10 Friday, September 9, 2022 brooklintowncrier.com Jeffrey Hoben My name is Jeffrey Hoben and I reside in Whitby with my wife, Kim, two children, Liam & Riley and dog Wyatt. I have been a Whitby resident since 2003 and have had the privilege to see our Catholic community prosper and grow. However, times have changed and I am empathetic to the impact and changes that COVID has taken on our education system and the mental health of our teachers, staff, and students. I'm committed to helping our youth adapt to these changes and prepare them for the challenges which lay ahead. This year's DCDSB spiritual theme is, "Listening with the Ear of the Heart". A vote for me ensures that your voice will be heard and I will do my best to advocate your concerns to our Schools and throughout the Board. Together, we can make a difference in the outcome of our children's education and leave a prosperous legacy for future generations to come. Please Reach Out : jeffreyhoben@hotmail.com Call or text: (2890 404-5999 Facebook: JeffreyHobenDCDSBTrustee The author of an article I was reading identified as a level 4 vegan. I had no idea what that meant. Did she eat raw vegan food? Had she been a vegan for a long time and earned a level status from somewhere? Curious, I researched it and discovered most of this came from blogs, not well established vegan sites. It was interesting, if not a little divisive. Level 1 - Vegans typically switch to the vegan diet for health benefits. Level 1 vegans may be aware of veganism's ethical and environmental benefits, but that is not their motivating factor. These vegans may also not be as strict with their vegan ethics, so they may still use non-vegan products such as leather or makeup tested on animals. A level 1 vegan will sometimes say, "I am mostly vegan." Level 2 - These people are predominantly those who follow a vegan diet to stay fit and healthy but care about animal cruelty. Level 2 vegans may have more of a commitment to animal ethics than Level 1s. They may still occasionally purchase non-vegan accessories or clothing. Level 3 - These vegans are pretty firmly entrenched in the lifestyle and are also much more aware of animal cruelty and rights. They may not be activists or draw hard lines around which restaurants they will eat in. Level 4 - They are committed to veganism and follow a strict dietary regime. Level 4 vegans will often only eat out at vegan restaurants or a restaurant that clearly has a vegan option on the menu. They are also passionate The 5 Levels of Being a Vegan Plant-Based Eating by Sheree Nicholson about animal rights and often join protests in favour of animal ethics. Level 5 - Often described as "extreme vegans," these vegans go to great effort to follow a lifestyle free of any type of animal product or animal exploitation. This goes further than just following a vegan diet - level 5 vegans will also not use accessories made from any form of animal product, will not use make up tested on animals, and will not wear clothing made of animal furs, skins or by-products. They will also avoid any food products where accidental traces of animal products may contaminate the food. There's a lot of controversy in the vegan world about what products are vegan. Is honey vegan because nothing dies to produce It? Should people who identify as vegan wear leather? Should they get Botox treatments? What about drugs that are tested on animals? The community also has environmentalists, animal rights activists, health-focused people and people who, for religious or spiritual beliefs, avoid eating animal products. I am not sure where I stand on these levels. In my 12 years as a vegan, I've learned it's a journey, not hard lines. How or why you decide to give up animal products may change over time. Sheree's Hack: Some products labelled vegan aren't actually vegan. Read the labels first. 2022 Municipal Election Candidates for Durham Catholic District School Board Trustee (2 to be elected)Christine Thatcher Hello my name is Christine Thatcher and I am seeking re-election for the position of Trustee for Whitby. It has been my pleasure to serve my community in this role for the last 4 years. We need to re-elect trustees who understand the importance of listening to the concerns of the community and acting upon them to ensure student achievement, safety and equity. I have continually demonstrated my commitment to children and their education as a parent, educator, coach and swim official. We need strong, experienced voices to tackle the pressing issues at this critical time in public education. Never before has ethical leadership been so central in addressing the unique and unprecedented challenges of the next four years: closing the learning gaps, supporting mental health concerns for both students and staff, addressing the violent incidents in our schools, many of which now include discriminatory practices targeting black, indigenous and people of colour, and advocating for funding for new schools to address the enrolment pressures. We serve 75,000 students and nearly 10,000 staff across the district and we are one of the fastest growing boards in the province. This brings with it new opportunities to re-think and rshape what the future looks like. Scott Templeton A strong voice does not mean you have to be the loudestvvoice, but a voice of reason that supports our students, staff, teachers, and parents. That has been me for the past 4 years as Safety, Equity and Diversity were at theforefront of my support on new and updated policies. Over the past four years, and especially during the past two pandemic years, we have worked hard to make sure there were safe learning environments in our schools for all. I believe we have accomplished this goal and will continue to build on this over the next 4 years! I will continue to advocate for the well-being and mental health of Students, Staff, and Teachers. I will continue to stand by the Board's new Human Rights Policy, declaring equality for all People!! I am continuing to be there for our community's most vulnerable through the work of organizations like Caremongers Whitby. Your support on Oct 24th 2022 will allow me to continue to be the voice of reason for the next 4 years! LET'S CONTINUE THE WORK OF MAKING OUR SCHOOLS A SAFER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT! Tyler Smale As a former student of the Durham District School Board, I've experienced the struggles of students from the very beginning of their time with the board until the end, so I know the needs of students. That is why if elected, I plan to work on building our community and forming it into a safe and civil environment for teachers, staff, and families in the DDSB. My plan to do this consists of three main pillars: Improving mental health support for students and staff, encouraging less testing-based evaluations of students, and building a platform where families and teachers can engage meaningfully to ensure the best possible education for Durham's youth. Our campaign is growing, and if you would like to be a part of it, you can support us by following us on Twitter and Instagram @SmaleforDDSB, and on our facebook group at Tyler Smale for DDSB Trustee. smaleforwhitby@gmail.com