Underground Freedom Train Ride Hits the Right Note for Hundreds of Riders

By Neil Armstrong

Just before the ceremony of the 5th annual Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride at Union subway station in Toronto, Canada on July 31, 2017

2017 Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride ceremony at Union subway station in Toronto.

This plaque will be unveiled by the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists at Roundhouse Park on Nov. 18, 2017.

Yolanda McClean, president of the CBTU, with the plaque in memory of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.

Zanana Akande and Rita Cox at the 5th annual Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride at Union station on July 31, 2017.

Jean Augustine and a friend who works at the Toronto Transit Commission at Union station on July 31, 2017.

d'bi.young anitafrika shared with me last night exciting news that she has received funding for her dub opera. She performed aboard the Underground Freedom Train last night. Congrats d'bi!

Itah and Shannon at the door leading to the platform to board the 'freedom' train

Jean Augustine and Rita Cox being interviewed aboard the train.

Mayor John Tory and others aboard the Underground Freedom Train from Union station to Sheppard West station (formerly Downsview station) on July 31, 2017.

Drumming, short speeches, protest, singing, and dancing marked the 5^th annual Underground Freedom Train Ride from Union station to Sheppard West station (formerly Downsview station) last night to welcome in Emancipation Day (Aug. 1) shortly after midnight.

From as early as shortly after 9:00 p.m. some people began arriving for the celebration which had a 10:45 p.m. start time.

One woman said she met the train at Downsview last year, but she didn’t want to miss the entire experience this year so she came to Union straight from work.

Hundreds gathered at the Brookfield Place entrance to the subway for the opening ceremony, with Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) personnel having to open the entrance/exit doors to allow fresh air inside.

Two TTC staff members estimated that the ‘freedom’ train had about 700 people in it, and that there were some people who had gone ahead on a previous train who were not counted in this number.

“Our ancestors dreamed of moments like this,” said Itah Sadu, co-owner of A Different Booklist Cultural Centre: The People’s Residence, whose idea it was to do this now annual event five years ago – combining the significance of the Underground Railroad and Emancipation Day.

“The Middle Passage was a demonstration of our potential,” she said, noting that, “

It showed our resilience as a people.”

She said the declaration of Emancipation Day, (Aug. 1, 1834) throughout the British Empire was a recognition that people of African descent would no longer be sold as commodities.

Sadu hoped that everyone would make a step and think about change – “Think of our everyday excellence as a people.”

She thanked everyone, including Dr. Edith Lorimer and a medical team, for being there to support the event.

Following in the footsteps of that famous Underground Railroad conductor, Harriet Tubman, Zanana Akande, the conductor of last night’s ride thanked Tubman and all the people who made it possible “that we could send our children to school and have them succeed.”

“We’re in Canada, and sometimes, not all the time, I wonder if we’re free. When I have to worry about my son and my grandson I wonder if we’re free…,” said Akande noting that “many of us are unemployed and sometimes we are underemployed.”

She noted that “we have come this far and we can do more.”

“Before we close our eyes, let’s make sure that we’re all free.”

Akande, a community matriarch and advocate, was the first black woman elected to the Ontario legislative assembly and to also serve as a cabinet minister in Canada.

Celina Caesar-Chavannes, MP for Whitby, and parliamentary secretary to the minister of international development, brought greetings on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Just as Mayor John Tory began to speak, Desmond Cole, activist, journalist and writer, began singing a song to the tune of Nina Simone’s 1964 song “Mississippi Goddam” but with different lyrics – lyrics pertinent to Toronto and Mississauga.

As if taking his cue from what Akande said about freedom, Cole asked, “Mayor Tory, are we all free?” --  referencing the July 27 meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) where he spoke out about the alleged beating of 19-year-old Dafonte Miller of Whitby, Ontario by Toronto police officer, Michael Theriault, and his brother, Christian Theriault, a civilian. Both have been charged by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

Cole was escorted from the police headquarters – venue of the TPSB meetings --, fined, and told not to return.

“I don’t think that anybody here should be stopped from riding the liberation train, not even you. But if you’re going to be here tonight you have to hear and see what black liberation actually means,” said Cole to the mayor last night.


There were chants of “Black Lives Matter” from several people in the crowd in support of Cole’s comments.
 
Tory then continued his speech by reading a proclamation from the City of Toronto regarding Aug. 1 -- Emancipation Day.

