Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

New Caribbean Flights from Toronto and Ottawa By Stephen Weir The Toronto airline with the raccoon mascot is bringing its cartoon raccoon to another Caribbean destination. Canadian travellers looking for a winter getaway in the Caribbean will soon have another nonstop option, with Porter Airlines adding Turks and Caicos to its growing Caribbean network and soon Aruba and Montego Bay, Jamiaca. The Caribbean Camera reported the Turks and Caicos announcement in its last edition. Porter will begin flying from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Providenciales on November 6, with service operating up to five times a week. Ottawa travellers will get their own nonstop connection beginning December 17, with flights twice weekly. But Turks and Caicos is only the latest addition to Porter's rapidly expanding Caribbean network. Porter is already flying from Toronto to the Cayman Islands. The airline began its Toronto–Grand Cayman service last December, operating up to three times weekly,...

Saint Lucia Is Sinking an Underwater Art Gallery for travelling Scuba Divers ByStephen Weir When a soon-to be seen sculpture of Dame Pearlette Louisy is lowered onto the bottom of the sea off Saint Lucia, the Caribbean will have another extraordinary reason for scuba divers and snorkellersto visit the island — an underwater art gallery. And this one will not be in a museum and visitors are asked to not touch the art work. But only leave bubbles, Louisy is a particularly important figure in Saint Lucian history. She was Saint Lucia’s first woman Governor-General, the country’s representative of the Crown and its head of state during her more than 20 years in the office. She served from 1997 until 2017, making her the longest-serving Governor-General in Saint Lucia’s history. The title “Dame” reflects a British honour bestowed on Louisy. Saint Lucia was formerly a British colony and became an independent country in 1979. It remains a me...

Anguilla Beach Named the Best in the Caribbean This vacation season Canadians wanting to dip your toes into the Caribbean at what has been named the region’s best beach, Anguilla is the place to go. Travel + Leisure has named Shoal Bay East in Anguilla the No. 1 beach in the Caribbean for 2026, according to a new ranking from The World’s Best Beaches. The beach also earned the distinction of being the No. 1 beach in North America and ranked No. 6 among the best beaches in the world. The annual ranking is based on the votes of more than 1,000 travel professionals. Beaches are judged on a range of factors, including how easy it is to enter the water, wildlife, crowds, remoteness, the condition of the beach and the likelihood of having what the judges describe as a “perfect” beach day. The 2026 Travel + Leisure Caribbean top 10 also included Princess Diana Beach in Antigua & Barbuda, Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos, Canto de la Playa in the Dominican Republic and Seven Mile Beach in ...

  New Turks and Caicos Flights from Toronto and from Ottawa By Stephen Weir Canadian travellers looking for a winter getaway in the Caribbean will soon have another nonstop option. Porter Airlines is adding Turks and Caicos to its growing Caribbean destination, with new flights from both Toronto and Ottawa to Providenciales. Service from Toronto Pearson begins November 6, operating up to five times a week. Ottawa travellers will get their own nonstop connection beginning December 17, with flights twice weekly. The new service is part of Porter's continuing expansion into the Caribbean and other warm-weather destinations. The airline has been building its winter network with new routes to destinations including Aruba, Montego Bay and Costa Rica. For GTA travellers the new Turks and Caicos service provides another direct route to Providenciales without having to connect through a U.S. airport.The addition is also of note for Ottawa customers, where Porter has been expanding its selec...

  Carnival Is Over... Long Live the Food! The stages are quiet, the costumes have been packed away, and crews are busy cleaning up the Canadian National Exhibition grounds after last weekend's spectacular Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade. Even the popular Frofest celebration has been cancelled this week. But don't put away your Caribbean appetite just yet. The summer celebration continues on Saturday, August 15 , when Toronto Chowfest returns to Scarborough for a full day dedicated to one of Trinidad and Tobago's greatest passions — food. Now in its tenth year, Toronto Chowfest has grown from a unique cooking contest into one of the city's most anticipated Trinbagonian cultural festivals. Since 2016, it has transformed the island tradition of making chow — a spicy mixture of fresh fruit or vegetables seasoned with lime, peppers and herbs — into a lively competition while celebrating the flavours, music and spirit of Trinidad and Tobago. This year's free festival...

 

 

 

 

 

  CARIBANA 2026 - the 59th annual edition Caribana Parade these reveller gave me a send- off on the road to take pictures in Toronto 's Caribana parade worn out Reveller after walking the Parade route beside  Lake Ontario. We fininished togett JJ\ust in time forCaribana j

FROM THE WALL TO McALL TO THE PACK BY STEPHEN WEIR It took a trip to the Berlin Wall to figure out where the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (based in Salem, North Carolina) got the inspiration for this Salem Light menthol cigarette advertisement. Two men—or a couple—are sharing a fat sausage, with the familiar line: “Share the spirit, share the refreshment.” This was a full-page ad that appeared in  McCall’s  November 5th issue. I took a picture of the famous mural on the Berlin Wall called  Fraternal Kiss , depicting a historic 1979 kiss between two Soviet-era leaders: Leonid Brezhnev (on the left) and Erich Honecker (on the right), marking the celebrations of East Germany’s 30th anniversary. At the time, Brezhnev was the Soviet leader, and Honecker led East Germany. They are shown sharing a currywurst, Berlin’s best-loved fast food.

