Scarborough Street Name to Honour Black Radio Pioneer

[I am sharing the following press release that I received from Toronto city councillor Michael Thompson's office today (Feb. 28)]

Scarborough Street Name to Honour Black Radio Pioneer

B. Denham Jolly launched his memoir, "In the Black: My Life" published by ECW Press.  Photo credit: Fitzroy Facey

Nikeshia Ducent and Matthew Gray, assistant to Mr. Jolly, at the launch of "In the Black: My Life" inside Miss Lou's Room at the Harboufront Centre during Kuumba, Toronto longest-running celebration of Black History Month on Feb. 11, 2017.

Hon. Jean Augustine and Councillor Michael Thompson at Mayor John Tory's Black History Month Reception at Toronto City Hall on Feb. 22, 2017.

On the final day of Black History Month, the City of Toronto today authorized the naming of a street in a new Scarborough sub-division in honour of a Black pioneer in Canada’s radio broadcasting industry.

“Jolly Way” will commemorate the exceptional contributions to Canada of Brandeis Denham Jolly, a Jamaican-Canadian businessman, publisher, broadcaster, civil rights activist and author.

Jolly Way is located near the southwest corner of Midland Avenue and Ellesmere Avenue, in a residential neighbourhood under development by the Goldman Group.

It is most appropriate that approval to name a street after Mr. Jolly has come through today, the last day of Black History Month 2017,” said Councillor Michael Thompson, Chair of Toronto’s Economic Development Committee. “Mr. Denham [Jolly] has been instrumental in giving voice to the culture, achievements, challenges and aspirations of Toronto’s Black and Caribbean communities when few channels for such messages were available.”

In his long and distinguished career, Mr. Jolly published the newspaper Contrast, founded and led the Black Business and Professional Association and spoke out on social justice issues as a member of the Black Action Defence Committee. Jolly launched Canada’s first Black-owned radio station, Flow 93.5, which actively promoted Canada’s Black musicians and provided opportunities for Black Canadians in the radio industry.

In 2005, Flow won the Station of the Year Award in the Contemporary Hit Radio category at the Canadian Music Week Industry Awards.

Mr. Jolly has served on the Board of the Toronto International Film Festival. He is the recipient of the Black Media Pioneer Award, the African Canadian Lifetime Achievement Award and the Canadian Urban Institute’s City Soul Award. In 2007, he was presented with a Black History Award from the Markham African Caribbean Association.

Temporary street signs for Jolly Way are being prepared, with permanent signs slated for installation when subdivision construction is complete.

On Friday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m., the author will sign copies of his new memoir, "In the Black: My Life," at the new location of the bookstore, A Different Booklist, at 777/779 Bathurst Street in Toronto.

Artifacts exhibition to rotate at City Hall rotunda in Toronto over the next five years

Mayor John Tory held a Black History Month Reception in the Rotunda at Toronto City Hall yesterday (Feb. 22) where there was also the unveiling of an exhibition showcasing artifacts found from the New Toronto Courthouse site behind City Hall. Some of the artifacts highlight the abolitionist movement in Toronto and dynamic Black community in St. John's Ward in the 1800s.  

Governor General Award-winning author, Karolyn Smardz Frost, spoke about her new non-fiction, Steal Away Home, One Woman's Epic Flight to Freedom - And Her Long Road Back to the South

which chonicles the life of Cecilia Reynolds. It took Smardz Frost 10 years to write this book and artifacts of Cecilia's home in Toronto were found among the artifacts from the archaeological dig of what will become the new courthouse.

The event was co-sponsored by Infrastructure Ontario and the Ontario Black History Society. 

Here are some photos I snapped at the event. I'll write a story about this event and interview Karolyn about her new book soon.

Some more Black History Month events and some to mark International Women's Day

By Neil Armstrong

Sandra Whiting, speaker, storyteller and event host will be the keynote speaker at the Jamaican Canadian Association's women's committee International Women's Day celebration on March 12, 2017.

Author, poet and professor, Dionne Brand, in purple, referenced the 1991 NFB film, Sisters in the Struggle, that she made with Ginny Stikeman in her lecture at Ryerson University. That film and two other NFB films -- The Road Taken directed by Selwyn Jacob, 1996, and Journey to Justice by Roger McTair in 2000 -- will be screened on Feb. 27 at United Steelworkers Hall in Toronto.

TD bank held its Black History Month media launch on Jan. 23 and I didn’t realize the extend of the events it is sponsoring until I checked the bank’s website at www.tddiversityevents.com.

Among the events are the ROM Contemporary Culture presenting “Isaac Julien: Other Destinies,” Jan. 21-April23, and the Power Plant at the Harbourfront Centre presenting an Afrofuturism Exhibition. Jan. 28-May 14.

