HK Magazine

International Day Against Homophobia on May 17

liz — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:00:47 +0000

MAY- PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

This month HK magazine celebrates five years publishing articles that matter to you – each issue is chock full of health topics and
wholesome entertainment. We’ve cultivated steady growth in readership and supporters, and gained a voice in and for the community. As its creator, like any proud mother, I’m happy to meet the challenges to nurture, promote, strengthen and witness the success of my baby, Healthy Knowledge (HK) magazine.
We celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 13th. It’s a celebration for all women’s roles in the creation and development of our children, whether a mother, grandmother, auntie, or caregiver. We pay attention to the prenatal health of those women now carrying the next generation in their wombs. We pay attention to all birth and foster and adoptive mothers who dedicate their lives for the betterment of their children.
We choose not to harshly judge teenage moms or turn a blind eye to mothers who neglect their children. Here is a portion of a letter I
received from a man in his thirties when I contacted him about his mother:
”Phew… somebody else is aware when I
have had to grin and bear it for my entire
life. I can say honestly that my mother’s
network is full of undesirables and I quite
literally detest the lot. But as the lesson
goes, ‘Mother knows best’ and I have
cultivated over the years a type of
patience I’ve been told is far beyond
human tolerance.”
In our society today where drugs and alcohol are major setbacks, we look at mothers like Whitney Houston, who tried but failed to fight
her drug habits. Sadly, there are too many mothers who expose their children to abuse and unhealthy situations. As a mother myself
of a young adult, I’m aware that mothering is on-the-job training. Our parenting job review comes 25 years later.
There’s a special Mother’s Day greeting on page 36 for some of my community mothers who watched me growing up in Toronto from
my pre-teens; a big thank you to all my community mothers at the Women’s Committee at the Jamaican Canadian Association.

This issue is packed with information to preserve a healthy mind, body and spirit – from foods to healing, from gardening to baseball. We hope you enjoy your read and share the knowledge gained with family
members and friends. Our special feature is on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease. Jamaican-born Dr Gray, who established a MS unit at St
Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, is interviewed on pages 39 & 40.

Thanks to everyone who made HK’s success possible. We have enjoyed all the support we’ve received over the years and are looking
forward to serving you for another five years or more.
We invite you to keep in touch with us by mail or email editor@hkmagazine.info or by visiting us on our web site:
www.hkmagazine.info.
Wishing you healthy knowledge!!!!
Liz E. Philbert

APRIL PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

This month brings reasons to celebrate – spring is here and that means enjoying the great outdoors through gardening, hiking, walking, biking – and daily witnessing the emerging wonders of nature, as the ground and trees turn the colour-wheel and display their fresh spring palette.

We too have a chance to imitate nature and start afresh; we too can emerge with a bright new look and attitude! We can start with striving to nurture the seeds of dedication and determination to preserve and maintain a healthy body, mind and spirit.

Springtime is a good time as any to smile from the inside out. It’s a time to stop and look at the world around us. It’s a time to stop thinking about our day-to-day mundane lives and dream a little! First comes the dream, wish or goal. Wishing is free, so go ahead and sow that mental seed! Next – the plan and self-determined action needed to make your dream grow. Finally – the joy of seeing that flower blossom. The fulfillment of your goal, accomplished through hard work and persistence.

This issue of HK Magazine is filled with the information you need to get you there –whether your dream is running a 5K race, or embracing ways to improve the quality of your life – whatever your goal, this issue “Taking it to the Next Step” is for everyone.

Thanks to all the readers who emailed and wrote letters in response to last month’s publisher’s message. Seems most agree it’s time to put on our dancing shoes, sneakers, or pumps and sashay our bodies and minds towards more female bonding and support for success.

Let’s give recognition to some major religious holidays this month: Christian’s celebrate Easter, Jain’s Mahavir Jayanti, Jew’s Pesach (Passover), and Sikh’s Baisakhi.

