Just For Laughs is on from July 15 – 19 and it couldn’t come at a better time. We could all use a good laugh right now. Most Torontonians haven’t had much to laugh about these days with tough economic times and a civic workers strike that is now into its third week. Now in its third year, Toronto has embraced this Montreal tradition with open arms. Over 60,000 people have attended Just for Laughs. After all, there is no such thing as too much laughter.

Eleven venues will play host to the best comedians in the world performing in 42 shows over 5 days. Headlined by the incomparable John Cleese of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame, and Sarah Silverman, star of movies and television, Bo Burnham, John Luguizamo, Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, and Danny Bhoy are just a few of the outstanding featured entertainers. This promises to be an outstanding festival. Ticketed events range in price from $20 - $120. Buy your tickets online.

Not all events are ticketed. There are some fabulous FREE events as well, most notably by our own Russell Peters from beautiful downtown Brampton who will be hosting FREE Just For Laughs showcase events at Yonge-Dundas Square on Saturday, July 18^th. Arrive early because space is limited and Russell is a huge draw.

Just For Laughs is taking on international stature. Opening this week in Chicago, negotiations are currently underway to set up mini-festivals in Calgary, Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and Sydney, Australia.

Toronto is becoming a giant garbage dump as trash and litter spills over on the sidewalks and streets. Parks are no longer refuges from city life where urban dwellers can take refuge among nature in one of the many parks and parkettes throughout Toronto. Instead the parks have become garbage dumps full of vermin and stench providing refuge to rats, mice, and raccoons seeking a full course meal.

Mayor Miller went on CNN and spoke of how well Toronto was coping with the garbage strike. I wonder if I live in the same city as Mayor Miller. He waxed eloquent about how American tourists should not cancel their travel plans to Toronto while American travel agencies have issued a travel advisory against visiting Toronto because of the garbage strike. Who will an American tourist listen to, their own travel agent or the Mayor of Toronto who is clearly desperate?

The City of Toronto has made a new offer to the striking workers, but the union doesn’t seem to be too impressed with the offer or the fact that Mayor Miller made it public. Torontonians are angry. They want this issue resolved and they want it resolved now. There is no sympathy for the strikers and in fact very few people understand why there is a strike. Some strikers are acutely aware that they are in a no-win situation and some have begun crossing the picket lines and have stopped enforcing the wait times to dump garbage. Perhaps the time has come for the City of Toronto to start privatizing services.

Caribana, from July 14 – August 3 is Canada’s largest outdoor festival with 1.3 million attending last year. Not only a major attraction for Torontonians, Caribana is a huge tourist attraction, especially for our American neighbours to the south. Now in its 42^nd year, Caribana celebrates Toronto’s diverse population and multicultural society. It is an exciting cultural event featuring

Caribbean music - Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Hip Hop, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands, authentic Caribbean cuisine, and visual and performing arts.

Featured Events:

• Caribana Launch at Yonge/Dundas Square on Tuesday, July 14^th from Noon – 2:00 PM
• Caribana Tent Villages at Yonge/Dundas Square on Tuesday, July 14^th from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
• Calypso Monarch Finals at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, CNE on Saturday, July 18^th from 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
• Junior Carnival at Yorkgate Mall on Saturday, July 18^th from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Caribana Gala at the Liberty Grand – Exhibition Place on Friday, July 24^th at 6:30 PM for Cocktails and 7:30 PM for Dinner
• Caribana King & Queen Show at Lamport Stadium on Thursday, July 30^th from 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
• Pan Alive at Lamport Stadium on Friday, July 31^st from 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
• Caribana Parade at Exhibition Place & Lake Shore Blvd on Saturday, August 1^st from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

The Caribana Parade is always the highlight of the festival. There is nothing else that can compare. It begins at Exhibition Place and moves west along Lakeshore Boulevard. The Caribana Parade is a feast for the senses with unimaginable colour and pageantry – it’s Mardi Gras on Lakeshore Boulevard! Come out to Caribana and find out what 1.3 million already know.

