This week’s question: Kenneth Jeffers, a member of the Toronto Police Services Board, has called for the suspension of a school policing program. Through the program, armed, uniformed police officers are now placed in 75 schools across the city. At last week’s meeting of the board, several persons spoke of the negative impact of police […]
Two outstanding lawyers from the Caribbean community were among eleven honourees at the annual Law Society Awards ceremony held last week at Osgoode Hall in Toronto. Guyana-born Patrick Case received the Law Society medal and Jamaica-born Thora Espinet was presented with the Lincoln Alexander Award. Case who was called to the Bar in 1988, has […]
When the York Region District School Board meets next Tuesday, its director, Kathi Wallace, will read an apology to a Black parent who was called a nigger by one of its trustees, and to members of the Black community. The apology is part of a settlement with Jamaica-born Charlene Grant who had launched human rights […]
The 18th edition of Muhtadi International Drumming Festival (MIDF) will be held at Woodbine Park in Toronto on the weekend. The two-day festival (June 3-4) is multicultural extravaganza that showcases 30 plus performers/groups playing an eclectic array of drums, music and dance from many nations. One of the themes of this year’s festival is “Canada […]
“One han caan clap.” That was the message from Jamaica’s foreign affairs minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, at the Canadian launch on Tuesday night of the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference. Addressing more than a hundred Jamaicans at the Eaton Chelsea hotel in Toronto, the foreign minister noted the theme of the conference: “Partnering for growth.” […]
Hundreds of carnival aficionados showed up on Saturday for the launching of Whitfield Belasco’s” Looking into D future” at the Toronto Plaza hotel on Wilson Avenue. The veteran carnival artiste and bandleader impressed mas’ enthusiasts with no fewer than seven sections of amazing “futuristic presentations – equality, equity, hope for the future, freedom, prosperity, golden opportunity and serenity […]
The Toronto Caribbean carnival which for most of its life was officially known as Caribana, will be taking a ” new direction” this summer when mas’ aficionados celebrate its 50th anniversary. The parade of bands will still be heading down ” de boulevard” (Lakeshore Boulevard West) but there are new plans to make the carnival […]
Toronto rapper Drake picked up 13 awards at Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, beating the previous record of 12 held by Adele. Drake had earned 10 awards in early winners announced Sunday morning and won an 11th for top male artist in the first minutes of the show He beat out Beyoncé, […]
After months of negotiations between the Caribana Arts Group (CAG) and the Festival Management Committee (FMC) which has been running the Toronto Caribbean carnival for the last ten years, talks have irretrievably broken down. And, according to Monica Pollard, CAG chairman, the CAG will not be playing any role in the Toronto Caribbean carnival this […]
Kenneth Jeffers, the lone black member of the Toronto Police Services Board, has called for the suspension of the School Resource Officer program after deputations by several persons who spoke at Tuesday’s board meeting of the negative impact of police presence in schools. Through the program, police officers are now stationed in 75 schools across […]