YOUTH SPORTS TORONTO DRAGONS RFC

TRY RUGBY!

If you’re looking for a great way to keep your kids busy this winter, check out the Toronto Dragons Rugby Football Club’s winter training program.

It runs until April 22nd at Lamport Stadium in Liberty Village. It’s a great way to meet the team and coaches and prep for a fun summer filled with rugby festivals!

For more info on joining, visit: www.torontodragonsrugby.ca

THE LOVE STORY CONTINUES...

Our Little Guy is now officially a fashion designer!

When he was 3 (last year), I was working on some Hat designs for my side-gig, Great Lakes Apparel Company. I asked our Little Guy if he could put one word on a hat, what would it be; and if he could choose one colour for the hat, what colour would he make it?

His answers:

LOVE and RAINBOW!

And so the LOVE Hat was born.

The hats are sold through local shops in far-away places like Flesherton, Markdale, Eugenia, and Nottawa.

But lucky for you, they’re now available for sale at Oak Learners in Mimico and Long Branch!

FRAMES BY Angela

February is here and while we are now accustomed to the cold temperatures and darker winter days, it’s also important to notice that each day we welcome a few more minutes of sunshine and light as we slowly move through winter.

However, many of us simply want to avoid the outdoors and stay on the couch, wrapped up in a warm blanket, while enjoying a book or a movie. At least until the snow melts and the warm weather returns.

Those who are willing to brave the cold have a few great options to explore at the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre.

If learning about Etobicoke’s prohibition era secrets piques your interest, you won’t want to miss “Bottled Up: The Secrets of Prohibition Etobicoke” that continues until Spring 2023.

The exhibition explores the storied tale of prohibition era Ontario and how it influenced New Toronto – including bar fights, legal issues, blind pigs, and an obscure connection to an underground alcohol smuggling ring. The exhibition will transport viewers back in time to the late 1800s to discover some of New Toronto’s “worst kept” secrets.

If you’re interested in finding out a little bit more about the exhibition before heading down to experience it live, there’s an accompanying interactive flip book filled with interesting information. You can peruse it by visiting the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre’s website at: www.lakeshoregrounds.ca/bottled-up

Visual arts enthusiasts who visit the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre will be able to enjoy the newest exhibition in the Third Floor Gallery that opened in January. It’s called “Soul Existence” and features the work of local artist Susannah Smith.

Smith, who’s based in New Toronto, is continually inspired by the landscape and histories in South Etobicoke as reflective and contemplative spaces. Drawing connections between the natural world and its cycles with her own journey with mental health, “Soul Existence” presents original artwork and stories in the words of the artist herself.

You can find out more by visiting the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre’s web-

By: June MacDonald-Jenkins, Principal - Lakeshore Campus

site at: www.lakeshoregrounds.ca/upcoming-exhibitions

While it’s still a few months away, the closing celebration for the exhibition is scheduled for April 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for those interested in attending.

For the TV and movie fans out there, the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre’s next free Film History Tour takes place on February 2. Pre-registration is required.

You can learn about the shows and movies that have been shot at Lakeshore Campus including The Handmaid’s Tale, Suicide Squad, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, Urban Legends, the Canadian cult classic Strange Brew and various iterations of the Police Academy series including the original.

You can find out more by visiting the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre website at: www.lakeshoregrounds.ca/tours

There are also opportunities for both students and the wider community to have their work put on display at the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre.

The Centre features solo and group art shows on the third floor of the Student Welcome and Resource Centre and welcomes contributions to its bi-annual exhibitions in the main space.

Themes must connect to one of its four guiding pillars of Indigenous heritage, mental health history, educational heritage or ecology, and/or highlight the local history of the Lakeshore Grounds region. Submissions are welcome and encouraged from community members and students alike and the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre supports artists of all experience levels.

Those interested in finding out more information about exhibition opportunities or to submit a proposal can do so by emailing info@lakeshoregrounds.ca.

The Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre is now on TikTok at@LakeshoreGRNDS for those who want to give them a follow. The Centre is also active on other social media accounts including Instagram: @lakeshoregrnds,Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LakeshoreGrnds/ and Twitter: @lakeshoregrnds.