Pink slip parties have nothing to do with lingerie and they are not “girls’ night in parties”. They are the singles parties of the new economy, but instead of searching for a mate, you search for a job. The craze started in the U.S. and made its way north. Several entrepreneurial types have maximized their opportunities and opened pink slip party companies to organize these events. They attract job hunters who are unemployed, those who anticipate unemployment, and recruiters with jobs to fill. Everyone who pays the entry fee is welcome including those who are employed so in order to differentiate guests are given colour-coded bracelets that declare their status – job hunting, general attendees, and recruiters.

Several pink slip parties have taken place in Toronto since March, but as yet I haven’t read about anyone who found a job at one of these parties. They do however seem like a really inexpensive way for recruiters to access local candidates. One thing is certain – it never hurts to network. The key is networking, not hanging out with your friends waiting for someone to approach you. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Here are some tips for getting the most out of a pink slip party.

• Dress for success
• Bring business cards with your name, phone number, and email address
• Arrive early – recruiters generally don’t stay too long
• Speak to as many new people as possible - recruiters and other attendees
• Know your elevator speech well
• Don’t monopolize anyone’s time – keep circulating
• Wait your turn to speak with someone – don’t interrupt
• Present a positive image

The Beaches International Jazz Festival from July 17 – 26, is now it its 21^st year. What began as a small, local event featuring an afternoon of jazz in the park has become one of Toronto’s favourite summertime festivals. Staying true to its roots, The Beaches International Jazz festival is FREE.

Featured Events:

• The Festival Kick-off July 17 – 19 at Woodbine Park located at Lake Shore and Coxwell.
• Streetfest July 23 – 25 from 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM on Queen Street East features 50 jazz bands along a 2 km stretch of Queen St. E. Over 1 million people are expected to attend.
• Main Stage July 25 – 26 11:30 AM – 6:30 PM at Kew Gardens features free concerts.
• Workshops & Lecture Series July 20 – 25 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the Mennonite New Life Center located at 1774 Queen St. East (Queen and Lark Streets, just west of Woodbine).
• Marathon/Walk July 26 – 20k at 8:30 AM, 10k at 9:30 AM, and 5k at 10:00 AM starting at the foot of Kew Gardens, out and back on the Martin Goodman Trail to Ashbridges Bay and Tommy Thompson Park.

Come early to stake out a place at the Main Stage concerts or to find a place at Streetfest. Bring along a chair or blanket and make your self comfortable. The Beaches will be teeming with people so please leave your car at home and take the TTC

• Take 92 Woodbine South Bus from Woodbine Subway Station
• Take 22 Coxwell Bus from Coxwell Station.
• Take the 501 Queen St Streetcar east from Queen or Osgoode Subway Stations

This year 75,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with non-malignant skin cancer, reports the Canadian Dermatology Association. Skin cancer rates among younger Canadians are rising at an alarming rate. The most deadly form of skin cancer is malignant melanoma. Although it looks harmless enough at the onset – a coloured mole or spot – it spreads quickly to surrounding skin and other organs. Please have your doctor check out any suspicious moles or spots. It is better to be safe than sorry and skin cancer is very treatable when detected early.

What is your best defense against skin cancer? Sunscreen. What kind of sunscreen should you use? It is always recommended that you use a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Many of the sunscreens on the market combine at least three different active ingredients in order to provide broad spectrum protection. Look for these ingredients on the label.

• PABA derivatives, salicylates, and/or cinnamates (octylmethoxycinnamate and cinoxate) for UVB absorption
• Benzophenones (such as oxybenzone and sulisobenzone) for shorter-wavelength UVA protection
• Avobenzone (Parsol 1789), ecamsule (Mexoryl^TM), titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide for the remaining UVA spectrum

How much SPF do your really need? For daily use if you will be in the sun in the course of your day, but not spending any significant time in the sun a SPF 15 or greater is adequate. However, if you will be outdoors for work, at the beach, or playing an outdoor sport you will need a higher SPF and should use a water resistant sunscreen. Bear in mind that even so called waterproof sunscreens are not waterproof and will need to be reapplied.

How much sunscreen should I apply? In order for sunscreen to be effective you need to apply 1 ounce – the amount that would fit into a shot glass. Apply your sunscreen 30 minutes before you go out into the sun and reapply it every 2 hours to be safe and immediately after swimming or toweling off.

Have fun in the sun and always use screen!