Shania Kids Can 101619

SHANIA KIDS CAN

SIMONE J. SMITH/TORONTO CARIBBEAN

It was a terrible shock for Brampton; that Saturday night in June 2014, a two-alarm fire broke out at 59 Ardglen Drive destroying 18 units, leaving 80 to 100 residents homeless. The worst part of that day was the discovery of Nicolas Gabriel’s body, a 10-year-old that was found in a second-floor bedroom of one of the units. It was this news that truly devastated this small commu-

nity, and this loss sent shockwaves throughout the city of Brampton. It was moving to see how the community banded together to help the families that had been displaced, and some very popular Canadians stepped up to help the Gabriel’s; notably Canadian com edy giant Russell Peters donated money towards Nicolas Gabriel’s funeral expenses, and it just so hap

pened that in September of 2014, the ever beautiful, Canadian sweetheart Shania Twain, launched Shania Kids Can (SKC) in conjunction with the Dilawri Foundation at Sir Winston Churchill Public School, which happens to be located at 89 Ardglen Drive, just moments away from where a community had expeContinued On Page 5

PHOTO: SHANIA TWAIN CAN

Written by Joseph Cunningham JACaribNews

Settle

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Audra Segree

The Jamaican champion girl

Audra Segree made history as a member of Jamaica’s first ever female team to compete in the women’s bobsleigh competition, which took place at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

This proved to be another achievement that would again highlight the small-sized island of Jamaica and its people ‘punching far above its weight class.’ It is this indomitable spirit that allowed Audra and her teammates to record another historic bobsleigh achievement, qualifying for the Winter Olympics. What we have to remember is that the island of Jamaica does not have any period of snow; none whatsoever.

The name Audra means “noble strength.”

Nothing short of this quality could have brought her to local and international prominence, “Yes, I have achieved quite a bit as an athlete representing my beloved Jamaica,

but it hasn’t always been a smooth journey,” she reminisced.

“I started out in sports as a 100m and 200m sprinter at the high school level and then for Jamaica, but I was plagued by injuries,” she revealed. At the world renowned Boys’ & Girls’ Athletics Championships held annually in Jamaica, Audra placed 4th in the 100m, won the bronze medal in the 200m and struck gold in the 4 x 100m relay for Holmwood Technical during her final year of high school in 2009. This was a very powerful year for Audra, and it was a year that she was least affected by injuries. She then represented Jamaica at the senior level at the Commonwealth Games and at the CAC Games where she won silver as part of the 4 x 100m relay team.

top 5. Then our sled starting giving all sorts of problems and it became an uphill task. I thank God for his blessings on the team though. Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian, Carrie Russell – another former Jamaican sprinter and I made history.”

Thankful for the experience, Audra (who received her name after her mother watched a western film starred by a character called Audra) has indeed herself achieved stardom via a decorated journey. And the journey continues…

Approaching the 2022 Winter Olympics, she has her eyes set on yet another historic achievement. She is currently training in her new winter sporting discipline called the skeleton. Already being recognized as Jamaica’s first female skeleton in history, her mission is now to be Jamaica’s first female skeleton to qualify for the Olympics. The next Winter Olympics will be in 2022 in Beijing,China.

“Interestingly, during my career as a sprinter I was exposed to bobsleigh by Wayne Thomas, one of Jamaica’s coaches. I had two training stints in 2014 and 2015 at his request. I went to Salt Lake City, Utah with the team, and although it was cold I enjoyed the experience. I think what got him curious was the possibility of having a talented sprinter with speed and strength on the team, knowing that this would significantly improve the team’s time in order to compete with the fast times of powerhouse teams in the sport.”

When asked by Toronto Caribbean News, what it is that she believes needs to happen in order to be numbered among the best at skeleton, she replied, “Equipment.” She is currently in need of ‘runners’ blades for the bottom of her sled in order to practice in the best possible way.

Two years after being introduced to the sport of bobsleigh; Audra sustained an ankle injury, which ended her career as a sprinter in 2017. “Being exposed to bobsleigh while I was still in track and field was like a divine occurrence. I could not have predicted that after sustaining a career ending injury as a sprinter, my involvement in sports would have continued via bobsleigh. Thankfully, though I am no longer able to sprint for 100m, the short sprint for bobsleigh suits me.”

The Olympic bobsleigh team made Jamaica proud amidst technical challenges, finishing in the top 20, 19th to be specific. “We actually went into the finals predicted to finish in the

“It is a joy to represent Jamaica. Wherever I go to compete I feel as if I am in Jamaica because everybody is so amused by what they have heard, seen or experienced. As a result, it doesn’t matter where in the world I am competing, the people can be heard shouting Jamaica. I encourage Jamaicans to support bobsleigh. It is another discipline of sports that we can be the best at.”

You can support Audra Segree by following her on: Instagram @audra_segree Facebook @Audra Segree

Understanding the history of Cuba; reflections on documentary Cuba In A Bottle

“To understand the history of Rum is to understand the history of Cuba itself.”

Every island in the West Indies claims to have the best rum, and there is reason for that. There is something about that optimum climate for sugar cane cultivation, and the abundance of fertile, well-watered, arable land that allows people all over the world to enjoy the sweet taste of rum, that is distinguishable depending on the island that it comes from. I was introduced to a documentary that provided me with some in-depth knowledge about the history of rum in Cuba, and why this spirit has become more than just an after work drink for the natives who live on the island.

Cuba In A Bottle is a four-part series directed and produced by Ben Holman and Charlie Inman, written by Charlie Inman, Ben Holman, and Dave Broom. The series was released on YouTube on September 16th, 2019, and we follow the two directors as they dive into Cuban culture and history to explore how one incredibly misunderstood island, and the drink it produces has had such a

profound influence on the way the modern world thinks, sounds and moves.

“With “Cuba In A Bottle”, we were given the chance to get back to Cuba and dig even deeper, into the past, present and into the future. We always knew rum was important to Cuba, but we could never have imagined quite how intertwined their stories are.”

Ben and Charlie

The success of this documentary is due to the collaboration of three artists who wanted to share what they had learned about Cuba on the big screen. Award-winning Director Ben Holman has divided the last 15 years between Rio De Janeiro and London, directing everything from commercials to feature docs. His recent film “The Good Fight” also won a number of awards including Best Documentary Short at the Tribeca Film Festival 2017.

Charlie Inman’s humble beginnings were as a musician, but soon found he preferred travelling the world poking around in people’s lives with a camera. He spent his twenties directing factual television shows and the last decade working in advertising, making everything from commercials to feature docs at the agency of the decade Mother London.

They both share a love of music, of Latin America and emotive storytelling and have worked together on a number of projects over the years, including “Rumba: La Clave”, which was an exploration of the roots of Cuban music, an award-winning campaign for IKEA and a feature-length music documentary with Gilles Peterson in Brazil called “Brasil Bam Bam Bam”: the story of Sonzeira.

For this documentary, they joined forces with writer Dave Broom who spent his whole working life in the world of drink, before finally, in 1995, becoming a writer specialising in spirits. He has written 12 books, two: ‘Drink: Never Mind the Peanuts’ and ‘Rum’ won the Glenfiddich award. His Whisky: The Manual was awarded Best Spirits Book at the Spirited Awards in 2015 and the ‘World Atlas of Whisky’ has been called “a landmark publication.” The story is told through interviews with Cuban legends from the world of music, sport, and film and is accompanied with secret information from Cuban rum experts, master blenders and spiritual guides.

Together, the three brought to life the history of Cuba and the importance of rum to their culture. The four parts explore how sugar cane was brought to Cuba, and how reliant the islands economy became on the production of sugar. I was introduced to: the connection between rum and Santería, a Lucumí religion practiced by the Yoruba tribes of modern-day Benin and Nigeria, the rise and fall of the Batista government, and the corruption that ensued, which gave context to Fidel Castro’s revolutionary rise to presidency, and the 1961 embargo placed on Cuba by President Kennedy.

One thing that cannot be denied is the rich history that exists in the West Indies, and Cuba In A Bottle is a great way to show our younger generation the history of an island that is sometimes ignored, but refuses to be forgotten.

PHOTO:JENNIFER

Providing support to our vulnerable communities

Continued From Page 1 -- Founded in 2010, Shania Kids Can has been working with public schools throughout North America providing all-inclusive support and stability for vulnerable children. Sir Winston Churchill happened to be one of seven elementary schools in North America at that time that began receiving support from the singer’s non-profit charity. Shania has openly spoken about some of the struggles she endured as a child, and this is why one of the main goals of the charity is to relieve the economic, social and personal suffering of children by funding schools to help pay for: food, clothing and resources for underprivileged and disadvantaged children.

Shania Kids Can works with the school board, the principal and the school to identify 20–25 students for the program annually; these children receive one-on-one consultations, academic support, group activities, as well as nutritious snacks and meal programs when needed. Coined, “Shania Kids Can Clubhouse,” students are nurtured in a safe, confidence-building environment, where they are given an opportunity to learn how to function at an optimal level while they are at school.

I had an opportunity to speak with Dahlia Jacquiline Battick, the Principal at Sir Winston Churchill Public School, and she provided me with a little insight on how the program has been serving some of her students. “I inherited the Project,” Principal Battick told me, “It was actually coordinated by the schools former principal; it was launched right after the fire on Ardglen Rd, and with the displacement of families, and the tragic death, the timing was impeccable.”

“What were some of the needs that you saw

Principal Battick?”

“I saw the willingness of students, but I also saw that they needed support. Shania Twain urged that we support these promising students and provide what was necessary for them to be positive members of the society. I have personally seen how the support has helped. There was one young lady who I watched blossom in the program. Not only did she grow a better sense of service, she also began to develop her musical talents. One of her shining moments was when she had an opportunity to sing with Shania Twain on stage. We are all very proud of what this young lady has achieved.”

“What are some of the challenges that you face,” I inquired?

“Well, the program has become very popular, so of course a lot of the students want to be part of it. Unfortunately we can only accommodate 20 -25 student, and we have to redirect students into other programs.”

This fall Shania Kids Can announced the launch of an exciting fundraising initiative that will see a grand prize-winner drive away with a motorcycle donated by Shania Twain, and a chance to meet the music icon. A tractor-trailer, creatively featuring Ms. Twain, stopped by the Brampton SKC Clubhouse on route to Las Vegas. All of the proceeds raised will provide support to SKC Clubhouses in: Brampton, Las Vegas, and other locations across North America.

The sweepstakes which can be found on IfOnly.com/Shania, will run from October 15th – November 21st, 2019, and in addition to winning a motorcycle, the grand prize also includes: round-trip airfare for two to Las Vegas; hotel accommodations at Planet Hollywood; tickets to the opening night of Shania Twain’s ‘Let’s Go!’ show, plus a meet and greet with Shania. The winner will also visit Shania at one of her ‘Let’s Go!” Las Vegas rehearsals and be treated to a private tour of Count’s Kustoms motorcycle shop and museum.

The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper would like to thank Shania Twain and her team for stepping in to help when it was most needed; your leadership will motivate and inspire others to take action!

PHOTO: SHANIA TWAIN CAN

Hiring with diversity in mind for October and beyond

MICHAEL THOMAS michael@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month and Jeanette Campbell, CEO of The Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) has a very loud message for employers around the world who have not yet hired folks with a disability. “You are missing out on a pool of talent; the return on investments when you hire a person with a disability outweighs the fears that you might have.”

ODEN was created in 2008 and is a professional body of more than 130 employment service providers united to increase employment opportunities for people who have a disability. Members are from every corner of the province and support people of all disability types beyond Ontario, ODEN (odenetwork. com) has connections with organizations in almost all the provinces and territories of Canada.There are five weekly themes centered around recruitment and onboarding that ODEN has set their sights on for this year:

• Where is the talent and how do I source it?

• How to ensure your recruiting process is accessible for people who have a disability.

• Harnessing the power of AI and other

technology to make your workplace more inclusive.

• Creating a company culture of inclusion and being a leader.

• Making the onboarding process of employees easier and more successful for everyone.

The highlight of ODEN’s 2019 NDEAM campaign will be on October 24th. A moderated panel discussion on hiring for diversity and inclusion will be live-streamed nation-wide from ODEN’s Annual Rethinking Disability Conference at the Sheraton Parkway Hotel in Richmond Hill, ON.This 75-minute discussion will include four business leaders from the public, non-profit, manufacturing and retail sectors who will share their experiences in inclusive hiring, both their challenges and successes.

The organization has decided to livestream this conference to help inspire more businesses across Canada to focus on increasing diversity and inclusion within their hiring practices, the CEO said. Campbell spoke with Toronto Caribbean Newspaper earlier this week about how things are shaping up, and what her organization plans to achieve at the end of the day.

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper asked the CEO of (ODEN) why she believes some employers are reluctant to hire people with a disability? “I think there are lots of myths happening surrounding people who have a disability, that can deter business from hiring from that talent pool; we know that people who have a disability are motivated and ready to work. They are skilled, educated and a number of them have university degrees. As much as 50% of Canadians with a disability are university educated.”

Campbell reported that students

with disabilities who have graduated have a higher unemployment rate than the rest. When asked what her organization’s message is for businesses who would like to help, she said, “We encourage businesses to contact us to talk about how they can create a strategy for hiring from this talent pool, or if they are already doing so, how we can support them to improve their results. If they are already hiring, have a conversation with us about retention and promotion, but if they haven’t started on this journey, then we can have a conversation about what the business needs and how ODEN can help to support them in meeting those business needs.”

Campbell has great expectations for the future of the organization, “Five or ten years down the road I would like to see us not just in Ontario, but reaching across the entire nation linking businesses to employment services organizations, and creating pipelines from secondary school institutions directly into all the different sectors, so that we are able to provide the same services we are doing in Ontario all across Canada.”

