By Janet Grant and Photo by: Melissa Cruzz Day 1: Thursday Kick-Off: The energy was electric on the opening day of Fan Expo Toronto 2024 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre—amazing costumes inspired by anime, comics, movies, and video games. The panels, some of which I had been eagerly anticipating, promised a nostalgic trip for […]
This October, Peter Tosh’s life and legacy will be celebrated as he marks what would have been his 80th birthday. The Peter Tosh Foundation has announced a new initiative, “Peter Tosh Town,” aimed at addressing the disparities in his hometown of Belmont-Bluefields. Niambe Tosh, founder of the foundation and Peter Tosh’s daughter, explains that naming […]
The Harbourfront Centre in Toronto will host a special event on September 7th, 2024, to celebrate the life and legacy of Louise Bennett-Coverley, affectionately known as Miss Lou, the Queen of Jamaican Culture. The event, titled “Celebrating Miss Lou: A Life of Poetry, Music, and Love,” will feature a variety of activities designed to honor […]
Built in 1886, St. Ann’s Church The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo has addressed controversy surrounding the sale of St. Ann’s Church to the local Muslim community, following a surge of angry reactions on social media. Built in 1886, St. Ann’s Church was closed in 2007 due to a decline in parishioners and was sold […]
A new Statistics Canada report highlights significant health disparities between Black Canadians and their white counterparts. Analyzing data from Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged 19 and older from the 2001, 2006, 2011 , and 2019 censuses, the report reveals that Black Canadians face increased mortality rates from several serious health conditions. Black males are […]
In response to two violent attacks on Sunday that resulted in eight deaths and nine injuries, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared a 14-day state of emergency in the southern parish of Clarendon. The violence began with a mass shooting at a birthday party in Cherry Tree Lane, where seven people were killed. The […]
By Neil Armstrong Canute Lawrence, a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) teacher and author, is not easily fazed by disappointments and recently demonstrated the truism that “when one door closes another opens.” A day after plans changed for an event in Jamaica that he was looking forward to attending and perform his poetry, Lawrence received […]
By Stephen Weir If it weren’t for Pan Masters losing at Pan Alive by just 1 point, this would have been a perfect summer for Saukrates. His favorite B-Boy won an Olympic medal in Paris, his July release, My Pager Burnin’ Up (Easide of Thangs), is blowing up on YouTube with his 1.1 million followers, he […]
At the height of reggae’s golden age, some of Jamaica’s brightest stars made their way to Toronto, leaving behind a legacy that is now celebrated in the National Film Board of Canada’s (NFB) new anthology series, Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land. Premiering August 23 on nfb.ca and the NFB’s streaming platform, this […]
A recent Statistics Canada study highlights the growth and challenges of Black-owned businesses in Canada. Despite an increase in Black entrepreneurship, these businesses represent a small fraction of the country’s overall business landscape and face significant hurdles compared to their counterparts. The study reveals that as of 2023, there were approximately 66,880 Black-owned businesses in […]
