Time For Action 031820

CHARLES AYODELE

SIMONE J. SMITH/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

Overwhelmed, excited, and observant. This is the only way to explain how I felt when I arrived at the Ontario Liberal Party Leadership Convention on Saturday, March 7th, 2020.

It was a three-day event that had commenced on the Friday, and when I arrived at The International Centre, located at 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga, Ontario, the parking lot was packed. All I saw as I was driving to find parking was a sea of colour; each person there gearing up to support the person who they thought would be fit to run against Doug Ford to clinch the coveted position of Pre -

mier of Ontario.

The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper was invited by the Mitzie Hunter Delegation to cover the convention. For those who do not know, the leadership convention is a meeting of party members to select a leader of a party. This year the delegates were: Steven Del Duca, MPP Michael Coteau (Don Valley East), MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough Guildwood), Kate Graham, Alvin Tedjo, and Brenda Hollingsworth.

In the upcoming election, it has been decided that Steven Del Duca will be representing the Lib eral Party. He had enough to win

on the first ballot, and he admitted that going up against Doug Ford in the 2022 election would be tremendous task.

As a multicultural and multi-faith country, it is important that we have leaders who reflect our incredible diversity. These leaders are meant to: inspire people, let the community know that they are trustworthy, and build confidence in their constituents that their individual voices are being heard. The question is; if certain members of our greater community are not visible, how are they being heard?

Continued On Page 5

Photo: Team Mitzie Facebook

“My dad was an officer in Guyana, but he passed away when I was 6. I may not have had the influence, but somehow it was in my blood.”

In March 2013, she became the only African Caribbean female Police Inspector in Peel County. She was promoted to Superintendent in Peel County, Ontario, on March 27th, 2018 making her the highest-ranking black female police officer in Canada.

In her 33 years of policing she has risen in the ranks with a level of determination and persistence that can only be attributed to her tenacious spirit, and her perdurable Caribbean relations. She has moved from: Uniform Patrol, to Community Services, to Race and Ethnic Relations. She experienced the community’s pain when she worked in the Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Bureau, Public Affairs, and Neighbourhood Policing Unit.

She found ways in which she could give back when she serviced in: recruiting, working in the Duty Inspectors’ Office, Records Services and Divisional Commander at 21 Division. Our Woman Empowered was promoted to Sergeant in 2002, Staff Sergeant in 2007, Inspector in 2013, and Superintendent in January 2016.

Along with the paramount

role of being a mother of two, this beautiful woman remains actively involved in the community. The community recognizes the excellence that they see in this woman and have honoured her with:

• Congress of Black Women Mississauga and Area Chapter Phenomenal Woman Award

• The Association of Black Law Enforcement Leadership in Law Enforcement Award

• The Excellence in Law Enforcement Award at the Women’s Courage Award International

• The Black Community Action Network Service Award

• The African Canadian Achievement Award of Excellence in Law Enforcement

• The Police Exemplary Service Medal

• The United Achievers Club of Brampton Community Award.

There is much to be said about her but let me just introduce her. This week, I had the honour of not only meeting, but discoursing with the fascinating, and incredible Deputy Chief Ingrid Berkeley-Brown.

I arrived at the office, and was told to sign in. The security officer asked me whom I was coming to see. I told her Deputy Chief Berkeley-Brown, and she told me to have a seat and she would call up to the office. While I was sitting there, the security officer said to me, “Deputy Chief Brown is such a nice woman. She is always so cheerful. You are going to enjoy speaking with her.” I smiled at the woman and nodded in agreement. I had already heard great things about the Deputy Chief, so her reassuring words were an affirmation.

came to Canada with my mom and siblings, we lived in the Jane and Finch area. That’s right! I have lived the experiences of many of our young people. It is one of the reasons why I can relate and empathize with our young people. I was only 14 years old in 1974 when I moved to Canada. I strongly believe it is my Guyanese foundation that made me such a formidable individual.

Policing was something I fell into. Social science was my field of study at Seneca College. And while I was working with Probation and Parole for my service hours, my job was to place young people apart of the Juvenile Delinquent Act in locations to do their community work. While doing this, I met Officer Sid Young, who suggested that I consider a policing career. I had never thought about it.”

Five years after applying to several police services in the Greater Toronto Area and the Ontario Provincial Police, Peel made the call.

“Back in 1981, I applied and went to the Toronto Police headquarters. The first thing you had to do was step on a scale. I was completely unqualified right then and there because I was underweight. Back then, there was a certain height and weight requirement. I always say that was my first systemic barrier. Today, we know policing is more about communication skills. But at the time, I did get disqualified. I stepped back from the process, recalculated, got married, and had my son. Then, in 1985, I decided to apply to RCMP, OPP and Toronto. In late 1985, Peel called, and this has been it since ’86.”

I was curious, it must have been challenging being the one of two African Caribbean, women. I asked Deputy Chief Berkeley-Brown to expound on that.

I was escorted up to her office, and as I entered her room, she rose out of her seat and greeted me with this smile that I could actually feel. “Hi Simone,” she said. “Thank you for coming to meet with me.” She motioned to join her at a small meeting space in her office. As I walk through the office, I must say I was impressed at what I saw. She had a brightly lit corner office, with plants (so Caribbean), and pictures of her family and fellow officers. I also noticed her display of awards that were stacked on a tall, standing filing cabinet. I appreciated her cool manner, and unpretentious demeanour. I immediately felt comfortable and went right into our interview.

“So, Deputy Chief,” I asked. “How did you get into policing?” She paused for a moment, and then went into her story. “Interestingly enough, my dad (Cardwell Pellew) was a member of the Guyana Police Force. He died in Guyana, but for some reason, his legacy lived in me. I was the last of 11 children, and my mom (Walterine Walton), did not initially support me becoming a law enforcement officer, but she did come around when she saw me in uniform and saw how happy I was.”

We settled into the interview, and she took me back to when everything began for her. “When I

“I was the only woman of colour. I was the only one that had a child – a three-year-old son at the time. It was a class of about 32, and out of a group of 300, I was the one of two black females, and the only black female officer in Peel County after graduation. I didn’t have a mentor. I feel like I struggled my way through. I’ve had times where I would be selected to do something, and someone would say ‘Oh, you know why you’re being selected right – because they needed a female,’ or suggestions that I’d only get promotions because I’m a black woman. I always felt like I had to work that much harder.”

And harder she has worked. She will be retiring in April, and she told me that she is looking forward to being just Ingrid Berkeley-Brown, and not Deputy Chief Ingrid Berkeley-Brown.

“I’m fortunate that I was naïve coming into this, because I think if I wasn’t, I would have taken on a lot more pressure and stress, and it would have kept me down. If it’s something you’re absolutely passionate about, there are a lot of great things with policing. It’s a systemic organization, but also, especially as a black person; you have a lot of pressure coming from the community. You need a lot of emotional intelligence and self-awareness.”

Written by Simone J. Smith Toronto Caribbean News

When art imitates life; The Negroes Are Congregating takes an unrepentant look at systematic racism

DAVE RANKIN

dave@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

If ‘art imitates life,’ then the play The Negroes Are Congregating surely does its part. Written and directed by award-winning playwright Natasha Adiyana Morris, The Negroes Are Congregating skillfully takes an unrepentant look at systematic racism through the use of artistic expression. Thespians Christopher Parker, Christopher Bautista and Uche Ama, take this piece to higher levels with their energetic onstage performance by showing every bit of why this is play is a must see.

I mean, who takes the time to stop in the middle of the action to say, “I’m sorry, I’m trying to keep up the pace with this show but ya’ll know it’s draining as f*** to be talking about race all the damn time.” Only to continue with their lines so seamlessly as if nothing happened. Just to add, this is a feeling that too many of us know too well. But that’s the thing about this play. The vignettes were real life situations we all know way too well.

The play showcased scenes of our women who arrive at work with weekly new hairstyles to be asked all types of annoying questions by their white co-workers. To the ever-powerful ending scene of a black man being pulled over by the police. Cliché one might say, but it’s the way these scenes were intricately woven together with crowd bonding sarcastic sketches that had everyone at their whim.

Even the children’s fable of The Little Red Hen makes an appearance to teach valuables lessons regarding selfsufficiency. The Egyptian scholar Mustafa Gadalla once wrote that “To effectively communicate and influence change in people several modes must be used.” Ms. Morris made sure that these modes were in effect all throughout the performance. Considering that, The Negroes Are Congregating has already garnered international recognition in Switzerland, Halifax, Atlanta, and Washington D.C. I’d say it’s safe to say that The Negroes Are Congregating is doing its part to influence change.

One thing that really culminated the evening was the interaction between members of the ensemble and the audience as they engaged in dialogue. The questions and insightful responses that were presented provided some members of the audience with a greater sense of understanding our plight.

PHOTO BY SEAN DEAN BROWN

The title itself, “The Negroes Are Congregating,” refers to draconian slave laws where black people were not allowed to gather without a white person present. In so many ways, I under and overstood the reasons why Ms. Morris and crew had decided to have an allblack audience scheduled during one of their nights. Interestingly, a Caucasian female made the reference during Q&A where her and her African female friend could only attend the play together on that very same night. One member of the ensemble who thanked her for her

honesty said, “It will be quite refreshing to see an audience full of us.” That’s for sure. Although Simone and I were eternally grateful for attending on the night we did, we all know ‘ain’t’ nothing like sharing in this experience with your own. Regardless of who you go with, be prepared to laugh out loud, and to look around at the faces of everyone else in the audience as you all enjoy being challenged as to why the ‘Negroes Are Congregating.’

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

As I walked through the door, I could smell the remnants of what I had missed: delicious Mac and Cheese Bites (Alex Battick), Salt fish Delight (Lester McDonald), and Sweet Potato Bites with Avocado and Jerk Shrimps, and Pot Roast Pork with Breadfruit (Nicholas Stennett).

I had missed the tension that fills the air during these competitions; the hectic nervous atmosphere, the sweat that beads on participants brows because of either panic, or because the room is hot. What I did not miss is the satisfied look that I saw on attending guest’s faces at the 23rd Annual “Celebrity Chef- Men Who Cook” event that was held on Saturday, March 5th at the Century Gardens Recreation Centre at 340 Vodden Street East.

The smiling, satisfied faces were all that I needed to see to know that the night was a success. With 22 Chefs competing and about approximately 31 dishes, this cooking competition was not just a way to pass the time. This fundraiser is in support of scholarships, and youth and community initiatives. One-third of the net proceeds were donated to the Paediatric Program (Sickle Cell Disease Support), Brampton Civic Hospital.

Each year the United Achievers’

Satisfied, smiling faces at the 23rd Annual Celebrity Chef Men Who Cook Event

Club has put on this event for the community to not only highlight the great men in Brampton, but to force them to prepare a meal that they have to organize and plan on their own. The Celebrity Chef had a chance to show the community what they were capable of, and it was a great opportunity for many of the men in terms of personal development.

Family members may not be able to evaluate them from an objective position, but the community was ready to eat, enjoy and critique. It was not just about winning, but with interacting with community members, which was great for networking, and getting the Celebrity Chefs names out there.

Some popular Chefs participated this year including: Mayor Patrick Brown, MP Ramedsh Sangha, Courtney Guy, Streete Kitchen, Soulyve (Phil Dewar), Tricnic Catering and newcomers from Liaison College. Some Chefs were excited about the event and showed their support on Twitter:

“Getting ready for Celebrity Chef “Men who Cook” hosted by the United Achiever’s Club in Brampton. We made Lasagne!” (Mayor Patrick Brown)

“I served Butter Chicken at Celebrity Chef “Men who Cook” event. Thanks to United Achievers’ Club for hosting the event.” (Ramesh Sangha)

The Chef of the Year and People’s Choice was Courtney Guy with his Blackened Salmon served with Spanish Rice, and his Quinoa Sweet Potato Salad. Winning the event was obviously a great way of getting their name and skills known by the community, but what was even better was that it was for a

good cause.

In close competition with his Mini Mango Marscapone Cheesecake, and Crunchy Curry Chicken Egg Rolls was Apprentice Chef, Joshua Ibrahim from Liaison College who was a newcomer to the event.

The MC for the night was Charles Matthews Jr from CMJ Entertainment, who kept the audience laughing with his usual comical antics. The sponsors (Jamaica Tourist Board, Gart Electric Inc., and Toronto Caribbean Newspaper) were there to support the event and show their appreciation to the community.

They had a 50/50 raffle, which was won by one of the young women who attended. Ms. Ghena Purewal impressed me,

when she won the $200.00 raised from the $400.00 from the 50/50 raffle and donated the entire check back to William Osler Health System. Two beautifully dressed students representing the Edge Program presented the cheque to Ghena, and then discussed the importance of the Edge Program and what it had done for them. In a very generous fashion, Charles donated a $50.00 gift card to the young lady and her family for their generous donation. All was not lost for me. Marjorie and Marva both set aside some treats for me, which I dined on when I got home. Next year, I am just going to have to arrive on time.

In order to change, we have to take action

Continued From Page 1 -- The African Canadian community is the most targeted groups for hate crimes in Canada. In a report put out in 2017 by the Working Group of Experts of People of African Descent, African Canadian children are living in poverty at a rate of 33% (Caribbean heritage), and 47% (continental African heritage), compared to 18% of white Canadian children living below the poverty line. It has also been documented that from 2005–2015, there was a 71% increase in the federal black prison population (Vicky Mochama, October 19, 2019, Globe and Mail).

I bring this up because one disturbing observation that I made was that although we had two strong African Canadian Candidates, in the sea of over 2,000 people, there was very little African Canadian representation. As a people we deal with many inequalities, yet we are the ones with little to no voice.

Our history shows that we have fought our way to have our voice heard in the political space:

• In 1834, black men earned the right to vote with the abolition of slavery

• In 1859, Abraham Shad became the first African Canadian to be elected to a municipal government

• In 1968, Lincoln Alexander became the first African Canadian Member of Parliament

• In 1972, Rosemary Brown became the first African Canadian Woman elected in Canada

• In 1993, Jean Augustine became the first African Canadian Woman elected to the Parliament of Canada

• In 2011, Vivian Barbot became the first African Canadian to lead a Canadian Federal Political Party with parliamentary representation

This list is only a handful of the great men and women who have stood for us, and had a seat at the table to make crucial decisions that would affect us as a people.

As I stood gawking at the crowd, I looked at the two sections that hosted our two African Canadian candidates, and my heart dropped. It was truly disappointing to

see that there was such a minimal turnout from members of our community to support two leaders who were battling to make sure our voices were heard.

MPP Michal Coteau has always been a strong voice for the African Canadian community. He realized that Premier Doug Ford has a lot of people who are loyal to him and his party, which is why building a coalition in the province, would be the only way to exceed the support given to Premier Doug Ford.

His platform was a move towards free public transit, pursuing more legislation on crypto currency, artificial intelligence and digital privacy for both young people and adults. Unfortunately, the support was not there for MPP Michael Coteau, and he was not chosen as our representative. I was happy to see that he had a group of young people who had travelled from out of the city to come and support him at the convention.

Our second candidate was the beautiful and charismatic MPP Mitzi Hunter. Well aware of the challenges, she entered the race thoughtfully. She knew that the only way to truly understand the needs of the people was to go and hear the needs of the people. She visited places like Sarnia and the far north, but the big push of her campaign concerned the proliferation of gun violence in the Greater Toronto Area.

