SGC Admin News and views

“Low Barrier” Homeless Shelter Coming to Whitby, Ontario

Hi Everyone,😁😎
So sorry that I have been negligent with the upkeep of SGC… Sometimes life just gets in the way of plans… and lately our community has been having a bit of rough time of it, which we take as a symptom of the “disease” that seems to be sweeping our beautiful land. 😥Canada is broken in so many ways…society seems to be going backwards instead of evolving… So many Canadians are struggling and some Canadians have left Canada all together…

There are more and more homeless people everywhere…. Why is that? How is this happening in Ontario, In Canada? What is going on?

We pay taxes that are supposed to go towards social services to help those who are struggling, whether it be in need of food, clothing, shelter, medical, psychological or addiction assistance/intervention. 

So why is there such a homeless problem????? There shouldn’t be one right, if the taxes collected are being used correctly and waste is kept to a minimum… that’s common sense right? Clearly this isn’t happening in Toronto, in Vancouver and in other cities… The homeless crisis keeps getting more urgent… 

Why can’t each town/city take care of their own homeless populations? Wouldn’t that be more sensible, then trying to group all of the homeless from one region, into one building, in one town? 

Here’s what we think is happening…

  • Impossible rents and mortgages
  • Lack of low income housing… or even middle income at this point…
  • Mass immigration versus Sustained immigration
  • Government over-spending in area’s not related to the quality of life for Canadians.
  • Biased Government, (it’s like they have blinders on, and can only see one agenda) beginning at the top and moving down through all levels of government.

We now see that the consequences of the policies of our government… are tricking down into our back, and in the case of this project into our front yards…👇 

The Region of Durham purchased a building, finalizing the deal on 08/03/2023… The building had previously been purchased in January of 2023 by a private citizen for $8,000,000. In August, The Region paid $5, 700,000 more then the previous sale of the building in January. Price tag for the building paid by the Region $13,700,000, ..  As of October 13 2023, due to renovations and clearance of mold and asbestos, the cost has now escalated to $21,000,000.   

The building has the capacity to house 300 easily. It was previously a Nursing Home.

The building is to be used as “low barrier” homeless shelter: Low Barrier, means that anyone may access the shelter, including criminals, some of whom use the shelter system to hide.

There was no “FOR SALE” sign posted on the property, and there was no “APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED FOR” sign placed on the property.

None of the residents or business’s within the area were informed or asked for any input before the project got the go ahead. We found out via an online news story. 

The back of the building backs onto an established residential neighbourhood… it has a chain link fence which will be replaced by a 10 foot privacy fence (as said by the Region). There are at least 50 young children in the neighbourhood.

The building is located within walking distance from:

2 Day-Care centers: 2 Elementary schools: 1 high school: Car dealerships: 2 Senior apartment buildings: 1 long term care home: 1 apartment building: 1 mall: 1 large shopping center: numerous plaza’s (businesses) and residential neighbourhoods.

Those within the community, are compassionate and have empathy towards those who are experiencing life challenges, and understand that many homeless people are homeless not by choice. Everyone deserves a 2nd chance, no one should be denied life’s essentials… and the community is excited to see solutions being put forward to help those that need it.

However, the situation gets a little sticky, when the location of a “low barrier” shelter is within an area that is home to a mixture of ages and abilities… While, helping those who have fallen through the cracks, those who have worked hard to have what they have, cannot become the invisible population.

As someone said to me recently, “homeless people are just as good as you or I” this is absolutely true, and as noted previously, the community has no worries about helping anyone. However, and unfortunately, there are people who (homeless or not) cannot or will not live within the norms of society, whether it be due to mental health issues, or addiction… for some people, no amount of love, patience or caring can help them. (many of us know this through personal and heartbreaking experiences) Some of these people can turn aggressive in an instant, their behaviour is unpredictable… when you place person’s of this nature among an existing and established neighbourhood, the odds are that there is going to be trouble, as studies show, that communities with homeless shelter’s in established area’s have a 57% rise in crime…

And as we look at this particular situation, we know that it is a mistake to go ahead with this plan, especially without the correct studies done to make sure that the plan will work, without causing the community to go into a free fall….

