Welcome to the Banana Belt; Discovering South Western Ontario

BY: SIMONE JENNIFER SMITH 

Toronto, Toronto, Toronto!

I really hope that all of you are finding ways in which to deal with this season that we call winter. It has been cold, dreary, and somewhat annoying, but if you have been living in Canada, you know this is just what we have to expect.

I have been spending the majority of the winter in South Western Ontario, also known as the Banana Belt. They call it the Banana Belt because the region always seems to be a few degrees warmer than the Toronto region. It is no wonder that I decided to escape, and find the warmest part of the province that I could possibly find. My time in Windsor, Ontario has certainly been one of discovery; as a writer and researcher, I am always searching for ways to present new information to our readers, so the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper has given me the opportunity to bring the South Western Ontario region to Toronto. Many of us are unaware of not only the rich history but also the culture that can be found in this region. This year, I will be dedicating my research and writing to further exploration of all of the amazing people, places, events, and activities that this part of our province has to offer. A better tomorrow involves learning and growing as a community, and the only way to do so is to connect the communities and allow for members of the community to learn about each other.

On Friday, February 1^st, 2019, I gained my first real experience with the African and West Indian community. It was cold as could be, but I wrapped up and went down to the Windsor West Indian Association located at 2410 Central Ave in Windsor, Ontario. I came to learn that this is the hub for many activities that occur in the community, and once I arrived it made perfect sense.

The overflow crowd that was in attendance initially surprised me. There was a feeling when I entered the room that could only be described as reverence. The Black History Month Kick-Off was a free, family-friendly event that featured music, poetry, and Black History Highlights presented by local residents in the community. This year it was hosted by the Essex County Black Historical Research Society, the Windsor West Indian Association, and the Amherstburg Freedom Museum. I will be speaking about these organizations in subsequent articles; each of them has a personal narrative that describes the history of Africans escaping slavery, and then settling in the region.

It truly was a wonderful sight to see: young people singing to honor their ancestors; arts and crafts were displayed around the room, and the most pleasant sight of all, the elders of the community. I had an opportunity to speak with one of the elders who happened to be Jamaican. With all that was going on around me, he kept me captivated with his stories of living in Windsor and what that was like for him. Like many elders, he preferred to travel back home when the winter season came around, but he had established a favorable life for himself in Windsor and had raised his family there.

I stood back and truly took in how different things looked in comparison to the events that occur in Toronto. To be completely honest, I actually felt more at home during the event; Toronto has the reputation for being a little pompous. We are known to be very cliquey, and this can be off-putting at times. I like the fact that as soon as I entered, I was greeted with a smile. There was warmth that I felt from the moment I set foot in the room, and this feeling did not leave me until I left the building and had to walk back into the briskness of the night.

I am truly excited for the next few articles because I will be able to share my experience of a place in Ontario that many have not taken time to discover. Join me as we walk through time and learn more about this province that we call home.