Sterling Creations

Hey everyone and leave it to our esteemed president to come up with another side to advocacy.
For this week Donna J. Jodhan zooms in on the self help opportunity.
Read her perspective and send your feedback to us at info@sterlingcreations.ca.
Enjoy your final weekend of March.
Happy holiday weekend to everyone!

Opening the Door to Self-Help
by Donna J. Jodhan

In my humble opinion, this may just be the perfect time to kick start a very robust campaign for us to provide various groups with self help options. There are so many examples of various groups in dire need of discovering and using sound and proven self help strategies.

Let’s just think of these groups as follows. Seniors, retirees, semi retirees, persons with disabilities, single parents, young people seeking to find their way, and on we go. In my opinion, there seems to be a very rapidly growing need to provide these groups with self help options.

They need to be able to use these options to help them cope economically, financially, personally, and technically. They need to become more self dependent in order to stay ahead of the game. So how could they do this?

Well! Maybe we could provide courses specifically geared to helping to promote self help. Example, courses in entrepreneurship, how to maintain protection of their privacy, confidentiality, and independence along with their rights. How to advocate for themselves, and how to find ways to be able to cope mentally and at the same time be able to fend for themselves and to fend off such things as stress, drama, trauma, and other daily challenges.

There may be nothing better in showing others how to take care of their mental well being. How to speak up effectively for themselves. How to protect themselves from the big bad world of scams, scammers, bullies, and bullying.

We could develop and promote courses specifically targeted to these needs. We could offer work shops, seminars and webinars, and we could also offer round table engagements and town halls. So how about it?

My final thoughts? These groups consist of some of the most vulnerable citizens of society and the more that we can provide and equip them with self help techniques the greater power they will have to overcome vulnerability.

Just my two cents for today.

To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit www.donnajodhan.com

10 Tips on promoting your catering service

Certainly! Promoting a catering service involves a combination of marketing strategies to reach potential clients and establish your brand in the market. Here are some tips to effectively promote your catering business:
1.
Identify Your Target Audience:
Understand your ideal clients—
whether they’re corporate professionals, couples planning weddings, families hosting events, or specific demographics.
Tailor your marketing efforts to appeal to their preferences and needs.

2.
Create an Outstanding Menu:
Develop a diverse and appealing menu that showcases your culinary expertise
and flexibility.
Highlight specialties, dietary accommodations, and unique offerings
that set you apart from competitors.

3.
Professional Branding and Packaging:
Invest in professional branding,
including a logo, business cards, brochures, and packaging.
Ensure consistency across all materials to create a memorable brand identity.

4.
Online Presence and Website:
Build a user-friendly website that showcases your services, menus, past events, testimonials, and contact information.
Optimize it for mobile devices and search engines to improve visibility.

5.
Leverage Social Media:
Utilize platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter
to share enticing images and videos of your dishes,
events you’ve catered,
client testimonials, and behind-the-scenes content.
Engage with your audience by running contests, polls, and interactive posts.

6.
Networking and Partnerships:
Establish relationships with event planners, venues, wedding coordinators,
and other industry professionals.
Networking can lead to referrals and collaborations that expand your client base.

7.
Showcase Your Expertise:
Host cooking demonstrations, workshops, or tasting events
to showcase your culinary skills and interact with potential clients.
Participate in food festivals, trade shows, and community events
to increase visibility.

8.
Client Testimonials and Reviews:
Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews and testimonials on your website
and relevant review platforms.
Positive feedback can significantly influence potential customers.

9.
Email Marketing Campaigns:
Build an email list and regularly send newsletters with updates, promotions, seasonal menus, and helpful content.
Personalize messages to cater to different client segments.

10.
Offer Packages and Special Deals:
Create special packages for different events or seasons.
Offer discounts for early bookings or referrals to incentivize clients.

Additional info
11.
Local SEO and Google My Business:
Optimize your online presence for local searches by claiming
and regularly updating your Google My Business profile.
Ensure accurate contact details, service descriptions, and high-quality images.

12.
Professional Photography and Visuals:
Invest in high-quality images and videos of your food, events, and services. Visuals play a crucial role in attracting potential clients.

By combining these strategies and consistently adapting them based on market trends and client feedback, you can effectively promote your catering business and attract more customers.

Greetings everyone and I’m Christian Robicheau at the Sterling Creations desk wishing everyone a typical March weekend.
I hate to tell you but once more the City of Toronto has appeared to have fallen down on the job!
Read our president’s editorial for this week.
Donna J. Jodhan has a front row seat to this one.
Enjoy your weekend!

Same Old Same Old
by Donna Jodhan

I am afraid that when it comes to some mundane and irritating attitudes, nothing much has changed. Or if I choose to slice it a different way, we are always going to find one bad apple sitting in the middle of a somewhat good bunch.

I am referring to an experience that I recently encountered with the City of Toronto. Here goes.

In 2023 residents of the City of Toronto were asked to complete an online form re occupant vacancy if they owned a home or condo. I had to ask my Provincial member of Parliament to assist me to find someone who could help me to do this as the City’s website was not very accessible or navigable for a blind/vision impaired person.

After a bit of searching my very helpful member of Parliament’s office found someone at the city to help me do so. This person was able to enable me to receive my tax assessment documents in Word format but I needed to ask my sighted friend to help me complete my form.

For this year, I decided to try and navigate the City’s website on my own in order to complete the vacant occupancy form and lo and behold! Just like last year, the site was very difficult to navigate. When I wrote to my contact this is what he said.

