The St. Vincent and Grenadines Association of Toronto inc. (SVGAT) P. O. Box 80066 – Don Valley Village P. O., Toronto, ON, M2J 0A1 Email: [email protected] KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY INFORMED THROUGH COMMUNICATION Quarterly Newsletter 20TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE April 2020 Our Insight Newsletter is celebrating its 20th anniversary as the primary communication tool of To our members and community, friends and family. the St. Vincent and Grenadines Association of Toronto, Inc. Insight is not the first publication of We hope that in this time of global crisis, you are doing its kind for the organization, however, it is the first well and are looking after yourselves. to be published continuously for 20 years under this Due to COVID-19, we have cancelled all activities up name. Prior to April 2000, the quarterly newsletter until June 20th, including postponing the Casino Rama did not have a name, it was simply called The bus trip, monthly meetings and our inaugural Daylight Newsletter. In addition to The Newsletter of that Toronto Harbour Boat Cruise. In these testing times, we era, there was also a smaller occasional bulletin, ask each and everyone to look out for our most The Larbel, published in between editions whenever vulnerable members of the community. Even in times of the Executive Committee felt that the information to social distancing, we are still allowed to make phone be sent out was of high importance to the calls to connect with our loved ones and those in our community. In those early days, the publication was community. much smaller and did not contain as many advertisements from our sponsors. It is during these times we should reflect and remember the importance of community. Many are working on the The first editor of the Insight was Audrey Lewis front lines making sacrifices for the larger good. We thank them for their contributions and keep them in our who was the Public Relations Officer of the prayers. There are those individuals who may have lost organization. Other noted contributors to the growth their jobs and are experiencing financial hardship and of Insight are, Gideon Exeter, Elma Gabriel, strife. We need to keep them in our prayers as well. Malcolm Garraway, Glendon Carmichael, Peter Others may generally find this time challenging. Again, Morton, Prudence Morton, Cordel Telfer, Marcia let us keep everyone in our prayers. Farrell and Sandra Sutherland. Our sincere thanks to everyone who have contributed over the years to We should not forget those in the community who may keeping Insight alive. We especially thank those need our support now more than ever. If there are advertisers and sponsors whose financial members of our community who require assistance, contributions allowed for the continuous delivery. especially those who are most at risk, there may be ways in which we as an organization can assist. Please let us We are not sure how many persons read Insight, but know if there are ways we can be of help. You can reach there is a general understanding that it gets across to me at 416-459-2462. We can help pick up supplies such thousands around the world who share it with one as food or medicine or can make telephone calls to those who might want some conversation. Acts of this nature another. can go a long way. I also remind you to follow the advice and guidelines of our federal, provincial and local governments. COVID-19 WE ARE LIVING IN UNPRECENDENTED AND The board and members of SVGAT are thinking about TRYING TIMES. PLEASE FOLLOW THE you and your families in these trying times. DIRECTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND HEALTH AUTHORITIES. Jim Lewis 1 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Association held its annual general meeting on January 29, 2020 during which elections were held for vacancies on the board of directors. A couple of directors who served in 2019 decided not to return to the board for varying reasons. The following were either elected or continued to serve their remaining times as directors - Jim Lewis, Cordel Telfer, Dennis Bucchan, Erline Granderson, Bernadette (Petra) Ryan-Phillips, Anthony (Andy) Lavia and Kenneth Farrell. At the end of the meeting there were two board positions to be filled as there were only 7 of the 9 positions filled. At the first meeting of the new board, the members named Francine Burke to fill one of the positions. The other position is still open. