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Do you know someone from Jamaica who has made a positive and successful impact here in Canada but still gives back to the community in their homeland, or has been a mentor to the Jamaican community right here?

If so, then that person should be nominated because the nominations are now open for the 2019 Governor-General’s Achievement Awards (GGAA) for members

of the Diaspora.

The nomination process was opened on Friday, March 1st, 2019, and will close at midnight Friday, April 5th, 2019. The Governor-General’s Achievement Awards scheme was established in1991.

The program was started under the patronage of then Governor-General the Most Honourable Sir Howard Cooke and with the financial support of the busi-

ness community and other religious organizations in Jamaica.

In 2007, under the initiative of then Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Honourable Professor Kenneth O. Hall, the Governor-General’s Youth Award of Excellence was established to recognize and promote youth excellence in Jamaica.

Continued On Page 5

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Natalie Cousins The 6-figure Real Estate agent

“I had the attitude, I had the work ethic but I did not have the plan.”

Unlike some 18-year-olds, Natalie Cousins, who is now a wife, mother of two and a self-owned businesswoman, already knew where she wanted to be in life. Cousins says, “I would walk around and tell everybody that I would be a millionaire by 30.”

Cousins started off as an architectural technologist and interior designer. Her original passion to be a

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real estate agent was lit up again when she met a colleague whose uncle was a builder. After receiving his contact information, Cousins proceeded to call him consistently each week. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later where she finally got a callback.

“I think after maybe the 10th or 12th call, he finally decided to meet with me.”

Shortly after meeting with him she got her first job in the real estate industry. In 2003, she began selling new lots as well as completing their structural changes and color finishes. She soon decided to open her own showroom and continue providing the same services to smaller builders. This allowed her to make a steady and solid income while in her early 20s. The hardworking entrepreneur tells me, “At 23, I bought [my] house and at 24 I bought [my] car.” At 25, Cousins was expecting her first child. She decided to close her office and open up a consulting firm where she could work from home.

In 2010, she found out she was pregnant with her second child. Her daughter was diagnosed with autism.

This pushed Cousins to grow her business. One of her first clients as a real estate coach was for a non-profit American that became a client of hers for about the next three years. This connection helped open many doors for her business in the US market. Three years later, she received a huge brokerage firm. That same year, 10 years after starting her journey, Cousins finally became a licensed real estate agent. Though she was excited to officially start her career, she felt quite discouraged. Cousin shares that, “They sold me this great dream, but it was a nightmare.” This inspired her to put her focus on working with real estate agents.

“My goal is to nurture and coach at least 100 agents here in Ontario to show them the business of real estate.”

While many other coaches teach sales and lead generations. Natalie’s teaching is based on her own experiences within the business where she finds planning to be a major key in this industry.

A quote that Cousins strongly believes in is, “if you fail to plan, plan on failing.”

Like her early 20s self, she finds many agents don’t have a plan in place to be able to reach their goals or move up in the industry. “If you don’t have systems and processes in place the minute that those leads come pouring in you are going to be all over the place.”

One of the biggest struggles Cousins finds with young agents is that they have the drive to be successful but lack the patience to get there. She says, “They really want to see results but don’t want to do the work.” Her The 6-Figure Real Estate Agent book and workshop guides people within a six-pillar systematic process to work towards making six figures or more.

“In order for you to make millions you have to make six figures first and then go on to multi-six figures.”

The core of her book stems from her 90-day transformation blueprint that she’s been using for the past few years with her interior designing and non-real estate clients. Aside from her 6-figure book, Cousins has many other books in the works. “the goal is to be a bestselling author.” She also has boot camps to help parents, elders and non-tech savvy people learn how to use social media.

You can also watch her Facebook live bright and early at 6 am or Instagram live at 6:30 am every morning for her motivational series called rise up to wise up.

Natalie Cousins is excited to start up another workshop next month called ‘Plan, Launch and Grow Through’ which will teach realtors how to start their own workshops and webinars. But Cousins doesn’t plan on stopping there.

Within the next five years, she wants to be one of the best in her field.

“I should be the number one female real estate coach in the world.”

In the meantime, her book launch and tour will take place in July 2019. If anyone would like to pre-order Natalie’s book, The 6-Figure Real Estate Agent you can purchase it on her website at Nataliecousins.com/thebook.

You can also book her to speak on manifestation and visualization or join her workshop by signing up at Nataliecousins.com

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Wednesday, March 20, 2019 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

PAGE 3

A seedy Saturday afternoon in Brampton SHAUNA-KAY CASSELL shauna-kay@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

On Saturday, March 9th, 2019, the City of Brampton and the Brampton Horticultural Society held their annual, Seedy Saturday and Garden Show at the Century Gardens Recreation Centre Auditorium in Brampton, Ontario. Over the last seven years, this public event has been successful in bringing residents and visitors of the Brampton community together all in one auditorium to learn about gardening, to swap or buy seeds, and to build a gardening network. At the Garden show, five seminars were held throughout the day, including: Seed basics, Homesteading, not just for Hippies with cell phones, Vegetable gardening from the ground up, Gardening for birds, butterflies and beyond, and Coyotes and wildlife in Brampton.

“For us, we see it as a community outreach. People come back every year. There is also a KidsZone” says Carole Spraggett, President, Brampton Horticultural Society.

“The diversity of the community blends very well. There are a lot of new immigrants who had gardens before and are able to share new seeds.”

Carole took me on a mini-tour passing all the various vendors and stopped at one of the seed swap booths, where I met Judy. “The most talked about seed this year is an Indian crop, called Fenugreek,” says Judy having explained how the seed swap worked.

Without any cost, one individual can bring a packet of seeds to exchange it for another packet, which were all neatly on display at the table in front of her. “Individuals bring their seeds in medication bottles, and others bring them in envelopes,” she expressed lifting up an envelope so that I could see the seeds. Some individuals may not have seeds to exchange, so they may make a small donation instead.

Next, I met Jessica Skup, the Community Outreach Coordinator for the City of Brampton. “We started talking about the ideas of a Seedy Saturday in Brampton over eight years ago, when Carole approached

me,” expressed Jessica. “Our ideas messed together, and within one year we started organizing the first Seedy Saturday in Brampton,” maintained the Community Outreach Coordinator. “We are promoting people enjoying the outdoors. And It’s for people who love gardening. This combines for a healthy community,” Jessica continued, “Brampton has some amazing green spaces, so we just want to get the word out.” Last year the event brought in over a thousand individuals, and just as much were expected to attend this year.

Later, at 2 pm that afternoon, I met Amanda from Brampton Animal Services prior to her workshop on coyotes and wildlife in Brampton. She talked about the work that Brampton Animal Services does with pets that come into their care and that anyone from the public who are willing and able to adopt or foster pets should do so. “We are always looking for volunteers as well to take the animals for walks,” expressed Amanda.

The event hosted over 20 vendors which included: Seeds of Diversity, Garden books for sale, Royal Botanical Gardens, City of Brampton, Parks Operation, Cathy’s Sprouters, Backyard Groceries, The Bee Shop, The Urban Lumberjack, Plant Nutrients,

Purple Heather, Brampton Animal Services, and so many more. Vendors such as Melissa at the Urban Lumberjack booth was happy about the turnout. It was her first time coming to showcase the amazing woodwork she designed. “I’ve been making artifacts with old pieces of wood for a long time, so much that my house can no longer store them.” That’s when Amanda decided to sell her creative handiwork to the public. More than one vendor expressed that they had sold large qualities of their products. For instance, Annelid Cycle was sold out on all her plant nutrient products.

This year’s Seedy Saturday had a little bit of everything for everyone. With expert vendors selling skin care products, and health food choices, to several seed swapping booths, as well as Brampton Animal Services, which offered a workshop on learning about Brampton’s wildlife, it was hard to get bored. Even the children were enjoying themselves, as they used pine cones and other knick-knacks to make crafts at the KidsZone. The Seedy Saturday certainly provided for an exciting Saturday afternoon in nature, even if it was indoors.

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Wednesday, March 6, 2019 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Governor-General’s Achievement Diaspora Awards MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

Continued From Page 1 -- In 2008, the Diaspora Award was bought into play to recognise individuals who gave above and beyond service within their diaspora community or those who helped a community in Jamaica.

The program continues to be recognized as one of the most prestigious and prosperous and the diaspora nominees are from countries like the UK, the U.S, and Canada, but prior to 2015 only one person was awarded per country and in 2015 the age category was introduced.

Last year’s GGAA Diaspora Award recipients from Canada were Ms. Donika Jones and Superintendent of Education in the Toronto District School Board in Canada, Bishop Glenroy Duffus.

Candidates for this award fall under two categories, under 35 years and 35 years and over and in each of the two categories, there are qualifying guidelines. Here are those for nominees over 35.

Volunteerism: Demonstrated active and significant service in his/her community towards an enhanced quality of life for its people and for the betterment of Jamaica (must be verifiable). Voluntary activities that have had a positive effect on a significant number of persons in his/her community.

Family values: Expressed and demonstrated the ability to promote good family values.

Leadership and drive: Has demonstrated the capacity for leadership and the ability to motivate others. Demonstrated a commitment to and capacity for accomplishments that require drive and sustained effort. Also has an inclination for innovation.

Social issues awareness: Ability to articulate

issue(s) involving current affairs including a perspective on how to tackle them.

If you are under 35 your qualifying points are as follows.

An interest in inclination for innovation.

Strong family values: Expressed and demonstrated the ability to promote good family values.

Leadership and the ability to motivate others: The demonstrated capacity for leadership and the ability to motivate others.

Demonstrated commitment to and capacity for accomplishment that requires drive and sustained effort.

Volunteerism: Active and significant service in his/her community towards an enhanced quality of life for its people and the betterment of Jamaica (must be verifiable).

Social issues awareness: Ability to articulate issue(s) involving current affairs including a perspective on how to tackle them.

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper spoke with Mrs. Nicole M. Johnson, who is the Jamaican Consul here in Toronto about the impact of the GGAA award.

When asked what it means to her Johnson said, “I think it helps to fulfil as a part of our pledge advancing the welfare of the whole human race, I think it says thank you for all of your efforts but simultaneously it is a call to action so that people can be reminded that there are many people in various pockets of our community who require assistance.”

The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper also spoke with Ms. Sonja Simms, a representative and administrator from the Public Relations Unit at Kings House in Jamaica. Simms said, “It’s an award that captures the heart and spirit of the Jamaican, it’s an award that really recognized those unsung heroes and heroines who are making a significant contribution to nation building whether they are in the diaspora making it towards the Jamaican community there or in their homeland.”

For more information on the GGAA Diaspora please contact the Jamaican Consulate.

local news

PAGE 5

Wednesday, Marc 20, 2019 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

local news

There’s magic in my Melanin MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

When 17-year-old Pickering High school student Keira Salmon’s class was given an assignment with the option to either go out to an elementary school class and teach the kids some of what they have learned or write a children ’s book, she decided to write the book.

Since the book had to be about the black identity and what it means to be black in Canada, Salmon decided to throw in some of her own life experiences into the project also. Salmon, who grew up not being confident with her skin tone or appearance, wanted her readers to see things from her perspective.

Her book called “There’s Magic In My Melanin”, is about an 11-year-old girl

named Nayla who despises her black appearance and wishes she was white but thanks to her Jamaican grandmother she is taught to accept and love herself for who she really is.

Grandma Joy sets her granddaughter straight by explaining to Nayla the special qualities of being black, “Your melanin is the ingredient that gives your skin its color explains Grandma Joy and lights up a room when you walk in. It makes you stand out in a crowd. It absorbs the sunlight in a unique way. It turns heads when you walk by. Your skin is magical!”

At 17 Salmon is not an outgoing person but is comfortable with her friends and family and enjoys having a good time, when asked what she thinks people who read her book would take away from it, the grade 12 author said ‘I am hoping that people would realize that there is beauty in themselves and to be confident in who they are as a person and to love their appearance and love where they come from, I definitely want people to be more confident in the skin there are in.”

Salmon said she would like to see more people of color and their stories portrayed in big media and less of the under-

representation of blacks and other minorities being stereotyped, and cautioned of the dangers of a single story, she said, “I just feel that we are not given a chance to express all of those stories that minority groups can offer to the world.”

When asked what response she gets from other people about her book, Salmon recalls reading her book to two different classes in her previous elementary school and the feedback was so positive from the children to the extent that some even opened up about their life experiences as well.

The grade 12 student is presently looking for a publisher so that her book will be able to hit the stores soon but in the meantime Salmon has a list of things she would like to accomplish, things like writing a full length novel, going to university to study sociology, travel a lot since all her life she has been confined to Canada and help her community.

All of the illustrations in the story was created by Salmon’s older sister Jaida Salmon who will be graduating soon from Sheridan College with a bachelor of animation.

A glimpse inside the powerful and emotional films showcased at the 2019 TBFF LEANNE BENN leanne@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

This year marked the 7th edition of the Toronto Black Film Festival gracing the streets of Toronto. From February 13th-18th around 70 different film screenings took place with films from over 26 different countries. It was a time for excitement, diversity, culture, and enjoyment, as many Torontonians came together to watch these various movies from all over the world by talented filmmakers.

The Fabienne Colas Foundation is the founding and organizing body behind the festival. Colas herself emigrated from Haiti and first started the festival out in her present hometown of Montreal, Quebec, which is celebrating its 15th year of the Montreal Haitian Film Festival. With Global News as the official media partner behind the festival, a lot of buzz was generated beforehand.

The opening night of the festival held at the Isabel Bader Theater in Toronto provided a packed auditorium filled with curious and intrigued filmgoers. The premiere film was Ellen: The Ellen Pakkies Story by Daryne Joshua from South Africa. The movie is based on true events and Ellen Pakkies’ troubled relationship with her drug-addicted son. The film was emotional and raw as it portrayed a very realistic problem that still

takes place in South Africa according to Joshua. The 2007 event caused a worldwide interest as Pakkies’ son was eventually murdered

by Ellen herself. The story covered the real emotion felt by Ellen Pakkies and follows her journey. The team working on the film spent countless months interviewing and talking with Pakkies so that the story could be retold through the most accurate lens.

The film was even South Africa’s 2019 selection for the Golden Globes. The dynamic portrayal in the film exposed the audience to the rougher side of South African society as well as justice, politics, and race. The society, as well as drug usage in society, was showcased as being rampant in the less fortunate communities near Cape Town. The majority of the film was also done in Afrikaans, which is the West Germanic language spoke in South Africa.

This powerful and emotional opening of the festival set the tone of many great movies that would be screened throughout the time. One of the major highlights of the festival was the Change Makers event held on February 16th, which featured an intimate discussion and Q&A with Tarana Burke.

Burke is an activist and most importantly a women’s rights activist and she is the face behind the #MeToo movement tackling sexual abuse and women’s issues. Burke offered the insight and perspectives on women empowerment and her advice to many of the young girls growing up in today’s society.

