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LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

LADY TEE’S DESK

Alberta is open for business

ince July, we have had the luxury of existing without masks, we have been able to return to our nightclubs, cafes, mosques, churches, and restaurants. With rates of vaccinations continuing to rise across most of the province, it looked like we were winning a day at a time in the fight against COVID-19. Or maybe not. Life ‘back to normal’ seemed impossible, many businesses had to learn to exist online. Many people lost their jobs and had to retrain. Most of us just carried on somehow. And we are still here. With community barbecue events springing up here and there, some people are ready to get out and mingle, and some are stressed about getting back together with people. We survived the pandemic, we can survive anything. A positive mindset helps turn the tide, most times. Whatever hardship you are undergoing will pass like water under the bridge. If we were able to adjust to life in a pandemic,

we can also adjust to a life back to normal. It might take some time, but we will get there— we got this! In this edition, we focus on the different faces of reopening in Alberta. This edition will be out as schools across Alberta and Canada resume, we wish all students and parents a great academic year ahead. With a Federal election on September 20th, change is in the air. We are excited for that. The buck stops with me. We remain grateful to our readers and our business partners and sponsors. Please email your questions and gushing letters of admiration to: info@lccmediafoundation.ca To life and living

Tee Adeyemo Founder and Editor-in-Chief Ladies Corner Magazine

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

8. Economic Recovery Post COVID-19 – Mary Thomas 14. Ladies Corner Health Yoga as a Way of Life – Mary Thomas 16. Exploring Business Possibilities - Teresa Spinelli

21. SocaFit Business Mogul, Cherelle George Reflects on the Pandemic and How It impacted Her Business. 22. Seniors and their Finances in Alberta’s Economic Recovery by Lorrie LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

Morales 26. The Story of Hope and Resilience: Documenting Christy Morin’s Revitalisation of Alberta Avenue 28. Gabrielle Battiste’s Promises if Elected City

Councillor for Ward O-day’min 29. Her Journey to Becoming a Lawyer in Alberta, Canada - Rita Manuwa 30. Black Businesses in Action - Jeanne Lehman

29 45

32. Racial Inequality and Black Economic Reset Sharif Haji 36. Females with the Power to Change the World - Dr. Bukola Salami 39. Come Back - Halima Hussein

41. Instrumental - A Poem by Shima Robinson 42. Mum’s Korner - Tayo Elnathan

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

LadiesCorner

ECONOMIC RECOVERY POST COVID-19 By Mary Thomas

he COVID-19 pandemic has been a colossal human tragedy killing more people globally than the World Wars. The loss of human life is heart-breaking and continues to rise with the global spread of the Delta variant. The virus has hit society like a global tsunami, disrupting travel, cutting off communities, shuttering factories and shaking up economic markets. The global manufacturing sector has suffered its worst contraction since the 2009 recession. Goldman Sachs foretold zero earnings growth for U.S. companies, while airlines and cruise lines are reeling as borders are still monitored. Unsurprisingly this major global disruption is leading to

lower energy demand, which in turn reduced global greenhouse gas emissions. China’s industrial output has dropped 15% to 40% since the crisis began, leading to a roughly 25% drop in emissions over the same period. Emissions reductions caused by economic downturns are temporary—and can lead to emissions growth as economies attempt to get back on track. After the global financial crisis of 2008, for example, global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production grew 5.9% in 2010, more than offsetting the 1.4% decrease in 2009. The crisis has affected the economy unevenly. The hardest-hit sectors (tourism and hospitality, airlines, retail, aerospace, oil and gas) are also the most difficult to rebuild. Certain groups of businesses have been hit harder, womenand minority-owned businesses in particular. The recovery will also be uneven and will take time. GDP is not expected to return to its pre-pandemic level before 2022, or even

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

September, 2021 2024 in some sectors. In the meantime, recovery will depend on effectively managing public health risks and our ability to counter the next waves of the pandemic until the vaccine covers the entire population. Changes in the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (formerly the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance) and the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (transitioned to Employment Insurance and the Canada Recovery Benefit) have helped Canadians tide through the pandemic. Edmonton restaurant owner, Gulshan Bhutani says, “With the numerous lockdowns and restrictions, COVID had a drastic impact on our businesses. We saw a sharp decline in sales after midMarch 2020 for a while, although revenues have since gradually increased, but not to pre-COVID levels yet. Managing a business, especially a new business has been a challenge as there are many specific requirements for government financial support, which most new businesses do not qualify for. Although most of the programs the federal government put out were decent, they didn’t cater to

new businesses. For our other businesses, although it was a complicated and long process, financial support from the federal government was a huge aid. Operating primarily in the food service industry and take-out, we were never really forced to shut down by the provincial government (we remained closed from March - May 2020), so the effect on our take-out businesses was not as substantial as our dine-in restaurant downtown which was forcibly closed down due a plethora of reasons: closure of offices downtown, hard to find employees to work for a few days and then no work for months; employees’ job situation has been very unsta-

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

LadiesCorner ble and the waves of lock down which caused numerous openings/closing/ limited capacity in the restaurant and lack of federal financial support. I’m glad we survived the worst. The best is yet to come.” It is high time to shift out of our fossil fuel-based economies. More than 5 million people worldwide already die prematurely each year due to air pollution. Two-thirds of air pollution deaths are caused by fossil fuels emitted from sources such as power plants, cars and factories. Experts estimate that illness and premature mortality associated with the air pollution from road transport cost OECD countries $1.7 trillion in 2010. And air pollution and the coronavirus both pose higher risks for people with

tion health crisis. As countries look to give their economies a much-needed jolt in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, governments and companies considering stimulus packages essentially have two choices: They can lock in decades of polluting, inefficient, high-carbon and unsustainable development, or they can use this as an opportunity to accelerate the inevitable shift to low-carbon and increasingly affordable energy and transport systems that will bring long-term economic benefits. The latter will also fight two major crises head-on: air pollution and the growing climate emergency. The good news is that a mounting body of evidence demonstrates that pursuing low-carbon and climate-re-

a year from now until 2045. Evidence shows this low-carbon growth path will outpace economic growth under business-as-usual from the first year it is pursued, while also unlocking an array of economic, social and environmental benefits in Indonesia. In 2045, those benefits will include more than 15 million additional jobs—which are greener and higher paying—faster poverty reduction, and gender and regional benefits. Sustainable, low-carbon infrastructure must be central to any government-led stimulus in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Governments have a critical role to play in setting out robust, well-articulated and sustainable investment strategies. Investment in sustainable infrastruc-

It is high time to shift out of our fossil fuel-based economies. More than 5 million people worldwide already die prematurely each year due to air pollution. Two-thirds of air pollution deaths are caused by fossil fuels emitted from sources such as power plants, cars and factories.

pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma, so adding to our air pollution burden could exacerbate the coronavirus’s overall contribution to illnesses and deaths. During previous economic crises, a number of countries turned quickly to stimulus packages that included investments in “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects. In many cases, this included building more coal or other fossil fuel power plants, upgrading roads, investing in heavy industries such as automobile manufacturing and more. Following that old playbook to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic would be a terrible mistake, as it would amplify the air pollu-

silient growth is the best way to unlock lasting economic and social benefits. Bold climate action could deliver at least $26 trillion in net global economic benefits between now and 2030 compared with business-as-usual according to the New Climate Economy. This includes creating more than 65 million new low-carbon jobs in 2030, equivalent to the combined workforces of the U.K. and Egypt today. Indonesia, one of the largest economies in the world, identified a low-carbon growth pathway, which goes beyond the country’s current climate commitments and would deliver an average GDP growth rate of over 6%

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

ture creates jobs today and many more social and economic benefits tomorrow. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, for example, led to a number of social and economic benefits including supporting roughly 900,000 clean energy jobs in the United States from 2009 to 2015. Stimulus package investments should also help build resilience in our communities to the impacts of a changing climate. The Global Commission on Adaptation has found that the net benefit of investing in resilient infrastructure over the next decade in developing countries would be $4.2 trillion over the lifetime of new infrastructure, with a $4 benefit for each

Climate action is key to economic recovery and long-term growth.