Enjoy the pages following and let us know your thoughts. Email us at editor@hkmagazine.info

Wishing you healthy knowledge!
Liz Philbert

Ontario Medical Assoc. vs Hon Mattews – effects US!

liz — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:43:15 +0000

Several hundred fees paid to Ontario doctors are going under the knife as the province’s minority Liberals forge ahead with a wage freeze for physicians after labour negotiations fell apart last week.
The regulatory changes affecting Ontario Health Insurance Plan fees and premiums will retroactively take effect April 1, Health Minister Deb Matthews said Monday.
The latest salvo came after the Ontario Medical Association rejected her demand to hammer out an agreement over the weekend with a conciliator after months of negotiations.
“I was left with no choice,” Matthew said. “We were very clear with the OMA. We campaigned on a wage freeze, our budget was explicit that we were looking for a real wage freeze with doctors.”
But Matthews was at a loss to explain when the Liberals even mentioned a wage freeze in last fall’s election campaign.
Despite the unilateral cuts — and the threat of further changes to physician compensation — Matthews said she hopes the OMA will still come back to the negotiating table.
“We will make better choices if we do it together, I know that,” she said.
The changes will affect 37 procedures and services, from family care to cardiac care, diagnostic services, eye care and anesthesia. They’ll also eliminate double payments, such as a fee for inserting a cardiac catheter, which is already included in cardiac services.
The regulatory changes include slashing payments in half for doctors who “self-refer” — those who refer their patients back to their own practice for diagnostic services like X-rays. The province currently spends $88 million a year on self-referrals, according to ministry officials.
The province is cutting fees in half for electrocardiograms to save $21 million, and reducing fees for interpreting results of diagnostic radiology by five per cent to save $30 million.
It’s also lowering fees for colonoscopy and gastroscopy, dialysis teams and cataract surgeries. Cataract surgeries, for example, used to take two hours and now take about 15 minutes, officials said.
SOME OF THE CHANGES WILL AFFECT PATIENTS, SUCH AS DELISTING JOINT/SPINE MANIPULATION SERVICES AND LIMITING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY FOR PATIENTS WITH RETINAL DISEASE OR GLAUCOMA TO FOUR TIMES A YEAR.
THE PROVINCE IS ALSO PUTTING NEW RESTRICTIONS ON X-RAYS, CT AND MRI SCANS FOR THOSE WITH CHRONIC LOWER-BACK PAIN, AS WELL AS VEIN SURGERY AND SCLEROTHERAPY, WHICH IS OFTEN USED TO TREAT VARICOSE VEINS AND HEMORRHOIDS.
There is a silver lining: a new $16 fee for doctors who consult with other physicians via email. Consulting doctors get $20.50.
Doctors are now able to work more quickly and effectively due to new technologies but the fees haven’t changed, Matthews said.
At $911, Ontario is second only to Alberta for per-capita spending on doctors, the government said.
The average Ontario doctor bills $385,000 each year, about 75 per cent more than in 2003, when the Liberals took office. More than 400 doctors in the province are billing over $1 million a year.
Ophthalmologists, cardiologists and radiologists will be hardest hit by the reductions, officials said.
The fee cuts will save the province $338 million this year, but it’s only 80 per cent of what the province needs to meet its fiscal target to eliminate a $15-billion deficit, Matthews said.
And that’s not everything the government’s prepared to do to meet that target, she said. There are other programs that could be affected, such as retainer bonuses, if the OMA refuses to accept a “real” wage freeze.
The move should come as no surprise to the OMA, whose members were warned that doctors’ fees would be cut if they didn’t accept a wage freeze, she said.
Matthews insists the changes won’t affect patient care, despite warnings from the OMA that it will force patients to wait longer for health care and chase doctors out of the province.
The organization accused the Liberals of turning their back on doctors and patients.
The cuts are an “appalling step” from a government that promised to protect patients and negotiate fairly, said Dr. Doug Weir, a child psychiatrist who took over as OMA president on Saturday.
“Finally we learn the truth from the government: protecting patient care means eliminating programs and cutting fees; a wage freeze means dramatic cuts to fees and programs; and negotiating fairly means walking away from the table and imposing cuts,” he said in a statement.
The OMA also disputes the government’s claims of how much doctors earn, saying they actually rank seventh in the country in terms of their fees, according to the Canadian Institute of Health Information.
The two sides have been battling it out since February, with the cash-strapped government insisting that they can’t afford any new funding increases for doctors.
The minority Liberals are demanding the same from all broader public sector workers, including teachers, nurses and civil servants. They’ve also threatened to legislate the pay freeze if all other options at the negotiating table fail.
The OMA said it offered to freeze doctors’ fees for two years and find an additional $250 million in savings, but Matthews rejected the proposal.
The minister said the OMA wants the government — which already spends $11 billion a year on doctors’ fees — to pay for the rising costs of health care as the population ages. She wants the doctors to find the money to fill the gap.
The pay freeze for doctors and nurses is part of the Liberals’ plan to reduce annual growth in health-care spending to 2.1 per cent a year from the current 6.1 per cent, in order to slay the deficit in 2017.
Opposition Leader Tim Hudak plans to introduce legislation to impose an immediate two-year wage freeze on more than one million public sector workers in Ontario, saying immediate action is needed following the province’s credit downgrade by Moody’s Investors Service on April 26.

