On Sunday August 1st the 2nd Annual Emancipation Day was celebrated in Toronto.
Rosemary Sadlier who was instrumental in getting the Ontario Legislature to recognize August 1st as Emancipation Day noted that Ontario was the final destination in the Underground Railroad for American slaves searching for freedom.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGinty presided over the ceremony in Queen’s Park on July 30th. He said the abolitionist legislation is one of the province’s greatest achievements. “Ontario is so much better. so much stronger because of our Black history. Ontario is always showing the way, all the way back to 1793 when John Graves Simcoe passed the Anti-slavery Act making Ontario the first British colony to limit slavery”.
Emancipation Day legislation was passed in 2008, moved by Conservative MPP Ted Arnott and Liberal MPP Maria Von Bommel – the first such bipartisan legislation in the history of Ontario.
World Premiere of Contemporary African Artist’s Work at the ROM
This fall sees the world premiere of the exhibition El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa, presented by the Institute for Contemporary Culture (ICC) at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). The exhibition is a 40-year career retrospective of Ghanaian visual artist El Anatsui and will be his first solo exhibition in Canada. El Anatsui is the centrepiece of the Museum’s upcoming Season of Africa, an offering of exhibitions, new permanent installations, and a series of public programs and events inspired by African art and culture. El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa will be on display in the Roloff Beny Gallery on Level 4 of the ROM’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal from October 2, 2010 to January 2, 2011.
“The ICC is thrilled to present the striking work of world-renowned artist El Anatsui and to offer a robust schedule of engaging public events that will enlighten participants about the multi-faceted, cultural gem that is Africa,” said Francisco Alvarez, Managing Director, ICC .
This retrospective has been organized by the Museum for African Art (MfAA), in New York, and will be one of the inaugural exhibitions in the MfAA’s new building, which opens in 2011. Drawing on Ghanaian and Nigerian cultural references as well as global, local and personal histories, El Anatsui’s body of work comprises large shimmering metal wall sculptures, for which he is best known, as well as paintings and sculptures in wood, ceramic and metal. The exhibition features 63 works in various media drawn from public and private collections internationally.
Exhibition curator Lisa Binder, associate curator at the Museum for African Art, states, “The Museum for African Art is delighted that this exhibition is opening at the ROM, and hopes that it will provide an engaging and enlightening experience for both audiences new to Anatsui’s work and those who are familiar with it. While his superb wall-sculptures are widely known and celebrated, Anatsui’s career includes a range of innovative and resonant work in many mediums. Seen together, these should provide context for the later work, as well as a fuller and therefore more accurate picture of the arc of his career than has yet been exhibited.”
About the exhibition
Constructed from found objects and everyday materials, Anatsui’s stunningly original sculptures evoke memories of Africa’s past and present. When I Last Wrote to You about Africa brings together the full range of the artist’s oeuvre, from early works in ceramic and wood to the internationally celebrated tapestry-like sculptures of recent years. The exhibition illuminates the great diversity of materials in which Anatsui has worked, among them mortars, the lids of evaporated-milk tins, cassava graters, driftwood, and obituary-notice printing plates. The retrospective will thus enable visitors to observe the development of the artist’s ideas over four decades, bringing to light his multilayered narratives, which refer to the complex histories, themes, and social issues that shape personal, cultural, and historical identities.
The exhibition includes nine of Anatsui’s acclaimed massive metal wall sculptures, made of salvaged liquor-bottle caps that have been flattened, folded and/or twisted, then stitched together with copper wire. These large-scale, colourful sculptures, many as large as 8 ft. by 12 ft., recall the Ghanaian tradition of weaving and assembling the brightly coloured, hand-woven fabrics known as kente cloths.
In association with the exhibition, the ICC is pleased to present Walls and Barriers – A Collaborative Project, an innovative art education initiative by diverse youth from secondary schools and community agencies across the Greater Toronto Area. Unprecedented in its scale and conception, it involved more than 500 young artists and teachers who created a public art installation inspired by and in response to the work of El Anatsui. Walls and Barriers will be on display in Canada Court at the ROM from September 24 until October 25, 2010. More details will be released in the coming weeks.
