All posts on May, 2022

Lisa Dennis knows a thing or two about the brain. Most importantly she knows of its capacity for rehabilitation. So for the past two decades this former Montrealer’s focus professionally has been on finding ways to help people with various brain-based disorders heal themselves and improve their lives. In doing so for the most part, she has had to chart a course of her own, sometimes going against the grain of conventional treatment. Which means Dennis has had to walk away from public institutions such as hospitals and other treatment clinics where her penchant for creativity and “thinking outside of …

Advocates have long been bemoaning the lack of Black judges in the Quebec justice system. One of the more prominent voices to join in that call has been Judge Daniel Dortélus, who presided over his last case on Tuesday May, 10 and is officially retired of July 22, after close to 20 years on the bench. Probably Quebec Justice Minister, Mr. Simon Jolin-Barrette, heeded Judge Dortelus’ call when he announced the appointment of Ms. Marie Kettlyne Ruben as judge in the Court of Quebec. Mme Reuben, who holds a law degree from the University of Montreal, was called to the …

  It’s been four years since the “Black Panther Soundtrack” and five since his “Damn.” These two releases launched Kendrick Lamar as an international musical heavyweight. The pair of albums sold 4 million copies and 29.5 million singles in the U.S alone. Both records sparked back-to-back world tours and a gang of awards, including a Pulitzer (the first one given to a non-Classical or Jazz album). In 2020, the world came to a halt. Music was virtually non-existent, and Kendrick was going through writer’s block. He also welcomed his first child and created his own record label PGLang with long-time …

For decades ours have been counted among the marginalized communities here in Quebec… and as such, the coming of the province’s much dreaded Bill 96 is reason enough for us, as well as other minority groups to be worried about our place here. Although many of our students have worked to become bilingual, Bill 96 will impact negatively on many of them as they move forward with their educational goals. The obligation to complete at least three core courses in French at the CEGEP level can be a troubling prospect for many, as competent as they may be in the …

Continuing Europe’s colonial history’s unfinished business… When will white people reach, satisfy, their racial blood lust quota of Black lives extraction/extracting? Which is all I could think of the weekend of May 13, when news broke about the latest case of “mass shooting madness…” And it continued to play out the beginning of the following week as we learned more about the heinous, tragic, deadly event that claimed 11 innocent lives, disrupting that Buffalo, NY. community in the process, and impacting the lives of hundreds, thousands… of others in the process, as a result of that heinous, catastrophic racist incident? …

For the last four decades the West Island Black Community Association (WIBCA) has been an essential catalyst for fostering community development by working tirelessly to build community engagement by providing programs for the benefit of all, regardless of ethnic origin, color, gender, religion, or race, and to be integrated as a vibrant part of society. Standing on the shoulders of founders Norma Husbands and Margaret Jolly the organisation has been providing programs for all members of society from the young, young adults, middle aged and seniors. And over the past 40 years they’ve been many members of the community who …

Cue strains of Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ with wisps of smoke carrying the smell of jerk seasoning and other delightful scents in the mid-summer sunshine and breeze on the island that is Parc Drapeau…. For the past four decades or so, Jamaica Day, the annual celebration of music, food, arts and crafts and everything Jamaica has been ‘nicing-up’ Montreal, as one of the biggest outdoor festivals in our community. However, the event has been in jeopardy because of some sour notes and out-of-timing ruminations as two competing groups of organizers claim ownership of The Day and the rights to host …

From May 14, wearing a mask in several enclosed or partially enclosed public places is no longer mandatory. On public transit and at healthcare facilities, the obligation is maintained. Travel is heating up as more and more people are planning summer vacations to exotic and relaxing destinations. One destination I would love to go to one year is to Vincy Mas. Known as the Hottest Carnival in the Caribbean, Vincy Mas is the biggest festival in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The carnival starts in the middle of June, culminating usually on the Monday and Tuesday in the first week …

On June 30, The Montreal Jazz Festival returns to the concert halls and the streets of downtown Montreal after a two-year hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, the world’s biggest jazz fest had some shows that streamed on line. Last year it was a super mini edition of the fest over five days with mainly local acts and Hull born legendary producer Daniel Lanois headlining. This year, the festival is back in its regular format except with one catch and there will be more free shows than ever. There will be more Black representation at the festival than …

To many of us, she is just cousin Marilyn but Marilyn Turner-Collins is well-known for the comfort and joy she brings to family and friends with all her little acts of kindness. That’s why it was such a warm get together on the evening of April 30, when a roomful of Montrealers gathered at the Barbie’s Deli and Grill on the south shore for the celebration of her 70th. Among the guests at the birthday party organized by her boys Shaun and Dwayne and husband Gary, were her grandchildren, Justice and Kaiden, cousins from the Phillips and Turner clans as …