October is Caribbean Heritage Month in Ontario, Canada.

ourcws

Caribbean Women’s Society has declared the month of October as “Caribbean Heritage Month”; an innovative initiative to recognize, celebrate and educate the public on how Caribbeans made and continue to make significant contributions, across all fields and industries, to Canada, as early as the 1700’s.

Ontario’s Caribbean Heritage Month will be marked by a series of cultural events and activities throughout the month of October.

October is a significant month for the Caribbean-Canadian community. With the points system incorporated into the Immigration Regulations in October 1967, it meant that visitors, including Caribbeans, and their families were given the right to apply for immigrant status while in Canada.  By 1970, immigration from, in part, the Caribbean represented over 23% of the total; compared to 10% four years prior. (http://ccrweb.ca/en/hundred-years-immigration-canada-part-2)

In a statement to the House of Commons on October 8, 1971, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announced multiculturalism as an official government policy. Multiculturalism was intended to preserve the cultural freedom of all individuals and provide recognition of the cultural contributions of diverse ethnic groups to Canadian society. (https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/canadian-multiculturalism-policy-1971)

Caribbean Heritage Month will be an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Caribbean-Canadians and the important role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario.

Advertisements

Peaceful Demonstration and Protest in support of Bill 134 on November 28, 2019

ourcws

November 21, 2019 

Caribbean Women’s Society fosters civic engagement for Bill 134.

Caribbean Women’s Society (CWS), a grassroots, non-profit organization, is inviting the Caribbean-Canadian community and their supporters to participate in a peaceful demonstration and protest in support of Bill 134 on Thursday, November 28, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM; at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.  The media and Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) have been invited to attend.  For details and registration, visit www.ourcws.com/events

As background, with the support and participation of community members and organizations, CWS proclaimed Caribbean Heritage Month in October 2018. History was made a year later, on Monday, October 28, 2019, when Liberal MPP Michael Coteau’s introduction of Bill 134, Caribbean Heritage Month Act, 2019, passed its first reading in the House proceedings of Ontario’s 42nd Parliament, 1st Session.  Community members, CWS and other community organizations were in attendance to support and witness the historic occasion.  Since then, members of the Caribbean-Canadian community, organizations, and supporters have been persistently lobbying their MPP representatives to assist Bill 134 in the legislative process, toward officially proclaiming October in each year as Caribbean Heritage Month in Ontario.

“Our supporters are encouraged to demonstrate with us on November 28 and hold our Legislative Assembly to account.  Caribbean-Canadian heritage, history and contributions to Ontario are deeply-rooted and deserve recognition. We will continue to foster civic engagement within our community; to persist and amplify our voice until our Conservative government does the right thing and enacts Bill 134, Caribbean Heritage Month Act, 2019” stated Camille Kerr, Founder & President of Caribbean Women’s Society. 

QUICK FACTS

  • Caribbean Women’s Society proclaimed October as Caribbean Heritage Month in 2018: an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Caribbean-Canadians and the important and inspirational role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario
  • Caribbean Heritage Month brings together several community organizations, volunteers and participants, on an annual basis, to plan and host cultural events for the general public.
  • Canada is home to a large and vibrant Caribbean-Canadian community; a diverse group representing forty-two Caribbean nations, regions and territories; a uniquely, wide range of ancestries, such as Amerindian, African, South American, Asian, and European; and a multitude of languages including the six official languages: English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Creole and Papiamento.
  • October signifies an important time in history for Caribbean-Canadians; with the improvements made to the Immigration Act, October 1967, and the introduction of the Multiculturalism Policy, October 1971, came a historically significant increase in Caribbean immigration. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CONTACT Administrator admin@ourcws.com | Caribbean Heritage Month https://ourchm.ca/

Partners: Caribbean Women’s Society https://ourcws.com/ Caribbean-Canadian Chamber of Commerce & Community https://c5ontario.com/
Caribbean-Canadian Parents United https://www.ccpunited.ca/ Mindful Parenting Toolkit https://www.mindfulparentingtoolkit.com/ 
Talkin’ Tales https://www.facebook.com/Talkin-Tales-a-Celebration-of-Afro-Caribbean-Heritage-419023965392990/ 
Women’s Softball Cricket Association https://www.facebook.com/womensoftballcricket/?ref=py_c

Bill 134, Caribbean Heritage Month Act, 2019, passes first reading

ourcws

News Release

Bill 134, Caribbean Heritage Month Act, 2019 passes first reading

October 30, 2019 

Continued history-in-the-making for the Caribbean-Canadian community.