 The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is presenting works by renowned contemporary installation artist and filmmaker Isaac Julien. “Isaac Julien: Other Destinies,” presented by TD Bank Group, opened on January 21 and will run until April 23. The exhibition consists of two immersive film projections, “WESTERN UNION: Small Boats” (2007) and “True North” (2004), both addressing issues of globalization, movements of peoples, displacement, and the aesthetics of geography. The ROM's installation of Isaac's work is one of a three-part execution across Toronto, with programs at OCAD University and the Images Festival.
"Isaac Julien is a one of the most exciting and innovative intellectual thinkers working in the arts today. Through his work, he addresses difficult and sensitive issues in a poetic and visually engaging manner," said Silvia Forni, ROM Curator of African Arts and Culture. "We are thrilled to share his work with ROM visitors, and together with OCAD University and the Images Festival, give Toronto audiences an opportunity to fully explore his practice."

On Feb. 16, RBC held its Black History Month Celebration at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto where it celebrated 30 winners of its 8^th annual Black History Month Student Essay Competition, and held a special screening of the film, “Moonlight.”

Each week, RBC releases the essays at website, http://www.rbc.com/essay. The final set of them will be released on Feb 27.

The activities of these two banks piqued my interest to find out if the other big banks are doing anything to celebrate Black History Month. I sent emails to the media relations/corporate communications departments of CIBC, Scotiabank, and BMO asking if they had any events to mark the month as I was compiling a list and wanted to include their event . So far, I’ve only heard back from CIBC regarding my inquiry.

Diana Spremo, senior communications consultant – sponsorship & community investment, CIBC Communications and Public Affairs, replied: “In regards to your inquiry, CIBC is committed to Diversity and Inclusion across our organization, and to celebrate Black History Month, we just held a very successful employee and client event this week in Toronto. This was organized by our Employee Affinity Group, or ‘community’ called CBEN: CIBC Black Employee Network. This group is volunteer run (as all our affinity groups are), and our CBEN leaders work to create an inviting and active community. At that event, they launched a new mentorship program where CIBC employees will mentor young people from For Youth Initiative<http://www.foryouth.ca/> -- a Toronto-based not-for-profit that helps teens reach their full potential.”

This was held during the week of Feb. 16-20.

MORE EVENTS…

Toronto Public Library Black History Month: On Thursday, Feb. 23, 2-4:15pm, the Barbara Frum library presents the film, “Motherland.” From director, Owen ‘Alik Shahadah comes a film on the African Holocaust and the poignant story of an entire continent.

A Journey Through Dance on Friday, Feb. 24, 10-10:30am at the Riverdale library. Carnival Spice brings an energetic performance highlighting African, Caribbean and hip hop culture through dance and spoken word.

Black Lives, Black Words at the 38th Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, buddiesinbadtimes.com, on Feb. 24 & 25, 10:00 p.m. in the chamber.
Local black playwrights write 10-minute plays responding to the theme "Do Black Lives Matter today?" The project that has explored the Black diaspora experience in Chicago, Minneapolis, and London, UK, get its first Toronto iteration, in partnership with Rhubarb, Obsidian Theatre Company, and the National Arts Centre.
The project creator is Reginald Edmund and the local playwrights are Kanika Ambrose, Leelee Davis, Jordan Laffrenier, Tawiah M'Carthy & Motion.

2^nd annual Black Diamond Ball presented by TD & ArtXperiential will be held on Feb. 25 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto featuring: Divine Brown, Glenn Lewis, Michie Mee and Simone Denny. Host: Patricia Jaggernauth

BAIE 2017 Black Arts & Innovation Expo

Excelovate and First Book Canada have partnered with leading corporations, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, artist and innovators to deliver an event that promotes diversity and inspires excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

This event defines a new way of celebrating Black History Month with focused attention placed on the remarkable achievements of tomorrow’s legends. Meet this outstanding group of new leaders and experience their valuable contributions to music, literature, visual arts, entrepreneurship and technology.

BAIE 2017 takes place on February 25, 2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at the York Mills Gallery, 1885 Leslie St., Toronto.

Celebrating Excellence. Reverend John C. Holland Awards and Gala on Saturday, Feb. 25, doors open at 5:30p.m., dinner at 6:30p.m. at Grand Central Ballroom, Liuna Station, 360 James St. North, Hamilton. For more information, call Louise 905-865-1027/Marlene 905-921-9646

African Canadian Achievement Awards will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, 7pm at the Jane Mallet Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front Street East, Toronto. Tickets: $45 adults, $25 for students 18 years and under. Call 905-668-8869 africancanadianachievementawards.com

TD presents “Tribute to the Legends of Reggae” paying tribute to Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs and Culture on Saturday, Feb. 25, 8pm (doors open); show starts at 9pm at The Opera House, 735 Queen St. East, Toronto. Live performances by: Ken Boothe, Exco Levi and High Priest, Nana McLean, Chester Miller, Mr. Cooper, Hardcore Band. Music provided by DJ Joshua Luca.

Tickets: $25 advance, $30 at the door. VIP Tickets: $50 advance, $55 at the door

Info: Jones & Jones: 905-452-1911

  Lululemon’s The Local Toronto + Young Black Canucks will hold a wrap-up of Black History Month celebration on Sunday, Feb. 26 at The Local Toronto, 96 Ossington Ave., Toronto. Doors open at 4pm, panel at 5-6pm, and from 6-7:30pm a social.

