BY SIMONE J. SMITH

When was the last time you went to a club and:

• Didn’t need a pre-nap?
• Were able to dress up, or down: no heels required!
• Knew a convenient location was open: no long drives to Toronto – Newmarket nightlife is here!
• Had no worries about hangovers: have an amazing night without the next-day regret.

Well, I think that I have just the party for you. Our media team was contacted by a lovely woman, with a novel idea. Angela Dawn Dacey, and DJ GQ are the creative mind behind “Conscious Club Night” – a throwback to the good old days when you could go clubbing, right in Newmarket!

On Saturday, July 20^th, 2024, dance the night away to the best: Dancehall, Reggaeton, Pop, Afro, Disco, and more, at The Optimist Club, in Newmarket. What makes this party a unique experience, is that it is a night without alcohol, or drugs, but features great music and fantastic people.

What stands out about this event is its emphasis on genuine connection and pure enjoyment. You can look forward to an atmosphere that is vibrant and inclusive, that fosters a sense of community. Where attendees can fully engage with each other and the music without the influence of substances. The focus is on creating a safe and welcoming space where everyone can: let loose, dance, and have fun without the pressure to drink or use drugs.

Listen; you can still enjoy a variety of non-alcoholic beverages including beer, wine and spritzer for only $5 each! Plus, bubbly water and more for $2 each! So much cheaper than club prices!

I had a chance to catch up with Angela, and she shared her passion and vision with me.

“I am in the personal spiritual development world. Over the years, I got addicted to ecstatic dance. It is an hour and half of dancing with no drugs or alcohol. It is about body connection, and release. My whole thing is, if I want to do anything and can’t find it, I will just do it myself. I love dancing, and I love going to clubs, and dancing is my healing.”

“As for the Conscious Club Night, I’ve been wanting to have a non-alcoholic club night for years. Currently, in York Region, there is no nightlife except for pubs with live bands. There was a market that was missing. We needed something for adults that are 35 plus. Anyone who doesn’t drink a whole lot, there is nowhere for them to go. Working with veterans recovering from addictions, as well as not drinking much myself, I wanted to create a safe environment for people to come. No hangovers this way! Plus, with an 8:00 pm start time, no napping before going out. I wanted people to be able to hire a babysitter to go out and also get home without it being super late.”

“It is about getting the community out. When this is a success, we want to do this four times a year. We even want to do all ages. I hope people realize that you can go out and have a good time without drinking or using drugs. It is safer.”

I had heard Angela mention something about her DJ being blind. I was curious.

“George knows how to pick up the groove and it is amazing to see him work, especially because he is blind. My DJ is DJ GQ aka George Quarcoo. A Canadian/Ghanaian who happens to also be blind. With only 13% site in one eye, George manages to be an incredible DJ and is world renowned. He is also on our Paralympic Track Team as one of the top athletes in the world. I’m excited to have him DJ for us before he leaves for the Olympics in August.”

“I want to make this a night to remember for everyone. Chances are, the second Conscious Club Night won’t be far off!”

This type of event is perfect for those who are looking to socialize in a healthy environment, whether you are in recovery, prefer a sober lifestyle, or simply want a different kind of night out. It’s a celebration of life and music in its purest form, where the energy and good vibes come from the people and the music.

BY PAUL JUNOR

It was a day filled with powerful motivational speeches, wonderful inspirational anecdotes and fanciful improvisational recollections at the Isabel Bader Theatre on Saturday, June 29^th. Students, parents, volunteers and community members gathered to celebrate and support the Grade 12 students (LBD Cohort 21) who completed three years of Leadership by Design (LBD), the signature program of the Lifelong Leadership Institute (LLI). For the past nine years, LBD has led in providing: leadership development, mentorship, career exploration and other student success opportunities to Black high school youths in the GTHA region and beyond – all the way to Niagara Falls and Kitchener.

The day’s program commenced with a reception at the Goldring Student Centre located at Victoria College on the campus of the University of Toronto. In attendance at the reception were: graduating Grade 12 students, their parents, other guests and directors of the LLI including: Dr. Pamela Appelt, Joe Halstead, Dr. Carl James, David Taylor, Tka Pinnock, Delford Blythe and Linda Massey. LLI chair Trevor Massey introduced other special guests including Donette Chin Loy Chang, newly appointed chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University.

