Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Christmas Comes Early for Toronto Festivals—But Not the Caribbean Carnival BY STEPHEN WEIR More than 80 Toronto festivals received $1.6 million in funding through the city’s new Special Events Stabilization Initiative (SESI). Announced two weeks ago, the program supported major events like the Santa Claus Parade, Toronto Pride Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, Luminato, JerkFest, and the Toronto Jazz Festival. Last week, reporter Stephen Weir obtained the full list of funded events. While festivals like Afrofest ( $44,080 ), JerkFest ( $91,450 ), and Afro-Carib Fest ( $22,370 ) made the cut, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival—a massive cultural draw and one of the city’s most financially strained events—received nothing. Signature Carnival events like the Grande Parade, King and Queen competition, and Pan Alive were all excluded. In contrast, the Pride Parade and Santa Claus Parade each received $ 100,000 , while Luminato was granted $83,000. Even the Harbourfront Centre’s Canada Day Soul ...

  Looking at our New Year’s incoming messages   By Stephen Weir The Premier probably used a speech writer. Some, from the looks of what they wrote, had help from bartenders and/or friends lying under the tables. Letters, oh yes we did get letters, emails, and texts, and videos and phone messages last Sunday night. In fact, readers are still sending me New Years’ Greetings, but now in 2023 most of what we see arrives from the Internet.  But no matter how the messages got on our computer screen, the thoughts and prayers continue to be the same year after year after year. Hope. Love. Peace. Oh yes and “Let’s Lose Weight” and “Exercise!”  And me? 2021 and 2022 was pretty horrible time for me.   Here's wishing 2023 is going to be different! As Curwin Baptiste posted just after the big ball dropped “I say let us get back to Basics, if you want to stop smoking, smoke a half a pack, not a full pack. Liming and enjoying each other company and stop taking and m...

How Are The Royals Doing During This Virus Shutdown? By Stephen Weir No, we don’t mean Prince Charles (but we do wish him a speedy recovery) we are talk about the Kings and Queens of the Caribbean.  For the past few days we have been texting and checking the Facebook and Instagram accounts of people who have name recommendation with Caribbean Camera readers! After communicating with more than 20 people who are currently in solitary confinement, we can tell you, that most of our Royals are just like us.  Busy on social media. Eating too much.  Exercising too little. Jai Ojah (l) – King of Caribbean Radio - just at home de cluttering painting and walking playing my records at night. Basically my keeping in touch with friends and family. Enjoying my record collection on my turntable. Destra, Queen of Bacchanal (r)  – On Facebook, the famous Trinidadian Soca singer posted a 1970s era British comedy TV skit of a spinster who accidently sprays Crazy Glue on her c...

Machel Montano on stage at last year's Atlantic Carnival Costume Launch The Atlantic Will Make A Big Wave When It Comes Ashore at the Toronto Harbour on May 25th By Stephen Weir Atlantic Carnival, one of the newest mas bands taking part in the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival Parade, isn’t going to be competing in this year’s massive August 3rd event.   That doesn’t mean you won’t see them out on the road, or hosting their signature gigantic mas costume launch – they have been granted special non-competing status in the 2019 carnival despite being banned from the parade! The Caribbean Camera has learned that the Festival Management Committee – the owners of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival – has just changed the structure of the parade itself.   They have decided to allow a number of Mas Bands to sell costumes to revellers and go down the road with the other competing bands while avoiding the judging process.   The bands are also exempted from taking part i...