I had a chance to speak with MPP Mitzi Hunter and despite not being chosen to represent the party she was in great spirits. “I feel proud to have run such a successful campaign. On Monday, I was right back in the legislative fighting for the needs of our communities. It has been an incredible process and a great learning experience for me. I had great volunteers and team members, and I now know parts of this province that I hadn’t before.”

During our dialogue, I spoke with MPP Hunter about my observations at the convention. She politely let me voice my thoughts and responded calmly, and diplomatically, “To change we have to take action. We must have the confidence and courage to step forward and put our names in for public office. It is important that the community gets involved and this includes the young people of this province. One way you can do this is by visiting my website and clicking on the link labelled Get Involved. We have to get into the race, and we need to get in quicker.”

I couldn’t agree more. Regardless of the party that you want to run with, we as a community have to do something. It would be great to see more of the African Canadian community at events like this, showing numbers and being a presence. It is time for us to show up!

Selina McCallum TC REPORTER selina@carib101.com

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TC REPORTER simone@carib101.com

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Canadian filmmaker, Frances-Anne Solomon, wins honorable award at Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles

SELINA McCALLUM

salina@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Canadian filmmaker and recently the feature for our Women Empowered section, Frances-Anne Solomon, received an award for her film HERO which showcased at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) in Los Angeles.

HERO was awarded the newly created Ja’Net Feature Narrative Award, renamed in honor of PAFF co-founder, Ja’Net Dubois. The well-loved actress and songwriter who sadly passed away unexpectedly during this year’s festival was best known for her role as Willona in the TV series, Good Times.

Solomon wrote, produced and directed the film. However, winning the award for the film is only part of what success means to her.

“HERO being awarded the Ja’Net Feature Narrative Award at PAFF, the opening night sold-out audience, the overflow room are all a part of the success, but what’s most meaningful to me is the reaction of filmgoers. The outpouring of emotion, the recounting of their own personal link to this history, the revelation of learning their own history and the role these Caribbean Pan Africanists played - that is the meaning of success

for me,” said Solomon.

The filmmaker speaks about what kept her going through the fruition of HERO and its global tour.

“It’s an indescribable emotion and it is with the ancestors on my shoulders pushing me to tell this story to the world, that is what kept me going through the process and throughout this world tour,” said Solomon.

Solomon has been a filmmaker for the past three decades, winning multiple awards for her work in the past.

The Ja’Net Feature Narrative Award is a milestone in her continued road to success, a road that wasn’t paved smoothly in the beginning, and still isn’t for many coloured women in film.

“When I first started there were many hurdles that I encountered, and some of them I still encounter today — being a black woman director on a set is not easy. But I hope that as my work continues to gain worldwide respect, so will the respect for my race and gender,” said Solomon.

In the recent Women Empowered article, Solomon spoke briefly about the inspiration behind HERO.

The film is inspired by the extraordinary life and times of Trinidad and Tobago citizen, diplomat and judge Ulric Cross, the most decorated West Indian of World War II.

Solomon spoke about how she was approached by her mother who informed her of Ulric Cross’s legacy.

Solomon’s mother’s friend, who pitched the idea to Solomon’s mom, was dying, but before he died, he said his last

wish was to know that the film was going to be made.

“So, after his death, I got involved with my mother to do it. At the time, I didn’t know much about Ulric. I knew he served in the second world war, but when I began to research his life, I discovered that after the war he had this incredible life,” said the director of HERO.

An incredible life that has definitely touched audiences around the world. Solomon hopes for even greater success and exposure for HERO as it continues its world tour.

Solomon speaks about which global audience will be viewing HERO next.

“To date we have our international television launch planned for Cannes 2020, 5-week theatrical release in Trinidad and Tobago right afterwards in May. Our African launch is in Ghana in September, with screenings confirmed over the next few months in Bermuda, Martinique Barbados, New York, Washington, Barbados and Belize,” said Solomon.

Once the screenings have been completed internationally, Solomon will be looking into launching it on television and online for audiences who have not had a chance to see it yet.

Solomon’s next project that also entails keeping a part of black history alive is already in the works.

“I have a number of projects in development including just announced adaptation of Denham Jolly’s memoir InThe Black,” said Solomon.

Fraud and identity theft is as real as you are

MICHAEL THOMAS

michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Canadians are encouraged by the countries leading credit agency Equifax to pay very close attention to their credit scores and history as well as to look out for things that are not in sync with their financial practices online and elsewhere.

The agency reports that some Canadians are feeling overconfident about their credit vulnerability and are not checking their credit scores in a timely fashion to detect financial fraud nation-wide.

A recent consumer survey conducted by Equifax revealed that only 29% of survey respondents checked their credit report as a means to help protect their personal data over the last 12 months, and only 38% indicated they would report fraud to a credit bureau. Equifax warns anyone concerned about fraud and identity theft to place an identity alert or fraud warning on their credit file, which may help to prevent future fraudulent use of their identity.

While most agree that fraud and identity theft is a serious issue, the level of vigilance is lower than previous surveys conducted in 2017 (80%) as well as 2019 (72%).

As for people who use public Wi-Fi, and ATMs the percentage of those feeling vulnerable lowered to 44% today versus 60% in 2017 and 59% in 2019. At home, only 27% of survey respondents said they felt vulnerable today versus 37% in 2019 and 33% in 2017. In-store revealed a similar result with 25% saying they felt vulnerable today compared to 38% in 2019 and 2017.

Julie Kuzmic (Director of Consumer Advocacy Equifax Canada) said, “Hackers, fraudsters and identity thieves are always on the hunt to get your personal information, we can’t be complacent about this and one of the best ways to spot identity theft is by checking credit reports for unrecognized activities, which may provide an indication that someone has been applying for credit in your name or fraudulently accessing your accounts. I’m particularly concerned for younger adults who may be misguided in some of their beliefs and actions surrounding identity theft.”

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), which tracks all types of fraud has estimated that the cost of mass marketing fraud to be around $130 million reported by consumers annually, and this represents approximately a

30% increase from 2017.

“More and more fraudsters are not only seeking access to victims’ hardearned money but also their personal information,” said Jeff Thomson, a senior RCMP intelligence analyst with the CAFC. “While data breaches and phishing emails still remain the top reported attack methods, Canadians also need to remain diligent to not provide personal or financial information to unknown callers.”

much how thieves operate. In a survey done a decade ago by Ipsos polls, Ca nadian were asked where they felt most at risk of being victims of identity theft, neither online nor real world took prec edent over the other. However, online purchasing was believed to be the most dangerous way to shop by 80% of those polled, followed by: gas stations at 78% , social networking sites 74%, restaurants 71% and retail stores 76% rounded out the areas most perceived as risks for identity theft. Places in which respon dents spent most of their time, such as home, work, and school, were gener ally perceived as `safe’ from this type of crime. (Ipsos.com, Most Canadians Per ceive Risk Identity Theft)

there is no question that this type of ac tivity is real. One would like to think that is it better to check and be safe, than not check and be very sorry.

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“Today is a beautiful and meaningful occasion to pause and reflect upon the outstanding contribution women have made throughout history. In Vaughan, we are committed to celebrating these important achievements and the strong leadership of remarkable women here at home and in communities around the world.” ~ Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua

the power of the moving image to both entertain and educate. She spoke vividly of her experiences in the business world. While not always easy, she pointed out the need to learn from both your negative and positive experiences.

It was wonderful to see young people getting involved. We were granted a poetic experience with a reading from author, poet, and performance artist Madeline Fiore. This young woman is both multifaceted and multitalented. She is skilled in: photography, public speaking, creative writing, poetry, and short films. I enjoyed the depth of her work, and her ability to draw emotion from the audience through her writing.

Formidable. Fearless. Feminine. Adjectives best used to describe some great women in our global community. On Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020, Toronto Caribbean Newspaper was invited to be part of the City of Vaughan’s International Women’s Day Celebration. The efforts of the City of Vaughan to recognize the contribution of women were evident as you looked about the room. When I scanned the audience, I saw women of all cultures, religions and ethnicities celebrating the power that comes with being a woman.

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua delivered an address that exalted women and their enduring role. As a monumental marker, the Mayor formally signed the Leadership Accord on Gender Diversity, making The City of Vaughan the first municipality in Canada to endorse the Leadership Accord on Gender Diversity. This initiative was developed by Electricity Human Resources Canada. The Accord is a public commitment by organizations to promote the values of diversity, equality and inclu-

The closure of the formalities was the commencement of the inspiration. Guests were introduced to women who have made their mark in the global community, and continue to give back in their own individual ways.

We were first introduced to Mara Cataldi, a flourishing, creative spirit who wears many hats. Mara is the Organization Manager at L’Altra Italia, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to highlighting the Italian arts and culture. She also hosts Ora Qui, featured on Omni Television. Her show features local news, news from Italy, sports and local community events. Finally, she is the Director of Operations at the Italian Contemporary Film Festival, the largest Italian film festival outside Italy. ICFF uses

“I watched the ones I loved stripped away from me and move into the light. Who was I to know that at such a young age my mind would absorb this much? I followed my heart into the unknown and it brought me to places I could never imagine. Although I felt uncomfortable at first, there was a calming presence that filled the air and made me feel whole. Pieces of me ran away with the wind. For so long I had tried to preserve them, but then I realized I had to let go.”

(Snippet from Madeline Fiore)

Finally, we had a chance to catch up on what was going on with Karen Mak, Co-Founder and CEO of dkstudio Architects Inc. Founded with her husband Dmtriy, dkstudio Architects now have three offices: one in Hong Kong, one in Vancouver, and here in Toronto. They were recently presented with the prestigious ACCE Asia Pacific Business Award, as well as being picked by Corporate Vision Magazine as the Best International Retail Design Company in Canada.

What a journey it has been for Karen. We learned of her time spent in Singapore and in Hong Kong. How exciting it was to work with established, luxury retail brands like: DKNY, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Prada, and Van Cleef. She spoke of the pride she felt when they won The Muse Design Award in 2019, Retail Design Awards 2018 Fixture of the Year, the God Award for Shop-in-shop, and the Best of Canada Office Interior Award in 2016.

Their most recent feat, One Piece a Day, an app created to help encourage and inspire everyone on the planet to pick up at least one piece of litter a day, and to refuse the use of plastic cups that are polluting our oceans, and destroying sea life. It is unfortunate that COVID-19 has put a halt to the various Women Empowerment events throughout the city. It would be amazing to see what else our women across Toronto had in store for us.

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“A day late, and a dollar short!” MPP Jill Andrews speaks out on Eglinton Crosstown delays

Rasta Flex. Closed! Carib Jewellery. Closed! These are only two of the over 100 shops and small businesses that have either been closed, or severely affected due to the Eglinton Crosstown construction.

If you have driven down Eglinton Avenue in the last few months to a year, you would have observed: tall fencing, obstructive barriers, and construction scaffolding, all that have blocked customers from accessing the many businesses located along the stretch of Eglinton Avenue.

What is disturbing is the fact that as of mid-February, Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario made clear that they were not making precise predictions of the project completion date at that point.

They were claiming that Crosslinx Transit Solutions (CTS) were facing a number of challenges since the project started. First of all, the project started nine months later than planned. Then, they were slow to finalize the designs. They have made some progress, but they are still way behind schedule. Metrolinx spoke on the fact that they do not want to compromise safety or quality, so they don’t think we will see the completion of the project until 2022.

To compensate for that, the Ontario government announced last week that they would be providing an extra $3 million to support areas impacted by the Eglinton Crosstown delays. According to the Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney, the money will go toward marketing, promotions, and clean-up assistance. It is in addition to the $6.6 million given to business improvement areas for promotions, parking discounts, window cleaning and local procurement.

The NDP are not buying it. Jessica Bell, Ontario NDP Transit critic has called on Doug Ford to speed up the delivery of upcoming transit projects by stopping the use of P3 procurement, which was initially

introduced by the Liberal government. “The Liberals let Ontarians down by pushing public-private partnerships that have seen transit project after transit project blow over budget and past deadlines, and now Doug Ford is taking things from bad to worse by using the same blueprint.”

What are P3s? They are publicprivate partnerships, which are an expensive form of privatization. Ontario’s auditor general found that the former Liberal government wasted an extra $8 billion of Ontario’s money by using P3s for 74 projects. The NDP party is afraid that Ford is continuing down the same path as the Wynne Liberals, and who is suffering?

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had an opportunity to speak with Jill Andrew, NDP MPP for Toronto-St. Paul’s, who most recently called for the province to put a plan in place to help them.

“This project delay is ruining many people’s lives in the St. Paul’s district,” started MPP Andrews. “People are going into debt, physical health is being compromised, there is a strain on business owners because they don’t have the foot traffic, emotional and mental health

is being affected. This $3 million dollars Carolyn Mulroney has announced; is this a band-aid solution, or a long-term plan? We want small businesses to be helped by the government. They need support. People are exhausted and depleted. $3 million is not enough. It is a day late and a dollar short.”

In 2012, the TTC warned the government and warned the public that these P3 partnerships were not going to build the Eglinton Crosstown quickly enough, and it looks like they were right. There are many issues to be considered including the fact that there are some severe safety issues due to construction: sidewalks are not being cleared, and there is not a clear path for pedestrians.

“The government would consult with the community, they could hear it from them directly,” MPP Andrews explained. “There is very little consultation. The community is not afraid of development. Development is needed for communities to thrive. We are asking for responsible development. We need to make it all come together.”

BY JANIECE CAMPBELL

TC JUNIOR REPORTER

Digital music piracy was a dangerous and monumental shift in the music industry. A few decades ago, it was all too familiar to be ripping music from CDs, compressing the files, and distributing them online.

Today, slow torrent download speeds and getting a computer virus from Limewire almost feel like distant memories. Gone are the days of converting YouTube videos to MP3 files and syncing them to your iPod.

In the current digital era, streaming music has ultimately changed the way we consume music. Usually along with a $10 monthly fee, subscribers now gain unlimited access to virtually every song ever recorded. With a huge move away from owning physical CDs, consumers can utilize these services on their device of choice, whether it be on desktops, smartphones, or tablets.

Online music streaming has grown in popularity immensely. In fact, a report from the Recording Industry Association of America showed that stream-

ing generated 75% of industry revenue in 2018. That number was up ten percentage points from the 2017 records.

Audiomack is a media streaming platform based in New York, USA. It differs from many other popular streaming services, as the content is not blocked by a paywall. With completely unrestricted access to current trending content, it tends to attract a youthful audience ranging from ages 13-28.

By paying close attention to what’s considered “hot”, the service caters to the “right now audience,” a definite youth-driven initiative. The platform also has several original series showcasing celebrities such as Trap Symphony and Fine Tuned. Both of these shows combine the art of rap and live instruments.

Besides the typical widespread genres like new-age Hip-Hop or R&B, Audiomack houses other categories such as Rock, Soca, Punjabi, Zouk, Kompa, and many other types of international sounds.

“We don’t discriminate against any genre. We’re very open. We don’t have top-tier artists that would overshadow anyone else,” says Tanya Lawson, the direc-

tor of Afrobeats and Caribbean content at Audiomack. “We believe in moving music forward, and the only way to move music forward is to give smaller, up and coming artists a shot.”

