This N.L. seniors advocate says ageism is a big problem
News
Duration 1:01
Mohamed Abdallah, executive director of Connections for Seniors, tells CBC Radio's The Signal about how ageism limits the potential of older adults.
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CBC
15-04-2025
- CBC
Tent encampments on the rise in Toronto, appearing in places not seen before: city
Social Sharing The number of tents set up by unhoused people in Toronto is rising and encampments are appearing in parks and ravines outside of downtown where they haven't been seen before, a senior city official says. "We're seeing homelessness in places we haven't traditionally seen it. That's outside of the downtown core in communities right across this city," Gordon Tanner, general manager of Toronto Shelter and Support Services, told CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Monday. "This is fundamentally an affordability issue." In a letter to council that answered a councillor's administrative inquiry, the city said there were 283 encampments in Toronto on March 14. Data released last year shows there were 202 encampments on March 15, 2024. The city defines one tent as an encampment. With Toronto experiencing a continued housing and homelessness crisis, Tanner said the growing number of tents is a sign that people are unable to access affordable and supportive housing. He said the city needs more housing to bring people indoors. "People, when they don't have a place to go, rely on their own means and sometimes that means putting up a tent and being in a public place like a park," he said. Tanner said the city is taking action to find housing for people in encampments. He said it has a 10-year capital plan to build 20 new shelters in Toronto, a plan was brought to council last summer, he said. The first shelter as part of that plan is expected to open in 2027. As well, he said the city has teams of staff on the ground, working with unhoused people, offering them access to support services, "treating them with dignity, empathy and compassion" and trying to get them into housing as quickly as possible. Staff members are also connecting with unhoused people on public transit, he said. "In the meantime, during this housing situation we're in, we continue to see the growth of encampments all across the city," he said. 'Homelessness doesn't discriminate' Tanner said unhoused people living in parks, ravines and secluded areas, such as parts of the Don Valley, isn't new. He added it happens more in the summer when the weather is warmer and he said sometimes people set up tents in secluded areas because they want to be away from busy downtown parks. "We're seeing more of it in different parts of the city," he said. Tanner said there are no areas of Toronto that don't have unhoused people. "I think homelessness doesn't discriminate. Anyone and everyone could experience homelessness with a missed pay cheque or other challenging situation in their life. These issues happen right across the city." Elise von Scheel, spokesperson for the city, said in an email on Monday that recent federal funding will enable Toronto to expand its street outreach teams who help people living outside. "The best outcomes for vulnerable individuals and surrounding communities come from bringing people indoors where social, housing and health services are available. The city remains committed to providing that help to as many people as possible," von Scheel said. According to the city, outreach staff referred about 1,078 people living outside into the shelter system last year. Of this number, 848 people were from encampments. Rise in tent encampments not surprising, advocate says Greg Cook, an outreach worker at Sanctuary Toronto, said the rise in the number of encampments is not surprising given rising rents, the lack of rent control on new units, number of evictions, wages and income that are too low relative to high cost of living in Toronto and the lack of available shelter spaces. In February alone, he said city data shows that an average of 101 people nightly were turned away from the city's shelter system. Cook said encampments are also appearing in areas where they haven't previously because the city has cleared larger encampments. Clearing displaces people and scatters them away from services, he said. "When you clear large encampments, people are just going to be more isolated and more spread out," he said. According to the city's own data, 10,241 people used the city's shelter system last Thursday and there were 11,721 "actively homeless" people in Toronto in the last three months.
CBC
03-04-2025
- CBC
This N.L. seniors advocate says ageism is a big problem
News Duration 1:01 Mohamed Abdallah, executive director of Connections for Seniors, tells CBC Radio's The Signal about how ageism limits the potential of older adults.
CBC
28-03-2025
- CBC
N.L.'s Muslim community will the end Ramadan by celebrating in their new mosque
They started renovations in December to be ready for this weekend This weekend marks the end of Ramadan and Muslims in Newfoundland and Labrador will gather to celebrate, just like other years — but this time they'll be doing it in a brand new mosque in St. John's. The Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador president Haseen Khan said Eid al-Fitr — the end of Ramadan — is typically marked with social visits, gift exchanges, a community dinner, and a prayer. "We will be offering this prayer at our new mosque, which is a very special event for Muslims in Newfoundland and Labrador," Khan told CBC Radio's T he St. John's Morning Show. "Here, due to the size of community, there will be two Eid prayers, first at 8 a.m. and second at 9 a.m. on this Sunday." The association officially took over the new mosque, the former Mary Queen of Peace Catholic church, at the end of December, Khan said. "We have been busy since then in renovating that place to make it ready at least for the Eid prayer, which will be on this Sunday," he said. "We are very pleased with its capacity, with its location and parking. So we hope that it is going to be the focal point for Muslims in Newfoundland and Labrador for decades to come." He said Ramadan — which started on Feb. 28 this year — is an opportunity for Muslims to engage in self-reflection, self-discipline as well as caring and communal cohesion. "It is the most powerful tool for the rejuvenation of the mind, body and soul," he said, adding it's one of the five pillars of Islam. Population boom Across the province, Khan said the Muslim population has had "substantial growth." In the 1990s he said there were about 100 Muslims but within the last 20 years the number has grown to about 10,000 Muslims in the province — 80 per cent of them living in the St. John's area. He feels reassured by the growth, and says Muslim people feeling comfortable and safe living in Newfoundland and Labrador is a testament to the welcoming attitude of the people of the province. Khan said the community is excited to celebrate in their new mosque. "We are pleased. All Muslims can pray under one roof and I think this is bringing lots of joy, excitement to the community." A mosque fulfils many different roles in the community, he added, including as a sanctuary to worship, a school for knowledge and a place of refuge. "It is a cornerstone in the life of Muslims."