Josh Colle, Chair of the TTC, said the transit commission was thrilled to partner with that event and looks forward to it happening for many more years to come.

He noted that it has become a landmark event on the TTC’s calendar. 

Yolanda McClean, president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) announced that on Nov. 18 at the Roundhouse Park there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a plaque in memory of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. 

At one time in Canada’s history, the only job that was available to black men was that of a sleeping car porter.

Meridian Ashamock, a 16-year-old high school student and visual artist, of Cree Nation had welcomed the event and given permission for it to proceed.

After a moment of silence, as the train pulled out of Union station, d’bi.young.anitafrika, dub poet, shared her poem, Freedom Train, with her sons, Moon and Phoenix, onboard listening.

“Freedom Train, Ase. Ancestors, Ase. We herald.
We know that we are nothing without you…Onboard the Freedom Train
Our lives have purpose. We are human…”

At the end of her performance, the singing started of songs such as: “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” “I Shall Not Be Moved,” “There’s a Meeting Here Tonight,” and after Emancipation Day was announced on the train’s intercom, everyone sang Bob Marley’s “One Love.”

When the train arrived at its destination, Sheppard West, everyone got off and made their upstairs for the conclusion of the ride where again there was singing, including the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

The 5^th annual Underground Freedom Train Ride was a collaborative effort made possible by the African Canadian Heritage Association, Ontario Black History Society, Zero Gun Violence Movement, Association of Black Law Enforcers, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Councillor Josh Colle, A Different Booklist Cultural Centre, Baro Dununba and Friends African drumming ensemble, and the Ubuntu drumming and dance ensemble. 

[Here's another event where Zanana Akande will be speaking -- a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the UNIA. Thanks Nene Kwasi Kafele for the information.] 

Jamaicans Across Canada Get Set to Celebrate 55th Anniversary of Independence

By Neil Armstrong

Justice Donald McLeod of the Ontario Court of Justice.    Photo contributed

Jamaicans in eight cities across Canada will be celebrating the island’s 55^th anniversary of independence with a variety of events from the end of July to October coordinated by the Jamaica 55 Committee.

In Toronto, there will be a Jamaica 55 gala held at the Jamaican Canadian Association on Aug. 5 with Justice Donald McLeod of the Ontario Court of Justice as the keynote speaker; a flag raising ceremony at City Hall on Aug. 6, a church service at Revivaltime Tabernacle on Aug. 6, and a bus trip to Ottawa on Aug. 7 to attend an event organized by the Jamaican High Commission to mark the 55^th anniversary and Canada’s 150^th anniversary of Confederation. Janice Miller, high commissioner, will host a reception that evening.

On Canada’s Thanksgiving long weekend in October there will be an event organized by A-Supreme Foundation involving Juliet Holness, Member of Parliament for St. Andrew East Rural and wife of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who will be the keynote speaker.

The charitable foundation, which is concerned with the heath care of seniors, will hold its event on Oct. 7 at the International Plaza hotel.

Andrea Davis, Chair of Humanities, York University.  Photo contributed

Carl James, Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora, York University. Photo credit: Francine Buchner

On Oct. 6, 5:30-9:00 p.m., Holness will be a participant in a panel discussion coordinated by Carl James, Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora at York University.

It will be hosted by the Jean Augustine Chair, in partnership with Humanities. McMaster University is likely to be another partner and will have materials from the Louise Bennett archive for display.   

 A reception from 5:30-6:30 p.m. will be followed followed by the panel presentation with questions and answers.

 

The other panellists will be Avis Glaze, education consultant and former CEO of the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat, and Daniel Coleman, professor of English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University. Professor Andrea Davis, Chair of Humanities, York University, will moderate the panel. 

The panellists will present on the social, cultural, economic, educational and literary issues of Jamaica and its diaspora

 

 “We plan to reach out to the community, generally, and to students in the colleges and universities in the Toronto area,” says James.

“Ottawa meets the World – Jamaica” will be held in Ottawa on Aug. 7 and is billed as “a fun- filled family event, free of cost to the public, showcasing the sights, sounds and flavours of Jamaica.”

“Experience the vibrant and rich cultural heritage of Jamaica throughout the course of the day, by rocking to a wide repertoire of musical presentations and savouring the aroma and the exotic cuisine for which Jamaican is renowned. Explore the intricacies of the country through a varied display of quality Jamaican products, experience the warm Jamaican hospitality and enjoy a first hand encounter with our culture,” notes the promo. A church service will be held on Aug. 6.