Lawson aims to reach out to artists and connect with them at a personal level. She fears that many don’t understand the impact that streaming services have on the industry, and the importance of uploading music to these platforms.

“They’re not aware of how streaming is taking over. Nobody’s going into record stores and buying copies in person anymore. It’s a new game and I would hate for them to get left behind.”

Audiomack has a fairly large established presence in the Caribbean, especially within Jamaica, Bahamas and Trinidad & Tobago. An issue that Lawson worries about is the lack of first-world knowledge in the islands when it comes to technology and releasing music.

“Maybe they thought coming from somewhere so small, that their voices wouldn’t be heard. But now, there’s an opportunity for that, and they can be heard worldwide.”

In a vast world, the use of the internet makes it feel a lot smaller. Many renown North American artists have used the technology to their advantage. With no distinct Caribbean roots, many are experimenting with sounds inspired by genres like dancehall, reggae and afro beats.

“I hate knowing that they’re being shadowed. People are stealing the style and being glorified while the originators aren’t getting the credit and it’s because of that one little thing they’re missing over there – the internet.”

Lawson encourages Caribbean artists to take that leap and venture into something that could lead to a massive turning point in their careers.

“Don’t let fans upload your songs for you. Structure a plan, upload it and monetize, because the music lives online forever. It will never die. As soon as someone presses play, you’re making money off of it. I think once artists realize that, it will move the Caribbean forward.”

BY JANIECE CAMPBELL TC JUNIOR REPORTER

On March 11th, 2020, Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire ordered the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to verify the results of the Region Four votes, a key district in the March 2nd elections.

The election results were declared as invalid.

The High Court ruled that the results did not legally comply in accordance with Section 84.1 of the Representation of the People Act. The commission was ordered to repeat the verification process.

The act states:

“As soon as practicable after the receipt of all the ballot boxes and the envelopes and packets delivered to him in pursuance of Section 83 (10), the Returning Officer shall, in the presence of such of the persons entitled under Section 86 (1), to be present as attend, ascertain the total votes cast in favour of the list in accordance with the Statements of Poll, and thereupon publicly declare the votes recorded for each list of candidates.”

Yes, the rumor is true, Appleton Estate released their brand new aged 8 reserve at Summerhill LCBO. Toronto is the first provincial market worldwide to see this release. The age 8 is Appleton’s brand-new addition to the portfolio of Jamaica’s most popular

When you get your personal invite from the master blender herself you know you can’t help but show up. March 4th was a night of sip and savour, good music and good food courtesy of Toronto’s Master Chef 2nd runner up Andre Bhagwandat of Andre’s Entrees.

The evening started with pouring cocktails made from the brand new 8-year-

In simpler terms, Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo, failed to add up the votes fairly and instead, used a pre-prepared spreadsheet as the basis for totalling the votes. During the elections, there were 897 polling stations in Region Four, but the RO only followed the verification process for 421 Statements of Poll.

The lack of transparency subsequently caused unrest among citizens, resulting in many aggressive clashes and transportation disruptions across the nation.

Continuous acts of violence against authority involving groups armed with cutlasses, pieces of wood and iron led to the police killing of an 18-year-old protestor, Seedat ‘Devon’ Hansraj.

In Toronto, the Association of Concerned Guyanese and members of the Guyanese Diaspora in Canada held a public mass demonstration in support of free and fair elections. The event took place at Nathan Phillips Square and over 700 attendees united in hopes of restoring democracy in Guyana.

Janet Naidu, a Guyanese native that immigrated to Canada in 1975, assist-

Appleton

ed in organizing the protest.

“It was nice to see so many people come out, and not just for the sake of politics in Guyana. It was about the right for our votes to be counted. It was a fight for democracy and having our voices heard.”

Since the 1960s, Guyana has a history of unfairness in elections. It began in 1968, with the elections being rigged in favour of the People’s National Congress (PNC) led by Forbes Burnham. What was significant about this election was that the United States government had full knowledge about the fraudulent plans and proceeded to fund the campaign. They knew that Burnham’s victory would prevent Marxist Cheddi Jagan from regaining power, a fear fueled by the Cold War. Later unfair election years include 1973, 1980 and 1985.

Naidu recalls a time where she heard the story about a man finding a ballot box in the trenches.

“Throughout history, there were many people who have been disempowered. Today, when we see that, we should not stand back and be a silent majority. We should speak up. We have quite a large ma-

Estate toasts 250th Anniversary with launch of 8-year-old reserve

old rum and hor’dourves flowing through the crowd with guests snapping pictures of the beautiful decor and setup.

The event started with greetings and welcome then was handed over to the Master Blender herself Dr. Joy Spence who used the opportunity to share the story behind the rum and she was even kind enough to give us a sample of the age 30 rum. Here is a little secret. Only 5 bottles live in the world and it’s at SummerHill LCBO. The age 30 was just a limited offer of only 4,000 bottles.

“Appleton rum is aged in the tropical climate of Jamaica, and is crafted with Jamaican limestone-filtered water, with no added flavours.”

Joy said she crafted this new rum to commemorate their 250th anniversary. This 8-year-old rum blend includes select reserve pot-still stock from Appleton’s renowned aged inventory.

Are you wondering what this rum is like? I can tell you that the 8-year-old is a sweet, smooth sipper and lends itself very well to quality cocktails. We tried it with a brown sugar daiquiri, old fashioned and an Appleton mule. I had a few so you know it’s good and I can still remember.

She further explained that this rum represents the vibrancy of Jamaica, its land and the joyful nature of its people. The 8-year-old reserve is one of Appleston’s most versatile expressions of aged rum, revealing aromas of spicy fruit and oak, followed by hints of honey, vanilla and a signature orange peel note.

The joyful experience: As the night went on, Joy awakened our palates and took us on a 3 minute masterclass. She explained the notes and flavors of the age 8 and how we can identify them.

When you first nose the rum, you get a distinctive orange peel top note, which is the hallmark of the Appleton Estate range with twisted hint of molasses. When you swirl the glass to release what Joy calls the Appleton spirit, you will smell notes of nutmeg, ginger, warm vanilla, butterscotch and hazelnut.

This rum is transitional, she explains that you can have it simply neat or as an elevated cocktail. Joy shared that her favorite elevated cocktail with the age 8 reserve is the brown sugar daiquiri. But when you taste the rum it is smooth and mellow with complex flavors. You also get notes of

jority in our Canadian atmosphere to help create change.”

In 1992, The Carter Center worked with Guyana to help deepen democracy, strengthen civil society and assisted in reinforcing rule of law. It was visible that the country was built on weak democratic foundations, a fragile economic base and underlying tensions between the Afro and Indo-Guyanese communities. Concerned about these patterns, The Carter Center aided in bringing skills in conflict resolution and democracy building to the nation.

For Janet Naidu, she says the first step to avoiding these situations relies on humanity improving on personal values.

“We need to elevate and have greater respect for one another. I think it’s important for this to be worked on or else this cycle will continue.”

She concludes. “In addition to standing up for democracy in Guyana and raising awareness in our Canadian environment through the demonstration, we hope for peace and stability and the safety of all Guyanese living in Guyana.”

The electoral commission has yet to proclaim a winner in the race.

warm toasted oak finish with vanilla. About Joy Spence: Joy fell in love with chemistry at age 13. Her dream was to become a scientist. After graduating from the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and the University of Loughborough with a Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry, she joined Appleton Estate in 1981 as Chief Chemist and quickly became enthralled with the process of blending rum. Joy’s prestige in the industry rose at a time when rum was primarily made and consumed by men, and her 1997 appointment as the world’s first female Master Blender certainly served to shatter the spirits industry’s glass ceiling. Joy was selected as the first female Master Blender because of her exceptional scenery skills, her knowledge and her passion that she has for rum. In this role Joy is responsible for creating new blends, simply put, it is Joy’s job to ensure that the Appleton Estate rum blends meet the high standards that consumers have grown to love and expect. In 2021 Joy will be celebrating her 40th anniversary with Appleton and big plans are on the way, so stay tuned.

Concessions by PC-government in dispute with teachers’ unions show effects from rotating strikes

PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

In what seems like a surprise move the PCled provincial government announced on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 that it would back down from its demands on class size and elearning.

The Minister of Education, Stephen Leece made the announcement to reporters that there will not be the planned increase of 25 students in the class as the average for high school classes, but now 23 which is an increase by one from last year. In addition, he announced that the requirements of two elearning courses as a graduation requirement will not be mandatory.

This is a significant concession by

the government in its fight with the teachers’ unions which has been going on for over six months. There are still a lot of uncertainties with respect to how receptive the unions will be to this new change.

The effects of the previous announced increased class sizes are already being felt in school boards across the province. Many boards have already seen class sizes increased into the 30’s as well as cutbacks to services, cancellation of courses and reduction in the number of teachers. The teachers’ unions have been adamant that it is not just wage increase which the government has restricted to 1% that is the major stumbling block, but the effect of increased class size.

The Ontario Secondary Teachers Federation (OSSTF) has resumed negotiations with the government after stopping on December 13th, 2019. This is a good sign that there may be hope. At the press conference, Stephen Lecce announced that the PCgovernment was willing to restore funding to selective special education grants and to offer parents the option of having their teenagers opt out of the two mandatory e-learning courses. There is no doubt that the govern-

ment is responding to public pressure from parents and students who have expressed displeasure regarding these on-line courses. According to OSSTF president Harvey Bischof as reported in the Saturday, March 7th, Toronto Star, “We already see overcrowded classrooms and disappearing courses, often courses students need in order to graduate. This proposal does nothing to address those serious problems, all of which have come about thanks to the Ford government’s short-sighted policies.” The OSSTF has indicated that it will temporarily hold off its rotating one-day walkout until March 27th. This is no doubt influenced by March Break scheduled for March 16th – 23th.

One of the major hurdles between the PC-government and the unions has been the issue of having a merit-based hiring for teachers instead of one based on seniority and placing special education funding to school boards instead of through the unions. Consistently, Education Minster, Stephen Leece has been repeating the line that the average salary of high school teachers is far too exorbitant. By capping the wage increase at 1% the government hopes to reduce the

increase in the education budget further. The unions are opposed to this cap because they see it as subverting the bargaining process and imposed without consultations between the affected parties.

In a poll that was released by the Toronto Star by Campaign Research on Saturday, March 7th, 2020 indicated that up to 57% of the respondents were in favour of teachers accepting the government offer, while 22% were not in favour. 56% would like the teachers to cancel their rotating strikes and only 25% were in favour of it continuing. Only time will tell what will happen. With only four more months left in the school year, there are still many uncertainties. Parents are no doubt uncertain about how this ongoing rotating one-day strikes will continue to impact their children’s academic progress and performance. With EQAO tests being cancelled for grade 3, 6 and 9 and possibly for grade 10 students who usually write the grade 10 Reading and Writing Test in March, this is of major concern. The literacy test is a graduation requirement and if students do not write it successfully, they will not be able to receive their grade 12 diploma.

“We took two steps forward and ten steps backward.” A look at women’s rights in the global community

ment and communist countries then predominantly celebrated the day until the feminist movement in about 1967 adopted it. The United Nations then began celebrating the day in 1977.

en are currently advocating for their rights. All the same, the struggle for equality hasn’t ended. Worldwide, women face employment discrimination and barriers to healthcare every day.

Are you recognized as a woman? Have you faced discrimination because of your gender? In the spirit of the recent International Women’s Day, it is necessary to shed light on

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th every year around the world. It is a focal point in the movement for women’s rights. After the Socialist Party of America organized a Women’s Day in New York City on February 28th, 1909, German delegates Clara Zetkin, Käte Duncker and others proposed at the 1910 International Socialist Women’s Conference that “A special Women’s Day” be organized annually.

After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8th became a national holiday there. The socialist move -

Considering that women’s legal rights have also increased significantly since the mid-nineteenth century. Changes in the law pertaining to women both reflect and foster changes in gender relations. There have been a number of changes in laws affecting women: from giving women full property rights, being deprived of the right to choose, refuse marriage partners, or end a marriage, and whether they could dress as they liked.

A number of these concerns and others continued to be problems for women in the centuries that followed. They included a lack of custodial rights over children, especially after a divorce as well as the inability of women to own property, run businesses, and control their own wages, income, and wealth. Women in the ancient, classical, and medieval world also faced employment discrimination, barriers to education, a lack of voting rights, and the inability to represent themselves in lawsuits and court actions.

Nevertheless, we have moved away from that particular decade and wom-

With all the work of powerful women such as: Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Ida B. Wells, Frida Kahlo, Simone de Beauvoir, Yuri Kochiyama, Dolores Huerta, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gloria Steinem, and Audre Lorde, who fought for women’s rights and gender equality, we would assume that it would have been enough to have an equal and fair society.

This is why gender gap is a real and prominent issue in our society. According to Pew Research Centre, 37% of women who say their workplace are mostly male report they have been treated as if they were not competent because of their gender. A third of the women who work in majority-male establishments, 35% say they have earned less than a man who was doing the same job.

New studies have now shown 83 countries have improved women’s economic rights from 2016 to 2018. Despite these improvements worldwide, during the same period, 54 countries imposed greater restrictions on women’s economic rights. For

instance, currently, 37 countries restrict the ability of married women to obtain passports, and 17 restrict their ability to simply travel outside their home. When women, are restricted from owning property, or starting a business, everyone is robbed of the value that could have been created if they had been allowed to share their talents and ideas with the world.

According to Rosemarie Fike, “In countries where men and women enjoy the same economic rights, women live longer, healthier lives while also benefiting society by increasing economic activity and prosperity.”

Yet, 13 countries have also restricted a woman’s right to own property, and 39 countries restrict their ability to inherit property. In five countries: Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau and Niger there are even restrictions on a woman’s ability to open a bank account.

This International Women’s Day, let’s take meaningful steps to improve the lives of women and girls everywhere by encouraging equal access to the institutions that help protect economic rights and allow women worldwide the ability to make their own economic decisions.

A Credit Union designed with black interest in mind

A group of black financial professionals is well on their way to changing how banks view and treat black people here in this city. If everything goes according to plan, by 2021 Toronto will be home to the Pan African Credit Union.

According to Mr. Alton Brooks Vice President of the Jamaican Canadian Association, this new project has multiple organizations involved, but the main objective is to serve the financially underserved black community here in Toronto.

“This has no bearing on where you are from,” said Brooks, “As long as you affiliate with the African ancestry, you are our focus. We looked around and saw that almost every other community

had their own financial institutions: the Italians have their own credit union, the Jews have their own banks, everybody has something for themselves except for us.”

Brooks told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, that the group feels there is enough of a demand out there and this is something that the community needs. Once it is the will of the people, he said, “We will make sure that happens.”

The JCA Vice President told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “We are looking for around a thousand survey’s from people to tell us what they want in this facility, tell us if they want it and where they want it before we present any information to the regulatory body (FSCO), and also the credit union association, who will determine if they will give this an opportunity.”

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper also spoke with another professional behind the plan to bring this project to the forefront, Mr. Ivor Christopher of the Lion’s Circle African Men’s Association. Christopher too spoke of the need to serve the black community and stressed that he wants to create a welcoming fi-

nancial atmosphere for black people here in Toronto and later down the road province wide as well.

