Articles

The NDP’s Sara Singh trailblazing a path towards community growth

Published

6 years ago

June 5, 2018

BY: KRISTINA RAMCHARRAN

A young woman with a desire for higher education is what Brampton’s Sara Singh started out to be. But as the course of life went on, she was brought to even higher heights.

Today Sara Singh is an NDP Candidate running for an MP position in the riding of Brampton Centre.

“I was born and raised here in Brampton. I’ve lived here my entire life. My parents actually met here in the early 80s. My mom is from Guyana and my dad is from Punjab, India. It’s a very important part of who I am,” says Singh on the importance of experiencing diversity within the city of Brampton.

She adds, “For me, one of my reasons for running is because you know, having lived here my entire life, I really am concerned of how Brampton is being treated and the fact that [if] we are really getting our fair share of services.”

“I was always very interested in community activism, and advocating for people with disabilities, or environmental issues. So, when I finished my Masters in Halifax, I started to volunteer with Jagmeet Singh,” says Singh onthe beginning of her political journey.

Jagmeet Singh was not the only NDP she was associated with at the time, as she was also helping former NDP leader Stephen Lewis as well. “It was a nice juxtaposition of the old and the new,” she says on the experience of being able to work with both old and new NDP candidates.

“I’ve always had a leaning towards the NDP just based on my social justice interest, and the work I’ve done in the community, [in] that moment, and early in 2012 really started to shape my interest to get more involved in politics.”

“I continued doing a lot of work in the community,” says Singh, while also referencing the current Ph.D.she is working on which highlights public policy while she also wants to continue working on ways for students with intellectual disabilities to gain proper access to post-secondary education.

Advocating for those with disabilities has been an integral part of Singh’s life, as she has a younger sister struggling with Down Syndrome.

“Seeing her resilience and her perseverance, she just aims high and achieves those goals. It really motivates me to work harder, to push harder, and it’s a big reason that I actually put my name on the ballot as well as doing all this advocacy work for people with various disabilities.”

For Singh,it’s about more than just helping people in the community, but also the small business’ that exist within it. “My parents being small business owners here in Brampton also really helped me understand how the business community was being affected, and the changes that we needed to make to support them more effectively as well.”

Singh notes that it is important to continuously improve and aid small businesses as it is a key component that the community of Brampton thrives on.

As far as support goes, Singh is proud to say she has all the support she needs starting with her family. “My family is like amazing, they’re like we need leaders that are well educated, that aren’t afraid to stand up, and who can speak for different communities as well.”

Others that have helped her blaze the trail so far include Current NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Former NDP leader Stephen Lewis. “They both motivated me tremendously to move forward in this process.”

As the only female candidate running in the Brampton area for the NDP, and the only Indo-Caribbean female candidate, Singh notes that there are some challenges that she works to overcome.

“There have been a number of challenges, as a young woman it is extremely daunting to put your name on the ballot, and you face so much different types of pressures being a female,” says Singh on being a young woman in politics.

She adds, “For a young woman, you’re being judged on more than just on your knowledge, there is a lot of judgmenton your appearance.” She even adds that people have voiced their opinions on her looks over social media to her.

“I want people to be able to move forward and look past an appearance, I really want them to know that there issubstance and credentials behind the name and face,” says Singh noting that she is in a very male-dominatedspace and is thankful to have a seat at the table, ensuring the voices of women are heard.

Ending her thoughts with an inspiring quote which pushes her as she graces the campaign trail is “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. Singh says this quote inspires her to fight all sorts of injustice to reflect only positivity within society.

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Technology

How Toronto’s Caribbean Community is Leading in Digital Innovation

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2024

TOCaribNews

Toronto’s Caribbean community is making significant strides in the realm of digital innovation, reflecting a vibrant and dynamic force within the city’s tech sector. This burgeoning influence spans across various sectors, including technology incubation, digital education, and entrepreneurship, underscoring a profound impact on Toronto’s digital economy.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation

The Caribbean community in Toronto is actively contributing to a culture of innovation that is pivotal for the city’s future advancements. Through collaboration with local and international businesses, startups, and academic institutions, this community is part of the driving force behind Toronto’s position as a hub for innovation. The city is home to over 70 incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces, offering programs that support startups in technology, manufacturing, food production, fashion, arts, and music.

