Latest news with #RyersonUniversity
National Post
a day ago
- General
- National Post
Patrice Dutil: Ryerson's toppled statue should be restored at Queen's Park
Friday marked the fourth anniversary of the sacking of the Egerton Ryerson monument that stood at the heart of Ryerson University in downtown Toronto. The impressive statue was pulled down, its head was hacked off and thrown into Lake Ontario. The head later showed up on a pike in the community of Six Nations of the Grand River near Caledonia, Ont. Article content The desecration of the statue was in reaction to the declaration made in Kamloops, B.C., that human remains were found on the site of a local residential school. No bodies have since been found there, despite millions spent by the federal government. Article content Article content The statue, an artistically significant achievement by the illustrious Hamilton MacCarthy, an immigrant from Great Britain, had long been a significant part of the streetscape. For 134 years, it stood high above the heads of students, faculty and staff on a plinth of stone and marble. Article content Article content It had been erected as a result of a fundraising drive that had started in 1882, immediately after Ryerson's death, to honour the founder of a great achievement: the Toronto Normal School. Article content Following the riot, the university's president announced that the statue would not be restored. But it should be. All the pieces should be returned to the Government of Ontario, which should restore it and re-erect the statue in its rightful place at Queen's Park. Article content Egerton Ryerson was not simply the creator of a teacher's school. Born in Charlotteville, Upper Canada, in 1803, Ryerson drew attention as a journalist and as a preacher. Raised in an Anglican household, he converted to Methodism in his teenage years but grew into a passionate humanist who was devoted to building bridges across all of Upper Canada's divides. Article content Article content He served as a missionary to the Mississauga of the Credit, a largely Christian community, and encouraged the work of translating the bible into Ojibwe, a language he learned to speak (he also spoke a more than passable Latin). He helped launch a newspaper, the Christian Guardian, and a publishing house, and became a loud voice protesting the domination of the Anglican Church in Upper Canada. Article content Article content When the Methodists decided to create their own university, Victoria College, they called on Ryerson to lead it. It eventually became part of the University of Toronto. When the government of the Province of Canada wanted to make education a priority, it named Ryerson chief superintendent of education.
Tom's Guide
10-05-2025
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Psychologist shares 3-step sleep hack that helps you fall asleep quickly
There is no shortage of methods that claim to help you fall sleep fast, from breathing techniques to TikTok-approved hacks. However, no method will work unless it addresses (and fixes) the root cause of your insomnia — and for many, it's worry. "Sleep researchers and clinicians have long understood the role of worry in sleep disturbances," says Dr. Michael Gradisar, clinical psychologist Head of Sleep Science at Sleep Cycle. "This may explain why many common sleep tips fail— they don't address worry." But is there a sleep method that can help ease your bedtime worrying? According to Dr Gradisar, yes there is: the Constructive Worry Sleep Method. Here, we speak to Gradisar about what the Constructive Worry Sleep Method is and how it can help you handle worry and fall asleep faster. As the name suggests, the Constructive Worry Sleep Method allows you to handle your worries constructively. The three-step method involves writing down your worries ahead of your bedtime and working out how you will deal with them. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. "Research shows that when people try to fall asleep, most of their thoughts are about the tasks awaiting them the next day," says Gradisar. "By completing this exercise before bedtime, you prevent associating the bed with worrying." This sleep method is no social media fad or overrated hack. In fact, the Constructive Worry Sleep Method was actually developed by Dr. Coleen Carney, the director of the Sleep and Depression Laboratory at Ryerson University, to combat nighttime anxiety. Science also backs up the notion that tackling future-focused worries can treat sleep troubles. In 2018, a study found that those who wrote a list of tasks they needed to tackle the next day fell asleep faster than those who journaled about the day they just had. Gradisar, however, does warn us that it may take a while for this sleep method to become a solidified daily habit. "But when practiced consistently over a few weeks, constructive worry can significantly reduce racing thoughts," he says. "First, you schedule up to 15 min in the evening, before you go to bed, to write down your worries,"says Gradisar. There's no specific time to complete this task, but it should be done in the early evening and at least two hours before bed. Next grab a pen and a notebook (avoid writing on your phone, laptop, or tablet, as any screentime could lead to compulsive scrolling) and begin writing down anything that's troubling you. "When you do this, write down the top three worries you currently have," Gradisar suggests. Now, that you have your worries out in the open, Gradisar says the next step is to decide how you'll face them in the morning. "For each each worry, write down a possible solution," advises the psychologist. If worries arise in bed, remind yourself that solutions are already in place, and there's nothing more to do until morning. There are plenty of sleep mediation techniques that can help ease insomnia, and they don't require any special equipment. If you're new to meditation and don't know where to start, you can try guided meditations. When listening to guided sleep mediations, you'll hear a soothing voice leading you through each meditative step. Plus, there are plenty of free guided mediations to listen to at night, with many available on Spotify and YouTube. Setting a bedtime is not just for kids; a solid bedtime is crucial for an adult's sleep health, too. To signal to yourself that it's your bedtime soon, there are a series of wind-down activities you can in the run up to your bedtime. This sequence of activities is known as a nighttime routine, which can include anything from reading to a gentle yoga routine. Research has shown that a cluttered bedroom can impact your sleep, so make sure that your bedroom is tidy and has all the things you need to fall asleep. Creating a relaxing sleep environment can include spiritizing a soothing scent (such as lavender pillow mist), dimming the light and making sure your bedroom is set at an ideal sleep temperature. Make sure that your bed is tidy and has the right bedding for your sleep needs. If your mattress is worn-out or unsupportive, replace it before it causes any sleep issues. You can also check out the year's top-rated mattresses if you're due an upgrade. The right features in your bed can elevate your sleep quality.
