presented new challenges, which affects the individual as well as the family. All we can do during this time is learn how to be ourselves in this new world. This means addressing issues concerning our routines, our families, our mental well-being, and our work.

Routines

When this all began, a lot of people wanted to burst out the gate setting schedules for themselves, and their children. Everything scheduled, right down to their lunches. Of course, for many, this did not work out. Here are some concrete strategies that can be utilized to navigate your new world:

• Start and end your workday at the same time. Now, everyone’s workday is different, but staying as close to your familiar schedule as possible helps create a sense

of normalcy and will help you get more work done. Trying to resort to a new routine may add more stress to your life.

• Make sure that everyone in your house is waking up at a reasonable hour. Brush your teeth, start with a good breakfast, and put some clothes on. Give your family a sense of what life is going to look like day-to-day.

• Set aside quality time. Take some time to focus on interacting with your children and put your responsibilities to the side. Let your children direct the play and praise them for their ideas. When you have to get back to work, stay nearby, and let them know you are nearby if they need you.

• Be mindful of the schedule you have set. It is easier to get your children to do homework if they know it is expected at a certain time. Surprising them with a request to do homework when they have settled in to play a video game will result in pushback that could be avoided.

• Practice what you preach. You can’t be telling your children to “Get off the phone,” or “Stop watching television so much,” if you are yourself spending excessive amounts of time on your phone or watching television.

Work

Although in ways the world has slowed down, business continues to move forward, and the majority of us are working from home. This presents challenges, especially if it is not what you are used to. How do you go about being productive, and even increasing your productivity?

• Find a place in your home that you associate with work; somewhere that puts your mind at rest. It could be a small desk, or

the kitchen table, as long as it mentally prepares you to be productive.

• Create a space that is stimulating. Light a candle, keep a photo or vision board nearby, and make sure there is plenty of light. Make sure that you are comfortable and that your senses are stimulated.

• Dress up. You have to feel like you are going to work. Style your hair, brush your teeth, and get out of your pyjamas, which separates your sleep state from your wake state. Getting ready as you normally would for work helps put you in the mental state to be productive.

• Visually communicate. It is encouraged to communicate with your co-workers using video platforms. It allows you to observe facial expressions and offers connection. If you have younger ones, schedule calls over nap time or screen time. Although you might be tempted to close your door, this often triggers children and they will seek to connect with you, so stay present and available.

• Create a pandemic job description. Set new expectations with yourself, and discuss them with your boss, or your team. Unlike your former workspace, you may have children in the background, and they might make surprise cameos in your Zoom videos. Write your current job description, and then revise it with your new one, adding your new complexities.

• Don’t forget to take breaks. They are good for you mentally and physically. Get up and make a coffee. Plan your workout between projects, phone calls or meetings. Go for a walk. Avoid the trap of scrolling through social media. You know how easy it is to get caught up in that.

Mental Health

One of the most concerning issues during this time is the mental health of our community. How are some ways that we can address mental health, especially for those who might be in denial that they are experiencing these challenges?

• Stop pretending that there is nothing wrong. Statements like, “Everything is going to be fine,” actually stokes an anxious brain. It will prompt the need to continually seek that reassurance, which grows anxiety. Instead, try statements like, “We are doing the best we can,” or “We are trying to make things better for us right now. That is why we are doing what we are doing.”

• Avoid anxiety priming. If your child is already anxious, you as a parent must avoid pointing out all the dangers; “Stay away from that person. Did you wash your hands? Don’t touch the doorknob.” Yes, these things are true, but pointing them out only heightens anxiety.

• Keep an eye out for behaviour changes in yourself and your children. Changes in sleep, appetite, mood (feelings of frustration, anger, hopelessness, loss of pleasure), lack of motivation, increased substance use (marijuana, alcohol), are all behaviours that may indicate some mental health challenges. It is important as a parent to be aware that your children are watching to see how you handle stress, and they will pattern it.

It is important that we keep the dialogue going on how to adjust to our evolving situation. This is not easy but sharing positive information with each other will help us move from day to day.

Message to Canadians stuck in Guyana

Continued From Page 1 -- According to the High Commission of Canada to Guyana and Suriname Facebook page, an Eastern Airlines flight is departing Georgetown to Miami on Tuesday, April 14th, 2020, at 4:30 p.m., and Canadians who fulfil the US entry requirements are welcome to join to transit to Canada, on a first come first serve basis. Although this post was meant to help Canadians stuck in Guyana many were not happy or pleased about the situation.

“This flight is being sent by the US for their stranded passengers in Guyana. Why isn’t Canada doing the same? We have been stranded for weeks here and have to rely on the US evacuated flights to take out a few Canadian at a time - to of all places the epicentre of the virus!”

(Facebook User)

”I don’t understand why the Canadian government is relying on the USA to get Canadians out. Canada has airlines. Air Canada or WestJet can go and bring Canadians back and we keep the money in our economy. What about Eastern Airlines dropping people off in Barbados to get a flight back to Canada.”

(Facebook User)

The High Commission of Canada to Guyana and Suriname has not yet responded to any one of these Facebook comments.

For Canadians stuck in Guyana. Here are ten things to do in order to expedite the process:

1. Prepare to leave Guyana at any given time, which means you may have to leave without your full luggage.

2. You will be expected to pay $1,000 USD to $2,000 USD each for a flight to return to Canada.

3. Once you are comfortable with Step1 and Step 2, you will need to give your: name, age, Guyana contact

number and email address, to Dave Deonarain (Barrister & Solicitor), and he will communicate your information directly to the High Commission of Canada in Guyana.

4. You should have a travel agent in Canada available to book flights for you at any time. Syed Rayman (Owner of Roraima Travel in Scarborough, Canada), is available to help those stranded in Guyana. He can be contacted at (416) 412-0103. Be prepared to provide your: full name, DOB, passport number, and credit card information.

5. Contact the High Commission of Canada at (592) 608-7012, to doublecheck that they have your correct information on file to contact you if a flight becomes available.

6. Register or have your family register your presence abroad at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration

7. Send an email to sos@international. gc.ca and provide your full name, Canadian passport number, contact information in Guyana, health conditions and demand that a repatriation flight be sent.

8. Contact your family in Canada to contact the Members of Parliament to make your situation known and insist that the Member of Parliament contact Global Affairs Canada to have a flight sent to Guyana.

9. Contact Minister Marc Garneau’s office insisting on having an evacuation flight arranged to repatriate Canadians stranded in Guyana.

10. Fill out the pre-drafted letter (attached on Canadians Stranded in GT Facebook public group), and have as many families/friends send the letter to their Members of Parliament

Dave Deonarain told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “The Prime Minister’s Office failed to warn Canadians abroad in time for them to get back to Canada. The simple fact that there are still thousands of Canadians stranded all over the world demonstrates that Prime Minister Trudeau’s warning came way too late. This current administration was totally asleep at the wheel. Canadians are going to have to contemplate whom they keep in power to protect, prepare and provide for them when the next crisis hits. “

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@carib101.com

Inspirational quotes

Creatives in quarantine: Who they are and what they’re doing, Part II

In the last edition, I featured three artists to share with you all how they are coping in their quarantine. While some artists have had nothing change for them, others are feeling the impact of Covid 19. In this edition, I feature two more artists living in Toronto to shine a light on their work and the things that they have been up to.

Dwayne Holness - Dukez

Success doesn’t just happen; it takes calculated steps. That is what Dwayne Holness, also known as Dukez, lives by. Holness has spent the last nine years as an innovative and passionate director, videographer, and graphic designer.

He is the founder and CEO of Corex Creative, a company that does photography, videography and graphics to help businesses and individuals’ market themselves.

He has traveled to places like Mexico, Jamaica, Los Angeles and many countries within Africa capturing breathtaking scenes.

As most of his work has been online before the quarantine took place, Holness says that not much has changed for him.

“A lot of the stuff I’ve been doing requires me to be at my computer so not much has been affected drastically yet,” said Holness. “I have a lot of video projects and a lot of editing to do so really it has given me a little bit more time to focus in on each thing.”

Before the coronavirus, Holness was on tour with Lauryn Hill, in charge of

her stage design, merchandise, photography and videography to help build her social media page.

“I’m currently working on a documentary of her tours, so that has been pretty exciting and what is keeping me going right now,” said Holness.

The CEO of Corex Creative has also been on tour with the well-known Jamaican singer, Chronixx and shot a recap video of his performances.

The digital creator says to obtain big opportunities, he has networked with people on higher levels in the industry, kept a good reputation and maintained a consistent work ethic.

Holness says that this is the perfect time to sharpen up on your skills.

“I’ve been watching tutorials and learning new skills that I can add to my set of skills,” said Holness. “Sometimes we don’t have time to focus on ourselves because we’re so run and gun.”

To see some of Holness’s incredible photos and videos, visit www.dukeydukez.com

Nathalia Allen - A Million Minds

Nathalia Allen, a lover of the arts, went to school for graphic design and communications at Centennial College.

“I did gain my skills from fine arts, so I started out doing illustration, drawing, painting and all the basics that they would teach you,” said Allen.

However, as Allen grew older, she decided to grow a business in photography, calling her business A Million Minds. Her Instagram page is very pleasing to the eye, as she keeps a growing colour scheme and mixes in her photography with self-portraits and places she’s been to. Mainly capturing women, she does an incredible job highlighting their unique beauty and style.

When Allen was in school, she completed an internship at New York for a streetwear brand that is now closed called KarmaLoop. She networked with other businesses and took pictures for

her first look book.

When she came back to Toronto, she found it hard to find work so she would ask her friends if she could style and pose them for photos.

It was a requirement for the students to have a blog in the program, so that is where she uploaded her work.

“I hate writing, it’s not my thing, but it gave us the opportunity to create an alias, and that’s when A Million Minds was born,” said Natalie.

One thing many artists struggle with, including myself, is the business side of art. As creators, we just want to be free in creating for ourselves and others, but our art cannot be free.

“I’m really great at maintaining relationships, but I just need to work on my confidence when it comes to the exchange and just getting things in writing,” said Allen.

She says that during her quarantine she has been open to exploring different forms of art again.

“I don’t know what it is, but you feel like you have to be good at one thing, but I’ve been taught so many things, why do I have to just stick to one?” said Allen. “Right now, I’m trying to step away from the thought that you have to be one thing. I feel like I’m a master of art. Period.”

Allen says it is good to have a balance of being productive and resting.

“Equally important is to just really tap into what is necessary for you right now. It’s situational for everyone. So, anyone who is feeling really anxious, I feel like they need to slow down and just allow themselves to be instead of feeling like you have to follow the herd,” said Allen.

The artist says that this can also be a good time to figure out what you want, plan it out and then execute.

To see some of Allen’s work, visit her Instagram page @amillionminds

Welcome to the land of chaos! Somehow us kids have to get through it

BY MAKAYLA B

JUNIOR CONTRIBUTOR

You have entered the land of chaos! So, because most of us are stuck inside, or all of us in some places, this is totally different from our usual. The complete opposite of the schedules we used to follow. Many of us are struggling to find ways to keep ourselves busy. So am I. Not many of us have come up with a routine, and if you have then congrats! You’ve found a way to make use of all this time. Now your job is to help others who live with you to do so.

I’d say about 20% have come up with routines, 30% have started making a routine but haven’t finished (like me, hee hee hee), and 50% that haven’t started making a routine or just haven’t tried yet. There is a possibility that my estimates are wrong. I may not have a full routine but I have the start of one. I basically start my day how I would normally start my

day for school, but instead of going to school, I go to my room and just do my own thing. I draw, listen to music or do crafts. I would love to do more reading, but I only have one or two more books that I haven’t read yet.

I am currently working on a project that I think is a good use of my time. I can probably improve my “routine” by doing a variety of different things. During the week, we don’t really get to spend much time together as a family because both my parents are usually working. On some occasions, my parents have to work during the weekends so we don’t get much time to play things like board games, or cards.

We usually call family when we get the chance. Not being able to go and see family at their house or having them come over when they usually would, is one of the many changes that affect close families. You probably have your friend’s contacts so call them when-

ever you want. It is the only way to talk to them right now.

At home there are many games you can play alone or with a family member. Games like: Solitaire, Jenga, Chain Solitaire, March Same Rank, Napoleon at St.Helena, Devil’s Grip, Klondike, Spider Solitaire, Beleaguered Castle, Seahaven Towers, and Pyramid/Pile of 28 are one player card games. If you aren’t a fan of any of those games there are other games you can play that don’t require a device.

If you want play the funniest games, family games, family reunion games, games for family game night, or game ideas for game night then press on one of the choices that I just listed and you will be brought to a site filled with fun games to do with family and friends. Hope you all have fun and enjoy playing games together! We have to get through this, and why not have fun doing it.

Gourmet Black Coffee

The Corona Conspiracy; Interview with David Icke on London Real

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“Our world is ruled by psychopaths, and run by idiots!” David Icke

What many of us do not realize is that we are on the bottom end of a fierce compartmentalization triangle. At the very top, there are a few who know the truth behind this madness, and at the bottom lays the rest of the society. We are fed information, which many of us take as matter of fact.

Slowly but surely, intellects around the world are beginning to speak out against what they see as a Corona Conspiracy. If you go on social media, you will see videos asking for the ban of 5G because of what it is doing. There are also concerns about what comes after this lockdown. Vaccinations are a major issue, along with a Smart Grid, which could be rolled out as early as 2030.

The article that I am about to present to you is about a documentary that was introduced to me last week. The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper is not an advocate of conspiracy theories, but we do see it as our responsibility to offer credible material that presents a little something different from the mainstream media.

We are going to review an interview conducted on London Real with David Icke. The BBC reported this interview heavily and other news sources (YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and the UK regulator Ofcom) have BANNED it. In the interview, David discusses: the coronavirus pandemic, the worldwide COVID-19, lockdown, how governments have manipulated their citizens, and the agenda behind social control and continuous surveillance of our society. The request is to take in this interview, analyse the information, and then share it on as many social media platforms as possible. Let’s first introduce you to David Icke.

People either highly support David Vaughan Icke’s conspiracy theory claims, or they firmly denounce them. David is an English conspiracy theorist, former soccer player and sports broadcaster. He is the author of over 20 books, and has lectured in over 25 countries. David’s popularity is due to his controversial theories about world leaders, and how the world is painted to look by these world leaders. Some of his overarching themes have been:

• •The world is run by a global elite system called the Illuminate

The government, the British royal family, celebrities, and journalists are all in on it

The illuminate are the descendants of a race of shape-shifting, blood-drinking, child-sacrificing alien lizard people

Now, some of these theories may seem very bazaar, but the knowledge he drops in this interview on London Real does not seem so farfetched because of the facts that he delivers to back up his thoughts. There is no way that I can go over all of his thoughts in this article, but I will list some of them below for your consider-

COVID-19 has been fictitiously created In his interview, David expands on evidence for there being no COVID-19. He introduces the idea that what is being exposed in the current tests for the coronavirus are exosomes. Exosomes are known to play a central role in several important biological processes such as: cellular communication, intercellular transfer of

bioactive molecules, and immune modulation. His claim is that they are part of our immune response system, and they can be released by: disease, stress and fear, and electromagnetic waves (5G).

The test that they are using (Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) doesn’t test for COVID-19, and medical professionals were told that it should not be used to test the virus. The question is; why is it being used?

David also examines the language being used by the media when it comes to COVID-19. As of recent, when the news reports on a death, it usually sounds something like this, “Person died after being tested for COVID-19.” Italy has been under the global microscope because of all the deaths that have occurred there. David points out the fact that 99% of the people who died in Italy from the coronavirus, also were diagnosed with four or five other illnesses, not to mention they have the oldest population in the world. Why is this not mentioned in mainstream news?

Introduction of 5G technologies

What is 5G? 5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including: machines, objects and devices. It is meant to deliver: higher peak data speeds, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability and a more uniform user experience.

In the interview David highlights some of the dangers associated with this 5G role out. He makes a connection between the fact that the first 5G rollouts occurred in China, and it happened to be around the time that the coronavirus began to run rampant throughout the country.

According to David, 5G poisons the cells. The cells then release exosomes, and when the RT-PCR is used to test the individual, they test positive for COVID-19. He reports that 5G at 60 gigahertz can actually stop the human body from absorbing oxygen in the blood, which naturally affects the lung functioning. Before the initial rollout of 5G, there were inquiries as to whether it had been tested for physical and psychological affects on humans. The answer was a resounding no. Ofcom (The Office of Communications in the United Kingdom), has warned broadcasters against questioning 5G, and are actively monitoring television and radio stations to ensure that no links are made on this “baseless claim.” David questions, “Why the pushback?”

Coronavirus’s final destination; vaccinations

Conspiracy theorists believe that this is all leading up to a global vaccine. Bill Gates has long been questioned about his push for vaccines. Theorists believe that it is going to come to the point where authorities will be able to tell if you are vaccinated or not because of the use of nanotechnology microchips. These microchips will be inserted into the vaccine (created to avoid something like this ever happening again), and you will not be able to travel if you are not vaccinated.

It is a long documentary, but David Icke presents researchable information that the viewer can look into for himself or herself. There is a looming economic recession in front of us, and we all need to be hyper vigilant about educating ourselves on the impact of 5G technology, the truth behind this COVID-19 threat, and the violations that it has imposed on our rights and freedom of speech. Below is the link for the full interview. Take a look for yourself, check the facts, and draw your own conclusions.

