6 Friday, February 2, 2018 brooklintowncrier.com Quinoa (pronounced Keen-Wah) is a versatile seed that is used like a grain. It can replace rice, oatmeal, couscous and more. It's gluten free is also a complete protein in that it has all the essential amino acids our bodies can't make. This super versatile food, like most grain type foods, picks up the flavour of the broth or seasonings it's cooked in, on its own kind of bland. With twice the protein content of rice or barley, quinoa is also a very good source of calcium, magnesium and manganese. It has decent levels of several B vitamins, vitamin E and is high in dietary fibre. It's also one of the least allergenic of all the grains, making it a great wheat-free choice. A "superfood" Quinoa has an interesting history. Inca emperors would traditionally sow the first seeds of the season using gold instruments. Today, the United Nations has declared it a super food and NASA has fed it to crews on space travel. I've used it in salads, chilli, and as a breakfast cereal. I've also had good success cooking with it. If you're interested in trying it out before buying it, the Farmboy kitchen has a good quinoa chili and great quinoa salads. I've had the quinoa breakfast bowl at Copper Branch and loved it. Costco also has a fantastic quinoa salad, aside from it being a good place to buy affordable Quinoa. Here's a recipe for quinoa chili from onegreenplanet.org, a wonderful tasting dish that freezes well. Sweet Potato and Quinoa Chili Ingredients (serves 6) 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (15 oz) fire roasted diced tomatoes or 1 1/2 cup diced fresh tomatoes 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste 1 large sweet potato, diced (with or without the skin) 1 cup dry quinoa 1 onion, diced 5 - 6 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder 1 tablespoon cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano A few dashes of garlic powder A few dashes of onion powder salt to taste 4 cups (32 oz) water or vegetable broth, + more as needed Garnish with avocado, cilantro, lime (optional) In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, cook until soft and they start to turn brown (about 7-10 minutes). Add garlic, cook for another minute or so. Add the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder and onion powder, cook for 2 more minutes stirring constantly. Add tomatoes, liquids, beans and sweet potato, stir until combined. Add quinoa, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover slightly ajar and cook for 30- 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Chili is ready when sweet potatoes are tender. Add additional water if chili is too thick for your liking. As with all recipes, adjust seasoning to taste. Plant-Based Eating by Sheree Nicholson The Magic of Quinoa Building a strong middle class means giving Canada's youth the tools they need to find and keep good jobs. Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Member of Parliament for Whitby, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, recently announced a new project that will give youth in Whitby job skills training and hands-on work experience. Up to 132 youth will participate in group based workshops, which will be delivered by the John Howard Society through the Ready To Go Job Skills Development for Young Adults. Helping youth This project will help youth overcome barriers to employment and develop a broad range of skills and knowledge necessary to make a successful transition to the labour market. Youth will develop skills to help them find and keep jobs, such as job search techniques, interview preparation and business communications. They will have the op- portunity to participate in courses such as First Aid/CPR and employee safety that will prepare them for employment in the Skilled Trades, Customer Service or Hospitality Sectors. The Government of Canada will provide approximately $1.3 million in funding for this project through the Skills Link program of the Government's Youth Employment Strategy. Skills Link supports projects that help young people who face more barriers to employment than others develop basic employability skills and gain valuable job experience, which, in turn, assists them in making a successful transition into the workforce or to return to school. These youth could include those who have not completed high school, single parents, Indigenous youth, young persons with disabilities, youth living in rural or remote areas or newcomers. Stronger society "We know that our communities are healthier and stronger when everyone can fully participate," says Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour. "Supporting youth as they transition into the workforce is a key way in which we can grow our economy and strengthen the middle class. Youth in Whitby will benefit tremendously from the opportunity to develop their skills and gain valuable workplace experience." "Developing Canada's youth is a priority. The John Howard Society's Ready To Go Job Skills Development project is a concrete example of what we can achieve for youth by working in partnership with organizations across the country," adds Whitby MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes. "This project will help youth get the job skills and hands - on experience they need to succeed in the job market, as well as, provide them with an opportunity to change their future." Diana Eastwood Executive Director, John Howard Society says, "The Ready to Go Program will provide youth in Durham Region with the opportunity to develop the skills and confidence necessary to be successful in customer service, hospitality and apprenticeship fields. Our experience tells us that youth who are offered opportunities to participate in skills development program- ming have greater success in finding and and keeping meaningful employment and we are pleased to be a partner in that process." Quick Facts Skills Link is one of three program streams under the Government's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). Each year, the Government invests more than $330 million in the YES to help support young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 to get the information, skills, job experience and abilities they need to make a successful transition to the workplace. Budget 2017 proposes to invest a further $395.5 million over three years in the YES for additional employment and skills development opportunities for youth. Since 2005, YES programs delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)have helped over 582,000 youth develop skills and gain work experience to find a job or return to school. ESDC's Skills Link program has helped over 141,000 youth since 2005. Feds To Fund Youth Skills Project The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 152 (Brooklin Legion) has initiated the relocation of the Cenotaph from its existing location at Luther Vipond Memorial Arena to the courtyard of the Brooklin Community Centre and Library (BCCL). The project's aim is to have the transfer ready for Remembrance Day, 2018. The move would provide a safer place to carry out Remembrance Day ceremonies as well as enhance the visibility of the Cenotaph to residents and visitors. It's also within short walking distance of the Brooklin Legion building. Parking is readily available and, if required, the local road could be closed for the ceremony. Legion funding Funding would be the responsibility of the Brooklin Legion which has made a funding application to the Federal Government Community War Memorial-Commemorative Partnership Program. A Whitby monument company has been selected by the Brooklin Legion to supply and install the monument within the proposed Cenotaph area at BCCL. The estimated cost for the supply and installation of the cenotaph monument, benches, engraving, etc. is $74K. The estimated cost of the proposed design concept including new concrete works and landscaping is an incremental $10K. Whitby staff met first last March with John Blue of the Brooklin Legion to discuss the Legion's proposal. He highlighted the hard work the Brooklin Legion members have contributed to grow the annual Remembrance Day ceremony. Then in December, staff met with the Legion representatives at the Brooklin Community Centre and Library to discuss the proposed location in the courtyard garden space south of the main entrance of the building. It was agreed that staff would develop a concept for members of the Brooklin Legion to review, endorse and utilize for funding purposes. Legion representatives were made aware that Council would have to approve the relocation proposal. No monument at Vipond The current Cenotaph is located at Luther Vipond Memorial Arena but there is no monument. A bronze plaque commemorating the dedication is located immediately west of the entrance doors of the facility. It would be moved to the new location. Luther Vipond Memorial Arena was originally built by volunteers in 1948-49 as a memorial to Whitby Township soldiers who died in the first and second World Wars. It was demolished in October, 1972, when the building no longer met provincial arena standards. The Memorial Arena was rebuilt in 1972-73. On June 30, 1973, the building was re-dedicated as the site of the Cenotaph in Brooklin. On November 14, 1982, the arena was re-named in memory of Luther Vipond, a community builder, World War II Veteran, and former arena manager. The Brooklin Legion members host an annual Remembrance Day ceremony for residents with a focus on Brooklin's school children. The annual ceremony is well attended, attracting upwards of 400 people, and as a result the ceremony has outgrown the current site. There is not enough assembly area for the crowds, often forcing spectators onto the sidewalk near Winchester Road. Parking at the site can be congested with a number of buses and vehicles for those attending the ceremony. Brooklin Cenotaph To Be Moved