Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Celebration of Life and Memory of Don Moreland - photo by  Anthony Berot Amazing support: Don Moreland’s legacy lives on in Sunday’s Celebration of Life and Memory gathering By Stephen Weir Thanks to his ever present ladder, Don Moreland was a giant among photographers, and even more than that for the   annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival.   The popular photographer passed away January 18 as the result of a heart attack. On Sunday his family, friends and supporters gathered at a Dundas Street We Legion Hall to celebrate his life and legacy. Don’s partner of 22 years, Susanna Noel and her sons and daughters and his brother and sister welcomed over a 100 guests and well wishers to the afternoon event.   “Today Don would have turned 59,” said Susanna Noel “ So let’s all wish him Happy Birthday.”   Don Moreland - Facebook photo “(Don) was a beacon for all to see and admire. Bold and confident, his was a tenacious soul whose radiance was so grand his encouragement made yo

Charles Roach’s name soon to take to the street. City of Toronto names St Clair West laneway after the father of Caribana By Stephen Weir Caribbean Camera In one week the late Charley Roach will have his name immortalized on a mid-town Toronto alley.    The City of Toronto is about to give name to a small laneway in the St. Clair Avenue West neighbourhood where the late prominent human rights lawyer, artist, musician and a founding father of Caribana, worked. The City will be holding the laneway celebration in the memory of Charley Roach on Wednesday, July 18th at 7pm.    Hosting the event will be local Councilor Joe Mihevc. The soon-to-be Charles Roach Lane, is just north of St. Clair Avenue and runs from Feel Good Lane east to Rushton Road.   Charley Roach was born September 18, 1933, in the community of Belmont in Trinidad and Tobago. He and his first wife, Hetty, immigrated to Canada in 1955 and settled in Saskatchewan so that Charle

RAESHA SIROIS  -- 2015’s FACE OF THE FESTIVAL The Face of the Festival Does one have to be born in the West Indies to have Carnival Fever? It certainly cannot hurt! Raesha Sirois, born in St. James, Trinidad, immigrated to Canada in 1970 and grew up in Scarborough, Ontario. Although she enjoyed a Canadian environment and learned to embrace winter out on the slopes with her snowboard, Trinidadian culture was a great part of her upbringing. This included eating her mother’s Creole cooking, listening to Soca, pan and chutney music, and regular month-long trips down to Trinidad to visit relatives in the summer. Raesha played clarinet in the Toronto parang group, La Petite Musicale in the late 80s and joined Silhouettes Steel orchestra to play steel pan in 1994.  She is the only known 9-bass player in Canada to own her own set of pans and currently plays with Pan Fantasy Steel band, led by 2015 Harry Jerome award winner, Wendy Jones. A full-time dental hygienist for 22

Calvin Taylor - by Stephen Weir New Man At The Head Of Parade Calvin Taylor joins Festival Management Committee (FMC) as the Parade Operations Manager for the Scotia Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2015 season.  He is a Canadian Citizen, born in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.   Calvin attended Sheridan College where he completed a course in Electronics Engineering Technician.  With these credentials and his self motivated drive for success he pursued a very lucrative career in Information Technology Sales, Earning numerous top sales awards along the way. As a former North American Federation of Musicians booking agent, he booked many Caribbean acts into Toronto for the Caribbean season over the years. Calvin is no stranger to planning big events.  In 1986 he and a group of investors held a major event at the Varsity Arena called MULTY MUSIC 86.  It featured very popular bands like FireFlight, Messenger, Pryme Tyme, Dominica Swinging Stars and the most popular artiste

Justin Trudeau stopped by the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival BBQ One Year Later,  One Liberal Learns To Dance To A Soca Beat It is carnival time in the city of Toronto.  Soca Music. Mas. Calypso. A million people in the hot and hot streets. More media than at the G20.  For Federal Liberals,  the world famous Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival, has always had a  huge publicity attraction.  It is sometimes their PR Waterloo. And while Martha Reeves does say that  summer is here and the time is right for dancing in the street, it doesn't mean that a politician just has to show up to be instantly seen as being one with the people. It was a year ago, that Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, rented a bus and rolled into town for what was then called Scotiabank Caribana.  He had a steel pan orchestra and champion calypso singer,  Macomere Fifi in tow.  They barnstormed the festival, entertaining the crowds with long speeches, soca and calypso music and spectacularly bad dancing.