in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 1, 20 21 | 22 Let your community know you're open for business. ommunity c ourt yeL To help our communitieswe have created an online business directory that features local businesses that are open, hours of operation and how customers can safelymake purchases from your store. Our business directory can be accessed from anyone of our 25 Community sites in Ontario. Visit metroland.com to find the community site in your area. Signing up is easy and free. 1 Visit our community website in your area and click on the banner at the bottom of the page 2 Click the "Add Business" link 3 Complete and submit the formSubmit www.metroland.com Get the Toronto Star weekend home delivery for just $399* AWEEK FOR12 MONTHS YOU'LL GET: • Saturday and Sunday home delivery • Starweek Magazine print edition • Complimentary 7-day ePaper edition • Complimentary 7-day access to thestar.com website *Plus HST. 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If you cancel prior to the end of the term, you will be charged an early cancellation fee equal to amounts otherwise payable for the remainder of the term, plus applicable taxes. The cancellation fee will be charged using the billing method we have on file at the time of cancellation. Please contact customer service at 416-367-4500 to get the regular rate for your area. Payment must be made by credit card only. Credit card payments will be billed monthly. View our subscriber agreement terms at www.thestar.com/ agreement. Toronto Star is committed to protecting your personal information. View our privacy policy at www.thestar.com/privacy. Offer expires July 31, 2021. SAVE 46 % OFFTHE NEWSSTAND RATE SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: tsoffers.ca/deal/comm OR CALL: 416-367-4500 and quote code 2DAYSAVE for weekend home delivery for 12 months Actress Sara Garcia has had the chance to immerse herself in some interesting roles -- and her latest is no exception. As social health care worker Alexa Rivera in The Flash, a 'superhero romp' currently streaming on Netflix, she plays "a strong, independent and resilient woman who has overcome a lot of adversity in her life," explained Gar- cia, who grew up in Oak- ville but currently lives in Toronto. "Despite her dark past, she has dedicated her life to helping other people." When viewers first meet Alexa in the seventh sea- son of the series, she is the "unknowing conduit for Fuerza, better known as The Strength Force." "I think Fuerza is inher- ently good but is initially misunderstood. When we first meet her, she is wreak- ing havoc on Central city and team Flash, but then we meet Alexa and there is a bit of a switch in perspec- tive. Fuerza means strength in Spanish and I believe that Fuerza is a manifestation of Alexa's in- ternal fight response. When Alexa is feeling threatened and scared, Fuerza steps in to protect, even though Fuerza's ef- forts are a little misguided at times." With the help of team Flash, Alexa eventually learns to love and accept the two facets of her char- acter allowing them to fuse harmoniously, said Garcia. "This is my first season and it has been a wonderful experience. "The fans have been ab- solutely incredible. So warm and accepting. I have received a lot of positive in- teractions from other mixed raced people who've commented on how impor- tant it is for them to watch their favourite show and feel represented in it," said Garcia. "It has been transforma- tive for me to play this strong and resilient wom- an who leans into her vul- nerability and who hap- pens to also be Latinx (a gender-neutral alternative to Latino or Latina to de- scribe someone of Latin American origin or de- scent). I feel incredibly ho- noured to represent my community in this way." Fans of The Flash may recognize Garcia from her roles in the Second World War spy drama X Compa- ny, where she portrayed the young Romani woman Miri, and from CW Net- work's Reign, a period dra- ma about the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, in which she played Keira (Season 4). "X Company was an amazing opportunity and a very special and unique filming experience as it was mostly shot in Hunga- ry." The Flash is filmed in Vancouver and at the mo- ment, Garcia's storyline is in Season 7, "but you never know," she said. "It would certainly be an honour to come back." ACTRESS EXPLORES HUMAN SIDE OF SUPERHERO IN THE FLASH Oakvillen native Sara Garcia in a scene from The Flash on Netflix. Bettina Strauss photo KATHY YANCHUS kyanchus@metroland.com NEWS "I have received a lot of positive interactions from other mixed raced people who've commented on how important it is for them to watch their favourite show and feel represented in it." - Sara Garcia