In celebration of Black History Month, the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities and Faculty of Education of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology present George Elliott Clarke, Canada’s Parliamentary Poet Laureate on Monday, Feb. 27, reception: 6-7pm, lecture: 7-9pm at Regent Theatre, 50 King St. East, Oshawa. RSVP and information: Wesley.crichlow@uoit.ca

"Empowering our Community: Politicizing our Struggles" -- African Heritage and Black History Month by the CBTU, OFL and CLC
Learn about the history of the Black Sleeping Car Porters, the double legacy of racism and sexism facing Black women in politics and the story of Viola Desmond and other brave anti-racist activists who refused to accept inequality. Three films – Sisters in the Struggle, The Road Taken, and Journey to Justice -- will be screened recounting these struggles followed by a discussion on the current struggles facing our community with the objective of developing strategies to makes our voices heard through political action. The films will be shown at the same time so choose the film that speaks to you.

Then add your voice in a community-based discussion to help shape the political action work of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Ontario Federation of Labour and Canadian Labour Congress. By working in solidarity with Black and racialized workers across Canada we will continue the legacy of our ancestors to challenge anti-black racism in our times. 

Monday, Feb. 27, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at United Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St., Toronto. A free event.  

culchahworks Arts Collective presents"Belafonte at 90" a tribute celebration on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 8pm at Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre. Culchaworks honours the artist, activist, and icon on his milestone birthday, with an electrifying presentaton of words, dance, theatre, images, and music. Written, directed and produced by Andrew Craig. Choreographed by Melissa Noventa. $55 tickets available through Harbourfront Centre Box Office, 416-973-4000, or tickets@harbourfrontcentre.com

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS IN OTTAWA

www.blackhistoryottawa.weebly.com/black-history-month-2017.html

 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY (MARCH 8, #BeBoldForChange) EVENTS

In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) & Le Mouvement Ontarien des Femmes Immigrantes Francophones will launch their new graphic novel, “Telling Our Stories: Immigrant Women’s Resilience” on Thursday, March 2, 5:30-8:00 p.m. at Women’s College Hospital Auditorium, 76 Grenville St., Toronto. Please RSVP by Monday, Feb. 27. Free admission. Refreshments will be served. ASL Interpretation will be available. For more information, contact vaw@ocasi.org.

The graphic novel is part of OCASI’s Prevention of Sexual Violence and Harassment Project, generously funded by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.

The 9^th annual Viola Desmond Awards at Ryerson University will be held on March 6, 5-8pm at POD252 (reception and gallery walk), the awards ceremony starts at 6pm at POD250. Open to the public.

International Women’s Day Toronto 2017 Rally and March starting at the University of Toronto Medical Sciences Building, 1 King’s College Circle on Saturday, March 11. Rally at 11am, King’s College Circle; march at 1pm, and fair at 2pm at Ryerson University, 55 Gould St., Toronto.

The Women’s Committee of the Jamaican Canadian Association presents its annual International Women’s Day Celebration on Sunday, March 12, 2:00-5:00pm at the Jamaican Canadian Centre, 995 Arrow Rd., Toronto. Keynote speaker: Sandra Whiting, speaker, storyteller and event host. jcawomenscommittee@gmail.com Call 416-746-5772

TIFF artistic director lauds the film 'Moonlight'

By Neil Armstrong

 

TIFF artistic director, Cameron Bailey, introducing the film, Moonlight, at the RBC Black History Month Celebration at TIFF Bell Lightbox on Feb. 16.       Photo contributed

Cameron Bailey, artistic director of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), is very impressed that the Barry Jenkins film, “Moonlight,” has been nominated for eight Academy (Oscars) awards.

He says for a film of this small scale, this is quite remarkable and he thinks it will pick up some awards this weekend.

The 89^th Academy Awards or “Oscars” will be held on February 26 in Hollywood.

“If you’re a movie fan, you’ll see some of the influences that shaped Barry Jenkins as he was making this film. This is only his second feature film. His first film was called “Medicine for Melancholy,” a very low budget romantic comedy that we also showed at the festival. It was made for $15,000. This new film, “Moonlight,” was made for $1.5million US. If you know anything about movie budgets you will know that is miniscule. The film has already grossed $22.2 million.”

He described Jenkins as being very efficient, making movies on a small scale but telling “big stories that have a big heart and take you places.”

Bailey was introducing the film at a special screening at the RBC Black History Month Celebration held at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto on February 16.

He said the film was launched at the festival last September and it has been playing at that venue since November.

“What’s been really remarkable is how people have discovered this film and come to it, and then come back to see it again, sometimes bringing their friends, their loved ones. It’s a film that takes you on a journey and some people find it very, very, moving.”

Bailey said part of the thrill of “Moonlight” is that process of discovery. He noted that it is Black History Month in which “we’re celebrating and exploring the history of the African contribution to this city, this country, this continent. And one of the things I find most interesting about watching this movie, “Moonlight,” is to see the story that it tells from that perspective.”

