North York Central Library Blog

National Day of Mourning - Remembering lives lost or injured in the workplace

In 1991, the federal government officially started recognizing April 28 as the National Day of Mourning after passing a Mourning Day Act  on February 1, 1991. This important day commemorates workers who have been killed or injured in the workplace as well as reminding us all to be committed to preventing further deaths and injuries by improving health and safety in the workplace. 

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) In 2011, 919 workplace deaths were recorded in Canada and between 1993 to  2011 17, 061 people lost their lives due to work-related causes. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) 2.02 million people die each year world wide from work related diseases 321,000 from workplace accidents, which means that:

• Every 15 seconds someone dies from a work related accident or disease

The National day of Mourning also known as Workers' Memorial Day is now recognized by approximately 80 countries around the world including: Argentina, Belgium, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Gibralter Panama, Peru, United States and many other countries. Workers' Memorial day was actually created by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in 1984. The CUPE website has honoured a few of the CUPE workers who have lost their lives since the last National Day of Mourning in 2012:

• Sylvain Ferland, 49, was killed in an accident while driving a bus in Montreal, Quebec.
• Normand Gauthier, 53, a longshoreman was killed during loading operations on a Europe bound ship in Port of Matane, Quebec. He leaves behind a wife and 3 children .
• Claude Picard, 48, a linesman who worked for Hydro Quebecwas killed after falling 13 meters while working on a hydro pole Saint-Félix-de-Valois, Quebec. He leaves behind a wife and a daughter.
• Hubert Fortin, 67, was killed when he was struck by a roller coaster at La Ronde, a Montreal amusement park where he was working. 
• Tara Lynn Veri, was killed when her car was hit by a cement truck. She was from Simcoe, Ontario. 

In international news, there are far more fatalities, our standards and regulations for health and safety are quite high in North America.  Just this past week there was a factory that collapsed killing over 200 people, I was watching CBC news yesterday and they said they are still pulling out bodies from the rubble, for more information you can read this article. Below is a video from CBC about improving unsafe work conditions overseas.  

 

 

Tomorrow, April 28 businesses are being encouraged to recognize this day and to remember to make worker health and safety a priority. There will be special ceremonies all over the country and in Parliament Hill the Canadian flag will be held at half mast. At the Toronto Public Library 2 minutes of silence will be observed to remember worker's lives which have been lost. In the business department on the 4th floor at North York Central Library, one of the librarians has made a beautiful display to honor the National day of Mourning. You should go up and take a look - here's a sneak peek:

National Day of Mourning Display - Business Department

At North York Central Library the Law books are held in the Business Department, we also have a lot of legal directories and leaflets. If you are looking for books on occupational health and safety, worker rights, joint health and safety committees etc. you can find them up on the fourth floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reveal the 8 Universal Truths about Your Money

 

 

 

Even though Money Matters Month is technically over here at North York Library we still have one more personal finance program to offer you 8 Universal Truths about Your Money: The Basics of Financial Planning

Tom Hamza, President of the non-profit Investor Education Fund (IEF) will discuss eight Universal Money Truths that apply to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. Learn practical tips on budgeting, saving, borrowing, investing, and protecting your money from fraud.

FREE. Call 416-395-5613 to register.

Monday, March 27, 2013

6:30-8:00pm

Auditorium

There are a lot of great resources and tips on the IEF website for people in all financial stages of life. The IEF provides unbiased programs and tools to help consumers make better financial and investing decisions. Of course, you can always visit the North York Central Library's Business Department on the 4th floor and check out all of our personal finance, investment and economics books, DVDs, databases and newsletters. The staff at the reference desk are always happy to help you!

Taking a bite out of meat

"My biggest nightmare would be if the kids ever came to me and said 'Dad, I'm a vegetarian.' Then I would sit them on the fence and electrocute them."

Gordon Ramsay has gotten into a lot of trouble for his anti-vegetarian statements like the one above. But unfortunately for Ramsay, the chances of having a vegetarian in the family are actually pretty high.

Not long ago a new vegetarian might typically have had a rough time at a holiday dinner, wedding or social event explaining to a badgering relative why they didn't eat meat.  

Now with vegetarianism having gone mainstream it seems every other person you meet is a vegetarian.

But hold on a minute... Ramsay might say, how can that be true when the number of  vegetarians hasn't changed in a decade?  He'd be right. According to the latest statistics, the number remains constant at about 10% of the population.

But meat consumption has been dropping for years. Last year alone saw a drop of 6% in the US. That's a huge number when translated into lost profits for meat producers.

So, if the number of vegetarians remains constant, why this sudden drop in meat consumption?

It turns out millions of people in North America are eating like vegetarians (even if they don't consider themselves ones) and are choosing to eat more meatless meals. Why? Well, here are just a few reasons:

The cost of meat - With food prices rising steadily, people simply don't have as much money in their wallets as they used to

The cruelty involved in factory farming - Even meat lovers object to the harsh conditions endured by animals destined to become dinner

The desire to be healthy and avoid diseases like cancer and heart disease

The meatless message is coming at us from every angle.

