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.

Nadine Peazer a recipient of the Vital People Award,

By michelle lee ;TAN :The Afro News Ontario ,Nadine Peazer is a recipient of the Vital People Award, a grant program administered by the Toronto Community Foundation’s Vital Toronto Fund.  Peazer, 28, is the founder and executive director of ANASA Collective (Always Nubian Always Scarborough Association).  She works to support young, marginalized women of color in Scarborough by offering them help and mentorship in career preparation.  The first career mentorship program is Fashion Phoenix, a project that takes young women through the creation of a garment through to fashion arts education.  She hopes Fashion Phoenix will be a model for the development of new career mentorship programs in the future.

REGGAEFEST TEAM MEMBERS

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.

www.reggaefest.ca Reggaefest takes place Aug, 21 at Shaw Millenium Park

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.

The largest Caribbean event on the local calendar

The countdown to Caribbean Days Festival is on! This year’s Festival takes place from 10 AM to 7 PM both Saturday and Sunday, July 24th & 25th, 2010 at Waterfront Park in North Vancouver. Admission is free of charge as always.

There’s only one true Caribbean Days Festival each year, and 2010 will be the biggest yet, featuring all-star entertainment including Caribbean recording act Moses Revolution, visiting Vancouver for an exclusive engagement.

Festival activities include the opening Caribbean Days Parade starting at 10:00 AM Saturday July 24, and the annual Waterfront Party, also Saturday, July 24 from 7:30 pm to 1:00 AM. The warm-up event for these festivities takes place the weekend before, during the hot Flag Party Boat Cruise on Sunday, July 18. See www.caribbeandays.ca for all the details.

Each July, the Trinidad & Tobago Cultural Society of BC presents the Caribbean Days Festival. Over the years, this weekend Festival has grown into the largest Caribbean event on the local calendar. With close to 50,000 visitors it is among the largest annual cultural events in BC. For hot music, hot food and a hot weekend be sure to spice up your weekend at the Caribbean Days Festival.

Taste the many flavours and move to the melodies of Island nations such as Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Haiti, and more. This is a weekend of tropical rhythm, cuisine, carnival and culture as only the Caribbean can offer.

Join The Festival! You can be part of the event.

• Be a Volunteer and get in on the fun! Contact volunteer@caribbeandays.ca

• Jump up in the Caribbean Days Parade July 24th, or join our Children’s Parade Sunday, July 25th. Contact parade@caribbeandays.ca

• Or promote your business or food services to tens of thousands of attendees. Spots are filling up fast! First come first serve, so contact vendor@caribbeandays.ca.

For full details, visit

www.caribbeandays.ca

The Festival is made possible through the support of the Province of BC and the Arts Office of North Vancouver.

Judy Liddle is in the right of the photo and on the left is Judy's sister and in the centre is MC for the evening Cornel MendesPhoto Len Chan

By Len Chan The Afro News Calgary : A Fundraiser for Hope Centre Orphanage of Trinidad was held May 7 at Winston Heights Community Centre and was well attended and strong support for the Orphanage. Co-ordinated by Judy Liddle the fundraiser included a silent auction.TV draw,50/50 and for ticket holders a chance for the door prizes. Hope Centre Orphanage is in San Fernando,Trinidad at 47-53 Pointe-a-Pierre Rd.and all monies received by Judy Liddle is taken directly to Hope Orphanage and Judy has been co-ordinating the Fundraiser for 5 years now.Judy originally from Trinidad along with help from family and friends knowing that the support gives hope to those children less fortunate and a renewed chance to improve their lives especially at a young age. Over the 5 years and success, Judy was blessed with the; problem of looking for a larger hall and also of importance was obtaining sponsorship support. Information on Hope Centre Orphanage fax is 868-657-9630. Hope Centre was established in 1986 and is a charitable non-profit organization for abused and abandoned children. For anyone wanting info Judy can be contacted at 403-827-6826 Supporters and volunteers included non-Caribbeans and this shows that many are united when it comes to support and its an enrichment for many that they have made a difference.

Miss Universe

By Djami Diallo The Afro News Burnaby

North Vancouver, BC–When Rama Diallo smiles, she lights up the room. Therefore, it is not difficult to imagine her wearing that smile and the crown delivered to the winner of the Miss Universe Canada 2010 pageant. This young lady, a resident of the North Shore for the last 11 years, is one of 63 women to compete for the title in Toronto on June 14th.

