275. Jun 16-17 Multicultural Toronto Weekend

 

Help needed. So much is happening this summer in the free or nearly-free department that I’m having a hard time keeping up.

So far for this weekend, I’ve found an Aboriginal arts and crafts fair and Irish dancers. Arlene Chan will be talking about her book “The Chinese in Toronto since 1878” and the Filipinos are having a pot-luck picnic. Luminato is still heating up David Pacaut Square with Cuban, Italian and yes, Canadian music. I was at Trinidad’s Calypso Rose and Jamaica’s Ernest Ranglin shows last week. I’ve never heard of these two before but I can’t forget them now. They were amazing. Fans said they are famous in their home countries and I can see why. Luminato has brought top quality to Toronto and given it to us for free.

Harbourfront is hosting an new irreverent music group call Jumbo that sounds like a lot of fun. Most of the members are from the former USSR. I’m tempted to go and I’m not expecting “Moscow Nights.”

The Taste of Little Italy is offering food, street-dancing and lots of bands. Italian Heritage month has planned so many Italian events, it’s best you look at its web-site.

And we can’t leave out Canadian culture. The War of 1812 started 200 years ago on June 18. You can learn about it and British military tradition at one of the many events planned this year. A launch will be at Fort York this weekend.

But for an attempt at peace-making, there’s a forum on “Countering Islamophobia.”

Details for these and more events  are on: www.torontomulticulturalcalendar.com . Please let me know of others.

If anyone wants to volunteer writing, research and photography skills, please e-mail me at ruthlormalloy@gmail.com. Please!