Since the announcement in August there have been various meetings, some with residents and the few council members who are trying to help find a workable solution, and other meetings with the Town Mayor, councillors, Regional chair, councillors and staff involved in the “project” The meetings have not sat well with the community members… however, there is still an open dialogue going on, we just need the ones who are making all the decisions to actually listen to our concerns and take them seriously, so far the meetings seem to be an attempt to “educate” us as to why having this shelter in this location is a good idea. 

The Region has committed to housing 45 clients this winter, the clients are from a list, (or so the community has been told) the community has also been told that they cannot turn anyone away during harsh weather conditions … Which begs the question, how many will actually be housed in the building in the first phase? It is well known that towns and cities phone around to each other looking for shelter space, will Toronto be sending their homeless to this Whitby shelter? 

The residents and the community have safety concerns, which have yet to be completely addressed. Not only for the residents/community, but also for those who will be accessing the shelter.. If anyone is allowed access to the shelter, how can the clients who are just trying to get back on their feet, be protected from the clients who may have criminal or aggressive tendencies? 

It’s a sensitive issue for sure, but one that is going to keep coming up over and over again, until a proper solution is found and implemented… 

While the community, town and region continue to “discuss”, the community will be holding a Peaceful Protest against having a “low barrier” shelter in the area…

The community would like to express the need for any of the following, which the building could be used for: 

  • Women’s shelter:
  • Single mothers and children shelter:
  • Family shelter:
  • Reverting the building back to a low cost seniors housing:
  • A low cost day care center: 

Saturday, October 14 2023: 

Peaceful Protest

11 am to 1 pm:

Outside of 1635 Dundas Street E. Whitby 

along Hwy 2 to the corner of Thickson rd and Hwy 2 (Dundas)

 

 

 

SGC Admin Astrology Info, Astrology Notes, Moon Phase: Current Sun Sign:

The Moon and Astrology: How it affects our daily life… Transiting Moon in Libra:

Present Moon Sign/Phase/House:

zodiac sign libra Stock Vector - 37678766
http://www.123rf.com: Copyright : redspruce

  • Date: August 19 2023 @ 7:53 am (ET) @ 4:53 am (PT)
  • Moon Sign: Libra
  • Moon Phase: 1st
  • Void-off-Course: August 21 @4:31 pm (ET) @ 1:31 pm (PT) to moon into Scorpio a few hours later. Moon v/c in Libra is not one of the 4 void off course “good signs” Relationship issues may not go as planned, leave the planning until after the V.O.C moon… . 
  • Opportunity Period: None

What does it all mean?

  • Libra has a need for balance, indicating this moon period may be an ideal time to implement some into our daily lives. 
  • A desire for justice may be present, dealing with issues that have upset our sense of justice may prove to be productive. 
  • Diplomacy is likely to be more apparent during the next few days, and may be a good time to bring up that topic you have been putting on the back burner. 
  • Hesitation is probably going to raise its head, we may see many sides of a story and find it difficult to make up our minds. 
  • Difficulty in making commitments or long-term decisions, because we can’t make up our minds. If this is the case perhaps wait a few days until the move has moved out of Libra. 
  • Libra is happiest when in a relationship or partnership. Indicating this may be a good time to begin one. :) 
  • Co-operation should be in the air, making this an ideal time to make plans with others. 
  • May be a good time to improve our appearance and surroundings. 
  • May be great time to go bargain hunting, 
  • This moon sign will affect us all but will have more of an effect on those who have the following in their charts.
    • Moon in Libra,
    • Sun in Libra,
    • Venus in Libra
    • Moon in 7th house,
    • Any aspects to the Moon or Venus
    • Midheaven in Libra
    • Ascendant in Libra
    • And those who have strong Aries connections in their charts.

