To celebrate my birthday, I’m asking for donations of ANY denomination ($1-$1000) to be made to one or more of these Black Community Support Organizations:

Black Youth Helpline: Donations | Instagram | Website

WellNest Therapy: Donations | Instagram | Website

The Healing Collective: Donations | Instagram | Website

Black Women in Motion: Donations | Instagram | Website

Black Legal Action Centre: Donations | Instagram | Website

ALSO! Sara Elgamal has created an email template to defund the police budget and reallocate to community-led health and safety initiatives. Please take a moment out of your day to send one or more emails out to the government officials listed below. THANK YOU.

2020 Toronto Police Budget – Call For Action/Defunding Email Template

Dear [City of Toronto elected official],

I am writing to you today to express my outrage regarding the Toronto Police Service budget of $1.076 billion from the total $13.5 billion 2020 operational budget for the City of Toronto (an increase of 4% since 2019). This astronomical police budget costs the taxpayer more than firefighters, paramedics, libraries and public housing combined. Following the recent horrific death of young Black and Indigenous woman Regis Korchinski-Paquet, I call upon our elected officials to ensure a transparent investigation into her death and start divesting from the systematically violent Toronto Police Service immediately.

I am asking that you, as an elected official, pledge to do the following:

1. To never again vote to increase the Toronto Police Service budget.

2. To propose and implement a TPS budget cut of, at the absolute minimum, $276 million or just 10% of Mayor John Tory’s estimate of a $2.76 billion budget shortfall – what he called  “one of the greatest financial challenges the city has ever faced” – as we struggle to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. To prioritize the expansion of community-led health and safety initiatives over future financial investment into the Toronto Police Service.

In the face of cyclical police violence happening throughout North America right now, there is no better time to commit ourselves to change. We have seen that investing in body cameras, civilian reviews or de-escalation and implicit bias training doesn’t work. What we need in Toronto is leadership that can initiate a reduction in the immense police violence that targets our most marginalized people, toward the eventual abolition of police and prisons. In order to do this, I call on you and the City Council to reduce funding in these ways:

– Withhold pensions and don’t rehire cops involved in excessive force cases

– Require cops to be liable for misconduct settlements

– Reduce the size of the police force, and stop sending armed/uniformed cops on mental health-related calls.

An increased police presence, which includes TTC inspectors and enforcement officers, does not keep us safe, rather it directly threatens the lives of our most vulnerable communities (BIPOC, the LGBTQ2S+ community, unhoused people, street-based sex workers, people with disabilities, people experiencing poverty, etc). Instead of investing in policing, our city must prioritize alternatives like education, increased mental health services, housing initiatives, income security, harm reduction services, accessible rehabilitation, mutual aid, social workers, conflict resolution services, transformative justice, and other vital community-based support systems. These initiatives must support our most vulnerable communities and centre the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of colour in Toronto. We should look to and learn from organizations like Black Lives Matter Toronto, Black Legal Action Centre, Toronto Police Accountability Coalition, PASAN, Toronto Prisoners’ Rights Project, Maggie’s, Showing Up for Racial Justice, and so many more.

Our city can lead the way in defining public safety through community not cops, where Black, Indigenous and people of colour are free from police oppression. I am asking you to create a better future for all residents of Toronto by divesting from harmful policing and investing in life-affirming services.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

[Your postal code]

PHONE SCRIPT:

(fyi – calls are prioritized and more effective. leave your number to get a call back)

Hi there,

My name is _________ and I am calling to express my outrage regarding the astronomical Toronto Police Service budget of $1.076 billion. Following the recent horrific death of young Black and Indigenous woman Regis Korchinski-Paquet, I call upon you to ensure a transparent investigation into her death and start divesting from the systematically violent Toronto Police Service immediately.

Please pledge to do the following:

1. To never again vote to increase the TPS budget.

2. To commit to defunding the TPS budget as we are in “one of the greatest financial challenges the city has ever faced” due to COVID

3. To prioritize the expansion of community-led health and safety initiatives over investment into the police

An increased police presence, which includes TTC inspectors and enforcement officers, does not keep us safe, rather it directly threatens the lives of Black, Indigenous and people of colour. Please commit to investing in community, not cops.

Thank you,

[Your name and phone #]

SEND THIS TO AND CALL:

Mayor John Tory (Police Board) ) |  mayor_tory@toronto.ca

Councillor Michael Ford (Etobicoke North, Police Board) | councillor_mford@toronto.ca

Councillor Stephen Holyday (Etobicoke Centre)  |  councillor_holyday@toronto.ca

Councillor Mark Grimes (Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Economic & Community Development Board) | councillor_grimes@toronto.ca

Councillor Gord Perks (Parkdale-High Park) | councillor_perks@toronto.ca

Councillor Frances Nunziata (York South-Weston, Police Board) | councillor_nunziata@toronto.ca

Councillor James Pasternak (York Centre) |  councillor_pasternak@toronto.ca

Councillor Anthony Perruzza (Humber River-Black Creek) |  councillor_perruzza@toronto.ca

Councillor Mike Colle (Eglinton-Lawrence) | councillor_colle8@toronto.ca

Councillor Ana Bailão (Davenport) | councillor_bailao@toronto.ca

Councillor Joe Cressy (Spadina-Fort York, Economic & Community Development Board) | councillor_cressy@toronto.ca

Councillor Mike Layton (University-Rosedale) |  councillor_layton@toronto.ca

Councillor Josh Matlow (Toronto-St. Paul’s) |  councillor_matlow@toronto.ca

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam (Toronto Centre) | councillor_wongtam@toronto.ca

Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth) |  councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca

