By Angela Walcott

The Dance Music Comedy (DMC) Expo is unique to Canada. Not only will it showcase young up-and-coming artists in dance and music, on September 10 this talent competition will feature a category for comedy, a $750 cash prize and studio recording time for the lucky winners in each category.

Executive producer Brian Francis started the DMC Expo after three years of research. “I’ve seen many trade shows in the US and Canada, but none of them touched on a variety of entertainment,” says Francis. “I wanted to provide artists with an opportunity to showcase their craft,” says Francis who was a trade show manager for many years. It was his entrepreneurial spirit, which eventually led to producing shows.

Combining dance, music and comedy under one show came not out of necessity to fill a niche market but a more personal need. He wanted to expand on his love for both dance and comedy. Francis began his comedy career doing stand-up at Yuk Yuk’s when he was 27 years old. He participated in the Nubian Nights that provided black, Caribbean-Canadian influenced comedians with a platform. The events often played to sold-out crowds.

“The biggest misconception about comedians is that they are dirty or vulgar,” Francis points out. Francis has a strict policy for DMC Expo where he does not allow vulgar content or profanity of any kind in his show.  Competitors who break this rule will be disqualified from the competition. Brian Francis will be headlining the comedy portion of the competition and he will ensure that you don’t necessarily have to use profanity in order to be funny.

Long before Francis was cracking people up with his dry sense of humour, quick wit and impeccable sense of comedic timing, he was dancing. “I was so into break-dancing. There was a time that was all I ever did,” he reflects.  In the ‘80s he was part of the “Break Patrol” crew that managed to place 14^th out of 1500 competitors in the Crunchy Break Challenge at the CNE.

Francis says he is a good judge of talent and has a good ear for music. Musicians are composed mainly of R&B contestants and while a good ear for music is an essential quality to have as a judge, he was looking for the entire package: entertainment value, a level of professionalism, the ability to interact with the audience, natural talent, commitment and punctuality.

While this is the first year for the expo, Francis  would like to see this become an annual event, and he has already mapped out in his mind how he would do things differently and where he would focus more of his efforts and how to learn from his experiences. Overall, Francis wants people to walk away feeling entertained and inspired to live their dreams.

Exhibitors will also be on hand at the Expo offering many products and services for the arts and entertainment community not to mention exhibitors focusing on clothing, studio recording services , vocal coaching services and much more.

Those who will be attending the DMC Expo on September 10^th will be in for a special treat as Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Glenn Lewis will be the headline performer. Many fans will remember Lewis for his mega-hit “Don’t You Forget It”.

Brian Francis, his wife and a close friend who serves as the production assistant are the three key players in the planning of this event. Plus there is the assistance of countless volunteers.  In lieu of sponsors, Francis has chosen cross promotion for this venture. While the task of organizing this event has presented some minor challenges along the way, Francis remains upbeat, “If you have your health, you can do anything.” This is exactly what Brian Francis is doing.

The event will be held at The International Centre in Mississauga on September 10. To order tickets in advance, email [email protected] for a discount and quote promo code SWAY-DMC.

Tickets can also be purchased in advance at the Rehearsal Factory for $30 or $40 at the door at the International Centre on the day of the performance.

www.dmcexpo.ca

Rochelle Hanson

By Rochelle Hanson

About to go grocery shopping? Wait. Before you leave the house, write a list.

“Oh, I don’t need a list, I know exactly what I need.”

Every time I say that to myself I most definitely regret it. Below you will find the top three reasons why you should take the time to write a list.

Save money. You enter the grocery store with it’s beautiful colours and enticing displays. Everything looks yummy. You’re tempted to buy more than you actually need. Thankfully you read this column, and you remembered to write a list. You’re a planner. You know exactly what you need for the next few meals, and you stick to buying those particular ingredients. You even took the extra step to write down the approximate costs of the items and a basic budget. You get to the checkout and there are no surprises. The impulse chocolate strategically calls out your name. You are stronger. You look away. Bravo, my fellow list writer. You just saved yourself some money. Pat yourself on the back and smile.

