By Saudia Mohamed

Isabel Bader Theatre held the most applaudable event of all time.

On April 7th, 2013, Raise the Rhythm brought together Toronto’s up-and-coming designers, dance companies and performers in efforts to raise funds and awareness for Canadian charities.  This year the show worked with Autism Speaks Canada to help raise funds and awareness towards autism and its research programs.  The evening featured 13 Canadian designers and 10 dance companies and performers brought together an unforgettable evening, filled with enthusiasm, beautiful clothes and top notch performances.

Autism Speaks is North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization. They are dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments, cures, increasing awareness for autism spectrum disorder and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

This year RTR 2013 took place during World Autism Awareness month joining in helping raise awareness. Funds raised were directly to support Autism Speaks Canada’s Family Services Community Grants program to support Canadian organizations that provide innovative programs and services to individuals with autism.

For those who are unsure what autism is, autism is known as a complex developmental disability. Experts believe that Autism presents itself during the first three years of a person’s life. The condition is the result of a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal brain function, affecting development of the person’s communication and social interaction skills. People with autism have difficulties with non-verbal communication, a wide range of social interactions and activities that include an element of play and/or banter.

“At Autism Speaks Canada, our mission is to change the future of all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders.” – Autism Speaks Canada.

Raise the Rhythm brings together Toronto’s most talented up-and-coming designers, dance companies and performers in efforts to raise funds and awareness for Canadian charities.

Join us on April 7th, 2013 at the Isabel Bader Theatre. Witness amazing local talents and help gather the community for a great cause. RTR 2013 will be raising awareness and funds for Autism Speaks Canada.

Autism Speaks is North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization. They are dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism, increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorder and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

This year RTR 2013 will take place during World Autism Awareness month and will join in helping raise awareness. Funds raised will go directly to support Autism Speaks Canada’s Family Services Community Grants program to support Canadian organizations that provide innovative programs and services to individuals with autism.

For more information about Autism Speaks Canada, visit their website.

Get tickets NOW!

By Saudia Mohamed



Vote for Elaine Sarantakos as your host for The Biggest Baddest Bucket List! 


What is the Biggest Baddest Bucket List (BBBL)? You leave on your travels in June 2013 and return by the end of December 2013. The winner gets to choose their destination where they would like to visit! Yes, the winner will work together with the team to build their chosen itinerary, taking in the sights that appeal to them the most. In order to get the true ’round the world’ flavour the final itinerary should include a minimum of 25 locations from the My Destination network and at least two destinations from each continent.

The whole trip is paid for! The BBBL will get to experience the best activities whilst they are away, from helicopter rides, wildlife spotting or bungee jumping to learning how to cook the perfect Thai curry. You’ll be required to do at least one local experience in each destination and document it for My Destination readers. Of course the challenges depend on season and availability (and whether you’re up for them) but once we have your dream itinerary, planning will commence!

When returning home, there will be a $50,000USD cash prize waiting for that person! You could spend it on going away for another year, a new car, paying off that student loan, starting a business or buying a home, the choice is yours! You’ll have worked hard for us while you’re away (producing blog posts and video posts) so you really do deserve it! The winner will also receive a camera, phone and any other technical wizardry you’ll need to produce your posts on the road.

Elaine Sarantakos knows what it feels like to be a traveler and enjoys the adventures she goes on no matter what. She created a reality where she would work for three weeks a month, and the last week of every month she went on a vacation. This young traveler has visited many places such in Australia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Cuba, England, France, Greece, Mexico, Panama, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United States of America and those are just a few to name.

“Not everyone loves to travel which is ok. As long as you are living your life how you want to and in integrity with who you are, then that is all that matters! Although, I am a big advocate of living life through travel,” Elaine Sarantakos said.

Vote Elaine Sarantakos as your Biggest Baddest Bucket List host! Promise you, no regrets. This young vacantionist has what it takes to be your host for The Biggest Baddest Bucket List!

To vote for Elaine Sarantakos, each person can vote through the following social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and Stumble Upon.

Vote Elaine Sarantakos to be The Biggest Baddest Bucket List host! Vote Elaine Sarantakos to be The Biggest Baddest Bucket List host! Vote Elaine Sarantakos to be The Biggest Baddest Bucket List host! Vote Elaine Sarantakos to be The Biggest Baddest Bucket List host! Vote Elaine Sarantakos to be The Biggest Baddest Bucket List host! Vote Elaine Sarantakos to be The Biggest Baddest Bucket List host!