Councillor Jaye Robinson (Don Valley West) | councillor_robinson@toronto.ca

Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Don Valley East) | councillor_minnan-wong@toronto.ca

Councillor Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North, Economic & Community Development Board) | councillor_carroll@toronto.ca

Councillor John Filion (Willowdale) | councillor_filion@toronto.ca

Councillor Brad Bradford (Beaches-East York) | councillor_bradford@toronto.ca

Councillor Gary Crawford (Scarborough Southwest) |  councillor_crawford@toronto.ca

Councillor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre,  Economic & Community Development Board) | councillor_thompson@toronto.ca

Councillor Jim Karygiannis (Scarborough-Agincourt) | councillor_karygiannis@toronto.ca

Councillor Cynthia Lai (Scarborough North, Economic & Community Development Board) | councillor_lai@toronto.ca

Councillor Paul Ainslie (Scarborough-Guildwood) | councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca

Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park) | councillor_mckelvie@toronto.ca

Find your councillor here: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/council/members-of-council/

WHO ELSE CAN I CONTACT ABOUT THE TORONTO POLICE BUDGET?

*note: the City Council members vote on the TPS budget, but Premier Ford & MPPs have a say over OPP budget and provincial funding that gets directed to local police. Your MP can speak to RCMP funding.

DOUG FORD, PREMIER MPP | premier@ontario.ca

SYLVIA JONES, ONTARIO SOLICITOR GENERAL | sylvia.jones@ontario.ca

YOUR LOCAL MPP!

• Find them here: https://www.ola.org/en/members

YOUR LOCAL MP!

• Find them here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en

ANDREA HORWATH, LEADER OF THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION, NDP MPP | ahorwath-qp@ndp.on.ca

STEVEN DEL DUCA, LEADER OF ONTARIO LIBERAL PARTY | info.leader@ontarioliberal.ca

ADDITIONAL TPS BOARD MEMBERS:

• Telephone:  416-808-8080
• Email: board@tpsb.ca
• Attention: Jim Hart (Chair), Marie Moliner (Vice-Chair), Uppala Chandrasekera (Member), Ainsworth M. Morgan (Member)

York Residents – Defund York Regional Police template HERE.

Hamilton Residents – Defund Hamilton Police template HERE.

Ottawa Residents – Defund Ottawa Police template HERE.

Peel Residents – Defund Peel Police template HERE.

Further resources:

• Sandy Hudson: Defunding The Police Will Save Black And Indigenous Lives In Canada
• https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/defund-police-canada-black-indigenous-lives_ca_5ed65eb2c5b6ccd7c56bdf7d
• Toronto’s billion-dollar problem: our cops  https://torontolife.com/city/crime/toronto-police-service-vs-everybody/
• Critical Resistance Chart: Reformist Reforms vs abolitionist steps in policing https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59ead8f9692ebee25b72f17f/t/5b65cd58758d46d34254f22c/1533398363539/CR_NoCops_reform_vs_abolition_CRside.pdf
• Report: Freedom to Thrive: Reimagining Safety & Security in Our Communities https://populardemocracy.org/news/publications/freedom-thrive-reimagining-safety-security-our-communities
• The Pandemic Is the Right Time to Defund the Police https://newrepublic.com/article/157875/pandemic-right-time-defund-police
• No More Cop Unions https://newrepublic.com/article/157918/no-cop-unions
• Police Unions and the Problem of Police Misconduct https://reason.com/2020/05/30/police-unions-and-the-problem-of-police-misconduct/
• Miriam Kaba: Police “Reforms” You Should Always Oppose https://truthout.org/articles/police-reforms-you-should-always-oppose/
• Reading list: resources to better understand abolition and non-reformist reforms ℅ Abolitionist Futures HERE.

Note: An earlier version of this letter called for suspension of “paid administrative leave for police under investigation” — this has been removed on advice from lawyers because it is illegal in Canada to not pay someone on administrative suspension, and it’s illegal to impose an unpaid disciplinary suspension without a paid administrative one first while investigating.

I’ve now been to Jamaica three times. The first was a personal trip. I mostly stayed on the resort except for two excursions: one to Dunn’s River Falls and another to Blue Hole. I highly recommend Blue Hole to this day. The second was a trip with Transat in which I lived my best life doing all of the things. But it wasn’t until my third trip to the Caribbean island that I truly fell in love.

I’m an adventurer at heart, so when Transat invited me to tag along while their latest Vacation Expert, Nadia Gilles, went off the beaten track to show the world a different side of Jamaica, I had to say yes. She herself has travelled to the island over 10 times, experiencing so much of what it has to offer. Loving nature and unique experiences as much as myself, I knew this was going to be a trip for the records. And was it ever.

DAY 1:

STUSH IN THE BUSH

It’s only appropriate that the first thing we did after we settled into our hotel was to feast. At once celebratory, and in my opinion, practical, it was essential fuel to properly acclimate to our lush surroundings. And, although promised by Nadia, it was unexpectedly adventurous.

Found in the mountains of Free Hill, 35 minutes away from Ocho Rios, is Stush in the Bush — an idyllic Ital restaurant and organic farm dreamed up by farm-chef duo Chris and Lisa Binn. Acclaimed for its exotic blending of rustic and gourmet, the experience began with a short detour. As we were greeted by Chris, we hopped into the back of his truck for a short ride to a view that took all of our breaths away. There, we were treated to a storied history lesson of Jamaica; an introduction I realized I hadn’t received until that moment.

It was the perfect beginning to our trip.

After listening and then taking a ton of photos, we climbed back into his truck to finally arrive at Stush in the Bush. We were immediately met by the friendliest pack of dogs and an even friendlier face. Lisa exuded the warmth of a natural host, leading us to a covered area where we were handed refreshing drinks and a view of their expansive farm.

