Ride That Train - Mayor and Federal MP have climbed on board

Editor's Note - Mayor JOHN TORY and CELINA CAESAR-CHAVANNES

Member of Parliament, Whitby will be attending the Freedom Train Ride event on Monday evening - sweir

Drummers on the 2016 Train Ride

Emancipation Day

Fifth Annual Freedom Train Ride to Downsview

10.45 pm Start

Zanana Akande honourary conductor

Underground Freedom Train Monday July 31st Toronto

Please join the community on Monday, July 31st at 10:45pm at Toronto’s Union subway station as we celebrate Emancipation Day. We will be boarding the Underground Freedom Train at 11:30pm and travelling straight to Sheppard West subway station (previously Downsview station), arriving there at 12:15am on August 1st, which is internationally acclaimed as Emancipation Day. 
This year’s fifth annual Freedom Train ride will be an incredible journey and experience about the Underground Railroad and the history of Emancipation Day as Canada celebrates 150 years since independence. Opening ceremonies will begin at 10:45pm at Union subway station. People will gather by the Brookfield Rotunda TTC entrance on the main floor. Opening ceremonies will be completed by 11:15pm and we will then prepare to start boarding the Freedom Train which will depart Union Station at 11:45pm.
The train ride will include a moment of silence as we board the train, drumming, spoken word and songs, along with a tribute to the resilience of the many who travelled along the Underground Railway, seeking freedom in Canada.
Zanana Akande, community matriarch and advocate, who was the first Black woman elected to the Ontario legislative assembly and also serve as a cabinet minister in Canada, will be honoured as this year’s train conductor. Also featured this year, will be Meridian Ashamock, a young Cree high school student and visual artist, Baro Dununba and Friends African drumming ensemble and the Ubuntu drumming and dance ensemble. 
We will also be unveiling a commemorative plaque that will recognize the work of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters that will be mounted at Union Station, once the renovations are completed. The plaque is being sponsored by the Coalition of Black Trade Unions that has been a leading supporter of the Underground Freedom Train Ride series, since inception.
Everyone is welcome to join us on this Underground Freedom Train Ride to celebrate Emancipation Day. People will need a TTC ticket/token/transfer for admission and come prepared for quite the ride. Fifth annual Underground Freedom Train Ride t-shirts are available for purchase at A Different Booklist store, prior to the ride. Further information - available at A Different Booklist 416-538-0889 or by following us on twitter @FreedomTrainTOR.

photo - drummers on the train, 2016

 For further info Media contact

Organizer Itah Sadu

 A Different Booklist

 itahsadu@rogers.com 

416-538-0889

 

or me at: 

STEPHEN WEIR
Stephen Weir & Associates | stephen@stephenweir.com 
109 Castlefield Avenue, Toronto, ON
CANADA. M4R 1G5
Tel: 416-489-5868 | cell: 416-801-3101 
www.stephenweir.com twitter: sweirsweir 

MEDIA LAUNCH ADVISORY - TORONTO CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL

 50^th Year For Caribbean Festival in Canada

Media Launch With Minister of Tourism

Costumes, New Parade Route and New Sponsors

 

MEDIA LAUNCH ADVISORY

We have been celebrating our Caribbean Canadian heritage for the past 49 summers here in Toronto. On June 1^st, MinisterEleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, will be the keynote speaker at the Media Launch for the 50^th annual Caribbean festival.  The 11.45 am press conference will be held at Toronto’s Ontario Science Centre.

The highly visual media/social media only event is to announce several important changes to the festival including a new direction for the August 5^th Grand Parade, a new corporate sponsor for the event, new 50^th anniversary events during the month long festival and a fashion show of 22 new costume designs – both male and female - that will be worn on the parade route this year. Music. Food.

When:  Thursday, June 1, 2017
11.45 Sharp.

Doors open at 11am. Please allow 10-minutes to travel from Science Centre entrance to the Hot Zone. Camera crews contact Science Centre for parking near the Hot Zone entrance on the Southside of the building. Caribbean Reception to follow

Where:
Toronto, Ontario Science Centre

“The Hot Zone” Hall

770 Don Mills Rd, Toronto, ON M3C 1T3

Who:

The Honourable Eleanor McMahon, Mi nister of Culture.  The Honourable Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education, Toronto Police. Costume Designers.  “Face of the Festival” model in costume, 22 parade models, mas camp leaders, corporate sponsors.  Master of Ceremonies for the event is  CP24/Bell Media’s Patricia Jaggernauth. Pannists. Calypsonians. Carnival Run founder. Grace Food’s Junior Carnival Chef.

