Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Venom's Snake Eyes - Launch attracts over 1,000 revellers By Stephen Weir More than 80 reptilian mas' models slithered, slinked and strutted onto a huge V-shaped stage in Toronto early Sunday morning. Despite a very late start, the models put on a fashion show that wowed the more than 1,000 people who crammed into the Grand Cinnamon Banquet & Convention Centre on McNicoll Avenue   in Scarborough for the Venom Mas' costume launch. Dubbed the "venomous show,"   it was a non-stop parade of models wearing the briefest of costumes.   Two human lizards stood on stage throughout show, wagging long red tongues at the crowd.   There was even a section that outfitted their male and female models with "snake eye" contact lenses.    And was the show sexy? It was bare as you dare time from 1.30 a.m. to 3 p.m.   (The show was due to start before midnight). “Extremely happy with the show. A true testament of the hard work   of our band

Two stories about two Toronto Mas Bands Launching On Same Night Reveller's Treasure Island costumes - from Reveller's FB Reveller's Treasure Map Says Launch is in North Toronto this Saturday Early last month the Toronto Revellers announced that their 2019 costume launch will be held this Saturday night in Toronto.  The theme for the costumed fete is Treasure Island. The Saturday night date puts the Revellers into head-to-head competition with the launch previously advertised for Fantazia.  Fantazia and their flaming phoenix logo announced a later start-time for their fashion show (12.30am) for the carnival die-hards it might be possible to catch both events. Jamaal - picture by Stephen Weir "Please join us Saturday April 6, as Toronto Revellers unveil our beautiful costumes for 2019 Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival," wrote  the band founder Jamaal Magloire. The Revellers will be holding their launch at the York Mills Gallery on Leslie

--> Brother Can You Spare Me A Dime? By Stephen Weir In terms of prize purses, David Chariandy's novel Brother, is now one of the the most successful Canadian fiction title ever. Last night shortly after the Caribbean Camera went to print, the former Scarborough writer won UK's Windham-Campbell Prize of $165,000 US ($220,000) for his 2017 book about two young Trinidadian brothers growing up in a tough part of Toronto. "I was floored by the news! And for some time, I didn’t dare believe my fortune," said Chariandy last night. "The Windham-Campbell Prize offers a life-changing opportunity to devote time and energy to writing. I am humbled and profoundly grateful to be counted among the recipients." Chariandy grew up in Toronto's diaspora; he now lives and teaches in Vancouver. His debut novel, Soucouyant, was nominated for many prizes and won the Gold Independent Publisher Award for Best Novel.  Brother, his second novel, won th

In Trinidad These Toronto Angels Walk Softly And Carry A Big Cheque By Stephen Weir Tony Chankar was a hard man to track down this Christmas holiday. The Scarb orough printer and community leader was in Trinidad visiting family and literally out everyday of his trip spreading the love on behalf of Toronto’s UNI-TNT with those in need. It took three-days of trying before we connected by phone. “Well today we gave $15,000 TT to the RapidFire Kidz Foundation here in Trinidad and Tobago” said Mr. Chankar. “This money, which we raised in Toronto, is helping the kids who are in the hospital over the holidays at the San Fernando General Hospital. It is Trinidad’s big hospital and there is a real need.” “We did a presentation today to the organization which gives presents and baskets to everyone in the Children’s ward. RapidFire is a church driven charitable foundation in Trinidad that has been doing outstanding work in the community for a number of years.” Tony Chankar and his

X Marks The Spot For Last Big Fete Before Christmas   By Stephen Weir for the Caribbean Camera   The X-factor at last weekend’s Sagi Time fete was an early early Sunday morning performance by raising Soca star Olatunji. The Trinidadian singer flew into Canada just hours before taking to the stage in Toronto to entertain a room filled with his fans. With the holidays almost here, the  annual Sagi Time (short for Sagitarius Time) had a near full house for the last big bash before Christmas. Held at the Eglington East Latvian Community the fete combined good food, Trinidadian and Canadian performers and a well used large dance floor.   Trinidad's Olatunji Olantunji  (Edward Yearwood) earned global recognition when he won Trinidad's  International Soca Monarch in 2015, after singing his blockbuster single "Ola” (which he sang at Sagi Time). In September he was a contestant on the UK X Factor  and competed on the wildly popular televised show before being elimina