At that point, all of us had a healthy appetite and we didn’t have to wait too long until the appetizers were revealed. Beautifully displayed, the inventive vegetarian dishes were absolutely delicious. Local and seasonal, they were all thoughtfully served on hand-crafted platters that also supported local businesses. This level of detail didn’t end there.

Once we had our fill of conversation and bites, we moved inside for the main event. With large windows also overlooking the farm and wooden details everywhere, we still felt as though we were outside. The dishes we were presented with could have easily come from a Michelin star restaurant. Creative and “stushy,” it was unlike any vegetarian meal I have had to date.

One of the things I loved most about this dining experience was there was more “experience” than “dining.” After lunch, we took a stroll around the grounds to learn more about the place as well as how they farmed and lived. We then capped the day with probably the best carrot cake I have ever had. It’s almost hard to imagine something so flawless from beginning to end…but even a tropical downpour of rain couldn’t dampen this experience.

DAY 2:

FRENCHMAN’S COVE

The next day, we made our way to Frenchman’s Cove. To explain just how beautiful this slice of paradise is, let me just say that we happened to stumble upon a small photo shoot…for Vogue. With a perfectly framed mouth opening into the Caribbean Sea on one side and a picturesque secluded beach on the other, it’s a place you can lounge around for a few hours, tanning, swimming and, of course, taking photos.

SOLDIER CAMP

A couple hours doing just that works up quite the appetite. For lunch, we headed to Soldier Camp Bar & Grill for a more casual, traditional meal compared to what we had the day before. Tip? Make sure to order one of its seafood dishes, you won’t be disappointed. Oh, and wash it down with a nice, cold Red Stripe, if you drink.

BLUE LAGOON

I personally love to live in water when I’m in a tropical environment. So when our guide suggested we make a pit stop at the Blue Lagoon, I was very excited. Peaceful and quiet, we all took an irresistible dip in the sapphire water before heading to our next excursion.

MARLEY COFFEE

We ended our second full day with the son of one of the most renowned Jamaicans ever, Rohan Marley. Although the grounds of Marley Coffee, are still under construction, it was exciting to be privy to Rohan’s vision. According to the website, this vision was passed on by his father, “”Bob Marley dreamt of one day putting his passion of music into farming.” By farming sustainable, Fairtrade coffee, it carries “his legacy as a force for global good […] by his family and manifested in every cup of Marley Coffee.”

DAY 3:

BLUE MOUNTAINS

Speaking of coffee, many people might recognize “Blue Mountain” as the popular bean born in Jamaica. Yet it is also the place in which the coffee is farmed. A place that can be trekked, for anyone who’s up for the ultimate adventure.

It’s recommended to hike overnight, so as to catch the sunrise over the mountain peaks — a spectacular sight that I can now attest to. And I’ve climbed my fair of mountains, in Canada and abroad. But that also means a lot of preparation has to into the climb, mental and physical. Although not extremely difficult being well marked and not too steep, it is a strenuous hike that will take roughly five to six hours to cover the 10km (six miles) and 1000m (3000ft) gain in elevation.

Yet nothing worthwhile is easy and that’s a statement I stand by when it comes to hiking up to the Blue Mountain Peak. Dressed comfortably, warmly, prepared for some rain and armed with sturdy shoes and snacks, I highly suggest getting out of comfort zones perpetuated by resort vacations and challenging yourself with something exhilarating and new. And just think about all of the amazing Jamaican food you can treat yourself to before and afterwards.

DAY 4:

SMURF’S CAFE

As I reminisce about all restaurants we visited on this trip, I find myself thinking, “This was my favorite.” It truly is hard to pick a top one since they were all so memorable in their own right. When it comes to Smurf’s Cafe, not only was the name adorably nostalgic, but the cafe itself was so fun and colorful — it’s exactly what I imagine a Jamaican restaurant to look like.

With its outdoor dining area painted in bright primary hues and decorated with fresh exotic flowers, we were treated to a satisfying Caribbean breakfast complete with plantain and festival.

TREASURE BEACH

Smurf’s Cafe is located in what is now my favorite Jamaican parish, Treasure Beach. Quaint and colorful, it felt as though we had the entire area to ourselves. It has that hidden gem vibe since so much of the island is already incredibly popular and populated.

The beach itself boasted a long stretch of soft sand and clear blue water. I particularly loved the painted fishing boats in the background, which gave the area a local feel without making anyone feel unwelcomed or bothered.

JAKE’S HOTEL

After spending a couple hours swimming, strolling and tanning, we made our way to the restaurant at Jake’s Hotel for lunch and smoothies. If you’re looking for a place to relax that isn’t your typical restaurant or resort, this is the place to go. Indicative of the Treasure Beach vibe, it’s an idyllic spot with photo-worthy corners, yummy drinks and a beautiful view of the sea.

PELICAN BAR

And then to cap off a perfect day trip to Treasure Beach was a boat ride to Pelican Bar, a picturesque hut, made from scrap wood and built on a sandbar. Although that doesn’t sound too appealing, it is one of the unique experiences you don’t want to miss. Serving seafood and beers, you can lounge about chatting, listening to music and playing chess. Or you can take wade around in the water until your boat comes back to take you to land.

DAY 5:

HARBOUR STREET CRAFT MARKET

We spent our last full day doing what most people do when they go away: souvenir shopping. The Harbour Street Craft Market was a fun place to roam around searching for the best bargains while chatting with locals. Definitely a great way to support the locals, enjoy the culture and stretch your legs.