Save time. Lemons. Kale. Celery. Apples. You’re in. You’re out. Let’s go! That’s what it looks like when you write a list. You’re focused. It’s like having tunnel vision. There’s no song and dance at the cookie aisle. You don’t even see the cookie aisle. Taking five minutes to plan ahead can save you 30min in the store. You can use that extra time to do something fun or relaxing, like catching up on the latest blog at Simply Natural Ideas. I’m smiling as I write this. Let’s move on.

Stay healthy. You have goals for yourself. You’re on a journey to health and wellness. This is the true motivation for writing a list. If you keep the junk off the list, you keep the junk out of your house. If the junk is not is not in your house, you will have less opportunity to eat it. You are in control of your body. The junk food companies and the marketing corporations are not. Write a list. Stay healthy. I believe in you.

When you avoid making decisions on the fly, you save yourself a lot of hassle. You can apply this principle to every area of your life, not just grocery shopping. In the age of cell phones and fancy mobile devices, there is no reason why you shouldn’t take a few minutes to organize your thoughts. And if you don’t have a smart phone, use your own smarts. There’s nothing wrong with a pen and some paper. They still sell cute little note books at the dollar store. So the next time you have something to get done, whether it be grocery shopping or planning a party, stay ahead of the game and take the time to write a list.

Rochelle Hanson is a Freelance Writer and Natural Health Enthusiast, offering practical tips on natural health and wellness. For healthy recipes, motivational tips, and ideas on natural health, subscribe to her blog, Simply Natural Ideas, or connect with Rochelle on Facebook.

With a mission to make dance and creative artistic expression accessible to the youth across Canada and to inspire their artistic hopes, dreams and passions, it is truly a cause close Armstrong’s heart. (trefoundation.org)

In an exclusive interview with SwayTV,  the multi-talented star shares the story of how dance literally saved her life. See a clip of the exciting evening below.

By Geena Lee

Have you ever been in a relationship with a jealous person? Or do you get jealous when you’re in a relationship? Sometimes feelings of jealousy creep up on you out of nowhere.  Maybe because your partner is still in touch with their ex, or when you’re out in public they get a lot of attention from ‘potential competition’, and it puts you on edge.  Or maybe it’s your partner that gets a bit antsy every time you talk to someone of the opposite sex, or decide to have a night out with your friends.  None of us are immune from the emotion of jealousy, but it’s something that we should be vigilant in avoiding, as it can ruin a relationship very quickly if allowed to fester.

The best way to get rid of jealousy is to get to the root of why you feel the way you do.  What are the triggers? Identify and nullify them. Let’s go back to the example of the ex.  Say your partner still talks to their ex, and that makes you uncomfortable.  You need to communicate that to them and find a solution.  If it’s not possible for them to stop talking to their ex, say because they have a child with them, then they need to be open with you about the nature of their contact.  If you know exactly what they’re talking about, (speakerphone is great for this) then you don’t have to entertain any jealous thoughts based on assumptions.  I know of couples who give each other the passwords to their phone, email, Facebook and Twitter accounts, so that there is complete transparency between them. Not everyone would feel comfortable doing this, but it’s an option in the quest to build trust.

Trust.  That’s really the issue with jealousy isn’t it?  Not trusting that your partner is truthful, faithful.  Not trusting that you are worthy of being truthful and faithful to.  Those who don’t trust, like to control.  If I can’t trust that you’ll be faithful to me, then I’ll make you be faithful.  What manifests out of that is a paranoia that poisons. Here comes the constant phone calls and texts with the “Where are you, who are you with? Why didn’t you call me back?” Then it’s the “Were you looking at her/him? You’re cheating on me aren’t you? Just admit it, I know you’re lying, you won’t look me in the eye!”… Yeah, not pretty.

Don’t feed the green-eyed monster, it will devour you eventually.  However, when it starts to lash its tail, don’t ignore it either.  If you find yourself getting jealous often in your relationship, it could be because there is a reason to be suspicious! Or maybe there is something your partner is deliberately doing to put you in a position of insecurity.  Some people like to use that emotion as a way of manipulation in order to keep a person attached to them. It’s an unhealthy way to orchestrate a relationship, and it’s bound to backfire eventually.

