The hustle of student business owners

Student entrepreneurs show ambition and drive since their humble beginnings 

By Aliya Karimjee

After growing tired of hearing the people around him simply say they would follow their dream without committing to it, RJ Mijares, a third-year business management student at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), persevered to show dreams can come true with hard work.  In February 2023, he created RJM and Co., a printing and embroidery business. 

Today’s status quo for young adults is to gain post-secondary education in order to secure a stable job or make career moves of their own, with nearly 58 per cent of working-age Canadians having post-secondary credentials. However, TMU students have taken it into their own hands  to use the skills they’ve acquired from their university programs to create their dream businesses on their own — without waiting for graduation day. 

Hoping to be a "young businessman who can prove himself in the real world," Mijares chose to apply the knowledge he has gained so far from his program and additional psychology electives to a real-life business. 

From his major, he has learned elements of a successful business alongside its technical aspects, such as operations, purchasing and supply management as well as general finance and accounting skills. 

Using his resources and connections, Mijares created his own brand, focusing on the human relationship between him and his customers.

“I really wanted to bring a sense of coolness to the manufacturer. Usually when you’re creating a product, you don’t really think about the actual person that’s behind the scenes making it. So I really wanted to create something where people are like, I want to be in a relationship with the person that’s making my products,” says Mijares. 

He believes fast fashion’s quality is incomparable to small businesses and he aims for his products to last longer than a year. In order to do so, Mijares keeps in close contact with his overseas distributors. 

Mijares wants to ensure his customers of the high quality and effort they receive in the products he manufactures. To provide transparency with his customers, Mijares posts photos of his business’s progress and reels of the process — in which he also includes failed attempts

Unlike many large-scale corporate businesses, which usually don't connect personally with their customers, Mijares decided to prioritize client connections in his work. He confirmed this is especially important since his business model depends on people wanting to create. 

Black hat with dog embroidery. 

Some examples of his holiday products include a custom-made hat for a couple in which the girlfriend drew a dog on a cap. (Courtesy of RJ Mijares)

The possibilities are endless. These types of gifts give a personal touch and allow storytelling through art.

He has also produced orders for school clubs, political movements and many other requests from his clients. 

Since he started his business, Mijares has planned his orders and schedules two to three weeks ahead of time, with an average of 30 orders a week. Initially, he struggled to get his business out there and know how to price point it for customers to be interested.

"I think the big problem when we first started was settling for low margins, settling for break-evens, and those hurt you [badly],” shares Mijares. “So I think that the hardest challenge was figuring out how to get price points for things." 

RJ Mijares holding a sweater for the Palestinian Cultural Club.

This green sweater is an example of one of Mijares’ products, this one for a Palestinian Cultural Club. (Courtesy of RJ Mijares)

Since then, he has learnt that reinvesting money is the best way to keep his business going. 

“It’s not about profit, it’s about having money left over to invest in the business,” explains Mijares. 

He has set goals for when he wants to innovate specific ideas. Within his classes, Mijares has learned that discounts aren't very feasible for small businesses. Instead, he believes in customer loyalty programs and is considering implementing such initiatives for continuous shoppers. 

Mijares’ future ideas involve playing a role in his customers’ holiday shopping and integrating his business into other schools. Thinking two seasons ahead to the summer, Mijares knows he will get the chance to participate in summer markets — a dream goal of his. 

Mijares isn’t alone in his bold business moves and ambitions. 

The entrepreneurial journey of TMU student Nazha Syriani 

Nazha Syriani, founder of Nazha’s Crafts, produces crochet goods such as pillows, hats, bags, bracelets or scrunchies. 

The third-year TMU fashion student’s creativity is inspired by political movements. 

Her crafts are influenced by her Palestinian and Newfoundland backgrounds and her previous knowledge of, and she incorporates fashion, which includes sewing, crocheting and designing. 

Initially, she was posting Instagram pictures of her crafts or proudly wearing them outside. 

A red, black, white and green Palestinian flag crochet keychain. 

Recently, she crocheted a Palestinian flag for herself; however, in support of her country, many people took an interest. (Courtesy of Nazha Syriani)

"I had the [Palestinian] flag as a keychain on my backpack, and one of my friends noticed it, loved it and asked to buy it from me,” Syriani says. “People want to show their support, so I started making more.”