The CEO hopes that one day her organization will not have to do myth-busting; it is so important for employers to understand that it’s a win-win situation when they hire a disabled person, but in the meantime she said, “We have discussions with them and point out the stats and facts like how people with a disability have lower absenteeism, higher safety records, and how their entire business will benefit from this. When a business reflects the community that they operate in, they create a more inclusive business period. Just because this is disability employment awareness month it is not acceptable for businesses to focus on this just for one month, but every day.”

There was a time that the first thought that came to mind when a person heard the word cancer was, “Does this mean that I am going to die?” It is a word that has been dreaded and feared by many, and anyone who is reading this can acknowledge a person in their life who has been directly or indirectly affected by this disease. Regardless if you are an individual who subscribes to conventional ways of dealing with cancer, or complementary and alternative treatments, there has always been a push to explore ways in which to give a person who has been diagnosed with cancer some feeling of control over their health situation.

In 1992, a small group of volunteers decided that they were going to find a way to control the narrative by beginning a movement in Toronto’s High Park. It brought together 15,000 people to raise awareness and $85,000 for breast cancer. What this small group of volunteers did not recognize at that time was that they had started a movement that would become Canada’s largest singleday, volunteer-led event in support of the breast cancer cause, the CIBC Run for the Cure. In 1997, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation began their partnership with CIBC, and today, the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure has over 80,000 participants (both in the 1K and 5K all ages run/walk) and raises $16 million annually in communities all across Canada.

I received an email from Lisa Wilkinson, President of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated (Toronto Chapter), asking Toronto Caribbean Newspaper if they wanted to participate in one of their community outreach projects. This is why on Sunday, October 6th, 2019, I made the trek downtown to join with the sisters to volunteer at the CIBC Run for the Cure. The Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated established their first Canadian chapter on April 14th, 2018, and since then, they have been making their mark here in Toronto. Their goal was not only to establish, and strengthen Greek Letter Organizations here in Canada, but to also carry on the legacy of community involvement and sisterhood. They have done this by following the five major programs of the sorority also known as the organization’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust that includes: Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement.

Along with all the work that is done internally, they have also found ways to network with members of the community who are not sorority members by including them in initiatives that fall under each of the Programmatic Thrust. As breast cancer continues to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian women, it was only natural that members of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated would be involved in an event that gives families, friends and supporters the opportunity to join together to honour and celebrate loved ones fighting breast cancer.

When I arrived, the team that would be helping that day was already there. Lisa had sent me all the information I needed to volunteer for the Run, and lucky for me, the Delta’s had decided to volunteer at the Food Tent. At the Food Tent, volunteers were responsible for handing out: bagels, apples, and a variety of protein bars to participants of the 1K and 5K run/walk. As I walked towards the tent, I saw

Nelly Meira (Program Planning and Development Chair) speaking with Janelle McCarthy (Toronto Chapter Member) and Carolyn Smith (Cleveland Chapter Member). As soon as they saw me, they came over and gave me hugs, and introduced me to the other helping hands that had joined them that day.

Janelle McCarthy explained to me that when the organization participates in events like this, they like to invite other Greek Letter Organizations to join them. That day they were joined by Veronica Nnensa (Sigma Gamma ROH), and some brothers from the Canadian Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha: Claude Olugbala, Nolan L. Fontaine, and Philip Au gust. I had a lot of fun because the entire crew made me feel like I was part of the family, even though I had just met some of them that day. I had a chance to steal Nelly away before the rush of runners came to the tent, and I in quired about some of the other work that they had done this year. “This sister had a wonder ful time volunteering at the Margaret Housing (formerly known as Margaret Frazier Housing). They provide housing and support services for individuals facing mental health challenges. Two weeks ago, we went to Margaret Housing and donated personal care items; we provided nail treatments and helped serve dinner. We saw the need that there was for understand ing and support, and we support the holistic model that is being used at Margaret Hous ing to empower individuals who are suffering from varying mental illnesses.”

team, and I encourage members of our com munity to take a more active role working with organizations that they may not have consid ered working with before. You never know what you will learn, and the memories that are gained are priceless. For more information on how you can become involved with Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated outreach programs, contact Nelly Meira at GTAACPrograms@ gmail.com.

RAMESH SANGHA

As Trish and I entered the room, I was instantly taken back to my Grandma’s kitchen; there is something about Caribbean cooking, regardless of the island that reminds me about being a child, and some of the pleasant memories that comes with those thoughts. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had been invited to The 19th Annual Angel Gala, which was held on Saturday, October 12th, 2019. Although it was cold, the building was filled with warmth as the community gathered to support The Caribbean Children’s Foundation.

TCCF has now been placed in the international arena because of its collaborative efforts with The Hospital for Sick Children to bring aid to children in the Caribbean who need specialized medical treatments to save their lives. This year alone, TCCF donated $50,000 to the Herbie Foundation; $24,500 to Sick Kids Hospital and approximately $30,000 to ICHF to pay for surgeries. What is most remarkable about this feat is that these outstanding achievements have all been accomplished with a relatively small donor base. Their work with The Hospital for Sick Kids has allowed them to assist with over 270 children since 2000.

The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper has maintained active involvement with TCCF, but this year they took it further by personally inviting community advertisers to join them at the 19th annual Angel Gala. When Trish and I arrived, most of our guests were already there. I was introduced to incredible individuals that have actively taken part in assisting the community expand our

horizons. I playfully greeted Linden and Diane King, no strangers to the Caribbean community as you will find them both actively working and supporting organizations all across the great city of Toronto. It was their first year there, and they actively participated in the night’s events, including the times in which we were able to wuk up our waist.

I was introduced to two lovely souls: Zvika Shluper Managing Partner at OZ Capital, and his wife Ramona Shluper owner of Inner G Fitness. They currently advertise with the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, and they had personally approached Trish about becoming more active partners in the Caribbean community. On Saturday, they got a first-hand experience of the Caribbean culture, and shared with us their own playful adventures in the Caribbean.

Finally, I was introduced to Puneet Aujla from Brampton Crematorium; he had arrived later in the evening and apologized profusely about not being able to make it there earlier. Although business had not allowed him to arrive earlier, Puneet brought his youthful energy to the night, and took some time to enjoy the evening’s festivities.

As we sat together, we broke bread and listened to the great work being done by TCCF. This year the focus was on Gabriel Sampson, a young boy who is currently waiting for surgery at The Sick Kids Hospital. In order to raise money this year, they had a raffle that included prizes like Google Home and Fitbit. Although our table was unlucky in winning any prizes that night, we had all won in a much different way. At that table we formed new friendships and bonds; ways in which we as a community can work together in a greater capacity to support organizations like TCCF. We are inviting members of the community to join us in our efforts by donating to https://tccfangels.com/donate-now/. We look forward to having you join us at the 20th Annual Angel Gala, 2020.

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future looks bright

DAILY SPECIALS

Why is Jamaica distinctly different than all of the other islands in the Caribbean? Unlike other islands, it remains at the forefront for receiving tourism awards and rarely does someone come to Jamaica and not speak of the crystal-clear water, the beautiful beaches, or the amazing food. Many travellers appreciate the hospitality and service that they receive when visiting local tourist attractions, and if you ever want to just get away, there is always an affordable package available for jetsetters wanting to experience something a little different from their norm.

Welcome back to my Winter Wish List, a list that I started two editions ago to highlight vacation spots around the world, but mainly focused on islands in the Caribbean. Why a Winter Wish List you ask? Well, if you live in a temperate climate, you know that we are about to issue in the coldest time of the year, and many people choose this time to take off in the hopes of avoiding cold weather, even if it is just for a week.

A couple of weeks ago, the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper was invited to a reception hosted by the Jamaica Tourist Board. This was done to update the community on the wonderful things that are occurring in Jamaica, and how we, living in the diaspora can take a more active role in all activities. The JCA was alive with activity; Chef Selwyn Richards outdid himself presenting guests with a delectable selection of Jamaican dishes, creatively designed to intrigue all senses. Reggae music was played lightly in the background, and the overall energy in the room was pleasur-

The night began with a moving address from the always articulate and charismatic Consulate General Wilks, “All of Jamaica belongs to us; don’t take our little home for granted,“ he reminded the Jamaicans in the room who now call Canada their home. He was followed by the lovely Adaoma Patterson, the current president of the JCA, who proceeded to make me very jealous by telling us about the trip that she had recently taken to Jamaica. On September 5th, 51 people (plus Adaoma) went to visit Gordon Town, which happens to be a settlement in Saint Andrew. “While we were there it felt like home; it was almost

like a reunion, or homecoming. Although the majority of us were either from Jamaica, or of Jamaican descent, we ended up learning about parts of Jamaica that many of us did not know or had never visited.”

The last speaker of the night was Donovan White, the Director of Jamaica Tourism. He sadly informed us that the Honourable Edmund Bartlett (the current Minister of Tourism, and Jamaican Politician) was unable to make it due to his attendance being needed in Jamaica to deal with some local matters in parliament. The Honourable Edmund Bartlett did however record a video for the attendees of the reception, and in his address, he shared with us some amazing information:

• Jamaica has received or 1.8 million tourists from around the world

• Jamaica is now the top English language destinations in the world

• Jamaica has developed awesome thought leadership content, which has brought Jamaica tourism to a new level by actively dealing with some of the strategic problems that they face

• Most recently, The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre was launched at the Montego Bay Convention Centre

• The GTRCM is a first-of-its-kind tourism resource that is dedicated to policyrelevant research and analysis on management and recovery from disruptions or crisis that can impact tourism and threaten the Jamaican economy and the livelihoods of Jamaicans living in the diaspora

• Jamaica’s 2nd largest employer is tourism

• Jamaica is now the only country in the world that has a comprehensive pension plan for all workers in the tourism sector

• The Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme is designed to cover workers age 18–59 years in the tourism sector, regardless if the work is contracted, permanent, or self-employed

More good news was to follow; Mr. White informed us that as of December2nd, 2019, Latin Airlines will be flying to Jamaica three times a week, and by December 2020, there will be more hotels opening up to receive the many tourists looking to visit Jamaica. More tourists’ means improved tourist attractions. Jamaica has announced that it is planning to build five artisan villages in: Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Falmouth, Port Antonio and Negril over the next five years. Jamaica continues to shine in the world of tourism, and the future looks bright. Looks like it is time to book my trip!

Democracy matters: Empowering teenagers to participate in the electoral process

PAUL JUNOR paul@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

As Canadians head to the polls on October 21st, there are many issues, concerns and questions about what is at stake as they vote in the federal election. There have been many discussions, debates, dialogues and town hall meetings about topics related to immigration, foreign aid, health care, environment, housing, gun control, abortion, mental health strategies, climate change and housing. Whichever party gets elected they will be able to make significant decisions that will affect the social, financial, economic and political outcome of Canadian teenagers who are in secondary school now, and those who have started university. They are an important voting bloc that has the power to ensure that their collective voices be heard by all Canadians. The exercise of their democratic right will

no doubt tell the politicians that they are serious.

An awareness of how the Canadian democratic system works is essential in order to ensure that informed and active individuals can make free and fair decisions by exercising their right to vote. Knowing the rights and responsibilities of voting is necessary to being able to fully participate in the political process with a solid foundation based on knowledge, information and accurate and up to date data. As a voter, one must be weary of federal leaders vying for political attention by spewing out untold promises that clearly have financial costs to them in order to gain the crucial votes. It is important to know the platforms and policies of each of the major parties: Liberals, led by the incumbent Justin Trudeau, Conservatives under Andrew Scheer, NDP led by Jagmeet Singh, Green Party under Elizabeth May, People’s Party by Maxime Bernier and Bloc Quebecois in Quebec which is led by Yves-Francois Blanchet.

It is important that teenagers be aware that once they turn 18 years old and are a Canadian citizen, they are eligible to vote. In this regard, it is important to be aware of each party’s platform. Environmental issues (specifically climate change)

have become a major issue that each party has been forced to address in their platform. The Liberals (who have been in power since 2015) have embraced environmentalism. They promised to protect 25% of Canada’s land and oceans by 2025. They instituted the carbon tax (or price per pollution), which has been opposed strongly by western provinces and have helped right-wing victories. If re-elected the Liberals have pledged to eliminate net-carbon emissions from Canada by 2050.

The Conservatives are more in favour of building pipelines across Canada and maintaining our dependency on fossil fuels and are supportive of tax cut measures. They have not released their political platforms yet.

Jagmeet Singh as the first minority to lead a political party is supportive of actions on climate change and having a national pharmacare program.

Elizabeth May has maintained an eco-agenda, and her party’s views are very explicit and has promised free tuition and basic income.

Maxime Bernier ‘s platform has been characterized as being right wing because of his extreme views on anti-immigration, rejection of urgency of climate change action and call for an end to “Official Multi-

culturalism” which has been a hallmark of Canada.

As Canadians head to the polls in the 41st General Election to exercise their democratic right, it is important that they cast their votes based on their knowledge of each party’s political views, perspectives, stances and platforms. Being knowledgeable is an important step in one’s political education; it allows a person to make clear, conscious and wise decisions with respect to voting for a candidate. This is the reward that is the right and responsibility of being a Canadian citizen. This is an important civic duty for teenagers.

Information about the main political parties can be found at the following websites: Liberals at www.liberal.ca, NDP at www.ndp.ca, Conservatives at conservative.ca , Green Party at www.greenparty. ca. Advance polls will be available at 115 university and college campuses in Canada where you can register and vote ahead of time by special ballot. Advance polling days are from 9 am to 9 pm from October 11th -14th. In order to vote, it is important that students 18 or older confirm their place of residence to ensure they are registered at that address and governmentissued ID with photo, name and address. Further information is at elections.ca

Ajax Crematorium and Visitation Centre Inc; helping the community prepare for a loved one’s departure

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

On Sunday, October 6th, 2019 from 12pm–2pm, Ajax Crematorium invited the Durham community to the crematorium to learn more about their services, and to help the community expand their options when it came to preparing for the departure of a loved one.

