Pan Fantasy steel orchestra celebrates 36 years of music with “Pannies’’ gala and awards

By Lincoln DePradine

Wendy Jones and Al Foster

Many know Dwight Drummond as a Canadian broadcast journalist, who now anchors the 8 pm nationwide news on the CBC News Network. 

But before launching his media career, which now spans three decades, Drummond was one of several youngsters participating in programs of Pan Fantasy Steelband North York Inter-Community Youth Group (NYICYG). The flagship of the group is Pan Fantasy steel orchestra, winners of eight Toronto Steelbands’ championships.

Wendy Jones was a founding-member of Pan Fantasy, which was formed in 1986. She remembers a young Drummond and others, such as now popular singer-songwriter and actor Jully Black, participating in a variety of programs that included not just steelpan playing but also basketball, fashion shows, family events, and Christmas concerts.

“We engaged the community. We know for sure that over 600 kids have passed through our program and we have tracked so many of them,’’ ’Jones told The Caribbean Camera at an event last Saturday in Scarborough.

“Dwight Drummond came out of this band and he was also part of school groups. Jully Black was also part of our programs that we had at Westview, where we would have our fashion shows.’’

Saturday’s comments from Jones were made at the “Pannies’’, a gala and awards’ ceremony honouring adult and youth members of Pan Fantasy, as well as supporters. It was held at the Centre of Excellence of Tropicana Community Services.

Among award recipients were (l-R) Marcus Foster_ Gisele-Claire Siros_ Micaela Lashley_ & Anthea ‘Tia’ Brooks

Pan Fantasy, according to members, was created and thrived because of many “community-minded individuals who saw an urgent need to guide and mentor youth’’.

Original band members like Jones were performing with Afropan – Toronto’s oldest steel orchestra – until they decided to break away to establish Pan Fantasy.

Pan Fantasy wanted to be a “year-round operation focusing on “building skills, building discipline, building a community band where anyone was welcomed to come in and play’’, said Jones, band leader and executive director of the non-profit Pan Fantasy Steelband (NYICYG).

The COVID-19 pandemic limited the activities of Pan Fantasy, with the band having to resort to virtual band rehearsals.

“You can’t have the whole band practicing on virtual. It was hard. So, we had to do it in sections,’’ Jones explained.

Through the Pan Arts Network, a group spearheaded by Jones and Earl La Pierre Jr. of Afropan, online workshops were also hosted during the pandemic, bringing together pan musicians from Canada and Trinidad.

“We are here tonight to pay homage to our pan players and the community that has been there for us as a village,” said Jones in her remarks.  “We invited close friends and family members to come out and they are here with us just to have a night of friendship, music and camaraderie.’’

Among the presentations were awards to pannists who completed Pan Fantasy’s Saturday tutoring program; the Most Improved Players; and the Rookie of the Year.

Others recognized included Al “Allos” Foster, Pan Fantasy’s music arranger, who has guided the band to “Pan Alive’’ championship titles from 2012 to 2019. No competition was held from 2020 to 2022.

“We have a lot to be proud of and I feel good with the band recognizing our accomplishments,’’ Foster said Saturday. “We love doing what we do. That’s our comfort zone; it’s to be a part of the community and we’re looking forward to continuing doing what we always do.’’

Although satisfied with the band’s success at “Pan Alive’’ of the Ontario Steelpan Association, as well as with competing at New York’s panorama, Jones said a major Pan Fantasy achievement was the band’s participation in the PanTrinbago International Panorama in Trinidad and Tobago.

“That was a big accomplishment for us,’’ she said. “We were given that opportunity to take our band to go to Trinidad; we didn’t go to Trinidad to play with other bands. We went as Pan Fantasy steelband. To be on the stage in the Savannah was a big thing; it was so beautiful.’’