When it comes to jealousy, you really have to look at everything with a clear vision and evaluate whether you are just being too paranoid or if there’s a more sinister situation at play.  Trust your instincts, and if you have levelheaded friends, see if you can get an objective perspective.  Again, let your partner know how you’re feeling, because if someone loves you, they will do all they can to make sure you feel secure in that love.  We all come with a history of past hurts, so what may seem innocent to them, may be a red flag to you, so you have to find a common ground that you can both stand on.  Jealousy is a seed that you don’t want to water in a relationship, it’ll become a weed that will choke the life out of anything you grow together, so the minute you see it sprout, pluck it out!

DJ/producer/host of ‘The Lovezone with Geena Lee’ (www.geenalee.com), Geena is also a voice actor, media arts instructor and freelance writer.

By Tendisai Cromwell

As part of this year’s Summerworks Theatre Festival, Dancing to a White Boy Song is promising to be a unique theatrical experience.

Exploring the personal stories of three African immigrants, the title is a metaphor for an immigrant living in a Western culture. The narratives will unfold in a multidisciplinary fashion employing poetry, dance, and visual imagery.

In examining the overarching theme of ‘otherness’, the play will also explore family dynamics, intergenerational tensions, work, race, and address the notion of home.

The inspiration for the play lies in the immigrant experiences of Kenyan-born Director and Co-Creator Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu.

“It came from a very personal place, ”Otu revealed. “I immigrated here as a teenager with my family and I had a very rough transition.”

From the beginning, the play was a collaborative process involving sharing personal immigrant stories and experiences of otherness from everyone involved in the creation process. To actualize her aspirations, Otu collaborated with playwright and local poet, Motion and choreographer, Meryem Alaoui.

“She hears poetry as the voices of the characters,” Motion said of Otu’s vision. “It’s a play that brings out different voices, rhythms, cadences, stories.”

The trio has been working since this past May to reflect the complexities of human expression in the play.

“It’s an exploration of how we express ourselves as human beings. We express ourselves through movement, through sound, sometimes through visual imagery, ”Otu said.

The final production will be inclusive of many aspects of various immigrant narratives and though the play explores African immigration, it also deals with many universal sub-themes and a wide range of shared human emotions.

“When we become personal, we can see how universal our experiences can be,” Motion said. “Every single one of us has had moments of insecurity. All of us have had those generational gaps that take place within families, within communities.”

“It’s up to each person to, I hope, feel somehow connected or find something that is relevant to their life, ”Alaoui expressed.

They encourage everyone to watch the play and leave hopefully with a greater understanding of issues surrounding the immigrant identity.

For showtimes and to purchase tickets visit: www.dancingtoawhiteboysong.com

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Worrying? Well try not to because it indicates a lack of faith and fear of the worse possible outcome. Think positive and visualize the best possible outcome, and the most favourable will unfold.

Taurus (April 20- May 20)

Thank those who have helped you. Let them know exactly how they assisted you and tell them how it has changed your life. Even if the change is small, still give credit where it is due.

Gemini (May 21- June 20)

Arguing and making things appear worse than what they are is the tough way to deal with uncomfortable circumstances. However, understanding that nothing is perfect and there is always room for improvement, is the best way to increase love and comfort.

Cancer (June 21- July 22)

Forget about getting buzzed and escaping reality because it will only prevent you from completely embracing the situation and taking care of things the way they should be handled.

Leo (July 23- August 22)

Folks will be asking you for some of your time. Either they will want favours or they will just want to hang out. Whichever they want, if you are not feeling it, then be upfront with them and they will understand your position. If you are not direct with them, then they will pick up on your disconnection and will feel you are being discreet and suspicious.

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

Forgive and forget. It will benefit you greatly  because it will help you to release and let go of the resentment and anger.

Libra (September 23- October 22)

Somebody near the age of 16-24 will need your advice. Give it without any reservations because it will definitely help them out. Of course they may falter afterward, but ultimately, they will fall on their feet and not on their butt.

Scorpio (October 23- November 21)

Somebody who you consider loud and obnoxious will surprise you. You will expect them to get extremely upset at a particular time, but they will surprise you and impress others by doing the opposite by keeping a level head. You will be proud of their maturity.

