By Stephen Weir The celebrations of Emancipation Day were designated a national historic event in 2021. Historically, people of African descent in Upper and Lower Canada marked the abolition of enslavement in 1834 with organized celebrations, giving rise to annual events. In the past, Emancipation Day, often called West Indian Day, highlighted the freedom of […]
Carnival, often mistaken as mere revelry and masquerade, is deeply entwined with a history that spans colonialism, slavery, and religious transformation. Its origins trace back to ancient Egypt and Greece, where pagan festivals honored mythological deities. This tradition was later adopted by the Roman Catholic Church and celebrated across Europe before making its way to […]
By Stephen Weir Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival festivities kicked off with a colourful celebration at the Blue Jays’ home game on Friday, July 26. This marked the third consecutive year that the team hosted a Caribbean-themed event at Rogers Centre. The evening began with a lively pregame ceremony featuring members of Epic Carnival Mas, who ran […]
According to a recent Payments Canada study, over 13% of Canadians have encountered payment fraud in the past six months, a similar rate to the 14% reported in 2023. This persistent issue has made Canadians wary of payment scams, affecting their payment behaviors and increasing caution when dealing with bills and financial communications. Fraud and […]
Former residents and descendants of the historic Black community of Africville are outraged after a violent incident during their annual reunion in Halifax last Saturday. The shooting, which occurred during the 41st Africville Family Reunion, left five people injured and cast a dark shadow over the event, which is meant to celebrate the community’s history […]
The Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History, Dresden, Ontario, hosts an annual Emancipation Day celebration that highlights hope and freedom, marking the end of slavery in Canada and underscoring the ongoing quest for inclusivity and equity. Henson, a Methodist preacher, escaped slavery in the United States and arrived in Canada on October 28, 1830. Although […]
By Ravendra Madholall The 2024 Global T20 tournament is set to bowl off on Thursday at the CAA facility in Brampton, Ontario. Vancouver Knight Riders will clash with Toronto Nationals from 4pm and a keen contest is highly anticipated. Six franchised teams will be competing with Montreal Tigers, the defending champions, taking on Bangla Tigers […]
By Camille Hernández-Ramdwar This year the Toronto Caribbean Carnival (still fondly referred to as Caribana by many) turns 56 years old. It has undeniably been a major cultural institution not only for Toronto, but for the entire country. Within Caribbean communities in Canada, it has been a central fixture for generations. At the same time, […]
By Stephen Weir Photos by Gilbert Medina If it wasn’t the largest annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival Junior Caribbean Parade, it must have been close. Organizers of the annual parade estimate that 20,000 people showed up in Malvern to cheer on the children. Eric Delfish, the longtime organizer of the parade, said it was perfect […]
By Lincoln DePradine Panorama, the competition held annually in Toronto to determine the top steel orchestra in Canada, will be hosted at a new venue this year, and will be missing a longtime member-band of the Ontario Steelpan Association (OSA). The contest, also referred to as “Pan Alive”, is moving from Lamport Stadium on King […]
