From June to August 17th, PEACH (Promoting Education and Community Health) continued to find ways to keep youth focused and motivated-outside of school. The Learning Beyond Adversity (LBA) Summer Employment Program was initially started by Executive Director Shari Castello and Youth Advocate Wayne Black as a way to keep youth engaged and productive over the summer months. Eight young members from the Jane and Finch community had the opportunity to work alongside one another performing tasks that enabled them to expand their knowledge and learn how to work cooperatively as a group.PEACH partnered with Black Creek Community Farm’s MwanaJuma and planned activities. The summer participants gardened and worked with plants like callaloo and peppermint and cooked nutritious vegan meals such as vegan lasagna and fruit smoothies. Castello and Black realized how important bridging the gap between youth and the elderly was and so the youth teamed up with the seniors at Black Creek Community Farm and learned how to cook meals like popular Jamaican dish, Ackee. The program also offered workshops on Financial Literacy, Resume and Job Workshops, Stress Management, Media, and even the process of getting your G1 Driver’s License! The youth were also taken to the Knowledge Bookstore to purchase books, and were given a lesson on how to start their own business and was needed to succeed. Jordan Thomas, 18, says his experience at LBA Summer Employment was definitely worthwhile/ “I found this program very enjoyable,” Thomas says. “For me it was nice to make decisions about different topics like why it’s important to get your G1 or how to maintain proper hygiene, and how to find a job.”The recent height of violence in Toronto has shown the importance of initiatives like the LBA Summer Employment and the importance to fund these programs. Not only do these programs keep youth off the streets, but they provide youth with a sense of belongingness, mentorship, accountability, and of course, the knowledge they need to move forward and succeed in their future.
Ford threatens to use notwithstanding clause to override court ruling
On Monday September 10th, Justice Edward Belobaba ruled Bill 5, the Better Local Government Act, unconstitutional. Bill 5 is the controversial bill that would nearly halve council from 47 to 25 in the middle of the 2018 election.Later that Monday at 2pm Premier Doug Ford took an unprecedented step and vowed to amend the Better Local Government Act to include the Notwithstanding Clause in a new bill titled “Efficient Local Government Act.” Prior to this week, an Ontarian provincial government has never included this clause to bypass a court ruling – it is seen as the “nuclear” option of our constitution that has been used only a handful times across the country. This clause would allow Premier Ford to bypass Charter Rights and Freedoms in Section 2 and 7-15. In short, the clause allows Ford and the Progressive-Conservatives to suspend our Constitutional rights in order to ensure that Toronto city council would stay at 25 councillors.The Notwithstanding Clause suspends sections that include freedom of thought, religion, expression, association, peaceful assembly, belief, and the right to life, liberty, unreasonable search and seizure, and other Charter items that are cherished by Canadians. The clause allows the legislation to be free from judicial review or challenge for up to five years. If Efficient Local Government Act passes it will make future uses of the clause much easier – other bills that infringe on your Charter Rights and Freedoms will be easier passed. The Notwithstanding Clause can lead to bills that infringe on your freedom of practicing your religion, your right to not be subject to cruel and unusual punishment, and your right to be equally treated before and under the law. Our judicial system, which includes the Supreme Court of Canada and its judges, are integral to upholding our Constitutional rights. Ontario’s democracy consists of three branches – the Executive (the Premier and their cabinet), the Legislative (the elected Members of Provincial Parliament), and the Judicial. Ideally, these work in tandem with each other to ensure our democratic and constitutional rights and freedoms. The three branches should have equal power – however, with a majority government, the Legislative and the Executive branches effectively work as one. Therefore, without a healthy Judiciary, the government works without any checks or balances. Casual uses of the Notwithstanding Clause allow governments to trample on our constitutional rights in favour of political gain. The careful review of our bills is integral to our democracy and democratic process – we must stand up against Ford’s glib use of the Notwithstanding Clause. The ramifications of this can be severe.