An Independence church service will be held in Calgary, Alberta on July 30 at Berean Church of God International with senior pastor, Bishop Joseph Hackett, officiating. A flag raising ceremony will be held at City Hall on Aug. 5 and later that day a civic ceremony will be held at Winston Heights Community Centre.

In Montreal, a gala dinner will be held on Aug. 5 with Hume Johnson as the keynote speaker, and on Aug. 6 a church service. In October, a Heroes Day event will be held in that city with Dr. Julius Garvey as the guest speaker.

A “Celebration of Cultures” will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Aug. 7, meanwhile on Aug. 19, a banquet will be held in Edmonton, Alberta.

In Saskatchewan, Pamela Appelt, Chair of the Jamaica 55 Committee, will be the keynote speaker on Aug. 26 at the Jamaica 55 gala.

Storyteller, Letna Allen-Rowe, will be there for the entire weekend sharing stories about Miss Lou in her repertoire.

“That is going to be a fantastic weekend celebration of Jamaica 55,” Appelt says, noting that in the province they organize independence events every two or five years.

Jamaicans in that province will hold a flag raising ceremony on Aug. 11.

On Sept. 21, a business and academic symposium will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“I’m honestly happy to say that we’re following through on what we did for Jamaica 50. We raised the bar there in terms of events we host in our community and we’re continuing along that line and I’m happy that so many people are interested in keeping the Jamaican spirit high,” says Appelt who holds a Master’s degree in public policy, and received an honorary doctorate from Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica in 2002.

In 1987, she was appointed the first female Black Canadian to serve as a judge of the Court of Canadian Citizenship, a position she held for 11 years before retiring to pursue other interests.

[This story has been published in the Jamaica Independence Feature in the NA Weekly Gleaner, July 27, 2017.]

Refugees Support Group Hopeful after Meeting with Head of New Legacy Task Force

- Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship says there is 'light at the end of the tunnel' for legacy cases

By Neil Armstrong

Sebastian Commock, member of the executive committee of the Canadian Legacy Refugee Advocacy Alliance.  Photo contributed

The Canadian Legacy Refugee Advocacy Alliance (CLRAA), a support group for LGBTQ refugees who have legacy claims – many of whom are from the Caribbean and Africa – is very optimistic after meeting the head of newly formed legacy task force.

Sebastian Commock, an executive member of the group, met with Gaétan Cousineau, head of the legacy task force set up by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) on July 19.

As of this week, 450 refugee claimants will receive notices of their hearing dates and times, which start on September 18.

Commock said Cousineau clarified that there are about 3,500 principal legacy cases, not 5,600. Some individuals have children, partners, who are considered a part of the legacy claims which accounts for the 5,600 in total being affected.

“They say they are trying different mediums to get in ouch with clients, and I’m feeling very confident in this individual,” says Commock.

The CLRAA, which was formed in March, had written to Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, seeking information about the legacy task force and outlining the situation of legacy claimants.

They were redirected to the IRB and after writing a letter to its Chair, Mario Dion, received an invitation to a meeting with Cousineau.

In the letter, CLRAA indicated that a considerable number of legacy claimants have been waiting in excess of five years for a hearing and how their lives were impacted in four areas: health and wellbeing, employment, family relationships, and education.

Cousineau is the former deputy chairperson of the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) and was the president of the Quebec Human Rights Commission (Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse).

“We went in asking for amnesty and he said that’s not something that he would be able to argue on. While a lot of our cases would probably qualify for that he’s not able to make a determination on that,” says Commock.

He asked about the possibility of not having hearings for some of the claimants based on the evidence and documentation they submitted but Cousineau noted that some of the cases are considered difficult and it was highly unlikely there could be any determination without a hearing.

Several members of CLRAA were concerned about documentation that they submitted several years ago and wondered if they had to update them.

The answer was no, but if they think that new documents will help their case they can go ahead but it’s not a requirement.

“We also asked about the fact that a hearing is something to determine if you stay or if you go back home, and in an event that one fails their claim, how is that handled. He did say that they would put extra effort in ensuring gets the perfect or fair opportunity to prove their case, so if it takes five hours for you to prove your case we will give you the time.”

The head of the legacy task force asked that legacy claimants get in touch with the IRB to indicate their intention to proceed, with Legal Aid which may still be able to fund their case, and with their counsel.

