Women-led community space opens in the heart of Downsview for young artists and entrepreneurs

BY: AYESHA KHAN

Years ago, a group of women of colour began hosting weekly events out of Sariena Luy’s house. Flaunt It Fridays were a regular place and time in Jane and Finch whereby women would be invited to share things they either loved or were learning to love about themselves, and find healing within the community. As the organization continued to grow, they came to need space. Thus, Flaunt It was born.

The Flaunt It Movement is a Jane and Finch based grassroots social purpose organization, started and maintained by local young women of colour. The goal of the collective was to provide a safe space where women of colour in a marginalized neighbourhood could grow, learn, express themselves and tell their stories; a place of respite in a sometimes unforgiving world.

December 1st marks 7 years of Flaunt It as an organization, and along with it, the culmination of years of hard work. Remembering the organization’s humble beginnings, Executive Director and Jane-Finch resident Sariena Luy gushes as she tells me how excited she is to welcome people into the space they’ve worked to create. “The beauty of Jane and Finch is how much we have each others’ backs.” She says. It is clear she knows this firsthand. 

The idea behind the provision of space goes beyond fostering creativity, however. Sariena claims that her aim is also to help young women and non-binary entrepreneurs foster their skills, and advocate for themselves and their neighbours. “It’s more than a studio space, it’s a poverty reduction strategy. It’s an economic empowerment initiative. We’re not just artists, and entrepreneurs; we’re also activists.” 

The multi-use space contains several different rooms. Once an office building with grey walls, the bright, gilded atmosphere now feels a cut above its ordinary history. There is an open space for hosting events, a co-working studio, a beauty room for budding aestheticians and a creative studio outfitted with equipment for multiple forms of content creation. All of the space is curated and designed–even the hallways. The walls are covered with in-house created art. Sariena also has a youth-led (ages 18-24) team on hand to help fill gaps in education, acknowledging how precious little the education system can sometimes prepare youth for non-traditional careers which are becoming ever more common. 

“A lot of people don’t have wi-fi.” Sariena chronicles. “Working from home is a privilege.” 

Sariena tells me of women who obtained licences to practise various beauty-service trades during the pandemic, but are suffering under a dearth of overhead space due to the changing economy. Her team  aims to change that by giving them access to somewhere they can hone and practise their crafts and take clients.

Right now, the model for the space is still a pilot, but they are testing it out in hopes they can secure the funding to make the Studio a permanent and expanded reality. As a partnership with Success Beyond Limits (who are well-known far and wide for their work with Jane and Finch youth) they have been able to secure funding from the Metcalfe Foundation, and from the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy in partnership with the Canadian Women’s Foundation. The City of Toronto’s Ignite Ideation Fund and the York University TD Community Engagement Centre’s Catalyst Grant are also funding some of their upcoming community programming. They are also working on fundraising events, to create streams of revenue to become self-sustaining. 

The Flaunt It Studio aims to fill a gap in city planning that local officials have long recognized–there are not enough amenities in the City’s northwest to adequately serve its dense and growing population. As author Wanda MacNevin reflects in her book “By Us! For Us!” the Jane and Finch community was subject to historic neglect in the allocation of resources, creating a minefield for future city planners tasked with designing a growing community against a backdrop of austerity.

However, grassroots unity as seen with the local Hub Organizing Committee, (@ourjanefinchhub) and sympathetic political leaders advocating for positive, community-centric change, leave the impression that the future may not be so bleak. 

Sariena acknowledges that development will bring change to the area. “We need to invest in the community we call home.” She speaks of the need to empower youth to have a voice, a say, and a role in changes to the community. “[We are] helping to redesign the future we know our community deserves. It’s about not being afraid to dream bigger for ourselves.”

Learn more about the Flaunt It Movement at www.flauntitmovement.ca or via their Instagram @flauntitmovement. 

More childcare is needed – Doug Ford’s government needs to step up

BY: Matias de dovitiis

Some things change over time, others stay the same. The need for parents to care for their children has not ever changed. How parents take care of their children has changed in the last 20 years. The days of single income breadwinners and stay at home moms from the days black and white TV are mostly over. We have smaller families and family circles now. While many of us grew in large extended families with many cousins and with multiple people to serve as caregivers that is much less common now too. 