$1 invested. Business leaders and the finance sector are already waking up to the risks of investing in high-carbon activities and the benefits of shifting to a low-carbon, resilient economy—and governments should follow their lead. More than 16 major asset owners with almost $4 trillion in investments globally have committed to transition their full investment portfolios to net-zero emission investments by 2050, and many others are rapidly shifting away from fossil fuel investments. Sustainable companies are already outperforming their peers. For example, companies committed to 100% renewable power have better net profit margins and earnings than those without this commitment. And corporations that are actively managing and planning for climate change secure an 18% higher return on investment than companies that aren’t—and 67% higher than companies which refuse to disclose their emissions. Climate action is key to economic recovery and long-term growth. The global COVID-19 outbreak shows

the dire need for immediate measures to drastically cut emissions now. And the opportunities to do so, given new developments with clean technologies and their falling costs, have never been better. without a shadow of a doubt that governments have the ability to take urgent and radical action to contain crises. This will not be easy, and requires all of us to play our part. However, as we emerge from this immediate crisis, we need to be clear that responding to the short-term economic downturn with bad long-term investments would not make sense. Instead, we have an opportunity to use stimulus measures to boost growth following the COVID-19 health crisis to curb air pollution and help address the climate crisis as well. The growing urgency of the climate crisis shows the dire need for imme-

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

diate measures to drastically cut emissions now. And the opportunities to do so, given new developments with clean technologies and their falling costs, have never been better. While the restrictions on travel and large meetings are challenging, in turn they may also help us shift our own behavior to work, education and travel patterns that are much more sustainable, including recognizing the opportunities and broader benefits of teleworking and virtual meetings. We are being forced to reset our habits now, but we should use this as a learning moment as we come out of the crisis. We cannot punt the climate emergency down the road. This year, countries must deliver national climate commitments for 2030 aligned with reaching a net-zero emissions world by 2050. For those looking to shore up their economies in turbulent times and achieve long-term sustainable growth, climate action offers a compelling opportunity. Alberta ended the 2020-21 fiscal year with a deficit of $16.9 billion, which is $3.2 billion lower than the third-quarter forecast. Oil prices and

LadiesCorner other economic indicators trended upwards as the year came to a close, which boosted government revenue. “Last year was very difficult for many Albertans, but the province is emerging stronger than expected. The government took bold action to support job creation, build infrastructure and diversify our economy, and we are determined to carry this momentum forward, while remaining committed to our fiscal anchors,” Travis Toews, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance. Revenue for 2020-21 was $43.1 billion, which is $0.8 billion higher than the third-quarter forecast reported in Budget 2021. The increase is due mainly to stronger-than-expected oil prices in the last quarter of the fiscal year. With the strong improvement in energy prices and economic activity late in the fiscal year, revenue from oil sands royalties and corporate and personal income taxes also increased from the third quarter forecast. Financial markets picked up steam in the latter months of the year, which boosted investment income. Revenue from premiums, fees and licences also improved significantly. For example, strong North American lumber prices bolstered the province’s income from timber royalties. Expense was $2.8 billion higher than originally budgeted for due to the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting jobs and supporting economic recovery. In 2020-21, support for the pandemic response and Alberta’s Recovery Plan totalled $5.1 billion, plus $460 million in capital investments. The government also deferred billions of dollars in fees and taxes to help Albertans through the pandemic. Key actions taken in 2020-21 in response to the pandemic include:

•• Substantial additional investments in the health-care system totalling $1.5 billion •• The acceleration of the Job Creation Tax Cut to make Alberta one the most competitive jurisdictions in North America •• More than $2.5 billion in deferrals on utility bills, education and property taxes, student loans, and government fees and taxes •• Direct grants of approximately $626 million to small businesses impacted by health restrictions •• Supports for Albertans to safely isolate •• 40 million masks to Albertans •• Provided hotels and other tourist accommodations with direct support through the Tourism Levy Abatement •• Significant support for homeless shelters, women’s shelters, and food banks Alberta’s economy is emerging from the depths of the downturn. The provincial government committed to keep the ratio of net debt to gross domestic product (GDP) below 30 per cent. Alberta’s overall level of debt remains low compared to most other provinces. While Alberta’s real gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by an estimated 8.2 per cent in 2020, many economic forecasters have predicted that Alberta will lead all provinces in growth this year, including the Conference Board of Canada, BMO, CIBC and Desjardins. As of May, Alberta has already recovered about 86 per cent of the jobs lost between February 2020 and April 2020. Five new health facilities are under construction. Twelve health facilities are currently being renovated, modernized or expanded. Alberta rehabilitated 830

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

kilometres of road and completed 111 new roads and bridges, completed 20 school projects, and 68 others are underway, 705 new housing units, and 1,842 more are under construction, renovated two courthouses, and five courthouse projects are currently underway. The Alberta government, along with the Canada Infrastructure Bank and eight irrigation districts, partnered on a historic $815-million investment in irrigation infrastructure to support economic recovery in the province. The investment is expected to lead to the expansion of more than 200,000 irrigated acres over the next several years. $359 million investment in the agrifood sector is expected to lead to the creation of 1,147 full and part-time jobs. Enbridge Line 3 Project is replacing 1,600 kilometres of 60-yearold pipeline between Alberta and Wisconsin, restoring original capacity from the current 390,000 barrels per day, to 760,000 barrels per day and providing reliable energy, jobs and economic benefits on both sides of the border. Construction continued on the Trans Mountain Pipeline Project, which is expected to create 1,800 good-paying jobs and increase capacity from 300,000 to 890,000 barrels per day when operational in December 2022. We’ve made it through a global pandemic and we are hoping to see resurgence, that will translate into less dependence on fossil fuel, more sustainable transportation and a planet friendly future. mthere@gmail.com

LadiesCorner

Y O G A A WAY O F L I F E

Health Corner

Yoga is not mere exercise, it’s a way of life ‑ Mary Thomas.

oga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. In the west, people interpret yoga in manifold ways and every day, more people are practicing yoga and reaping the benefits of more energy, less stress, flexibility, strength and a greater sense of calm and clarity. While we use exercises to achieve this higher state of wellness, the practice of yoga goes far beyond the physical postures, breathing, and even meditation. Yoga means “to unite,” and it is a collection of practices over 5,000 years old. Most people think of yoga and LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

they think of the physical movements and the crazy, pretzel-like positions. But all the poses, called asanas, were designed to help yogis stretch their body and deepen their breathing so that they could sit longer in meditation. Hence, asana literally translates into “comfortable seat.” Yet even the breathing and meditation exercises do not fully encompass the practice of yoga. Yoga helps us unite our physical efforts with a mental intention so that we can access a deeper mind-body connection more often throughout our daily life. It is not about achieving

