<![CDATA[KAREN MCCLEAVE

<![CDATA[KAREN MCCLEAVE - Blog]]>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:32:12 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[The Importance of Supporting Youth Mental Health in Canada]]>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:49:06 GMThttps://karenmccleave.weebly.com/blog/the-importance-of-supporting-youth-mental-health-in-canada

As someone who has long assisted youth mental health services and organizations, I’ve seen just how much mental health can impact individuals, families, and communities. In Canada, young people today are dealing with pressures from the world that strain their emotional and psychological well-being. The situation is exacerbated by the growth in “phone based” childhoods and social media, as well outlined in Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation.

While discussions around mental health have become more common, there is still meaningful work to be done to ensure young people feel supported, understood, and ready to cope with the challenges they face.

Current Pressures Facing Youth

Adolescence has always been a time of change. However, young people are now facing intense, constant pressures. Academic expectations remain high, and the internet exposes youth to unrealistic comparisons and hyper criticism.

Many youth are also thinking about bigger issues, such as the economy, environment and global instability, which can exacerbate their stress. These factors can cause feelings of anxiety, isolation, and self-doubt. Without the right support systems in place, these challenges can grow and affect every part of a young person’s life, from their relationships to their school performance and trajectory in pro-social behaviour.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Recognizing mental health issues early can have a lasting impact on a young person’s future. When assistance is introduced at the first signs of struggle, it helps youth develop healthy coping strategies and build resilience. Early intervention also helps prevent more serious issues from developing later in life. This requires adults to be attentive and willing to listen. A positive relationship with a counsellor can be a trusted space in which to confide and obtain constructive assistance.

Changes in mood, behaviour, or academic performance are signs that something serious may be happening. Is a young person in your life using non-prescribed drugs in an attempt to self-medicate? Recognizing these signs and responding with care can make a meaningful difference in how difficult moments are handled.

The Impact of Schools and Communities

Schools and community organizations are at the forefront of supporting youth mental health. Educators are in a position to notice changes in behaviour and can help connect students with the resources they need. When schools offer counselling services, mental health education and safe spaces for open conversation, they create an environment where students feel supported rather than judged.

Community programs also offer valuable opportunities for connection. Participating in sports, the arts, and mentorship programs gives young people a sense of belonging, which can reduce feelings of isolation and strengthen their overall well-being.

Improving Access to High-Quality Mental Health Services

Access to timely and effective mental health care is a challenge in several parts of Canada. Long wait times and limited service availability can prevent youth from receiving help when they need it most. Expanding access to both in-person and virtual care is an important step in addressing this gap, particularly for those in rural or underserved communities. Internet and telephone helplines can bridge into those areas.

Investing in these services helps meet current needs and builds a stronger, more robust system for future generations. When care is accessible, young people are more likely to seek help and follow up on it.

Creating a Culture of Openness and Support

Encouraging open and honest conversations about mental health helps reduce stigma and encourages people to reach out. Many young people hesitate to speak up because they fear being judged or misunderstood. Creating a culture where mental health is discussed openly and anywhere helps barriers fade.

Families, educators, and community leaders all have a part in creating this environment. Simple actions such as checking in, listening without judgment, and offering reassurance can have a lasting impact. When young people feel seen and heard, they are more likely to seek help.

Expanding youth mental health programming will assist young people to grow, adapt, and thrive. Each effort, no matter how small, creates a stronger and more compassionate society. What can you do to help achieve progress?

]]><![CDATA[Donor Fatigue & Finding a Sustainable Way to Give: Advice From Toronto-Area Community Supporter Karen McCleave]]>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 18:14:57 GMThttps://karenmccleave.weebly.com/blog/donor-fatigue-finding-a-sustainable-way-to-give-advice-from-toronto-area-community-supporter-karen-mccleave

When generosity starts to feel heavy

Author: Karen McCleave

As 2026 begins, many conversations about charitable giving sound familiar. The care is still there, but the energy and means may not be. People who have supported charities for years are feeling worn down by the constant stream of requests and updates. After busy giving seasons, especially around the holidays, that pressure can start to feel heavy and emotionally draining. Donor fatigue sometimes surfaces during these moments, even among those who are highly committed to philanthropy.

