Category: Articles

Articles, Global, India

Sudarshan Pattnaik , Sand Artist from Odisha, India wins People’s Choice Award

Sand artist, Sudarshan Pattnaik won ‘People’s Choice Award’ at Boston International Sand Art Championship. Pattnaik, a Padma Shi awardee, hails from Odisha, India. He represented India at the 2019 Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival held in Boston, U.S.A.

Pattnaik sculpted a sand art on plastic pollution with a message “Save the Ocean”, which brought him the achievement.

The festival started on July 26 and concluded on July 28. There were 15 sculptors from around the world, including India, who participated in this festival. Belgium got sculptor”s choice and Canada got the jury”s choice prize.

“I have created sculpture on ”Stop Plastic Pollution” with the message “Save the Ocean”. Happy to see lots of people voted for my sculpture,” said Pattnaik.

Pattnaik, who is known for his sand sculptures on social awareness, has participated in more than 60 international sand sculpture championships across the world and won many awards for the country. A Padma Shri recipient, he is also a Guinness World Records holder.

Sudarshan has won a number of awards and accolades, including consecutive gold medals in Russia in 2016 and 2017, the Danish grand prize at the International Sand Art Competition in Denmark, and awards from Spain, Canada and many countries around the world.

Pattnaik attended the 2013 World Sand Sculpting Championship in Atlanta. In 2010, he won three gold medals at the North America Solo Sand Sculpting Competition. His sand recreation of the Taj Mahal in 2005 at the Houston International Sand Art festival is what first got him noticed in the United States.

The Revere Beach, the first public beach in the Boston area, hosts this unique annual competition- sand sculpting, every year.

Continue reading “Sudarshan Pattnaik , Sand Artist from Odisha, India wins People’s Choice Award” →

Articles, Global

Memories of the fantastic voyage to the moon on it’s 50th anniversary!
–Lachman Balani

It was the summer of ’69 and I was literally over the moon as I had just graduated from the American School of Tangier, a US secondary school in Tangier, Morocco and was preparing to go to Cornell University in the US for further studies in engineering.

Amidst all the excitement of getting ready for university, another extraordinary event, the imminent moon landing, heightened my adrenalin levels as I was highly interested in science.

Way back in ‘68 and ‘69 when the Russians and Americans were running neck and neck in the race towards the moon, I was actually rooting for the Russians as they were the first to launch the space  satellite Sputnik and the first to put a man, Yuri Gagarin, into orbit. The Soviets were also the first to hard land (unpowered) and soft land (powered) a spacecraft on the moon. The U.S.S.R. was also the first to get photos of the lunar surface.

I would jokingly tell my American friends in school that “the Russians are gonna paint the moon red!”

They would laugh back: “nah, we doubt it, but even if they do, heck when we get there we will spray it white with the Coca Cola logo!”

Such was the ingenuity of American marketing even way back then.

I remember well also that after the “dress rehearsal” Apollo 10 mission in May of the same year, there were rumours that Russia, cloaked in secrecy, would somehow beat the US and send up a manned mission to land on the moon before the upcoming Apollo 11 voyage in July.

However, the great day finally arrived for the Americans. My family and I huddled around the black and white TV on July 16, 1969, to watch history unfurl. With memories of the fire that killed three astronauts in the Apollo 1 mission a couple of years earlier and Neil Armstrong’s near death experience a year earlier still fresh in everyone’s minds, I kept my fingers crossed that nothing drastic would occur as the countdown began. Continue reading “Memories of the fantastic voyage to the moon on it’s 50th anniversary!” →

Articles, Business, Community, Lifestyle

Toronto’s favourite foodie event #Summerlicious returns!

At Miku Toronto, #Summerlicious 2019 had a media event, with opening remarks by Mayor John Tory. Samples of Miku’s Summerlicious prix fixe menu, including their signature Aburi Sushi was available to all media personnel.

Miku Toronto, Aburi Restaurant’s first East Coast location is situated in Toronto’s Harbour Front at Bay and Queen’s Quay. Corporate Executive Chef Kazuya Matsuoaka along with Chef de Cuisine Michael Acero and Head Sushi Chef Kazuki Uchigoshi bring Aburi Cuisine to Toronto combining traditional Japanese flavours and techniques with local, East Coast elements to create a truly unique dining experience.

#Summerlicious, created by the City of Toronto, runs from Juy 5 to 21 with delectable meals served at nearly 200 of Toronto’s favourite restaurants. Three-course prix fixe lunch menus are priced at $23, $28 and $33 and dinners are priced at $33, $43 and $53. Restaurants will start accepting reservations for the Prix Fixe Promotion on June 20.

Reservations are strongly recommended and are to be made directly with the participating dining establishments.  A complete list of participating restaurants is available at https://www.toronto.ca/summerlicious.

Haagen-Dazs Canada is the official ice cream sponsor of Summerlicious 2019. At select restaurants, Haagen-Dazs ice cream wll be the featured ingredient in signature dessert creations on Summerlicious menus in celebration of July as National Ice Cream Month and National Ice Cream Day on July 21. Continue reading “Toronto’s favourite foodie event #Summerlicious returns!” →

Articles, Community, Lifestyle

Roxodus! Ontario’s Opus Rock Concert!
–Lachman Balani

“Summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the streets!”

Yes folks, there will be lots of dancing by mamas and papas as well as grandmas and grandpas this summer as Roxodus, Ontario’s most massive rock concert takes over from July 11-14.

At the launch party recently at Grace O’Malleys pub in the heart of the entertainment district of the mighty Toronto, Roxodus, Ontario’s superlative 4 day music concert, was announced.

Who’s headlining it? Well according to one attendee at the VIP kick-off party “Are you spitting me? Every last act on the roster is a headliner!”

