CBC Toronto hosted a “listening election” on Tuesday February 11th 2025. It wanted to hear our voice on what issues matter to us and our community.
As the elections for Ontario is nearing ( Feb 27 2025), the media here is super busy with many activities. For last mayor election, CBC arranged for a public meeting with all the contestants.
This time, CBC had a public meeting with the media team. They asked many questions to us on the issues we face in Mississauga and the possible solutions. Around 30 people attended that meeting. I participated with few HeartComonos team friends. Happy to meet bhuvan, raghul, sean there.
Learned that similar to the India, the issues with state government vs union government, here also many issues with provenience vs federal govt. The funding for many schemes are being dropped.
The team in our table explored the issues with healthcare, ever increasing cost of living, cost of insurance, the scarcity of the skilled healthcare people, cost of education, need of good transport etc.
On a bird eye view, Canada is a first world country. But it has its own problems. There are people who are struggling a lot, with more work, less salary, less savings, more education loans, more insurance to pay, ever increasing rent, the issues of running small business etc. There are many good things like nice library, free school, free healthcare, good water etc. Govt spends more on Police and the good environment.
The journalists heard all of us, took notes and assured that they will bring more attention to these topics on their publications. We asked for a CBC media office and CBC Radio at Mississauga, as there is no or very less coverage for local issues. The CBC Toronto is more focusing on Toronto and other major cites only. If we local media office, public can reach there often and share their voice.
Its good to see that media is hearing to people. Happy to see many people who are giving voice to the place where they live. They are expecting small changes incrementally.
We hope to see the changes. Good to be a small part of a big community which loves local neighborhood.
I should start reading local news and listening to local radios, so that I can learn more about the local issues, schemes implemented and how to government works here. Tuned my radio to listen to english news. Not sure I can subscribe to a newspaper to receive at home. Will explore to read it online and will read it on cooksville library regularly.
In many western countries, there is a emergency helpline 911, for which we can call for any help.
My friend is going though the after effects of calling 911. Sharing it here for the public awareness.
He moved to canada from south asia, few years back. He studied Masters here, then called wife and two kids. His wife got job and he is still looking for a job. Kids are going to school. Life was smooth until three days back.
Just like most of the asian families, quarrels, heated arguments, mini fights are normal in this family. But they dont know that “Normal” has has different meaning in different countries.
three days back his wife was reporting about him to some relatives. He dont want that to happen. he tried to stop the call. As she dont wanted to drop the call, he tried to pull the phone. She got it rigidly. He started to raise his voice, threatened and still trying to pull the phone.
Their daughter saw this and got panicked. She told her dad to stop all these, else she will call to 911.
As he is busy with getting the phone from wife, He told that “Call police. Let them come and do the family counselling for both of us. She is not respecting my requests.”.
Kid dialled 911.
She told that some fight between dad and mom. She got worried to see this. They collected the address and came in 5 minutes.
On seeing the 911 call happened, the fight was stopped. Now all are in panic mode.
After seeing the police, kid and wife were crying on fear. With tears they told that this is normal one and nothing to do. there is no harm, no wound, no big issues.
But, Police told that this is “Domestic Violence”. What is normal in other countries is a crime in Canada. you have to learn, obey and live to the country where you are living.
They told that the call is just for a counselling. In our back home, police wont arrest for family issues. They will try to solve the issue with counseling itself.
But, police rejected their requests.
They arrested him and took with them. Police told her not to worry on his threats here after.
She and kids cried and requested police not to arrest him. But, police had to do their duty.
She worried a lot on how to manage the work, 2 kids and life .
She called police station and asked what is the next steps.
He will be released in conditional bail in a day. Govt will file case against him with section 266. He has to go through the case and close it completely..
It will take 3 or 6 or 9 or 12 months or more for the case to conclude.
– UNTIL THEN HE SHOULD NOT TALK TO HIS WIFE.
– HE SHOULD NOT MEET/CONTACT HER ANYHOW.
– HE SHOULD NOT ENTER THE AREA AROUND HIS HOUSE.
This is the law. With this alone period only, he will understand the importance of living peaceful life with family.
Even she request to withdraw the case, it wont happen. The govt took the case on its hand. no one can stop it.
She took 2-3 days to understand this hard truth and starting to live with loads of tears and sorrows.
