By Lincoln DePradine

Joel Davis, the recent recipient of the Caribbean and Black Community Award, Caribbean Camera-sponsored award, is not just receiving but also is himself giving back.

For a second year in a row, Davis – the calypsonian known as “Connector’’ – joined with friend Gerald “Stretch’’ Augustine of Epic Carnival, and a team of other people to bring Christmas cheers to a group of Toronto children.

“The children came and there was a party. They got their snacks, received toys, played games and there was storytelling. The rest of the toys that remain will go to Toy Mountain,’’ Davis told The Caribbean Camera about the 2022 event.

It was held at Twilight Banquet Hall in Scarborough, which also hosted the event last year.

Toy Mountain is a CTV Christmas campaign that has been in existence for 27 years.

Davis said witnessing the smiles on the faces of the children at the Scarborough event serves as a motivation “to continue doing more for the community, especially the youth. It’s all about the youth,’’ he emphasized.

“Christmas is about giving. We just do it as a gesture of good faith and good heart,’’ Davis added. “To see the kids happy, it was a joy. I do things for the adults too; but, my focus is working with the youth. There is a lot of things going forward that I want to do for the youth and I hope and pray that I can get some serious people to come together and work with me.’’

Davis, who was recognized in the “Art & Culture’’ category of the Impact Awards, is a singer and songwriter and winner of both the Calypso Monarch and Soca Monarch titles of Canada.

He said he was appreciative of the award from The Caribbean Camera. “That is like the Grammy for me, to know that people out there voted for me. I’m thankful for that,’’ said Davis.