From Antigua Observer

Toronto, On. Artistes from Across the Caribbean united in an exhilarating fundraising event for Dominica, hosted by the Jamaican Canadian Association last week.

A jam-packed house, into the early hours of morning, made up of people from across the Caribbean islands, watched artists from across the Caribbean, deliver rousing and highly entertaining performances of a wide range of musical styles and genres, all in support of relief for the people of Dominica, following the devastation brought on by Tropical Storm Erica. The event was hosted at the Arrow Road headquarters of the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA), which sponsored the event in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Dominica, Ontario Association (CDOA).

The event titled, Let’s get together for Dominica: A Diaspora Relief Concert, reflected a ground-breaking level of collaboration and unity among people of the Caribbean diasporas in Toronto, and demonstrated the immense support and concern for the plight of the people of Dominica. The island of Dominica, formally known as the Commonwealth of Dominica and the ‘Nature Island of the Caribbean, is a lush tropical island used to substantial rainfall of about 5,000 mm (or an average of 14 mm/day) in the wettest interior areas. In the early morning of August 27, Tropical Storm Erika unleashed 322mm of rain in a 12-hour period, across the island, which caused an unprecedented level of destruction in Dominica.

The event, included grand prize draws, a live auction, silent auction, food, drink music, and more music got off to a roaring start and never slowed down.

A diverse range of musicians from across the Caribbean, which included gospel, reggae, cadence, calypso, R&B and comedy artists, kept the audience riveted and entertained throughout.

Artistes included Macoumere Fifi, The Juiceman Dick Lochan, Jimmy Reid, Hermina John, King cosmos, Dance Caribe, Letna Allen-Rowe, Moses Revolutions, Structure, Dino and the CDOA Cultural dancers among many more. Many Caribbean dignitaries and members of the Caricom Consular Corps in Toronto were present to extend their organizations’ and governments’ support. Three properties in Dominica namely Rosalie Bay Resort, Picard Estates and Pagua Bay, Caribbean Airlines, Businesses serving the Caribbean, and people of the Caribbean in Toronto, donated prizes

The CDOA has a planned schedule of activities that include the following:

• Accepting donation via The Commonwealth of Dominica, Ontario Association Emergency Fund (CDOEF) at: The Bank of Montreal, Transit # 2924 Account #8330-256;
• Crowdfunding via a GoFundMe site (T.S. Erika Relief for Dominica) at: http://gofundme.com/DA-ErikaReliefFund
• Independence Day Masquerade Ball on October 31, 2015
• A Dominica Tropical Christmas on December 6, 2015

Dominica’s Trade and Investment Commissioner for Canada, Ms. Frances Delsol has also been assigned to the role of Tropical Storm Erika Relief Co-ordinator in Canada, and is working with the Commonwealth of Dominica, Ontario Association (CDOA), and other groups to coordinate Tropical Storm Erika Relief efforts. You may reach Ms. Delsol at 647-515-6649 or 905-433-0916.

IMAGE: Source: Robert Laroque

For more on this story go to: http://antiguaobserver.com/caribbean-artistes-come-together-for-dominica-in-canada/