PIER 1

Yet you can’t go to Jamaica without dancing…a lot. We ended up taking a private dancehall class to prepare us for our one night out at Pier 1, an open-air Restaurant and Bar that turns into THE spot to be on a Friday night. Although it is a tourist hotspot, you would never know it by how many locals also end up there. With a wide range of music, good drinks and an overall great atmosphere, it was the best way to end our trip.

ROYAL DECAMERON CORNWALL BEACH RESORT

As for our all-inclusive accommodations, we stayed at the Royal Decameron Cornwall Beach Resort in Montego Bay. It was a cosy resort with everything you could need — especially considering that, as you now see, we spent most of our time outside the resort enjoying all that the island had to offer. I practically lived on the beach, which was definitely my favorite part of the resort. It had an ideal stretch of sand, comfortable chairs and service that kept the refreshments coming.

It’s hard to imagine that as my third time in Jamaica, the only thing I repeated during my week-long stay was must-stops at Scotchies and Juici. This time around, I truly feel I got a much more in depth look into the Jamaican culture in addition to the natural beauty it has to offer. Special shoutout to Nadia for all of her recommendations. It definitely wouldn’t have been the same trip without her.

Two months into the new year and I’m still reflecting over 2018 in order to better inform a promising 2019. It was quite the end to an eventful, eye-opening year for me, which got me thinking about how to deal with the unexpected. Without fail, the beginning of the year is a season of resolutions, new beginnings and perceived blank slates. While many people roll their eyes at what can be (or at least appear to be) contrived and cliché self-promises, I believe in the spirit of this season. It provides an amazing opportunity for self-reflection, which I don’t think we engage in enough. We shouldn’t berate others or even ourselves for needing such a blatant reminder to check in. Just as we shouldn’t box it into a single day or month. It’s ongoing process, but some people need a clear starting point.

What I started to reflect on is my career. I took a backseat last year in an effort to rediscover my motivation and direction. It’s easy to lose sight of my personal “why,” which my industry labels as my “brand” or “identity.” This is especially the case as a social media personality and blogger — although I do branch outside of these roles as well, which is what much of last year focused on. I stepped back not because I was retreating, but because I care so much about what I’m sharing with the world that I needed to take the time to reevaluate how and why I was doing it.

Now, I can go on and on about my personal insights from last year and my goals for this year, but in thinking about all of that I decided that I wanted to address something a little more practical but often overlooked: Our digital presence.

Virtually everyone has one these days — even those who don’t think they do. Beyond the career possibilities that come with social media and blogs, such a presence has been a boon for marginalized voices, creating communities and sharing pieces of ourselves that we’ve always wanted to, but never had the proper platform to. A “digital me” matters for these important and fundamental reasons in addition to more strategic and profitable ones.

But if you’re just utilizing social media — be it Instagram, Facebook or Twitter — have you ever thought about how this newfound space for sharing and caring can be erased at the push of a single button? That we don’t actually own these platforms? It’s a scary thought when you think about what social media has been able to propel, educate and change in the world and in others.

That’s where a website comes in. You own your website. It’s yours. Period.

We often overlook the “blog” as it were, if I stick with my own use for this tool. With our ever shortening attention spans and need for instant gratification, social media has become the end all be all for entrepreneurial influencers. Yet whether it’s a decrease in traffic or too much extra work, there should be no excuse when it comes to owning a URL. You never know when something might be taken away from you, so you should be prepared.

I also attended a digital conference a few years back and the one thing that stuck with me was this sentiment: The blog is the carpet that ties the whole room together. At the end of the day, it’s a one-stop destination that brings all of your platforms together, creating something truly meaningful and, for some, professional.

I’ve had my website for over four years now and although I might write on it sporadically these days, I’m so grateful I have it. Not only because I own it, but because it’s a space that allows me to really dive deeply into topics that matter to me like mental health, well-being, travel and so much more. And for those influencers and aspiring influencers reading this, it’s hugely desirable from a brand perspective.

By owning my own website, I’m also able to have an even more direct link to my audience, believe it or not. That’s an even stronger sentiment for those who utilize mailing lists. And as someone who loves aesthetic, I have complete control over the look and feel of my brand. In fact, my .CA is completely custom thanks to Greg Washington.

You know what I didn’t know and am suddenly so grateful for as well? That I’m proudly Canadian online. I never really thought about it when I chose to go with a .CA, but I’ve always been so unbelievably grateful that I call Canada my home. From the diversity of Toronto to the beauty of our coasts and everything in between, it’s hard not to be. So it was a natural choice to make. But until recently, I didn’t know that CIRA was a non-profit.

“Proceeds from every .CA sold are reinvested directly into the Canadian Internet community through the Community Investment Program,” a promise direct from the organization itself. How incredible is that? And just in case you were wondering, .com domains do not do this. So now that I’ve convinced you to be a smart digital entrepreneur and get a website if you don’t already have one, get a .CA (or make the switch). In addition to practical needs such as security, availability and even national user preference, why not support an organization designed to give back.

Talk about starting off your new year on the right foot! And with all of this in mind, including New Year resolutions, you can be sure to see more content on my blog this year. So stay tuned!

I’ve been on my fair share of resort vacations now and after being back to Jamaica for the second time, I can safely say some of the best adventures are to be had there. The first time, I was in Ocho Rios and visiting Blue Hole is still a highlight I talk about to this day. Although I also went to Dunn’s River…and as someone with a rebellious streak, that excursion was not for me. But I have nothing — absolutely nothing — negative to say about any of the experiences we had off Transat’s Luxury Collection resorts in Montego Bay.

APPLETON ESTATE

Dedicated to the world’s first female master blender, Joy Spence, this specific experience may have been opened at the beginning of 2018, but the estate itself is the oldest and most famous sugarcane factory in the country. I’m not a big drinker, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the welcome cocktail or the estate itself. I LOVE sugarcane, having grown up nibbling on bits of them from my grandfather. And the grounds themselves were beautiful. I suggest in between learning about the process of rum making and the history of Appleton itself, to sneak away for some photos because there are opportunities all around.

