Posts tagged Jamaica

Montrealers turned out in full force on July 26th for Jamaica Day at Martin Luther King (Kent) Park, widely regarded by organizers as the largest edition to date. Headliner Papa Michigan best known as half of Michigan & Smiley gave his fans his classic hits on Saturday, then met fans at a packed community gathering on Sunday. Born Anthony Fairclough in Kingston, Jamaica, Michigan helped invent a new language for reggae at the turn of the 1980s. As Michigan & Smiley, he and partner General Smiley were among the first dual toasters, popularizing a crisp call-and-response style that bridged singing and DJ chatting and …

Evangelist Dejah Smart Moses calls herself “a shy girl with a servant’s heart.” Her first book, Becoming Her, debuts on August 1, 2025, shaped by years of ministry, mentoring and a steady faith she’s carried since childhood. “I was 11 when I got saved in Jamaica,” she said to the CONTACT. “I’ve not been perfect, but I’ve maintained my faith.” She moved to Canada in 1995, “17, almost 18,” and settled quickly into church life. “People saw something in me I didn’t yet see in myself,” she added. “They used to call me the ‘Pentecostal girl.’” Service came first: choir, …

When you think of Jamaica, ice hockey isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But that’s exactly what makes the story of the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation (JOIHF) so compelling. Although the island country may be best known for its sprinting legends, a new sporting narrative is being carved. From July 10–12, the JOIHF will compete in the second leg of the Challenger Series in Montreal, facing off against Greece, Puerto Rico, and Lebanon at 14700 Pierrefonds Blvd., Pierrefonds at the Sportplexe Pierrefonds. The team enters the city with a mission: to defend their regional crown and spread …

The Caribbean Coalition Network of Montreal (CCNM) kicked off the 2025 Carnival season in spectacular style with a VIP Mixer on May 8th at the Jamaica Association of Montreal. The launch event brought together a dynamic cross-section of the city’s community. From local politicians and cultural leaders to business professionals and mas band organizers, all came together. The Carimas Road Parade takes place on Saturday, July 5. It moves along the south side of René-Lévesque Boulevard, starting at Jeanne-Mance at 11 a.m. and ending at Peel Street (Place du Canada) by 12 p.m. The celebration concludes with the Carimas Cultural …

Alicia Anderson, better known by her stage name Miss Diva, has been making inroads in music for almost a decade now. grew up deeply rooted in music and faith. “I was always in church,” she recalls to the CONTACT, reminiscing about weekends spent between her two grandmothers—one Pentecostal, the other Anglican. Encouraged by her grandmother, young Alicia took her first steps into the choir, unknowingly laying the foundation for what would become her career. Beyond the church walls, Alicia was immersed in the sounds of reggae greats like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Marcia Griffiths, thanks to jam sessions in …

I’ve a few questions to ask my readers. Do you put up a Christmas tree in your house in December? Do you eat turkey during Thanksgiving weekend? Do you buy Chocolate and Flowers for your loved ones duringValentine’s Day? I bet the majority of my readers will reply, Yes! If thats the case, have you ever stopped and ask yourself why? Despite your race, religion, culture or background we come from, we tend to follow traditions and adapt habits without truly knowing the meaning or history behind it. I myself am willing to confess to doing the same. Just last …

When Pierre Trudeau was the Prime Minister of Canada, a very good friend of mine lived in his constituency and voted for him. He was the P.M. but also her Member of Parliament. As a certified accountant, she was getting the run-around, as she applied over and over for a job consistent with her qualifications. Very desperate, she wrote a letter to the P.M. explaining in no uncertain terms her predicament. She was not expecting an answer and she was prepared for that. But very soon after the letter was sent, surprisingly, she got a phone call to report for …

In celebration of Black History Month, Iet’s get back to our roots when it comes to healthy living. What do I mean? Getting back to your roots can mean different things to different people and can take various forms when it comes to healthy living. For example, from the rhythmic, therapeutic, and uplifting effects of our music; being embraced in the warmth and support that comes with being part of a strong community; to our eclectic cuisines with the tantalizing depth of alluring tastes and flavours that awakens your taste buds. For this article, my focus is on the latter. …

Nompumelelo Moyo (LJI) On February 15, there will be a special Valentine’s Edition featuring numerous emerging artists from Montreal, some of the city’s favorite DJ’s as well as talented coming in from Vermont and New York called Lovestruck at the Noel Alexander Banquet Hall brought to you by The Jamaica Association and Linkcon Prezzy Demetrius who will coordinate the event. Prezzy is the CEO of Driven Paper Next Level, and he established The Empowerment House for Independent Artists, which is a modern day comeback kid in the music business. Despite having left the music scene in 2017, Prezzy took the …

In the final year of my three-year teacher-training programme, we were all sent out to different schools in rural Jamaica to do our Practice Teaching before graduation. There were six of us in my group. It was not by accident that the six of us who also shared the same dormitory, were sent to the same school. We were all good friends. Part of our assignment was to conduct the whole service at one of the local churches. So, it was for us to decide who would do the different duties. Someone from the group volunteered to play the church …