Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  15 actors dressed like dogs take to the stage  (Don’t worry they are trained)  The CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre has just opened   "15 Dogs,"  a powerful stage adaptation of the award-winning novel by Trinidadian-Canadian author  André Alexis . Running from  January 28 to February 16, 2025 , this thought-provoking production explores themes of consciousness, loyalty, and the complexities of the human (and canine) condition, as fifteen dogs in a Toronto veterinary clinic are granted human intelligence. Venue: CAA Theatre 651 Yonge St, Toronto, ON, M4Y 1Z9

  BOB's Your Garbage Picking Friend on Four Caribbean Islands DeWitt Lee(right) and fellow BOB beach cleaner show their catch By Stephen Weir for Caribbean Camera Ignore the chill outside your door today—it’s Bob Marley Day in Toronto! DeWitt Lee wants you to picture yourself ankle-deep in warm Caribbean waters, taking part in the second annual BOB clean-up, held in memory of the late, great Bob Marley on February 6th. BOB? It stands for Beautify Our Beaches. This is the second year volunteers from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and St. Lucia will roll up their sleeves—or dive in—to clean up in Marley’s honor. Whether wading, snorkeling, or scuba diving, teams will be removing everything from plastic waste to hurricane debris—and in some cases, even abandoned vehicles. While Marley’s family has organized clean-ups in Jamaica before, what makes BOB special is its regional reach. The clean-up now extends to other Caribbean nations, turning this into a wider movement. This yea...

 Caribbean Camera Shortie By Stephen Weir Scholarship for Young Writers Yesterday the Giller Foundation and Mantella Corporation announced the return of the Giller Mantella Scholarship which is dedicated to supporting underserved Black, Indigenous, and racialised students across Canada. Building on the success of 2024’s three inaugural $10,000 recipients, and responding to a high demand, the program now expands to include second and third-year undergraduate students alongside high school graduates. Applications open February 17, 2025, and close April 2, 2025. The Scholarship is speci/cally for students with an interest in creative writing and literature who often face a range of challenges in pursuing their careers. Challenges often include limited access to resources, mentorship opportunities, and exposure to the literary world perpetuated by economic disparities, cultural biases, and a lack of representation in literary institutions. African Film Festival 2025 "Garvey’s Ghos...

  Put On Your Caribbean Shorts   Carnival_Jouvert. Mas Domnik NEW WINGS TO MAS DOMNIK By Stephen Weir Air Canada and United Airlines are Star Alliance partners, which allows for smooth connectivity between the two airlines for Torontonians planning to attend Dominica’s Mas Domnik Carnival on March 3. Dominica Tourism has announced that United Airlines has added a second direct flight from Newark, New Jersey, to the island’s recently upgraded Douglas-Charles Airport. When does it all happen? Dominica promises these new flights just in time for the 2025 Carnival. ALL THAT JAZZ Earlier this month, the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival released its 2025 lineup. The annual music festival runs from April 30 to May 11 this year. It features an exciting lineup of global talent, including Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and pianist John Legend; 70s pop, soul, and funk icons Earth, Wind & Fire; and dancehall and reggae superstars Beenie Man and Bounty Killer.

  THIS CALPYSO SHOW WILL BE HOT HOT HOT seven-time Canadian Calypso Monarch Macomere Fifi By Stephen Weir Given the weather of late, the Toronto Symphony has landed on a warm winning theme for its February 15th and 16th Hot Hot Hot concerts in Toronto and Brampton. Of course, it helps to have Calypso and Pan royalty performing center stage! Calypso Monarch King Cosmos (Henry Gomez), seven-time Canadian Calypso Monarch Macomere Fifi, and Canada's Steelband champions, Pan Fantasy—led by the queen of Pan in Toronto, Wendy Jones—will be on a very crowded stage with Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for a series of Caribbean music concerts. Bartholomew-Poyser is a Canadian orchestral conductor from Calgary, Alberta, with strong T&T and Jamaican roots. He has been the Barrett Principal Education Conductor and has conducted performances that blend classical music with genres like reggae, aiming to make orchestral music more accessible to a broader audience. ...

  2025 Black History Month Concert: Celebrations and Revelations – We Are Country Dust off your boots, grab your hat, and get ready for a night of country music magic in Toronto! Celebrations and Revelations – We Are Country is gearing up for a unique fundraising celebration of Black History Month at the stately Globe and Mail Tower. Yeehaw! This musical finale to Black History Month in the city will take place on February 28th. The groundbreaking event stars four trailblazing Black country singers who will blend soulful storytelling with the unmistakable twang of country charm on stage at the prestigious 17th floor of the downtown Globe and Mail Tower. What’s coming down the trail is a one-night-only concert that not only showcases four rising stars of a genre rich with diverse roots but also supports a vital cause: empowering Black artists and preserving the legacy of their contributions to country music. “This event highlights the richness of country music's diverse roots while ...