And you better believe it. With names such as Aerosmith, Kid Rock, Peter Frampton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alice Cooper, Cheaptrick, Billy Idol and several more dynamite bands, this festival is going to be the experience of a lifetime!

The festival will take place in Edenvale , Ontario near Wasaga beach, world’s largest fresh water beach, about a 90 minute drive from Toronto.

The grapevine has it that this is the North’s answer to the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, featuring musicians more reminiscent of the Woodstock Nation than any other festival that has been announced to honour the Woodstock festival that took place 50 years ago in Bethel, New York where 500,000 fans gathered for peace, love and Woodstock!

For music entertainment at the launch party, Hell’s Bells, Canada’s premier tribute band to AC/DC, the world renowned music wizards from Oz, rocked the place! Continue reading “Roxodus! Ontario’s Opus Rock Concert!” →

Articles, Business, Lifestyle

Connect your investments to your real-life goals

Have you heard about goals-based investing? It puts you in control by focusing on how your investments can help you reach your goals.

Sure, this sounds like a great approach to investing, and you might even be thinking, “Don’t I already invest to help fund my goals and dreams?”

But the real question is, how does this work? How do you connect your account balance with your real-life activities and goals? For example—how do you see if the money you’re putting away today will be enough for your kids’ education, or your retirement?

This is where Constellation Managed Portfolios comes in.

Constellation connects the dots between your investments and your goals

Constellation is a great goals-based investment program, based on the following beliefs:

  1. You have control. With Constellation, you’re a co-creator of your investment strategy. Together, we can set your specific goals and establish your risk tolerance for each. Constellation will help us create custom portfolios for each of your goals, staying within your timeline and risk comfort zone.
  2. You have support. We get it—the world of investing can be complicated and confusing. That’s why we’re here to help you, and coach you to be more successful in achieving your goals. Did you know—studies show that after 15 years or more working with a financial advisor, advised households accumulate as much as 73 times more assets than otherwise identical non-advised households.1 Continue reading “Connect your investments to your real-life goals” →
Articles, Business, Community, Nation, Sports

“This historic playoff run galvanized and united not only Toronto, but all of Canada”-Mayor John Tory

Mayor Tory awards the Key to the City to the 2019 NBA Championship Toronto Raptors and unveils Raptors Way

Mayor John Tory presented the Key to the City today to the Toronto Raptors to honour the entire team for their 2019 season that culminated with winning the 2019 NBA Championship.

The Mayor presented the team with the Key to the City in Nathan Phillips Square as part of the Raptors Championship rally. Kawhi Leonard – the NBA Finals MVP – accepted the key on behalf of the entire Raptors organization.

To further recognize the Raptors’ first championship win, the Mayor also announced that Bremner Boulevard outside the Scotiabank Arena – from York St. to Lake Shore Blvd. W. – will receive a ceremonial street dedication as Raptors Way. The Mayor will be bringing a motion to City Council this week to proceed with the street dedication.

During his first term in office, Mayor Tory presented Keys to the City to His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, Paul Beeston, Rush, Aubrey Graham (Drake), Zanana Akande, Susan Gapka, Wilmot and Judy Matthews, Pat Moore, Peter Oundjian, and Fran Sonshine.

The Mayor awards the Key to the City to inspiring individuals from diverse backgrounds who embody the spirit and potential of Toronto and have contributed significantly to civic life. The Key to the City represents the highest honour that the City can confer on an individual or a group.

“We are so proud of our Toronto Raptors and their championship win. Presenting the entire organization with the City’s highest honour is our way of saying thank you on behalf of all Toronto residents. This historic playoff run galvanized and united not only Toronto, but all of Canada, bringing together fans from coast to coast to coast. The victory itself and the events surrounding it will inspire Torontonians, especially young people, for years to come.” said Mayor John Tory.

 

Continue reading ““This historic playoff run galvanized and united not only Toronto, but all of Canada”-Mayor John Tory” →

Articles, Health, Lifestyle

The Best Father’s Day Gift-A Long, Healthy Life with the Mediterranean Diet
 By Amy Riolo

With Father’s Day just around the corner, most of us are busy planning the perfect present for Dad. The usual gifts of cards, neckties, and watches are nice ideas, but the greatest gift you could give your father is helping him achieve lasting health.

The best way to show love to your dad on Father’s Day is by making a meaningful contribution to his life. Let your dad know that you love him, and that’s why you want him to live a long, healthy, and happy life. Introducing him to the healthful and delicious dishes from the Mediterranean region is a great way to do just that.

You’ve likely heard of the Mediterranean diet, which was recently named best overall diet of 2019 and has been shown to help extend your lifespan by roughly a decade. This eating pattern has also been linked to preventing heart attacks, strokes, certain cancers, and diabetes, and reducing inflammation. It may even help lower your risk of dementia by a third.

The Mediterranean eating pattern centers around seasonal produce, fish and seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy, and small amounts of meat and sweets. Part of what makes this diet so successful is that people in the Mediterranean region consider food to be a friend and ally—a source of pleasure, nutrition, history, medicine, and tradition. When combined with lifestyle choices like communal eating and physical activity, the Mediterranean diet is believed to contribute to remarkable longevity in the region. For example, residents in Sardinia are ten times more likely to live past 100 than people in the United States.

Father’s Day is the perfect time to help your dad make the lifestyle changes that can give him a longer and more joyful life. Read on for two ways you can celebrate your love for your dad and help him start living a healthier life.

Prepare a delicious Mediterranean-style Father’s Day lunch. Show Dad how much you love him by preparing him a special Father’s Day meal. Continue reading “The Best Father’s Day Gift-A Long, Healthy Life with the Mediterranean Diet” →

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