New Refugee Bill Will not Give Refugees a Fair Chance to Tell Their Stories

liz — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:23:34 +0000

New Refugee Bill Will not Give Refugees a Fair Chance to Tell Their Stories
The government has placed a new bill, Bill C-31, before parliament that will fundamentally change Canada’s refugee system. One of the most important changes is to the refugee claim process itself. Refugee claims will be decided much more quickly. In the opinion of most refugee experts, the process will be too fast; it will not give refugee claimants a fair chance to tell their story.
For more than twenty years, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has praised Canada’s refugee system as a model for other countries. In the Canadian system, every eligible refugee claimant is given a hearing before an independent member of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Most claimants have a legal representative to assist them and they have enough time to gather and present the evidence needed to prove that they are refugees. There are problems with the system: some of the Board members are not reliable decision-makers and there is no appeal, but the overall system gives most claimants a fair chance to tell their story.
The new system will be very different. After they make their claim at a port-of-entry, refugee claimants will have only 15 days to find a lawyer who can take their case and prepare a written statement explaining why they are a refugee. That is simply not enough time for someone who has just arrived in Canada, does not speak English or French, does not have a place to live, and knows nothing about Canada. Most immigrant Canadians can understand how confusing the arrival experience can be. If refugees do not deliver their written statement within 15 days, their claim will be abandoned and they will be removed from Canada. The result will be that many claimants will have to deliver written statements that are incomplete or inaccurate because they could not find an available lawyer or the lawyer did not have enough time to fully understand and prepare the claim.
Refugee hearings will be scheduled 30 or 60 days later, depending on the claim category. For many claimants, that will not be enough time to find the evidence and witnesses they need to prove their claim, especially if they need psychological or medical reports. Some claimants will not have a right to appeal a refusal by the IRB and could be deported from Canada 46 days after making their claim. Claimants who can appeal will have only about 21 days to make their appeal, not enough time to fully prepare an effective appeal.
Canada’s current refugee system is too slow and must be improved. But the government is going from too slow to much too fast. It is very difficult for most refugees to prove their claims. They are frightened, they do not understand the law and they do not know how to tell their stories without legal help. Under this new law, more refugee claimants will be forced to prove their claims without lawyers. Even with a lawyer, there will not be enough time to prove their claim. There will be more mistaken decisions by the IRB and more refugees will be sent back to persecution.
Peter Showler, Director, the Refugee Forum, University of Ottawa

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) disease Awareness

liz — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:31:49 +0000

When one thinks of the month of May, blooming flowers, chirping birds, and the promise of summer automatically comes to mind. However, we at HK Magazine would like to inform you that May is also Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month.

Multiple Sclerosis is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system. Although the exact causes of MS are still unknown, Multiple Sclerosis has been classified as an Autoimmune Disease. In the simplest sense, it begins when a defective immune system mistakenly attacks the protective material surrounding your neurons. As a result, the brain and spinal cord are damaged, and the messages being sent by your nervous system are severely obstructed.