Central to this ecosystem is the MaRS Centre, one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs, which houses entrepreneurs building Canada’s next generation of growth companies. Toronto’s impressive tech industry, supported by giants like Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Google, and Facebook, benefits from the diverse talents and innovative spirit of the Caribbean community.

Digital Education and Entrepreneurial Spirit

The Toronto Caribbean community’s commitment to digital education and entrepreneurship is evident through initiatives such as the Toronto Reference Library. This hub invites users of all ages and skill levels to explore digital creation, offering activities and workshops on topics like 3D printing, graphic novel book clubs, and crafting circles. Such programs are crucial for fostering a culture of lifelong learning and innovation, enabling community members to acquire and refine digital skills.

Contribution to the Digital Economy

In the rapidly evolving digital economy, Toronto’s Caribbean community is not just a participant but a trendsetter. This is evident in the diverse range of digital services thriving in the city, including sectors such as life sciences and healthcare. The community’s innovative spirit contributes significantly to the city’s standing as a leading North American tech hub, with a vibrant biotechnology cluster and a comprehensive network of hospitals, research institutes, business incubators, and venture capital organizations. Also, initiatives like the Caribbean Digital Summit and The LEGUP Wealth Symposium featuring leaders from Caribbean governments and the tech industry, exemplifies the community’s active engagement and leadership in digital transformation and governance on a broader scale.

The real-time table games in Canada exemplify the wide array of online services prospering under this innovative umbrella. This digital sector benefits from the technological advancements and entrepreneurial drive within the Caribbean community, illustrating the diverse impact on Toronto’s digital landscape.

Toronto’s Caribbean community is playing a pivotal role in shaping the city’s digital innovation landscape. Through a commitment to education, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, this vibrant community is contributing to Toronto’s reputation as a global hub for technology and innovation. The synergy between the Caribbean community and the broader tech ecosystem in Toronto is proof of the power of diversity in driving progress and creativity in the digital age.

Junior Contributors

Unveiling the Mysteries of the Fibonacci Sequence: Nature’s hidden code

Published

2 weeks ago

April 11, 2024

TOCaribNews

Photo Credit: Racool_Studio

BY KAHA G. – 15 YEARS OLD

“The Fibonacci Sequence turns out to be the key to understanding how nature designs… and is a part of the same ubiquitous music of the spheres that builds harmony into atoms, molecules, crystals, shells, suns and galaxies and makes the universe sing.” Guy Murchie

This quote was utilized to pique your curiosity about today’s article topic, The Fibonacci Sequence.

The Fibonacci Sequence is a series of numbers where each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers. With the set of numbers being:

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610.

One of the most remarkable properties of the sequence is its connection to the golden ratio. The golden ratio is an irrational number that is approximately equal to 1.61803398875. It’s found by dividing any number in the Fibonacci Sequence by the number behind it. The more someone goes down the sequence, the closer the result gets to the golden ratio. Here’s a small example, 34 divided by 21, which is 1.61904761905. Look how close that is!

Furthermore, it appears in many natural occurrences, from the arrangement of leaves on a stem to the shape of a seashell. Some examples are the spiral patterns of sunflower heads, pinecones, pineapples, as well as the pattern of the nautilus shell being the most famous one. Although this might seem like a coincidence, it helps nature as well by maximizing surface area, efficiency, and strength.

The Fibonacci Sequence also appears in mathematics, computer science, and art and design. In mathematics, the sequence plays a role in number theory and algebraic structures. In computer science, the sequence is displayed in algorithms, data structures, and computational geometry. In art and design, the Fibonacci sequence is displayed to create aesthetically appealing designs, like the famous “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh.

The Fibonacci Sequence is a remarkable pattern that appears in nature, art, and mathematics. Its connection to the golden ratio and its presence in nature make it a fascinating subject of study and research. This just makes me appreciate nature’s beauty and makes me regret how little we reflect on the world around us. What are your thoughts on this beautiful sequence?