In April, the IRB announced the formation of the legacy task force which would provide dedicated support to the elimination of its backlog of legacy claims.

The task force has a two-year mandate to complete its work. It began its work on May 8, 2017 and will be funded with existing resources. 

The creation of a dedicated team will enable the IRB to significantly increase the rate at which it can process legacy claims while allowing the RPD to continue to focus on new claims and current inventory, says the IRB’s website. 

The new system caseload is subject to regulated time limits.

Refugee claims referred to the IRB before December 15, 2012– are what the IRB calls "legacy claims.” 

It says although most of these claims were heard before the new refugee determination system took effect on December 15, 2012, there are some claims that have not yet been heard.

Last year, several Caribbean and African LGBTQ refugee claimants who have been in Canada since 2011 and 2012 shared their frustration at the long wait time to resolve their situation with the Weekly Gleaner. Many felt that their lives were in limbo.

El-Farouk Khaki, a Canadian refugee and immigration lawyer, representing many Caribbean clients who have legacy cases – most of whom are Jamaicans – said almost all of the cases are either sexual orientation or gender-based, so LGBT people or women fleeing some kind of domestic violence situation.

“Out of Jamaica, it’s mostly sexual orientation. Out of my Jamaican cases, I would say 98-95% are sexual orientation and only 5 or 10% are domestic violence-related,” Khaki said.

While answering a question at an event organized by Operation Black Vote Canada and the Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals on July 27 at KPMG in Toronto, the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship said changes to the refugee system made by former minister, Jason Kenney, in 2012 have really disadvantaged some refugee claimants.

He noted that until today a lot of them haven’t had hearings or due process.

“Through no fault of their own these people’s lives are in limbo and they’re called legacy refugees.

"There used to be about 20,000. We’ve reduced them to about 5-6,000 people. And I have been very, very, involved in this issue,” said Hussen, noting that he meets the Chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board, Mario Dion, almost on a monthly basis.

“Finally we were able to do two things that I think will be able to clear this issue once and for all. We found money to be able to clear those cases cause 5,600 people who have individual cases on top of the piling numbers we have from this year’s asylum claims.”

Hussen said they have also found a team – the legacy task force – that will nothing but focus on the legacy cases.

“So they’re going to process legacy cases and they have the money to do that, and my understanding from Mario Dion is that all the 5,600 cases will be cleared in less than two years so there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”

Some Events Happening in Canada, Jamaica and Barbados

By Neil Armstrong

The official launch of the Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival on July 11 at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto. Photo credit: Gwyn Chapman

 Toronto Caribbean Carnival, July 7 to Aug. 6 https://torontocaribbeancarnival.com
The Toronto Caribbean Carnival is the official Caribbean festival overseen by the Festival Management Committee recognized as a major international event. It’s the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. Carnival is a celebrated phenomenon in the great, multi-cultural city of Toronto. People travel from all over the world to see it come alive as the city explodes with the fun-filled rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands.

2017 Under the Stars: Movies in the Park, a free outdoor summer screening hosted by Regent Park Film Festival every Wednesday from July 12 to Aug. 16. at Regent Park (the Big Park), 620 Dundas St. E., Toronto. 

Blackhurst Galley Exhibition: “The Art of Carnival,” July 13-Aug. 9, first annual art exhibition presented by the Festival Management Committee of Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival, celebrating 50 years of carnival in the City of Toronto. It features artists: Kenrick Ayow, Rosslyn Berot-Burns, Daryl Chang, Georgia Fullerton, Ian P. Grant and Jennylynd James at A Different Booklist Cultural Centre, 777 Bathurst St.(Bathurst and Bloor).

The 4th annual Underground Freedom Train in 2016 at Downsview subway station (newly renamed Sheppard West station)

 A Different Booklist presents 2017 Emancipation Day – the 5^th annual Underground Freedom Train – on July 31. Gather at 10:45 pm at Union Station ticket booth and travel to Sheppard West Station (formerly Downsview Station) to welcome in Emancipation Day, August 1. Call 416-538-0889.

PRiDE JA 2017 happens from Aug. 1-7 in Kingston, Jamaica.  Photo contributed

#PRiDEJA, Aug. 1-7. in Kingston, Jamaica. LGBTQ Jamaicans are inviting Canadians to attend “ #PRiDEJA2017 -- Celebrating LGBT Life & Culture in Jamaica, the Caribbean and the Diaspora.”