As the #MeToo founder Burke sparked the largest movement in recent years encouraging many people to speak out about sexual abuse and harassment no matter your status in society or job standing. She is passionate about women’s rights and brought this en-

ergy to the stage as she held a discussion with Fabienne Colas and was presented with the 2019 TBFF Social Impact Award for her extensive work and contribution to women’s rights.

There were kid’s films, there were documentaries and many feature films that were shown throughout the festival but the closing film of the festival, Dead Women Walking by Hager Ben-Asher from the USA presented high levels of emotion. Dead Women Walking had its Ontario premiere at TBFF 2019 and it features the stories told in the final days of women that are on death row.The film was told through nine moving vignettes which added to the overwhelming performance. The time range of the stories told ranged from two weeks before one inmate’s execution to just a few minutes before another. The narrative of the film speaks heavily about the death penalty but still focuses on these women who were all convicted of violent crimes and how they manage their emotions as well as their families and their interactions with ministers and counselors that they have access to in the days leading up to their death. There is no happy ending to this story, but it is more of a reflective look at these women who committed these violent crimes and overall how society deals with women’s violence.

As one can tell the films featured in the TBFF are emotional and gripping and present to us stories that need to be told and shared in our society. Stay tuned for more of what TBFF has to offer in the upcoming years and visit TorontoBlackFilm.com for more information on the films presented.

PAGE 7

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local news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

A step into the future – Jamaica National Group Canada announces Emile Spence as the new Chief Representing Officer simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“The Jamaica National Bank’s mandate continues to be to provide products and services, which empower and instill confidence in the lives of our members.”

Emile Spence (Chief Representative Officer, Jamaica National Bank) With a new year, comes change and innovation, and this has been the case for The Jamaica National Group, a diverse group with a suite of financial products and services aimed at expanding business and forging stronger relationships with their stakeholders in Canada. The Jamaica National Canada Office serves more than 20,000 members, who maintain savings with the Jamaica National Bank in Jamaica.

The changes in this company have occurred on the management level with the departure of Jerrold Johnson, the wellloved and respected former Chief Representative Officer, and the introduction of Emile Spence, a longtime senior executive to the company. Effective as of February 20th, 2019, Curtis Martin, the current Managing Director enthusiastically welcomed Emile

“Mr. Spence’s breadth of experience and track record perfectly suit our needs, as we continue our growth as a diverse financial group with businesses in savings, mortgages, wealth management, pension fund management, and money transfer services,” (Curtis Martin) The Financial Giant Emile Spence An avid sportsman, Emile passionately involves himself in many sporting and community organizations; he holds current positions including: Vice President of The Kingston Cricket Club, Director of the Institute of Sports, Director of Sabina Park Holdings Ltd, Chairman of the Board Of Trustees for Institute of Sports Pension Plan, Member of the Board of Trustees of the NHF Pension Fund, Member of the JSIF Projects Committee, and Immediate Past President of the Colbeck Water Users Association. He is also former Director of the National insurance Fund, Nutrition Products Ltd, National Irrigation Commission, Sports Development Foundation, Factories Corporation, El Greco Resorts Ltd, Beaches Resorts Ltd, and the Jamaica Mortgage Bank.

Emile Spence began his financial career after he graduated with a degree in Economics from The University of the West Indies. For more than 30 years he worked with the former Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) in several strategic capacities, ranging from branch manager to se-

nior executive responsible for marketing, distribution and representative offices. As an economist and marketer, Emile has also served as the Jamaica National Group Executive for Business, Development & Research, conceptualizing and implementing products and services, at the corporate and commercial levels.

“I have been able to use my knowledge of local and overseas financial markets to capitalize on cutting-edge technologies and products to enhance the JN Group’s new business initiatives.”

During his interim capacity at the Jamaica National Bank Canada Representative Office, Emile’s main objective is to work on building stronger relations with members of the Jamaican Diaspora and to empower members of the community to make sound financial decisions, as they strive to build their wealth. Under his leadership, Jamaica National has achieved significant growth in its overseas portfolio, particularly in the establishment of JNBS representative offices in the: United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada, and the expansion of its remittance service JN International Money Transfer.

Future Aspirations “Our team remains committed to the Canadian Diaspora and will continue to support Jamaicans in Canada as we have done throughout the years. The initiatives we will be supporting include Camp Jumoke, an organization dedicated to enriching

the lives of children living with Sickle Cell Disease; the Wolmers’ Past Students’ Association, and the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf.”

2019 promises to be a great year; a year with many plans and projects in the works for the Jamaica National Group. Their ambitions surround providing members and customers with access to financial products and educational services aimed at improving financial literacy. They want to make available an expanded range of options to finance home and property purchases. Most importantly, they want to stay committed to their promise to significantly reduce the time it normally takes to receive mortgage financing. This will mean continuing to facilitate the financing of mortgage solutions, as a key component for economic growth; it will also mean increasing the level of financial literacy in the Canadian market through increased mortgage conversations, annual community fora, members’ meetings, and the Jamaica Diaspora Conference, which this year will take place in Jamaica in the month of June.

Sometimes change can be difficult, and many are resistant to change for this reason; it is not until it is realized that space is being created for something new to emerge, does acceptance truly occur. We at the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper congratulate Emile Spence and wish him the very best in his future. ~ Interview conducted by Alyssa Mahadeo, Written and Revised by Simone Jennifer Smith

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local news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

If you had access to all of the University of Toronto’s resources would you take It? SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

I have always praised LinkedIn as being a wonderful, and powerful connection tool. If you utilize this well, you can move quickly from one point in your career to the other. Why am I telling you this? It is the genesis point of this report, and it is where I happened to meet L.A. Wade, a Registrar at the University of Toronto. We quickly grew an online connection, and it all came together when L.A. invited me to the University of Toronto, to not only report but to be a part of a series of workshops called World Café Conversations.

When she invited me, I was instantly intrigued, but there was no indicator that the experience would be what it was. Before we go into the details of this experience, let us learn a little bit about who is involved in coordinating this event, and what this means to you.

World Café Career Conversations is an event coordinated by the Transitional Year Program, a program that has had its roots in the black community of Toronto as far back as 1969.

The initial goal of the program was to prepare a small number of students for entry to York University, and now it has evolved into a full-time, eight-month access to University program. Many of the students who attend this program have grown up in communities where there is limited access to higher education.

The program opens its doors to not only younger students but also adults who do not have the formal qualifications for university admission. The Transitional Year Programme is unique because they saw that there was a need; the members of this program understand that not everyone has an opportunity to finish high school because of: financial problems, family difficulties, or other circumstances beyond their control. This is why they actively encourage applications from the: African-Canadian, Native Canadian and LGBTQ communities. Sole-support parents, persons with disabilities, and individuals from working class-backgrounds also have a chance to change

their life circumstances and are invited to become part of the Transitional Year Programme.

World Café Career Conversations We arrived at the Hart House at 9:30 am, where we were greeted with a marvellous continental breakfast. I took a quick scan of the room and saw a room of professionals that represented the underrepresented: Indigenous, African/ Black/ Caribbean, Asian, LGBTTI2SQQ+ and First Generation were all in attendance.

We had a small meeting with the organizers of the event L.A.Wade, and Professor Lance McCready; they explained that the goal of the event was for the students to meet professional role models who reflected their shared identity and lived experiences. The event was to provide structured conversations between the students, and the mentors, offering them a safe space to ask questions that will allow them to gain valuable insight about careers they are interested in.

We as the mentors were to: share our pathway to our career; share our educational pathway; talk about barriers we had to overcome along the way, and provide some time at the end for any questions the students had. Once we were prepped, the café conversations began.

Each group of students sat at each table (round-robin style) for 10-15 minutes.

Having some of these conversations, took me back to times in my life, and it was amazing that even though some of the students were significantly younger than me, many of them could relate to things that had happened to me in my past. I could feel the students after a few minutes open up, and during the hour and a half café, I noticed many private student, mentor conversations happening.

The Transitional Year Programme is quite unique; outside workshops like World Café Conversations, they provide students with counselling and funding options, a space to work, and an opportunity to socialize with other students in the program. The program admits approximately 60 students, and has a faculty of ten, a registrar, an administrator, and a program assistant, all who are involved in: helping students upgrade their skills, providing intensive supporting counselling, and increasing the confidence of students who before this program, did not think they had a chance.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

local news

NYWC hosts the third annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Festival celebrating International Women’s Day LEANNE BENN leanne@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

International Women’s Day held on March 8th is not just a day for celebrating the women in our lives but having the opportunity to come together as a community and highlight the successes of successful women entrepreneurs. The Women’s Entrepreneurship Festival by Weston Mount Dennis was held at the North York Women’s Centre. This is the third annual festival featuring various community entrepreneurs with different backgrounds and products they are promoting to enrich their community.

This year the celebration was a bit different as it also marked the film premiere entitled Table Talk: Seven Women share their Entrepreneurship Journey. The short film brought excitement and cheer to the already packed community center. There were seven different women profiled in the film and they shared their personal journeys, battles, successes, and motivation in a comfortable round table format.

These women set the tone for the evening as it was already a time to be celebratory. but it offered a time to be reminded of hard work and the struggles it takes to get to where you’re going.

“They come from different countries with different values and beliefs, yet these women

have something fundamental in common: the drive to succeed and build better lives for themselves. That’s what the North York Women’s Centre (NYWC) team saw when they met the women that would ultimately be profiled in their short film.” Remarked Iris Fabbro, the centre’s executive director.

Many of the entrepreneurs came together with their family and friends to celebrate each other while at the same time interacting with the local community. There was a chance for each of the entrepreneurs to show off their goods and products, this ranged from beauty items, children’s items, and even delicious and exotic desserts.

One of the entrepreneurs, Samia Khan is the face behind her brand entitled Sho Cute that offers colorful and stylish baby items including bibs and the popular car seat canopy covers that come with reversible patterns.

While having her items on display at the community center, Khan engaged with the local community and noted the increased control she feels she has over her life as an entrepreneur.

“I like that my business gives me financial freedom and the ability to spend time with my kids… success to me is being able to achieve my goals and utilize my skills to my full potential in order to make my family and my community happy within my work.”

The evening also included a list of guest speakers promoting different programs and information sessions, especially financial ones available for others in the community.

There was a speaker from George Brown College, Anna Willats who gave a short presentation on trade opportunities for women.

The WTTE program or also known as the Women Transitioning to Trades and Employment is directed to women and gender

non-binary people who are interested in the construction sector. It features a five-week trades and career planning workshop that includes five Ministry of Labour approved certifications and many more.

Apart from this the evening also featured a special guest, The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen. Hussen remarked his joy as being an MP from the York Region riding and to congratulate the NYWC as being part of one of the organizations now being funded with over $200,000 to continue delivering full-time services to women in an inclusive and safe space. Hussen hopes this increase in capacity funding will encourage more women entrepreneurs in the community to get involved in the community space and view it as a place for guidance and support.

“For 30 years, since 1989, you have been doing this crucial work and it is time for the Government of Canada to not only recognize you but to support you in the goal for gender equality to make sure that we strengthen gender equality in Canada and we also stand up for women’s rights and for girl’s rights around the world,” Hussen remarked about the community centre.

Overall the evening ended on a vibrant note, as each of the women featured in the film was presented with a small gift from the community centre before they went on to showcase their products for guests to mingle and enjoy a delicious catered meal by another local community entrepreneur.

Look out for more information about the next festival to take place at the North York Women’s Centre.

Understanding marginalization and vulnerability; Teachers for Tanzania SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“Excited!” “Nervous!” “Rushed!” “Happy!”

These were the responses that I received when I asked future teaching candidates from the University of Windsor how they felt about their upcoming trip to Tanzania. They were huddled around their carryons, chattering amongst each other in their neon yellow shirts that for the next three weeks would identify them as the Teachers for Tanzania team. I had arrived at Pearson International Airport at around 7:30 am, to quickly take some photos, and talk with Dr. Clinton Beckford, a professor from the University who has been one of the foundations of this wonderful project. Let’s go back to the beginning and learn more about what started this collaboration between the University of Windsor, and the beautiful country Tanzania.

I was introduced to Dr. Clinton Beckford through a Mr. Hassan Adan, another Windsor Alumni who I met during my stay in Windsor. We were on the discussion of education, and he introduced the Teachers for Tanzania Project to me. Naturally cu-

rious, I probed for more information, and Hassan gracefully suggested that maybe I should meet a gentleman who could tell me more about it. The next day, I met Hassan at the Leonard and Dorathy Neal Education Building, located at the University of Windsor, and I had my opportunity to sit down with Dr. Clinton Beckford. He is a very astute man, tall, with an authoritative presence. He had the look of that teacher you just did not mess around with when you were younger.

Nervously, I shook his hand and introduced myself. He told me to call him Clinton, which instantly lowered my anxiety. As we began our conversation, I saw and heard the passion he had in his voice about this project, and for good reason.

Dr. Clinton explained that what is now the Global Education Research and Development Initiative, was the ingenious contrivance of six members of the education faculty at the University of Windsor in 2005. They wanted to find a way to provide teaching candidates, and graduate students with rich intellectual and experiential learning, and teaching opportunities. They realized that if you coupled enriched teaching courses with strategic collaborations locally, and globally, the students would have an advantage; their intercultural knowledge would set them apart from all other teaching candidates.

Tanzania was chosen after a trip in 2007 undertaken by members of the education faculty. While in the Republic of Tanzania they noticed that there were many orphaned and vulnerable children. This inspired the faculty members to bring students to Tanzania

and begin the GERDI project. They saw this as a great opportunity to have teaching candidates see how life can be impacted when you did not have simple comforts, like clean running water.

The project focuses on children of the Kititimo Center for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in the town of Singida. While there, teaching candidates work at two primary and three secondary schools and are tasked with: • • • •

Teaching in local schools and tutoring at the Kititimo Center Enhancing sanitary conveniences, and providing food, clothes, and other basic daily needs Purchasing school supplies, textbooks, and bookshelves for the Kititimo Center Repairing desks and furniture, and assisting in building facilities for safe storage of food

The impact of this project is one that will be felt for years to come. You would be surprised at the stories and life-changing experiences that have come from the three-week experience. Dr. Clinton’s is inspired to help our teachers of the future understand that there is a direct link with student’s life out of school and their school experience. If you are interested in learning more about this project, feel free to contact Dr. Clinton Beckford at clinton@uwindsor.ca. You can also follow Global Education and Development Fund on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

PAGE 11

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island news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Family begs for spiritual help from buck attack

TRINIDAD -- Haunt­ed by a shad­owy spir­it crea­ ture which they say lives in­side their home, a Gas­par­il­lo fam­i­ly is now seek­ing spir­i­tu­al help to re­move their un­want­ed guest.

