Sixteen students successfully completed Tropicana’s pre-apprenticeship autobody repair program and celebrated a job well done. Throughout the five month program, the students learned how to weld, repair, and paint, as well as the importance of positive attitudes and teamwork.On September 7, 2017 students and family members enjoyed a delightful dinner at the Radisson Hotel. MitzieHunter, Minister of Education, was on hand for the graduation and started it off by saying “Somehow you [Marc Tremblay] worked it out that on the week of back toschool, I’m right here where I’m supposed to be.” Shecontinued addressing the graduates, “Knowledge issomething you own, and no one can take that away fromyou. You are well on your way. You know that you can doit because you have come this far. Become a licensedtechnician, because it is in your grasp. So reach out andgrasp it.” Addressing the Tropicana staff, she said, “The lives you have touched are helping to shape our communities.”

Marc Tremblay, the Pre-Apprenticeship Program Coordinator presented the gifts the graduating class were going to receive from various sponsors, whosekindness and generosity, Tremblay added, helped make Tropicana’s pre-apprenticeship autobody program what it

is today. This year, Tropicana had more industry sponsors than it has ever had. “This is one of the mostamazing industries I’ve ever worked with. I’ve never seena group so unselfish,” said Tremblay.

PPG, one of Tropicana’s most recent sponsors, gaveevery graduating student a free paint certification class.Collision Industry Information Assistance offered eachstudent a free estimating course and I-CAR Canada donated full Platinum I-CAR Scholarships to the entiregraduating class.

Two awards were also presented to student David Wei -The Director’s Choice Award, awarded to a student showing great leadership in the classroom andcommitment to the program, and the CARSTAR Best-in-Class, presented to a student based on a scoring system.

Tremblay had one last bit of homework for the graduatingclass. “I have a challenge to this class: give back.”

The autobody repair community is strong because it’sfilled with people who are willing to contribute to theircommunity in a meaningful way.” He also added, “I haveone thing to say about Tropicana students. They alwayssucceed.”

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Congratulations to the 2017Graduating Class!

NANDO’S SNEAK PEAK GRAND OPENING EVENT!

Since January 2016, Mavis Semper Benn has volunteeredover one hundred hours withthe Sew ‘N Learn classes, a program affiliated with theWomen Empowering WomenSupport Network. A self-taught,retired seamstress fromTrinidad, as soon as Mavisheard about the possibility ofimplementing a sewing program

at Tropicana, she expressed a willingness to give of her time andexperience.

During the days when the sewing classes are being held, Mavis is alwaysjovial and surrounded by approximately 30 women as she imparts herknowledge to them. Her patience is demonstrated in her interactions witheach individual, many of whom had never sewn before attending theclasses.

Throughout these sessions, Mavis shares her vast knowledge of sewingskills and techniques, teaching participants how to cut with and withoutpatterns. Some of these items include: cushions, shopping bags, skirts,dresses, baby blankets, table cloths and runners. Evidence of her creativity was demonstrated when some of the group participants modeled their handiwork during a past event.

Her dedication to giving back to the community can be seen in her commitment to taking public transportation and travelling almost one houron local transit. She has also, on occasion, changed her personal appointments so that she can attend the group.

Mavis says that volunteering has opened up a new chapter in her life bygiving her the opportunity to meet new friends, teach a practical skill andshare her passion.

Meticulous, approachable, versatile, inspirational and skillful are justsome of the words used to describe this very generous volunteer.

Thank you Nando’s! We greatly appreciate your support and look forward to our continued partnership.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT MAVIS SEMPER BENN

On August 1, 2017, Nando’s held a special “sneak peak” restaurant opening for their new Kennedy Commons location in Scarborough and Tropicana was invited to attend.Guests had a chance to taste everything on the menu and also had an opportunity to participate in making Nando’s famous peri-peri sauce.Nando’s generously provides food donations to Tropicana and on thisspecial night, Nando’s Kennedy Commons also presented Tropicanawith a $250 donation which represented 100% of the proceeds received from guests that evening.

TROPICA“THE LAB”GETS A NEW DONOR

Tropicana’s digital media centre has received a boost in funding from national wirelesstelecommunications provider, Freedom Mobile, a subsidiary of Shaw Communications.The partnership was established earlier this year when Freedom Mobile donated$25,000 in support of The Lab’s digital media educational programs. With the new investment, The Lab will be renamed “ The Lab Powered by Freedom Mobile” and willallow for enhanced programming to better serve existing and new clients of the facility.Currently under development are cutting edge workshops that will be led by industry

professionals courtesy of Freedom Mobile. A new logo is also in the works and will beunveiled later in the year.The announcement was made in July 2017 at Tropicana’s art opening in celebrationof the 50th anniversary of the Caribbean carnival in Toronto. The exhibit entitled “TheArt of Carnival” ran for two weeks from Tropicana’s head office and was a collectionof photographic works from artists Ian Grant, Patrick Halsall and Nation. Masqueradecostumes also accompanied the framed works.

