ETOBICOKE LAKESHORE PRESS
Amanda Ajodhia, PhD Mandala Educational Therapy Opens in New Toronto Supporting Young People with ASD and Other Forms of Neurodiversity
FREE . June 2022
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Oak Le Learners What We Offer
- Oak Online - Online Learning - Oak Onsite - In Person Learning - Oak Outside - Summer Camps
Creativity | Confidence | Community 394 Royal York Rd. Etobicoke, ON 416.820.5233 oaklearners.ca
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MASTHEAD FIAT LUX CONTRIBUTORS Roger Tumminieri, Publisher etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com Instagram: @etobicokelakeshorepress (416) 788-0716 Single Copy: $1.50 Annual Subscription: $54 Published Bi-Monthly by Fiat Lux Media www.fiatluxmedia.com All rights reserved Proudly Based In Alderwood
Hiliary Breadner
www.hiliarybgraphics.com (Graphic Design)
James Maloney, MP
www.jamesmaloney.libparl.ca (Community)
June MacDonald-Jenkins
www.humber.ca (Humber College Community Update)
Amanda Kirkland
www.amandakirkland.com (Personal Development)
Bill Zufelt
www.sherwaymusic.com (South Etobicoke History)
Adriana Hari
www.moyafinancial.ca (Finance)
Cecilia Santos
www.office146.com (Office146)
We acknowledge the financial support from the Canadian Periodical Fund
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE JUNE 2022 EDITION Welcome to our June edition! This month, we’re featuring a new business in New Toronto supporting young people with various forms of neurodiversity. Join me in welcoming to the neighbourhood Dr. Amanda Ajodhia, owner of Mandala Education Therapy. We’ve also included some great features from June MacDonald-Jenkins, Principal of Humber College Lakeshore Campus and James Maloney, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. Amanda Kirkland rounds out this edition with some straight talk about personal development. Also, keep an eye out for our newest publication, Support Local Magazine, coming to Toronto West later this year! Thank you for reading, Roger Tumminieri Publisher, Etobicoke Lakeshore Press etobicokelakeshorepress@gmail.com www.etobicokelakeshorepress.com (416) 788-0716
ROGER TUMMINIERI
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TABLE OF CONTENTS JUNE 2022 Publisher’s Note
Welcome to our June Edition Page 6
Cover Story
Meet New Toronto’s Dr. Amanda Ajodhia Page 8
Community
Taking Back Pride in Our Flag Page 10
South Etobicoke History
Bill Zufelt Gives the Mother Tree a Hug Page 11
Humber College Update Our Community Rocks Page 12
Personal Development
Amanda Kirkland Cuts to the Chase Page 14
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COVER STORY ’MET’ NOW IN NEW TORONTO The primary inspiration behind Mandala Educational Therapy (MET) is grounded in my clinical experience as a behavioural therapist and consultant for young people with autism and other neurodevelopmental diversities throughout the GTA. My young clients serve as the catalyst for MET - providing an inclusive learning space for friendship, belonging, and equity for neurodiverse young people. In addition to my therapy work, I taught courses on inclusive education, childhood disabilities, inclusion theories, and creative therapeutic interventions, etc., for many years at Ryerson University (School of Early Childhood Studies) and internationally in Kazakhstan at Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education. I also continue to research inclusive education in Canada and in countries such as Guyana, Cambodia, and Kazakhstan. In fact, a few years ago I published a book on research I facilitated in Toronto with a small group of young people with neurodevelopmental disabilities, and they shared a strong need for more learning spaces where they feel a sense of confidence, connection, and community (book available on Amazon: Voices and Visions from Ethnoculturally Diverse Young People with Disabilities). Essentially, MET grew from my continuous advocacy for inclusion and equity of young people with neurodevelopmental disabilities in educational settings. Based in New Toronto, MET is a necessary contribution to our vibrant Etobicoke Lakeshore communities, as we are flourishing with diverse families, including my own family who have been members of this community for over 10 years. MET provides a space within our neighbourhoods where young people can form an interconnected community of learners united in differences, appreciating all kinds of diversity, including neurodiversity. We run our programs in a warm and nurturing home environment where young people engage in creative arts, cooperative games and activities, and other forms of artistic therapeutic interventions (e.g., music and movement, play, poetry, drama, yoga) to develop their skills and con-