“This is a film that is set not in the immediate present but a while back when in South Florida crack cocaine was an epidemic in communities. And was introduced as a way to sell faster, cheaper, more lethal drugs, much in the same way that heroine is destroying a lot of communities now in the US and opioids are generally, but back then it was crack cocaine.”

The TIFF artistic director noted that the writer of the screenplay and the play upon which “Moonlight” was based and also the director of this film were both living in families that were affected by crack cocaine.

“Barry Jenkins is the director of the film. His mother was addicted at a certain point in her life and so that history is a part of the foundation of this film,” he said.

Bailey said there are other things going on as well and what he found most remarkable about this film is the layers that overlap in it.

It is on one level a portrait of a certain time in a certain community in America but it’s also a portrait of certain characters that we might be familiar with or think we’re familiar with, in terms of black life.

“In movies we often see tough guys who are black. Denzel Washington won an Academy award for playing a badass cop-criminal in “Training Day” and that image of the tough guy, the hyper-macho guy, the black thug, to use that word, is something that we’re very familiar with from movies and TV shows. You will see that explored in this film but from a brand new perspective and it opens up that stereotype in interesting ways, as the film does with the stereotype of the drug addict.”

Bailey said the film is about some of these things but it takes the viewer in new directions.

 “When I first saw this film I was on the verge of tears, mainly because I had never seen this story told in moves before and I watch hundreds of movies every year. I’ve seen probably tens of thousands of movies by now. I’ve been doing this for a long time. But what you see in this movie is a portrait of characters who are usually on the periphery of other movies, who are usually playing the villains, the secondary characters, or just background, and you see those characters brought to front and centre, to the centre of the screen, and you see their lives illuminated through great artistry.”

The artistic director said this is what they try to do at the festival and everything they do at TIFF.

“We try to take you places through film that you maybe had never been before to show you ways of looking at the world that you might not have had a chance to see before and through that we hope that that will illuminate the life outside of the movie theatre. We hope that after you’ve seen “Moonlight” you’ll go out and you might look at your world, you might look at people you pass on the street who are strangers to you in an entirely new way. And that process of transformation is really what we’re all about.”

In her welcome remarks, Kris Depencier, RBC regional president, Greater Toronto said one of the reasons RBC was proud to partner with TIFF was because “TIFF brings a diverse range of films and perspectives to Toronto from around the world all year long.”

Regarding the choice of screening “Moonlight,” she said, “It’s not really an indie flick but we chose it because it represents a shift in how the Black community has been portrayed in how they have participated in film over the years.”

Depencier noted that the fact that the film is nominated for eight Oscars later this month made it a really great choice for the evening.

“But much like our nation’s past the film industry has really in their historical depiction of black men and women not been a point of pride. And while this has evolved in a more positive direction over the past 40 years there is still a lot of room for improvement. And I think continuing to make progress, both in film and in Canada, matters. We all benefit when we gain a truer appreciation and understanding of the many threads that make up our national fabric.”

Thirty Grade 12 students from across Canada -- winners of the RBC Black History Month Essay Competition, now in its eighth year – were presented with scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000.

[A story about the RBC Black History Month Student Essay Competition winners will be published in the North American Weekly Gleaner and Pride News Magazine.]

'Black Lives, Black Words' to premiere in Toronto

By Neil Armstrong

Kanika Ambrose

Jordan Laffrenier

Chicago playwright, Reginald Edmund, managing producer of the Black Lives, Black Words international project that will have its Canadian premiere at the 38th Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto.

Some local black playwrights will be showcasing their ten-minute plays responding to the theme, “Do Black Lives Matter today?” 

Created by Reginald Edmund, a Chicago playwright, the Black Lives, Black Words international project has explored the Black diaspora experience in Chicago, Minneapolis, and in London, UK.

It will now have its Canadian premiere in Toronto on February 24 and 25 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.

The project will be presented at the 38^th Rhubarb Festival in partnership with Obsidian Theatre Company and the National Arts Centre.

Edmund, who is the managing producer of the project, says after the events of Trayvon Martin and the long list of others he realized that there wasn’t an opportunity for artists of colour to speak their truth regarding this important issue.

Martin was the 17-year-old African American male from Miami Gardens, Florida killed by George Zimmerman, a white man, in Sanford, Florida on February 26, 2012. His killing led to many protests and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“I felt this strong need to speak. I felt this really strong need to have my voice heard and speak about this horrible issue that was taking place, and also tell the story of the community,” says Edmund.

He wondered to himself how many other people out there also had this shared desire to speak their truth.

“And so I just begin that hunt for other artists to join and be a part of this discussion,” he says, noting that the project was started in Chicago in 2015.

The resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists says part of the reason why he decided to take the project beyond the United States is that it wasn’t solely in his country that the issues of Black Lives Matter were taking place.

“I wanted to have a global look at that discussion so that we can address the political, the economic and the cultural similarities and differences between all the Black diaspora. While we’re discussing these issues that are taking place within the world we’re also offering, hopefully, solutions within that discussion as well.”

He notes that in order to find solutions it is important to examine the shared experience while being aware that Black is not a monolithic race.

