Posts in category Special Features

BURKINABAE guitarist MAKES RIPPLES IN MONTREAL Rosie AWORI “My only option is success.” Young, up and coming Montreal Afro-pop Urban Reggae artist Kenzow is resolute as he speaks to the CONTACT about his musical career. He was born Kenzy Ouedraogo to the famous African producer Idrissa Ouedraogo in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.  He came to Montreal on a soccer scholarship in January 2016, but two semesters in, he sustained an injury that left him unable to play. While recuperating, he decided to try his hand at playing the guitar to pass the time. He soon became captivated by …

Egbert Gaye Toronto-born musician extraordinaire Kaisha Lee tells the story of moving to Montreal seven years ago, empty-handed, in search of work and fulfillment. Then this past December 31, making the trip back home, taking with her a lifetime of experiences, musical and otherwise. “I never meant to stay that long, but Montreal just wouldn’t let me go,” she told The CONTACT in a recent telephone interview. “The opportunities just kept opening up for me, one after the other. The city will always be special to me because of how much it helped me grow professionally and as a woman.” …

By-elections on February 25 Contact Staff In the 2015 federal elections, Rachel Bendayan, a young lawyer born and raised in the Cote des Neiges area staged a spirited contest against Tom Mulclair, then leader of the New Democratic Party. She received 33 per cent of the votes behind Mulcair who won with 44 per cent . But in politics, three to four years is a lifetime. So today, with Mulcair out of the way, having resigned in 2018 following his removal as NDP leader, Bendayan is ready to take on all comers in the February 25 by-election for the district …

“The reason why it’s important for me to tell my story around this time of the year, is for others in the community to know that they too have (the potential) to make it happen if they believe in themselves and are ready to work hard for what they want.” Egbert Gaye The story of Swag City, the little store that could, and its parent company JAH=ONE, tells of the struggles and the perseverance of a young Montrealer who believed in walking the path of self-employment. And from Day One, Moses Martin, known across the community as Gedian Fyah, knew …

Ghanaian–Canadian writer wins the $100,000 Soctiabank Giller Prize By Rosie Awori Ghanaian –Canadian writer, Esi Edugyan won the $100,000 Soctiabank Giller Prize for her novel, Washington Black. This is her second time clenching the prize, in 2011 her novel, Half-Blood, also won. This makes Edugyan the third author to win the Giller Prize twice. Washington Black traces the life of  11-year-old, George Washington “Wash” Black who is born into slavery on Faith Plantation in Barbados. The cruel Erasmus Wilde owns the plantation and Wash is watched over by Big Kit, a spiritual woman who longs for her life before her …

Gloria Mitchell-Aleong and Victor Philips award can lead to bigger things   Rosie Awori   The Black Theatre Workshop is issuing a call for nominees for their Young and Emerging Artist Awards, which will be presented at the Annual Visions Celebration Gala on February 2, 2019. The financial incentives include the Gloria Mitchell-Aleong Award and the Victor Philips Award the latter was named in honor of the Described as the father of Black theatre in Montreal, Phillips dedicated three decades to the promotion of the art form in the city, and was one of the founders of the Negro Theatre Guild. …

Margot Blackman & Egbert Gaye Congratulations and much love and respect are in order for Mrs. Una Adams who celebrated her 105th birthday on October 15. Mrs. Adams was born in Barbados on October 15, 1913, and came to Canada in 1948 to join her husband Mr. Fred Adams who served in the Canadian military during WWII. They settled in the Rosemont district where they raised their sons Dr. Robert Adams and Neil Adams. Speaking to the CONTACT by phone, Mrs. Adams was gracious and engaging. A lifelong member of the Salvation Army, which she joined growing up in St. …

Egbert Gaye “When you’re in the middle of a hurricane and you see stuff coming at you from all directions, it’s difficult to decide what to focus on and how to protect yourself.” So it was for Emily Ramdas, her brother Brandon, and the rest of the family over the past year or two as they struggled to keep open the doors of Montreal’s oldest Caribbean grocery store, Ramdas Foods, located at 1503 Dollard Avenue in LaSalle. Sadly, they were overwhelmed by a perfect storm of family predicaments together with external challenges and were forced to make one of the …

Egbert Gaye With the recent release of her debut album, “Best Life – EP”, Montrealer Ana Stasia is offering the world a taste of the music that has been her fuel for much of her journey towards a career in the performing arts. Already, we might have seen her on a few popular television series such as Scandal, Black-ish, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Criminal Minds, Ballers and NCIS, but with her eyes set on sharing her music with audiences around the world, chances are we’ll be hearing a lot from her in the near future. In an industry that has become convoluted …

As a budding entrepreneur, Montrealer Paul Wallace searched diligently for a product to which he can attach his name. Through a family contact he came across PureTrim, a health and wellness product and has been a believer ever since. He discovered that PureTrim products are based on ancient Mediterranean health principles and come with what has been described as “revolutionary weight loss and anti-aging natural formulas.” The product line includes: •    Pure Trim Mediterranean Wellness Shakes •    Pure Gardens Skin Serum •    Harmony Livermaster •    Trim Bars •    Boost Tea and •    Daily Complete, a liquid form of vitamins Pure …