Season of Africa at the ROM
This fall, the ROM celebrates a Season of Africa with two new contemporary exhibitions, the permanent additions of recent African acquisitions and a new original work by El Anatsui displayed in the Shreyas and Mina Ajmera Gallery of Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific, and a full slate of public events delving into the complex cultural, social and political issues of modern Africa. The ICC’s feature exhibition El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa is complemented by Position as Desired /Exploring African Canadian Identity: Photographs from the Wedge Collection, a showcase of photographic works documenting the experiences of African Canadians, opening Saturday, October 2, 2010 in the Wilson Canadian Heritage Exhibition Room of the ROM’s Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada.
A series of lectures, films, panel discussions and free public tours led by prominent guests will be offered from October to December. Among them are two documentary films Fold, Crumple, Crush: The Art of El Anatsui and Nollywood Babylon, a Canadian documentary on the Nigerian film industry, as well as a roundtable on African Art, bringing together high-profile art critics from the University of Toronto, Princeton University and the Dean of the Yale School of Art.
A more detailed release on all these programs will be issued in early September.
Art-lovers and museum-goers will be offered free admission to El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa during the 5th annual Scotiabank Nuit Blanche event on October 2, 2010, from 6:57 p.m. to sunrise.
El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa – Supporting Sponsor: Moira and Alfredo Romano
This exhibition is organized by the Museum for African Art, New York, and has been supported, in part, by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
Institute for Contemporary Culture
The Institute for Contemporary Culture is the Royal Ontario Museum’s window on contemporary societies around the globe. Playing a vital role within the historical museum, the ICC examines current cultural, social and political issues throughout the modern world in thought-provoking exhibitions of contemporary art, architecture and design that are presented in the Roloff Beny Gallery and other galleries of the Museum. In addition, a roster of public events such as lectures, film series, debates and performances further explore relevant themes addressed in ICC exhibitions, and serves as a catalyst for stimulating public conversations. The ROM’s extensive collections of world cultures and natural history through the ages add context, meaning and depth to these engaging discussions of contemporary ideas. More information at: www.rom.on.ca/icc
Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade
By Helena Kaufman :On August 17, 2010 Afro News was present at the announcement to local ethnic media by The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade of the $2.3 million in funds from the 2010-2011 Global Opportunities for Associations Program.
The 30 Canadian recipient associations will use the funds to help the businesses and industries they represent to compete globally. It is expected that their growth will help Canadian business associations attract foreign direct investment and ultimately create jobs and prosperity for Canadians.
The Minister detailed an aggressive free trade agenda with negotiations in process or concluded with Colombia, Jordan, Panama, and Peru. India, China and the Pacific countries are also part of the new marketing mix with a deal with the European Union pending which once ratified, would make Canada the only developed country to have free trade agreements with both the USA and EU and its 27 countries.
The Afro News’ Honore Gbedze noted that no mention of initiatives with Africa, or with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat was made in Canada’s “attract, retain and expand” campaign.
Minister Loan responded that Africa’s international leadership role is recognized and Canada is strengthening its interest in the sectors of transportation, infrastructure, mining and financial services.
At this time, Canada is ahead of target for economic recovery pegged at 2016 for most industrialized countries, although two thirds of the country’s economy is dependant on international trade and 70% of that is comprised of continued trade with the USA.
* Be interested in what your children are learning. Help relate what they are learning to the real world.
* Stay involved. Be sure that your children are meeting their requirements.
* Know your child’s school, the principal and especially your child’s teachers.
Primary Students:
* Let your children see you read, and set aside time each day for family reading.
* Read street signs.
* Ask your children to read to you while you prepare a meal.
* Get your children excited about reading by taking turns reading pages or acting out characters.
* Talk to your children about what they read. Ask them questions that require them to read between the lines and think about what they have just read.
This will help improve their reading comprehension.
* Introduce your children to a variety of literary styles and see which one they most enjoy.
* Help your children get a library card and take weekly trips with them to the library.
Intermediate/Middle Students:
* Set up a daily homework routine. Designate a homework area away from distractions like the television and Internet, and with adequate lighting and supplies.
* When it is time for your children to do their homework, reinforce strong study habits by also doing yours: balance your chequebook, pay
your bills or immerse yourself in a book.
* Let your children read comic books in their spare time because comics can encourage positive reading habits and can play a role in improving literacy.
* Help your children identify difficult and easy homework tasks and get them to tackle the most difficult subjects first.
