Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  "It is for all the marbles" $23 Billion and climbing By Stephen Weir Even though very little news has surfaced in the press about a forthcoming Black Action Lawsuit in Toronto on October 28, that doesn’t mean it isn’t huge. A class action lawsuit has been filed in the Federal Court of Canada on behalf of Black Canadians working for the Public Service of Canada, and it’s for all the marbles—$23 billion worth and growing. “This lawsuit is seeking long-term solutions to permanently address systemic racism and discrimination in the Public Service of Canada,” explains Toronto lawyer Courtney Betty, the lead counsel for the Black class action lawsuit. The lawsuit addresses systemic racism in the Public Service of Canada, targeting self-identifying Black individuals who either applied for employment with the Public Service and were denied entry due to their race or those who were employed but denied promotions on the same grounds. This includes current employees as well as those w...

 RESIGNATIONS BRING REFLECTION TO FMC After 17 years of "dedicated involvement" with the Festival Management Committee (FMC), Accountant Eddison Doyle has made "the difficult decision" to step down from his position as CFO.  This time, he says, it is a permanent choice driven by personal reasons and the belief that it is the right time for him to move on. Despite the timing being close to the upcoming grand parade, Doyle is confident that his departure will pave the way for success and foster a more collaborative and communicative organization. He extends his best wishes to the FMC, expressing gratitude for the hard work of the board, CEO, and festival general manager.  As one of the founding directors alongside Joe Halstead and Courtney Betty, Doyle takes immense pride in the organization's achievements, including 17 years of clean audits, a cumulative surplus, and the successful implementation of the Black Business Educational Program (BBEP) which he spearhead...

Toronto marks Bob Marley’s 77th Birthday Eight-community leader to receive  Bob Marley Day Humanitarian Awards    Toronto City Council has proclaimed February 6th, Bob Marley Day in Toronto.  This is the 31st time that the city has honoured the late great Jamaican musician.  In previous years there have been public events held to mark the Reggae star’s birthday, this year it will be recorded at A Different Booklist Cultural Centre - The People's Residence and broadcast on YouTube at 3pm.   After the Proclamation issued by Mayor John Tory is read, we will honour this year’s recipients of the Bob Marley Humanitarian Award. Bookstore owner and author Itah Sadu will read from her book, a children’s story about how a new Canadian youngster makes friends with his principal over their mutual love for Bob Marley. We will also have a presentation on the progress o...

  Detective Constable Neil Dixon  Four officers gave Zoom testimony about systemic racism within the York Regional Police Force   By Stephen Weir : It was Canada Day; 2018,  Detective Constable Neil Dixon  was at work at the York Regional Police Headquarters in Aurora.  He was in civilian clothes (and wearing a police issued weapon)  when he and a fellow armed Black officer took an almost fatal lunch break. The pair visited the Popeye cop favourite restaurant two blocks from Police Headquarters.  When he left, he believes that he was  almost shot by members of his York Force who didn’t believe the Jamaican Canadian man was a fellow officer even after showing badges, and the police issued car they were about to get in. “ I thought to myself, I’m going to die today,” Dixon recalled, after testifying this morning (Wednesday) at a York Regional Police Board ( YRPSB ) meeting.   He is  a 19-year veteran  is currently on leave as a r...

Art Bites:  Happy Birthday Bob! One Love Wishes From The 6Ix.  Saturday was Bob Marley Day in the city of Toronto. For the 30th year in a row, the city has issued an official proclamation in honour of Jamaica’s reggae icon. Marley, who was born on February 6th, 1945 died in 1981, is honoured around the globe on the 6th for his music and his legacy of promoting peace.  “ Bob Marley always tried to use his influence to help tear down the walls of apartheid and promote unity,” said John Tory, the mayor of Toronto, as he read the city proclamation on camera ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQwcfgBR_IU&feature=youtu.be ). “Today his music continues to inspire and uplift people throughout the world.” Every year the Bob Marley Day Committee holds a ceremony in Toronto to mark February 6th.  During the ceremony the committee, headed up by Toronto lawyer Courtney Betty, always recognize individuals for their contribution in “building our City and our country.” In 2021,...

Lloyd Delpratt at the microphone   BOB MARLEY’S MESSAGE STILL STIR IT UP By Stephen Weir  Lloyd Delpratt, one of Bob Marley’s first recording studio keyboardists, spoke at a City Hall ceremony to proclaim February 6 th Bob Marley Day in Toronto.   The musician remembered the famed   late Jamaican singer as a major eagle, a man who soared above everyone, everywhere. “ Even though he has passed, he has never gone away,” Delpratt told a hush audience. Bob reached out (from beyond the grave) to help me find away.” “ I remember I was in Italy and Bob came to me in a dream. I didn’t know then he was sick but when he lay his head in my lap I tried to heal him,” he continued.   “ I saw him later at a concert in Europe and I could tell in his voice that he was very sick.   (At that point I understood my dream.)” Delpratt was one of 8 people with life experiences that   tie in with the message of the late Jamaican superstar spoke at the Annual Bo...

Minister Audley Shaw  Jamaican Minister of Agriculture in Toronto To Meet Canada's Business Community Today By Stephen Weir / Caribbean Camera newspaper Audley Shaw Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries will be speaking Thursday night to Canada’s business community about Jamaica’s move to become the Medical Marijuana Hub of the World. The Minister’s visit is being orchestrated by Timeless Herbal Care, a Canadian Jamaican producer of medical marijuana products and Bay Street’s Gravitas Financial Inc.    The Jamaican delegation will also be meeting with banks, the Federal government and companies involved within Canada’s medical marijuana industry. Minister Shaw told the Caribbean Camera yesterday that    “Medical Marijuana is one of the fastest growing sectors in medicine globally.    Jamaica must take its rightful place at the forefront of this significant industry with our own indigenous product that has outsta...

Story Has Impact In Canada Too.     By Stephen Weir - Caribbean Camera On Friday morning Timeless Herbal Care Ltd held a press conference in Kingston, Jamaica to announce that it has recently received its license to grow and harvest medical marijuana in Jamaica.  Timeless Herbal Care is a Jamaican company run by Toronto lawyer Courtney Betty.  Former Ontario premier Ernie Eves is on the company’s board. Timeless Herbal Care  (THC) has received a  Tier One Ganja Cultivator Licence  from a new agency of Jamaica’s Ministry of Industry Commerce Agriculture and Fisheries, in New Kingston.THC is one of the first companies to be awarded a commercial licence by the Jamaican Government.  My story in today's Caribbean Camera According to Timeless President Courtney Betty “This completes the cornerstone of the Green Gold Triangle with Timeless operations and partners in Jamaica, Israel and Canada.      In ...

. Bass Player f or Barrett Brackin and the Band who performed at the event  Today is Bob Marley Day in both Kingston, Jamaica and Toronto Canada. (The rest of the world is jealous) (article for Diversity Business Network website) Rowan Barrett - Basketball Canada  It was one  One Love in the Toronto City Council chambers this morning as the councillor Michael Thompson proclaimed February 6 th , Bob Marley Day in Toronto. There was  live music and dub poetry in City Hall following the proclamation and the Bob Marley Committee made 8 Bob Marley humanitarian award presentations to eight well-known Torontonians “ This marks the 22nd year that the  City of Toronto has official declared Bob Marley Day (which began with former Mayor Art Eggleton),” said Courtney Betty, Chairperson of the Bob Marley Day Committee . “  Bob Marley said One Love .  So, each year we take time to honour the best of the best, people - acting in t...