YS FALLS

We didn’t get a chance to go to Scotchies, but I had some of their famous jerk the last time I was in Jamaica and the lunch we had at YS Falls was good enough for me. I mean, you never want to waste a meal when you get to enjoy some incredible dishes at the resorts themselves. In fact, I think the chicken, rice and peas all washed down with some Ting was one of the best meals I had on the trip. After we fuelled up, we immediately made the short trek up to the falls. Absolutely stunning, it thankfully wasn’t that packed and we got to enjoy a Bali-esque photoshoot with a low-hanging rope. But I also made sure to bee-line back to the spring water pool at the base, which was fed by a different source of water supposedly beneficial for all your body’s needs.

BLACK RIVER

Any day that ends with a full rainbow — or any rainbow, for that matter — is usually marked as a good day. We loved YS Falls so much, we almost voted to skip the Black River boat ride to stay longer. Thank goodness we didn’t. First of all, it was beautiful with its marsh-y vibe and mangroves that we were able to pull up to for an impromptu photoshoot. Second of all, our guide was a brave soul who actually managed to call over a crocodile to physically show us his teeth. Get yourself a guide as good as that one and you’re set. I just wish I wasn’t horrible with names and remembered his! It did start with an H…

TASTEE vs. JUICI

Jamaica is known for two patties, tried and true Tastee and relative newcomer Juici. We were lucky enough to try one from each on our separate excursion days. There were five us in total on the trip, so we decided to turn taste test into a vote. According to our driver, Juici was his favorite. But Krystle our resident foodie and Caribbean expert, was all for Tastee. In the end, Juici won. Three of us preferred the texture of the pastry and the heat of meat inside.

MARTHA BRAE RIVER

Probably one of the best things I’ve ever done, rafting down this peaceful river was a practice in all of the mindfulness Western society has been preaching these last couple of years. Slow, steady and utterly beautiful, it’s something I would do every chance I could get. But make sure to bring a little spending money to walk away with a coconut trinket the rafters sell afterwards to entice better tips. It’s might not seem like a hard job, but it’s an infrequent one. So anything goes a long way.

NEGRIL

I’ve heard so many amazing things about Jamaica’s famous 7 Mile beach and I wasn’t disappointed. We chilled right by the village at the beginning of it and enjoyed some good food, better music and a lot of tanning before heading to the most talked about spot in the neighborhood. No real tips here because we truly just chilled.

RICK’S CAFE

We went pretty early to make sure we got a table with a view, so it was pretty tame when we first arrived. But by the time our car pulled around to take us back to the resort, we didn’t want to leave. Exhilarated from jumping off of its signature cliff, happy from the rum drinks and  moved by the live music, this might be a tourist destination, but the vibe was far from that.

LUMINOUS LAGOON

This was hand’s down my favourite excursion, and that’s saying a lot. Swimming the luminous lagoon was unlike anything I’d ever done. Stretching along the marshlands of Trelawny, I felt like I was on Pandora of Avatar or swimming in the middle of the universe. This natural wonder is “where the Martha Brae River and the waters of the Caribbean Sea meet. The mixture of these two bodies of water create bioluminescence micro-organisms that when disturbed at night glow brightly,” as written on Wikipedia. It was truly magical.

These excursions coupled with our stay at both the Excellence Oyster Bay and Iberostar Grand Hotel made my second trip to Jamaica truly memorable. Transat made the whole vacation smooth from beginning to end, a testament to the company’s devotion not only to its guests, but its partners as well as vacations in general.

I’m looking out the window of my home, watching light flurries of snow fall from the sky. This is the gentlest winter has looked since I landed back in Toronto after enjoying a slice of paradise in Montego Bay. I can’t remember the last time we’ve had a true Canadian winter with its biting winds and piled snow banks. As much as I’ve missed it (yes, I’m a proud Canadian and lover of all seasons), I was excited for a week escape to stock up on some much-needed vitamin D that would carry me through the worst of it. And so far it has.

I’ve been to Jamaica once before — Ocho Rios, to be specific. I fell instantly in love with the beaches, food, culture and people. I knew I’d be back, which is saying a lot because I’m the type of traveller who likes to experience something new with every trip. When Air Transat reached out to me about its luxury collection of resorts in Montego Bay, it took very little convincing to hop on the Club Class flight heading in that balmy direction.

The four hour flight was as breezy as I imagined the Caribbean air would be as soon as we landed. There’s no other way to travel than Club Class, although I’ve also had pleasant experiences in economy with Air Transat in the past. From the spacious seating and complimentary comfort kit — that, by the way, was so unexpectedly well-designed we stuffed our bags with it afterwards to use back at home — to an incredible meal prepared by Quebec chef Daniel Vézina, we might has well have been travelling on cloud nine.

Although I’m a light packer by nature, I appreciated the extra luggage perks my friends took good advantage of and I especially loved the priority services. From beginning to end, going from snowy Toronto to sandy Montego Bay was so effortless I had actually begun the vacation well before I’d even changed into a tank and shorts.

That didn’t stop me from immediately switching my outfit as soon as we checked into our first resort. I felt the only way to truly admire how beautiful Excellence Oyster Bay was to be either in a swimsuit or a flowing dress. I went with the latter since we arrived just in time for dinner. How beautiful was Excellence? Imagine marble floors, sweeping white walls and arched doorways decorated with a mixture of clean modern objects, rattan furniture and giant paintings worthy of an art gallery. For lack of a better analogy, it was heaven on earth.