The practice of cremation has been a part of many cultures and societies around the world, with early evidence of cremation being found in Australia dating back some 42,000 years. Cremation is practiced in: China, Latin America, Europe, Africa and North America. Although it is found all around the world, there has been some resistance to the

practice of cremation, especially in parts of Africa. When putting a loved one to rest, the preference in most African cultures is burial. The common belief is that when people die, they meet with their ancestors; with this in mind, the body must be respected and presented well so that when they arrive to meet their ancestors, they are whole and complete. On the other side of things, for cultures that practice Hinduism, cremation is believed to help with transmigration, which is the separation of the body from the soul. It is believed that transmigration was necessary in order for the soul to enter a new body, and carry on a new life.

Regardless of your belief system, cremations have now become an option when deciding on how to transition; cremation is practiced in a majority of the countries around the world, however you will find that the rates of cremation vary depending on what part of the world you live in. I have never really considered how I want to transition when my time comes, but I thought I would see what Ajax Crematorium was offering. It is easy to say, “No, I just want to be buried,” because that was how I was raised, but I am a

ICHF BabyHeart Trip to Guyana

strong believer in thinking outside your own mental box; could cremation be something worth considering.

Jitinder Singh Bal is the Managing Funeral Director at Ajax Crematorium, and he and his team have created a space where a family who has decided on cremation can plan a meaningful memorial for a loved one in a relaxed, rational way. Once the cremation-over-burial decision has been made, the only thing left to do is to get authorization from the person who is legally identified or appointed as next-of-kin. Once the authorization has been given and the paperwork is signed, there are some other things that need to be considered:

• What would you like to include in the cremation casket?

• Are there special clothes that you would like your loved one to wear, or that they may have requested?

• Are there any keepsake items you would like to include?

• Would you or our family members like to be present during the cremation process?

TCCF works with three international partners to treat poor and critically ill Caribbean children at four treatment centres. At Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, it works with the Herbie Fund to treat children su ering from most major ailments. In Austin Texas, it works with SpineHope to treat children su ering from spinal problems such as scoliosis. In Guyana and the Dominican Republic, it works with ICHF/BabyHeart Foundation to treat children su ering from congenital heart disease. The modus operandi at the two Caribbean centres is that TCCF assists with sending medical mission teams consisting of cardiac surgeons, anaesthetists and paediatric intensive care unit nurses to deliver treatment and also train local sta in post-operative care.

• How would you like to store your loved ones remains? They have even taken it a step further by offering online memorials. The Book of Memories™ was created by a team of awardwinning web developers and designers, and it is intended to provide families with a permanent place to pay tribute to their loved ones. It has been created as a fully interactive archive of treasured photographs, that you can invite others to visit online. Visitors can upload their favourite images, share stories, write heart-felt messages, send floral tributes, or make a charitable donation in the memory of a loved one.

The passing of a loved is sad, but it can also be viewed as a way to say goodbye and celebrate life; we are all a part of the cycle we call life, and it is good to know that there are dedicated individuals in the community who are willing to share insight and experience to fully support you in making end-of-life decisions. Call to schedule an appointment or by visiting them at https:// www.acvc.info/

SIS TO SIS; Creating safe spaces for women of colour

Pyjamas and pumps was the dress code for this all-female networking event called Fall into Femininity that took place last Saturday afternoon in Brampton.

An organization called Sis to Sis founded by 23-year-old Teshyla Bailey, is a Toronto-based women’s organization that focuses on building solidarity and increasing social awareness among young women of colour.

The organization is geared towards young women of colour, but predominantly focuses on black women.

Bailey graduated from the University of Windsor with a double degree in Women’s Studies and Sociology.

“Sis to Sis is a multi-faceted organization which means we have a few different

CHRISTINA GWIRA christina@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

The first time I watched “Top Boy” was well before Drake re-introduced it to the masses this year. Now renamed, “Top Boy: Summerhouse”, the first and second seasons of “Top Boy” were a roller-coaster of emotion. On one end, you’re rooting for Dushane and Sully (the two main characters, or anti-heroes, depending on who you ask) to make it out of their various battles on top. On the other hand, you can’t help but feel a way with the levels of violence that these two men undertake to get to there. Nevertheless, “Top Boy” shows the reality that some face living in London. FYI, many spoiler alerts ensue. Read at your own risk.

This past weekend (October 4th -6th, 2019), my brother Daniel consumed all three seasons of the show. This was a good thing, as I was writing this article, and would be able to

For youth, living in the diaspora may come with its perks. I mean, let’s face it. The opportunities are boundless. It is with these opportunities that the hustle and bustle of this new place soon follows. And sooner than you know it, you have created a goal for yourself, a plan to get there, and a routine to help along the way. Through this focus, one can achieve great things as it has done for so many before us. However, along this great journey of ours, this routine can leave us feeling lonely; and where there is loneliness, there is a lack of connection that we

branches of what we do,” said Bailey.

Not only does Sis to Sis host networking events, but also has an all-female online book club and workshops on topics such as shopping on a budget.

“The next workshop that we have coming up is on financial literacy. Anything we do we try to make it fun and appealing to young women. We’ll go over ways to shop on a budget or how to create a plan for the lifestyle that you want,” said Bailey.

The event allowed there to be space to hold conversations between women in attendance about their feminine experiences within the Greater Toronto Area.

Bailey plans and funds all of the events that Sis to Sis holds.

“Right now, we are not governmentfunded. It’s been primarily me funding each of the projects. Sis to Sis Fall into Femininity is the first time I’ve sold tickets online for an event, other than that it’s been me putting my money in to create spaces for the people meant to come together,” said Bailey.

Throughout her life, the founder of Sis to Sis has always appreciated and found herself in groups designed for women of colour.

“I always found that I liked being in women-cantered spaces and appreciated

them. When I was in high school one of the black female teachers took it upon herself to make a woman’s group, so we would meet once a week after school. Sadly, she left after a few months, so we no longer had that space anymore,” said Bailey.

When Bailey went to the University of Windsor, she found another women’s group to join called STAND, which stands for Sisters Taking Action for a New Direction.

After graduating and moving back to Toronto, Bailey found herself feeling lost again and looking for a women’s group. “It’s one thing to have a women’s focused space, you can find that anywhere, but to have a women’s focused space that appeals to me was very hard,” said Bailey.

The idea and the name of Sis to Sis wasn’t always there at first.

“The inspiration behind it was finding solitude or comfort around and among other women. What I realized is that I wasn’t the only one,” said Bailey.

Jermeka Castello was in attendance at the event on Saturday.

“I decided to attend this event because it was an opportunity for me to meet some girls, expand my networking skills and I really wanted my family members to attend as well to learn how to start networking because

“Top Boy”; It’s not just about gangs

interview someone who was new to the series about their thoughts on it. Seasons one and two told the story of the rise and fall of friends Sully and Dushane who were running their kingdom silently within the Summerhouse Estates… for the most part. It was my opinion that with the new season, new themes were introduced into the show, a reflection of how times had changed from the ending of the second season more than six years ago. Some believe that these stories do not exist, going as far as to say that the new season only glorifies the gang culture that we as a community are aware of, but shuffle under the rug.

There are a number of points of awareness that the show highlights which we shall showcase below. For starters, you’ll be hard-pressed to argue that the show doesn’t show gang culture in London. From gang recruitment to turf wars, the chastising of wary members to the deaths of innocents (R.I.P Tilly), gang culture plays a pivotal role in the “Top Boy” series. However, it also sheds light on the mental health issues that can occur from living such a life. After leaving prison, Sully meets up with his protégé Jason, and they start out to make some quick cash before heading back to London. Unfortunately, Jason ends up dying in a house-fire caused by racist neighbours. Watching his friend die before his eyes leaves a mark on Sully. Throughout the season, he

keeps referring to “the smoke on his hands”, zones out frequently and re-experiences the scenes of Jason’s death. These are all signs of PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. Even when he and Dushane are back to making money, Sully can’t seem to shake off the experience. Dushane constantly ignores and waves away Sully’s cries for help and understanding. This greatly mirrors the black communities regard for those suffering with mental illness.

One of the more silent – but powerful – themes that Daniel noticed strongly throughout all three seasons was that of the impact that gentrification has on the black community. During season two Rhianna Parkes; Dushane’s lawyer introduces him to property developers who were looking for investors. At the same time, various families connected to Dushane and Sully’s crew are losing their homes and businesses to the work that these same property developers are doing. Unable to pay higher rents on their homes and shops, many are left to either relocate or figure something out. In the case of young Ats, barely a young teen, he turned to joining Dushane’s gang, in hopes that he’ll be able to help his mother make rent, and be able to stay in London.

Speaking of Ats (short for Atticus), the young boy finds his way into gang life after he finds out that his mother, Amma, may

Global Jamaican Diaspora Youth Council

long for. This feeling can curtail our efforts as we need something that not only reminds us of home, but something to let us know that we are not alone while we are on this path.

Whether it’s through shared stories, similar tastes, and smiling faces, especially from those who have been there before us. Once received, the road may not seem as long and arduous as we first thought. This is part of the reason why the Global Jamaican Diaspora Youth Council held its youth meeting on October 3rd at the JCA.

The youth meeting was established to ensure that our youth in the diaspora are not alone in this. You will have people just like you, supporting your every step along the way. As President of the JCA, Adoma Patterson put it, “there’s so many people behind you, propelling you forward. You are a part of the history of this place.” As soon as those words were heard, you could see the members of the audience could not help to feel as if they were part something really warm and special.

Officially, the Global Jamaican Di-

they’re so young,” said Castello.

Castello said that the event made her feel safe and welcomed.

“Overall, it was such an empowering and uplifting event that not only enabled me to get a better perspective on how other women of colour see the world, but also be welcomed in a safe space where I felt so comfortable talking about my problems with no filter. I absolutely loved it!” Said Castello.

Bailey hopes to break the stigma that revolves around black women.

“I feel like there is a social stigma for black women to be strong, or very stern, or very emotionless and bold. There’s not a lot of wiggle room for us to be open or sensitive,” said Bailey. “I think it’s a standard that we also uphold with one another.”

The founder of Sis to Sis is excited to continue holding spaces for women of colour to feel powerful and heard.

“I read a quote the other day that said, ‘Shame dies when stories are told in safe spaces.’ For women that are coming to a space that is going to allow them to be vulnerable, without being judged or without being talked about, I think it’s a big opportunity for a lot of women to just express themselves,” said Bailey.

be living illegally in England. As such, she is fired from work. Before Jason died, he and Sully were living in an abandoned house with a Muslim family, new to the country. They were constantly harassed by their neighbours for their faith, as well as their skin color, which ultimately led the mob to burn their house to the ground, killing Jason. The topic of the hardening immigration laws as well as xenophobia was highlighted throughout the season, as we saw multiple casualties impacted by its ruthless and ignorant claws.

To call “Top Boy” just another gang TV show would be wrong. The layers of character development, great acting, as well as the updated cinematography provides a light to the various aspects of life as a black person living in Britain. We all know or have heard of someone who was affected by, or a part of gang culture. What “Top Boy” has done with this, it’s third season, is show that gang life is real, and has real life consequences for both the innocent and guilty involved. However, it also weaves a web that gang culture does not exist in isolation, other influences add to it, and these influencers are not as loud as a drive by shooting, but they are just as insidious. You can find all seasons of “Top Boy” on Netflix from September 13th, 2019.

aspora Youth Council was endorsed at the 8th Biennial Jamaican Diaspora Conference this past June where a benchmark was established. With that being said, the government of Jamaica has launched a framework advising that our, ”Youth need to be seen at the forefront forging a path”, as empathically stated by Consulate Lloyd Wilks. It is this path the government believes in, that allowed them to coordinate three Youth Council meetings in three different countries on the same day, with the United States and the UK being the other two countries involved.

“You are making history, the first of its kind,” continued Lloyd Wilks as he ensured the crowd that they have the full support of his office. The fact that the government of Jamaica wants to, “identify youth through leaders globally and work with them exclusively with member offices,” is a clear indication of the investment in our youth that many have been looking for publically. Here is that sense of connection we were talking about. Just think, being able to connect with people like yourself, and mem-

ber offices, sharing ideas and shaping policy is something many of us have dreamed of. Youth Leader, Natalie Johnson also advised the audience that we must, “take initiative, by tapping into the knowledge and sharing information.” With that statement, Natalie hit the nail on the head. We must act now and take advantage of what is presented in front of us. Opportunities like this one come a dime a dozen, and we definitely do not want to miss out on something as prestigious as this.

So I encourage those of us who are reading this now to get involved. Learn how the skills that you have earned here in the diaspora can be part of something among your wildest dreams. Learn how to be intimately involved in the process of shaping our beloved Land of Wood and Water, Jamaica the land we love.

For more information please reach out to Youth Leader, Ms. Natalie Johnson at region1ca@gjdyc.org. One Love.

For those who refuse to see the world in black and white; Mandela’s Struggle for Freedom

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

TC REPORTER

It was very hard not to be triggered as I walked through the Mandela; Struggle for Freedom Exhibit. Signs clearly marked “Whites ONLY!” A Bench set up that displayed the words “Europeans ONLY!” Images of my people being chained, and beaten, being treated like less then human; it was definitely an experience that I will not forget, and that some will try to make us forget.