* Make yourself available to answer questions and offer help, but do not do your children’s homework for them.
* Ask your children questions and have them explain what they have just read or studied.
* Encourage your children to write stories and poetry.
Secondary Students:
* Continue with an established homework routine. Make adjustments as needed, such as after-school or weekend time set aside for working on
big projects.
* Encourage your teenagers to take 20 minutes each night to read over their notes from that day, or rewrite them using colours to highlight
important information so they retain it longer.
* Have your children take regular breaks to help alleviate eye, neck and brain fatigue while studying. This will help them be more productive and retain more of what they read and study.
* Encourage your teenagers to explore magazines or appropriate websites on subjects that interest them to keep them reading. Most local libraries carry selections of magazines on a variety of topics, including sports, science, mechanics and politics.
* Keep an assignment calendar on the fridge for quick reference of due dates, exams and how they fit with other activities.
Ottawa (Ontario) ─ A shipment of Canadian supplies has arrived in Pakistan, bringing 1,000 all-weather tents, 7,060 jerry cans, 1,000 tarps and 3,840 mosquito nets in support of ongoing emergency relief operations by the International Federation of Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
“Canada was one of the first countries to respond to this devastating flood, and our relief efforts are helping save the lives of thousands of people,” said the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation. “Canadians can be extremely proud of the ongoing work we are doing to help alleviate the suffering created by this humanitarian disaster.”
The relief supplies, which arrived in Pakistan on August 17, have been transported to Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for distribution to flood-ravaged areas. Canada’s contribution will help meet priority needs, which include food, water and sanitation, emergency medical care and shelter, essential household goods, and logistics and coordination efforts.
The flooding in Pakistan has worsened considerably since the monsoon rains began. On August 14, the Government of Canada announced that it was increasing its response to up to $33 million to respond to the most urgent needs of people hit hardest by the floods
The shipment is part of the Government of Canada’s response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the worst flooding in at least 80 years in Pakistan, which has left millions in need of emergency assistance.
“Canada continues to monitor the situation closely and our total contribution of $33 million will go a long way to meeting the needs of the affected populations,” added Minister Oda.
Canada’s contribution builds on more than $69 million in CIDA funding for Pakistan since 2009. This includes bilateral aid programming, as well as $37 million for humanitarian assistance, for initiatives such as food assistance, emergency shelter, water and sanitation facilities, and basic health care for conflict-affected people in Pakistan.
Government of Canada Helps Canadian Companies Compete Globally to Create Jobs and Prosperity at Home
Canada International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan
announces funding for 30 Canadian business associations
(August 17, 2010) The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, today announced that 30 Canadian associations will receive $2.3 million to help the businesses and industries they represent compete globally. The funding is part of the Government of Canada’s 2010-11 Global Opportunities for Associations program.
“Business associations play a key role in helping Canadian businesses compete in the global economy,” said Minister Van Loan. “Our government’s support will help Canadian business associations attract foreign direct investment, encourage innovation and create opportunities for Canadian businesses to market their products and services to the world.
“The Global Opportunities for Associations program is just one way we are helping Canadian businesses compete in the global marketplace.”
Minister Van Loan made the announcement during a keynote speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade.
“Through our aggressive free trade agenda, our government is creating new opportunities for businesses in markets around the world,” the Minister said.
“In less than four years, our government has concluded free trade negotiations with Colombia, Jordan, Panama, Peru and the European Free Trade Association. We are also moving forward on trade negotiations with India and the European Union.”
The recipients of funding through Global Opportunities for Associations represent a wide range of Canadian economic sectors. They include automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, life sciences, clean technology, information and communications technologies, and defence. This Government of Canada program matches up to 50 percent of the recipient’s eligible expenses for activities such as trade shows, trade missions, the development of marketing tools and research.
“Whenever the Canadian private sector succeeds globally, it translates into jobs and prosperity at home,” added Minister Van Loan. “Our partnerships with business associations and community organizations that are encouraging trade and foreign investment are steps our government is taking to ensure that Canada emerges from the economic downturn stronger, and in better fiscal shape, than nearly every other industrialized country.”