The Coronavirus Conspiracy: How COVID-19 will seize your Rights & Destroy our Economy https://londonreal.tv/the-coronavirus-conspiracy-how-covid-19-will-seize-your-rights-destroy-our-economy-david-icke/?fbclid=IwAR3 6gBTlLJP5hO4VYFt8VwP0n35F4ZUspwwVuQX tSXLNMAtfs53SCuMyGvw

TUESDAY

TUESDAY

michael@carib101.com

“How do you just give a link on testing?”

Natalie Mehra (Executive Director, Ontario Health Coalition)

Why are so few Ontarians being tested and tracked for COVID-19? This is a question recently raised by the Ontario Health Coalition to the powers that be here in this province.

According to a report from Global News, if anyone were to do the number counts from the Northwest Territories right down to New Brunswick; Ontario has the lowest testing rate per 100,000 persons.

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper spoke with Natalie Mehra, Executive Director for Ontario Health Coalition about the situation. “Every other large province in the country has ramped up their testing volumes much

The global coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on people all over the world. The PC government has taken steps to increase mental health support particularly to front-line workers. There was an announcement made in a press release on Thursday, April 2nd, 2020, that $12 million will be available to increase online and virtual mental health supports, and $2.6 million to hire new psychologists and other mental health workers to support Ontario Provincial Police personnel.

This is good news. Front line workers such as: medical personnel, caregivers, food and medicine delivery, shop owners and bus drivers are at greater risk of exposure to the virus and need help.

Mental health is very important to everyone at this time of enormous emotional, mental, economic, social and psycho-

faster than we have, and what that looks like to us, is that Ontario has made it too restrictive to get tested, therefore lots of people with symptoms just can not get tested at all.”

Her question to the Ford government is, “How do you just give a link on testing, or what is going on? There is a shortage of real agents for the testing, but that is worldwide. Besides, all the other provinces have enough free agents to ramp up the testing, so what’s going on in Ontario?”

“When this started a few weeks ago,” she continued, “We looked at the Ontario government website, and there was no list of assessment centers, so we set out to create our own list. We phoned all the public health units, but we could not get through. We also phoned all the hospitals. Then we started to create a list, and have kept that list up to date, but some places did not want the address of their location center made public.”

“Other places said, ‘Well we have an assessment center, but no walk-ins. Walk-ins are prohibited.’ You have to call public health and telehealth even to just get a test.

Now, there is a pre-screening. We have heard stories from people about the qualifying process, meaning you must have: a fever, a worsening cough and not be able to hold your breath, traveled in the last 14 days,

or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive.”

Just as recent as April 3rd, 2020, the Ford government informed the public of the mass death toll and infections that are on the horizon and said this could hit Ontario as early as the end of April. As of April 3rd, there are a recorded 67 deaths in Ontario and counting. Health officials are pleading with some members of the public to stay home and practice social distancing, which includes staying away from parks and parking lots and not gathering anywhere in groups. As one health official puts it, “How this unfolds is in the hands of all of us.”

The expert’s projection is as follows, do nothing and lose 100,000 people in Ontario throughout this horror, which they are saying could last two years or 18 months. If we all do what we can, the result will be much better for the province and this still means a death toll between 3,000 and 15,000 people.

Mehra however, would like the government of Ontario to do more and move faster. She told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper “I think people are showing their compassion, but our policymakers need to show theirs also. People are doing an unbelievable job, to move quickly and adapt to the changing circumstances, but they need more support.

They need equipment. They can’t do that by themselves. The government has to do that, and it has to move faster than it’s been moving.”

“The public,” she said, “Needs more concrete measures that will keep people safe, and that means more of a shutdown, more testing, more tracking, the people need more rent support, and employment support. Now is the time for us to live up to what we believe our society is. A compassionate one; one that believes in equity. We are called upon to show that now, so let’s do it.”

Here are the testing numbers according to provinces, as of Friday, April 9th, 2020

Province/territory

COVID-19 TESTS/Rate per 100,000

Northwest Territories - 1819

Yukon - 1468

Alberta - 1020

Saskatchewan - 769

British Columbia - 717

Quebec - 611

Manitoba - 519

Nova Scotia - 496

Newfoundland and Labrador - 404

Prince Edward Island - 393

New Brunswick - 376

Ontario - 334

logical upheaval. It is “Connected to how we think about and appraise ourselves, our lives and the people we know and care about .It involves our ability to make realistic sense of the world around us and to react menacingly to it” (Heath and Physical Education document, 2015).

In the press release, Premier Doug Ford states, “Dealing with an evolving crisis like COVID-19 puts a lot of stress on everyone. We are self-isolating, dealing with families with kids out of schools, and the frontline health care workers and first-responders who are keeping us safe each and every day. This very difficult situation will impact different people in different ways, but I can assure everyone we will be there to support you and help you cope in every way we can. Clearly, protecting our health and well-being is everything and that includes mental health.”

The government is working on several initiatives to increase mental health support. In the words of Christine Elliot Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, “It’s never been more important for Ontarians to stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19. As they do, we need to provide them with the support they need to stay mentally healthy during these challenging times as more Ontarians experienced heightened anxiety and depression,”

In an interview on CTV on Saturday,

April 4th, 2020, Roger McIntyre (Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at University of Toronto) stated that these disruptions occurred overnight making it more stressful for people. People who have lost their jobs are more likely to become suicidal or turn to alcohol or addictive pursuits as coping mechanisms.

He suggests that there are certain things that people can do to develop resilience. It involves, “Being able to recover from difficulties or change to function as well as before and then move forward” (Ministry of Children and Youth Services, 2009).

He recommends that people most affected can: develop social resilience by getting governmental help and support, individual resilience by getting enough sleep, exercising and healthy eating, and by developing interpersonal connections through meaningful and engaging ways. Social media may have a negative impact as it prevents no-one interaction.

What do the governments plans look like?

• Focusing on mental health agencies by hiring and training more staff

• Purchasing equipment and appropriate technology

• Expansion in evidence-informed cogni-

tive behaviour therapy (CBT) BounceBack will help youth aged 15 and over through interactive lessons and workbooks

• KidsHelp Phone 24/7 will provide virtual support service through professional counselling

• Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural (iCBT) Therapy-Online CBT supported by therapists will be offered in English and French

• ICBM will be provided for frontline health care workers who are experiencing anxiety, burnout and PTSD

• Training for brief CBT-based interventions for frontline workers at Telehealth Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) personnel will receive greater mental help support.

Reference Links Heath and Physical Education document, 2015 http://schools.wrdsb.ca/doo/files/2013/11/ Parent-Handout-Ontario-HPE-CurriculumQA.pdf

Ministry of Children and Youth Services, 2009 http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/about/rbp/Results_2009-2010.aspx

The Corona Documentary; A Project Shaped by the People

“I figured out the key to winning for me was trade for trade, before trade for pay. So, I reached out to restaurants to do food videos and photos.” Javon Martin

Javon Martin, also known as Javon.ca, is talented young, black man from Toronto who knows how to capture great moments.

Martin defined four different regions; his business works in which are culture, real estate, food and corporate. It’s hard to believe that he only started in September 2018 when he has covered

countless events and restaurants.

“Real estate, culture and food really carried me throughout the whole year. I really dove deep into those, really enjoyed the process,” said Martin.

One year later after starting his business, he decided to take a month off.

“I thought let me celebrate my one year of business by taking one month off, but then I got bored a couple days in,” said Martin.

He started to do research on tech conferences that were coming to Toronto like Elevate, Websummit and Collosion, and signed up to become a volunteer.

“Opportunities happen when you say yes to different things,” said Martin. “If it involves connecting with new people, learning new skills or trying something that you never tried before, growth is on the other side of that.”

He used the opportunity to also give out his business cards. That is how his introduction to filming conferences

started out, and from then on, conference teams let other teams know about his work too.

Covid 19 has impacted Martin due to all events over the next few months having to cancel to enforce social distancing.

Inspired by how the whole world seems to be affected by the coronavirus on some degree, he decided to start a project in his free time called Coronavirus Documentary. The project is a call out for people from all over the world to submit a video of themselves answering specific questions.

“I will be encouraging everyone to film their own video in the way that they want to from their own home or where they are,” said Martin.

Martin has also opened up the project to other creatives who may want to help him out, calling the recently formed team the Rona Team, who helped draft the questions.

“A big thing that was on my mind was the loss of time. Time that we’re not going to be able to get back, and a lot of people were looking forward to the opportunities that were going help build their resume this summer. This way they can still build their network and sharpen their skills,” said Martin.

“This is really valuable, and this is going to be shaped by the people,” said Martin. “I want the people that are going to be involved feel like they are being heard.”

So far Martin has received video diaries from participants in Canada, China, France, Barbados, America and the UK.

“How can we be with people, without being with people is a question that I’m playing with right now,” said Martin.

To get involved in the Coronavirus Documentary or see Martin’s work, visit javon.ca

Acceptance of directives by Peel Board a good move

On Tuesday, March 24th, the Peel District School Board (PDSB) met at their monthly meeting. This year the meeting had to be done virtually and was live streamed. At this meeting, the PDSB unanimously agreed to accept all the 27 ministerial directives that came out at the Ministry of Education review which was presented to the board on March 13th, 2020.

The review was initiated in November 2019 and an interim report was released in January. The final report was sent to the Minister of Education in February. It took about four months for the review to be completed. It examined: systematic discrimination (specifically anti-black racism), human resource practices, board leadership and governance issues.

The ministerial directives that

the PDSB accepted were specific in terms of what the board had to do to ensure that it: regained the publics trust, addressed systematic anti-black racism and ensured that inadequate and ineffective governance issues and dysfunctional leadership structures are resolved. The directives seek to readdress the inequities and injustices that have been allowed to prevail at the PDSB for far too long. The Minister of Education, Stephen Leece hopes to use the findings and recommendations from this report as a template to adopt governance issues across the province.

The news release published on March 13th, 2020 by the Minister of Education was titled, “New Ministerial Directives to Drive Change and Combat Discrimination in Peel” and is extensive in its application. Each of the ministerial directives is targeted at a specific issue that the ministry review focused on. With respect to the anti-black racism, that resulted in black students having higher rates of detentions, suspensions, expulsions and how they are racially profiled, was addressed in directive number 13. The PDSB shall “Give full and fair consideration to make a responsive and respectful apology,” Many in the black community

would welcome this apology as it is an acknowledgement of what many parents and students felt.

Many of the ministerial directives are intended to make the PDSB accountable and responsive to the concerns of many stakeholders in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga who have children in Peel schools. The directives include:

• The appointment of an independent mediator or conflict resolution expert

• Additional integrity commissioner

• External parliamentarian/governance expert

• Independent expert to conduct a comprehensive employment system review (ESR)

• The establishment of an equity office managed by a superintendent of equity, which would amalgamate the equity and climate portfolios

These are positive expectations.

In addition, there are directives, which are specifically intended to address inequity issues within the PDSB. They include:

• A comprehensive annual equity accountability report card

• A comprehensive four-year strategy and action plan to address the disproportional numbers of black students in applied and locally developed classes

• A diversity plan

• A learning plan for senior staff

• The collection of race-based data on suspensions of black students

It is worth reading the full Ministry of Education review of the PDSB and the ministerial directives at the Ministry of Education’s website (www.edu.gov. on.ca), or the PDSB’s website(www. peelschools.org). The next board meetings will be held on April 15th, 2020 and April 29th, 2020 and they will be live-streamed. Anyone is welcome to make deputations to the board by following the protocols that are outlined at the website.

References Minister of Education Review www.edu.gov.on.ca Peel District School Board www.peelschools.org

The Drip: A podcast birthed

out of COVID-19 for the Millennial Mind

christina@carib101.com

It seems that every news outlet is covering the effects of COVID-19 and with good reason. For the millennial – those born between 1981 and 1996– this is more than likely the first time that we are living in an extended state of emergency. This is a season of change, forced innovation and questioning. But out of a time such as this, I am sure greatness can be birthed. One such act of greatness to be birthed is that of the podcast called The Drip. Patience Adamu, a fourth year Ph.D. student at Ryerson University, as well as a diversity and inclusion specialist reached out to Kurtis after interacting with his content on the social media platform Instagram. Kurtis

Vermont, a passionate entrepreneur with over 7 years of business acumen under his belt, decided to further extend his postsecondary education and pursue urban studies. On his decision to put business on hold, he says, “[my] focus [turned to] community and improving life for members of our community […] people of color at large.”

Since the federal election of 2019, Vermont had been sharing news and information surrounding the candidates, platforms and policies building up to October 2019 over on Instagram. The news and information that he was sharing at that time was met by lots of positive feedback and positive responses. When COVID-19 came along, he decided to do the same thing, “in [about] 2 weeks, my people received 102,000 views on Instagram”. One of those views was that of Adamu, who reached out to him to find out if he would be interested in partnering with her to product a podcast that would, “find some space to talk about how COVID-19 is impacting people of color in the Greater Toronto Area”.

Adamu states that the demographic and perspective that the Drip captures is often a, “perspective that wasn’t achieved by mainstream media. […] The Drip caters to the multicultural, millennial audience and informs you of important developments in the fight against the virus, while assessing decisions being made by our political leaders.” When you listen to the first two episodes, you are able to feel the synergy between Adamu and Vermont. You can expect to receive the, “deep dive from Patience, and the day to day understanding from [Kurtis].” One thing that is key and fundamental to The Drip is ensuring that through their platform, they are, “pointing people in the right direction of the right news, news that is fact checked.”

When I listened to the first episode, not 5 minutes in, I was challenged with Vermont’s point of view on the good side that COVID-19 is bringing to our attention and I’ve even seen if for myself. Vermont makes mention of how there are less people driving, which is having a positive effect on the environment. In my

house, I noticed that my dad – who never goes for a walk – has been itching to take a stroll outside to get some, “fresh air”. This is a great thing! Adamu states, “75% [of people] will never catch COVID-19, but we will all feel the impact environmentally and economically. [But] the unintended consequences are also very powerful”. The truth is, things are happening so fast with COVID-19, not just in Canada, but the world at large. On top of everything that’s happening, The Drip seeks to help people – especially within our community - “thoughtfully digest the information”. The second episode came out on April 13th, 2020 and you can catch new episodes of the podcast each week. The Drip is on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. This article is the first in a series chronicling local, community-based podcasters. In light of Coronavirus keeping more and more people working from home, this series intends to provide you with profiles of local podcasters who are producing excellent content, which you can tune into during your Pomodoro work sprints.

Learning from the past to be prepared for the future

Defining Moments Canada is a digital commemoration organization founded by Neil Orford and Blake Heathcote in 2017. Appealing to both the cultural heritage and education markets, the website is an innovative way to teach and commemorate Canada’s prolonged history using digital tools and storytelling.

A little over 100 years ago, the entire world was in the midst of a severe crisis,

It was the 1918 flu pandemic, one of the most catastrophic events in human history.

Appearing in three deadly waves from 1918 to 1920, what is commonly referred to as the Spanish flu infected 500 people worldwide, equalling to one third of the world’s population during that time period. The death toll was estimated to be between 50 and 100 million and claimed the lives of somewhere between 2.5% and 5% of the global population.

In recent weeks, Defining Moments Canada has received considerable attention due to its extensive research on the 1918 flu pandemic, a project concluded in July 2019.

From being employed as a teacher to becoming president of the company, Neil Orford’s focus was always to educate and “tell untold stories from voices that have been underrepresented,” he says. “The joy of teaching was always finding ways to inspire the next generation to care about Canadian history.”

The site also offers online educational tools with digital lessons and curated research resources for teachers to assist students in understanding Canadian history.

Due to natural human curiosity in understanding what is currently happening worldwide, the user engagement on the website has skyrocketed. Many are trying to connect the dots between what occurred previously in 1918 and our present world.

Canada in particular was struck hard by the devastating 1918 influenza.

The international pandemic killed approximately 55,000 people in Canada. Most of the victims were young adults between the ages of 20 and 40. According to Parks Canada, “inadequate quarantine measures, powerlessness against the illness, and a lack of coordinated efforts from health authorities led to unsurmountable chaos.” With health care professionals, nurses, and volunteers on the frontlines combatting a disease that spread like wildfire, it was a tale we all scarily know too well today. The pandemic was a significant event that began the evolution of public health care systems in Canada, resulting in the establishment of the Department of Health by the federal government in 1919.

“There are lessons that can be drawn and parallels that can be established. The best way to characterize what took place 102 years ago is that [Canadians] did the best with what we had. There are real stories of heroism, volunteerism and communitarianism that are being echoed today and should be celebrated by us,” Orford says.

Orford reminds us that this is a time of reflection for ourselves and society.

“Pandemics are a historical reality, they happen. There’s a tremendous amount of hubris that we’ve lived in our very entitled and privileged existences in the western world. It reminds us as a species that we are deeply intertwined and connected to our natural world. It reminds us that in this highly globalized world that we live in, how sensitive, alert and aware we have to be to things like global travel for example.”

So, what does this mean for our world at the moment? With daily news headlines looking bleak and uncertainty from our government, it feels as if returning back to ‘normal’ is a far-fetched reality.

“I think it will bring a heightened awareness to people about the lifestyles that we lead and the ways that we carry on our existence. It certainly did 100 years ago, and I have every reason to believe that it’s going to today.