266 assualt case starts with level 1 – pushing, slapping, punching, verbal threats and goes to more levels with injuries, wounds etc. But, in this case, there is no injury, no trace of wounds. A simple quarrel went on a push-pull thing to get a phone out of hands.
He came out of jail with the same above conditions mentioned on a report.
He has to look for a new stay. Rents are really crazy. With no job, how to pay for rents and food for 6+ months?
He can not contact his wife for any of the financial support.
He started to look for lawyers.
They confirmed that even though it is a very very minor case, it will take 3/6/9/12 months to close. Till then, he can not talk to his family.
The legal charge to handle this case starts from 3000 CAD to 6000 CAD.
The living expense for a month here is minimum 1200 CAD per month.
The total cost of a single 911 call is 10,000 – 15000 CAD, ( for 6 months ) with a hard seperated living.
We all know that we can call 911 for help. We assume that they will come and do all the family counseling, mental health counselling.
NO.
They will teach the lessons in a really hard, unimaginable, painful way.
Spoke to many friends on this. They told similar horror stories happened for their friends.
if a kid reported against father and mother, they will take the kid out of family and put on a child care center. We are not sure on the what care they will give to the kids. “Care” has different meaning here.
Domestic violense, verbal abuse, quarrel, mini fights are very normal in eastern countries. But, in most matured western countries, the government is not accepting any of the violence against any human.
If you are moving to any new country, just like knowing the traffic rules, social rules, learn the family laws. Treat your partners, kids gently with full respect. If you have any misunderstandings, solve them peacefully or go out for a walk to calm down.
If you have a body in new different cultured country and mind with back home culture, it will lead to life full of horrors.
Read here more for a detailed rules of 266 assault .
“Hi machi, we are organizing a college friends meet next month. Can you join?” Vasanth texted me.
“Wow. Really? Will join for sure. Count me in.” I replied.
He added me in a WhatsApp group for the college group.
“Good to see you all here guys. Happy to see all of the DP. Can recognize most of the folks”
“Welcome da. Be careful here. This is a terror land”
“Hmm. Then I am the terrorist”
There are lot of political discussions going there. Initiated few topics and troubled many of them there.
I studied Instrumentation & Control Engineering at Arulmigu Meenakshi Amman College of Engineering, Near my native Kanchipuram, during 2000-2004.
Our college days were always filled with lot of strikes, fights, apology letters, parents calls, late night studies, bits, paper chasing at exams, sometimes meeting with local gangsters and police station, along with minimal possible studies.
After college, we all went all on different paths. It seems most of us are connected with few friends. Mostly it is the same college gang, we were hanging out with.
May 14,15 2022 is the meeting date. Vasanth, Franklin, Sankar tried their best to do all the organizing works. Tireless discussions on venue, food, event planning happened.
Yesterday is the May 14.
“Nithya. I have to go out today, to meet my college friends. Will be staying there tonight. Can you manage with all three kids?” I asked.
“Ok. Seems you are meeting them after many years. Run away. I will manage. But before going, do the laundry works and prepare food. I have to goto my dance practice classes. You can leave once I returned. Make sure all kids have eaten food and took bath.”
“Will do madam”.
Finished all the works quickly.
“I started from Bangalore in train, yesterday night itself”. Balaji texted.
“I reached the venue” This is vasanth, Franklin.
Happy to see the photos of the friends reaching the venue.
Friends are joining from Vellore, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Karaikudi, Madurai. Good to see them they are reaching on time.
I am still at home.
“I will be late, as usual” I messaged the group.
After finishing all the works, I started and reached there by 2 pm.
It is a beautiful 4 BHK villa, with a neat lawn and good swimming pool, near Beach, next to VGP at ECR road.
Vasanth gave a T Shirt. He bought a blue Tshirt for all of us. Though it is L size, I struggled a lot to wear it. I am L till shoulders and XXL below shoulders. But happy to see many big belly there similar to me.
We started to introduce ourself as it is a group with guys from all the departments. Good to know about many guys. Most of us have very bad starting days on career, somehow survived and excelled on the career path.
Happy that all are in good positions with great family.
“Hi Scale, Stop it. This is the limit”. Everyone shouted on him.
“I am alright” Scale rejected.
After some time,
“I am sleepy. Where is the bed?” Balaji asked.
“Che. You never try to change da. You moron” I made him rest on bed.
“Guys. Who all are young enough to play Kabadi?” VijayKanth asked.
