Real Talk with Cheryl

Topic: Life goals in the real world...

Sprinkle Donuts
There’s something about a sprinkle donut.
You walk into a coffee shop, and there they are behind the glass...bright, colorful, cheerful little circles of sugar-covered happiness. Out of all the plain donuts sitting quietly in the background, the sprinkle donut practically screams for attention.
And honestly? Life is kind of like that.

We live in a world full of sprinkle donuts. Shiny things. Fancy things. Expensive things. The stuff we’re constantly told we need in order to be happy or successful. The luxury cars. The designer makeup. The giant houses with pools nobody really swims in. The endless shopping hauls. The newest phone that somehow makes last year’s phone suddenly feel ancient.

Everywhere we turn, something is sparkling at us.
And if we’re being real, sometimes it works. Sometimes we want the sprinkle donut.
Not because we’re greedy or shallow, but because life is hard. People are tired. People are stressed. Some people comfort eat. Some stress shop. Some buy little things because it feels like one tiny piece of happiness in the middle of an exhausting week.

Sometimes a sprinkle donut is just a sprinkle donut. Sometimes it’s a lipstick from Sephora after a rough month. Sometimes it’s takeout because you’re too overwhelmed to cook. Sometimes it’s candles, books, video games, shoes, or finally buying yourself something small after putting everyone else first for too long. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying little comforts.

The problem starts when life becomes all sprinkles. When every goal becomes about owning more, showing more, flexing more, upgrading more. When we spend more time chasing appearances than peace. When we start measuring our worth by what we own instead of who we are.That’s the trap... Because the truth is, most of the things we chase lose their shine pretty quickly. The excitement fades. The novelty wears off. The next shiny thing shows up, and suddenly the old shiny thing doesn’t feel shiny anymore.
It’s exhausting trying to keep up with a world that always wants more from you.

Maybe that’s why simple things matter so much.
Maybe happiness isn’t always found in the sprinkle donut. Maybe sometimes it’s found in quiet mornings, good conversations, laughter with people you love, cheap coffee, warm blankets, healing, surviving hard seasons, helping someone else, or finally learning how to breathe again after life knocks the wind out of you. Maybe the goal isn’t to never enjoy the sprinkles. Maybe the goal is simply not forgetting that underneath all the colorful distractions, it’s still just a donut.
And maybe real fulfillment comes from learning the difference between enjoying life and trying to fill empty spaces with stuff.

So buy the sprinkle donut sometimes. Celebrate birthdays. Wear the nice outfit. Enjoy the coffee. Take the little trip. Buy yourself flowers once in a while. Just don’t build your entire life around sprinkles. Because eventually, the icing melts, the colors fade, and what really matters is the life you built underneath it all.

- Cheryl Steffer, 2026

Topic: Inmates unaccounted for, still at large...

Ontario’s Inmate Release Scandal: What Really Happened and Why It Matters

In recent days, a troubling issue has come to light across Ontario. One that raises serious questions about public safety, government transparency, and the reliability of our correctional system.

Since 2021, more than 150 inmates have been improperly released from Ontario jails. While that number alone is alarming, the situation escalated when it was revealed that some of those individuals were not immediately recaptured, and in a few cases, remained unaccounted for months later. As of the latest reports, six inmates are still at large.

This has sparked widespread concern across the province, especially in major urban areas like Toronto, where discussions about crime and safety are already front and center.

What Does “Improper Release” Actually Mean?

Before jumping to conclusions, it’s important to understand the term itself.

An “improper release” doesn’t necessarily mean a dramatic prison break. In many cases, it refers to:

Administrative or paperwork errors

Miscommunication between courts and correctional facilities

Timing issues related to warrants or sentencing

That said, even if the cause is bureaucratic, the outcome is serious: someone who was legally supposed to remain in custody was released instead.

Where the Situation Became Controversial

Initially, officials suggested that all mistakenly released inmates had been quickly located and returned to custody. However, that statement was later clarified, and partially walked back.

