Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Saldenah Carnival's Free Kiddies Launch: Celebrating the Parade's Future 2022 section photo for last year's Kiddies launch As the anticipation builds for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival’s highly anticipated Grand Parade, the spotlight is also shining on the upcoming July 22nd Kiddies Parade, a beloved tradition that celebrates the young participants and offers a glimpse into the vibrant world of masquerade.  With the aim of fostering a sense of camaraderie and introducing children to the rich traditions of carnival, the Saldenah Carnival’s annual Kiddies Launch is set to take place on Sunday, May 28th at 280 Consumers Rd Unit 344 in Scarborough. Hayden Harbin, Saldenah Carnival's organizer, emphasizes the significance of the Kiddies Parade, stating, "The Kiddies Parade is just as important as the Grand Parade that the Big Kids take part in. They are the parade's future."  Harbin encourages parents to bring their children to the free mas camp launch this Sun

Music, Dancing and Stunning Carnival Costume Fashion Show At Midnight  photo by Gilbert Median Toronto was buzzing with excitement over the weekend as two of the city’s biggest masquerade bands, Tribal Carnival and Carnival Nationz, held their highly anticipated costume launches. On Friday night, the Grand Luxe Hall was transformed into a magical wonderland as Tribal Carnival’s sold-out event with the theme “Once Upon A Time” took place. Each of the band’s 11 sections presented costumes that told a different magical story, ranging from Jab Jab to Swan Lake. The event was a massive success, with 50% of the costumes being sold on the night. On Saturday night, the Tam Heather Curling and Tennis Club in Scarborough played host to Carnival Nationz’s launch. The band has been a part of the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival for 18 years, and this year’s theme was “Let’s Go Around the World in 100 Days.” A total of 17 sections modeled their stunning costumes, which will be worn during the Augu

 SANDRA BREWSTER NOW A FINALIST IN $60,000 CANADIAN PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD The Toronto Guyanese community is cheering onn Sandra Brewster, one of the three finalists for the 2023 Scotiabank Photography Award, Canada's largest and most prestigious annual peer-nominated prize for photographic art.   Brewster, who was born to Guyanese parents, is known for her work in drawing, video, photo-based works, and installation that explore themes of identity and representation. Her art is in demand by some of the world's top galleries, and her public sculpture "A Place to Put Your Things" is currently on view at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Sandra Brewster works in drawing, video, photo-based works, and installation. Her themes focus on identity and representation, and movement in the depiction of gesture resulting in a re-presentation of the portrait. She uses specific landscapes as metaphors, and manipulates old photographs to centre the people within them. NINA SIMONE BY BREWST

  And So It Begins. Photographer Anthony Berot Is Comin’ ANTHONY BEROT WITH BANDLEADER PHOTOS - BY SWEIR By Stephen Weir   Anthony Berot has already covered two costume launches in the past week, an FMC open house and is already getting his gear ready for a busy busy April. The EPIC carnival and SunLime launches are in the books and Jamaal Magloire’s Revellers launch at the Grand Luxe  coming up this weekend. The official photographer of the 2023 Toronto Caribbean Carnival figures this his 13 th  year taking pictures of the festival formally known as Caribana. A tall fit 70 something man, he is easy to spot at any and ALL carnival happenings. He has his video camera on a tripod, a camera (often two) around his neck, and when the Soca music is blaring he is dancin’ beside and around his gear. The colourful costume launches.  Blockos.  Children’s events. The King and Queen contest, Pan Alive and the Grand Parade. No living photographer in Canada has taken as many carnival pictures as Ant

  Face of the Festival (and a body too!) wanted for 2023  Just as this week’s Caribbean Camera was going to press, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival sent out a call for this year’s Face of the Festival.  The carnival is looking for a  Brand Ambassador to represent the Toronto Caribbean Carnival this summer.   “Are you the next Face of the Festival?” asked festival organizers in the first issue of their new Carnival Insider newsletter.  “ If you think you have the passion, energy, and rhythm to represent what the Toronto Caribbean Carnival is all about, we need you! Register for a chance to become the 2023 Face of the Festival.”    “If you believe carnival is LIFE and believe there is no greater joy than jamming down de road with your section, then we are looking for you. Your duties will include event appearances, event hosting, appearing in social media content, and promoting Toronto Carnival to the world!” reads the newsletter article.   In advertising for the next Face of the Festival

Baboolal has kiddies carnival costume photography show complete with a live mini-parade photo by  Baboolal Will the stuffy old Rosedale neighbourhood ever be the same? On March 10 there will be a small Carnival costume parade where Mas has never gone before … out front the Rosedale United Church. All this month the Rosedale Church on Roxborough Drive (one of the most prestigious streets in the city) is displaying the photographs of carnival photographer Jenny Baboolal, in a show she calls Art of the Mas. The photographs are of children in Mas costumes taking part in Trinidad’s Junior Carnival. In an online newsletter the Church explains the show to its parishoners. “The children ( pictured in Baboolal’s colour photographs) wear their carnival costumes with pride and dance to the music in the company of family and friends.”   “The exhibit allows the viewer to get a close-up look at the masqueraders and the intricacies and splendour of their costumes, so that contemplation of these eleme

  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

  Justin and Me And Trump Make Three (or is it 11?) - THE REDUX By Stephen Weir The gentle tap tap quickly birthed a knock knock followed by a kick kick at the base of my front door. Someone wanted me wide awake, like yesterday. “Hey Dream Boy, rise and shine,” barked a loud voice from the other side of my solid oak front door. Was that a faint Quebecois accent lurking in that military staccato? “ Mange la merde”, I screamed back. I wasn’t going to give up on my disturbing dream without a fight. I know this voice; this man was going to make my morning its own waking nightmare. “ It is Justin, he knows.” My unrequested wake-up service shrieked right back at me. Yes, I was correct, this wasn’t going to end well. “What does His majesty know? And why does he suddenly want to speak to me after the last time?” I turned the volume down a notch, best to find out what the hell I had done before I ended up having to buy a new door. I am a Toronto based news hound who will do anything to get a F

I thought he had quit. Woulda ended the Art Bar Poetry Series record breaking 30-year run Paul Edward Costa at the Clinton House mike @sweirsweir It all began with former Mississauga Poet Laureate  Paul Edward Costa at the mike at the conclusion of last Tuesday night's Art Bar Poetry Series. Two real poets had read their work followed by an hour long Open Mike - ten cell phone readings by members of the 30+ audience. Costa was there to close the show, beg people to put away their trash/chairs, settle their tabs and pitch next week's $10 2-hr show. It was held, as always, in Toronto's Clinton House's (Clinton /Bloor Street) seedy backroom. Perfect for free form poetry; grab your own seat, serve yourself a beer from the stand-up cooler, and try not heckle or jeer the talent.   The weekly volunteer run event has been going for over 30 years. Thought I might have witnessed the last show of this impressive event run - longest in Canada. Costa, the organiser, the photogra