The community lost a champion of a man with the unexpected passing of entrepreneur and sports enthusiast Carlos Tross, on Sunday, February 19. Those who knew Carlos, remembers a man who was tireless in his efforts to add value to community life. Up to the time of his passing, Carlos was the driving force behind the Quebec Caribbean Cricketers Fraternity in Harley Avenue in western NDG, a group that doubled as a much needed community organization and a place of refuge for those seeking companionship, weekend dominoes and card games or sessions of televised sports, mainly cricket and soccer. …

There’s a little house on North Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia standing today as a rental property but for Black Haligonians is a repository of history that must be protected. The house, was home to Dr. Clement Ligoure, a Trinidad-born super achiever who became Nova Scotia’s first Black doctor. Last month it was granted heritage status by the Halifax regional council after years of advocacy by the Black community for its protection. Dr. Ligoure’s story documents the intense racism that permeated Canadian society at various levels as strove to study, set up a practice and contribute. He graduated from Queen’s …

Nompumelelo Moyo (LJI) Meet Linkcon ‘Prezzy’ Demetrius, a versatile young entrepreneur and the driving force behind Driven Paper Next Level Entertainment Company, which handles artist relations and development, event coordination, digital distribution and PR services. His story is one of defiance and resurgence after his life was thrown into turmoil that resulted in a five-year hold on his career. He’s back with a vengeance. Demetrius describes himself as a victim of racial profiling whose experiences on what turned out to be a case of ‘’being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” was like something out of a NCIS …

Dr. Alwin Spence. January 1, 2023, my oldest sister celebrated her 90th. birthday. I also know of others who will reach that milestone this year. Some are in very good health physically and mentally, while others are showing signs of decline. My mother passed away at the relatively young age of 60, while my father passed on at 81. Already I have outlived my parents and I hope that I could reach my sister’s age and beyond. So my question is. What determines longevity, that is the number of years a person can expect to live? Well how long, and …

I’ve just completed an almost five-month home renovation. I camped out in one of the spare bedrooms, where I slept, worked, and believe it or not, cooked. Everything in the house had to be packed up and stored in boxes and bags for months, and I realized that as the renovation came to a close, I probably didn’t need half of the things that I put in the boxes. So… it’s time to simplify, it’s time to de-clutter. Is it time for you to think about de-cluttering your life? Is it time to get rid of all of the excess …

Over the past month or two, COVID-19 has been putting a beating on the Caribbean. With infections and fatalities skyrocketing at unbelievable rates in several countries across the region, the outbreaks are stoking fear that some healthcare systems might cripple under the strain of the mutating corona virus. In North America, authorities are cautioning travellers to stay away from Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy and Bermuda, all now categorized as having a “Level 4” or “very high” rate of transmission over the past 28 days. And as the hyper-virulent Delta variant circles …

In a few weeks, from October 8-10, the 37th Annual Miami Carnival will hit the streets, and the city will be overrun by music, fetes, and pageantry of Caribbean culture. There will also be live performances by several well-known bands, as well as a segment about the history of carnival. Miami Carnival is the first major Trinidad-style carnival to be held since the pandemic hit the world last year and is the place to be for lovers of the grandest out-door festival. For masqueraders longing for an opportunity to wear a costume and jump with wild abandon, and organizers of …

The Canadian Institute for People of African Descent (CIPAD) positions itself as the first-ever institute dedicated to conducting research on the state of Blackness in Canada out of which it hopes to produce effective and culturally appropriate policies that will help to remove the disparities and inequities faced by Canadian people of African descent. The initiative was inspired, in part, by the UN declaration of the Decade for People of African Descent 2015 -2024. Speaking to the CONTACT Quammie Williams, the project manager for CIPAD, said the project was intended to “fill in the blanks” “There isn’t enough being taught about Black …

Saint-Michel’s Centre Lasallien recently announced new initiative  to fight food insecurity in the area. Saint-Michel remains one of the most underprivileged neighbourhoods in Montreal where not too many families have access to healthy food. Une Cuisine Unie – a new community kitchen, is touted as a way to impact on that reality. A spokesperson at Centre Lasallien says it will enable them to provide more families with essential meals. For years the centre has been working in the area helping young people and families meet their basic needs. And especially over the past year and a half of the pandemic, food security has been …

Dear readers, it’s time to forget and let go of fear, worry and shame. These three comrades form an entity that wants to cripple you and manipulate you to not trust God. Some of us attempt to run and hide from God because of the things we do and say when the weight of this trio presses on our hearts and minds. In the midst of fear, worry and shame many hide from God. Oh beloved do not run from Him, rather I encourage you to run to Him. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and the light that dispels …