Those who know her will attest to the fact that from a very young age, it was evident that Rama was ambitious, and determined; and she formed the belief that the individual has the power to change the world, one idea at a time. During an idyllic childhood in Agen, France, she developed a knack for languages. In addition to the French and English spoken at home, she spent years studying German, Spanish and Latin. Surrounded by the endless sunflower fields typical of the region in which she grew up, she says she would often imagine how she would make her mark on this world. It is there that she formed her life philosophy of positivity, driven by ambition and kindness to others.

Today, Rama stands to represent her family and her country with pride and to perpetuate her family’s tradition of excellence. She hopes to one day be a peace ambassador for the United Nations and a Hollywood actress.

This contest is very important to Rama, as she views it as a forum to use her voice, to reach far and wide, and shine the light on issues, seldom discussed such as poverty and orphans in third-world countries. As a multi-cultural Canadian, she brings to the table the immigrant experience and will show that immigrants make important contributions to Canadian society by using every tool and opportunity at their disposal, to constantly better their lives, and the lives of those around them.

One of Rama’s foremost goals is to be able to raise consciousness, and to use the skills that she has amassed to make a difference in the world. Becoming Miss Universe Canada is one step in this journey towards change. A man Rama very much admires, American President Barack Obama once said “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” Rama takes this very much to heart, and wants to be the change.

Rama Diallo Miss Universe Canada

Support Rama by voting for her on the official pageant website: www.beautiesofcanada.com.

For more information, contact Rama by email at ramadiallo83@hotmail.com

Vancouver Fashion Week 2010

By Helena Kaufman The Afro News Vancouver

Fashion forward was clearly the direction as Vancouver Fashion Week 2010’s models took to the event’s runway at The Empire Landmark Hotel. Even when fashion’s future faces and designers looked to ancient cultures for their inspiration the results were fresh, eclectic and at times irreverent.

The 200 people seated along the length of the runway and the 100 more filling gaps from catwalk right to the back wall, were themselves a force of fashion. Guests of all ages, tastes and body types expressed themselves suitably and accessorized with the expected exclamations.

On the night of The Afro News’ visit the show began a more than fashionably 45 minutes later than the advertised time. No one seemed to mind. In the room, the social buzz and fun was palpable.

Body flattering and feminine,PORSCIA™ Designs opened the evening with elegance and details to die for.

Retarded Velvet’s retro look channelled Grace Slick, the 80s and India. Rich eastern colours touched oversized North American shoulders, all influenced by an extended trip to India.

Drew William’s understated beige and black draping of men and women walking in zombie trance needed some colour. Pomegranate red tint under the eyes splashed on colour and in some cases set off light weight beige and black sailboats that floated by as hair accessories.

After a supper length break, people returned for Malicious Manor & Decadence as well Dussault/Deuce shows. Having been outted as a follower of fashion for some magical minutes, this writer retired at half time to savour what had already been served.

The night’s music matched the fashions, the big lights, the people pressed close and fixed on the stage, all embraced the skinny limbs, struts and pointed stares of the models. The ambience one imagines at the mention of ‘catwalk’ came alive.

And just like that, the fashion fantasy was gone, in a flash.

Congratulations to all the daring designers whose creative initiatives lit up the stage and imaginations at VFW.

Gary Martin Left and Sam Lay(Right) Black History Month Calgary

By Len Chan The Afro News Calgary

The Black History Foundation of Canada during Black History Month was pleased to have brought in Blues Hall of Famer Sam Lay. Sam Lay was born in 1935 and began as a Drummer in Cleveland and in1954 working with the Moon Dog Combo, In 1959 in Chicago he worked with the Legendary Little Walter. Sam Lay backed up Bob Dylan at the historic 1965 Newport Folk Festival when Dylan first introduced Electric -Rock to the Folk Crowd. He went on to record with Dylan on Highway 61 Revisited..

Lay was also the original Drummer for the James Cotton Blues Band. Lay was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1992 and was recently inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame in Los Angeles and the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland. His Accomplishments are too numerous to mention but reading the above is just part of his lifetime career. In Calgary Gary Martin of the Heavenly Blues Band and one of the Funk Bros. held a special Recognition Nite for Lay at the Crossroads Community Hall. A special Portrait was presented to Lay painted by Earl Klatzel, Internationally Acclaimed Painter.