Important Dates:


March 31 – Applications close
April 8 – Top ten finalists announced
April 20 – Finalists week in the UK
April 26 – Winner announced
June 2013 – The experience of a lifetime begins!
December 2013 – Winner returns home for the festive season

See Elaine’s Travels and watch her videos: 

http://fabulouslivingcoach.com/

http://fabulouslivingcoach.com/sample-page/

http://www.youtube.com/user/FabulousLivingCoach

By Saudia Mohamed



Aboriginal musicians and dancers were decked out in their finest regalia wear to showcase their performing talents at the fifth Annual Aboriginal Powwow event on November 19 at Humber’s North Campus Student Center.

Traditional fancy dancers, jingle dress dancers, and fancy shawl dancers were just a few talents that performed at this year’s powwow.

“Powwow is an annual event that brings all the students from the college together to participate and celebrate the unique Aboriginal people’s way of meeting together, to join in dancing, singing, renewing old friendships, and making new ones,” said Shelley Charles, an Ojibwa Algonquin and the elder and advisor on Aboriginal relations at Humber.

Juanita Newby, from the Newfoundland Mi’kmaq people, explained that each dancer’s regalia is considered to be very personal and is often passed down for generations, telling a story about the nation the wearer belongs to as well as their dance style.

Newby performed for the first time at the Humber’s powwow and took to the floor with her fancy shawl dancing.

“My light steps and quick turns emphasized by the graceful movement of my brightly colored shawl looks like a butterfly flapping its wing,” said Newby.

 The fancy shawl dance comes from the Northern tribes and it requires dancing in bright colors, with the shawl worn over the shoulders, and the dancer jumping and spinning around, keeping time with the music.

Other dances performed were the men’s traditional, men’s grass dance, women’s traditional dance and women’s jungle dress dance.

Aboriginals of all ages performed, and 12-year-old, Sagatay Kwandibens of Ojibwa descent is one of the many younger talents who did a fancy shawl dance.

“I enjoy dancing so much and I thank my dad for making outfits and making me look good out there,” Kwandibens said.

Kwandibens has been performing since she was two and enjoys every moment of it.

“Powwow is an opportunity for our people to come together to celebrate life together dancing,” said E.J. Kwandibens, master of ceremonies for the powwow and father of Sagatay.

“Powwow celebration first began in 2009 at the college and has been a growing success since,” said Allysha Wassegijg, 19-year-old, president of the Aboriginal Student Circle at Humber.

By Saudia Mohamed

Well what do you know, Screemers is back in town for 2012!

Many added terrifying features that will knock your socks off. This Halloween haunt takes over the entire CNE grounds with haunted houses, mazes, scary monsters, creatures but no chicken exists! Including attractions such as Terror in 3D, The Haunted house, the asylum, the chaos continues to get scarier. Also a licensed vampire lounge, wax museum and arcade with rides. Screemers are not recommended for chickens.

But then we also have Frightening FearFest at Canada’s wonderland located in Vaughan. It rungs after the parks regular operating hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in October, including Halloween night.

It is Canada’s largest haunted theme park featuring over 300 monsters, 10 walk-through maze attractions, 3 uniquely theme atmospheric scare areas and three live shows! Amazing, yes I know. During its operation, the grounds are transformed via decorative props, thematic music; eerie lighting to further creates its scary atmosphere.

“I think Screemers is better for the fear factor, it is has a smaller space to work with so you don’t have time to stop being scared, Canada’s wonderland, you still have all the rides to go on, plus more room to forget about being scared, Canada’s wonderland was understaffed in their haunted houses, and could have put in more thought and effort into what they had,” said Trisha Purnwasi, 25.

The history of Halloween has evolved, the activity is popular in the United States, and, Canada has increased American cultural influence in recent years. 

Have a happy and safe Halloween everyone!


By Saudia Mohamed



It’s that time of the year for all you sweettooths out there!

Toronto’s seventh annual Chocolate Festival is happening now from October 13 – November 4,20 downtown Toronto.

Tantalize those taste buds at the Chocolate ball perhaps? Or how about the Chocolicious or even the ChocElite or the 911 Chocolate Relay? Or how about the Toronto Luxury Chocolate show? Sounds enticing. Or how about the Chocolate High Tea festival?

“A portion of the proceeds from the events will be donated to the Prostate and Breast cancer funds, supporting Margaret Hospital Foundation, Gilda’s Club, Willow Cancer Support Canada, Prostate Foundation of Canada and Credit Valley Hospital Foundation,” said sous chef Elaine Wong, 48, has been working at the King Edwards Hotel for over twenty years and has been actively taking part in the Chocolate High Tea festival for the second time.

The Chocolate High Tea festival gives guests a chance to experience everything cocoa products have to offer.

“Serving tea during the week at the hotel has been a normal for many years, but now we decided to sweeten it up by adding two new chocolate teas to the menu,” said Wong. Afternoon High Tea has always been a King Edward tradition since 1903 Stated fact from the website.

