Posts in category Current Issue

With the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau heating up, former MP, Frank Baylis is positioning himself as the pragmatic outsider who can fix a system, he says is failing Canadians. Baylis, a professional engineer and successful entrepreneur, is among the five contenders hoping to win over members. Baylis, who previously served as a Member of Parliament for the Pierrefonds-Dollard riding, admitted he had stepped away from politics due to frustrations with the current system. “I felt that the government wasn’t working for Canadians, and it wasn’t working for me either,” he said. His attempt to introduce Bill 231—legislation …

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 …

The 34th edition of Black History Month in Quebec officially launched on January 25th at City Hall. Organized by the Round Table on Black History Month, this year’s theme, “All That We Carry – Tout ce que nous sommes,” emphasizes the enduring resilience, rich legacy, and significant contributions of Black communities worldwide. The launch event had a turnout community dignitaries, City Councillors and Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante who officiated this year’s opportunity for the laureates to sign Montreal’s Livre d’Or, the city’s official guest book. Michael Farkas, President of the Round Table on Black History Month, highlighted the importance of …

Reggae history and Montreal’s vibrant sound system culture will be the main focus at The String Up, a new exhibition by the Afrosonic Innovation Lab launching on Feb. 7, 2025 at the National Film Board in Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles . The exhibition will feature iPad stations with sound archives from CKUT 90.3 FM. The String Up is a multimedia exhibition sampling elements of Montreal’s rich reggae music histories. It is designed to honour and salute the many selectahs, sound systems and deejays that have made the scene so vibrant and memorable. Mark V. Campbell founded the Afrosonic Innovation Lab, to support …

Dear friends, colleagues, and family,   Thank you for the kind words of support as I run to be the leader of the Liberal Party and the next Prime Minister of Canada. It provides me with the fuel I need to keep going as I speak about the need to create jobs, fix our economy. and fight for our Canadian culture.   For those of you who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and are over the age of 14 years, I need you to do one important thing to support me. Please click on the link below and register …

Monday, January 6, 2025 – In honour of Black History Month, the Orchestre Classique de Montréal (OCM) will shine the spotlight on three artists of African descent: Cameroonian-Canadian soprano Suzanne Taffot, Haitian-Canadian composer David Bontemps, and Panamanian-American conductor Kalena Bovell, making her Montréal debut. The OCM’s concert on Thursday, February 6, at Pierre‑Mercure Hall, will feature the world premiere of Bontemps’ Le Deuil des roses qui s’effeuillent, a song cycle based on poems by Jacques Roumain, in a performance marking the 80th anniversary of the Haitian writer’s passing. This special evening will focus entirely on the music of Afro-descendant composers, with works by Black British composer …

Nubian Néné, a dancer, choreographer, and multidisciplinary artist, is launching an interdisciplinary performance from Jan. 15, 2025, until Jan. 18. The performance is called Traceable and is a mix of visual arts, film, poetry, street and club dance styles such as Waacking, House, and Hip Hop. Nubian Néné emphasizes the importance of finding one’s true identity and caring about mental health and sisterhood. Nubian Néné grew up in Montreal and moved to New York in 2009. She created her dance company, A Lady in the House,13 years ago. With her performance beginning soon, she feels a combination of anxiety, nervousness, …

On Monday, January 6, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his decision to resign as leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister of Canada, bringing an end to his nearly nine-year leadership. The announcement comes amid mounting internal pressures and challenges that have tested the party’s unity. “I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its new leader,” Trudeau said during a press conference in Ottawa. While Trudeau emphasized his resilience as a leader, he acknowledged that stepping aside was in the best interest of Canadians and the party. “I am a fighter, and …

First and foremost, I would like to wish all the Montreal Community Contact readers a Happy and prosperous New year. Trinidad & Tobago Carnival season is in full bloom and Island Scoop will become your one-stop shop for Soca news during this season. Trinidad and Tobago Carnival will take place from 3rd to 4th March 2025 and I believe this the year of “Showing Gratitude”. The simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other and that’s why in this issue I would like to showcase Michael S’obrian and Lance Cadogan. These two Montrealer’s have been contributing towards …

  On Dec. 3, 2024, the healthcare company Novartis Canada announced that the non-profit organization Black Physicians of Canada (BPC) won $240,000 for its health equity initiative. BPC will use the funds to improve health equity for Black communities in Canada. BPC aims to build a community of Black physicians and physicians in training. Its goal is to empower these positions through mentorship and advice on advocacy, support, representation and more. BPC also wants to provide economic support to help fund research projects and initiatives. BPC executive director Julie Sobowale said she is excited about the health equity initiative and …