Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  The Queen of Soca Reigns At Harbourfront this weekend By Stephen Weir The Queen of Soca, Destra, is coming to Toronto next week to perform. Don’t look for her on the Lakeshore or at any Carnival events (unless she makes a surprise appearance or two); the Trinidadian singer will be on stage, outdoors at Harbourfront on August 2nd. The Harbourfront Centre will once again host its annual Island Soul event from Aug. 1-5 to showcase all things Caribbean. The extended long-weekend event includes epic evening performances from the queen of Soca, Destra, with DJ Power; dancehall and reggae hits with the legendary Johnny Osbourne; and a night of hilarious laughs with one of North America’s best stand-up comedians, Trixx. New to the mix is the rave-style party Paradise Soul, a day party featuring choice MCs and DJs bringing vibes and spinning tunes from afternoon into the night. Island Soul Lineup: Comedy Night with Trixx and Friends - Aug. 1 at 8pm, tickets starting at $30 North America...

  Amah Harris will blow the whistle on the Emancipation Underground Freedom Train as  Conductor July 31st !,000 riders will get on board Conductor Amah Harris will blow the whistle as the Emancipation Underground Freedom Train lays new tracks from Union Station to Downsview Park Station. Held during Toronto's vibrant Carnival season, this annual moving event celebrates Emancipation Day by bringing together over 1,000 people in a profound display of heritage and unity. This year marks the eleventh collaboration between the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and the Blackhurst Cultural Centre, formerly known as A Different Booklist Cultural Centre. The event offers an immersive underground experience via Toronto’s subway system, symbolizing the historic underground railroad journey. Open to all Canadians, the ride costs only the price of a token, making it an accessible opportunity for reflection and celebration. The Emancipation Day "Underground Freedom Train" Ride begins on...

  Caribbean photograph exhibition is making a Thursday night stop in Whitby By Stephen Weir The Station Gallery in Whitby is hosting a vibrant art exhibit featuring seven renowned Caribbean Canadian photographers, including Anthony Berot, the official photographer of the Caribbean Carnival. The exhibit, titled "Canadian Caribbean Photographic Arts Collective | Beyond the Carnival 6," has been on display all month and will run until August 25, 2024. This evening, Thursday, July 18th, the gallery will come alive with a special welcoming reception from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, featuring the enchanting steel pan drum music of the InfraRed Band. The exhibit showcases the talents of Benjamin Alunyo, Jenny Baboolal, Anthony Berot, Lisa Faure, Ian P. Grant, David Lewis, and Gilbert Medina. As members of the Canadian Caribbean Photographic Arts Collective (CCPAC), their mission is to capture and present images that celebrate Pan-Caribbean culture. The photographers aim to create a lasting...

  After Hurricane Beryl It is Time to get Posh V'GHN According to the last issue of the Caribbean Lifestyle online magazine POSH In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, Caribbean superstar V'GHN is making a significant impact in his homeland of Grenada. His latest release, “Heart of Carnival,” is not only captivating audiences but also channeling proceeds toward ongoing relief efforts in Grenada. According to Posh V'GHN, a talented and compassionate musician born in the Parish of St. Marks, is amplifying awareness for Grenada’s Hurricane Beryl relief efforts. Having once been a victim of a hurricane himself, he felt compelled to use his talent to help his island. "I’m doing this because I am a product of the people, I am for and by the people, especially of my home, Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique," said the singer in the Posh story. "Music has always been my outlet and my safe haven. I just want to use my talent through the music I create to help my p...

  FMC who Run the CCT now have the CCAN! By Stephen Weir Minister Chu and Carnival Kids Late last week Jennifer Michelle Hirlehey, the board chair of the Festival Management Committee (FMC), which oversees the annual Caribbean Carnival in Toronto, issued a statement announcing the formation of the Caribbean Community Advocacy Network (CCAN). Writing in the latest edition of the social media-based Toronto Carnival Insider, Hirlehey commented on the success of last week’s Carnival Launch at the Scarborough Town Centre. All levels of government were present at the launch, and the Board Chair said she is “deeply encouraged by the expressions of support from representatives of the Government at the Federal, Provincial, and Municipal levels,” so much so that the FMC is moving ahead with the creation of this new advocacy arm. What exactly is the new CCAN? Hirlehey explains, “While the FMC and the carnival remain non-political, we are dedicated to promoting socio-political, cultural, and e...

  By Stephen Weir: Pantastic Canada Day Weekend Toronto’s Ambassador of Pan had a busy Canada Day Weekend, teaching library users all about the pan and its history in the city. When she wasn’t at the Northern District Library, she was performing for museum-goers at the Aga Khan Museum. Suzette Vidale is an innovative steelpan artist. With roots from St. Lucia and Trinidad, the home of the steelpan, Suzette has incorporated the rich and vibrant cultures of Toronto into her diverse repertoire. A consummate performer, she came to the Northern District Library just north of the Yonge and Eglinton intersection. Over the course of Saturday, she not only entertained adults, teens, and children with music ranging from Bob Marley classics to David Rudder hits, but she also taught the audience about the history of the steelpan in Trinidad and Canada. Hope Pan Man Pat’s ears are burning—she gave a huge shoutout to one of the pioneers of pan in the city. Kudos went out as well to the electroni...

