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Star of History of Black Dance show passes away

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Day after a History of Black Dance in Canada exhibition came down, 92-year old pioneer dancer Ola Skanks passed away. By Stephen Weir Last month 92-year old dancer Ola Skanks was the star at the opening of an Ola Skanks by Stephen Weir exhibition about the history of the Black community and Canadian dance.   The show, Dancing Black in Canada, 1900 to 1970. “ was hung at the Ontario College of Art’s Ignite Gallery in Toronto’s Kensington Market. Ola Skanks, told me at the opening that she hadn’t danced in public for twenty-years, but, there was no way that she was going to miss the opening of the show. Besides, she had contributed a number of photographs and artifacts to exhibition. Born and raised in Canada, her Caribbean roots were important to her, and along with African influences impacted on her dance style. “My father was born in Barbados in 1892 and his name was Ethelbert Shepherd,” wrote Ola Skanks in an email to me late last month. “My mother was born in St.

The Kiss Of Paradise Puckers Up Around The World

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Ed Hawk and Paradise Nicole Hendrickson arrive for interview -- sweirsweir photo Oprah Winfrey’s day in Paradise and other gigs for Toronto's Paradise Nicole Hendrickson By Stephen Weir Oprah Winfrey never looked so good!    It was “no biggie” for Toronto broadcaster, model, actress and Official Goodwill Ambassador for St Vincent and the Grenadines, Paradise Nicole Hendrickson to portray the Queen of All Media in a TV movie – it is all in a day’s work! “ Really it was just another gig, but it was fun,” explained Paradise Nicole Hendrickson. “ I do quite a bit of acting and modelling whether it be here in Toronto or where ever I am needed. I played Tasma Brighthaupt the wife of Anna Nicole Smith’s bodyguard in one episode of the Final 24 TV series. Then I was doing a fashion shoot!” Paradise   Although her bag is always packed and ready to roll, these days the former beauty queen is busy busy as the executive producer and host of Kiss of Paradise, a popular YouT

Niagara Falls gets 10,000 Carnival Fans

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--> City already looking forward to 2019 By Stephen Weir  Photos by Craigg Slowly While Torontonians have already put away their costumes for another year, in Niagara Falls, last weekend close to 10,000 tourists and locals alike had some Caribana schooling. This is the third year that the Niagara Caribbean Festival has been held in Niagara Falls.   Some of Toronto’s top Mas Models joined the musical group Kobo Town, Connector, the P.K. Hummingbird Steel Orchestra and a fleet of food trucks to hold a carnival pop-up in the Queen Victoria Park directly opposite the American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls . This is the third year that the Caribbean Community Engagement group –   in partnership with the Niagara Parks Commission – has held the   Caribana inspired festival. The CEE is headed up by Yvette Martin, a longtime Ontario stage manager for theatre, festivals (including Caribana) and concerts across the country. “Tourists from around the world came ov