Archived stories by Sam Dharmasena for CJRU & the Local Journalism Initiative.

Local Journalism Initiative: Sam Dharmasena

For years, disability advocate Rachel Romu questioned the justification for a $1,169 cap on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). When Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was announced in spring 2020 with a $2,000 monthly support, it confirmed many of Romu’s suspicions.

This story is part of the Local Journalism Initiative, a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

ODSP during the pandemic: A risk-reward analysis with Rachel Romu

For the past 14 weeks, Encampment Support Network (ESN) has been delivering water, tents, hot meals and much more to the people living in encampments throughout Toronto. ESN is an ad-hoc, volunteer-run network of neighbours that build community and advocate for better conditions in encampments and long term housing in the city. With colder weather around the corner, the group is ramping up their efforts to keep neighbours safe. They’re organizing the Meal and March for Housing happening this Wednesday, September 23 at 5pm at Moss Park.

Marianna Reis of ESN Parkdale speaks on what to expect at Wednesday’s march, and the lack of government action that led to the formation of ESN, and more.

This story is part of the Local Journalism Initiative, a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.
Read more at thescopeatryerson.ca

Fake Love (makaihbeats.net)

Community to march for dignified housing in Moss Park on Wednesday

A coalition of human rights and housing advocates are taking the City of Toronto to the Ontario Superior Court for a hearing on Thursday, Oct. 1. Members of the public and media may observe proceedings via Zoom at 10 a.m.

Human rights and housing advocates take the City of Toronto to court Thursday

In September, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced an $11.5 million investment in mental health support for Canadians. From this, $4.9 million will go towards the Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund. CJRU spoke with Dr. Valerie Borum, director of Ryerson’s School of Social Work, on the intersection of race and mental health. 

“It’s impossible to separate the two. When we look at mental health, race is always a variable in a nation that is dominated by whiteness,” Borum says.

Visit thescopeatryerson.ca to read more.
This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the local Journalism Initiative by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

MUSIC FOR TV, FILM and GAMES VOL.2

Dr. Valerie Borum on the role of race and anti-Black racism on mental health

From her Scarborough home, Ryerson grad Natasha Ramoutar tells CJRU about her first book, Bittersweet. She breaks down the complex feelings and histories that shape her collection of poems. 

“It covers a disrupted or suppressed lineage. For me, Bittersweet is about connecting the home I have right now in Scarborough with my ancestral home and what happens when you don’t have links or certain historical documents,” the Toronto-born writer explains.

Natasha Ramoutar reflects on migration, hyphenated identities and Scarborough in new book

Between June and October, Not Far From The Tree (NFFTT) has picked over 10,000 pounds of fresh fruit from Toronto backyards. The charity has been doing this work for over a decade but this has been a season like no other. As they complete their final picks of the season, NFFT’s picking program assistant Jessica Akiwi tells CJRU about the impact they’ve made in Toronto neighbourhoods amidst rising food insecurity.

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

NFFTT distributes over 10,000 pounds of fruit picked from Toronto backyards

As politicians discuss the fate of indoor dining, CJRU speaks with Arianne Persaud on the realities of Toronto’s restaurant industry. Persaud co-founded the Toronto Restaurant Workers Relief Fund and shares insights on how illness was handled prior to COVID-19 and what this history can tell us about the road ahead. Please note that this conversation was aired before the Oct. 9 announcement on restaurant closures. More info can be found at thescopeatryerson.ca

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local Journalism Initiative, a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

Arianne Persaud reflects on restaurant industry pre and post COVID-19

Quarantine Qapsule (QQ) is a digital archive of the Asian Canadian experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. QQ is accepting submissions until Oct. 23 from Asian-Canadians who are over 18 and living in Ontario. The project believes that art is created anywhere in any style and submissions are meant to be a low-stakes opportunity for creative expression. CJRU spoke with some of the folks making QQ happen, creator Nightingale Nguyen and Tea Base’s co-creative director Christie Carrière.

