Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  Toronto Caribbean Carnival Kicks Off  with HOT  HOT HOT Launch Event everybody loved Olivia Unedited news story by sweir: Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square came alive on a scorching hot day as the 56th Caribbean Carnival was officially launched on Tuesday. The vibrant atmosphere was filled with excitement as approximately 2,000 enthusiastic audience members gathered to celebrate the rich Caribbean culture. The event took place at Toronto City Hall, where a jampacked list of speakers and performers graced the outdoor stage. The ceremony was hosted by CTV Nathan Downer and CP24's Jessica Smith, who successfully wrangled the line-up of speakers. Among them was Jennifer Hirleheym, the new Chair of the Festival Management Committee, who kicked off the proceedings with an extensive review of the exciting changes and improvements for this year's festival. "We pride ourselves in creating a welcoming, safe environment for this shared celebration of Caribbean culture," Hir...

400 reasons to listen to Reggae Music out front of the American Consulate!  Atlantic Mas puts on  carnival style BLM demonstration  By Stephen Weir for the Caribbean Camera In Toronto this year’s Fourth of July was marked with a Caribbean style protest parade through the downtown streets. And, maybe because a Mas Camp from the Toronto Caribbean Carnival organized the event, this was a protest that managed to score important political points along with a good dash of Jump Up. The Atlantic Mas bandleader Akil Heywood spoke to the media in an hour-long media scrum outside of the Toronto city hall last Saturday morning. There have been many Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations in Toronto this year, but Heywood noted to the Caribbean Camera that there has been little or no representation from the Caribbean community.  Turn up the Soca and Reggae music that all changed after the media scrum ended and the afternoon protest march began. Talk about a demonstration...

Canada’s best Caribbean Canadian Photographers To Be Featured in City Hall Exhibition By Stephen Weir A new Toronto City Hall photography show isn’t part of this year’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival, but, the photographers who belong to the Canadian Caribbean Photography Arts Collective (CCPAC) couldn’t have a picked a better time or place to show revellers their award winning carnival inspired work. The free week-long exhibition,  Beyond the Carnival – A Photography Exhibition Edition 2  – will be hanging when the Toronto Caribbean Carnival has its very public noon-hour July 9 th  launch on Nathan Phillips Square, right outside of their exhibition!   The show will hang in the foyer of the Queen Street City Hall from July 7 to July 14. The artists will be available throughout the one-week run of the exhibition to talk about their work.    Last summer the group had a show at the Scarborough Town Hall as part of the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival – t...

 THE 44th SCOTIABANK TORONTO CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL IS OFFICIALLY JUMPIN' UP !!! Successful Media Event: 75 media registered.  35 costumed Mas Dancers.  50 musicians. 15 cameras (TV, film makers and web based broadcasters), 5 radio stations and just one daily newspaper -- the Toronto Star!  Big Events? Mayor Ford danced with Mas Dancer and cut a special cake.  Michael Chan and Chief Bill Blair spoke at the opening. There was a silent protest by the Caribana Arts Group, owners of the Caribana trade mark.  Their protest signs didn't really explain why they were there (and the typos got a few laughs) giving it a minor role in a big event. Councillor Michael Thomson, Chris Alexander, Mayor Ford and Denise Herrera Jackson Jamaican Sprinter was introduced to auidence The CEO of Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Denise Herrera-Jackson, is interviewed by  Nathan Downer (CP-24)  live from Nathan Phillips Square  This pres...