Multiple Sclerosis is associated with some very distressing symptoms including:
• Visual Disturbances
• Fatigue
• Coordination and Balance Impairment
• Difficulties with Memory and Thinking
• Muscle Weakness
• Paralysis

It is devastating to note that onset of MS usually occurs between ages 20-40, a time when most people are starting families and establishing careers. What’s more, studies have shown that women are three times more likely than men to be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Even though Canadians have one of the highest rates of MS in the world, we are fortunate enough to have countless research facilities and doctors who are painstakingly doing all that they can to find a cure. Among them is Dr. Trevor Gray, Associate Director of the MS Clinic at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.

After practicing neurology for some time, Dr. Gray felt as though MS patients were not receiving the intense treatment that they deserved.
As a result, in 1982, Dr. Gray established the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at St. Michael’s, in the hopes of assisting in the fight against MS.
He remained Director of the clinic until 1995, when he handed the job
over to Dr. Paul O’Connor. Presently, the St. Michael’s MS Clinic
is revered as an active research facility, implementing clinical trials and testing of new treatment options.
HK Magazine was privileged enough to interview Dr. Gray and
dig a little deeper into his life as a neurologist.
When asked what the driving force was behind his decisionto practice medicine, Dr. Gray spoke of his childhood family doctor, who he considered to be “one of his greatest role models.” Years ago, when Dr.Gray suffered from Malaria, the care and support shownby his doctor was a real inspiration to him throughout his life.
Dr. Gray admits that he was fortunate enough to not be subjected to certain prejudices that arise when a visible minority attempts to enter the professional world. Nevertheless, he does not underestimate the difficulties that some young Black Canadians face in our society.
Lastly, Dr. Gray’s final message to the Black community is to always be conscious of your personal health. It is of vital importance to try to avoid detrimental habits like smoking. However, Dr. Gray stresses that
maintaining one’s mental health is equally as important.
For him, this includes keeping a positive attitude at all times.
MS is currently the most common neurological disease affecting young Canadians, proving that this disorder definitely hits close to home. It
is important to realize that you don’t have to have an M.D.like Dr.Gray in order to make a difference. Simply getting involved in the community by volunteering, or making a small donation to the Multiple
Sclerosis Society of Canada can have a long lasting effect.
In closing, Dr. Gray’s advice to individuals caring for family members with MS is to always be hopeful. Hopeful for medical advancements, hopeful for a cure, and hopeful that M will no longer stand
for Multiple Sclerosis, but stand for MIRACLES.

by Nicole Mensah

International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

liz — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 18:38:04 +0000

Date: March 21, 2012
For immediate release
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA ON INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the occasion of International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination:
“Each year, racial and ethnic discrimination take their toll around the globe by destroying lives, fracturing communities and preventing millions of people from achieving their full potential.
“While Canada ’s international reputation as a tolerant, free and pluralistic society is well earned, our Government recognizes how important it is to continue working closely with partners across the country to eliminate racism in all its forms. This is particularly important given our population’s growing diversity which already boasts well over 200 ethnic groups.
“Our Government is committed to making sure that Canada remains a home for people of all backgrounds. By delivering on targeted training initiatives and supporting programs that promote a more cohesive society, our Government is focused on a Canada in which citizens of all races can live in fully and equally.
“ Canada is not only combating racism at home; our Government is also working with international organizations to promote racial equality abroad by strengthening human rights education in developing countries.
“I encourage Canadians to take a moment today to reflect on the tremendous advantages that ethnic diversity confers on our great country and to take a stand against racism wherever it rears its ugly head.”