This story by Sam Dharmsena is part of the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI, a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

Horizon

Archiving Asian-Canadian stories with Quarantine Qapsule

The Toronto Restaurant Workers Relief Fund (TRWRF) has been providing money in the form of gift cards since April. CJRU spoke with their co-founder Arianne Persaud about the early days of the fund, how their gift card system contributes to local businesses, and their new mental health and wellness stream. 

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI), a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

TRWRF cares for restaurant workers one gift card at a time

Brittany Bruce speaks with CJRU about the realities of social work in the time of COVID-19 and the unintended consequences of CERB repayment plans that could push clients like hers further into poverty.  

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local journalism Initiative (LJI), a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

Brittany Bruce explains the unintended consequences of CERB’s easy access

The mandate of Elections Canada is to deliver an election at any time, even during a pandemic. CJRU spoke with Natasha Gauthier of Elections Canada about the federal by-elections in Toronto Centre and York Centre. 

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local Journalism initiative (LJI), a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

Federal by-elections underway in Toronto Centre and York Centre

Masooma Ali on the TTC and transit equity

For the first time in ten years, Social Justice Week at Ryerson University is happening online. CJRU spoke with Kiké Roach about their ten online events, running from Oct. 26-30.

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local Journalism Initiative, a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

Kiké Roach on Ryerson's virtual Social Justice Week

Since 2008, Nia Centre has been supporting, showcasing, and promoting Toronto’s Black artistic community. The charitable organization recently announced a renovation project that will completely transform their Little Jamaica facility into the first professional, multi-disciplinary centre for Afro-diasporic art in Canada. Alica Hall, executive director of Nia Centre, tells CJRU about the significance of this project and what the community can expect once it’s complete.

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local Journalism Initiative, a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

Nia Centre is building Canada's first Black arts centre

Parkdale Community Food Bank (PCFB) currently supports 187 people daily, providing pantry items, meat, produce and more to residents in the Parkdale-High Park area. Kitty Costa, the manager of PCFB tells CJRU about what’s changed with the pandemic, what’s remained the same, and how the community can support their work. 

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local Journalism Initiative, a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

PCFB feeds over 3000 Torontonians monthly amidst pandemic

On Oct. 19, the Ontario government announced its next steps to revamp curbside recycling through the blue box program. Their proposal is posted for public feedback until Dec. 2, 2020. CJRU spoke with Ashley Wallis, the plastic program manager at Environmental Defense Canada, to learn how plastics navigate the recycling system and what’s missing from the proposal. 

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local Journalism Initiative, a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

Environmental Defence calls for higher, material-specific targets for Ontario’s recycling programs

Toronto Ward Museum’s Block by Block Exhibition begins later this week, giving Torontonians a closer look at the neighbourhoods of Regent Park, Parkdale, Victoria Park and Agincourt. This year's exhibit, in the midst of a pandemic, will be delivered in new formats but their mission remains the same. The participatory, multimedia program engages young people in the collection and interpretation of oral histories in collaboration with Indigenous and newcomer community members. Aashna Thakkar, the museum’s marketing and outreach coordinator, tells CJRU about the initiative’s poster exhibition, virtual event series and her experience as a participant. 

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local Journalism initiative (LJI), a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

Toronto Ward Museum gears up for annual Block by Block Exhibition

Dr. Samir Sinha is the Director of Health Policy Research and Co-Chair of the NIA and currently serves as the Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health System and the University Health Network. He tells CJRU what flu seasons typically look like in Canada, what is happening in other regions, and insights into the next few months navigating influenza outbreaks and COVID-19 outbreaks simultaneously.

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local Journalism Initiative, a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

National Institute on Ageing weighs in on this year's flu season

Dr. Sinha on the consequences of underfunding long term care

The National Seniors Strategy (NSS) is a report outlining the steps that should be taken by federal leadership to better support older Canadians. Dr. Sinha, co-chair of the National Institute of Ageing (NIA) tells CJRU about the updates to the third edition of the report, created by the institute.

This story by Sam Dharmasena is part of the Local Journalism Initiative, a project by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

National Seniors Strategy adapts to COVID-19 in third edition

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Local Journalism Initiative: Sam Dharmasena

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