Eligible associations may apply for funding once a year. Each application is subject to a review process that involves detailed evaluation. Successful applicants receive non-repayable contributions of up to $150,000. For more information, please consult Global Opportunities for Associations. For further information, media representatives may contact:
By Len Chan The Afro News Calgary :The Executive Members of the Calgary Reggaefest Society held an open house at AAA Jamaican Donair to inform the public that Reggaefest continues to SHINE as one of Canada’s top Reggae Festivals. The headliner will be Reggae Icon Beres Hammond along with Kenyatta Hill,Lenya Wilks,Inner Circle,Bianca and from Vancouver Elaine” LIL BIT”
Shepherd and others too numerous to mention. At the Reggae Music Achievement Awards in Toronto June 6 Calgary Reggae Festival Society wins Best Concert Promoter and Elaine Shepherd Best Newcomer of The Year. Reggae, is not just for Caribbeans to enjoy but anyone regardless of age that Reggae with so many performers and styles from so many places can be in Calgary at one time and to see them performing in real.
At the open house THE REGGAFEST At the open house THE REGGAFEST TEAM Will also be at the South Country Fair in Ft. MacLeod which is about 100 miles south of Calgary spreading Reggae info into the Rural areas. On August 19 at the Ship & Anchor Pub a Canadian Women Artiste Showcase.
Toronto’s Black Deputy Police Chief will retire at the end of August. Keith Forde, who was born and raised in Barbados, was just 23-years old when he joined the Toronto Police Force in 1972. He recalled the loneliness of the time when he said it was often days; sometimes even weeks would go by before he saw another person of color at work. He says he was naïve but quickly realized the discrimination and that people were treated differently because of the color of their skin.
He began to challenge the system and 30 years later he became the first Black officer in the Toronto Police Services to reach the position of deputy chief. When he announced his retirement at a TPSB meeting June 29th he received praise for his efforts that helped change the force. Board chair Alok Mukherjee said, “Deputy Forde has been an outspoken advocate of equity in all forms. Essentially what he has accomplished is the transformation of the police service. It now reflects the community in a way that it has never done before.” Forde, who has two sons who are also police officers, plans to continue his work with inner city youth and his involvement in community service.
By michelle-lee : Tropicana Community Services, (TCSO), a Toronto-based multi-service organization, is the largest Black social service delivery agency in Canada. Spearheaded by the late Robert Brown in 1980 to assist disadvantaged youth and their families, the organization now serves close to 15,000 clients annually. The organization’s mandate is to raise self-esteem in youth, improve accessibility to culturally themed counseling services and reduce the high school drop out rate among Black students. Current services also include settlement services, tutoring, youth leadership programs, employment counseling and Success Through Aggression Replacement Training They also sponsor Camp Tropicana, a summer camp which charges parents $20/day or $100/week per child. They solicit donations to help parents who cannot afford to send their kids to camp.
At TCSO’s 17th Annual Caribbean Ball, the organization paid tribute to community members who have “made a difference”. Derrick McLennon, the co-founder of the organization was the recipient of the first Founders Award. Frances Lankin, a former politician (11 years a MPP-Beaches/East York) and the outgoing chair of United Way was presented with the President’s Award and Hamlin Grange, co-founder of the BBPA (Black Business and Professional Association) and a diversity consultant received the Community Builder Award.
TCSO provides all youth, newcomers, people of Black and Caribbean heritage and others in need with opportunities and alternatives that lead to success and positive life choices. In 1984 it became the first Black member agency of the United Way when it received $35,000 in funding and now receives approximately $400,000 annually. Three levels of government and private donors contribute the major TCSO funding which is nearly $10 million annually. The organization is currently fundraising to establish a Centre of Excellence and has so far raised $500,000. It is hoping to raise an additional $350,000 to use as a down payment for its own facility.
Today Tropicana is a growing service-delivery agency with programs designed to address issues affecting all youth, newcomers, members of the Caribbean and Black communities and others in need.
Luis Mario Ochoa Afro-Latin music in the New World.
By michelle-lee
The City of Toronto is bursting with festivals and “happenings” taking place all through the summer months. Along with the largest event of its kind in Canada, “Scotiabank Caribana”, music is front and center throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. There are at least five boat cruises planned, Caribbean-themed dances, various music events such as, Salsa on St., Clair, and the 22nd Beaches International Jazz Festal which takes place from July 16 -25th and includes various concerts and a 3-day street festival (July 22-24). The street festival showcases upwards of 50 bands and music from Big Band, Swing, Dixieland, Afro-Cuban, Fusion, Funk, R&B and Soul along a 2 km stretch of Queen Street E. On July 24th Dan Hill is one of the performers and Bluesman Madagascar Slim appears July 25th. at the Kew Gardens venue. Also new this year is Latin Square Concerts on the boardwalk along the shores of Lake Ontario (July 23-25).