Five easy steps to a walking program by Heart & Stroke Foundation

liz — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:51:21 +0000

Provided by Heart and Stroke Foundation
Five easy steps to a walking program
Walking is such an easy, fun activity that many people forget it’s beneficial for your heart. With the right pace and time commitment, walking is a great way to lower your heart disease risk while enjoying fresh air, sunshine and scenery. It may seem like a simple, daily task, but in suburban areas where the car is king, just a little extra walking can carry noticeable benefits. Just 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week may lower your risk of heart disease.
According to the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey, more than 45 % of Canadians are physically inactive, which increases their risk of heart disease. Fortunately, small improvements in physical fitness can lead to significant reductions in risk of premature death. Speak to your healthcare provider before starting any physical activity routine. Then, follow these five easy steps. Soon, you’ll be walking to the beat of a healthier heart.
Step 1: Check out your community
Does your community have plenty of sidewalks and paths you can use? Can you walk to work, the grocery store, to your friend’s home? Some communities are walkable, others are not. Marcus Garnet, a planner with Halifax Regional Municipality, notes that more than 40% of the people living and working in Halifax’s city centre walk to work. Yet in many suburbs, long distances between homes, work and shopping often discourage Canadians from walking. The Halifax Regional Municipality, along with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, have laid the groundwork for improving community walkability and encouraging physical activity through a new 25-year Regional Plan, including an Active Transportation Plan for an improved network of sidewalks, trails and bicycle routes. But even if you live in a car-oriented community, your local park or a nearby bike or hiking trail can be a great venue for physical activity. Indoor shopping malls can also be a good place to walk when the weather is too cold or hot.
Step 2: Choose the right gear
Good walking shoes do more than create an attractive shell for your feet, they can also reduce strain on your back and make you focus on increasing your heart beat instead of corns and calluses. Shop around. You’ll want to find low-heeled, well-soled shoes that also have:
• a noticeable arch that is supple and springy
• wiggle room in the toes
• support for the heels of your feet to prevent them from sliding when you walk
Be sure to wear light, breathable fabrics that are good in any weather. During the cooler months, layer clothing – a T-shirt, sweater and jacket – so you can remove them as your body temperature increases.
Step 3: Walk with care
Walking is one of these safest ways to be physically active. Even so, it requires preparation and care, so follow these safety tips from Heather Arthur, PhD, cardiac rehabilitation researcher and Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research:
• Warm up by walking slowly for the first five minutes
• Drink water – even in winter – before and throughout your walks to replace the fluids lost through sweating
• When engaging in physical activity, you should always be able to talk. If you feel short of breath, dizzy or experience discomfort in your chest, shoulders or arms, stop what you are doing. If the pain doesn’t go away, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.
• Good posture will prevent injuries, so try to keep your back straight and your chin up, your shoulders down and relaxed and your abdominal muscles tight.
• If you are walking near roadways, wear reflective clothing.
• Walk with a friend. It’s more social and it adds an extra level of safety.
• In cold weather, wear a scarf around your mouth and nose and try walking downwind and at a slower pace to avoid windburn.
• In summer, be aware of smog and heat alerts, drink plenty of water and stop if you experience any dizziness or shortness of breath.
Step 4: Go slow and steady
Your muscles are like new shoes. You need to break them in slowly. If you go out and buy a brand new pair of shoes and wear them for a whole day, you end up with blisters. Likewise, a fast hour-long walk on your first day can cause your shins or calves to ache. Instead, walk for short periods throughout your day (10 minutes here and there) at a comfortable pace. As Arthur says, “The first objective is just to increase activity, period, and not worry about the intensity.” Once you’ve had a few weeks of walking under your belt, you might want to expand your walking for other reasons. Can you walk to work? The grocery store?
Step 5: Take it up a notch
Once you are comfortable with your walking distance, increase your speed moderately. “This is a focused and determined pace, not brisk,” Arthur says. To get to this pace, she suggests finding a route that is a mile long (1.6 km ) and trying to walk it in about 15 minutes.
Being physically active will do your heart a world of good. So lace up your shoes, and start walking!