On top of being a student five days a week, a dancer twice a week and a daughter to her family, she believes all her hard work in this business is worth it because for her, especially when she gets to see her clients' faces and think, “I created that expression.” She welcomes creativity and will produce any design her customers’ hearts wish. Simultaneously, she also has designs of her own.

In personal and professional projects, she always values sustainability. 

Everything Syriani makes is handmade, and whenever she can, she uses “upcycled material.” 

"Recently, one of the things that I had at the Christmas market was a tote bag I made,” shares Syriani. “The fabric from the strap was used from an old pair of jeans, and then the actual stuff was from Value Village." 

A blue tote bag with a blue jean strap. 

An example of Nazha Siryani’s work, a handmade bag made out of an old pair of jeans and some other stuff from Value Village (Courtesy of Nazha Siryani)

She explains that larger-scale companies you could easily buy from don’t share those same efforts. 

“The tag will say 5 per cent recyclable, but it’s only talking about the actual tag, not the garment itself,” says Syriani. 

She finds it very important for people to support local services to not only help small-business owners like her, but also keeping the environment in mind. 

Syriani adds that she, herself, supports small businesses. She remembers visiting the Eaton Centre in Toronto where a small market was taking place earlier in the year. Within the market, many small businesses had set up their own stands from which she “tried to buy items from almost each one.”

Understanding the struggles of being a small business and the market she's entering, Syriani’s putting in the change she wants to see.

Syriani is no stranger to small-business struggles, and “finding the balance between knowing how to price things and the cost of my time,” echoing Mijares’ personal obstacles as well.

As a fashion business student, she tries to solve this issue with the knowledge she learned in certain classes that went over concepts, including calculating the costs of labour and materials. 

She had to create a cost sheet in her design courses after sewing a pair of pants. 

"That helps me [to create] prices. Especially if I'm buying wool, I can't use the same price as what the wool cost; I have to price it as to how much I will use from that roll. So every little thing comes into place," says Syriani. 

All the touching moments make all her efforts in business worth it for her in the end. 

She recounts one of her most memorable moments: her first sale. Syriani’s high school friend saw the evil eye pillow she had crocheted and bought one for her sister. After that first sale, she followed up with the purchase of a Palestinian pillow. 

“When I sold [the evil eye pillow] for the first time, I took a picture of myself with my money envelope,” says Syriani. “It was a very special moment because I've never sold anything I've made before besides making it for others [as] gifts.” 

Syriani adds that the TMU community has been just as supportive of her. She says her design history teacher bought a little coin purse and ordered the big evil eye pillow.

To achieve her goal, Syriani plans to take the necessary steps to grow bigger and bigger. By crocheting, posting more, getting noticed and going to markets, she hopes to gain enough profit to move her company onto an online platform like Etsy. 

However, her ultimate goal is to be a fashion designer using her own name, as it’s also her Teta’s — grandmother in Arabic — name. She believes her name makes her unique, and it’s a part of who she is. 

"I am Palestinian and want to represent that part of myself,” says Syriani.  

In everything she does, especially in designing, Syriani tries to incorporate her mom’s Newfoundland culture and her dad’s Palestinian culture. 

“I'm not just Canadian. I'm not just Palestinian. I'm both, and they're both very important to me." 

5 quick and healthy meal ideas for midterm season

Students don't have to eat junk food during crunch time

By: Bashair Ali

(Ella Olsson/Pexels)

It is one of the most stressful and busiest seasons for many Canadian post-secondary students — that's right, midterm week, the time of year when students spend their days cramming and their nights sleepless, trying to get everything done in one go. 

Let's face it, post-secondary students can have poor eating habits. Factors like engaging in irregular dietary routines, meal skipping and low intake of fruits, vegetables and dairy come into play when you're a university student. What people my age will be eating or even if they will eat during this hectic time is beyond me. But have no fear! I'm going to share five quick and delicious meals you need to try if you’re low on ideas.

I usually have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to cooking. But a girl has got to eat, so below are a few of the meals I make when my mom hasn't cooked and I've run out of Walmart's pre-packaged "healthy" dishes. These easy recipes are perfect for anyone concerned about their eating habits or perhaps wanting to enhance some of the meals they cook at home. You can prepare them in no time, making them ideal for midterm season. 