We invite you to venture out this month and stop by Lakeshore Campus when you have a moment to check out the great art and exhibitions. Experiencing the wonderful art on display is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon while simultaneously supporting local artists and the south Etobicoke arts community.

The Conscious Mind: How to Use It Effectively for Improved Mental Health

By: Jonathan Nhan

That internal dialogue in your head that is always narrating, debating, and deliberating your day to day life is the part of the mind that we are aware of. Because it is the most visible part of our mind, we often attribute our successes and failures to it. While this is not completely inaccurate, it is not the full picture either. In the second part of this series examining a practical model of the mind, let’s get acquainted with the conscious mind, how you might be using it wrong, and how you can use it better.

The conscious mind is the part of your mental processes that you can observe and control most directly. For some, it narrates their daily lives and their thoughts. You can hold an awareness of a limited number of things in this part of your mind, on average about 5 to 7 things in your conscious mind at once before it gets overwhelmed and kicks something out. It can be challenging enough to recall your own phone number at times, imagine how difficult it would be to keep 2 or 3 phone numbers in your conscious awareness simultaneously!

When we struggle with problems and get stuck, many of the blocks come from our conscious mind. Think about a recent problem where you got stuck. How much of your brain power was used to solve the actual problem versus thinking about how you are stuck in the problem! We can get stuck in cycles of worry and anxiety when the focus becomes how we are experiencing a problem. Thinking about how you are stuck in a problem will rarely get you out of that situation.

It is very important to acknowledge these feelings and emotions of frustration, anxiety, and worry because once you can acknowledge these feelings and accept that they have occurred, it becomes easier to set them aside. Denying these feelings puts your energy towards moving away from them rather than moving through them and processing them in a useful way. The conscious part of your mind has a very important role in your overall mental health and well being. The conscious mind can be used to set your focus and intentions. This internal narrator is often responsible for controlling negative self talk and limiting beliefs. Many of these things can be seeded by an outside influence, when we repeat limiting beliefs that are put on us by other people, we are reaffirming them and cementing them into place.

Begin to expand your awareness to identify how you are talking to yourself. It’s is all too common, and quite nefarious, the amount of times I hear people put themselves down in the course of normal conversation. When we give voice to negative beliefs about ourselves, we are limiting ourselves. Your conscious mind is under your control. While it may seem impossible to change how you think or feel about yourself, I’ll offer you one small thing that I found immensely impactful.

When you catch yourself saying that you can’t do something, add “YET” to the end of that statement. I recently started taking up drawing and I used to tell myself “I can’t draw”. Changing that to “I can’t draw yet” is a distinctly different message. The first statement is a limit, a wall, a barrier. The second statement gives space for growth. Bonus points for if you state the action you’ll take to get to your goal - “I can’t draw yet, but I will practice everyday”.

Begin noticing how you are using your conscious mind and start playing with different ways of speaking to yourself. Encourage yourself and be on your own side. Once you get good at setting your own positive intentions, you’ll be ready to tap into the true powerhouse of your mind: your unconscious mind.

February - A Month About Self-Love

By: Amanda Kirkland

Not that this applies to everyone reading it, but if I can help a few readers, then I’m happy with that.

Self-love is about intentionally taking care of oneself and who you are.

When I look back, specifically during my youth, I see someone navigating the world on her own. I really could have used the tools, support, and resources I have now. I want to share this knowledge with you so that you might avoid some of the struggles I experienced.

Never underestimate your ability to change your life for the better.

You can choose to thrive rather than barely survive.

Your life can change dramatically if you want it to.

Start thriving: Say NO.

Set and maintain boundaries.

Stop arguing with idiots.

Accept that some people or situations can’t be changed no matter what you do or say.

Get around the “right people”.

Choose what’s right for you. It doesn’t matter what others think.

Be your own best friend.

And, don’t forget to tell yourself you’re friggin’ awesome!

February is a month to focus on ways you can be loving to yourself and put your needs first.

Begin to thrive by living on your terms and prioritizing your own well-being. At any moment, you can shift the trajectory of

I’ve been there and done it, so I know what you might go through. I can be there for you if you need help making these changes. It’s way less stressful with someone by your side. Book