On Thursday, October 10th, 2019, I made my way down to the Meridian Arts Centre (formerly the Toronto Centre for the Arts), to be a part of the opening reception for their newest exhibition, Mandela; Struggle for Freedom, curated by Timea Wharton-Suri, hosted by Garvia Bailey, and put on by TO Live. It is a FREE exhibit that I would definitely recommend for families to bring their children to as a way to remember the life and times of Nelson Mandela.

When I arrived, the centre was buzzing with people; there was quite a large turnout for opening night, and I will say that I was a little surprised to not see more of our community there; it is for that reason that I choose to write an article because as much as we know about the events of apartheid in South Africa, this exhibit brought great detail to the struggles experienced by South Africans, and more specifically the time that Mandela spent struggling for freedom, equality, justice, solidarity, truth reconciliation and peace.

INTERESTING FACT: Did you know that when Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in South African prisons, the very first country he chose to visit was Canada?

The Mandela exhibition takes the visitor through five different zones that offer stories to highlight Mandela’s lifelong fight against apartheid—a system of white supremacy in South Africa.

Zone One: Apartheid Zone

The focus is on defining and understanding what apartheid was and how it affected the lives of the people in South Africa. It was in this zone that I met a father and daughter who shared the stories of their own experience in South Africa. The elderly gentleman was in his 90s, and he

Labour disruptions; Rocky

PAUL JUNOR

paul@carib101.com

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 55,000 education support workers which includes: school support staff, lunchroom supervisors, office and clerical staff as well as designated early educators across the province, commenced their work-torule on September 30th. This job action (which involves a partial withdrawal of services extended across the province) was announced on September 19th as the members voted in favour of taking this job action. This decision was made after the failure of talks between the Council of Trustees (who represent Ontario school boards in provincial negotiations) and CUPE ended without reaching a collective agreement. This withdrawal of services marks the start of a campaign to pressure the PC government.

There were many people within

recalled, “Standing here, I can’t believe that this all happened. It brings back such painful memories for me. It reminds me of the reasons that I fled South Africa and brought my family to Canada.”

Zone Two: Defiance Zone

I was introduced to the man Nelson Mandela, and I was educated more on his character, his role in the African National Congress, and his revolutionary stance against the apartheid. Horrifying scenes from the Sharpeville massacre were reminders of just how determined the government in South Africa was to keep the people subjugated.

Zone Three: Repression Zone

I found this zone most compelling because it focused on Mandela’s experience in prison, and how different it was for black prisoners. I enjoyed how the curators recreated the cell that Mandela himself stayed in, and how they actually had a silhouette that represented Mandela shadow boxing, reading, and surviving his time in prison.

Zone Four: Mobilization Zone

The most dramatic installation found in the exhibit, featured film, photos, and a full-sized replica of an armoured vehicle utilized by government forces to sup -

press and nullify the growing revolution. It is where Canada is introduced and stories are explored of Canada’s connections to mobilization efforts in South Africa.

INTERESTING FACT: Mandela was made Canada’s first living Honourary Canadian citizen

Zone Five: Freedom Zone

A film highlighting the release of Mandela from prison is what gives this zone its power. It displays original drawings and sketches by political cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro (known as Zapiro), who used satirical cartoons to encourage reflection on the apartheid. The final wall displayed South Africa today; with a video of youth sharing their ideas on the legacy of Madiba, or as we best know him Nelson Mandela.

This is an exhibit worth experiencing and sharing with young people. It will allow you to reflect on the life and times of a people who refused to accept being treated any less than human, and a compelling man who was inspired by the word Ubuntu, “ I am a person through other people.”

road ahead in Ontario’s public education system

the education sectors that anticipated this work-to–rule in light of the decision that the Ford government made to increase class sizes from 22 to 28 students in high school and from 23.5 to 24.5 students in Grades 4-8 over four years. It has been projected that there will be approximately 10,000 teachers who will no longer be part of the teaching profession.

Vast opposition to this action was evident in the demonstrations on April 6th, when thousands of teachers, students and unions came out to show solidarity. This has no doubt led to much uneasiness and tensions between the unions and the government who has determined to implement it’s policy.

The partial withdrawal of services, which include but are not limited to include the following:

• Not sweeping hallways, office areas and gymnasiums

• Not doing school compost or recycling programs

• Not cutting grass, shovelling or completing other ground maintenance

• Not collecting or accepting money for school related funding

and school operations. There are many community-based programs, religious institutions and after-school programs that had to be cancelled due to this action.

On October 2nd, CUPE made the announcement that it had given five days notice ahead of a walkout scheduled to begin on Monday, October 7th. The Minister of Education, Stephen Leece stated that there is a “credible pathway” to a making a deal, and the sides “aren’t all horribly far apart on a lot of issues.” He also claimed that the government “has demonstrated reasonability, flexibility,” in talks according to the October 6th edition of the Toronto Star. He reiterated that “there are a few issues that will be negotiated at the table over the weekend, but I do note that there is a pathway to resolve this, and it really rests with the union being unreasonable.” There has been opposition to this perspective by Laura Walton, president of CUPE who finds the use of the word ‘reasonable” interesting. According to the Toronto Star, she states “I don’t find it reasonable that we have students without educational assistants, or find it reasonable that we have fullday kindergarten classes with 30 kids in a classroom, or find it reasonable that we have cleanliness standards going down in schools.”

This work-to-rule has clearly been felt as it impacts aspects of school internal functioning such as: school activities, permits

On Sunday, October 6th, it was announced publicly that CUPE had

reached a tentative deal, which averted a possible strike. There is no doubt that many parents were happy as this ensures that they would not have to scramble to find day care spots for their children at the last minute. The gain for the union was that it was able to maintain the sick leave plan in place, which was a sore spot for the government, and to secure job security and consistent hours for workers to serve children with special needs. Many believed the desire to finalize a deal was prompted by the impending federal election on October 21st, as a strike would possibly become a federal election issue. There are still ongoing negotiations between the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (EFTO), the Ontario Secondary School Teacher Federation (OSSTF) and the government. A province wide day of action was planned for October 10th in which over 340 schools in over 44 school boards participated in a school walk-in that was organized by the Ontario Families of Public Education. There is also a Facebook group called the Ontario Education Workers United, which is involved in building a province wide cross-union movement to reverse the cuts, and build the schools our kids, and communities need to thrive. These grass root initiatives are building capacity across Ontario.

Protecting the ones you love.

The substance of things hoped for

When I decided to write an article about the exploits of young entrepreneur JoniDale Morgan, I went into the interview expecting to learn of the triumphs she has enjoyed in business, but I soon discovered that this young lady has been triumphant at life itself.

I learned of a journey, an arduous journey, before her adventures in the manufacturing and sale of exquisite bath and body products, for her entity Morgan’s Creek. I cannot fully outline the obstacles she has had to overcome to be here today, I would probably have to write a book about it as opposed to an article.

Joni- Dale has stared death in the face and has lived to tell the tale; she shared with me how a battle with Lupus took her to a stage where persons actually thought she had died. She also shared how she climbed from that situation and then ended up in a coma for several days, and all that was just the beginning. One would not know by looking at this vivacious young lady that she had to climb from the valley of death, learn to walk and help herself again, pick herself up and strive to get to where she is currently.

She has had a long, hard fight and she credits God for helping her all the way and also preventing her from living with battle scars, and believe me you can’t find the battle scars, I had to be shown pictures of her journey just to know of a certainty that things were as bad as she outlined, and that her being here today is nothing short of a miracle, because from her current appearance one could not tell.

She spoke glowingly of her father, whom she loves immensely and inspired her love for the name “Morgan,” a name she says she will never change, not even for marriage (she will not even use a hyphenated last name, so potential suitors you were duly warned). Her father, however, was not the only one praised, she spoke of the love and support she got from other family members, friends and members of her very supportive Rotary Club; she is just a very thankful and positive person, and that positivity I believe has been poured out into the very atmosphere at Morgan’s Creek and that atmosphere, especially

from a design stand point is quite impressive.

Joni-Dale is no stranger to entrepreneurship though, and Morgan’s Creek is not her first business. She says that her father was very instrumental in priming her for business from age four; at that tender age her job was to arrange coins in stacks of equal height from vending machines her father left at different bars. She advanced to taking out boxes from the various family businesses, and then she assumed greater roles progressively; in her own words, her family has blessed her with a very good work ethic from an early age and she believes it is the basis for her current successes as an entrepreneur.

Her family was also big on education and she was encouraged to pursue higher education at the Northern Caribbean University where she majored in Management Studies; she also completed her MBA at the University of London in International Management.

She was well equipped to go out into the world and enhance the current work force by using her wealth of experience and academic knowledge, but JoniDale wanted to pursue her own path. During her climb back to better health, a friend who is a soap maker and teaches classes in soap making, recommended that she get engaged in more activities to occupy her mind and aid in her own recovery. She recommended that the activity be of such a nature that it did not come with the heightened stress levels that attend many other jobs; her suggestion was soap making and Joni-Dale opted to explore it.

Joni- Dale enjoyed soap making so much that she decided to turn it into a business; she said her Rotary Club members gave her full support in the venture by providing mentorship, graphic design, suggestions and even word of mouth advertising and the combined efforts of JoniDale’s, family and friends produced a business and a space, in the Sovereign Center, in Liguanea, Kingston Jamaica.

Stepping into the store space you are greeted with a variety of pleasant fragrances and it is not only your nose that has a party, your eyes get something to enjoy as well. For her branding Joni-Dale employs soothing pastel and gem tones, browns, aquamarine, salmon pink etc. They all combine to create an ambiance of visual relaxation. I must also say kudos to her graphic artist, for producing a powerful image; her logo that speaks relaxation and that masterfully integrates the image of the lucky bamboo plant into Morgan’s Creek’s Trademark “M.”

Morgan’s Creek is also very sup -

portive of other Jamaican businesses and start-ups, in addition to their own high quality line of soaps and candles that they manufacture, they source items such as ceramic diffusers, bags, platters, and wooden soap dishes from local artists and artisans. She is clearly not about throwing a space together. Everything about the space is well thought out; even the restored wooden rum barrel display stands, was used with the intent of providing island flair into a space that has international appeal. I really like the design style, which I have dubbed Modern Island. One can clearly see an international influence but it is not so international that it deviates from a sense of island warmth, and it all makes for good visual symmetry and harmony.

I am really impressed with what this young lady has accomplished but I am even more impressed by her because of the adversity she has had to overcome. In an age where so many, young and old make excuses for their own personal failures and downfalls in life, Joni-Dale opted to choose faith, she chose to be restored, and she exercised faith and lived it. JoniDale purposed that she would live and indeed she has lived while surpassing hurdles and obstacles daily; she has not relegated herself to be a victim of circumstance, poor health, despair and difficulty. She has claimed her hopes as already being substantive and she knows that she will be great. She told me that I should look out for an article about her in Forbes Magazine, in the future, I would not be surprised if she made it there. She won the top prize in the Scotia Bank Jamaica’s Vision Achiever award in 2018, and she is gaining notoriety because of her high quality products and her prudence as a young manufacturer.

I am a minimalist by nature, and when I designed my own bathroom I had three words in mind “contemporary, bachelor, black.” I was never a candle, goat milk soap, or “bath bomb” (a product sold at Morgan’s Creek) kind of person, but now I find myself rethinking my overall approach to bathroom design and accessorizing. It’s a bit scary, but I am rethinking it. I am hoping dear readers that you will go by Morgan’s Creek and have a refreshing adventure in the land of bath and body I would recommend to everyone reading this article that you pay Morgan’s Creek a visit, if you travel to Kingston Jamaica, I doubt you will look at “bath and body” the same way after visiting.

Saranjit Singh for Brampton East

Melissa Edwards for Brampton North

Navjit Kaur for Brampton West

Mandeep Kaur for Brampton South

Jordan Boswell for Brampton Centre

Health risks of being a chef; The unavoidable lifestyle that comes with the title

NOEL CUNNINGHAM

noel@carib101.com

CULINARY MATTERS

One of the most popular questions that chefs often get asked is, what is your favorite meal to eat? The answer usually comes with a moment of silence to think. Followed by comfort food, my mother/grandmother’s stew or just a dish right off the top

Growing up I always heard the popular phrase if you can’t stand the heat stay out of the kitchen, and this is so true. This phrase is actually a double-entendre. It can be the literal heat from the fire or the unavoidable lifestyle that the kitchen comes with.

Couple of years ago I saw a meme about what society thinks I do. The meme shows a picture with food, what my friends think I do, another with Gordon Ramsay shouting at another chef, captioned what people think I do. Another with a chef with tools, what my parents think I do, another picture with the chef throwing out food with caption what my boss thinks I do.

Then another picture with a beautiful plate of food, what I think I do, then finally a picture with a chef with a glass of beer and cigarette, what I actually do. This hit home because it is the sad truth of the kitchen culture. After a long stressful day, all you need is a cold drink with some spirit.

I remember my first head chef job at Mantra. My boss Laura Marley looked at me and said I think you are going to be a great chef but my fear for you is that you will become an alcoholic. I never clearly understand what she was saying. By this I started working more, then I realized that chefs not only drink to ease the level of stress in the kitchen but actually we don’t eat or rest properly which is causing a big problem in the industry. It’s no secret that behind the glamorous kitchen life that chefs work 70-80 hrs/week, usually for low pay, and often face verbal (and sometimes physical) abuse.

We all know that the signature feature on a chef is the big belly, this is because of the lack of rest, no time to eat properly or healthy. We taste so many sauces and absorbing all the food scent at the end of the day we are full. Constant sampling and tasting leads to higher calorie intake, we have no time for exercising after a 12 hour shift for the day. I know several chefs who died from a heart attack. Recently we lost two prominent chefs to a heart attack. Celebrity Chef, Judson Todd Allen from Chicago and a few weeks ago Celebrity Chef Carl

Ruiz, also known as Carl “The Cuban”. Ruiz was an American restaurant owner and celebrity chef, best known as a judge on various US cooking competition television shows on the Food Network, such as Guy’s Grocery Games.

