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Stability

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Lessons from 10 years of undergrad

by Ammar Karam April 23, 2021

written by Ammar Karam

Ammar Karam reflects on a long journey to graduation

I’ve been in undergrad for 10 years. I started mechanical engineering at one of the best universities in South Africa in January 2010. I was a fresh-faced 17-year-old, excited to be at the starting line and hoping to design and write about cars at the finish. My plan was to complete the four year degree, do a journalism masters and become one of the hosts of Top Gear.

After failing three crucial subjects in my first year, I got a bit of a rude awakening. I came to the conclusion that this degree was going to take me five years. Then I failed my third year. Badly. Alright, this degree was going to take me six years. Then, in 2014, I came to Canada. I was supposed to have already graduated. I tried to convince Ryerson engineering to accept my courses from South Africa. Since there was also the possibility of me returning, I was simultaneously trying to convince South Africa to accept my courses here in Ryerson. After that didn’t work out, I got stuck between the two programs, forcing me to drop the whole thing — five years down the drain.

Lots of people have asked me over the years about whether I should have continued here in Toronto or in South Africa; sucked up the time I spent here and taken all my courses again and finished. In my eyes, I had already finished. I had done fourth year courses and aced them (except statistics — fuck statistics). All I needed to do was some final thermodynamics and design courses and a project and then the iron ring was mine. But since that wasn’t going to be a possibility, I had to just move on and try to do the thing I originally wanted to do: write.

Now I say it lightly, but moving on from five years in an academically demanding program was not easy. I fell pretty hard and there were some very dark moments. The only thing that kept me going was some sort of stubbornness to finish. I wanted to finish in spite of losing one of my main life aspirations.

So I applied to journalism school at Ryerson. Too late. Got told that I missed the deadline and that the applications would be too difficult to get in. Try again next year. So I found out what day applications open and set an alarm for the week before to sort out my portfolio. I wrote my entry essay the morning of the deadline, because what’s life without a bit of spice? But I handed it all in and was, thankfully, accepted. Mama, we made it.

My cohort were all fresh-faced 18 year olds. Yes, I did have a superiority complex. I thought I was hot shit. But I was quickly shown that I wasn’t. Journalism presented some new challenges that I still can’t quite get over — I’m talking about streeters, asking people on the street for their opinions.

Finishing school is an interesting feeling: the excitement of being done, the camaraderie amongst everyone who has finished with you and the regret of those who weren’t able to join you. There’s the feeling of standing on the edge of a cliff with the realization that from here on out, it’s work. You have to sustain yourself and you don’t have four month long summer breaks.

School is a big privilege and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. However, I think that there is beginning to be a shift in how the world works, as tertiary education gets more expensive and harder for people to get into. Let me be the first to say that university degrees are not necessary for a successful life. You do not have to go to university to be successful. I’ve met and worked with many people who are successful without once having done “higher education.”

Having spent a decade in university has left me with some insights, taught me some lessons and I’d like to just share them:

Don’t rush yourself

I’ve seen so many people rush through programs and then end up with a degree they might not have necessarily wasted time on, but afterwards regret it and wish they did something else or found out that this wasn’t exactly the stream that they wanted to go into. I support the idea of doing a victory lap or two after school and living in the real world a bit, and finding something that you’re passionate about to study further. If you don’t want to study anything further that’s fine, but make sure you’re developing skills that will help you be employed in a job that you can grow into over the course of your years.

Don’t fret over wasted time

I thought I spent six years doing a degree that I ultimately had (almost) nothing to show for. But as I moved onto journalism, I found that there were some transferable skills that I had learned in my engineering. The ability to understand mechanical designs, thermodynamics and physics have all helped me work with stories within those fields. The ability to approach things from an engineering perspective helped me with some academic difficulties. For example, I wrote stories like I would write a report, with every section carefully planned out. My point is that no matter what you’ve done in the past, if you focus on always learning from an experience you will never have wasted your time.

Be kind to yourself

University brings together many people from different backgrounds and of many different abilities. Some people are going to be top of the class. I’m not an A student— I’m barely a C student. It’s good to have the drive to want to be the best but it’s just as important to recognise if you are not and focus on what you’re good at instead. If you’re good at school (I’m very much not), that’s great. If you’re good at other things (writing, networking, drawing) focus on developing those skills further while you’re in school!

Put school first

One of the major reasons why I failed my first and third year is because I didn’t put school first. The ability to prioritize different areas in your life will be an extremely important skill for your future. The years in which I was working part-time or full-time and I was more interested in partying with my coworkers, my academic performance suffered. But the years where I put school first and actually gave it the proper time and attention, it was easy and I did well. It doesn’t mean becoming a 24/7 student. It just means that if you have an assignment due on Friday don’t go partying from Monday to Thursday. Finish the assignment first, then go partying.

This also applies if you’re not a student too. If you prioritize your job, focusing on furthering connections in your field or working on a big project, you will do better at it. If you prioritize playing drums and drawing, you will become better at them too. Pick the areas in your life that you want to prioritize and live accordingly.

Don’t be scared of the future

We are entering a post-pandemic workforce in an increasingly divided political and socio-economic environment. Be brave, take lots of chances and keep a sharp eye out for opportunities. Use every little piece of networking and any tools at your disposal to create better opportunities for yourself and for others too. If you meet someone who is in a position to offer you a job, keep their email and try to follow up and even just ask them questions about their work and career. That bit of interest could mean a job offer in the future. Don’t brown nose and don’t be obsessive but keep your options open and always make sure to expand your network at a pace you feel comfortable with.

Balance work and school

If you’re working while in school, make sure that you’re clear about what this job means to you. If you need the job to make ends meet and keep a roof over your head, that’s great, but don’t let it take over your life. If it does become a toxic environment, leave that job and try to find something else. Talk to your professors and reach out as soon as you can. The longer your instructors are unaware, the harder it can be for them to help you.