Donor fatigue doesn’t mean a person is feeling less generous. More often, it reflects a need for balance and sustainability. When every appeal arrives with urgency, deciding where to focus becomes stressful and emotionally taxing. Some donors respond by reducing their contributions. Others step back temporarily to get some clarity. Neither choice feels right when the desire to help remains. This pattern has come up regularly in conversations I’ve had with donors regarding long-term engagement.

Fatigue can develop when contributions are frequently framed as a reaction. A crisis happens, an appeal follows, and support is needed immediately. Emergency funding has a significant impact on charitable donations, and it always will. Staying in a constant state of response, though, can leave donors feeling depleted and stretched thin. Over time, that cycle can create the feeling that no amount of contributions will ever be enough.

A more sustainable approach starts with intention. Reflecting on which causes truly match personal values helps reduce pressure. This doesn’t require lifelong commitments or quick decisions. Setting thoughtful boundaries allows giving to feel steady, not rushed. When purpose leads decisions, generosity feels more meaningful and less draining.

Consistency can also make giving easier to sustain. Smaller, continuous contributions tend to feel more manageable than large, one-time donations linked to moments of urgency. Monthly donations create stability for organizations while reducing emotional strain for donors. Eventually, that steady routine builds a stronger feeling of connection.

Allowing space to pause and think about how you want to give matters as well. Many people believe that once they start giving, they must keep doing so at the same level forever. Life changes, and so do your financial priorities and ability to donate. Adjusting support does not erase the impact of past contributions. Thoughtful philanthropy reflects honesty about what is possible in a given season.

How organizations communicate also impacts the donor experience. A lot of the time, fatigue comes less from donations themselves, and more from messages built around pressure or guilt. Appeals that rely heavily on urgency and repetition can wear people down over time. Transparency, gratitude, and clear outcomes tend to create stronger long-term relationships. Feeling informed and genuinely appreciated makes a huge difference.

Giving also extends beyond financial contributions. Time, skills, introductions, and advocacy all have an impact. Expanding the definition of philanthropy helps people reconnect with purpose without carrying the same emotional weight or financial stress.

Donor fatigue is not a failure. It’s a signal to slow down and recalibrate. When giving feels aligned, manageable, and intentional, generosity becomes something that can grow alongside life rather than compete with it. This method supports long-term engagement, including the kind of thoughtful contribution that I, Karen McCleave, continue to advocate for through my efforts to help our community.

- - - -

Connect / Follow:

F6s
LinkedIn
Medium
Slideshare

Read More:

Karen McCleave's Butter Tart Recipe

Have You Stepped Up to Support the Arts?

A Journey of Traditions and Evolution: The McMichael Canadian Art Collection

In Praise of the Calico Cat

]]><![CDATA[Karen McCleave’s Flaky Butter Tart Recipe - Simple, Delicious, and Freezer-Friendly!]]>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 20:44:30 GMThttps://karenmccleave.weebly.com/blog/karen-mccleaves-flaky-butter-tart-recipe-simple-delicious-and-freezer-friendly

Butter tarts are having a moment with popular “Butter Tart Trails” and booths at markets devoted to their many flavours. So when you need a simple, crowd-pleasing treat you keep on hand, butter tarts totally fit the bill. They’re sweet, classic, and, best of all, you can bake them in advance and stash them in the freezer. When guests show up out of nowhere, or you just want something sweet, you’re set.

The secret to perfecting these butter tarts starts with a high-quality pastry. The Tenderflake recipe is a go-to because it’s reliable and super flexible. Make the dough ahead, wrap it up tight, and keep it in the fridge for a few days, or freeze it for months. The taste and texture hold up.

To assemble the tarts, roll the pastry thinly and cut into 4-inch circles. Press each circle into muffin pan cups, then distribute a quarter cup of raisins or chopped nuts at the bottom. This simple addition gives each tart extra flavour and texture.