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS President – Jim Lewis – 416-459-2462 Vice President – Cordel Telfer (647-717-9731) Secretary – Francine Burke (647-772-3683) Treasurer – Dennis Bucchan (416-402-1978) Public Relations Officer – Andy Lavia (416-258-8763) COMMITTEES REPRESENTATIVES SVG Unity Picnic Committee Representatives – Jim Lewis, Andy Lavia, Gideon Exeter, Sandra Bobb - Chair Unity Picnic Bus Coordinator – Cordel Telfer Adopt-A-Child – Gideon Exeter Independence Committee - Representatives to CCAC – Petra Ryan-Phillips, Cordel Telfer, Gideon Exeter Scholarship Organizing Committee - Boat Cruise Organizing Committees – Jim Lewis, Dennis Bucchan, Petra Ryan-Phillips, Prudence Morton, Erlene Granderson, Gideon Exeter, Hayden Jones, Stuart Brereton, Cynthia John-Bentham, Andrea Jones, Sandra Sutherland, Keturah Layne Insight – Cordel Telfer, Gideon Exeter SVG TORONTO CONSULATE OFFICE Consulate of St. Vincent and the Grenadines 55 Town Centre Court, Suite 403 Toronto, Ontario, M1P 4X4 Mr. Fitzgerald Huggins Consul General Tel: (416) 398-4277 Fax (416) 398-4199 Email: [email protected] 2 The State of our Real Estate Market this about the real estate market: “Lower interest rates By now we are all making the best of our 'stay home' will throw more fuel onto the fire that is Canada's experience in this COVID-19 new normal. Several days housing market, leading to a strong increase in resale ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said to us, “go home home prices and residential investment this year.” and stay home.” We've subsequently seen the implementation of progressively restrictive rules that It's probably a bit too soon for us to be able to determine require us to limit non-essential travel and work from the full impact of the pandemic on the market. Whereas home, for example. there has been a noticeable shift in the volume of buyers who are willing to come out for viewings, homes are still But how has all this impacted the state of our real estate being listed on the market daily. Over the recent 3 weeks market? It has become common knowledge that real I've listed 3 homes and have been experiencing viewings estate has made it to the list of essential services. While for same. Every day, I continue my job of reaching out open house events have officially been canceled, we are to prospective sellers and buyers who raise their hand still showing our client's homes and taking all the seeking my help. I plan to continue to do so for as long necessary precautions as we do so. Personally, I clean as permitted. every door handle and lockbox before touching. I no longer shake my client's hands when we meet. I Among the things we can do as we continue to adapt to encourage my clients not to use the washroom whenever the changes brought to us by COVID-19 is to ensure that we are viewing a home that's for sale and to avoid we maintain a positive mindset. Now is not the time to touching anything, including light switches. I wash my get flustered by the uncertainties, but instead to find hands every opportunity I get, and I sanitize my hands ways to keep our thoughts on things that are uplifting each time I return to my car when on the road. Of course, and encouraging. Secondly, get enough rest. This cannot I avoid touching my face, even though it seems to itch be understated. Rest is a key element in enabling our every 30 seconds, something I didn't notice before. I'm bodies to stand against the virus. Third and final, pay sure you can identify. close attention to your diet. Eat lots of fruits and veggies, drink lots of water, and avoid those sugary drinks. All of “So far, we have not seen anything that makes us think this will help to strengthen your immune system and that we are going to have a drastic shift in activity,” offer a strong defence against this virus until it passes. Christopher Alexander, Re/Max's regional director for Ontario and Eastern Canada, told the Globe & Mail. As always, if there is anything in the world that I can do “There is a still a big housing shortage across the for you or your family, please call or text anytime. country, and interest rates are rock, rock bottom.” Cheers! In its Spring 2020 Canadian Outlook Report, the James Lyons, Realtor Conference Board of Canada said it expects housing to Not your average Real Estate Agent remain strong throughout the year. Despite reporting that Diligence ● Exceptional Service ● Amazing Results!! “the economy came to a near-halt at the end of 2019, and Call or Text (416) 884-5296 is set to contract in the second quarter due to the effects iPro Realty Ltd., Brokerage | Office: 905-454-1100 of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Conference Board said *Credit to Canadian Mortgage Trends ST. VINCENT AND GRENADINES ASSOCIATION OF TORONTO INC. TENTATIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2020 DUE TO THE COVID-19 DECLARED PANDEMIC WHICH DIRECTS THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING BE PRACTICED, ALL EVENTS UP TO THE END OF JULY ARE CANCELLED OTHER TENTATIVE EVENTS PLANNED FOR LATER IN THE YEAR IF THE SITUATION CHANGES Sunday, August 31 Monthly General Meeting To be Announced Sunday, September 27 Monthly General Meeting To be Announced Friday, October 23 Flag Raising Ceremony Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto Sunday, October 25 Independence Church Service Wesley Chapel Free Methodist Church, 2385 Warden Ave.