Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Kim Nelson – taking names, firing old White men and walking over Indigenous students Review by Stephen Weir   Kim Nelson For white men of a certain age, 2020 is a scary time when teaching an old man new tricks means putting him out to pasture.  In Tarragon Theatre’s new play, This Was the World, Kim Nelson is the young quiet woman who manages to take names, fire a an aging legal superstar and stomp over an indigenous students private affairs. Nelson a relative newcomer to the Toronto theatre scene is the quiet force in this small play about gossip war between Boomer white privilege and her generation’s seething millennial rage. “This play is about how its characters deal with change and loss of status or privilege (or what is sometimes called white fragility),” explains playwright Ellie Moon.  “I believe that it is worth exploring the ordinariness and the consequences of  White fragility.”   This Was the World, Kim Nelson &  Dakota Ra...

Family and Friends of Charley Roach hold up the Charley Roach Lane sign   Massive turnout for unveiling of Charley Roach Lane  By Stephen Weir, Caribbean Camera The City held an early evening traffic stopping celebration in the memory of the late community activist Charley Roach on Wednesday, July 18th. Over 400 people jammed a small laneway stopping traffic on Rushton Road and briefly on St Clair Avenue West, to take part in the unveiling of the newly renamed Charley Roach Lane! Charley Roach was born on September 18, 1933, in the community of Belmont in Trinidad and Tobago. He and his first wife Hetty, immigrated to Canada in 1955 and eventually in Ontario where he studied law at the University of Toronto. Councillor Joe and Sunset take cover off sign As a newly minted human rights lawyer, he quickly became a leader in Toronto's growing black community. He defended the rights of Caribbean nannies, challenged racial pr...

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 Sas...

--> The late Charles Roach, Mas Model and the Honourable Jean Augstine at 2011 Caribana Gala, Toronto City of Toronto is naming St Clair West laneway after the father of Caribana By Stephen Weir In two weeks times 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...

. Leaving the Vampire Rules Behind Will Condo Owners Flex their electoral muscle this October? Edited Version Of This Story To Appear In Torontoist October 25 By Stephen Weir When it comes to talking politics in most condo buildings, Vampire rules are in effect … no politician can cross the threshold unless invited in and best that they come after dark. Hundreds of thousands of voters in the GTA keep their crypts in condominiums – is this the October that a stake is driven through the heart of the condo group apathy towards all things political, and this block of voters takes its rightful place in the sunlight? Some high profile city candidates including both mayoral and city council seat seekers, wonder and worry whether 2010 is the year that condo owners exercise their franchise. A fledging condo association has flagged civic issues that condo owners should take an interest in, and a veteran NDP MPP has once again introduced a private member’s bill that, in effect, will create a c...