Organized by the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), a human rights organization founded in 1998, the week includes an international conference, a concert, a community bonfire in rural Jamaica, and an all-inclusive breakfast party, among other events.

To find out more about this year’s celebration, check out #PRiDEJA2017, @EqualityJA on Twitter and Instagram, and @PrideJAMagazine on Twitter and Instagram.

Motivational speaker, Sandra Whiting, will join Grace Lyons, Roger Gibbs and Ronald Taylor at Island Soul to share stories about coming to Canada.   Photo contributed

Island Soul, Aug. 4-7, at the Harbourfront Centre. On Aug. 5, 3-4pm “Stories of Coming to Canada” featuring Sandra Whiting, Grace Lyons, Roger Gibbs and Ronald Taylor at the Boulevard Tent, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto.

http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/festivals/islandsoul/index.cfm?ref=home

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

Justice Donald McLeod of the Ontario Court of Justice will be the keynote speaker at the Jamaica Independence Gala on Aug. 5 in Toronto.  Photo contributed

 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 3pm at Revivaltime Tabernacle, 4340 Dufferin ST., Toronto. RSVP at info@jcgtoronto.org/416-598-3008

Blackness Yes! presents Blockobana- Black August featuring Osunlade on Sunday, Aug. 6, 12:00-11:00 p.m. in Regent Park.

Jambana One World Festival will be held on Aug. 6&7 at Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Rd., Markham. 1pm-9:30pm featuring Assassin, Half Pint, Wayne Wonder, Culture, Josey Wales, Exco Levi, Nana McLean, Ronnie McIntosh and Moses Revolution, Marvia Providence, and more. www.jambana.com 

The Jamaican Canadian Association has organized a bus trip to Ottawa on Aug. 7 to “Ottawa meets the world – Jamaica” an event to mark the 55^th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence and Canada’s 150^th anniversary of Confederation. Janice Miller, Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Canada, will host a reception that evening.

$70 per person. Departure from the JCA at 7am, departure from Ottawa at 7pm, approximate arrival time at the JCA – midnight. Only 55 seats on a first come first served basis. Contact Michelle Dolly at director3@jcaontario.org or at 416-9979872

The consul general of Jamaica, Lloyd Wilks, invites you to an exhibition by artist, Cheery Stewart Josephs, Aug. 9-11 at the Consulate General of Jamaica, 303 Eglinton Ave. East, Toronto. Opening reception: Aug. 9, 6:30-9:30pm. Call 416-598-2064

Montreal Pride presents the first-ever Canada Pride from Aug. 10-20 as a nation-wide celebration of Canada's LGBTQ movement "reaffirming the position of Montreal and of Canada as leaders in LGBTQ human rights. Fierte Canada Pride, the Canada Pride Conference, will be held from Aug. 15-17. www.fiertemontrealpride.com

27th annual Harriet Tubman Games, Thursday, Aug. 10, at the Esther Shriner Stadium, 5720 Bathurst St., North York. Contact: 416-316-3419

                 

Jerkfest, Thursday, Aug. 10 to Sunday, Aug. 13 starring Freddie Jackson, Brian McKnight, Ikaya, Pinchers and Maxi Priest at Centennial Park, Etobicoke. jerkfestival.ca

Scarborough Community Multicultural Festival, Aug. 11-13, 10am-10pm, at Scarborough Civic Centre. Call 647-343-0821. www.scarboroughcommunityfestival.ca

Sesquicentennial Cultural Festival for the Latin, African, West Indian & Caribbean Community all day Saturday, Aug. 12, 11:00 a.m. at the Toronto Plaza Hotel, 1677 Wilson Ave., Toronto. The Jane Finch Concerned Citizens Organization (JFCCO) invites you to the special community event celebrating 50 years of Caribana and honouring the founders. For more information, contact: Winstonlarose@hotmail.com

Rastafest presents the Canadian Reggae Music Conference on Thursday, Aug. 17, 1-4pm at Toronto Plaza Hotel, 1677 Wilson Ave., and on Friday, Aug. 18, 9am-5pm, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University. Speakers include Lloyd Stanbury and Kabaka Pyramid. www.rastafest.com

17^th annual Rastafest Reggae Festival, Canada’s largest Rastafari festival, in The Village, Aug. 19&20 at the historic Black Creek Pioneer Village's north property, 7060 Jane St., Toronto.