old time Baga Nimba     Baga is not a shopping bag worn over a dancer's head. Nimba on stage At Friday night's sold-out Toronto premiere of   NIMBA , presented as part of the   Luminato Festival , the towering Baga Nimba figure emerged on stage like a giant spirit from another world. Costumed as an enormous Mother Nature figure, it even managed to frighten a few children seated near the front of the packed   Meridian Arts Centre   in North York. The truth is that the Nimba, also known as D'mba, is one of the most important cultural symbols of Guinea. Created by the Baga people, it is a massive shoulder-carried headdress representing fertility, abundance, motherhood, wisdom, and a successful harvest. The dancer carrying the heavy wooden structure is hidden beneath raffia or cloth, with only the carved female figure visible above the crowd. Traditionally, performers look through small openings carved into the mask while balancing the structure on their shoul...

  Jean Augustine Honoured with Honorary Doctorate from McMaster University Born in St. George’s, Grenada, and raised in a small Caribbean community, Jean Augustine has spent a lifetime breaking barriers. This month, she added another distinction to an already remarkable career when she received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from   McMaster University . The Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine was recognized during the university’s Spring 2026 convocation ceremonies for her lifelong commitment to education, social justice, and public service. “Deeply honoured to receive an honorary doctorate from McMaster University today,” Augustine said after the ceremony. “It was a true pleasure to share this milestone with Chancellor Nicholas Braithwaite, President Susan Tighe, and the brilliant graduates of the Class of 2026.” She also offered advice to graduates students embarking on their own journeys: “Find your purpose, take risks, and never be a bystander. Let us continue to build and in...

WI LD LIFE DOWNTOWN TORONTO DURING FIFA A moose and a beaver walked into a bar. The bartender asked, “What’ll it be?” The beaver said, “Give me a Fresh Log Float.” The bartender nodded and turned to the moose. “And for you, sir?” The moose thought for a moment and said, “I'll have whatever he's having — but make sure you use Moosehead Beeer and hold the lumber. I'm watching my waistlineThis guy likes to gnaw on my antlers if there isn't fresh tree in sight and he won't pay for the beerThe beaver laughed and said, “That's rich coming from a guy who spends half his life standing in the middle of the highway.” The moose replied, “At least people brake for me.” The beaver smiled and said, “Sure, but people put my face on the nickel.”  photos by swear and George Socka, cartoon by Andrew Weir

  Son and Mother playing Mas together during the coming big August Caribana Parade. When you're on the road during Toronto's big Caribana parade, you often hear revelers greeting each other with a cheerful "Bro!" or "Sis!" This summer, one popular greeting may be "Mom and Son." At the recent Toronto Caribbean Carnival launch at the Scarborough Town Centre, two revellers for Epic CarnivalMas Band got ready to take to the stage. Natasha Rampersad and her son Jalil proudly modeled costumes from the 416 North Stars Sailors section. The family connection runs deep in Carnival history — Jalil is the grandson of former Carnival King Rudy Rampersad. Together, mother and son showed off the colourful designs that will take to the streets this August, proving that Carnival is not just about costumes and music, but also about family traditions passed from one generation to the next.

NIMBA Brings African Dance-Circus Spectacle to North Yor  Spectacle to North York By Stephen Weir It is circus. It is African-inspired dance. And the best news is that when   NIMBA   makes its Toronto premiere this Friday, it will not be happening downtown. Instead, this evening of heart-stopping dance, music, and acrobatics will take over the Lyric Theatre at the Meridian Arts Centre in North York, where it serves as one of the cornerstone productions of this year's   Luminato Festival . NIMBA brings the sights and sounds of West Africa to the stage in a colourful explosion of music, dance, and culture. Backed by the powerful rhythms of live drummers, performers in vibrant costumes combine high-energy dance, circus arts, and traditional storytelling in a production that is both visually stunning and emotionally engaging. The result is a fast-paced performance that will have audiences captivated from the first drumbeat to the final bow. Rooted in two powerful symbol...

  Attention Wreck Divers!SS United States  is Soon Sinking a 17 Hour Drive From Toronto Empty Stripped the SS United States is ready for June sinking in the Gulf of America (Mexico0 A new shipwreck destination is expected to arrive off the Florida Panhandle this month when the legendary SS United States is deliberately sunk to create one of the world's largest artificial reefs. At 990 feet long, the SS United States was once the fastest ocean liner ever built. On her maiden voyage in 1952, she crossed the Atlantic in a record time that remains unbeaten by any passenger liner. During her glory years, she carried celebrities, business leaders, and thousands of passengers between North America and Europe. The America in Her prime Soon, the historic vessel will begin a new life beneath the waves in approximately 180 feet of water off Pensacola and Destin, Florida. Divers will be able to explore a ship nearly three football fields long, making it one of the most impressive wreck di...