Email us HERE with your questions and comments😊

The Moon and Astrology

&

HOW IT AFFECTS OUR DAILY LIVES… 

In astrology, the moon is connected to our emotions and reactions… how we are feeling on a given day may well be influenced by the sign that is visiting the moon… Each sign stays with the moon for up to 2.5 days…. :) 

The Moon Void-of-Course: 

There are times throughout the month when the moon isn’t fully immersed in any sign… this is when we say the moon is Void of Course when this occurs, we may feel “foggy/unfocused” … We may not be sure how we are really feeling about a situation or a person. Therefore it is not recommended that we make long-term commitments or important decision’s while the moon is Void of Course.

However, 😎 there are 4 signs in the zodiac which may prove positive during the Void-of-Course moon… 

  • Cancer: Taurus: Sagittarius: Pisces:

Opportunity Periods  

Opportunity periods, can prove to be a positive time for most people, however if you have challenging aspects happening within your own chart you may not be able to make use of opportunity periods. Thank you to astrology Paula Belluomini and Llewellyn’s Daily Planetary Guide for opportunity periods.

Copyright: Greta McKenzie Astrology 08/16/2023
SGC Admin Astrology Info, Astrology Notes, Moon Phase: Current Sun Sign:

The Moon and Astrology: How it affects our daily life… Transiting Moon in Virgo August 2023: NEW MOON in Leo August 16th

Present Moon Sign/Phase/House:

16341926-manga-style-illustration-of-zodiac-symbol-virgo[1]
http://www.123rf.com: Copyright : rudall30

  • Date: August 16 @7:14 pm (ET) @ 4:14 pm(PT)
  • Moon Sign: Virgo
  • Moon Phase: 4th moves into the 1st on the 17th
  • Void-off-Course: August 19 @ 4:51 am (ET) @ 1:51 am (PT) to moon into Libra a few hours later: Virgo Moon v/c is not one of the 4 “good signs” Try not to make any important decisions or commitments now.
  • Opportunity Period:  August 18th @ 11:01 pm (PT) August 19th @ 2:01 am (ET) to V/C Moon on the 19th: “night owls who want to be productive can sue this time to do so” PB

What does it all mean?

  • Virgo is all about the details, so be prepared to see to them, or at least have someone else see to them for you. 
  • Try not to worry about things you have no control over, especially things that might not ever happen… Because Virgo “see’s” all the details others miss, it’s hard for her not to worry… 
  • It’s good to keep busy during a Virgo moon, make lists, tidy, organize, plan, find solutions to problems… a lot can get done now
  • Virgo can be more critical than the rest of the zodiac, but only because she so needs things to be “correct” or “perfect”. If you are an employer, be prepared that tasks may not get completed exactly the way you had expected, be gentle and patient. 😊
  • The Moon in Virgo can be good for the following activities:
  • Break Habits (Better if in the moon is in the 3rd or 4th quarter):
  • Canning foods (Better if in the moon is in the 3rd or 4th quarter):
  • Fixing Cars:
  • Hair cut for less growth (Better if in the moon is in the 3rd or 4th quarter):
  • Mowing the lawn to retard growth (Better if in the moon is in the 3rd or 4th quarter):
  • Sending Mail:
  • Starting a diet (Better if in the moon is in the 3rd or 4th quarter): 
  • This moon sign will have more of an effect on those who have the following in their charts. 
  • Moon in Virgo
  • Sun in Virgo
  • Ascendant in Virgo
  • Mid-heaven in Virgo
  • Moon in 6th house
  • Any aspects to the Moon or Mercury.
  • And those who have a strong Pisces placement in their charts..

NOTES:

August 15: Mercury enters it’s storm… here he begins to slow down towards his eventual retrograde motion. During this time, much like when Mercury is in retrograde motion… things may not go as planned.. we can expect delays, misunderstandings, miscommunications, transportation upsets and technological glitches… Not all of these challenges will occur, so no reason to panic,😎  or view this as a wholly negative time… It’s actually a good time to take stock of things, to slow down a bit, to make sure we double check things, especially legal documents or such communications. It’s also a good time to make up our various lists…”the practical and must do” list to the, “we wish we could” list and all the lists in-between… it’s not unusual to experience fabulous ideas during this time, write them down, you never know one or two may be viable in the not too distant future… 😊 Mercury will be in the sign of Virgo during this time… Mercury rules Virgo along with the sign Gemini. Mercury is a communicator, a messenger and very intelligent… it’s a good idea to be conscious of our words, we do that with Mercury’s help, thinking before speaking, re-reading before sending… Virgo’s energy will direct us towards helping others and taking care of the details… which fits in perfectly with the retrograde motion, which is more about being the present then anything else… At the end of the day, go with the flow as much as possible, and if you are trying to move ahead with a new project, yet the challenges seem unsurmountable… take a step back, focus on what you can do and take one day at a time… The energy of the NEW MOON on the 16th may give you the boost you need. 