Kr­ish­na Mathu­ra, 60, of Hill­top Dri­ve, Gas­par­il­lo, says over the past sev­en months a three-feet tall spir­it-like crea­ture be­lieved to be a buck has been roam­ing his home. The house is perched on an in­cline over­look­ing the Cen­tral Range. It is fenced and Mathu­ra says the su­per­ nat­ur­al oc­cur­rences have been caus­ing them sleep­less nights.

Dur­ing an ex­clu­sive in­ter­view with Guardian Me­dia at the fam­i­ly’s home Monday, Mathu­ra said last year his wife Bal­mat­tee and son Govin­da be­gan hear­ing a voice in­side the house. The voice was telling Bal­ mat­ tee he want­ed sex.

Mathu­ra, who re­tired from his work­ place re­cent­ly, said it was on­ly when he start­ed stay­ing home he re­alised what his fam­i­ly was go­ing through. The crea­ture, Mathu­ra claimed, has al­so been eat­ing valu­able rac­ing pi­geons he rears be­hind his home. Their goats have al­so been poi­soned and sausages, meat and oth­er items are eat­en from his fridge.

Bal­mat­tee claimed the crea­ture ap­ pears and van­ish­es be­fore their eyes. She said

last week she was in the liv­ing room when the table­cloth flew up and went fly­ing out the win­ dow. Govin­da was al­so there. They chased af­ter it and Bal­mat­tee said it dropped in some bush­es and then dis­ap­peared. This is not the on­ly item that van­ished. Govin­da said an ex­pen­sive vase and a pic­ture of Je­sus Christ al­so went miss­ing, along with their Bible.

Play­ ing a record­ ing of a voice he claimed be­longed to the buck, Govin­da said the crea­ture ad­mit­ted to steal­ing the Bible and the pic­ture to take to his “boss.”

“If is one thing I won’t do is lie to you.

I car­ry it by the boss and he tell me bring it back be­fore I get in trou­ble,” the voice on the au­dio drawled.

In an­oth­er record­ing, the voice said he came from Ja­maica.

“I doh fraid Pun­dit Ramesh... and I doh fraid no pas­tor,” the voice said.

A deep-throat­ed laugh and the mew­ ing of a cat were al­so record­ed as ev­i­dence of the spir­it crea­ture.

Govin­da said the voic­es were record­ ed at nights.

Govin­ da used clay and cre­ at­ ed a horned idol to ward away the buck but Mathu­ra said this has not worked.

“We tried every­thing, we burn in­cense, goo­gool, sprin­kle salt, gar­lic, red laven­der. We called the pun­dit and the pas­tor. They told us it is a buck. This thing dis­tress­ing us. We can­ not sleep. Every night we hear­ing bang­ing. It loves to wake us up. Every time we can hear it through the cracks in the house say­ing ‘oye,’” he added.

Govin­da said the “buck is a short fat man with a fat face, big hair and big ears.”

“He doesn’t walk on his foot. He walks on his toes. His left hand is on his right side and his right hand is on his left. He does cuss me.

A few days ago he came with a match to burn down my fa­ther’s car. Most times he is in­vis­i­ble but I could hear his voice. He fol­lows us,” Govin­ da said.

Ac­cord­ing to Caribbean folk­lore, the buck has ties with both Guyanese and African folk­lore. They are be­lieved to have orig­i­nat­ed in West Africa, where the short races (pyg­mies) were be­lieved to have mag­i­cal pow­ers. They were re­ferred to as “Baku,” which in many West African lan­guages means “lit­tle broth­er” or “short man.” There are al­so sto­ries of rich Trinida­di­ans who came up­on their wealth not through hard work, but rather through a trip to the forests of Guyana to cap­ture one of these lit­tle wish grant­

ers. The bucks usu­al­ly live in dark places like at­tics and usu­al­ly de­mand blood and milk.

Pas­tor: A de­mon­ic at­tack Pas­tor Deena Ram­nar­ine, from the Christ Cru­ saders As­sem­bly in White­land, con­firmed to the T&T Guardian she had vis­it­ed the fam­i­ly and said she be­lieved they were fac­ing a de­mon­ic at­tack.

“When I vis­it­ed them it was al­most night and I prayed with them and they said they slept well. I told them that they have to pray and be­lieve in God,” Ram­nar­ine said.

Asked whether she be­lieved it was a buck, Ram­nar­ine said yes.

“I have en­coun­tered things like that be­cause I worked in the in­te­ri­or of Guyana. I have seen a buck in Guyana so I be­lieve them.

We can­not be afraid of it. We have to take au­ thor­i­ty and the Lord de­liv­ers,” Ram­nar­ine said.

“The buck will usu­al­ ly beat up the house, whis­tle at them. You will see things fly­ing all over the room. It will take time for it to leave but they have to stop play­ing with it by talk­ing about it and talk­ing to it. Just ig­nore it and call to Je­sus for de­liv­er­ance.”

- Trinidad Guardian

Buju returns like a Champion JAMAICA -- Buju Banton returned to the stage in a moment fit for the ages last Saturday eve­ ning at the National Stadium in Kingston. After an almost ten-year hiatus, patrons dug deep to pay big bucks for the monumental experience.

Elle Johnson, a patron at the event, said she spent over US$1,200 just to show up for the concert.

“I’ve been planning to be here since October but the tickets sold out in five minutes and the website crashed so I had to wake up at 3:00 am in the morning to buy my tickets. This whole experience was definitely worth the mon­ ey,” Johnson told the Jamaica Observer.

Traffic blocked roads leading to the National Stadium as thousands eagerly made their way to the highly-anticipated Long Walk To Freedom Concert. Shuttle buses took patrons from roads leading to the venue to its gates.

Minutes after 11:00 pm, emcee Elise Kelly welcomed ‘The Gargamel’ to the stage. He appeared clad in full white while fans screamed and tried to capture the moment on their cell­ phones.

The white light that beamed around the singjay coupled with his opening prayer (singing) “Have mercy on me” made it a truly celestial mo­ ment.

Buju Banton wasted no time to deliver the long-awaited performance; prancing across the stage, he thrilled fans with his powerful vo­ cals. Songs such as Not an Easy Road, Hills and Valleys, and Destiny had members of the audi­ ence in tears as the singer enticed their ears and hearts.

Though there were a few technical glitches at the beginning of his performance, once those were amended it was as if Buju Ban­

ton had not been away. In an almost two-hour performance, he delivered a number of songs including the dancehall hits Champion, Too Bad, Me & Ounu, and Waistline. It was pandemonium when he belted hits such as Driver A and Wanna Be Loved.

By this time, he was drenched in sweat. Buju shared moments on stage with a number of artistes including Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths, Wayne Wonder, and Gramps Morgan. Stefflon Don also did a cameo.

Eighteen-year-old D’jannah Brown, speaking to the Jamaica Observer, said it was important for her to be there. She was a child when Buju was incarcerated.

“I wanted to experience Buju and him coming back. I’m not really a fan but this was a historical moment and I really wanted to feel what it would be like,” she said.

Buju Banton did a near 10-year stretch in a US prison on drug-related charges. He was deported to Jamaica on December 7, 2018.

Other performers on the show were Wayne Marshall, Jahazeil (Buju’s son), Ghost, Cocoa Tea, Koffee, Etana, Christopher Martin, Romain Virgo, LUST, and Chronixx.

Nate Grate from Australia said the highlight for him was when Buju came on stage.

“I’ve been putting this trip together for over a month and it was all worth it. I spent US$5,000 on the whole thing and honestly, it was great and really, really worth it!” he exclaimed.

According to Ronnie Tomlinson, Buju’s publicist, more than 32,000 people showed up.

The night culminated in fireworks as Buju Ban­ ton said, “We Love You!” to his fans and wellwishers.

- Jamaica Observer

No workers going home—Judiciary TRINIDAD -- The Ju­di­cia­ry says it will not be ter­ mi­nat­ing the em­ploy­ment of any work­er dur­ing its on­go­ing re­struc­tur­ing ex­er­cise.

In a press re­lease is­sued last Fri­day, which sought to pre-empt Monday’s protest over the is­sue, the Ju­di­cia­ry’s Court Pro­to­col and In­ for­ma­tion Man­ag­er Carl Fran­cis said the move was in­tend­ed to give ef­fect to sev­er­al pieces of leg­is­la­tion which were re­cent­ly en­act­ed to help re­duce back­logs in the crim­i­nal jus­tice sys­tem.

Fran­cis claimed that con­trary to what was be­ing claimed, the ma­jor­i­ty of the 452 peo­ ple em­ployed in Mag­is­trates’ Courts around T&T do not have cur­rent­ly per­ma­nent em­ploy­ment.

Ac­cord­ing to Fran­cis, 13 per cent are on-thejob trainees (OJTs), 12 per cent are Min­istry of Labour em­ploy­ees on three-month ro­ta­tions, 37 per cent are tem­po­rary clerks and 11 per cent

are em­ployed on con­tract. The re­main­ing staff have per­ma­nent em­ploy­ment and fall un­der the Pub­lic Ser­vice Com­mis­sion.

Say­ing the leg­is­la­tion pro­vides for giv­ ing new staff mem­bers five-year con­tracts, Fran­ cis claimed it would give the ma­jor­i­ty of cur­rent staff who do not have se­cu­ri­ty of tenure an op­ por­tu­ni­ty to ap­ply for a job.

“While the Ju­di­cia­ry is seek­ing to im­ prove its ser­vice de­liv­ery, its man­age­ment, its ef­fi­cien­cy and per­for­mance man­age­ment, con­ trary to what has been stat­ed and what is be­ ing be­lieved, it is ded­ic­ at­ed to en­sur­ing the best arrange­ments and op­por­tu­ni­ties for staff,” Fran­ cis said.

He claimed that the on­ ly jobs be­ ing made re­dun­dant in Sep­tem­ber, un­der the Crim­i­nal Di­vi­sion and Dis­trict Crim­i­nal and Traf­

fic Courts Act, are those of clerks of the peace and as­sis­tant clerks of the peace. But Fran­cis claimed that those cur­rent­ly hold­ing the po­si­ tions would not be tech­ni­cal­ly los­ing their jobs as they do not hold the po­si­tions cur­rent­ly.

“They are all act­ing in these po­si­tions, many lev­els above their sub­stan­tive posts,” he said.

Fran­cis claimed the Ju­di­cia­ry is of­fer­ ing free train­ing to staff mem­bers will­ing to ap­ ply for the new po­si­tions of dis­trict clerks of the peace and case man­age­ment of­fi­cers.

“Train­ing and re-train­ing of staff will fa­ cil­i­tate new ways of do­ing cer­tain things as there will be new tasks to be done. There will al­so be the need for some new com­pe­ten­cies,” he said.

But in a press con­fer­ence Monday, PSA pres­i­dent Wat­son Duke re­ject­ed sug­ges­

tions the ex­er­cise will be seam­less for the pub­lic ser­vants who are not se­lect­ed for the new posts.

“The ser­vice com­mis­sion is filled to its neck, they are not fill­ing va­can­cies any more,” Duke said.

He al­so main­tained that those who were be­ing en­cour­aged to ap­ply and train for the new po­si­tions were be­ing asked to sac­ri­fice the em­ploy­ment ben­efi­ ts they earned dur­ing their long ca­reers.

“Who in the world would give up a per­ ma­nent job with a pen­sion and health plan for a five-year con­tract? It is trad­ing par­adise for a park­ing lot,” Duke said.

- Trinidad Guardian

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island news

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

GAP launches Regional Executive Committee in Linden GUYANA -- The Guyana Action Party (GAP), one of the smaller parties in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition, has launched a Regional Executive Committee in the mining town of Linden, as its membership would have soared within months.

The committee has 13 executive members, led by its chairman Kevon Lorrimer. Lorrimer noted that the entire membership of the party stands at about 110 persons in Linden. Some of these were PPP members who left the party, citing discrimination and verbal abuse.

The mandate of the party is to forge ties with the other members of the coalition government, to create a stronger presence in the Town, ensuring that a landslide victory is achieved at the next regional and general elections. “We are all working towards one common goal and therefore we are looking to work closely with the APNU and

AFC to achieve this goal of development and empowerment for residents,” Lorrimer noted.

While GAP was formed out of Lethem and one of its founders being Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, Lorrimer said that the interest of the party does not solely lie with representing Indigenous Peoples, but also residents of Linden and Guyana at large. “Therefore the party would have divided its team to work in the Indigenous communities on the outskirts of Linden and in communities in Linden. They will be prioritising in youth and community empowerment.

We are not about promises, we are about delivering, we have an agenda and we will be working towards achieving this agenda,” Lorrimer said.

Relative to the current political climate in Guyana, Lorrimer says that GAP stands in solidarity with the government and President Granger, whom he says, will remain president, until another

president is sworn in. “The government still has its duties, the government still has a national budget to deliver, which was passed in the National Assembly by both the government and the opposition. The President stated clearly that GECOM has to advise him on its readiness before elections are called and we are standing firm with the coalition government on this and that is to follow the right procedure for free and fair elections, which is house to house registration,” he posited.

Regional Chairman of the PNCR, Region Ten Chapter, Jermaine Figueira said that GAP is welcomed to collaborate with the PNC and the work begins in campaigning to ensure a landslide victory at the upcoming elections. “We in this community respect the constitution which provides for any person or group of persons to form a political party to participate in the democratic process of an election. GAP is a friend of the PNCR in this co-

alition family that forms the government. They are welcome and we will work together to ensure that we win these upcoming regional and national elections under the leadership of David Granger for the benefit of all Guyanese.”

Similar sentiments were echoed by AFC Region Ten Member of Parliament Audwin Rutherford who said that GAP is also welcomed and he has been calling for the presence of not only GAP but the other members of the APNU, when meeting with the AFC, which includes members of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). GAP’s launching he said, is a statement that the coalition is stronger when each and every party is involved. “That is why it is a coalition,” he said.

- Guyana Chronicle

49 hinterland youths get full scholarships to attend UG GUYANA -- Forty-nine Indigenous youths who will be attending the University of Guyana (UG) during the new academic year beginning September 2019, have received full scholarships.

This was facilitated through by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Public Service Department. During a recent visit to the village of Kato in Region Eight, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock explained that in 2018, a total of 67 students from several villages in the hinterland regions applied and were accepted into the UG. Of this amount, 49 were granted full scholarships, while the others, due to unforeseen circumstances, did not follow through.

The minster was at the time addressing the Regional Development Conference in Kato. According to Minister Allicock, the students will be housed at the soon-to-be-commissioned

$186Million Hinterland Student Dormitory located in Liliendaal. The 16-apartment complex will accommodate some 120 persons attending the Government Technical Institute (GTI), Carnegie School of Home Economics, the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) the Guyana Industrial Technical Centre (GITC) and the University of Guyana.

This scholarship is in addition to the hundreds of grants the government provides yearly to hinterland students who excel at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). Those students who are awarded schools in Georgetown are housed at the Hinterland Students Dormitory, while those awarded schools in their respective regions are housed at the respective school’s dormitory.