Orford continues. “Humans are humans and often times those lessons don’t last long, but one hopes they will. I have a personal hope that what we’re experiencing right now will give us a greater sensitivity to climate change, other issues facing the planet and humans as a species within that ecosystem.”

Second phase of online help for students available

PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The provincial government of Ontario has deemed it necessary to extend online support for students. With students having missed two weeks in March and now the entire month of April, it is important that they access online help during this time.

In his announcement on Tuesday, March 31st, the premier of Ontario Doug Ford stated, “To ensure continuity of learning the government is launching the second phase of Learn at Home developed in conjunction with education partners. The government is establishing clarity for parents, enhancing education supports and creating opportunities for teachers and educators to connect with students.”

The first phase Ontario Together (an online portal) was launched on March 21st, 2020. It is a collaboration of different organizations in the telecommunication industry, which hope to ensure that lowcost and high-quality strategies are used to close the equity gap that some students face with respect to accessing technology across the province of Ontario.

Entering the spring season while the novel coronavirus is simultaneously sinking its teeth into the world is a little frightening to imagine. As the temperature constantly changes, you may feel quite anxious after a few sneezes and a scratchy throat. Is it allergies, a cold, the flu or COVID-19?

The bad news is that you may feel under the weather. The good news is that we here at Toronto Caribbean Newspaper have provided a practical guide for those who have the virus or those who want some tips to help prevent it.

First, it’s important to know what the virus feels like. Symptoms may vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include:

This is indeed a challenging time for many school boards across Ontario, as they grapple with how to assess and evaluate online lessons, which the Ministry of Education has provided. In a letter to parents from Peter Joshua, the director of the Peel District School Board on Tuesday March 31st, he wrote, “We are working to ensure that our use of online learning environment will not widen the divide between privileged and underserved students, and that alternate learning strategies will be available.”

Peter assured parents that attempts will be made to narrow the digital divide, and to contact each student by email or phone to find out the nature of their technology needs.

In addition, there will be ways to:

• Ensure equity of access to devices and Wi-FI

• Support mental health needs

• Provide help for students with special education needs and English language learners

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is also looking at ways to get feedback from parents/guardians to find out what they need to put in place. In a Facebook post on Monday, March 30th, the Director John Malloy wrote, “From our TDSB students, this is a challenging time. We want you to know we are working very hard to get things sorted out so your learning can continue. We want to hear from you, connect with you, help

you. We will work through this together and we are thinking about you.”

He told parents that TDSB is developing a plan to connect teachers and students being driven by teacher-lead learning. This will start on April 6th and he acknowledged that there will be challenges in terms of how this will be implemented according to March 31st CTV report online. Premier Ford assured students and parents on Tuesday, March 31st. “We cannot put the school year in jeopardy. That’s why we’re providing additional tools for at-home. We cannot put the school year in jeopardy.”

Stephen Leece, the Minister of Education further elaborated, “By providing clarity for parents, enhancing support for students and enabling the teacher-student relationship, we are ensuring our children continue to safely learn providing some sense of safety and hope for them amidst this difficulty.”

The Minister unveiled a new set of expectations for the education community including the following:

1. Reconnect students with teachers and other staff, including mental health workers

2. Re-establishing teacher-led learning for grade groupings listed

3. Leverage digital resources and identifying alternative forms of teacher-student connectivity such as phone and mail

4. Develop a program of training for educators to support them in virtual learn-

ing delivery

5. Final report cards for all students

6. Prioritize and supporting students on track to graduate

7. Distribute laptops and/or devices from schools as needed, while observing public health direction

8. Maintain a responsive posture for health care and community partners requests

9. Establishing formal COVID-19 working groups with education sector unions to work together, share ideas and to find solutions in the support of students

Given the realities that are faced, the Minister of Education is looking for specific learning solutions:

• Free or low-cost learning resources and support for students, parents and educators

• Access to devices, such as computers, tablets and portables Wi-Fi hotspots for families that need the support

• Other ideas, goods or services, for example to support mental health and students with special education needs

The fluidity of the global coronavirus pandemic means that conditions could change with respect to the duration of these online lessons. The online high school support is constantly being updated at lah-elearningontario.ca and the elementary materials at https://www.ontario.ca/page /education.ca.

After recognizing any symptoms, your next steps are even more crucial. Unfortunately, there is currently no specific medicine to prevent or treat COVID-19, but there are many precautions that can be taken to manage the existing symptoms.

• Self-isolation: If you aren’t feeling well, the last thing you should be doing is exposing yourself and putting others at risk. Separating yourself and limiting contact with others lowers the chance of spreading the illness.

• Rest, rest and more rest! You should not be leaving your house at all. Even if you think you’re feeling better, you may still be infectious for up to 14 days. Proper rest can boost your immune system greatly, so don’t feel bad about getting too much sleep. Continue to lay your head down, and catch up on all that much needed R&R.

• Wear protective equipment: We understand that it isn’t practical to lay in bed all day, and trips to the bathroom or kitchen are warranted. This is a necessary precaution, especially if you live amongst others. In order to avoid contaminating others and shared household items, be sure to put on a mask and a pair of gloves.

Personal care items such as clothes, bedding, towels, and toothbrushes should be washed frequently. Common high-touch surfaces such as counters, phones, doorknobs and toilets should be disinfected just as often.

It’s essential to maintain a good diet and healthy lifestyle to prevent and fight off illness. Many foods are packed with powerful immune-boosting vitamins and nutrients that our bodies need to stay strong. Some of these foods include:

• Citrus (oranges, lemons, grapefruits)

• Garlic

• Ginger

• Spinach

• Broccoli

• Turmeric

• Green tea

No battle can be fought unprepared. Sometimes we forget the importance of having certain personal care items and medications on hand in urgent cases like this. If you’re planning on a store run, ensure that you have these essential pharmacy items in stock before grabbing those toilet paper rolls:

do the job. Read the label to ensure that you aren’t doubling up on Paracetamol.

• Vapor Rub. A tub of this nearby the bed table is helpful when dealing with chest congestion.

• A humidifier. Not as vital as the other items, but nonetheless a great product to invest in. Humidifiers add moisture to the air, preventing dryness that could lead to irritation in the body.

While we’re unsure of the toll that this pandemic will take, we can take measures into our own hands to preserve the safety of ourselves and others. In order to flatten the curve, the best methods to avoid contracting the virus are to ultimately:

• Cleanse hands frequently. Our hands are major germ carriers. According to the CDC, handwashing can prevent about 20% of respiratory infections. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water and avoid touching your face.

• Practice physical distancing. Avoid close contact (at least 3 feet) with people and crowded areas.

• Sanitize: It’s a given that the easiest virus prevention measure is regular hand cleansing. But what’s the use of having clean hands if everything else is dirty?

• Paracetamol. A tablet similar to Tylenol, it acts as both a pain reliever and a fever reducer.

• Cough medicine. Any over-the-counter mucus thinning suppressant should

• Stay home. For the past few weeks, this has been possibly the hardest thing to adhere to but staying home doesn’t necessarily mean to stay inside. For those yearning the outdoors as the temperature gets warmer, try gardening or reading a book in the backyard.

JONELL

PANTLITZ

jonell@carib101.com

TC JR. REPORTER

The spread of the coronavirus took us all by surprise. No one expected a pandemic to begin when this virus was first discovered. Most countries now have a handle on the virus or are figuring out ways to combat the situation. That being said, I think we can all agree that one of the major impacts this pandemic has had is how it negatively affected teenagers and the education system. Life as a teenager is difficult on its own without a global pandemic.

Have you wondered what it is like for teenagers at this particular time, and how they are coping? Having to manoeuvre from day to day norm to now being restricted and navigating online classes. As a community newspaper, we are concerned

Being a teenager is difficult enough; why not throw in a Global Pandemic?

with what is happening in our community, and we are determined to stay connected with them on all levels. So, they asked me to contact teenagers in high school and also some who have graduated. Here is what they had to say.

Rushawna (17-year-old senior in high school)

“I was happy to get a break from school, then the Coronavirus started getting worse and that’s when I got anxious. I am worried about what’s going to happen if I don’t understand the work online because I learn better when I’m in the classroom. This might affect my grades. I was also excited for prom. I was even planning everything, I just always wanted to experience what it would be like. Now, I don’t really have any routines I just watch movies and practice my piano skills and go to bed at 3 am. But I’m ok, I think.”

Rayon (19-year-old high school graduate)

“Since everything has started my hours at work have shortened, and I feel like I’m on house arrest. I’m not at all an inside person. Still, this pandemic has made me happy

“Every generation and decade has been through relationship and love issues. As a songwriter/singer, it’s my job to create music that relates to every generation while maintaining a modern feel to it,” Gabriella Koachella.

It is so refreshing to see an artist that puts herself out there musically, ready to show the world what she’s got. She calls New York home and has ties to the Caribbean. Both cultures have influenced her body of work. At times her Jamaican heritage shines through more and the songstress has cleverly found ways to weave these nuances in with creativity.

I took some time to listen to the vibrant songstress and New York’s own,

Drip Queen Gabriella Koachella, who most recently dropped her latest single, “Fussin + Fighting.” It left me with a taste reminiscent of Motown’s early years, yet it had a very contemporary feel to it. Anyone who has had a chance to experience classic crooners such as Evelyn “Champagne” King, or Teena Marie, can speak on a time in musical history when there was a perfect storm of music.

Gabriella has brought back what is known as an unheralded golden age of song writing, production and performance. Her voice is an effortless fusion of soul and R&B, and she can easily be compared to musical divas such as: Summer Walker and SZA. Her song writing aptitude shines brightly in her latest single by tapping into that golden age.

Her power is her embodied confidence. Gabriella isn’t bashful when it comes to expressing herself or sharing her emotions with her audience. She tells it like it is when it comes to love, including the trials and the tribulations, the good times and the bad, raw, and keeping it real throughout.

I had a chance to interview Gabri

that I’m not in school because I would’ve been side-tracked. The thing is, sometimes I feel stagnant. I feel pretty good about the quarantine because I’ve been: eating healthier, finally reading and I even started meditating. I still have anxiety about how long this virus is going to last, and how many people it’s going to affect or kill before it ends. At least I’m sleeping more.”

Indira (18-year-old college student)

“Ever since the coronavirus started, it has been a disaster. I don’t have a normal life anymore. I’m consistently in fear when I’m around crowds or when someone coughs. It’s crazy knowing that this virus is around and there’s no cure. Most days I even get side-tracked and watch Netflix, I’m no longer motivated to do homework anymore.

Honestly, I have been trying to take precautions to protect my family and myself. I started to wear gloves and a mask and I sanitize everything in my workplace. The coronavirus outbreak has also made me less motivated to go to work. I would rather call in, because when working I do not feel protected. I am just angry.”

Kristiana (18-year-old high school senior)

“I was upset when school was initially closed, but ultimately it was a good decision for our health and safety. Personally I’m worried about the status of all graduates, with the workload and due dates, and also when we will get back to our everyday lives.

This situation has affected my ability to be social and network for my upcoming competition and to see my other families more often. During everything that has been going on, I feel grateful for everything because we as Canadians have been given a lot of privileges.

Apart from that, I do find myself sleeping less and at different hours. I am on social media and Netflix more often then I would like. Overall, I do think this break has given me the time I needed, but I am hoping this doesn’t last too long because this entire situation has made me anxious.”

You heard it Toronto! We are having a difficult time out here as well. We are looking for our elders to step up and make themselves available to us young people. The time is now!

ella, and we spoke briefly about her cultural influences, and why she chooses to write and release, “Fussin + Fighting.” “I enjoy all kinds of music,” Gabriella tells me. “This is actually the first song that I have ever written. It took me two hours to write, and I was inspired by: my relationship challenges, my friend’s relationship challenges, and stories that I hear around the way.”

At this point, I had not heard her song, but listening to her unique speaking voice, you could tell that there was something different about her style. “Normally, people will not listen to advice, especially from people they don’t know, so you got to be creative in the manner that you deliver it in, and my latest music embodies that idea,”

Gabrielle speaks warmly about her grandmother, who she says has a heavy influence on her musical creativity. She also credits her team for helping her build her platform. “My team shares information with each other. It is a learning experience for all of us. For us, education is a steppingstone, and we take the time to learn from each other, and from our own individual stories. I have to credit Krystle Nicole, who

taught me how to conduct myself in the music industry. It can be a tough industry to crack if you don’t have guidance.”

This young woman’s future looks bright. She continues to work on her music, and during this lockdown period, she has been creating and putting her thoughts on paper. “It has given me some time to really take a look at myself,” she tells me.

Gabriella most recently released another song that focuses on introspection. The poetic nature of making, having, and keeping connections flows deep and leaves a lasting impact. Gabriella not only makes songs that are real and transparent, her words are educational to new lovers and seasoned lovers. She sings with the purpose of educating others, not only about themselves, but how they interact with their world.

Do you have to find a way to communicate your feelings to a loved one? Sometimes the best way to do it is with the soothing sound of music. Why not give it a try? Check out ,”Fussin + Fighting,” at https://audiomack.com/song/gabriella-kochella/fussin-fighting-gabriella-kochella

During this quarantine, you’re probably watching and listening to a lot of creative content, but how much of that content is Canadian? It is rare to see ourselves as black folks from Toronto reflected in the shows and movies we watch, but one series hopes to change that.

Next Stop is a series which consists of four short episodes posted on the YouTube channel, Bare Minimum.

Three out of the four episodes have just over 1,000 views on YouTube. To secure possible funding to produce more episodes, the team has started campaigning and marketing online to increase their views.

Jabbari Weekes, Tichaona Tapambwa, and Phil Witmer are the creators of the short series.

Weekes and Tapambwa have cowritten the episodes, and shared the work directing as well.

Weekes and Tapambwa have a media background and have always been interested in the film industry.

“Jabbari and I have just been looking for a way to get into the television industry. We felt that creating our own content would be the best way to go about it,” said Tapambwa.

Weekes says that he wanted to see more stories specific to black people from Toronto.

“We’ve always kind of wanted black content. We were seeing black content coming out more from America but where are our stories?” Said Weekes. “Of course, there is the amazing content that 4Yall produces. We all know a bunch of Toronto hoodmans skits, but who are these people when they are just being real people.”

The first episode of the series is called Beef which captures the relationship between two friends debating over which subway station in Toronto sells the best beef patties. Vanessa Adams who plays one of the friends says that the best patties comes from Islington station, the West end of the city, while her friend, played by Jordan Hayles, argues that the best patties comes from Warden station, the East end of the city.

In each episode there is also an underlying message that is spoken about as well that mostly people from Toronto would understand. Just before the two friends get into their argument, Jordan

vested their own money into creating all four episodes. The cast and crew did a phenomenal job producing a professional and beautifully shot and edited series.

“We thought about how we can tell stories in a realistic way but still be funny and not overly preachy. We blew our savings to try to get that content because we couldn’t find it anywhere else,” said Weekes.

“Nobody will fund us out right, so the best method was to be to produce content that shows that there is a need and a want for this these types of stories, and I guess that’s also why we ended up selffunding,” said Tapambwa.

They asked their friends and family as well for help on the creation of Next Stop. Almost the entire cast and crew knew each other prior to filming. The actors in the film may have not had any experience being on camera before, but they all could connect deeply to the script and to the lingo in different ways.

“We weren’t working with trained actors, but we were working with the right personalities for what we want to shoot,” said Weekes.

The third episode is called Duppy which showcases a “jobless man at the mercy of LinkedIn and seasonal affective disorder when a mysterious spirit appears.” Thousands of people in Canada have been

previous place of employment and during that time I was just feeling super lonely as I had just come out of a situation with my now ex. Personally I’m okay with being by myself but that was the first time I felt miserable with nothing to do. I guess Caribbean energy, we like to make fun of ourselves when we feel miserable. I had an inside joke with myself calling it duppy recession,” said Weekes.

The narrator of that episode was Sharine Taylor, who also did the graphics for the first episode of Next Stop.

Taylor is also currently writing the second season of Next Stop. She speaks about a lack of shows on television representing the Caribbean-Canadian experience.

“I don’t know if you remember The Kink that used to play on Global TV, it was a screenplay that was developed off the stage play called The Kink in My Hair. I loved that show so much because I felt like it was such a snapshot of Toronto and our Caribbean-Canadian identity and experiences,” said Taylor. “I really think it was a loss that we really didn’t have anything afterwards.”

Next Stop hopes to feature a new character from another part of the city in every episode. Taylor believes that Next Stop really captures what it is like to live in Toronto for most black people.

Food banks on the frontlines; food insecurity becoming a rising concern

JANIECE CAMPBELL

janiece@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Many food banks and charities across Canada are seeking donations as the demand for food becomes increasingly significant due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the current economic instability leads to more layoffs and temporary unemployment, food banks are seeing a steep decline in donations at an urgent time of need.

One of these reputable organizations is The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army is a faith-based organization, providing support to 400 communities across Canada since 1882. In the last year, The Salvation Army food banks assisted nearly 1.2 million men, women and children. The organization was founded by a minister, William Booth, who took his mes-

sage of hope to the poor and hungry. Over 150 years later, their vision still remains the same.

“We aim to serve the suffering humanity. We look for people who are hurting and we try to fill that need. We see every individual as equal in the eyes of God and worthy of respect and dignity. We want to do everything we can to serve them and raise them up,” says Major Rob Kerr, the Divisional Secretary for Public Relation.