New Moon Note: Mercury’s “chillin out” attitude, could put a wrinkle in some plans when it comes to new moon situations, (starting a new project for example)  but he is unlikely to do too much damage, deep breath, and try again... 😊

August 16 @ 5:38 am (ET) @ 2:38 am (PT), NEW MOON in the sign of Leo: We may be feeling more playful and taking risks might actually feel like fun, even to those of us who might be “risk adverse”😊  ….. Enjoy this New Moon energy, Leo is a fixed, masculine fire sign… he can be brave and strong, or lazy and arrogant… He can work hard, and he expects to play hard too… Feeling a little creative this new moon? That’s the Leo energy nudging at you, and seeing as its the New Moon it’s an ideal time to began just about anything, why not get working on that project you have been meaning to start?… :) This can also be a good time to organize our lives, in what ever form that may take, from simply tidying up the sock drawer, to getting our butt in gear where our careers, vocation, jobs and relationships are concerned.. The moon moves into the sign of Virgo on the evening of the 16th… because the New Moon energy hangs around for a bit, we can expect a bit of a carry over from the Leo energy to the Virgo energy… While the Moon’s energy affects us all, those who have the following chart influences are likely to feel her NEW MOON energy the most: 

  • Moon in Leo
  • Sun in Leo
  • Moon in the 4th house
  • Moon in Cancer
  • To a lessor extent: Sun or Moon in Aquarius. 

Got a Question, send it along to us, we will try our best to source out an answer for you…

Just Click Here to send in your question.

The Moon and Astrology

&

HOW IT AFFECTS OUR DAILY LIVES… 

In astrology, the moon is connected to our emotions and reactions… how we are feeling on a given day may well be influenced by the sign that is visiting the moon… Each sign stays with the moon for up to 2.5 days…. :) 

The Moon Void-of-Course: 

There are times throughout the month when the moon isn’t fully immersed in any sign… this is when we say the moon is Void of Course… and when this occurs, we may feel “foggy” and “unfocused” … We may not be sure how we are truly feeling about a situation or a person…. Therefore it is not recommended that we make long-term commitments or important decision’s while the moon is Void of Course…. However there are 4 signs in the zodiac which may prove positive during the Void-of-Course moon… 

  • Cancer
  • Taurus
  • Sagittarius
  • Pisces…

Opportunity Periods  

There are other periods throughout the month that are known as opportunity periods, when it can prove to be a positive time for most people, however if you have challenging aspects happening within your own chart you may not be able to make use of opportunity periods. 

Thanks to Paula Belluomini, William Lilly and Llewellyn’s Daily Planetary Guide for opportunity period and dates.

copyright Greta McKenzie, 8/16/23
SGC Admin Astrology Info, Astrology Notes, Moon Phase: Current Sun Sign:

The Moon and Astrology: How it affects our daily life…Transiting Moon in Aries…May 2023

Present Moon Sign/Phase/House:

Zodiac Girl Vector Sign.

  • Date: May 15 @3:56am(ET) @12:56am(PT)
  • Moon Sign: Aries 
  • Moon Phase: 4th
  • Void-off-Course: May 17 @5:10am(ET) @2:10am(PT) to moon into Taurus, a few hours later. Moon v/c in Aries is not one of the 4 “good signs” Make sure you get all the facts before making any commitments..
  • Opportunity Period: None

What does it all mean?

