Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Antonia's Black Cherokee  is  a finalist for the Amazon Canada First Novel Award, By Stephen Weir  The Trinidadian Canadian from New Grant is a rising but elusive Canadian star. Known as Antonio Michael Downing and John Orpheus, he moves between roles as performer and interviewer. On stage, often dressed in black, he performs with two backing vocalists as John Orpheus and The Funk Daddies (and sometimes Afro Beats), while on radio he appears as an interviewer on CBC Radio One’s   The Next Chapter , a Canadian literary program. He is also a budding author under the Antonio Michael Downing name. His novel   Black Cherokee   has recently placed him in the national spotlight, as he has been named a finalist for the Amazon Canada First Novel Award, in the running for the $60,000 top prize. Making the shortlist is a significant achievement in Canadian literature. Amazon Canada and   The Walrus   magazine recently unveiled the nominees for the 49th annua...

 At the Windsor Art Gallery show signs and art   I’m An Archaeologist of Muriel Ahmarani Jaouich’s Difficult Life and Exhibition by Stephen Weir I spent much of the morning rooting through every box in the attic storeroom of my 100-year-old office in Toronto. I was searching for two papyrus pieces of artwork that I had purchased late one night in Cairo from a small street urchin. What set me on the search was the guest lecture that Muriel Ahmarani Jaouich gave in our Wednesday morning class. Her emotional and riveting discussion about her exhibition,   An Archaeology of Echoes , gave me insights I wish I had had when I first toured the show. One of the artist’s paintings hanging in the exhibition—and appearing in a slide during her lecture—triggered my quest. Quoting from a description posted online on Britannica’s social media page: “Geb, her painting posted above, is depicted as ‘Shu (standing, centre) supporting the sky goddess Nut arched above him, with the earth god ...

  Plane laid to rest at the bottom of Potato Bay By Stephen Weir.  Most Caribbean islands that attract scuba diving tourists feature underwater attractions—sunken ships, submerged artworks, and even purpose-built reefs—offering divers and snorkelers a chance to explore vibrant marine environments. In many cases, new coral is even replanted along shorelines to encourage marine growth, allowing swimmers and snorkelers to safely enjoy the results up close. ç

Penguin tattoo on the arm of the burly sized chef at Reyjavik"s' popular pizza shop Flatey! in ICELAND  

Ian Williams Canada’s Top poet is in Iceland this week lecturing about poetry at Iceland’s annual Writer’s Circle conference.  He will be meeting over 100 international writers in Reykjavík. Writer Eliza Reid is Canadian and is married to the past president of Iceland.  

Toilet Graffiti is raw, fragmented, and often humorous or crude—perfect for playful constraints.   Ode to the Canadian Stall Wall! A source-based constraint (found text) poem  by Stephen Weir 108-855-362   A smelly assignment I gave myself by exploring the public washrooms of Toronto and Windsor searching out Graffiti written on washroom stall walls. I also appealed to my many Facebook andTwitter (X) followers and received several examples I was not aware of. They are included in this non-fiction poem  Extinct.Pay toilets . Only found one in Toronto. I am a dollar down in expense money to get this humourous stall wall wisdom! 1.      “Here I sit broken hearted, paid a looney and only farted.   The 100- year old men’s washroom in   Toronto’s Union Station  has many stalls that sport many philosophical thoughts written in unwashable black ink.  2.      “For a good time, try thinking for yourself.”   The m...

I am presenting Prince Andrew with a scroll proclaiming that two islands in the nearby Otonabee river are named after Him. I also presented him with a hand-made cedar strip canoe (which was recently returned by the Royal Family. It is on display in Peterborough’s Canoe museum. Canoe made in Lakefield.  The picture taken in Lakefield behind the village’s historic stone church. I was the editor of the Lakefield Leader weekly newspaper and was on the Prince Andrew presentation committee back in the 70s. He was a student at the all-boys private boarding school Lakefield College.  His parents never visited!.

story draft By Stephen Weir I don't drink but when I got my surprise degree last semester my wife and I went back to the DH to have a drink.  We first went there in 1969 when we were in residence and Syd the owner was willing to cash my Baby Bonus cheque to pay for our drinks. Back then, if you tapped on the bar, they immediately plonked a draft beer in front of you. If you gave a frenzying tapping they put a shot glass full of Windsor made (left) your classic boiler maker whisky inside the full beer glass. It was called a boiler maker. I was recently shut down by at the back of the hall at last Friday’s Senate meeting. I wanted set up a meeting about my wish to work on a Masters. It was suggested I quit Windsor and go to UofT.  I was devasted. But maybe the lack of student's tapping was a second type of rejection I was feeling.  Stephen and his wife Maria and Convocataion 2005 the oldest student at Union always trolling for taps in Windsor. In my soon to write story...

  The Key to the City: A Black History Month Shocker! The Key to the City: A Black History Month Shocker! By Stephen Weir Black History Month came in like spring this year — like a lamb, and out like a lion. As the city continues to dig out from the latest snowstorm, down at Toronto City Hall, Mayor Olivia Chow prepared a Tuesday afternoon goodbye fete for what has become deeply important to many people: BHM — Black History Month. And guess what? There was  The Key to the city, A Black History Month Shocker! By Stephen Weir Black History Month came in like Spring this year. Like a lamb and, out like a lion As the city continues to dig out from the latest snowstorm, down at. City Hall Mayor Chow prepared a Tuesday afternoongoodbye fete for what has become really important to people: BHM! BLACK HISTORY Month. And guess what they’re was a special guest at the reception, bookstore owner Itah who was presented with keys to the city by Mayor Chow and councillor Michael Thompson It a...

Blockade Warships leave  T&T and Venezula waters and sail toward Iran 26 February 2026 Wolrd's largest aircraft carrier has left the Caribbean for Iran, she passes Gilbrator photo from  Gibraltar Chronical n the  By  Stephen Weir  Iran’s strained relationship with US President Donald Trump has taken the pressure off the Caribbean when he ordered the world’s largest aircraft carrier the nucleur powered Gerald Ford to leave the Atlantic Ocean waters near Trinidad and Tobago and Venezula immediately! Where did she go? She arrived  onNovember 15th a sea away. According to a report in the Gibraltar Chronical newspaper the “The Aircraft Carrier sailed past Gibraltor at 1pm on last Friday” reported the newspaper. . The. Ford just sailed past the historic Rock of Gibraltar and Spain into the Mediterranean Sea on towards the Iranian coast President Trump SEEMS TO BE MOVING THE FORD LIKE CHESS PIECES ON A BOARD. ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT BY AP AFTER ...