September, 2021

a temporary state of enlightenment, or even experiencing a sudden realization that fades away. Yoga teaches us to navigate our lives with a greater sense of peace and purpose. The exercises are not the destination, but they help us stay on track—moving toward the life that we want to create for ourselves. Yoga helps us stay committed and dedicated to our personal growth, and the practice is a reminder of how powerful we are when we are selfaware and mindful. I am a yogi. I have been practising yoga since I can remember, I feel calmer and more aware of my body, and this seeps into everything I do: how I work and relate to others, how I eat and sleep. Yoga is particularly promising for

improving lower back pain and reducing inflammation in the body, which can help stave off disease. Yoga also seems to enhance “body awareness,” or people’s sense of what is going on inside themselves. Yoga usually involves some combination of the following postures and poses (asanas), regulated breathing (pranayama), and meditation and relaxation (samayana). But many classes mix in other elements, from chanting to heat to music. There is also a lot of variation in teaching, quality and style. Hatha and Iyengar yoga are made up of stretches and restorative poses, while ashtanga and vinyasa tend to be more vigorous and athletic. Yin yoga probably will not make you sweat: You hold postures for long periods of time for deep stretching. In LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

Bikram, which consists of 26 postures repeated twice in a room that is heated at 105 degrees, you can be sure you will drench your clothes in sweat. Yoga is a practice that helps to eliminate all chances of illness. It can relieve people of some chronic diseases like arthritis, obesity, and so on. However, you must have to have the patience and discipline in you to practice it with some regularity. Embrace it and experience a better life mentally and physically. When you take a yoga class, remember that it is only one step on your path, just one day in your life. So, carry all of yourself to each exercise and see how it begins to change your life.

LadiesCorner

Exploring BUSINESS POSSIBILITIES

Teresa Spinelli

eresa Spinelli hardly needs an introduction. She is a force to be reckoned with. She was the first to get to the studio when we had our photo shoot recently. And she was very warm too. She made sure she knew more than the names of everyone present. ‘Is this what you do?’ Do you go home of‑ ten? How long have you lived in Edmonton? Her questions made us warm to her, and it also showed that behind the suc‑ cess of the Italian Centre Shop, is a warm and sweet mother-type business woman who cares about the well-being of the people she works with. In this media chat, we uncover tried and tested principles of business and lifestyle that sustains an empire in the 21st century. Success is never accidental. Success is possible even if it takes a lifetime. This is what we learnt from Teresa Spinelli. Spinelli is refreshing. She is down to earth and most of all, her warmth draws you closer. I hope you enjoy reading the

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

interview. The Italian Centre Shop in Sherwood Park opened on July 21st 2021. What inspired you to create the empire you have now? People inspired me. When I started, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be in this business. And then I quickly realized that it wasn’t about selling salami for me. I wanted to give people the opportunity to grow. I wanted to share our culture. For Italians, and many different countries, delicious bountiful meals are the way of life and the din-

September, 2021

Business SPOTLIGHT

ner table is where we bond. It is where families come together, friends are found, memories are made and business is done. I wanted to bring that to different parts of our communities.

business, women who do phenomenal jobs. But when you come to medium or larger sized businesses, you see less women and I think that’s what we have to work on.

What strategies do you have in place to help people grow? I just respect everybody and give them an opportunity to shine, and also give them all the tools they need to do their job well, and really, that’s what has brought the Italian Centre to where we are today. Team work brought us here.

When you say you want to help people grow and provide an environment, you are in Calgary, Edmonton and now you’re here opening a new store in Sherwood Park, how do you retain that family-like relationship? Really great question. So of course, there is always a struggle of, how do we grow and keep that family feeling. And all of our stories kind of have a different feel, but are all mostly based on people. Again, I think it’s our values, our respect, growth and loyalty. We try our best to give our team everything that they need in order to grow. It starts from the top—there is no us and them. I tell my store managers, they work for the people that report to them. I tell our supervisors, they work for the people that report

You’ve done phenomenally well in a male-dominated environment. Do you find that there are more women in business right now than in the 70s, 80s, or in the 90s? I think there are more women in business now. The unfortunate part is that they are mostly small businesses. The larger businesses are mostly male dominated. So, we want to fill that gap. There are a lot of women in

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

to them, and I work for our store managers. So, it’s very much a bottom-up culture. We always have to keep in mind that there is no us and them, we are in this together. I don’t have a special parking spot. I’m no more special than the cashier or the person that cuts salami or whoever, we’re all equals. And that’s really important. We heard an amazing story that you know the names of every employee that you have. Is this true? Well, now I don’t know the people at Sherwood Park yet. But after Sherwood Park, I certainly will. I know most of that to say 90% of the names, because I’ve got 520 employees, it’s a lot. Now with Sherwood Park we are at 650, so, I haven’t learned that 130, but I will. Not only their names, but I pride myself in getting to know them. I know if they have somebody sick at home, struggling with something. I know what their challenges are just

LadiesCorner on a friend basis. I want them to know that we’re here to support them to reach their goals, whatever their goals are, I want to make sure we’ll do whatever we can to help them. How do you distribute yourself across your stores these days? I’m usually in Little Italy because that’s where I live. I live across the street from the store. And that’s our head office. So, I spend most of my time there. Is your knowledge informed by role models? Is this knowledge informed by maybe something your parents passed on to you? I think it’s a little bit of both. I mean, my parents taught us to respect everybody. In our home, everybody was equal, we treated them the same. And my mother and father instilled that in us. And then being around business for so long, I realized that, at the end of the day, we really are all the same. We all want to know that we make a difference, and that we matter. And remembering somebody’s name makes them know they matter. When I walk in and I say, Sally, that shelf looks fantastic. I’ve made Sally’s day. And when somebody says to me, Teresa, you’ve got a great team, that makes me really happy. Sometimes people say to me, well, your team really loves you. And I go well, why wouldn’t they? I really love them. I truly, truly love them. And I care about them. So why won’t they care about me? Right? So that’s how we try to live our business life and our personal life. Do you have any role models right now? Everybody I work with, is amazing to me, people like yourself, when you go to a new country, and then have to start all over again. That’s amazing. I don’t know if I could do that. And

everybody has an incredible story, right? Everybody, whether they’re challenged with addictions, whether they’re leaving family behind, whether they’re new immigrants, whether language is a barrier, everybody has an amazing story. I think we must share those stories, and the more we share those stories, the more tolerant and understanding we become of other people. How were you able to keep your stores open, during the pandemic, in spite of the travel restrictions? How were you able to get imports or exports? We really didn’t have a problem with the supply chain, just minor

How do you differentiate between the different types of olive oil that you have? You have a whole aisle of olive oil? How do you know the authentic versus the counterfeit? Good question. I’ll start by saying Italy exports double the amount of olive oil that it produces. So obviously it can’t be all Italian olives, right? We’ve worked very closely with the Canadian government to make sure that things are labelled properly. We think people should know where their food comes from. And what’s in it. What books do you read? Or what are the best books for business out there that we should be reading? I think sports books are very good books. I think sports and business

I think sports and business are very similar. It’s all about creating teams, all about having goals. It’s all about steps to achieving those goals. So, I find that sports books, whether they’re talking about a hockey team or a soccer team, are great. problems. But nothing major because Edmonton is such a northern City , we have to import things in the spring, in the fall, and store the products all year round. That has really helped us. There’ve been minor issues like in factories in Italy, where they would make ten different types of panettone which is a Christmas cake. This year, they only made five because of shortage of labour in the pandemic. Those kinds of things, but nothing really major. We are very, very fortunate. One other issue is finding cheese, because we bring in fresh cheese from Italy. Of course, the flights were less, so it was harder to get the fresh cheese in a timely manner because it is fresh and only has a short shelf life, so, that was a bit of a challenge. But we did okay. LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

are very similar. It’s all about creating teams, all about having goals. It’s all about steps to achieving those goals. So, I find that sports books, whether they’re talking about a hockey team or a soccer team, are great. I read a book a long time ago, called ‘The Road Less Travelled.’ It’s really about life. It’s about taking the high road. It’s about looking internally. I think those kinds of books are really great. You are still a family-owned business? Do you think about legacy in terms of your son taking over from you? My son came as a surprise. I didn’t have any children for a very long time. And when I was 45, he showed up. So, it was a big surprise, a good surprise.