  • Aries is action, he is the most masculine of the Zodiac signs, he is ruled by the planet Mars
  • We should have slightly more get up and go when the moon is in Aries
  • We are happy to defend our loved ones
  • We are apt to speak up more, even those of us who consider themselves to be “timid” can find the voice they need right now. 
  • Maybe a good time to get your message across or to ask for what you need
  • Be careful when driving especially when upset or angry
  • We may be more susceptible to head injuries or head aches
  • We could be eager to start projects now.
  • Be careful while engaging in physical activities, we may feel stronger or more “heroic” at the moment but our bodies might not be in the same “zone” :) 
  • We may be more decisive than usual, as always use caution … 
  • Be careful about saying yes to everything, we might feel like we can handle more, but when the time comes we could be sorry we took on so much at once. 
  • Being healthy and feeling good is important, making this an excellent time to engage in a new fitness regime. 
  • Adults with a strong Mars or Aries influence, may be acting more like children than adults. 
  • Some of us could be more insensitive, or appear more selfish to others.
  • The Moon in Aries will have a slight effect on all of us, but it will have more of an effect on those who have the following in their charts: Along with those who have a strong  Libra placement in their charts
    • Moon in Aries:
    • Sun in Aries:
    • Ascendant or Midheaven in Aries:
    • Mars in Aries:
    • Moon in the 1st:
    • Aspects to the Moon or Mars:
  • May 14th @ 11:17pm(ET) @8:17pm(PT) Mercury goes Direct in Taurus. Continue to use caution in your communications, expect some slight delays, or misplaced packages. Electronic devices may still experiences slight glitches, Up until May 24th. 
  • May 16th: Jupiter enters the sign of Taurus.
  • Jupiter is the planet of expansion and luck, he can bring us relief and happiness or he can bring us over indulgence and exaggeration.
  • Jupiter spends approximately 1 year in each sign. 
  • Taurus is focused on financial security, money and comfort, she is sensual, solid and can be stubborn.
  • Watch for opportunities to expand on the financial end of things.
  • We may find we are more capable of “filing” our financial concerns, so we can organise ourselves better, potentially giving us some relief in that area.
  • Take care not to overspend, or over stretch the budget on ideas or investments that aren’t transparent. Know what you are investing in.
  • Taurus is ruled by Venus, she is primarily concerned about relationships, money and all things beautiful. We could find ourselves thinking about certain relationships, do we stay? do we go? do we work on making it work? The answers will depend on how comfortable and secure the relationship makes you feel. In other relationships we may finally find the magic that enables a particular relationship to grow.  
  • While Jupiter into Taurus will affect us all, it will have a stronger effect on those who have the following chart influences. 
  • Jupiter in Taurus
  • A strong Venus influence, (Libra/Taurus)
  • A strong Jupiter influence (Sagittarius) 
  • To a lessor extent, Gemini
  • Jupiter in the 2nd house. 
  • Check to see where Transiting Jupiter connects with your personal chart, what house, what sign, any major aspects. 

The Moon and Astrology

&

HOW IT AFFECTS OUR DAILY LIVES… 

  • In astrology, the moon is connected to our emotions and reactions… how we are feeling on a given day may well be influenced by the sign that is visiting the moon… Each sign stays with the moon for up to 2.5 days…. :) 
  • The Moon Void-of-Course: 
  • There are times throughout the month when the moon isn’t fully immersed in any sign… this is when we say the moon is Void off Course… and when this occurs, we may feel “foggy” and “unfocused” … We may not be sure how we are truly feeling about a situation or a person…. Therefore it is not recommended that we make long-term commitments or important decision’s while the moon is Void off Course…. However there are 4 signs in the zodiac which may prove positive during the Void-off-Course moon… 
  • Cancer
  • Taurus
  • Sagittarius
  • Pisces…
  • Opportunity Periods  
  • There are other periods throughout the month that are known as opportunity periods, when it can prove to be a positive time for most people, however if you have challenging aspects happening within your own chart you may not be able to make use of opportunity periods. 
  • Thanks to Paula Belluomini present day astrologer, William Lilly 17th century astrologer and Llewellyn’s Daily Planetary Guide for opportunity periods and dates.
copyright: Greta McKenzie Astrology 05/15/23