By MIMI LILIEFELDT When you’re a racialized person living in white society, one of the hardest things to do is be yourself. The pressure to assimilate is huge and the systems are set up so that there isn’t room for those who don’t conform. This means many people, often without conscious thought, dampen or completely […]
By MIMI LILIEFELDT As February comes to a close and with it, the end of Black History Month, I wonder what sort of impact – if any – the month of observation has had. Perhaps the local schools were investing time and effort into the annual reflection and celebration of Black History, but locally I […]
By MIMI LILIEFELDT The new year is often a time for reflection and resolution. As this month passed, I too thought about what sort of changes I wanted to implement in my life. It may sound cliché but pausing to take stock of your path is an important part of personal, social, and global development. […]
By MIMI LILIEFELDT In a perfect world every child would have someone who believes in them; someone who shows them what’s possible and gives them direction. Garie ‘Miles’ Adamson, the owner of 100 Miles the high-end streetwear brand at 2359 Queen St. E. in the Beach, was lucky enough to have a whole community of […]
By MIMI LILIEFELDT The traditional three-bedroom semi sits on a quiet street in the Upper Beach. I am welcomed inside by Jessica Pitanwanakwat, the single mother of three who resides in this home. Jessica is an Indigenous woman who was born in Sarnia, Ontario and has led a life full of personal and generational trauma. […]
By MIMI LILIEFELDT During the pandemic the thing many of us missed most was travel. Ordinarily, people will go great distances for work, adventure, and reuniting with loved ones, but unfortunately for countless others the reason is: survival. We have watched this horrible truth unfold over the past several months as millions of Ukrainians have […]
By MIMI LILIEFELDT As the country wrapped up another Canada Day, I found myself conflicted. It used to be an unfettered celebration of red and white, an excuse to plaster the maple leaf everywhere and possibly, to be plastered oneself. But the last few years have revealed that we can’t suppress our past anymore. So, […]
By MIMI LILIEFELDT May 25, 2022 marked the two-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder. Anniversaries are often a time to reflect and take stock of how far we’ve come. Having said that, George Floyd’s legacy has shown us that progress can look like the tides. Outrage and impassioned pleas for justice rushed in after his […]
By MIMI LILIEFELDT Ignorance is not bliss. At this stage in history, our ignorance surrounding the experiences of Indigenous people in Canada is unacceptable. Casting shame is never the point of this column. However, it was my own feelings of embarrassing inadequacy that emphasized how little I know about the people who have cared for […]
By MIMI LILIEFELDT Music has so much power; it can lift our spirts, elicit strong emotions, bring people together, and inspire. It adds texture and vibrancy to our lives. A world without music is a world without dimension and light. Andrew Afework is a gifted piano teacher who lives and breathes music. “I don’t know […]
