TCDSB Acknowledges Pride Month and Flies the Pride Flag

June 15, 2021 Keith Andre Baybayon

Keith is the Student Trustee for all TCDSB students in Downsview. Photo credit: Google Images

On May 7th, 2021, the TCDSB Board of Trustees during a Student Achievement Meeting made a set of momentous decisions to promote inclusion and belonging for its 2SLGBTQ+ Students and Staff. They have voted in favour of three recommendations brought forth by their 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, to acknowledge June as Pride Month, fly the Pride Flag at the Catholic Education Center and fly the flag at all TCDSB Schools.

June is Cancer Survivors Month

June 6, 2021 Kuwarjeet Singh Arora

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.

Is quarantine taking its toll? Here are some tips to help you cope

May 27, 2020 Daniel Sanchez Morales

The necessary self-isolation and quarantine measures are making it difficult for many to adjust.

The rapid onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led public health officials to encourage all of us to quarantine and socially distance to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities safe. But the change was abrupt and continues to be difficult for many.

Electing health - why voting is important for your wellbeing

October 15, 2019 Dr. Nicole Constant, N.D.

It’s election time again! I won’t tell you whom you should vote for. But I will say whom you should NOT vote for. Don’t vote for any party that wants to cut support for health care or to get rid of “inefficiencies”.

I am a passionate supporter of OHIP. Don’t remind me that we are in a federal election and OHIP is provincial. I know. Provincial health programs depend on financing from the federal government. You also might be surprised that I, as a Naturopathic Doctor (ND), have such a positive view of OHIP.

Plastic is in our food and water: At five grams a week we are eating a credit card every week

July 11, 2019 Matias de Doviitis

The Downsview community has many proud homeowners, with countless manicured green lawns. The neighbourhood’s emerald gardens are a testament to another time’s concept of an oasis. Green, clean and neat, with rows of driveways in between. But even here you find plastic everywhere. Whether its plastic ties, bags, wrappers, bottles or straws. Plastic debris blow in with the wind but dig into any yard and you will find more of it in the soil.

Youth Mental Health Conference: The pain is real but so is healing

June 13, 2019 Leeann Tanaah

The month of May is not only for showers and flowers - it’s also for healing and revealing. For the first time, PEACH organized a Mental Health Conference and the event brought community members, leaders and youth together in one room to create dialogue about a topic that is not the easiest to discuss.

Panelists included Louis March, Gregory Leslie, Destiny Mae Abraham, Adam Ellis, Derek Williams and Keynote Speaker Scot Wortley. Not to mention, MPP Tom Rakocevic made a special guest appearance. Amongst many topics raised at the conference, some included speakers’ experience with mental health, the role of the father in the household, gun violence, the role of Toronto Police and, of course, youth mental health.

To diet or not to diet?

May 14, 2019 Christine Rezk, Registered Dietitian

As a dietitian, one of the most common questions I receive is “What do you think of (fill in the blank) diet?” The diet industry is a multi-billion dollar industry with new and emerging ideas appearing regularly, and are defined by photoshopped images in magazines portraying a perfectionistic and unrealistic view.

What’s wrong with diets?

Most diets reduce or eliminate a main macronutrient (ie. low carb or low fat) or focus on a primary food item with a claim to promote a specific goal. The problem with dieting is that they have an end date which sets individuals up for failure and for the never-ending yo-yo dieting cycle

Opening the dialogue on weight bias and stigma

May 14, 2019 Rosanna Lee

Today three in five Canadians are classified as overweight or obese. According to Obesity Canada, the Canadian Medical Association, the American Medical Association and the World Health Organization obesity is classified as a progressive chronic disease and a leading cause of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stoke, cancer, arthritis and other detrimental health issues.

Earth Day: 5 things you are not doing to save money, food and the environment

April 11, 2019 Christina Rezk (Registered Dietician)

Did you know that 1/3 of the world’s food is wasted? That’s 1.3 billion tonnes of food worldwide (FAO, 2017) and in Canada alone, that’s 31 billion dollars of wasted food each year (‘27 Billion’ Revisited the cost of Canada’s annual food waste, 2014 Report). Waste is not limited to our own household, but also is created by farms, factories, supermarkets, restaurants, workplaces, healthcare and foodservice facilities. Losses don’t stop there but extend to the resources wasted in the process of growing, transporting and disposing food.Food waste is increasing in vain and as a result of this, greenhouse gas emissions have increased and it contributes to global warming and climate change.

Canada’s new modern Food Guide: No more rainbows!

March 14, 2019 Christine Rezk, Registered Dietitian

Say goodbye to rainbows, food groups and recommended servings on a chart; the newly revamped food guide is simple and easy to follow - it’s a plate with real food!The first part of the guide is about practical food choices. It encourages Canadians to lower their saturated fat and increase fibre intake by eating plenty of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and plant-based sources of protein such as beans, lentils, nuts, and tofu. By learning to read labels, you can limit highly processed foods high in sodium and sugars. Instead of juice, make water your drink of choice and choose whole fruits for more fibre and less sugar. Make meals interesting by including breakfast, snack, lunch and dinner recipes featured on food-guide.canada.ca