Grenada Independence Celebrations - Toronto

This year the Isle of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique celebrates its 37^th year of Independence. 

To commemorate this momentous occasion the Grenada Association (Toronto) under the distinguished patronage of the Consular General of Grenada in Toronto, will host a Grand Independence Gala Celebration.  

The Gala will be held on Saturday 5^th February, 2011 at the Spirale’s Banquet Hall (888 Don Mills Road - Don Mills & Eglinton) commencing with cocktails at 6:30pm.

The evening will feature a carefully choreographed selection of traditional folk song, dance and musical accompaniment all designed to grant the event goer a titillating opportunity to reminiscence; remember… Home…Ahhhhh….Yes sweet Grenada. Remember the folk songs we used to sing and the dances we used to dance? Well yes, we are bring those back to you during dinner and later on in the evening we will rock the night away to the mastery of DJ Slim on the turntable.

Come on out and celebrate your Grenadianess…participate in your culture; embrace it, claim it, own it; all for a small fee of $70. Dress – Black Tie so come out in your best ‘dan dan’.  

We go certainly have a time….Tickets can be obtained from any member of the Grenada Association, the consulate office or the Executive of Spice Youth Toronto.

For more information or tickets, please contact:

Grenada Association – 647-456-3743/416-653-2722   

Grenada Consulate office – 416-595-1343

Spice youth Toronto – 647-203-5957/647-449-6737

Spice Youth Toronto Hosts Successful Networking Event

On a brisk fall evening in Toronto's downtown core, Spice Youth Toronto and the Grenada Consulate celebrated the spirit of Harambee, which took the form of a professional networking event. In a packed room, guests listened to the words of guest speaker, Mr Perry Douglas, a Grenadian national, and financial and real estate investor based in Toronto. The event included individuals from several professions, and was graced by the presence of Hon. Jean Augustine PC, Fairness Commissioner.

Spice Youth Toronto would like to extend gratitude to all those who attended and assisted in the planning of this event, your support is fully appreciated.

Below is the official press release issued by the Office of the Consulate General:




Executive Committee of Spice Youth Toronto, along with Hon. Jenny Gumbs (Consul General), Mr Perry Douglas (Guest Speaker), Ms Carol Douglas (SYT Mentor and Consultant)

Mr Douglas, the key note speaker during his address





Mrs. Jenny Gumbs the Consul General during her welcome speech







Mix n' Mingle


Cross-section of attendees



Cross-section of attendees





Meet the Executive!



Trisha Mitchell

 TRISHA MITCHELL - President / Chair

Trisha grew  up in the small but vibrant community of Pomme Rose/La Tante, St. David’s. Her community involvement dates way back to the age of three (3) and is such an ingrained part of her that her current involvement with Spice Youth comes almost as second nature. She has played leadership roles in many groups ranging from the mandatory to the voluntary, from choir to folk group to St. Vincent de Paul society to Church youth group to Young Leaders, youth co-ordinator for the parish of St. David’s and the list can go on.

Trisha is now an honours graduate from York University with a degree in Administrative Management & Finance, who is looking to complete her MBA within the next three years. Her belief is that when you find something of value, it is your moral obligation to share it with someone else. She has personally reaped the benefits of being actively involved in organisations like these which have grounded, focused and shaped her as an individual. She I feels morally bound to do her best to share these attributes with everyone else and hence her commitment to Spice Youth Toronto which seeks to do just that ~ provide individuals with information that will enable them to live better lives.


 

Kadon Douglas

 KADON DOUGLAS - Co-Chair & Community Liaison


Partiot would be an inadequate description of Kadon's love for her country and people. She believes that Grenada is a country of resilient, innovative and creative people. Kadon has always been involved in community development and youth associations, starting in Grenada as a Girl Guide, then as a community leader, teacher and mentor. She has always held a soft spot for those who are margnalised, discriminated against and those whose voices have been silenced. Kadon firmly holds on to the belief that we “our brother’s keeper”. As Co-Chair/Community Liaison, she will devote her time, energy and talents to reach out to the community and ensure that every voice is heard.


 MARIE BENJAMIN - Secretary / Director of Public Relations



 Originating from the community of Grand Anse, being involved in community organizations and youth groups were an integral part of Marie's upbringing. She moved to Toronto in August 2006 to pursue tertiary education at York University. Through this experience, She has learned the importance of forming networks with other individuals from a shared background. The Grenadian community in Toronto is vibrant, welcoming, knowledgeable, resourceful and full of potential. Marie hopes that SYT can bring these talents to other young Grenadians in Toronto so that we can build a formidable youth network which will be a foundation for young Grenadians at home and here in Canada.