The Salvation Army is currently active in 131 countries, providing a multitude of programs outside of food insecurity. Within various communities worldwide they offer emergency shelters, rehabilitation services for those struggling with substance abuse, thrift stores and churches.

Recently, many donations received have come from local restaurants that were forced to close down because of the pandemic. While the unfortunate response is quite positive for the sustenance of The Salvation Army, they still require the efforts of the community. Currently, they are seeking donations of items with a decent shelf life that deliver the necessary nutrients adhering to the Canadian food guide. Some examples may include:

Food

• Starches (rice, pasta, cereals)

• Spreads (jams, honey, peanut butter)

• Canned goods, meats and vegetables

• Infant foods and baby formula

Personal hygiene products

• Shower needs (soap, shampoo, deodorant)

• Clothing (socks, underwear)

• Diapers

• Feminine products

Major Rob notes that any product donated does not get processed immediately. Due to the rapid widespread ability of the virus, they are required to take heightened precautions to ensure the safety of everyone involved with the food handling.

“Any donations of food received gets quarantined for three days, as we’re aware that the virus can sit on a surface for up to three days. After the three days where it remained untouched, it goes through a sorting process. The volunteers and staff who sort the product are wearing protective equipment like masks and gloves, and anyone going through the food areas are

completely screened,” he says. “In the way we provide food to people, social distancing is forced. There is very minimal contact. Surfaces are sanitized between every visit to the food bank. We are working to ensure that the entire process is safe. It’s important for us to do this, as people need the food to go home and feed their families.”

The Salvation Army drop off station is located at Railside Distribution Centre, 150 Railside Rd in Scarborough. All donations can be safely placed in the bins within the parking lot. The station will be open Monday to Friday each week from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Financial donations via the website or through the phone number 1-800-SALARMY are also highly encouraged in order to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.

“The Salvation Army has continued to operate and keep our doors open through all of this. We have not closed one of the locations. We will continue to serve the people in our communities, it’s vitally important. But at this time, more than ever, we need the community more than ever,” Major Rob says.

Life needs the Caribbean! Caribbean Coronavirus Traveller Sentiment Webinar

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“No! I am not okay, I just had to cancel my business trip.”

(Twitter Post, March 27th, 2020)

“Since our 2020 trips are cancelled, my girlfriend wants to travel more then ever when it is over.”

(Twitter Post, March 27th, 2020)

The economic system breakdown has been the one aspect of this entire debacle that has really hurt people on all levels. Industries all over the worlds are shutting down, and for many of these industries, the future looks bleak.

One industry that refuses to go down without a fight is the tourism industry. Empty hotels, cancelled flights, closed tourist sites. The COVID-19 has crippled global tourism, and the industry is expecting losses running into billions.

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper was invited to sit in on the Caribbean Coronavirus Traveller Sentiment Webinar hosted by The PM Group Marketing Communications and Sparkloft on Thursday, April 2nd, 2020. The point of this webinar was to shed light on what has happened, and what is happening in the industry. Some of the questions posed were:

• Why this crisis is different?

• What are consumers thinking?

• What will the next phase of this crisis be?

• How to adjust your marketing as a tourist destination?

• How to prepare for a recovery campaign?

Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace from the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, and Hugh Riley (The PM Group) reminded us that the Caribbean is the most tourism dependent region in the world. There is no clear idea when this will all clear up, so the webinar helped destinations to get their houses in order and begin to: support income replacement measures as far as possible, accelerate the development of individual skills/knowledge as recommended, and examine efficacy of all tourism programs in government and our organizations.

The analytical part of the webinar was directed by Martin Stoll of Sparkloft Media. Sparkloft Media is an award-winning social-first creative agency. They focus on social-powered data and insights, social media management, and full-service creative development. For this webinar they highlighted: the stages of the coronavirus, what comes next for the tourism industry, community conversations, and how the tourism industry can support the global community.

The stages of the COVID-19 Jobs are being lost, and there is a lot of uncertainty within the industry. In Australia, people are quarantined for two weeks. In Hong-Kong, people are being forced to wear electronic wristbands to ensure they are staying within the quarantine guidelines. You are not allowed to visit Japan if you are not a citizen. Although most flights have been cancelled, with airlines like Flyus, you can book seats, as they now book to accommodate for social distancing.

The five stages of the coronavirus analysed are: Denial, Unease, Panic, Quarantine, and finally Frustration.

Denial

Denial was estimated to last from early January to February 25th. For many, Coronavirus was a thing in China, and many destination marketers were preparing for spring and summer vacations.

Unease

Unease began to sit in around March 10th. Music festivals and other events were cancelled, and destination marketers were trying to understand if everything could be postponed.

Panic

Panic officially set in around March 12th. This is when the toilet paper rush began, and airfare was at its cheapest. Destination marketers began to understand the depth of the situation, and asked people to postpone their travel plans.

Quarantine

Many Caribbean islands began their quarantines the week of March 16th and Zooming becomes part of our daily reality. Destination marketers came to the decision that the best thing to do was to keep people entertained and connected to the brand destination.

Frustration/Desperation

Majority of the world is in a state of frustration and desperation. People are going crazy in quarantine. They are worried about loved ones near and far. Many are worried about finances. Destination marketers have become empathetic to this and have had to navigate carefully through the new system and show gratitude to their loyal client base.

Community conversations

There are three types of conversations being heard in the community during this time: community support, spread blaming, and pharmaceutical opportunities. Community support has been displayed practically, as people in communities are rallying together to show support for one another. Spread blaming are conversations blaming travellers who took advantage of cheap deals to the Caribbean during the early phases of COVID-19. Finally, pharmaceuticals believed to help fight COVID-19 and those necessary for chronic disease management increases and displayed the US reliance on China.

Focus on community

What needs to be done at this point to get both the tourism industry, and the communities it affects through this pandemic?

Show compassion

People are dying. People are losing their jobs. This is not the time to be selling to people. This might have been the method of operation in the past, but at this point, we have to embrace a different future. It is time to build relationships and adjust creative output on a weekly basis.

It is imperative that large organizations: understand the personal impact the crisis is having on employees and the community, identify how people are feeling and what they need, and then create or promote programs that provides relief.

Overall, there needs to be a shift in how the tourism industry deals with their clients and the communities that support them.

The Last Flight: A powerful new musical by Sharon Jackson

mkuu@carib101.com

He has an important message to share, and yet Bishop Wright’s congregation has be-come hard-ears and rebellious. He needs support. And so, he employs Pastor Johnson.

With the Pastor’s help, perhaps the Bishop can turn things around. But a momentous event lies ahead, and the question is, can the pair do enough to prepare themselves and their congregation for what they’re about to experience?

The answer is revealed in Sharon Jackson’s thought-provoking new play The Last Flight.

Sharon Jackson is the writer and director at God’s Plays Ministries, a performing arts group based in the West Midlands. The group is staffed by volunteers who together de-liver an evangelical community-outreach service. They perform plays and sketches about God and aim to raise awareness around key issues like health and crime

The Last Flight brings us the extraordinary occurrence of a worldwide ex-

plosion, the last day on Earth, and the story from the airport where we find that the last flight is almost set to depart.

Sharon spoke to Toronto Caribbean Newspaper about her new play and her other work in theatre.

“I wrote the play in 2011 while sitting in the New Testament Church, Walsall. It was writ-ten on a Sunday evening and performed the following Friday. That play lasted just twenty minutes, whereas this new version is a full-blown three-hour musical. It has more charac-ters and includes more present-day issues. In the previous version, you couldn’t identify present-day issues other than somebody doing all the wrong things at the wrong time.”

The musical will include songs by the playwright and two songs written by songwriter Sharon Blissett, whose husband Simon Blissett is also the Musical Director.

Over the years, as a singer/songwriter and playwright Ms Jackson has come a long way. Of the events that have influenced how her career in stage and drama has unfolded, per-haps none have been more invaluable than being chosen to play Rose in the play ‘Step-ping Out’ in 2013, her first outing as a central character.

“It helped me,” she explained, “to understand about being backstage and stage presenta-tion because although I’d written The Last Flight by then, it had no body to it. This experi-ence gave me more scope for saying, this is how you deal with setting up auditions, or-ganizing readovers and getting the people with the right

characters to fit the right parts.”

In 2014 she successfully auditioned for the role of Rosa Parks, the African American civil-rights legend, arrested for refusing to move from her seat on an Alabama bus in Mont-gomery in 1955.

Rosa Parks: The Hidden Story, produced by Audrey Hayles-Parkes of Inspiring a New Generation, was written and performed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Rosa Park’s arrest. The play provided an exciting opportunity for several first-time actors to work alongside established ones such as Lorna Laidlaw, known for playing receptionist Winifred Tembe in the BBC1 soap Doctors.

Reflecting on the experience Sharon recalled, “I was Rosa Parks for two years, and that was exciting. I was sitting in a chair for like, an hour and a half, portraying Rosa Parks, talking about when she was growing up, the things she saw, and about when she met her husband and her involvement with the NAACP.* It was good. Very, very good.”

(*NAACP: National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People).

Fast forward to 2016 when Sharon wrote her second play Joy To The World, a romantic story of Mary and Joseph set in a time before the birth of Jesus Christ. Performed at the Nottingham Arts Centre, it examined, not just their journey, but the story of a young, gift-ed, humble, hardworking woman named Claude. It’s a play that offers hope and encour-agement to the many unsung heroes that exist in society.

“Joy To The World is about everyone’s experience,” Sharon explained, “Everybody is Claude. You’ve got people being overlooked at work who could be as good as a line manager or CEO, but they don’t get that chance.”

Like other events, ‘The Last Flight’ has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The original aim for the first performance of the new musical to be on November 7th, 2020, at the Bethel Convention Centre, Birmingham, is threatened. But this remains the aim.

The auditions that were scheduled for March 28th will instead take place online. And de-spite the many challenges caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, Sharon feels very positive about her new play and her team.

“I have a good team that’s overseen by an Apostle. We have a prayer group and things in place that weren’t there before. With Joy To The World, I was very much at the heart of everything. This time we have an event planner/coordinator, a dance coordinator, and we have someone who can stand in for me if I’m not around. I’m happier and more relaxed. We have a lot of fun, and we gel together well.” she said before adding, “The important thing is that you put God first in everything.”

Find out more about God’s Plays Ministries. You can also find them on YouTube.

A call to arms in the fight for food security

wazari@carib101.com

In my last two articles, which revolved around agriculture, I looked at its economic importance and some potential areas that could be explored for financial gain.

The novel Covid-19 virus pandemic has caused me to be taking an even closer look at agriculture and the issue of food security for Jamaica and other Caribbean nations. Because of this pandemic, our paradigm has shifted. This is not just a Jamaican or Caribbean crisis, this is a global tragedy, the most far reaching crisis that we have had to face in our history.

We know natural disasters have the potential to cause a shutdown of transshipment lines’ generally. The Caribbean on a whole, is likely to face interrupted and reduced supplies from its primary source of food items, the United States of America. It’s an awful undeniable fact that we all have to face; Covid-19 has reduced global commerce severely, almost bringing it to a halt. By all appearances an international recession seems to be on the horizon.

It is quite unfortunate that here in Jamaica, not enough has been done to bolster our agricultural sector, and this has rendered us unprepared for this current situation. One thing is certain, there has to be more investment in building a more resilient food system.

Such investments must come from the private sector communities; supported by the Governments of the Caribbean region; as well as, the governments of the wider international community. Enhancing the capacity of developing/ emerging countries to adequately plan for and preserve food security, will not only

serve to prevent insecurity, but will better aid in alleviating a global crisis.

While I encourage international trade, I have seen clearly the importance of individual nations becoming more selfreliant. I can hardly imagine that this Covid-19 scenario will be the last of its kind in the coming years. The world has become a global village and in today’s highly interconnected world, a variety of contagious diseases such as SARS, Ebola, Avian flu and COVID-19 could easily travel across borders.

There has to be a greater thrust towards investing in not only agriculture, and agro-processing, but also programs encouraging nations to maximize on the value added benefits that can be derived from the raw materials/food that their nations produce.

For example, in Jamaica we do not produce wheat, to obtain wheat flour we import the wheat from overseas. What we do have here are a number of other crops that can produce flour. There has been research done by the University of the West

Indies Jamaica using cassava and breadfruit to successfully produce flour. This production has not been done on a large scale. However, we have to strengthen projects of this nature, if we are to survive the years ahead. We really have to move forward as a nation; it is unfortunate for us that annually Jamaica spends approximately $800,000,000 USD to cover our food import bill. We have to aim to reduce that amount significantly over the next few years. This can only be done by: boosting agriculture, agro-processing and the manufacturing sector. This will be possible only if we are willing and committed as Jamaicans, and if we have willing and committed leaders.

Probably you my dear reader might have to explore the idea of investing in agriculture, because food security will soon be a big deal and big business in the next few years. Without food we can’t survive, so agricultural development will actually be investing in your future, and the future of those you love.

Kenyan fashion designers are providing effective face masks

masks in this COVID-19 pandemic, Kenyan fashion designers are burning the midnight oil. They are providing masks to alleviate the shortage.

KENYA TC REPORTER

Designers like Teq Binti from Zuri Afrique have taken to the streets of Nairobi and Kisumu to hawk their cotton cloth masks, using the Facebook platform to get more orders. Yvonne Odiambo from Afrostreet Kollections on a Facebook post notes:

“To everyone who has supported us. Thank you! Through buying these masks, by tomorrow we will have produced 156-170 more masks to donate to those who can’t afford to buy them. Sug-

gestions to how and where we can distribute is highly welcome.”

“Our masks are made of two layers of 100% breathable cotton materials and are washable for re-use.”

“In between the layers is a nonwoven filter material to fortify protection against any liquid in case someone coughs/ sneezes near you. This should be removed and disposed correctly after use.”

“N.B: We have improvised this particular solution by mimicking surgical/N95 masks *in the best way we can*”

“Secondly, it is better having a mask on. The mask prevents you from

touching your face, (i.e. mouth and nose) known entry points of the virus.”

“Thirdly, when you wear a mask you not only protect yourself, but others.”

#MaskForAll

With the Kenyan government announcement this week that everyone will be required to wear facemasks when using public transportation, Avido, a designer from Kibera - teaming up with Project Kenya and Uweza Foundation - have created facemasks and given them freely to their community.

KENYA -- With breathable cotton cloth masks now approved by World Health Organization due to the scarcity of surgical

poetic word the

Diary From An Empath! Shot by Selina

BY GLORIA O’KOYE

Dear Diary,

I’m writing in good spirits

A new day

A new me

Every moment is a precious lesson

Open arms to those who want it

Speak love to those who need it

Provide doors

To welcome venting

A smile...

Only currency

I’m accepting

Too many left behind...

From behind bars

On the streets

Even outcasts from families

That deserves their hearts continuing to beat

They deserve to be told they are loved

Treasured

And accepted

Not discouraged And bullied...

Will speak out!

A price to pay For loving humans

Diary, I won’t give up!

Refuse to back down now.

For a passion

So hard to ignore

It burns my soul

That this lukewarm world

Can be so cold

On a higher path

Phase 2

Dear Diary, I’m deeply hurt So exhausted From this heartless earth!

What’s the meaning of life?

When it’s a loan

To be paid in the dirt!

Time spent on fruitless harvest

My eyes refuse to be awoken

Dry cry

Became a habit

So sick and tired

Of being taken advantage... I’m done being a punching bag

Labelled as an Empath!

Phase 3

Dear Diary, In my solitude I realized I am who I am.

My purpose A gift... Be steady To be grounded To protect myself

In the river of untamed, My faith Is like a boat

Riding out the waves

A cycle that will repeat, I am ready to elevate

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

only 18 years old – Selina decided that she would take a second-year course in her first year. She switched from English to Journalism and Communication, Media and Film in her second semester of her first year.

“I actually took two second courses in my first year. Both of them were video focused. We had eight camera’s big, bulky cameras, and if we wanted to use them, we had to sign them out to do the assignment and return it that day. One of the reasons I run my own business is because I like to do things on my own time, and their camera limitations were not working for me. As an early birthday gift, my dad bought me a camera. I got the set in February, right after reading week. I went back to school and could do things on my time.”

Now with her own camera in hand, Selina’s passion for photography amplified. She started taking pictures of everything. She began working on: framing, sharpness, and the story that she wanted to tell with her photos. It was then that she recognized that she could monetize her talents. She had a friend make her current logo (which was originally pink and green), and she made some slight colour alterations to make it plain black. She wanted her brand to look sleek.

Her first major contract was with a company called IRunTO. The owner found her through a mutual network and asked if she could shoot his clothing line. The exchange would be clothes for photos that she could give to the models that she decided to shoot. For Selina, he custom made her sweater. It said ‘Shot by Selina’ on the back. It took her about two weeks to round everyone up. She selected five models, and did her first promo video.

That pushed her career forward. Selina relives her next great experience with me during the interview.

“I was walking downtown in Windsor with my friend and we passed by this shop with really cool clothes in it. I will never forget it; the owners name was Joe, and the store was called Pushers. He saw us standing outside and he welcomed me when I came in. I introduced myself as a journalist, and he offered the opportunity to take pictures of artists from Detroit.”

Troy Avenue was coming. He was a popular Detroit local, so Selina jumped on the opportunity. She ended up observing other photographers and learned quite a bit. “I wanted to learn one minute clips of products and this gave me an opportu-

nity. I got to see how Detroit videographers worked. You have to learn what to trade your time for, especially when you have just started. I used all the experience to get exposure.”