Sagittarius (November 22- December 21)

Laugh instead of crying. It changes the chemistry in the brain and let’s you know that things get better with time.

Capricorn (December 22- January 19)

Missing somebody? Well do not worry, they have thought about you as well. As a matter fact, this person will touch base with you within two weeks. If not, then somebody new will enter your life to replace the empty spot.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

Do what is necessary. Other than that, do not pressure yourself or stress others out regarding deadlines. Of course if you are behind time then rush, however, take your time if you can.

Pisces (Feb 19- March 20)

Unless it is completely vital, do not give information about other peoples private info. When they find out you spoke their business -and they will find out- they will not be pleased with what they hear and it may take awhile until reconciliation is made with them.

To book a private-one-to-one session, please contact Cerise. www.cerisefairfax.com | (416) 722-5233 | email [email protected] |www.facebook.com/cerisefairfax | www.twitter.com/cerisefairfax |

Deeq M Afrika

By Tendisai Cromwell

The merciless rain has not touched the land upon which you rely for your source of food and livelihood for some time. This dry earth is barren, unable to yield sufficient crops for years. The last of your livestock has died and scarcity is common in your household. Weakened by malnutrition, your youngest child cries from the pangs of hunger as your wife rations the ever-depleting food from the family reserve. In desperation, your family packs only essential possessions to embark upon an arduous 20-day journey towards an uncertain future in Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. Upon your departure, you will have 1400 travel companions, but many, mostly children, will die along the way littering the path with their bodies.

This is the bleak picture that the UN and aid agency reports paint of the famine plaguing Somalia, which has claimed the lives of ten of thousands. Extreme droughts, the worst in six decades, are affecting much of East Africa which UNICEF has characterized as “the most severe humanitarian emergency in the world.”

Currently affecting two regions in southern Somalia, Mark Bowden, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia warns of the spread of famine to all regions if swift action is not taken. 2.8 million Somalis are currently in need of emergency assistance and an estimated $300 million is required within two months.

Samiya Ahmed, Aspire2Lead founder

For Somalia-born Samiya Ahmed, founder of the Toronto youth-based nonprofit organization, Aspire2Lead, the drought is deeply personal. Her uncle residing in the less affected eastern region has lost half of his livestock.

“Famine is spreading all over. This is the tip of iceberg,” Ahmed says.

Aspire2Lead has been engaging in famine relief and awareness initiatives, partnering with local and international organizations to coordinate efforts.

One such partnership is with the Global Somali Emergency Response consisting of Ahmed Farah, Abdisalaan Aato and Deeq M. Afrika, young media professionals who recently travelled to Dadaab refugee camp and neighbouring Somalia. They assessed the extent of the famine, documented it and provided aid. The screening of their documentary, Dadaab: get there or die trying, will take place this evening at York University which explores the hardships endured by refugees fleeing Somalia.

Their website offers first hand accounts of their experiences. One entry describes an elderly woman who journeyed for 22 days from Somalia to Liboi, Kenya, 75 kilometers east of Dadaab.

“We ask how old she is. She doesn’t know. What she knows is that they have walked for 22 days. What she knows is that the woman next to her left Somalia with six children. She abandoned two children of them [sic] on the road to Kenya; they were weak and she was weak. They were about to die and she couldn’t carry them anymore. Two more children died. She now remains with just two of them.”

UNICEF reports that are over 550,000 children in Somalia are malnourished. The journey from Somalia to Kenya has proven far too difficult for many children to endure who die or are left before they reach Dadaab.

“70% of these children are dying. We’re on the verge of losing a whole generation of Somalis right now,” Ahmed says.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations issued its first warnings of a severe drought in 2010, but with a lack of media coverage, financial aid and political will on the part of many governments, the looming famine remained largely ignored.

“We need a better plan to prevent this from happening. We need a ‘never again’ slogan. This cannot be happening is this day and age, knowing what we have in terms of technology, in terms of methods of predicting climatical change,” Ahmed says. “ There was no contingency plan; there was no prevention.”

Aid agencies are appealing to Canadians to donate. The Canadian government has pledged $72 million dollars of federal aid for the East African drought and recently announced its commitment to match charitable donations made by September 16.