If your job is career-related and is something that you are planning on pursuing outside of school, make sure that you are using it to its fullest potential. Your life after school is going to be more important than school itself so make sure you’re performing well in your job and well enough at school. Controversial advice, I know, but at the same time, it’s something I think is important.

You’re still very young

School may make you feel old and mature but in the grand scheme of things, your life is only beginning. Think about the last 20 years. They’ve felt like an eternity, right? Now imagine doing that same stretch of time now into the future and you’ll be 40! I say this as someone who is on the cusp of 30; I’ve still got another 30 years before I’m 60. And I’ll still be kicking then too. So when you fall into the ‘I’m so old, my life is essentially over’ spiral, this is an uplifting thought process that has helped me.

Be compassionate

We’re all different and we all have different life stories, backgrounds and struggles. It goes without saying but be kind to one another, don’t invalidate each other’s experiences, actually listen when others speak and think and decide for yourself. Unfortunately, life isn’t fair and sometimes you’ll be in a position where someone else might get the opportunity you were hoping for. Pick yourself up and find another because you’ll probably get one that someone else was hoping for too.

April 23, 2021

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Toronto kitchen provides fresh meals for homeless in the city

by Rhea Singh April 22, 2021

written by Rhea Singh

Unity Kitchens has created a safe community for those facing homelessness and food insecurity

With its walls of pale yellow bricks standing in stark contrast next to the metallic walls of the Eaton Centre, there is a place much warmer, safer and welcoming for those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in the city of Toronto.

This is where Unity Kitchen was born, a community service kitchen located in The Church of Holy Trinity (TCHT) which provides those who are facing homelessness in Toronto with fresh food and resources such as tents, jackets and sleeping bags. The kitchen operates out of the Trinity Square Cafe located within the church.

Every morning, the smell of sage from the morning meeting and fresh ingredients engulf the church. By 10 a.m., head chef Tara Currie is here. She washes her hands, heats up the food for the morning service, and at 11 a.m., food service begins.

“We’re always busy here,” said Currie. “Sometimes we have 100 people, or more than 100, but usually it’s just 100 or under.”

In March 2020, the church began offering sandwiches and soups to those living in encampments around the church, as well as those living unhoused in Toronto’s downtown eastern core. The pandemic created food insecurity for those facing homelessness as a result of food programs around the city closing, which led to a higher demand for the kitchen’s services.

According to research, conducted by the University of Toronto, one in eight households faced food insecurity prior to the pandemic. Since the pandemic began, there has been a jump to over 600,000 residents in the city facing food insecurity, according to Toronto Foundation. However, for those facing homelessness, rates of food insecurity were much higher, with a 200 per cent increase in people connecting with food banks since the pandemic started.

Unity Kitchen — much like the church itself — exudes a type of familial warmth, with the aromatic smell of freshly cooked meals, shared conversations amongst staff and volunteers, and the comfort of a safe space.

With the help of Trinity St. Paul’s Church, St. Matthews Church, the Korean Catholic Church, Indigneous community groups, ex-prisoners and the Toronto Jummah Prayer Hall — to name a few — Unity Kitchen began to expand. The program is a partnership between the Church of Holy Trinity and Toronto Urban Native Ministry who provide financial support, guidance, leadership and outreach work. Other outreach groups such as Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction, the Indigenous Support Project at the University of Toronto, Equitable Action for Change and Trans Pride Toronto also provide support to the church.

Currie initially began volunteering at Unity Kitchen before being offered her position of head chef. Prior to taking the job in THTC, she had been part of a culinary program at Christie Pitts that closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Currie explained that with most soup kitchens, frozen or donated foods are normally served but those also aren’t the best quality, with the lack of freshness. By providing fresh food, the kitchen destigmatized the negative narrative around homelessness and humanizes people that need care the most.

“People have said in the lineup that coming here and getting food from us is one of the only times that they feel validated as a human,” said Currie.

Currie recalls an instance where her cheese tomato and egg sandwich became the favorite of a regular, a sandwich that she had grown up eating. Another regular expressed how much it reminded them of growing up and what he used to eat.

Sinclair Bletcher-Lowman, who is an emergency community support fund project facilitator at Unity Kitchen, shares the same feeling of wanting to create a validating space.

“Here, we try to really create a space where anybody from anywhere [can]…feel affirmed in themselves,” said Bletcher-Lowman. “It’s really about expanding what we understand ‘community’ to be and who is included in a community.”

Their journey with Unity Kitchen began 10 months ago, when the church began its emergency food outreach service. During the beginning, Bletcher-Lowman would prepare large batches of soup each week alongside their mother at their childhood home for the church. Overtime, Bletcher-Lowman found themselves spending more time at Unity Kitchen, from volunteering to do food distribution services and more recently becoming the emergency community support fund project facilitator in January.

Now, Unity Kitchen serves one meal during the day, which includes a hot fresh meal and drinks, clothing and resources for shelter, and basic necessities.

“Collectively we realized that this was going to be a long-term situation of our organization…this need is present and appears to be growing,” said Bletcher-Lowman

The City of Toronto implemented a COVID-19 response plan for those experiencing homelessness in the city, which included prevention, mitigation and recovery. However, since its inception on April 16 2020, the city has seen a major increase in displacement and homelessness. The Canadian Medical Association Journal detailed that homeless individuals were five times more likely to contract and die from COVID-19, and most recently an outbreak occurred at Maxwell Meighen Centre that included cases of a variant virus.

Outbreaks in shelters have been reported at an alarming rate more recently with the introduction of the UK variant in Ontario. Since the start of the year, the city has seen over 274 cases, and a total of 1,118 positive cases linked to shelter outbreaks. For many, encampments are much safer and accessible.

“The city and the federal government were relying on this network of small organizations to shuffle people from place to place, from meal to meal,” said Zachary Grant, community director at TCHT. “When all of the networks shutdown, it really revealed how dismal our care for the community was.”

Grant detailed that during the pandemic, they had been told that formal agencies that provide resources were closed, revealing an absence of good policy for the most oppressed in Toronto’s community. “Before COVID-19 happened, we were already in a crisis of houslessness of a growing scarcity of public space and social policy that was being dictated by developers.”