High levels of carbon dioxide could be making rice less nutritious
Rice is the culinary foundation for much of the world and provides 25 percent of the total calories consumed globally. According to research in Science Advances Critical, nutrients found in rice which include protein, B vitamins, iron and zinc are poised to decline. “It is the primary food available for the poorest people in the world, particularly for those in Asia,” said Lewis Ziska, co-author of the new study. Ziska and his colleagues studied 18 rice strains grown around the world using a technique called Free-Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (FACE). The rice was grown at sites in China and Japan using an open-field method within standard rice fields. Plants were subjected to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations of 568 to 590 parts per million. Current concentrations are 410 parts per million - and growing each year at about 2 parts per million. After harvesting the rice, researchers found an average of 10.3 percent reduction in protein across all the tested varieties and one cultivar showed a 20 percent drop in protein. Iron content fell an average of 8 percent, while the average decline in zinc was 5.1 percent, with some strains experiencing a 15 percent fall. Vitamin B1, B2, B5 and B9 concentrations also fell as CO2 levels rose. The research aligns with a common theme in climate findings, which is that poor and marginalized communities around the world would be most affected by the reduction of nutrients. It also shows that these individuals would find it difficult to adjust and diversify their diets to obtain nutrients that they would be lacking. Approximately 600 million people in countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia get more than half of their daily calories and protein directly from rice. The finding has serious public health implications, especially as CO2 emissions are projected to increase in the coming decades. This may push the international community to adopt more effective initiatives to lower our global production of CO2.However, not all varieties of rice responded the same way. Future research may examine the possibility of finding varieties of rice that can remain nutritious despite the change in the atmosphere – a project that is critical to maintaining standards of global public health.
Ford government must stop putting down our community
Many in our community were rightly offended when a minister in Doug Ford’s PC government made comments in the Ontario Legislature that put down our community.It occurred during Question Period (a time when MPPs seek information from Ontario's premier and their ministers as well as hold them to account for their actions and decisions), when a fellow NDP MPP asked a question about ending police carding. Rather than answer the question, the minister spoke of wearing a bulletproof vest at Jane and Finch and visiting sites that previously had "bullet-ridden people killed in the middle of the night."All words spoken in Ontario's Legislature are recorded forever in what are called the Hansard transcripts. Thanks to this minister, we are again stigmatized but this time in Queen’s Park documents.The following day, I used my first Member's Statement to balance his harsh words with a positive message about our community. I am sharing these words with you as well:"Mr. Speaker, I congratulate you and all members on your election to this prestigious House. I would also like to thank my family, friends, team and the great people of Humber River - Black Creek. It is an honour and a dream to represent my lifelong home. Within Humber River - Black Creek is the Jane and Finch community where I grew up. It is a place where over a hundred languages are spoken, and the hospitality of people is second to none.It’s a place of active young people, eager students and caring teachers, thriving businesses, and brilliant entrepreneurs.We are a community of hard working parents, educated professionals, inspired artists, amazing athletes, active seniors, and passionate activists.We have beautiful naturalized areas and parks, annual events and festivals, where families gather and children play.Yesterday, however, it was with great disappointment that a government minister named my community only to describe it as a place of crime, as he dodged a question from my esteemed colleague, MPP Kevin Yarde who was calling for an end to the discriminatory practice of police carding.Unfortunately, this stigmatization is nothing new to Jane and Finch, but it is especially hurtful and callous to hear it in this house. Words spoken here carry great weight and as such must be weighed carefully.Rather than apologize, the Conservative Minister sent a representative here last night to read a mean-spirited and insensitive statement.Jane and Finch, and Humber River - Black Creek, deserve better than this."Our community doesn’t need opportunistic photo-ops from the Ford government that casts us in a negative light. Addressing safety is something we all want, but this is not the way to do it. I will continue to fight for the issues that matter to us like lowering the unfair auto insurance rates we face, access to better jobs, improved health care, and proper funding for our schools and education. And I will challenge the Ford government's negative and tiresome stereotypes of our neighbourhood that hurt all of us.
Spend more time together - it's what the doctor ordered
Human connection seems to be on everyone’s minds these days, while we love the independence our devices give us without really realizing it, many of us are craving more time together. The rise of the individual has meant great improvements to individual rights and freedoms yet coupled with the rise of technology, it’s become easy to underestimate the value of community. We think we can go it alone at almost every turn and modern health care has shifted to accommodate these sentiments. Black Creek Community Health Centre (BCCHC) knows that coming together in community can not only mean prevention, it can also be the cure. They say it up front and often, their vision statement reads: “We envision a healthy, resilient and empowered community where people are connected and support each other”. Cheryl Prescod, Executive Director of the BCCHC says: “Our mandate is to address individual health needs as well as community needs, we know that if individuals in a community are healthy as a result the community will be healthy”. The Black Creek Family and Health Centre does more than simply acknowledge that community and individual health are intertwined – they live it. This year they held their Annual General Meeting at Black Creek Community Farm with who they partner. They offer a whole roster of programming that includes everything from fitness classes for the whole family to community gardening. The centre has lots of individual care on offer. Everyone should have a General Practitioner, someone who knows the individual, their history and available supports. The centre can add additional support through some of the unique accessible community programs; programs like dietary instruction and a community kitchen to take that instruction from theory to practice. The holistic approach to treatment means your whole self and your whole family will be taken care of. The communal approach to healthcare means that people look after each other. People feel less isolated and more connected to the people around them. It’s this connection that keeps the community coming back to Black Creek Community Health Centre. For more information visit them today at one of 2 locations in Downsview, The Yorkgate Mall at Jane and Finch and Sheridan Mall at Jane and Wilson.