September, 2021 He’s 14 right now, he’s very young. And he loves the store. And of course, he’s 14, he gets lots of attention. He’s been part of the store since he was a baby, he spends a lot of time there. People love him, they know him. As parents we all want what is best for our kids, for them to be happy and do what they love to do and be good at what they do. So, we will see how it goes. What does a typical day look like for you? Once I get to work, I answer emails, usually have a meeting or two in the morning? There is no typical day. They’re all very different. Depending on the store that I’m at, when I’m in Little Italy, I do more work, like office work. When I’m at our other stores, I walk around more and have more meetings and chat and visit and ask a lot of questions to see what people need, what they’re looking for. I always ask what can I do to get an even better store for you? What do

you need from me? And I really try to listen and implement all those things. Speak to our generation, like, encourage us a bit. What do we all need to do to become spinouts of Teresa Spinelli? I think you have to really love what you do. You know, people always talk about passion, but a lot of people don’t have passion. So, if you’re not passionate about anything, just be aware, walk around and be really aware and go, wow, that was fun. I really like that, or, wow, that was kind of cool. I wish I could do more of that. And just become aware of what you love to do, what you love to be around. I don’t believe that just because you love something, you’ll be successful at it. Because it doesn’t work that way. You have to be willing to work really hard. I find that a lot of entrepreneurs start a business and then they don’t become millionaires overnight, and they quit. Well, it takes years. It doesn’t work that way. You

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have to really put in the time. Sometimes people say you’re so lucky. Yes, I am very lucky. I inherited a very good business. But I also worked very, very hard. And the harder I work the luckier I got. Surround yourself with really good people. I didn’t do this. I didn’t create this. It was my team. If it wasn’t for my team. I would not be where I am today. Where do you see your company in the next 20 years? After Sherwood Park we will be a $100 million company, God willing. I’m very excited about that. That was my goal to be a $100 million company. And then I think we’re going to do two more stores in Calgary, for sure. I’d like to go to Saskatoon, Victoria. Other than that, I don’t really know to be honest with you. We just take it one day at a time. We’re focusing on Sherwood Park right now. We’ll just see how the economy goes, how my team feels, what our possibilities are, and we will explore the possibilities.

SocaFit Business Mogul, Cherelle George Reflects on the Pandemic and How it Impacted Her Business

The pandemic taught many businesses how to survive. Cherelle learnt that she had to recreate it by switching from a 100% in person live classes to 100% online classes.

“Imagination is greater than knowledge”, Cecil George. Cherelle George is the creator and instructor at SocaFit. SocaFit is Edmonton’s Premier Caribbean Dance and Fitness Class. Her passion for culture and dance always inspired her creativity. Her earliest memories of going to the gym were fun but she never felt a connection to the music. Raised in a Caribbean household, her father played steel drums and her mother pumped soca. The vibration from the music instilled in her what we now know as SocaFit in Edmonton. When you speak with Cherelle, you understand that connection to culture is very important to her and that she is in many ways the embodiment of culture, music and the arts of her people. What is SocaFit you might ask? SocaFit is a form of dance and fitness that is tied intricately to soca and calypso music. According to her website, www.socafit.ca, SocaFit brings people from different backgrounds together, to lift spirits, and to empower people through movement. You could also think of SocaFit as more than a dance or fitness class. It is a form of thera-

py—SocaTherapy. In this chat, Cherelle reflects on the pandemic and how she was affected by it. The pandemic taught her a lot about herself and what she is capable of doing when vulnerability and fear are staring straight at her. She had two options: stop teaching and wait till the pandemic was over or to adjust, learn, go and grow, the ever-resilient Cherelle chose the second option. The pandemic taught many businesses how to survive. Cherelle learnt that she had to recreate it by switching from 100% in person live classes to 100% online classes. She said “There was definitely a big learning curve in doing this, but thankfully there were a lot of resources and community groups that helped. Secondly, because we are now online and we were attracting students from all over the world, we now had a challenge with time zones so we decided to create the SocaFit On Demand Channel. Our channel contains pre-recorded content that is uploaded monthly. This allows our students to attend online classes whenever it is the most convenient for them!”

To keep motivated, her parents, SocaFit family and the music keeps her fire burning. She said: “My parents keep me motivated! I feel like they did everything to ensure that I knew where I came from and for me personally, I want them to always know I will NEVER take it or them for granted. I am an extension of them and a representation of such a rich culture, this is what keeps me going. My SocaFit Family will always keep me going, we were close before, but during the lockdown, we really bonded and created a space for us to just be in the moment and enjoy each other’s “digital” presence. We all have been facing personal challenges and just to know that regardless of what we were individually going through, SocaFit was our time to focus on ourselves. The Music. I feel like soca music keeps me motivated. There are days that I am tired and once I play soca I instantly get a second, third, and fourth wind of energy”. Cherelle plans to take over the world but before she does that, she intends to start hiring and mentoring SocaFit instructors from all over Canada. To develop herself in regards to gaining more knowledge, Cherelle told us that the majority of it comes from conversations with people who have a passion for culture, movement, and business. Having enjoyed a few mentors that guide and educate her, she watches and learns when she is in their company. www.soca t.ca info@soca t.ca

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Seniors and their Finances in Alberta’s Economic Recovery By Lorrie Morales

e have seen the disruption in people’s lives and in our communities throughout the world over the course of this past year. The economic repercussions of COVID-19 are still being felt with loss of jobs, struggling and closed businesses, and ever-wavering financial markets. As we start to see some emerging hope from this economic downturn, past experience and history tell us that this will be a slow recovery that affects health and finances and a myriad of other concerns. The impacts from this downturn are just starting to emerge. Alberta seniors are definitely affected. When there is a problem, we look for solutions. Years ago, I remember a wise soul telling me that when there is a problem, develop a video game based on the elements of the problem and have gamers play to determine how to overcome and find a solution. If only it were that simple. According to the February, 2021 Alberta budget, eligibility for the senior income supplement program was to remain unchanged. What that basically means is that the annual non-deductible income threshold for a single senior was to remain at $21, 515, but they had not finalized any new threshold limit yet. The ASB (Alberta Senior Benefit) increased their funding and was budgeting $345 million for

Be sure to have financial legalities in place by speaking with your lawyer..

this coming year. So how does that affect seniors and what does that have to do with economic recovery that seems hopeful but is still saturated with doom and gloom? Seniors, Canadian citizens or permanent residents, who are eligible for Senior’s Benefit need to be 65 years or older, have lived in Alberta for 3 months and meet the financial eligibility criteria set by the government. Generally, if you are a single senior with an income annually of $28,785 or less or a couple with a combined income annually of $46,745 or less, you may be eligible for the benefit. But you need to apply at www.alberta.ca/alberta-seniors-benefit. On the provincial government website, there are two projects that are being supported: new affordable housing in Sherwood Park and area with more capacity and supports and the construction of a new continuing care centre in Fort McMurray that has started to improve the facility with medical equipment and supplies. As much as we want

