Posts in category Special Features

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 …

Every mickle mek a muckle. One- one coco full basket! Those sayings are as Jamaican as ackee and saltfish. So too is the practice of, coming to foreign to work and sending money back home to, ‘tek care of things.’ Between sending the doctor bill money for mama and papa and the supermarket money for auntie Gwenie, there are a million and one ‘tings fi tek care of.’ Not to mention the fact that it is now July and before you know it, it’s back to school again. This means your children, your grandchildren and Suzie’s third cousin great-grandson son …

If you’re a budding filmmaker with an idea for a short documentary the NFB wants you. “Reimagining My Quebec”, is a National Film Board of Canada initiative (Quebec/Atlantic Studio), and it is looking for submissions from Anglophone, allophone, and Indigenous filmmakers from Quebec and Nunavik that will give emerging and established directors an opportunity to create artful short documentaries. Here are the criteria: artists with strong points of view who enjoy creative collaboration and want to be challenged. Stories with unique access, memorable visuals and creative sound treatment are encouraged—films that defy expectations. The NFB will favour proposals that demonstrate …

      In Kingston, Jamaica: “As we said in the semi-finals, we were going to take home the trophy and so we did. So said, so done.” That was the reaction from Mickela Samuels, a member of the victorious George Headley Primary School team, who successfully defended their title in the Western Union Primary Schools Debate Competition held recently in Kingston, Jamaica. Located in Duhaney Park, St. Andrew, George Headley Primary School edged a confident Corinaldi Avenue Primary in the final to claim their second consecutive hold on the debating crown. Corinaldi Avenue also lost to George Headley in …

Free flow of food, music and cultural activities at Parc Drapeau on July 7 The Best of Everything Jamaican at Jamaica Day Contact Staff Every year, tens of thousands of Montrealers come together to celebrate the best of Jamaica… its cuisine, it’s music and the arts, crafts and cultural nuances that make it one of the most exciting places on earth. This year, Montrealers can look forward to all of those things, together with a great line-up of local performers at the annual Jamaica Day celebrations at Parc Jean Drapeau, on July 7. The festival, which marks its 35th anniversary …

Ity & Fancy Cat and Reggae artistes added to the excitement Contact STAFF Thousands of patrons passed the second annual Jamaica National Group Exposition, which was held at the Pearson Convention Centre in Brampton, ON, Canada on April 28, to access services provided by The Jamaica National Group and its 40 exhibitors, comprised of Government of Jamaica agencies, housing developers and real estate agents. On April 30, the Expo moved to Montreal, where hundreds passed through the Ruby Foo Hotel where it was held. For exhibitors, PICA and RGD, the JN Expo was a success. Their representatives were overwhelmed by …

Jamaican and Caribbean food at its best in LaSalle Contact Staff There’s a lot of excitement over the food that’s coming out of the kitchen at Lincoln’s Cuisine’s and Catering Services in LaSalle. The food rave is caused by the sweet hands of Patricia Dawkins and her mother Victoria Thomas who are bringing a new flavor Jamaican and Caribbean food to the Montreal’s restaurant scene. Patricia describes this way, “ it’s is a family oriented cuisine which is guided by our mom’s strength and determination to make our community and adjoining ones feel the warmth, love and our tasty Caribbean …

16-year old St. Luc student earns Youth Bronze Medal By: Rosie Awori Karlicia Catwell who is in her final year at Saint Luc High School in NDG was recently honored with the Lieutenant Governor Award in recognition of her impressive academic and her hard work in the community. Sixteen year old Karlicia, received Youth Medal (bronze) at an official ceremony held at Ecole Secondaire Cure Antoine Labelle on April 15. “I was happy and excited when I found out I would be receiving the award,” she said to the Contact in a recent telephone interview. In addition to being a …