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His films were not merely narratives; they were struggles, and triumphs of the African-Caribbean community

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

There were environments where he was dismissed and disrespected, and not once did he stop being who he was. He had a way of connecting with people, listening to people, hearing people and engaging with them. Those who speak lovingly of him say he will be most remembered for saying things that matter in his work. For taking a stand.

He fought so hard, and he put so much time and energy into getting stories made. His body of work was one that shared voices that were otherwise not being heard in the Canadian film landscape. He had natural talent; he had charisma.

It was a rainy, chilly April 17th, 2024, and the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had been invited by Humanity Ova Vanity to share in a night with Regent Park film festival, Bipoc TV & Film, and Reel Canada to celebrate the work of an amazing Jamaican-Canadian filmmaker whose talents have made an important and intentional stamp on the landscape of the history of African Caribbean cinema in Canada. It was the night that I was formally introduced to the brilliant Charles Officer

Charles Officer told stories from a nuanced perspective that originated from his experience of being a Canadian born child of Jamaican parents. His life was a mix of poetry and pain, and he learned that stories and visuals could help to speak in ways some couldn’t. His curiosity and intentionality as a human and writer-director has left an indelible mark in the pages of Canadian Film history.

Charles was a versatile and prolific filmmaker whose works typically focused on the experiences of Black Canadians. Initially an actor, he went on to direct, write and produce feature films, documentaries and TV series.

Charles directed four episodes of “The Porter,” the CBC/BET drama about the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters — North America’s first Black-led union — that won 12 awards at the Canadian Screen Awards, including: best original music, production, costume design, best writing and best drama series. Another well-known article of work is his documentary Unarmed Verses, which told the story of Toronto Community Housing residents who were uprooted while their neighbourhood was revitalized.

Charles’s 2008 debut feature, Nurse. Fighter. Boy, premiered at TIFF and was nominated for 10 Genie Awards, the precursor to the Canadian Screen Awards. On the 17th, I had a chance to witness this creative genius on screen with his film “Akilla’s Escape.” In a crime-noir about the urban child-soldier, Akilla Brown captures a fifteen-year-old Jamaican boy in the aftermath of an armed robbery. Over one grueling night, Akilla confronts a cycle of generational violence he thought he escaped.

The movie starts with the dimly lit streets of the city sprawling, a concrete jungle where danger lurks in every shadow. The humid air is heavy with tension as we are gliding through the urban landscape, the distant sounds of reggae music mingling with the rumble of passing cars.

Charles kept me captivated, weaving the narrative of Akilla Brown’s journey. It served as a potent testament to the multifaceted impact of film. Through the lens of urban child soldiers and Caribbean cultural intricacies, the audience was drawn into a world where real-life struggles and dysfunctional family dynamics collided.

Akilla’s forty-year-old existence, straddling between the legitimacy of his cannabis operation and the shadow of his family’s criminal legacy, epitomizes the complexities of identity and morality. As fate intertwines Akilla’s path with that of Sheppard, a mute teenager ensnared in the web of violence, the film delves deep into themes of redemption, legacy, and the cyclical nature of trauma.

Saul Williams’s commanding performance as Akilla, alongside Thamela Mpumlwana’s poignant portrayal of Sheppard, and Donisha Prendergast as the dedicated aunt, brings an authenticity that grips viewers from start to finish. Through Officer’s direction, the film becomes more than mere entertainment; it becomes a mirror reflecting the harsh realities of societal constructs and personal struggles, urging viewers to confront the demons of our past and present.

The screening was followed by a panel with lead actors: Thamela Mpumlwana, Donisha Prendergast, and co-writer Motion and Producer Jake Yanowski. It was moderated by Sarah Tai Black.

Throughout the talk, I learned more about the legacy of this incredible African-Caribbean Canadian filmmaker whose work resonates not just through the lens of cinema, but through the very fabric of storytelling itself. As a: director, writer, producer, actor, cinematographer, and editor, his multifaceted talents illuminated the experiences of African-Caribbean Canadians in a way that was both captivating and authentic.

His films were not merely narratives; they were vivid tapestries woven from the threads of shared experiences, struggles, and triumphs of the African Canadian community. Through his lens, audiences are transported into worlds rich with cultural nuances, social commentary, and the universal human condition.

Beyond his technical prowess and creative vision, it was his boundless energy that truly set him apart. His passion for storytelling was infectious, drawing people from all walks of life into his orbit. Whether collaborating with fellow artists, mentoring aspiring filmmakers, or engaging with audiences, his presence radiated an undeniable magnetism.

In every frame he captured, every line he penned, and every character he brought to life, he not only entertained, but also challenged perceptions and sparked conversations. His body of work serves as a testament to the power of storytelling to bridge divides, inspire change, and celebrate the richness of diversity.