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

September, 2021 to believe that the government has seniors’ best interests in mind, there are vast concerns regarding elderly cost of living, housing and needs. Lobbying the government to express concerns to our MLAs, writing letters to agencies and sharing true stories on social media or with senior advocacy groups are ways we can have voices heard. Cost of living has increased. If people were struggling before, they will be even more in the future years. Many adults, over 65, depend largely on government benefits, such as CPP (Canada Pension Plan) or OAS (Old Age Security) which is a major source of income for many seniors. Even though this covers approximately two thirds of expenses, many seniors need additional resources to make ends meet, but have fewer resources to rely on. Even financially secure seniors may have to use income from savings or other investments when confronted with financial strain so they don’t fall into economic insecurity. What can we do to ensure that senior finances are not impacted by the changing markets? First of all, we need to simplify our financial lives. I have three bank accounts—I really only need one. Selecting a few investments, whether that be a GIC or RRSP or streamlining assets, gives you some stability instead of working

with fluctuating markets. If you are investing, talk with a financial advisor to understand where to invest your money wisely. Secondly, be sure to have financial legalities in place by speaking with your lawyer. Have your power of attorney, signing authority, on your accounts with a trusted family member or friend and preauthorized people for contact. Lastly, have someone trustworthy to monitor your accounts (fiduciary) for the simple reason that if you develop any difficulties understanding your finances, that person is there to clarify and assist you. These are difficult times and with lower financial income, rising costs in housing, medication and cost of living, we have to think about budget, savings and financial security in the midst of economic collapses. Over the course of history, from the Boston Tea Party and the Great Depression of the 30’s, the OPEC crisis of the 70’s and present-day recession, we have and will see recovery. Lorrie Morales is a published author of the best selling book We Can Do This! Adult Children & Aging Parents: Planning for Success. She can be reached at authorlorriemorales@gmail.com

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

LadiesCorner

The Story OF HOPE & RESILIENCE

dmonton’s 118th Avenue is rich in history and is one of the oldest roads in the city. When the Yellowhead Trail was built in 1970, the adverse consequence was that it moved goods and services away to another part of town. Over time, businesses gradually died and a new dawn set in a once prosperous part of Edmonton. Riddled in parts with drugs, addictions, prostitution, violence and poverty, 118 Avenue is now a hub of arts and culture in Edmonton. Christy Morin is the Executive Director of Arts on the Ave. Arts on the Ave is a “group which started as a collective of like-minded individuals who planned, developed, implemented, managed and worked together towards their common goals”. Arts on the Ave Edmonton Society is a registered non-profit, charity organization that is engaged in the long term development of 118th Avenue (75th - 106th Streets) into a community art district. They started in 2005, incorporated into a society in 2007 and since then the creative coalition has experienced exponential growth with a current involvement of over 200 multidisciplinary artists and invested community members. It may be difficult to get your mind around what Arts on the Ave is all about without understanding the importance of their flagship festivals. There are two festivals which have defined the inner city causing ripples of social change. The festivals are: Kaleido Family Arts Festival (currently Kaleido on Tour) and Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Fete. The festivals

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

Documenting Christy Morin’s Revitalisation of Alberta Avenue.

September, 2021

provide a way to address the magnitude of social problems and to bring life into Alberta Avenue. Kaleido is about surprises, spontaneity, and bringing art to life. It can also be magical. The festivals take away the stigma of the poverty you find in parts of Alberta Avenue. Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Fete celebrates Franco-Canadian, Ukrainian, and Métis cultures and has done so for the past 14 years. Christy tells us that festivities help to break down some of the barriers that exist within a community. The soul of the community was found through people, she said. When you look at what has been achieved on 118th Avenue, you begin to see that all things are possible when people gather. Over the years, they created beauty through festivals. This means a lot to the people in the surrounding areas of 118 Avenue. Recognizing during the pandemic in 2020 that Kaleido couldn’t exist in its traditional form, one day Christy was inspired by the sounds of an ice cream van. She decided that the Kaleido Festival could go mobile—on tour—and this is what they did in partnership with Alberta Health Services and the Edmonton Police Service. They created four flat deck trailer ‘floats’, taking performers through communities. It was really special. Arts on the Ave released a documentary titled Kaliedo: 15 years in the Making and it tells the story of Christy

Morin through the eyes of the festivals she produces. Understanding how Christy and her team achieved this is the story behind Arts on the Avenue and the success of 118 Avenue. Christy always thought about ways to help bring the community together. About fifteen years ago, she and her neighbours started gathering in each other’s homes, and also started putting out little notes in the Rat Creek Press (the community newspaper) asking for those who were creative souls to come together for a cup of coffee or glass of wine to chat. They started off showcasing arts very slowly and saw how much beauty and excitement it brought to the neighbourhood. This gave them the real desire to want to do more, to bring more of that beauty and excitement and it sort of created what we now know as Arts on the Ave. The rest, as they say, is history. With initiatives such as Families Helping Families, Arts on the Ave strives to be relevant to new immigrant families who may be struggling with food insecurity. The Carrot is another symbol of pride and community. It is a coffee shop for art lovers but more like a melting space for all. The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse is a volunteer-powered cafe and art gallery. It showcases local artisans and it has engaged and empowered artists and community members since 2007. There is something for everyone, including children, at Arts on the Ave. She hopes to see more healing, more togetherness and more great things happening in her community. To find out more about Arts on the Ave, please visit www.artsontheave.org

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

Sponsored Content

Gabrielle BATTISTE’S

PROMISES IF ELECTED CITY COUNCILLOR FOR WARD O-DAY’MIN

Gabrielle is a resilient, strong and capable woman. She is a mother, an entrepreneur and business owner with fresh ideas, common sense and life experience. She is business oriented, fiscally responsible and focused on opportunities. She is a city councillor candidate for Ward O-day’min. If elected, Gabrielle wants to create a community of care with safe and walkable neighbourhoods. A community that is inclusive and accessible for every Edmontonian. For her, isolation, ignorance and negativity are not okay. She believes that prioritizing mental, physical health and safety will bring us all together. Gabrielle sees herself as the one candidate with fresh ideas, backed by the right experiences and skills to start the job on day one. She is an ethics investigator, she teaches councils and boards how to be effective, collaborative and how to work with their administrations to implement strategy. She understands what the job entails from a respectful, best practices perspective. She can bring people to the table and has already built the relationships and connections. She has also created new organizations to

achieve success for the future of Edmonton. As a mother to a 27-year-old autistic son who is going to NAIT, she believes that students will be the future leaders of Edmonton and need inclusive opportunities. She will reach out to schools, cultural organizations and use social media to build an effective and meaningful network for employment, learning, affordable housing and mentorship for students across Edmonton. On other most important things she wants to focus on when elected, these are the things she told Ladies Corner: “I believe in using alternative sources of energy in city planning, building infrastructure. I will work proactively and respectfully with communities and stakeholders to preserve our trees and green spaces as a critical component of ecosystem stability. I will create partnerships with international stakeholders to find better ways to reduce waste. I will encourage continuing education for individual public and corporate accountability. Do as I do—not just as I say.” She continued, “I will use a variety of methods to stay in close person-

al touch with people who are either marginalized or who are not having their voices heard. I will commit to spending as much time as possible in person across the communities in my ward. I will create paid opportunities for marginalized voices to be proactively consulted on city policies and directions before they happen— to be part of the solution. I will wind down the majority of my businesses while I am a City Councillor. I have partners who can help while I focus my time and energies on finding common ground with people and organizations to move Edmonton forward with focus and practical solutions. I will provide a regular report card to Edmontonians on how I am creating success that is outcome based and flexible, based on feedback from my constituents. I will help lead with transparency, accountability, equity and inclusion to create an Edmonton that has inclusive and diverse possibilities and opportunities for everyone. Together we will build an Edmonton for Edmontonians.”