“We provide accommodation, allowances for guardians, purchase books and uniforms. So, we have full support for young people, and we are

very happy to say that over the last two years there has been an 83 per cent pass rate at the hinterland dorms which is very encouraging…These young people attained five or more subjects at CSEC and are applying for tertiary education,” Minister Allicock explained.

Additionally, the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme provided training for 4000 hinterland youths and would lead to the creation of almost 2000 small businesses.

Some of the youths opted to further their studies at higher institutes of learning on the coast.

“HEYS is not going to interfere with the mainstream education programme, as a matter of fact, the intention is to support the education programme… the idea is to give young people an opportunity to play a more meaningful role in their community, Minister Allicock told the village lead-

ers. He further added, “some of the businesses are doing well and communities have been calling for this initiative to continue. They have even requested an adult programme.”

The students under this one-year programme received a $30,000 stipend each month.

Minister Allicock explained, “So, for example, if we have 20 students from each community, each month there will be $600,000 going back into that community and about $7M per year.” He added that this year, some $100M has been set aside to further support those successful businesses created under the HEYS programme. These initiatives are part of the coalition government’s efforts to ensure equal access to education to students regardless of their location. (DPI) - Guyana Chronicle

Guyana zeroes in on oil spill readiness GUYANA -- Stakeholders within the local energy sector are working to advance Guyana’s oil spill readiness through the creation of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, as the country prepares to become an oil-producing nation next year.

On Monday, a three-day workshop was opened at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre that focuses on contingency planning and implementation of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC Convention). Here, stakeholders from the Departments of Energy and the Environment; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs); the Civil Defence Commission (CDC); inter alia will be working on refining the draft of the contingency plan and engage in capacity-building in this area.

“Evidently, as Guyana advances to becoming an oil-producing country, the risk of an oil spill is very likely,” Director-General (ag) of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, said at the opening of the workshop. The director-general shared that it is the vision of the CDC to coordinate and facilitate a sustainable disaster risk management system for Guyana that is primarily aimed at reducing risks and enhancing the country’s resilience to the impact of both natural and man-made hazards.

“What we have recognised is that this vision cannot be attained with a business as usual approach, as such, we have to be dynamic and take into consideration the new and dynamic haz-

ards that are likely to affect our country,” he said.

And the workshop, which aims to advance the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, has been crafted in recognition that this plan is in itself an effort of disaster reduction and management, according to Craig.

“The contingency plan is intended to mitigate both direct and indirect impacts of oil spills, which may occur on our environment,” he highlighted. Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe also related: “We are cognisant that additional capacities are needed as we hasten towards first oil. This workshop is testimony to the efforts being made to build a more robust sectoral framework.”

The workshop is being held in conjunction with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO); the United Nations Regional Coordinating Unit for the Caribbean Environment Program UNEP-CAR/RCU; and the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Centre (RAC/REMPEITC) – Caribe. “Having a welldefined plan is key to an effective response, and over the next few days we will go over the steps to take to develop and revise such a plan,” workshop facilitator, Matt Richards highlighted.

Importantly, according to him, is that Guyana has made significant strides in its preparation over the past few years; this includes displaying a dedication to protecting the environment while undertaking responsible resources extraction

NATIONAL PLAN The CDC director-general further opined that the presence of the stakeholders at the workshop is an indication that there is the highest level of commitment to show that the development of this sector is one which must be achieved strategically, and cooperatively. At present, he shared that there is a “working draft” of the national contingency plan which has received input from the local stakeholders. This draft includes, mainly, the key roles and responsibilities of all the stakeholders and also a structure which can be further enhanced to deal with oil spills – both onshore and offshore.

“The efforts of these agencies have better positioned the country to finalise our national oil spill plan before the end of this year, and ensure full implementation by the time oil production commences in 2020,” Craig underscored. Dr. Bynoe also related that subsequent to the Liza discovery in 2015 and the impending oil production, a need was recognised for the development of this contingency plan.

He explained that even though the government has emphasised prevention as the key in oil spill related activity; there is need for Guyana to safeguard against any mishap. “We are aware, however that … accidents do occur and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana has to be prepared for all eventualities,” Bynoe stressed, while adding that this would involve a tiered response to mitigate risks, inclusive of working closer with the operators and contractors, and ensuring that adequate risk

transfer methods are in place.

The director also indicated that it is essential for wells to be properly designed, for there to be established procedures and protocols which are developed and followed, equipment is regularly inspected, and training and safety become integrated in all sections of the operators’ modus operandi. These are standard procedures geared at safeguarding against accidents. Let there be no illusions however,” he said, “A zero-risk environment is not practical.”

This plan, of which various drafts have been completed, is expected to become Guyana’s blueprint at the various scenarios of what can occur, according to Bynoe. It is expected that the final document will look at the various possibilities and must, at the minimum, contain: hazard identification; a vulnerability assessment; risk assessment; adequate response methods; and the application of technology.

Prior to the formation of the Department of Energy, the Ministry of Natural Resources had purchased oil spill response equipment for use in training and in responding, should the need arises, to small oil spills in Tier One instances. According to a document: Trinidad’s Oil Spill Contingency Plan, published by the Ministry of Energy and Energy Investments in that country, Tier One Spills are oil spills where in-house response capability is adequate. The impacts of these are low and inhouse clean-up response is mandated.

- Guyana Chronicle

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Dark Nubia Naturals What once was Dark, has now become Light SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

“Simone I am so tired!” “I hear you Peta; I can only imagine with all that you have to do.”

This is how my conversation started with Peta Acheampong, half owner of the dynamic team that makes up the Dark Nubia Natural Brand. In each edition, the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper features a business in the community who is worthy of acknowledgment. Now, please; my business owners out there, do not be offended, because you are all worthy, but sometimes we hear these stories that really show the resilience of individuals during hard times. If you are an entrepreneur, you know that running a business is hard, and Peta and Maxwell Acheampong are not strangers to this struggle.

Their partnership is a rare yet beautiful one; Peta a resolute Jamaican woman, and Maxwell, an entrepreneurial-minded Ghanaian, ending up bonding because they are both healers at heart. Together they combined their extensive generational knowledge on how to use plants and fruits to create premium handmade body care products that are good for the body and the entire planet. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper would like to present, Dark Nubia Naturals.

The Nubian Genesis The idea of creating handmade body care products was inspired by a need; Peta had experienced severe skin issues her entire life, and regardless of the products she used, nothing seemed to work. After going to endless doctors, and spending money on all types of skin creams – none, which helped – Maxwell suggested good old Ghanaian Black Soap to Peta as an option. Peta had never really heard of Black Soap, but she was willing to try anything because she was tired of dealing with her skin. So, she picked up a bar of Black Soap, which at that time was about $5.00 a bar, and she began to use it.

She instantly noticed the results and began to think about how to introduce this to the Caribbean community. Many of us suffer from skin disorders like eczema, and dermatitis. Peta saw how well it worked for

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her, so when they had made a trip to Jamaica, she brought a few bars down to see how the community down there would receive Black Soap.

Leave it to Jamaicans to make their opinions known. They did not like it at all. Many responded by saying that they would not use a product that favor “Do-Do.” I had to laugh at this point in the interview because if you see raw Black Soap for the first time, this is exactly how it looks. Peta attempted to convince them of the natural benefits of Black Soap, but they were stuck on the appearance of it and they were not having it. Peta realized at that point, that the only way to share the benefits of this product was to find a way to present it to the Caribbean community in a way that was appealing.

When they returned to Canada, they went straight to work, devising a way to present Black Soap. There initial creative design was to present the soap in beautiful little gift boxes. After they had created their first batch, they began to sell them at the Weston Road Flea Market, and what do you know, their creative illusion worked. People from the Caribbean community began to flock towards the product, and it got to a point where they were doing so well that it was time to level up. After just seven months of selling these beautiful little soapboxes, they were about to take it to another level.

Each Level brings new Devils They opened their store at 1540 Eglinton Avenue West, just short of eight months of selling their products at the Weston Road Flea Market. They moved in with confidence because they had seen the success at the flea market, and they were positive that this success would follow them. They were unfortunately sadly mistaken. For some reason, people did not seem interested in what they had to offer. It was surprising because as many of us know, Eglinton West is robust with Jamaican cultural stores and restaurants. Peta and Maxwell could not understand why this support that they had received just months before had dissipated.

They were very unhappy and devastated that after only six months they had to close down their location. They decided that it was best they take a break and rethink their options with the business. During this time, they were also getting ready to welcome a beautiful, baby girl into the family, so al-

PAGE 17

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3 FOR $10.00 though they wanted to continue, they knew that stopping at that point was the best option. Stopping did not mean it was over, it was just time to re-strategize.

From Darkness to Light During their time on Eglinton, they had created some great relations with other storeowners, and when they were closing the 1540 location, the owner from TreaJah Isle came to them with a proposition. The owner suggested taking some of their products and selling them in the store. Peta and Maxwell thought it over and figured, “Why Not?” JACKPOT! For some reason, people seem to trust buying natural products from a Rasta, and the Dark Nubia Natural Brand was rejuvenated once again. They thought, “If we can collaborate with other businesses around the city, this could be a very lucrative idea,” and with that thought, within a year, the Dark Nubian Brand was launched in five other stores throughout the GTA. With production back in full force, they now faced the issue of space again, which meant that they would have to find a way to open up a space to support their product load.

They saved up for a year, and reopened Dark Nubian Naturals at 1181 Weston Rd. It is amazing to see the resilience, and energy this progressive pair has put into their business. The team at the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper salutes the both of you for all of your hard work.

You can become part of the movement by visiting www.darknubia.com.

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Buju Banton Gives Fans Thrill They Anticipated At Long Walk to Freedom Concert, Jamaica ABA LUKE

aba@carib101.com

ENT. PUBLICIST Buju Banton is back in full force. On Saturday, March 16th, the Jamaican reggae and dancehall entertainer proved that he’s still the artiste many love and respect, this even after some 8 years

off the performance circuit. The Long Walk to Freedom concert held at the Jamaica National Stadium, saw a massive crowd of fans assemble for a night many will remember for the rest of their lives.

Die hard reggae and dancehall lovers, many of them with Jamaican ancestry, had flown in from Miami, New York and Canada, and parts across the Caribbean. The concert was certainly one many felt they couldn’t miss, it being Buju’s first appearance on stage, post release from a US Federal prison in December 2018. He did not disappoint. Just one day prior to the concert, an online firestorm erupted, involving his son Markus.

The young music producer had uttered uncanny words, calling on US president, Donald Trump to

take his father back to prison, but amid the social media blitz of negative slander, Gargamel stood unfazed and presented himself like the Lion many know he is, on stage at the stadium. Reports surfaced that Buju was in fact questioned by police, just prior to hitting the stage on Saturday night. Ebuzztt could not confirm the report.

The concert brought to the fore, a number of well renowned crowd pleasers, among them, Cocoa Tea, Singing Melody and LUST, Ghost, new reggae sensation, Koffee, Wayne Wonder, Beres Hammond- both of whom performed their hit collaborations with Buju, Romain Virgo, Chronixx, Gramps Morgan and others. The crowd received a show of epic proportions, to say the least, and just when

they thought it could get no better, the Lion of Dancehall, roared.

Buju Banton’s humility showed as he walked on stage wearing a simple but effective white suit.

His long, unkempt dreadlocks draped across his shoulders, effectively summoned thoughts of his undying Rastafarian faith. He was back and now, he would deliver the messages and feelings of goodness, needed in his Caribbean region.

A portion of the proceeds from Buju’s Kingston show and other events headlined by the artist, will go toward his foundation- The Buju Banton Foundation, which aims to help at risk youth.

- EBuzzTT

It’s 10 Days Shy of 1 Month Since Ashanti First Landed in T&T and She’s Still Posting Carnival Pics!

ENT. PUBLICIST

Well it’s been a hell of a run for RnB singer Ashanti who seems to now be an honorary Trini. The singer’s first Instagram tell tale of her touching down on local soil came on February 25th. Even up to today, the singer continued posting IG updates with memories of her Carnival 2019 experience.

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ries and most recently, we saw video footage of her kicking up a storm with none other than the fastest man on the planet, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt. “Maybe I can beat him in the triple jump tho,” she said in a caption posted beneath a photo of herself with Bolt.

Machel Montano meanwhile, has been a great host! The Road March winner who celebrated his 10th Road March win this past season, showed the singer a great time no doubt.

Ashanti says she’ll be back. We have no reason to doubt her.

- EBuzzTT

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who teamed up with Machel on her first Soca collab, ‘De Road’ can’t seem to get enough. Her Instagram stories, throughout her time in the country, have expressed a passionate appreciation for the culture and not to mention the food! Ashanti enjoyed Richard’s Bake and Shark at Maracas Bay and even partied on a yatcht Down The Islands. She enjoyed J’ouvert and partied in the streets on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, lapping up every bit of T&T’s carnival euphoria that she possibly could.

Other Caribbean celebrities offered added delight to the singer’s time spent in Trinidad. She and St. Vincent’s Skinny Fabulous were seen partying during the season, thanks to her special IG sto-

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We think she’s smitten… and that’s a damn good thing!

This past carnival offered its fair share of celebrity sightings. From the cast of Love and Hip Hop arriving, to the subsequent realization that singers Chilli of TLC and 90’s female rap phenom, Lil Kim, Maya along with Comedian Kevin Hart’s wife, Eniko and even Trinidad James were here, it seemed as though there had been a plan created by the Carnival bosses to reclaim T&T’s once cemented title of Carnival Mecca of the world!

Ashanti though, came to Trinidad just prior to Machel Monday. Her arrival was possibly the first sign of celebrity arrivals in T&T. Thing is, the “Foolish” singer

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Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Game-raising gadgets and golf balls for 2019 One of the great things about golf is the perennial unveiling of exciting new technologies, allowing golfers to continually raise their game and knock a couple of strokes off their scorecards. This year is no exception. Here are some of the new gadgets and equipment you’re likely to encounter on the links this season.

NEW GOLF BALLS Golf balls may look simple but, in reality, the little white spheres are technological marvels. Take the new Chrome Soft balls from Callaway, which use Nobel Prize technology to improve driver distance and short-game spin. These balls feature graphene nanoparticles in the outer core. (Graphene was discovered only in 2004 and is the thinnest and strongest compound known to man.)

Then there’s the forthcoming Genius Ball, made by OnCore (launching this Father’s Day). This is a golf ball equipped with a tiny microchip that pairs with the users mobile phone and provides them with a bunch of useful data in real time, including distance, ball velocity, spin rate and amount of draw or fade. It also has GPS, allowing you to instantly locate your ball, whether it’s been hooked, sliced or flat-out ripped into the bush.

NEW RANGEFINDERS It used to be only PGA tour players who could get precise

yardages to the flag while out on the course. Now, with rangefinders, the average golfer can enjoy this same advantage. There are two types of rangefinders: laser and GPS. Laser rangefinders measure distances with laser beams users manually aim at targets while looking through a view port, whereas GPS rangefinders come pre-programmed with all the yardages golfers need (yards to the pin, to bunkers, to water), provided that the course they’re playing has been mapped.