Deeq M Afrika

While Samiya believes donations are essential, she does not wish Somalis to be portrayed as helpless victims eternally dependent on aid. She would like to see an emphasis placed on Somalia-based sustainable development programs.

“They are not here to beg or ask for handouts, they are people who are dignified and have honour,” she says, speaking of her countryfolk. “They are independent people, they are very proud people, they are resilient people.”

Via Facebook, Deeq M Afrika shared a similar sentiment of the unbreakable resilience and honourable nature of Somalis.

“We said to one of the refugees, ‘We know this is very little. We are sorry if this is not enough for you and your family, but there are very many people on the road and we have to save a little for them as well.”Do you know what that man did? He returned half of the little we had given him. ‘Please,’ he said, ‘Give it to them.’”

Click here for more information about Aspire2Lead.

For more about the Global Somali Emergency Response, visit globalsomaliresponse.wordpress.com or  Facebook.

To Donate to the Global Somali Emergency Response to send survival packs to Somalia visit: www.globalgiving.org/projects/survival-backpacks-for-somali-refugees-in-kenya/

Rochelle Hanson/ARDEAN PETERS

By Rochelle Hanson

Take a break. You deserve it.

Overworked. Underpaid. The story of our lives. Career advice is not my expertise, but allow me to mention this.  The fact that you spend long hours on the job, rush home to the handle your family life, and have little or no time to do the things you actually enjoy definitely affects your health. With bills to pay and children to take care of, parents and grandparents who need us, our own physical and emotional well being often gets pushed to the back of the barrel. Don’t have time for a real vacation? Let me show you how to take a break.

First things first. Take a break as soon as you wake up. That’s right, start your day by taking a break. When you open up your eyes, sit up straight, stand up, stretch, then go to the kitchen and get a glass of water. Now drink it. Slowly. Put the glass down and breathe. Good job! You just took a break. Excellent way to start the day. Make sure you have breakfast too.

You’re about to leave the house. Wait! Don’t touch the door. You need to take another break. The kids are rushing around you and you need to get them off and going. Make them take a break with you. Just stop for 10 seconds. Count it out until you get used to it. Think about how grateful you are just to be alive. Tell yourself that life is beautiful, even if you can’t really see it. Now take a deep breath. And smile. Excellent! You just took another break. Feel free to get on with your day.

Someone irritates you at work. Awesome. Time to take another break. You may be very busy. Multi-tasking is key here. If you can’t speak positivity, just start smiling. You may not be happy, but thats ok. Just keep working and smiling. This will send positive energy to your brain and help you to relax. Later on, when you’re not irritated, address the irritant. But only when necessary. Choose your battles wisely.

Lunch time. Don’t work through it. Someone else is actually giving you a break here. Do yourself a favour and take advantage of it. Eat something healthy. Your digestive system needs a break too. Have a salad, soup, or a wrap. There are easy recipes for healthy food on my blog. Get some fresh air and be sure to move around. Whatever you do, don’t stay at your desk. Make the best of the time you’ve been given. It’s your lunch, be sure to enjoy it.

Before you go home. Take one more break. If that irritant is still around, you may have the opportunity to take a few more. You might have to work late, which I don’t advise. You may also get stuck in traffic. These are things that happen. While you’re in the midst of the stress, allow yourself to take another break. Just shift your thoughts into positivity. You are blessed. You have life. You have fingers. You have toes. You can see. You can feel. You can smell. These are just a few of the positive things in life we all too often take for granted.

As you pull into the driveway, and you open the door to walk into your home, just pause. Breathe. And smile. Remember that life will repeat itself tomorrow. If you don’t take a break now, will you ever? So do yourself a favour. Don’t wait till you get overwhelmed, just take a little break. Both you and your health deserve it.

Rochelle Hanson is a Freelance Writer and Natural Health Enthusiast, offering practical tips on natural health and wellness. For recipes, motivation, and ideas on natural health, connect with Rochelle on Facebook, and subscribe to her blog, Simply Natural Ideas.