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M HER JOURNEY TO BECOMING A LAWYER IN ALBERTA, CANADA Rita Manuwa

Rita Manuwa is a wife, mother, and a lawyer. She and her husband Oghogho have been married for thirteen years and have three amazing kids. They reside in Edmonton, Alberta. Rita and her husband were born, raised, and studied in Nigeria. Her husband is a physician. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in November of 2005, thereafter, practiced as a lawyer for a couple of years before getting married and relocating to the United Kingdom to join her husband in 2009. She lived in the United Kingdom for about two years and then, relocated to Calgary, Alberta with her family in 2011. In 2013, they moved to Edmonton and are proud to call Edmonton home. Her journey to becoming a lawyer in Canada was an interesting one, which took a while and a lot of commitment and sacrifice. She had to go through the licensing process to be called to the Bar in Alberta. This involved writing some assigned exams

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

and completing the Bar Admission Program. The toughest aspects of getting licensed in Canada was writing her exams in isolation and having to study while raising her young kids. Her youngest child was a baby when she wrote her first exam, and it took a lot for her to leave her young child and focus on her studies. She eventually connected with a group of internationally trained lawyers called Foreign Trained Lawyers in Canada (FTLC), her association with this group made her journey much easier as she found comfort in the fact that she was not alone on her journey. Colleagues in the group were also very supportive and willing to share materials and other resources. She had the opportunity to article (clerkship) with Ace Law Group, a law firm owned and run by two amazing immigrant women. She was called to the Alberta Bar on June 30th, 2021. She currently runs her own firm: Manuwa Law Office in Edmonton, Alberta. Her areas of practice are Family Law, Immigration Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate, Wills and Estate. She is grateful that she can practice law in the country she now calls home, she is also grateful for the opportunity to be of service to her community.

LadiesCorner

BLACK

CANADIAN BUSINESSES IN ACTION Jeanne Lehman

Introduction Black Canadian Businesses in Action (BCB In Action), the business entity of BCW in Action, brings together entrepreneurs and professionals and provides them opportunities to grow personally and professionally. This is done through advocacy, education, leadership, networking, skill building, economic, programs and empowerment. BCB in Action aims to be the leader in building a strong community of Black businesses in the Prairies in Western Canada, and aims to support, promote and empower Black entrepreneurs to innovate and conquer national and international markets. BCB in Action promotes and supports growth and visibility of Black businesses in the community to succeed in the entrepreneurial landscape of Alberta, Western Canada and beyond. BCB in Action equips Black businesses with knowledge and skills to drive their business forward through identifying gaps in the business environment and ways to help businesses thrive. It also provides a platform to form relationships with like-minded business owners that validates community belonging and cohesion through networking in order to advance their businesses. BCB in Action continues to grow, having chapters in Calgary, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Our goal is to support, ad-

vocate, promote and empower Black Canadian businesses in Western Canada. We do this in the following ways: Support: By providing action-based trainings, and hosting programs led by experts in their field. Help business owners be aware of common pitfalls to avoid, reveal untapped resources, equip them with essential business tools and teach foundational principles of business to adhere to in order to succeed in the Canadian marketplace. Additionally, BCB in Action helps black businesses step-by-step through the grants and loans’ application processes in order to fulfill their business needs. Advocate: BCB in Action is at the seat of the table where decisions are being made. We represent the interests of the community and ensure our voice contributes to future policies that will affect us. We advocate for Black business owners and make sure they have the support they deserve so that they can reach their potential and fully participate in the western economy. Promote: Give opportunities for business owners to present their business and success stories. On our social media, we showcase businesses to the community and at our big annual events, we have vendors sell their products and services. We provide a growing network of business owners that the community can tap into. Consequently,

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

September, 2021 BCB in Action supports Black business specialists’ firms that understand the way our communities do business to help our business owners acquire the tools that lead to their success. Empower: Every business is unique and every business owner is unique so what we offer is customizable to the business owners according to their needs. We aid them to innovate their business by being a checkpoint to gather resources, gain knowledge and connect with people that will benefit them in the different stages of business they are at. Programs BCB in Action offers business information and orientation sessions aimed at equipping Black entrepreneurs with critical knowledge and skills. The knowledge, skills and insights acquired will support entrepreneurs to hone their creativity and learn best practices enhancing their business capacity. Professionals will bring their expertise on different subject matters to support knowledge development for Black entrepreneurs. Business Training BCB in Action offers business strategic planning, marketing training, sales training and coaching sessions for Black business owners to help them better understand business operations and growth techniques. The experts in different fields of business offer trainings, workshops, presentation, and conduct one-on-one training to those who need help in various aspects of business improvement. Business Recovery Program This program supports Black Entrepreneurs by providing information, strategies, and resources to help them increase their capacity and viability to innovate their businesses and overcome the impact COVID-19 had on their businesses. The support services equip them to drive their business forward and identify ways to help their businesses prosper through webinars, forums, workshops, coaching, business skills development training, peer supports, and more best practices related to entrepreneurship. Mentorship Program This mentorship component involves pairing an established business owner with an up and coming one. Growing and starting a business can be challenging without

the right resources. This program involves connecting entrepreneurs with established individuals in different fields within our communities and beyond as their mentors. This program works to encourage the up and coming entrepreneurs and start-ups, and equips them with knowledge on how to navigate through the industries of which there are a part of. Events Networking Mixers Mixers create a community of support for Black professionals and business owners in all industries. The aim of the mixers is to connect our entrepreneurs with each other. These connections are between well-established business owners and those who are “up and coming” in order to share ideas. Our Mixers bring 60 to 80 participants per event. These mixers create a platform that encourages networking, collaboration, and partnerships among Black business owners and entrepreneurs. BCB in Action recognizes unique challenges faced by Black businesses and these mixers provide a safe and comfortable space for engagement and relationship building. Career Women Network The Career Women Network has presentations by career women to talk about how they started and where they are at with their businesses. They also give advice on financial aspects, the Do’s and Don’ts of running successful businesses. These interviews and discussions are posted on our YouTube page. BCB in Action Expo The Expo brings together businesses and experts in annual event bringing together experts and business owners. The objective of the expo in this program is for Black businesspersons to showcase and promote their products and services. It will also help businesses to attract resources by connecting with potential investors, key players in the field and decision makers. By showcasing their products and services, business people will get the opportunity to access new markets in the region and abroad.

www.bcbinaction.org bcbinaction bcbinaction

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

LadiesCorner

Racial Inequality & Black Economic “Reset” By Sharif Haji

esearch shows that there is a strong correlation between racial difference and income inequality. Particularly multi-ethnic countries with a history of colonization. This historical income inequality had led to wealth inequality and intergenerational wealth disparity among different races. The COVID-19 pandemic could significantly widen this gap for another century unless targeted efforts are made to rebound our economy in the post COVID-19 economic era. Ethnic diversification continues to grow in most of the G20 countries, however the growth of such diversity does not mean wealth and economic growth grow concurrently. Inequality continues to be a major social problem even in developed countries. Countries with emerging economies continue to struggle with the racial gap in income and wealth, while some of the G7 countries continue to fail closing the wealth gap. The United States stands out for the racial inequality for G7 countries, while Brazil and South Africa (of the emerging economic countries) show a similar trend of racial gap in income and wealth. Brazil and South Africa are two countries with great examples of racial differences among their respective citizens. Both Brazil and South Africa are part of the BRICS—an

acronym of five emerging economic countries that include Russia, India, and China. While both countries rank well as emerging economic powerhouses, they also rank high on wealth inequality. This disparity in wealth in both countries is linked to the racial lines among South Africans and Brazilians. Among the G7 countries, the United States is the country that gets listed among the top countries with income and wealth inequality. United States Consumer Finances’ recent data from 2019 indicate that white American families have eight times the wealth of the typical Black family and five times the wealth of the typical Hispanic family. This is not a snapshot data of point in time but a historical trend. In fact, the number was worse in the 2016 data. Such a historical trend in generations is what led today to the current wealth gap between white and Black Americans. Canada is known for its welcoming multiculturalism. In fact, many countries view Canadian multiculturalism as a model that many should adopt. Nonetheless, Canada continues to fail demonstrating how it fairs with the United States when it comes to income and racial wealth disparities. The key to this is that the Canadian system does not