The latest big stride in rangefinder tec­h­ nology came with the Bushnell Hybrid, launched last year. This is the first rangefinder that integrates both laser and GPS into one LCD screen. The Hybrid provides extremely precise yardages and comes pre-loaded with 36,000 cour­­ses spanning 30 countries.

If you’re looking to get a leg up on your golf buddies this season, there are a number of other advancements in golf equipment worthy of attention (check out, for instance, the formidable Taylormade M3 driver or the “spikeless” golf shoes models from Footjoy, Callaway and Adidas). Drop into your pro shop or local golf shop to check it all out.

Swinging into golf season For golf lovers, spring is synonymous with swing. As soon as the snow has melted, they’re reaching for their clubs. However, before teeing off, golfers need to get back their groove. Prior to heading onto the links this season, make sure you properly stretch, check your equipment and get some practice in.

As for pre-season exercise, Golf Digest stresses the importance of strengthening your glutes. These large muscles not only stabilize your golf posture but also protect the lumbar spine from the stress involved in swinging a golf club repetitively. Some exercises that help train your glutes are squats, glute bridges and deadlifts.

PRE-SEASON STRETCHING AND EXERCISE Most people become less active during winter. Any return to athletic activity after a lull needs to be done gradually and should involve stretching. Even if you were active last winter, stretching remains imperative: given that your muscles haven’t executed the specific motions involved in the golf swing for months, they can injure easily if not properly stretched.

GETTING YOUR GEAR READY Golf might well involve more equipment than any other sport. Before starting your season, you’ll want to make sure your gear is up to snuff. Inspect your clubs, grips, shoes and the individual cleats on your shoes to make sure everything is course-ready.

The most important areas to stretch are the wrists, fore­ arms, triceps, shoulders, neck, lower back, glutes and hamstrings.

Additionally, ensure you have what you need in the way of golf apparel. If you’re looking to hit the links straightaway, make sure you have clothing designed for nippy spring weather.

Finally, make certain your golf bag is well stocked. That means balls, tees, markers, an emergency kit and the rest.

GETTING YOUR SWING BACK Don’t expect to be at the top of your game right from the get-go. Before heading out on the course, you’re going to want to visit the driving range. It may be tempting to unsheathe that driver and start letting them fly; however, the best method is always to start with the wedges and work your way up to the big guns.

Having done all this, you should be back in the swing of things and ready to venture out onto the tee box.

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While the 12th sign of the Zodiac, you won’t accept second best in anything. This lovely condo wakes a great investment opportunity for you. Including great amenities and just one bus to the subway. You are in a business cycle so invest in yourself for only $179,900

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The two personality aspect of Gemini can seem daunting but they're actually quite affectionate and sweet. That’s why this lovely bungalow with cathedral ceilings and a sprawling kitchen is appealing. You can satisfy both personalities in the hot tub or seclude yourself in one of the 4 bedrooms. Only $569,900

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Cancers can be a bit jealous and often in need of attention and that’s why this is a perfect home for you. Other will be jealous when you can sit on your private front balcony or your rear deck with a nice book.

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Danforth

DFM Grace Corned Beef

Assorted 340 g

Food Market www.danforthfoodmarket.com

We’re simply the best West Indian store in town.

2

99

each each

Jamaican Pride Quick Oats 700 g

99

¢

each

Excelsior Water Crackers 300 g

99

¢

each

9 5 99

People’s Choice Jamaican Ackees

each

540 ml

Frozen Chicken Wings

Frozen Chicken Leg Quarters Back Attached

25

5 kg case

17

99 $

$

$ 99 Salted Beef Short Ribs

Frozen Chicken Drumsticks

Frozen Goat Meat

16 lb case

with the Purchase of 2 case or more

520 ml

69

¢

each

Lou & Nickys Lemon Juice 750 ml

89

¢

each

Tim Hortons Hot Chocolate Mix 500 g

3

99 each

Excelsior Cinnamon Crackers 336 g

1

69

each

3

3

99% Fat Trimmed Best Quality Easy Cook Oxtail

1

99

480 ml

Nupak Dry Lima Beans 540 ml

each

2

20 2/

Grace Browning 142 ml

Grace Yellow Corn Meal 2 kg

1

69

1

each

99 each

Weston India Pride Coconut Oil 500 ml

Amita Parboiled Rice 8 kg

5

$ 2/

7

each

99 each

29

Spur Tree Jerk Seasoning 4.1 kg

Royal Danish Butter Cookies

340 g

99 each

5

$ 2/

20 lb case

with the Purchase of 2 case or more

Frozen or Previously

Fresh Pork Ham or Picnic

Frozen

Beef Shank Steak

1

2

49 $ $ 99 lb lb

99 $ 49 $ $ 99 lb lb lb

Frozen or Previously Frozen

Fresh Seafood Catches

Fresh King Fish

Grace Jerk BBQ Sauce

6

10

99 2/ $

DON’T PAY FOR FAT!!

Royal Fresh Coconut Water

Young Whole Chicken (Fryer)

5

Fresh Atlantic Whole Salmon

Fresh Lane Snapper

3

4

Fresh Porgy Fish

Fresh Jack Fish

2

3

$ 99 $ 99 $ 99 $ 99 $ 99 lb as is

From

lb as is

Green or Ripe Plantain

Buttercup Squash

Fresh

99 1 99 Five Locations To Serve You Better ¢

¢

Sweet

lb

lb as is

Tangerines

1

69

99

lb

lb

lb as is

Jamaican Cooking Bananas

Fresh

Fresh

lb as is

lb

Specials in Effect Thu. March 21st until Wed. March 27th, 2019.

Although we strive for accuracy in both copy & illustration, unintentional error may occur, we reserve the right to correct any error. Specials Available While Quantities Last. We reserve the right to limit quantities.

Cucumber Melon 1.2 L

25 Sq Ft

each

Sheppard Ave. E .

Danforth Food Market 651 Markam Rd. 416-439-6397

Mon.-Fri. 9am to 9pm Saturday 9am to 9pm Sunday Lawrence Ave. E .

10am to 7pm

Store Hours

Steeles Ave. E .

Danforth Food Market 3051 Pharmacy Ave North Finch 416-490-9219

Mon.-Thu. 8:30am 8pm Fri. & Sat. 8:30am-8:30pm Sunday 9am to 6 pm Finch Ave. E.

Store Hours

Mon.-Thu. 9:30am 9pm Fri. & Sat. 9 am-9 pm Sunday 9am to 6 pm

Bloor St. E.

Danforth Food Market 1225 Dundas St. Dixie & Dundas Missisauga 905-949-9990

Dixie Rd.

69

¢

Store Hours

Cawtra Rd.

Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil

D r.

5

2/$

Mon.-Fri. ion 9am to 9pm Roa d Saturday 9am to 9pm Sunday Sheppard Ave. W . 10am to 8pm Finch Ave. W .

Si lv er st on e

2

Sunlight Ultra Dishwashing Liquid

Danforth Food Market 301 Silverstone Dr. A l b 416-740-9870

Pharmacy Rd.

3x150 g

2/$

Steeles Ave. W.

Markam Rd.

each Each

Cannon Blue Soap

Store Hours

Martin Grove Rd.

Assorted 1.41 L

99

Mon.-Fri. 9am to 9pm Saturday 8 am to 9pm Sunday 9 am to 7pm

Finch Ave. W.

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PAGE 26

food

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

0 1 op T

PROTIEN SOURCES for Meatless March NOEL CUNNINGHAM noel@carib101.com

CULINARY EXPERT

It is very important to ensure you are getting your correct serving of protein while on your meatless diet. Protein helps our body to function on a daily basis and helps build muscle mass.

One of the questions I always get during meatless March is how will I get protein if I don’t eat meat? They are lots of vegetarian food that have more protein than meat, for example, 1 cup of black bean contains 15 grams of protein which is way more protein than one chicken leg.

As a meatatarian when I went on my meatless diet for the first time my body was craving lots of sweet and fatty foods. What happens is that because you are now lacking your main source of protein your body is craving fats to replace that void. I had to remind myself that this month is not only about challenging myself not to eat meat but to start eating better. I know for some people, going meatless is hard and challenging but it can be fun and exciting to try a new lifestyle. As I mentioned in the last article; make veggies your friend. Here are the top 10 proteins you need to have in your diet daily to prevent those unhealthy craves. Peanut butter, oatmeal, Greek yogurt, eggs, nuts, beans, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach and quinoa. These foods are a great way to increase protein in your diet without increasing calories.

A great way to ensure you are getting your healthy dose of protein is to kick start your day with some eggs and a glass of smoothies with peanut butter, Greek yogurt, some frozen fruits, and spinach. For lunch, you can always go for a stir-fry with broccoli and cauliflower see it’s not hard. Here is a quick and tasty stirfry even meat lover will enjoy.

Vegetable stir-fry with honey garlic sauce What I like about stir-fry is you can add just about any vegetables you like. I serve my veggie stir-fry with rice noodles which were tasty and filling. This recipe is perfect for lunch or supper. This is a great way to incorporate all your meatless protein.

Serves 4 Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • •

1/2 large red onion, diced 1 large carrot, washed, peeled, sliced 1/2 head broccoli florets ½ head cauliflower florets 1/2 green pepper. sliced 1 small red pepper, sliced Green and yellow beans 1 stalk celery, sliced 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1tsp chopped ginger 2 tsp vegetable Oil

Honey garlic sauce • • • • • • •

6 cloves garlic, crushed 1/2 cup honey 1/4 cup water 2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tsp cornstarch 3 tbsp. water

Directions 1. For the sauce: Over medium heat in a saucepan combine the honey, garlic and water, vinegar and soy sauce in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.

Whisk together the cornstarch and 3tbsp water in a small bowl; stir into the sauce mixture until thickened.

2. Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat. Sauté together ginger, onion, and garlic until translucent about 1 minute. Then add remaining blanched veggies, stir to combine then add sauce. Serve with rice or noodles. To garnish, sprinkle with sesame seeds. Enjoy.

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Wednesday, March 20, 2019 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

3

hair removal

Thinking of getting inked but don’t know where to start? These are the top tattoo trends to watch out for in 2019.

• Tiny geometric designs: small, easy to hide tattoos made with thin black lines are simple, elegant and increasingly popular. They can be intricately designed or as simple as one thin line.

Ready to bare a little more skin? Thinking about hair removal? These are the top hair removal techniques you might want to try.

2. Waxing and sugaring are very similar, and only differ in the product used, not in technique. Hair is removed at the root ensuring that the effects last for up to a month. Hair also tends to grow back thinner. The main drawback is that these techniques can be painful. However, some people say sugaring hurts less because it doesn’t adhere to live skin cells like waxing does.

PAGE 29

Top tattoo trends for 2019

techniques

1. Shaving is easy, inexpensive and can be done in the comfort of your own home. The drawbacks include the possibility of getting ingrown hairs and the fact that hair grows back quickly. You’ll need to shave every three to five days to stay smooth.

seasonal

3. Laser treatment is the most expensive hair removal technique but can remove unwanted hair for good. Laser treatments work best for people with pale to medium skin and dark hair, so people with dark skin or pale hair may be out of luck.

No matter what technique you choose, protect your skin by using clean materials and visiting qualified technicians.

What to know before committing to

tattooing your ribs or thigh.

No matter what the current tattoo trends are, it’s important to remember that it’s something you’ll have on your body for the rest of your life, so instead of choosing a tattoo because it’s trendy, pick something in a style that you love that holds personal meaning for you.

• Dot work: intricate and striking, tattoo artists can use tiny dots as either shading or to create an entire image. These tattoos can take a long time to produce, but your patience will be rewarded with a gorgeous tattoo.

• Watercolour: distinguished by a lack of black outlines and often features freeform shapes or splatters. This isn’t a technique everyone can do, so be sure to see an artist that specializes in watercolour for a tattoo that will be beautiful for years to come.

WHERE TO PLACE YOUR TATTOO Since tattoos are becoming more mainstream, peo­ple are being bolder with their tattoo placements, often positioning them on their fingers, wrists or behind an ear. If you’d like something more discreet, think about

hair extensions If you have fine, delicate hair that never seems to grow past a certain length, you may be tempted to give it a boost. Many women use semi-permanent hair extensions to get the long, thick hair they want.

Three ways to enhance your

eyelashes

However, hair extensions can lead to less than desirable results such as hair breakage, traction alopecia (hair that falls out due to the weight and pressure of the extensions on hair follicles) or even a scalp infection if your hair gets pulled out or you get scratched by a needle.

Long, dark and curled eyelashes are great for making your eyes stand out but can take a lot of effort to achieve. If you’d like to spend less time on your makeup routine, here are three ways to enhance your natural lashes.

Here’s what you need to know to avoid a hair extension disaster.

• There are many different types of extensions: be sure to choose the variety that’s best for your hair and lifestyle.

• Not all training is equal: many hairstylists have some extension training, but working with an extension specialist will ensure the best possible outcome.

• Be prepared for upkeep: extensions are high maintenance and styling them will probably take longer than styling your natural hair. You may also need to buy new products to make the extensions last.

Hair extensions can be a great way to enhance your look. Just be sure to do your research to avoid a hairy situation.

TYPES OF HAIR EXTENSIONS:

TYPE

DESCRIPTION

LIFESPAN*

Clip-in

Temporary extensions that add length and volume for one night.

1 year

Tape-in

Thin, one-inch long strips of hair that are “taped” to the natural hair by a professional.

8 weeks (can be reused up to 3 times)

Sew-in/weave

Hair is tightly braided into cornrows and strips of extensions are sewn on.

4 to 6 weeks

Fusion/pre-bonded

Small, individual bundles of hair are bonded to similar size sections of natural hair, usually by applying heat.

12 weeks

Microlink

Similar to pre-bonded extensions, except the natural hair is pulled through a tiny metal loop, which is then clamped closed

3 to 6 months

*Lifespans apply if hair extensions are made of high-quality human hair and are properly cared for.

1. TINTING Are your lashes so pale they’re almost invisible? If so, tinting will make them stand out. This quick procedure involves the use of a temporary, vegetable-based dye and can last for three to five weeks.

2. LASH PERMING Are your lashes super straight? If you tend to rely on your eyelash curler, try a lash perm. During this procedure eyelashes get wrapped around a tiny roller or brushed up against the eyelid. Solutions are then applied to change the shape of the hair for up to six weeks.

3. LASH EXTENSIONS Eyelash extensions will make you feel like a Hollywood celebrity. The procedure involves getting lashes individually glued to your natural eyelashes to give you a look that’s as understated or as dramatic as you want. Lash extensions need to be touched up every two to three weeks.

When performed by an experienced professional, these techniques will allow you to put your eyelash curler and mascara away, saving you time and effort in the morning.

