Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

THIS IS SKYHIGH https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WAr3Go6k4bGUxgrUndw-2jomKNExlGxC/view?usp=sharing As part of my submission to get university credits for life experiences, I am posting the first episode, a TV show that was shown on the  US Outdoor Life Network and in Canada on TSN. Over the years  many other international  networks have rebroadcast the series. Ted Rankine's  first TV foray into the skies is probably still being shown somewhere around the world. It was a very successul programme! "Sky High" was a Canadian television series produced by Ted Rankine in the 1990s. The show delved into various facets of aviation, offering viewers insights into the world of flight. It featured segments on different types of aircraft, profiles of aviation professionals, and explorations of the history and technology behind flying. The series was broadcast on The Sports Network (TSN), Canada's premier sports channel, making it accessible to a wide Canadian audience. "Sky ...

  Order of Canada awards announced at year's end By Stephen Weir There was a time not long ago when the heroes of the country’s Black community were overlooked at year’s end when the Governor General of Canada announced new appointments to the Order of Canada. As of 2024, we have a new sheriff in town, and yesterday she let the country know that she sees all Canadians. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, has made 88 new appointments to the Order of Canada, including one Companion, 24 Officers, and 63 Members. Three appointments are promotions within the Order. Once again, under her leadership, Caribbean Canadians, Africans, and Canadians involved in projects impacting the Black community made the list. Yesterday, famed photographer Stan Douglas was appointed to the Order of Canada. Born and raised in Vancouver (his father is from Tobago), his multimedia works re-examine pivotal historical events and technology’s role in shaping collective m...

  One, Two, Three, Four Who Are We Fighting For Don’t Give a Damn Next Stop Is Vietnam First Hand Account/Unwin Essay by Stephen Weir You have to have lived through the Vietnam Era to truly understand the importance of the 1974 documentary "Hearts and Minds," directed by Peter Davis. This essay examines the two reasons why this student choose to write about this seminal film. First, it was one of the first documentaries in America to speak the truth about the Vietnam War to those in power. Second, it may have aimed to save the moral soul of the country, but Peter Davis was less than honest about the individuals directing the war, both in the USA and Vietnam. Directed by Peter Davis, the 1974 American documentary film Hearts and Minds delves into the long twisted history of the Vietnam War, examining its profound impact on both American and Vietnamese cultures alike. Garnering critical acclaim, the film achieved the distinction of winning the Academy Award in 1975 for Best Do...

  Fifty years later the AGO is locking, tutting, and krumping to Hip-Hop By Stephen Weir Do yourself a favor, pop in your earbuds, and ask Spotify to play the AGO-curated soundscape they label as The Culture. It starts loud and proud with Run-D.M.C.’s 1988 hit “Beats to the Rhyme.” It’s early hip-hop, all about the group’s talent to make rhymes, make money, and, well, have fun. And that is just the beginning. Once you have the music throbbing in your head, get yourself down to the Art Gallery of Ontario on Dundas Street and take in their new show. Hip-hop has just bounced into town and taken over the top floor of the Art Gallery of Ontario from now until April. The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century is an exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) that explores the profound impact of hip-hop culture on contemporary art and visual culture. PHOTO OF DRAKE ON TOWER It opened to its members only last week, but come January 7th, anyone can take it in for the p...

  Hammering home the hits! New Steel Pan Music Radio is Live and Online By Stephen Weir Heck no, don’t bother with Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Radiofor your Canadian pan music fix. As of this month, there’s a new online “radio” station delivering pan music commercial free from right here in Toronto! Well-known pannist Earl LaPierre Jr. has launched Steel Pan Music Radio, and although it’s a few months away from its official launch, the music is already streaming free of charge to pan fans across the nation. Right now, it’s wall-to-wall music when listeners log on to the station at https://steelpanmusicradio.com/_nowplaying/ . The site opens up with the sweet sound of steel, the radio site lists the currently playing tracks, along with the artists and their origins and what has already been played. While listening to the station on Wednesday, we enjoyed music from Canadian and Caribbean artists, including his his Trinidad-based brother Noel! The first song of the day for the p...

  Stand By Me! On Sunday it was Sing By ME By Stephen Weir The festive season came alive in North Toronto as the Kingdom Choir delivered a stirring performance at the George Weston Recital Hall, located within the Meridian Arts Centre on Yonge Street. On the late afternoon of December 1st, the nearly sold-out audience was treated to a captivating showcase of Christmas carols and gospel music, all performed with the choir's signature warmth and powerful harmonies. For many in attendance, this concert marked a cherished seasonal tradition, as the acclaimed ensemble brought the spirit of the holidays to life through music. Led by Karen Gibson, affectionately known as the "godmother of British gospel," the 15-member group, accompanied by two musicians, returned to Canada with joyous energy. Like Santa spreading cheer, the Kingdom Choir enchanted the audience with a blend of traditional carols, uplifting gospel melodies, and their iconic rendition of Stand By Me, which became ...

  Marching to the Tune of Different Drummers Stephen Weir The Caribana Arts Group (CAG), originally known as the Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC), the founding organization of the original 20th-century Toronto street festival, held a virtual Annual General Meeting and election over the weekend. The CAG now has a new board, with Chedwick Creightney elected as Chair for the next three years and Damien Edwin as Vice Chair. CAG Across from City Hall at their Emancipation Day Parade 2024. SWEIR "Six members were elected, and five members will be appointed," said Geraldine Stafford, the CAG General Secretary. "We had a record-setting attendance of 174 members—our highest in at least the past decade." Chedwick Creightney, a Jamaican Canadian who lives and works in Pickering, previously served on the CAG board during the last term. According to Stafford, he brings significant fundraising and networking experience to the board. Chedwick i...

Christmas Comes Early for Toronto Festivals—But Not the Caribbean Carnival BY STEPHEN WEIR More than 80 Toronto festivals received $1.6 million in funding through the city’s new Special Events Stabilization Initiative (SESI). Announced two weeks ago, the program supported major events like the Santa Claus Parade, Toronto Pride Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, Luminato, JerkFest, and the Toronto Jazz Festival. Last week, reporter Stephen Weir obtained the full list of funded events. While festivals like Afrofest ( $44,080 ), JerkFest ( $91,450 ), and Afro-Carib Fest ( $22,370 ) made the cut, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival—a massive cultural draw and one of the city’s most financially strained events—received nothing. Signature Carnival events like the Grande Parade, King and Queen competition, and Pan Alive were all excluded. In contrast, the Pride Parade and Santa Claus Parade each received $ 100,000 , while Luminato was granted $83,000. Even the Harbourfront Centre’s Canada Day Soul ...