Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  WALMART WORKS WITH KWAME DELFISH TO CELEBRATE BHM In a press release issued by Walmart Canada to mark Black History Month(BHM), the large retail outlet turned the spotlight on Caribbean Canadian artist Kwame Delfish. The Toronto artist was commissioned by Walmart to design their exclusive Black History Month merchandise celebrating Black excellence. Who better to hire? As a multidimensional artist, with a career spanning over 30 years, Kwame’s most recent work includes designing both the 2022 and 2023 Commemorative Black History Month coins featuring the Underground Railroad and the No. 2 Construction Battalion for the Canadian Mint. According to Walmart, Delfish’s BHM design, entitled "The Tree of Heroes," encourages individuals to use their imagination to dream big and pursue their goals regardless of the systemic barriers that they will inevitably encounter on their journey. We become empowered to push through adversity when we see ourselves in others who share our ident

  What If You Spend the End of Black History Month In Mississauga check out Carnival Parade costumes? Looks like Mississauga's Black History Month's final significant event for 2024 is set to take place this Sunday at the city’s Small Arms Inspection Building on Lakeshore Road. The Freedom Mas Band is concluding the month with the year's first Carnival costume launch, which they've named the Black History Month Carnival Edition! The Freedom Mas Band is an integral part of the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival and is scheduled to participate in the Grand Parade in Toronto on August 3rd. Band leader Johanna Grant shared with reporter Stephen Weir that the Band Launch on Sunday afternoon will unveil their new costume lines inspired by the 2024 theme, "What If." The free launch event is scheduled to run from 11 am to 6 pm. Alongside the adult and children carnival costume launch, there will be a vendor's market, music, and activities for children. Throughout

Rashaan Rori Allwood and Kathryn Patricia Cobbler - three city tour in February KATHRYN PATRICIA COBBLER In a celebration of Black History Month, two exceptional Canadian musicians of Caribbean descent, Rashaan Rori Allwood and Kathryn Patricia Cobbler, are set to dazzle audiences with their multi-media performance titled "Unyielding Roots." This powerful presentation of original compositions aims to reflect upon the complex experiences of the Caribbean immigrant and African diaspora within the context of North American colonial landscapes. Joy Bullen, the long-time creator behind Black History Month Music, designed this event to showcase young Black Canadian musicians breaking stereotypes and making history. Since 2015, the initiative has been a platform for artists excelling in areas where Black voices have often been silenced. "Unyielding Roots" will be performed in Halifax, Ottawa, and Toronto, in collaboration with cultural and not-for-profit organizations acro

  The Mighty Jesse, at least for Black History Month   Jesse Ryan, the Grandson of the Calypso legend, the late Mighty Bomber (Clifton Ryan), is prone to saying that “Calypso History is Black History!”  So now that it is February, and in the spirit of the late great Trinidadian Calypso singer and composer, Happy Calypso Month! Ryan ( pictured above ) an up-and-coming Etobicoke jazz saxophonist has reached back into his Trinidadian roots for two Calypso musical performing this month. He will be performing a   Caribbean songbook this week at Halifax’s Immigration Museum as part of Nova Scotia’s Black History Month celebrations. His also is performing the songs of the Mighty Bomber on February 19  in Toronto. Saxophonist Jesse Ryan, pianist Eddie Bullen and   pannist Garrett Burgess   are celebrating their Caribbean roots with Halifax fans with a performance of classics from Ryan’s Caribbean songbook. They are paying homage to some of their musical heroes and highlighting the connections

Black History Month  The # 22 Willie Coin Is Worth $20 And Sells For A C-Note Art Bites: By Stephen Weir: Fresh on last week’s announcement that Canada Post has issued a new stamp to honour Black History Month, the Royal Canada Mint matched their Ottawa crosstown rivals by releasing a $20 pure silver coin in tribute to Willie O’Ree , the first Black hockey player to appear in the National Hockey League.    Willie O'Ree's determination to play at the highest level of professional hockey has inspired generations of Black players to carve their own paths as NHL legends.   “The Mint is delighted to immortalize his special place in history on a skillfully crafted silver coin," explained Marie Lemay, President of the Royal Canadian Mint. O’Ree had a very short NHL career – just 43 games with the Boston Bruins –  but that was all it took to take down the NHL colour barrier and open the doors for Black players.  He was called up as a short-term replacement player in 1958 and agai

Opening Saturday at North Toronto’s Meridian Arts Centre Eddie Grant photo of PM Manley Way back in the 70s and 80s a quintet of Caribbean Canadian photojournalists were literarily the Ears, Eyes and Voice of Toronto’s many hard-hitting community newspapers!  Press photographs taken by Jules Elder, Eddie Grant, Diane Liverpool, Al Peabody and Jim Russell are on display beginning Saturday at the Meridian Arts Centre in North Toronto as part of Black History Month celebrations in the city. This free exhibition, presented by TO Live, brings together important historic works by the five “shooters”. Their combined collection of photographs is a rare pictorial record of newspaper stories that covered the evolving history of the community. Ears, Eyes, Voice bring back both good and bad memories from the streets of Toronto. There are pictures of reggae star Peter Tosh at the O’Keefe Centre; Caribana as a giant Blocko on University Avenue, and a large Africa Liberation Day march

--> Big Things Happening In Toronto This February. A Torchy Jully Black - by Jones & Jones At a Harbourfront media event on Monday, a few audience members remarked that Black History Month (BHM) should be moved from February to March this year. Why?   BHM could use the extra two days   - there is just too much happening to see it all in just 29 days. The presser was billed as the TD Black History Month Series Launch and there was a stream of big names on and off the stage.   Hip-hop veteran Maestro Fresh Wes was the ringleader and introduced appearances from top Canadian talent including Jully Black, Tonya Williams and Exco Levi. The launch was part promotional for the city’s February events and the other half was discussion on living the Black experience in Canada.   TD Bank was front and centre on Monday because of their ten-year involvement in funding BHM events including the presser.   Jully Black & Exco Levy - by Jones & Jones There

--> Dance Caribe - the summer version March 2nd - Caribana On Ice -Free Show   By Stephen Weir The Caribana Arts Group (CAG) is planning to kick start the 2019 Carnival season in Toronto with Caribana On Ice , a free outdoor show   designed to compliment Black History Month celebrations .   Panman Pat   Caribana On Ice will be held at Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge Street) on March 2 , starting at 2 p.m.   Organizers say the show will be "a splash of culture, colour, mini Caribana TM  costumes, sweet sounds and lots of energy." “In the past, the CAG has held other Caribana On Ice events, albeit with a more informal approach," event programmer Amah Harris told the Caribbean Camera. “This year we have designed what one could described as a ‘mini’ Caribana on  the  ice presentation.” The show features Dance Caribe   and the Drumming Ensemble . Also on the showbill is veteran pannist/calypsonian Panman Pat  with   his “Pan-Aro