Cedarbrae Blog

South Asian Festival Today!

Looking for something fun to do this afternoon?

Why not join us for some dazzling Indian dancing, a discussion with a contemporary Sri Lankan author, and some beautiful henna designs?

At 1 PM, we'll be having Ekakshara Dance Creations take the stage, in a mix of classic and modern Indian dance.

Here they are performing a traditional lamp dance at a previous event:
 
Looks amazing! Come and check them out in person today!

Right after, at 2 PM, we've got author Koom Kankesan, along with musicians Dylan and Anupa, to talk about his new book, and share cultural Tamil tales.

His first book, The Panic Button, is available on hold, and you can place a pre-order hold on his latest book, the Rajapaksa Stories.

To end off the festival, around 3 PM, kids and ladies can get a simple henna design on their hands from one of our talented henna artists. Got young boys who aren't interested in getting their hands decorated? Not a problem! Kids aged 13 and under can work on their own unique designs with crayons and markers. Three top artists will be selected to win prizes!

Bring your family and friends and enjoy some great South Asian culture and talent today!

Immigrant Diversity Week: Our Strength, Our Celebration!

Immigrant Diversity Week (IDW) begins this Monday, April 29th with events across the east end right up to May 3.

These events, organized by the Toronto East Quadrant Local Immigration Partnership, include a number of different speakers, activities and sponsor organizations from around the city. The aim of this week is to highlight the many ways Toronto (and particularly the east end) is strengthened by our diverse immigrant communities: in cultural events, politics, business and more.

Begin the week with the kick-off ceremony right here at the Cedarbrae Branch on April 29 at 10 AM. Join speaker Nicholas Keung, Immigrant and Diversity news reporter for the Toronto Star, as we look at the importance of IDW and how we can all be participants. Children's activities will also be available, so be sure to drop by!

The following day, on Tuesday April 30 at 3 PM, we will have guest speakers from Centennial College's Centre for Entrepreneurship in the branch to discuss the benefits of self-employment. This program is designed for all those interested in starting a business and is a great venue to ask questions and find support. Please call Cedarbrae's settlement counsellor, Houri Sahba, to register and find out more: 647-338-6300.

To round off the week, we'll be having a brown-bag luncheon at 12:30 PM on Thursday, May 2 to bring together community service providers, newcomers and other interested participants.Bring a lunch, settle in and get more information about what is available to you in your community!

There are a number of other events going on at Scarborough library branches all week, so be sure to check out the calendar of events.

While you're between events, why not pick up a book to read? There are so many rich aspects of the immigrant experience. Many of these, including the struggle with new languages, understanding a new culture, and finding the balance between one's native customs and adopted ones, are often beautifully illustrated in fiction. Check out some great reads I read and loved!

 

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Kimberley Chang, a young Chinese girl, and her mother face the struggles of sweat-shop squalor in Brooklyn as they build a life they can both be proud of. I read this book in a day -- it's a quick, emotional read that will leave you really feeling for Kim and the double-life she is forced to live.

Across a Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande
Juana Garcia leaves her small Mexican town to track down her father, who left years before to find a better life in America. Her journey will lead her to Adelina Vasquez, who left California to find her lover in Mexico. These two women will find themselves connected in the most trying times of their lives.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave
When Little Bee, a teenage Nigerian girl, crosses paths with Sarah Summers, a British magazine editor on vacation, neither one expects to see the other again following their brief time together. But years later, their paths will meet again - and Sarah may find that in helping Little Bee, she is helping herself too.

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Gogol has more than just a strange name - he has a life built on balancing his family's traditions and finding his own identity. Through heartbreak, some comic relief, and unearthing a tragedy that has defined his parents' lives, he will come to define his own. This book also became a movie (it's worth a watch too!)

If you've read all these, maybe you can try some others:

Ten Thousand Lovers by Edeet Ravel

 

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

A Map of Home by Randa Jarrar

The Pleasure Seekers by Tishani Doshi

 Have a title about the immigrant experience that you loved? Please share it in the comments! Have questions about Immigrant Diversity Week events? Call the branch or come see us!

 

Feeling Wired?

Chances are, if you're a teen reading this, you're probably already pretty comfortable with the online world: you tweet, you facebook, you Instagram...

But maybe you're getting bored. Maybe you're logging into your Facebook account and staring at the screen thinking: this used to be more fun. You're not alone.