It turns out that while police may have been notified quickly, not all individuals were actually recaptured right away. Some remained out in the community for extended periods, which has understandably shaken public confidence.

This shift in messaging is what really intensified the backlash.

Government Response

Premier Doug Ford has called the situation “unacceptable” and has assured the public that efforts are underway to locate the remaining individuals and prevent future incidents.

Despite the criticism, Ford continues to stand behind Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, who oversees Ontario’s correctional services. According to the Premier, Kerzner is doing a strong job overall, though many disagree.

Opposition leaders, particularly from the NDP, have raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability, with some calling for resignations.

Why This Matters to the Public

This issue goes beyond politics. It touches on several key concerns that affect everyday Ontarians:

1. Public Safety. People want to know: Who are these individuals? Are they dangerous?While not all cases involve high-risk offenders, the lack of clear information fuels anxiety.

2. Trust in the System. When errors like this happen repeatedly, it raises concerns about whether the system is:

Properly staffed

Adequately managed

Equipped with the right safeguards

3. Transparency and Accountability Conflicting information from officials makes it harder for the public to trust what they’re being told, and when.

The Bigger Picture

Mistakes can happen in any large system. But when those mistakes involve the release of inmates, and when they happen more than 150 times, it signals a deeper issue.

This situation highlights the need for:

Stronger internal checks and verification processes

Better communication between justice system partners

Clear, honest communication with the public when things go wrong

Final Thoughts

At its core, this isn’t just about six missing individuals or a number on a report. It’s about confidence, in the systems designed to keep communities safe, and in the leaders responsible for overseeing them.

As investigations continue and more details emerge, one thing is clear: Ontarians deserve transparency, accountability, and a correctional system they can trust.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think enough is being done to address it?

- Cheryl Steffer, 2026

🇨🇦 THIS IS ABOUT TRUST — AND IT’S TIME WE FIX IT.

I need to speak honestly about something a lot of Canadians are feeling right now.
People are frustrated. People are tired. And more and more of us are asking the same question:
“Who are we actually voting for?”
Because when an MP is elected under one party… and then switches to another after being elected…
It doesn’t just feel political.
It feels personal.
It feels like our vote—our voice—gets reshaped without us being asked.

⚠️ THIS IS THE ISSUE:
Right now in Canada, Members of Parliament can “cross the floor” and join another party without triggering a new election.
That means:
You vote for a platform
You vote for a promise
You vote for a direction
And then it can change… without you being consulted again.

🧭 THIS IS WHAT WE ARE CALLING FOR:
We need a mandatory by-election if an MP switches parties.
Simple. Fair. Democratic.
If an MP changes the political party they were elected under: ➡️ They step down
➡️ A by-election is held
➡️ The PEOPLE decide again
Because voters deserve the right to say:
“Yes—we still support you.”
or
“No—we didn’t vote for that.”

*** THIS IS NOT ABOUT LEFT OR RIGHT
This is not about Conservatives.
This is not about Liberals.
This is not about any one party.
This is about something bigger:
Accountability. Trust. Integrity.
No matter who you vote for, your vote should not be quietly redirected after the election.

📣 WHAT WE NEED TO DO...RIGHT NOW
If you believe in fairness in our democracy, here’s what we must do:
✔️ Contact your Member of Parliament
Ask them directly:
“Will you support a law requiring a by-election if an MP switches parties?”
✔️ Share this message
The more people who see this, the harder it is to ignore.
✔️ Demand a private member’s bill
We need an MP willing to bring this forward in Parliament of Canada.
✔️ Make this an election issue
Ask every candidate where they stand on it.

****BECAUSE SILENCE IS WHAT LETS THIS CONTINUE
Nothing changes when people stay quiet.
But when enough Canadians speak clearly, consistently, and respectfully…
Parliament listens.
Not because they want to, but because they have to.

