Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

MPP Jill Andrew Rides The Train with a 1,000 others The 2024 Carnival Weekend Began With a Special Underground Train Ride Stephen Weir Drummers pounded out the countdown just before midnight. It was seconds before the start of August 1st. Drones lit the sky above the Downsview subway station with hearts and words of love. Singing. Cheering. It was all part of the 11th annual Underground Freedom Train ride in Toronto. No Justin Trudeau wasn’t there, that was last year. And judging by the size of the turnout last Wednesday night, there wouldn’t have been a shoehorn big enough to squeeze him into the dedicated subway train that carried close to a thousand people from Union Station to Downsview Station to honour the Underground Railroad of the1850s and to mark the arrival of Canada’s Emancipation Day. The official launch was handled by the honourary whistle-blowing conductor, Amah Harris ( above left ). The distinguished educator, producer, mentor, playwright, and researcher led this ye...

  And there was a second Emancipation Day Event in Toronto By STEPHEN WEIR It may go down as Toronto’s smallest parade to dance and wave flags along University Ave. It looked as though the bicycle police assigned to clear a path around the streets of downtown Toronto  for the Emancipation Parade outnumbered the people taking part. Don’t know what we are talking about? No doubt hardly anyone knew or took part in last Friday’s third annual Caribana Arts Group Emancipation Day Parade. It was a surprise  afternoon notice sent to many on Thursday. August 1st, the official Emancipation Day in Toronto, announcing that the CAG was marking the day on August 2nd. The message read, "Tomorrow we’re chipping to the beat of the drum at Caribana’s 3rd Annual Emancipation March!!!" Parade-goers were told to meet at Bay and Albert Streets, across from Nathan Phillips Square, for a parade start time of 8:30 a.m. About a dozen supporters came out, along with drummers that filled...

Did not see my name on Facebook so I must not be dead (hopefully) Stephen Weir I grew up in a small Ontario town surrounded by forests and a lake. The town had one Main Street with the only street light (I think they have four now) in front of the post office. Right next to the PO's clock tower was the town's weekly newspaper. the Renfrew Mercury. Since it only published on Thursdays, a lot of news didn't make it into Thursday's edition, most notably death notices. Because someone might die on a Friday and be buried on Tuesday, no obituary would be printed, and people in town might miss the funeral (and that was always a big deal). So what the paper did was to stick up obituary notices in the front window so that on your way to the post office, you could check who had died and when the funeral and burial would take place. The lads (what male seniors were called) would gather in front of the window at 10 am to watch Norm, the editor, stick a written notice out towards t...

  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...