“I spoke with a gentleman yesterday,” Christopher said, “who makes six-figures, has an a-plus credit rating, no family, no children and does not feel welcome when he walks into a bank. One of the things that we plan to do is to provide financial literacy, because I think that is an area where we need to enhance.”

Christopher told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper his own personal story of going to a bank to get a mortgage, been pre-approved, shopping for a home in the pre-approved range, only to be turned down upon returning to the same bank. He was given a cock and bull excuse as to why he could not acquire the home after being preapproved.

According to Christopher, the regulative body has not given out a new license to a credit union in the last 16 years, therefore, if this one goes through it will be a milestone for the black community and Toronto in general.

Although this ambitious project is not up and running as yet, Christopher was asked what are his future plans for

this venture down the road to which he replied, “I would like for us to: one get a license, and two see two to three branches of this credit union operating across southern Ontario in the next five years, that would be amazing.”

Christopher told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “We are planning to run this like a business, our goal is to be an iconic credit union amongst credit unions.” Christopher, who once worked for an Italian credit union, commended them on the way they do business and said, “That’s the model that we are going to model ourselves after, we are going to set the bar so high for ourselves in terms of management and fiscal responsibility that we are going to be beyond reproach.”

Both Christopher and Brooks would like the public to know that this is phase one, and it is extremely important to get the community survey done. This can be accomplished by going to www. pacu.ca. There you can complete the survey and show your interest in bringing this to life and give your feedback whether it is good or bad.

On Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020, the PCgovernment announced, “Roadmap to Wellness: A Plan to Build Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions System.” The vision of this mental and health strategy is to have, “A province where all Ontarians have access to high-quality, easily accessible, mental health and addictions support throughout their lifetime, where and when they need it”.

This announcement came almost ten years after the previous Liberal government launched Ontario’s Comprehensive Mental Health Strategy titled, “Open

Minds, Healthy Minds,” whose goals was to “Support mental health throughout life from childhood to old age and to provide the integrated services and supports that Ontarians need if they experience a mental illness.”

The emphasis then was on children and youth. The revised plan announced by Health Minister Christine Elliot envisions the creation of a Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence. This centre will be “The coordinating, central provincial body that will enable and drive the effective implementation of the plan four pillars. These pillars are i) improving quality (ii) expanding existing services (iii) implementing innovative solution and (iv) improving access. The government hopes that by centralizing services it will be able to make improvements in wait times and increase the level of services for those who need access to mental help.”

based on cognitive therapy and is intended to treat approximately 80,000 people in its first year of implementation. The fact that it will be covered by OHIP means that those who are over 10 years of age and require help to deal with anxiety and depression will not have to pay directly. In the past, this was an exorbitant cost that many parents had to pay directly if they did not have private benefits coverage.

One hopes that with decreased wait times more youth will be able to access immediate mental help resources quickly to ensure that they receive timely and quick response.

the spring budget is released within the next few weeks, as there will be an additional $400 million allocated.

Elliot announced that $20 million will be made available to invest in a program titled, “Mindabilty” which is

There have been widespread responses from various sectors to Ontario’s plan to revamp mental health services. Many observers noted that the PC-government eliminated $330 million from mental health spending in its spring, 2019 budget. Furthermore, health ministry representatives have not revealed details with respect to how the money will be spent. This will no doubt come when

College Student Alliance (CSA), Council of Ontario Universities (COU) and Colleges Ontario (CO) noted in a press release on March 3rd that “The provincial government will continue to support mental health in Ontario and that there will be significant targeted investments to support integrated accessible, community-based student mental health care in the upcoming Ontario budget.” Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) and a coalition of other groups in a joint statement on March 3rd noted, “Collectively we have seen many plans on mental health and addictions over the last ten years. Above all, our clients and the people who support them need action.” There is still so much that remains to be known about the feasibility, practicability and accessibility of this revamped mental health strategy.

Junior Hoilett’s ‘Three of the Best’

mkuu@carib101.com

With only ten minutes left, his team was trailing by three goals.

The rain hung on the cold, dense air, each drop glistening like tiny diamonds under the weight of the stadium’s floodlights.

He received a nicely weighted pass, allowing the ball to travel across his body before controlling it with his left foot.

The defender had stood off him, allowing him a split-second moment to glance upwards and assess the situation.

Controlling the ball with neat, little touches, he pressed forward. But from his position, out wide on the left, he would need to produce something special if he was going to help his team to get back into the match.

With a sudden change of direction, he cut in towards his right, a move that caught the defender by surprise.

Seeing his teammate in trouble, a second defender joined the action throwing himself quickly between the attacker and the goal, clearly hoping that his large frame would prevent any further incursion.

It wasn’t to be - another sudden drive to his right followed, then two touches - the first to bring the ball with him and then

the second to set up the shot.

It took just a few more moments for the ball to glide swiftly over the head of a third defender before arcing inwards towards the top-right angle of the goal frame.

Caressing the innards of the side netting as it floated past, it swung around and beyond the goalkeeper’s reach then slammed into the back of the net before dropping to the ground.

Although it had only reduced the deficit and his team would go on to lose 3-2, Junior Hoilett’s effort, a goal of sublime quality, would go on to be celebrated over a year later.

England’s Premier League has a twitter account that boasts over 21 million followers.

The account regularly posts videos of unforgettable goals using the hashtag#goaloftheday. On January 9th, it was Hoilett’s strike that took center stage.

Born to Jamaican parents in Brampton, Canada, the 29-year-old winger has played in the UK since 2003. He turned down extended trials with Manchester United to join Blackburn Rovers.

After a Rovers career that saw him notch up 12 goals in 81 appearances, he moved south to join Queens Park Rangers in the capital city.

Between 2012 and 2016, he notched up another 12 goals in 112 appearances before a free transfer took him to his current club, Cardiff City.

It’s fair to say that, unlike one of his favourite footballers Ronaldo (the Brazilian legend) the Canadian International is not a prolific goal scorer. However, he does score some splendidly memorable goals.

The one against Watford he remembered well, especially as it began with a

one on one situation, something he’d been looking for all match.

He said, “I tried to make the most of it. He (the defender) showed the left. I dropped my shoulder and sold him a dummy. The centre midfielder came to try and help him, and that made my angle even better, so I just tapped it again and curled it.

“The centre midfielder made it easier for me to guide it around because he helped me get that angle to the far post.”

He may have made it look effortless, but the player is quick to point out how much work goes into his game.

“Actually, that week,” he added, “I was training with my striker coach. He showed me a video clip after I scored that goal. It was exactly how we’d practiced it at training. You don’t just get to do these things - you have to work hard at it in training.”

His celebrated goal of the day which came against Watford compares to another goal he scored, this time for Queens Park Rangers against Brentford: a goal so good that it won QPR’s Goal of the Season in 2016.

In a fashion similar to the goal described above, the winger picked up the ball just inside the opposition half. Then, dazzling his opponents with some neat trickery and a masterful display of acceleration, he pounced on the opportunity and finished exquisitely.

Another beautiful right-footed curler that no Keeper in the world would have saved.

“I’m naturally right-footed.” He said. “You can see with these goals that I score with my right. I like to cut inside because it’s harder for the defender to mark me there. When I go down the left, it’s easier

to defend against because I only have one option - get a cross in with the left. When I come inside, I have multiple options, and that makes it harder for the defenders.”

His goal against Brentford was extra special. For one, the fixture is a West London Derby. It was also Hoilett’s sixth Championship goal of the season. The final 3-0 win also gave manager, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink his first back to back win with the club.

“I picked the ball up at the halfway line and dribbled at them,” Hoilett recalled. “It kinda opened up, and I used the defender as a shield to curl it around him. It was a good goal, especially in a local derby. And to get the win as well - it was a good goal.”

Again, he was quick to point out the merits of working hard in training.

“You have to train to get that confidence. And to know how to put the right power and finesse on the ball. You have to work towards those goals.”

Asked to choose a favourite from his rich catalogue of impressive goals, Hoilett named a few. Amongst them was the sweetly struck curler in the Premier League for Cardiff against Wolves on November 30th, 2018.

Cardiff was attacking and had numbers in the Wolves penalty box. Bobby Reid’s snapshot rebounded off defender Romain Saiss’s legs. With the ball rolling out towards him, Hoilett leapt on the opportunity to hit a beautiful first-time, side-foot shot. His teammates immediately swamped him, and the home supporters were ecstatic - such was the quality of the goal and the drama of the occasion.

“It was a match-winner in an important game. We needed to get the win. It’s one of my favourites.”

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

WAZARI JOHNSON

wazari@carib101.com

JA TC REPORTER

“ Agriculture is the greatest and fundamentally the most important of our industries. The cities are but the branches of the tree of national life, the roots of which go deeply into the land. We all flourish and decline with the farmer.”

These potent words came from Bernard Baruch, and it is my great hope that one day my island home of Jamaica comes to realize the importance of the principle conveyed by these words; any nation that neglects agriculture and the ability to feed itself is surely destined for failure,

Societies across the globe are feeling the impact of COVID-19. The UK is no different. Major institutions and organizations are taking steps to limit the risk of spreading the virus.

of the worst sort.

There are so many avenues for people to explore in the agricultural sector, where persons can realize great returns on their investment. Areas such as: organic farming, horticulture, aquaculture, conventional farming, bee keeping/farming, supplying farm tools and equipment, provision of services such as agricultural techniques consultation, farm labor, cold storage and transportation etcetera, are just a few.

This is not just wishful thinking; there is data that can support my position. Before the devastating rains of 2017, Jamaica’s agricultural sector, forestry and fisheries grew by 13.5%. If the sector gets more government support and more people get involved in agriculture professionally, far more growth can be realized in this area.

In the next two editions, I will be looking at some areas of farming opportunities, which can be explored in more detail.

Organic farming:

Organic farming in Jamaica has steadily increased especially in recent years. Some reasons for this increased food production are:

1. Market premiums of 2 to 2.5 times the conventional market price

2. An expansion in the consumer market, with the willingness to pay the higher prices demanded by the organic food producers, due to public awareness of the health benefits of eating organic

3. An expansion of markets in the developed world where Jamaican farm exports traditionally are targeted

4. Lower input cost due to this organic nature of food production

I really do think though, to a large degree, people are buying more organic foods because of greater public awareness. It is now better understood that organic foods are a healthier option, in comparison to crops grown under conventional agricultural practices. In the book ‘Harvest for Hope - A

Guide to Mindful Eating,’ Jane Goodall said, “Someday we will look back on this dark era of agriculture and shake our heads. How could we have believed that it was a good idea to grow our foods with poison?”

Horticulture:

This area of agriculture is filled with possibilities. Over the years, I have attended a lot of craft fairs and trade shows. I have noticed that when there are horticulturalists at these shows and fairs they always do well. Countries like Colombia, the Netherlands, Kenya and Ethiopia have turned horticulture into an enormous industry. Their flower crops generate billions of dollars, which have created wealth and prosperity for their countries.

There is no reason why we cannot do the same, here in Jamaica. There are so many applications to this area, people primarily think of growing ornamental plants when they think of horticulture, but it goes far beyond that.

COVID-19 has grabbed the attention of the country’s media. One major company has created a Coronavirus UK tracker updated daily with figures provided by the Department for Health and Social Care.

According to the information it provides, to date, there are 798 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK. Sadly, there have also been 11 deaths.

Despite the efforts of the UK Government to inform the public, there is still a sense of confusion in UK society. How do you self isolate as a single parent, wife, husband, care provider or someone who needs care from others? To shake hands or not to shake hands - how do we greet or

congratulate each other? Why has the US suspended all flights from Europe but not the UK? Is it safer to be with others in the open air than in enclosed spaces?

It seems, at this point, that there are more questions than answers.

Some organizations have decided to leave nothing to chance. There will be no Premier League football until April, no London Marathon until October and, for the foreseeable future, no further fixtures played in the Six Nations Rugby tournament. Similarly, the St Patrick’s Day Parade, scheduled to take place in London on March 15th, is cancelled.

They won’t be the only annual

events impacted, especially if the government decides to ban mass gatherings.

In a recent interview, the UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance told Sky News that probably about 60% or so of the UK population will need to contract the virus for herd immunity to build up in the UK. That’s an awful lot of infections and sadly - potentially a lot of fatalities. In the absence of a vaccine, herd immunity may turn out to be societies’ most effective response to the disease. With this in mind, it’s clear that the virus, now that it’s here, may well be here to stay.

We understand how di cult it is to lose a loved one. Our compassionate and caring team work hard each and every day to make sure that the members of our community and beyond are taken care of during such a di cult time. For advice on what to do when a loved one is dying, making funeral arrangements, pre-arranging your own funeral, or anything else, please feel free to contact us, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

We promise to work with you and your family in your time of need to create the perfect memorial service for your loved one. We will be here for you today, as well as tomorrow.

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Spring cleaning tips for your car

You might associate spring cleaning with your home, but your car could also use a thorough clean-up at this time of year. Here are some tips to ensure that the job gets done right.

• Wait for a cloudy day. Bright, sunny days can cause water to evaporate off your car too quickly, leaving behind unsightly water marks. In contrast, warm but cloudy days allow water to dry more slowly, thereby giving you enough time to manually dry the car.

• Use a specialized soap. Dish soap is mild but can leave deposits behind. Harsher detergents, however, may damage the finish on the vehicle.

The best cleaning product for your car is one that’s specifically designed for this purpose.

• Pay attention to the undercarriage. This is the part of your car that’s most exposed to dirt, grime and road salt. Thoroughly rinse the bottom of the car by pointing your hose upward. Don’t forget to clean your tires and wheels.

• Apply wax. Once your car’s clean and dry, apply wax to make it shine and to protect it from the sun and other elements.

• Clean the inside. Vacuum the floors and upholstery, dust all hard surfaces and throw out any garbage. Use a stiff brush to clean the floor mats. Finally, use a small air compressor (like the sort used to clean keyboards and other electronics) to clean vents and hard-to-reach spots.

Many people love to wash their car. If you’re not one of them, consider taking your car through an automated car wash or having it professionally detailed.

Tire maintenance: 3 steps to take in spring

In many parts of the country, winter can take a toll on your car’s tires. Here are three tire maintenance tasks you should perform every spring

1. CHANGE YOUR TIRES

Winter tires perform poorly on hot, dry roads. If you used them over the last few months, now’s the time to switch back to all-season or summer tires.

2. CHECK THE PRESSURE

Cold air causes the pressure in your tires to decrease, deflating them and making them unsafe to drive on when the weather is warmer. Check the owner’s manual to verify the exact pressure range that’s best for your tires and inflate them accordingly.

3. INSPECT THE TREAD

No matter what type of tires you use, it’s their tread that provides the necessary traction to stop your car from slipping and sliding in wet and icy conditions. Many tires have tread wear indicators inside the grooves. If your indicators are flush with the grooves, the tires are no longer safe to drive on. Finally, visually inspect your tires. If you notice uneven wear, cuts, bulges or other irregularities, it may be time to replace them.

Check the AC in your car before summer

You may not have used the air conditioner in your car for a few months, but you’ll probably need it soon. The last thing you want is to discover that it isn’t working on the first hot day of the year. To avoid frustration, test the system before you need it.