🇨🇦 FINAL WORD
This country belongs to the people who vote in it.
And if our vote changes hands after the election, without us having a say…
Then the system needs to be corrected.
Not later.
Not someday.
Now.

If you believe in democracy, fairness, and accountability, share this. Talk about it. And most importantly:
Contact your MP. Make your voice impossible to ignore.


-Cheryl Steffer, 2026

Are We Being Represented… or Just Managed? 🇨🇦

Lately, I’ve been hearing the same thing over and over again... from friends, neighbours, and people in our community:

“We’re tired.”“Tired of struggling.”“Tired of not being heard.”“Tired of choosing between the same options and feeling like nothing really changes.”

And honestly… I feel it too.

We’re watching politicians switch parties after being elected under a completely different promise. We’re watching decisions get made that impact our daily lives. Our rent, our groceries, our children’s future, and many of us are left wondering:

Did we actually vote for this?

🧭 What’s Really Going On?

In Canada, when you vote, you’re technically voting for a person, not just a party. That means an MP can switch parties without asking voters again.

But let’s be real for a moment:

Most of us do vote based on party values.So when someone switches sides after being elected… it can feel like our voice was taken and redirected without our consent.

⚖️ Why Are People Worried About Majority Governments?

A majority government means one party has full control to pass laws without needing support from others.

Yes, things can move faster.But faster doesn’t always mean better.

It can also mean:

Less debate

Less compromise

Less accountability

And for many of us, that raises a serious question:

Who is making sure our voices are still being heard?

*How This Affects Everyday People

This isn’t just “politics.” This is real life.

It affects:

The cost of food on our tables

Whether our kids get the support they need

Access to healthcare and mental health services

Housing, rent, and homelessness in our communities

When decisions are made far away from the people living the reality, the gap grows—and we feel it.

*So What Can We Do?

We are NOT powerless.

Here’s what we can do:

✔️ Speak up — Your voice matters more than you think✔️ Stay informed — Not just headlines, but real understanding✔️ Contact your local representatives — Hold them accountable✔️ Support community initiatives — Change starts locally✔️ Vote with intention — Even if it means rethinking old habits

And maybe most importantly…

*Talk to each other... respectfully, honestly, and openly

❤️ A Final Thought

This isn’t about left vs. right anymore.

It’s about people.

It’s about whether the system is still working for the everyday Canadian—or if it needs to be challenged, questioned, and reshaped.

We don’t need to have all the answers.But we do need to start asking better questions.

Because silence doesn’t create change. People do.



-Cheryl Steffer, 2026

Topic: We need Politicians who serve the Majority not the Minority. We need Politicians who care, who understand...

The IKEA Way: You Cannot Lead What You Do Not Understand

I can’t verify this story 100%, but it was told to me years ago—over 20 years back—and it’s stayed with me ever since. My ex husband worked at Starsz and this story was told to him, who told it to me :)

I was told that a senior executive left Star’s Menswear and went on to become a top executive at IKEA. And at IKEA, the idea was this: if you are going to lead, you must first understand.

So the story goes that he had to learn the business from the ground up. Every role. Every department. Every layer of the company. From the most basic frontline tasks to the broader operations that keep the entire system running....From the ground up. Not from the top down. The idea behind it is simple, but powerful:

You cannot lead what you do not understand.
And that idea has never left me.
Because it raises a much bigger question.
What would happen if we expected the same from our leaders?
Not just in business, but in government.
In our cities like Guelph, Ontario, Canada, in our province, and in our country. What if people running for office were required to actually understand the lived reality of the people they represent? Not in theory. Not in speeches. But in lived experience. What if leadership meant: Spending real time in volunteer shelters and food banks, understanding what it’s like to live on disability support like ODSP.. Experiencing what it’s like to rely on OW or social assistance, seeing what grocery prices mean when you’re counting every dollar
Understanding what “surviving the month” actually feels like for most people...

