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Speaker, facilitator, author and Creator and Founder of Special Compass: Shakira’s works to help make education accessible for different kinds of learners. Photo credit: Linda Lebreton
July 26 2021, is National Disability Independence Day.
Starting with signing the “Americans with Disability Act” (ADA) in 1990, July 26 became National Disability Independence Day, in commemoration of the act.
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Pictured from left to right: Alexandra Modi, Krystal Grover, Tanvi Balasubramanian and Ayesha Khan at the donation drive booth. Photo credit: Sinthura Chandramohan
What was once forecasted as a rainy and gloomy day took a turn for the better and resulted in the raising of many menstrual products and a significant community impact. The Bloom Red Project, in collaboration with Anthony Perruzza’s office, held a menstrual product donation drive for the Downsview community. Krystal Grover, the co-founder of The Bloom Red Project, and Ayesha Khan, the Councillor’s Outreach Staff and Aide, organized this event, coordinating volunteers, donation drop-offs, logistics and everything in between.
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Jeremiah Ranger.
For the last 18 months of his life, Jeremiah Ranger never went to school.
Not one day.
That sounds shocking, I know. But the reality is that this meant he was only in school slightly less than previous years due to his frequent suspensions. He would be suspended for 20 days, return to school for a short time and then get suspended for another 20 days. It was a consistent case of educational whiplash.
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Flyer for donation drive occurring on July 8th. Photo credit: Krystal Grover
Amidst the ever-growing list of civic and social justice issues slowly being brought to light in our world today, one especially prevalent problem remains hidden in the dark; period poverty. Period poverty refers to the inaccessibility of period products, waste management, basic sanitation such as toilets, proper disposals and soap, as well as lack of education regarding menstruation. Period poverty exists across the globe and impacts millions of people every waking minute. Even right here in Canada, 1 in 4 women have to choose between buying period products or buying food - a choice that absolutely no one should have to make.
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Harvey’s RV. Photo credit: CNW Group/Harvey’s
As Ontario’s vaccine rollout continues to increase, more and more Canadians are getting vaccinated. In celebration of these amazing accomplishments, Harvey’s RV is getting back on the road and taking its hamburgers with them.
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Coping during the pandemic. Photo credit: City of Toronto
COVID-19 revealed the admirable capacity of communities, organizations, and humanity to band together for a cause. However, behind the breastplates and shields of the forbearance, resilience, and willpower Downsview residents convey, lie wounds so deep that no mere virus or vaccination can hurt nor help.
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Photo credit: National Cancer Institute
On Sunday, June 6, 2021, this day marks the 34th annual National Cancer Survivors Day. People around the world will globally recognize cancer survivors while raising awareness of the continuing challenges that they have to face. Most importantly, they will celebrate their lives.
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Residents and activists gathered for the virtual town hall. Photo credit: Jane Finch Action Against Poverty
On Wednesday May 5, 2021, Jane Finch Action Against Poverty in conjunction with Black Creek Food Justice Network, Jane Finch Education Action Group and Jane Finch Housing Coalition hosted a virtual public event speaking out against various injustices they feel have been wrought against the community.
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People line up at 15 Tobermory for a vaccination pop-up clinic organized by local groups like Black Creek Community Health Centre. (Photo credit: Matias de Dovitiis)
Earthquakes are beyond human control and so are hurricanes - but the third COVID-19 wave was not that. A series of self-inflicted choices caused the third wave of COVID-19 cases in Ontario. Ontario’s government opened in-person classes too soon and did not consider paid sick leave until it was too late for many. Doctors lined up to warn us in February that a wall of sick patients would hit us in ICUs if we did that, and the government chose not to listen.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global strategy called “REPLACE” that will guide countries on how to remove artificial trans fats from their food supply by 2023. “This initiative is meant to lead countries in establishing legislation to eliminate the trans fats,” as stated by the director of the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development at the WHO, Dr. Francesco Branca. REPLACE stands for Review dietary sources, Promote use of healthier fats, Legislate, Assess changes, Create awareness and Enforce. The REPLACE plan is the first time the WHO is proposing a call-to-action on the removal of a chronic disease factor.Chronic diseases, or non-communicable diseases, are a combined result of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors such as dietary intake. Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide.Artificial trans fats are made when vegetable oil hardens in a process called partial hydrogenation. Partially hydrogenated oils have been added to foods since the early twentieth century. They prolong shelf life and enhance the flavour and texture of many foods, including commercial baked goods, fried foods and snack foods, and are used in products such as vegetable shortening, stick margarine, coffee creamer and ready-to-use frostings. The intake of trans fats raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad cholesterol” and increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.Industry produced trans fats differ from naturally occurring trans fats found in dairy and beef. No evidence of harmful effects has been identified from these food sources.Last year, the Minister of Health, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, announced the final step to phase out the production of partially hydrogenated oils in all foods sold in Canada. The ban will come into effect September 12, 2018 to allow enough time for food manufacturers to find suitable alternatives.