By Pepper Parr

August 1st, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Toronto Star reports that Meta, the conglomerate that owns Facebook and Instagram – the people who collect all kinds of information about you and then use that information to run advertising by you, says it is officially moving to end news access for Canadians on its Facebook and Instagram platforms.

The company says it is removing news for all Canadian users over the course of the next few weeks.

Meta was previously running a test that limited news for up to five per cent of its users, and now says it is moving out of the testing phase.

That means links to news articles and other content posted by Canadian publishers and broadcasters will no longer be viewable to people accessing the social-media platforms in Canada.

One source of news of significant interest to people in the 905 area is a podcast out of Hamilton that was told by Meta the information they were putting up on their Instagram page was no longer permitted because they were identified is as a news source.

Here is the way they explained what had happened:

“A few weeks ago, we received an alarming notification on our Instagram page. Meta would no longer be sharing our content in Canada, in retaliation against the Federal government’s Bill C-18.

“We had though that maybe we’d be too small to be affected by this move, however it turns out we were wrong. Instead we have found ourselves to be reduced to collateral damage in the fight between the federal government and two tech giants. So then, what are our options, and what can we do to protect ourselves going forward?”

Roland Tanner and Joel MacLeod broadcast their podcast frequently. This is not the place to comment on their content or the production values of what they do.
They have every right to broadcasting – for Meta to shut them out is just poor policy and the kind of thing that got the United States into the mess they are currently facing. Democracies need informed people. Shutting out a news source does more harm than good.

Google 905er and take a listen. Their situation is not a pretty story – something you want to concern yourself about

By Pepper Parr

August 1st, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

In the Lives Lived section of the Globe and Mail of today’s date. We have copied the article and set it out below. Enjoy.
Mina would never in her life think that she would be remembered this way.

Mina

Born Oct. 4, 1967, in Brighton, England; died April 4, 2023, in Hamilton, of hemorrhagic stroke; aged 55.

Charity begins at home – and Mina Wahidi was most at home when it came to charity. Wilhelmina Devoy was the age of 3 when she arrived in Canada with her Irish parents, who came seeking better economic opportunities. Her siblings, Desmond Jr., Dympna Jr., and Kieran, were born later in Canada.

Kindness came easily to Mina. Like any teenager, she enjoyed going to dances and acting in plays at her high school in Brampton, Ont. But she also loved to visit seniors’ residences, never wanting anyone to be lonely.

At 18, during a trip to Haiti where she worked as a volunteer, her worldview changed forever when she saw an infant die in front of her.
Her family noticed a change in her upon her return. She became more focused on how she wanted to give back and was more socially conscious.

In 1992, she became an auxiliary police officer with Peel Regional Police. She enjoyed working patrol during parades, making school visits and helping with domestic violence calls.

Mina met Farid Wahidi while working as a security guard at a Brampton mall. He was an Afghan refugee working at a rug shop. Not only was Farid handsome, but she was drawn to his Omar Sharif-like charm, as well as his maturity and caring nature. In 1998, they married. Their first child, Sarah, was born a year later, and two more children, Mariam and Bilal, came to round out the family she loved.

Mina taught her children to help those in need but she was also “the silliest person you would ever meet. She would make the best jokes at the worst times,” Sarah recalled. She was always there for Bilal’s soccer games – even if, after five minutes, she might fall asleep on the sidelines because she was so tired. Her children remember how hard she worked to help solve their problems, even if it meant staying up until 1 a.m. to find a solution.

Apart from her children, Mina’s lasting legacy is the Compassion Society of Halton Region, which began in 2000 as a single rack of donated clothing in the basement of her home. When the clothing collection outgrew her basement, it moved to a stand-alone facility in Burlington. To this day, the charity offers not only clothing to those in need but also food, toiletries and jobsearch help.

“She was what we needed in this world,” said Sarah, speaking to a Compassion Society gathering after Mina’s death.

