Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

The Walt Grealis Award The last Hurrah for Denise Jones at the Juno Awards In May By Stephen Weir : She was the cornerstone of the Jamaican Canadian community and is about to receive her just rewards at a special ceremony in Toronto in May. The national Juno Music Award will be posthumously honouring the late Denise Jones with the 2022 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award. The Award will be broadcast live on CBC/Gem Television, streamed on cbc.ca/juno and on Ontario Place’s Budweiser Stage. It showcases the Juno Opening Night ceremonies this May14th. The Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award recognizes individuals whose work has significantly impacted the growth and development of the Canadian music industry. Named after the publisher and co-founder of the JUNO Awards, the Award kicks off the 6-day festival. Denise Jones  was  one of the most influential voices in Canada’s Black entertainment community  for the past 30-years . Jones, who passed in December 2020  of brain cancer , sp

Tribute to the Legends of Reggae By Stephen Weir Denise Jones announces Tribute line-up at BHM launch   The exciting thing about Black History Month is that it brings to this country Caribbean entertainer who might not normally tour in a cold cold Canadian winter.   On Saturday February 16 th and Sunday February 17 th there will be Tribute to the Legends of Reggae performed first in Brampton and then in Montreal, with over 30 singers, comedians and musicians including Jamaica’s Lieutenant Stitchie, Tiger, Pinchers and Canada’s Exco Levi. The Tribute will be performed first at the 600-seat Rose Theatre in downtown Brampton on Saturday night (doors open 7pm).   On Sunday the show takes to the road for a performance in Quebec at the Jamaica Association of Montreal Hall, 4065 Jean-Talon West.   “ Yes it will be a party of 30 who will ride in a luxury coach to Montreal to warm up the Belle Province with dancehall lyrics and rhythms,” promoter Denise Jones told the Ca

Model Beverlyn Asante wears golden headdress by Dawn Grant Black History Month: No Time To Sleep.  Events almost every hour of the day for 28 days straight By Stephen Weir It’s not a big secret – Toronto is about to become the epicentre for the country’s most important Black History events this February. At a press conference on Tuesday, Black History Month organizers and key officials from the Toronto Dominion Bank unveiled a record number of 90+ different February events that will occur for the most part in the GTA. The presser was held at A Different Booklist Cultural Centre on Bathurst Street. It was a full-house with radio, television and print journalist on hand to learn about all-things-Black beginning next week. Damcers' Duet Inside The A Different Booklist's Community Centre Music. Fashion. History. Food. Performance.  There is a mammoth formal gala, crazy good concerts and small unique happenings for 28 days in a row.  It all begins next

JAMBANA One World Festival is moving to two indoor Brampton venues Denise Jones Jambana, the annual August long-weekend Reggae and Roots festival, has loaded up the truck and is moving from the Markham Fairgrounds to two venues in Brampton.   For its 10 th anniversary, the August 5th & 6th   outdoor festival has not only moved cities but is also heading indoors! “ It is a big step for us to move Jambana from a big field (the Markham Fairgrounds) to fully serviced indoor halls,” Denise Jones, Executive Producer of JAMBANA One World Festival told the Caribbean Camera in an interview last week.   “ There are some huge pluses to this. We are moving to a city where we have produced a number of very successful Reggae events. Brampton has a real hunger for Jambana, and now that we are heading indoors, there is no need for people to drag along their lawn chairs and umbrellas to the see the shows.” Launched in 2008 Jambana, One World Festival is the GTA’s pre