“We are already crossed half life. No enough energy to break our bones. Those are only on college days. Not for now”
“You old uncles. Get lost” He shouted.
“Hei guys. Anyone willing to jump on Swimming Pool?” This is Chandrakumar.
“Dhummm. Dhummm. Dhummmmmmmmm.”
Within few minutes, most of the guys are inside the pool.
“Let us start the Volleyball. two teams. 21 points.” Siddq started the game.
For the next one hour, it was a war on the pool. Even school kids can play better, without cheating. Appointed 2 umpires to avoid foul games. Still we can not stop the fun on cheating each other team.
“I never seen such a bad group”. The pool told to the water.
“Me too”. Water accepted.
Franklin arranged for Tea.
At 6 pm, we arranged for a Zoom call with all friends who can not join the meetup.
Franklin started the meet on his Tablet. Few friends joined. But the audio was very low.
I gave my JBL bluetooth speaker to connect. Still very low volume.
“We have many IT experts, we can not fix the low audio. Very shame da”
“Hahaha. Shame is not new for us da.”
Happy to see many folks joined on Zoom call. Friends are from all around the world.
Franklin narrated his challenges on running a architect business. Vijaykanth shared his experiences. Balaji shared his views on Instrumentation related jobs. Ashok explained how it is difficult to form a good tech team. I explained on the Kaniyam and open source works and asked for contributors. People started to chat in groups.
“Guys, sit as a big round. Tell your interesting college memories” Vasanth ordered.
“Wake up that Scale. He is missing all the fun”. Prabhu asked. Scale came asking “Where am I” and joined.
“In my hostel days, here are my ragging stories” Ashok started.
“Do you know scale ragged our own classmate?”
“Do you remember why we broke the chairs at hostel?”
“That senior was looting all the money from us”
“Hostel warden threatened us. We gave him good feedback”
“That hostel food was so awesome”
“Do you remember the love story of him and her?”
“What she is doing now?”
“I dont know why I was beating you that time. Sorry machi”
“Here is the story of the fight with local gangsters”
“You made me to sit on police station”
“The seniors broke my head on a fight”
“I got found when I was doing a paper chase on exams”
“She accepted the proposal and asked for marriage immediately. He ran away on seeing her boldness”
“I dont know why I was crying by seeing you on the last day of the college. Sorry machi”
“Sorry machi. I too dont know who you are and why you were crying. I never seen you in college. I thought that you might ask me some money. You should cry on me when we leave tomorrow. I wont let you go, if you dont cry on me”.
“The staff did not know that I am a student. They never seen me on the lab. They failed me computer lab in first year.” I too told many interesting memories of college days.
“I did not know that “E” on the microprocessor is “Executed” Not “Error”
Shhh. This list is very long. It is highly filtered, to make the blog everyone to read.
“Whatever we speak here, let them be here itself”
Arun joined at night. he started to sing songs as usual. Few friends started to dance. The DJ was enjoyable. Good to see guys are being themself here.
We were speaking with different folks, till early morning 4. The more dark it goes, the more people become philosophers. We discussed all things under the sun.
“See there. Ashok is going to beach at 2 AM. Stop him” Ranjith shouted.
Myself and Prabhu pulled him back and sent him inside the room.
Prabhu and Myself were discussing all the good memories till 4 AM. Then I slept.
Next day, 7 AM.
Already guys went to beach. I too joined with them.
“We should meet again”
“Next time, let us meet In Thailand”
“Why cant we arrange for a family get together?”
“We can. But we will come as family and return with Divorse Notice”
“I will reduce the belly before next meet”
“Me too” All said in chorus.
Yes. Very few of us are fit. Most of us have belly. Few are oval in shape. Few are in round shape.
“Guys, make sure to be alive before our next meet”
“It seems most us will have Sugar, BP soon. Do some workout daily”
Franklin ordered food. It seems the food was waiting at a signal for long time. After all the signal clearance, we received food. We returned the empty vessels very quickly.
When we are prepared to start, Prasath joined as very last late comer. Welcomed him. Took him to tea shop and got to see good discussions there.
Everybody started. Myself and Prabhu are the last.
The lawn, the swimming pool, the bedsheets on the floor and bed were telling the stories of the gang of happpy friends.
I could still hear that Arun singing “Mustafa, Mustafa song”. I could see Vijaykanth and others were dancing .
