ePaper Nov 5, 2015

CANADA – COMMUNITY 3 DESI EXPRESS www.desiexpressonline.com Thursday, November 5, 2015 India’s celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor addressing the media, along with the local co-owners of upscale Indian restaurant Khazana. Job-seekers’lack ofmotivationyet anotherfactor By A Staff Reporter The two factors most af- fecting job retention are the quality of management or supervision and personal fulfillment achieved through the job, says a new report from the Peel Halton Work- force Development Group. PHWDG, a non-profit organization that provides up-to-date, local labour market intelligence, devel- oped a survey of almost 500 employers to discover how employers feel about hiring and retaining employees. The study, which also asked employers about topics such as youth and hiring newcomers, asked questions about hiring in- tentions, job retention con- cerns and training opportu- nities and/or gaps. Key findings in the study included: • When it comes to job read- iness, the greatest gap is in relation to soft skills, something that would appear in employers’ minds to be overcome by work experience (and/or possibly training). • Nine out of 10 employers agree or strongly agree that job candidates have the potential, but lack the experience or training. • Concerns regarding soft skills score twice as highly as concerns re- garding technical skills. • Employers often feel indi- viduals looking for work do not have the motiva- tion, the attitude, or the interpersonal skills re- quirements for the job. Sixty-one per cent said it was often or almost al- ways a concern. • Community college grads are seen as having slight- ly better preparation for the workplace (technical skills, workplace famil- iarity), and university students score slightly better on soft skills and potential for advance- ment and leadership. • Regarding motivation and teamwork, the two are scored almost equally. Fif- ty-one per cent of employ- ers feel college students are better prepared with respect to technical skills, while 47 per cent feel uni- versity Bachelor degree students have greater lead- ership potential. ‘MoretoIndianfoodwaitingtobediscovered’ By A Staff Reporter Indian celebrity chef, San- jeev Kapoor was in Toronto to formally launch Sanjeev Kapoor’s Khazana, which opened earlier this year, in a grand event. The fine-dining restau- rant is situated in Brampton and this is Kapoor’s first in North America. Sanjeev Kapoor along with co-owners Shailesh Gangwani and wife Rash- mi, along with Kultaran Mann, welcomed members of the media to the launch. Indian food has time and again redefined the dining scenario in North America. Some of the more popularly available recipes such as Saag Paneer, Butter Chicken and Samosa have even made their way into the pantries of traditional Canadian homes. Yet, there is a wide un- explored variety of Indian food that is waiting to be discovered in the diverse Canadian market. Khazana promises to fill this void by bringing in a flavourful array of unique dishes from the Mas- terchef’s kitchen, indicated the promoters behind this latest venture. Says Gangwani, “I had always wanted to enter the restaurant business, envi- sioning a luxurious experi- ence of Indian fine dining, which was absent from the Canadian landscape. Hence, partnering with Chef Sanjeev Kapoor was an obvious choice with the skill and knowledge that he brought to the forefront. “He has been in the in- dustry for over 30 years, been an industry leader for years, has several cook- books to his credit and many restaurants across the globe. And it was about time to bring his flavours to an extremely welcoming market,” Gangwani added. As a brand, Khazana has been spreading rapidly. With several outlets across the globe, Khazana is a treasure trove of spices and flavours that help create a wealth of culinary experi- ences. Sanjeev Kapoor figures in the Reader’s Digest list of 100 of India’s Most Trusted people. He has been credited with putting Indian cuisine on the world map. Indian Consul-General Akhilesh Mishra helping launch Real Justice: Branded a Baby Killer, written byGTA-basedauthorJasmineD’Costa.Thebookrelatesthereal-lifestoryofTammyMarquardt,who was wrongly convicted of killing her baby. D’Costa’s book shines spotlight on issue of wrongfully convicted By A Staff Reporter The story of an innocent teen mom wrongfully con- victed of the murder of her two-year-old son — thanks to the false testimony of a famous doctor. That is the real-life in- spiration of the latest book written by GTA-based au- thor Jasmine D’Costa. The book was formally launched by Indian Consul- GeneralAkhilesh Mishra, at a well-attended ceremony. The book, published in the non-fiction category by Lorimer Real Justice, is pitched at readers age 13 and up (reading level Grade 5), and is available in both paperback and ebook ver- sions. As D’Costa recounts, in 1991, 19-year-old Tammy Marquardt gave birth to a baby boy, Kenneth. Two years later he was dead. Tammy was convicted of his murder and sent to pris- on for life. Her conviction hinged largely on the evidence giv- en by Dr Charles Smith, the pediatric forensic patholo- gist at Toronto’s famed Hospital for Sick Children. At the time, Dr Smith was considered top in his field, and his findings were never questioned. Tammy had two other sons taken away from her by the Children’s Aid So- ciety, and her sons were adopted out to a new fam- ily. She spent 14 years in prison for a murder she did not commit. However her fortunes turned when an inquiry into the cases of Dr Smith found he had made serious errors in dozens of cases, which led to a series of wrong- ful convictions, including Tammy’s. Tammy was ultimately released on bail in 2009 and eventually acquitted of all charges in 2011. Jasmine D’Costa has been published and re- viewed nationally and in- ternationally. Apart from writing, she also acts, and makes films. For further details visit www.lorimer.ca/childrens

ePaper Nov 5, 2015

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