Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  THIS CALPYSO SHOW WILL BE HOT HOT HOT seven-time Canadian Calypso Monarch Macomere Fifi By Stephen Weir Given the weather of late, the Toronto Symphony has landed on a warm winning theme for its February 15th and 16th Hot Hot Hot concerts in Toronto and Brampton. Of course, it helps to have Calypso and Pan royalty performing center stage! Calypso Monarch King Cosmos (Henry Gomez), seven-time Canadian Calypso Monarch Macomere Fifi, and Canada's Steelband champions, Pan Fantasy—led by the queen of Pan in Toronto, Wendy Jones—will be on a very crowded stage with Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for a series of Caribbean music concerts. Bartholomew-Poyser is a Canadian orchestral conductor from Calgary, Alberta, with strong T&T and Jamaican roots. He has been the Barrett Principal Education Conductor and has conducted performances that blend classical music with genres like reggae, aiming to make orchestral music more accessible to a broader audience. ...

  2025 Black History Month Concert: Celebrations and Revelations – We Are Country Dust off your boots, grab your hat, and get ready for a night of country music magic in Toronto! Celebrations and Revelations – We Are Country is gearing up for a unique fundraising celebration of Black History Month at the stately Globe and Mail Tower. Yeehaw! This musical finale to Black History Month in the city will take place on February 28th. The groundbreaking event stars four trailblazing Black country singers who will blend soulful storytelling with the unmistakable twang of country charm on stage at the prestigious 17th floor of the downtown Globe and Mail Tower. What’s coming down the trail is a one-night-only concert that not only showcases four rising stars of a genre rich with diverse roots but also supports a vital cause: empowering Black artists and preserving the legacy of their contributions to country music. “This event highlights the richness of country music's diverse roots while ...

  Ignoring the Vortex winter and bringing the beach to Toronto By Stephen Weir photos by George Socka The annual Toronto International Boat Show (TIBS), now in its 66th year, likes to say it puts a little bit of summer into the city’s winter. Two island nations are using their booths at the Boat Show, currently running at Exhibition Place, to go a step further, bringing warm, sunny beaches to TIBS. St. Vincent & the Grenadines’ and Antigua & Barbuda’s tourism offices have pop-up displays among the majestic sailboats and sleek , cigarette-style motorboats on display at the popular annual event. Their goal is to promote their islands' boating attributes to the thousands of marine enthusiasts attending Canada’s premier boat show—the largest indoor boat sale and exhibition in North America. Earlier this week, Shamoi Richards, Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism expert for sailing, yachting, and airlift to the islands, was busy handing out Treasure Island guides and maps to visitors ...

  What a Jerk is warm and friendly and now indoors By Stephen Weir The message I received early last week brought a smile to my face while the email quickly getting to the point. Al "Allos" Foster, the pan-playing owner of the What A Jerk food truck, has parked his mobile kitchen for the winter and moved his act indoors to Etobicoke. His new sit-down spot, What a Jerk Restaurant, in Long Branch, near Lakeshore and 29th Street, has been open for over a month, giving Foster and his team the luxury of cooking indoors during this bitterly cold January. “So I did a thing…” he wrote. “I have been operating my own mobile food business called What A Jerk! since 2018 (how time flies!). I’m now happy to inform you that I have expanded the brand to include a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Etobicoke. What A Jerk Restaurant is now open for business at 3303 Lake Shore Blvd West.” The restaurant offers it all: takeout, dine-in, home delivery, and a full Caribbean menu. “Yes,” Foster told m...

  Bahamian Author Antoinette Seymour Celebrates Cat Island In New Book By Stephen Weir Bahamian author and professional archivist Antoinette Seymour has unveiled a captivating homage to her roots with the release of her new book, Been to Cat Island: Through the Eyes of an Archivist. The first installment in her "Been to Bahamas" series, published last month, delves into the culture, history, and hidden gems of Cat Island, one of the Bahamas’ storied Out Islands. Combining meticulous archival research with heartfelt storytelling, Seymour takes readers on an intimate journey into the island's past, offering a fresh perspective on its traditions, landmarks, and the enduring spirit of its people. Cat Island (population 1,500 in 2010) is located southeast of Eleuthera and northeast of Long Island. It is believed to have been named after pirate Arthur Catt, who frequented the island. For more than four centuries, it was called San Salvador and was thought by some to be the firs...

  Scholars of the Caribbean Arts  Heading to T&T in March By stephen weir It may be a little early to start packing, but Roger Gibbs has Trinidad & Tobago on his mind. The popular Calypso performer and York University post-grad student is preparing for a stage performance in Port of Spain at the Steelpan/Carnival Arts Conference. No, he won’t be singing or playing an instrument; in fact, he will be a lectern giving a scholarly lecture to the leaders of international community of Carnival Arts! The 11th Steelpan/Carnival Arts Conference is being organized jointly by the University of Trinidad and Tobago, the International Carnival Conference Committee, and the International Journal of Carnival Arts. It will be held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) between March 6–8, 2025. This conference will be a gathering celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean, particularly the steelpan and carnival arts. With international participants from vari...

Giller Fiction Prize announcing 2025 prize jury Dionne Irving Just as this week’s Caribbean Camera was about to be sent to the printers, I received a bulletin from the prestigious Giller Fiction Prize announcing this year’s book prize jury. Used their press announcement as a basis for the article that did appear in yesterday's paper! “This year’s jury panel is composed of five distinguished, multi-talented authors who are well-equipped and eager to showcase the strength, scope, and diversity of Canadian literature,” read the announcement. Chairing the jury panel is acclaimed author and creative writing professor Dionne Irving. Dionne Irving, a Jamaican-Canadian author, has lived in several countries, including the United States. Her work often explores themes of identity, migration, family, and the complexities of the Caribbean diaspora. Her short story collection, The Islands, delves into the experiences of Jamaican women navigating the complexities of life in the diaspora. The st...

  I lost a client when he lost his head. (My last case before my headin’ down the straight and narrow and back to school - a mostly true story) A long 21st century goodbye.   Moose Malloy style.   I got a the message to drop the case on a mp4 file sent from Port of Spain by a scary dude who said he was part of the TuBox Gang. A Trini Youngun. 25, with eyes smouldering like pooled lava.   “ Not doing Toronto. You are safe but not your Trini client. He’d better get his shit together. Fast. And remember his auntie and uncle are just a bullet spray away from where I am standing right now. No wall in this town   can stop a MK47 burst.” IT was a dark adventure. My last. And you’ve probably already guessed It didn’t go well. But hey, I am still breathing. Of course there had been a murder. You can’t retell a who dunnit without a stiff.   A ghastly one at that. I had been trying to save a young man’s life through the power of the public relations. but, well let me ...

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...