Sweet, Sweet, T&T

Made it to sweet, sweet, T&T! So happy to be here to reconnect with family, friends, the food, the music & the island.

Carnival Time at Silver Stream Public Stream

THANK YOU Silver Stream Public School. I appreciate the invitation to perform for you school carnival. I had so much fun playing for the students and their families!
Much appreciation to Pari, I appreciate the support & introduction to a new community audience.
SHOUT OUT to @dj.navid who played some hype top 40 chunes mixed with Persian artists.

WEDDING SURPRISE

CONGRATS to Kirsten & Jeff on their blessed union.
I had so much fun performing at this reception. The happy couple surprised their family & guests with a taste of the Caribbean.
SHOUT OUT to the families & friends of the bride & groom who sang along & jammed beside me during my set!

Taking a Cruise with the Residences of Chartwell (Ballycliffe)

WHAT A TREAT!!!
I had the opportunity to perform with my father at @chartwellretirementresidences
#BALLYCLIFFE.
Back in the 70's & 80's he played #bass with #DickSmith, leader of the #calypso & #reggae band #Syncona
They were taken on an imaginary journey through the Caribbean. Every island we visited, they heard the musical melodies and that brought hands clapping, feet stomping, waist shaking and voices singing.
The staff were fantastic & the residences sang, clapped & enjoyed themselves.

20th Annual Scholarship Awards Brunch "Unleashing Your Potential" presented by the Congress of Black Women of Canada

I love watching how the day unfolds at the annual #CongressOfBlackWomen of Canada (CBWC) #Ajax #Pickering Chapter's annual scholarship brunch entitled Unleashing Your Potential.
Continuing in the vision of founder Kay Livingstone, the CBCW is now celebrating their 20th anniversary of awarding scholarships to students pursuing higher education.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ajax Mayor #ShaunCollier, @councillorrobtylermorin, MP #markholland, the family of scholarship recipient & future doctor #TalaLumbu (btw she is AMAZING!)

CONGRATULATIONS to 2019 Youth Recipients which include Taiharia Gordon, Keili Gomez, Tala Lumbu and Cayla Johnson. All young women have promising futures.

The Keynote Speaker for the brunch was Allison Hector-Alexander, Director of the Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion, & Transitions at Durham College.

SHOUT OUT to performances by Riddim Fit Dancers, Ngoma Ensemble, Courtney Tayor, Myrtle Sodhi-Afro quill, de Unstoppable DJ and yours truly Steelpan With Suzette.

THANK YOU to the Congress of Black Women of Canada-Ajax/Pickering Chapter for again inviting me to be apart of your annual event.

Pape Village Summerfest 2019

Had a BLAST @ #papevillagesummerfest2019!!!
SHOUT OUT to @l.toya.b, Ava, @nosh0601 & family for coming. It was great seeing you!!!
Family fun for the kids with #steelpanfun, #cajon box drumming w/ Matthias, put-put golf sponsored by @td_canada, @abbeyroadentertainment basketball & lots more!

Toronto Public Library's Musical Instrument Lending Library

THEY HAVE STEELPANS!!! @torontolibrary has opened their second @sunlifeca Musical Instrument Lending Library at their #Downsview branch!
Had the amazing opportunity to not only perform but lead a workshop on the #steelpan.

Check out their website to see how you can borrow & donate instruments to the Musical Instrument Lending Library.
https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/services/borrow-a-musical-instrument.jsp

#ArtsAndCulture #AccessForEveryone #LearnAnInstrument #LoveofMusic #steelpanwithsuzette #steelpan #communityprogramming #panvibes #steelpanfun
@tpl.foundation

Music Monday

Happy #musicmonday! Decided to take part in celebrating this day which brings awareness to the importance of music education to children & youth across Canada. 
The Coalition for Music Education in Canada's Music Monday anthem entitled "Hymn to Freedom" was written by Canadian Jazz legend #OscarPeterson. The song which was "written during the Civil Rights Movement, carries a strong message of unity, inclusion, and equality amongst all people, and speaks to the importance of walking the path to freedom in harmony with one another." ~@coalitioncanada
#TogetherInHarmony #HymnToFreedom#steelpanwithsuzette #steelpan #panvibes

Samantha's Quinceanera

Performed at my first #quinceanera. It was MAGICAL. The venue was beautiful, both outdoor & indoor. @palaisroyaleballroomlooked like something out of a magazine. Elegant & classy with a dash of #finesse.
What a pleasure it was to work with #eventplanner #LizOcchipinti.
SHOUTOUT to Rob & staff for their diligence & high quality professionalism.
This was an amazing event that I was honoured to be a part of.

#steelpanwithsuzette #steelpanelegance#steelpan #panvibes #panwomanonduty#partydecor #torontodecor #eventplanning

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?

International-Womens-Day-2019-March-7-2.jpg

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