Earlier this year I saw a picture with a chef eating on a garbage bin in the kitchen which sparked a huge debate on kitchen culture, posted by Matthew Arezki’s. The post saw over 100k reactions and 86k shares and has been circulated widely on every social media platform. Many cooks sharing how they have a sadomasochistic relationship with their jobs.

“This picture really hit home with me,” writes Arezki. “I cook over 1,000 plates a week for people to enjoy dinner with their families and friends and this is how I usually eat dinner – like this or hunched over a garbage can.” I’m encouraging all my fellow chefs and hospitality workers to remember that your health is your wealth and take some time to think of you first.

Spir�ual Healer Reader & Advis��

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STEVEL MARC

“I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time!” I exclaimed as I wiped tears from my eyes. “When you get to Toronto at the end of the year, you have to come and pay me a visit,” I requested during my interview with Stevel Marc, a young Jamaican actor/model who happens to live in South Africa. It had taken a bit of arranging, but thanks to a mutual friend Hugh Anthony, finally I had an opportunity to sit down with this young man who has done the unthinkable and created a beautiful life for himself in Africa.

“Now is not the time to standstill. Find your purpose: pursue it passionately, timelessly, persistently, and diligently.” ~ Stevel Marc (September 18th, 2019)

Stevel Marc was born to Jasmine Williams and Carlton McDonald and raised in Portland Jamaica. Stevel just happens to be one of those fortunate individuals who knew what he wanted to do from an early age, and went out and did it. He recalls his last few years in Jamaica, where he attended Titchfield High School,

“I really loved that school; so glad that I have been able to represent it the way that I have.” At the tender age of 16, Stevel’s modelling career began after Dwight Peters of Saint International Modeling Agency discovered him; this was shortly before he was honoured as Mr. Titchfield in 2000. Stevel was presented with an opportunity to model in New York, and possibly South Africa, and he did not pass on that opportunity.

“What did your parents have to say about you going abroad at such a young age,” I inquired. “I have a lot of love and respect for my mom,” Stevel began telling me, “ She trusted the young man that she raised; she knew it was a great opportunity for me, so she told me to go and make her proud,” and just like that Stevel Marc entered the modelling industry.

He left Jamaica at 15 almost 16 years of age. His first stop was New York, and then South Africa where he resided for six months. He did some work in the UK, and headed back to South Africa. His travelling didn’t stop there; he also was able to do some work in Asia, different parts of Europe, L.A., but for some reason, he kept being drawn back to South Africa.

Upon settling in South Africa, he was signed with the internationally recognized Ice Model Management as well as Artist Connection. As the youngest Jamaican model in South Africa, he began to carve out a niche for himself by showcasing his capabilities through various television and cinema commercials including: Revlon (featuring Halle Berry and Eva Mendes), Coca Cola, KFC, Nescafé, Standard Bank, Nashua Mobile and the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

His talents were not limited to modelling; he also did work as a voice over artist and has lent his voice to: Samsung Mobile, Budweiser, Malibu Caribbean Rum, Toyota, Highveld Stereo, Pigg’s Peak Casino, Standard Band and the South African Tourism Board to name a few. This was a transition period for him, and he began to also do work in radio and as an emcee. As life had it, he had come to South Africa to be an editorial model, and ended up doing more commercial modelling, along with radio work and working as a part-time emcee. He knew there was more to give, so he moved on to a new career; acting.

“Keep creating. Keep dreaming. Keep loving. Keep hoping. Keep forgiving. Keep praying” ~ Stevel Marc (September 13th, 2019) Stevel was in his early twenties when he began to audition for film roles. He had already begun to work on his acting at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, and in 2008, he enrolled at the New York Film Academy and TVI Actors Studio in Los Angeles, California to study and complete his study of film and acting. His first feature film debut was a success; Of Good Report won 13 awards, and received international acclaim. He moved on to roles in: The Triangle (2005), the Challenger Disaster (2013) staring Oscar winner, William Hurt; My Zulu Promise (2013), The King’s Rock (2014), Anything for Wifey (2014), Hometown (2014), Trinity (2014), and Adaption (2014).

Most recently, Stevel shot a short film with Latvian director Richard Slesers for the RØDE competition and is currently staring in a series called “The Professionals,” where he plays an Intelligence Officer named Tyler “Trig” Raines. The show is diverse and is represented by an impressive ensemble of South African stars. Stevel has taken the lead in 9 out of 10 episodes shot so far. The series stars Hollywood A-List Talents Brendan Fraser (The Mummy), Tom Welling (Smallville), Elena Anaya (Wonder Woman and Saïd Taghmaoui (American Hustle).

In true Jamaican fashion, Stevel cannot just have one job; he has also opened up Stevel Marc Photography, and has authored the book Refined Player, a journey through life that explores manhood by answering questions like: How do you meet the woman without having met the girl? How do you meet the man without having met the boy? What is masculinity? When does the young boy become a man?

For some reason, I think Stevel has more tricks up his sleeve, and I am hoping to learn more when he comes to visit Toronto, Canada at the end of the year. It is remarkable how dedicated this young man has been, and how far he has come from that 16 year old who jumped on the plane heading out to fulfil his destiny.

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by Simone Smith Toronto Caribbean News

THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS

The Ultimate Next-Day Comfort Food

Thanksgiving feast has come and gone and you are now stuck with leftovers and wondering what to do? Have no fear your chef is here. Your favorite turkey day dishes won’t go to waste with these creative ideas. I believe that after spending so much time making the ultimate Thanksgiving dinner for your loved ones, you should be able to enjoy the food for more than just one day. Leftovers are not for just reheating but it’s your time to get creative. One of my favorite Thanksgiving leftovers is a pumpkin pie milkshake. This is an incredibly delicious and easy milkshake to help use up leftover pumpkin pie. The ingredients are so simple: combine pumpkin pie, ice cream and milk in a blender and blend until creamy, top with whipped cream and a sprinkling of crumbled pie crust if desired. Don’t forget you can add a little rum to the mix.

Here are some ideas that you can easily make without stressing in the kitchen.

• Turkey pot pie: All you have to do is toss leftover vegetables with shredded turkey into a casserole dish and top with a prepared pie crust for dinner.

• Turkey vegetable soup with stuffing and dumplings is a classic leftover

dish. There’s probably no better way to empty that overstuffed post-Thanksgiving refrigerator than a hearty soup. Using the turkey bones to make a broth for the soup is the best way to get your money’s worth from your bird. If your leftover stuffing is chunky and rustic, finely chop it to make these delicate dumplings.

• Turkey Milanese is a quick and easy leftover dinner. Fry turkey breasts to a golden crisp and top with leftover turkey gravy and mushrooms. Make it a complete meal by serving a side of mashed potatoes and salad.

Next day potato croquettes

• 1 cup leftover mashed potatoes

• 1 teaspoon nutmeg, to taste

• Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

• ¼ cup parmesan cheese

• ¾ cup milk or cream

• 1 ½ cup flour seasoned with salt and pepper, to taste

• 2 eggs

• ¼ cup milk

• 1 cup bread crumbs

• 3 cup vegetable oil

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine mashed potatoes, cheese, nutmeg, milk or cream if used and salt and pepper. Use a small scoop to portion into small balls. Cover and place on a tray in the freezer for an hour or overnight to firm up the mixture.

2. Set up breading station: Place the breadcrumbs in a medium bowl. Place the seasoned flour in a medium bowl. In another medium bowl, whisk together eggs and milk.

3. Dip the potato balls into the flour mixture to coat. Dip in the egg mixture and then the breadcrumbs. Dip again in the egg mixture and then breadcrumbs so that each croquette is double crusted. Repeat with remaining potato balls.

4. Heat vegetable oil in a medium skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Fry croquettes in batches, cooking about 6 in the pan at a time. Cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain and enjoy.

World spine day and back pain epidemic

DR. VIKAS PURI

drpuri@carib101.com

HEALTH SPECIALIST

Each year on October 16th, people celebrate World Spine Day in countries around the world. It is essential that we recognize this epidemic, the leading cause of disability worldwide. The Global Burden of Disease Study, published in “The Lancet” medical journal, states that over 630 million people worldwide suffer from back pain. With the amount of effective preventative interventions and treatments available, this number should be much lower. World Spine Day aims to promote these figures to show governments around the world that back pain can be controlled if resources are given to ensure access to the different interventions available.

Conservative methods for preventing back pain can be very effective. Spine surgeons always recommend that their patients attempt all forms of conservative care before resorting to surgery. It is important to understand the non-invasive, non-medical changes that you can make to your daily activities that can prevent future pain. With improper movement and posture leading to the development of many spinal disorders, the event raises awareness about the easy ways of changing your posture or performing safe movements.

Some of the options that you should consider if you are experiencing back pain to improve your symptoms include:

• Exercising: Getting more active increases the blood flow to the area of your back that is experiencing pain. Though exercise might be difficult if the pain is debilitating, it can often improve symptoms by promoting healing in the damaged area. Strengthening the muscles in your back also stabilizes the damaged areas, making them less likely to move around.

• Lifting properly: Though strictly a preventative measure, it is vitally important for patients, especially those involved in jobs that require lifting frequently. When lifting, keep your feet shoulder width apart, and bend with the knees and hips only.

Vast numbers of people with lower back pain across the world are being harmed, not helped, by surgery, injections and dangerous opioid drugs they are given. This has led the American College of Physicians to state clearly that medical doctors should refer their patients to doctors of chiropractic before prescribing medicine or recommending invasive measures.

Chiropractors are specially trained in treating the spine. As primary care providers, they can diagnose, recommend and provide effective treatment for any disorders arising from the spine, especially those leading to back pain. They do this naturally, without medication, by providing chiropractic adjustments (treatments) to the spine that restore normal biomechanical

joint movement, improve neurological function and decrease inflammation and pain.

In some countries, treating unexplained back pain is a lucrative business for doctors and hospitals. It is important to call on governments and health leaders to act together to tackle vested interests that maintain the status quo.

Back pain is a huge burden on individuals, health services and economies. Every year, a total of 1 million years of productive life are lost in the UK because of disability from low back pain, 3 million in the USA and 300,000 in Australia, according to recent research papers.

80 to 90% of people suffer an episode of low back pain at some point in their life. Only 1% is linked to serious disease such as an infection or cancer. The exact cause is hard to trace at times. It can result from any and all physical, chemical, and emotional stresses. Psychological, social and economic factors can all play a part. Many people have other pain as well and there are lifestyle links, such as obesity, smoking and lack of activity. Most episodes don’t last long, but one in three people will have a recurrence within a year.

This World Spine Day, empower yourself with knowledge and understanding of back pain and preventative spine care by your local chiropractor.

3 reasons to visit a barber

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit in a barber’s chair and get an old-fashioned hair cut? Here are three good reasons to give it a try.

1. SUPERIOR STYLE

A good barber is a true expert and will make sure to trim your hair and beard so that the style suits

your build and features perfectly. By going to a pro, you’ll avoid razor burn, nicks and uneven cuts.

2. PROFESSIONAL ADVICE

Visiting a barber also means getting professional advice. Whatever style you opt for, they’ll be able to tell you how you should brush, moisturize and maintain your hair. If you’re trying to fix a patchy beard, your barber can give you some tips to stimulate growth or better style your facial hair.

3. A RANGE OF SERVICES

Don’t underestimate the importance of an eyebrow trim. It can structure your features and complete your look. Some barber shops also offer skin care, massages and other services.

Finally, remember that barber shops often sell specialized, hard-to-find products to help you maintain your hair and beard. Don’t hesitate to ask them if they have the product you’re looking for.

How to choose the right cologne

Are you looking for a new fragrance? Here’s a guide to help you navigate the dizzying variety of products available.

TYPES

All perfumed fragrances are made by mixing different ratios of perfume oils (also called essential oils or perfume essence) with alcohol. The more essential oils that there are in a product, the longer the aroma lingers — and the more expensive the bottle is. Here’s a breakdown of how much essential oil is in these products:

• Eau de cologne: three to five per cent

• Eau de toilette: six to 12 per cent

• Eau de parfum: 13 to 19 per cent

• Perfume: 20 to 40 per cent

FRAGRANCES

A fragrance’s intensity should suit your personality and style. The smell should bring up fond memories and feelings of confidence, security and calm.

Fruity, aquatic and citrusy notes are great for those who want to project strength, spontaneity and fun. Woody, spicy and earthy fragrances, on the other hand, allow you to adopt an air of confidence, viri-

lity and mystery.

SAMPLING

Don’t try too many fragrances at once, otherwise you won’t be able to tell them apart. Once you’ve found something you like, apply some of it to your wrist, if possible, and then wait until the next day to purchase it. The delay will let you discern the complexities of the fragrance and decide whether you like wearing it.

To start your search for a new fragrance, simply visit a nearby pharmacy, department store or cosmetic counter.

Since 2003, the Movember Foundation has helped raise funds for research initiatives involving men’s health including those pertaining to prostate and testicular cancer, mental health issues and suicide prevention. Today, over 5 million people take part in the movement, and there are many ways to do so other than growing a moustache.

1. THE MOVE PROGRAM Run or walk 60 kilometres over the month of November. That’s one kilometre for every man who commits suicide every minute of every hour.

Testosterone levels in men gradually diminish as they age. As a result, many experience an array of changes as they get older. While there’s no such thing as a “male menopause,” some doctors refer to the collection of symptoms caused by shifting hormone levels in men as andropause.

