EVENTS: Launches of Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference, Pride Month, a Black Women Political Summit and more

Carassauga Festival, Mississauga’s Festival of Cultures, takes place from May 26-28. Visit 31 pavilions. Opening ceremonies at the Hershey Centre on Friday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m. www.carassauga.com

The Canadian Society for the History of Medicine & Canadian Association for the History of Nursing present their annual conference May 27-29 at Ryerson University in Toronto. Keynote lectures: Professor Evelyn Hammonds (Harvard University), "The Physician's Negro": The Racialization of Medicine, and Professor Karen Flynn, (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) "Hotel Refuse Negro Nurse": Gloria Clarke Baylis And The Queen Elizabeth Hotel.

Markham African Caribbean Canadian Association holds its 5k walkathon on Saturday, May 27, registration: 8-9:30 a.m., starts at 9:30 a.m. at 505 Hood Road, Unit #5, Markham. Call 905-946-9998

An evening with Cornel West, Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University, on Monday, May 29, 7-8pm in TRSM 1-067 Auditorium. In this session, West shares his views on Race, Democracy, Justice and Love.

Press conference for Carifesta (happening in Barbados, Aug. 17-27) on Tuesday, May 30, 5:30 p.m. at Metro Hall, Toronto. [Date deferred until further notice -- info updated on May 28.]

The launch of the book, “Burnley “Rocky” Jones Revolutionary,” an autobiography by Burnley “Rocky” Jones & W. St. G. Walker will be held on Tuesday, May 30, 6:30 p.m. at A Different Booklist, 777 Bathurst St., Toronto. Special guest: George Elliott Clarke.

Lloyd Wilks, consul general of Jamaica at Toronto, invites you to the launch of Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference 2017 (July 23-26 in Kingston, Jamaica) on Tuesday, May 30, 7-9 p.m. at the Eaton Chelsea Hotel, Rosetta Rd., 33 Gerrard St. W., Toronto. Keynote speaker: Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica. Dress: Business suit. RSVP by May 26 at 416-598-2064 or at infojcgtoronto.ca

Media Launch of the 50^th annual Caribbean festival (July 7-August 7) takes place on Thursday, June 1, 11:45 a.m. at the Ontario Science Centre, “The Hot Zone” Hall, 770 Don Mills Rd., Toronto. Keynote speaker: Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. To RSVP and for further details, contact Stephen Weir at Stephen@stephenweir.com or Jefferson Darrell at Jefferson.Darrell@osc.on.ca

The 2017 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences takes place at Ryerson University, May 27-June 2, presents "Black Joy: Resistance, Revolution & Radical Love" on Thursday, June 1, 12:15-1:15pm in TRSM 1-067 Auditorium at Ryerson University.
In this Big Thinking event, join award-winning performance poet and human rights advocate, Aja Monet, for a performance and conversation with activist, Desmond Cole. A public event.

The Official Pride Month Launch Party takes place on Thursday, June 1, 7-11:30 p.m. at the Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W., Toronto.
Pride Toronto 2017 celebrates its official launch at the AGO with a visionary program created by the collective Blackness Yes, who have programmed the legendary Blockorama stage for nearly 20 years. The night brings together DJs artist projects, performances, talks, interactives, special installations and a performance by the New York-based hip hop artist Junglepussy to celebrate Black queer and trans lives, art and activism, and all things Pride!
Highlights include:

• DJ sets by DJ Dabz and DJ Craig Dominic
• Artist projects by Melisse Watson, Rodney Diverlus and Ella Cooper
• A special installation of artist-designed banners created for the Blockorama stage
• Pop-up talks by artists, activists and curators including Barak adé Soleil
• Hands-on interactive art-making Nadijah Robinson  
• An artist-designed program by Amber Williams King
• A headlining set by Junglepussy at 10 pm in Walker Court
• Plus, more surprises to be announced...

And of course, it wouldn’t be First Thursday without delicious food in our Night Market, drinks and dancing. Plus, don’t miss Out of the Vaults, our monthly one-night-only installation of rarely seen works from the AGO collection. Start your summer off with a celebration of community power at the AGO. All are welcome!
For all the latest details on First Thursdays, follow #AGO1st on Twitter and Instagram.
Follow Pride Toronto on social channels @pridetoronto.
Follow Blackness Yes on Facebook @blacknessyes and on Twitter @blockorama.

Operation Black Vote Canada invites you to Black Women Political Summit on Saturday, June 3, 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Toronto City Hall Members Lounge. Panel discussion moderated by Brittany Andrew-Amofah. Group discussion facilitated by Marva Wisdom. Space is limited. RSVP by May 26 at operationvotecanada@rogers.com

                                                                                                                 

Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education (P.A.C.E.) Canada will hold its annual Strawberry Social on Sunday, June 4, 1:30p.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Delta Toronto East Hotel, 2035 Kennedy RD., Scarborough. Keynote speaker: Senator Ruel Reid, Minister of Education, Jamaica. Call 647-352-7223 or email admin@pacecanada.org.

Ontario's NDP Leader, Andrea Horwath, will host a town hall entitled: "Salon Talk: Listening and working with the African-Canadian Community" on Sunday, June 4, 2:30-4pm at Salon Paradise, 831 Bovaird Drive West, Brampton. The moderator is popular radio host and educator, Luther Brown. RSVP with Thadsha Navaneethan at navaneethan@ndp.on.ca or call 416-325-3068 by June 1.

Jamaican Canadian Association will hold its Jamaica 55 Independence Gala under the patronage of the High Commissioner for Jamaica to Canada, Janice Miller, on Saturday, Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m. at 995 Arrow Rd., Toronto. Keynote speaker: Justice Donald McLeod, Ontario Court of Justice. Call 416-746-5772. communications@jcaontario.org

The Consulate General of Jamaica in partnership with the Jamaican Canadian Association presents Jamaica’s 55^th anniversary of Independence Flag Raising Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 6, 12:30 p.m. at The Podium Roof, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W. A reception follows at the Council Chambers-Members Lounge.

This will be followed by the Independence Church Service at Revivaltime Tabernacle, 4340 Dufferin ST., Toronto. RSVP at info@jcgtoronto.org/416-598-2064