As much as I loved the architecture and decor, which was on high display at the spa, my favourite thing to do each morning was to take an easy jog along the beach before heading up to the gate to clock in the kilometres. I only learned that tip later from the personal trainer at the gym — a service that is free on certain days! I loved this routine because it really showed me how singular the resort is, especially the cove it carved away for itself. This still-expanding area offers picturesque spots that reveal different personalities, which can only be experienced if you take a calming stroll or invigorating jog along its length.

Of course, after all that activity, I ate all of the food. Indulging in some beach-side jerk chicken was one of my favourite mid-afternoon rituals. But it was hard not to be impressed by each of the restaurants on site. Again, Excellence Oyster Bay tried to rival the dishes with its decor. Yet the best experience I had was unequivocally the spa. I’ve enjoyed hydrotherapy before, but never on this scale. I don’t want to ruin the experience with too much detail, but I would almost — almost! — encourage guests, if they had to choose, to indulge in the water therapy over a more traditional massage. It was a relaxing rollercoaster, an oxymoron I stand behind, that remains a highlight of my trip all together.

Between our stay at Excellence and Iberostar, we visited Melia Braco Village, the third resort in Transat’s Luxury Collection for Jamaica. Speaking of different personalities along Excellence’s stretch of beach, I couldn’t believe how pleasantly different this village was to the clean, contemporary vibe of our first resort. Melia prides itself on celebrating Jamaican culture through and through with its colonial architecture, Friday night festival and overall chill environment that exudes one of the most common sayings on the island, “There are no problems, only situations.”

Although we only stayed for a day, it was easy to see how Melia Braco Village would charm just about anyone. Whether playing dominos by the pool, drinking out of a fresh coconut or listening to steel drums, we really felt like we were in Jamaica…with all the added benefits that come with staying at a luxury resort.

At the end of our fourth night at Excellence Oyster Bay, it was time to pack up to visit our final resort. Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall is exactly as its name suggests — grand. From its grand ceilings to its grand staircase and sprawling grounds, this resort is basically a three-in-one when you count its two sisters just adjacent, connected both by the beach outside and convenient corridors inside. As luxury guests, we were able to access all the facilities.

Now, this might sound like I picked a favourite, but what I quickly realized after our initial introduction to Iberostar was that each resort we visited were so different from each other, I could see wanting to stay in one for one reason and another for another. During this particular season of my life, with all of my new year resolutions rumbling in my mind, Iberostar was the resort for me. Although not as shiny and new as the seven month old Excellence or as quaint as Melia, I fell for its beach and unobstructed waters as well as the updated fitness amenities and schedule.

Beyond that, I couldn’t resist all the attention to detail. With wellness top of mind, I took advantage of the ensuite pillow menu (I’m forever nursing sore necks from too soft pillows — but not this time!) and a romantic bath drawn by our floor’s personal butler. I was also absolutely blown away by the entertainment provided. Changing the theatre set every night, we treated ourselves to one show centred around the history of Jamaica and it was as though Cirque du Soleil had taken over. The performance was outstanding.

We ended our stay with a special spa appointment centred around a coffee scrub and massage ritual. Considering how well Jamaica is known for its blue mountain coffee, I was excited to walk away with such a unique treatment. After hours tanning under the hot Caribbean sun over the last  seven days, my skin needed a good buff. Two weeks later and it’s still glowing.

If you followed along while I was away, you’re probably scratching your head wondering why I haven’t touched on all the fun adventures we all went on while in Jamaica. Well, I will. Just not here. We ended up doing so much — which I still can’t get over because I came home more relaxed than ever — that I would do this whole trip injustice if I tried to cram it all in one article. So stay tuned for its sequel!

There’s an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that centres around an invisible girl. She went unnoticed for so long and was lonely for even longer that, in this supernatural series, she turned invisible. In the real world, that feeling of invisibility — of being persistently ignored — is called social isolation. 

It might seem ironic that even though there are more people on this planet than ever before, social isolation is prevalent in many societies. Did you know that 1 in 3 Canadians don’t feel a strong sense of belonging to their local community? Or that in the past five years, one-person households in Toronto have increased by nearly 10%? We can blame modern technology, western upbringing and numerous other theories. Yet pointing fingers isn’t going to solve this increasing problem we’re all facing.

How do we help? How do we make a difference? How do we inspire change? These are all broad questions and concerns that actually have some very simple and actionable answers.

We need to get more involved. For our sake and the sake of others. People can no longer be ignored nor can the issue of social isolation — or poverty, homelessness and mental health, to name a few more. Hence the creation of United Way Canada‘s brilliant UNIGNORABLE campaign. The nonprofit partnered up with Pantone to create a color that would spark conversation wherever it’s glimpsed.

On billboards, busses and everywhere else in between, UNIGNORABLE is bringing awareness to important issues people face across Canada and the world. More than that, it’s directing those who take the time to learn more where they can go to get involved.  Whether volunteering, donating or buying gifts that give back, there are many ways to help make the invisible visible again.

The holiday season is a time where we stopped thinking about ourselves and the bubble we live in for a moment to focus on others — whether those are family, friends or strangers. We need to take this sense of giving and community and keep it alive well into the new year and beyond. One thing I do believe is that once seen, it’s hard to be unseen. Thank you, United Way and Pantone, for encouraging us to see.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is more common knowledge than ever before. In fact, before mental health became a trending topic over the last couple years, SAD was a concept that most people accepted — even at it’s basest alias of “winter blues.” So it’s only natural that the methods to alleviate the symptoms have become just as sophisticated as people’s understanding of this seasonal issue.For those who are unsure exactly what the symptoms are, CAMH has listed them out, comparing them to those accompanying major depression. The key difference being that with SAD, these signs and symptoms appear and disappear at about the same time each year.