Canadian-Caribbean contingent participates in CARIFESTA XIII in Barbados, Aug. 17-27. The Canadian-Caribbean Arts Network (C-CAN) is a collective of artists and professionals. It is spearheading the first ever Caribbean Diaspora contingent officially invited to participate in CARIFESTA 2017. The festival was founded in 1972.
The dance and theatre participants have started a GoFundMe campaign to help them get to CARIFESTA, and the public are asked to donate to their campaign at:
https://www.gofundme.com/ourcarifestaXIIIparticipation
https://www.gofundme/helpkashedanscarifesta

Canadian National Exhibition, Aug. 18-Sept. 4. theex.com. On Aug. 23, 7:30-8pm Jay Douglas opens for Marcia Griffiths (7:30-9:30pm) at Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place, Toronto.

Jamaica Day Food and Music Festival, Saturday, Sept. 2 & Sunday, Sept. 3 at Woodbine Mall & Fantasy Fair outdoors, 500 Rexdale Blvd., Etobicoke. Gates open at 11:00 a.m. www.TorontoJamaicaDay.com. Infoline: 647-909-3539

CaribbeanTales International Film Festival, Sept. 6-21, at the Royal Cinema, 608 College St., Toronto. This year, CTFF 2017 Legacy series has 14 feature films and 30 short films. www.caribbeantalesfestival.com

Montego Bay Pride 2017 "Love and Pride in the Bay!" Montego Bay, St. James, Oct. 12-15. Thursday, Oct. 12, 10am-11am: Pride Launch; Thursday, Oct. 12-Sunday, Oct. 15, 6-8pm: LGBTQI Film Festival; Saturday, Oct. 14, 10am-2pm: Social Justice Project. For more information: facebook.com/MoBayPride. Register: http://bit.ly/MoBayPride2017

The Heritage Singers celebrate their 40^th anniversary “Reflections..A Walk Down Memory Lane” on Saturday, Oct. 21, matinee at 2pm, evening show at 7:30pm at Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St., Toronto.

CaribbeanTales International Film Festival Celebrates Caribbean Legacy

By Neil Armstrong

Celebrating at the media launch of CTFF at the Royal Cinema in Toronto on July 6, 2017 are: left-right -- Haynesley Benn, Barbados consul general; Shakirah Bourne, filmmaker of 'A Caribbean Dream'; John Reid, CEO, Flow/Cable & Wireless; Frances-Anne Solomon, executive director, CTFF; Nicole Brooks, CTFF incubator manager; and Sharon Lewis, director of 'Brown Girl Begins.'   Photo credit: DAYO Media & Communications

Patrons of the 12^th annual CaribbeanTales International Film Festival (CTFF) from September 6 to 21 will have an offering of 14 feature films and 30 short films from 18 countries.

Timmia Hearn, outreach and marketing manager, described this year’s programming as amazing, noting that a dozen years is a legacy.

The media launch was held in partnership with the Consulate General of Barbados in Toronto on July 6 at the Royal Cinema in Toronto and featured the Canadian premiere of “A Caribbean Dream.”

Directed by Barbadian Shakirah Bourne and produced by Melissa Simmonds, the film offers a Bajan take on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Haynesley Benn, consul general of Barbados at Toronto, said at its core, “the festival is a great opportunity to learn about the Caribbean, its people and all of the stories that make the region so unique and memorable.”

“As a woman filmmaker it has been so hard to have a voice, as a woman of colour,” said Frances-Anne Solomon, executive director of CTFF, who was proud to be presenting filmmakers, Sharon Lewis and Shakirah Bourne.

There was a special presentation of a trailer and featurette of Lewis’ film that has been 15 years in the making, “Brown Girl Begins,” inspired by Nalo Hopkinson’s award-winning novel, “Brown Girl in the Ring.”

“At 12 years old, CaribeanTales has worked since its inception to create a brand for Caribbean cinema, not divided by country, inclusive of diaspora that brings together our separate and collective legacies, our unique distinctive and authentic stories. The festival provides a platform for us to come together across all of our differences to have a meaningful conversation about who we are as a global community.”

Solomon said her work at the BBC in the UK inspired her to seek “to create, produce, market and sell our stories to a rapt audience.”

“Our stories are critical to our survival,” she said.

John Reid, CEO of FLOW, lead sponsor of the film festival said it is an important partnership for his company.