SUSAN BLACKMAN- Treasurer

 

Susan Blackman

 Susan has always had an interest in working with the underprivileged, particularly women and children, and a passion for serving people in need. As a Grenadian national, She believes in respecting people's origins, and giving back through family, friends, and organized groups, such as the Spice Youth Toronto. Susan believes that bringing our people together is vital; it sustains character, fosters good spirit and perpetuates the development of communities. With her Bachelors degree from York University and extensive experience in accounting, Susan plans to fulfil her goals of working with youths and giving back to the community.

Harambee Tip Sheets

Greetings!

Below are the tip sheets that were circulated at SYT's networking event: Harambee on November 10, 2010.

Tapping into the HIDDEN job market

The Hidden Job Market

What is the Hidden Job Market?

It is estimated that only 20% of all jobs are ever advertised, meaning 80% of jobs are filled by companies who never advertised the position. Instead these positions are filled by referral, the "who do you know" method of recruitment. So while keeping an eye on newspaper advertisements and internet job search sites is important, the percentages are in your favor if you investigate the hidden job market.

How to find the Hidden Job Market

The best way to find the hidden job market is by:

·         Identifying types of employers you are interested in

·         Find specific potential employers

·         Finding contacts within the target employer

1.       Identify types of employers
Identify the companies and organizations that you are interested in. There may be companies you are familiar with and many more that you have never heard of. Most positions are located in smaller businesses, so be sure to extend your search past the Fortune 500 list of companies.

Consider:

·         Kind of industry you want to work for

·         Skills sets you want to use

·         Where you want to live

·         Information to look for:

·         Who hires people who do what you want to do

·         What industry makes/does what you want to be involved with?

·         What employers are in your geographic area of interest?

·         Who do you already know?

2.       Find specific potential employers

·         Network - Tap into your network of professional and personal contacts to identify potential employers. Learn more about networking and informational interviewing.

·         Library - additional directories and sources of information

·         Internet - Research both industries and companies online

·         General Job Search Sites - Find positions that use your skill sets. What types of employers are hiring those positions.

·         Yellow and White Pages - seems old-fashioned, but still the fastest way to find a listing of employers in a specific city or area.

·         Local Chambers of Commerce for the city or region in which you are interested.

NETWORKING TIPS

Follow these networking tips to help you expand your circle:

1.       Develop a detailed plan to market yourself as you would a product or service. Define your objectives, target prospects, and a wish list of employers to make contact with. Maintain a log with contacts and meeting dates and follow up after each meeting.

2.       Don’t ask for a job. The purpose of networking is to obtain information and gather names of other contacts. You should approach all networking meetings as though they’re job interviews. i.e., dress appropriately and know your subject matter.

3.       Follow up. If others promise to forward your resume or set up a meeting for you, check in to make sure they don’t forget about you.

4.       Be opened minded. Don’t overlook any networking source, including the clergy; your barber, mailman or your child’s school teachers.

5.       Accept all invitations. Cocktail parties, exercise classes, fundraisers and alumni activities are all potential sources of job hunt information. Don’t underestimate any opportunity.

6.       Be proactive. Here are a few ideas about how you can liven up your network as well as your exposure to people you want to connect with:

Give Lectures

Start a Blog

Join Alumni Associations

Join / attend Professional Meetings and Conferences

Engage in Volunteer Work

Attend Business Card Exchanges

Publish Articles

7.       Choose a company where you would like to work and look for a contact there

8.       Use online tools. Facebook, Linked-In, Myspace and Twitter are all useful resources to increase your visibility and networking potential online. Make sure all content you post is Professional!

9.       Be appreciative. Prompt thank-you notes and gracious follow-up letters set you apart from others, create a pleasant reminder and leave the door open for future contact.

10.   Always reciprocate. When one of your contacts calls for a networking meeting, offer all the advice and information you can. A strong network lasts a career, not just when the chips are down

Portions of this article were taken  from the University of British Colombia's career website.

HARAMBEE

Are you looking to meet people working in your field? Are you a recent grad searching for that dream career?

Spice Youth Toronto in collaboration with the Consulate General of Grenada in Toronto

presents ...

HARAMBEE - a networking event

‎'Harambee' is a Kenyan tradition of community self-help events, eg. fundraising or development activities. Harambee literally means "all pull together" in Swahili, and is also the official motto of Kenya and appears on its coat of arms. Harambee events may range from informal affairs lasting a few hours, in which invitations are spread by word of mouth, to formal, multi-day events advertised in newspapers. These events have long been important in parts of East Africa, as ways to build and maintain communities.

To advance professionally these days one must build a network of likeminded people to assist us with the fulfillment of our aspirations. This event will facilitate this process by linking young professionals and recent grads with people in their respective fields. We will have representatives from all career fields in attendance: finance, human resources, hospitality, entrepreneurs, social services, legal, skilled trades etc

Come out and mingle ...

Carpe Diem!