But Mina could get a little caught up in her charity work. Once, her brother left a pair of shoes in her hallway. When he went looking for them the next morning, Mina’s eyes bulged in surprise. She had donated them. “Oh, Desmond,” she said. “There’s an old man in Aldershot who just loves your shoes now!”
In 2009 Mina was voted Burlington Citizen of the Year, and in 2012 was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for her volunteer work.

In 2021 she helped found Halton Refugee Help Centre. That winter, she collected coats for Afghan refugees to help them endure their first Canadian winter and blew past her goal of 1,000 coats.

Despite her sunny outlook, Mina did have her own mental-health issues. She struggled with the loss of her mother, her marriage and the effects of a concussion. She considered suicide – but her chihuahua Royce caught her attention at just the right moment and she took him for a walk instead. Mina decided soon after to open up about her struggles.

Earlier this year, she collapsed in the lobby of her Oakville apartment building. In the hospital that evening, Sarah told her mother she could rest now.

For a woman who provided comfort in a time of need to so many, it was time for her to go home.

The article was written by her brother

By Staff

August 1, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust and BlackNorth Initiative have partnered to offer a Canadian Real Estate & Trades Bursary for Black high school students. Launching this July, funding will be dispersed for the upcoming fall 2023 semester.

The Well was a Sonshine initiative. It is more than a collection of buildings and stores—it’s a dynamic and fluid experience that puts the things people want most within easy reach. Here, residents and visitors will find an inspired mix of fashion, fitness, beauty, health, entertainment, arts and culture, home decor and services.

In a statement from the company they said: “By investing in the Black leaders of tomorrow, RioCan continues to work towards its commitment to the BlackNorth Initiative CEO Pledge. The bursary, amounting to $21,200, will provide financial support for students entering post-secondary programs within the commercial real estate field at accredited schools. The investment will be key to creating a new generation of Black leaders in the real estate sector.

“The cost of post-secondary education can be a major barrier, which limits upward mobility in the employment journey. This bursary will help level the playing field for Black youth with less secure financial backgrounds, leading to diverse and inclusive workplaces from interns to leadership,” says Dahabo Ahmed-Omer, BlackNorth Initiative’s Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to working with RioCan, a BlackNorth Initiative signatory, to support Black students and foster their future careers in real estate.”

“Easing the financial burden for Black students interested in commercial real estate starts to tackle some of the systemic barriers that Black students have historically faced in Canada and can contribute to increasing representation in the industry,” says Jonathan Gitlin, President and CEO at RioCan. “RioCan is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive industry and workplace. Our commitment to the BlackNorth Initiative is unwavering, and we are proud to support the next generation of Black real estate professionals as they begin their careers.”

The bursary goes beyond a financial investment. RioCan will also offer recipients mentorship and internship opportunities, providing the foundation and skillset to build upon throughout their real estate careers. This investment expands RioCan’s existing DEI scholarship program, launched in 2021, which supports students identifying as historically disadvantaged at Toronto Metropolitan University and the University of Alberta.

Edward Sonshine, Non-Executive Chairman of the RioCan Board of Trustees

Up until very recently Edward Sonshine was the force, the energy and the lead thinker behind RioCan.  This initiative is one he would be very proud of – he is still leading.  I once had office space in one of his buildings where he had his office.  A funny guy at times who was well grounded. He was the founder of RioCan and currently serves as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Trustees

About BlackNorth Initiative
The BlackNorth Initiative is on a mission to end anti-Black systemic racism throughout all aspects of our lives by utilizing a business-first mindset. We are committed to the removal of anti-Black systemic barriers negatively affecting the lives of Black Canadians. For more information, visit: https://blacknorth.ca/ and follow us on social media @blacknorthca.

About RioCan
RioCan is one of Canada’s largest real estate investment trusts. RioCan owns, manages and develops retail-focused, increasingly mixed-use properties located in prime, high-density transit-oriented areas where Canadians want to shop, live and work. As at March 31, 2023, the portfolio is comprised of 191 properties with an aggregate net leasable area of approximately 33.5 million square feet (at RioCan’s interest) including office, residential rental and 11 development properties.