The filling is a yummy combination of sweet and buttery ingredients that come together quickly. Mix together half a cup of brown sugar, half a cup of corn syrup, one egg, two tablespoons of softened butter, one teaspoon of white vinegar, one teaspoon of pure vanilla, and half a teaspoon of salt. Once fully combined, spoon the mixture evenly into the prepared pastry cups.

Bake the tarts at 425 degrees Fahrenheit in the lower third of your oven for 12 to 14 minutes. The filling should be bubbling, and the pastry lightly browned when they are done. It’s important not to overbake. The filling sets as the tarts cool. Let them stand in the pan until fully set, so they won’t fall apart, and move them to a cooling rack.

One of the best features of butter tarts is their freezer-friendly nature. Once baked and cooled, wrap them individually or in batches and freeze. They can last several months, making them the perfect treat for unexpected visitors or a quick dessert within reach.

Whether served as a party treat, dessert, or sweet snack, these make-ahead butter tarts are as practical as they are delicious. With simple steps and a little planning, you’ll always have a delightful treat ready to go. Just pull from the freezer, warm as desired, and enjoy. They are guaranteed to impress without any last-minute stress, and yes, it’s perfectly acceptable to lick your fingers!

]]><![CDATA[Have You Stepped Up to Support the Arts?]]>Tue, 15 Feb 2022 18:00:34 GMThttps://karenmccleave.weebly.com/blog/have-you-stepped-up-to-support-the-artsArtists and arts organizations need our help. Truly. Now.

In Canada, the arts sector suffered “massive” financial hits during the pandemic, according to an August 2021 report from Statistics Canada.

In the United States, a study by the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts found that the pandemic had reversed a decade of growth in its seven-county region. The arts sector had been booming until the pandemic.

In New Zealand, charities for the arts, culture and heritage lost half of their income, mostly because of canceled events, according to a report.

What this all means is that the pandemic and its multitude of effects – canceled performances and fundraisers with limits, even prohibitions, on in-person gatherings – is threatening the future of arts around the globe. In short, the pandemic has devastated funding streams for artistic endeavours and organizations– revenues that were already difficult to secure in the first place.

This is forcing some of our creatives of all artistic expression, from painters and photographers to musicians and dancers to poets and novelists, to look elsewhere to support their vocation and themselves.

The sad reality is that, when faced with these kinds of cash crunches, some artists will have to abandon their passion to better support themselves and their families in another vocation. The vibrant, woven fabric of our artistic community is being frayed to the detriment of our culture. However, we need to recognize that this impact goes far beyond the arts.

To save and promote robust arts communities, here and abroad, we must expand our support of the charities and organizations underpinning them. This can be a tough “ask” when the world is faced with so many pressing needs. But we don’t have to choose between charities that help children or provide free meals and those that support the arts.

A well-rounded philanthropic strategy should support a myriad of causes that includes the arts – and not just because of the enjoyment of experiencing them. In 2019, the arts and culture industry had a $58.9 billion impact on Canada’s economy, which is a larger effect than food services and even sports. In the United States, the nonprofit arts industry generated $166.3 billion in economic activity in 2015.

An investment in the arts is an investment in the economy, thereby helping everyone, not just those who create and showcase artistic expression.

The arts can be too easily dismissed as non-essential, especially during tough times. But artistic endeavours are fundamental to what it means to be human. The arts can uplift the downtrodden in the most difficult times. Viktor Frankl, the Austrian Holocaust survivor, writes in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, how prisoners in concentration camps sometimes put on vaudeville shows as a distraction from their grim reality.

At the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the programming has successfully connected those isolated during the pandemic with webinars, on-line viewings and new publications. Children across the community have been introduced to art in a way that allows them to discover the joy of self-expression through form, colour and technique. This exposure furthers their education in complementing or filling a gap in cash-strapped arts programs in schools. The mental health benefit can be tangible.

Even in the absolutely worst of times, the arts provide and nurture human connection, both to each other and to the presentation. In better times, it allows people of every background to come together to learn, experience and celebrate.