ANDROPAUSE SYMPTOMS

As testosterone levels decline, men may experience the following:

• Sexual changes. This can include reduced libido, erectile dysfunction and infertility. In addition, the testes may become smaller.

• Sleep changes. Insomnia, disrupted sleep patterns and increased sleepiness are common.

• Physical changes. Increased body fat, decreased bone density and loss of muscle mass may occur. There could also be a loss of body hair and the breasts may become tender and swollen. Though rare, hot flashes and a decrease in energy are also possible.

Alone or in a group, do it at home, outside or at the gym. Tell friends and family members about it. Some of them might join you or make a donation.

2. HOST A “MO-MENT”

Get together with friends, family members and colleagues and organize a fundraising event for the foundation.

3. PARTICIPATE IN A MOVEMBER CHALLENGE

Visit the Movember website to sign up for one of the many challenges listed. They’re separated by industry type and you’re very likely to find one that’s

• Emotional changes. Loss of motivation, decreased confidence, heightened irritability and even depression can occur as a result of declining testosterone levels. Memory and con centration issues can also arise in some cases.

Since these symptoms can be caused by many conditions as well as by poor lifestyle choices, it’s important to visit a doctor if you notice them.

SELF-CARE AS YOU AGE

In many cases, the symptoms of low testosterone levels can be mitigated by a healthy diet and staying mentally and physically active. In addition, eliminating unhealthy habits (like smoking and drinking) will help improve your overall well-being.

It’s also important to consult your doctor if you notice any worrisome symptoms and to follow their recommendations.

Testosterone supplements can be used to treat age-related low testosterone, but it’s a controversial solution. It can relieve symptoms in some men but has little effect for others and carries significant risks of cardiovascular problems and could increase the incidence of prostate cancer.

right for you.

4. MAKE A DONATION

Make a donation to someone involved in the campaign or give to the foundation directly by visiting ca.movember.com.

This November, help raise funds and awareness for men’s health issues by participating in or contributing to a Movember initiative.

It is plausible to assume that every human being has an inner desire to be happy. Notwithstanding, people seldom consider the influence (positive or negative) that their birth, race, gender, colour, and height (inherent), or their social and economic status, religion, culture, and weight (acquired) - have on their outlook on life, and the “search for happiness.” Are some human beings more deserving of a happier life than others are?

The human family is breathtaking in its beauty and diversity. Notwithstanding, in every era - premodern, modern, and postmodern, some people have used the characteristics of others as a pretext to victimize, oppress, subjugate, harm, or make extinct, entire societies. The unyielding bias towards people’s birth, race, gender, colour, and height has become endemic in the human psyche, as a psychological mind trap.

Paradoxically, for the human family to exist in peace, harmony, and happiness, the sanctity of human life must rise above any assumption of racial and cultural superiority. Notwithstanding, the majority of humankind would subscribe to the belief that

Birth, race, gender, colour, height, and happiness

human beings are born equal, deserving of fairness, and justice as their unalienable rights.

In Article 1.1 - Copyright © UNESCO 1979. United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, P. 11. Declares: “All human beings belong to a single species and are descended from a common stock. They are born equal in dignity and rights, and all form an integral part of humanity.”

Furthermore, the US Constitution states: “We hold the truths to be self-evident that all men are born equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” - Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826).

Happiness is a birthright - spiritual, inherent, and constitutional. Human survival, hope, and happiness are attributable to this birthright principle. Likewise, when people view the human species from the perspective of religion, science, and observation, it affirms (1) our sovereignty, (2) the intrinsic link among all humankind, and (3) the oneness of humanity.

Paradoxically, anthropologists characterize people by ‘race’ as opposed to human beings created by God without any differentiation, other than the visible. Can anthropology better inform humankind of its origin, purpose, and destiny? UNESCO declares:

“All peoples of the world possess equal faculties for attaining the highest level of intellectual, technical, economic, cultural, and political development. The dif-

ference between the achievements of the different peoples are entirely attributable to geographical, historical, political, economic, social and cultural factors. Such differences can in no case serve as a pretext for any rankordered classification of nations or peoples” - (Preamble, Article 1. 4, 5, Copyright © UNESCO 1979, p. 12.).

The human family behaves in a manner that is consistent with their conditioning within the family, country of birth, cultural norms, religious upbringing, and nurturing. Moreover, how they value their lives over the lives of others. This worldview diminishes the mutual respect and responsibility to fellow beings that is necessary to foster a happier world.

The legacy of the human family is a permanent trail of unhappiness, underpinned by “conflict of differences.” The challenge that confronts every individual in the postmodern age is the reluctance by some groups to welcome at the “Table of Civilization,” others that they consider lesser mortals. By whose authority do human beings ascribe greater or lesser mortals? Which group can claim immortality?

These reflections have led to the conclusion that all races possess equal capabilities for good and evil. We are spiritual beings endeavoring to master the human experience, dominated by our physical existence in a material world. The awareness of this dual existence should heighten our capacity to influence the world with spirit, presence, empathy, and authenticity to imbue parallel growth, worth, and happiness in others.

People view others through the lenses of their “narrow” worldview. They may also consider themselves different or even superior to others. How does the individual overcome unhappy situations over which he or she does not have control? Where does hope begin? Hope begins within us, but above all, the relationship bonds we form with others foster hope, as we strive to live a moral life.

More importantly, it is the creation of a “happiness eco-system” as a national leadership initiative to foster universal peace, hope, and happiness, such as: (1) Install a Ministry of Happiness (MOH1) and a Minister of Happiness (MOH2). (2) Create a National Happiness Awareness Program (NHAP). (3) Establish a Wholesome Educational Curriculum (WEC) to include spiritual, moral, social, intellectual, and physical development. (4) Establish a Personal Happiness Index (PHI) and National “Happiness Index” (NHI), and (5) Conduct yearly “Happiness Index” (HI) audits.

The altered state of modern life brought on by the rise of nationalism, colourism, racism, and other religious and cultural bias do not bode well for the future of a happy world. The world needs a practical “moral philosophy” to nurture human beings in the postmodern era, such as the Golden Rule or “ethic” of “reciprocity,” which is an ethical maxim penned in most sacred texts. “Do to others, as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31).

“I don’t…..”

Why are your limits set so low? Understanding limiting beliefs - Part I

SIMONE SMITH

simone@carib101.com

HUMAN SPECIALIST

“I can’t…..“

“I mustn’t……”

“I am not…..” “Others will……”

I am coming straight this week. This article is going to throw you off in a way that nothing else you have read has. To be honest, I should have done this a long time ago, but I have spent the majority of my life caring what people think about me. This article is for the person who is sick and tired of being sick and tired. This is for that individual who knows that there is more to life than just surviving. It is for YOU! Yeah YOU! Sitting at your computer reading this, maybe at work, and you are wondering why the hell you come in to a job that makes you miserable. It is for that woman who has four children and is divorced and feels that she is at her end; everything is just so hard. It is for the entrepreneur who has been pushing for years, and you still do not think you are were you want to be. I could keep going, but I

think you get my point. You may not want to believe me when I tell you this, but you are, and will remain your own worst enemy. The majority of the time our thoughts are so counterproductive, and we don’t even realize it. We do not want to take the time to realize that the reason why our lives are not the way we want it to be is because of US. Who would want to even bear that responsibility? I get it, and if you don’t want to take responsibility for your life, then please STOP READING NOW. For those who want more, keep reading as I take you through a journey of self that will allow you to master your best self and surpass all that you ever imagined for yourself.

The first thing that I want you to do is work on questioning your thoughts; I mean really question all the things that you hold true. I want you to really think, could what I have been thinking my whole life be totally wrong? As an AfroCaribbean woman, I will be the first to tell you that I have many limiting beliefs and I am not afraid to admit them. When I first became aware of them, I was actually a little embarrassed. It was triggered a few weeks ago when I attended an event, and the speaker started his speech by saying something to the sound of, “As young black men and women, you have to understand that life will always be a little tougher for you!” I was caught off guard by this sudden realization that this very say-

ing had been ruling my life for such a long time; I really had lived my life in a constant state of victimhood. I recall my father saying this to my brother and I when we were younger, and I will say, there is some merit to this statement.

When you turn on your local news, click on Twitter, open a textbook, read a magazine, and watch certain YouTube videos, the African experience does seem like a dim one. We are either killing each other in the streets, or displayed as drug dealers, hoes, strippers, slaves, subservient, and I could go on with the common general visuals that are displayed. There has been a slow shift now with the popularity of social media, but the shift is really slow. Have you ever thought that these images, our history, what we have been taught, what we have experienced may very well have imprinted us, and this is why we can say so confidently, “Life is going to be a little harder for me because I was born black.”

Some people may not agree with what I have written so far, but I promise you, I had to really highlight some of our thoughts so that we can begin to examine what we have been told, and what we have been telling ourselves. I just realized that I have to make this a series, so when I come back next week, I am going to highlight some more thoughts that have been forced into our schemas. I promise you this; after this series, you will never be the same.

Planned overhaul of Ontario’s mathematic education means going back to basics

The ongoing issue regarding the mathematics education of Ontario students has been a major preoccupation of stakeholders over the years. Many parents have raised concerns and issues with what they perceived to be failures of their children to comprehend basic concepts in mathematics.

The provincial government is also alarmed by the declining mathematics performance of students on the Education Quality and Assessment Test (EQAO), which is administered to students in grades 3, 6 and 9 in mathematics. Organizations, such as the Fraser Institute, have used EQAO results to rank schools, and this has been a deciding indicator when parents pick the school that they want their children to go to. Education officials and union representatives are cautious about these results as they realized that social, financial and other factors play a role. It is within this context that the government has decided to examine ways to change the math curriculum.

The decline in EQAO math scores has been attributed to the discovery math that was introduced by the previ-

ous liberal government in early 2000. This approach to mathematics education, emphasizes a problem-solving experiential based perspective. In this inquiry–based approach, teachers utilize critical thinking to find a solution to a problem rather than using simple computations. This pedagogical strategy moves away from rote learning and emphases learning by doing, to ensure that students build mathematical knowledge by solving problems using technology and calculators as tools to build on foundational skills. In each grade, there are seven “mathematical process expectations” that are integral to how children learn and apply mathematical understanding. These math actions are embedded in each math course.

On Wednesday, August 20th, the Minister of Education Stephen Leece announced that 55 million dollars will be invested in 2019 to ensure that: students enhance their math skills, new teachers are administered math tests, enhanced summer learning programs are developed, as well as the hiring of more math teaching experts. These decisions were motivated by the decreasing math performance of students on the EQAO tests, and a desire to appease the public who are concerned about math education. In addition, there will be a revision of the math curriculum with an emphasis on learning the basics. They have also commitment 200 million dollars, which will be spent over a fouryear period to ensure that there will be a subsidy for educators who want to improve their skills in mathematics.

The expectation that newly hired

teachers pass a standardized math test has not been received well by the teachers’ unions. They see it as targeting teachers who may not have qualifications in math but are expected to pass a math test with at least 70% mark. On the other hand, there are many who welcome the return to a back to basics approach; they see it as ensuring that students receive a basic foundation in fundamental skills. The struggles that students have in the areas of application is related to their ability to apply fundamentals to problem solving. The challenge comes when they must answer open-ended questions or word problems, which involve communication, problem solving and analysis. The ability of students to demonstrate a high level of math fluency is often very difficult. The Minister of Education believes that the solution to the poor performance of students lies in emphasizing old-school rote method. Memorization of timetables will be the basis for the learning of more complex and challenging concepts in this revamped math curriculum.

There are many math educators who are not happy with this back to basics approach, as they believe that it does not take into consideration the latest neuroscience research on how children learn math. They believe that the minister’s decision is based on ideological and political views, rather than on sound pedagogical and scientific practices. Therefore, students will suffer in the long run as they have grown up in a technological and digital world and how they learn needs to be adjusted to their thinking.

Where the First Intermediate Period left Kemet in a state of instability and chaos due to outside influence and greed, The Middle Kingdom (approx. 2100 –1675 BCE) was ushered in to restore Kemet to its former glory. This is where we will start this week’s installment as we take a brief look into the Middle Kingdom that began in the 11th Dynasty.

The transition to the beginning of this period was not a smooth one, as it began with a series of wars. We mentioned in our last series that it was Pharaoh Mentu-hotep the 2nd who brought an end to the First Intermediate Period by defeating the Heracleopolitan pharaohs of Lower Egypt. This unified a once divided nation.

This warrior pharaoh who ruled for 51 years set up his capital in the ancient city of Waset, renamed later as The -

The Middle Kingdom

bes by the Greeks. During his time on the throne, Mentu-hotep, whose name means, “Montu is content”, created the office of Overseer of Lower Kemet. Basically, it was an administration in charge of the day-to-day operations of the region. He also set about ships to nearby Byblos, a city with strong cultural connections to Kemet, especially since Byblos worshipped the Goddess Hathor, also known as Het-Heru. To them she was the patron goddess of the port, and mistress of the cedar terraces. Mentu-hotep built a massive Mortuary Temple in Deir-el-Bahri. This temple later served as an inspiration to Pharaoh Hatshepsut.

With the passing of Mentu-hotep the 2nd, there were 2 others that followed, Mentu-hotep the 3rd and 4th. Both of their reigns did not have the length of their predecessor, considering that they only ruled for only 12 and 7 years respectively. With the death of Mentu-hotep the 4th closed the 11th Dynasty and paved the way for a new pharaoh, Amenemhet the 1st of the 12th Dynasty.