“Amiri Baraka once said that theatre must be revolutionary and I really took to that message and said how can I really apply this to our art form.”

The local writers taking part in the project are Leelee Davis, Kanika Ambrose, Jordan Laffrenier, Tawiah Ben Eben M’Carthy, Motion, Luke Reece and Meghan Swaby.

Performers include Akousa Amor-Adem, Shomari Downer, Virgillia Griffith, Cassandra Mentor and Nabo Nabea with the directors being Audrey Dwyer and Jamie

Robinson.

Ambrose says she has been working on a piece about a black woman’s response to seeing so many black men’s lives being taken for no reason.

“As someone who is a black woman and I have two brothers, I have my partner, and when I see the senselessness of the lives of black men being taken, I immediately think of the black men that I love. So I’m responding to that gut reaction of seeing dead black men on the ground in the media, in the news, in videos, and seeing the men in my life and the men I love in those images and in those videos.”

In her creation, the black woman tries to protect her man by shielding him, whether it be her lover, her husband, her son, her father or her brother.

Ambrose doesn’t think her piece will offer any solution but that it will be a visceral response – “physical theatre.”

“It’ll definitely be a two-hander and definitely in this work and with all my work, physical is just as important as the text.”

Ambrose thinks “Black Lives, Black Words” shouldn’t just stay in Toronto because there’s a lot to say in other Canadian cities.

“I think it’s important that we don’t stay silent and we express ourselves in all of the various ways that we can. And the way that I express myself most strongly is through my art, through my writing, and my creation, and so I think that that’s how I can lend my solidarity in this movement most strongly,” says Ambrose about the Black Lives Matter movement.

Laffrenier says when he read the prompt, “Do Black Lives Mater Today?” he laughed.

“I thought this is going to be the easiest piece I have ever had to write: an actor walks

on stage, repeats the question, and says, “No, obviously not.” It’s very simple; most

people who define themselves as white don’t care about black people.”

He continued: “I think there are very few “white” people that wake up in the morning and think: I need to do something about racist policing policies, there are now more blacks in prison than there were blacks in slavery, I need to do something about the education gap, I need to encourage my MP to fight for reparations for the racist housing policies that have occured even within the last forty years that have driven blacks into ghettos.”

Laffrenier says he is constantly surprised talking to his black peers that they don’t know about Jim Crow.

He says it has been hard to respond to the prompt in a way that is absolutely contemporary.

“Firstly, our experience has changed pretty vapidly since the recent election but a lot

of people are already talking about that and there is no need for conversation that is

already happening nearly everywhere. And secondly, there is a political correctness that people have signed on to now, that at the very least, has made language less racist.

As it currently stands, his piece exists as a bunch of sketches, scenes, and poems and it’s hard for him to say if it will offer solutions.

“But I will say, many solutions have been offered before and people haven’t signed on to them. Maybe my job isn’t to offer solutions, but to get people to sign on to the solutions that already exist.”

He thinks “Black Lives, Black Words” has the ability to capture the black experience on a global scale and to connect black lives across borders.

“There is a loneliness that is associated with being black. This project will act as a reminder that we are not alone,” says Laffrenier.

Edmund thinks part of the reason “Black Lives, Black Words” has been successful is because practitioners from various levels of experience unite to respond to what is taking place.

He notes that there is a solid need and desire for these voices to be on stage which explains why the project has sold out in every city it has been to within days.

This is his first venture into the Canadian scene both as an artist and as a producer, and also for the project.

Within every city, Edmund says he does his best to build a bridge between Black Lives, Black Words and the Black Lives Matter organizations within the community.

“I feel like since this project was inspired by these brave activists that we have a duty to them as well to help in whatever way that we can and to be fully engaged with that community there.”

He hopes that this work serves as beacon for other artists to speak out and to stand up and have their voice heard in this time.

Christmas shopping at Honest Ed's was a joy for 'Mrs. Claus'

 [My friend, Richard, sent me a text at 5:34 a.m. on February 14 informing me that his godmother, Raphaelita Walker, transitioned. It was peaceful and he was there. My condolences to him and to Raphaelita's family and the members of the Jamaican Canadian Association. In light of this news, I'm sharing a story I wrote in December 2016 for the North American Weekly Gleaner's Christmas Feature after interviewing Raphaelita about her role as Mrs. Claus and shopping at the iconic Honest Ed's for gifts for the annual JCA Kids Christmas Party.]

Christmas shopping at Honest Ed’s was a joy for ‘Mrs. Claus’

By Neil Armstrong

Left-right: Adaoma Patterson, president of the Jamaican Canadian Association, Gifford and Raphaelita Walker at the annual JCA Kids Christmas Party on December 4, 2016.                    Photo contributed

When the 68-year-old landmark Toronto discount store, Honest Ed’s, permanently closes its doors at the end of December, Jamaican, Raphaelita Walker, who plays ‘Mrs. Santa Claus’ at an annual Christmas Party for kids at the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA), will miss it.

Walker and her husband, Gifford, have been playing ‘Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus’ at the JCA for more than 20 years.