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

September, 2021

measure the racial inequality as Canada historically does not collect information on race regarding wealth and income disparity among other social metrics of race and race relations. Statistics Canada, the national agency that is enacted to ensure Canadians have the key information on Canada’s economy, society and environment Does not collect racebased data that could effectively inform national policies. The Canadian data collection system focuses on immigration status as the key determinant of income and wealth disparity. This does not just sideline inequitable policy effects of racial disparity, an approach that deflects race as a key determinant on systemic inequality. As a result, there is no information to show the wealth gap between racialized Canadians and their counterparts as wealth measurement requires measuring trends on income, wealth and race. 2016 data from Statistics Canada demonstrates that Black Canadians have twice the unemployment rates despite having an equal education level. The income gap between Black and their counterparts is over $20,000 and children from Black communities are three times more likely to live in low-income households

compared to their white counterparts. It is worth mentioning that this was not race-based data that was collected for this purpose, but it was an extrapolation of the existing data to understand racial differences on income, employment, and education. This racial disparity existed prior to COVID-19, and it is well documented in many parts of the world that there are unequal COVID-19 implications among different populations due to the nature of their economic activities. Unsurprisingly, Indigenous racialized Canadians are more likely to get exposed to the virus and be in a situation of high susceptibility due to socioeconomic conditions. This furthered the socio-economic and wealth gap between indigenous and racialized Canadians and their counterparts. George Floyd’s murder has been heartbreaking, but at the same time an awakening on issues of race and race relations on various fronts. It was a turning point for Canada’s race and inequity discourse. The Federal Government of Canada has made a bold narrative change to race and racial inequity. One good example is that the Government of Canada commissioned a listening tour on issues affecting Black communities and allocated resources to the recommendations that came out of these listening tours across the country. The shift of narrative served as a lever to discuss matters that are not limited but includes collecting race-based data. As a result, in July 2020, Statistics Canada started collecting unemployment rates by racial differences. This is a good step to address employment and racial disparity and it will arguably serve as an approach to manage these measured numbers. Based on Budget 2021, further work is expected to collect more data that will help policy design regarding racial inequality among Canadians. The Government of Canada also put resources in the Black Canadians business. A good example is the establishment of the Federation of African Canadians Economics, a national entity that will enable access to capital to the Black entrepreneurs in Canada. In addition, liberal government allocated resources to build the capacity of the Black business ecosystem through mentorship and training. This is expected to not only support the existing business sector but to animate and attract new innovative economic activities among Black Canadians. These efforts are happening in a time when Canada and the rest of the world are geared towards economic recovery as a result of COVID-19 impact. Our prime minister calls his 2021 budget a recovery plan from COVID-19 economic damages. Others like the World Economic Forum (WEF) call post COVID economic activities as a reset. According to the

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

LadiesCorner

WEF, “The COVID-19 crisis, and the political, economic, and social disruptions it has caused, is fundamentally changing the traditional context for decision-making. The inconsistencies, inadequacies, and contradictions of multiple systems—from health and financial to energy and education—are more exposed than ever amidst a global context of concern for lives, livelihoods, and the planet. In Alberta, we have an increased complexity when “re-setting” our economy. Alberta has the fastest growing Black communities in the country; we have changing economic realities and recovery from pandemic at the same time. These intersections will require systems and mechanisms that will help racialized Albertans build economy and wealth. Without cultural or narrative shifts, it is hard to see how traditional public policies alone will enable them to overcome these challenges. Alberta’s economy and a sensible economic rebound required a shift that enabled strong economic empowerment regardless of the racial or economic status. It requires a shift in a new reality that releases the potential of every Albertan. The federal efforts are an opportunity that the provincial and municipal governments can utilize. This will facilitate a new opportunity and a new economy in a world of economic transition, particularly, a province that is facing new economic realities.

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Females with the Power to

change the world Dr. Bukola Salami

Females with the Power to Change the World: Spotlight on Dr. Bukola Salami To many of us, she needs no introduction. She is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta. She joined the Faculty in January 2014 as an Assistant Professor. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Windsor, her Master of Nursing from the University of Toronto, and her PhD from the University of Toronto. Her doctoral research was on the migration of Philippine-educated nurses to Ontario through the Live-in Caregiver Pro‑ gram. She completed the Ontario Training Centre in Health Service and Policy Research Collaborative Program, the International Nursing PhD Program, and the Critical Qualita‑ tive Health Research Certificate Program. Prior to her academic career, she was pediatric oncology nurse and subsequently an interprofessional educator at the New Immigrant Support Network of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Her research has led to several positive policy and program initiatives including the establishment of a Black mental health clinic by Africa Centre. She has provided consultations to local, provincial, and national policy makers to improve outcomes for immigrants and racialized communities. Dr. Salami founded and led the Afri‑ can Child and Youth Migration Network of 30 scholars from four continents focused on improving the well-be‑ ing of African children and youths globally. In 2020, she founded the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program at the University of Alberta. This first University-based interdisciplinary mentorship program for Black youths in Western Canada seeks to socially and economically empower Black youths to contribute meaningfully to the Canadian society. She is a community-engaged researcher. She is involved with and has volunteered for

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

T several community organizations. Dr. Salami teaches courses on immi‑ grant health, health policy, communi‑ ty health, global health and program planning and evaluation. I have a solid track record of training students. She has trained over 40 students as grad‑ uate students and research assistants, many of whom have received awards, including the Canadian Vanier Award and the International Development Research Centre Doctoral Award. She has received several awards for research excellence and community engagement: 100 Accomplished Black Women in Canada; Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nurs‑ ing Emerging Nurse Researcher of the Year Award; College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CAR‑ NA) Award for Nursing Excellence; and Alberta Avenue Edmonton Top 40 un‑ der 40. In 2020, she received the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, one of the highest international research awards in nursing.

September, 2021

Some of the inequities are the staggering rates of high school dropouts among Black youths, Black youths also experience racism in all sectors including in the school system and in the justice system LCCMedia had the opportunity to sit with Dr. Salami recently to discuss Black youths and her work around mi‑ gration and health.Her flagship pro‑ gram, The Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program is a unique, made in Alberta contribution to socially and economically empower Black youths in grades 10 and 11, to contribute mean‑ ingfully to Canadian Society. The goal of the program is to improve economic outcomes, community belonging and leadership skills, as well as foster a pos‑ itive cultural identity for Black youth, the mentees. The primary objectives of the program are to: increase lead‑ LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

ership of Black youth, increase post secondary entry and completion rate for Black youth, foster community be‑ longing for Black Youth, create a pos‑ itive cultural identitiy for Black youth and increase the ability of Black youth to tackle issues of racism and discrim‑ ination. This program was funded by the Edmonton Community Foundation in 2021. You are a workaholic. How do you combine work, academia, and family? I believe one of the things that has helped me is, I really worked hard before I had kids. And because of that, I had already developed myself in so many other ways. A lot of things I do now take less time. Your primary area of research is migration and health? Why do you feel so passionate about these areas? So, my passion for migration and health is because I am an immigrant myself. I am connected to this area, because of my personal experiences. I

LadiesCorner might tell you to study the equalities that I see around me, or the inequities that I have experienced, and many of those inequities are based on my personality as a Black woman and an immigrant woman in Canada. Why are you vested in Black youth? I think I am vested because studying Black youth allows me to go back around 20 years’ time and try to correct the wrongs and to address the inequities that I experienced about 20 years ago. We need to address some of the needs of the youth in the Black community. What are some of these differences compared to 20 years ago? Are they still in existence? Some of the inequities are the staggering rates of high school dropouts among Black youths, Black youths also experience racism in all sectors includ-

the program strengthened their identity as Black youths in Canada.

tributes negatively to their educational outcome.

