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Therapy Dogs of Toronto
Dogs are a popular pet. They’re loving and loyal, so it comes as no surprise that they’re considered a man’s best friend. But can dogs also be good for your health? Read all about therapy dogs and the benefits they bring below. How can therapy dogs help? According to PawsForPeople.org, they can. There have been studies that show that pet therapy can help with physical and mental health as well as with physical therapy and reading. The physical health benefits include lowered blood pressure, improved cardiovascular health, and the release of endorphins (oxytocin) that have a calming effect. In terms of mental health benefits, therapy pets lift spirits and lessen…
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5 Books about Mental Illness
Mental illness is something that affects many people, either directly or through someone they know. The Canadian Mental Health Association states that 20% of Canadians will experience mental illness personally. With schizophrenia and bipolar disorder each affecting 1% of the population, anxiety disorders affecting 5%, and depression affecting 8% of the adult population and 17% of the youth population (aged 12 to 19), mental illnesses are getting more attention. This fact is shown in the amount of novels published about various mental illnesses. Though there are many books you can read that will give you some perspective on what it may be like to live with a mental illness, these…
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Review: Toronto’s Sense-less Restaurants
Able-bodied people go through life without thinking about accessibility issues. There are many ways that this world is experienced differently for anyone living with a disability. The following two restaurants offer a dining experience that help the abled understand the perspective of the deaf and blind. O’Noir 620 Church St., Toronto O’Noir provides a dine-in-the-dark experience. When entering the restaurant, diners order in the lit lobby. Once diners review the menu, a sighted bartender takes their order and communicates it to a blind server. There are two options: either a three course meal (appetizer, main, dessert) or a two course meal (appetizer and main, or main and dessert). Drinks are also ordered before entering the dark room.…
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8 Shows to Binge Watch Over the Holidays
The winter break is coming and you finally have free time to catch up on TV shows. But what should you watch while your favourites are on their winter hiatus? The following shows are some of my top picks to dive into during this break: Shameless Each minute of every episode of Shameless contains its own bit of drama. This show focuses on Fiona and her siblings, showing how they make their lives work with questionable parents. It’s a quick series to catch up on, with only 12 episodes in each season. You’re going to want to catch up quickly since the US sixth season premieres on January 10th. The first…
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Last Minute Shoppers’ Survival Guide
Are the holidays sneaking up faster than you expected? Are you realizing that your free time is non-existent? Everyone is busy leading up to the holidays and you’ve probably chosen sleeping in and watching movies over braving the masses at the mall. Here are a few tips that will help you make it to your holiday parties unscathed, gifts in hand. Online Orders Though some may think it’s foolish to order online so late in the holiday shopping game, if you order from places with quick delivery times (like Amazon or Chapters) you can get your shopping done without even leaving your house. Have a Game Plan Browsing is not…
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The Work Initiative Network Focus on Mental Health
Serving over 37 thousand people across East Toronto, Woodgreen Community Services has a variety of programs, such as child care assistance, immigration services, and employment resources. The programs fall into a few different sections: Children and Youth, Health and Wellness, Homeward Bound, Seniors, Employment, Housing, and Immigrant Settlement. The Work Initiative Network (WIN) falls into the Health and Wellness section. This program helps people who have dealt with long-term mental health challenges return to the workforce by focusing on employment training. It works on a referral basis, as it is a partnership program with the Michael Garron Hospital, CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), Alternatives, Woodgreen, and Reconnect. WIN works closely…
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Exhibit Review: Dr. Seuss at the Liss Gallery
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Feeling nostalgic for your childhood? Want to escape the responsibilities of being an adult? What better way to do so than to return to the works of Dr. Seuss? On picturesque Yorkville Avenue by Avenue Road sits the Liss Gallery, owned by Brian Liss. Every year the gallery hosts an homage to Dr. Seuss. This year, the exhibit is The Art of Dr. Seuss and I decided to check it out. It opened this past Saturday and will continue to run until December 24th. All of the artwork is on…
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Lighten Up: Waterfront’s Spectacle of Lights Review
The Santa Claus parades have come and gone, Christmas trees have been lit, but December has just started. Now I know the holiday season is when your wallet starts feeling light, so you’re on the lookout for something free and festive. The Spectacle of Lights on Toronto’s waterfront consists of four free light installations along the waterfront. If you’re heading to the waterfront from Union Station, just walk south on Bay Street and at the corner of Bay and Queen’s Quay is the spiral tree. All online descriptions state that it’s at the Westin Hotel, but more specifically, it’s in front of the Westin Hotel Conference Centre sign on the…
