Posts in category Special Features

Meet Kristara known in the wrestling world as “The Sweetest Pea” a Montreal-born professional wrestler who’s steadily etching her name in to the annals of Canadian wrestling. Four years in, Kristara is already doing what few women before her have managed: holding a top men’s championship. Kristara grew up on Montreal’s South Shore, following what many would call the “right path.” “You go to school, you work, you do everything your parents want you to do,” she said to the CONTACT. “I did all that university, part-time jobs, long-term relationship but I felt unfulfilled. I was bored.” Wrestling had always …

When Latoya Belfon sat down to write her first book in 2020, her only goal was to learn how to publish it. She had no plans to start a company or guide others through the process. But as she launched her debut and shared it with her community, the encouragement she received was accompanied by questions—how did you do it? Where did you start? That steady stream of curiosity motivated her to share what she had learned and, before long, to create something enduring. “I never started out thinking I was going to be a publisher,” Belfon said to the …

For more than 30 years, Carlton Daley has been a familiar name in Montreal’s fashion scene. Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Daley learned the craft of tailoring as a teenager before moving to Montreal in 1991, where he built his reputation one stitch at a time. Known for his precise detailing, bold styling, and signature matching sets for families and couples, Daley has remained committed to the tradition, patience, and pride of handmade fashion. This year, he once again returned to Rip the Runway, a fashion and cultural showcase that has become a beloved platform for local designers, models, musicians, …

Gemma Raeburn-Baynes received the Medal of the National Assembly of Quebec from Brigitte B. Garceau, MNA for Robert-Baldwin, during Playmas Montreal Cultural Association’s 25th-anniversary celebration on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The citation recognized her more than 60 years of visionary and philanthropic leadership, founding Playmas Montreal and the GemStar Circle of Excellence, and her enduring impact in creating Caribbean culture, nurturing artistic talent, and empowering Black youth.

When Alexis Maniatis thinks back on her childhood, the kitchen is where her memories gather. “My grandmother always was teaching me how to cook,” she says, smiling. “We were always in the kitchen baking. She really just showed me the ropes, and I fell in love with it.” Today, the 26-year-old Montrealer is the founder of Pressed and Pretty Cookies, a bakery that has quickly built a reputation for its elegant embossed cookies and nut-free creations. But just three years ago, Maniatis was working as a team leader in human resources at IKEA. The turning point came while she was …

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 …

Jacqueline Beckles remembers the first time she failed a course in law school. Criminal law, ironically, the subject she would later make the centerpiece of her legal career. She had entered the University of Ottawa determined to become a judge. But her first year was marked by isolation, racism, and doubt. “It just wasn’t what I imagined,” Beckles said to the CONTACT. “I questioned if I even belonged.” Born and raised in Montreal’s West Island, Beckles is now a senior criminal lawyer with the Department of Justice Canada and a mentor to a generation of aspiring legal professionals. Earlier in …

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 …

This carnival season in Trinidad the Soca scene has been set ablaze by producer Mike S’Obrien popularly known as Stemz and the track “Carry It,” featuring Bunji Garlin. And now, fans are spoiled for choice after international superstar Nicki Minaj jumped on the remix boosting the track globally. The track was intended to be a nostalgic tribute to fetes and parties from « back in the day. » Stemz describes “Carry It” as a song that grew organically, touching the ground with its nostalgic and historical essence. Initially, he did not create it with the intention of being a road …