3 Days On the Road with Sunwing!

What a fantastic week it has been visiting London, Woodbridge and Stoney Creek, Ontario with Sunwing!
Met so many wonderful people over these past couple of days I’m still on a high.

Peel Bridal Show

Appreciative for the opportunity to be a sponsor at this year's @peelbridal show @thegardenbanquet in #Brampton.
Special THANKS to the show's organizer Gwen Mandaliya!
You are a TRUE & GENUINE professional who brought together some amazing people who can create a magical day for couples tying the knot.
THANK YOU to my phenomenal team @ialexanderrich @zaytheronin@6ixmayor & @socajabjabkangavizers
Without you, the day couldn't have happened. You all brought your special skills, experience & surprises for the day. 

HERO: The World Tour

Imagine Cinemas Carlton Cinemas premiered the film HERO by Frances-Anne Solomon on March 29th.

The Wisdom of Rain Book Launch by Eleanor P. Sam

Enjoyed learning about Guyanese history and folk songs in preparation to perform at this event.
Eleanor P. Sam’s first novel, “The Wisdom of Rain”, can be purchased at A Different Booklist (779 Bathurst St.) as well as online outlets such as Amazon, Indigo, itunes, and kobo. Appreciative for the opportunity with many thanks! 

“On her thirteenth birthday, Mariama leans against her favourite baobab tree and daydreams, thrilled that the time has finally come for her Sande ceremony, when she will officially pass into womanhood. But then, rough hands tear her from her daydreams and violently toss her into a nightmare reality. She is forced onto the SS Archery, a slave ship that steals her from her home in West Africa and delivers her to the British colony of Demerary on the northern coast of South America.”

The Wisdom of Rain is a sweeping tale of tragedy, loss, and inhumanity, but it is also a story of courage, love, and spirituality. It shows how these qualities can transcend and defeat servitude and suffering in the most trying circumstances. It is a novel that treasures and restores the past, breathing life into a forgotten time and place and revealing its hidden pathways to the present.
Source: http://www.iguanabooks.ca/books/the-wisdom-of-rain

Happy 97th Birthday Lillian Johnson

HONOURED to have performed for #LillianJohnson's 97th Earthstrong! She is the founder of the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario @sicklecellontario & was instrumental in having #sicklecellanemia added to newborn screening in Ontario. It wasn't easy, she had her share of challenges, but she prevailed.
We owe a lot for her tireless efforts.
Family, friends & people from the community came out to pay respect and tribute.

She has received numerous awards for her achievements:
Toronto Public Health Champion Award in 2009.

  • Recipient of the Order of Ontario in 2010.

  • Black Health Alliance Legacy Award in 2014.

  • Ryerson University Viola Desmond Award in 2015.

  • 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women Honoree in 2016.

  • Long-Term Care Lifetime Achievement Award – Ontario Long Term Care Association in 2016.

International Women's Day

Looking forward to performing at Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre in celebration of International Women’s Day. The event is open to the public with a $5 donation. Hope to see you there.

5:30-5:40—Introductions and Welcomes
5:40-6:00—Healing Harmonies Music and Song with Cathy Nosaty
6:00-6:10—Healing Harmonies Dance with Anita Baah
6:10-6:45—Food will be served and Slide Show
6:15-6:30—Suzette Vidale Steelpannist
6:30-6:45—Yanira’s Women Theater Group
6:45-6:50—Maddie’s Kung Fu demo
6:50-7:20—Panel of Seniors- What is life like as a senior that lives alone?

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Black Futures at Hart House

Hart House celebrated Black History Month with a theme entitled “Black Futures”. Using the lens of Afro-Futurism, they offered “a series of programs using the lens of Afrofuturism to explore and present arts, dialogue and well-being at Hart House” (http://harthouse.ca/black-futures/)

SHOUT OUT to @harthouseuoft @hhstudents for inviting me to be a part of your Afro-Caribbean lunch event. It was fantastic meeting students of different cultures and showing them the versatility of the instrument.
Big up to Jessica, Ata & Yin for your assistance & great conversations. Thank you Ms. Dille for the opportunity.
#steelpanwithsuzette #panvibes #kalhonaho#harthouseblackfutures

Barbados Foundation Canada presents Bring On The Spring

Honoured once again to perform for Barbados Foundation Canada as they present Bring On The Spring. I am looking forward to listening to the speech that will be presented by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies.
Performances also by the phenomenal Jay Harmony and storyteller Richardo Keens-Douglas.