• Groups like PETA seek the ethical treatment of animals.
• Health professionals like Dr. Joel Fuhrman focus on longevity and better health through a vegetable and plant based diet.
• Environmentalists point out the destruction of the planet caused by eating meat. After all, as Lester R. Brown points out in his book Full Planet, Empty Plates, the meat business is one of the main forces behind the decimation of the world's forests and climate change. 

The good news is the abundance of new books on meatless cooking. Whether you're a vegan, a full-fledged vegetarian or someone who just wants to cut back, there's something for everyone.

Who knows, maybe one day we might even see a vegetarian cookbook from Gordon Ramsay...

   

It's tax time! Let us help you Solve the Mysteries of Income Tax

The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.

-Albert Einstein.

Like it or not, it's that time of year again, tax time! As you can see even Albert Einstein, deemed one of the smartest men in history also had a hard time understanding taxes. Not to worry, the library is here to help. If you come visit us in the Business Department department up on the fourth floor, we have some free booklets prepared by Ontario's Certified General Accountants called Your Personal Tax Planning Guide. Every year we receive these booklets around January, just in time for you to start preparing your taxes. You can also view this free publication online as a PDF.

It seems as if every year there is something new which we have to learn and include in our taxes. One of the nice features of the free booklet I mentioned above is that it includes a section called Major 2012 Federal and Provincial Changes Affecting Individuals. One of the major changes this year is that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is no longer mailing income tax and benefit packages, we are all being encouraged to file online. However, this doesn't mean that you can't file your taxes on paper you can request a paper package, and it will still be accepted. You can also call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 (press * star key to speak with an agent).

At North York Central Library, we have our annual income tax clinic:

This is a FREE, community income tax program provided by Certified General Accountants, using software supplied by Canada Revenue Agency. It is available to single persons with incomes under $30,000 or families with an income of under $35,000. Qualified accountants will help individuals to fill out their 2012 Income Tax Returns. Interest income must be under $1000. Sessions are on a First come/First served basis.

Please note clinic dates & times:

Saturdays, March 2, March 9, April 6, April 20, & April 27 - Hours are 10:00am-5pm, last client taken at 4:15pm. Concourse level.

Thursdays, March 7, March 14, March 28, April 11 & 25 - Hours are 6:00pm-8:30pm, last client taken at 7:45pm. Concourse Level.

Please call 416-395-5614 after Jan. 28, 2013 if you need more information.

If you have mobility issues, you can contact Wheel-Trans Customer Service at 416-393-4111 to arrange to be picked up or you can even book a wheel trans trip online. 

There are other tax clinics available all across Ontario, the CRA has a great list of Volunteer Tax Preparation Clinics. Also, 211toronto.ca has a list of clinics available across the GTA. If you come up to the Business Department, our staff will be happy to assist you with questions you may have about your income tax, we have a great deal of resources to help you or we can direct you to other places which may help you.

Don't forget that there are always books available to help you prepare your taxes as well if you'd like to do your taxes on your own, here's a couple you can take a peek at:

 

                                                 

                                      

      

Gordon Pape, Canadian Personal Finance Expert will also be coming to North York Central Library next Monday evening to present his program Retirement's Harsh New Realities where he'll discuss important things every Canadian should know including information about minimizing your taxes and protecting your financial future. 

All the best with your taxes!

A Downton Abbey Gingerbread house for the holidays

For those of you who are fans of the BBC historical drama "Downton Abbey" life may just get a little bit more sweet.

Curtis Jensen has posted a video on youtube of himself creating a gingerbread house version of the house in Downton Abbey and you can watch it below. Don't forget that the library carries seasons 1 & 2 of Downton Abbey as well as many other materials that tell the behind the scenes stories of this smash hit television show.

Curtis Jensen is a San Fransisco based graphic designer and photographer.

The Downton Abbey dvd's can be found on the libraries website here and here.

Check your Stocks with Value Line, now available online anywhere!

Today as I was working extra hours at the Don Mills Library, a man asked me if he could see the Value Line Records and Ratings Reports. When I presented him with the large binder, he was disappointed to find that the latest print issue was from November. I asked him if he knew that the database was available online and he didn't. At both my home branch North York Central Library and the Toronto Reference Library the Value Line Research Centre Database has been available online for the past year. However, for the past few months the database has been available online, anywhere even the comfort of your own home as long as you have an active library card. 

Value Line has been around since the 1931 and was discovered by Arnold Berhnhard it is one of the most trusted and popular investment reports that the Toronto Public Library subscribes to. Value Line provides stock reports and covers most actively traded U.S. exchange-listed stocks, small and mid-cap stocks, mutual funds, options, convertibles and special situations.