Walker, who celebrated her 90^th birthday on Dec.11, says she has been shopping at Honest Ed’s since 1963 – the first store she went to when she came from England.

The store was established in 1948 by the late Ed Mirvish who ran it for almost 60 years until his death in 2007.

Since then, his son, David Mirvish, has owned the property and sold it in 2013 to a Vancouver-based development company, Westbank Properties.

“I’ve been shopping there all the while because you always get things on special. Anything you need you can always get it at Honest Ed’s,” says Walker.

She said in England she used to get things at the drugstore, but when she came here  she couldn’t find some things, even to fill her prescription in other stores. However, she found them at the legendary store.

“That was my favourite store,” says Walker. “Sometimes when they have things on sale and they allow you just a certain amount, my friend and I would go. And we go in and get and then I come out, then she waits for me until I get some more.”

She said the main time for this kind of shopping was at Christmas.

Retired Toronto Star journalist, Jamaican Royson James, who immigrated to Canada from Jamaica in 1969, lived just north of the store on Bathurst St.

In a column published in February 2012, James writes:  “Bathurst St. was the axis of immigrant Caribbean-Canadian life. Honest Ed’s was the black Eaton’s.”

When the JCA had just started in 1962, its members used to organize a Thanksgiving dinner but after a while stopped it.

Walker said when the organization started a Christmas party for the kids they would get good buys at Honest Ed’s.

“You couldn’t get more than a certain amount, so we, the committee, we would go and somebody wait outside. Then you go in and you buy that we could get to wrap the gifts for the kids.”

At that time, the JCA did not have a building so they would meet in members’ homes to organize wrapping the gifts.

They also held meetings at various community centres and used mainly a hall at Oakwood and Vaughan.

On one occasion, they went to Jane and Finch and when they finished handing out gifts five kids had none.

They went to the nearby store, bought some gifts, and gave it to them.

Walker said in the early days, Air Jamaica sponsored the Santa Claus party for two consecutive years.

Sometimes, they have as many as 200 kids at the annual event.

She said it was the late Eva Smith, a tireless community worker, who encouraged her to dress up as Santa Claus one year when Gifford was on holiday and none of the men wanted to fill the role.

It was held at the U.N.I.A. Hall on College St. then and Walker said while putting on the Santa Claus costume she forgot to stuff a pillow underneath it to create a paunch.

After getting his gift, a little boy exclaimed “what a skinny Santa” which was quite amusing to her.

A couple years ago, a child age 8 or 9 got his gift and asked twice “a black Santa?” and Walker said “yes.” His reply was “cool man, cool.”

Another tugged at his mother’s arm on a bus telling her that Walker who was also on the bus was Mrs. Claus.

His mother did not believe him until upon leaving the bus she asked Walker if she was Mrs. Claus. She answered “yes” and the little boy was very happy that he was right all along.

Reminiscing, Walker said Honest Ed’s was “such a great store for immigrants,” while also remembering the role that Al Hamilton and her daughter Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange played in founding the newspaper, Contrast, which was located on the same block.

A successful book launch at the Harbourfront Centre and more during Black History Month

By Neil Armstrong

The launch of B. Denham Jolly’s memoir, “In the Black: My Life,” was an overwhelming success on Feb. 11.

Miss Lou’s Room at the Harbourfront Centre overflowed with supporters who came to hear from him about his new book and to buy copies.

Included among them were: Wayne Williams, former program director of Flow 93.5; veteran journalist Norman ‘Otis’ Richmond; former deputy speaker of the Canadian House of Commons Jean Augustine; Gordon Cressy, president of the George Brown College Foundation; members of the Jamaican Canadian Association, and many more.

Published by ECW Press, “In the Black” is the story of B. Denham Jolly, an award- winning business leader and active proponent of civil rights for Black Canadians.

The promotional material for the book notes that Jolly arrived in Toronto from Jamaica to attend university in the mid-1950s, and despite numerous encounters [with] discrimination, he became a successful business owner and publisher.

“His work with Contrast newspaper contributed significantly to the Black community and cultural landscape of Toronto’s Bathurst Street. The need for a stronger voice for the Black community fuelled Jolly’s 12-year battle to get a licence for FLOW 93.5, a Black-owned radio station in Toronto. At its launch in 2001, Flow 93.5 became the model for urban music stations across the country, helping to launch the careers of artists like Drake, Shad, and Jully Black.”

In the Black is more than a story of one man’s endless resilience and personal ambition; it is also the story of a community overcoming hardships and reshaping the country into a more open and just society.

It was my honour to be the emcee of this event, a partnership of A Different Booklist and the Harbourfront Centre. There were remarks from Pamela Appelt, patron of Miss Lou’s Room; Miguel San Vicente of A Different Booklist; and Jack David, publisher of ECW Press. I interviewed Denham and he took questions from the audience. It was a fun night.

When I got to the Harbourfront Centre, I ran into award-winning journalist and activist, Desmond Cole, who had just finished moderating the second of two panels. The first was entitled: “Beyond Policing: Alternatives for Supporting Black People in Crisis; the other was “The Art of Storytelling: Black Art and Artists in Toronto.”