Selina didn’t stop there. She was introduced to Femi Lawson, who encouraged her talent by having her film him at his booth during Afro Fest. It was also around that time that she was introduced to the newspaper Street Voices. Street Voices is a media platform for street-involved and atrisk youth. It allows them to share their stories, artwork, and opinions with the larger community. In 2016, she joined the magazine, and now she is the designated photographer, videographer, and editor.

Wanting to create balance in her life, Selina strategically found a way to keep her business running, even though she was in full time school. During the summer, she worked at a youth camp and worked on building her portfolio in Toronto, and during the school year, she worked on building her brand in Windsor. People began to recognize Selina and her camera. In her second year of university, she became: the event photographer for the Caribbean and African Organization of Students, began to write for the Windsor Lance, and also got the job as a photojournalist. During this time, Selina noticed her growing passion for human rights stories. Her name was all over the campus, and by her third year, everyone knew about Shot by Selina.

“I have enjoyed all the work that I have done so far. Everywhere I went, people were asking me, to take their photos. At one point, my photos were all over the University of Windsor Campus. I have so many proud moments, but two that definitely stick out are the completion of two documentaries: Marley’s Journey and Traffick on 401. I am at the very beginning of my journey, but I am enjoying every minute of it. I have so much more to learn, but I am eager, and willing to do what I have to do to become a success.”

You can find Shot by Selina on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shotbyselina/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ shotbyselina/?hl=en Website: http://www.shotbyselina.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuos2JMD3tGh4KC5_l6Qw1A

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JUSTIN ALLIMAN

The glory behind his story

“Everyone has a glory story. Nobody’s glory is the same.”

You know that saying, “Sometimes you think you have it bad, until you hear someone else’s story!” Imagine if you can, finding out at the age of four that your parents have been murdered. Having to grapple with the fact that you will never experience the love of a parent. Having to go through post-traumatic stress therapy with your siblings to deal with what you experienced at such a young age. Being told time and time again, “It’s going to be tough for you to become successful. It is going to be tough for you to make it out of this.” Being told that your odds of success are slim, and that you will either end up in jail, or end up dead. How about losing your hearing, being pulled out of school and failing grade three because you couldn’t hear anything. I am going to preface with this; our Classic Man’s story is destined to be a lifetime movie series. This feature will only be able to capture a microscopic section of this courageous man’s journey. I recommend that after reading this feature, you go and pick up his book “Before My Glory” which highlights his successes, lessons, triumphs, tribulations, and personal gems that he has never told anyone. I am proud to present to the Toronto Caribbean community, Mr Justin Alliman. Justin Alliman is a Global Basketball Development Coordinator, and he runs an international basketball organization called Dream Chaserzzz. He is also the Mentor Coach for the Raptors 905. His work keeps him busy. He has opened up seven basketball academies around the world, and has utilized basketball as a way to give back to

his community.

His love for basketball began the day he started playing it. He views basketball as a tool that helps him connect with people, especially young people. His true passion is helping others, and he is able to do so by going into elementary and high schools and sharing his experience, knowledge, and wisdom, to help young people achieve their greatness.

“I feel like I am a regular guy,” Justin explains. “I was a point guard in university, and I was also studying business. My coach was the one who asked me to train kids, and at the same time, I was trying to figure out what type of business I wanted to get into. Now here I am, training youths and athletes in the NBA, and WNBA. I wasn’t used to things going my way, and I realized that I had to take control of my life, regardless of the difficulties that I had faced.”

During his mentoring and training sessions, he focuses on all the things that people don’t consider when it comes to basketball. “Getting on the court is the easiest part. There is the: organization, planning, strategy implementation, and strength/weakness analysis. You have to have your head on your shoulders in order to be successful in your game, and this is what I help my mentees with.”

It also helps that Justin is an excellent role model. His work ethic, sense of community and down-to-earth nature is what inspires many of the young people that he works with. His down-to-earth nature is what allowed me to feel comfortable about asking him about one of the craziest moments in his life.

“I was selling cars when I started my business as my side hustle. I was actually doing so well, with my business that I decided to quit selling cars. I figured I would focus on the business. Well, that didn’t go very well. I realize now that it was because of my business model, but hindsight is 20/20. I lost the beautiful condo I lived in, my Mercedes, everything. I had to make a choice. The car dealership told me that I could come back, and I was tempted, but I knew that I couldn’t. I had to stick to what I was doing and follow through.

I used to work out at L.A.Fitness, and one of my workout buddies introduced me to the idea of working in the Adult Entertainment Industry. I was reluctant at first, but eventually

I gave into the idea, and that is how I ended up at the House of Lancaster.”

Justin stopped at this part of the story and chuckled.

“I haven’t spoken with anyone about this because it was so ridiculous. I decided to check out what this was all about. When I got to the House of Lancaster, I went up to the bar, and the manager told me that I could start as a shooter guy. I was asked if I was comfortable being on stage, and I instantly said no. As I looked around I realized that women are savages. I was kind of disgusted to be honest. After looking around for a while and taking in the scene, I decided that this was not for me. I told the manager at the time that I had to get something out of my car. I left the bar and peeled off. I give myself that. Not everyone is willing to go to the extremes to become successful. I have gone to certain extremes, but at some point you have to draw the line.”

With consistency, dedication, and a better business model, Justin’s life got better, but just as everything was beginning to look up, his brother passed away.

“My brother’s death defeated me. He was like a father to me, and we were the closest. He was the one that I turned to if I needed: money, a kick in the right direction, or fatherly advice and support. Losing him felt like the end of me, and it is something that I deal with to this very day. When you lose someone that you are really close to, it is life changing. At the time I didn’t want to believe it was happening. It was like a bad dream.”

“I had to take a step back and take a look at how I was going to get out of this crisis. I knew that I had to finish ‘Before My Glory.” I had started writing the book when my brother was still alive. He had been the one to advise me to go for it and write about whatever I wanted too.

What I can say right now is that regardless of your situation, where you come from, or how you were raised, you can do something exceptional with your life. If you get a chance to read my book, recognize that you have the power to shape your lives. Forget about what people tell you. Think about what you want to be and create that life for yourself.”

Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News

Photo: @figaero

SHAKE, STIR & SIP COCKTAIL RECIPES

For those of us who need a drink during quarantine

NOEL CUNNINGHAM

noel@carib101.com

CULINARY EXPERT

With stress levels running high and stayat-home orders in place for almost all of us, happy hour is what you make of it. They say when life throws you lemons, you make lemonade. Many of us like myself aren’t used to working from home or staying indoors for long periods of time so this COVID-19 can definitely give us mood swings. With all our favorite bars and restaurants closed it’s now the time to shake, stir and sip our own cocktails at home to lighten the mood.

A lot of people see this time as a very depressing and stressful time but remember there is always a silver lining. Now is the time to look for the good in the bad. So, if you have the luxury of quarantining yourself inside your home, first of all, be grateful. Second, try one of these easy cocktail recipes. Unwind and chill with something cool because let’s face it, no one wants to get through quarantine completely sober. But I strongly recommend drinking responsibly. Now is the time to practice skills that you’ve wanted to learn and here is your chance to work on that mixology skill.

This week I’m sharing three cocktail recipes that are fun to make at home. You probably have some of these liquor on your shelves or these ingredients in your pantry. These cocktails take under five minutes to make with no professional tools needed.

Appleton Rum and Pink Grapefruit Serves: 1 Time: 5 minutes

This cocktail recipe is a mix of Appleton rum topped with pink grapefruit soda and sweetened with a ginger infused simple syrup. Rim the glass with a lime infused sugar which adds an extra flavor that you will enjoy with every sip.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp. lime scented sugar

• 2 oz. Appleton signature blend

• .5 oz. ginger simple syrup

• 4 oz. pink grapefruit soda

• 1 splash lime juice

• 1 cup crushed ice

Mixing Directions

To rim glass: Use the wedge of lime or lemon to rub around the rim of the glass to get it moist then dip into lime scented sugar.

Add rum and simple syrup to a glass and stir to combine then add crushed ice, grapefruit juice, lime juice. Cheers!

Raspberry Mint Smashed

This cocktail was created based on what I had on hand. You can recreate this cocktail using basil or any berries that you have on hand. Frozen berries even work.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp. sugar

• 5-6 mint leaves

• 6 raspberries

• 2 oz vodka

• 3 oz Italian grapefruit soda

Mixing Directions

In a glass muddle together sugar mint and raspberry then add ice and the remaining in gredients and enjoy.

The Famous Blue Lagoon Serves 1 Time: 3 minutes

Blue Lagoon is one of the best tropical cock tails for a hot day. You can put this drink to gether in no time. This blue drink features vodka, blue curacao and lemonade. The love ly blue color of the cocktail looks fun and ex otic, but it really is a very simple drink to make at home.

Ingredients 3 ounces blue curacao

• 2 ounces vodka

• Lemonade

Mixing Directions Pour vodka and blue curacao in a shaker with ice, shake well and strain into a highball glass with ice, top with lemonade, garnish and serve.

Granola and berry parfait

This dish is wholesome, delicious and easy to prepare. Serve it at a festive breakfast with family and friends or any time you’d like to indulge in a decadent morning meal.

Start to finish: 1 hour (10 minutes active)

Servings: 6

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups rolled oats

• 1/4 cup hulled sunflower seeds

• 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

• 1/2 cup peanuts, roughly chopped

• 1/2 cup almonds, roughly chopped

• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup maple syrup

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup grated coconut

• 500 grams frozen mixed berries

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 650 grams plain Greek yogurt

• A few fresh raspberries

• A few fresh mint leaves

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F (175 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the rolled oats, sunflower seeds, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, poppy seeds, cinnamon and salt.

3. In another bowl, combine the maple syrup, olive oil and vanilla extract. Pour this mixture over the dry ingredients and stir well to incorporate.

4. Pour the mixture on the prepared pan and press using a spatula to ensure an even layer. Bake for 12 minutes.

5. Add the coconut and stir well. Press down again with a spatula and bake for another 12 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheet.

6. While the granola is cooling, combine the frozen berries and sugar in a small pot. Cook over high heat until the sugar has dissolved. Lower the heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes or until the berries have mostly broken down. Using a hand blender, purée the mixture until smooth.

7. Once the granola has cooled completely, break it up into chunks with your hands or use a wooden spoon.

8. Using six small drinking glasses, pour about half a cup of yogurt into each. Add 1/4 cup of the berry purée, followed by 1/4 cup of yogurt. Top each glass with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the granola and garnish with a few raspberries and mint leaves.

Breakfast: the best way to start your day

You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but have you ever wondered why? Here are some of the benefits provided by eating a healthy breakfast.

RESTORE YOUR ENERGY

The time between dinner and breakfast tends to be the longest period that your body goes without fuel. Eating in the morning will help revive your brain and muscles and give you the push you need to go about your day. If you don’t eat breakfast, your body will draw on its energy reserves instead, which can increase your level of fatigue.

IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE

Eating breakfast has a direct impact on your cognitive and physical performance throughout the day. Numerous studies from around the world indicate that eating a healthy breakfast improves academic performance and enhances hand-eye co-ordination.

MAINTAIN YOUR WEIGHT

Skipping breakfast makes it more likely that you’ll snack during the day and may consequently increase your risk for obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Plus, studies show that people who start the day with a healthy breakfast have an easier time losing weight and are less likely to be overweight in the first place.

The

Eating breakfast should be a daily habit. In addition to restoring your energy, improving your performance and maintaining your weight, it makes it more likely that you’ll make healthy choices throughout the day.

easy way to make breakfast

A balanced breakfast is essential for making sure your body has the energy it needs to get through the day. Therefore, your morning meal should always include protein, whole grains and fruits and vegetables.

IDEAS FOR A BALANCED BREAKFAST

If you keep your pantry stocked with the essentials, putting together a healthy breakfast will be easy. Some options are:

• Whole grain cereal with dried fruit, yogurt and a small handful of nuts

• Multigrain toast with nut butter and sliced fruit

• Oatmeal sweetened with apple sauce and a glass of milk

• Nut muffin and a fruit smoothie

• Vegetable omelette and a whole wheat bagel

If you’re pressed for time in the morning, prepare your breakfast the night before. You could make overnight oats, assemble the ingredients for a smoothie or pour a bowl of cereal so it’s ready when you wake up.

Breakfast at any time of the day

Is it almost lunch or dinner time? Are you wondering what to eat? If so, consider making breakfast your next meal, no matter what time of day it is.

A BREAK FROM YOUR ROUTINE

Enjoying breakfast foods in the afternoon or evening can give you a welcome break from your regular habits. A change in your normal routine is

also a great way to lift your spirits when you’re feeling down or stressed, especially after a busy day.

A MEAL TO BE SAVOURED

If you’re like many people, mornings are far too rushed for you to sit down and enjoy a full breakfast. When you eat this type of meal at another time of the day, however, you can linger over every bite. Why not spoil your-

4 tasty on-the-go

If your mornings are rushed, it can be hard to make time for breakfast. Here are four healthy options that are easy to prepare and can be eaten on the go.

1. OVERNIGHT OATS

Combine rolled oats, fruit, yogurt and seeds in a Mason jar and store the meal in the fridge overnight. In the morning, add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for a touch of sweetness.

2. A MUFFIN

A muffin with seeds, nuts and dried fruits makes a nutritious and portable snack. Eat one along with a bit of yogurt or a slice of cheese as your morning meal.

3. A SMOOTHIE

To make a breakfast you can drink, simply put milk and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables in a blender. If you want, you can also add some nut butter or Greek yogurt; the protein will help keep you going till lunch time.

breakfast options

4. AN EGG WRAP

To make a breakfast wrap, stuff scrambled eggs, tomatoes, spinach and cheese into a whole wheat tortilla. The resulting meal will be delicious yet portable.

All of these meals are easy to prepare the night before and can be ready to grab on your way out the door in the morning.

self with pancakes, waffles, French toast or a decadent omelette for dinner? Don’t forget the bacon and roasted potatoes on the side.

If you don’t want to prepare the meal yourself, head to a local restaurant or diner. There are many establishments that serve breakfast all day.

5 ways to make your weekend waffles better

Served sweet or salty, with maple syrup or cheese and herbs, waffles are a weekend breakfast tradition for many. Here are five ways to make your next batch even better.

1. REPLACE THE MILK

For waffles with a crunchy crust and a tender interior, replace the milk with water. Or use a carbonated drink like soda water or even beer or sparkling wine. The bubbles from these liquids add air to the batter, making your waffles extra light and fluffy.

2. WHIP YOUR EGG WHITES

Another way to make waffles fluffier is to beat the egg whites first. Separate them from their yolks and whip them until they form stiff, white peaks. Then, incorporate the egg yolks according to the recipe and gently fold the whites into the mixture last.

3. DON’T MIX TOO MUCH

It’s tempting to beat your waffle batter until it’s perfectly smooth, but don’t. Instead, stir it until the flour is just incorporated and there are still some lumps. This will make your waffles airier.

4. GREASE THE IRON

Unless you have a non-stick waffle iron, make sure the plates are sufficiently oiled. This will guarantee that your waffles don’t stick and prevent them from being too dry. You can use a cooking spray or simply brush melted butter or vegetable oil onto the plates.

5. PREHEAT THE IRON

Putting your waffle batter on an iron that isn’t hot enough will yield soggy, undercooked waffles. Most irons will have a light that indicates when it’s hot enough, but if yours doesn’t, spray a few drops of water onto the plates with your fingers. If they steam and sizzle, the iron’s ready.

Finally, make sure to leave the waffle in the iron until it’s fully cooked. If your iron doesn’t have a light or make a sound that indicates when the waffle is done, pay attention to the steam coming from the iron. When it stops steaming, the waffle is done.

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Proven techniques to decrease stress

DR. VIKAS PURI

drpuri@carib101.com

HEALTH SPECIALIST

Here are six common techniques to decrease your stress level:

When you think of stress, you may automatically recall your heart racing during a period of emotional or physical strain. Stress is your body’s reaction to a certain challenge or demand, and it can make you emotionally or physically anxious. However, not all stress is bad. The American Institute of Stress highlights that any definition of stress should include good stress known as eustress. Eustress can improve our performance while distress can cause it to decline. Thus, learning to decrease negative types of stress (maintaining eustress) is necessary and healthy. The current COVID-19 pandemic has us all panicked, stressed and uncertain. Everyone has their own ways of dealing with stress and different things

Mental escape – pictures: From the smell of freshly cut grass to the sight of a sunrise peeking above a tropical horizon, nothing can replace spending time in the great outdoors. But simply looking at photographs of nature for as few as five minutes can have a similar, calming effect on the brain.

“There are studies that show that looking at pleasant images can provide a type of mental escape for individuals during times of moderate stress,” said Sandra Sgoutas-Emch, a psychological sciences professor at the University of San Diego.

Looking at relaxing imagery can also be viewed as a form of mindfulness meditation that activates the parasympathetic system, she added, referring to the part of the nervous system that helps us relax and “quiet the areas of the brain that are involved in fear and anxiety.”

Take control: The act of confronting the problem is in itself empowering. Passive thinking like “I can’t do anything” will only make your stress worse. If you are

stressed, the first step to feeling better is to identify the cause and begin to think of solutions.