Though he may have left us, his legacy endures—an eternal flame that continues to illuminate the path for future generations of filmmakers. As we reflect on his contributions, let us honour his memory by embracing the spirit of creativity, inclusivity, and resilience that defined his remarkable journey.

REFERENCES:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/hot-docs-film-unarmed-verses-puts-uprooted-tch-community-in-spotlight-1.4091497

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/csas-final-night-2023-1.6811617

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/charles-officer

We, as humans are guaranteed certain things in life: stressors, taxes, bills and death are the first thoughts that pop to mind. It is not uncommon that many people find a hard time dealing with these daily life stressors, and at times will find themselves losing control over their lives. Simone Jennifer Smith’s great passion is using the gifts that have been given to her, to help educate her clients on how to live meaningful lives. The Hear to Help Team consists of powerfully motivated individuals, who like Simone, see that there is a need in this world; a need for real connection. As the founder and Director of Hear 2 Help, Simone leads a team that goes out into the community day to day, servicing families with their educational, legal and mental health needs.Her dedication shows in her Toronto Caribbean newspaper articles, and in her role as a host on the TCN TV Network.

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Community News

Record entries for JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition

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Winner of the 2023 staging of the JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition ,Joel Miller, (third from left), shares a moment with representatives of the Jamaica Cultural |Development Commission (JCDC), organizers of the event. From left are Shaun Drysdale – Drama and Theatre Arts Development Specialist, Andrew Brodber – Director, Arts Development and Training and Executive Director, Lenford Salmon.

BY RUSHANE FERRON

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has received an unprecedented number of submissions for this year’s FiWi Short Film Competition. Launched earlier this year, the competition drew an impressive 47 entries. Currently, 17 shortlisted films are available for public viewing on the JCDC’s YouTube channel, with winners set to be announced on October 24th.

Executive Director of the JCDC, Mr. Lenford Salmon, expressed pride in the competition’s growing success, stating, “This record number of entries reflects how Jamaicans are embracing the programmes offered by the JCDC. While the Commission is well known for preserving and showcasing our culture, we also recognize the importance of using technology to engage, particularly with our youth. The FiWi Short Film Competition is a perfect example of how we can bring our culture to life in the digital age. The fact that it’s four years old and already experiencing this level of growth is a promising sign for the future.”

Drama and Theatre Arts Development Specialist at the JCDC, Mr. Shaun Drysdale, attributes this year’s spike in entries to the increasing interest in filmmaking, fueled by the proliferation of social media platforms that support storytelling through visuals.

We are living in a digital age. Filmmaking is now in the hands of the average person on the street via his, or her cell phone. Add to that the inherent creativity of Jamaicans and you are left with a potent combination, which when given the correct environment, can reap tangible rewards. That is what we are experiencing at this time,” Mr. Drysdale said.

The JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition seeks to promote Jamaican culture through the production of films ranging from 3-5 minutes in duration. The films must be based on set criteria, and primarily centred around a Jamaican proverb.

This year’s proverbs are: “Sweet mout fly follow coffin go a hole”; “Puss nuh hab han, but him tek him foot wipe him face”; “Keep clear a ole house, les dem fall dung pon you”; “Rockstone a riber bottom nuh feel sun hot”; and “Finger tink, yuh cyan cut eh trow ‘wey”.

In addition to the proverbs, participants were also given two special themes around which to build the treatment of their films, based on concepts provided by two sponsors. These are: “SEAS IN FOCUS: Uniting for marine managed areas”- National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ) and “Need a passport quick, Get it with just a click”- Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA).

Mr. Drysdale further noted that this year’s shortlisted films represent a variety of the possible genres with eleven dramatic works, two animation films, one comedy, one documentary and two science fiction films. Three of the participants are from the youth category, which is for filmmakers between 12-18 years old and the remaining 14 from adult category.

In addition to viewing the short films online, the public will have an opportunity to view at a special screening to be held on National Heroes’ Day, Monday, October 21st, 2024, as a feature of JCDC National Heritage Fest and Family Fun Day being held on the south lawn at Devon House in St Andrew.

The FiWi Short Film Competition was started by the JCDC in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competition is the brainchild of the JCDC’s Drama and Theatre Arts Unit and encourages Jamaican amateur filmmakers to examine selected Jamaican proverbs and based on their interpretation create the treatment for a short film.

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York Catholic is leading the province in educational achievement

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BY PAUL JUNOR

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), which administers the Grade 3, 6 and 9 assessments across Ontario and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), recently released the 2024 results. For many schools across the province, EQAO results are a snapshot of how students are doing compared to their peers in other schools at the same grade level.

The York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) has maintained a high level of consistency with respect to the outstanding performance of its students on the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). In a media release on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, details were revealed about the positive achievements and exemplary accomplishments of its students.