History was made on Monday, October 28, 2019, when, member of provincial Parliament (MPP), Michael Coteau’s introduction of Bill 134, Caribbean Heritage Month Act, 2019, passed its first reading in the House proceedings of Ontario’s 42nd Parliament, 1st Session.  Several community members and organizations were in attendance to witness the historic occasion.

Caribbean Women’s Society (CWS) first proclaimed Caribbean Heritage Month in October 2018.  Now, with the assistance of MPP Michael Coteau, officially entitled Caribbean Heritage Month Act 2019, Bill 134 will need to pass a total of three readings to become law and mark the provincial recognition of October as Caribbean Heritage Month across Ontario.

The support and approval from the Caribbean-Canadian community and dedicated, volunteer-based, community organizations, continues to outpour as they engage the public on social media and lobby their local MPPs.

“I’m honoured to have witnessed such a monumental accomplishment for our Caribbean-Canadian community and we thank MPP Michael Coteau for his ongoing support.  There’s more work to do and our remarkable community members and organizations will continue to partner, advocate, grow public support and lobby our local MPPs until Bill 134, Caribbean Heritage Month Act, 2019, ultimately, comes into force,” asserted Camille Kerr, Founder & President of Caribbean Women’s Society. 

QUICK FACTS

  • Caribbean Women’s Society proclaimed October as Caribbean Heritage Month in 2018; an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Caribbean-Canadians and the important and inspirational role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario.
  • Caribbean Heritage Month brings together several community organizations, volunteers and participants, on an annual basis, to plan and host cultural events for the general public.
  • Canada is home to a large and vibrant Caribbean-Canadian community; a diverse group representing forty-two Caribbean nations, regions and territories; a uniquely, wide range of ancestries, such as Amerindian, African, South American, Asian, and European; and a multitude of languages including the six official languages: English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Creole and Papiamento.
  • October signifies an important time in history for Caribbean-Canadians; with the improvements made to the Immigration Act, October 1967, and the introduction of the Multiculturalism Policy, October 1971, came a historically significant increase in Caribbean immigration. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CONTACT Administrator admin@ourcws.com | Caribbean Heritage Month https://ourchm.ca/

Partners: Caribbean Women’s Society https://ourcws.com/ Caribbean-Canadian Chamber of Commerce & Community https://c5ontario.com/
Caribbean-Canadian Parents United https://www.ccpunited.ca/ Mindful Parenting Toolkit https://www.mindfulparentingtoolkit.com/ 
Talkin’ Tales https://www.facebook.com/Talkin-Tales-a-Celebration-of-Afro-Caribbean-Heritage-419023965392990/ 
Women’s Softball Cricket Association https://www.facebook.com/womensoftballcricket/?ref=py_c

Caribbean Women’s Society gains political support for Caribbean Heritage Month

ourcws

News Release

Caribbean Women’s Society gains political support for Caribbean Heritage Month

October 23, 2019 

Continued history-in-the-making for the Caribbean-Canadian community.

After almost two years in search of political support, Caribbean Women’s Society (CWS) has finally gained the assistance of one Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Mr. Michael Coteau; who has agreed to sponsor the bill entitled, “An Act to proclaim the month of October Caribbean Heritage Month”. 

With the support and approval of the Caribbean-Canadian community and dedicated, volunteer-based, community organizations, MPP Coteau will introduce the bill in Parliament when the House re-opens on Monday, October 28, 2019.  If passed, this bill will become law and mark the provincial recognition of October as Caribbean Heritage Month across Ontario.

CWS is encouraging the general public, including their partners, supporters and Caribbean-Canadian community, to witness this historic occasion and support the bill by registering at www.ourchm.ca/events to attend the House meeting on Monday, October 28, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM.  Further, CWS is urging all MPPs to demonstrate their respect for their Caribbean-Canadian constituents by voting in favour of the bill.  

“Like all cultural communities across Ontario, the Caribbean-Canadian community deserves to be recognized for their contributions to our province and country.  We thank MPP Coteau for responding to our concerns and partnering with us; and we trust that all our elected officials and government will follow his lead by demonstrating their support for this community and enforcing this important Act,” remarked Camille Kerr, Founder & President of Caribbean Women’s Society. 

