Community News

Pantastic Melodies! Pan Arts Network Celebrates 20th Year of Snowflakes on Steel

Published

8 years ago

January 26, 2017

BY ALYSSA MAHADEO

An instrument of simplicity, the steel pan is an instrument born from industrial waste. An icon of Trinidadian culture the steel pan can be traced as far back as the 1930’s. Often incorrectly referred to as a steel drum, a steel pan is a chromatically pitched percussion instrument made from fifty-five gallon industrial drums mostly used to house oil and other chemicals. The cylindrical part of the oil drum’s shiny metal surface is hammered into a series of dents. Each one creates a different note, subtly different from the ones around it, according to their position and size. The pan is accompanied by an orchestra of other metal objects including car parts, paint pots, dustbins, oil drums and biscuit tins, used as percussion instruments.

In celebration of the steel pan, a musical treasure in the Caribbean community, the Pan Arts Network came together this past weekend to celebrate their 20th year with their annual winter concert Snowflakes on Steel. For the past twenty years, this musical production has been organized and produced by the Pan Arts Network, comprised of a few steelband representatives in the Caribbean community. The show was developed due to a need to fill the void of pan entertainment from the end of summer, through to the following spring. Born in the beautiful tropical climate of the West Indies, many of the diaspora living in Canada crave the tinkling melodies of the steel pan and the organization of this event provides pannists a non-competitive occasion to work towards, while giving the audience another pan related event to attend and enjoy during the winter.

It was a full house at the P.C Ho Theatre Chinese Cultural Centre in Markham for Snowflakes on Steel featuring performances by some of Toronto’s Finest Steelbands. The concert opened with a colourful and vivacious dance number by Dance Caribe, and the audience was greeted with a warm and comedic welcome by host and MC Itah Sadu, a reflection of true Caribbean hospitality.

First performance of the night was by Panatics Steelband Network who delivered a wonderful set of well known songs in their own unique sound. Panatatics was established twenty-six years ago and are among the bands that have performed at Snowflakes since the inception of the show. They began a steel pan network to introduce the art of pan to the Flemingdon Park Community while also integrating the groups with parks and rec and other programs in the area. Their set list for the night was arranged by Gareth Burgess and included a collection of new and old tunes arranged in the colourful sounds of Panatics steel pan. In addition to their orchestra, they were accompanied by a saxophone which added its own breezy jazz flair to the pantastic vibes.

Up next under the studious direction of Elton Jones was a wonderfully performed set by Gemini Pan Groove. Their group was an experienced one, many of the performers members of the group for many years alongside some youthful faces of the next generation of steel pan artists. Gemini Pan Groove uses the steel pan as a tool for community development and also as a foundation to advance the musical art form. They have traveled outside of Toronto to Montreal and the States to perform their wide-ranging repertoire of pan music as demonstrated on the Snowflakes stage. Their performance was outstanding, providing the audience with easy recognizable and classic pieces accompanied by talented vocalists, who added something special to each of their songs.

The Pan Arts Network was proud to recognize the accomplishments of two Women in Pan, and awarded both Suzette Vidale and Giselle Bishop for their outstanding efforts in their trailblazing efforts as steel pan performers. These two women have experienced growth and confidence in their abilities, mastering pan over many years and hope to continue to pave the way for many more young women to take up pan arts.

After a brief twenty-minute intermission, the show was back in full swing as Pan Fantasy took to the stage setting the place on fire! Pan Fantasy has been the Pan Alive Champions for the past five years, winners of the Caribbean Music Award for Best Pan for the past four years and they have also placed 2nd twice and received top honours in New York Panorama Competition. This group of talented pannists know how to knock some good pan, with arrangements Al ‘Allos’ Foster, allowing the sound to travel from the pan through them, as the rhythm moves them. With the talented vocals of Jay Harmony Davis and beautiful traditional Jamaican dancers they put on quite the high-energy performance with set favourites like ‘Hotel California’ and ‘Sugar Bum Bum’. Pan Fantasy has broken barriers along with their 20-95 member band in promoting youth leadership, and dedication to giving back to the community. Theirs is a group formed by the young people of Jane and Finch celebrating thirty-one years of excellence in music.

For many of the people, organizers and bands that took part in the evenings performances at Snowflakes Steel Pan Music and culture is a close-knit community of individuals that consider everyone as family. The support that the Pan Arts Network has received through the years is a reflection of how they have been able to make it this far, and continue to inspire even greater things for the future. In recognition for their Lifetime Achievement in helping the Pan Community to thrive they posthumously awarded, Miley Duke, who started and managed New Dimension Steel Orchestra. He passed away in June, 2015. His son Jermaine Jackson-Duke, wife Janet Jackson, and members of the New Dimension group, accepted the award on Miley’s behalf. Ian ‘Bad Lad’ Gould was recognized for his contributions to the pan community helping make their visions possible. Their Pan Pioneer for 2017 was Joe Brown who was unable to attend, but recognized for all his work with Desperadoes Steel Orchestra. In addition to help further the education of their young artist, Desjardins presented two bursaries to students heading into University/College Corina Sukhai, and Fasasha John for their continued education.

Rounding off the night of pan entertainment with the final performance of the night was Afropan Steelband. Afropan Steelband, formally known as ‘The People’s Band is Toronto’s oldest and most awarded steelband. They were invited to celebrate Bermuda’s 400th Anniversary and made history as the first steelband to visit Africa to celebrate their 50th Anniversary of Independence. Known for their musical versatility, they have thrived in the community for over forty years. With a rare appearance by Earl La Pierre Sr. who arranged their set for the night, he took to the stage with a pan solo to show the audience that he’s still got it panning out a quick paced classical piece. The orchestra then took to the stage, blowing the audience away with their incredible talent, many of the faces young pannists who have been honing their craft and becoming one with the music. Each song had its own classical flair, with a beautiful choreographed dance alongside vocalist Ralph Robinson, the audience was captivated, lost in the carefully synchronized sounds of the steelpan.

The Snowflakes of Steel concert has been sold out every year, and they urge you to get your tickets early because this is definitely something you don’t want to miss! This collection of SteelBands had the audience bobbing their heads to the music and grooving in their seats and enjoying the event from beginning to end. It is very clear to see that the founding members of the Pan Arts Network Andrew Jackson, Earl La Pierre Jr. and Wendy Jones, have put a lot of hard work into creating this event, and it gets better with every passing year. It was clear to see from the smiles on the faces of all the performers as they caress the sound from the pan demonstrates how steelpan has become a way of life. The overwhelming feeling of family bonds and the strength of the community stands behind them, and their panning provokes an emotion that is truly larger than life.

For updates on upcoming events or to purchase tickets for upcoming shows follow the Pan Arts Network on Facebook.

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Record entries for JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2024

TOCaribNews

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 24^th.

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 21^st, 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.

Community News

York Catholic is leading the province in educational achievement

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2024

Paul Junor

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 9^th, 2024, details were revealed about the positive achievements and exemplary accomplishments of its students.

EQAO results were released on September 26^th, 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/.

Community News

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

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2024

Paul Junor

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 10^th, 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