There are too many people in decision-making roles come from lives that are completely removed from the day-to-day reality of the people they govern. when that gap exists, trust breaks down. This isn’t about attacking individuals. It’s about asking a deeper question: How can we expect good decisions from people who have never had to live with the consequences of those decisions?

Maybe leadership—real leadership—should require more than ambition, education, or connections.
Maybe it should require understanding. Not just statistics about people…But the actual experience of being one Until leadership meets lived reality, there will always be a disconnect between policy and people.
And maybe that’s where we start if we want things to change.

-Cheryl Steffer, 2026

Understanding Privilege: A Real-World Breakdown
The Core Idea: Life Isn’t the Same Race for Everyone

A conversation I saw recently on Facebook, has been sitting with me...It highlights something so many people still misunderstand about privilege.
Someone said: “Creating an equal playing field will never work because people won’t accept having something taken from them to give to others.”
And that right there is where the disconnect begins.
We often hear the phrase: “Work hard and you’ll succeed.” And while hard work absolutely matters, it’s only part of the story.

A more honest way to look at life is this:
Imagine life as a race.
Everyone is told to work (we will use running and a race metaphor) as hard as they can, but not everyone starts at the same starting line, and not everyone is running on the same kind of track. Some people:
Start further ahead, have smooth pavement and good shoes, support, guidance, and opportunity built in
Others? Well, they may start behind, face obstacles along the way, they may be running uphill without the same support.

Real-Life Examples of Unequal Starting Points
Let’s talk about real situations.
Some people are born into money and stability. They may not even realize how much of a head start that gives them. Even when they do work hard, and many absolutely do...they are still working with advantages that make success more accessible. They often have:
Access to private schools and better-funded education, tutors and extra academic support, Parents who can help pay for college or university, connections that open doors professionally and safety net if things go wrong...

Now compare that to others: Someone whose parents have money but refuse to help them financially, this
someone cannot qualify for support like OSAP, despite having no real access to funds. Then what about
someone with learning disabilities, such as autism or ADHD, who may struggle in traditional academic environments, many of these someone's have no choice but to work minimum wage jobs because other opportunities weren’t realistically accessible, or live on odsp. These aren’t rare exceptions. They are everyday realities for many people.

A Perspective That Sticks...
A friend once shared a belief that has stayed with me for years. He felt he deserved higher pay because he worked hard, went to university, and followed the “right” path, and that anyone else could do the same if they just put in the effort. While that perspective comes from a place of pride in hard work, it overlooks something important:

Not everyone has equal access to that path.
Some people are held back by:
Financial barriers
Family circumstances
Learning differences
Health challenges
Limited access to resources and opportunities
Hard work matters...but access matters too.

What Privilege Is Not
This is where the conversation often gets misunderstood. Privilege is not about whether your life has been hard. It’s not about whether you’ve struggled, worked hard, or faced challenges. It does not erase your effort or your experiences. People can face very real hardship and still have privilege in certain areas of their life.

What Privilege Actually Means
Privilege is about what you haven’t had to face.
It means you are not additionally penalized for things beyond your control... Things like your race, gender, ability, sexuality, or socioeconomic background.
It means the system wasn’t built with extra barriers in your path.

So when we talk about equity and creating a more level playing field, nothing is being “taken” from anyone. What’s happening is that unfair advantages are being acknowledged, and systems are being adjusted so others have a fair shot too.

Why This Conversation Feels So Personal
When you’ve always had certain advantages, even if you didn’t ask for them, even if you didn’t notice them... Change can feel uncomfortable. It can feel like something is being challenged or even taken away.
But that discomfort is often where growth begins.
Because equality doesn’t diminish you. It doesn’t take away your hard work or your achievements. It simply removes barriers for someone else.

Where We Go From Here
If we’re honest about the kind of communities we want to live in... ones rooted in fairness, opportunity, and dignity...then this conversation matters. Fairness isn’t about lowering anyone down. It’s about making sure more people have a real chance to rise. That’s not a threat. That’s progress.

