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Hamilton Spectator
15-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
A Community United in Spirit: Burlington Celebrates 20 Years of Sahaja Yoga and International Yoga Day
This year marks a special milestone in Burlington as Sahaja Yoga celebrates its 20th anniversary in the city. At the heart of the celebration is Ioana Popa, the founder of Burlington's Sahaja Yoga Meditation Network and their meditation classes, and the passionate force behind International Yoga Days in Halton. Her journey began in Romania, just after the fall of communism — a time she describes as dark but transformative. 'There were no materials about yoga or spirituality during communism, but my grandfather had books hidden away. When I started reading them, it felt like finding light in the dark,' she recalls. That inner spark of curiosity eventually led her to Sahaja Yoga, guided by the teachings of Shri Mataji, a spiritual teacher she refers to with deep reverence. Popa says, 'Yoga means union — connection. The goal is self-realization. Everything that is essential should be simple, born within us. That's what 'Sahaja' means.' After arriving in Burlington two decades ago, she searched for free yoga classes but found none. So, she rented a space at Brant Hills Community Centre and began offering classes from the heart. 'For more than a month, no one came. But I kept showing up. I wasn't doing it for business or ego — I was doing it because yoga is meant to be shared.' From these humble beginnings, Sahaja Yoga in Burlington has grown into a vibrant network of community partnerships, volunteer support, and multicultural celebration. This year's International Yoga Days has expanded into a three-day experience, featuring meditative concerts, public yoga sessions, and community gatherings designed to nourish the mind, body, and spirit. 'This is not just a celebration, it's a reflection of what can happen when you plant the seeds of joy,' Popa says. 'We called our campaign 100 Seeds of Joy, and in one year, we ended up doing over 450 events.' The events kick off with a flag-raising ceremony on June 20, newly proclaimed by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward as Sahaja Meditation Day in Burlington. 'It's so meaningful to have the city acknowledge what we've been doing for years. It's about bringing people together to recognize the light that shines in every person.' Among the weekend's highlights is a gentle yoga flow accompanied by live Indian bamboo flute at Spencer Smith Park, a guided meditation at the Burlington Public Library, and the Festival of New Beginnings at the Burlington Lions Club, which features live music, chakra workshops, and community tea moments. Artists like Mari Joël and Kenny Clarys — international musicians who blend Celtic, Dutch, and meditative influences — will perform throughout the weekend, creating a rich cultural tapestry. The Burlington-Apeldoorn twinning agreement with the Netherlands added another meaningful layer to this year's celebration. 'When I learned that Burlington had a treaty with the Netherlands, and our guest musicians happened to be available for a week, it felt like alignment,' says Popa. 'We invited the mayor and wanted to highlight that this is about global connection — about being a global personality.' But what sets Sahaja Yoga Meditation Network apart isn't just its free offerings or cultural scope. It's the deep-rooted intention behind every class and event. 'This isn't physical yoga. It's about meditation and connection, about experiencing peace from within. It's closer to the original state of yoga — ending thought and feeling the oneness with the universe,' explains Popa. 'Our motto this year is 'One Earth, One Health.' The best way we can contribute to the world is through self-realization — respecting our own freedom and that of others.' Accessibility remains a cornerstone of Sahaja Yoga's mission. Every event and class is free and open to all, driven by a spirit of inclusivity and service. 'We've never charged for a class. We're volunteers, many of whom started as participants. Our events are for everyone: newcomers, seasoned yogis, people of every background. That's how we create real community.' From school visits and senior wellness sessions to collaborative events with local venues and musicians, Popa and her team of volunteers continue to spread their message across Halton. 'We don't need fancy things, just space, music, and intention. Let's make Burlington proud by showing that wellness is for everyone and that joy is something we cultivate together.' Whether you're joining a lakeside yoga session or sipping tea in shared silence, the goal is always the same: connection, joy, and the gentle reminder that everything you need is already within. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Global News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Thieves gain access to about 140,000 social insurance numbers in NS Power database