There are mixed accounts of how Amenemhet the 1st came to the throne. One account states that since Mentuhotep died childless, his Prime Minister Amenemhet was selected to rule. Another account comes to us via Robin Walker’s

book When We Ruled, where he states that, “Amenemhet the 1st usurped the throne.” Regardless, Amenehet the 1st was a strong powerful leader the nation needed to lead them into prosperity. In the monumental work, Black Man of the Nile and His Family written by Dr. Yosef ben Jochannan, he tells us that, “upon taking command of his throne, immediately established the worship of Amen as the official religion.” As a side note, we must understand that this is the same Amen that is said at the end of prayer in every Christian church, Jewish synagogue and Muslim mosque.

Amenemhet the 1st built the largest pyramid since the 5th Dynasty, erecting approximately 350 feet. He also fortified control over Nubian gold mines and quarries by building great castles. He did the same in the eastern part of the Delta to secure trade routes to the Sinai peninsular that controlled the copper and turquoise mines. There are also accounts of Amenemhet the 1st reorganizing the administration keeping the nomarchs, or provincial governors that supported him while weakening the others who did not. We must remember, although the Intermediate Period came to an end, there were those who still profited from the reign of chaos.

Bedtime routine: a crucial element in your child’s development

Sleep hygiene plays a vital role in the health and overall development of children. Kids need enough rest to be able to engage in physical activity, communicate effectively, and learn new concepts. But what can you do as a parent to help your kids get a good night’s sleep? The answer lies in establishing a routine.

Children who take part in a regular bedtime routine have a much easier time falling asleep and are better equipped to fight various sleep disorders. This means kids experience fewer nightmares and have an easier time sleeping through the night. Immersing your kids in an environment that’s conducive to sleep for an hour before bedtime offers several advantages.

WHERE TO START?

First of all, children should always head to bed at the same time each night. Deter-

mine the right bedtime for your kids according to their needs and wake-up time, and stick to it.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, school-age children (six to 12) need an average of nine to 12 hours of sleep per night. Preschoolers (three to five years old) should sleep 10 to 13 hours a day. The Canadian Paediatric Society has similar recommendations when it comes to how much sleep children need.

SIXTY MINUTES BEFORE BED

An hour before your little ones’ bedtime, take some time to create a relaxing environment by dimming the lights (exposure to bright lights slows the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone). Turn off the TV and put away tablets, computers and cellphones for the night. Screen time before bed stimulates brain activity and makes it harder to fall asleep.

There is even an old tale that some may attribute to Amenemhet the 1st. It speaks of a ruler named Ameny who delivers Kemet from tyranny. This tale came way via a prophet of the Old Kingdom in what was called the Discourse of Neferty.

Then a king will come from the South, Ameny, the justified, my name, Son of a woman of Ta-Seti, child of Upper Egypt, He will take the white crown, he will join the Two Mighty Ones (the two crowns)

Asiatics will fall to his sword, Libyans will fall to his flame, Rebels to his wrath, traitors to his might, As the serpent on his brow subdues the rebels for him,

One will build the Walls-of-the-Ruler, To bar Asiatics from entering Egypt...

This sums up this purposeful leader, Amenemhet the 1st, the Seizer of the Two Lands, ruler of Kemet for approximately 30 years. It is only fitting that we conclude this first installment of the Middle Kingdom here to be continued in our next edition, where we will discuss his progeny and their feats in the Dynasty’s to come.

| Cell: 416-452-8245 www.zvikashluper.ca | zvika@ozcapital.ca

From here on out, all activities need to be calming. Ask your children not to run and jump. Encourage them to read, draw, do a puzzle or play cards with each other.

THIRTY MINUTES BEFORE BED

Your kids’ bedtime routine should start about 30 minutes before it’s time to sleep. During that half hour, activities might include:

• Putting away toys

• Bathing

• Tooth brushing

• Preparing their clothes for the next day

• Story time

• Listening to music quietly

You choose the routine; the important thing is that you stick to it.

Affordable housing in Toronto

BRITTNEY CHANNER

Hey Everyone! Welcome back to another week informing you on the latest social justice issues around the nation. First, I would like to thank all my readers for tuning in and giving their feedback on all the entries I write; your support does not go unnoticed. I would also like to take the opportunity to personally thank the gentleman who was kind enough to call in and give his opinion on my last article regarding Justin Trudeau’s black face controversy. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read it, head to the Toronto Caribbean website where you can access all the articles I have written over the last year.

Now, I’d like to talk about a serious epidemic that is hitting the GTA faster than a ton of bricks; if you think I am referring to a health epidemic, unfortunately you are wrong. But, what I am referring to holds the possibility of affecting many people across the nation and will continue to be if not handled accordingly. I am talking about the access to affordable housing. As non-threatening as this issue may sound, affordable housing in Toronto has been a topic of concern; especially within this current election.

Within the last 10 years, Toronto has become a prosperous and successful city that is accepting of new cultures and a place where businesses can thrive. However, its residents are in a dire state of emergency as more people are seeking assistance from shelters or struggle to get by based on their current housing costs.

According to the 2016 Census, 37% of Toronto’s 1.1 million households spend more than 30% of their before tax income on shelter such as rent, mortgage, repairs and/or taxes. Due to the increased pricing of homes and rent within the Toronto area, families are utilizing a large portion of their household income for shelter, therefore leaving barely any money to attend to other necessities such as food and transportation. In addi-

tion, studies are showing that the most impacted households are tenant households where 47% of renter households are living in unaffordable housing compared to those in owner-households.

To make matters worse, those who are looking towards social housing to help alleviate the burden of high housing costs have a long way to go as the waitlist includes 97,000 active households; making it a 10-12 year wait depending on the size of the unit, before any vacancies become available. As Toronto’s housing system continues to suffer from strain trying to meet the increasing demand for affordable housing, it is evident that this task in particular becomes more difficult with each passing year as income inequality grows within the city.

For many Toronto residents and those within the GTA, the statistics can be quite alarming especially as it has been determined that the city’s most vulnerable residents such as the homeless, lower income tenants and new immigrants will be hit the hardest by such an increase in housing costs. One would assume that the solution to the housing crisis would simply be to lower the cost all together; however, it is not as simple as it sounds.

So, how does a city like ours attempt to solve the ever-growing issue of affordable housing in Toronto? Well, Selia Rizvic, a Toronto based writer may have some interesting suggestions on how the city can make real progress.

Rizvic suggests that Toronto should use surplus public land for housing. In Toronto, there is public land that is either underused or not used at all. Using surplus land has the potential to build up to 3,300 homes which can aid in keeping up with Toronto’s increasing population. Doing this creates major advantages as the city will then possess the ability to prioritize based on public needs. In addition, owners of this land will have the opportunity to create terms regarding how the land will be developed; leading to a better mixture of homes.

Although this is just one solution out of many, what can be agreed upon is that Toronto needs to come up with a viable solution that will address the housing crisis as many people are at risk of being homeless.

10 tips to make your home more energy efficient

Would you like to pay less for utilities? Here are ten tips to help make your home more energy efficient and reduce your monthly costs.

1. Install a programmable thermostat. Set it to adjust the temperature whenever you’re sleeping or away from home for more than a few hours.

2. Wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot.

3. Hang your clothes to dry instead of using the dryer.

4. Swap old lightbulbs for high-efficiency ones.

5. Use a timer for your outdoor lights.

6. Turn off your dishwasher’s drying cycle. Instead, open the door and let your dishes air dry.

7. Make sure your dishwasher and washing machine are full before running them.

8. Insulate your heating ducts so warm air can’t easily escape.

9. When the outside temperature plum -

Velvet

mets, wear a sweater and slippers instead of turning up the thermostat.

10. Plant shrubs and trees near your house. They’ll provide shade in the summer and help block cold air in the winter.

Implementing these simple changes can drastically reduce the energy your home consumes. Not only is using less power good for your wallet, but it’s also kinder to the environment.

revival:

bring fall’s trendiest textile into your home

Velvet enthusiasts rejoice: home design’s lushest material is en vogue and cropping up on upholstered furniture, accessories and decor pieces across the country.

Once considered difficult to care for and easy to stain, today’s velvets come with a number of low-maintenance characteristics, from machine-washable to fade-, stain- and abrasion-resistant options.

Surprisingly, velvet is versatile. Not only does this plush textile looks fabulous in a range of colours and styles, it also works well in both contemporary and traditional homes.

While velvet has a reputation for being dark and moody, you don’t need to stick to dark

hues. Velvet’s lavish texture is well suited to jewel tones like emerald, amethyst and sapphire. However, if these tones are too bold for you, neutrals like greys and creams are more refined but just as stylish.

While it’s easy to fall in love with a velvet sofa, headboard or armchair, not everyone is in the market for new furniture. For a touch of the trend, add cushions and throws made of the fabric to your existing living room furniture. To bring it into the bedroom, choose velvet curtains or a quilt.

Whether you pair this textile with brass and wood for a mid-century touch, or go ultramodern with clean lines and complementary pieces made of chrome and glass, velvet can fit easily into any home’s decor.

How to make a windowless room seem brighter

Whether it’s a powder room, a basement or an office, a room with no windows can be dark and hard to decorate. Here are a few tips to help you brighten your windowless room.

• Play with lighting. Install overhead pot lights evenly across the whole ceiling. Set up a few table or standing lamps for times you don’t want all the lights on.

• Use the right colours. Opting for pastels or light neutrals will give the room an airy, open feel. Stick with a simple colour scheme and avoid contrasting shades.

• Hang a mirror or two. Mirrors reflect light, making the space seem brighter and bigger. Metallic, glass and other reflective surfaces have the same effect.

• Keep it simple. To keep the space feeling open and light, choose streamlined furniture

and avoid filling the room with too many decorations.

• Install interior windows. If possible, replace a door or wall between two rooms with a frosted glass window or door. This will allow light from the adjoining room into your windowless space.

Even a windowless room can be light and airy. Follow these tips to make it a space you’ll love to spend time in.

Bedroom decorating tips to help you get more Z’s

Many people suffer from the occasional bout of insomnia. However, if this happens to you more often than you’d like, making a few tweaks to your bedroom may be the solution. Here’s what you should do.

GET THE RIGHT BED

Resting on a comfortable mattress makes it easier to fall and stay asleep every night. Choosing the right one, however, can be tricky.

The best thing to do is find a store with a good return policy so you can sleep on the mattress for at least a month before you decide if it’s a good fit.

Your bedding can also make a difference. Choose soft linens made of natural materials and comfortable pillows.

MAKE IT A RELAXING SPACE

Decorate your bedroom with soothing colours, round shapes, soft textures and cosy or airy fabrics.

Many sleep experts also recommend keeping your bedroom clutter-free and clean. A disorganized space can stress you out, while a dusty and dirty room can aggravate allergies and make it harder to sleep.

Also, it’s a good idea to install blackout curtains to make the room as dark as possible when it’s time to sleep.

KEEP TECHNOLOGY OUT

It may be tempting to keep a television in your bedroom, but the light from the screen can trick your body into thinking it’s not tired. The same goes for your smartphone and even digital clocks.

For a restful sleep, keep your room free of light-emitting technology. If you need to unwind before bed, read a book or write in a journal instead.

One last tip: consider lowering the thermostat. Cool rooms help you fall asleep quicker and encourage deeper slumber.

The rise and rise of influencers:

How can we take advantage?

CHRISTINA GWIRA

christina@carib101.com TECH SPECIALIST

Apparently, influencers don’t like being called… influencers. I found that out after a very brief conversation that I had during this year’s tech festival Elevate. There have been more than a few negative connotations attached to the term, but a lot of good has also come out of this new-ish job title. As a refresher: an influencer is a person, brand or team that has amassed a (traditionally large) following on social media. Influencers can then be hired by businesses or brands to promote products and services to their following on social media. Sounds pretty dope, right? It is! Influencers can receive free product, free services… even free international trips in exchange for the attention of their audiences. So, where’s the bad part?

Well, some people think that the new wave of influencers are dumb. Some make the assumption that influencers are simply beautiful people who take photos in beautiful places, post it on Facebook and Instagram and then make a whole lot of money. There’s some truth in this, but not a lot. In fact, there is so little truth in that assumption, but yet the stereotype persists. The panel that I attended was called: “Content, Community, Commerce – How to Develop, Build and Convert”. On said panel, we heard the stories and struggles of three female… businesswomen (*cough* influencers) and how they grew and built their businesses from social media. They provided great content, useful advice and their insights and forecasts for 2020 were extremely helpful. What they showed me was that there is A LOT MORE that goes into building and making a business from your influence. It’s not simply posting pretty photos and it’s not all free trips to Dubai. These women showed that just like with any other business, the business of influence requires hard work and dedication.

The ONLY problem I had with the panel… was that all the panelists were the same, and as such, their stories only showed a portion of what it means to build a business from your social media following. These

panelists could not have spoken to some of the low-balling that happens in the industry, especially as a person of color. These panelists could not have spoken about how some brands repeatedly diminish the content of their melanated influencers. They would have been out of their depth if they were to share about the challenges faced by people with disabilities within this realm, as this was simply not in their wheelhouse. As such, I think that the panel fell a little bit short in providing a fuller picture as to what it really takes for one to successfully build their brand through social media.

Despite the above, I truly believe that it is possible for us to push through the barriers and be able to carve out and reclaim the attention of the masses through the influence that we already wield on social media. It IS possible for us to be able to also step into the influencer space and leave our mark and most importantly influence the audiences that we attract and build online. What I would consider the most important aspect of this, is coming into this space with a mindset to win. Yes, there are things that are against us. However, our own personal will can overcome that. It really can. Changing our mindset towards new media is the first step that we can take into reclaiming it for our use and good.

After the change in mindset, we need to HUSTLE and hustle HARD. Create the content; collaborate with others in the community. If you lack in one area, connect with another in the space who will be willing to help you out, and vice versa. Lastly, as cliché as it may sound, know your worth and add all the taxes. People are paying mortgages, buying (or getting) Teslas and sending their children to private schools, all from their status and following on social media. Knowing this, arm yourself with the same attitude when negotiating with brands and businesses that you come in contact with as you embark on your journey.

