"In 1975, at the age of 21, I moved from California to North York.

My parents had grown up in Toronto and wanted me to experience the city too. 

I took some advertising and business courses at Seneca College, but never graduated with a degree or diploma.

I had a few jobs over the years, mostly in sales: I worked in cosmetic sales at the Bay, wrote call scripts for telemarketing companies and did fundraising for not-for-profits.

I never made a lot of money—my savings always hovered around $2,000."

macleans.ca

“You shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent or eating dinner, but that’s the choice we face”

"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it."

Malcolm X

Is this the answer?

"Food banks aren’t the answer—the government needs to do more to help feed people.

We need affordable supermarkets with affordable groceries, where people pay what they can.

There should be more affordable land, where people can grow their own food gardens, as a way to save money and become self-sustainable.

You shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent and eating dinner, but with rising rental costs and unaffordable food pricing, that’s the choice we face."