1. Healthy banana pancakes 

One serving of healthy banana pancakes. (Bashair Ali/CanCulture)

Our goal during midterm season is to ensure we feel energized and ready for whatever is thrown at us. Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, what better way to begin the list off than with some nutritious and modified pancakes? This recipe from Tasty that I have been using for years only requires five ingredients and is very simple to make. It is the perfect recipe for people who love pancakes but prefer a healthier alternative. For four servings, you will need: 

  • 2 ripe bananas

  • 2 eggs

  • 5 ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract

  • 125 ml (1/2 cup) quick-cook oats

  • 5 ml (1 tsp) cinnamon

Instructions: 

  1. Make a smooth banana puree by mashing them in a large bowl. Beat eggs and vanilla until blended, then add oats and cinnamon. The oats will soak up some liquid if you let the batter sit for a few minutes, making it easier to hold together and flip.

  2. Add a scoop of the pancake batter to a skillet that has been coated with almond butter and heated to medium. Spread out evenly. The batter needs to be cooked for about 2 to 3 minutes until bubbles begin to form on top. You will need to flip the pancake and cook it for about 1 to 2 minutes until it is golden brown on each side. 

  3. You can top your pancakes with your favourite toppings (fruits, nuts, etc.) or drizzle a bit of honey on top instead of maple syrup!

2. A boiled egg, cottage cheese and cherry tomato sandwich with sriracha sauce

Your tastebuds will be satisfied with this delicious sandwich. (Bashair Ali/CanCulture)

Before you run away, hear me out. Initially, it might sound unusual as you read it aloud, but it isn't as bad as you think. You know when you complain to your parent(s) and say, "there's no food in the house!" Well, there is, and surprise, you're just too lazy to create a full meal. In fact, I created this contraption when my mother was out of town and I was so hungry that my stomach was about to eat itself. Here is what you need for one serving:

  • Your choice of bread (I used Rudolph bread)

  • 1 egg

  • 15 ml (1 tbsp) cottage cheese 

  • Sriracha sauce (how much you want is up to you)

  • 4 cherry tomatoes 

 Instructions

  1. Take a pot, fill it with water and add the egg. Place the temperature dial at 8 and set a timer for 10 minutes. Some people let the water boil first then lower the eggs into the pot, but it will just take longer for the eggs to finish boiling. I personally dislike waiting for my food, so my method is just the faster way. It’s your choice how you do it.

  2. Toast your bread. I like mine golden brown, so I toast it for 4 to 5 minutes. 

  3. You can slice your cherry tomatoes in half while you wait. 

  4. Afterwards, run the egg under cold water, crack it open and slice it however thick or thin you like.  

  5. As soon as your bread is ready, spread the cottage cheese evenly across with a butter knife. On top of the slices of bread, place your boiled egg, cherry tomatoes and sriracha sauce.

3. Veggie tuna bites

Homemade veggie tuna bites. (Bashair Ali/CanCulture)

It's important for me to incorporate protein into my diet but some days — more like most of the time — I don't have time to cook a chicken steak or legumes like beans and lentils. That's where this meal comes in. Tuna comes in cans, which makes my life a lot easier. Here is what you need: 

  • Canned tuna (I used 198g of Unico solid light tuna)

  • 125 ml (1/2 cup) of lettuce 

  • 60 ml (1/4 cup) of shredded carrots 

  • 30 ml (2 tbsp) of mayonnaise 

  • 80 ml (1/3 cup) of green, red, and/or yellow peppers  

  • A pinch of salt

  • A pinch of pepper

  • Crackers (I used Selection thin vegetable oven-baked crackers)

Instructions: 

  1. Open the can of tuna with a can opener, pour out the liquid content and set it aside. 

  2. After you have washed all your vegetables, chop up the lettuce and peppers into a bowl.

  3. Combine the shredded carrots, tuna and mayonnaise into the bowl of vegetables and mix.  

  4. While mixing, add a pinch of salt and pepper. When complete, place spoonfuls of the mix on the crackers. 

You can save some time by acting as if the tuna is a dip and picking it up with the crackers straight away. No double-dipping! The leftovers are plentiful when you use a whole tuna can.