HAITI – The history of freed slaves!

liz — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:40:43 +0000

HAITI – The history of freed slaves!
by Paterson Louis-Jean

In 1492, Christopher Columbus

This revolution was the first successful slave revolt and resulted in the first country to abolish slavery. It was the first time in history that a group of black people from all walks of life reunited together for one cause and created the nation we know today as Haiti. After gaining their independence, the nation also helped other nation such as Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador to equally gain their freedom. In addition, other famous Haitian contributed to history like Chicago’s founder, Jean-Batiste Point-du-Sable, the 5 Haitian Tuskegee airmen, artist like Jean-Michel Basquiat or writers like Edwidge Danticat.

Unfortunately, we found a very different Haiti having just celebrated their 206 years of independence when disaster struck on January 12 2010. At this very moment and for days later, the eyes of the world where once again on this forgotten nation. The horrific event would affect every single sons and daughters of Haiti who were left to watch on TV as their friends and family fight for their lives to get out of the rubbles. However, this date would also feel like a calling to every Haitians and their friends like a maroon war horn had been blown.

A vast majority of Haitians answered the call and a lot of organization got together to help in any way they can. Some to bring relief to the country, others to send goods and donations. In the GTA, many Haitian organization got together in order to reach out to Haiti. A lot of people decided to see for their own eyes what had taken place in their birth country. One particular Haitian from Toronto, Stanley Lilavois, from a Special Event organization name Unleashed Legacies, was specially affected by the earthquake and left at the end of January 2010. His parent’s house had collapsed and nearly killed his mom forcing her to live in her backyard. As he was driving through the rubbles, Stanley saw the desolation state of his native hometown. A sense of duty came to him and he decided to stay and donate his time. He volunteered at the General Hospital helping orphaned children with the necessities of life. He then volunteered with the red cross and different other programs touching the earthquake victims. He came back to Toronto a year later where he was designated to be a representative of the children voice foundation. He was also nominated for a humanitarian award.
The 70’s saw a large influx of people from the Caribbean leaving their Islands to search for a life either in the United States or in Canada. French being one of the official languages in Haiti, the ideal destination was Montreal. Because there was no direct flight from Haiti to Montreal, a lot of Haitian had to go through Toronto to reach the province of Quebec. As such, many decided to establish themselves in the Greater Toronto Area. For those who decided to live in Montreal, a declining economy and lack of opportunities mixed with a good education made life somewhat difficult for their children. Many of them now adults in the 90’s decided to take their chances and choose the city of Toronto as their home. The year 2000’s saw another type of exodus in Toronto. It came by way of Haitian or Haitian descent who lived for years in the United States but had failed to acquire any legal status. Faced with harsher immigration policies by the Bush Administration, they had no choice but to search for a better place to raise their children.

Now in 2012, Toronto is home to a vibrant Haitian population of which many decided to keep their culture alive through arts and cultures. GPHT, who organization are consistently offering way to promote the Haitian Culture for like-minded Haitians living in Toronto, Pierspective Entraide Humanitaire, who are currently working into rebuilding two schools in Haiti, FKZO whose festival gathered many to witness some of their favorite Haitian bands and Unleashed Legacies whose been consistently producing events and promoting their culture for the past 10 years are some of the few organization that have helped bring awareness to Haiti’s rich cultural heritage. Many of these organizations made a point to help in the reconstruction of Haiti

Publisher Message – International Women’s Day 101

liz — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:16:57 +0000

Publisher’s Message – March 2012
This month we celebrate the 101st Year of International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8th, with events throughout the GTA. Most women in Canada have come a long way – we’re out of the kitchen and home, holding jobs and demanding equal partnership and shared responsibility raising the children – a very few are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies (17), but a great many more run their own successful businesses.

Have we really come a long way? Are there still more ways we can help each other succeed? Be proud that we’re mentally growing out of suppression and inequality to men and are gaining the string to bind our strength as women. But why do we still have a lingering mind-set that sometimes disregards, belittles, and hurts other women with our own idle gossip? Can our womanhood bridge and strengthen our love, support, and trust for other women?