During his stay in Calgary at the Cantos Music Foundation (Friends of the King Eddy) held a series of Workshops and for those attending the Awards Night was a Dream Come True to meet one of the Greatest in the Blues World. Lay was also the First person in 1965 to play the Blues at the King Eddy Hotel. His workshop was to learn what he is famous for King of the Shuffle.

Even at his age when entering the stage, one can see He is Young at Heart and great musicians such as Lay never lose that Golden Touch. Lay, in the Photo can be seen holding that Special Portrait of Himself while Funk Bros. Gary Martin of the Heavenly Blues Band wants a word from him after presenting Lay with the Special Painting of Himself.

(L-R) Senator Martin, Paul Mulangu, and Patricia Whittaker with Mukutano.Photo By Edward Sem.

March 27, 2010 was a big day for the Centre of Integration for African Immigrants (CIAI). On behalf of the Minister for Western Economic Diversification, Senator Yonah Martin presented CIAI with a cheque for $275,000 towards the development of a multipurpose activity centre at 811 Carnarvon Street (just next to New Westminster Skytrain station). As a key supporter of CIAI, Senator Martin has been instrumental in championing the work carried out at the Centre. Awarded under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program (RinC), the funds are earmarked for capital construction and renovations as part of the federal government’s Economic Action Plan. CIAI was formed in 2001 to bridge the gap between visible minority immigrant and refugee communities and mainstream society by providing job readiness training, social opportunities, and other services to facilitate integration. CIAI also showcases the contributions of people of African heritage to Canadian nation building during Black History Month and throughout the year. The grant marks an important step towards the achievement of the dream of a fully equipped resource centre. On behalf of the communities they serve, CIAI Executive Director, Paul Mulangu, and Program Manager, Patricia Whittaker expressed excitement about being part of the Action Plan and thanked Western Economic Diversification for opening the door to allow CIAI to continue its important work in the future.

By JF The Afro News New Westminster

Performer Kisseke held the audience captive at Lougheed Town Center BHM Photo By KMG

By Djami Diallo ,The Afro News Burnaby : It was a rainy, cold and gray day typical of Vancouver, but on Saturday, February 27, patrons of Lougheed Town Centre were treated to an exciting celebration of African and Caribbean culture that brought the sunshine in honor of Black History Month. I took my seat early, having anticipated the crowd and wanting the full experience of a party in the front row. To start the morning off, Lougheed Town Centre Manager Tom Babbs joined our very own Honoré Gbedze, publisher of the Afro News to unveil a display panel specially made for the occasion. Any passerby daring to come up close would have gotten a quick brush on their history, learned more about African and Caribbean cultures and seen the beautiful glass-encased African sculptures.

Highlights of the festivities included dynamic performances of songs in English and Swahili, a gumboot dance by the African Queens, drumming by the Togolese Ensemble, and steel-pan drumming by 10 year old Darien, who gave a beautiful rendition of Michael Jackson’s Human Nature.UBC students and members of the Caribbean and African Association strutted their stuff on the runway while displaying stunning African fashions, and Ivorian born performer Kisseke held the audience captive with an outstanding one-man exhibition of traditional drumming and dancing. We even learned a few dance steps and song lyrics under his patient tutelage.

Black History Month is celebrated worldwide every year during the month of February with events that honor the history of people of African heritage. This event, a first for Lougheed Town Centre, was the sixth and final in a series of multicultural festivals held to celebrate the diverse cultural composition of our community.

Previous celebrations held in 2009 were the Chinese and Korean Lunar festival held in January, Irish music and dance in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in March, a Latin American festival held in May, and a First Nations festival in August and a celebration of Diwali in October. Displays providing information about each culture were unveiled at each festival and are currently available for viewing in the shopping centre. Lougheed Town Centre, with 140 shops and services is located at Austin Avenue and North Road in Burnaby.

For more information contact: Beverly Diallo, marketing director- 604-421-3434 Clara Loh, marketing coordinator- 604-421-3434

To learn more about Lougheed Town Centre and its upcoming events visit www.lougheedtowncentre.com