“Hmmmm. Time to leave Prabhu. I have to make food for kids. Sunday is my kitchen day”. I started to home, seeing that prabhu started his car.
Even after reaching home, I could hear all the shouting of the buys. That is the sound I am missing for 18 years. Thanks guys for giving me the great moments of our college life.
Thanks to franklin, Sankar and Vasanth for organizing the lifetime memorable event. Thanks for all the participants.
See you all again soon. Stay alive. Stay healthy till then.
Last week, I went to my hometown kanchipuram, to meet mom and dad.
They both are busy with making their green garden. Took few photographs of the garden.
All the photos are taken using Realme X2 smartphone.
We don’t need expensive DLSR always for good photos. Smartphones nowadays have good features. All we need are patience and passion on photographs.
The view from our hall
ants
Right side garden
Left side garden
I bought a teak wood plant for Rs.1 around year 2000. Now it is a big tree at 2020
This is the tree I used to climb up and play with friends when I was a kid
This is a green rose
Left side garden
Capturing green plants is a good photography project. When the wind is gently shacking the small plants and leaves, it will be a good practise to bring focus.
On my school days, it was my duty to water the garden, daily in evening. When my friends were playing, I would watering them. I hated that task. Still my parents imposed that task on me.
After many years, I realised how good the gardening is. Having a garden is a treasure nowadays. Not all get a garden.
Though you don’t like what your parents ask you to do, do them. Time will teach you the worth of those tasks.
If you have a little time around morning or evening, goto nearby garden or park and try capturing the green with your phone or camera.
Though we live in colourful 2020, though black and white photos are very old, it is still wonderful to create b/w photos.
Black and white photos remove the extra, unwanted things and expose only the expressions of the subjects.
We can feel like what the subject of the photo feels.
Here are some of my b/w photos I like much.
If you want to add some good feel to your photos, try converting to black and white. Try high key which will give you white back ground. Try increasing the brightness and contrast to get various effects.
Always keep a copy of original color photos.
My friend balaji listens to a talk
My friend Jayantnath listens to a talk
Prof Thamizhpparithi Maari explains some topic
Arul and Lenin listens
Writer yearcaud elango smiles
Sentamil kothi sir listens to Sridar in right
Iyal looks at me
Vaishnavi and bharathi
Iyal wonders how to solve runic cube
Viyan and Iyal
Sh…. Paari is sleeping.
Iyal and Viyan
Viyan smiles
Iyal imitates some heroine
Paari is wondering what is happening in this world
Happy to inform you that we have a new member added to our family last month.
She is a 3 years old Girl Baby. We adopted her from Grace Kennett Foundation Hospital, Madurai
We named her as “Iyal” – இயல் – meaning as Nature and Prose of Tamil Language.
All in our family are happy for Iyal.
She is a brilliant, kind and joyful kid.
she goes to a nearby pre school now.
I thank all our family, relatives, neighbors and friends for their great support.
Process
It is myself and Nithya’s decision to adopt a girl baby after Viyan.We applied at https://cara.wcd.gov.in/ in early-2017. It is a national level website to register for adoption.
Cara site = Central Adoption Resoursce Authority, by Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India
We can select the sex, 3 states and age range of the kid.
We selected as Female, TN, Kerala, Andra and 2-4 as age range.
After we submitted, the customer care team called us and got details about us. Then, A social worker from their team visited our house. She enquired about our profession and support from family.
After she gave approval with Home Study Report, we were put up on a national level queue. It was long. Once in a while, we check the website and saw the queue was moving slowly.
In the meantime, we have spoken many times to cara support team for various questions and doubts. They gave great support to clear all our doubts and queries.
After a waiting period of around 2 years, We got email and SMS from Cara website that we got a matching kid at madurai. We went there, met the Grace Kennett team and the Kid. They are very supportive. The next week, went there along with our parents and come back home with Iyal.
Viyan is so happy for his sister. She is playing well with all the kids in our flats.
Here are links for the process:
Eligibility criteria for prospective adoptive parents
For any queries, feel free to contact cara
Toll-Free No: 1800 11 1311 /011-26760471/011-26760472/011-26760473
Available between 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM in all working days(Mon-Fri)
E-mail : carahdesk[dot]wcd[at]nic[dot]in
You can contact your nearby Specialised Adoption Agencies
The Roads I Go 