  Ignoring the Vortex winter and bringing the beach to Toronto By Stephen Weir photos by George Socka The annual Toronto International Boat Show (TIBS), now in its 66th year, likes to say it puts a little bit of summer into the city’s winter. Two island nations are using their booths at the Boat Show, currently running at Exhibition Place, to go a step further, bringing warm, sunny beaches to TIBS. St. Vincent & the Grenadines’ and Antigua & Barbuda’s tourism offices have pop-up displays among the majestic sailboats and sleek , cigarette-style motorboats on display at the popular annual event. Their goal is to promote their islands' boating attributes to the thousands of marine enthusiasts attending Canada’s premier boat show—the largest indoor boat sale and exhibition in North America. Earlier this week, Shamoi Richards, Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism expert for sailing, yachting, and airlift to the islands, was busy handing out Treasure Island guides and maps to visitors ...

  What a Jerk is warm and friendly and now indoors By Stephen Weir The message I received early last week brought a smile to my face while the email quickly getting to the point. Al "Allos" Foster, the pan-playing owner of the What A Jerk food truck, has parked his mobile kitchen for the winter and moved his act indoors to Etobicoke. His new sit-down spot, What a Jerk Restaurant, in Long Branch, near Lakeshore and 29th Street, has been open for over a month, giving Foster and his team the luxury of cooking indoors during this bitterly cold January. “So I did a thing…” he wrote. “I have been operating my own mobile food business called What A Jerk! since 2018 (how time flies!). I’m now happy to inform you that I have expanded the brand to include a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Etobicoke. What A Jerk Restaurant is now open for business at 3303 Lake Shore Blvd West.” The restaurant offers it all: takeout, dine-in, home delivery, and a full Caribbean menu. “Yes,” Foster told m...

  Bahamian Author Antoinette Seymour Celebrates Cat Island In New Book By Stephen Weir Bahamian author and professional archivist Antoinette Seymour has unveiled a captivating homage to her roots with the release of her new book, Been to Cat Island: Through the Eyes of an Archivist. The first installment in her "Been to Bahamas" series, published last month, delves into the culture, history, and hidden gems of Cat Island, one of the Bahamas’ storied Out Islands. Combining meticulous archival research with heartfelt storytelling, Seymour takes readers on an intimate journey into the island's past, offering a fresh perspective on its traditions, landmarks, and the enduring spirit of its people. Cat Island (population 1,500 in 2010) is located southeast of Eleuthera and northeast of Long Island. It is believed to have been named after pirate Arthur Catt, who frequented the island. For more than four centuries, it was called San Salvador and was thought by some to be the firs...

  Scholars of the Caribbean Arts  Heading to T&T in March By stephen weir It may be a little early to start packing, but Roger Gibbs has Trinidad & Tobago on his mind. The popular Calypso performer and York University post-grad student is preparing for a stage performance in Port of Spain at the Steelpan/Carnival Arts Conference. No, he won’t be singing or playing an instrument; in fact, he will be a lectern giving a scholarly lecture to the leaders of international community of Carnival Arts! The 11th Steelpan/Carnival Arts Conference is being organized jointly by the University of Trinidad and Tobago, the International Carnival Conference Committee, and the International Journal of Carnival Arts. It will be held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) between March 6–8, 2025. This conference will be a gathering celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean, particularly the steelpan and carnival arts. With international participants from vari...

Giller Fiction Prize announcing 2025 prize jury Dionne Irving Just as this week’s Caribbean Camera was about to be sent to the printers, I received a bulletin from the prestigious Giller Fiction Prize announcing this year’s book prize jury. Used their press announcement as a basis for the article that did appear in yesterday's paper! “This year’s jury panel is composed of five distinguished, multi-talented authors who are well-equipped and eager to showcase the strength, scope, and diversity of Canadian literature,” read the announcement. Chairing the jury panel is acclaimed author and creative writing professor Dionne Irving. Dionne Irving, a Jamaican-Canadian author, has lived in several countries, including the United States. Her work often explores themes of identity, migration, family, and the complexities of the Caribbean diaspora. Her short story collection, The Islands, delves into the experiences of Jamaican women navigating the complexities of life in the diaspora. The st...

  I lost a client when he lost his head. (My last case before my headin’ down the straight and narrow and back to school - a mostly true story) A long 21st century goodbye.   Moose Malloy style.   I got a the message to drop the case on a mp4 file sent from Port of Spain by a scary dude who said he was part of the TuBox Gang. A Trini Youngun. 25, with eyes smouldering like pooled lava.   “ Not doing Toronto. You are safe but not your Trini client. He’d better get his shit together. Fast. And remember his auntie and uncle are just a bullet spray away from where I am standing right now. No wall in this town   can stop a MK47 burst.” IT was a dark adventure. My last. And you’ve probably already guessed It didn’t go well. But hey, I am still breathing. Of course there had been a murder. You can’t retell a who dunnit without a stiff.   A ghastly one at that. I had been trying to save a young man’s life through the power of the public relations. but, well let me ...