Desmond is writing a new book and so I requested a face-to-face interview with him about it. Look out for that after this busy month of February.

Last week, I interviewed Chicago playwright, Reginald Edmund, who is bringing his “Black Lives, Black Words” international project to Toronto to have its Canadian premiere at the 38^th annual Rhubarb festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. I also spoke to local playwrights, Kanika Ambrose and Jordan Laffrenier, who are among seven artists responding to the prompt – “Do Black Lives Matter today?” The story will be published in the North American Weekly Gleaner soon.

B. Denham Jolly signing a copy of his memoir, 'In the Black,' for Wayne Williams, former program director of Flow 93.5 FM inside Miss Lou's Room at the Harbourfront Centre on Feb. 11, 2017.

Malcolm Sinclair, Miguel San Vicente and Sojourner San Vicente of A Different Booklist at the launch of B. Denham Jolly's memoir, 'In the Black,' in Miss Lou's Room at the Harbourfront Centre.

Book launch and signing in Miss Lou's Room at the Harbourfront Centre on Feb. 11, 2017

Inside Miss Lou's Room at the book launch of B. Denham Jolly's memoir, 'In the Black.'

SOME UPCOMING BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo performs at The Royal Conservatory of Music, Koerner Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 8pm. 416-408-0208 www.performance.rcm.ca

The 5^th annual Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) will be held Feb. 15-19. www.torontoblackfilm.com

Black Ontario Public Service Employees Network (BOPSers) presents a discussion, "Internalized Racism - how to recognize it?" on Thursday, Feb. 16, 5:00-7:30 p.m. at 900 Bay St., 2nd Floor, Kawartha Room. Facilitator: Cikiah Thomas, BOPSers founder. RSVP: bopsers@Ontario.ca

Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention presents its Black History Month 2017 event under the theme "Diversity is our Strength" on Thursday, Feb. 16, 5-8pm at 20 Victoria St., 4th Floor, Toronto. Call 416-977-9955, info@black-cap.com, www.blackcap.ca

Black History Month at the Toronto Public Library. “Never Stop Fighting Systemic Discrimination” – Beverley “Bev” Salmon shares her poignant story of growing up in north Toronto, of becoming Toronto’s first Black female councillor, and taking on the Wynne government to end racial profiling. This will be held on Thursday, Feb. 16, 1-3pm at Downsview library.

Showing of ‘The Ninth Floor’ at Riverdale library on Feb. 16, 6:30-8:15pm. From the National Film Board of Canada comes a film on the Sir George Williams affair and Canadian race relations 40 years later. Written and directed by Mina Shum.

Black History Month Symposium - "The Evolving Meaning of Blackness in Canada. history. education. justice." Keynote presenters: Anthony Stewart, Kiké Roach, Rinaldo Walcott and Barrington Walker on Friday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 18 at Founders Assembly Hall (Room 152 Founders College), York University (Keele Campus). Register online and view the program at edu.yorku.ca/black-history-symposium.

Peel United Cultural Partners (Congress of Black Women – Brampton Chapter and the United Achievers’ Club) presents its 16th annual Black History Month Concert at Lester B. Pearson Theatre, Brampton Civic Centre, 150 Central Park Drive, Brampton on Saturday, Feb. 18, 5:00pm-8:30pm. Guest speaker: Farley Flex, motivational speaker, artist manager and music promoter. Tickets: $6, children 3 and under free. Call 905-789-1551/905-796-1916

Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association presents its 12^th annual Black History Month Celebration – “Celebrating our Men & Challenging the Myth of Black Fatherhood” – on Saturday, Feb. 18, expo 5pm-6pm, formal program at 6pm at Northwood Community Centre, 15 Clubhouse Court, Toronto. Call 647-234-7957/416-525-2346 jesa_ca@hotmail.com

TD presents “Tribute to the Legends of Reggae” paying tribute to Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs and Culture on Tuesday, Feb. 21, doors open at 7pm, show time at 8pm at the Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton and on Saturday, Feb. 25, 8pm (doors open); show starts at 9pm at The Opera House, 735 Queen St. East, Toronto. Live performances by: Ken Boothe, Exco Levi and High Priest, Nana McLean, Chester Miller, Mr. Cooper, Hardcore Band. Music provided by DJ Joshua Luca.

Tickets: $25 advance, $30 at the door. VIP Tickets: $50 advance, $55 at the door

Info: Jones & Jones: 905-452-1911

BOPSers main celebratory event - "Can we afford to remain silent on Anti-Black Racism?" - will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 12:30-1:20 p.m. at St. Lawrence Lounge, 900 Bay St., MacDonald Block. Special guest: Steve Orsini, Secretary of the Cabinet. Keynote speaker: Desmond Cole, author and activist. RSVP: bopsers@ontario.ca 

Black History Month Eh List Authors at Toronto Public Library -- “Caribbean Voices” on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 7-8pm at Maria A. Shchuka library featuring Dalton Higgins, Stacey Marie Robinson, Joshua “Scribe” Watkis and Leonicka Valcius.

