Posts in category News

On April 17, 2025, it was announced that the registered charitable organization MindFuel, which is committed to developing STEM innovation for kindergarten to Grade 12 and post-secondary youth in Canada, received $500,000 in funding over two years from the RBC Foundation. The funding will support its technology platform, Connect2Innovate, which connects youth ages 15 to 29 across Canada to partners and supports the innovation journeys of aspiring entrepreneurs. Cassy Weber, CEO of MindFuel, said that through Connect2Innovate, participants meet mentors and experts and work in teams to develop projects tackling real-world problems such as carbon capture, genetic engineering to promote …

On Feb. 25, 2025, Justice Minister and Attorney General Arif Virani released, Toward Transformative Change: an Implementation Plan for Canada’s Black Justice Strategy. The plan sets a ten-year framework to reduce the over-representation of Black people in the criminal justice system. The non-profit DESTA Black Community Network was among the groups that contributed to the strategy through community-led consultations. Kassandra Kernisan, executive director of DESTA, underscored that one of the main challenges they faced was the pushback, as many people doubted the initiative.   “A lot of the community was skeptical, so we kind of had to navigate around that …

Montreal’s police chief Fady Dagher says officers will be required to tell people why they’ve been stopped — and make clear that they are free to walk away — as part of a revamped street-check policy he casts as a turning point in relations with communities that have long felt over-policed. “We want to make sure citizens don’t feel detained,” he said in an interview with the CONTACT Too many racialized residents, he added, “think they have no rights and they must answer” when approached by an officer. “From the beginning, they have to understand they’re allowed to leave.” The …

On August 10, from 4 p.m., SNS Lounge 8 in Saint Anne de Bellevue will host the fourth edition of the Daddy Daughter Dinner and Dance, a celebration of the bond between young girls and the men who raise them. The event is the brainchild of Marissa Joseph, a local organizer and mother who launched the dinner in 2019 after witnessing the tender connection between her husband and their daughter. “I would see how much she lit up when he was around,” Joseph said to the CONTACT. “She’d twirl in a dress and say, ‘Let me go show Daddy.’ His …

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, …

It’s time to reunite, reflect, and rejoice! West-Can Folk Performing Company warmly invites you—our past members, supporters, friends, and the wider community—to join us for our long-awaited Gala 2025, a spectacular celebration of over 44 years of cultural excellence, impact, and legacy, taking place on Saturday, July 19 at Sophia Reception Hall in LaSalle. In January of 1978, West-Can was born out of a simple but powerful desire: to preserve, practice, and share the rich traditions of the Caribbean right here in Montreal. Our name—West-Can—pays tribute to both our West Indian heritage and our place in Canadian society, a bridge …

Eleven year old, Adora Fagbohun is a brilliant tween who does all she puts her mind to. The Nigerian-Canadian creative has released The Confidence Spark, her debut self-help novel for tweens navigating the ups and downs of self-esteem, identity, and courage. A trilingual speaker, budding entrepreneur, and all-around powerhouse, Adora is proving that age is no barrier when purpose is clear. “I am proud of myself for finishing the book,” Adora shared during a virtual interview with the CONTACT, where she sat down alongside her mother, Nifemi Fagbohun, and her publisher, Latoya Belfon of Labworks Publishing. “It was a bit …

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 …

Histoires d’Invincibles is an exhibition based on an original idea by author Chilandre Patry and illustrator Maxime Saint-Juste. It highlights significant figures that visitors can identify and know more about to tackle the lack of representation. The project aims to provide children, families, and schools in Quebec with an educational experience to enhance their imagination through inspiring stories. It’s designed for all ages and offers an engaging approach to raise visitors’ awareness of African descent people’s contributions to world history. The project idea came from the first COVID-19 lockdown, when Saint-Juste began sharing drawings of characters to colour—to keep his …

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 …