4. Zucchini pizza bites

Start substituting dough with zucchini for your pizza bites. (Bashair Ali/CanCulture)

Rather than using refined carbs, these pizza bites replace them with nutrient-filled and fibre-rich zucchini. My take on this recipe by DamnDelicious only takes 15 minutes to make and tastes amazing. What you’ll need: 

  • 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil

  • 2 zucchini, cut into 6mm thick rounds

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 80 ml (1/3 cup) marinara sauce

  • 125 ml (1/2 cup) finely grated mozzarella

  • 15 ml (1 tbsp) Italian seasoning

Instructions: 

  1. Preheat the oven for broiling. 

  2. Cook over medium-high heat in a large skillet with olive oil. Using batches, cook the zucchini until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side, remember to flip as needed. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

  3. On a large baking sheet, arrange the zucchini rounds. Top each of them with marinara and mozzarella. You can add your favourite toppings, including mushrooms, pineapples and more (yes, pineapples belong on pizza). I chose to keep it simple and just add mozzarella cheese. Feel free to customize the meal to your liking.

  4. Then, bake for about 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese has melted.

  5. Serve immediately, sprinkled with Italian seasoning if desired.

5. Walnut salad

This salad is fast and easy to prepare. (Bashair Ali/CanCulture)

It's hard to go wrong with a good salad. I've been adding different types of nuts to my salads recently, such as almonds. But I decided to try something I don't normally use for this recipe and I have no regrets. Compared to saturated fats, walnuts contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, providing extra nutrition to the salad. It takes me no more than five minutes to make, so it’s perfect for midterms. You will need: 

  • 125 ml (1/2 cup) of lettuce 

  • Half a cucumber 

  • 10 cherry tomatoes 

  • 1 quarter of a green pepper

  • 60 ml (1/4 cup) of shredded carrots 

  • 5 ml (1 tsp) of dry cilantro 

  • A handful of walnuts 

  • Your choice of salad dressing (I used poppyseed)

Instructions: 

  1. Wash all your vegetables. 

  2. Chop the lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and green pepper. 

  3. Add your vegetables and shredded carrots to a plate. 

  4. Sprinkle on dry cilantro and walnuts. 

  5. Drizzle with salad dressing.

I hope you're inspired to make tasty meals during midterms by some of these recipes. 

A Look Into the Mosaic of Toronto

The Lives of International Students in Canada’s Most Diverse City

By Chloe Cook and Severina Chu

Every year, thousands of international students come to Canada in hopes of improving on their education and experiencing a new culture.

From their education to their lifestyle, these students encounter multiple challenges and changes that they must adapt to.

Being away from home has forced them to learn to face obstacles such as culture shock and living alone in order to engage in their new Canadian lifestyle. Each of these four international students have their own ways of adapting to life in Canada. Here’s a look into the challenges and rewards that they’ve experienced during their time here.

Divyansh Chandel

Divyansh Chandel, 22, is an aerospace engineering student from Kuwait, India. (CanCulture/Chloe Cook)

Divyansh Chandel, 22, is an aerospace engineering student from Kuwait, India. (CanCulture/Chloe Cook)

Divyansh Chandel has spent the last four and a half years adding everything from president of the Engineering Student Society, to International Student Director at the Ryerson Students’ Union to his impressive resume. On top of that, he has two startups under his belt and he is currently organizing a presentation for retired astronaut and engineer, Chris Hadfield.

“Every time I’ve taken a step to do something innovative, Canada has helped me.” Chandel said about his multiple endeavours.

In 2014, he moved to Toronto from Kuwait, India to begin an aerospace engineering degree at Ryerson. However, Canada was not his first choice. He originally applied to schools in the United States but his parents urged him to look into a Canadian education stating that it was a much ‘nicer’ place.

“When I was in twelfth grade applying, my love for Canada started growing. Everyone's so friendly, everyone's so accepting and that's one of the reasons I came to Canada.” Chandel said.

However, Ryerson did not entirely live up to his expectations. “I grew up with these university party movies, I didn't expect Ryerson to be a commuter school. I thought it would be like Queen’s or Western. I thought that's what every weekend would be,” he explained.

When Chandel came to realize that he wouldn’t be bonding with his peers over beer pong and karaoke, he took it upon himself to meet other international students like himself. He started volunteering his time to various clubs and organizations to meet new people.