HOW TO INSPECT YOUR AIR CONDITIONER

The simplest way to make sure your air conditioner is working is to turn it on. Cold air should come out of the vents and the temperature and flow should increase and decrease when you adjust the settings. If every thing’s working well, all you’ll need to do this spring is change the filter to ensure you breathe clean air all summer long.

SIGNS YOUR AIR CONDITIONER ISN’T WORKING

Air conditioning problems are most commonly caused by leaks. Either the coolant is dripping or damaged seals are allowing air and water to seep into the air conditioner’s components. Signs of an issue include the following:

• There’s no air at all

• The cooling is sporadic

• The air isn’t cold enough

• It makes loud noises when it’s on

If there’s a problem with your car’s air conditioner, you’ll be happy to have caught and fixed it before the start of summer.

poetic word the

Born into a sinful world. What have we done wrong?

BY GLORIA O’KOYE

Past mistakes stains potentials.

Refuse for anyone to move on

Public eye gets high on negativity

Who’s optimistic?

Gets brushed off

Hood life gets all the praise

Till the grave screams out NO MORE!

Sentences served

Past their time, their crimes Gets dragged on.

For my Kings and queens

You deserve so much more

For those who want to change I encourage you to push on

Outcaste for what was done

Chances should be given

For both ends to strive more

For those who watch loved ones

Behind glass please stay strong

No words can explain

Aching pain but please hold on

For the parents who think They’re failures

Children’s absence - Hits!

Close to home your stories

Are life lessons you got to show Life’s so much more

Live to learn - learn to live

Too short to waste on regretting

Setbacks are minor - To grand plans For gold and riches

Keep your head up - Time isn’t still

It’s trickling - Like a river flow

You’ll make it through King

You’ll make it through

You’ll strive for the best

You’ll see it through

You’ll make it through Queen

You’ll make it through

You’ll shine like star

You’ll see it through

How a female CEO of a streetwear brand is changing the game in Toronto fashion and culture

SELINA McCALLUM

salina@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

emerging and established photographers to build on their fashion photography content.

“We cultivate arts, business, fashion and passion,” said Chrysostom.

Moreover, the event includes entrepreneurs who sell sunglasses, who sell jewelry and services such as legal services. The purpose of the event is to have people interact with each other as well as support Freshmen and other brands on the come up.

“From the vendors who attend I always hear, “I made money, I made connections and I had fun,” said Chrysostom.

Chrysostom’s passion lies in hustling and helping her around those hustling to come together.

“Photographers want to see their photos get over 1000 likes on Instagram. Everyone wants to put themselves out there to make money. Freshmen provides that safe spot, that safe environment for you to create and connect in a positive environment,” said Chrysostom.

The new line of clothing called Rebirth is specifically special to Chrysostom because she turned 24 earlier this year, which was the age that her brother passed away four years ago. Her brother started the Freshmen brand in 2011.

“I get inspired when I look at my life, even if it was left in pain, emptiness and a question mark with no answers to that question mark,” said Chrysostom.

Chrysostom was very close to her brother, Khalid, growing up. She describes her relationship with him as warm, calm and fun. Even when her family was struggling financially, he would always make sure that his siblings were having fun.

When he passed away, Chrysostom took over the Freshmen brand and expanded, but it wasn’t easy for her.

“I kept telling myself I’m doing this for me, and that made me angry and depressed. I wasn’t living for me. That opened up my mind to realize that Freshmen is me. I can connect with him, while I find myself,” said Chrysostom.

She says that on this entrepreneur journey, she knows that Khalid has been right by her side.

“I know that my brother is my guardian Angel. I know that Freshmen has become my guideline, one that is going to mold me to become a woman with pur-

pose,” said Chrysostom.

The President of Freshmen says that she lets working in a male dominated industry inspire her as well.

“Majority of streetwear brands are run by men in Toronto, so I let it inspire me but not let it stop me. It can be intimidating, but don’t let it intimidate you, let it inspire you,” said Chrysostom. “The advice I would give to other females working in male dominated industries is don’t compare yourself to other males and females and focus on you and what your message is.”

Freshmen Clothing’s message consists of catering to those who go the extra mile for success, but it also values the vulnerable.

In December 2019, Chrysostom roamed the streets of downtown with her team to hand out sweaters to homeless folks on the street. In addition, on her recent trip to Trinidad and Tobago, she spent a day with children in a classroom and gave them t-shirts.

“You never know what someone’s going through. Everyone needs that warmth and light when they’re feeling alone,” said the CEO of Freshmen. “If I can give you something that can change your mood, or your spirit, or your life, then that’s going to make me sleep at night. Seeing someone that is happy, is what makes me happy. I feed off of that, my soul takes to that.”

Chrysostom holds community building dear to her heart as she understands that without a community, she cannot grow her brand.

She envisions Freshmen becoming a foundation where people can go for all their needs from recording music to receiving spiritual healing. She dreams of opening up a community centre for people of all ages.

In giving away Freshmen clothing wherever she goes, Chrysostom’s goal is to leave a piece of Khalid everywhere.

“My brother was the visionary. He lit the torch, and passed it to me to run, to continue this marathon,” said Chrysostom. “The goal is to see Khalid everywhere, and I won’t stop until I see him worldwide.”

To learn more about Freshmen or to purchase an item, follow them on Instagram @freshmen.mmxi

Written by Simone J. Smith

WALI SHAH

“In a world as dark as this, choose to be kind”

“I see the elevator door open. I saw my mom walks out. NO words were spoken, but a million things were said. Mom started to follow us. She was yelling, ‘Give me my son back.’ This is the moment that changed my life for ever.”

At the age of 25, this young phenomenon has toured Canada coast to coast as a WE Day performer. He closed out President Barack Obama’s keynote with a bespoken poetic message. He has free styled with hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar, and he is recognized as alumni of RBC’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants.

At the age of 22, he was named the City of Mississauga’s official Poet Laureate. In his free time, you can find him volunteering for organizations like the United Way, and while he was in school at the University of Toronto, the Muslim Student Association.

He has given TED talks, worked on voiceovers, and he has created poetry for corporate organizations. He partners with well know organizations including Microsoft, Deloitte, Metrolinx, Zillow, WE Free the Children, Canada Walk of Fame. Wali Shah has become the voice of a generation. He visits hundreds of schools and colleges across North America and performs his poetry with a purpose. To show our youth that it doesn’t matter where you come from, or what you have done, you can rise about your current life situations and become a beacon of light to a person least expected.

“We don’t make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

With great pleasure, I would like to share with the community the interview that I had with our Classic Man Wali Shah. He was so open to speaking to me about his life, and what he has gone through. Despite the facts that he has over 12.7 thousand followers on his Instagram page (@lifeaswali) and an immense following on all of his social media platforms, he was so easy to engage in open dialogue. It was an hour of learning for me that I would like to summarize for you this week.

We had to postpone our interview a few times, because as you know life happens. When we finally connected, his story came to life in front of me.

“My parents came to this country

with nothing. They didn’t even have winter jackets. I didn’t have my dad around much because he was always working. I watched my parents grind and I thought to myself, ‘I have to grind. I have to be like my parents.’ I grew up in Mississauga, in the Hurontario and Dundas area. As many may know, it is a community ridden with poverty and drugs.

I learned early that to make it, you have to do whatever you can. When I was young, my friends and I were all just trying to get by. My mentality was driven on getting what I want. I would have $2.00. I wouldn’t eat. I would save that money, and I would take that money to blockbuster and get myself a video game. This led to bigger compromises. There was this need to want to fit in, sense of belonging. My parents working as hard as they did left me with too much free time, and when I look at it now, I see how socialized by society I was.” I had heard that he had a run in with the law at a young age, so I queried how this had affected him.

“My wake-up call came at 15 years old when I was arrested. I used to get away with a lot. After getting into a fight, a police officer began to interrogate me. What I didn’t think was fair was that he only did for two minutes. He didn’t let me tell my side of the story. He just threw me into the backseat.

What I most remember is seeing the elevator door open. I saw my mom walks out, just as I was getting thrown into the backseat of the squad car. NO words were spoken but a million things were said. As the police car drove away, my mom started to follow us. She was yelling, ‘Give me my son back.’ I thought about where my life was going, and where I was headed. My mom’s eyes said so much.”

“This is what I was doing with the chance that my parents had given me. They were willing to give up their whole lives for me. They didn’t come to this country to see their son end up behind bars. This is when everything changed for me.”

“Keep pushing no matter what obstacles come my way.”

It was after all of this that Wali really needed

someone in his life. A friend. A mentor. This is how Ms. Riley (the person he calls his angel from heaven), approached him between classes.

“She stopped me and noticed the changes in my behaviour. I didn’t feel comfortable sharing, and she seemed to understand. She brought me Tupac’s book of poetry. I couldn’t talk to my parents about my passions. They were from a different time, a different place. I don’t blame them; God just provided for me exactly what I needed at the time.”

Wali expressed his gratitude for Ms. Riley. “She is black. She is powerful. She is strong. She has been counted out. She made me realize that if she can get through things, I can.”

He is conscious of his role in this global community. Wali knows that his ministry is bigger than simply a classroom. The lessons from his experiences are going to change the world. He is cognizant of the strength of his personal narrative, and his struggles have helped him with being a spoken word artist.

“The hip-hop industry is not always the greatest. A lot of artists are self-serving. They use their platform the wrong way. Kids are overdosing on drugs because their favourite hip-hop artist said they use it. I could relate to Tupac. It was then that I told myself. I am going to make a difference. Spoken word became my life. My final exam was a poem that I wrote about my arrest. I was so scared, but I had the strength of Moses when he spoke to Pharaoh. This is not for me. It is for the world to hear. I got 100% on the exam.” What is left for this young man to do? Well, take over the world. He has begun to focus on work involving the mental health challenges experienced by young people, as well as the topic of toxic masculinity and how it manifests within the community. In the near future, he wants to start a mentorship program for youth, and it is fitting seeing what he has been through.

Our young people need hope, and it is great to see that our future is looking bright. Keep it up Mr. Wali Shah. The Greater Toronto community is rooting for you.

Toronto Caribbean News

Shrimp and avocado ceviche

NOEL CUNNINGHAM

noel@carib101.com

CULINARY EXPERT

Ceviche is a seafood dish that originated in Peru typically made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices, such as lemon or lime, and spiced with chili peppers or other seasonings including chopped onions, salt, and coriander. Because the dish is not cooked with heat, it must be prepared and consumed fresh to minimize the risk of food poisoning; however, the acid from the limes and lemons change the structure of the proteins in the fish, essentially “cooking” the fish without using heat.

Ceviche is usually accompanied by side dishes that complement its flavours, such as sweet potato, lettuce, corn, avocado, or simply with chips. The dish is popular in the Pacific coastal regions of Latin America. Though the origin of ceviche is hotly debated, in Peru it is considered a national dish.

This week I’m sharing with you one of my favorite ways to enjoy ceviche with a Caribbean flair. I lightly blanched the shrimp then added avocado and finely chopped scotch bonnet peppers to give it life and freshness when combined with the lime juice. Ceviche is an easy appetizer that you can serve at any gathering.

Ingredients

• 1 Pound medium shrimp

• 1/4 cup lime juice (about 4 limes total) freshly squeezed

• 6 scallions, trimmed and finely chopped

• 2 to 4 Serrano chiles/ ½ scotch bonnet pepper, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup cider vinegar

• 2 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme

• 1 tsp dried oregano, preferably Mexican

• 1 large ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced

• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

• 2 tsp salt

• Tortilla chips, for servings

Directions

• Fill a large pot with 1 quart of water. Cut 4 limes in half and squeeze their juice into the pot; add lime halves. Bring to a boil, then turn off heat; let mixture steep for about 10 minutes. Return to a boil.

• Add shrimp to the pot. As soon as water returns to a rolling boil, pour shrimp mixture into a colander, discard cooking liquid and limes. Return shrimp to pot; cover and let stand for 15 minutes. Transfer shrimp to a baking sheet and spread them out; let stand until cool enough to handle.

• Peel and devein shrimp and cut into small pieces. Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in 1/4 cup lime juice and the scallions, chiles, vinegar, thyme, and oregano. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

• When ready to serve, stir avocados, cilantro, and salt into shrimp mixture. Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy.

FIRST TIME HOME

ashtoncollege.ca

Celebrating women with good health

to settle for feeling like this. Here are some general health tips I like to share with my female patients to help address some of these common concerns and promote healthy hormones:

On March 8th, 2020 we celebrated International Woman’s Day. There are common health concerns that women deal with and some quick easy tips you can start implementing to help improve your overall health. Some common concerns I see women dealing with in practice are fatigue, brain fog, PMS, hot flashes, anxiety and stress, low libido, heavy and/or painful menses, PCOS and infertility, prenatal and postnatal issues. Unfortunately, many women believe that these concerns are “normal” and that there is nothing they can do about it. Today I want to change that belief, and let you know that there is no reason that you should have

1) Mindfulness meditation: It sounds too good to be true right? When stressed, the amount of cortisol in your body increases, and that increase can affect our other hormones – specifically progesterone. This could be why you’ve probably noticed that your menstrual cycle becomes irregular or PMS symptoms worsen during stressful times in your life. Meditating regularly is a great way to help increase your resilience to stress and help reduce these symptoms.

2) Get your vitamin D tested: Vitamin D is essential in your body for many things such as improving mood, supporting your immune system, bone health, and optimizing fertility. Living in Canada where sun exposure is limited, it is especially important to get your levels tested to assess if a vitamin D deficiency is contributing to any of your health concerns.

3) Having a balanced diet: I’m sure you’ve heard this a hundred times, but that’s only because it’s important. While having a diet that emphasizes quality protein, healthy fats and fibre is a great way to ensure overall health, there is also some evidence to suggest that diet can play a role in improving fertility, and decreasing symptoms associated with menopause and PCOS, among other concerns.

Here is one of my favourite smoothie recipes to help promote healthy hormones:

• 1.5 cups of a milk alternative (my favourite is almond)

• 1 handful of greens (I usually use spinach or kale)

• 1 tbsp hemp hearts

• 1 tbsp ground flax seeds

• 2/3 cup of mixed fresh or frozen berries

• 1/4 of an avocado (fresh or frozen)

• 1 scoop of your favourite protein powder (optional)

• 1 date or maple syrup to sweeten (optional)

• Put all the ingredients in a blender, blend it together and enjoy!

4) Get adjusted regularly: Physical, chemical or emotional stress results in tightened muscles and locking spinal movement. This decreases the brain’s ability to communicate with the body, decreasing nerve flow to our organ systems. Chiropractic adjustments improve nervous system functioning by restoring spinal motion and function. Our nervous system controls our hormone system, helping women regulate their estrogen levels thereby helping with menstrual cycles, fertility, mood, bone density and more. Adjustments during pregnancy help decrease pain, promote healthy development of the growing fetus and create ease during delivery.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, I encourage you to empower and support all the women in your life, including yourself. The journey starts with prioritizing your health and inspiring others around you to do so as well.

What are dental crowns made of?

Dental crowns are used to restore the shape, appearance and function of damaged teeth. They can be made of one of several different materials, and each has its own pros and cons. Here’s what you should know about the various options.

These dental crowns last the longest and rarely chip or break. ever, because of their colour, they’re not considered suitable for teeth that are visible when talking or smiling. The type of metals in the alloy can include gold, platinum, chromium, nickel or others.