Be active: There is good evidence that exercise has a link to greater self-esteem and well-being through chemical changes in the brain, like giving off endorphins and providing better sleep. We don’t need to spend hours in the gym either. Less than two hours of moderateintensity aerobic activity per week (such as fast walking or yoga at home) can do the trick.

Be mindful: Be aware of your thoughts and feelings, and when your thoughts take over the present moment, remember these are simply mental events that do not need to control us. Be aware, even as we go about our daily routine by appreciating the journey of life or taking breaks for ourselves.

Keep learning: Gaining new skills can give us a sense of achievement and confidence. Try signing up for a cooking course, learning a new musical instrument, reading an inspirational book, or learn dancing. Instead of focusing on

gaining qualifications, use the experience as mental stimulation. Setting targets and hitting them can create positive feelings of achievement. Challenge yourself, whether at work or in your personal life.

Breathe: It might seem intuitive, but so many of us end up holding our breath, especially when we’re stressed. Breathing exercises work with the cardiac muscle to shift our vagal tone toward a parasympathetic balance – in other words, simply breathing takes our body from a fight-or-flight state towards a calm and balanced state. Even a few minutes a day can have amazing benefits.

Here is a simple technique:

• Breathe in, expanding abdomen then chest, while counting how long your inhalation takes

• Hold your breath for the equal amount of time

• Breathe out slowly through the mouth for the equal amount of time.

I hope these tips help you and your family in getting through this stressful time.

Black History Month (BHM)

Part 4: Summary is the conclusion of the last three suggestions 13, 14, and 15. These 15 suggestions are by no means the full spectrum of concerns and observations regarding black empowerment or lack thereof. Neither are these suggestions a call for a consulting engagement, a mandate, a commission, nor a demand for action. Instead, this writer rests his expectations on one hope.

The hope is to inspire a new dialogue among politicians, judiciary, academics, educators, intellectuals, community advocates, religious ministers, and industrialists about black empowerment. To study, analyze, and seek permanent remedies for structural and endemic problems in society to enable "egalitarian" growth. Let us continue from Part 3: Suggestion Number 12.

Suggestion Number 13: Financial Services Perspective: Some people fall victim to financial schemes that rob them of their retirement savings, especially vulnerable elders and people of faith. Regulatory agencies adjudicate client complaints with "forensic nobility," but it remains a painful and fruitless experience for some people.

This faculty could call for greater financial services security surveillance to protect individuals from greed and exploitation by the principals of some financial services organizations.

These observations point to the need for business school curriculums to address the link between "business practice" and "business ethics." Likewise, the connection between "business success" and "client care," which are the essentials to foster strong business growth, repeat customers, and referrals. Faculty numbers 12 and 13 could collaborate to pen a "Code of Ethics" as salient to achieving a prestigious Black Professional Business Certification (BPBC) to underpin the proposition of the "Ten Knowledge Areas of Black Business Administration."

Suggestion Number 14: A Medical (Healthcare) Perspective: Praise to the black community for its awareness of the myriad of signature diseases that affect the black family such as diabetes, breast cancer, prostate cancer, sickle cell anemia, and thalassemia minor. This faculty could seek Research & Development funding to create greater awareness of lifestyle challenges and the gestation period of these diseases and to advocate for a more significant mitigation services agenda.

This strategy should engage minority student bodies as part of a national campaign, which should also include the medical concerns of Indigenous peoples as part of the inquiry. Another potent strategy could be to elevate health services designated "extended healthcare" such as dental and vision care to "primary care."

Some of these services fall outside of the "affordability gap" for many uninsured (the working poor). These initiatives will lower the financial burden of the National Healthcare Insurance (NHI) system in the future.

Suggestion Number 15: A Political Perspective: To a greater or lesser extent, the opposing ideological worldview of "capitalism" and "socialism" undergirds Western political leadership. These two systems of government often mirror the functioning of the two major political parties that exist in Western democracies. Other political ideologies lie somewhere in between, as partisan disagreements that rise to its apex every election cycle, dampening the aspirations of national unity. Gratifyingly, the political discourse in Canada politely engenders a higher sense of "national tolerance." Herein lies an excellent opportunity for national unity to undergird an "egalitarian" society that eludes many countries. Ones' family heritage, social class, wealth, and power influence the ascension to political leadership despite the higher ideals of democracy. The ideal proposition is to jettison political parties, as the preeminent model for the leadership of nations.

This forward-looking faculty could start the process of assessing the practicality of a "skills-based" as opposed to "partybased" electoral process. Every political hopeful should take up residency with a mega-corporation to understand how it functions principally as a "skills-based" model, with budgets in the billions of dol-

lars. Some corporations have millions of employees and manage thousands of entities - successfully - unfettered from party politics.

Afterword: The collective progress of a people is the real measure of their growth and empowerment. Hence, emphasis should be "group awards" for achievements in fields such as business and finance, economics, science and technology, engineering, human resources management, law, medicines, industrial design, robotics, supply chain management, manufacturing, and program, project, and construction management.

Praise to the many individuals and organizations that offer scholarships to youths with high aspirations. Black parents should encourage their children to heighten their participation in their communities through volunteerism and to engage in science-based education and research. There is also a critical need for black philanthropists to help with Research & Development funding to establish new forums for scientific investigations and study among youths.

Black parents and youths must also demonstrate selfless love and loyalty for family members and others. Family breakdown removes the veil of parental control, leadership, and mentorship. Your differences are "reconcilable." Violence is not a solution. It heightens the likelihood of incarceration, economic hardship, social isolation, and generational poverty. Your strength is in a higher moral authority, your African heritage, and in your hidden industrious genius - in waiting.

Silly Nomads book review series - PART 2

BY MAKAYLA B. 11 YEARS OLD TC JUNIOR CONTRIBUTOR

So, where was I? Oh yes! I was telling you about this funny book I am reading called Silly Nomads. Just to remind you, Silly Nomads is a series following two boys who have funny imaginations. M.E. Mohalland wrote it, and the drawings are by Kate Santee.

My favourite part of the first book, is when they were talking about what superhero they wanted to be. Suhcrom started to list the superheroes and said Joker. His brother Nadih corrected him he said, “The Joker is no superhero, Suhcrom. Him fool-fool. He’s evil. He laughs too much and is scary looking!”

I was reading on my bed and I almost fell off because I’ve never heard anyone say that before. It was really funny because they called him crazy and my sibling scared me.

I’d rate this book 12/10 because it’s: funny, childish and appropriate for all ages. It’s a win win!

If you are allowed to buy something, I recommend buying the whole series! My goal with this book is to get both my parents and my sibling to read it (or have one of my parents read it to my brother). I am really enjoying this series and hope that M. E. Mohalland writes a ton more.

To read more on the Silly Nomads series read my next article but I’ll only be doing book three, and book five. M. E. Mohalland and I are leaving it to you to read book two, and book four.

A better decade for Simone Jennifer Smith: reliving my past traumas, Part V

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

I stood there emotionless. I looked over at Peter helplessly as they put the cuffs on me. “What am I supposed to do with my luggage?” I inquired. The officer who could speak English said to me, “Are you travelling with someone?” “Yes!” I replied. I had kicked into auto mode, which is what happens to me during times of high stress. My auto mode is a loss of all emotions. Externally, my face was stoic, and my actions were mechanical. Internally, I was chaotic. My chest had tightened up, my heart was pumping abnormally fast, and my mind was doing its best to reason with what was happening to me. I was snapped out of my thoughts when I saw Peter take one of my suitcases. He was standing there looking bewildered. He was a man who took charge, and I could see that he was struggling with the idea

garcia@carib101.com

that he could not do anything for me in that moment. I remained stoic even though I really wanted to run towards him. I knew he couldn’t help me. I knew that this was going to be something that I would have to figure out for myself.

They had allowed me to keep one of my suitcases, and they began to escort me through the airport. I was unsure of the protocol for an arrestee. Was I supposed to lower my head? Was I supposed to be ashamed? I did what I usually did; I straightened my posture and walked with the ten officers surrounding me through the airport. I could feel people’s eyes on me, questioning, judging. I refused to let anyone see me weakened, so I ignored their stares and lifted my chin even more. That is the thing about me; I refuse to be the way that people expect me to be, even in times of despair.

Peter walked behind me for a bit until I reached an elevator. As I descended, I looked back at Peter. He was looking at me with so much pain in his eyes. For a moment I forgot that I was the person who was being led away to jail. I had no idea when I was going to see him again, but at that point, I had shut down my thoughts as well. “Please call my parents!” It was all that I could get out. I didn’t even know how he was going to do

that because my parents were out of town at the time, but I knew that he would figure it out.

Peter and I looked at each other until I could see him no more, and then I was on my own. They sat me down in a room and began going over my documents. I sat there, taking in everything that was around me. I was a little out of sorts because I knew a little bit of Spanish, but not enough to understand what they were saying. While I was sitting there, I began to think about my parents. I knew that when they heard, they would be hysterical, especially my mom. I also reviewed a conversation that I had with my ex-boyfriend a few weeks back. I knew in that moment that his warnings to me had been true.

So, this is the part in the story that I am going to have to start taking the readers back to a time in my life that I am not proud of. It is how I got involved in this whole mess. “Watch the company that you keep,” kept playing in my head. My parents had said this to me when I was a teenager. I think that this was the biggest lesson that I learned from this experience. I also learned that when God wants to slow you down, he will. I also realize that karma has a funny way of showing up in your life when you least expect it.

Relax, Relate, Release!

earth this year. Libra is the sign of balance and harmony. Ruled by Venus, it also influences love, relationships, and partnerships. When the moon is full, it highlights or illuminates the energy of the sign it is in, in relation to where the sun is located. The sun was in the sign of Aries, which represents self. With this contrast, under the full moon, we are being called to balance and find harmony between our individual needs and the needs of others.

Greetings family! It is my hope and prayer that this cosmic update finds you well, considering our current circumstances. We have been faced with an extended and indefinite global shutdown as we deal with this global pandemic. We have found ourselves spending a lot more time in our homes, with our families and with ourselves. As we begin to adjust to these sudden changes in our daily lives, our relationships have definitely been brought into perspective.

We have had to change our schedules, the way we shop, the way we travel and communicate. Social distancing is the new way of order with daily redefinitions of what this means. We have had a lot to adapt to in a short period of time. It can be overwhelming, that is natural. However, we can find some time now to relax, relate and release. It’s no coincidence that the cosmos also has a very similar message for us. Since we last spoke, we have had our first full moon of spring. The Pink Moon in Libra is the closest the moon will be to

The moon illuminates everything good, bad and indifferent. Issues around our current relationships may come to the surface and will be intensified by the moon and the fact that we are shut-in. We might find ourselves frustrated or trapped by our relationships right now. However, Libra energy also emphasizes the relationships that are healthy, supportive and allow us to be our authentic self. It’s in these relationships that we find peace and feel the most safe.

Use this time to reflect and build on these relationships. What makes you feel valued? What makes you feel loved? Have you ever explored your love language? Are there some relationships that you have outgrown? Are you feeling undervalued or misunderstood? These may be some indicators that you need to pay more attention to these triggers and truly decide if you need to continue in friendship, partnership or an intimate relationship with these people or situations.

We have an interesting influence from Pluto and Jupiter right now as well.

Pluto is the planet of death and rebirth. Jupiter is the planet of luck and expansion. You might be thinking how is death lucky? It is the spiritual meaning of death that brings hope. It’s not a coincidence that at this time, many people in the world are celebrating Easter. This is the story of death and rebirth that brought about new life and salvation. This is a very comparable message from the cosmos. We have to be willing to put to death certain areas of our lives and ourselves in order to birth or rebirth something new, some better. We need to be very honest with ourselves in this analysis. Are you or your current relationships feeding you or hindering your highest self. Are there thoughts, patterns or behaviours you need to put to death right now to foster a better, healthier you?

We may not have a lot of control over certain areas of our lives right now. However, one thing you do have control over is yourself and how you relate to others. Call friends and family that make you feel safe and loved. Maybe pick up an old hobby or find a new one. Discover new ways to love yourself and others. Find your passion, tell your unique story. In this time of shut in, put your fears to death. We shall emerge and expand with newfound insight, love for ourselves and others and truly begin to foster a brand new, healthier way of life.

Relax, Relate & Release. This too shall pass!

What will the consequences be of pushing climate change to the back during this pandemic?

The global coronavirus pandemic continues to unleash its venom with an intensity and magnitude that is unravelled and unprecedented.

In the midst of this crisis, the climate change crisis has not subsided. The realities of hurricanes, floods, droughts, famines, more frequent and intense heat waves, widespread crop failures and rising sea levels are real.

According to the United Nations, “Climate change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Without drastic action today, adapting to the impact in the

At the time of the passing of her husband and half-brother Tuthmosis the 2nd, Hatshepsut was already a force to be reckoned with. Her father Djehutymes the 1st or Tuthmosis the 1st was a military genius and being daddy’s little girl didn’t hurt her either. There were many occasions where he would have his daughter by his side, to be schooled in military and state affairs. He knew being of full royal blood and crowned the “Wife of the God Amun,” Hatshepsut’s position on the royal stage was one of great importance.

future will be more difficult and costly.”

The mental, emotional, financial, psychological and spiritual effects of this global pandemic will certainly take focus off of the climate crisis.

Many activists who are involved in climate activism are concerned that as countries, and states focus on the COVID-19 crisis, climate change will be pushed into the background. As climate justice has grown in environmental work, it has brought much to the public domain. It “Highlights one of the biggest challenges of our time. Climate change while building on the historically evolved concepts of social and environmental justice as concepts of social equity” (July 6th, 2018 Green Transition document). The connection between climate change and social justice is an integral one. Social justice is about, “Fair treatment and involvement of all people and communities in the development, implementation and enforcement of laws, regulations and policies,” according to Green Transition.

The fact that wealthy countries have been expected to take on more direct responsibility for dealing with the climate change crisis is now problematic in the midst of this pandemic. As these countries seek to recover, there will be less incentive

to pursue social equity, and help poorer countries deal with the barriers and obstacles to removing structural inequities.

The website Climate Reality Project (run by Climate Reality, a non-profit organization that is involved in climate justice) “Economically, politically and socially vulnerable communities feel climate impacts first and hardest. They have fewer resources to protect themselves against floods and droughts. Climate change can exacerbate the effects of poverty widening the chasm between rich and poor.”

There are two levels in which climate justice operates: at the international level which focuses on the responsibility for treating the burden and the responsibility of ensuring that the climate crisis is lessened, and the community level which focuses on helping lower socio-economic groups. This second level, “Deals less with climate change mitigation and instead focuses on gaining political power and representation in the adaptable process, as well as gaining access to resources to address the effects of climate change.”

There are three types of justice that are involved with respect to climate justice.

Procedural justice involves participation, inclusiveness, and empowerment in

decision-making.

Declarative justice involves the spatial and statistical distributions of costs, benefits and risks.

Justice as recognition involving the underlying determinants of procedural and distributional justice (Green Transition).

As the global coronavirus outbreak increases, many climate activists are concerned. The Global Climate Strike, which was scheduled for April 3rd, 2020, had to be done virtually. According to www.wri.org, “Out of the many tragedies of this pandemic, it is how it deepens inequality across society, hitting poorer families and front-line communities hardest.”

How the reality of the global virus outbreak and climate crisis overlaps and interacts is difficult to visualize. It requires creative strategies and tools, which are community driven.

References: The Climate Reality Project https://www.climaterealityproject.org/ World Resource Institute https://www.wri.org/

After all, it was ordained by AmenRa himself that Hatshepsut was summoned by his request to be carved upon the potter’s wheel by the god Khnum. “Fashion for me the body of my daughter and the body of her ka,” said Amen-Ra, “A great queen shall I make of her, and honour and power shall be worthy of her dignity and glory.” Hatshepsut’s transition from wife of the Gods, to co-regent, and then pharaoh was definitely something of “dignity and glory.”

Tuthmosis the 2nd was born sickly. He was rather frail, had a rare skin disease and an enlarged heart. When he ascended to the throne, he was in no condition to go out on excursions and lead military campaigns as other pharaohs did. He only ordered them at the influence of his wife. Hatshepsut was the true force of power during his reign swaying and controlling decisions in all matters.

The quelling of the Nubian uprising at the beginning of Tuthmosis the 2nd reign was mentioned in the last entry of this series, Hatshepsut was an influential force

behind the offensive attack. As his condition worsened, he became weaker and Hatshepsut took on a greater role. By the time Tuthmosis 2nd, died she was now at the head of the throne. Her stepson Iset was a toddler and her daughter Neferure was also too young. Hatshepsut did exactly what so many women of the royal palace did before her; she became co-regent to the young boy.

She was no stranger to the position of regent as her father had elevated her to co-regent many years ago prior to his passing. However, this time around it was different. As much as Hatshepsut now did the same for Iset, she also became co-regent to solidify her power. No longer playing the role of dutiful wife, this was her time to shine. This was her time to show the people of Kemet who she really was.

One of her first major projects on the scene was the building of her mortuary temple at Deir-el-Bahri. Carved from out of the side of the mountain by hammer and chisel, it was an unprecedented sight to be -

hold in those days. From the book, When We Ruled, the British scholar Robin Walker gives us an account of this magnificent temple. “Rather than build upwards from a base, the Mortuary temple was built downwards. The result is a pillared terrace structure that rises in three stages with two central ramps. The ramps are long and slope with a gentle gradient. Their position divides the temple into two symmetrical halves.”