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health

Wednesday, March 20, 2019 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

The expanded role of pharmacists in Canada Pharmacist Awareness Month is about letting Canadians know what services their pharmacist can provide them. This is an important message to pass on since many people aren’t aware of how the role of pharmacists has changed in Canada in recent years.

Since 2013, the scope of practice among pharmacists has broadened to include a number of duties previously reserved for doctors. The specific duties vary by province, but in many cases, include the following: • Prescribing for minor ailments • Rescinding prescriptions (particularly when a prescribed drug might negatively interact with other medications) • Ordering and/or interpreting laboratory tests • Administering drugs, including injections, for immunization and other purposes • Helping develop care plans for patients • Monitoring patients The expertise of pharmacists has encompassed such functions since well before 2013. However, largely for logistical reasons, the abilities and knowledge of these frontline health care workers was underused. The pivotal change occurred when electronic health records were integrated into the health care system. Thanks to this technology, pharmacists, doctors and other specialists can now easily communicate with each other.

The new system translates to more convenient health care for Canadians. Additionally, it’s hoped that it curbs an increasing tendency among Canadians to seek medical advice on the internet. Overall, pharmacists are a reliable source of health care information. They’re also accessible in nearly every community.

What you may not know about drug interactions Pharmacists, doctors and other specialists are careful not to prescribe patients medication that could interact negatively with other drugs they’re taking. However, it’s important for those taking medication to be aware that drug interactions aren’t limited to prescription drugs.

Some seemingly benign over-the-counter (OTC) medications and natural health products can react negatively with prescription drugs. And the same goes for certain foods and drinks.

OTC DRUGS Commonly used OTC medications like Aspirin, antacids and antihistamines can become problematic for those taking specific prescription drugs. For example, combining Aspirin with a prescription blood thinner can lead to excessive bleeding, mixing antacid tablets with antibiotics can interfere with the absorption of the prescription medication and taking antihistamines with a prescribed sedative can cause daytime drowsiness.

ST JOHN’S WORT St. John’s wort, a herbal supplement sometimes used to treat depression, can produce a dangerous group of symptoms known as serotonin syndrome when taken

with fluoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft). In addition, St. John’s wort can block the contraceptive effects of birth control.

GRAPEFRUIT JUICE As for food-drug interactions, grapefruit in particular is worthy of note. Grapefruit juice interacts negatively with a large number of drugs, including certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, anti-anxiety drugs and even some antihistamines. Generally, it allows more of the drug to enter your blood, producing negative, and sometimes serious, side effects.

AVERTING DRUG INTERACTIONS If you’re considering taking an over-the-counter medication or a natural health product, ask a pharmacist beforehand whether it might interact with the medications you’re taking. Doing so will help you avert un­pleasant or possibly dangerous reactions.

The facts about natural health products Natural health products are increasingly filling the aisles of Canadian stores and pharmacies. Their fans argue that these products promote natural healing and cause fewer side effects than prescription drugs.

All the same, they should be used wisely and cautiously. Though the ingredients found in natural health products are naturally occurring, this doesn’t mean they’re harmless.

The Canadian government contribu­ tes to the safe use of such products by officially regulating them: the term “natural health products” is reserved for licensed, naturally occurring substances, a category that includes:

Want to learn what services the pharmacists in your province can provide? Consult the Canadian Pharmacists Association website at pharmacists.ca/ pharmacy-in-canada/scope-of-practice-canada/.

PAGE 31

• Vitamins and minerals • Herbal remedies • Homeopathic medicines • Traditional medicines (such as Chinese and Indian medicines) • Probiotics • Amino acids and essential fatty acids

A product receives a licence only after it has been carefully reviewed

by Health Canada and demonstrates that it meets the criteria outlined in the official document, Natural Health Products Regulations. It has to be deemed safe, effective and of high quality. It also has to carry detailed product information.

tructions • Companies might make unproven or unscientific claims

RISKS OF NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS Health Canada points out that, despite being generally safe, and despite regulations, natural health products are not risk free. The following are some of the potential risks or disadvantages you need to consider before using natural health products:

Given this, it’s wise to consult with your doctor or pharmacist before using natural health products. Pharmacists are knowledgeable about the natural health products they of­ fer and can provide reliable advice and information, including dosage instructions and facts on side effects and possible interactions with medications you’re taking.

• They might interact with prescription drugs or other natural health products • They might produce unwanted side effects such as allergic reactions • They might lack clear dosage ins-

To identify a natural health product that has been licensed for sale in Canada, look for the eight-digit natural product number (NPN) or homeopathic medicine number (DIN-HM) on the label.

health

PAGE 32

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Chiropractic and Yoga; A means to physical and spiritual health DR. VIKAS PURI drpuri@carib101.com

HEALTH SPECIALIST

LUNCH SPECIAL Jerk, Stewed, Curried or BBQ Chicken Served With Rice & Peas or Plain Rice With Coleslaw or Steamed Vegetables

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TIPS FROM YOUR CHIROPRACTOR

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What will happen during my first visit to a chiropractor?

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Do you know how healthy you are? Are you aware that your spine holds the key to your overall physical, emotional and spiritual well-being? Chiropractors and Yogis understand this, and both provide a means of tapping into your own innate healing potential. This article explores this common thread.

The Yoga Sutras, a text written by the ancient sage Patanjali circa 400 CE, lays out an eightfold approach to Self-Realization. The first two steps involve the “do’s and don’ts” that build our spiritual character. The third step is asana (correct posture). This is followed by higher and deeper states of breath and life force control and meditation until the soul unites with Universal Spirit. Yoga literally means “Union”.

As the wave becomes the ocean, so does individual consciousness unite with Cosmic Consciousness.

According to Yogic Philosophy, for the soul to consciously liberate from the cycles of life and death, the Yogi must consciously raise the life force (Prana) from the lower energy centers (chakras) of the spine to the top of the head, from where the soul will emancipate.

The movement of life force through the spine and out to different body parts is also an important element by which a Yogi can heal the physical and emotional body.

For these reasons, asana (correct posture) is the precursor step to pranayama (life force control) according to Patanjali. Life force cannot flow efficiently, if at all if there is an impediment due to improper

posture. The spinal nerves through which the life force flows, become pinched, which prevents self-healing, or spiritual advancement.

This is the reason ancient sages of India had created Hatha Yoga, physical exercises, to increase spinal flexibility, and improve posture, for the purpose of being able to sit for long periods of meditation and stay healthy in body, mind, and soul.

100 years ago, a healer named D.D Palmer, a native of Port Perry, Ontario, discovered the power of proper spinal alignment after he delivered the first ever chiropractic adjustment, a spinal manipulation, to a deaf man named Harvey Lillard. Harvey’s hearing came back, and the modern science of chiropractic was born.

In reality, it was a reconfirmation of the Yogic Philosophy and Science discovered thousands of years ago. Proper life force movement, through correct posture, is necessary for healing.

Chiropractic philosophy states that there is an innate divine intelligence within us, which fails to express itself when there is interference in the spine. This interference is known as a subluxation. Subluxations are physical manifestations of stress (physical, chemical, and emotional), resulting in improper spinal alignment, and loss of proper nerve function, reducing the flow of vital energy and communication from the brain to the body. This leads to various mental, physical and emotional symptoms and disease.

Subluxations were known to ancient yogis and modern chiropractors.

Health, defined as: “a state of optimal physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being, and not just the absence of infirmity or disease”, presupposes a need for proper posture and spinal alignment.

It is the means for our life force to be directed by our innate intelligence, through our nervous system, to various parts of the body in order to function and heal.

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During a first visit, the chiropractor will conduct an evaluation of your neuro-musculoskeletal health in order to make a chiropractic diagnosis. This assessment includes a questionnaire as well as a physical examination. The questionnaire will tell the chiropractor the reasons that motivated you to make an

appointment as well as your past and current state of health, including surgeries, in­juries, medications and your family history. He or she may also want to look at the results of any recent medical examinations, such as X-rays.

The physical examination will include an analysis of your posture and range of motion, orthopedic and neurological tests, an assessment of spine mobility and joint alignment and, if necessary, X-rays. Some chiropractors will wait for your second appointment to explain the results of the assessment and the proposed treatment plan, while others will tell you during the first visit. Similarly, you may receive some sort of treatment during the first consultation, or it will be scheduled for your next appointment.

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PAGE 34

community

DO YOU ENJOY THE ARTICLES IN EACH EDITION?

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Can we trust white people’s involvement in the African Movement?

SIMONE SMITH simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

“Now I say, if this should be the condition of you and yours, you would think it hard measure, yea, and very great Bondage and Cruelty. And therefore consider seriously this, and do you for and to them, as you would willingly have them or any other to do unto you….. were you in the like slavish condition.” ~ George Fox Toronto! Welcome back to another edition of A Better Tomorrow. What does a better tomorrow look like to you? Is it better housing? More money? Less division? However it looks like to you, you must do your best to create that better tomorrow for yourself. My better tomorrow resembles a place where people are emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically balanced. This may seem like a utopic idea, and I agree it is, but my purpose on earth is to create this tomorrow by sharing ideas –others and mine – in a way that educates and empowers.

Each week I have something planned, and then something happens which completely changes all of my thoughts. This week I am going to incorporate some of what I learned during my time in South-Western

Ontario, and reactions that were received when I had a guest on my show Hear 2 Help You, which airs on Tuesday at 5:00 pm on MyTCNTV Network. We had a dynamic, and compelling conversation with Penny Hess, the Chairwoman of the African People’s Solidarity Committee (APSC), an organization of white people working in white communities under the leadership of Chairman Omali Yeshitela and the African People’s Socialist Party. The APSC focuses on educating other white people on the oppression of African and other colonized peoples based on slavery, genocide, and colonialism. They have continued to organize other white people to participate in building the movement of white reparations to African people.

Dave and I knew that having this guest would polarize people, and low and behold, we received some comments from individuals who were not impressed with the idea of a white woman, or any white people getting involved in the African Movement.

Depolarizing yourself in this day and age is a difficult task, and the only true way to do so effectively is to find ways to educate YOU. So, this week, I would like to take this time to go back in history and rediscover the movement of a group of white people who not only fought fiercely against colonization, and slavery, but also fought for the rights of criminals, and those who were considered mentally impaired. I would like to take this time to introduce to you, the Quakers.

The Religious Society of Friends also referred to as the Quaker Movement, had their genesis in England in the 17th century. The name “Quaker” was actually seen as

a derogatory nickname for George Fox, the founder of the movement, and for others who shared his beliefs. Fox and the other early Quakers were persecuted for their beliefs, which included the idea that the presence of God existed in every person, regardless of their race, culture, class or creed. During this time, beliefs like the ones held by the Quakers were persecuted and eventually pervasive societal groups estranged them.

The beginning of the Quakers’ opposition came in 1657, and around 1727, the Quakers began to express their official disapproval. From the 1750s onwards, a number of Quakers in the American colonies began to oppose enslavement. They boldly visited slaveholders and lobbied the English Headquarters for action. By 1761, the Quakers were full-blown abolitionists and all Quakers, on both sides of the Atlantic were barred from owning slaves. Any members who did not comply were disowned and cast out of the community. Activists like: William Southby demanded a ban on slave ownership and impartation, and James Wright of Haverhill, who was one of the first British businessmen to refuse to sell slave processed sugar, are examples of white people who took a stand against the atrocities that were occurring with Africans, Aboriginals, criminals and the mentally impaired at that time.

This article is not meant to sway anyone’s opinion, or even attempt to displace ideologies that have become a part of someone’s life; this article is meant to open one’s thoughts to another way of thinking, to aid in depolarizing the polarized.

The freedom of being yourself

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ONE NEWSPAPER

COLLEEN LINDBERG colleen@carib101.com

LIFESTYLE COACH

There is an adventurer in all of us. It might show up as a small whisper of “try this” or for some of us, it’s in extreme sports and experiences. This day and age, though we are being positioned, called to and available for more experiences. Every day people are pushing boundaries in their life to try new things, to push themselves past their normal and to engage in conversations that they would never have before. So, the real question today is, are you? Are you exploring in life? Are you stepping into spaces that you have never been before? How do we do this you ask?

Here are some tips…

1. Try new things. This unfolds to trying new foods you have never tried before or

cook them in new ways of experiencing them. This includes new hobbies, artistic talents, and sports. This would include the way you do things at work, the way you communicate with others and the way show up in the world. When someone asks you to participate in something that you have never done before, is your first instinct to say no, or is it to step to try the new experiences.

2. Learn new things. This is a bit different than the one above when we are actually taking in information that we might not have before. Maybe you are curious about Quantum Physics, Spirituality, Greek Mythology. Learning new things expands our minds to think about possibilities in life. It sparks the curiosity in us as people to explore and adventure.

Depending on what you are reading it could also take you on an adventure.

3. Travel the world and get out of your comfort zone. No matter when you travel you are pushed into a space to experience new things. It could be the culture, the food, the living spaces. All of the capacities when it comes to travel allow us to have experiences. I am not sure

about you, but when I travel it feels like I pick up pieces of myself. I learn so much about what I want in life, my boundaries, what I am rigid on and where I can adapt. It’s such a great experience for us.

There are a lot of people out there that aren’t willing to step into this to explore.

There is so much fear around this aspect of life. I have come into many challenges while traveling, missed flights, being stranded, running out of money, hotels losing reservations, allergic reactions to food… and the list will continue.

Through it, I wouldn’t give it up because I have learned so much through this process.

Really, though you never really know what you are made of until you step in. You don’t know if you can handle certain situations until you are in them. We have no idea of the feelings and emotions it will connect us to.

We never know until we try. If you are running around scared all the time or closed minded, I can guarantee you haven’t put your spirit to the test yet. You have no idea what you are made of… so I think it’s time for all of us to step in.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

life

PAGE 35

Unconscionability in the equalization of Net Family Property VALERIE DYE valerie@carib101.com

LEGAL SPECIALIST

Under Section 5 (6) of the Family Law Act of Ontario (The Act), the court may order an unequal division of assets where an equal division of assets would be unconscionable. This means that the court may award to one spouse either less or more than that spouse may be ordinarily entitled to receive.

Most cases leading to an unequal division of assets relate to situations where one party in the marriage has deliberately or recklessly depleted the matrimonial assets to such an extent that it would be un-

conscionable for the court to divide the remaining assets equally. An example of this is the case of Dillon v Dillon where the husband incurred substantial debts and impoverished the family. The court ordered an unequal division of assets and reduced the amount of money owed to the husband by $50,000. The basis for the court’s decision rested on section 5(6) of the Act. In 2009 the case of Serra v Serra highlighted another way in which the court may apply section 5(6) of the Act. In this case, the husband’s assets at the date of separation were valued between $9.5 million and $11.5 million. By the time the trial date had come around the husband’s assets had declined in value as a result in a market decline in the shares of his company. The value of the shares had decreased by about $8 to $9 million.