Caribana Update: Organizers are scrambling to raise funds to cover the shortfall in government funds this year. Despite raking in $4.83 million for the provincial economy and 1.2 million attendees last year, (IPSOS Reid Study), both the Marquee Tourism Events Program and the Province’s Celebrate Ontario fund by-passed Caribana this year and Heritage Canada scaled back their grant from $100,000 to $40,000. Caribana has managed to secure new corporate sponsors (Mobilicity, Grace Foods, Toronto Star) but has had to scale back their budget from $2.5 million to $1.8 million and staff members have taken a 30% pay cut. Caribana chair Joe Halstead says he is still hopeful the federal government may still come through with some last minute funding. Despite the financial concerns and cut backs, organizers promise Caribana will be a success and festival-goers will not notice any changes.
De Scotiabank Caribana Lime to be held August 1-2 at Ontario Place will feature 35 acts. Entertainers include: Steele, CFP Dancers, Iwer George, Jay Douglas, Roy Cape Band, and Macomere Fifi. Grace Tropical Rhythms Food Festival (Aug.1) is from noon to 8 PM.
Jazz Festival: Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews & Orleans Avenue a 6-piece band from Treme, a district in New Orleans, rocked and dazzled the large crowd at Woodbine Park July 18th. The band was the closing act at the day-long music extravaganza that is part of the 22nd Annual Beaches International Jazz Festival. Leader of the band is the charismatic Andrews who sings, plays and dances up a storm. Backed by fabulous musicians, Andrews and the band performed a mixed bag of music that included a jazzy rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”, a funky extended James Brown mix, the New Orleans standard “When The Saints Go Marching In” and several tunes from their new CD “Backatown”. Woodbine Park, at the corner of Native Dancer Blvd and Lakeshore Road, used to be a race track but is now a huge beautiful space steps away from Woodbine Beach on Lake Ontario. This night, along with two stages were colorful venue tents, a beer garden and several food booths. An enjoyable surprise was the giveaways (i.e. free ice cream sandwiches, different types of bagged chips, etc. distributed all day long. The organizers also hired several people who walked through the crowd with garbage bags, keeping the site spotless. The free event, which began at 1 PM and ended at about 10:30 PM, was a huge success, complimented by gorgeous weather, a wide variety of jazz representing several countries such as Cuba and Argentina. The Caribbean was represented by the band CaneFire that showcased Trinidadian Pan Master Mark Mosca. And the Montreal Hip Hop group Nomadic Massive (also the title of their new album) presented a wide array of vocal styles and jazz/rap/hip hop that certainly pleased the crowd.
Cabaret: Tanika Charles, Toronto-born, Edmonton-raised singer will appear at the Garland Cabaret August 14th. Charles who sings in the tradition of Al Green and Aretha Franklin strives to bring soul music to a younger generation. She performs as the featured artist in the Young Centre for the Performing Arts’ Saturday Night Cabaret Series.
Also Luis Mario Ochoa (August 28). Born in Cuba he arrived in Canada in 1990 and formed his band Cimarron. Ochoa is legendary among Toronto’s Latin music scene. The Saturday Night Cabarets run all year. The Young Centre for the Performing Arts is an award-winning multi-venue performing arts facility located in Toronto’s historic Distillery District (55 Mill St. Building 49). The Centre is a home for Toronto’s leading artists and arts organizations across all performance disciplines.
Jambana Festival. To be held August 2nd at Downsview Park from 1-9PM is presented by Air Jamaica. Entertainers include Byron Lee’s Dragonaires, Baby Boyz, Kim Davis, Blessed, Steele and Kay Morris. Featuring fun for the entire family, there is also the “Lick-A-Six Domino Tournament, Children’s Village, Travel & Trade Village, Food Village and The Health Village. Cover Charge: Advance $5, Gate $7. VIP Village $20. Partial proceeds donated to “Friends of the Poor” and “He
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