Why:

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival will run from July 7, 2017 to August 7, 2017 with events showcasing originality, culture, and history to millions of spectators who come to the events in downtown Toronto or watch it on television and on-line. The theme this year is Celebrating our heritage from then to now'. It is the theme for the entire festival from the parade route, to the shows and all our performers including Singers, Pannists and Calypsonians.

Media should register at the event for Event credentials this festival.

Action Requested:

Information on the carnival https:// torontocaribbeancarnival.com/
To RSVP and for further details, please contact:

 

Stephen Weir

Carnival Communications

416-489-5868

stephen@stephenweir.com

@sweirsweir

 

KOMAGATA MARU and other true stories in Brampton

Tough Stories are an Important Part of Canada's Past

A nation’s history can hurt. This spring there are exhibitions at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) in downtown Brampton that explore tough stories of Canada’s past as the nation celebrates its 150^th year. These are questionable historical events that are told for learning and reflection and as catalysts for positive change for this country’s collective future.

Passengers aboard Komagata Maru in 1914, Vancouver Public Library.

KOMAGATA MARU: A JOURNEY TO CANADA

Runs until June 11, 2017

 Last month the city of Brampton named on park after the ill-fated Komagata Maru.  Why would a landlocked city pay homage to a tramp steamer that sailed the North Pacific a 103 years ago?

The story begins in May 1914, when the Japanese registered ship, the Komagata Maru arrived at the Port of Vancouver. Her passenger list included 376 British subjects (most were Sikh, Hindu and Muslims) from India who wanted to immigrate to Canada. They were and all were denied entry.  Now in the 21^st century the Canadian government has apologized to the descendants of that voyage. Canada Post has issued a stamp in their honour, and here in Brampton the new park and the PAMA exhibition are key to exploring racism and are part of  the museum and gallery’s Canada 150 program.

Upper Canada Gazette 19 August 1795 N31 ARCHIVES OF ONTARIO

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Runs Until - September 4, 2017

Most people don’t realize that Black enslavement existed here in Canada. But it did from the 1600s until it was abolished in 1834. This exhibition, presented in partnership with the Archives of Ontario, looks at untold stories that are now being told for our understanding of true Canadian history.

THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN PEEL IN THE 19TH CENTURY

On now - Sept. 4, 2017

This small but impactful exhibition shares some of the results of PAMA’s ongoing research into the history of Black residents of Peel in the 1800s. To date, this research has raises more questions than answers. However, they are essential questions to ask in order to better understand our history and our communities.

JAMES SIMON MISHIBINIJIMA: RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL PAINTINGS

Opening June 29 – October 15, 2017

          

This early summer exhibition will turn the spotlight on First Nations artist James Simon Mishibinijima. The 63-year old painter lives and works on the Wikwemikong Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island. Though given the name James Alexander Simon by the missionaries who could not pronounce his native name, he proudly signs his work Mishibinijima.

James Simon Mishibinijima, Angels came to me              

Simon Mishibinijima, @the artist

There are 45 paintings in the show and they are all about Mishibinijima’s mother and her experiences while she was a student at a Residential School in Spanish, Ontario. They present in symbolic forms her trauma as a student.

WE ARE HERE:  THE STORY OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN PEEL REGION

This permanent exhibition was created in collaboration with an Aboriginal Advisory Committee in Peel.

Aboriginal people have lived in Peel for generations, but, their personal stories, music and art aren’t known by many outside of the Aboriginal community. This exhibition changes that - visitors are invited to come into the lodge and listen. The show also looks at the genocide, which took place within the residential school system.

PAMA is a located at the corner of Wellington Street and Main Street, opposite Brampton's City Hall. We are open seven days a week except on some civic and statutory holidays. Check the website for hours of operation https://pama.peelregion.ca/en/visitpama/hoursandadmissionfees.asp. 

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