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DR. AMANDA AJODHIA fidence in building friendships. We know that once young people feel connected with other peers and feel a sense of belonging in their learning environment, academics and behaviours improve. Mandala Educational Therapy offers the following services for young people with autism, ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, and intellectual disabilities: In-person social skills groups: (ages 18months - 13yrs); Full day Saturday social skills groups: (ages 2.5yrs - 13yrs); One-on-one private child sessions including academic support and/or in-class support; Teen community programs: (ages 13yrs -18yrs); Transitioning to school (ages 2yrs - 6yrs); In-school consultations and observations. No referrals are needed to participate in any of our programs and there is no waitlist. Please give us a call today for a free consultation and come be a part of our Mandala community! Dr. Amanda Ajodhia, PhD Founder, CEO, Director of Mandala Educational Therapy Inc. www.mandalaeducationaltherapy.ca info@mandalaeducationaltherapy.ca amanda@mandalaeducationaltherapy.ca
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Pick Up Your Sign June 20th to 30th 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
JAMES MALONEY, MP Etobicoke- Lakeshore 1092 Islington Avenue, Suite 202 (416) 251-5510
COMMUNITY JAMES MALONEY, MP
Photo: Jennifer Hartley Summer is here and with it, the good weather. Parliament has been busy and you will soon get a longer summary of what has been happening on Parliament Hill in the next issue. For now, I wanted to reach out to let you know that this year, I am once again handing out Canadian flag lawn signs to celebrate Canada Day. I am particularly driven this year to share our flag to remind Canadians how important it is. This year, perhaps more than ever, we need to proudly fly it to reflect our pride and our true values of hope, peace and diversity. Please drop my office: 1092 Islington Avenue, Suite 202 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. starting June 20th until June 30th to pick up your sign. I also look forward to seeing you around the constituency in the coming months. I am pleased that many events have resumed and we will be able to celebrate the summer in person. Assuming the COVID-19 numbers cooperate, I will also be hosting my summer BBQ in July. More on that to come. In other news, The City recently unveiled that the oak tree was chosen as our official tree in a public vote that was held from
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JAMES MALONEY, MP April 21 to May 10. Trees are critical to fighting climate change. They absorb CO2, they provide shade which helps us with energy conservation and they stop erosion which helps deal with flooding. Nearly 11,000 votes were received with the oak tree receiving 47 per cent of the votes, the maple tree in second place with 31 per cent, the birch tree with 14 per cent and the pine tree received eight per cent of the votes. As we enjoy the summer, visit my website and Facebook page to find out more about the oaks in our community. Stay safe and as always, please do not hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance. JAMES MALONEY, MP Etobicoke- Lakeshore 1092 Islington Avenue, Suite 202 www.jamesmaloney.libparl.ca james.maloney@parl.gc.ca (416) 251-5510
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OFFICE146 GOT WIFI? WiFi passwords are complicated and way too often forgotten. When creating a password, many people will try to keep it simple to make it easy to remember, not realizing they are exposing themselves to security issues. ‘Got WiFi?’ is the new standard for securely and seamlessly sharing WiFi with guests. After setting up your Got WiFi magnet or frame, guests can simply tap their phone to get connected. This is made possible using the same smart technology trusted for secure phone payments worldwide like Apple Pay and Google Pay. It’s self-serve, saving you the trouble of having to remember a secure and complicated WiFi password! www.shop.gotwi.fi Instagram: @got_wifi
SOUTH ETOBICOKE HISTORY MOTHER TREE Bill Zufelt Witnesses History Today I hugged the Great Red Oak of Humbermede near the Humber Trading Trail Today the celebrated indigenous historian, artist and story teller, Philip Cote, ceremonially sang and pow-wowed to bless and protect the Oak (now Toronto's official Tree Emblem) with the sacred medicines of Tobacco. Today we learned that the large burl at the bottom was planned by forefathers to show the direction to a camp for shelter and safe passage. Today we learned the tree has much to share and is still learning. Today I was forever humbled.
