All posts on October, 2020

“My passion is to help people enjoy better health through safe, effective and non-invasive therapies…” Egbert Gaye As Covid-19 tightens its grip on Canada and the rest of the world, so too is the sense of dread and panic that is slowly creeping across borders and proliferating a mental health crisis of equal proportions. In a recent statement, the WHO points to an impending global mental health crisis, as governments around the world cut back on funding for the disease as they struggle against the virus at the same time that an increasing number of people are buckling under fear, …

  Rosie Awori (LJI) Throughout this pandemic and in the mist of the on-going struggle for social justice, music remains a source of comfort and joy to many.Montreal based label Indie-Rootz Records, recognizes that and used the down period when event both outdoor and indoor have been put on hold to put together a project that overflows with inspiration and vibes.The project features several top reggae talents from Quebec and Ontario and rides on “The Running Riddim,” which was put together by two Montrealers Garnett “Bobby” Pottinger a highly rated musician also connected to House of Reggae Records as well …

With 30 million eligible voters, the elections might be in the hands of Blacks Egbert Gaye Blacks in the US have had enough of Donald Trump and his shifty, race-baiting presidency. Since he snuck into the White House riding a wave of white people’s discontent, Trump has managed to uncork decades of bottled-up emotions of racial rancor and strife and ushered in one of the most divisive and hate-filled periods in the country’s recent history. Blacks know it and feel it. Trump’s unfinished tenure has been a living-hell for many of them. The world gets a glimpse as it was …

Information session on October 28th Contact Staff After two years of success, the Generation Gap program returns this fall, driven by the same objectives: to increase the number of visible minority students in the field of social work by providing meaningful conversations and a supportive environment. Carole Sandy, a clinical counsellor and graduate of the School of Social Work at McGill University, is one of the facilitators of the program; she says the field of social work, like many other health-care professions, flourishes when diversity and inclusion is encouraged. The Generation Gap program works with visible minority students who are …

SYSTEMIC OR BASIC RACISM But in recent times, to my way of thinking the word racism seems to have become tired of standing alone; it has now become almost commonplace to hear the qualifier “systemic” as if it would add more force, more urgency to the matter/issue at hand. That has become more evident since the live asphyxiation of one citizen George Floyd by Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin on May 25 (US Memorial Day), while being arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. After being familiarized with a prison cell and charged with 2nd-degree murder, Chauvin was able to post …

As we continue down The Great Unknown in the second wave of COVID-19, it’s becoming more and more evident that Montreal Caribbean community need to help each other. Unity is strength, division is weakness. That’s the reason why the Soca Sessions team has been inviting Montreal DJs to submit one hour of their Soca mixes to be aired live on CKUT 90.FM. As I stated in the previous article that this project is title “SOCA IN YUH 514” and started in October 17 and will continue throughout the rest of the year. The idea is to use our platform on …

Rosie Awori (LJI) Africa is bleeding “We want to appeal to the Nigerian government to stop killing us, we just want to speak out against police brutality and corruption.” One protestor speaks on TV and his voice breaks as he recounts the events of October 20, in Nigeria. For the past month, Nigeria has been rocked by nationwide protest against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) group. And on October 20, Nigerian military opened fire on unarmed protesters killing 10 and injuring scores. And in response the Nigerian government said the citizens shouldn’t have been out protesting as there is a …

This year, 2020 did not unfold quite the way it should for members of West Can Folk Performing Company. Before COVID-19 struck, the group set out an elaborate project to conduct workshops on Afro-Caribbean folk dance, drumming, singing and storytelling work across the community and involved as many associations and organizations as possible and end with a massive community-wide exposition themed, Afro-Caribbean Folklore in Quebec, but it was not to be. However a number of workshops outdoors, via videoconference and as of late in-person classes at their Cultural Arts Center located at 7419 Harley Avenue Montreal. Among the group that …

Let’s get on our knees for our mouth’s sake Is your mouth in prison because of the face mask requirements? Have you, ever since, been covering up, and subjecting your mouth to confinement behind a mask? It is time to pray our mouths from this new prison labelled as a mask. One’s mouth rules their life and destiny. We speak with our mouths and call it verbal communication. Your ability to speak and what you say and how well you say it; creates a path for the different avenues of life you may venture. Very early on, as young as …