This year we gather for the 32nd annual Echoes of a Proud Nation Pow-Wow! It is with great joy and pride that we come together to celebrate and honor the traditions, cultures, and spirit of our ancestors. At this time of year, we are reminded of the strength and resilience that has been passed down through generations. This event, held on the second weekend of July, marks the anniversary of the 1990 crisis, where our people stood together and we protected our territories. The powwow is a time of coming together, of sharing stories and dances, of laughter and friendship. …

Brian Smith Originally Greenland District, Manchester, Jamaica, Ivyline Fleming first touched the shores of Montreal in 1959 as part of a federal government plan in which eligible black women could work in domestic service; after a year, they received landed immigrant status and, after five, could apply for citizenship. Almost from the outset, she became involved in community organizations — and that involvement lasted nearly 60 plus years. Always there to serve her community, Miss Fleming first joined the Negro Citizen Association When the Jamaica Association of Montreal was established in 1962, Fleming joined and rose through the ranks before …

Marjorie Villefranche CEO of Maison d’Haïti   For 2 years now, Haiti has been facing a multi-dimensional political, economic, health and security crisis. This crisis particularly affects vulnerable populations, with women, girls and children in Haiti experiencing or witnessing unimaginable violence. The crisis is exacerbated by a number of aggravating factors: multiple massacres, a critical shortage of drinking water, medicines and food, and the risk of epidemics are threatening the lives of 11 million people. In this context, it is urgent to protect the lives of Haitian citizens, currently threatened by the escalation of violence. The forced displacement of populations …

Anne Janice Farray As a tribute to and in celebration of her nation’s 50th Anniversary of Independence, Theresa “Cloe” Henwood is holding her annual Tea Poetry & Wee event to commemorate Grenada’s important milestone with the theme “Hats Off to Grenada”- Celebrating Our 50th Anniversary of Independence”. The event will be held on Sunday, June 30, 2024 @ Ruby Foo’s Hotel in Montreal. For the past ten (10) years, except during COVID, this annual tea party has raised funds used to support Cloe’s Project Book Benefit, a non-profit organization established in 2008. As a Special Care Counsellor working in the …

By Desirée Zagbai It is a gloomy Tuesday evening, and the sound of laughter is echoing throughout the basketball court. The players at St. Raymond Community Centre are excitedly warming up for their weekly basketball practice. The St. Raymond Community Centre is part of the youth organization Comité Jeunesse in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. The center offers activities for the youth, such as basketball, badminton, volleyball, and soccer. It also holds workshops such as cooking and team leadership. The team leadership program helps high school students and student athletics with their time management. Rahim Hutchinson is the animator of the S.O.I.R program at …

On May 5th Union United Church will welcome their long awaited Minister, Rev. Rolanda Taylor. She will be working on a part-time basis. On her first Sunday, she will conduct the sermon, communion, and a baptism. Our community is grateful that she has returned from Western Canada and has gracefully accepted the position to be our minister. We whole-heartedly thank all who have worked tirelessly to keep our church functioning over the past years, especially, the Music and Worship Committee mainly Wendy Sparks, Debbie Durant and Kimberly Sherwood. Rev. Taylor was born and raised in Montreal where she attended Union …

By: Gemma Raeburn-Baynes The Spice Island Cultural Day Association of Quebec is thrilled to announce that the Prime Minister of Grenada, Hon. Dickon Mitchell, will be making his inaugural visit to Montreal to attend the 7th Annual Spice Island Cultural Festival as it marks the 50th Anniversary of Grenada’s Independence. The festival is scheduled from July 11 to July 14, 2024. As an esteemed attorney and the current Prime Minister of Grenada since June 24, 2022, Hon. Dickon Mitchell’s presence at the festival marks a significant moment for both Grenadian and Quebecois communities. His attendance underscores the importance of cultural …

  Officer duties. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) works closely with law enforcement agencies and related departments. Airport Border Services Officers (BSO) are equipped with tactical apparel and equipment including a firearm, handcuffs, baton, and pepper spray. Officers conduct examinations, execute baggage and body searches, issue or renew work and study permits, validate documents for new immigrants, and process new refugee claimants. Officers have the power to enforce outstanding warrants and can arrest or detain those suspected to have contravened or violated the law. Are you who you say you are? There are a number of reasons why you could …

“We must confront the uncomfortable truths of our history in order to create a more just future. It is only by acknowledging the past that we can move forward.” Derrick Bell. In this province, the “N-word” holds deep historical significance, with roots dating back to the 1600s in New France. However, the recent controversy surrounding Quebecois artist Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge’s use of the N-word took me by surprise. In an online video, Lemay-Thivierge is shown strolling through a forest, discussing the concept of hard work, while embracing a birch tree with the offensive term “nigga” clearly written on it, a reference …

Roderyk Boykin There’s a growing divide between Canadian and American wages. This poses a threat to the stability of the Canadian economy with the movement of top talent fleeing down south to chase higher wages. We the see tThe increasing growth of the gap becomes evident when taking a comparative look at the two countries’ GDP per capita (adjusted for purchasing power) from 2013 to 2022. In that time, theThat difference has doubled from $9k ($44.3k vs $53.5k) to now $18k ($58.3k vs $76.3k), according to data from The World Bank. With the contrasting in wage growth between the two …