Nova Scotia Power's CEO says up to 140,000 social insurance numbers could have been stolen by cyber-thieves who recently hacked into the utility's customer records. Peter Gregg said in an interview Thursday that the privately owned utility collected the numbers from customers to authenticate their identities. 'If there are a number of John MacDonalds, it (the social insurance number) determines which one we (the utility) are talking to,' Gregg said during the interview at the Halifax headquarters of the Emera subsidiary. On May 23, Gregg said the data of about 280,000 Nova Scotia Power customers was breached in a ransomware attack — more than half of the total. Asked Thursday how many of these records contained the confidential, nine-digit social insurance numbers, Gregg replied, 'approximately half.' Cybersecurity expert Claudiu Popa questions why a utility would need to keep this kind of data about customers for customer authentication purposes. Story continues below advertisement The founder of the non-profit group KnowledgeFlow says there are less risky ways to identify customers with similar names than to store their social insurance numbers. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It clearly states on government websites that using one of a person's most confidential identifiers is not the recommended approach to identifying individuals,' he said in an interview Thursday. The federal government's website says the numbers are for work applications and government records, and it advises people not to share them unless it's legally required. It also notes that thieves can use the numbers to commit fraud, including attempting to access government benefits and tax refunds. 'There's an almost infinite number of ways that these numbers can be used in fraud,' said Popa. Gregg said that the social insurance numbers weren't required from its customers, and they offered them voluntarily. The breach of the customer records was first reported in late April, and the company later indicated the first breach was detected in mid March. Popa has said the company should by now have provided more precise information to each customer about what personal data was stolen, and given explicit warnings about potential harm. Gregg said that more details will be provided as IT staff and other cybersecurity consultants continue working to obtain the information. Story continues below advertisement 'We want to be careful to say what we know and not what we think,' he said. 'As we get deeper into the investigation and we are able to confirm details, that information will be shared with our customers.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal privacy czar starts probe into theft of customer data from Nova Scotia Power
HALIFAX — The federal privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into a ransomware attack that led to the theft of personal information belonging to 280,000 customers of Nova Scotia's electric utility. Privately owned Nova Scotia Power confirmed last week that hackers stole the data and published it on the dark web. Privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne said in a statement Wednesday that he started the probe after receiving complaints about a security breach the utility reported in late April. 'Data breaches have surged over the past decade and this incident highlights the growing risks of cyberattacks for all organizations,' he wrote in the statement. Dufresne said he wants to make sure the utility is taking appropriate steps to deal with the breach, which the company says included disclosure of some customers' social insurance numbers. The commissioner says his investigation is looking at steps the company has taken to contain the breach, notify its customers and reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft. Nova Scotia Power says it's offering affected customers a two-year subscription for credit monitoring services through TransUnion Canada. It's also sent letters to customers informing them the stolen data may include their names, birth dates, email addresses, home addresses, customer account information, driver's licence numbers and, in some cases, bank account numbers. Some experts have criticized how the utility notified customers about the breach. According to the commission's website, federal privacy law requires notifications to be given "as soon as feasible" after a company has determined "a breach of security safeguards involving a real risk of significant harm" has occurred. The website also says the notice should include a description of the circumstances of the breach, the time it occurred, a description of the personal information taken, and a "description of the steps that the organization has taken" to reduce the risk of harm. Cybersecurity expert Claudiu Popa, CEO of Informatica Corp., questions whether these standards were met by the utility. Based on the letters he's seen sent to customers, Popa said the information does not provide much detail. "The further inadequacy was the lack of explanation of what could go wrong and what could be done with this information," he said, referring to the customer notifications. He also said the company's offer of a free, two-year subscription to TransUnion's monitoring service isn't long enough. "We should not be naive about the fact that these criminals now have a rich data set to exploit Nova Scotia victims for the foreseeable future, and that foreseeable future probably extends beyond 24 months," said Popa, author of "The Canadian Cyber Fraud Handbook." Nova Scotia Power spokeswoman Kathryn O'Neill said in an email Wednesday the company is aware the cyberattack "has been really concerning for some of our customers." "Impacted individuals have received detailed information about available resources and support," she wrote. "We continue to work with leading third-party cybersecurity experts on this complex investigation and the safe and secure restoration of our systems. We're also implementing additional safeguards to help prevent similar incidents in the future." In his statement, Dufresne said customers would be wise to sign up for credit monitoring services, and he said they should monitor their bank accounts and notify their financial institutions. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025. Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
