Posts in category News

Former West Island tap dance and soccer phenom lawyering in London Egbert Gaye We know Sheldon Jean-Baptiste as one of those children of our community who shined in almost anything he did: dancer, soccer player and musician par excellence. So it’s not surprising to see him elevate another rung on his ladder to success, and making it look so easy. During a recent whirlwind visit to Montreal, the former West Island resident stopped off at the offices of the CONTACT with his newly minted Law degree from the University of Leicester, and shared his experiences over the past two years …

Barbados House Mtl. Inc: four decades and still strong Egbert Gaye It was back in 1970 when a group of Bajans living in and around Montreal banded together to form an organization to champion the cause of Barbados nationals who adopted Quebec as their new home. In the almost four and a half decades since Barbados House (MTL) Inc. was established, the organization has emerged as a force for good in the city and impacted on the financial, educational, social and cultural well-being of a generation or two of its members and the community. Over the years, the organization has …

We, the members of the Anti-Poverty Committee of Project Genesis, would like to underline the importance of of October 17th, the International Day to Eliminate Poverty.  This day is especially important given the fact that poor people are being increasingly marginalized and ignored by the powers that be in this climate of austerity and cutbacks.  Currently, in Montreal over half a million people live below the poverty line and the gap between rich and poor is growing.  Alarmingly, the poverty rate in Montreal is about two and a half times as high in racialized communities as it is in non-racialized …

On the evening of Saturday, October 11, Montrealers attending the annual Men’s Gospel Concert, held this year at the Trinity Pentecostal Church in LaSalle were treated to an evening of non-stop celebration music. As usual the host choir was immaculate in their dress and their performances.  And were ably supported by a cast of exciting Montreal artists including Mac Thornhill, Lorraine Belec, Zina Edwards and The Savoy Ellingtons. The evening was made even more memorable with feature performances by young Asher Hernandez  and  Wendy Davidson.

On October 25, a wide cross-section of Montrealers will gather at the Montreal West Church of God of Prophesy to celebrate the music of a line-up of the city’s Gospel stars at Curtis CRC Cain CD launch. The concert promises to be wall-to-wall musical excitement with gospel veterans sharing the stage with up-and-coming stars in what is expected to be a showcase of Montreal talent. The show promises to be a breakout moment for Cain, an emerging star who has been turning heads with his exceptional musical abilities over a decade or so. The CD, All to You, is his …

The petition on the door at 5728 Sherbrooke Street says it all: “NDG Wants D.A.D.S Bagels Back.” It’s a call almost in desperation to Kashmir Singh Randhawa to bring back the little store that has been a refuge for so many NDGers for so long. On Sunday, August 31, Kash or Dad’s, it never mattered what you called him, sold his last bagel. As a matter of fact, he gave away the last set of bagels that were in the bin. That’s the kind of guy that he is. So when news broke that the landmark store was closing because …

There is a lot of pride floating around Montreal, especially around Edgeton Allen (Father Eddgy) and his wide circle of family and friends over the recent achievement of his niece Keisha Johnson, who earned her Doctorate (DHSC) in Health Science in August from Nova University of South Florida. Keisha left Jamaica at the age age of 4, for the USA. She blazed a trail of excellence throughout elementary, junior high and high school, earning several educational and community awards along the way, including one for leadership from the District Community Board Of South East Queens, New York. At Thomas Edison …

Gun violence, unemployment, poverty, access to education – they aren’t “Black youth” problems, they’re societal problems, and so Canadians of all stripes must band together to find solutions. That’s the opinion of Conservative Senator Don Meredith, who will be in Montreal Saturday, Oct. 18 to attend the Jamaica Association of Montreal Inc.’s 52nd anniversary Heroes Banquet, which will also celebrate 52 years since Jamaica became an independent country. A businessman and an ordained evangelical minister, Meredith was appointed to the Senate in 2010 and became the first person of Jamaican descent to hold the position. He is spearheading an attempt …

For years, Sherlyn Figueira has become known across our community as a busy body renowned for her capacity to organize and manage events, big or small. She did so as part of her thriving business on the side while she held down a full- time job and looked after her family that includes three children one in high school, two in elementary school and another in daycare. With so much at stake, Figueira is not comfortable with the way the school system is run. “People have no clue about school boards. Many have never seen a school commissioner and most …

Attempting to describe the cultural make-up of his student population at Elizabeth Ballantyne Elementary School (EBS), Otis Delaney, the principal, says: “Think of the United Nations.” “We’re proud of that diversity and we think that all the students benefit from it, because it’s reality… it’s the real world.” Also, according to Delaney, within that mass of diversity are a world of social issues that accompany the students everyday they leave their home in neighborhoods such as Cote St. Luc, Montreal West and the Walkley Street area, all of which border the school. That’s what makes the school special for him: …