When Grant first began working with the church, they noticed that there was an ongoing battle between those who were facing homelessness and what they called the developer class; those who were working on initiatives of policing public spaces and using it for private purposes.

“Yonge and Dundas Square would be one of them, where it was initiated as a public gathering place,” said Grant. “Now, it’s under public-private partnership…private security firms that govern the territory there are able to dictate who can and cannot be there, this is a phenomenon that’s happening across the City of Toronto.”

These actions are also seen in public spaces. Over the past year, through the increase of encampments across the city, we have seen the city use force to remove tents and resources from public parks. On Dec. 9 2020, two white trucks removed a tiny house shelter near Lake Shore Boulevard and Carlaw Avenue. More recently, the city removed multiple tiny shelters from Alexandra Park in February, this was just after the city filed an injunction against Kahleel Seivwright, carpenter and creator of the tiny shelters.

Recently, city officials have given encampment residence eviction notices to relocate to shelters through the Pathway Inside Program, which include shelters located in Novotel. This is currently only accessible to those in the four major encampments in the city: Alexandra Park, Moss Park, Lamport Stadium and Trinity-Bellwoods.

However, with the cities lack of action Unity Kitchen and other folks have taken matters into their own hands. Grant remembers people who have impacted their community, such as a young woman who wanted to be a nurse, helping those with stab or gunshot wounds and going around the city helping those who need medical assistance. They also remember an Indigenous elder who started a project called Native Wishing Well, where he and a few other people would hold onto tents, sleeping bags and other supplies for people coming to Trinity Square at night and in moments of crisis.

“I don’t know if there is a magnetic draw, but if you’re in a crisis… the city seemed to funnel you here, and they were ready for it.” said Grant. “When they came across someone in crisis they would work together to meet that person’s primary needs, get them stabilized and then work to find what the next thing was for their well-being.”

Grant said that they learn a lot from these folks, and that it’s inspiring to see unhoused people coming to help and volunteer as much as they can.

“Those folks who our society has written off and said ‘they don’t even deserve housing’ are really showing us and leading us each day in the ways that we should be in our heart…with one another,” said Grant. “(They’re) showing us that there’s no barriers to being a positive force in our communities.”

April 22, 2021

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New research suggests Covid-19 worsening mental health, substance use

by Frank Quaranta April 20, 2021

written by Frank Quaranta

University students among those at increased risk

A recent study conducted by a team of Ottawa researchers found that a majority of university students report that COVID-19 has negatively impacted their stress levels and mental health.

Female subjects responded more negatively to the pandemic’s effects than their male counterparts; 59.6 per cent of women reported a moderate to severe negative impact on their mental health compared to 39.8 per cent of men.

The study also found that a significant portion of respondents used substances to cope; 23.8 per cent reported drinking alcohol and 17.5 per cent reported using cannabis at least a moderate amount as a coping mechanism to deal with the stress of COVID-19. Many respondents also associated their substance use with “greater negative impacts on academic outcomes, stress and mental health.”

The study explained that “young and emerging adults” are one of the groups struggling the most to cope with the pandemic. “Emerging adulthood is already a transitional and stressful period, filled with instability owing to changes in education, living arrangements, and relationships… if this group is already encountering a number of stress and mental health difficulties, the stress of the pandemic might further exacerbate these concerns.”

The Ryerson chapter of the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP) is an abolitionist organization that tackles substance use issues from all angles. One factor that both the CSSDP and the study attribute substance use to is academic difficulties.

“Many students may not have the capacity to stare at a screen for that long, and may turn to stimulants to help focus,” CSSDP member Steph Rychlo pointed out. Rychlo also pointed out that, because substance use is often used as a coping mechanism, students may also take other drugs like opioids to deal with the stress of academics.

“If you are mixing substances, you’re more likely to overdose,” Rychlo said. “And if you have no one there to check in on you because you’re using alone or are isolated, then there’s no one there to respond if you overdose.”

While university students are considered a struggling group, they are not the only group whose mental health and substance use have worsened. “Alcohol use and drug use has significantly increased over the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Andrew (Hyoun-soo) Kim. “That’s the overall trend we’re seeing.” Kim is an assistant professor in clinical psychology at Ryerson University; he also directs the school’s Addictions and Mental Health (ADMH) Laboratory.

Kim cites alcohol sales as one key indicator that supports this larger phenomenon. When compared to March 2019, Ontario’s alcohol sales in March 2020 (when COVID-19 lockdowns first took effect) increased by 38 per cent.

More locally, paramedic data shows that the area surrounding campus sees significantly more opioid overdose calls than other parts of the city. Even after Ryerson’s campus emptied in response to COVID-19 protocols, the density data does not appear to have changed. University students are not alone in their negative reactions to the pandemic.

This is because the community surrounding Ryerson is an at-risk community for addiction. One determinant that both Rychlo and Kim point to is housing insecurity. “We know that one robust risk factor for both addictions and mental health is housing and housing inequality,” Kim said. “When you have a housing market like Toronto where there is unaffordable housing, that’s going to lead to increased mental health and addiction issues.”

While many predicted that housing prices would drop as a result of the pandemic, housing has actually become less affordable. In February 2021, detached homes in Toronto were, on average, 23.1 per cent more expensive than they were in February 2020, a month before lockdowns took effect.

“It’s easy to label someone’s substance use as problematic,” Rychlo explained. “But the root issue of the person’s scenario might be that they have insecure housing and are using substances to cope.”

Rychlo and Kim both asserted that tackling the issue of substance use at multiple social angles is an effective way to combat it. The Ottawa research team behind the study agrees. “Addressing student well-being and developing systems to mitigate potential declines in well-being will continue to be essential as the pandemic evolves.”

April 20, 2021

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What’s behind the crystal wellness boom?

by Jordan Fleguel April 15, 2021

written by Jordan Fleguel

Crystal healing has become more popular during the pandemic, but scholars and market experts are skeptical of their healing properties

At the start of the pandemic, Octavia Bullen, a third-year Ryerson nursing student, worked in a retirement home in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak that lasted for three months.