PEACH Radio: Planting seeds, growing a community
There is no doubt that the Jane-Finch community has been known for many things over the years – some of which have not always been very positive. This being said, there has also never been a shortage of occasions within the community that are worth celebrating. The launch of PEACH Radio is one such occasion. Community leader, Wayne Black, and Shari Castello, the Executive Director of PEACH (Promoting Education and Community Health), launched PEACH Radio in the hope that it will serve as a platform that would facilitate dialogue in the community by creating an open public forum to discuss issues such as education, mental health, justice, and more. This exciting and innovating project will also provide many opportunities for young and aspiring journalists in the community. Moreover, local businesses and neighbourhood organizations will benefit as they now have a local outlet through which they can advertise and promote themselves.“We want people to be insightful and aware of what’s happening,” Wayne Black says. Both Black and Castello emphasize the need for more local communication outlets in the community, citing the many notable developments in the education and public health front that need to be better publicized. Some of the key focuses of PEACH Radio will include local artists, local athletes, local community organizations and agencies, and the local experiences and concerns of youth in the community. The official PEACH Radio launch took place on May 3 and despite the rainy weather, familiar faces in the community including local artist, Kofi Frempong, and members of the Black Creek Community Health Centre came to show their support. Other locals artists such as EYE 2 EYE and Sydanie and Terence Penny also showed their support by performing for the audience. Both Wayne and Shari hope that this project will bring to the fore underground issues that are often overlooked and to create a forum that will connect local issues, the arts, culture and education to reinforce the voice of the community. Visit www.PeachRadioLive.com today to hear about what’s happening in and around the community.
Safe and Smart
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of the Smart City is passive surveillance. I come by my paranoia honestly. I was born in apartheid-era South Africa and because of Pass Laws my parents had to carry a special ID book on them at all times. If they were caught without what was more colloquially known as their ‘Book of Life’, they could be imprisoned without cause. A headline told me recently that the modern smart city is just as likely to help us deal with inclement weather and wouldn’t that be great! Imagine never having to shovel your sidewalk again because the sensors in the sidewalk are melting the snow as it falls. Imagine traffic bottlenecks as a thing of the past as vehicle GPS systems, working in tandem with traffic lights, resolve issues before they happen.Then of course there are the ongoing issues of safety. ‘Safety,’ the word that for so many racialized men in Downsview is just as likely to mean ‘danger’. Think about the promise of Waterfront Toronto’s redevelopment taking place on the city’s eastern waterfront in partnership with Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs, a subsidiary of Google. The redevelopment will have technology built into every corner to make our lives better. What if our racialized person from Downsview decided to visit this smart development with a smart phone in their pocket? If they were carded at some point in their life, they may trip a sensor requiring their movements to be redlined. Remember, when Toronto put restrictions on carding, the police were not forced to destroy all the unlawfully gained data already in the system. Could this level of scrutiny go to the next level in the name of ‘safety’; every physical space they walk into alerted to their presence. Young racialized men who have been subjected to carding programs have a challenging enough time walking around feeling free, will they self-sensor and never visit this new and special corner of the city?Will we be guaranteed that we will remain free of potential abuses of these smart spaces? Waterfront Toronto has already been asked to be more transparent in how the development deal was originally struck. What else will Waterfront Toronto, an arms-length agency of the city, try to keep from us to enhance the specialness of this place?
Nobel Peace Prize Winner Makes a Stop in Toronto
Earlier this month, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus, visited Toronto’s Centre for Social Innovation for a fireside chat. Dr. Yunus is known for his human centred approach to economics and finance. Originally from Bangladesh, Yunus was fuelled by the belief that credit is a fundamental human right and that loan sharks were making it next to impossible for anyone to get ahead. His objective was to assist the unhealthy people in his village by loaning them the money they needed directly. The belief was that these individuals could escape poverty if they were just provided with suitable loan terms and knew a few basic financial principles themselves. His intention was never to profit from these interactions, but to make personal finances more manageable.Dr. Yunus’s efforts to create economic and social development from below quickly gained momentum. As an outgrowth of Dr. Yunus's personal loans, he decided to transform his growing business into a bank specifically addressing the needs of the low-income majority in his country. In 1983, the Grameen Bank (meaning ‘village bank’) advanced to the forefront of a burgeoning global movement toward eradicating poverty through micro-lending. This innovation has transformed communities in developing and developed countries with similar banks established and modelled in more than 100 countries, all based on this humanitarian approach.Dr. Yunus’s work has inspired many; in viewing social business as a means to meet the needs of the many, a genuine business can be formed, barriers can be broken down, and individuals can progress. Through innovative humanitarians such as Dr. Yunus, we can see how micro decisions can redesign the system in which we live. This is our call to reclaim our relationships with each other and reinforce what it means to be truly human.
