UWI to become world’s first climate smart study institute

UWI to become world’s first climate smart study institute

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The University of the West Indies (UWI) is to become the world’s first climate smart study university offering degrees and certificates at all levels, the Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles announced  last week. Sir Hilary, addressing the UWI Mona Campus Council meeting, said that discussions have already been held with representatives […]

The time to effect change is right now – Kenneth Jeffers

The time to effect change is right now  – Kenneth Jeffers

“You are  the future now.” So said  Kenneth Jeffers, Chair of the Toronto Police Service Board, to a large number of young people at the Service’s Black History Month celebration held last week  at the Jamaican Canadian Centre in  Toronto. ” We must acknowledge that the time to effect change, work together and make a […]

North Is Freedom opens in Brampton

North Is Freedom opens in Brampton

  By Stephen Weir North Is Freedom, a photography exhibition about the legacy of the Underground Railroad, opened on Sunday at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) in Brampton. The exhibition tells the story of the descendants of African Americans who escaped slavery by fleeing to Canada in the early 1800s.  An estimated  […]

New leader, new hopes

For the cynics among Toronto’s mas’ aficionados, the reclaiming of the Caribbean carnival by the Caribana Arts Group (CAG) which has been discussed time and time again, has been dismissed as unrealistic – or just so much “ole talk.” It will never happen, many mas’ makers say. As one longtime  carnival bandleader put it, the […]

Easier for a youngster to get a gun than a job, Senate hearing told

Easier for a youngster to get a gun  than a job, Senate hearing told

  OTTAWA – Louis March, Founder of  the Zero Gun Violence Movement (ZGVM) in Toronto, told the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence on Monday that young people are saying it is easier for them to get a gun than  a job. ” The young kids have spoken to us regularly,.. Imagine a […]

‘Youth level up’ to be launched in Toronto on February 23

‘Youth level up’ to be launched in Toronto on February 23

By Lincoln DePradine A new event on this year’s Black History Month calendar is a youth-focused gathering in Toronto that chief organizer and host, Claudene Neysmith, says is designed to inspire young people to be “innovators and risk-takers’’. “I also hope that it inspires them to become positive role models in their respective communities,’’ said […]

Taking the audience to the place of deepest grief and holiest joy

Taking the audience to the place of deepest grief  and holiest joy

The Alvin Ailey dance company Taking the audience to the place of deepest grief and holiest joy By Stephen Weir In the world of contemporary dance, what goes around really does comes around, especially for the Alvin Ailey dancers. Last weekend, the venerable American company kicked off their 60 anniversary 21-city tour in Toronto (their […]

Fifteen ‘accomplished individuals’ receive awards at Hamilton gala

Fifteen ‘accomplished individuals’ receive awards at Hamilton gala

  HAMILTON,Ont.- Israel Crooks, the founder of an art project, who has mentored at-risk youth by helping  them “articulate their experience through painting,” was among more than a dozen “accomplished individuals,” who were recipients of this year’s John C.Howard Awards. The annual Awards recognize African-Canadian achievement and contribution among youth and adults in the city […]

High time to apologize to Black Canadians for slavery – Afua Cooper

High time to apologize to Black Canadians for slavery – Afua Cooper

By Lincoln DePradine A Dalhousie University professor says Canada’s political leaders, at all levels of government, ought to offer an apology to African Canadians for slavery and other inhumane acts against Black people. Dr. Afua Cooper, speaking in Toronto last Sunday, noted that while other groups have received apologies for acts of discrimination and racism, […]

Ontario Science Centre celebrates its 50th anniversary

Ontario Science Centre celebrates its  50th anniversary

By Stephen Weir More than fifty-two million people – many of them Toronto students – have visited the Ontario Science Centre. So it was only fitting that students were invited to attend the  Centre’s 50th  anniversary party last Friday. While the students were engaged  in some “mad-scientist looking experiments,” Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Michael […]