She saw many of her elderly patients die during the outbreak, leaving her feeling depressed and isolated.

To cope, Bullen began researching spiritual healing practices online. When she started looking into the benefits of crystal healing, she said the idea began to resonate with her more and more.

She now owns over 20 different crystals that she uses every day — each with its own unique healing purpose.

“Just looking at them; their colour, their texture, it just makes me happy and they’re really positive and uplifting,” said Bullen. “Their colours as well, the calming blues and the whites, it’s grounding for me because I use them to meditate.”

Stories like Bullen’s have become increasingly common. Over the course of the pandemic, demand for metaphysical healing objects like crystals has soared. There’s been a steady climb in Google searches for “crystal healing” during this past year, as well as “crystal healing shops near me,” according to Google trends.

The rise in demand has been attributed to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic that’s left many feeling alone and looking for ways to improve their health and wellness from home.

However, crystal healing, once a niche subculture within the wellness industry according to Lexology, is now also being touted by celebrities from Kim Kardashian-West to Adele, who claim that healing crystal energy has helped them to improve their lives.

Each crystal is meant to have its own unique healing purpose. Rose Quartz, which Katy Perry said helps her attract men, is known as the stone of universal love and is said to restore trust and harmony in relationships.

Amethyst is said to be a natural tranquilizer that can relieve stress and strain, soothe irritability and dispel anger, fear and anxiety.

“I have Angelite, it’s a blue crystal, it’s really round and it’s used to open your throat chakra,” said Bullen. “I have it beside me if I’m on Zoom calls or whatnot, it gives me a lot of inner confidence.”

Though many people swear by crystals and their healing energy, skeptics have always questioned whether there’s any scientific basis for these claims.

“Some people say that crystals, which are well formed crystalline minerals, emit energy and that’s what they’re using for healing,” said Roberta Flemming, a mineralogist and professor at the University of Western Ontario. “Minerals actually do absorb energy and then they can re-emit energy.”

Flemming says that although minerals do have unique energetic properties, when it comes to physical healing, there’s no proven scientific connection.

“I think people’s ‘folk’ observations do have some basis in science but it’s a fairly thin thread,” added Flemming.

Still, Flemming says she’s always been open to the idea of linking the spiritual with the scientific, adding that crystals could simply be influencing the psychological health of people, which in turn could translate to physical healing.

“Some of it is psychological,” she said. “It’s like a placebo effect – if you believe something’s working, then it’s working.”

That sentiment is shared by many crystal users, who don’t seem to mind the lack of hard scientific evidence linking them to physical healing.

“If it helps people believe that it helps their wellness then maybe that’s all that matters,” said Daisy-Claire Gibb, a third-year Ryerson nursing student. “It’s the same thing with any religion, if a prayer helps you feel good internally, it doesn’t matter if that prayer is heard.”

Both Gibb and Bullen say they believe that crystal healing and other kinds of spiritual wellness practices can go hand-in-hand with modern nursing.

“The way health is being viewed is shifting, especially in nursing,” said Gibb. She added that she believes nursing should encompass a holistic, broad definition of wellness. “We are taught to keep in consideration cultural, spiritual and religious factors when we’re delivering our care.”

Crystals used as spiritual, healing objects is a worldwide billion-dollar industry, but crystals are used in countless other ways in our modern, technology-based society, said Jordan Vivian, a travelling prospector and miner.

“A lot of people don’t know that all technology is based on crystals and crystal mining,” Vivian said. “Every radio, TV, phone, computer, car and any other piece of technology uses dozens of different crystals to function. Modern society is a mining society and most people don’t know it.”

Vivian’s attachment to crystals goes beyond his vocation. As someone who spent years on and off in urgent care at the hospital due to tumours and blood loss, among other things, he said they helped him find hope. “Crystals have been a part of my healing from day one.”

Crystals and minerals, with their myriad of uses, are always in high demand, but mining them can be dangerous work.

Before becoming an independent prospector, Vivian was an explosives operator, working alongside a crew that blasted one to two million pounds of stone a day from Ontario quarries for construction and roadwork.

Vivian said that so many of his old mining friends have died on the job that he’s lost count. Anything from lung damage to cave-ins can be fatal.

Every healing crystal in a spiritual shop or pop-up market was mined by someone and the likelihood that they will die on the job is higher than many people realize. Around the world, mining accounts for over 15,000 deaths annually, not including independent prospectors whose deaths may not be officially recorded.

Questions have been raised about the working conditions in the mines that most healing crystals emerge from as well as the negative environmental impacts of mining itself.

For years, crystal sellers chose not to reveal where their products came from and many continue to be elusive about it, though consumer attitudes are driving a shift in the industry.

Many crystal users and shop owners today will only buy crystals that were mined in ethical, safe and sustainable ways, but that information isn’t always accurate or available.

In any case, demand for crystals as spiritual objects will likely continue to rise as more and more people suffer from loneliness, depression and anxiety, according to the Washington Post.

The demographic of crystal users will likely also continue to shift younger as time goes on, to include more students and young adults like Bullen and Gibb.

“If you want to embark on a crystal healing journey, I definitely would recommend doing research,” said Bullen. “Read on different types of crystals, what they do, their properties and search within yourself and find the areas where you’re hurting.”

Gibb says that more people her age are getting into spirituality and crystal healing because the pandemic has forced them to slow down and look inwards at problems that they’d normally be able to ignore.

“Spirituality is really just about love towards yourself and others,” said Gibb. “Crystals can help with that.”

April 15, 2021

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‘Serious flaws’ in how Toronto police handle missing persons cases: Independent review

by Jonathan Bradley April 14, 2021

written by Jonathan Bradley

Review was prompted after LGBTQ2S+ community raised concerns about the investigation into murders by serial killer Bruce McArthur

There are serious flaws in how missing persons cases are handled by Toronto Police Service, according to an independent review issued on Tuesday.