IWD calls for a celebration of women. “We HAVE come a long way.” And now it’s time to dispose of the baggage of jealousy and envy towards our sisters. We are learning – but way too slowly – how to accept and give women the benefit of the doubt, by exercising tolerance and respect for women who struggle in today’s society – from the sisters in bondage who are used as sex slaves; to the sister who is keeping her family together; to those who sit on executive chairs. Let’s embrace each other and help those who are struggling with negative energy and not feed further into their misery. We are all sisters. They call us WOMEN!!!!!

Emancipation – abolition of slavery Aug 1, 1834

liz — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:12:41 +0000

Emancipation Day

August 1, 2008

WHEREAS under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, Toronto was founded with a commitment to the abolition of slavery through the passage of the Anti-Slavery Act on July 9, 1793, thereby becoming the first jurisdiction in the British Commonwealth to move toward the abolition of slavery.
In 1807, the British government abolished the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade which, with the enactment of legislation on August 28, 1833, led to the abolition of slavery across the British Empire as of August 1, 1834; a considerable feat credited largely to advocacy efforts of abolitionists and people of African origin, including freed slaves.
In 1998, the Government of Ontario enacted a bill to proclaim August 1 as Emancipation Day to recognize the struggle for human rights, and the heritage and contributions being made to Canada by African Canadians. This day is commemorated each year in communities across Canada.
Toronto’s history is rooted in a commitment towards the elimination of inequality and all forms of discrimination through the efforts of equality seeking pioneers. Toronto City Council and the people of Toronto are in the forefront of efforts to establish a caring, compassionate society in which all its members have the right to live in conditions of good health, safety, dignity, respect and peace.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor David Miller, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim August 1, 2008 as “Emancipation Day” in the City of Toronto and also recognize the 175th anniversary of the enactment of legislation to abolish slavery in the British Empire.

Mayor David Miller
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM – lyrics – sang on You Tube

Lift every voice and sing, till earth and Heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet,
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered;
Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
Thou Who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou Who hast by Thy might, led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee.
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee.
Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand,
True to our God, true to our native land

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLACK & CARIBBEAN LIST for 2011

liz — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:46:11 +0000

BY Rachelle Gooding

FOR ADULTS
A Shadow on the Household: One Enslaved Family’s Incredible Struggle for FreedomBryan Prince, 2009
The powerful bonds of family that even slavery and forced separation could not destroy are celebrated in this historic account by a Canadian researcher.

Arrival of the Snake Woman: Stories
Olive Senior, 2009 Jamaica, the birthplace of Torontonian Olive Senior, provides the setting for seven powerful and poignant stories that explore themes of migration, child abuse, colour caste and identity.

Emancipation Day: Celebrating Freedom in Canada
Natasha Henry, 2010
August 1st 1834 ushered in the end of slavery throughout the British Empire and the beginning of the celebration of Emancipation Day. This book explores the distinct traditions and practices of Emancipation Day festivities across Canada with emphasis on Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and British Columbia.

Fatherhood 4.0: New iDad Application Across CulturesDalton Higgins, 2010
Some of Canada’s most acclaimed multicultural personalities, intellectuals, entertainers, athletes, and public figures share stories, memories, insights, and revelations about fatherhood, from the comic to the tragic.

From Harvey River: A Memoir of my mother and her peopleLorna Goodison, 2007
This Canadian author tells the story of her family and the ties that bind them to their native land, Jamaica.

Horses in Her Hair: A Granddaughter’s Story Rachel Manley, 2008
Governor General of Canada award winning writer Rachel Manley tells the story of her grandmother’s remarkable life and her artistic contribution to Jamaica.

The New Moon’s Arms
Nalo Hopkinson, 2007
Set on a mythical Caribbean island this critically acclaimed sci-fi novel is a richly textured coming of middle-age story of a woman named, appropriately enough, Calamity. Not to be missed for fans of magic realism.

Nuff Said: PoemsMichelle Muir, 2009
Muir, a fourth grade teacher in a Canadian school, uses the hip hop genre to probe music, life, education and much more.

Other Tongues: Mixed race Women Speak Out
Adebe Darango-Adem and Andrea Thompson
This anthology explores racial identity through the experiences of North American mixed-race women. Readers will be engaged through poetry, spoken word, fiction and non-fiction works.