Your support of the arts will bolster our economic, societal and mental health recoveries. Please get involved and contribute what you can to assist. In doing so, you will make your community stronger and more vibrant.]]><![CDATA[A Journey of Traditions and Evolution: The McMichael Canadian Art Collection]]>Thu, 05 Aug 2021 04:28:53 GMThttps://karenmccleave.weebly.com/blog/a-journey-of-traditions-and-evolution-the-mcmichael-canadian-art-collectionA common thread of the most exciting public art collections in the world is the evolution of artistic expression over the ages.

Consider that art surrounds our lives in every form and in every location. The meaning of art is so vast that sometimes we may be unaware of its impact upon us. When we advertently seek it out, such as in exhibitions, it can be inspiring, illuminating and evocative.

The Tate Modern in London, the Louvre in Paris, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Rome, Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Prado Museum in Spain — one can quickly become immersed by the enormity of the European collections and their variation in technique, subject matter and representation of life over hundreds of years.

Yet, you don’t have to travel beyond North America to experience this evolution and beauty. Many galleries and museums in North America house valuable paintings, sculptures and artifacts. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Art Institute of Chicago and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection are stellar examples. Each with its own identity, they collectively present a multitude of cultural traditions and interpretation of environment, from nature to urban life. By showcasing the diversity of the human experience, art gives us a chance to view the history of creative expression through the ages.

While there are many art museums on our continent worth commending, I am going to focus on the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Ontario, where I am honoured to serve as a Board of Trustee member.

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection

Located on a forested, 100-acre property along the Humber River in Kleinburg, a short ride from Toronto, The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is devoted to the art of Canada, with a focus on the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, and the Indigenous peoples of Canada. The property includes the main gallery, a sculpture garden, walking trails, and a cemetery where some Group of Seven artists were laid to rest.

In the 1950’s, Robert and Signe McMichael began collecting works of art from artists associated with the Group of Seven, a group of Canadian landscape painters who worked primarily from 1920 to 1933.

Initially, the McMichael’s exhibited these paintings within their home. In 1965, they reached a formal agreement to donate their collection to the Government of Ontario, which established an art gallery showcasing them. Today, the museum’s collection includes nearly 7,000 works of art from Canadian artists.

Ian A. C. Dejardin, art historian, exhibition curator and museum professional, joined the McMichael Canadian Art Collection as its Executive Director in 2017. About the collection, he said these words: “The global interest and fervour for Canadian art is alive and well.”

Why Plan to Visit?

The grounds have remained open for hiking seven days a week. The McMichael Gallery recently reopened its doors on July 21, with timed entry admission tickets from Thursdays through Sundays and Holiday Mondays. Gallery hours on those days extend from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here. Ready to take in an exhibition? There’s an exciting schedule ahead:

Early Days

The Early Days exhibition vividly highlights the diversity and vitality of Canadian Indigenous art.

The McMichael proudly holds more than 1,500 Indigenous works, spanning from 18th century items to the present, including revered artists such as Robert Houle, Norval Morrisseau, Faye HeavyShield and Kent Monkman.

Early Days is a compilation of key pieces of art, both historical and recent acquisitions, and tells their stories. It includes the artistic contributions of the Inuit people, with a landmark collection from the West Baffin Eskimo Co-op, including original drawings from Cape Dorset (Kinngait) from the 1950s. These are displayed with other Inuit drawings, prints, sculptures and textiles.

McMichael Canadian Art Collection Chief Curator Sarah Milroy discussed the Early Days exhibit with Classical FM’s Mark Wigmore in an interview recorded in November of last year.

“The real strength of the collection is that it was made by a third indigenous people,” said Milroy. “It’s Canadian history; Canadian stories. An example of what we’re doing with Early Days is combining brand new work with things already in our collections to kind of animate them and have them talk across time.”

Denyse Thomasos: Odyssey

Ms. Thomasos was a Trinidadian-Canadian artist whose impactful paintings use imagery from many sources, including Caribbean textiles, historic slave ships, shipyards, villages, prisons and graveyards. She made a lasting impact in her too short life (1964-2012) by expressing “the structures that confine and define us—whether political, social or architectural”. As the McMichael describes: “The result is a body of work that recalls the history of the African diaspora with boundless energy and force.”