QUICK FACTS

  • Caribbean Women’s Society proclaimed October as Caribbean Heritage Month in 2018; an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Caribbean-Canadians and the important and inspirational role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario; and bringing together several community organizations, volunteers and participants, on an annual basis, to put on cultural events for the general public.
  • Canada is home to a large and vibrant Caribbean-Canadian community; a diverse group representing forty-two Caribbean nations, regions and territories; a uniquely, wide range of ancestries, such as Indigenous, African, South American, South Asian, European and Asian; and a multitude of languages including the six official languages: English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Creole and Papiamento.
  • October signifies an important time in history for Caribbean-Canadians, with the improvements made to the Immigration Act, October 1967, and the introduction of the Multiculturalism Policy, October 1971, came a historically significant increase in Caribbean immigration. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CONTACT Administrator admin@ourcws.com | Caribbean Heritage Month https://ourchm.ca/

Partners: Caribbean Women’s Society https://ourcws.com/
Caribbean-Canadian Chamber of Commerce & Community https://c5ontario.com/ 
Caribbean-Canadian Parents United https://www.ccpunited.ca/
Mindful Parenting Toolkit https://www.mindfulparentingtoolkit.com/ 
Talkin’ Tales https://www.facebook.com/Talkin-Tales-a-Celebration-of-Afro-Caribbean-Heritage-419023965392990/ 
Women’s Softball Cricket Association https://www.facebook.com/womensoftballcricket/?ref=py_c

Caribbean Women’s Society proclaims October as Caribbean Heritage Month

ourcws

News Release

Caribbean Women’s Society proclaims October as Caribbean Heritage Month

October 1, 2019 

Continued history-in-the-making for the Caribbean-Canadian community.

Caribbean Women’s Society (CWS) has proclaimed October as Caribbean Heritage Month; to be observed in October of each year.  

Caribbean Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Caribbean-Canadians and the important and inspirational role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario.  

To mark the occasion, the general public and media are invited to attend the second annual flag-raising ceremony and official proclamation at Ken Whillans Square in Brampton, Ontario, on October 1, 2019, from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.  CWS and their partners, Caribbean-Canadian Parents United and Caribbean-Canadian Chamber of Commerce & Community will be hosting and livestreaming several cultural events for the general public, throughout the month of October.

Caribbean Women’s Society is inviting the general public, in solidarity with their partners, supporters and Caribbean-Canadian community, to petition their Members of Provincial Parliament and Members of Parliament, to represent the concerns of their Caribbean-Canadian constituents by sponsoring a private member’s bill to have Caribbean Heritage Month passed in Parliament.

“We are a richly diverse and distinct collective of Caribbean nations; with a shared, long-standing connection to Canada.  Caribbean people have been a part of Canada’s history since the late 1700’s; and have been contributing to Canadian society ever since. It’s time our story is finally told. See us for who we are as a people; and call us by our rightful name, ‘Caribbean-Canadian’,” stated Camille Kerr, Founder & President of Caribbean Women’s Society. 

QUICK FACTS

  • Canada is home to a large and vibrant Caribbean-Canadian community; a diverse group representing forty-two Caribbean nations, regions and territories; a uniquely, wide range of ancestries, such as Indigenous, African South American, South Asian, European and Asian; and a multitude of languages including the six official languages: English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Creole and Papiamento.
  • October signifies an important time in history for Caribbean-Canadians, with the improvements made to the Immigration Act, October 1967, came a historically significant increase in Caribbean immigration.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CONTACT 

Administrator

admin@ourcws.com                      

 

Caribbean Heritage Month https://ourchm.ca/

Caribbean Women’s Society https://ourcws.com/

Caribbean-Canadian Parents United https://www.ccpunited.ca/

Caribbean-Canadian Chamber of Commerce & Community https://c5ontario.com/

Mindful Parenting Toolkit https://www.mindfulparentingtoolkit.com/

Talkin Tales https://www.facebook.com/Talkin-Tales-a-Celebration-of-Afro-Caribbean-Heritage-419023965392990/

Women’s Softball Cricket Association https://www.facebook.com/womensoftballcricket/?ref=py_c

Employment in the early 1900s

ourcws

From the early 1900s, Caribbean immigrants contributed to Canada’s economic life by providing cheap labour on farms, in mines and factories. They also worked as mechanics, domestics, waiters, porters & clerks.

Making History

ourcws

Thanks CWS, CCPU, & C5 Members & Directors, Dwayne Morgan (NDP rep), Marjorie-Ann Knight (NDP rep) & community members who took part in making history with the FIRST-EVER Caribbean Heritage flag-raising ceremony for the FIRST-EVER Caribbean Heritage Month in Ontario, Canada.

Images: Top – Camille Kerr (Founder & President of Caribbean Women’s Society); Middle – Marjorie-Ann Knight (NDP rep); Bottom – Dwayne Morgan (NDP rep); Group – Board representatives of CWS, CCPU, and C5 (left to right): Jacqueline Steele, Oliver Levy, Genna Laban, Danielle Davis, Mark Kerr, Camille Kerr, John Laban, Melissa Ramlochan, Connie Spence-Dyer, Vanessa Ganni