As the International Student Director, he has begun to implement events such as the International Students’ Welcome Lunch, that allowed students from all over the world to meet each other and form connections as they started their school year.

While Chandel has enjoyed his time in Canada, it has not always been easy. Moving to a new country is bound to give you at least a few culture shocks and difficulties. For Chandel, one of the most difficult things about the transition was keeping in touch with his family in Kuwait.

“It was very hard in the start. I tried to have one Skype video call every weekend and at least check in with them on WhatsApp or Messenger everyday. They would check in with me too. As I got busier, it got harder,” he said.

His mother and sister moved to Canada in January of this year, so it is slightly easier to stay in contact with them now, however with his father still in India, it’s still just as difficult.

Despite this, Chandel says that he has no regrets coming to Canada. When asked about the biggest advantage his move had for him, he responded, “If you take an initiative, Canada rewards you for that initiative and that's what I love about Canada.”

Adela Zyfi

Adela Zyfi, 22, is a student from Albania who is studying biomedical science with a minor in Spanish. (CanCulture/Chloe Cook)

Adela Zyfi, 22, is a student from Albania who is studying biomedical science with a minor in Spanish. (CanCulture/Chloe Cook)

Adela Zyfi moved to Toronto from Tirana, Albania in Grade 12 in search of a better education.

“There’s a lot of corruption within the education system, so unless you pay a lot of money, you probably won’t get in,” she said, “There’s little to no chance you’re going to get a good education.”

Zyfi chose Canada because it’s an English speaking country with some of the most lenient immigration laws in the world, which helped make her decision easy. She plans on becoming a permanent resident in Canada after she graduates to help her pursue career opportunities unavailable in Albania.

Something that was difficult to get used to in Toronto for Zyfi was the diversity. Up until around 20 years ago, Albania was a communist country with a very strict immigration system in which the country was almost entirely isolated from the rest of the world. Due to the fact that nearly no one new could come into the country, Albania did not have a very diverse population.

“Coming here, I was shocked. I was like, ‘Oh my God! I have never seen people that look different than me!’” she said, “It was really awesome and I love it, but it is one of the things that really hits you.”

Moving to Canada has given her a lot of opportunities, but it has also come with its own set of challenges and barriers. Although Zyfi could speak English, Albanian, and Spanish, she said that the language and culture barrier was still difficult to maneuver around during her first years in Canada.

“I may have known English from a book, but you miss little jokes or references from shows and movies and things that are in North American culture. People would make a reference to a food or thing or a person and I would have no idea, I’d be so lost,” she said.

Another barrier that Zyfi found difficult to overcome was the 20-hour work week limit put in place by the Canadian government to ensure international students are focusing on their studies.

“Our expenses are so high that 20 hours on minimum wage is not going to cover anything, especially living in Toronto,” she said.

She stated that this rule puts a lot of students in a tough situation where they must choose whether or not to accept “precarious, under-the-table work” in order to meet their needs.

While Zyfi is enjoying her life in Canada, it is just temporary. She aims to continue travelling and seeking opportunities around the globe once she gains permanent residency in Canada.

Paula Lozada

Paula Lozada, 19, hopes to become a Canadian citizen in order to bring her family here. (Courtesy of Paula Lozada/Instagram)

Paula Lozada, 19, hopes to become a Canadian citizen in order to bring her family here. (Courtesy of Paula Lozada/Instagram)

Paula Lozada was just 16 years old when she came to Canada by herself.

Lozada was born in Dubai, where her family currently resides as she studies abroad. Currently studying business administration management at Seneca College, Lozada knew that leaving her family behind to come to Canada was a decision that would benefit her in the future.

“When I was in high school, most of my teachers were Indian. There was one specific teacher who was British but because she was white, she earned triple compared to other teachers,” she said, “Basically, if you’re coming from the West and you show that you have a degree from here, they’ll really invest a lot in you when you go back home.”

When talking about living alone in a foreign country, she admitted that there were difficulties.

“My first year here, I didn’t have any work experience from back home.” Lozada started out in door-to-door marketing, which she admits wasn’t the best experience. She then switched to retail and currently works at Nordstrom.