- Cheryl Steffer, 2026

Topic: Creating an equal playing field, Understanding Privilege and building a more fair system

A conversation has been circulating on Facebook, and it has been sitting with me It highlights a misunderstanding about privilege that so many of us were never really taught to see clearly.
Someone said: “Creating an equal playing field will never work because people won’t accept having something taken from them to give to others.”

At first glance, I understand why that might feel true. None of us want to feel like something we’ve earned is being stripped away. Many people have worked incredibly hard for what they have, and that effort is real and valid. However, that’s not actually what conversations about equity and privilege are about.

Privilege isn’t a judgment on your character, your work ethic, or your struggles. It doesn’t mean your life has been easy. It doesn’t mean you haven’t faced hardship, trauma, or setbacks. Privilege is about the barriers you didn’t have placed in front of you.

It means that certain aspects of who you are, your race, gender, ability, sexuality, or socioeconomic background, didn’t create additional obstacles in your path. It means you weren’t navigating systems that were quietly, or sometimes openly, working against you in those specific ways.

Two people can both work incredibly hard and still have very different starting points and very different challenges along the way. So when we talk about creating a more equitable playing field, it’s not about taking success, opportunity, or stability away from one person and handing it to someone else. It’s about recognizing that the “starting line” hasn’t been the same for everyone, and making intentional changes so that more people actually have a fair chance to participate, compete, and succeed.

That can look like removing systemic barriers, increasing access to resources, or creating supports where there previously were none. And yes, when you’ve lived your life without having to see those invisible advantages, change can feel uncomfortable. It can feel like something is shifting beneath your feet.
But that discomfort doesn’t mean something is being taken from you.

Often, it simply means you’re becoming aware of a bigger picture that wasn’t as visible before. Growth usually lives in that space, the place where we start to question what we’ve always assumed was “normal” or “fair.” Because fairness isn’t about lowering anyone down. It’s about lifting others up so the system itself becomes more just. If we’re honest about the kind of communities we want to be part of, ones rooted in dignity, opportunity, and respect...then fairness shouldn’t feel like a threat. It should feel like something worth building together.


- Cheryl Steffer, 2026

Topic: Minimum wage

The Truth About Minimum Wage in Ontario: A Wake-Up Call

I’m going to be honest—this shocked me.
I had no idea there were two different minimum wages in Canada: one federal, and one provincial. Like many people, I assumed when the news said “minimum wage is going up,” that meant everyone was getting that raise. But that’s not how it works. And honestly? That feels like part of the problem.

Two Minimum Wages? How Is That Helping Anyone?
We hear headlines about increases, like the federal minimum wage rising, but most workers in Ontario don’t even fall under that category.

Instead, they’re earning the Ontario minimum wage, which is currently lower. So right away, there’s confusion: People think wages are higher than they actually are. Workers are still struggling, even when it sounds like progress is being made. If the goal is to help people survive, why is the system so fragmented?
Let’s Talk Reality: What Minimum Wage Actually Looks Like

Let’s break it down in real numbers.
💵 Gross Income (Before Tax)
$17.60/hour
Full-time (40 hours/week)
Bi-weekly (80 hours)
👉 $1,408 before tax
💸 After Tax (Estimated)
After deductions like:
Income tax
CPP (Canada Pension Plan)
EI (Employment Insurance)
👉 Take-home pay is roughly $1,150–$1,200 every two weeks
That’s about: 👉 $2,300–$2,400 per month

Now Let’s Apply Real Life: Family of Four, One Income
Let’s say:
One working parent
One stay-at-home parent
Two children
Here’s where things get heavy.
🏠 Housing
Average rent (2–3 bedroom in Ontario): $2,200–$3,000/month
👉 That alone can eat ALL or MORE than the entire monthly income
🛒 Groceries
Family of four (basic, not luxury): $900–$1,200/month
⛽ Gas & Transportation
Gas: $200–$400/month
Insurance: $150–$300/month