Here's an example of one of the reports you would see from Value Line, this is the Boeing December 14, 2012:

You can also analyze specific industries (onlne not in print), historical stock tracking, analysts views and newsletters. It is very important to do your research it could be the difference between you making a great deal or losing it.  For more information on other great sources with company information to make you a savvy investor check out my colleague Teresa's blog Thinking of investing in an IPO? It pays to do your homework.

Value Line also has an excellent website, with a wealth of information including video commentary, new videos are added on monthly basis, check this one out it's about the investment outlook for the company KRAFT (KFT)

Remember, you can always stop by the business department at either North York Central Library or Toronto Reference Library to look at other great investment resources.

Free Science Events for December 2012

The Science and Technology Department of North York Central Library compiles a monthly calendar of free science events in Toronto. Applied science includes health, gardening, pets and food; all subjects found in the department's collections. Here is the December Calendar:

This month's highlights include:

• Dec 2 - Ontario's Wild Bees, an event which discusses why all bees are at risk and what we can do to save them
• Dec 2 - Feeling Physics!, an hour of science discovery that will allow children to feel the effects of the forces that push, pull, bounce, fly and float
• Dec 6 - The Science and Pseudoscience of the Apocalypse, a lecture that will review the difference between what conspiracy theorists claim, the media reports, and what astronomers actually observe when it comes to the predicted Dec 21st, 2012 doomsday

Small Business Month may be over, but our Small Business Programs aren't!

Even though small business month is technically in October, in the Business Department at North York Central Library we decided to extend it until the end of the year! Did you know that in Ontario roughly half of us work for small and medium size enterprises (SME's), and they generate approximately $250 million annually?

"Small business owners and entrepreneurs are truly exemplary Ontarians. After all, they are key contributors to innovation, investment and job creation in every part of our province. They are the drivers of our economy, and while we pay special tribute to them this month, their efforts are felt year round."

- Harinder Takhar - Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship

We know that every year our patrons look forward to our annual small business month programs. Based on your feedback, we've realized that a lot of people wondered why small business programs were limited to October so we've got more planned for you entrepreneurs. We understand that finding the right information for your small business can be difficult and sometimes costly. All of the programs offered at the library are free, so why not stop by and learn something new?

Here's what's coming up in November:

Hot or Not: How to Know if Your Business Idea Will Fly or Fail

Sean Wise a Ryerson Professor, author and past Dragon's Den coach will discuss ideas based on his 2012 bestseller. 

There are many copies of the book available at the library, check it out:

 

 

Best Business Tools  

Miriam Tuerk our first ever Entrepreneur in Residence will discuss both cost and time effective productivity tools. This program was actually rescheduled. Originally it was scheduled for Tuesday, November 13, 2012, however due to illness, the program will be held on Wednesday, November 21, 2012 in the Concourse.

                     
                          

And this is what's on in December:

  Why Privacy Makes Good Business Sense        

Any business owner who collects, uses or keeps personal information about clients has a responsibility to protect this information according to guidelines set out in the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Lonny Kates from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada will teach you how to keep your business in compliance with the law.

 

 From Renos to Riches

Ian Szabo, is an expert house flipper and author of the only Canadian title in the field of investing in renovations From Renos to Riches: The Canadian Real Estate Investor's Guide to Practical and Profitable Renovations.  Learn about house flipping, the Canadian way.

 

You can check out the book too:

 

Please call 416-395-5613 to register, hope to see you!

 

 

Free Science Events in Toronto for November 2012

The Science and Technology Department of North York Central Library compiles a monthly calendar of free science events in Toronto. Applied science includes health, gardening, pets and food; all subjects found in the department's collections. Here is the November Calendar:

This month's highlights include:

• Nov 1 - Pet Remembrance Vigil, an event that allows pet owners to pay tribute to the animals who have touched their lives
• Nov 4 - Scavenger Hunt, a walking tour taking place at High Park
• Nov 11 - Energy for the Next Generation, a lecture that looks at oil sands, fracking technology and the pollution involved in using these unconventional resources
• Nov 23 - Canada's Favourite Recipes, an event in which two of Canada's most beloved cookbook writers team up to share stories and recipes

Free Science Events in Toronto for October 2012

The Science and Technology Department of North York Central Library compiles a monthly calendar of free science and applied-science events in Toronto. Applied-science includes health, gardening, pets and food; all subjects found in the department's collections. Here is the October Calendar:

This month's highlights include:

• Oct 6 - HarbourKids: Folk, a family program that will inspire imagination and creativity in kids under 12
• Oct 13 - Grow your own Mushrooms and Attracting Birds to Winter Gardens, two events at the Evergreen Brick Works that are sure to appeal to backyard enthusiasts
• Oct 21 - Technology in Health Care: Friend or Foe, a lecture that addresses the impact of technology on health care processes
• Oct 28 - Is our Weather Becoming More Extreme?, a lecture that looks at Canada's changing weather patterns