In the spirit of this month's Keep Toronto Reading campaign, we're asking you:

 

 

How are you taking control of your media?

 

 Sure, we can post cute selfies and keep tabs on how many retweets we just got maybe there's more out there.

On Saturday, April 13th, at 2 PM, we are going to have NewYouth.ca coordinator, Jai Sahak, come in and help us explore different things we can do with our media.

Maybe you've got a passion for green living, or are finding yourself more aware of social justice issues. Maybe you're just wondering what else we've got to talk about. Wherever you stand, there's probably something you might want to think about -- and you've probably got something to share with others too.

Give us a call at 416-396-8850 or walk in and see us about registering for this session. If you've got a smartphone or tablet on you, even better; bring it with you when you join us!

For full program details, check out our listing here.

Hope to see you all there!

 

Top Tips for Top Veggies!

Are you an avid vegetable gardener - or just starting out?

If you're interested in the best ways to make your veggie garden grow this spring, be sure to visit the Cedarbrae Branch on
Thursday, April 25 from 2-4 PM.

We'll be hosting presenters from Toronto Master Gardeners as they share strategies for pest control,  how to maintain healthy soil and more.

This is a free event and registration is not required. Bring a friend and drop by, or give us a call beforehand to get more information: 416-396-8850.

Spring is just around the corner; be sure you and your garden are making the most of it!

Toronto Community Housing: Year of the Youth

 

Update: February 27; 2:15 PM --
Sorry, but I've just been told that this event today has been CANCELLED.

Feel free to speak to your local librarian about other youth oriented programs however!

2013 marks the Year of the Youth for Toronto Community Housing. What does this mean?

Toronto Community Housing would like to hear more from youth in housing and understand what issues affect them directly. In light of recent tragedies involving youth in TCHC neighbourhoods, the need to work together is more pressing than ever. 

To further facilitate this, Toronto Community Housing CEO Eugene Jones Jr is meeting with youth today (Wednesday February 27) from 5 - 8:30 PM at 20 Gordonridge Place (that's near Midland/St. Clair Ave E).

Refreshments will also be available as youth get a chance to speak about what's happening in their communities and brainstorm ideas on how youth can work together and with TCHC representatives to empower and strengthen their neighbourhoods.

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, be sure to call Larry Freedlander at 416-676-4149 to RSVP. You can also email him at larry.freedlander[at]torontohousing[dot]ca.

To learn more about other youth initiatives and resources, get in touch with some of the various youth service providers in the area like East Metro Youth Services and YouthLink . We also have youth workers in the Cedarbrae Branch at various times throughout the week; drop in to speak with them  or find out more from a librarian.

Death & Taxes.

Ok, so, it's a bit grim, but, yes, as Ben Franklin once said, nothing in this world is certain except for death and taxes! (I'm paraphrasing just a bit.)

Put aside the former and we can help you focus on preparing for at least your taxes this year...

If you're in the Cedarbrae area and meet eligibility requirements, you may want to sign up for a free appointment with a volunteer accountant to file your income taxes. Call us at 416-396-8850 to book a time.

 

But, first - are you eligible?

The following people can call us to book an appointment:

• Individuals with a gross annual income of $25,000 or less
• families with a gross annual combined income of $30,000 or less

(Check the CGA website for more details.)

The following dates have been reserved for tax preparation services at the Cedarbrae Branch:

Thursday March 21, 2013 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Saturday March 23, 2013 from 1:30 - 4:30 PM

Thursday April 4, 2013 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Thursday April 11, 2013 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Times will fill up quickly, so be sure to call and reserve your space soon.

What if you're not in the Scarborough area?
There are many free tax clinic locations throughout the province. Check the Certified General Accountants' website for complete listings and details.

Once you've booked an appointment, what should you bring?
Here is a full checklist of documents to bring to your tax preparation appointment - remember, not every item will apply to you.

 

Schooled: Teachers & Diversity in Toronto

The Toronto District School Board - Canada's largest school board - has been in the news recently when a memo surfaced recommending that "the first round of TDSB interviews will be granted to teacher candidates that meet one or more of the following criteria in addition to being an outstanding teacher: Male, racial minority, French, Music, Aboriginal..."