OssuariesDionne Brand, 2010
Brand’s newest collection of poetry examines the “bones” of fading cultures and ideas and the living museums where these “bones” are found.

Pink Icing and Other stories
Pamela Mordecai, 2006
Engaging, lively, and thoughtful, this collection is as much about the human Diasporas as it is reflective of the variety of Caribbean experiences. The cake here makes for reading as delicious as the icing.

Revival: an Anthology of Black Canadian Writing Donna Bailey Nurse, editor, 2006
A lively survey of Black literature from across the Canadian landscape. Bailey Nurse, a literary journalist, takes us on a captivating journey through the poetry, fiction and memoir of established and emerging African-Canadian authors.

Second Life of Samuel Tyne Esi Edugyan, 2004
In this riveting tale, Ghanaian, Samuel believed that his new life in Canada would be filled with great success and promise. Fifteen years later, in a dead-end job, Samuel’s life is turned upside down after his estranged uncle dies leaving him an inheritance.

Tightrope Time: Ain’t Nuttin’ More Than Some Itty Bitty Madness Between Twilight & Dawn
Walter Borden, 2005
Walter Borden, acclaimed Canadian actor uses his one-man multi-character play to reveal various personalities that have shaped his outlook on life.

For Teens
Between Sisters
Adwoa Badoe, 2010
A 16 year old Ghanaian teen struggles with literacy, immigration, secrets, betrayals, friendship, romance and compassion.

Break on through
Jill Murray, 2007
Nadine believes that her parents’ relocation is a conspiracy to keep her from breakdancing and from her boyfriend.

Limbo
Jacqueline Honnet, 2005
Stories profile characters reliving the past and present, searching for meaning and finally accepting their circumstances.

Tyrell
Coe Booth, 2006
Tyrell battles with homelessness, the harsh realities of inner-city urban life and struggles with poverty, romance, temptations and family matters.

Walking
Joanne Haynes, 2007
This is a coming-of-age novel, where teens identify with Josephine’s experiences as a teenager to adulthood.

For Children
Black Magic
Dinah Johnson, illus. Gregory Christie, 2010
Overflowing with sensuous prose and artwork, this bright and energizing book abounds with the beauty of being Black as seen through the eyes of a young girl.

Boy I am loving me!
Angelot Ndongmo, 2009
With positive imagery and verse, this picture book exemplifies the richness and pride a young boy feels about being Black.

Children of Africville
Christine Welldon, 2009
In the late 1960s the residents of Africville, a small Black community in Halifax, were relocated to another area in the city. Former residents recall their memories of the final years of this community.

Grease Town
Ann Towell, 2010
Based on a race riot that occurred in Oil Springs, Ontario, in 1863, Grease Town, is an eye opening story about twelve-year-old Titus, who runs away to join his uncle in the first Canadian oil boomtown only to become caught up in a race riot.

The Kids Book of Black Canadian History
Rosemary Sadlier, illus. Wang Qijun, 2003
Beginning with early African civilizations, the author takes the reader over hundreds of years of history to reveal interesting and sometimes little known facts about the contributions of African Canadians to Canadian history.

The Nutmeg PrincessRichardo Keens-Douglas, contributor, Annouchka Gravel Galouchko, 1992
Caribbean-Canadian storyteller Ricardo Keens-Douglas treats us to one of his best-loved stories, The Nutmeg Princess.

Curtain up! : A book for young performers
Dirk McLean, illus. France Brassard, 2010
When Amaya decides to audition for a role in a professional play she soon learns that it involves much hard work and team effort. This book is a great way to introduce young children to the world of performers while sharing in Amaya’s experience.

Viola Desmond Won’t be Budged
Jody Nyasha Warner, 2010
In 1946, unsung hero, Viola Desmond refused to give up her seat on the main floor of a movie theatre in Nova Scotia. Her struggle and determination to stand up against racial discrimination are wonderfully presented in this picture book.