The review was prompted after members of Toronto’s LGBTQ2S+ community raised concerns that the investigations the Toronto police conducted into Bruce McArthur, a serial killer who killed eight gay and bisexual men, were full of bias that ultimately hampered the search for the perpetrator.

Former Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Gloria Epstein, who led the report, said that change is necessary to ensure a similar situation never happens again.

“To be clear, we are past the time for conversation only,” said Epstein. “The public is entitled to insist on transformative change with measurable, sustainable outcomes, timelines for completion and accountability.”

The disappearances of Toronto men connected to McArthur were given less attention or priority than the cases deserved, according to the review. These victims belonged to marginalized communities.

Some officers had misconceptions or stereotypical ideas about the LGBTQ2S+ community that impeded their work. Officers missed opportunities to use community expertise or resources to learn more about the LGBTQ2S+ community and identify what leads might be available.

Interim Toronto Police Chief James Ramer said that he is open to changes outlined in the review. He apologized for the police being ineffective with these investigations, citing there have been too many times when Toronto police “did not meet the standards expected of them” in missing persons investigations.

“Many chapters were difficult to read and certainly humbling,” said Ramer. “Justice Epstein has given our service much to reflect on who we are and how we carry out the jobs we are entrusted to do.”

Many feel the Toronto police remained uninterested in the disappearances of McArthur’s victims until Andrew Kinsman, a white victim, was reported missing.

Kinsman’s family and friends mobilized in a public way to ensure his disappearance received the attention it deserved. The review said proper missing persons investigations should not depend on whose voices are the loudest.

The review lists 151 recommendations the Toronto police can take to improve. Epstein said these recommendations, if taken, are broad-ranging and transformative.

The report provides an alternative investigation model on how missing persons cases should be handled. The review calls for certain parts of investigations to be moved away from Toronto police and towards civilians and social agencies where possible.

The recommendations recognize certain cases demand effective, timely and discrimination-free criminal investigations that give deserved priority to select people. Other cases require a multidisciplinary response involving police and communities in true partnership.

A key component of the recommendations is to have civilians become more involved with the Toronto police. The recommendations call for civilians to be appointed as missing persons coordinators and support workers to assist those affected by disappearances.

Epstein said her extensive engagement with community members and organizations confirmed that many people have deep mistrust towards the police that is rooted in decades of past police interaction with marginalized communities.

“The Toronto Police Service can do better — in a new and improved environment in which its role is redefined,” she said. “In my view, the board and the service must start the process with a commitment to do better, one rooted in concrete, transparent and strategic plans with defined deliverables and timelines, in full partnership with communities, and accompanied by accountability measures described in this report.”

McArthur pleaded guilty to eight counts of first-degree murder in 2019. McArthur’s victims were Kinsman, Skandaraj Navaratnam, Selim Esen, Abdulbasir Faizi, Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, Dean Lisowick, Soroush Mahmudi and Majeed Kayhan.

He was sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years. He will not be eligible for parole until he turns 91 years old.

April 14, 2021

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Spending a second Ramadan in lockdown

by Asmaa Toor April 13, 2021

written by Asmaa Toor

For Muslims observing Ramadan, this year is going to look a lot different than usual

Although most people know that a large part of Ramadan is fasting during the day, much of the experience actually happens at night. While the rest of the city is asleep, Muslims gather at the mosque for late night prayers. In the quiet midst of twilight, all that can be heard is the melodious recitation of the Qur’an being read out loud and hundreds of people standing together in prayer.

Ramadan, as a whole, is a communal experience and it revolves around being with friends, family and the community at large. Every year, large family dinners happen when it’s time to break the fast, gifts are distributed across the community and of course, people gather for prayer at the mosque between dusk and dawn every single day for 30 days. Often, the mosque is a place to reconnect with people that they only get to see during Ramadan.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced mosques to close, eliminating social gatherings and created a sense of isolation. Ramadan began shortly after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last April and this year will begin on April 13. Ramadan can be especially lonely for individuals who weren’t always Muslim but are now reverts to the Islamic faith.

Reverts are sometimes the only person in their family who observe Ramadan. However, the community remains hopeful and is creating ways for everyone to stay connected virtually. Ramadan is not the only religious holiday that has had to adapt to virtual community celebrations. A few weeks ago, the Jewish community had to celebrate Passover while abiding to social distancing measures. The Christian community had to broadcast their Easter services online and churches had to remain closed. Strangely, it’s comforting to know that people of all faiths are experiencing the same feelings of disconnection and seclusion during the pandemic.

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Many mosques around the Greater Toronto Area have planned virtual programs to take place throughout the month, in an effort to keep the community connected. Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Canada, a mosque located in Mississauga, has a month long virtual program schedule, with a variety of lecture topics and online webinars. They are also offering free meals to the community during every weekend of Ramadan.

This year, ISNA Canada is emphasizing their goal of keeping the community connected, while continuing to abide by the province’s safety measures.

“Last year when COVID-19 hit, ISNA Canada witnessed firsthand the strength of community,” an ISNA Canada spokesperson said. “We saw an increase in our volunteer base, an increase in virtual learning and overall a desire to be connected, engaged and give back.”

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a month of fasting from before dawn until sunset to focus on increasing their spirituality and engaging in worship. Although the physical part of fasting entails abstaining from eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset for the month, it has a large spiritual component as well. During Ramadan, Muslims focus on making themselves better people overall, whether that be trying to give back to the community or increasing their dedication to the faith. Many Muslims also try to engage in extended prayers, especially at night, donate to charity and try to incorporate good deeds into their lifestyle. Ramadan is considered a cleanse for the mind, body and soul and the aim is to come out a better person than how you went in.

an infographic listing reasons as to why muslims fast during ramadan — (Asmaa Toor/Ryersonian)

What does a typical day look like while fasting?