The reasoning behind this criteria? The TDSB wants to better serve its communities by having role models that are more representative of the diversity of students in its schools.

The Globe and Mail reports "about 77 per cent of elementary teachers and 59 per cent of high-school teachers are female. Many experts blame a shortage of role models for the fact that boys and some minority groups lag behind girls on standardized tests and postsecondary achievement."

This isn't a new story - in fact, The Globe published this back in 2010, noting that "men have been the clear minority in primary teaching since the days of the one-room school house."

Interested in learning more? Read up on some titles about diversity, inclusion and teaching in Canada, available at the library.

Seeing the Rainbow: teachers talk about bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and two spirited realities (check out this article online too)

Teachers, students and pedagogy : selected readings and documents in the history of Canadian education

The challenges of student diversity in Canadian schools: essays on building a better future for exceptional children

The pursuit of division:  race, gender, and preferential hiring in Canada

     

Year of the Snake

Happy Chinese New Year!

The new lunar year began just about a week ago on February 10. According to Chinese astrology, this is the year of the snake - the black water snake, to be precise. A snake year occurs every twelve years, right after a dragon year.

If you were born in a previous snake year, you may be intelligent with a quick wit, with the ability to out-think others. Be careful though: being this sly might make you prone to bragging just a little too!

Unsurprisingly, many of the characteristics of those born in a snake year seem to be shared with the actual reptile so many cultures both fear and admire. Snakes are known to be great predators, with their colouring and patterned skin making them terrific at outsmarting unsuspecting prey.

Interested in more facts about snakes - and maybe some fun info about the Chinese horoscope that goes with it? Check out this article from National Geographic.

In Toronto, the new year was celebrated all over, with performances at Chinese cultural centres, as well as spots in the east like Woodside Square, the Scarborough YMCA, and Scarborough Town Centre. Here's a clip below featuring a group of students at the YMCA showing off their skills!

 

Want to learn more about Chinese astrology and what this new year could bring for you?

You could create the Pan Am Mascot

In case you haven't heard, the Pan American (Pan Am) Games are coming to Toronto in 2015.

It's been decided that the games' mascot will be selected from entries by Canadian youth! The contest is open to youth aged 6-17 and all entries must be received by March 8, 2013.

 

Information on the Mascot Creation Challenge and the entry form can be found here.

 

How awesome would it be to see a logo that you created plastered around the globe? Not only that, but it would be a great way for you budding artists and graphic designers out there to build your portfolio.

 

 Join us at Cedarbrae this Saturday, Feb 9 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm to learn more, pick up a printed copy of the entry form, work on your entry, and even meet some of the athletes!

 

If you can't make it, don't worry: other branches are hosting similar events across the city.

Learn to knit or crochet

Recently a friend asked me for advice on how to go about learning to knit. As has probably not escaped anyone who reads this blog regularly, my hobby of choice is knitting (I'm the author of the posts here, here, and here). I was flattered to be considered an authority on the subject and was happy to oblige.

Since sweater season is decidedly upon us, and the learn-to-knit itch seems to strike most at this time of year, I thought I would share my advice with all of you.

First, a reminder that the library offers lots of programs across the city where you can learn to knit. At Cedarbrae, ours is held on Monday evenings from 5:00 - 7:00pm. See details here.

 

There are lots of great books out there to help you learn too. As with many subjects, the Dummies series is a good place to start. 

Knitting for Dummies is available in regular print, large print and eBook formats too.

 

 

 

Any of the books in the Teach Yourself Visually series are good too. What is especially great about this series is the variety of titles. Everything from the basic beginner tome pictured here, to circular knitting (a great advance technique for hats and other rounded objects), sock knitting, and colour knitting. Even knitting AND crochet together.

 

 

Speaking of crochet, a great new beginner's guide called First Crochet has just been published.  

 

 

As with most crafts, many Youtube videos are available if you're that sort of a learner. Some are better than others though. Often DVDs are still your best bet.

 

There are also a lot of great blogs and websites out there. Here is a list of some of my favourites. TECHknitting is one of the best. It is an amazing resource. As TECHknitter herself states, "30 years of tricks want out of my mind and into yours." Her tutorials are simple to follow yet thorough, and are accompanied by great illustrations. She also has some videos, like this one on buttonholes:

 

Her index of tutorials is permanently in my bookmarks toolbar.

Happy crafting!