He noted that the partnership has expanded through the CaribbeanTales Incubator (CTI) and described the making of films as a spectacular industry.

The CTI is a year-round development and production hub for Caribbean and Caribbean diaspora producers that aims to create strong, compelling and sustainable content for the global market.

Its ultimate goal is to increase the pool of world-class indigenous film and television content so as to build the region’s audio-visual capacity.

Nicole Brooks, manager of the CTI, who participated in the third year of the incubator noted that it is celebrating eight years.

There are ten 2017 incubator projects by filmmakers from countries such as Canada, Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Barbados, and Haiti.

The opening gala on Sept. 6 themed “Epic Caribbean Legacy” features the world premiere of “Battledream Chronicles – Series,” the Caribbean Region’s first animated television show with an all-star Pan-Caribbean cast. It is directed by filmmaker, Alain Bidard, of Martinique.

The cast includes Joseph Marcell, best known for his role as Geoffrey in the American sitcom, “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air”; Alison Hinds, queen of soca; Sheldon Shepard of the award-winning 2010 Jamaican drama, “Better Mus’ Come”; and Jamaican multi award-winning actress and icon, Leonie Forbes.

The feature presentation of the night will be “Machel Montano: Journey of a Soca King,” directed by Bart Phillips of Trindad and Tobago.

“Pimento and Hot Pepper – The Mento Story,” a film directed by Rick Elgood will be the feature presentation on Sept. 14.

“Originally, in Jamaican music, there was Mento. It was, not only the name of a musical style and a type of band, but also a song form, a rhythm, and a dance. And yet for a century, Mento music and its performers have hidden in plain sight. This documentary explores the origins of Mento and where it is today,” notes a synopsis of the film in the 2017 CTFF programme guide.

CTFF is produced by CaribbeanTales Inc., a registered Canadian charity that aims to connect people through film.

LGBTQ Refugees Support Group in Toronto to Meet with New Legacy Task Force

By Neil Armstrong

Sebastian Commock of The 519, coordinator of the Canadian Legacy Refugee Advocacy and Alliance. Photo contributed

A new support group for LGBTQ refugees who have legacy claims – many of whom are from the Caribbean and Africa – is gaining some momentum in its advocacy work.

The Canadian Legacy Refugee Advocacy and Alliance (#CLRAA) was formed in March of this year. There are approximately 70 people actively involved, but about 150 in total, inclusive of those who live outside of the Greater Toronto Area.

During the week of July 17, the group is to meet with the Head of the two-month-old Legacy Task Force, Gaétan Cousineau, who extended the invitation.

He is the former deputy chairperson of the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) and was the president of the Quebec Human Rights Commission (Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse). 

The invitation comes after the CLRAA wrote a letter to Mario Dion, Chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), on June 16 inquiring about the recently announced legacy task force. They received a response from Cousineau on June 30 inviting them to a meeting.

“The objectives of this group are: to bring attention to legacy claimants and the issues they face, provide support for the group, and implement a plan of action that will bring an end to the current predicament faced by these individuals,” says Sebastian Commock, a staff member at The 519, a City of Toronto agency committed to the health, happiness and full participation of the LGBTQ community.

Commock says the group has a plan of action and so far it has completed three of the ten actions.

“First, we contacted the Immigration Minister by means of a mailed letter. We received a response and was redirected to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).”

Additionally, they recently started a social media campaign on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. The accounts can be found under the name “Canadian Legacy Refugees.”

“The objective of this campaign is to sensitize the community and general public about the issues faced by the legacy claimants, and ultimately get them as allies so that when we start the online petition we will have no issues getting signatures,” says Commock, who is looking forward to a positive outcome of the meeting with the head of the legacy task force.

In April, the IRB announced the formation of the legacy task force which will provide dedicated support to the elimination of its backlog of legacy claims.

The task force has a two-year mandate to complete its work. It began its work on May 8, 2017 and will be funded with existing resources. 

The creation of a dedicated team will enable the IRB to significantly increase the rate at which it can process legacy claims while allowing the RPD to continue to focus on new claims and current inventory, says the IRB’s website. 

The new system caseload is subject to regulated time limits.

On June 20, World Refugee Day, the IRB issued a news release and produced a YouTube video asking refugees who made a claim to the IRB before December 15, 2012 to contact the IRB and update their information on the Intention to Proceed Form as needed. If they had questions, they were urged to contact the Legacy Office  at 1-833-534-2292.