These are ideal for front teeth because they can be tinted to precisely match the colour of your existing teeth. On the other hand, they’re less durable than other types of

What are cold sores?

Cold sores are blisters that form on the lips and around the mouth. Here’s everything you need to know about this common viral infection.

SYMPTOMS

There are three stages of a cold sore outbreak. First, the person feels a tingling or itching sensation where the blisters will form. Then, a cluster of fluid­filled blisters erupts. Finally, the blisters burst, ooze a clear liquid and eventually scab over.

Cold sores may also be accompanied by fever, headaches, painful gums and swollen lymph nodes.

CAUSE

Cold sores are most often caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV­1) but can also be due to the genital herpes virus (HSV­2). The virus can enter the body through a break in the skin and is highly contagious.

While the virus is incurable, it often remains dormant. However, there are times when an outbreak of blisters is likely. This includes instances in which the individual experiences:

• Periods of stress

• Fatigue

• Hormonal changes

• Infection or fever

• A weakened immune system

• Exposure to the sun

TREATMENT

Over­the ­ counter creams and ointments may help reduce discomfort and shorten the length of a cold sore outbreak. And if you get cold sores often, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to try to combat the virus.

Finally, many dental offices offer diode laser treatments for cold sores. If done during the first stage of an outbreak, the laser can stop blisters from forming altogether. In certain cases, laser treatments done soon after the virus is contracted can even stop further outbreaks definitively.

dental crowns and are more likely to chip or crack.

• Composite. These also look very natural, and while they won’t chip as easily as porcelain, they tend to get worn down by chewing and brushing. They’re also more likely to stain.

• Porcelain fused to metal. These crowns combine the strength of metal and the look of porcelain. However, the porcelain can chip and consequently expose the metal. Additionally, if the gums are thin or recede the metal will show along the gum line.

When properly taken care of, dental crowns can last for up to ten years. Be sure to brush twice a day, floss regularly and visit your dentist twice a year.

What you need to know about gingivitis

As many as 70 per cent of Canadian adults will develop gum disease over the course of their lifetime. The most common type, however, is gingivitis. Here’s what you should know about it.

CAUSES

Gingivitis is caused by a buildup of plaque on your teeth and gums. This sticky film is filled with bacteria that can irritate your gums and make them red, inflamed and susceptible to bleeding.

The most common causes of excess plaque are poor oral hygiene and tobacco use. However, there are other risk factors including stress, hormonal changes and taking certain medications. There’s also a known link between oral health and heart health.

SYMPTOMS

Indicators of gingivitis include the following:

• Tenderness

• Swollen, red or purple gums

• Bleeding when brushing or flossing

• Bad breath

• Receding gums

TREATMENT

When caught early, gingivitis can be reversed with a thorough professional cleaning and proper oral hygiene, including regular brushing and flossing. Sometimes, however, a more aggressive treatment is required to remove all traces of plaque.

If left untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis, which can lead to irreversible damage to the gums, teeth and jawbone.

Overall, prevention rather than treatment is the better approach when it comes to gum disease. The best strategy is to brush and floss daily, visit the dentist twice a year and change your toothbrush every three months.

Black History Month (BHM) 2020

15 suggestions for sustainable black empowerment - Part 2

Part 2 of 3 is a continuation of the 15 suggestions penned in Part 1 of 3. These suggestions represent accumulated thoughts over the past Black History Month (BHM) period (1995-2020). They suggest 15 sustainable paths to black empowerment. It is only a brief synopsis of suggested approaches to begin a new explorative phase in the journey over the next 30 years (2020-2050). Similar to business corporate - Suggestion Number 1 is a directorship for policy directives and vision and mission direction.

It may seem revolutionary to mention "corporate" in a community setting, but corporate is not an ideology. It is merely a macro-level approach to strategic, tactical, and operational objectives. Likewise, to achieve standardization of processes, procedures, and methodologies. To seamlessly innovate and integrate ideas. To improve efficiencies, consolidate strengths, overcome weaknesses, build capacity, increase negotiating power, and accumulate assets. More importantly, corporate is a tactical "think-tank" for big ideas.

Suggestion Number 5. Youth Violence Mitigation Perspectives: Praise to community advocates, community organizations,

religious organizations, politicians, and the justice system for their efforts to attempt to mitigate and manage the fallout from youth violence. Another step is to bring industry leaders to the table in other fields of scientific enterprises, where critical thinking is a pre-requisite for solving complex problems. The nature of the problem does not preclude the "generic" approach to solutions, even to non-technical problems such as youth violence. Another approach is to engage in a "change of environment" to challenge the outlook and worldview of some youths. This faculty could compliment "inner city" youth programs with "outer city" programs to industrialized sites such as the James Bay Hydroelectric Project, La Grande River, Québec, Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, Lake Huron, Ontario, and the US. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC. A single outing may spark a permanent change in the perception of some youths.

Suggestion Number 6. Youth Educational Perspectives: This faculty could investigate Germany's dual-track vocational training program known as the Dual Vocational Education Training (Dual VET), which is the route that around half a million apprentices in Germany take to a skilled profession every year. There are about 1.3 million apprentices training every year in Germany. Germany's vocational schools’ partner with around 430,000 companies, and more than 80% of large companies hire apprentices (How Germany's Vocational Education and Training system works. Reference: November 16th, 2018. Paul Hockenos).

Boards of Education (BOEs) could establish an achievable 100% target for high school graduation instead of 85%. Academics in education could take on the unique role of working with the BOE and parents to institute a network of simulators and emulators to boost Simulator Learning (SL) as an integral aspect of high school and post-secondary education. Not as an adjunct to high school education, but as a bona fide academic stream underpinned by Academic Information Literacy (AIL) objectives.

Suggestion Number 7. Youth Industry Perspective: This faculty could collaborate with industry leaders to set a target for 85% of representative corporations in programs equivalent to Germany's Dual Vocational Education Training (Dual VET) model. It may sound revolutionary, but industry leaders could play the most significant role in addressing the disenfranchisement of youths. Trades and technical (scientific) education fuels the base of expertise that industry needs to foster innovation and mass manufacturing, to sustain industrial growth and macro-level job creation.

Rapid technological changes are taking place in the world, concurrent with racial inequality, social and economic exclusion, wealth depletion, corporate downsizing, un-affordable housing, underemployment, wage imbalance, and climate change. The growth of industry also plays the most significant part of the economic viability and empowerment of peoples, communities, and nations. Hence, the principal solution to youth violence should be a more substantial effort to promote growth

opportunities in the industrial sector - as the first imperative for wealth creation and employment opportunities.

Suggestion Number 8. The Money Perspective: Money is critical to achieving any agenda - building creatively or solving the problems of humanity ("deficit financed"). Money is an enabler for higher educational opportunities, social acceptance, housing affordability, elderly and childcare, the realization of justice, and health and wellbeing. The lack of money can cause fear, anxiety, and desperation. It gives rise to aberrant behavior that increases criminal justice incarceration.

Constitutional and financial experts could collaborate with governments to establish the right to a standard living wage for all ten provinces. To entrench into federal law, Ontario's excellent financial literacy education program. To establish a referendum by the citizenry to prohibit a newly elected government from canceling Capital Cost Initiatives (CCI) by the former government. To post indices using a Gross Social Progress (GSP) Index to provide measures to evaluate and narrow the "gap" between majority hiring versus the hiring of women, visible minorities, people with disabilities, and Indigenous peoples.

Presented herein Part 2 of 3: These are the first 8 of 15 suggestions penned briefly. The UMGP and BHM Score Card (Suggestion Number 1) would establish the interim targets and measurable outcomes for reporting on during each succeeding BHM (2020 - 2050).

Brian Watson 416-836-7397

bwatson@unisonins.com

Greek Gods, Mayan Gods, Norse Gods…

What about Egyptian Gods? Part IV

BY MAKAYLA B. 11 YEARS OLD TC JUNIOR CONTRIBUTOR

Welcome back to my last article on Egyptian Gods. It won’t be my complete last one, but I am going to move on to something else for the next edition.

Last week, I introduced Anubis, and I asked some questions to the readers about him. Some may think he is not all bad, but if you think so, you’re wrong! Anubis is a kind God, helpful, and caring. Those are his good traits. He is also impatient and impulsive. He represents life, the soil of the Nile River, and the discoloration of the corpse after embalming.

It is unknown why Anubis is depicted as a black jackal but good soil that the Egyptians were able to farm in was black. They believe that the colour black symbolizes good fortune, regeneration and rebirth. Osiris couldn’t go back to be the God of life after he died; he took Anubis’s place as God of the dead and underworld, so Anubis became the God of embalming the dead.

His job was to guide the dead to the afterlife and the underworld, keeping evil out of Egypt. The underworld would be packed with souls that have crossed the duat, but only those who were truly good could go there. Anubis brought souls to be judged, and then brough the good ones across the duat.

I hope that you have enjoyed learning a little about Egyptian Gods.

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

simone@carib101.com

“The very reason I write is so that I might not sleepwalk through my entire life.” ~ Zadie Smith

It is hard to decide where to start. There is just so much to share. I figure I will start you at the point of my arrest, and then take it from there.

I have always enjoyed traveling. Immensely. Traveling is in my blood. When I was younger, I was fortunate enough to have parents who were immigrants to the country. It meant that they would travel back to Jamaica often. They did so not only because they missed home, but they wanted my brother Simon and I to experience our culture to the fullest.

I have been travelling from before I can remember. To be honest, it was one of the hardest parts of my house arrest. From October 2012–September 2017, I was re -

stricted to going to work, and coming home. I was not even allowed to leave the province. I was stuck between four walls; I couldn’t decide what was worst, being in an actual jail cell, or being given a little bit of rope knowing that you are limited. I guess for some, it would be one in the same. It was a source of my mental health challenges at that time.

In 2012, I was living it up. I had all those aspects of life that make you successful. I had my own home that I was using as rental property in Windsor. I had just started my business Hear 2 Help, and things were going really well. I started with one family, and in a month’s time, I had about 20 families that I was servicing in the GTA. Alongside this, I had a contract with a technology company to act as a manager when the owner was not around. Money was flowing. Life was good.

To add to all the great things that were happening to me, I had just completed my accelerated Masters Program at the Michigan Professional School of Psychology in Auburn Hills, Michigan. I was proud of myself. I graduated with a 3.9 in my Masters Program, and I had begun to learn more about myself as a person existing in this world. What could wrong?

During that time, I was also dating a young man who we will call Peter. Peter was a great guy: supportive, cultured, and

Spring cleaning, fear

GARCIA AKUA

garcia@carib101.com

COSMIC CORNER

Love and Light Family! We have sprung forward into more light; we definitely can all use more love right now in our world. The last time we spoke, we were in the middle of Mercury Retrograde. We discussed how the slowing down of Mercury’s speed affects our thoughts and communication, as these are the areas Mercury influences.

With Mercury being in Pisces, it was an intense emotional rollercoaster for many. The issues that came to the surface may have been difficult and uncomfortable. We were faced with these issues to finally find healing and solutions. Sometimes we have to wade in the murky waters to find our treasure. It might messy, but the journey is worth it.

Well, guess what? Mercury retrograde is over! We have survived the first retrograde of the decade. The last six weeks have brought us new lessons and challenges. Mercury is still in the shadow phase for the next three weeks, which means it’s

he happened to be a drug dealer. Actually, my five-year relationship before Peter had also been a drug dealer. I don’t know what to say. I have a thing for bad boys. At that time, I was intrigued by the danger. What society found unacceptable, I found appealing. Peter and I had a lifestyle that you only see in the movies. Fur jackets, high-end restaurants, shopping sprees, trips around the world, I experienced it all. My parents didn’t know this part of my life. I kept them shielded from my dark side because I knew they would be disappointed. My parents knew I was rebellious, they just didn’t know the extent. The one part of my life that kept them at bay was the fact that I was a great student. I had always done well in school, and for most West Indian parents, that is all they need to know. As long as you are doing well, and not in jail, they were cool. So, I kept this pace through my 20’s, and early 30’s. On October 21st, 2012, that all changed. I was coming back from a vacation in Costa Rica. It was Peter’s and my second time going there. The trip to Costa Rica included a layover, both on the way there and back. This trip back, our layover was in Panama. I was in good spirits that day. It had been a pretty good trip. This all changed the moment we exited the plane in Panama. Everything changed the moment I got off the plane in Panama…

porn & please wash your hands!

resuming its original speed. It’s during this time we gain more clarity about our lessons and we can start applying solutions. What have you learned? Were you triggered emotionally? How do you respond to your emotions or the emotions of others? What have you learned about yourself since the beginning of the year? Through self-exploration, we learn what our triggers are and how to better protect your energy moving forward.

On March 9th, we had our last Full Moon of the cosmic year. Like we have discussed before, Full Moons are times of gratitude and release. As the moon grows in size so do our goals and aspirations. The Full Moon brings things to fruition. The days after the Full Moon it begins to decrease in size. This is a good time to do release work. As we have just gone through the retrograde season, we have many things to be thankful for and definitely a lot of releasing to do before our cosmic New Year.

Our Full Moon was in the sign of Virgo. Virgo is an earth sign, symbolic of the virgin. Virgo is the sign of perfection, organization, and service to others. After the lessons we have learned thus far, how can we perfect mastering our energy and emotions? What areas of our lives need to be reorganized for us to be more effective and successful? How can we use our experiences to bring healing to others?

Full Moons illuminate what is hidden in the dark. It has the ability to shine a new perspective into our lives. Spring is all

about new beginnings. This spring we begin to plant seeds not only for this year but also for the decade ahead. It’s time for springcleaning. De-clutter your space; reorganize your home and office. More importantly, do a spring clean of you! De-clutter your mind and face your fears. Do an emotional audit of your life. Virgo strives for perfection, but Virgo is also it’s the biggest self-critic. Do not let thoughts of doubt and anxiety cloud your judgment, especially during this shadow phase.

We are clearing out old energy patterns, old beliefs, self-sabotaging behaviors, and thoughts. This is a brand-new time. Fear limits our perspectives of ourselves. Fear keeps us hostage in our own minds, prisoners of our emotions. We have an opportunity to respond to life in a brand-new way. Like an old song says, “Free your mind and the rest will follow.” We are being bombarded by fear porn on a daily basis. Since the year has begun, we have dealt with tremendous amounts of grief, loss, and instability. Now Coronavirus has taken over the airwaves with new updates of this deemed pandemic. Stores are running out of sanitizers and masks. Travel bans are being put in place and we are still unclear about just how dangerous the virus is. We are in a state of fear. Fear compromises our immune system and can make things far worse than they are. This is why it is pertinent we do our own self-work. We need to be grounded during times of change.

With the passing of Amenhotep, the 1st, the obvious question was who was going to rule in his place. Having produced no surviving male heir to the throne, this was a serious matter. To combat this, the ancient Kemetians looked to their tradition for guidance. This is still very customary among African people. The tradition we’re alluding to is the very ancient practice of the Pharaoh coming to the throne through the woman of royal blood. This practice was synonymous with the mythology of Auset (Isis in Greek) and Ausar (Osiris).

In this case, the King’s Sister, (one

of many titles she held), Ahmose was the living representation of the goddess and her husband to be would be in line with the god himself. With collaboration from the high priests, the royal family looked to Ahmose to select a worthy mate and she did. His name was Djehutymes the 1st, better known to the world as Tuthmose the 1st.