This exhibit is available until October 24, 2021.

Jon Sasaki: Homage

As the McMichael describes it: “This photographic exhibition is a suite of photographs depicting petri dishes with bloomed bacterial cultures derived from swabs of the palettes and brushes used by the Group of Seven and Tom Thomson.” The images are beautiful and colourful, within large-scale works revealing microscopic detail.

Check it out until September 26, 2021.

Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Moment

This significant exhibition of Canadian women artists coincides with the centenary celebration of the Group of Seven and will be complemented by the publishing of a companion book with illuminating essays accompanying the images.

It is a robust collection of more than 200 pieces of art created by a generation of pioneering women “who opened new frontiers for women artists in Canada”. It includes the works of Indigenous women and those from immigrant communities during this era.

The gifted Chief Curator Sarah Milroy curates this important compilation, paying long delayed homage to these talented women.

You will see the paintings of Emily Carr and those by the famed Beaver Hall Group of Montreal painters alongside sculptures and photographs.

This must-see exhibition will run from September 10, 2021 to January 16, 2022. Don’t miss it!

]]><![CDATA[In Praise of the Calico Cat]]>Tue, 04 May 2021 20:42:39 GMThttps://karenmccleave.weebly.com/blog/in-praise-of-the-calico-cat"Calicoes share that personality trait of tortoiseshell cats commonly described as ‘tortitude.’ They are sassy, spunky and very independent. On the other hand, calicoes are sweet, loving, and loyal cats. If you hunger for unconditional love, a calico cat will willingly and enthusiastically fulfill that need.” (Franny Syufy, Calico Cats Profile, The Spruce Pets, updated 10/02/19)

So why would a busy life invite “tortitude” into it? It started in our new home. A beautiful calico kept appearing at our front door. Finally, I opened it one day and invited her (almost all calicoes are female) in. She went on an extended house tour of each level, entering every room with the appraising eye of Marie Kondo and then left, never to return. Rejected by a cat? My first experience with tortitude -- I was smitten.

Months later, when visiting new friends in the neighbourhood, we learned this feline beauty was theirs. “Bandit” would hang out with the next-door neighbour at their former home. Never able to muster the secret sauce of that former neighbour, we could not win her over. And so began my fascination with a cat so independent that it chose its own friends.

It culminated with Mom calling to say “the cutest calico kitten” (note the singular) was available for adoption at the animal shelter. As we greeted the arriving family vehicle, two calico kittens appeared. Saying she couldn’t “break up the bookends” by taking just one, my mother offered to take one back home if we really didn’t want two. Hello, we never did! Having barely convinced my cat-allergic partner that we could handle one, we now had double trouble. Have you ever tried to tell a toddler you can’t keep two kittens? We might as well have called them Pandora and Box.

And so began 18 years of life with calico cats. At times vexing and challenging, I wouldn’t have traded the ride for anything. As a kitten, Molly was so aloof and non-responsive that I asked the vet to test her for deafness! He laughed and educated me on “the calico personality”. Molly was so combative they had to put the “Hannibal Lecter” mask on her for even the most routine of examinations. Yet, at home, she was as sweet as you could hope. She and sister (Mustang) Sally adopted the “dog behaviours” of our springer spaniel. The three of them would run to the door when the bell rang, groom each other, and nap together.

One day while gardening in the front yard with them, a neighbour’s dog ran over and started a vicious fight with our spaniel. It was only broken up when Molly jumped onto that dog’s back, startling it so much that it ran away with Molly riding it like a horse! Yes, tortitude aplenty.

Loving and loyal? You bet. Calicoes are constant companions, intelligent, easy to train and followers of routine, putting themselves to bed at night and asking for food only when it is, indeed, meal time.

If you are a firm believer, as I am, that life is more interesting when you have some colourful characters in it, check out a calico cat the next time you are considering a pet.

“Cat-itude” in a beautiful package. What’s not to love?]]>