Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

King Cosmos on Ice Last Saturday at Mel Lastman Square.  Caribana Iced – Small Crowd. Warm Response By Stephen Weir There were no Triple Axels or  Salchows from  Calypsonian   King Cosmos (Henry Gomez) as he gingerly skated out onto the ice at Mel Lastman Square last Saturday.  What he lacked in skating finesse he made up for with his singing and his warm and friendly greeting to the people who came out Saturday to watch  Caribana on Ice . Wearing all black except a colourful feathered headdress with matching wristlets and ankle splashes.  Master of Ceremonies, King Cosmos told the family audience they were watching a first – a professional presentation of the Carnival Arts on Ice. Dance Skaters steps on ice “This is the first time this has been done in Toronto, “ he said to a cheering and clapping crowd standing on the edge of the large outdoor rink.  “I think it has to be the first time in North America.  We usually do this sort of thing on the street in the

Costume Launch Season To Hit Toronto Really Soon By Stephen Weir Put away the parkas and break out the feathers and glitter.   Toronto Caribbean Carnival' s Band Launch Season is about to begin. The Caribbean Camera has received details about the when, where and hows for nine Mas Camp band launches that will be held this March, April and May in Toronto.   Although not all the details have been released to us, it is clear that the Mas Camps are planning larger, more elaborate themed costume fetes than in 2019. Last year eleven bands held costume launches, this year there are two notable bands missing from the current list is  Michael Williams'   D New Regulars and Forever Carnival and Atlantic Mas . Traditionally D'  Regulars are one of the last bands to announce and stage a launch, so we expect to learn soon about their spring event. Atlantic Mas is usually one of the first to announce; in 2018 Atlantic Mas brought Machel Montano from Trinidad to perf

New Body. New Book. And Check Out His Bamboo Fibre Underwear By Stephen Weir Jamaican Canadian fitness guru Andre Rose is holding a book launch tonight and he knows that everyone is going to want to look at his Buns of Steel.   No, not his rear end (although the former body building is in fine fine shape) it will be about his just published book, Buns of Steel: The Unstoppable Pursuit Of Fitness. The evening launch of his first book is taking place the Brunswick Bierworks in York. The 39-year old has spent the last two years working on a book that   is meant to help men get fit, healthy and age gracefully with a healthy mind and body. "This will help you break out of your mediocrity and negative mindset, and get you onto a new, exhilarating, passionate path of divine purpose and a life of freedom!" "The time to think about your health isn't once you turn 70, it is now when you can still do something!" he told the Caribbean Camera in a sit-down int

Moodie and Stephanie MacDonald New Magic Valley Fun Town Play Is Very Dark And Very Moodie By Stephen Weir If there was such a thing as magic, a troubled dad could wave his wand and Presto the sexual trauma of childhood and the sins of the adults who did it will be gone in a cloud of smoke.  Canadian playwright and actor Daniel MacIvor knows in his heart of hearts that pixie dust is just funny coloured dirt and that sometimes the only cure for a troubled past is death. MacIvor newest play, New Magic Valley Fun Town just opened at the Tarragon Theatre in downtown Toronto is initially a million laughs. But, over the course of 90 minutes the actors on stage, and the people sitting in the sold-out theatre, must confront the darkest memories of childhood sexual assault. This is a play set completely inside a Nova Scotia mobile trailer. It is the home of Dougie, a bumbling Cape Bretoner who can’t walk and talk at the same time without spilling his Timmy’s, Cheesies and wi

--> Brother Can You Spare Me A Dime? By Stephen Weir In terms of prize purses, David Chariandy's novel Brother, is now one of the the most successful Canadian fiction title ever. Last night shortly after the Caribbean Camera went to print, the former Scarborough writer won UK's Windham-Campbell Prize of $165,000 US ($220,000) for his 2017 book about two young Trinidadian brothers growing up in a tough part of Toronto. "I was floored by the news! And for some time, I didn’t dare believe my fortune," said Chariandy last night. "The Windham-Campbell Prize offers a life-changing opportunity to devote time and energy to writing. I am humbled and profoundly grateful to be counted among the recipients." Chariandy grew up in Toronto's diaspora; he now lives and teaches in Vancouver. His debut novel, Soucouyant, was nominated for many prizes and won the Gold Independent Publisher Award for Best Novel.  Brother, his second novel, won th