Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  Tobago Drama Guild Brings Eric Roach’s Belle Fanto to the City of Toronto Toronto is set to experience a vibrant showcase of Caribbean theatre as the Tobago Drama Guild presents Belle Fanto, a play by celebrated Trinidad and Tobago playwright Eric Roach. Directed by Thabiti, the three-day theatrical event will be held at the Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Toronto, located at 185 Sheppard Avenue West. The play will run from Friday, September 27th, to Sunday, September 29th, 2024. Showtimes are at 7:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, with a matinee performance on Sunday at 5:00 PM. The production of Belle Fanto promises to deliver a rich blend of culture and dramatic storytelling, highlighting Roach’s impactful legacy within Caribbean theatre. Known for his explorations of identity, history, and society, Roach’s works continue to resonate with audiences today. The event is a celebration not just of theatre, but also of the 25th anniversary of Sisters in Action,

  If It Isn’t Luv it must be Sean Jones at his best By Stephen Weir What better place to launch a new tune than under the neon palms of the venerable El Mocambo Tavern in downtown Toronto? Early last week, Hamilton’s Sean Jones did just that, stirring up some heavy love emotions as he performed his latest single, "If It Isn’t Luv," featuring Trinidadian-Canadian author and hip-hop artist John Orpheus. Sean Jones is not only a hot solo artist but also a producer and up and coming actor in a secret film project. At 47, the Caribbean-Canadian (both his parents are from Jamaica) describes his life as “incredibly busy and just getting started.” “I first made waves in the music industry as a member of In Essence. With hits like 'Friend Of Mine' and 'You Will Never Find,' the group captured the hearts of R&B fans across the globe, earning a Juno Award in 2004,” said Jones. His journey from band member to solo sensation has been extraordinary, with a career that

                           Contessa of Brampton By Stephen Weir Life for people who might still be able to trace their Caribbean heritage thousands of years from now won’t have much to look forward to. But wait, if spaceship pilot Virika Sameroo takes that famous Bob Marley quote—“The people who were trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off. Why should I?”—to heart, she might be able to emancipate many people who carry Carib DNA in a universe far, far away, where people of color are treated like dogs by a white-dominated empire. It has been over a week since young Trinidadian-Canadian Suzan Palumbo’s literary spaceship docked in Canadian bookstores. Her new science fiction novel is not only a dark story about life on other planets but also carries hope for life, liberty, and sexual freedom for everyone! Countess is a sci-fi adventure story that, according to the Brampton author, was inspired by the classic adventure tale The Count of Monte Cristo. Palumbo wanted to g

  Even the King is a Jamaal Magloire Fan! By Stephen Weir No, King Charles 111 didn’t come to Toronto to give the retired NBA Star Jamaal Magloire his new medal (the Caribbean Camera asked on Instagram) the task was left up to the Governor General’s office to deliver the new King Charles III Coronation Medal in his massive hands! The King Charles III Coronation Medal is made of nickel-silver metal and manufactured by the Royal Canadian Mint. The new medal programme was first announced three days before the Royal Coronation, on 3 May 2023, by Prime Minister Trudeau. In May of this year the medals began to be presented by Rideau Hall. Jamaal is one of the first of 30,000 Canadians, including 4,000 members of the military that will receive the award in the Coronation year. In England a British version of the medal is being presented to over 400,000 British medals as well as a few thousand in Australia. The King Charles III Coronation Medal are commemorative medals created to mark the

  Back Home is Trini to the Bone on a Toronto gallery wal l(s) By Stephen Weir It was a long time coming, but last week The Toronto Star published a full-page article about Kareem-Anthony Ferreira, the Hamilton artist whose work LeBron James owns. Ferreira has a new show at the Towards Gallery in Toronto called Back Home, featuring four massive works inspired by Trinidad and Tobago. The exhibition is on display at their Sterling Road location near Bloor and Lansdowne. Although Ferreira has achieved significant success across North America discerning art buyers —LeBron James purchased one of his early large paintings and installed it in his Akron dining room—the Trinidadian-Canadian artist has largely flown under the radar of Canada’s mainstream media. A first-generation Canadian with strong Trinidadian roots, Kareem-Anthony Ferreira is the son of renowned Hamilton artist and educator Roger Ferreira. Like father, like son, both artists often draw inspiration from the scenes and people o