The main symptom is a sad, despairing mood that

•                                 – is present most days and lasts most of the day
•                                 – lasts for more than two weeks
•                                 – impairs performance at work, school or in social relationships.

Other symptoms of depression include:

•                                 – changes in appetite and weight
•                                 – sleep problems
•                                 – loss of interest in work, hobbies, people or sex
•                                 – withdrawal from family members and friends
•                                 – feeling useless, hopeless, excessively guilty, pessimistic or low self-esteem
•                                 – agitation or feeling slowed down
•                                 – irritability
•                                 – fatigue
•                                 – trouble concentrating, remembering and making decisions
•                                 – crying easily or feeling like crying but not being able to
•                                 – thoughts of suicide (which should always be taken seriously)
•                                 – a loss of touch with reality, hallucinations or delusions.

If you have felt these in the past, or simply want to avoid the possibility of feeling them, you can try light therapy, which is the first cause of action put forth by CAMH, while Psychology Today suggests a combination of “antidepressant medication, light therapy, Vitamin D, and counselling.”

As a generally cheerful individual, I can attest to extra Vitamin D and a bit of therapy to help get you through the darker months Last year, however, I finally started experimenting with light therapy after a consecutive year of feeling unusually down and it made a world of difference. This year, I’m excited to step it up with the Philips goLITE BLU Energy Light. 

Many people who have SAD are helped by exposure to bright artificial light.

It’s compact design impressively mimics a sunny blue sky, acting as a natural energizer that requires no more than 20 to 30 minutes a day to be effective. The best part is you can turn it on while reading, working or doing anything that keeps you directly in its sight for that short time period. It can also be easily taken along on trips thanks to its convenient size and protective pouch.

For those who might doubt the effectiveness of the Philips goLite BLU Energy Light, it not only has the backing of over a century of brand know-how and independent research, it also boasts specifics that all point to a thoughtfully created tool including a 100% UV free light for safe use. This winter will definitely not be getting the best of me this time. 

This post is sponsored by Capital One.

On paper, some people might say I’m good with my money. I pay my bills relatively on time (key word: relatively), I have a decent savings account, my income is also decent and I’m able to live a fairly care-free life, all things considered. Yet in spite of these financial pros, I find myself keeping a constant sense of money-related stress at bay.  I avoid looking at bills right away, I leave taxes until the very last minute, I tap my credit card not knowing if it will decline because I almost always forget to check my balance until it does. These bad habits are so ingrained in me, it’s as though I wouldn’t know how to function properly if I didn’t have these financial anxieties fuelling my work ethic.

After all, I’m also a freelancer with no salary to rely on when times get tough. I’m also currently single, so the weight of responsibility rests entirely on my own shoulders.

According to the recent research, Canadians ranked money as their greatest stress. Nearly half of Canadians say they have lost sleep because of financial worries, a quarter feel pressure to keep up with other people’s financial status — millennials being to most susceptible to this. And many have at least one financial regret, whether that’s wishing they had saved and invested more money,  bought real estate or land or done more schooling. This is backed up by a survey conducted by Capital One and Credit Canada, in which it states that, like me, 21% go to extremes to avoid reviewing their personal finances. (I knew there was no way I was alone in that.)

Worrying is natural.

While some of these worries are out of our control, the housing market being one of them as Vice Canada recently investigated, we are in more control than we give ourselves credit for. This is the whole premise of Credit Education Week (CEWC), “a national effort to raise financial literacy awareness and the importance of proper credit education.” More than that, it provides willing participants the resources and tools to proactively plan and manage their financial situations, thus easing the stress that comes with it.

Yet most important, in my eyes, is the safe space it provides to simply talk about our finances. Like many other mental health burdens, conversation appears to be at the forefront of this particular anxiety. We feel shame and embarrassment, so the natural tendency is to retreat and hide. “One in four Canadians have hidden their financial situation from loved ones at some point, whether it’s by using credit to purchase something they couldn’t afford, lying to avoid spending money or lying about their current financial situation,” writes CEWC.

So how do we change this? By instilling healthier habits:

1. IT’S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY: A classic mental health motto that is just as relevant here. Stress is natural. Worrying is natural. Yet it’s important to distinguish what we can control and what we can’t. By focusing on what we can control, everything suddenly becomes clearer. And for what we can’t? Well, that’s what professional help is for.

2. BE REALISTIC: Build budgets based on your income, essential expenses and savings goals — not on what you wish you had. Make use of the resources you have. There are also free tools out there such as a budget calculator can help identify areas in your budget where expenses can be cut to achieve a specific financial goal and ultimately reduce the stress associated with unnecessary debt.

3. TRACK AND EVALUATE: Track your spending regularly against the categories you’ve created to see where your money is actually going. Use a budget tracker, and if your debt is still getting you can be proactive by getting free help from a non-profit credit counselling agency like Credit Canada.

4.  MINDFUL MONITORING: Tools like Capital One’s Credit Keeper can help you better

understand credit and the importance of a healthy credit score to your overall financial
health. Credit building programs from Credit Canada are designed to teach Canadians
how to build or rebuild their credit and increase their credit score are also a good
resource.

5. LEVERAGE TOOLS AND RESOURCES: www.cewc.ca is also a great resource to
learn more about Credit Education Week and the different events taking place
across the country, including credit building programs designed to teach Canadians
how to build or rebuild their credit and increase their credit score.

As Patrick Ens, VP of Strategy and Brand, Capital One, shares, “Money is an emotional topic and is one of the biggest sources of stress in people’s lives, but it is rarely talked about. During Credit Education Week, we are aiming to help Canadians begin conversations around money, their relationship with it and how actively prioritizing and managing finances can alleviate stress.”