By Adebe DeRango-Adem

“Without question, carnival had become a symbol of freedom for the broad mass of the population and not merely a season for frivolous enjoyment. It had a ritualistic significance, rooted in the experience of slavery and in the celebration of freedom from slavery…..Adopted by the Trinidad people it become a deeply meaningful anniversary of deliverance from the most hateful form of human bondage
-Professor Errol Hill in The Trinidad Carnival, 1972.

Originally from Guyana, Nation speaks to SWAY about the inspiration behind his debut exhibit, and his own experience of Carnival from a multitude of perspectives.

DeRango-Adem: Your debut photography exhibition at the ROM is a retrospective look at the history of Caribana (now Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival) in Toronto, and the cultural legacy behind Carnival.  What inspired you to put this exhibition together?

Cheong: I started documenting Caribana after reading the book Trinidad Carnival by Jeffrey Chock in 2007.  The images moved me so much to want to deepen my understanding of the cultural significance of Carnival and the history of all its permutations.  The intention has always been to publish a powerful book documenting Toronto’s Caribana and the history of the Caribbean families who immigrated to Toronto.  This exhibit came about after Karen Carter the ED of Heritage Toronto and Chair of Black Artist Network in Dialog (BAND) contacted me to inquire if I had any Caribana photos that could be part of an exhibit that would mark the history of Caribana from 1967 to today.

How has your work as a community activist and musician factored into your debut as a photographer?

Community activism brings me closer to the impact of social injustices that break people’s spirit or bring out the divine in them; it is these broken and divine expressions, emotional and physical expressions of liberation, resistance, transcendence, joy and innocence that I seek to record.  My music allows me to tap in to the rhythm of a space very quickly and it allows me to dance with the events unfolding around me.

Have you ever played Mas?

I’ve not yet found a local Mas Band that has produced a costume that speaks to me. After seeing Brian McFarlane’s Mas in 2009, however, I know it’s possible to have a costume with social value that I would be proud to wear. Locally, I love what Ricardo McRae is doing by preserving the jab jab tradition here in Toronto.

Despite combining archival photos and film and more recent visuals, your work seems to insist that carnival is not an archaic type of folksong fit for the archives.  Would you say this is the case?  How has carnival kept abreast of changing conditions and remained a contemporary cultural expression for those of Caribbean ancestry?

I would like to see more social and politically conscious Mas here in Toronto to keep the equally important bacchanalian spirit in balance.  I think there is a real danger of first, second and third generation Canadians of Caribbean descent losing touch with the sociopolitical expressions of Carnival.  Ras Stone, a local Trinidadian artist, is doing very conscious work that celebrates the emancipation spirit of Carnival. This year he created a float for Kiddy Carnival that was a tribute to the Marcus Garvey.  This year’s Caribana will also have a Rasta float for the very first time. These are both encouraging examples of folks keeping the conscious spirit alive.  We have a great opportunity every year to remind people of our past, to celebrate our diversity and to promote love and understanding among the many nations that celebrate Carnival, despite colour, class, creed and sexual orientation

As much as people around the world enjoy the carnival as a unique celebration of culture, there is a political dimension behind the music and performances.  How you would describe this dimension to those just learning about carnival history?

The old calypso’s like Sparrow’s 1959 Paye up to David Rudder’s 1988 Panama and Ella Andall’s 2007 Black Woman are a small examples of the type of consciousness that lives in Calypso music.  Soca is party music that should not be ever confused with the musical tradition that preserves the place of the African Griot that survived the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Calypso was initially used a social outlet that would give rise to a national theatre predicated on a sense of collective memory.  How does photography allow for a passing on of memory? Are photographs performances themselves, in the sense that they re-enact and re-call history?

Photographs are a static record of a moment in time that exemplifies humanity or nature at its best, worst or most mundane.  It’s an art form that preserves important moments that trigger deeper and more fluid, complex memories.  Our collective experiences and memories are the makings of history, and a photo can remind us of those important, perhaps transformative moments.

Toronto’s Carnival: Festival Photographs from 1967 to Today runs between July 16th and August 1st in the Hilary and Galen Weston Wing, Level 2. It is part of the duo-location exhibit, also featuring at The Gladstone Hotel until July 31.  In this exhibition, Cheong’s contemporary work captures and communicates the myriad of experiences that have been a part of the Carnival experience in Toronto from its roots in 1967 to today.

