Mississaugas

• TORONTO, Nov. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wilson Blanchard Management (WB) , an Associa company and leading provider of condominium management services throughout Ontario, recently volunteered with Mississauga Food Bank (MFB).
• WB’s Toronto office collected 181 kilograms of food for donation to MFB.
• In addition, 10 team members volunteered at the food bank, where they helped package 2,245 kilograms of food, which provided more than 5,300 meals for those in need.
• Food Banks Mississauga leads a network of 60+ agency members, including neighbourhood food banks, pantries, cupboards and meal and snack programs that provides healthy and appropriate food to families and individuals facing food insecurity.

• A knowledge and research collective at Humber College has been working to create, teach and evaluate a new course in the early childhood education program, Two-Eyed Land-Based Play and Co-Learning.
• We are part of the Two-Eyed Land-Based Play and Co-Learning Knowledge and Research Collective and have been co-learning together since meeting in early 2020.
• Exploring children’s outdoor play through Two-Eyed Seeing led to
  rethinking post-secondary training for early childhood educators through this unique and timely course.

Exchange of stories

• It emphasizes “the exchange of stories, the foundation of any and all relationships,” in the words of Elder Marshall.
• We learn the languages of the Land: the Land takes care of us when we take care of her.
• Learning to use both eyes together for the benefit of all prioritizes our eco-kin, and restores balance between natural and human worlds.

Co-learning with the Land

• The course is supported by local and regional Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Holders, mentors and storytellers.
• All who participate in the course co-learn together as they connect or reconnect to and with nature’s ecosystems through Land-based experiences, storytelling, inter-generational teachings and reflection in all seasons and weather.
• We as people must do the same.”
  “Go into the forest, you see the Birch, Maple, Pine.

Transforming early childhood education

• In early childhood education, walking together builds on the benefits of outdoor and nature-based play that supports children’s emotional, intellectual and physical development through exploration and inquiry.
• Across Turtle Island, the stories of animal and plants will be different depending on what Indigenous Lands one is on.
• Co-learning relationships are essential to rethinking and transforming early childhood education practice in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and Call to Action No.

Seeing from another’s perspective

Two-Eyed Seeing helps us to know the environment through human eyes while also seeing things from another’s perspective. With this braided knowledge, we are enriched and transformed. We then bear a responsibility to share what we learn and act for the benefit of all, now and for seven generations ahead.

Responsibilities to all beings

• Initial findings demonstrate that co-teaching and co-learning engages spirit, heart, mind and body for all learners.
• As storytellers, advocates, writers and artists, we are using our gifts to enact our own and collective responsibilities to all beings.

• OBC, a leading provider of outdoor experiential education for youth, recognizes the crucial importance of making its life-changing programs accessible to as many youth in Canada as possible.
• "Our funded programs remove financial barriers to create opportunities for youth, at a time when parents may feel such high-quality activities are unaffordable."
• OBC's financial aid and scholarship system is based on an assessment process that takes into account each applicant's individual circumstances.
• Demand for our funding has continued to grow as many Canadian families struggle with the rising costs of food and rent.

• TORONTO, Nov. 14, 2022 /CNW/ - Meridian marks an important milestone today in becoming the largest employer to become certified by the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN).
• "As a Certified Living Wage Employer, we are building resilience and wealth in the communities where we live and work."
• "Credit unions have been a strong and influential ally to the living wage movement in Ontario, and that's why we are so pleased to welcome Meridian to our network," says Anne Coleman, Program Manager of the OLWN.
• With more than 75 yearsof banking history, Meridian isOntario'slargest credit union, and second largest inCanada, helping to grow the lives of our more than 360,000 Members.