Good morning folks
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! What a year it has been; just can’t believe 2023 has been consigned to the passage of time and we are now in another year! What to remember about 2023? The Russia-Ukrainian and Hamas-Israeli wars stand out by far over everything else. The year 2023 also marked a year since the so called Freedom Convoy hijacked and held the people of Ottawa to ransom for some three weeks, while the various levels of governments went into real paralysis, like a deer caught in a car’s headlights, abandoning the downtown residents and businesses to manage their pain any way they could. Never again!
For the first edition of 2024, our Top Story is the launch of the Ottawa Golden Oldies Seniors’ Social Club, managed and run entirely by African, Caribbean and Black seniors residing in Canada’s capital region. We also bring you news of the appointment of Paulette Senior to the Senate; review by Onoshe Nwabuikwu of the remarkable book: African, Caribbean, and Black Resilience During COVID-19; Olivia Barrett’s insightful piece about loneliness, a phenomenon declared as “a global pandemic” by the World Health Organization; topped by Joy Osiagwu’s report on the thrilling “Ain’t Too Proud” Temptations show at the NAC. Another feature of note is the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s recommendations on anti-Black racism in the Toronto police.
Here is the result of the December 2023 poll: Did you go shopping on Black Friday? Yes 40% No 60% . Thank you to all who voted. Remember to vote in the January 2024 poll: Do you plan to make a donation to a charity this year?
Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful, productive year, filled with God’s blessings, peace, love and happiness, topped with an abundance of hugs and kisses.
Godwin Ifedi Editor
This edition of Black Ottawa Scene is funded in part by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