“You can ask a family member or friend to assist, if required. If you are still having difficulty, please feel free to contact me directly upon your return and I will gladly assist you over the phone.”

Now, there are some who would quickly say that this official offered a solution but for me, the statement that I can ask a family member or friend reflects that he simply did not respond in the true spirit of understanding the meaning of accessibility and independence.

Yes, he offered a solution but no! Just the words that I could ask a family member or friend just tells me that it is same old same old! The City of Toronto still has to go a long way to training their customer agents in the rudiments of accessibility and awareness.

Just my two cents for today.

To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit www.donnajodhan.com

Hey there and I’m Scott Savoy at the Sterling Creations desk.
Just when you think that somehow things will start to abate re the ArriveCan debacle then guess again!
And our president Donna J. Jodhan is right here to bring you the latest.
Read on and we’d love to hear from you with your thoughts!
Send your emails to info@sterlingcreations.ca
Wishing you a great weekend.

The 60 Million Dollar Faux Pax
by Donna J. Jodhan

I don’t think that anyone should be surprised re the CBSA’s continued propensity to ignore the basics when it comes to ensuring that Canadians are protected. Most importantly? The protection of the rights of Canadians with disabilities.

What am I talking about today? Well, please go to the link below and see and decide for yourself!

In short, this rogue department failed miserably to adhere to basic management requirements and once more! They failed to protect the rights of Canadians with disabilities. Their excuse? They had to develop an app in an emergency situation and alas! They forgot to include requirements for accessibility!

What this means is that Canadians with disabilities travelling back to Canada had no way to use the now cursed ArriveCan app independently and even today the CBSA (Canadian Border Security Agency) has not offered any reason for this glaring gaff! No apology! Not even any sort attempt at an excuse!

What is the picture now? We have a rogue department now being called on the carpet for their horrific mismanagement! For having spent millions of dollars more than was first estimated! The RCMP is now involved in an investigation and hearings before the Canadian Parliament are being conducted as I write this editorial! We have to thank the Auditor General for having blown the whistle!

What does this mean for Canadians with disabilities? What could happen if a future emergency takes place? Will we be forgotten once more? Is this something that could really turn into a disaster if this type of situation is allowed to happen again? Yes! The Covid situation was a real emergency but there was absolutely no excuse for the CBSA to have forgotten to take care of the requirements for accessibility.

What do I mean when it comes to accessibility? Well! Blind/vision impaired Canadians traveling back to Canada could not use this app because it did not include such features that enabled them to use their I devices, to independently access the website, and to be able to know what could happen to them if they needed to be isolated if they had Covid. And there were several other groups who were also gravely affected. Seniors, persons who were unable to use an i-device, and even sighted persons who were technically uncomfortable.

In closing I proffer the following question: As someone who is vision impaired, who can I turn to if I need my rights to be protected? Who can I turn to if another emergency arises? The Canadian Human Rights Commission, you think? Not a chance!

Just my two cents for today.

To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit www.donnajodhan.com

Greetings everyone and I’m Christian Robicheau at our Sterling Creations desk.
Today is a typical March day; a bit of this and a bit of that from the weather wise folks!
Okay, and our president is once more focusing on the ArriveCan app matter.
Horrible things continue to crop up and we encourage you to read Donna J. Jodhan’s editorial for this week.
Don’t be shy! Send us your feedback to info@sterlingcreations.ca!
Enjoy your weekend and don’t forget to turn your clocks forward!

The ArriveCan App Antics Continued
by Donna J. Jodhan

By now, I really do not think that anyone should be surprised when it comes to how this app has been handled. From in its inception, to development, and then to roll out! Everything about all of this has been nothing but a disaster!

I am sitting here trying to find words to really express my feelings. And after listening to the article at the link below I can only say “Shame on you, Canadian Border Services Agency! Shame on you, Public Health Agency of Canada! And shame on you Canadian Human Rights Commission!”

For what we have here is a catastrophe! A Canadian Government and these particular departments having squandered millions of dollars on an app that malfunctioned from the start and now the RCMP has been called in to investigate. Of course, these 2 departments are keeping very quiet and I wonder what they would have to say for themselves?

Just imagine! An app that was supposed to handle arrivals of passengers to Canada during the Covid period that was intended to test for said virus; was never fully developed, tested, and we are being told that contractors never adhered to the rules and regulations of procurement!

For me as a vision impaired traveler, I had to endure absolute horror when I traveled and returned to Canada and why? The app was totally inaccessible to me and despite my protestations along with fellow travelers with a vision impairment, nobody listened.
Nobody really cared that my rights as a vision impaired traveler were being totally ignored and trampled upon! Just ask the Canadian Human Rights Commission for their stand on this entire issue and you will probably get total crickets or radio silence.

Ah yes! The Canadian Human Rights Commission! An agency that has never seemed to possess any sort of will to exist! An agency without a rudder and one whose purpose for existence continues to boggle many minds! An agency where it takes years for complaints to be resolved and one that has no control over its own complaints system. An agency that bows gracefully to the machinations of respondents and one that appears to be more concerned with forcing complainants to accept solutions that do not solve anything!

So what we have here is this! An app that continues to be criticized for its total lack of purpose and functionality! One that has cost millions of dollars to develop; much more than was first estimated! 2 rogue departments, the Canadian Border Services Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada responsible for this debacle! The rights of traveling Canadians with disabilities not having been included when this app was developed. Contractors having played to the tune of millions of dollars and ignoring good financial housekeeping! And on and on we go!

I sincerely hope that the RCMP is able to tell us why this happened and who should be held responsible!

Just my two cents for today.

To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit www.donnajodhan.com