Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Class Assignment, Review a Literary Event. Done! I was the anomaly. I was the only white senior citizen without a grandchild in tow, attending last Saturday afternoon’s Canadian launch of "Summer Island" at the Different Booklist Bookstore in downtown Toronto. The 36-page picture book was written by American author Deborah C. Mortimer and illustrated by Canadian artist Ken Daley. Beyond its role as Toronto’s only major Black bookstore, A Different Booklist serves as a community hub, hosting events, author readings, and discussions that spark cultural understanding within the Black community. It actively promotes diverse voices, making it a vital and cherished institution within Canada's literary landscape. While it is often said that an author can’t make a living in Canada, the industry and federally funded BookNet have recently issued a report on 'KidsLit' that shows, as of 2022, children’s literature is selling very well, thank you. 'Juvenile and Young Adult

  TWO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL BRING A WRAP TO BLACK HISTORY MONTH As Black History Month draws to a close, Toronto witnessed two significant Black film events, showcasing the vibrancy and richness of Black culture in the film industry. The Toronto Black Film Festival honoured actress Pam Grier, while the new Directors Black Actors and Film Guild of Canada celebrated their inaugural awards ceremony, acknowledging talents like Black Santa and Ryan Singh The 12th edition of the Toronto Black Film Festival spanned five days, featuring over 80 films from 20 countries, including Canada, USA, Germany, France, Rwanda, Sudan, South Africa, United Kingdom, Ghana, and Jamaica. The festival concluded earlier this week, leaving a lasting impact on the celebration of Black history through cinema. A standout moment occurred at the Isabel Bader Theatre during the festival, where a tribute was paid to American actress Pam Grier. Hailed as the Queen of Blaxploitation and the first female action hero, Grier

3 SISTERS HAVE LEFT RUSSIA FOR NIGERIA In a ground-breaking fusion of classic Russian drama and Nigerian history, Toronto's vibrant theatre scene is set to welcome a bold and innovative production presented by Soul Pepper and Obsidian Theatres on the last evening of Black History Month. A quirky adaptation of Anton Chekhov's timeless classic, "Three Sisters," will take centre-stage at the downtown Soul Pepper Theatre, reimagined as a Black version set against the backdrop of Nigeria during the Biafran War. This avant-garde production first performed in the UK four years, makes its Canadian debut tonight with the first of five previews this evening. The 4-Act play has its official opening on March 7th and closes March 24. Written by London based Nigerian poet and playwright Inua Ellams, his 4 act play promises to provide a fresh perspective on Chekhov's exploration of spiritual emptiness. and societal upheaval by transporting the narrative to a pivotal moment in Af

  WALMART WORKS WITH KWAME DELFISH TO CELEBRATE BHM In a press release issued by Walmart Canada to mark Black History Month(BHM), the large retail outlet turned the spotlight on Caribbean Canadian artist Kwame Delfish. The Toronto artist was commissioned by Walmart to design their exclusive Black History Month merchandise celebrating Black excellence. Who better to hire? As a multidimensional artist, with a career spanning over 30 years, Kwame’s most recent work includes designing both the 2022 and 2023 Commemorative Black History Month coins featuring the Underground Railroad and the No. 2 Construction Battalion for the Canadian Mint. According to Walmart, Delfish’s BHM design, entitled "The Tree of Heroes," encourages individuals to use their imagination to dream big and pursue their goals regardless of the systemic barriers that they will inevitably encounter on their journey. We become empowered to push through adversity when we see ourselves in others who share our ident

  What If You Spend the End of Black History Month In Mississauga check out Carnival Parade costumes? Looks like Mississauga's Black History Month's final significant event for 2024 is set to take place this Sunday at the city’s Small Arms Inspection Building on Lakeshore Road. The Freedom Mas Band is concluding the month with the year's first Carnival costume launch, which they've named the Black History Month Carnival Edition! The Freedom Mas Band is an integral part of the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival and is scheduled to participate in the Grand Parade in Toronto on August 3rd. Band leader Johanna Grant shared with reporter Stephen Weir that the Band Launch on Sunday afternoon will unveil their new costume lines inspired by the 2024 theme, "What If." The free launch event is scheduled to run from 11 am to 6 pm. Alongside the adult and children carnival costume launch, there will be a vendor's market, music, and activities for children. Throughout

 Fantazia already dreaming about  making their Caribana costumes! costume launch 2013 by Parris Visuals You know that spring is right around the corner when Wiarton Willie doesn’t see his shadow, the kid’s snowman is now a puddle and Fantazia has posted posters for their Spring 2024 costume launch! The mas band is marking its 15th annual launch on April 14th this year at the Peter N Paul Banquet Hall in Scarborough (Milner Ave). And, while band leader Will Morton says it is a little early yet to let all the details of the coming fete, in a recent talk with the Caribbean Camera he let a few things slip out including the theme of the party. “We are coming a month earlier than last year,” said band co-leader Will Morton. “We hope to be bigger than in 2023. But don’t want to say too much right now about but as the picture on our website show, it is Uncut Gemz!” “We will be announcing our sections and the gemstones that they are (using for inspiration).” And yes, diamonds in the rough wil

  The Spoken Words Of Dwayne Morgan Dwayne Morgan is a name that has been garnering attention recently. The Scarborough spoken word poet delivered a performance on the first day of Black History Month at the Power Plant art gallery at Harbourfront. Next month, he is set to present "When Sisters Speak" at the St Lawrence Centre as part of Black Mental Health Week. On January 1st of last month, to be precise, he received the Order of Ontario! Since 1993, Dwayne Morgan has been a prominent figure and an integral part of Canada's spoken word and live arts scene. Affectionately nicknamed 'The Godfather' of Canadian spoken word poetry, Morgan has been providing a platform for women of color to share their stories and experiences through spoken word poetry for the past 24 years. "When Sisters Speak" is the largest and longest-running spoken word showcase featuring Black women in North America. This year's event will be held on March 9 as part of Black Menta