Caribbean Week 2010

Caribbean Week in Canada is a celebration of the sights, sounds, colours, culture and unique vacation attributes of the Caribbean. Tourism officials, the media, artistes, performers, celebrity chefs, sponsors and strategic partners and the Caribbean Diaspora will converge on the cities of Montreal and Toronto during the period October 21-29, 2010.


Arranged by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Caribbean Week offers many opportunities to reach various market segments in Canada through a combination of events targeting the media, trade, consumers and the Caribbean Diaspora.


The Rum and Rhythm event, scheduled for October 29, 2010, will be full of the sights, sounds, rhythm and taste of the Caribbean and it our pleasure to announce that Eddie Bullen will be the headliner.  For those of you who have not had the pleasure of hearing Eddie, here is a bit of background.





Pianist, songwriter, arranger and producer Eddie Bullen moved to Toronto from Grenada in 1980 and has become, in every way, a standout amongst the latest generation of multi-talented artists.  His lengthy career has yielded an abundance of awards (including a Juno) and recognition for his outstanding talents.  Eddie gives his audience a taste of contemporary jazz, flavoured with Caribbean and Latin rhythms.

This  quote from the New York Times says it all ..."Eddie Bullen keeps audiences in Canada and throughout the Caribbean on their feet and begging for more with his distinctive style.  His compositions are audacious and sexy, titillating the senses ...”


http://www.eddiebullen.com/


For more information on Caribbean Week click the link below...


http://www.caribbeanweek.ca/calendar-of-events.asp

Update!

This year has been quite busy for Spice Youth Toronto. We literally got off the ground running. Here are a few things we've accomplished so far:

1. September 13: BBQ and Oildown Fundraiser at Greens Restaurant and Bar. Spice Youth Toronto held a BBQ to bring the community together and raise funds for its future initiatives. The Oildown, not surprisingly, sold out first. DELICIOUS!!! We were able to surpass our goal of $800 ... what a feat for a first-time event. The event was well-received by the community and we are truly grateful for the support of the Grenadian Public.

2. September 18 & 19: Grenada Day (Coronation Park/Keele & Eglinton) and Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life. Spice Youth Toronto volunteered at Grenada Day at the information booth. This platform was also used to introduce the public to the committee and invite people to join us on the AIDS Walk the following day. On the 19th, Spice Youth Toronto formed a team and participated in the AIDS Walk for Life. It was a humbling event. Spice Youth was able to raise more than $500 for the cause. HIV/AIDS is a disease that affects many people and does not discriminate. Young black people are the most afflicted by this terrible disease. Spice Youth took part as an act of community awareness. We also made some partnerships, and hope to host health seminars so that our community is better educated about this disease and others.

3. October 16: Annual General Meeting (Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre). Spice Youth Toronto held its first AGM at the Oakwood Library to an audience of thirty. The turn-out was great and we were surprised and happy to see that so many men showed up. The Constitution (once revised will be posted here) was introduced and we received a lot of suggestions and comments, which will be incorporated at our next executive meeting. We also gave financial updates, a year in review and information on upcoming events. Our featured speaker was Mr Otis Celestine, community activist and Grenada's 2010 Soca Monarch winner. He highlighted the importance of community organisations especially those that are youth-led, and shared his experience with such groups. Mr Celestine also offered words of advice to the executive body. His presence was much appreciated. The Consul General of Grenada in Toronto, Ms Jenny Gumbs, sent her words of support to us by way of a letter, read by her secretary Desiree Charles.

The minutes of the AGM and the letter from Ms Gumbs will be posted in another blog.

UPCOMING

Tuesday November 10, 2010 - Networking Session in collaboration with the Grenadian Consulate in Toronto. More details will be added soon.

Look out for us in 2011. Your support is appreciated and we hope to have you on board in our future endeavours.

As a united body, may we forever ASPIRE. BUILD. ADVANCE.

WELCOME! WELCOME!

Welcome to Spice Youth Toronto's official blog page/newsletter!

Spice Youth Toronto is the youth arm of the Grenada Association, Toronto. We are a collective of Grenadian youth who are committed to the creation of an integrated network of Grenadians residing in Toronto.

OUR VISION/MANDATE

1. To provide information on employment resources, education, immigration, transportation and housing as a means of facilitating the settlement process for Grenadians who are new to Canada

2. To promote Grenadian culture and heritage through the promotion of and hosting of events that are in the interests of the Grenadian community

3. To launch a mentorship program whereby young Grenadians will be linked with professionals in their career/education field so as to form relationships

4. To develop programs and projects that will aid in the advancement of Grenadians here and at home, this includes but is not limited to, health seminars, financial workshops, self-development programs and fundraising drives

***** We also hope to hold events that would bring the community together such as family picnics, sport days, cook-ups, game nights, nature walks and other outings.

Stay tuned for other events and projects! And Thanks for your support!

Let us unite so we may ASPIRE, BUILD, and ADVANCE.