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Diversity Week at Concentrix!

I can appreciate when companies take it upon themselves to implement an afternoon, day or better yet week, to giving time and space to their employees to share their cultures with one another. Sometimes the way to getting along lies in finding out our similarities and the creative, funny and intriguing differences.
I was invited to partake in a portion of a week long celebration of culture at Concentrix based in Oshawa.
Throughout the week the cultures of India, Mexico, the Caribbean, Italy and Canada were celebrated.
I performed as well as brought some instruments to allow the employees to explore a bit about the art from within my culture (Trinidad). Needless to say, WE HAD A BLAST!

Culture Days Weekend is Here!

Are you ready?!? Culture Days weekend is here!
I had the opportunity to help kick off this national celebration of arts & culture at the CBC with some of Canada’s top talented artists.
This is the ninth year that Culture Days has been in existence. Drawing it’s inspiration from Quebec’s Journées de la culture, Culture Days has been one of Canada’s exceptional annual events giving opportunities for literally everyone to either share or be a part of something greater.
This weekend you can find lectures, workshops, concerts and more happening in neighbourhoods all around you. Get out, grab a friend or two, and DISCOVER something new!

Culture Days Weekend National Launch 2018

Article reposted from culturedays.ca website

Debajehmujig Theatre Group

Culture Days is excited to be hosting a national event to kick off the 2018 Culture Days weekend. Together with media partner CBC, we will be welcoming visitors to join us for performances, activities and speeches as we launch Canada’s annual weekend to celebrate arts and culture.

Location: CBC Barbara Frum Atrium, 250 Front St W, Toronto 

Time: Doors at 8:30AM. Remarks and performances at 9AM. 

Performances include:

  • Flamenco dancing with Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company

  • Beat poetry from Toronto's Bam! Youth Slam

  • Live steel pan performance from steelpannist, Suzette Vidale

  • Dancing with Holla Jazz

  • Performances by Manitoulin-based Debajehmujig Theatre

Full performer details are listed below.

This launch is made possible thanks to the support of Chicago Title Insurance Company, our broadcast partner CBC and program partners Aga Khan Museum and Civic Theatres Toronto.
READ MORE

Culture Days is ALMOST HERE!!!

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STEELPAN WITH SUZETTE WORKSHOP organized by the Toronto Centre for the Arts
WHERE: Toronto Centre for the Arts, Upper Gallery
WHEN: Saturday September 28, 2018

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WORKSHOP #1
Let’s Learn
1pm-2:30pm (All ages)

Join Suzette Vidale as she speaks about the steelpan, a percussive instrument invented in the 20th century. Interactive discussions will include the origins, evolution & current innovations.
Registration required

 
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WORKSHOP #2
Hands On Fun
2:45pm-3:45pm (Ages 8-18)

Learn a simple song, no musical knowledge required.
Youth Workshop for ages 8-18.
Registration required

Celebrating the Centenary of Nelson Mandela

It was an HONOUR to CELEBRATE the CENTENARY of Nelson Mandela. 28 years ago he stood at Queen's Park, only 4 months after been released from prison, and delivered a memorable speech to 15,000 people. Special thanks to Dewitt Lee for making this celebration possible, as well Isaiah Vidale-donawa, Jeff Walcott, photographer Shekinah Ashanti Holt and international students. 
TheMandela100 #Mandela100 #BeTheLegacy #LivingTheLegacy
#MandelaDay ‬

Barbados Ball 2018

"Having a ball for charity."

Source: https://bentphoto.pixieset.com/barbadosball2018/