EQAO results were released on September 26th, 2024. The focus was, “Mathematics Achievement Remains an Area of Focus but Sees Gradual Growth Over Time with Some School Boards Showing Significant Increases; Literacy Achievement Remains High but Shows Some Decline.” The data was based on the 2023-2024 school year during which over 570,000 students wrote the EQAO assessments at the elementary and secondary levels on the English and French-language school systems.

For students who wrote the Grade 3 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics:

  • 71% met the provincial standard in reading compared to 73% in 2022-2023, and 73% in 2021-2022.
  • 64% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in writing, compared to 65% in 2022-2023 and 65% in 2021-2022.
  • 61% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in mathematics, compared to 60% in 2022-2023 and 59% in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 6 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics:

  • 82% met the provincial standard in reading, compared to 84% in 2022-2023 and 85% in 2021-2022.
  • 80% met the provincial standard in writing, compared to 84% in 2022-2023, and 84% in 2021-2022.
  • 50% met the provincial standard in mathematics, compared to 50% in 2022-2023 and 47 % in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 9 Assessment in Mathematics:

  • 54% met the provincial standard, compared to 54% in 2022-2023 and 52% in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT):

  • 85% of first-time eligible students were successful, compared to 85% in 2022-23 and 82% in 2021-2022.
  • 52% of previously eligible students were successful in 2023-2024, compared to 63% in 2022-2023 and 85% in 2021-2022.

John De Faveri, Interim Director of Education of the YCDSB writes, “We are always looking for ways to provide a better school experience, but today is a time to celebrate our students and staff for their excellent academic achievement. I want to particularly highlight the incredible work that is being done in mathematics, which we see in these results. Mathematical literacy is such an important life skill and we are happy to share a love of numbers with our students.”

Results from the Grade 3, 6 and 9 EQAO Mathematics results show improvement in Mathematics compared to 2023. In addition, with respect to reading and writing results for Grade 6 there has been a consistent steady upward rise in the performance of students as 89% and 90% of students met or exceeded provincial standards when compared to the province’s average of 82% and 89%.

Elizabeth Crowe, Chair of the Board of Trustees for YCDSB states, “EQAO results are just one of the ways we see how York Catholic is leading the province in educational achievement. As a Catholic learning community, we want to see every child succeed and EQAO results help us measure our progress toward that noble goal.”

Overall, the percentage of students who participated from YCDSB in Grade 3 and 6 EQAO were 97% and 98%, respectively. For Grade 9 Math assessment there were 93% of eligible students and 97% in the OSSLT.

Any parents or guardians interested in learning about the 2024 EQAO and OSSLT results and individual school results for their children can check the EQAO’s website: https://www.eqao.com/results/.

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York Catholic District School Board plans open house for future high school students

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Credits: Pch.Vector

BY PAUL JUNOR

There is: planning, preparation, and organization that parents, guardians and caregivers must make in York Region as they prepare their children for high school. For those who chose to send them to a high school at the Catholic board, there are open houses planned to make this process easier to navigate.

In a press release on Thursday, October 10th, 2024, details were revealed about these open houses. It notes, “The open houses will highlight key aspects of each school, including administration, programs, graduation requirements, uniforms, school structure, student opportunities and more. In addition, information about the registration process, including registration dates, deadlines and documents needed to enroll, will be discussed.

The media release mentioned the seven regional programs, and ten Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) programs. They include:

Advanced Placement

Programs with an extended and enriched curriculum allow students to earn credits or advanced standing at most universities.

English as a Second Language

(ESL) and English Literacy Development (ELD)

English as a Second Language and English Literacy Development programs assist English language learners from diverse linguistic and education backgrounds in attaining English language proficiency.

French Immersion (FI)

Students who completed the Elementary French Immersion programs, or equivalent can continue with the immersion program to earn a French immersion certificate upon graduation.

High Performer Athlete (HPA)

An academic-based program for student-athletes participating in competitive-level athletics. Students benefit from a flexible timetable to help balance their academic and athletic commitments and earn high school credits for the work they put into their training.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

A rigorous and intellectually challenging pre-university course of study that allows students to earn an IB Diploma upon graduation, recognized in Canada and abroad.

Regional Arts (RAP)/Integrated Regional Arts Program(iRAP)

Students specialize in drama, dance, visual arts, digital media arts, instrumental music, or vocal music- while obtaining their high school diploma. In the iRAP, students experience their learning through an integrated model where the curriculum is explored in relation to the interconnectedness of the individual, the community, and the world.

STREAM Program

Students explore real-world challenges and use the design thinking process to develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills, guided by the traditional Catholic social teachings. This academic program uses an interdisciplinary approach to inquiry and problem-based learning.

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

Students can obtain a diploma with a specialist in either: Arts and Culture; Aviation and Aerospace; Business; Health and Wellness; Hospitality and Tourism; Information and Communication Technology; Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services, Manufacturing; or Non-Profit. Every YCDSB school offers a SHSM program.

Parents or guardians who live in York Region and are interested in any programs can check: Website: www.ycdsb.ca

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