Shared with Public HE IS FINALLY FREE. Clarence Woodhouse, a 21 year old Indigenous male and member of the Pinaymootang FirstNation, had in 1973 recently moved to Winnipeg from the Fairford Indian Reserve, 240 kilometres north-west of Winnipeg. He had no criminal record and was gainfully employed. On July 22, 1973, he was charged with the brutal murder of a man called Ting Fong Chan, killed by unknown assailants five days earlier on the streets of Winnipeg as he walked home from work. Mr. Woodhouse was not there when Mr. Chan was killed and had no involvement in the homicide. Nevertheless, he was arrested and assaulted and forced to sign a false confession that he had murdered Mr. Chan. Clarence Woodhouse’s co-accused, his brother Russell Woodhouse, Brian Anderson and Allan Woodhouse were also assaulted by members of the Winnipeg Police Service and forced to sign their own confessions to murdering Mr. Chan. All four men proclaimed their innocence, but no one believed them. The nightm...

  Summer Festivities Continue with Jambana One World Festival in Brampton By Stephen Weir Summer doesn’t end once the Toronto Caribbean Carnival grand parade concludes on August 3rd. This year, plans are well underway to welcome the summer of 2024 in Brampton on holiday Monday, August 5th. Jambana One World Festival will be celebrating Emancipation Day at Chinguacousy Park with music, vendors, and Caribbean flavours. This annual outdoor event is free and, as usual, will be a family-friendly occasion running from 1 PM to 9 PM. Since its inception, Jambana has grown and evolved, reflecting Ontario’s diverse cultural tapestry. It has become a premier “Fun For The Family” festival, celebrating the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Caribbean Canadian experience. The brainchild of the Jones and Jones Group, the festival has been an important part of the summer calendar since 2009. The day-long festival will feature captivating live music and dance performances from a variety of talented...

  Caribbean Canadian Poet Wins Big Faith Paré By Stephen Weir Last week, Afro-Guyanese Canadian poet Faith Paré was one of two new writers to win the RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers. She and Nayani Jensen, a writer and historian of science, each received $10,000. Established in memory of writer Bronwen Wallace, the award is administered by the Writer’s Trust. This prize has a proven track record of helping talented developing authors secure their first book deal. Two $10,000 prizes are given annually for outstanding works of unpublished poetry and short fiction. Faith Paré is a storyteller of Afro-Guyanese ancestry who writes poetry, performance pieces, and criticism. Her work delves into themes of pain, cultural displacement in a polarized world, and futurisms in the face of destruction, engaging with various traditions of Black cultural production. Born in Toronto and raised in Scarborough, she now lives and writes in Montreal. Toronto’s Nayani Jensen, sharing the ...

  BY STEPHEN WEIR The Toronto Caribbean Carnival Launch: A New Era, a New Home, a New Auidence photo by Gilbert Medina The ribbon has been cut, the songs have been sung, and the costumes have been strutted. Make no mistake, as of 2 p.m. last Saturday, the 2024 Toronto Caribbean Carnival is officially underway! For the first time this century, the launch was not held at Nathan Phillips Square, and it wasn’t free. Patrice Roberts sings at opening at right - G. Medina Still, this change didn’t stop an estimated crowd of 2,000 from traveling out to the Scarborough Town Centre to take in the vibrant costumes, listen to live music, and indulge in Caribbean food. Speaking outdoors on a temporary parking lot stage, Jennifer Hirlehey, the executive director of the Festival Management Committee (FMC) and the festival, stated, “The FMC has made significant improvements over the last year.” In previous years, when the festival launched at City Hall, many important speakers would appear at Nat...

Walk A Mile (or two) In My Shoes  Graduating student take a Walk of Excellence BY STEPHEN WEIR   On Thursday, the annual Walk of Excellence took place, marking a significant celebration for over 500 graduating high school students from the Jane Finch/Black Creek community. The event, organized by the Blackhurst Cultural Centre, local high schools, York-TD Community Engagement Centre , and the Toronto District School Board, aimed to honour the achievements of students from CW Jefferys, Westview, Emery, Downsview, and James Cardinal McGuigan High Schools. The festivities kicked off at CW Jefferys High School at 10am with a series of vibrant student presentations on the front lawn. Following this, the students, filled with excitement and pride, marched, danced, and walked north along Sentinel Road toward York University. Along their route, a small plane soared above, pulling a banner with words of encouragement for the graduates. This unexpected sight was a thrilling surprise for...