Parents need childcare to go to work, particularly younger parents. With rent and mortgage payment what they are today, even most two income households also need daycare to make ends meet. While the Federal government has come through with a universal child care agreement, an agreement that was promised for over 30 years before it came to life, the Province of Ontario has dropped the ball in childcare. Time and time again Doug Ford’s government has not prioritized childcare. The Ontario government was the last one to sign an agreement with Ottawa. They have dragged their feet on raising staff salaries, creating a shortage of staffing and have dragged their feet on many other things. Importantly they have also reneged on promises to build dozens of new childcare centres for over 5 years now. 

The Provincial government promised in 2017 to build 29 childcare centres in the City of Toronto in TDSB schools. Every year goes by, and the promise gets less and less plausible. As of the printing of this article, they have approved or given the money to build none of the 29 childcares so far. None of the funding promised has been delivered. In schools like Chalkfarm Public School, where parents have to juggle different drop off and pick up for their young children, having a childcare centre in the school would be a life changer. Chalkfarm PS has been on the list since 2017, but the project is not approved or funded yet by the Provincial government. A new childcare centre there would provide more stability and more opportunities to work, study and life improvement for 50 families. Childcare spaces can decrease poverty rates and improve quality of life. If you do not have childcare you cannot work, and you cannot earn a living. 

Source: for a detailed look at the missing funding and the location for the promised childcare centres please look at https://thelocal.to/childcare-daycare-tdsb-gracedale-public-school/

Simple and delicious: A festive sugar cookie recipe for the holidays!

BY: Editor

It's the perfect time of year to bake! The smell of freshly made cookies fills the air of the holidays, and there's no better way to celebrate than with traditional sugar cookies. No matter your level of baking skills, this simple sugar cookie recipe is guaranteed to make everyone smile. Grab your loved ones and let's use this easy sugar cookie recipe to make some wonderful memories.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, mix the cream, the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This step is important for getting that tender and that melt-in-your-mouth texture.

3. Add the Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until it is well combined.

4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until a soft dough forms.

5. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions, shape them into discs, and wrap them in plastic wrap. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. This step not only enhances the flavor but also makes the dough easier to handle.

6. Roll and Cut: Preheat your rolling pin and lightly flour your work surface. Roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use festive cookie cutters to create your favorite holiday shapes.

7. Bake to Perfection: Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between each one. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Keep a close eye on them to prevent over-baking.

8. Cool and Decorate: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. Once cooled, let your creativity shine by decorating with icing, festive sprinkles, or colored sugar. 

You may now enjoy your holiday sugar cookies! You can give them as a homemade gift to loved ones by packing them into cute bags or sharing them with others.

Black Creek Community Farms and Our Planet

BY: Miwako Chang

Throughout the month of March, we recognize several key parts of our ecosystem. These include the International Day of Forests on March 21, World Water Day on March 22, and the International Day of Zero Waste on March 30. These observances are established to celebrate, raise awareness, and highlight and encourage continued action to maintain, protect, and restore the earth’s resources. 

Black Creek Community Farms (BCCF) is a Toronto farm and market garden that grows over 40 different vegetables, with over 100 varieties from around the world that reflect their diverse community. BCCF is proud to be Ecocert certified, a standard for organic certification in Canada. Ecocert is committed to ensuring sustainable production and processes. These include the efficient use of natural resources such as energy, water, air, and oil, social responsibility, and product quality and safety.

BCCF demonstrates it’s continued commitment to current social and environmental challenges through their sustinable practices. These include supporting soil fertility and life, as well as maintaining biodiversity. The local farm manages pests without the use of pesticides and harvests several times per week to ensure the freshest produce possible, often having been picked only 24 to 48 hours prior.

Supporting BCCF is funding the growth of fresh, organic produce and the continuation of sustainable and ethical practices. However, proceeds also support the farm’s community initiatives. This also includes BCCF’s 8 acres of urban green space that houses a variety of animals, birds, and insects. The local farm is a key element to the community, as it brings residents together for educational activities, food programs, seasonal events, and more.

This past year, BCCF ran their Harvest Share program, a produce subscription based on the Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) model. This idea aims to strengthen the relationships between all contributors to local food system. The organization’s Thursday Farm Stands featured seasonal produce, as well as guest vendors and events.

For more information, visit www.blackcreekfarm.ca.