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Stan Douglas, left, with Michael Audain  awarded the $100,000 Audain Prize for Visual Art. Four Canadian Caribbean Cultural Icons in the National Spotlight By Stephen Weir Stan Douglas just won a really big one while Amanda Parris, Ian Williams and André Alexis are up for a some big ones too! September and early October has been a rewarding time for four Canadian Caribbean artists, dramtists and writers. Ten days ago Vancouver photographic artist Stan Douglas was awarded the $100,000 Audain Prize for the Visual Arts. It is a Canadian art  award  that recognizes the outstanding achievements of British Columbia's artists. The Prize is administered by the  Audain  Art Museum. Born in British Columbia to Caribbean parents, 59-year old Stan Douglas is one of Canada’s most widely celebrated and internationally important contemporary artists. Best known for his photography, film and video installations, his art often examines the complexities of social reality and

King Costume Designer at the Ontario Science Centre to Pick Up His Award Summertime memories of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Parade may have begun to fade, but for fans of the Caribbean Arts. one memory will never disappear.  Who can forget Heart Beat of the Thrill of Life, the incredible King Costume worn by first time designer Nicholas Guy at the August King and Queen Competition.  It was a two-sided costume that depicted the final battle of angels and demons, where good triumphs over evil.  Guy’s costume won it all that night including the coveted annual Ontario Science Centre Innovation in Mas’ Award. He won both awards on behalf of the Louis Saldenah’s Mas K Camp. On Sunday afternoon at a packed Ontario Science Centre, Nicholas Guy was honoured on stage for the construction of that breathtaking costume.  Guy spoke at length at the ceremony about the costume and the relevance of the Carnival dream! In the audience were members of the Mas K Club, friends and his parents

Jimmy Jean Louis in the Royal Cinema Theatre  lobby after screening of Rattlesnakes  -sweirsweir Caribbean Tales Film Festival Over For Another Year by Stephen WEIR The lights are on. The seats are empty. The popcorn has been swept off the floor. The 14th annual Caribbean Tales International Film Festival (CTFF) is over for another year.  After eight presentation nights and the screening of some twenty films, CTFF wrapped up last week with the screening of Sacred Water, an odd 3-year old African documentary about Kunyaza (a technique which Rwandese women use to ejaculate). “CTFF 2019 was a diverse and wonderful year filled with the best films from Caribbean filmmakers,” said Frances-Anne Solomon, CTFF Founder & Executive Director.  At closing night, the following awards were announced. Best Feature: Rattlesnakes directed by Julius Amadume. Best Documentary: Paradise Discovered: The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders directed by Peter Bailey. Best Short Film: M

-->   --> What is happening this year on Frankie Drake? Good things come for viewers who Waite! Brampton actor kills it on Mondays  By Stephen Weir You are at home watching the CBC. If it is Monday and someone has been murdered or a bank safe has been cracked, chances are Romaine Waite is involved. The up and coming Jamaican Canadian actor has an incredible oeuvre, and somehow two of the Canadian shows (and an American show to boot) he has regularly appeared in air on Monday evening. And yes somebody usually gets murdered, the bank’s safe usually gets blown open with sticks of TNT and nice-guy Waite usually helps solve the mystery. “Ha, Ha” laughed the Toronto based actor when the Caribbean Camera pointed out the Monday mayhem to him. “ Yes I did appear in a Murdoch Mystery or two, and yes it airs on Mondays, but, so too have a lot of other actors.   Season Three of the Frankie Drake Mysteries series is airing now on the CBC and it runs on Mo