BILL ZUFELT
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HUMBER COLLEGE COMMUNITY UPDATE
It seems hard to believe that we are nearly halfway through the year already. How time flies when you’re busy. Summer is fast approaching and, as people prepare for their summer vacations and getaways, Humber remains hard at work to educate the next generation of leaders. That work includes creating a safe and inclusive environment. Humber’s strategic plan puts emphasis on building a diverse and inclusive community for staff and students. Recently, the college released its long-anticipated Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Framework and Strategy. The aim of the Framework is to provide a pathway for Humber to trans-
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form the future of our academic community (students and employees, the post-secondary education sector and our society) in new and dynamic ways. The Framework seeks to do this by providing an institution-wide strategy to address and dismantle all forms of racism, prejudice and othering, and build towards a diverse and inclusive community. I encourage you to learn more about how Humber is addressing these important issues and learn how you, too, can help build a more equitable community. Speaking of building, if you have been by our beautiful Lakeshore campus recently
Supporting Local in South Etobicoke
By: June MacDonald-Jenkins, Principal - Lakeshore Campus you will have seen construction at the site of the Humber Cultural Hub. Operating with zero carbon emissions, the Cultural Hub will be one of the most sustainable developments in Canada and a showcase for global best practices in sustainability and energy efficiency. Humber is a leader in sustainability and innovative practices in green infrastructure. Through utilizing sustainable materials, such as mass timber construction, the Cultural Hub will be a beacon for sustainable best practices across Canada. It will also serve as a living laboratory for instructing students in sustainable construction practices and efficient operation. Students will work with faculty on multi-disciplinary teams to design and test innovative ideas and solutions to real-world sustainability issues, preparing them to shape the future of sustainability. I’m also very excited about the accessibility the Cultural Hub will provide. We envision this space to be the leading destination for arts and culture outside of the downtown core and a gathering place for our community to collaborate. As the arts and culture sector recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are eager to provide this catalyst to help revitalize the industry and excite our community in our little enclave in west Toronto. There’s also exciting news to share about the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre. The Interpretive Centre – which aims to interpret the natural and built heritage of the Lakeshore Grounds and to engage with the community through exhibitions and cultural programming – has reopened to the public.
Samuel Smith Park, are in the works and are set to be launched in July 2022. For more information or to book a tour, visit LakeshoreGrounds.ca/tours. The Interpretive Centre is also hosting an exciting new initiative called “Our Community Rocks” and is inviting the public to contribute to the mosaic. Inspired by the trend of “kindness rocks” that have popped up across communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Interpretive Centre is asking the community to share kind words of encouragement and unique art creations by contributing to a painted rock mosaic on the grounds - materials including rocks and bee-safe paints are available for participants. Paint a rock with a message or picture that demonstrates the many ways that the Lakeshore Grounds community rocks; share your creativity, inspirations and values of nature, friendship, togetherness, hope and strength. The goal of the project is to populate the area with painted rocks to create a space where community values can intersect and grow through creativity and social innovation. The rocks will be on display throughout June and July and, once the display is complete, the rocks will be brought to the lake to restore and rebuild the shoreline. The project is using environmentally friendly paints and tools to ensure the sustainability of the natural environment. You can learn more at www.lakeshoregrounds.ca/our-community-rocks.
Public tours are once again available and, as always, free of charge. I encourage you to consider joining a tour to learn more about the rich history of this neighbourhood where we live and work. Ongoing Tunnel Tours highlight the history of the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital through an exploration of the patient-built underground tunnels and nineteenth-century cottages. Other tours, including an exploration of sustainability initiatives on Lakeshore Campus and the nearby Colonel
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PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT heard. I worry about what others think of me. I always think I’ve done something wrong. I’m tired of being treated like sh*t. I want to be respected at work). How much time have you spent in traditional therapy, reading books, and talking to people about your problems but are still stuck in the same patterns? How often do you get frustrated with yourself that you can’t seem to get meaningful results from where you are right now?
AMANDA KIRKLAND “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” - Carl Jung Hi, Neighbours. I would like to introduce myself again. I’m Amanda, a Personal Growth Coach. I’m a Trauma Aware Certified Master Practitioner in EvolvedNLP, QTR and Hypnotherapy. What I do... I do not help people fix their lives. My job is to ask the right questions so that people can see for themselves what they need to do, and then guide them to help them do it. As children, we develop coping mechanisms for dysfunction to help us survive which we carry into adulthood, confining us to certain behaviours and feelings. In most cases, you can’t control all the variables or the outcome of events in your life. By becoming aware of this, you can change those patterns and choose new responses. Let’s play a little here. Let me ask you a few questions: How long have you been struggling with a certain “problem”? (I have a lot of toxic people in my life. I constantly feel disappointed. I don’t feel seen /
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On a scale of 1–10, how much of a priority is it for you (today) to stop trying to figure this out yourself? How great would it feel to live your life without the sh*t you’ve been experiencing for years (because that luggage is far too heavy!)? Would you invest in yourself if you could change all of this? When I answered all these questions, I realized I was ready to commit to making some changes in my life. I invested in myself and started working with a COACH because I’m worth it and I deserve to live my best life. If you’ve never tried coaching before… it changes everything. I am so happy I changed my life. In a matter of months, on my journey, I experienced more personal, emotional, mental, and physical shifts than in over twenty years of traditional talk therapy. This was nothing short of amazing. Would you like to discover the secret to living a more fulfilling life? To feel heard and understood, to have the confidence to speak up, to have people get and understand you, to feel respected? How to spot toxic patterns so that you know how to respond to them better? I have the lived experience and the tools to help guide you on this journey. If you’re ready to make changes, let’s talk. amanda@amandakirkland.com www.amandakirkland.com
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