All posts on May, 2023

Dr. Alwin Spence As good citizens, it has been drilled in our ears, and we believe it, that hard work will bring you and yours the stability we all crave. The long line-up at the Mexican border to cross into the United States, is merely to find employment so that they can take care of themselves, their families, and extended families also, realising their dream. Working hard is not the problem, it is to find gainful. employment. Meanwhile, for many Americans and Canadians, this hard work theory is no longer providing them with the stability they are used to as …

Thank You from the family of Hilton Thomas My family join me in extending sincere gratitude to all who have touched our lives during the recent illness and consequently the passing of our beloved Hilton Thomas. Your prayers and other kind expressions are a comfort as we accept all that we cannot change or control. For those who have expressed interest in support in establishing a scholarship fund to continue Mr. Thomas’s work to assist vocational training for the least of these, please contact Cynthia Thomas at 514-696-3059 for further details. Thanks once again to the community for your support. …

Ericka Alneus, is the executive committee member at the City of Montreal in charge of Culture and Heritage. She is of Haitian descent and recently had to make one of the toughest decisions since assuming her position. The decision not to go forward with the CCFA (The Caribbean Cultural Festivities Association) and pull the plug on this year’s Black and Caribbean parade is “heartbreaking” she says. “ I love my community (both sectors, French and English) and I grew up attending Carifiesta. In my early 20s, I used to travel from the city of Sherbrooke to attend the parade. However, …

Music has become an integral part of the experience at Resurrection Center Church in Lachine. And so much of it revolves around a pool of talented of Montreal musicians and has helped to build the music ministry into a formidable musical force in the city. On May 27, Montrealers get an opportunity to enjoy and share in the glory of the music flowing out of Resurrection Centre’s  Worship and Arts ministry at their All In concert, which doubles as a live recording session.In a statement, Simona McDonald, one of  the long-serving members of the music ministry says the concert will …

Nompumelelo Moyo (LJI) We all know a person or family struggling with mental health issues but Caren Mellow has a front row view having worked as a psychiatric nurse for years and currently working as a nurse-educator at Access Riverside. She has witnessed the devastating impact mental illness has had on the families and communities and so for the past 10 years she been doing her best to bring awareness on the issue through an annual mental health walk. For years mental health issues have been on the back burners, however the restrictions, uncertainty and anxiety brought about by the …

On Saturday, May 27, Montreal will gather at Schofield Hall in Town of Mont Royal to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cote des Neiges Child Care Centre. And once again, Mireille Philosca will headline a group of local performers, many of whom are making repeat appearance at this signature event. Philosca, who was trained in classical music at Vanier College brings an exciting package of unbridled energy to every performance. She started singing with her parent in church, then took her place as lead singer of a group called LMDS under the direction of the renowned Quebec producer Guy …

The Quebec Board of Black Educators (QBBE) has long been a pillar of support for Quebec students. As the summer approaches, the organization is getting ready to kick off three of its signature programs: the BANA Summer Camp for elementary students, the DaCosta Program for high school students, and the Early Literacy Program for PreK to Cycle 1 students. Each program is designed to address the unique needs of various age groups and foster personal growth alongside academic achievement. BANA Summer Camp for elementary students, the DaCosta program for high school students, and the Early Literacy Program for PreK to …

The uproar that followed the recent announcement by the City of Montreal to pull the funding of the 2023 edition of Carifiesta is an interesting one. Cries of racism and discrimination against our beleaguered community by City managers resounded across the internet, some of it coming from individuals who professed that they haven’t been to the annual summertime parade for years but insist on voicing their concern for our right to showcase our so-called culture. Who can blame them. In a city and province where systemic racism has been integral to the marginalization of our community, we’re forced into a …

Sure, we should feel good, even proud of our proverbial “Motherland,” the place where many profess that life as we know, began centuries ago. Where people of African descent can trace our ancestry and origins to, the African continent. What we cannot do, however, is beam with any degree of pride given the recurring crises of hate and bloodletting… that we’ve seen in different mediums playing out on the continent, which force citizens of various countries and tribes, in different parts of the continent to flee their homelands to seek refuge in faraway places to escape political, domestic, and other …

On Saturday May 20, Montreal party goer will be enjoying the I Am Soca party for the first time at an amazing venue called Suite Six62. Last issue, I introduced you to DJ Freeze International who will be for the first time on a Canadian I AM SOCA tour called (Long Live Soca). It reaches Montreal on Victoria long weekend and the theme is Soca Paradise when party-goers are asked to wear the brightest of colors. But having a quality event also means having a quality venue. That’s why we’ll be at Suite Six62, which fits that description perfectly. The …