Some Ongoing and Upcoming Virtual Events, Some Postponed to Later in the Year

By Neil Armstrong

The annual Blockorama at Pride Toronto Festival will be a virtual event and close the festival on June 28, 2020

 

As a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, several Black organizations have shifted their events to virtual platforms.

This is a compilation of some that have planned ongoing and upcoming events, or postponed them to a later date.


A Different Booklist Cultural Centre: The People’s Residence

A Different Booklist Cultural Centre has been hosting various activities online, including webinars, interviews with authors in its ‘Literary Salon’ and other presentations via Zoom and Facebook Live. adbcc.org


Black Business and Professional Association

The Black Business and Professional Association presents its ‘As a Professional Series’ and other webinars on Zoom. It has also rescheduled the date of the 38^th BBPA Harry Jerome Awards to October 10, 2020 at the Beanfield Centre (at The Exhibition Centre across from Hotel X), 100 Princes’ Blvd., Toronto.  

Blockorama 2020

Curated by Blackness Yes! Blockorama is the largest and longest-running stage at Pride Toronto. Blockorama has a vibrant history that features local Black artists: Blocko DJ's, drag, ballroom, and musical performers.  This must-see event closes out the Pride Toronto Virtual Pride on Sunday, June 28. Check out the full schedule of programming at www.pridetoronto.com/virtualpride

In a Facebook post on April 2, Blockorama & Blackness YES! noted that because of COVID-19 “we cannot currently gather in large crowds, limiting our ability to gather and be together in a time of crisis.”

“It is perhaps not surprising that Pride Toronto has been cancelled/postponed for 2020, in light of this, we are deeply saddened to say that Blockorama will not take place in person this year. We applaud these efforts to maintain physical distancing and support saving the lives of folks on the margins. No one is expendable in this crisis, and staying home will ensure we all survive this,” read the post.

“We as a community worked together and fought for this space for Black queer, and trans folks to be together and thrive, and the spirit of Blocko will survive! Keep planning your Blocko outfits for the days when we can be outside, together, again. Keep supporting your communities and helping everyone to have what they need to survive this,” it continued.

Also programmed for Sunday, June 28 is BQC - Black Queer Collective, a showcase of Black queer and trans youth, and LatinX, a virtual party featuring Toronto's favourite queer Latin-American performers and DJs.

Blockorama at the Pride Toronto Festival

 


Black Gay Men’s Network of Ontario

The Black Gay Men’s Network of Ontario is a centralized hub for same-gender-loving men of African, African diaspora, Afro-Latino, Caribbean and Black identities, operating from Toronto as an independent and autonomous entity.

Its goal is to provide cultural, intergenerational and mentorship opportunities, leadership, self-development and empowerment, as well as activism support aimed at improving the lives of Black queer people in Ontario. BGMN kicked off a series of live performances on May 17. Check out bgmn.ca for more of its plans.

Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce

The Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization. It is the initiative of the National African Canadian Association (NACA), which was created to serve one of the five tenets of the NACA which is commerce and economic development within the Black diaspora. The CBCC has been hosting various seminars on Zoom. www.blackchamber.ca


First Fridays

First Fridays is a community activity club whose purpose is to organize a monthly activity(s) and/or event(s) that are focused on building and improving upon awareness, networking and information sharing for youth, adults, minority and mainstream communities in education, employment, self-employment, health and wellness, the arts and other areas of interest.

First Fridays in Toronto was founded in 1994. It is one of over 30 First Fridays that occur on the first Friday of every month throughout North America in cities like Montreal, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and New York, to name a few. Recently, a First Fridays in Peel Region, Ontario was launched.  www.firstfridays.ca


Jamaican Canadian Association

The Jamaican Canadian Association has postponed its annual Walk Good Walkathon from May to August 30, noting that the new date is pending any directive or established protocols issued by Public Health officials regarding COVID-19.  Jcatoronto.org


Nia Centre for the Arts

Founded in 2009, Nia Centre for the Arts is a charitable organization that showcases and promotes arts from the African diaspora. It offers programs in music, photography, liter­ature, the visual arts, theatre and interdisciplinary arts. www.niacentre.org

The Walnut Foundation

The Walnut Foundation had initially planned its annual walkathon for Saturday, June 6, 2020 but that has been postponed. It is now a virtual walk throughout May and June. www.thewalnutfoundation.com

Grace International Jerk Food & Music Festival

Toronto Ont. (May 16^th, 2020) – With the City of Toronto announcement on Friday cancelling all City-permitted major festivals and events with the attendance of 25,000 or more through August 31st, the Grace International Jerk Food & Music Festival (Grace JerkFest) was among the festivals on the City’s list. However Grace JerkFest is NOT cancelled and will take place in a virtual format on Saturday August 8^th and Sunday August 9^th, 2020.

“Of course we are disappointed that we won’t be having the festival in Etobicoke’s Centennial Park this year. This is a 19 year tradition that is a staple in the summer calendar,” said Anthony Plummer, executive director of the festival. “But we are now living in a different time and safety comes first and so we had to pivot and come up with a new way to bring the food, culture and music to Torontonians.”

The virtual Grace JerkFest will still consist of top headline performers, local acts, chef demonstrations and will incorporate a jerk food experience for participants. Full details will be released shortly.

For more information about Grace JerkFest:

Visit www.jerkfestival.ca, Follow @JerkFestival on Twitter  gracejerkfest on Instagram and GracejerkfestCanada on Facebook.

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