How to cook vegetables and maximize nutritional value
There is some truth to the old adage, “Eat your vegetables.” A diet rich in vegetables has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, hypertension and certain types of cancer. It is also true that cooking methods alter the nutrient composition of vegetables. And, while several studies have indicated cooking can degrade some nutrients, it can increase the availability of others.As a general rule, it is ideal to keep cooking temperature, time and the amount of liquid to a minimum. Steaming is considered the best way to cook most vegetables, especially broccoli. Steaming is a gentler way to cook because the vegetables do not come in direct contact with the cooking water.When on a time-crunch, microwave. That is because microwaving uses less heat, little to no water, and shorter cooking times, thus, preserving nutrients such as vitamin C.Sautée, do not fry. Sautéing in a little cooking oil, such as extra-virgin olive oil, is an ideal way to prepare many vegetables. This method will enhance flavour, and the addition of olive oil appears to increase the absorption of phytochemicals like phenols and carotenes.Roasting and baking is another healthy way to prepare vegetables. Adding fats such as olive oil is a good idea, since many of the nutrients in vegetables are fat soluble, and the body absorbs them better in the presence of fat. Studies indicate that cutting and heating tomatoes, with the skin and seeds still intact, opens up cell walls and allows greater access to the antioxidant lycopene. Adding some fat, such as olive oil, makes the nutrient more bioavailable. Griddling is great. Griddling involves the use of a pan with raised edges and is typically prepared in the oven or on the stove. Vegetables such as green beans, broccoli, and asparagus, cooked with a drizzle of olive oil, can increase flavour and be quite healthy.Boiling is the least favoured cooking method. Studies have shown the process leaches water soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins into the water, which is fine if the cooking water is to be consumed. Carrots are the exception. Boiling and steaming increase the levels of beta carotene which converts to vitamin A.Other Notables:Wash on demand. Wait to wash vegetables until just before use. This will safeguard water-soluble vitamins and minerals. Also, soaking vegetables can remove key nutrients such as vitamin C.Depends on how you slice, dice and cut it. Cooking vegetables whole preserves water soluble vitamins and nutrients. When this is not possible, cut vegetables into large, uniform pieces that will cook evenly. The final choice words; regardless of the cooking or preparation method, “Eat your vegetables.”
Ontario Liberals on Trial
Former Ontario Liberal staff members have been on trial twice in the last month on allegations of bribery and allegations of deliberately destroying emails related to the gas plant scandal.The bribery allegations were related to the by-election of Liberal MPP and Minister, Glenn Thibeault, in Sudbury. It was alleged that Premier Kathleen Wynne’s former Chief of Staff, Patricia Sorbara, and Liberal organizer, Gerry Lougheed, had bribed Andrew Olivier, a prospective candidate, with a position to convince him not to run for the Liberal nomination in the 2015 by-election. It was also alleged that positions were offered to Thibeault’s staff to convince him to run in the by-election. The trial led to Kathleen Wynne appearing in court as a witness where she discussed delegating broad tasks related to the Sudbury by-election to Sorbara and Lougheed, and tried to convince the court, as well as the province, that she did nothing wrong. The decision was eventually made to dismiss the charges, leading Ontario NDP MPP Gilles Bisson to say that the Liberals “got off on a technicality.” Sorbara said that they were grateful, and Lougheed said that the decision was a great relief. The other trial is related to the 2010 and 2011 Liberal decisions to cancel the gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga, which according to the Auditor General of Ontario cost at least 950 million dollars to close down, significantly more than what the Liberals originally promised. The trial is for David Livingston, former Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Chief of Staff and Laura Miller, McGuinty’s former Deputy Chief of Staff. The allegation is that Peter Faist, Miller’s common-law spouse, was hired by the two Liberal staff members to destroy documents related to the cancellation of the two gas plants - in particular, to wipe hard drives that were in McGuinty’s office during the transition period to Premier Kathleen Wynne. According to Faist, around 20 government hard drives were cleaned.The trial for Livingston and Miller is ongoing and both have pleaded not guilty to breach of trust, mischief in relation to data and misuse of a computer system. These two trials have caused many people to call into question the credibility of the Liberal government. The NDP has said that the Liberals have lost in the court of public opinion and the Progressive Conservatives have said that this is a scandal-ridden government.