Since equalization is done on the basis of the value of assets at separation (valuation) date the husband would ordi-

narily have to pay the wife approximately 5 million dollars which represents half the value of his net family property at the date of separation. Obviously, this would result in an unconscionable result given the fact that by the trial date the value of his company shares had dwindled to approximately $1 million.

At trial, the judge strictly applied the equalization principle and ordered the husband to pay the wife a total of $4.1 million which far exceeded his net worth at that time. The Court of Appeal overturned this ruling and applied section 5(6) of the Act on the basis that it was unconscionable for the husband to pay the wife that amount of money.

The Court of Appeal stated that: A market-driven post-valuation date change in the value of a spouse’s assets may be taken into account in determining whether an equalization of family property is unconscionable under s. 5(6) of the FLA.

The court was careful to note that ordering an unequal division was exceptional and such orders should only be made in circumstances related to the acquisition, disposition, preservation or maintenance of the assets and where equalization would be unconscionable as a result of this. The court considered the fact that the husband could not sell the business as he had to make payments to the wife which could only be done if he kept the business. The wife had also obtained an order that prevented him from selling the business just after separation. If the business was sold at separation date the husband would have been able to recover the separation date value.

Once the court is satisfied that an equalization payment would be unconscionable the court will exercise its discretion and award an amount that is just, and fair given all the circumstances of the case.

Who shows up?

KATHY McDONALD kathy@carib101.com

SCHOOL TRUSTEE

On February 26th a Trustee put forward a motion asking that all Peel District School Board (PDSB) schools close when school buses are canceled. I think such a motion if passed will have a huge negative impact on members of our community and as such, I am imploring parents and community members to come out on MONDAY (Note the usual meeting date of Tuesday has changed) March 25th, 2019. The board will be discussing this motion at the central board office located at 5650 Hurontario Street in Mississauga. Please note that the entrance to the property is off of Matheson Road and a government-issued ID is required to gain entrance to the building.

It is imperative that the community come out and be present. This, in my opinion, is a very important issue that will ultimately affect most families in my ward including members of the African, Black and Caribbean communities.

First and foremost, it is the poorest and most marginalized members of the

community that will suffer if six other trustees agree with this motion. Schools while serving as learning institutions also act, quite simply put, as a “safe” place for parents to leave their children. When schools are closed it sets into motion a slew of events that often can devastate the poorest of the poor. These repercussions hit the children at risk and most marginalized families the hardest. When a parent that is precariously employed has to take a day off of work to be at home with her children due to a school closure it usually means a pay cheque that is several dollars short at the end of the month. This parent who is already living pay cheque to pay cheque and in some cases payday loan to payday loan now is faced with the unenviable task of deciding what gets cut, feeding the children a nutritious meal or keeping the heat on.

To the privileged in society or to the families that have a network of support, snow days may be a mere inconvenience. It means heading out a few minutes earlier to drop children to grandma’s house. Many members of the African, Black and Caribbean communities do not have such luxuries for a myriad of reasons ranging from the effects of discriminatory laws that prevented Black and Caribbean families from migrating with extended family members from living with the harsh realities of choices made in our youth. The bottom line is that

as a community we will be disproportionately affected by school closures.

When the weather is bad hospitals still need doctors, nurses, technicians, and the janitorial staff to show up. Banks still have to keep their tills open rain or shine.

The jails and courthouses don’t close because of the snow. The restaurants need the cooks and servers to be present even when there is freezing rain outside. Members of the service industries and the staff of retail stores will still need to serve their customers even if the numbers are low.

Employees still have to show up and work.

Warehouses still have products which need to be moved ASAP. Hairdresser, barbers you name it, workers are expected to, they have to, show up for work. Why should the PDSB staff be any different?

When we think of the effect that this has on staff members that are not permanent employees of the board, a vast majority that are people of color, living paycheque to paycheque and are depending on schools staying open in order to feed their families, we cannot remain silent. We need to show up and let our voices be heard. Each and every day employees all across Ontario and Canada have to go to work despite inclement weather. Why should the PDSB employees have different attendance expectations?

If the board decides that the roads are too dangerous for school buses

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to transport the students to schools, then parents should have the option of getting their children to school if they are able. It may mean they have to leave a bit earlier to get to work. It may mean they have to reach work a little later. It may also mean that they have to find someone to drop off and pick up their child. In the end, it means that this parent can still maintain an ability to earn a living and feed their family. Most small business and private sector companies still require workers to come into work, at least show up. It often does not matter if you are late, but you must show up. So, by shackling our vulnerable families with school closures, we are not living up to our mission and vision as a board. Parents and community members come out and hold us accountable.

Parents, students, and community members come out and let your voices be heard. If need be ask us those tough questions at question period or delegate the board. As a community, you should not sit silently when such potential tragedies may happen, adversely affecting your community. This motion can realistically devastate members of our community in a disproportionate way. If this becomes our policy the negative repercussions on our children and their families will hit hard. So, journey with me as we endeavor to make sure that all children get the education they legally deserve. Walk Good! Belle Marché.

life

PAGE 36

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

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Is freedom of speech really free?

BRITTNEY CHANNER brittney@carib101.com

JUSTICE WARRIOR

Hey Everyone, Welcome back to another week of enlightenment and informative topics that are meant to challenge and encourage you to act on things in ways you have never imagined. This week I would like to talk about something a bit similar to last week’s edition, but this time provide its possible contradictory connection with the law. As heard often within my articles and amongst any school setting, Canadian citizens are entitled to rights and freedoms that are guaranteed under the law.

One popular freedom that many people who live in western democracies such as Canada or the U.S freely utilize or cite, is the freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression; or as stipulated in the First Amendment, freedom of speech.

However, what happens when you try to exercise that very freedom and are met constantly with backlash and controversy?

Is freedom of speech still free? Or does it come with a cost?

There have been many instances of individuals, especially musicians who have spoken out on issues that they felt were important and were immediately met with criticisms and disgust. A popular American example is when country-based music group The Dixie Chicks faced public scrutiny and fan recoil after the lead singer, Natalie Mains criticized the President of the United States; who was George W. Bush at the time by stating “We’re ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas” at their concert in London, England. Shortly thereafter this comment was made, the U.S media picked up the story and a gust of anger and harsh comments followed.

The three members of the Dixie Chicks lives were threatened with death after the comments were made and many of their sponsors dropped them from their promotional deals, which had many supporters of free speech wondering if there was a cost to how one chooses to express themselves or were certain statements free to say and others not. One protestor of the band stated, “freedom of speech is fine, but

by God, you don’t do it outside of the country and you don’t do it publicly”.

How free can a citizen be if they are not able to voice what they truly feel about those who have been elected to represent a nation? Would the First Amendment still apply in this case? Can one truly be entitled to freedom of speech if certain aspects of their speech are limited? Questions such as these have been debated for quite some time and the answers to these questions continue to create division.

The idea of free speech has also been questioned on our home turf of Canada in the Supreme Court case of R. v.

Keegstra. A man named James Keegstra was a high school teacher in Alberta who taught his students that Jewish people were evil. He even went further to deny the existence of the Holocaust and stated that it was “invented” by Jewish people to gain sympathy (Department of Justice Canada, 2018). Keegstra was charged and convicted of promoting hatred against an identifiable group however, in court he argued that the prohibitions on his hate speech infringed on his freedom of expression, which is noted within the Charter.

Surprisingly, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the Charter protects all forms of speech; including hate speech as long as it does not include violence. Nevertheless, the court also acknowledged that the limits that were placed on Keegrstra were justifiable because it aimed to protect groups targeted by hate speech; especially in a country that is dedicated to promoting equality and multiculturalism (Department of Justice Canada, 2018).

If one were to play devil’s advocate, one could say that Keegstra was simply expressing his belief no matter how unpopular and controversial it was and therefore had every right to do so. However, the end result of his case shows how freedom of expression is not definite and in particular, situations can be limited; especially in situations where there is a need to create balance amongst competing interests such as equality and multiculturalism.

The idea of free speech is one of the many things that entice many immigrants to come to Canada as well as many Canadians to stay in Canada. Nevertheless, the question of whether free speech is actually a real concept or a freedom with limitations has been and will continue to be debated. Nonetheless, a balance must be created where an individual’s views are respected without fear of reprimand and the law is upheld to its full extent. And yet...can free speech and the limitations placed on it coexist successfully?

Wednesday, March 20, 2019 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

Five fun and affordable ways to revitalize your home Does your home need an update? If a full renovation isn’t in the cards this spring, here are five fun and inexpensive make­ over tips for reinvigorating your home.

1. NEW ACCESSORIES Inexpensive upgrades such as new throw pillows on the couch, a fresh tablecloth in the dining room or a chic frame for a painting or photo will help revitalize your home.

2. REARRANGE YOUR FURNITURE Sometimes changing the layout of a room is all you need to do to make it come alive again. Move your bed to the other side of the room or switch the living room furniture around.

3. UPDATE YOUR BATHROOM Replacing accessories like the soap dish, shower curtain and hand towels can make your bathroom feel brand new.

4. SWITCH UP YOUR LIGHTING A lamp for your bedroom or a new fixture in the dining room will shed new light on a room that’s lost its sparkle.

5. DIY UPGRADES If you want new cabinets in your kitchen, try painting the ones you have for a cost-effective alternative. Consider a DIY approach to other desired upgrades for your home.

These simple and affordable changes can make you fall in love with your home all over again. So which ones will you undertake this spring?

home & garden

PAGE 37

Spring cleaning: three key items to deep clean Cleaning your home this spring? Don’t neglect these three things.

1. CURTAINS If your curtains are made of a lightweight, washable material, all you have to do is run them through the washing machine. For heavier fabrics, or those that need to be hand washed, a steam cleaner with an upholstery attachment will do the job while your curtains are still hanging.

2. CARPETS Whether they’re starting to smell, they’re stained or you just plain can’t remember the last time you washed them, don’t put off cleaning your carpets.

The best and easi­est way is to hire a professional carpet cleaner. They’ll have the right equipment and products to make your carpet look as good as new.

3. OVEN Your oven’s self-cleaning function fills your kitchen with smoke, and chemical oven cleaning products are enough to make anyone woozy.

Here’s a more natural way to make your oven shine

like new: remove the racks from the oven, make a paste of baking soda and water and spread it on all of your oven’s surfaces except the heating elements. Let the solution sit for 12 hours (wash the oven racks while you wait) and then scrape off. Wipe with vinegar and water a few ti­ mes until it sparkles.

Once your curtains, carpet and oven are clean, make their upkeep a part of your regular routine to avoid needing to deep clean every spring.

PAGE 38

automotive

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Spring car care checklist Typically, your vehicle needs a bit of TLC come spring. Here are four things that should be at the top of your to-do list at the start of the season.

1. Schedule an oil change. Oil collects impurities as it lubricates and cools the en­ gine. This is a good thing, but it also means that it becomes less effective over time. This is why regular oil changes are essential to maintaining a healthy engine.

2. Get your battery tested. Low temperatures during winter force your battery to work hard. Come spring, it may be on its last legs. To avoid the inconvenience of having your car fail to start, get your battery checked and, if necessary, replaced.

3. Check tire pressure. Fluctuations in temperature cause changes in tire pressure, so it’s important to check it as the weather starts to change. See the tire pressure recommendations in your ve­hicle’s manual.

4. Wash and wax your vehicle. Road salt used during winter corrodes your ve­hicle’s metal components. Thoroughly wash your vehicle, paying special attention to the underside where salt, dirt and debris tend to become lodged. Spring is the perfect time for a waxing too — this not only protects the finish of your ve­hicle but also makes subsequent wa­shing easier.

These are some of the essential things to attend to in spring but note that the list could be added to. Your car’s fluids, windshield, belts and hoses, among other things, may require attention. Do a thorough inspection of your vehicle this spring or have your local garage perform this service.

What every car owner should know about brake maintenance When behind the wheel, your safety de­ pends on the proper functioning of your brakes. It’s important to understand, how­ ever, that critical brake components de­ teriorate with time. Two items that re­ quire regular inspection are the brake pads and the brake fluid.

BRAKE PADS Brake pads wear down due to friction and usually need to be replaced about every 50,000 kilometres or when there’s one-eighth or less of the pad lining re­ maining. When brake pads are nearing the end of their lifespan they let you know by emitting a high-pitched screeching noise as you brake.

BRAKE FLUID Over time, brake fluid absorbs moisture and contaminants that make it less effective. It should be replaced about every two years or every 35,000 ki­lometres. How­ever, recommendations vary by manufacturer (check your owner’s manual).

Leaks can sometimes occur but it’s un­common that your car’s brake fluid levels will suddenly drop. The most ob­ vious sign of a leak is a puddle under your car that has the consistency of vegetable oil.

Your dashboard warning

Commonly asked questions about replacing windshield wipers

light coming on is another clear indica­ tion. Generally, a leak will also change the feel of your brake pedals — they’ll feel squishy or spongy when you pump on them. Verify that your brake fluid le­ vels are in order by checking the brake fluid reservoir under your hood. Nee­ dless to say, a leak requires immediate attention.

While these are the two parts of the brake system that typically require the most attention, issues with other parts (the rotors, callipers, brake shoes, etc.) can certainly arise. Some signs of these other types of brake problems are grin­ ding, clunking noises and vibrations when braking. If you notice these things, get your car inspected ASAP!

Are your windshield wipers streaking, squeaking, skipping or splitting? If so, it’s not surprising. Wiper deterioration is a common consequence of winter driving and nothing is harder on them than ice and snow.

As soon as wipers are no longer functioning optimally, and visibility is compromised, it’s imperative to get them replaced. This is quick and easy to do — you just need to know a few basic things.

WHAT TYPES OF WIPERS ARE AVAILABLE? There are three main types of wipers: • Conventional wipers. These wipers are the most affordable. They’re durable and reliable.

• Aero wipers. This type of wiper adheres better to the windshield, ensuring a streak-free cleaning.

• Hybrid wipers. Offering the best of both worlds, these wipers are basically heavy-duty aero wipers.

WHAT SIZE SHOULD I BUY? The size of wiper you need depends on

the type of vehicle you own. You can consult your owner’s manual to find out how long they should be. Alternatively, you can go to an auto parts store: most have a computer in which you can input your car’s information in order to learn what wiper size you need.

HOW ARE WIPERS REMOVED AND INSTALLED? Removing wipers is usually a simple matter that requires little more than unhooking them. However, the precise method to do so depends on the type and brand.

Installing new wipers is just as easy and in­ volves simply hooking or clipping them on.

The packaging will contain instructions to guide you. However, this is a service that most auto shops will perform inexpen­ sively or even for free when you purchase wipers from them.

If your wipers are no longer functioning well, don’t wait to swap them out — vi­ sibility is essential to staying safe on the road.

fun

Wednesday, March 20, 2019 | www.torontocaribbean.com | Toronto Caribbean

PAGE 39

WEEK OF MARCH 17 TO MARCH 23 2019

ARIES

The luckiest signs this week: SCORPIO, SAGITTARIUS AND CAPRICORN

At work, your leadership will lead to a long­term agreement between various parties. This situation will help resolve any fi­ nancial difficulties.