📱 Basic Bills
Phone + internet: $150–$250/month
Utilities (if not included in rent): $150–$300/month
📊 Total Monthly Reality
Expense Category
Estimated Cost
Housing
$2,200–$3,000
Food
$900–$1,200
Transportation
$350–$700
Bills
$300–$550
Total
$3,750–$5,450
👉 Income: ~$2,300/month
👉 Expenses: $3,750–$5,450/month

Let That Sink In
Even on the low end, this family is short:
👉 At least $1,400 every single month
That’s not budgeting wrong.
That’s not overspending.
That’s a system that doesn’t add up.
And What About ODSP and OW?
This is where things get even more concerning.
ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) is well below the poverty line
Ontario Works (OW) hasn’t kept pace with inflation in any meaningful way.

People relying on these supports are:
Choosing between food and rent
Skipping medications
Living in constant survival mode
If minimum wage isn’t enough to live on…
and social supports are even lower…
👉 Where exactly are people supposed to go?

*The Wage Compression Problem (No One Talks About This Enough)
Here’s something personal, and I know I’m not alone.
When I first started my job, I was making well above minimum wage. That meant something. It reflected experience, effort, loyalty. But as minimum wage kept increasing, my company said they “couldn’t keep up.”
So what happened?
👉 I got a $0.25/hour raise
Twenty-five cents.
That’s:
$10 more per week (before tax)
Not even enough for a loaf of bread and milk
Meanwhile, new employees were being hired closer and closer to what I was making.
That’s called wage compression—and it quietly erases the value of experience.

So Where Does This Leave Us?
People need more money. That part is clear.
But right now:
Minimum wage isn’t enough
Social supports aren’t enough
Raises aren’t keeping up
Costs keep climbing
And people are burning out trying to hold everything together.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t about politics.
This is about reality.
This is about families doing everything “right” and still falling behind.
Until wages, supports, and cost of living are addressed together, we’re going to keep having the same conversation, while people continue to struggle just to survive.
And that’s not okay.

- Cheryl Steffer, 2026

Topic: The needs of Neurospicy Families, how to help

This morning, I came across two very different facebook posts that have stayed with me.
One was from a parent of a nonverbal autistic child experiencing intense, uncontrollable meltdowns...so severe that neighbors were pushing for eviction due to the noise. The parent had tried to explain and advocate, but it wasn’t enough.

Not long after, I saw another post where someone was concerned about a parent who appeared to be yelling at their autistic child in public.
Both situations are difficult. And both point to something bigger.

Parenting a child with complex needs, especially autism, can be incredibly overwhelming. Some children experience severe dysregulation that may look like screaming, aggression, or complete loss of control. These are not typical tantrums. They are neurological responses.

At the same time, it’s also valid that neighbours and others in shared spaces can feel overwhelmed. These situations impact everyone, and there are no easy solutions.

What’s often missing in these conversations is understanding, and access to the right kind of support.
In Ontario, many families wait months or even years for services like therapy, respite, and assessments. According to Autism Ontario, 1 in 50 Canadian children is diagnosed with autism, and many require ongoing, specialized care.

When families are struggling, it’s natural for people to suggest calling child protection services. And those services absolutely play a critical role when a child is at risk of harm or neglect.

But in situations where families are overwhelmed, not abusive, support-based, specialized services may be more helpful as a first step.
Organizations like Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and Kerry's Place Autism Services are specifically equipped to work alongside families navigating mental health and developmental challenges. They offer things like family support workers, practical strategies, and guidance tailored to neurodiverse households.

These types of supports are designed to help families build stability, reduce stress, and create safer, more manageable environments for both parents and children.
If you’re in Ontario and need support: • CMHA: 1-833-456-4566
• Autism Ontario: 1-800-472-7789

This is a complex issue with no easy answers.
But maybe the starting point is this: Before we judge, before we assume...let’s recognize that many families are doing their best in incredibly difficult circumstances.

And instead of only reacting, we can advocate...for better supports, better housing solutions, and better access to services that truly meet these families where they are.