First item on the menu is, the Chocolat tea, a rich taste that consists of black Ceylon tea with high-grade cocoa chocolate oil that gives it an exotic taste blended exclusively for chocolate lovers. You can find this item on the website menu.

Next on the Carte du jour (menu) is, the Chocolate Macaroon, macaroon blended, Ceylon tea with sweet chocolate and coconut topped with cacao nibs.

Second-year Culinary Management student, Deiala Abdallah, 19 is in training for a pastry festival that is scheduled to take place in February.

“The competition takes place at Niagara College on Feb 17 – Feb 18 and is Canada’s only North American student team pastry competition, the Canadian Food and Wine Institute will turn up the heat for culinary students as they battle teams from Holland College, Humber College and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology to become the top pastry school on the continent. Teams will produce an array of pastry products featuring chocolate and Ice-wine and will be judged,” said Abdallah.

Toronto’s Chocolate Festival executive producer and founder, Joey Cee began the prostate and breast cancer awareness for an incredible cause, which was to raise money and raise awareness.

“I started the prostate and breast cancer awareness in loving respect after my fathers death from cancer,” Director Joey Cee said. “It just hits home for me.”



For more on the Chocolate Festival visit their website!

By Irene Fantopoulos

Touted as one of North America’s largest festivals outside of Germany, Oktoberfest kicks off with a litany of sausages, beer and uber party time.

Each year in October, the Kitchener-Waterloo area in Southwestern Ontario provides lovers of German cuisine and beer connoisseurs an opportunity to savour the Bavarian culture in their own backyard. Check out their website.

But remember…drink responsibly and have a plan in place before heading out. RIDE teams will be out in full force.

See Rick Mercer talk about the Festival in this youtube video:

Bring something tasty to dinner that you can call your own!

Recipe makes 12 cups.

Ingredients:

• 30 slices white bread, lightly toasted
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons rubbed sage
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste

By Riannon Westall

As a kid, many of us are told that we should follow our passion or follow our dreams, but how many of us actually do?

Think of your life right now, are you living out your dream? If you’re not or haven’t even made a plan to, change something!

WHAT’S YOUR PASSION?

What do you day dream about? What would you do if money were unlimited? Travel? Take a class? Take up a new hobby? Take a moment to write this down. Remember, nothing is too crazy or too out of reach.

EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES: Reasons You Won’t Live Out Your Passion

“I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY”

Sure, maybe right now you don’t have money to embark on a cruise, but that doesn’t mean you will never. Start saving your money! If it’s something you really want, you will be able to donate, even a small amount of money, towards your dream. Start now. Make a savings jar specifically for your passion and make it a habit every week to donate to it what you can.

“I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME”

You might think you don’t have enough time to take that class or take up that hobby. If that’s the case, think of how you spend your time. Are you really busy all the time? What about all that time you spend on Facebook or watching your favourite reality TV show? While those things may be great, if you really want to follow your passion, you can compromise some time.

TAKE ONE STEP

Perhaps you won’t be able to go on the trip next month, or take that class tomorrow, but being one step closer gets your mind moving forward, so you will eventually be able to live out that dream. That one step could be as simple as making a plan to sign up for a class, planning a trip, or putting a dollar into a savings jar. Whatever your first step is, do it today!

WE WANT TO KNOW:

What’s one of your passions? Are you living your dream?

By Riannon Westall

Today you can enjoy a sunset to sunrise celebration of contemporary art at the seventh annual Nuit Blanche in Toronto.

Over 150 art projects are displayed in three zones: Zone A (Downtown South/West) features 57 projects, Zone B (Downtown Central/East) features 62 projects, and Zone C (Downtown East) features 29 projects. In addition to these zones, various locations around Nathan Phillips Square and City Hall will feature an exhibition called “Museum for the End of the World.” Since public transit has extended its hours, with parts of the subway running all night long, it’s easy to visit all the zones.

If art galleries have you yawning, you’ll be excited to hear that the works featured in Nuit Blanche aren’t the typical displays you’d see museums. These projects often capture more than just your sense of sight and some you can even participate in. The best part? It’s all free!

Nuit Blanche attracts both local and out of town audiences, with last years audience estimated at one million. Don’t be left out, check out Nuit Blanche this evening between 7:03 p.m. and sunrise.

For more information about Nuit Blanche, to view the projects in each zone, or for the event map, visit www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca.

Artist Micky Renders, an art/photography teacher at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, takes a break from sitting around the Outsiders art project, a life-sized casts of her family and friends at her home on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 in Peterborough in preparation for the annual Nuit Blanche event taking place on Saturday at the Eaton Centre’s Urban Eatery in the lower level food court in Toronto. The display will start at dusk and end at sunrise. CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT/PETERBOROUGH EXAMINER/QMI AGENCY