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Brampton debut for the Freedom  Mas Band of the Toronto Carnival By Stephen Weir. Pictures by Des Photography This early bird didn’t get any worms, Johanna Grant, got something significantly better.  By holding her new Freedom Mas Band costume launch on Sunday she won bragging rights to being the first Band to hold a launch for Carnival 2022 and also the first band to open their Mas Camp doors and start making masquerade outfits. She set a couple of other milestones on the weekend. Her new band is the only group that will be based in the city of Brampton, and proudly waving the Black, Green and Gold down Lakeshore Blvd in Toronto's Grand Parade on Saturday July 30 th. “After a 16 years hiatus, the Jamaican Band is back, fully equipped with costumes to give revellers the full  carnival experience ,” said Johanna Grant shortly after the day long fete ended. “   We are excited to bring back the Jamaican culture to the Toronto Carnival formally known as Caribana!” “...

No Cuss Cuss: All One-Love for Louise Bennett-Coverley  Photos and Story by Stephen Weir for Caribbean Camer a Tania Hernandes channels Miss Lou A Thursday evening Harbourfront event to promote a coming book and movie about the life of the Jamaican Canadian Miss Lou began with actress singer Tania Hernandez channeling the poet with the recital of her Noh Lickle Twang .   Wearing a costume befitting Miss Lou and using the pantomime acting style she was known for, Hernandez and several other guests spoke in the   patois that only a born and raised in Jamaica can fully understand. Noh Lickle Twang is one of Miss Lou’s ( Louise Bennett Coverley ) most beloved poems.   It tells a mother’s story of the return of her son to Jamaica after working in the US for six months. She is upset, in a humorous way that the prodigal son has returned without leaving his “patwah” behind. “Yuh mean yuh go dah Merica An spen six whole mont deh, An come back not a piece...