Anne-Marie Woods aka Amani has a new youth production, "The Three Friends," that takes a look at African Canadian history and race relations.
It explores the question – What would happen to friendship or relationships if they weren’t always acceptable? Written, directed and starring award-winning playwright and activist, Anne-Marie Woods aka Amani, alongside up-and-coming youth actors -- Antonio Parsons, Sheree Spencer and Kaia Richardson.

Synopsis: A BlackLivesMatter protest took place on the Jean Augustine University campus and three friends; one African Canadian, one African American and one of European descent have all ended up in a boardroom to deal with the feelings caused by the protest. As temperatures rise and the discussion heats up they soon learn that back, white, American or Canadian, we all have more in common than you might think. From the Transatlantic Slave Trade to the Civil Rights Movement to the present day political climate … history, fiction and fantasy will unite to tell the story of Black History In Canada in an exciting and unique way. “The Three Friends” was created because of a request by Ebenezer Inkumsah who officiates the Black History Month Events in Barrie, Ontario. 

A private showcase will take place on Feb. 24, and a public one at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts on Feb. 22 – both in Barrie, Ontario.

www.imaniartsbiz.com/the-three-friends

Black Lives, Black Words at the 38th Rhubarb Festival at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, buddiesinbadtimes.com, on Feb. 24 & 25, 10:00 p.m. in the chamber.
Local black playwrights write 10-minute plays responding to the theme "Do Black Lives Matter today?" The project that has explored the Black diaspora experience in Chicago, Minneapolis, and London, UK, get its first Toronto iteration, in partnership with Rhubarb, Obsidian Theatre Company, and the National Arts Centre.
The project creator is Reginald Edmund and the local playwrights are Kanika Ambrose, Leelee Davis, Jordan Laffrenier, Tawiah M'Carthy & Motion.

2^nd annual Black Diamond Ball presented by TD & ArtXperiential will be held on Feb. 25 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto featuring: Divine Brown, Glenn Lewis, Michie Mee and Simone Denny. Host: Patricia Jaggernauth

BAIE 2017 Black Arts & Innovation Expo

Excelovate and First Book Canada have partnered with leading corporations, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, artist and innovators to deliver an event that promotes diversity and inspires excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

This event defines a new way of celebrating Black History Month with focused attention placed on the remarkable achievements of tomorrow’s legends. Meet this outstanding group of new leaders and experience their valuable contributions to music, literature, visual arts, entrepreneurship and technology.

BAIE 2017 takes place on February 25, 2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at the York Mills Gallery, 1885 Leslie St., Toronto.

Celebrating Excellence. Reverend John C. Holland Awards and Gala on Saturday, Feb. 25, doors open at 5:30p.m., dinner at 6:30p.m. at Grand Central Ballroom, Liuna Station, 360 James St. North, Hamilton. For more information, call Louise 905-865-1027/Marlene 905-921-9646

African Canadian Achievement Awards will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, 7pm at the Jane Mallet Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front Street East, Toronto. Tickets: $45 adults, $25 for students 18 years and under. Call 905-668-8869 africancanadianachievementawards.com

In celebration of Black History Month, the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities and Faculty of Education of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology present George Elliott Clarke, Canada’s Parliamentary Poet Laureate on Monday, Feb. 27, reception: 6-7pm, lecture: 7-9pm at Regent Theatre, 50 King St. East, Oshawa. RSVP and information: Wesley.crichlow@uoit.ca




Lululemon's The Local Toronto + Young Black Canucks will hold a wrap-up of Black History Month celebration on Sunday, Feb. 26 at The Local Toronto, 96 Ossington Ave., Toronto. Doors open at 4pm, 5-6pm panel, 6-7:30pm social.

"Empowering our Community: Politicizing our Struggles" -- African Heritage and Black History Month by the CBTU, OFL and CLC
Learn about the history of the Black Sleeping Car Porters, the double legacy of racism and sexism facing Black women in politics and the story of Viola Desmond and other brave anti-racist activists who refused to accept inequality. Three films will be screened recounting these struggles following by a discussion on the current struggles facing our community with the objective of developing strategies to makes our voices heard through political action. The films will be shown at the same time so choose the film that speaks to you.

Then add your voice in a community-based discussion to help shape the political action work of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Ontario Federation of Labour and Canadian Labour Congress. By working in solidarity with Black and racialized workers across Canada we will continue the legacy of our ancestors to challenge anti-black racism in our times. 

Monday, Feb. 27, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at United Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St., Toronto. A free event.  

culchahworks Arts Collective presents"Belafonte at 90" a tribute celebration on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 8pm at Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre. Culchaworks honours the artist, activist, and icon on his milestone birthday, with an electrifying presentaton of words, dance, theatre, images, and music. Written, directed and produced by Andrew Craig. Choreographed by Melissa Noventa. $55 tickets available through Harbourfront Centre Box Office, 416-973-4000, or tickets@harbourfrontcentre.com

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS IN OTTAWA

www.blackhistoryottawa.weebly.com/black-history-month-2017.html