The days in Ramadan are quite similar to any other days in the year. Muslims still go to school, work or attend to daily tasks while fasting; the only difference is that there is no eating or drinking during the day. To begin fasting, Muslims wake up early to eat a pre-dawn meal called suhoor. During the day, it’s business as normal and everyone goes about their daily routines. However, if you notice your Muslim friends, classmates or colleagues are a little more tired during this time, it’s usually because they’re fasting!

Between dawn and sunset, there are four prayers that take place at allocated times throughout the day. At sunset, it’s time to break the fast with a meal called iftar, where many Muslims choose to eat dates and drink water first and then have a larger meal after. Shortly after, the night prayer is performed. There is also an option to perform voluntary ritual prayers at night called taraweeh, which only take place during Ramadan. Then, this cycle is repeated for the rest of the month, followed by a celebration at the end called Eid.

a timeline of a normal day during ramadan

Is every Muslim required to fast during Ramadan?

In Islam, health and sustenance are very important, so there are a few exceptions of people who aren’t required to fast. Individuals who are sick (physically or mentally), pregnant women, menstruating women, young children and the elderly are a few examples of people who are exempt from fasting. The general rule is that if fasting is detrimental to one’s health, they do not have to fast. However, all able-bodied, healthy individuals should participate in fasting.

Although this year’s Ramadan is going to be observed differently, the essence of the month stays the same. I still look forward to giving back to my community in Toronto, strengthening my faith and staying in touch with my friends and family online. Ramadan Mubarak to those celebrating!

April 13, 2021

a white hand holds two cannabis bottles and a mairjuana leaf

Accessibility degrees Education Health Prescribing Perspectives Stability Students Top stories

What students should consider when planning to use CBD oil to reduce stress

by Madeline Fiore April 12, 2021

written by Madeline Fiore

Experts advise that university students refrain from self-medicating by using CBD oil

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is said to have many healing benefits such as relieving pain, reducing anxiety and depression, alleviating cancer symptoms, reducing acne and even treating neurological disorders.

However, some experts advise caution when using the natural remedy.

Todd Girard, a psychology professor at Ryerson University, advises that students stay away from using CBD oil to help reduce stress or anxiety. “More research is really needed to validate and determine how well, what doses, and under what conditions it may be effective,” he said.

“Many of the claims that students may hear about (it) are anecdotal, may be marketed by industry or may be based on low-quality studies.”

To make CBD oil, CBD is extracted from a cannabis plant and mixed with an oil such as coconut, grape or hemp seed.

Dr. Taylor Lougheed, a cannabinoid physician, suggests that students refrain from routinely self-treating their feelings of anxiety with CBD oil. He says that numerous factors can go into CBD oil’s effectiveness, including how each of our bodies react differently to chemicals.

The dose, the amount, the form of ingesting and the severity of the medical condition that would make one want to take the oil all come into play when accounting for why people may not be responding positively to CBD for their intended purpose.

“The research around how CBD can be safely used to treat a variety of conditions is expanding, but in many areas (it) remains quite weak,” said Lougheed. “It’s for this reason that CBD is generally viewed as an adjunctive or add-on treatment when some standard treatments have not been fully effective or haven’t been tolerated.”

CBD oil is not for everyone, and there are many possible reasons why it may not work for someone. For starters, if not purchased from a reputable source, it could impact the experience and the effects. Experts say your body needs time to build up tolerance to it and discover the right method of ingestion.

According to SingleCare statistics, the majority of CBD users are 18-29 years old, which includes a large portion of university students.

Hance Clarke, the director of pain services and medical director of the pain research unit at Toronto General Hospital, suggests that anyone under the age of 25 should not use cannabis as a treatment.

“Most college and university students are under 25, and according to Health Canada; the cannabis plant and or its extracts should not be considered as a treatment modality for many conditions until the adult brain is fully developed (over 25 years of age),” said Clarke.

Samantha Pasut, a manager at Bodega Wellness — a wellness store that sells CBD oil — has been using CBD oil for five years now. She says the best way to ensure you are using a product that works is to buy from a brand that you trust and are comfortable with.

“Being a university student myself, there is nothing like CBD to really help me focus and ease the stress that comes alongside having heavy course loads that require a lot of brainpower,” said Pasut.

Ultimately, there is no one consensus on whether using CBD oil is beneficial for students — that decision is left up to them. However, it is important to consult a doctor before use, to ensure that the product is right for your body and development.

a doctor's note, a pen and a stethoscope on a table — Prescribing perspectives (Ryersonian/Rosie Leonard)

April 12, 2021

a person holds a sign that says grateful in front of their face to the camera

Accessibility Community News COVID-19 Education Health How to manage Local News News Security Stability Students The World After COVID-19 Top stories

How Canadian university students can remain grateful during this unprecedented time

by Jonathan Bradley April 12, 2021

written by Jonathan Bradley

Canadian graduates are heading into an uncertain world, but this situation is temporary.

2021 is a terrible year to be graduating from university in Canada.

The youth unemployment rate in Canada reached 17 per cent in February. Full-time students reported the lowest mental health score on the Morneau Shepell Mental Health Index for the ninth consecutive month in February. The Ontario government enacting a provincial emergency stay-at-home order in April has left people wondering when life will return to normal.

The state of the world left me worrying about my future, wondering when I would be able to partake in normal activities such as eating at a restaurant again. I made a list of all the jobs I applied to and was discouraged when I was not selected for an interview. I applied to various graduate schools to improve my career prospects, but many programs are receiving record numbers of applicants.

All this chaos left me with many sleepless nights. There were times when I would dwell on it, filling up with negative thoughts.

What has helped me calm down is to write five moments I am grateful for every day. I aim to take a few minutes every day to sit down and write some positive experiences.

The best part of this story is the first day I started, I received two pieces of positive information. I was accepted into a master’s program and I received a communications summer internship.

While my list does have major events, smaller moments that have brought me joy are also included. Some examples are eating Easter egg M&M’s, playing Ejercicio de Pulgar by Javier Conde on my acoustic guitar, and texting my friends.

Compiling this gratitude page has brought me joy. I smile when I look at all of the happy moments I have experienced recently.

