Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Jai Ojha-Maharaj is back playing sweet Caribbean music to the World! B y Stephen Weir The Dean of Soca Music on the Toronto airwaves is back! Two weeks ago Sunday morning radio host JaiOjah-Maharaj once again got behind the microphone and started playing the sweet sounds of Soca and Calypso Music. The Caribbean Connection Radio Show with Jai is not being heard on Toronto’s CHIN radio station, his home for 30-years, but on the MyCarribeanRadio -- the Trinidadian Super Soca online radio station. “The actual show is originating out of a private studio in Toronto’s west-end” Ojah told me in a recent phone interview. “We are going to video stream at a later date, so in the short-term it will be just radio. To hear me listeners (anywhere in the world) must log on towww.mycaribbeanradio.com Sundays 10am to 2 pm beginning Sunday.” Jai Ojha-Haharaj    was the host and producer of the original Caribbean Connection Radio Show that for 30 years was the mainstay of weekend pr

Costume Launch Season To Hit Toronto Really Soon By Stephen Weir Put away the parkas and break out the feathers and glitter.   Toronto Caribbean Carnival' s Band Launch Season is about to begin. The Caribbean Camera has received details about the when, where and hows for nine Mas Camp band launches that will be held this March, April and May in Toronto.   Although not all the details have been released to us, it is clear that the Mas Camps are planning larger, more elaborate themed costume fetes than in 2019. Last year eleven bands held costume launches, this year there are two notable bands missing from the current list is  Michael Williams'   D New Regulars and Forever Carnival and Atlantic Mas . Traditionally D'  Regulars are one of the last bands to announce and stage a launch, so we expect to learn soon about their spring event. Atlantic Mas is usually one of the first to announce; in 2018 Atlantic Mas brought Machel Montano from Trinidad to perf

--> Birthday Message – No Talk of Retirement Until Louis Saldenah wins his 20 th Carnival Band of the Year title. By Stephen Weir Toronto, ON ...  It was a Carnival birthday party for the ages! Louis Saldenah, the most winning bandleader in Canada, used the R word only once while talking to the Caribbean Camera on Friday night at his birthday bash at the Windies Bar and Restaurant in Scarborough.   “ I’m 68 today and I am feeling great but you know I could easily walk away from all of this” he said.” But there are a few things I HAVE to do before I retire and turn it over to my (adult) children.” Louis Saldenah, the Trinidadian born bandleader of the Mas K Camp immigrated to this country 48 years ago. He brought to Canada a family winning tradition of mas. His famous father, Harold ‘Sally’ Saldenah, was one of Trinidad’s most successful bandleaders. 
 40 years ago, Louis Saldenah launched his first Toronto mas costume band (Shangri-La) and promptly won Car

Toronto   Caribbean Carnival Costume Fashion Shows The feathers, the fishnet stockings, the tights and the angel wings have been put away and now it’s the children’s turn to show their stuff on stage.  Now that  the eleven Toronto Mas Bands have held their late night costume launches,  it is time weekend costume daytime launches for children wanting to take part in this year’s Junior Carnival and Family Day. The costumes that are being shown in the Mas Camps are what youngsters will be wearing when they take part in the Junior Parade. Often called the Kiddies Costume Parade, the event is put on the by Toronto’s Mas Bands and volunteers from the Toronto Caribbean Carnival and will be held on Saturday July 21 st at Neilson Park in Scarborough.  Over the past weekend two large Mas Camps staged parties and fashion show for youngsters and their parents. Both the Toronto Revellers and Carnival Nationz report strong interest from parents and their children in the cost