Hatshepsut was deeply religious, and it is of no wonder that the entrance of the halls showed their dedication to deities: Anubis, Hathor, Asaur, and Ra. But her true patronage was for Amun. For the temple was supposed to be a “paradise” dedicated to him.

This feat was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to surprise the people of Kemet of what she was capable of. And since there were too many to list in this column, we shall continue to tell the story of The Queen who would rule as King in our next installment.

The 411 on residential tenancies and evictions in Ontario

With the current Covid-19 pandemic, the financial impact this has had on the community is unprecedented. With a huge amount of the population renting, many are living paycheque to paycheque. It should come as no surprise that many tenants are unable to make their rent payments. This is very unfortunate as landlords also have mortgages to pay on some of these same rental properties as well.

In the media, many tenants took their frustrations to social media as they felt their landlords were disobeying Premier Doug Ford’s Order staying all evictions and were still sending out N4 notices. There is a difference between an N4 notice and an eviction order.

When a tenant has failed to make his/her rent according to the tenancy agreement he/she has with his/ her landlord, the landlord will be able to serve them personally with an N4: Notice to End Your Tenancy for Non-Payment of Rent. The Notice is served on the tenant as early as the day after the rent was due. This notice gives the tenant the option of one of the following:

1. Pay the full amount outstanding which voids the notice;

2. Move out of the unit by the termination date listed on the notice; or 3. Do nothing and in doing so you are giving your landlord the right to file an L1 Application to Evict for

Non-Payment of Rent after the termination date listed in the notice.

The termination date for a monthly or yearly tenancy is fourteen days after the date you are served with the N4. If you have a daily or weekly tenancy, then that termination date will be seven days after being served with the N4.

If you decide to go with Option 3 above, after the landlord has filed the L1 Application, you will receive a Notice of Hearing from the Landlord and Tenant Board. Ideally, the hearing is scheduled 2-3 months after the application has been filed, but with the backlog, prior to the pandemic, this may further delay the hearing dates beyond three months.

If you attend the hearing and the landlord is successful in obtaining an Order for Eviction, this is the Order that, when given to the Sheriff of the Small Claims Court, it can be enforced, and you will have to vacate the unit. It is the enforcement of this Eviction Order that has been stayed by the Province during the Covid-19 Pandemic. As of today’s date, there have been no orders for landlords or their representatives to cease serving N4s on tenants. So, when you receive the N4, it is not the order that you are required to vacate, even though some landlords are advising that it is.

It is suggested that tenants who can honestly pay the rent, pay it or if you can pay some, then that is preferable. If you cannot pay the full amount, talk to your landlord and advise him/ her of your personal circumstance as to why you cannot pay all or any of your rent. Keep a paper trail of all communications in case your matter ends up at the Landlord and Tenant Board Tribunal so you can show that you attempted to remedy the situation to the best of your ability.

Things a business owner can do during COVID-19

christina@carib101.com

I remember during one of our episodes of In the Now, I expressed my frustration to my co-host Simone about the fact that at that time, everything in the news was surrounding COVID-19. Boy was I in for a shock! What once was an annoying news item to report on has become a global pandemic, slowing markets, closing businesses and killing people in the thousands. Bringing this news closer to home, many businesses and entrepreneurs are struggling to find their feet during this time of uncertainty, and with good reason. We are living through a pandemic. As defined by Wikipedia (don’t shoot me), “a pandemic is an epidemic of disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of people.” This is the first time many of us have lived through these conditions: long lineups for food, limited movement and fear surround us. Times seem bleak; times seem bad. But with everything, there is a silver lining, even for small businesses who may be feeling the weight and brunt of these times the hardest.

I’ve compiled a to-do list of sorts for the entrepreneur and small business owner who may seem a bit lost in the foray at this time. You may have lost business, may be considering closing up shop, and that’s rough. However, this would be a great time to look at turning your business into something new, something different. During the housing crash of 2008, businesses like Uber, Airbnb, Square, Slack and Dropbox found their feet and more than a decade later are still making headway in the game. There is hope for you yet.

Immerse yourself in social media and the web

If six months ago you didn’t have time to figure out how to setup your company email, now is the time to do so! Everyone is on social media… EVERYONE! Most people are working from home, meaning more people are spending time – and money – online. Use this time to get to know what the social media landscape looks like. Pretty up your banners, start building your website, create communities surrounding your business. Now is the time for your business to go online, so get to it.

Go over your finances

There are a number of plans and programs being provided by the government. However, these programs may require you to get certain forms and documents together and in order. Here’s your chance to catch up on your bookkeeping, pay your accountant a visit and see if your business is in the right place to take advantage of these programs. You may never know what help the government may be able to provide you and your business during this time. Reach out, get organized and see if there is some way that you can get the help your business needs during this time.

See where you can pivot

Let’s say you have a restaurant; now might be a good time to get onto Uber Eats and Doordash in a big way! If you’re a hairstylist, it may be time to start bringing your hair routine tutorials to Youtube and Instagram. Are you a lawyer or service person? Now’s your chance to start planning out that webinar and course you’ve been talking about for so long. It’s become very clear to all of us that this is the new normal; this could be the way things will be for some time. As my dad would say, “change your hand”. You have the opportunity to test, change and turn the direction of your business around during this season. Believe it or not, the market is much more forgiving. Give it a shot, whatever it may be for your business.

Seek partnerships

In the book of Ecclesiastics, it states that, “a cord of three strands is not easily broken […] two is better than one”. Build alliances and partnerships that could help benefit the good of your business and clients, as well as the customer base of another business. As an example: maybe, as a restaurant, you could partner up with a baker to provide your food plus tasty cakes and baked goods with each order. A web designer could partner up with an illustrator to provide additional custom graphic work to clients. There is more than one way to share the wealth and help each other out with their business.

We’re in different times. None of us have walked on this path before or ridden on this journey. It’s all new to many of us. However, with these simple tips, I hope that our community of businesspeople and entrepreneurs will be able to find new vim during this time. It is through our dedication and ingenuity that we were able to create businesses in the first place. Corona can’t keep us down.

CHRISTINA GWIRA

What to consider when designing built-in shelving

Built-in shelving units provide extra storage that’s perfectly suited to your home’s layout and decor. Here are some things to consider when designing your own.

YOUR NEEDS

What you plan to put on your built-in shelving unit will impact its design. For example, if you’re displaying a collection, you may choose to build specialized shelves.

If you’re planning to store things you want to keep hidden, you can add some doors to conceal the bottom shelves.

THE LOCATION

There are likely a number of places in your home that could accommodate built-in shelving. Your living room may be a great spot for a custom bookcase, your kitchen may need the extra storage space and your fireplace might look better when flanked with shelving.

THE SHELVES

Most books will fit on a standard eight-inch shelf, but you may require more space. If this is the case, make the bottom few shelves deeper than the top ones.

Finally, keep your home’s esthetic in mind when designing your shelving unit. If the room has mouldings or other decorative accents, mimicking them in your design will help tie the room together.

How often should my air ducts be cleaned?

Regularly cleaning your air ducts can improve indoor air quality, reduce the amount of allergens in the air and lower your heating and cooling bills.

In general, homeowners should have their air ducts cleaned every three to five years. However, it may need to be done more often if people smoke in the home, you have pets that shed or someone in your family suffers from allergies or a respiratory illness.

The following signs could indicate that your ventilation system is dirty:

• Visible dust in the ducts

• Dirt buildup around the registers

• Worsening allergy symptoms

• Respiratory distress

It’s also important to have your air ducts cleaned after any home renovation. Dust and debris from the project can clog your ventilation system and render it inefficient. You should

3 ways to create an accent wall

An accent wall is a striking way to make a room more dynamic. Here are three ways you can add one to your home.

1. Paint. This is the easiest way to create an accent wall. For a subtle difference, opt for varying tones of the same shade. If you prefer a dramatic look, choose a colour that contrasts nicely with the rest of the room.

2. Wallpaper. If you prefer a patterned or textured accent wall, wallpaper is just what you need. Choose a pattern with a colour scheme that matches the rest of

the room for an effect that’s pleasing to the eye.

3. Bricks. Exposed brick walls look great in almost any type of room. If your home doesn’t already have this feature, you can create your own using regular bricks and mortar, or you could mimic the look with textured wallpaper or thin bricks in tended as decoration.

Accent walls are the perfect way to play with colour, texture and design in your home. And because they only occupy one wall in a room, they won’t overpower the space they’re in.

also clean them if water has infiltrated your ducts, as inhaling mould spores can seriously impact your health.

In addition, many new homeowners choose to have their ventilation system inspected and cleaned prior to moving into a new home.

Air duct cleaning isn’t something that the average homeowner can do on their own. A proper cleaning requires specialized vacuums with filters that can trap even the smallest particles of dust and dirt. For this reason, it’s best to hire a pro.

How to make your stairs safer

Falling down a flight of stairs can lead to a serious injury. In fact, it’s the second leading cause of unintentional injuries worldwide, behind only motor vehicle accidents. To make sure the stairs in your home are safe, consider implementing the following strategies.

• Add some grip. Stairs made of wood, polished concrete or tile can be slippery. Add some tread using carpet, stair runners or rubber mats. If you prefer the look of bare stairs, there are non-slip coatings available that are simply brushed on like paint.

• Keep the light on. Make sure the lighting in your stairway is at least as bright as that of the surrounding hallways. It’s also a good idea to install nightlights so you don’t miss a step at night.

• Don’t forget handrails. If possible, install handrails on both sides of the stairs. These should extend slightly from the top

and the bottom, be bet ween 34 to 38 inches (85 to 95 centimetres) high and strong enough to withstand the weight of an adult.

• Use a gate. If there are young children or pets in your home, you may want to consider using gates around the stairs. The best ones are attached directly to the wall and don’t have any bars that can be used to climb over.

Most falls on residential staircases happen because there’s something in the way. For this reason, be sure to keep the steps clear at all times.

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.

Stylishly elegant

Puccini work 27. Audience’s cry 29. Flitted 33. Utah, e.g. 34. Brink 35. Garfield, for one 37. Pattern 38. Kind of brick

40. Pitch 41. “____ the Knife” 44. Tie’s locale 46. Land

Meet Arvin

48. Roughly

53. “____-Devil”

54. Cashew, e.g.

55. ____ up (botch)

56. Do a tailor’s job

57. Agreeable response

58. Ingested

DOWN 1. Hang low 2. In favor of

3. Island wreath

4. Resting place

5. Earmarks

6. Lessen

7. Disintegrated

8. Male parent

9. Festive

10. Bronze and Stone

11. Small opening 17. “Mommie ____”

19. ____ loop (skating jump)

21. Bother

22. In the know about 23. Ripoff 24. Flapjack

26. Rant and ____

Devour a book 30. Three voices 31. Omelet needs 32. Lions’ homes

36. Organ of taste

37. Nov.’s follower 39. Borscht components

Bulk

Throbbing pain

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.

ARIES

With your boss away for one reason or another, you’ll find yourself taking over for them, much to your surprise. Trust your instincts and your leadership skills will shine.

TAURUS

With a business trip coming up, you may worry about your ability to communicate in a foreign language. Don’t fret; you’ll surpass your own expectations.

GEMINI

You may go back to school with the goal of making a career change. Your patience and hard work will provide you with an opportunity to get out of a precarious financial situation.

CANCER

Generally, you’re not the type to hesitate before making a big decision. This time, however, you extensively deliberate the pros and cons first. What’s more, new information will come to light at the last minute.

LEO

At work, you’ll deal with emer gencies and unsatisfied customers. Your smile will diffuse a tense situation and help you iron out one or more difficulties.

VIRGO

One way or another you’re sure to accomplish a great feat this week. You’ll be applauded for your efforts and held in great esteem. You may also save someone from a catastrophe.

LIBRA

If you have young children, they may be more excitable than usual. In order to restore peace at home, take the time to establish or clarify the house rules.

SCORPIO

You can no longer keep your opinions to yourself and will express out loud what others are only thinking. You’ll have to get used to a new phone that’s much more complex than your old one.

SAGITTARIUS

Take the time to look over your bills and receipts. You may catch an error and recuperate a considerable amount of money.

CAPRICORN

Patience probably won’t be your greatest virtue in the days to come. Any money worries you have now will go away in time. Solutions will present themselves when you let bygones be bygones.

AQUARIUS

You’ll be hit by a wave of exhaustion this week and consequently need more rest than usual. Also, you’ll have a revelation that helps you approach your professional goals with newfound determination.

PISCES

You’ll be in charge of an important group of people. However, the stress of handling everything on your own is exhausting and you’ll need to get some rest before the week is over.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

The luckiest signs this week: ARIES, TAURUS AND PISCES

PUZZLE NO. 970

PUZZLE NO. 707

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

The real estate industry, the main engine in our economy, has come to a screeching halt. The health authorities recommend that, to ease the spread of COVID-19, we must avoid being in close contact with each other. Real estate is a multifaceted industry involving many, from buyers to movers. Each is an important gear but with social distancing, the gears cannot unite. It is best if buyers and sellers can postpone their decisions until the virus settles. However, there are many who are caught in the middle and must proceed.

Sellers sell must take the following precautions:

1. Know who is coming over. Realtors should ensure that the prospective buyers have not been out of the country for the past two weeks or have been

doors. Ask realtors to oversee that their clients do not touch anything. Step out during the visit on the driveway, giving the parties their distance.

3. Disinfect the home after every showing. A combination of disinfectant spray along with soap and water is effective. Wipe all light switches, door handles, cupboard handles, taps and appliances. If there is a lockbox, that too along with the key should be disinfected.

4. Limit the number of visitors. A maximum of four persons should be allowed per visit. Visits should be in half-hour intervals and must not be overlapping. Only the main parties and no children should be allowed to enter the home.

5. No open houses. Open houses engage the public and with social distancing measures, it is discouraged.

6. Only allow serious buyers to visit. The digital age makes it easier with 3D virtual tours, online photos and videos and various social media platforms and websites. Applications such as Facetime are useful to show the home and explain the features to prospective buyers. The online marketing must reflect the property as it is for it to be

the signature is made. It can be done by signing with your finger on a smart phone.

8. Selling homes with tenants. This can be trickier. The tenant’s wellbeing is important. For digital marketing, get the tenant’s permission for photography. The tenant may have family photos on the wall that will be exposed to the world. Work out an arrangement with the tenants. You may want to restrict showings for only a specific time when your realtor is present to supervise the showing and disinfect the home afterwards.

Prospects must take the following safety measures:

1. Postpone buying if possible. COVID-19 strikes without warning. It is extremely contagious. We can carry it without knowing and like a bee, infect the entire family hive.

2. Get approval for mortgage before shopping. Frustration steps in when buyers cannot get financing. Time wasted cannot be regained and with COVID-19, that is considered irresponsible. Buyers must have their job letter, paystubs and social insurance number ready. The lender would require an application to be completed and a credit check done. A mere pre-qualification where the purchase is based on income alone is not good enough. Do the x-ray and the MRI before the sur-

3. Be prepared. It is best to travel in your own vehicle to visit the property instead of riding with your realtor. Have hand sanitizer, a mask and disposable gloves with you. Maintain your distance and keep your hands in your pockets.

4. Narrow your search. Realtors can give buyers access to all the properties through a program called “collaboration”. The buyers can review as many properties as possible and through the process of elimination, choose their best three properties to visit.

5. Avoid close contact. Let the property inspector inspect the home alone. He can send an electronic report or use virtual inspection, where the inspector can Facetime the client during the inspection. Any signatures can be done electronically as well. Deposits for securing the property can be wired instead of visiting the bank and obtaining a draft.

If you are shopping for condos, be careful in confined spaces such as elevators. Avoid seeing condos during rush hour and take all the necessary precautions. If you are moving in or out of a condo, check with management. They may have certain restrictions that can affect your move. Be SMART. Social distancing; Measure risk; Ask questions; Rely on professionals and Touch nothing. We owe it to ourselves, our family, our country and our world to do our part. Let’s be serious.

Stamped concrete is a durable, textured surface that can be used to construct driveways, walkways and patios. Here’s how to ensure this long-lasting material looks beautiful for years to come.

REGULAR UPKEEP

As with any outdoor surface, dirt will eventually accumulate on your stamped concrete. Sweep it on a regular basis and pressure wash it periodically to get rid of stubborn stains. If necessary, a cleaning solvent can be used to remove blemishes.

LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE

Apply a new coat of sealant every two or three years to protect your stamped concrete from water damage and stains caused by oil and gas spills. This will also help maintain the surface’s colour and lustre.

If you have stamped concrete inside your home, it’ll require the same type of maintenance as other kinds of flooring. Vacuum and mop it on a weekly basis or as needed. Although you don’t have to reseal a stamped concrete floor to protect it from the elements, consider adding a fresh coat once the original sheen fades.

How to take care of stamped concrete 3 benefits of opting for a custom-designed pool

Are you thinking about installing an inground pool? If so, here are three benefits of opting for a custom-designed model rather one that’s a standard size and shape.

1. A DURABLE PRODUCT

Custom-designed pools are particularly durable and water-tight. This is because they’re usually built from a single piece of concrete or similar material. These types of pools are constructed in a way that minimizes the risk for cracks and leaks.