This page has reminded me that while there is plenty of negativity going on in the world, it is important to remain hopeful. People should remain hopeful to ensure they have a positive mindset.

It was tempting for me to view my problems as overwhelming, but this page gave me a new perspective. I recognized there are people who have larger problems than my own and continue to be happy despite it. Being grateful in spite of suffering is ideal.

I am reminded of a scene from the movie Wild as I compile this page. Cheryl Strayed, the main character in Wild, is finishing her hike along the Pacific Crest Trail when she encounters a woman and her grandson.

The boy said he is spending the weekend with his grandmother because of problems he is going through. Strayed, approaching the end of her hike, tells the boy that everyone has problems.

However, Strayed said, problems do not stay problems. Problems turn into better situations.

I believe Canadian society is going to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than before. What Canada is going through now is rough. But it will be over some day.

April 12, 2021

a full shelf at a grocery store with food

Accessibility Community News Finance Food Food & Health Health Monumental Challenges Prescribing Perspectives Ryerson News Security Stability Students Top stories

Racialized students face higher risk of food insecurity

by Ammar Karam April 9, 2021

written by Ammar Karam

Lack of access to nutritious foods can lead to deteriorating mental health, and performance

Sam Howden and Ewan Cassidy both laughed and then nodded knowingly when asked if they had ever faced food insecurity.

“I grew up going to soup kitchens as a child and there was a period of my life where I didn’t have a formal home,” said Cassidy, who is of Algonquin heritage and is involved with the Healing Garden at the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM). “For me food insecurity was a part of my life but I was fortunate enough to find a job and be able to pay certain necessities, bills and such. One of the things I noticed was that it was really difficult to get good food.”

Food insecurity, as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. On the Canadian government website, the definition adds the qualifier of “household food insecurity is often linked with the household’s financial ability to access adequate food.”

A 2018 study done by PROOF, an interdisciplinary research initiative based in Toronto, found that one in eight households across Canada suffer from food insecurity — with the highest rates being in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (23 per cent and 57 per cent respectively).

Multiple studies, from the University of Manitoba to Food Secure Canada, indicated that student populations are one of the highest risk population groups suffering from food insecurity, with rates up to 30 to 40 per cent. According to a report from the Good Food Centre, over 2,500 Ryerson students accessed emergency food relief in the 2013-2014 academic year.

Rates of food insecurity are even higher amongst Indigenous and racialized groups of students, due to structural issues surrounding their communities’ financial status and access to diverse cultural foods. Black communities were 3.5 times more likely to experience food insecurity, and rates amongst Indigenous populations are reported as high as 50 per cent.

“Our traditional foodways taken away from us through not being able to hunt, not being able to fish, not being able to grow and gather based on the fact that we were put back onto reserves in particular areas,” said Howden, the first Indigenous Field Assistant at the Ryerson Urban Farm, which operates rooftop growing spaces on campus. “In the Indian Act, there were things we could not engage in and not make money off of, so even if we had the knowledge of how to skin, and to use every part of the animal and do that to support community members, it had to happen within certain boundaries.”

This lack of access to good nutritious food can have negative effects on mental health and make it difficult for students to study and maintain good grades. Debbie Field, the co-ordinator for the Coalition of Healthy School Food and collaborator with Ryerson’s Centre for Food Security, said she hopes COVID-19 would begin to set a more robust meal plan on campus.

a woman holds a green box filled to the brim with vegetables and other produce — Debbie Field, co-ordinator of the Coalition of Healthy School Food said the food Ryerson offers students is too expensive and not healthy enough. (Laura Berman)

“Do we make it easy for students of all income levels to buy healthy food? To access healthy food during their school day at Ryerson?” she said. “I don’t think we do. I think the food is too expensive and it’s not healthy enough and it’s some private sector component of the operation rather than a component of education.”

Food deserts are places where there is a lack of access to healthy food. In Toronto, according to a 2015 report, 31,000 households in the city’s lowest income areas were over one kilometre walking distance from a supermarket. Additionally, 9,000 of those households were one kilometre or more from any kind of food outlet.

By contrast, a food swamp — a contested term — is a place where there is an overabundance of less healthy food options. Ryerson campus is more of a food swamp, according to dietician Leigh Merotto.

Merotto, a former nutrition student at Ryerson also previously worked at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She explained the link between mental health and nutrition in her blog, saying it is something that often gets missed when discussing food insecurity.

Not only is the act of being food insecure mentally draining and psychologically scarring in some cases, but the food that an individual receives as a result can also further exacerbate their mental health problems. A study done in 2017 showed a correlation between the two but not enough evidence was found to pinpoint food insecurity as a cause.

Food banks are not an effective long-term solution for food insecurity, considering that one of the causes of food insecurity is financial instability.

One of the ways that community organizers are combating food insecurity, particularly on campus, is through food sovereignty initiatives. Food sovereignty is when the people who produce the food also control the mechanisms of its distribution. The Ryerson Centre for Food Security has teamed up with Afri-Can Foodbasket to form the Black Food Sovereignty Alliance of Toronto, with the aim of addressing food issues affecting Black communities and laying down a framework for Black self-determination in food systems in the city.

But a more pertinent question is, if someone is experiencing food insecurity, what can be done about it right now?

a close up shot of people giving food to others across a table — Food banks are just part of the solution to address food insecurity. (Joel Muniz/Unsplash)

Fields has some advice, “It’s very hard because money is tight but yet within that tight money situation, we can put food first in your thinking. Don’t go to the corner store to buy a banana, go to the No Frills. Be wise about your own limited budget and stretching it and making better decisions with whatever limited money you have.”

More options are: buying produce from FoodShare, a non-profit organization that delivers food to communities across Toronto, applying for food assistance from Black Food Toronto, participating in Ryerson’s Harvest Share program and, if you’re an Indigenous student, contacting the Ryerson Aboriginal Peer Support Program.