Further Reading:

• CARIBANA: African Roots and Continuities – Race, Space and the Poetics of Moving –An essay by M. NourbeSe Philip which traces the history of Toronto’s Caribana, it’s model in Trinidad, it’s African origins and it’s raison d’etre. This genre crossing “essay” includes poetry, has fictional characters like a short story and is written in the rhythm and language of the Trinidadian demotic.

Courtney Betty, centre, receives the Hubbard Award for Race Relations from Councillor Michael Thompson and former Mayor David Miller. toronto.ca

By Samuel Getachew

“Toronto is a city founded in the principle of inclusion,”Courtney Betty explains in his maiden speech at the 2010 Supplier Diversity Business Conference in Toronto.

The head of the Diversity Business Network gives the examples of his hero, William Hubbard, who was a product of American slaves yet became a city councillor and (acting) deputy mayor of Toronto. Mr. Hubbard was the first Black Torontonian elected to City Council. This is part of the rich diverse history of Toronto begun more than a century ago.

A well known lawyer with an outlet office in Jamaica as well as in Canada, Courtney Betty is making an impression on influential groups of people from government, business and the diplomatic world.

Diversity Business Network’s (DBN) primary role is to lead in the “development of diversity in the supply chain in Canada.” DBN’s membership is made up of companies owned by women, visible minorities and aboriginals and people with disabilities: groups that make up the majority population of modern day Canada. However, according to Statistics Canada’s 2006 Census, these groups make up a small fraction in the supply chain in Canada. In the most diverse province within the confederation, Ontario, only 23 percent of the businesses are managed by minority business owners. In Toronto, it is only 43 percent.

In the last couple of months, DBN has signed a contract with one of the largest hospitality agencies in North America. Centerplate, Inc., a hospitality services company, does business with the largest sports stadiums, convention and entertainment venues both in Canada and in the United States. Centerplate served at the Presidential Inaugural Ball in the United States, the Olympics in Canada and also serves at the Allstream Center at the Exhibition Place and the Scotiabank Convention Center in Niagara. DBN members will have access to these high profile venues.

At the annual Honda Indy Toronto 2011, an event with thousands of visitors, I witnessed the work of the Diversity Business Network in action. In a large section of the food area at the Exhibition Place, and competing with fast foods such as cheap hot dogs and fries, there are many dishes from members of the Diversity Business Network and its new partnership with many mainstream groups. Business seems to be brisk.

Betty went around to the food vendors servicing dishes from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, asking them how they were doing and complimenting them on their determination and efforts. The vendors willingly participated in interviews and photos for DBN’s website. They were thrilled with the experience being part of such a signature event.

One vendor explained that it felt like being a great ambassador of his heritage. Another vendor, whose entire family came out to support her business, explained how excited she was to have this opportunity and how much she wanted to continue providing diverse meals at these kinds of events.

Courtney Betty, with the support of an equally impressive star Toronto activist Wangari Muriuki, look ahead, discussing how to make the experience even bigger and better for the years to come. As these amazing leaders look ahead, I could not help but look back at the many achievements and destinations of Betty. He has had a long journey in public service , both in Canada and Jamaica. He has worked for the Department of Justice on over 200 cases before the Federal Court of Appeal and also worked as Senior Legal Counsel for the Jamaican Fair Trade Commission. In recent years, he has focused much of his energy in helping bring equity and fairness to groups who are marginalized by the legal system as well as in business.

William Hubbard often fought for justice and fair representation both as a citizen and as a public servant a century ago. He also passionately fought for the public ownership of public energy as well as for Chinese owners of small family owned laundries. When Betty opened his law firm in one of the most marginalized neighbourhoods in Toronto, he was asked the reasons why he chose the area when he could have chosen to have it on Bay street. He explained, what has “drawn me here was as a direct result of seeing a number of high-profile cases he felt left certain communities and individuals marginalized.” He continued by saying that he “saw a lack of legal representation for minority groups, in particular the Caribbean and Chinese communities.”

As a former winner of the William Peyton Hubbard Race relations awards from the City of Toronto, Courtney Betty is living the dream and principle of his hero, Former Acting Deputy Mayor William Hubbard.