“The IRB recognizes the challenges facing legacy claimants waiting in the backlog for several years that is the reason that we have worked hard to find existing internal resources (in the absence of additional funding) and make it a priority to substantively eliminate the legacy cases within two years,” says the IRB.

Refugee claims referred to the IRB before December 15, 2012– are what the IRB calls "legacy claims.” 

It says although most of these claims were heard before the new refugee determination system took effect on December 15, 2012, there are some claims that have not yet been heard.

Legacy claimants will be contacted at their address on record with the IRB to inquire about their intention to proceed with their claim and to provide the claimant an opportunity to update their information with the IRB. If you wish to be contacted regarding a hearing date now you may do so by completing the Intention to Proceed Form and following the instructions for forwarding it to your region, Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver, notes the IRB’s website.

The IRB says those who no longer wish to claim refugee protection in Canada may complete a withdrawal notice and follow the instructions for forwarding it to their region, Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver.

In September 2016, the IRB told the Weekly Gleaner that its capacity to resolve legacy Refugee Protection Division claims had been impacted by a growing intake of new refugee protection claims, which must be scheduled for a hearing within legislated time limits (30, 45 or 60 days from referral)‎.

New referrals increased by 22%, going from 13,200 in 2014-15 to 17,000 in 2015-16.

“RPD legacy claims, which were referred before December 15, 2012, are not subject to legislated time limits and are scheduled as capacity allows. There were just under 5,800 RPD legacy claims as of the end of August 2016,” it said.

“As of September 2015, the RPD was fully staffed for the first time with a total of 94 funded public servant decision-maker positions. In addition, the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) was able to reallocate funds internally earlier this year to increase the total number of RPD decision makers to 113. This will permit the hearing of approximately ‎17,500 new refugee protection claims within the legislated time limits,” said Anna Pape, senior communications advisor at the IRB.

She said, however, given the rising intake over the past year and ongoing resource constraints, there is also a pending inventory of new system intake (new referrals, Refugee Appeal Division and Federal Court returns) of about 12,400 cases, of which 7000 are in excess of a healthy rolling inventory.

The IRB initiated a staffing process to create an inventory of public servant RPD decision-makers who can be hired, when resources permit, to deal with both the pending inventory of new system intake (new referrals, Refugee Appeal Division and Federal Court returns) and legacy claims.

“Despite limited capacity and growing new intake, through the introduction of expedited processes and other strategies, in 2015-16, the RPD decided approximately 1,950 legacy claims and 13,440 new intake claims,” Pape said.

She said in 2015-16, more than half of all new system cases decided were finalized within 3 months.

The IRB recognizes the importance of timely processing and appreciates the difficulties this situation can present for legacy claimants, she said.

On July 6, 2017, the Toronto Star reporting on a protest held by some refugee claimants – in a story entitled “‘Forgotten refugees’ say they’re tired of waiting for their cases to be heard” – said the IRB has “dedicated $3 million yearly to address the backlog by hiring more than 20 retired refugee judges to focus on these drawn-out cases, the majority of which were filed in 2011 and 2012, and some even earlier.”

It reported that Pape said legacy claim hearings will start on Sept. 18 and a team of decision-makers will hear between 42 and 53 cases a week.

Last year, several Caribbean and African LGBTQ refugee claimants who have been in Canada since 2011 and 2012 shared their frustration at the long wait time to resolve their situation with the Weekly Gleaner. Many felt that their lives were in limbo.

El-Farouk Khaki, a Canadian refugee and immigration lawyer, represents many Caribbean clients who have legacy cases – most are Jamaicans.

About 30-40% of Khaki’s client base is Caribbean and of this, about 50% is Jamaican.

He said the Caribbean cases are usually, almost all of them are either sexual orientation or gender-based, so LGBT people or women fleeing some kind of domestic violence situation.

“Out of Jamaica, it’s mostly sexual orientation. Out of my Jamaican cases, I would say 98-95% are sexual orientation and only 5 or 10% are domestic violence-related,” Khaki said.

The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) has recommended the regularization of legacy claimants.

It recommends that a regulatory class be created for legacy claimants, that legacy claimants be landed if they apply and meet minimum requirements (e.g. they have worked for at least 6 months or have been in some form of education for at least 6 months in Canada), and that applicants for this class not be required to withdraw their claims.