“There’s obviously a social determinant of health that comes into play because you don’t have access to nutritious foods,” Howden said. “Even if it’s traditional or non-traditional foods, you won’t be as nourished from the space of your body which is the container that carries forth all of what you do. It’s harder to study. It’s harder to produce results.”

April 9, 2021

a silhouette of a huge crowd at a concert with their hands up

Accessibility Business Career Community News Health Monumental Challenges Music Performance Arts Prescribing Perspectives Security Stability Top stories Voices

Music industry lacks addiction support, despite high rates of substance abuse

by Manus Hopkins April 9, 2021

written by Manus Hopkins

Over The Bridge is a non-profit organization stepping up to help musicians struggling with mental health and addiction

It’s easy to picture the roaring crowds and backstage parties that come with music stardom. But the piles of cash, fancy houses and expensive cars are luxuries enjoyed by only a minority of performers and recording artists.

In reality, the lifestyle of professional working-class musicians comes with a lot of potential for various struggles, according to Ace Piva, founding partner and executive director of Over The Bridge (OTB).

Piva’s Toronto-based non-profit organization aims to provide counselling and other types of help to musicians who experience low self-esteem, burnout, mental illness and addiction — areas in which Piva believes musicians require special treatment.

“There are certain things that a lot of people in the general public don’t understand about the touring lifestyle,” he said. “If you do research into self-care, you’ll see ‘get eight hours of sleep, balance your work-home life’, but when you’re on the road it’s 100 per cent on the road or 100 per cent at home. There’s no balance.”

Piva was born and raised in Hamilton, and took up drumming at a young age. He usually found himself driving his bands and their equipment to and from gigs, so he wasn’t drinking or using any substances. Still, he pointed out that it can be difficult for recovering addicts to maintain sobriety when so much of the music lifestyle involves exposure to drugs and alcohol.

In 2019, The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) published findings about substance use in various occupations. They found that the arts and entertainment industry had the third highest overall rates of past-year substance use diagnoses at 12.9 per cent. NSDUH also reported that 11.5 per cent of the individuals in the arts and entertainment industry had reported past-month heavy alcohol use, and 13.7 per cent reported past-month illicit drug use, making the occupation second on the list for that statistic.

Piva started OTB in 2017, after working as an addictions counsellor. Originally, it was only a Facebook group meant for peer support, but Piva realized he could make it into something bigger. Now, the organization provides peer support groups, workshops, education and even facilitates events.

In March, OTB partnered with event organizer Lemmon Entertainment to present The Lost Tapes Live, a virtual broadcast that featured AI-created songs meant to sound like what the members of the 27 Club might have come up with were they still alive today.

The 27 Club is a group of musicians who died of drug and alcohol-related causes at age 27. In 1938, blues artist Robert Johnson, who was infamously rumoured to have traded his soul to the devil in exchange for his musical skills, died under mysterious circumstances.

“At the time of these artists’ passing, they had large fan-bases and were often at the top of their game,” said Piva. “When you’re 27 and you’re at that stage of your career, and you’ve been given the weight of the world, people are constantly looking for these escapes to normalize these feelings. It’s kind of a normal reaction to an abnormal situation.”

The 27 Club became a phenomenon decades later when four more world-renowned artists died at the same age. Founding Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones drowned in his swimming pool in 1969, then the following year, both Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin died. In 1971, the Doors frontman Jim Morrison followed. All were aged 27. Later, in 1994 and 2011, Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and British singer Amy Winehouse joined the club, respectively.

The Lost Tapes Live has received a massive amount of media attention, even landing an article in Rolling Stone

Amy Di Nino is a psychotherapist and multi-instrumentalist who serves as one of OTB’s board members.

Di Nino said that musicians recovering from addiction can have a hard time because of the constant presence of alcohol and drugs in music scenes. When touring bands are playing in bars every night for patrons who are drinking, it can be difficult to avoid alcohol.

“Alcohol is something that is a very natural thing,” she said. “You’re in an environment that is generally conducive to people coming to drink to enjoy a show, so it’s very much at the ready.”

Di Nino also pointed out that it is very common for musicians to be paid or partially paid in drink tickets, which can be difficult to turn down.

“If you enjoy alcohol or you have a susceptibility to maybe having too much, it can be a real struggle,” she said. “You’re there to do your job, but if you have trouble with alcohol and you go to work in an office building every day, it’s not in your face all the time. If you go to work and you go to play a gig, it’s everywhere.”

Both Piva and Di Nino think there could be solutions to the overbearing presence of alcohol.

“I don’t ever see a festival sponsored by a water company, or a juice company,” said Piva. “It’s always alcohol-related. So I would love to see other options within the music community when it comes to those choices.”

Piva also said it would be beneficial for venues that facilitate touring acts to have agreements with nearby gyms, so artists can go and exercise instead of partying, and for artists to be more health-conscious when they put together their backstage riders.

Di Nino said she has had her own struggles with alcohol in the past, and now that she is sober, she looks for other sober people at shows to hang out with so she is not the only non-drinker surrounded by people who are drinking.

“I always just try to find someone I can hang out with, because I can guarantee there’s someone else there,” she said. “I joked with a client a few weeks ago and were like ‘wouldn’t it be cool if you could just wear a badge or something that says you’re sober,’ then you could just go hang out with all the sober people, because that’s what sober people are looking for – other sober people to do their thing with.”

Di Nino said she is comfortable simply asking if anyone else at an event is also not drinking, and she will approach people she sees giving away their beer tickets. While people like Di Nino are comfortable with their choice not to drink or use any substances, it is much more difficult for people who are trying to quit or have recently quit.

“It’s just too easy to access,” she said. “It’s really hard to be in a place where you can be really grounded in not using it.”

Di Nino said she has seen a shift since the days when she first started touring, though, and it is easier now to choose non-alcoholic beverages and stay away from drugs at music events. For recovering addicts, it is important to have a strong support system and the necessary tools to resist urges to dive back in, she said. This is something that OTB aims to provide.

“I don’t need to be rich,” said Piva. “I just want to help people.”

April 9, 2021

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