Born of common blood, Djehutymes the 1st whose name meant ‘Djehuty is born,’ rose through the ranks of the royal army due to his lengthy service and military wit. At the time of the wedding to Princess Ahmose, he held the title of Commander and later bore the throne name of Aakheperkara, pronounced AahKep-er-ka-ra. Loosely, the name meant ‘Great is the manifestation of the ka (spirit) of Ra.’

Djehutymes the 1st was a wellrespected man among his troops and his enthronement elevated his status exponentially. His union with the Royal Wife produced three children, a son and two daughters. Djehutymes the 1st also

had a son prior to his coronation and another son with a minor wife. This son later became Thutmose the 2nd. The most famous of his children was the famed Hatshepsut. We will address this great Queen at a later date.

Although his reign was relatively short, Djehutymes the 1st managed to achieve major victories on the battlefield. His military ambition was to conquer lands as far as Asia, making his reign of Kemet just as powerful as some of his predecessors. There is a story told by an admiral of the Great Army where a successful campaign into Nubia extended the borders of Kemet beyond the Third Cataract. Just to elucidate, basically a cataract is made up of many small boulders and stones that change the flow of the river Nile. There are six of them and the third cataract was located well into present day Sudan.

There is another tale of Djehutymes 1st’s army reaching as far as the banks of the Euphrates defeating the people of Mitanni, Kemet’s sworn en-

emies at the time. He was the first pharaoh of the New Kingdom to control this area and this proved to be monumental as this opened up new trade routes and furthered the nation’s foreign policy. At home, Djehutymes the 1st was engaged in numerous building projects. With the assistance of the great architect Ineni, Djehutymes the 1st commissioned an extension of the Temple of Amun at Karnak. The construction included the adding of pylons, statues, and a very large obelisk. He also extended the Treasury and made a sizeable contribution to the Temple of Ausar.

In this spirit of architecture, it was written that Djehutymes the 1st was the first pharaoh to cut his tomb in the Valley of the Kings and was buried there. Although details of how he passed are not well known, his approximate decade long rulership was one with great triumphs through military excursion. But one thing we know for sure was that the foundation had been set for his successors to come.

Black Mental Health Day: highlights the importance of strategies to combat anti-black racism

day did not occur in isolation but was conceived by the collective efforts of many within the African-Canadian community.

Monday, March 2nd, 2020 marked what was truly a significant and pivotal day in the history of Toronto as it was observed as Black Mental Health Day.

Toronto became the first city in the world to recognize and acknowledge this day. In the official proclamation by Mayor of Toronto, John Tory “Black Mental Health presents an opportunity for all Torontonians to reflect on the systematic nature of anti-black racism and continue our efforts to combat it.”

There have been studies that document the impact of anti-black racism on the mental, emotional and physical heath of people of African descent. This day highlights the importance of bringing awareness. The recognition of this historic

There were community organizations that fought hard and long to bring awareness to the epidemic of mental health problems in the black community. Organizations such as: Tropicana, Jamaican-Canadian Organizations (JCA) , TAIBU, Access Alliance, Black Creek Community Health Centre, CAMH SAPACCY (Substance Use Program for African-Canadian Youth), Regent Park CHGC, Women’s Health in Women’s Hands along with many others were crucial in this historic day.

The acknowledgment of this day is not meant to be a one-time event but will be a catalyst to initiate ongoing conversations, dialogues, exchanges, discussions and sharing between many stakeholders to address the impact of anti-black racism. Awareness is only the first step in this process.

There were community-inspired events held that focused on the need for structural and institutional changes, as well as some solution-based interactions to highlight black mental health. In the lead up, G98.7 FM spread awareness of

#BlackMentalHealth Day, and the discussions at the station centered around the requirement of more resources that are culturally targeted for black mental health.

There was a kickoff at Queen’s Park, which was led by the Executive Director of TAIBU Community Health Centre, Liben Gebremikael, who focused on the historic significance of the day and the need to have allies who are involved in the process.

There was a panel held at CAMH on black mental health which consisted of: Notisha Massaquoi, Jully Black, Kwame Mckenizie, Tatiana Ferguson, Jam Celinacc who shared their insights and knowledge. The panel was streamed live on Facebook.

There were discussions by the Black Medical Students of the University of Toronto. Donna Alexander spoke on cultural safety in practice, and Dr. Josiah Osagie spoke about his experiences and gave insight as a black resident psychiatrist working in the hospital in Toronto.

In addition, there was a community celebration in the evening at TAIBU Community Health Centre that was titled, “Power in Healing” with a quote from Maya Angelou, “Take a day to heal from the lies

you’ve told yourself and the ones that have been told to you” on the flyer.

The importance of Black Mental Health Day cannot be overstated. The official proclamation by the City of Toronto highlights the effects of anti-black racism as, “It is experienced as a lack of opportunity, and gaps in accessing culturally appropriate services. It is poor physical health and mental health outcomes, as well as poor education outcomes. Higher rates of precarious employment and unemployment”

The cumulative effects of this diminish the quality of life and increase negative overall health outcomes. There is thus a need for all levels of government to collaborate and develop multi-disciplinary strategies, which as community grounded to address these systematic and structural challenges. Attempts at bringing awareness and removing stigma, fears, misconceptions and lack of trust is just the initial stage. The greater work and more difficult one will be based on solutions and strategies that get to the root of combating antiblack racism at all levels of society. This is not easy as there are many mountains to climb.

Artificial intelligence, social media, and the law

BY NANA ADJEI-POKU NEW TC LEGAL COLUMN

Earlier this year, you may have heard about numerous police services admitting they have been using the services of a company (Clearview AI), unbeknownst to the chiefs of these various police services.

Well, let me provide a brief summary regarding the history of this company, the services they have “quietly” been offering and the potential impact on our individual privacy rights as citizens.

In 2017, business partners Hoan Ton-That and Richard Shwartz launched software named Smartcheckr. This was a facial recognition program, but they weren’t sure who their target market would be. Shortly after, they changed the name to Clearview AI, and this is the software program that they marketed to law enforcement agencies in the United States.

One of the first U.S. law enforcement agencies to utilize the program is the Indiana State Police. The use of this program enabled them to solve one of their cases within 20 minutes. The case involved a shooting that was recorded on a witness’ cell phone. The accused was identified as a result of having his photo elsewhere on social media. After a quick upload of the video to the program, a comparison to the video was matched and BOOM, the police got a match and the perpetrator arrested was charged.

Clearview AI currently has a database of approximately 3 billion images from the following companies: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Google and tons of others. The program allows users to search images and provides links that will give details such as where the photo appeared, where the subject resides, whom the subject is in a relationship with, amongst other very personal details.

Clearview AI’s algorithms do not require photos of subjects looking straight in the camera, nor do they have to be perfect photos with subjects staring right in the camera. An individual can be wearing glasses or have something obstructing their face and can still be searched and potentially matched.

Although the software program appears to have a successful match 75% of the time, there is a flaw especially when it comes to visible minorities and the results may provide false matches. There hasn’t been any detailed information as to why this occurred when searching for visible minorities, but I guess this may be something we may learn sooner or later.

Recently, cease and desist lawsuits have been commenced on behalf of Facebook, Google and YouTube claiming that

Clearview AI did not obtain consent of any users whose photos it searched and collected.

In February 2020, Toronto Police Services, OPP, RCMP, Ottawa Police, Durham Police, and London Police Services all admitted to using this app. What was surprising was that most of the chiefs of these police services were not aware this was being used. Former Ontario privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian stated that London Police Service “Actively concealed information and denied that its officers had used Clearview AI.” CBC News filed a Freedom of Information request back in August 2019 to confirm that London Police Services had been using this app. In February 2020, the London Police Service responded and advised that there were no records. Well, eight days later, they came back with a response indicating that some of its officers “may have” used the program. Why the secrecy?

Privacy Commissioner Brian Beamish released a statement on February 14th, 2020 advising that his office be consulted if a company or law enforcement agency shows interest in using the software. I find that there will be legal ramifications if it is found that individuals’ images that were not publicly available were collected and stored in the database, which would be a direct violation of the privacy laws of Canada.

As a community we have to question:

• How were these various police services able to utilize this, “controversial and unregulated surveillance tool” as critics are calling it, without their respective chief’s knowledge?

• How long have they actually been using this program?

• Where is the oversight in our police services if things like this are happening under the radar?

• If this program had not been exposed, would we have been made aware and if so, when?

• Why did London Police Service deny and then eight days later, admit they used the app?

There are so many questions surrounding the secrecy and use of this program. It is my hope that the Privacy Commissioner’s update will provide us with more information. It will be interesting to see where this leads now that it’s in the forefront for the public’s knowledge. You may want to check your privacy settings on your social media sites. But then again, it may be too late, you may be one of the three billion currently in the database.

Why a pro should always install your gas appliance

Have you purchased a new gas appliance?

If so, it must be installed by a trained professional. Here’s why.

TO PREVENT DISASTERS

Gas leaks present a serious health and safety risk to you and your family and could even be fatal. A professional will ensure that your new appliance is installed properly, allowing you to avoid potentially catastrophic issues.

TO HAVE THE RIGHT PIECES

Installing a gas appliance requires specific fittings, pipes and connectors. A professional gas fitter will know exactly what pieces can and can’t be used in your home.

TO AVOID BEING HELD LIABLE

Trained and licensed gas fitters and master plumbers carry their own insurance. This means you won’t be financially responsible if something goes awry during the installation.

In many cities, installing your own gas appliance is also illegal. Overall, it’s always best to hire a gas fitter or master plumber to hook up appliances that run on gas.

How to keep your appliances running like new

If you’ve recently purchased new appliances, you may be wondering how to make sure they continue to run. Here’s what you need to know.

REFRIGERATOR

Don’t pack your fridge too full, as this can block airflow and make the components work harder than necessary. You should also vacuum the compressor and wipe the door gasket with soapy water at least twice a year.

STOVE

AND OVEN

Keep the oven clear of food buildup by periodically running the self-clean feature or manually scrubbing it down. Keep electric coils or gas elements clean and avoid dragging your pots and pans over glass-ceramic cooktops. Wash the surface regularly with warm, soapy water or a special cleaner.

DISHWASHER

Always rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. If there’s a filter, make sure to clean it regularly so it doesn’t get clogged with food particles. Once a month, run it on empty with vinegar to keep it clean.

WASHER

DIY or don’t: tips for your next home

While a number of home projects can be completed by the average DIYer, others should be left to the professionals. When deciding whether you should do it yourself or delegate, ask yourself these questions:

DO I HAVE THE SKILLS?

If you can’t confidently say that you know what you’re doing, hire a professional.

DO I HAVE THE TOOLS?

If the job requires special gear, think twice. Purchasing equipment is expensive and certain power tools and machines may not be easy to use for a novice.

renovation

DO I HAVE THE TIME?

You may be capable of completing the renovation, but if it takes too much of your personal time, it may not be worth it.

In general, cosmetic upgrades can be successfully completed by those without much experience. However, any renovation that involves plumbing, electrical work or the structure of your home, should be left to the professionals.

3 things to consider before building an addition

Never overload your washing machine and make sure to empty clothing pockets so the drum doesn’t get damaged. Run a monthly cleaning cycle with hot water and vinegar. Always keep the door open after a wash to allow the interior to completely dry.

DRYER

Clean the lint trap after every cycle and wash it monthly to make certain the filter doesn’t get clogged. At least once a year, get your dryer ducts professionally cleaned. This will ensure that your machine runs smoothly and decrease the risk for house fires.

To find out more about how to take care of your specific appliance, be sure to consult your owner’s manual. Though these tips are a great start, they shouldn’t replace the care instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Do you love your home but wish you had a little more living space? If you’re thinking about building an addition, here are some things to consider before you break ground.

1. What you’re allowed. Most municipalities require you to obtain a permit if you intend to build an addition. Also, you may need to abide by their regulations concerning how large the new part of your home can be and how far from the edge of your property it can reach.

2. Your budget. Building an addition is pricey, but it may cost less than mo-

ving altogether. When making your budget, be sure to leave a little wiggle room for extra expenses that may come up.

3. The team you’ll hire. Building an addition isn’t something most people can do themselves. You’ll need to hire an architect as well as various contractors (or a general manager who’ll be responsible for overseeing the whole project).

One final thing: building an addition is a huge project that will undoubtedly overtake your home. If possible, it may be a good idea to move out while it’s under construction.

Last week, I introduced you to my world as a web designer. For over five years, I’ve used Wordpress to create websites for my clients: from mom and pop operations, to universities and government organizations. There are two different types of Wordpress platforms: both have their pros and cons. In today’s article, I’ll be sharing with you the platform that I personally use; Wordpress.org.

I have to clarify the difference between the two platforms, even though the same company makes them, and they have the same name. They are starkly different in nature. For starters, with one, you need a monthly subscription; for the other, a budget host will suffice in the short term. Let’s take a look at how the selfhosted Wordpress solution could help –or hurt – your website presence.

Benefits of Wordpress.org

Quick Points:

1. You can install and download the platform for FREE

2. There are thousands of themes and plugins available

3. You can customize plugins, themes or even the Wordpress code itself!

Wordpress.org is an open-source blogging software. You can download the code for free and install it with a variety of hosting companies. The possibilities that can come about using the open-source version of Wordpress are limited only by your imagination! There are hundreds of thousands of themes available – both free and paid – that you can use for your website. If you have coding knowledge, you’ll be able to edit and further customize your theme.

The same goes for the plugins available for Wordpress.org. The Wordpress.org Plugin Repository has different types of plugins that allow you to take appointments, create a question and answer forum, online community or e-commerce store, all FOR FREE. The codes for these plugins are also readily available for you to modify if you have the knowledge to do so.

You will need to provide your

own hosting and domain name for your Wordpress.org website. Reputable web hosts support Wordpress at very decent pricing points and plans.

Challenges of Wordpress.org

Quick Points:

1. You bear 100% responsibility for your site

2. You may need to hire a designer or developer to assist you with your website

3. There is a possible learning curve

The great number of themes and plugins that are available for the open-source version of Wordpress leaves a lot for you to manage. You need to actively keep the Wordpress platform, plugins and themes up to date to ensure that you website doesn’t suffer a security breech. With a large selection of themes and plugins available, the onus is squarely on you to ensure that the providers of these addons are credible and have products that won’t create havoc on your website.

In addition to the above, you may need to invest in hiring a designer or developer to get your dream website off the ground. Again, you will need to make sure that the professionals that you hire are credible and up to snuff before paying a deposit for a faulty website.

Having a bad host will make running your website a nightmare. Hosting can vary from a dollar a month to anywhere in the hundreds of dollars per month depending on the type of website that you are trying to build. You will need to make sure that the host you will use for your website will be able to handle your Wordpress website with ease and security.

Final thoughts

Wordpress.com is best suited for your business if:

• You are looking to setup a blog for free or with a minimal investment

• You do not want to deal with monthly or yearly hosting fees

• You do not want to think about the technical aspects of your website

Wordpress.org is best suited for your business if:

• You are comfortable managing some of the technical aspects of your website

• You need a free e-commerce solution for your business

• You are concerned about SEO, analytics and tracking results on your website

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.