 Support videos, you tube links and still photos  to back up my Windsor University Competency application - Stephen Weir producer, writer and key grip. Various TV shows and gallery mini-movies, and interviews with authors, artists and performers for our social media video site the Canadian Art Channel (100+) Russia Trip 2000 - TV special for Outdoor Life TV I was part of a TV expedition to travel from North America to Asia, on Sea Doos.  We were to be the first PWC (personal water craft) drivers to travel between the two continents. We took a chase boat and three Bombardier Sea Doos to Teller, Alaska and set off on the longest day of the year across the Bering Straits. Teller is Alaska's most northerly port and 1 degree south of the Arctic Circle. I assisted with the driving of one of the PWC, was a camera grip, mini-camera operator, the segment writer and assistant editor. We damaged one of the Sea Doos on pack ice and ended featuring only two watercraft in the 1-hr documentary. W

The Walls are Adorned with Art (and the food was pretty damn good too). In a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity, the Canadian Caribbean Community gathered last week at the Danforth art gallery for an art show opening that felt more like a lively fete than a traditional art exhibition. The Aree Artists Centre played host to the standing room only show, aptly titled "Sensational Vistas," featuring the photographic masterpieces of four seasoned artists. The gallery walls adorned with 24 captivating works, all but one available for purchase. Ian P. Grant, David Lewis, and Benjamin Alunyo Lis had their creations up for grabs, while Anthony Berot's images remained exclusively for admiration. The absence of one collective member, Peter Faure, hung heavily in the air, as the longtime artist had recently passed away. His daughter, Lisa Faure, paid homage to her late father by showcasing five of his pieces, with the crowd favoring his popular work, "PanPan is Desperado.

 VARIOUS CLIPPINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND TV CLIPS CREATED  PRODUCER / WRITER / KEY GRIP/ETC STEPHEN WEIR

EDGY PRODUCTION OF 'CARMEN" COMING TO TORONTO'S MERIDIAN HALL America meets Spain on the Canadian stage this evening American dancer Kayoko Everhart born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and an African American father takes on the lead role in Spain's Compania Nacional de Danza's edgy production of "Carmen." This classic opera is set in Seville and explores, through dance, the consequences of jealousy and rage when the young gypsy Carmen refuses to be controlled by Don José. While Carmen represents freedom and independence, Don José symbolizes the struggle between his obsession for her and his duty as a soldier. The company performed last night in Toronto and apparently blew the lid off the staid Meridian Hall (St Lawrence Centre) will be performing again tonight (SATURDAY 3 FEB 24), and then they leave town. Will file a report after the show.  

Rashaan Rori Allwood and Kathryn Patricia Cobbler - three city tour in February KATHRYN PATRICIA COBBLER In a celebration of Black History Month, two exceptional Canadian musicians of Caribbean descent, Rashaan Rori Allwood and Kathryn Patricia Cobbler, are set to dazzle audiences with their multi-media performance titled "Unyielding Roots." This powerful presentation of original compositions aims to reflect upon the complex experiences of the Caribbean immigrant and African diaspora within the context of North American colonial landscapes. Joy Bullen, the long-time creator behind Black History Month Music, designed this event to showcase young Black Canadian musicians breaking stereotypes and making history. Since 2015, the initiative has been a platform for artists excelling in areas where Black voices have often been silenced. "Unyielding Roots" will be performed in Halifax, Ottawa, and Toronto, in collaboration with cultural and not-for-profit organizations acro

  THEA JACKSON TAKES CARNIVAL COSTUMES TO ATLANTA Yesterday, it was a sunny 17 degrees Celsius in Atlanta, Georgia, while Toronto experienced wet and snowy conditions with a temperature of minus 4 degrees. No wonder Toronto’s international costume designer, Thea Jackson, has Georgia on her mind these days. Jackson has recently returned from the Atlanta “Bandlaunch,” where she showcased her latest mas costume designs to revelers planning to participate in this spring’s Atlanta Caribbean Carnival. The annual event is scheduled during the city’s Memorial Day May 27th Weekend. In front of a full house in Atlanta, her designs were displayed to an enthusiastic crowd. Her show reflected pure Toronto style, featuring beautiful costumes, models, and Soca music. Jackson designs for the city’s Madd Colors Carnival Mas Band. “2024 is a special year for the band,” she shared with The Caribbean Camera. “Madd Colors Carnival is celebrating 15 years with their theme ‘Chrysalis,’ and the section I am

That Look Of Love Has Ice-Cubes Does Brandon Randolph know something we don’t? In an interview this week with me, prior to his upcoming performance with the famed Mark Morris Dance Group this Friday night at the downtown Meridian Theatre, he expressed a slight concern about our weather! Brandon Randolph ( ABOVE ) has a place on St. Croix Island in the Virgin Islands that he just visited, and after reading the weather reports on what is happening in New York State and Toronto, he is wishing he might have stayed a little longer! "You are getting us fresh and eager to dance. Toronto is the first performance of our new tour," Randolph told the Camera. "We have been in Toronto twice before, and we are looking forward to this visit, except for one thing — what is happening with your freezing weather?" He says he likes the Caribbean feel to the city (when it is warm) and fans should give him a wave and a clap when they see him on stage – “you won’t have trouble picking me