The Convocation event, held at the Isabel Bader Theatre at Victoria College, UofT, was a celebration of the: talents, achievements and aspirations of Black youth in Grades 10, 11 and 12. It also recognized the primary role of parents in the education of their children. Some 57 LBD Grade 12 students were featured – each destined for post-secondary studies in September. It was a student-centric event where most speakers were students. There were reflections by current Grade 12 students who started the LBD program as grade 10 students in September 2021. Student speakers included:

• Jola Akinloye, who has an 8-year full-ride scholarship to pursue medicine at Wayne State University in Michigan, USA.
• Naomi Henry, who will study Psychology at Queen’s University.
• Tobi Adelekan, who is enrolled in Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering at Queen’s University.
• Toni Adelekan, who will study Management & Organizational Studies at University of Western Ontario.
• Michaiah Ivri, who will begin a degree in Architectural Studies at University of Waterloo.
• Misimi Sanni, who will pursue a degree in Chemical & Biological Engineering at Princeton University in New Jersey, USA. Having achieved a 100 percent score in her SAT, Misimi addressed a ‘Dear Student’ letter to LBD Grades 10 and 11 students.
• Qimora Bergman, pursuing a degree in the Humanities at Victoria College, University of Toronto, reflected on the importance of the cultural arts.

The keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Erica Walker, Dean of the Ontario Institute of Education (OISE) located at the University of Toronto. She completed her doctoral studies at Harvard University and was appointed Dean in 2023.  Dr. Walker, the author of two books, addressed three factors that are critical to making a difference in the world. She encouraged students to demonstrate courage, exhibit perseverance and inspire. She shared personal and powerful stories of young people making changes all over the world. In encouraging students to ‘Go make a Difference’, she told them “You are already great, and I look forward to what you will do in the future.”

There was a musical performance by soprano Jonelle Sills, a 2019 Dora Award winner. A graduate of York University, she was listed as one of “Canada’s 30 hot classical musicians under 30” by CBC Music in 2020. She performed the song “Summertime”. Hannah Flores, an award-winning spoken word artist and TEDx UofT speaker recited a poem: “Words that are Spoken: To the Only Black Person in the Room”. Ms. Flores is in year four of a degree program at UofT and participated in the LBD program.

Ten students were granted CIBC Leader Scholarships by Douglas G. Carter, SVP., Technology Operation, and Monique Ambersley, VP., Compliance, CIBC. Another eight students were awarded PepsiCo Canada Leader Scholarships by PepsiCo representatives Jennifer Duncan, Finance Control & Reporting, Simone La Ronde, Shopper Marketing Manager, and Shawna Vassel, Communications Manager.

Families with academically motivated, self-identified Black GTHA students can learn more about the LBD program via this website: https://llileaders.com/lbd. Applications open early August for students entering Grade 10 this September.

BY STEVEN KASZAB

The lead in media: the hook, the premier subject that will attract the readers/listeners attention. Local Toronto news has as its lead multiple shootings within Toronto communities. Stay tuned…

Mass shootings in most states of the United States. Stay tuned…. The Israeli siege in Gaza and the Russo-Ukrainian conflict continue. News at eleven….

The right wing (MAGA) begins to turn on Donald Trump. News at eleven… Climate change brings weather mishaps everywhere. Look out the window if you dare…

Sad, terrifying, and fear mongering news capture our airways and TV screens each day. Happier news, constructive and humanizing show up near the end of most broadcasts. Only local news concentrates upon the good we all can experience each day. It is difficult enough for us to bear witness to horrible things happening to others, things that may well incite fear and fatalism within us all.

News cast pronounces “Gun fire heard in the night” causing pain to appear in our chests as we consider whether our families are safe in our neighbourhoods.  Mental health services cannot keep up with the public demand for assistance as our fellow citizens consider moving to the countryside away from urban blight. Unfortunately, this form of domestic terrorism and crime is found in small towns in North America too. There simply is no place to run away. We face the inevitable conclusion that we need to arm ourselves and protect our: castles, our homes, and family too.

It is the media’s obligation to help soothe the minds of its readers, help them walk through their day in some form of tranquility. Perhaps we need to concentrate on local news only, forgetting about the global pandemic of war, poverty and strife. Then we can center our attention on domestic news about what is going to threaten us in our community.  I now know why there are local TV channels where one watches a sunset all day, the weather, or a peaceful fireplace fire. Tranquility, and peaceful days are becoming more difficult to find, and dealing with this causes fear and anguish. My brother needed to rest his mind often, so he watched cartoons for an hour or so. Now I understand.