Splashes

Have being

Meet Arvin

Bottle-cap remover

Make free of

Influenced

Have on

No-show

53. Property

Very proper

Right-hand person

Love seat

Domestic animals

Leopard mark

Certain vipers

Knox or Dix

Burn soother

Fights back

French peak

Less restricted 7. Usage fee 8. Scallion’s cousin

9. Oven-cleaner chemical 10. Elongated fish 11. Merry 17. “A Tale of ____ Cities” 19. Jot down 22. Southwestern land formation 24. Speak violently 25. Spruce, e.g.

Mob

Gentlemen

“The Agony and the ____”

Precede

Wonder

Landlords’ fees

Upon

Teen trouble

Does needlepoint

Rearward, on a boat

Lingerie item

Boston Red

Do lunch

ARIES

You won’t have much spare time this week. At work and elsewhere, you’ll deal with all sorts of emergencies. It won’t be easy to juggle work and a busy fa-mily life.

TAURUS

You’ll plan a romantic vacation so that you can reconnect with your partner. A business trip out of town to satisfy a client may also be required.

GEMINI

Emotions will run high this week, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you in order to deal with the situation. You’ll find a creative way to deal with a fi-nancial problem.

CANCER

You’ll organize a work or social gathering that draws a crowd. While planning the event, you’ll take on extra tasks that increase your level of stress.

LEO

Stress may be affecting your health. Don’t let yourself be over whelmed by problems that aren’t your own. Therapy or some sort of vacation may help

VIRGO

You’ll achieve something that you’re very proud of. Even if others try to discourage you, with perseverance, you’ll make miracles happen.

LIBRA

If you’ve been thinking about mo ving, you’ll take some im-portant steps in that direction. Someone in your family may be very demanding this week and will try to take advantage of your generosity.

SCORPIO

You’ll be on the move this week but may get stuck in a traffic jam or get lost on your way to your destination. Update your GPS to avoid driving in circles.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll work extra hours at the office this week, for which you’ll be generously compensated. A training course will help you achieve your professional goals.

CAPRICORN

An important choice needs to be made this week. You won’t have the time to weigh the pros and cons, so rely on your in-stincts when making the deci-sion. Consider what will make you happiest.

AQUARIUS

Going back to school may be the solution to all your profes-sional problems. Try to see the situation from a long-term per-spective in order to come to terms with the effort involved.

PISCES

You’ll be invited to join your friends in an activity next week-end. Accept the invitation, it’s been too long since you got out.

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.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 968

The luckiest signs this week: ARIES, TAURUS AND PISCES

PUZZLE NO. 968

PUZZLE NO. 705

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 705

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

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.

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

Last edition, we introduced the idea that: fire, earth, air and water define our personalities. In 1928, Dr. William Moulton Marston wrote “Emotions of Normal People,” resulting in the DISC Personality System. Today, more than 1 million businesses adopt this model to assess personalities. Last edition we examined the Driver (D) and the Influencer (I). This week we are going to tap into the Supportive (S) and the Critical (C). Supportive and critical thinkers are slow paced and a left-brain personality while drivers and the influencers are faster paced and right brain personalities.

Supportive (S) Personality - Dove (Slow)

S personalities prefer to work quietly behind the scene. They are task-oriented and

caring. Many S personalities are teachers and nurses. They are good listeners and love a stable environment where they can work at their own pace. They are warm, calm and quiet. They are slow to make decisions. When dealing with doves, speak at their pace and be supportive. Doves do not like to be pressured and do not adapt well to drastic changes. They are silent resisters.

Sara rents a property from Bob. Sara is an S personality. She is very quiet, reserved and avoids conflicts. However, she would politely complain about any minor problems with the home, from condensation on the windows to a few ants crawling around in the summer. Bob, a D personality, gets annoyed and would often use his lion roar. Sara, the silent resister, did her research and called the Landlord and Tenant Board over the minor issues. Bob, after learning about personality conflicts, changed his approach. He asked Sara to make a list of the things to be done. He fixed all the minor problems and also gave her a rental increase, which he had not done in many years. Without the rental increase, Sara would have continued to complain. S personalities do not like changes that are adverse.

Sellers with S personalities should be approached with a non-threatening manner. The quick talker will get the door closed quickly on them. When dealing with sellers, ask politely. They usually think with their hearts.

Critical (C) Personality - Owl (Slow)

Owls are reserved, left-brain thinkers. You can recognize an owl by their formal handshakes. They dress conservatively and speak in monotone. An owl sees everything in black or white and nothing in between. Owls love procedures. By nature, they work slowly and methodically to understand or implement strategies. Owls make great judges, accountants and engineers. They are calm, curious and careful in nature.

Unlike the peacock, owls will: analyze, aim, analyze, pull the trigger half-way and then reanalyze. Owls dislike anything that is disorganized and do not trust quick, disorganized peacocks. They are sure-footed and avoid talking about personal matters. Owls hold grudges for a long time and can be vindictive.

Earlier in my career I had an interview with an owl seller. Our interview lasted for about an hour. He looked over every-

thing and highlighted my mistakes. Finally, he asked me to send him a detailed list of all the properties I had sold in the past in his area. I declined and lost out on the sale of his home.

Many years ago, I met an owl that wanted an investment property. She was mortgage free and had enough money put away for the investment. It used to take me about four hours to show her four properties because she was detail oriented. Eventually we settled on a property, but before making an offer, she used all the analytical tools in the industry to arrive at an offering price. By the time she was finished, another buyer snapped it up. Sure-footed owls seldom leave the shore.

Personalities can be mixed, for example DI, ID, DO, OD, OS, SO, IS AND SI. Opposite quadrants usually have conflicts, for example, the eagle and the dove, and the owl and the peacock. Knowing our personalities and the personality traits of others is exceptionally important in growing your business. You can choose the I Salesman, the S Costumer Service Person, the O Researcher and the D Manager. When dealing with people. Likability plays an important role.

bhajan evening

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

Venue: Peel Arya Samaj Mandir

Tickets $5.00

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

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

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

Debt and more debt

Debt is sometimes necessary; however, the types of debt we get into can be sometimes detrimental to building wealth. There are debts which reduce our overall net worth and there are those debts that increase our net worth. Lest take a look at a few.

Mortgage debt: This is about the largest debt most people will have during their lifetime. Almost everyone needs a home to live in and it’s typically a difficult thing to be able to buy it on a cash basis, so it’s off to the bank to borrow. This is not a bad debt. It may not be an investment, but it’s not a bad debt. As long as you can afford the monthly payments comfortably, you will have a place to live and hopefully the

Why is it that in a time of financial difficulty or dire distress, we look at our life and health insurance as discardable products? Were they too expensive to afford? Did we buy the wrong type of insurance and now have buyer’s remorse? Did we purchase it as a favor to a friend who joined the business? Did something happen to change our belief in them? It doesn’t matter what the individual question and answer is, what matters is the possible risk we’ve unknowingly put our families, businesses and loved ones in.

Now I am fully aware that every situation is different and sometimes we have to tighten the preverbal budget belt to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. But we must use caution before canceling our life and health insurance policies. Have you covered all the angles, because you may have only one chance

property appreciates in value thereby increasing your net worth.

According to Equifax mortgage debts have gone up 5.2% in 2019. There is still the stress test, but it seems like people have adjusted to it. According to the statistics, house prices have gone up approximately 10% during 2019 and that means it’s more costly, but borrowing costs has just been reduced, making the loans more affordable, but still on an overpriced home.

Consumer loans: Ranging from credit card to buying on credit has had a decrease. This figure also includes request for a line of credit. This is very good to see in that credit for purchases on depreciating items is reducing. However, in great contrast to this is the fact that consumer proposals have been on the rise during 2019.

This signifies that while people are borrowing less for consumer loans, those who have outstanding loans are finding it difficult to repay. Delinquency rates for nonmortgage loans are at almost 11%.

Consumer proposals are not the only thing; mortgage loans are also defaulting higher and have been the highest since 2016.

to make the right decision? Once you cancel, it could be tough to get back in and in many cases, you won’t be able to get it back. I know the tendency is to think our financial difficulty is temporary and when we get back on our feet we’ll just reinstate. Let’s think about this for a minute. Most companies allow 2-3 months to reinstate without having to provide full medical information again. But you have to catch up on all the premiums missed, and that could be a large amount depending on what your monthly premiums are. If you can’t afford that and decide to start over, your age of insurance might have changed. That means your premiums will be higher than before. The worst scenario is if you can’t re-qualify due to changes in your health.

Here are some risks to think about before you cancel any insurance policy.

Your beneficiaries: These people are most likely the reason why you purchased the policy, to begin with. It makes sense to communicate with them about why they may want to help keep the policy in place. Insurance is the primary way to provide and protect household income. If you were already struggling financially, then your

Circumstances: Sometimes we don’t have a choice. If you look around, you will notice a lot of uncertainty in Canada and the rest of the world at the moment. Falling oil prices in Alberta from 2015 have had the population there scrambling to feed their families let alone pay mortgages. They have seen a reduction in overall spending by businesses and government alike. Now on March 7th, they were further hit with a 25% reduction in oil and related commodities and it’s costing the government more to produce one barrel of oil than they can sell it for.

These are not easy times. Add Coronavirus to the equation and we have a double disaster. There is now uncertainty on production, looming business closures and loss of wages. If you do not have savings, this might be a period where you might have to borrow or refinance your home to take care of your family.

Wise choices: These next few months will be a telling few, the borrowing and spending you do must be necessary and useful. We will get through this, stay strong.

death or severe sickness will only exacerbate the situation even more. It could save your family from having to move.

Savings and assets: Short-term savings, retirement funds and any other assets are now at risk. The financial obligations and day-to-day household costs such as daycare, cooking, cleaning, driving, children activities don’t go away. If you are a business owner or self-employed then multiply that risk x 10. The whole purpose of having insurance is for us to transfer the risk of loss onto the insurance companies.

Keep permanent life insurance. This one might be the most difficult because by its nature it might your biggest expense. It is tough to replace permanent policies because they become more valuable, the longer you own them. Much of the costs happen upfront in the early years. Later in life, it is difficult to replace these policies because you can never buy the insurance cheaper. A fantastic benefit of these policies is the cash values can be used to pay the premiums if enough has been accumulated. Speak with your beneficiaries and your insurance broker before making the decision to cancel. It could be a financial life-saving conversation.

NBA, NHL and other leagues cancel seasons due to COVID-19 precautions

KAYLA KARIM

kayla@carib101.com

The NBA announced earlier this week that they would be suspending the remainder of the season due to two positive Coronavirus cases with NBA players. Utah Jazz players’ Rudy Gobert and Donavon Mitchell both tested positive which then led to the NBA commissioner Adam Silver announcing that the season would be suspended for the time being. The official statement is as follows:

“The NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. The test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of Wednesday’s game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. At that time, Wednesday’s game was cancelled. The affected player was not in the arena.

The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of Wednesday’s schedule of games until further notice. The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next

steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”

It was then stated that the second NBA player, Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz tested positive. The Jazz released this statement regarding the situation:

Fans left outraged after the unsatisfying main event

“As a follow-up to yesterday’s positive COVID-19 test, Oklahoma health officials tested all members of the Utah Jazz traveling party, confirming one additional positive outcome for a Jazz player. We are working closely with the CDC, Oklahoma and Utah state officials, and the NBA to monitor their health and determine the best path moving forward.”

Many leagues took action following the NBA’s decision such as the NHL, MLB and NCAA to name a few, as well as major championship games and UFC fight nights.

In addition, the Summer Olympics in Tokyo – being the biggest global sporting event of this year has been modified as well. The event is expected to take place from July 24th, to August 9th, 2020. The IOC has reiterated that there is “full commitment to the success of the Olympic Games” however the flame lighting ceremony that takes place this week will commence without any fans in attendance.

There are no approximate return dates for any of the leagues mentioned as all players; coaches and team personnel are prioritizing their health and safety.

Imagine spending a substantial sum of money to travel to Las Vegas and attend a UFC event that has been hyped up as one of the greatest fights of the year. Then attending the event only to watch two grown men run around in circles for almost half an hour. Unfortunately, that’s what happened to the fans which attended UFC 248 on March 7th.

In the main event, UFC middleweight champion, and undefeated fighter, Israel Adesanya was set to take on the famously durable and sturdy Yoel Romero. In the lead up to the event, the UFC, as they do with most fights, hyped up the bout as one of the must-watch performances of the year. In reality, the battle ended up being one of the most tedious and stale UFC fights ever. It left many in the mixed martial arts community feeling as though a mockery had been made of the sport.

The spectacle: From the starting bell, it was clear that spectators were in for an odd fight. When the bout started, both Adesanya and Romero took about three steps towards each other and then stood still. For what seemed like an eternity, Romero stood with his hands up and feet planted. At the same time, Adesanya jumped in circles around him looking for a way to attack. Once the crowd in attendance got frustrated and began to boo and heckle the fighters, Adesanya attempted to throw a lead-hook which Yoel dodged and responded with an overhead strike. After the brief exchange, both fighters went back to jumping around the ring and feigning attacks.

At the end of the first round, the crowd was livid with the lack of aggression shown between the two fighters. Usually, the crowd’s insults tend to motivate the competitors to fight harder; unfortunately, this was not one of those fights. The second and third rounds were just as pedestrian as the first; and it seemed that the fighters would stop at

nothing to make an embarrassment of themselves. Yoel Romero especially went above and beyond with his attempt at making a mockery of the UFC: his moves in the round included dropping onto one knee at random times during the fight, spinning his arms in circles like a child, and throwing punches at Adesanya’s leg, and attempting a somersault takedown (really?). Of course, the champion wasn’t willing to retaliate with any sort of attack. So, the fighters continued their cabaret dance performance to the sound of the crowd’s heckles for the duration of the second round. As the fight dragged on into the championship rounds, the audience was so bored that they started their own light-show with their phone flashlights in an attempt to pass the time. The referee also had to remind the fighters that, “the judges need something to score, you’re getting paid for a championship fight”. Despite the crowd’s insults and referee’s warning, the fighters continued to jump in circles with minimum engagement. In an attempt to catch his breath (or maybe to win an Oscar), Romero pretended to get poked in the eye midway into the fourth round, which only interrupted an already dull bout. As the final bell rang, the crowd was livid with the fighters’ performances. Israel Adesanya was declared the winner by unanimous decision and retained his championship belt. The aftermath: The embarrassing main-event performance failed to live up to any of its pre-fight hype. Thanks to their embarrassing performances, Adesanya and Romero managed to set a new UFC record for the least amount of strikes ever thrown in a championship bout. In response to the crowd’s boos after the fight, Israel Adesanya found it fitting to flip the audience the bird and pretend as if his performance wasn’t a mockery of mixed martial arts. In the postfight interview, Israel stated that he did what he had to do to win the fight. Unfortunately, when you’re defending your championship belt, jumping in circles and killing time simply doesn’t cut it.

As MMA fans, it’s sometimes difficult for us to see the fight from the perspective of a fighter. Oftentimes, there’s more to a matchup than meets the eye. Sadly, this particular performance was nothing short of an embarrassment. If the UFC doesn’t create any stricter rules or penalties that force fighters to engage during the fight, it might not be the world’s leading fight promotion for much longer.