2. A PERFECT FIT

When it comes to the appearance of your new pool, you’re only limited by the size of your property. You can select the dimen-

sions and shape that work best for your lifestyle and backyard.

3. AN ECO-FREINDLY OPTION

A custom-designed pool can be environmentally friendly, provided you choose the appropriate building materials, sanitation method and power source. For example, you can choose a structure made of clay or gravel, a natural filtration system and a solar-powered water heater.

Additionally, if you opt to install a custom-designed pool, you get a feature that blends seamlessly with the rest of your landscape. Indeed, this type of pool will be uniquely suited to your property.

Financial relief during COVID-19

them.

Canada and the world are going through a very tough and unprecedented time. It’s taken a toll on all countries alike and some have suffered more than others. The effects can be seen on the stock markets and on the individual stocks of certain key companies. At the time of writing, Air Canada has seen a tremendous drop in the price of its share from $50 a share in January to $12 by the end of March, a drop of close to 75% of its value.

Almost all governments have stepped in to offer relief to their citizens and as Canadians we are also very fortunate for these benefits. I know that you have been hearing about them in the news every day; however, I wanted to reiterate what they are and how you may apply for

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). If you have stopped working because of COVID-19, CERB may provide you with temporary income support of $500 a week for up to 16 weeks. The benefit will be available to workers residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old and have stopped working because of COVID-19 and have not voluntarily quit their job or are eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits. You had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application and are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period. For subsequent benefit periods, you expect to have no employment or self-employment income.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit is available to those who stop working for reasons related to COVID-19. Eg: You have been let go from your job or your hours have been reduced to zero, you are in quarantine or sick due to COVID-19, you are away from work to take care of others because they are in quarantine or sick due to COVID-19 and/or you are away from work to take care of children or other de -

pendents whose care facility is closed due to COVID-19. You can also apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit if you are eligible for employment insurance regular or sickness benefits. You are not eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit if you quit your job voluntarily. You can apply online and also apply over the phone: 1 800 959 2019 or 1 800 959 2041 for the CERB.

The government is providing up to an extra $300 per child through the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for 2019-20. This will mean approximately $550 more for the average family. This benefit will be delivered as part of the scheduled CCB payment in May.

Extra time to file income tax returns: The filing due date for 2019 income tax returns for an individual has been deferred until June 1st, 2020. Any new income tax balances due, or installments, are also being deferred until after August 31st, 2020 without incurring interest or penalties.

Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/ department-finance/economic-responseplan.html#individuals

The new world of non-face-to-face

risk mitigation and insurance as boring areas that reflected overly pessimistic views. This incredible unimaginable crisis has done tremendous damage to every sector everywhere in the world. Business and families will actively look for a way to mitigate the loss of business and income and insurance services is the main way to do that.

Is working remotely, playing, learning and buying online our new reality right now? Everyone it seems has shifted to almost doing everything exclusively online. It opened the chasm even greater between those with connectivity and technology jobs skills and those who are unable to connect or adapt.

It will be the responsibility and number one priority of every company, small business, professionals, students and yes family members to make the transition to this remote world as quickly and seamless as possible. When this pandemic concludes, we will be in a new world and we won’t be going back. The world of insurance was already on a slow path of change into a more technical future. Here are just some of the ways things have changed.

1. Insurance will take on a bigger role. Businesses and families often viewed

2. How advisors interact with the public and clients. Individuals will want to protect their health and the health of their employees and family. Social distancing has made us more accustomed to interacting online using programs like Zoom. The need and option to complete business interactions remotely and still have that personal touch will be required.

3. Digital applications and signature. Life insurance applications and registered investment products can now be completed fully online and nonface-to-face. Restrictions of having to physically view identification and wet signatures are a thing of the past.

4. Increased No-Fluid/Non-Medical coverage limit to $1 million for individual life products. This No Fluid/Non-Medical limit increase is being implemented on a temporary basis in response to the impact of COVID-19 on the life insurance industry’s ability to submit

and process applications. The maximum NFTF coverage limit has also been increased to $10 million.

Okay, so we’ve covered the insurance industry. Here are some other areas that I believe have been changed forever.

Retailers with physical stores were already struggling to compete with online shopping and companies like Amazon and Shopify. The nationwide lockdowns have forced the last online laggards to adjust to online commerce, they will likely not go back. So, in-store shopping and commercial real estate will take a hit in the long run. Telehealth may change healthcare forever. Telehealth services that enables you to connect with a board-certified medical provider and be provided medical care for relatively benign conditions, so patients don’t have to go out to a hospital or see a doctor. Video conferencing combined with diagnostic kits can be a game-changer for delivering care to vulnerable populations. Family and community are more important. A positive from this tragedy is we are spending quality time with those who matter most. We are taking walks, making meals together and saying hi to strangers on the street. Tragedy has always brought people closer together, maybe this will also stay.

Canadians are unprepared for an economic storm, and COVID-19 proved it

CLEVE DeSOUZA

cleve@carib101.com

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

The COVID-19 pandemic means washing your hands, staying home, and skipping public events. Should it also mean skipping payments on some of your regular bills?

Even before COVID-19 closed businesses, forced lay-offs, and played havoc with the economy, more than half of Canadians were living from paycheck to paycheck. Families were living well beyond their means and unable to pay monthly bills. Many turned to credit cards and loans, taking on high levels of debt.

The global pandemic accelerated the problem, catching Canadians off guard even though many experts had long been predicting an economic crisis.

Total consumer debt in Canada is at a record high of $2.3 trillion and the average household is paying $170 on debt for every $100 they make.

All of this is fueled by a debt-in-

flamed financial system that consequently is causing a significant amount of money to be pumped into the economy by our government.

These are debts that the government is taking on. We, and the generations to come will ultimately be burdened with it. With or without COVID-19, this debt bubble was inevitable, and sadly the government will have to pump more money into the market again, and lower interest rates even further. This will buy us a few years, and if care is not taken, Canadians will remain unprepared for the full brunt of this economic volcano when it erupts.

The government has approved an $89 billion stimulus. The Bank of Canada has lowered interest rates from 1.75% to 0.25%, and the big banks are increasing rates. Six big banks in Canada have promised relief for Canadians financially affected by COVID-19. The Bank of Montreal, CIBC, National Bank of Canada, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, and TD Bank have all agreed to defer mortgage payments for as long as six months. Other lenders are likely to follow suit.

Before you jump onboard, though, educate yourself about all the options. The banks are offering deferrals, not canceling payments. If you accept the deferment, the bank tacks the interest onto the end of your mortgage. In the end, you’ll pay inter-

Second mortgages: the pros and cons

A second mortgage, also called a home equity loan, involves borrowing money against the portion of your home that you own. To put it simply, if you have a $350,000 mortgage on a home you bought for $400,000, you have $50,000 of equity and may be able to use some of it to consolidate debts or finance a project. Here are the pros and cons of doing so.

PROS

A common reason for taking out a second mortgage is to consolidate debts with a loan that has a lower interest rate, thus saving money in the long run. In addition, it offers flexible payment arrangements, as you can also negotiate for a longer or shorter amortization period, which is the length of time you have to repay the loan.

CONS

The interest rate will be higher than that of your first mortgage. In addition, you need to have enough equity to cover the entirety of the debts you mean to consolidate.

The most serious downside, however, is that paying off credit card debt with a second mortgage means transforming an unsecured debt into a secured debt by putting your home up as collateral. If you fail to make your payments, the bank may be entitled to foreclose on your home.

Before applying for a second mortgage, speak with your financial adviser. If you’re struggling financially, it may also be a good idea to seek debt counselling to assess whether a second mortgage is the best option.

est on your interest. If you can tap into your savings account to make payments, it may be the better choice.

Some other options I suggest you consider include:

• Objectively assess your financial situation. If you’re having trouble paying bills, is it really due to COVID-19? I have helped clients strategically organize their finances. In most cases, a good strategy reveals money people never knew they had. The need for a solid financial strategy has only increased. This outbreak puts us in uncharted territory and it is unwise to proceed without a winning strategy. Trial and failure is not acceptable.

• Negotiate with your creditors. Before calling your bank or lender, make sure you’ve objectively assessed your situation. Remember, if they offer you a deferral, it doesn’t cancel your payment. The deferred interested will be accrued, and you’ll pay interest on top of interest. Only take the deferment if it’s your only option. Finally, practice making your case, before you call the bank. They are not there to hand out money. In fact, they will want to keep your feet to the fire as

long as possible, so get the necessary help to prepare and negotiate you way to victory.

• Apply for employment insurance. If you qualify for employment insurance, apply immediately. It takes time for the government to process your request.

• Apply for a government subsidy. The Canadian government is offering subsidies of $2,000 a month for four months if you have lost income as a result of COVID-19. Small businesses and self-employed workers are eligible.

• Look for a new job. Even though it might seem like this is the worst time to be in the market for a new job, you may be surprised. With time on your hands, you may find a job you love that pays more than what you were doing before the pandemic. If you’ve always wanted to work from home, this is the perfect time to consider a move.

Here are all the various options available in the Canada COVI-19 Economic Response Plan: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan. html

How to survive a layoff

If you’ve been laid off, it’s important to re-evaluate your finances. Here are some tips to help you manage the situation until you find another position.

EVALUATE

THE SITUATION

Review your savings and adjust your budget accordingly. List your recurring expenses, including those for your cable, cell phones, medications, rent and mortgage. Then, tally up what income you have, if any, and determine for how long you can make ends meet.

DECIDE WHERE TO CUTBACK

You probably won’t be able to maintain the lifestyle you’re used to while you’re unemployed. Start by making sure you can cover essential costs, such as those for food, medication and shelter. Then, cut back on unnecessary spending (such as by terminating subscriptions or at least putting them on hold). You should also talk to your financial institution to see whether you can renegotiate bill and credit payments. It’s also important to avoid taking on any new debt.

BE PREPARED

SECURE INCOME SOURCES

You’ll likely need to supplement your savings while looking for work. Don’t wait until you’re struggling to meet basic living expenses before looking into securing unemployment benefits. You may also want to consider getting a part-time job until you can find something more permanent.

For more advice, don’t hesitate to speak to someone at your financial institution, as they could help you find ways to minimize costs while you find work.

Experts recommend having an emergency fund with sufficient savings to let you live for three to six months. In addition, maintaining a strong professional network could make finding a new job much easier. Periodically updating your resume and attending networking events is a good idea, even if you aren’t expecting to be laid off.

UFC 249 fight card official Justin Gaethje takes Khabib’s place in the fight against Tony Ferguson

After weeks of running in circles with its metaphorical hair on fire, the UFC has fi nally managed to sort out the schedule and fight card for UFC 249, to be held on April 18, 2020!

UFC 249 was the event that was supposed to host the highly anticipated showdown between the reigning light weight champion, Khabib Nurmagome dov, and former lightweight interim champion, Tony Ferguson. The fight was canceled on four previous occasions due to multiple injuries and weight-cutting issues between the two fighters. In the weeks leading up to UFC 249, both fight ers looked strong and engaged in the usual pre-fight trash talk. Unfortunately, just as the showdown seemed certain, it was once again cancelled; this time, by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The old problem

As the Coronavirus pandemic spreads rapidly in the United States, it has forced the shutdown of most non-es sential American businesses and events. As a result, many reasonably feared that

the long-awaited showdown between Khabib and Ferguson would also be canceled. Surprisingly, UFC President, Dana White was adamant that the bout would continue as scheduled but would be held at an undisclosed location and sealed to fans.

During this time, the fighters were also allegedly informed that the fight would not be taking place in the United States. Naturally, Khabib went

event in an attempt to remedy the situation.

The solution

With the UFC 249 event fast approaching, it’s nearly impossible to find a professional fighter that’s willing to step into the cage on a one-week-notice. Fortunately, the roster does have some hardcore fighters that are ready to fight at a moment’s notice. One of these outstanding warriors is Justin Gaethje,

be fighting for the interim championship against the #4 ranked Gaethje next week.

While the statistics and rankings show that Ferguson should be able to beat Gaethje and continue his challenge for the championship belt, MMA is a sport where the numbers often lie. If Ferguson loses the fight, has a poor performance, or sustains an injury during the battle, he may miss his chance at becoming the lightweight champion.

Fans disappointed

Overall, MMA fans aren’t too thrilled about the new main event. While it will see two impressive fighters stepping into the cage, it’s a severe downgrade from the highly anticipated legendary showdown. Ferguson is a mighty and capable warrior and has a high chance of beating Gaethje without too much of a struggle. On the other hand, Gaethje is also an extremely dangerous fighter; and MMA is a sport where the result of a fight and consequences on a fighter’s health and career are decided in the blink of an eye. It would be a shame to see Ferguson lose his chance at the title because of a judge’s poor decision or injury.

Nearly all MMA fans are cheering on Ferguson for a decisive win and continuation of his challenge for the title. Ferguson will likely be able to put Gaethje away without too much of a struggle. Unfortunately, there’s an even higher chance that he’ll sustain an injury in the process, and his fight against Khabib will be delayed or cancelled once again.

League executives announce potential plans amidst Covid-19

KAYLA KARIM

kayla@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

It has been almost a month now since the NBA season was suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak, although it seems like much longer for fans. Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump held a conference call with the commissioners and top executives of the majority of the major leagues

that operate in North America. Some of the members on the call included, NFL’s Roger Goodell, NBA’s Adam Silver, NHL’s Gary Bettman, MLB’s Rob Manfred along with the leaders of the MLS, the WNBA, the PGA and LPGA tours, NASCAR, IndyCar and WWE. There is no determined date as to when any of the professional sports will resume as it depends on the discretion of publichealth experts.

For NBA fans, Adam Silver was in attendance but he refused to release any sort of date for when the league will resume. He did mention though that it won’t even be a possibility until at least May 1st, 2020. The league has been holding internal discussions and also talking with play ers and team officials about “many differ

ent scenarios for restarting the season”.

One of the plans that has surfaced was to have a playoff tournament held entirely in Las Vegas. In this situation, games would be played in an empty arena or gym, with players, coaches, team support staff as well as broadcast crews quarantined in hotels. Despite this scenario being very difficult to execute, the NBA has wrote off the idea of proceeding with traditional playoffs due to the travel restrictions and various states of health in NBA cities.

Over in the NHL, the playoffs were supposed to start today. That isn’t happening according to plan however the NHL is reportedly considering North Dakota as a destination for the continuation of the sea

the first time publically, that completing the regular season might not be possible. Sportsnet Elliotte Friedman reported yesterday that one of the venues the league is considering is Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, where the University of North Dakota hockey teams play holding approximately 11,600 fans. According to many reports, the NHL would prefer holding early playoff rounds in multiple cities. In addition, the NHL is reportedly prepared to play through August and possibly into September with a type of tournament in. If there were any concerns about the condition of the ice, there is no need to worry. Gary Bettman said that the ice quality won’t be an issue in the summer

Photo: UFC

Things to tackle before your next fishing trip

Don’t let a brittle line or dull hook stand between you and your next catch. Routine maintenance of your fishing equipment might seem tedious, but it can make a big difference when you’re out on the water. Here are a few tasks to complete before your next fishing trip.

CLEAN YOUR ROD AND REEL

Wash your fishing rod in warm, soapy water and dry it with a soft cloth. Rinse the outside of the reel, but be careful not to get water in the interior mechanisms. Use a cotton swab to clean the reel gears before lightly oiling them. Replace the line if necessary. Inspect your rod, reel and line guides for anything that’s loose or damaged.

ORGANIZE YOUR TACKLE BOX

Start by emptying out your tackle box and

wiping it down with a damp cloth. Sharpen hooks, inspect bait and discard rusty or damaged components. Take note of any items you need to replace. Once everything is clean, reorganize the supplies in your tackle box for easy access when you’re on the water.

INVENTORY YOUR SUPPLIES

You need more than a rod and reel for a successful fishing trip. Check your landing net for tears and a weak rim. Are your waders still waterproof? Make sure you have a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect you from the elements. Don’t forget a lifejacket and insect repellant. Put together a shopping list of missing, worn out or expired items.

Once your gear is ready to go, take some time to review the regional regulations and make sure your fishing licence is still valid. Following these steps will help ensure your next trip is a good one.

Get up to speed on fishing regulations

Fishing regulations play an important role in aquatic conservation, biodiversity and habitat preservation. Before you head out on the water, consult your regional fishing regulations for any updates and to ensure that you’re fishing legally and sustainably.

GET YOUR LICENCE

A fishing licence is almost always mandatory if you’re between the ages of 18 and 64. Requirements for younger and older anglers vary by province and territory. If your area offers a variety of licences, they may be subject to different fishing quotas.

THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT

Before you head out on the water, ensure your fishing tackle complies with regional regulations. Depending on where you intend to fish, there may be restrictions on the use of live bait and barbed hooks. There may also be a limit on the number of hooks and lines permitted.

WHEN AND WHERE

Fishing may be restricted to certain periods of the year in your province or territory. There might also be different regulations in place for specific bodies of water or regions based on local populations and conservation efforts.

KNOW YOUR LIMITS

Not all fish are created equal, and they may be subject to different size restrictions and bag limits. Some species may be off limits altogether. To ensure compliance with local regulations, you need to be able to identify the species you catch.

Specific fishing regulations vary by location. Provincial and territorial governments manage freshwater species in their region, with the exception of salmon in British Columbia. The federal government is responsible for most marine species. Be sure to consult the appropriate department of fisheries website for more details.