Monique Drepaul--advocate for new directions in Toronto Transportation

Profile of Monique Drepaul -Executive Director
Eglinton Way Business Improvement Association
A small business advocate, Monique combined her Business and Marketing education to raise the profile of two Business Improvement Areas (BIA) based on Eglinton Avenue in the City of Toronto. Initially, she worked as a Coordinator for Fairbank Village BIA.  However, 2 years ago, she simultaneously worked for both Fairbank Village BIA and The Eglinton Way BIA and represented both BIAs at many of the early Eglinton Avenue consultations during the street planning and LRT process. Currently, she is Executive Director for The Eglinton Way BIA and demonstrated support for the Eglinton Connects project by presenting a deputation at both Council Committees earlier this year.


Monique’s prior experience includes working for the Supply Chain Management Division for the Ministry of Government Services and volunteering on the Community Police Liaison Committees for both 13 and 53 Divisions.

As a resident and non-car owner, Monique has a vested interest in the complete streets vision for Eglinton Avenue. She has lived and/or worked on and around Eglinton Avenue in Wards 15, 16, 17, 21 and 22 for almost ten years.

Over 98% of farms in the world are family farms.

Over 98% of farms in the world are family farms.  

If you are a part of the roughly 99% of the North American population that doesn’t work on a farm, you might be surprised to know that family farming still exists in this fast-paced world. In fact, 500 million out of the 570 million farms in the world are family farms.

Family farms are fruit and vegetable farms, grain farms, orchards, livestock ranches, and even fisheries and those that harvest non-wood forest products.  They include all family-based agricultural activities that are managed and operated by a family and rely predominantly on family labor.

Thanks to family farmers, we can enjoy traditional food products and have the variety of nutritious foods we need to maintain a healthy diet.

Family farmers have an intimate knowledge of their land: its history, needs and productive capacity. They are the custodians of a finely adapted understanding of local ecologies and land capabilities. As a result, they sustain remarkably high levels of productivity despite having less access to agricultural inputs and support. They are safe-guarding the world’s agro-biodiversity through the sustainable use of natural resources. 

So it makes sense then that family farmers can have a big role to play in ending hunger, feeding us all and taking care of our earth.   
From:http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/did-you-know

I am part of a group that since 1997 have been trying to raise the consciousness of the region to accept the idea of zero food waste through the development of a Guyana/Suriname food preservation system that uses an all natural system using no chemical additives.
We are now launching a business /educational project in Suriname at AlphaMax Academy.

Read more about the TropiTaste project.

View the video on TropiTaste

Read Anastasia's life changing ideas in Ringing Cedars of Russia.

Muslim women is Sweden 's youngest minister

http://m.ibnlive.com/news/aida-hadzialic-fled-from-war-as-a-child-she-is-now-the-youngest-minister-of-sweden-at-just-the-age-of-27/504647-79.html