With it being World Kindness Day today and Giving Tuesday next week, I thought it was the perfect time of year to revisit my “holiday giving” mission. Over the last few years, a lot of my values have shifted. Not changed, just sidestepped to, for me, more meaningful experiences. One of the ways that’s manifested is the way I give. Last year I wrote a last minute guide to charitable gift giving. It focused on substituting material gifts for donations in the name of loved ones.

This year, I’ve been fortunate enough to learn more about gifts that give back. I’ve always donated items — most recently a ton of clothes and beauty products to Sistering, which Coco and Cowe introduced to me a couple years ago — yet there are incredible organizations out there that encourage shopping to facilitate the economical growth of other countries as well as sustaining underprivileged communities in our own nation.

ME to WE

As succinctly written on its site, “ME to WE is an innovative social enterprise that provides products that make an impact, empowering people to change the world with their everyday consumer choices.”  It’s a one-stop shop for a variety of give-back gifts, all of which fall into pillars upholding the singular mission to make the world a better place: education, water, health, food, opportunity. From jewelry and teas to trips that allow people to travel with a purpose, ME to We provides philanthropic people a variety of ways to gift meaningfully.

TEN THOUSAND VILLAGE

Ten Thousand Villages is fair trade retailer sourcing gorgeously handcrafted products from  communities in the developing world. In a way, this store can be likened to the opportunity pillar of ME to We in that each purchased item helps to guarantee a fair, stable income of each maker. Not to mention that the jewelry, decor and clothing all carry “a beautiful story about the culture, traditions and skills of the artisan,” which in turn enriches the lives of those who walk away with them.

SHOEBOX PROJECT

A lot closer to home is the Shoebox Project. A simple idea that makes big waves, it “collects and distributes gift-filled Shoeboxes to women impacted by homelessness in communities across Canada and the US.” I had the opportunity to make a shoebox just yesterday with Brill Communications. Each thoughtfully created and decorated Shoebox is filled with items valued at $50 that can enhance self-esteem and reduce feelings of isolation — which is one of the biggest threats to the welfare of homeless in general.

LOCAL LOVE

Founded by a ” group of savvy, funny (well, we think so anyway), community-minded folks,” Local Love is a long-over duepublication, in my humble opinion. Focused entirely on betterment, it’s the GTA’s top source for living well and giving back. So if you’re looking for another way to become involved, this is where you can start your research. Local Love even has a bite-sized guide on creative ways to give back as well. So make sure you keep you eyes peeled for that, especially if you want to find something out of my current three suggestions.

This is just a small glimpse into the ways we can still give back with purpose, meaning and impact. There are countless of other people and organizations making it easier for the average consumer to shop and gift ethically. All it takes is a little research and a lot of creativity to make a change and a difference. Of course, this is to never underestimate the gift of time and a smile. Those go a long way too.

I’m currently reading Gabor Maté’s In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts in which he writes about “close encounters with addiction,” having witnessed firsthand these accounts while working as a medical doctor in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver — a neighbourhood notorious for its sanctioning of drug use. Although I’m only a few chapters in, I immediately drew connections with his eye-opening insights and the current cannabis climate in Canada. Maté touches on the “war on drugs,” writing how decriminalization can benefit not only the user, but the society he or she resides in. He writes, “Can we imagine the progress we could achieve if a great proportion of the resources now poured Ito the toxic sinkholes of enforcement and incarceration were dedicated to prevention, harm reduction and treatment? That is the possibility.”

…one cannot make war on inanimate objects, only on human beings…

With legalization of marijuana just days away, it’s a hot topic across the nation. While many cannabis brands are focusing on the health and lifestyle benefits of regular use, one brand is taking a more political stance. DOJA has partnered with Cannabis Amnesty to help get minor cannabis convictions erased. Although Maté refers to harder drugs, his concerns about the war on drugs are just as relevant here. He argues “one cannot make war on inanimate objects, only on human beings. And the people the war is mostly waged upon are those who have been the most neglected and oppressed in childhood […and] are the most likely to succumb to substance addiction later in life. In our civilized times we are punishing and tormenting people for having suffered trauma.”

Now, that may seem like a dramatic statement when it comes to recreational marijuana use, yet the core beliefs are reflected in how people who use have been and still are treated. As DOJA brings attention to, “More than 500,000 Canadian lives have been negatively impacted by decades of criminal convictions for non-violent, minor cannabis offences that soon will no longer be a crime, including challenges like renting a home, volunteering, and finding meaningful employment.”  And somehow these records may not be expunged.

In order to raise more awareness of this issue, the leading BC-based cannabis producer has created PARDON, a line of clothing and accessories. Full proceeds will go to supporting Cannabis Amnesty’s mission to correct this injustice by rallying Canadians to encourage the government to act now and issue a mass pardon to all individuals for the offence of simple, non-violent possession of cannabis.

A poll conducted in May 2017 by Nanos Research and the Globe and Mail indicated that 62% of Canadians either support or somewhat support pardons for people with criminal records for marijuana possession. Considering that racialized communities have been unfairly targeted more than others, this is an encouraging statistic. As found on Cannabis Amnesty’s website, “Canada has an opportunity to become a world leader by implementing a cannabis policy driven by compassion and evidence, not stigma and fear.” So let’s all step up. This is how you can make a difference:

1. Visit Pardon.life to purchase PARDON products to make a statement around this injustice and to help give those affected a chance at cannabis amnesty

2. Sign the petition at Pardon.life to show your support for those fighting for cannabis amnesty and help us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures to help galvanize change. The more signatures garnered, the greater the impact.