Lastly, don’t forget to own all your work. Ownership or lack thereof has been an issue that has plagued our community for centuries. In this new era of media, make it a point to trademark and own the rights and trademarks to the things you tweet, create and put out on social media. We must make it a point to not get left behind when it comes to technology and the various subsections that come with it. As we continue to move from height to height in technology, keep these thoughts in mind as your grow your influence online.

HOW TO PLAY :

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

Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: You must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column, or 3x3 box.

40. Bubbly drinks

Cause

Upset

Nothing but

Whiten

Poke resident

Overhead

Coasted

Foreign agent

Dummy

Twist

Away from the wind

Channel changer

Band of color

Rot

a pouch 20. Regions 21. Wield 22. Sugarcane product 23. Consent 26. Rubdown 30. Direction 31. Hawaiian greeting 33. Dedicated to 34. Facial fringe 36. Croc’s kin 38. Said yes 39. Coming-out

Meet Arvin

ARIES

You’ll negotiate a loan to settle a difficult financial situation or make a big purchase that will improve your quality of life. In your love life, an affectionate exchange will be more than welcome.

TAURUS

In your love life, you may need to make a change. But don’t just pull the plug on your relation-ship. Instead, be open to the thoughts and perspectives of others. Pay attention to small details at work.

GEMINI

Make sure to get enough sleep this week. If you don’t, you’ll have a hard time concentrating and your health could suffer. You’ll be especially creative this week and may create a masterpiece.

CANCER

Your active social life could have an impact on your budget. A family obligation will bring you back to reality. You’ll discover a new artform that will completely en-chant you.

LEO

You’ll find yourself carrying the weight of the world on your shoul-ders. At home, trust the other members of your family to help with the housework. You’ll be the force that brings people together and your smile will be enough to lighten the atmosphere.

VIRGO

Cut the lawn

Toward the stern

Muck

Be human

Many

Proclaimed noisily

Where some students study

Drab

Golf-bag item 7. Normal 8. Hordes 9. Minimum ____ 10. Theory 11. Jumble 17. Bratwursts and wieners 19. Most transparent 22. Hooray! 23. Fear 24. Cheery 25. “The Catcher in the ____”

Plumber’s concern

Golden-rule word

Plunk

Sort

Prosperous periods

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

Before launching yourself into a new project, it’s important to gat-her all the pertinent information. Even if a trip isn’t in your budget, it’ll be hard to resist an invitation from a loved one.

LIBRA

Certain changes are necessary if you want to grow in your career. To that end, you may need to forge your own path or take some classes to land a more interesting job. Change is good.

SCORPIO

You’ll try to please everyone this week. Your wardrobe and how you present yourself will have an impact on your career development. You’ll yearn to treat yourself and your friends will be by your side to encourage you.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll receive some excellent news regarding your health. You’ll finally find a treatment or medication that works and will improve your quality of life. At work, you’ll find yourself dealing with all sorts of emergencies.

CAPRICORN

Your powers of seduction are stronger than ever, and you’ll have more than a few interested admirers. At work, you’ll use your people skills to bring together a big crowd. This achievement will double your company’s sales, to your boss’ delight.

AQUARIUS

At work, you’ll realize that you’re a valuable and irreplaceable asset. You’ll start to climb the ladder and attain the future you desire. In your love life, the magnitude of your actions corresponds with the depth of your feelings.

PISCES

You’ll succeed in finding pleasurable moments in otherwise long days. You’ll burn off extra energy by making impassioned speeches to your loved ones. You’ll have no shortage of brilliant ideas this week.

Drenches

Oblong

Sandwich mart

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS USE AMERICAN SPELLING

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 956

The luckiest signs this week: CANCER, LEO AND VIRGO

PUZZLE NO. 956

PUZZLE NO. 693 ANSWER

FOR SALE FOR SALE

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Apts for rent in Cunupia Chaguanas 2 apt buildings for sale Joyce Narine 647 201 0415

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AGE : 47 YEARS MAN

FOR SALE ANNOUNCEMENTS

OPEN HOUSE: Everyone is invited to our Community Centre Open House. Wednesday Sept. 25th, 11:30 – 2:30 pm.The Hub, 2660 Eglinton Avenue East (At Brimley). Free lunch, prizes, information tables, and more

FOR SALE WORSHIP

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When investing, put your money to work for you. Consider a beehive; imagine your money as the worker bees with more workers, the bees can gather more honey. Many homeowners pay off their mortgages. Congratulations! For this example, let’s assume that the home is worth $700,000 and it’s paid for. We languished on the fact that we are now mortgage free. In this case, the $700,000 or 700,000 workers are all locked up in jail and are not working. They are tied up in the property. Let’s release some and put them to work.

ilarly, we can “pour” some of the wealth tied up in our home into our “investment glass”.

The first thing to do is to arrange a secure line of credit against the property. A secure line of credit is like an overdraft protection on our checking account. The only difference is that it is much larger, and the banks would like some level of protection so they will hold the home as collateral.

Setting up a secure line of credit on a mortgage free home has an additional benefit. It protects the asset against fraud. Identity theft is on the rise and one can assume another person’s identity, apply for a loan against the home and move the proceeds offshore. A secure line of credit is like a mortgage and since the lender is on the title, the lender must be informed if someone wants to use the property to secure a loan. Just like car or home insurance, homeowners should get title insurance for their protection.

in the stock market and that he had helped many clients like me in the past. Four years later, I cashed out, salvaging only a quarter of what I invested. The mistake I made was choosing the wrong person to assist me. I also did not take the time to educate myself in the field I wanted to invest in.

Consider the value of the home as a glass of water; pouring some water into another glass does not change the total volume. Sim-

Now we have money available to invest. It is important to choose the right type of investment. Take me for example; a banker promised to double my money in just four years. He claimed to be an expert

Investing in real estate is one of the best ways to build wealth. Take our home for example, it provides shelter and helps to protect us from inflation and poverty. We do not need too much technical knowledge to buy a home so, why not use some of the money from the line of credit to invest in a second home? On average, house prices double every seven years. Preserving and growing wealth requires discipline. It is essential that you research in the field thoroughly before investing. Solicit help from professionals, schedule interviews with them. We learn more through this approach. Test the waters before plunging into an investment. Hindsight is 20/20 and we become more educated the second time around. Good business professionals never make instant decisions. They allow at least 24 hours to pass before committing.

The best way to learn is through our own mistakes but when it comes to wealth preservation, let’s learn from others! John took the equity from his home and went prospecting for gold. A year later he filed for bankruptcy. John never did his research and like a fish, went for the lure. Lending money to acquaintances is not good business acumen. If someone needs to borrow, it means that they do not have. How will they be able to repay you in the future? Another mistake to avoid is to become a guarantor for someone. If that person defaults, then you will land in the furnace!

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad” talks about the millionaire mindset where two children receive an inheritance of $40,000 each. They both bought a new car with their inheritance. One paid cash for it while the other took dealer’s financing and invested the $40,000 in a rental property that cost $400,000. After five years, they both sold their cars for $10,000. The investment property went up by 10%, giving her an additional $40,000 while her brother remains much poorer. Happy investing!

Syndicate mortgages... the danger that lies within

Some years ago if you wanted to invest in financial instruments, it would mainly be in GIC’s, Bonds and then later on in Mutual Funds. While many investors were still concentrated in buying properties, it wasn’t for everyone. Properties required larger deposits, qualifying for mortgages and finding tenants to pay the rent so that the loan could be serviced. Tenants proved to be headache for many landlords and for many, investment properties was a stay away for many.

A few years ago syndicate mortgages were developed and while the public was unsure of how it worked, the marketing was top of the line and many promises were made, promises which we now know

are not necessarily true. The most attractive feature of a syndicate mortgage was its simplicity, deposit some money to an institution, receive a guaranteed monthly interest and when the period is over, and recover your deposit. Frankly speaking it’s quite a no brainer especially as the guaranteed interest rate is significantly more than your local bank.

One of the first things to understand when it comes to investments, is that the greater the return- the greater the risk. The guaranteed return is not guaranteed and is only assured by the very investment providing a return. Therefore if the project has financial difficulty, the monthly income which is derived from the interest earned is not payable. If you are a retiree depending on this income, you could be in for a rude awakening.

Is your deposit secured? Well according to the broker, yes it secured and that is absolutely correct, but it is not guaranteed. So what is the difference between secured and guaranteed? The deposit is secured again by the investment where you are told that if the project fails, you will be second in line at best (the bank being the first) to collect your money and that is if there is any money

left to be paid out.

And if that fails, at least you a have a deed unto the property where you are on title and therefore guaranteed to recover, this could be nothing further from the truth. Yes, you do have a deed but do you know the financials? What is owed and whether the property left has any value to pay out after it has paid out its primary debtors? Syndicate mortgages are not backed by the government or any other investor protection fund, and neither is there default insurance available to you in case the project bellies up. What about liquidity? If you need a certain sum of money in a hurry, would it be available to you? Most cases that I see take approximately 30 days before a release of funds as they have to resell the mortgage. When the project is in trouble, and cash flow is a problem, there are no payouts. All syndicate mortgages are not bad; or else the government would have stopped the sale of them. However should you decide to get into one, first understand the risk involved and talk to a financial advisor before you make the wrong choice.

The three step mindset to buying insurance

The emotions involved in seeking and purchasing insurance are in direct conflict with the cold transactional nature of the process.

Before I started advising families and businesses about retirement planning, post-secondary savings for children and the importance of life insurance, a close friend who was my advisor said, “It’s not cheap, but you need to do it.” He advised me on which provider to use, began the paperwork and explained the application process. While I didn’t look forward to the cost or the administrative aspects of applying for life insurance there was something oddly fulfilling about it.

Insurance isn’t a fun topic or process, but it represents completing a significant milestone in our lives, such as purchasing our first car, having your first child, marrying the love of your life or buying your first home. My reason was, I had a family now and was ready to think about someone other than myself.

I believe it is very important for all of us to take the time and effort to address specific emotions, mindsets and actions when it’s time for us to purchase insurance. While purchasing insurance involves cold transac-

tional elements such as policies, premiums, risk and assets the process can still be very personal. This is why I believe the first mindset to buying insurance is:

1. Understanding what emotion you want to have or what emotions you’re trying to eliminate Purchasing life insurance seems like a “no brainer,” so why don’t more people do it? Decisions around life insurance can stir up negative emotions because of the nature of the topic. Maybe you want the feeling of security and transactional obligation to protect the mortgage on your home. Maybe you’re looking to change the habit of being irresponsible and want that feeling of doing the right thing for your family. Maybe you have a memory or have seen a family go through losing a loved one and it stirs something up inside. Whatever that feeling is write it down, own it and make that your first priority to solve.

2. The mindset of obtaining knowledge This second mindset is important because it gives you the confidence and ammunition to tackle the process ahead. Like a gun is useless without bullets, so is absence of knowledge towards making a major decision. Try and remember the last time you had a serious problem to deal with. What level of urgency and brain power did you commit to solving it? If we take that same mindset towards obtaining some information and knowledge about the type of insurance we are

looking for, it will help tremendously. The knowledge can come from any source you’re most comfortable with. Research online about what it is, why to have, where to get it, stories about other people, families or businesses that relate to your feelings and situation. Find and speak to a licensed professional that resonates with you. Avoid just going on the advice and recommendations of friends and family even if they are in the business.

3. The mindset of movement and finish The first two steps are easy compared to this one. We all get that surge of energy when we have a task and you tell yourself today is the day to get it done. Sometimes just the thought of having to do #1 and #2 causes paralysis and we put it off for another day. Getting started could be the most difficult part for many people. For me, finishing is the most difficult. I have no problem analyzing, researching and starting to form a plan, but the time it takes to finish could take days or even weeks. When reviewing online applications 90% of the questions focused on coverage requirements, medical and health assessments. Meanwhile, only 3% are positive in nature. Remember the goal is to cross the line and finish the race. That feel good feeling you’re trying to obtain or that fear you want to go away from #1 only happens when you finish.

thus far in the seventh season of the CPL. After beating the Barbados Tridents by 30 runs on October 6th; Guyana achieved a 101game winning streak making their way to the CPL final for the fifth time. But despite reaching the CPL final five times, they have yet to be successful, still looking for their first title.

where Brandon King powered them to 281 with an unbeaten 132 at the top, breaking a CPL record of 121 that was set by Andre Russell. King reached his 50 off 36 balls right on halfway of the Warriors’ innings off his own bowling.

With a record-winning streak the Guyana Amazon Warriors are off to the Caribbean Premiere League finals. The match will take place on Saturday October 12th at Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.

Guyana has been unstoppable

Overall the team has been consistent with players such as Nicholas Pooran and Shoaib Malik stepping up in very crucial situations.

In the final league game against the Trinbago Knight Riders, Hemraj did all of the damage taking three wickets to keep them on 143. They made it 11 wins in 11 games with a 30-run win in the semis

The question that many fans are asking now is, can the Warriors finally claim a title?

In all four of the finals that Guyana has played in, their opponent has dominated them. In 2013 and 2016, Guyana lost to the Jamaica Tallawahs by seven and nine wickets respectively and then lost yet again to the Trinbago Knight Riders last year by eight wickets.

To answer the question, the War-

riors should not have another upsetting final. They have the depth and skill throughout their squad that will hopefully not have to see yet another CPL Finals loss. In addition, every member has contributed to their success thus far making them a favourite to win.

Guyana awaits their opponent for the final as the second qualifier match is set to take place on Thursday October 10th 2019 between the Trinbago Knight Riders and the Barbados Tridents. The game will begin at 7pm from Brian Lara Academy.

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