TAURUS

At home and at work compro­mises will need to be made in order for everyone to get along. You’ll learn to exercise your pa tience to get through a con­fusing situation.

PUZZLE NO. 678 HOW TO PLAY :

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 678

GEMINI

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

There are times when it’s impor­tant to respect yourself and your limits. It’s necessary to take care of yourself before taking care of others. A family member will be very demanding.

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.

Because of your enthusiasm, you’ll succeed in doubling your income or doubling your fun. You’ll be able to afford to pam­ per yourself. Maybe with a vacation?

CANCER

LEO

To avoid unpleasant financial surprises, look over your bills. An error could slip through and cause a major inconve­ nience.

PUZZLE NO. 941 53. Fruit pastry 56. Newspaper item 57. Not near 58. Package sealer 59. Acquires 60. To’s mate 61. Sleigh

DOWN

ACROSS

1. Romp 5. Stereo component 8. Doodled 12. Tibetan holy man 13. Hair goo 14. Edge of a roof 15. Cooked too

long 17. Eons 18. Chinese mammal 19. Most fit 21. Wake 24. Flowering bushes 28. Loud chimes 33. Strong cord

34. Lock need 36. Grandma 37. Theme 39. Certain young blossom 41. Edition 43. Truant 47. Cancel, as a space launch 52. Big party

1. Plunk 2. Molten rock 3. So be it!

4. Three feet 5. In the past 6. Bachelors 7. Requests 8. Dispense 9. Vogue 10. Dusks 11. “____ Side Story” 16. Be bold 20. Ask humbly 22. Tree type 23. Consumers 24. Limb 25. Animal park 26. Inclined 27. Hawaiian garland 29. Single unit 30. Grab

31. Large antelope 32. Grim 35. Personal pronoun 38. Fish flipper 40. Tight closure 42. Rod 43. Highly excited 44. Film pig 45. Narrow cut 46. Snacks 48. Wagers

49. Whitish gem 50. Ready to be picked 51. Prepared, as a golf ball 54. Normal 55. Debate side

VIRGO

It’s important to think long and hard before undertaking some­thing that could change your day­to­day life. You’ll be pre­sented with new options as the week progresses.

LIBRA

You’ll receive many invitations this week, each one more inter­esting than the last. Don’t for­get to take the time to rest, or at least relax a little.

SCORPIO

At work or in your social life, you’ll be responsible for orga­nizing an event that will result in a record­breaking crowd. You might also find yourself getting more involved in your community.

SAGITTARIUS

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 941

You’ll find a new form of spiri­tuality that will allow you to develop a more active social life. Beneficial new friendships will take shape and bring you a sense of well­being.

CAPRICORN

You’ll finally organize your pri­orities. A long period of procras­tination will end and you’ll make changes you’ve been thinking about for a long time.

AQUARIUS

You’ll start to make travel plans with your partner. Your research will allow you to learn about a place you’ve been longing to discover.

PISCES

If you have worries about your health, take some time to see a doctor and undergo the neces­sary tests. You’ll get a clean bill of health or discover treatment options that’ll allow you to re c­ over quickly.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

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ASSEMBLER: Coey Stairs is looking for a jr stair assembler. We will train you; you will be making treads, cleaning, installing and learning at the same time. Email debbie@coey.ca call 905.494.1099

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SUNDAY 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

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PAGE 42

real estate

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Treb must now release sold data to the public JAY BRIJPAUL brijpaul@carib101.com

REAL ESTATE PRO Canada’s largest real estate board must now release sold data to the public after a long drawn out process between the Competition Bureau of Canada and the Toronto Real Estate Board.

In the past, realtors could not publish a home’s sold price. Consumers had to rely on realtors for that information. Sold data is important in understanding the dynamics of real estate evaluation. Realtors and appraisers will use this information to determine what properties are worth and sold data can be used for various research projects.

With the new rulings, buyers and sellers can now access this information and con-

duct their own research. In the past, they had to rely on the information provided to them by a realtor. I recall a situation when a seller asked me for a market evaluation on his home. The property was in a good neighborhood, and the elderly seller could not maintain it. Another realtor had assessed the home for about $150,000 less than my evaluation. It turned out that the other realtor was hoping to sell the property to a close friend.

Now that the information is available, consumers can research a realtor’s track record.

A seller can look at the number of homes a realtor sold in the area and their list price to sale ratio before choosing. They can look at price trends in an area and track a property’s history.

With this information, there would be a proliferation of innovative web sites that will conduct various analysis for both buyers and sellers.

Many believe that this is the end for realtors because buyers and sellers can do it themselves without the middleman.

However, a realtor is not a middleman.

Selling a home is not necessarily placing an ad on the internet and accepting an offer. Let’s take a seller for example. A realtor would conduct a

market analysis, look at trends and the reason for the sale. For example, an owner was selling to buy two smaller homes, one for the family and another for investment. After our meeting, it was clear that he would be ahead financially by keeping the current home, scooping some equity and buying the investment property.

Sold data is public information in many other countries and it is welcoming news for many.

The only issue is privacy.

Now that the cat is out of the bag, your nosy neighbor, with the click of a mouse, can determine your sold price. The public will have access to personal information such as withdrawn listings, sales commission and sales history of every home. In the past, if owners changed their minds about selling, they can simply take their home off the market and from the eyes of the public but now it’s a part of that home’s history. The good news is that most consumers prefer to use a realtor instead of buying or selling themselves and a homeowner can request that their home sale information is not released to the public.

With the release of sold data, there would be an ease on bidding wars. Consumers

can now conduct their own research and arrive at a price they are comfortable with. There are many instances where buyers were misinformed by unethical realtors and overpaid in bidding wars. Speculators who are selling properties based on assignment will be exposed because buyers can see the original purchase price and the new assigned sale price.

We are in the information age and must adapt new ways of thinking. Consumers have more choices and can conduct their own research or have a third party assisting. There are numerous websites that offer various services to consumers such as a list of homes that did not sell or were reduced to sell. Consumers can order reports based on what they need, for example, a seller can order three market evaluations from three independent sites before they offer their home for sale.

With all the changes in the industry, one thing remains the same. We cannot be an expert in all fields. We cannot be a doctor when we are sick or a mechanic when our car is broken and a realtor when we want to buy or sell a home.

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Let’s come together and fight for the future of Brampton.

Auto Insurance

Auto insurance companies are gouging drivers, and Brampton families are paying too much. That’s why we are fighting to end postal code discrimination and bring down auto insurance rates.

Kevin Yarde

Hospitals

This government denied Brampton the new hospital we desperately need and is cutting public health care. We’re going to keep fighting for the hospital and health care investment Brampton families need.

Education

This government keeps making reckless cuts to education that leave students behind.

They canceled the Brampton University, cut OSAP grants, increased student debt and cut school repairs. Brampton students deserve better.

MPP Brampton North

Sara Singh

MPP Brampton Centre

Gurratan Singh

10215 Kennedy Rd. N, Unit 7  905-495-8030  KYarde-CO@ndp.on.ca

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PAGE 44

finance

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

It’s tax season!

LAUNCHING IN THE APRIL 3RD EDITION

FAZAAD BACCHUS fazaad@carib101.com

FINANCE SPECIALIST

It’s that time of the year where the buzz word is TAX. All around you can see advertisements where tax accountants and preparers alike are looking for your business. With so many all around, it’s quite a daunting task as to know who to go to. The deadline for filing your taxes for most people is April 20th, 2019 and the CRA will charge you a penalty if you were to file late. Self-employed persons have until June 17th, 2019 to file, but if they owe taxes, its due on April 30th. There are four ways in which you can complete your return: Netfile, Efile File My Return and filing a paper return.

There are the big names that will do your taxes for you in a jiffy, it may be a little impersonal, but they may even provide you

with your refund on the spot. On the other hand, there are personal tax accountants who will spend time with and also try to get you the best refund possible to be able to keep your business. The only thing that you need to be careful about is that when an accountant promises you a greater return or makes you a greater return, it doesn’t mean that everything was submitted above board and if there is an audit from the CRA, you will be in the hot seat. Alternately if you need help and cannot afford to complete your filing due to low income, you can contact your local Community Volunteer Income Program (CVITP)

To be able to reduce taxes payable for the year 2018, many people made lastminute contributions in their RRSP plan, it’s one of the few things that you could have done. The TFSA doesn’t help to reduce taxes in the manner that the RRSP does, but it does reduce your overall taxes as the investment grows tax-free. Any open account or non registered that you have will attract taxes in the form of interest income and possible capital gains if you were to sell that non-registered account. A non-registered account, if it has distributions during the year, will also add to your tax bill.

Other things that can help you to reduce your taxable income include but are not limited to: Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCB), Climate Action Incentive (CAI), Goods and Services /Harmonized Sales Tax Credit (GST/ HST), Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB). It’s important to do proper tax planning with your financial advisor, and I don’t mean by preparing tax returns, I mean proper tax planning. As an example, if you are on Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and you were to make a large redemption from your RRSP it will reflect as an increase in your income, thus affecting your GIS payments. Or if you were to take your CPP payments at 65 would that affect your income positively or should you delay to 67 or even 70? These are all tax planning strategies that can help you retain more of your hard-earned income.

I am a big believer in saving for your retirement and I have helped many clients with a good return and safe investments over the years, but its equally important for my clients, having retired, to retain their money as long as possible by paying the minimum taxes allowed.

When personal auto insurance becomes commercial - The Grey Area ANDREW STEWART andrew@carib101.com

A new series highlighting the leaders in our community inside each edition of the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper

www.TORONTOCARIBBEAN.com

FAMILY ADVISOR

Today’s topic is about how we will take look at the similarities and differences between commercial auto and personal auto insurance coverage, and how to know which type of policy to have for your situation. The differences between commercial and personal auto insurance are many, but the main distinctions lie in extent and purpose of coverage.

At a high level, commercial and personal car insurance policies do the same thing, they provide you with protection against common threats and risks. They offer financial protection and provide you with resources to recover if you need to file an insurance claim. Personal insurance car coverage is catered to things that are personal. Commercial car insurance policies are customized to offer coverage for all types of businesses and business vehicle functions. If you own a fleet of vehicles or run a business that involves using vehicles for business activities, it’s pretty clear you need a commercial auto policy. But if you were using your personal vehicle for business purposes and were involved in a

car accident, your claim could be denied. Car insurance companies consider commercial auto insurance and personal car insurance to be two very different types of policies due to the differences in liability and risk.

Where things can become confusing is some personal auto insurance policies can cover some business use. Knowing whether or not you need commercial auto insurance coverage or personal car insurance comes down to why you are driving. Take for example Uber and other rideshare services.

There is no question they have changed the way people hail a cab. But they have also had a significant impact on car insurance. Until 2016 personal auto insurance policies excluded the risk of “Carrying Passengers for Hire.”

If you said “ridesharing” ten years ago, most people would have likely looked at you like you were crazy. If you drive for Uber in Ontario or Alberta, you’re automatically covered by a basic commercial car insurance policy through Intact Financial Corp. This coverage is provided by Uber, which means Uber pays the premium. The Intact Insurance covers rideshare drivers from the moment they log into the app until the moment a rider exits their vehicle.

Business use of personal vehicle insurance – are you at risk?

If you use your personal vehicle for business use, such as making deliveries, driving to meet clients, transporting goods, etc. you need to have a business car insurance policy in place. If you were to get into an ac-

cident while using your personal vehicle for business, you risk having your claim denied and not having coverage. If you plan to use your personal vehicle for work, contact your insurer and let them know you use your vehicle for business. They can help you choose an insurance policy endorsement, or add on coverage, or help you choose the appropriate business car insurance coverage to ensure you are covered when using your personal car for work.

A claim denied Imagine a pizza delivery guy, a realtor, and an independent landscaping contractor are all involved in a three-car accident. One by one, they pull out their phones to call their insurance companies. Their claims representatives ask them to detail the accident and, upon hearing the answer, each representative murmurs “sorry, your personal car insurance won’t cover this.”

Why? The pizza deliverer’s claim is denied because he transports commercial goods.

The realtor because she transports people as part of her business.

The landscaper because his truck features ladder racks and permanent toolboxes he uses for work.

So, depending on the nature of your business and your car insurance company’s policies, you might need to buy commercial car insurance or have the proper endorsement.

PAGE 46

sports

Toronto Caribbean | www.torontocaribbean.com | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

West Indies Cricket KAYLA KARIM

kayla@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The West Indies Championship is underway and the Guyana Jaguars are headed towards their fifth straight title. A strong bowling performance led by Romario Shepherd earned Guyana an important six-wicket victory over their rivals, Trinidad and Tobago. The match on March 10th, 2019 was a day and night contest in Antigua over the course of three days.

Shepherd captured eight wickets in the tenth-round match at the Guyana National Stadium carrying his tally of scalps to 37 at 20.13 apiece, which led the Jags to their seventh win of the season. Devon Thomas his sixth first-class hundred, meanwhile West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph had eight wickets beating the Leeward Island Hurricanes with a six-wicket victory.

Jaguars captain Leon Johnson hit the top score of 76 and shared 111 for the third wicket anchoring his side towards the finish with the left-hander, Tagenarine Chanderpaul - the son of West

Indies legend, Shivnarine Chanderpaul – who was not out on 43.

The final two matches of the West Indies Championship began in Trinidad on Wednesday, March 13th, 2019. The Guyana Jaguars finished their matches for the season during the last round totaling 154.2 points. With this, they practically claimed the Headlet/ Weekes Trophy for a fifth straight season.

In Antigua, the Hurricanes will look to gain a maximum of 24 points against the Barbados Pride in order to pass Guyana. The Jags are 23 points clear of the Leeward Island Hurricanes, a rival who has a mathematical chance of clinching the title. Although it would be tough, the Hurricanes would have to gain all points left to surpass the Jags for the titles by just one point. Despite the slim chances, the Hurricanes should not be ruled out as they have the batting and bowling to get the job done in addition to the fact that they are playing the best that they have been in nearly a decade. The familiar turf would also be a motivating factor in which can benefit the Hurricanes – where they beat the Pride in the season-opening match last December. Both teams will prepare for a star-studded Barbados Pride at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and the Jamaica Scorpions are aiming to finish the season on a positive

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note when they meet at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

With both of these teams out of the running, bragging rights will be the main focus in the contest between the Red Force and the Scorpions. Only two points separate the teams, who have both played quite inconsistent this season, are holding the last two spots in the standings. Red Force will look to have a clean sweep of this season’s matches and for Scorpions, their motivation will come from proving that they can succeed after champion left-arm spinner Nikita Miler retires.

Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad will host round one beginning on Thursday, March 14th to Sunday, March 17th between Red Force and the Scorpions at 10 am and round four between Hurricanes and Pride will commence at Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on Thursday, March 14th at 10 am.

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