Can you describe the results? Is there a plan to run the program nationally? We are trying to run the program nationally. If I get the grant, that will allow us to deliver the program over the next 10 years. Some of the results have been incredibly positive, including: the development and strengthening of community belonging amongst Black youths, strengthening leadership skills among Black youths, contributing to their commitment to educational outcomes and empowering them. These address some of the systemic issues that we face within society.

In 2018, you created the African child and Youth Migration network which now includes 32 researchers across academic disciplines. Can you describe how this network has shed light on youth victims of human trafficking and improving the well-being of the African child? The network in the past has completed a scoping review of all literature available across the globe on African migrant children so we were able to review around 186 articles, and we have published work related to African child migrants. We have also had a graduate workshop for graduate students to learn about, how to work with African migrants, and how to do research with African migrants. We are currently in the process of collecting data in Canada, and we just finished collecting data

What does it feel like to be recognised by the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame? First, it really sheds light on the fact

I think for African children migrants, one of the challenges they face is the racism that they face in the educational system and society, that really contributes negatively to their educational outcome. ing in the school system and in the justice system. And health inequalities for Black families. Black youths experience these and they continue to experience. What is the Black youth mentorship and leadership program? The Black mentorship and leadership program seeks to empower Black kids to contribute meaningfully to society. The program has been running now. It is going to be the second year we are going to operate this year. In 2020, there were 35 Black youths in the program, and they were able to develop their leadership skills, educational skills, and commitment to education,

that I am doing great work. And that I am one of the leading researchers across the globe in the area that I am studying and it is a distinguished honour to be recognized as one of the strong Black researchers out there. Do you find that there is a link between educational achievement and employment outcomes for African children migrants? Yes, generally there is a link between educational achievement and employment outcomes for everyone. I think for African migrant children migrants, one of the challenges they face is the racism that they face in the educational system and society, that really conLadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

in Ethiopia. We are also collecting data in Ghana. The data in Ghana will focus on trafficking, but we are still in the process of collecting the data, so I will not be able to say much about what is in the data about that. One of the beauties about an international network is the ability to shed light on the global perspective in terms of African migrant children, and that is what we are trying to do and hopefully in the future we will also be able to do some comparative work, to look at the lives of African children in several countries of the world. bukola.Salami@ualberta.ca

Come Back

Come back to me like fireworks I know you have fear and anxiety of what if we lose it all again. What if tomorrow I put on that mask and I stand in that line inching to get back to you I know you have spent months alone and nights sleepless, but I will wait for you. I hold your spirit. I hold your space. Come back to me like fireworks Sit with me under the soft lights of our favourite restaurant Admire with me as we catch glimpses of families laughing in the liberating joy of being together. Smile with me as our eyes light up with the possibility of tomorrow Because after countless days of worry I will always hold your space. Come back to me like fireworks I welcome you in with open arms I take in your smell, the colour of your eyes and the new grey strand in your hair because I have gone too long without it. My friend, love, family, come back to me like fireworks because our deep conversations are the stories I live in as the world has kept us away from one another. Hold my hand and let’s make the memories that were meant to be made now. Let’s dance, sing, scream and cry because we overcame something unexpected in our lifetime. Come back to me like fireworks of new beginnings and a life to be fully lived. Born in Edmonton, Halima started writing at 14 years old, and always finds inspiration in everything—often pulling from her experience of life and culture. In the last two years Halima has become a podcaster, being the creator of “What’s Your Hustle”, a podcast that explores people’s hustles, inspirations and passions. Her experience includes writing for blogs as well as the podcast interviews.

Halima Hussein whatsyourhustlepodcast@gmail.com whatsyourhustlepodcast Photographer: Tyler Blackwood tylerblackwoodphotography

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ON THE POWER, CULTURE & MAGIC OF POETRY Shima Robinson is a woman living in Edmonton. The Amiskwaci‑ wâskahikan (Edmonton) born poet and spoken word artist embodies, with every poem, the ancient meaning of her chosen pen name, Dwen‑ nimmen. Dwennimmen is the name of an ancient African Adinkra symbol, which means strength, humility, learning and wisdom. It is no surprise, then, that this veteran of the Alberta poetry community uses a searing intellect and dynamic precision-of-language to create poetry which ushers her readers and listeners in a new realm of poetry mysticism. She is a wordsmith who uses her potential and force of po‑ etry to uncover the full range of emotions possible. This explains why her poetry is authentic, powerful and filled with power and wisdom. Her poetry heals from the threads of generations of the past. This is the beauty of listening to Dwennimmen. She is a cultural testament that we can be authentic to our roots and fearless in our beliefs. Dwennimmen holds a Sociology and Creative Writing degree from MacEwan University. She is currently studying at University of Alberta for a Master’s degree in Arts and Community Engagement. She works at the Alberta Public Interest Research Group and at the Edmonton Poetry Festival as the artistic director. Shima knew in her teens that she was going to be a poet. She was performing by the time she was 19 years old. She was one of the earliest Black voices on the scene pushing her poetry. She said people appreciated her work and they loved what she was trying to do. Shima told LCCMedia that she felt very affirmed when she found out that she had been accepted to be the artistic producer of the Edmonton Poetry Festival. No two days are the same for the dynamic artistic producer. Mental health is a big deal for most people these days, Shima is well aware of the stresses and tensions and cycles and makes time for martial arts. She wants to be remembered for ‘opening up’ poetry to all the other communities. “I want to be known for making it fun and accessible”. // Colé Richards, Indigenality Photography

LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

Instrumental A poem by Shima Robinson

The pen was instrumental in seizing me bleeding ballpoint pronouncements in Bic black ink calling the salvation that I had bitten back on point at the brink from every word I had yet learned to articulate as sister studious, daughter dutiful, fast friend I wailed my secrets into being between them caught my guard on its way up and learned to let it sink enough to open wide to scrutiny the dreaded critique embedded in folk routines snap-clap applause for my audible dreams my screams exhaled a low volumes that sound like poems for soluble problems that dissolve into spit, sweat, and tears It seems I’ve hailed this art at high time to grind mountains down to mole hills learning that perception is everything and the love is deafening it rings in my ears Dwennimmen was instrumental in keeping me aligned with freedom teaming the virtues I amount to in my own esteem giving bold form to the idea

that this sacred African key held a personal appeal for strength humility, learning and wisdom united under the quadrant symmetry of the ram horn symbol that spoke to my far crying instinct my ancestral link in the windswept prairies is an emblem sewn onto my heart a closely kept call to arms waging peace on my soul a mantra of respect reconciling my ignorance of the languages of the Black diaspora with a pledge to see farther with these tools to learn the use of coded image being Black never felt so good as when I awoke to the history within me the depth of the lineage that I now speak through talking a blue streak so wide and deep that it rivals the sky only finding relief on grey days or clear nights swathed in the infinite stretch of stars that I am named for shining in the distance drawn from the thought that I project the I’ve wrought in triumph is the ambrosia of success now I find myself blessed with the breath to blaze beacons for farseer seekers to glimpse living history that breathes ancient mystery the rhyme to my reason

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LadiesCorner – Fall Edition 2021

Ladies Corner Magazine Fall Edition, Volume 7