Since July 2017, Tropicana Employment Centre (TEC) has been thrilled to be providing the Toronto Youth Job Corps (TYJC) program. This exciting new programhelps participants develop strong resumes, interview skills, presentation skills, socialmedia skills, financial literacy and also provides direct work experiences. As a group,the participants are given the task of painting a community facility, including the Salvation Army on River Street, and this community paint project provides the participants with the opportunity to further develop their employability, teamwork, andcommunication skills. The 25 participants who have experienced TYJC have enjoyedthe challenge of this program.

On September 19th, TEC hosted a job fair at Parkway Forest Community Centre. The Job Fair included employers such as Canadian Tire, Cara Foods, Gifted Hands

Health Services, andZedd Customer Solutions. The employers were interviewing for positions includ-ing Sales Associates, Health Care Practitioners, Customer Service Representativesand Call Centre Representatives. The participants/clients were excited about thenumber of opportunities available at the job fair and employers were impressed by thequality of the candidates.

TEC is currently holding a referral contest to encourage our clients to refer theirfriends and relatives. Prizes include an iPad Mini, Prepaid Mastercard, Gift Certificate to Walmart, as well as many other prizes!

The third instalment of Tropicana’s annual fundraising event Uplifting Spiritswas a success. The Caribbean themedevent raised almost $40,000 in supportof life skills development programManUp. This weekly program for at riskyoung men aged 14 – 18 years old provides participants with guidance,mentorship and skills to become leadersin the community.

Participants from the program were among the guests wearing “Ask MeAbout ManUp” t-shirts and offered firsthand accounts of the impact ofthe program.

The 2017 Uplifting Spirits sponsors paved the way for an evening of celebration and discovery. The success of the event and vital funds

raised for Tropicana’s youth program could not have been possible without our Presenting sponsor TD; our Gold sponsors Lyon & ButlerInsurance Brokers Ltd., Christie Park Dental, Hilditch Architect; our Silver sponsors The Co-operators, Caribbean Airlines, WestJet; ourBronze sponsors RBC, STO Orthodontists, Foresters Financial, Deloitte,LEC Electronics and DASD Contracting; and supporting sponsors TEVA,Purolator and Gervais Party & Tent Rentals. Thank you for your contin-ued support and being a part of the Tropicana effect.

This year’s entertainment kept guests moving and laughing with host,Kerry Lee Crawford from G98.7fm’s Steps after Dark radio show, LesterMcLean Band and DJ Glen C. Guests also enjoyed the culinary delightsof Open Appetite Catering, The Avenue Restaurant and Lounge, Patoisrestaurant, The Real Jerk restaurant and Tropicana’s in-house chefFrederick Alexander who won audience choice for best food.

TROPICANA SUPPORTERS ENJOY AN EVENING OF CARIBBEAN FARE

TROPICANA COLOURS LIVESONE WALL AT A TIME!

In June 2017, Tropicana handed out its 17th Robert K. BrownScholarship to T’Yanna Roach who graduated from CedarbraeCollegiate Institute and is now attending the University of Ottawato pursue a BA in Social Communications. During her tenure atCedarbrae she kept active in six clubs. The two clubs that madethe greatest impression on T’Yanna were the Me to We and MockTrial clubs. Through the Me to We Club, T’Yanna learned aboutworld politics and the many social issues plaguing today’s world.From the Mock Trial club, she was given cases where she had todevelop arguments to prove the guilt or innocence of a defendant.These two experiences sparked her interest in pursuing a careerin criminal or family law so she can help those who are unable tohelp themselves. The Robert K. Brown Scholarship fund, estab-lished in 2000, is for youth in our community who are pursuing anundergraduate degree and are excelling in school, are leaders intheir community and have an inclination towards the social services.This year a new scholarship was added to the roster, the Dr. Gervan Fearon Scholarship award for post-graduate studies. Dr. Fearon is a past president of Tropicana and has established alegacy fund that is in support of the new scholarship. This scholarship is targeted at individuals who are dedicated to addressing the opportunities and challenges that face our communities. Yosra Musa was awarded the new scholarship andshe is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Supply ChainManagement. As a Sudanese immigrant to Canada, Yosra’s desire to uplift those who were struggling socially and economically

led to several years of organizing programs and events for Sudanese youth that could assist them academically and providethem with the opportunity to flourish socially. From this experienceshe began running her own after-school program out of the YWCAfor girls from low-income families. Her passion and desire to makean impact in the community she called home followed her to McMaster. While doing her undergrad she collaborated with otherwomen to address the needs of the African and Caribbean community on campus where they developed a program called aChance on Campus. This program brought black-identified highschool girls onto the university campus for an alternative tour thatincluded lunch, break-out sessions, a campus tour and an intro-duction to clubs and services. This program inspired the next gen-eration of Black women to overcome barriers of higher educationthey may face so they can pursue their dreams.

2017 Scholarship Recipients Awarded at Tropicana’sAnnual General Meeting

Your monthly donation will make a difference inthe lives of youth, newcomers, people of Blackand Caribbean heritage and others in need.You can donate monthly through pre-authorizedgifts by credit card (Visa, MasterCard and Amex)or by submitting a void cheque for pre-authorizedpayments through your bank account. Simply let us know the amount that you would like

to give, and where you would like to designateyour gift. Information about your monthly donation can be provided to us by fax, mail,phone, or online through canadahelps.org.

Be sure to include your name, address and telephone number so that we may properly acknowledge your gift and provide you with acharitable tax receipt.

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