Another difficulty was contacting her family due to the ban in Dubai of multiple messaging platforms. Which leaves Lozada and her family limited to texting.

“It’s hard because back home, Skype is banned, calls on WhatsApp are banned, any social media calling or video chat is banned. It’s harder to keep in contact,” she said.

However, Lozada has still found ways to keep in touch with her culture and feel at home.

When she began volunteering at the Filipino festival, Taste of Manila, she was able to meet more people from the Filipino community. She also mentioned the Underground Dance Centre as one of her favourite places to go when she starts to feel homesick.

“Back home, my family and I would go dancing every weekend. (The Underground Dance Centre) is this non-profit organization where all of the people who are away from their families gather and dance,” she explained. “Whenever I can, I go to Underground because it makes me feel at home.”

But the one thing from home she can’t seem to get? The food.

There are several Filipino restaurants in Toronto, but nothing can compare to the authenticity of home cooking. “Sometimes I crave Filipino food or my dad’s cooking. I try to make it myself, but it’s not the same,” she said.

Despite the lack of home cooking, Lozada has made herself comfortable in Canada.

Her hope for the future is to become a Canadian citizen. She hopes to graduate and stay in Canada for a few more years in order to get her full citizenship. “I want to get the Canadian passport. Then, I’d help move my family here because life here is easier.”

Soumya Gupta

Soumya Gupta, 21, is on exchange from India and is currently studying graphic communication management at Ryerson University. (CanCulture/Chloe Cook)

Soumya Gupta, 21, is on exchange from India and is currently studying graphic communication management at Ryerson University. (CanCulture/Chloe Cook)

When the opportunity came up to study abroad, Soumya Gupta took the chance.

Though she was already studying two hours away from her hometown back in India, coming to Canada would be a new challenge. She chose to study graphic communication management at Ryerson University, which was similar to the graphic design major she was doing back home. This would be her first time out of the country, and her first time having to adapt to a new culture.

“It’s been a journey of ups and downs,” she described. “Moving away in India was easy because you’re aware of the culture and you know what to expect. Moving here, I kind of experienced culture shock.”

The culture shock came in terms of the education itself, Gupta saying that things are taught “more detailed and precise” in Canada and how the content she was learning differed from back home.

Gupta has only been in Canada for a month but through her exchange program, she’s been able to meet international students from across the globe. “A month ago, I hadn’t met anyone from any other countries. Now, I have friends from five or six countries,” she said.

Even though she’s been exposed to so many new cultures, Gupta is still able to surround herself with people who remind her of home.

“The people that I’m staying with are both exchange students from India, and we have a few more friends from India as well,” she told us. Being surrounded by people from home has helped her adapt, especially since language is not a barrier between them. She told us that every so often, her and her friends will get together and have a night in.

There are also things in the city that have helped her feel at home. For instance, when the RSU Wellness Centre was offering an Indian dance activity, she was able to meet more Indian people while getting a good heart pump. In addition, she prefers to explore the cuisines in the city that she cannot get in India.

Due to Gupta’s exchange only being for one term, she will be going back to India by December to finish her final year to get her degree. She then plans to continue school and do her masters in graphic design.

When asked if she would consider coming back to Canada, she said that it was too early to commit, though it’s still a possibility. “I always want to go back to India because the attachment will always be there. But if the opportunities are better in places like Canada, I might come back,” she said.

The Myth of Being Rich

Although all four of these students’ experiences in Canada have been vastly different, one idea was consistent among them - that the stereotype that international students are rich should be laid to rest. The widely believed notion that international students are beyond affluent is, more times than not, inaccurate and often offensive.

For Lozada, the stereotype has always made her uncomfortable. “I’ve met people who are rich, but there’s also some people who are international students and are still struggling.”

Chandel shares the same sentiment. “Some international students are getting government funds, some of them their parents have scraped together everything they could to educate their child. So one of the biggest stigmas that I don’t stand with is that international students are rich.”

Zyfi noted that while many people think international students are rich, many of them are putting themselves at risk for a paycheque. “A lot of international students find themselves in a not safe or risky position because they need to make money to support themselves.”

No matter where they came from or what they came for, these four students and many others like them, have uprooted their lives to find better opportunities in Toronto and to improve the quality of life in the city we live in.