Ghoulish Start to Tarragon Theatre’s New Season By Stephen Weir Mike Payette, Artistic Director of Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre, is excited about the launch of their new season with Goblin:Macbeth This new Canadian play brings a mix of joy and laughter to the stage, marking a bold new chapter for Tarragon. It's a fresh style for the theatre, one that encourages audiences to come together and celebrate the power of live performance. Originally from Alberta, Gobln:Macbeth has already seen successful runs in Calgary, and Stratford. Now, it's finally making its way to Toronto. The play, which blends comedy, fantasy, and tragedy, was created by Calgary’s Rebecca Northan and Bruce Horak. It takes a playful and irreverent approach to Shakespeare's Macbeth, where three mischievous goblins stumble upon the play and decide to perform it, albeit with a lot of improvisation and audience interaction. If Shakespeare himself could hop in a time machine and get a ticket (they are selling fas

  FRONT PAGE Toronto Caribbean Newspaper SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE PARTY By Stephen Weir On Saturday night, the Harbourfront Centre and Theatre in Toronto was abuzz with excitement as it hosted the Battle of the Bands and a celebration of Jean Augustine’s 87th birthday. The event, held under the banner of the #CaribbeanTales Film Festival ( #ctff ), attracted a lively crowd eager to celebrate both music and a distinguished figure in Canadian history. The evening featured performances by two renowned musicians and the screenings of two Toronto Caribbean Carnival films. The highlight was the screening of “Iconography: Mungal Patasar,” a Trinidad documentary directed by Mikhail Gibbingsand Teneka Mohammed. The film delves into the life and career of Indo-Trinidadian musician Mungal Patasar, celebrated for his unique fusion of sitar and steelpan, blending Eastern and Western musical traditions. Patasar, who traveled from Trinidad for the event, performed a captivating set accompanied by panni

  Toronto’s Youngest DJ to Showcase Talents at Twilight Family Restaurant and Bar on Sunday, October 6th On Sunday, October 6th, Toronto’s youngest DJ - DJ Tyson -is set to showcase his remarkable skills and talent at Twilight Family Restaurant and Bar. The event is part of an ongoing effort by a dedicated team working to foster a sense of belonging, pride, and recognition for young talent in the community. "We're working diligently to show these young people that someone cares, that they are worthy of being recognized on a big stage," said the event organizer. "It takes courage to keep this going for six years without any backing from groups or organizations, but we're doing it for the future leaders of tomorrow." The event is entirely community-funded, and organizers are asking for public support to continue this mission. Whether attending in person or making a donation, all contributions will go directly to support the youth. "Even if you can't

  Open the Door and Where are all the People by stephen weir If it wasn’t for the model in a sexy Mas costume standing in the window of the Caribbean Tales Film Festival’s Dundas Street West storefront, you wouldn’t know that inside, new movies and short films were being shown in what looks like an old store then a movie theatre. Dubbed the CTFF Hub, the space was used last Thursday night for the Wednesday night launch of the 19th annual Caribbean Tales Film Festival. Judging from the size of the audience, Caribbean Camera wasn’t the only one that had trouble finding the Dundas Street location (near Bathurst). In years past, the opening night of the CTFF was something you wouldn’t miss if you were in the neighborhood of the designated movie theatre or Harbourfront. Loud music, models and TV crews, mainstream media, and even the odd TIFF refugee were present. Big names, from the Mighty Sparrow to Machel, made a point of being out on the street with the rest of us, waiting to get in and

  Festival stalwart has passed away Written by Stephen Weir for the September 5, 2024 Caribbean Camera newspaper. Amidst all the hubbub of the August carnival and its Grand Parade, the passing of Calvin Robert Taylor, one of the stalwarts of past parades, was missed by many within the carnival community. He died just days before the parade at the age of 70. Calvin was deeply committed to the carnival community, both in Toronto and his hometown of Burlington/Hamilton. “Calvin was a carnival stalwart,” reads his online obituary. He began his involvement in Caribana as a promoter, bringing music bands from Trinidad and managing their performances in North America, and ended his stint as a festival parade manager, responsible for parade logistics and the procession of bands along the parade route. He was particularly involved with the Caribana Parade Committee under the Festival Management Committee (FMC). Mr. Taylor was born and raised in Trinidad. As a young man, he came to Canada in 197

  The Curtain Rises, The Show is About to Start. Cue Marcus Garvey’ Ghost         Greeter in Mas costume welcomes people to the start of the CTRR opeing party By Stephen Weir Caribbean Camera Sept. 4 If all went well last night, after The Caribbean Camera was put to bed, the 19th annual Caribbean Tales Film Festival (CTFF) is now well underway. Get ready, Toronto— from now until late night on Sunday, September 25th, the city will be buzzing with virtual movies, short films, and several not-to-be-missed in-person events. This is not your typical film festival. Unlike previous years, most of the 50 or so movies, short films, and television shows will be screened online. However, there are still several in-person events that are expected to pack the Harbourfront Centre’s film theatre and the CTFF West Studio at their Dundas Street West headquarters. Last night’s opening was held at the CTFF Hub, featuring films from Canada, St. Lucia, and France, including the documentary Brave. This 25-m