Community News
Black History Month Series Media Launch: Showcasing the TD Black Diamond Ball
BY: SHAUNA-KAY CASSELL
The TD Bank Group has teamed up with ArtXperiential Projects to put together Toronto’s Fourth Annual TD Black Diamond Ball to be held on Saturday, February 23rd, 2019, in celebration of Black History Month. This luxurious event is one of many cultural events in the Black History Month series, that was highlighted at the Black History Month Media Launch held on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019, at the A Different Booklist in Toronto.
The Media Launch, hosted by Natasha Ramsahai, 680News, CityNews, was rich with culture, entertainment, and cuisine. Truly, it was a taste of things to come. The TD Black Diamond Ball, now in its fourth year, is a grand Gala that gathers black leaders, entertainers, artists, and entrepreneurs all in one room to celebrate black history. “The black community is an integral part of the Canadian society, however as I look around the room here, there’s black folks and people from every background which is important because we’re talking about diversity and inclusion,” expressed Al Ramsay, spokesperson for TD Bank Group. “There are so many people that are doing great work and we need to highlight their stories,” maintains Ramsay.
The TD Bank Group has designed the Black History Month series “in celebration and acknowledgment of African ancestry and its contributions to … the Canadian landscape.” In the series are events such as Kuumba 2019, which will take place at the Harbourfront Centre throughout the month of February. Next, the Glenn Gould Foundation and The Canadian Opera Company Orchestra will celebrate the Twelfth Glenn Gould Prize Laureate at an award ceremony and concert, honoring opera star and activist, Jessye Norman, on Wednesday, February 20th, 2019, at 7:30 pm. Additionally, the tribute to the Legends of Reggae Tour: Into The Dancehall, produced by Denise Jones, of Jones and Jones Productions, will engage students and faculty about the history of reggae music throughout the GTA and Montreal area. And finally, the TD Black Diamond Ball produced by Shawn Cuffie, the Artistic Director of ArtXperimental Projects, will conclude the series, making this a February to remember.
“I wanna make my community proud. I want to show people that we can do great things just like everyone else,” said Cuffie. “My goal is to get all the people together to celebrate and see each other in the same space.” This year, Cuffie has glamorously woven African fabrics into this year’s ball to ignite the ambiance with color and energy. “That’s what Afro Glam and African print brings to the ball, and brings to all of us,” expressed Cuffie.
This year the TD Black Diamond Ball will be held at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, located at 100 Front Street West, Toronto, ON M5J 1E3 on Saturday, February 23rd, 2019, at 6:30 pm. “You have a chance to bump into anyone, any celebrity… It’s an open forum where you can take pictures,” says Cuffie. “The grand artist for this year is Keri Hilson, who she will be announced by Rudy Blair.”
ArtXperimental Projects is a not-for-profit arts organization whose mission is to support emerging and established artists; is responsible for successfully creating the TD Black Diamond Ball, which has been sold out for the last three years. “Every year we step it up a notch. A little more life, entertain, exciting artists, and creativity,” said the Artistic Director.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group (TD), offering financial products and services worldwide. TD has been successful at sponsoring over 90 events across Canada in celebration of Black History Month within our community, including this year’s gala.
Together, the team of ArtXperiential Projects and TD Bank Group have outdone themselves again. The Media Launch highlighted the spectacular line up of cultural events for the month of February. “Part of our campaign is…to show there are black leaders in our community that are heroes, that the younger generation of heroes look up to,” concluded Ramsay. Join in the celebration this Black History Month by attending one or more of the cultural events around the city. Purchase your tickets for the TD Black Diamond Ball early. Finally, let’s show up, and continue telling our story.
For further information regarding tickets please visit the website: https://blackdiamondballto.com or the TD Black Diamond Ball’s Facebook.