All posts on July, 2015

Caylah Cruickshank is a student of the game at Tulane University Egbert Gaye Sometimes life’s lessons can weigh heavily on your shoulders as they did for Caylah Cruickshank, having to face the reality that you can’t always control the game. After starring on the basketball court for St. Thomas High School  and for Dawson College, both of which she led to several provincial championships while securing scores of individual awards, the young Montrealer is now just another player, trying to earn her place on the team at Tulane University. Coming off her first year playing Division 1 baskekball in the …

Contact Staff She is Aunty Carmen to dozens of individuals across Canada, the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. Many of them gathered at the Caribbean Paradise Restaurant on Saturday, July 18, to be with Carmen Agatha Defreitas as she celebrated her 100th birthday. And the unanimous consensus among those gathered there was that Aunty Carmen is a treasure not only to her family but also to the community. Most evident during the evening’s celebrations were her attitude and energy. According to one who paid tribute to her: “Aunty tell me she loves volunteering. I asked her what kind of …

Reggae Fest: August 14-16. Contact Staff Having taken its place among the major festivals in the city, the Montreal International Reggae Festival is a source of pride for our community. In its 12 years the event has grown into cultural force drawing tens of thousands over three days to the Old Port. This year, Reggae Fest brings a spectacular line up of stars from various generations for the weekend of August 14-16. Super star Beres Hammond headlines a power pack Friday night Roots Reggae line-up, which also includes Jah Cutta and Kaisha Lee. Dancehall and soca rules on Saturday, August …

President Obama puts the nations on the road to better relations Egbert Gaye There were muted reactions in both countries as the United States and Cuba embarked on the road to normal relations by resuming diplomatic ties severed more than 53 years ago. The new phase in the broken relationship of the two hemispheric powers was launched with flag-raising ceremonies at the new Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C., and in the lobby of the State Department on Monday, July 20, which was followed by statements of cautious enthusiasm by the nations’ top diplomats. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was …

Friday June 14, 2014 was the inaugural Dr. Oliver Jones Golf Tournament. The day was perfect – sunshine, a light breeze and summery temperatures… and by all accounts, a good time was had by all at Glendale Golf Course in Mirabel. Last year,  Dr. Oliver Jones and his foursome were the first to tee off following a warm send-off from the volunteer ladies in red. Eighteen holes of golf later, everyone returned to the clubhouse for dinner, an auction and prizes galore. Just about everyone who participated that day went home with something to remind them of the great time …

Thousands of young soca hungry fans worked into a frenzy Contact Staff The colors of the Caribbean were on display at Parc Jean Drapeau on St-Helen’s Island on Saturday, July 11, as Montrealers turned out in massive numbers to celebrate the annual Trinidad and Tobago Cultural Festival and Family Day, or Trini Day, as it’s popularly known. The day of family activities, which got under way at around 3PM, turned into a crescendo of music and dance by early evening, led by a line-up of local performers, including calypsonians Pufty, Sheryl, Lady B, Loveman Kent, Sweet and Jaalie. One of …

Jamaica Day is the oldest of such celebrations in our community. It is also one of the grandest celebrations of Jamaican food, music and culture across Canada. On July 4, thousands of Montrealers gathered at Parc Jean Drapeau on St. Helen’s Island for the annual event. They were not disappointed with non-stop music from local performers and an abundance of Jamaican food and drink, the event was, as always, a success.

The summer weather has finally settled in and, as usual, yet some people are complaining about the heat and humidity. I say deal with it cause we have only three months of summer, along with summer events and activities. I say enjoy them; they are quickly coming to an end. On Saturday, July 18, I had an amazing experience at the annual Vincy Unity Picnic at Brown’s Bay Provincial Park in the 1,000 Islands in eastern Ontario. This gathering continues to grow tremendously, as literally thousands of people descend on this beautiful region annually to enjoy this massive Vincy extravaganza. …

“We cannot rewrite history, but we can right history,” John C. Hayes III, a South Carolina Circuit Judge said in expunging the 30 days hard labor sentence handed out by his uncle, a lawyer and part-time municipal judge in 1961 to 14 Black civil rights activists for “[…] sitting at an all-white lunch counter…” They became known as “the Friendship Nine.” So begins a recent Internet article vis-à-vis the incremental change taking place in America. Yes, it’s slow, but contextually important. After all, it’s hundreds of years of a historical solid wall of oppression and exclusion to chip away at. …

In my previous article I highlighted seven possible signs to look for that might indicate you may need a financial planner. After recognizing that working with a planner is a very good idea and a worthwhile investment, the next logical step is to find the right professional. This can be done in various ways, asking at your bank, getting a referral from a friend or family member, or searching the Internet. Regardless of how you will find a possible financial planner, you will have to sit down with the individual to evaluate if he or she is the right individual …