Mark Holmes is documenting Black Canadians' experiences and contributions through a blog and videos for Canoe.ca during Black History Month. This is a personal project for Holmes that allows him to reflect on his own experience. He has interviewed several prominent Black Canadians about what it means to be Black in Canada. Holmes found Rosemary Sadlier's dedication to the Black community in Canada particularly impressive and insightful. The blog aims to have an ongoing discussion and share more stories from the Black community.

1. 52 LIFE nn The Toronto Sun n THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010
Proudly sharing
Contributions continue at Canoe’s Black History Month blog
KHALID MAGRAM Holmes said. “She made me under-
QMI Agency stand why some in the black commu-
nity don’t feel comfortable speaking
Canoe is paddling deep into per- about being black.”
sonal oceans of Black Canadians all Holmes said that he hopes other
month. will be motivated and inspired by
Reporter-producer Mark Holmes watching and reading these inter-
is daily documenting the journey views.
of prominent members of the black Particularly inspiring is Holmes
community, and his own experience, “Takin’ it to the streets” video in
through his blog and feature videos which Holmes interviews a young
for Canada’s leading Internet portal, Somali girl who reflects she’s unsure
Canoe.ca. which history to learn and celebrate:
“This has been a great experience her African or Canadian roots.
and very therapeutic for me person- “I am not alone on this project,
ally,” Holmes said. there are others who are doing
Every February, Black History wonderful job,” Holmes said. “Am
Month honours the legacy of black very proud of the work everyone at
Canadians, and offers an opportunity Canoe and Sun-TV is doing for this
to share their past and present contri- month.”
butions to the country. This year, the Holmes is working on the multi-
second annual In Our Own Words platform project with David New-
blog tackles the question “What does land, Canoe.ca’s director of social
it mean to be black in Canada?” media and co-creator of the Black
Holmes’ aims to add to the discus- History Month blog and its accompa-
sion with a list of extraordinary inter- nying Facebook page.
views which includes Positive Living “ We f e l t t o d o s o m e t h i ng t o
TV producer Erika Yearwood, NHL acknowledge the contribution of
goalie Kevin Weekes, Ontario Black Black Canadians,” Newland said.
History Society president Rosemary “I am for anything that will add the
Sadlier and Kevin Pennant of Pen- missing pieces in the Canadian
nant Media Group. story.”
Pennant opens up about the busi- He is also proud to hear and read
ness lessons learned by following all the feedback on the blog and the
his parent’s footsteps in creating his Facebook page.
own public relationships firm, while “The Black History Month is for
former North Carolina Hurricane every ethnicity in Canada, we all “This has
Weekes discusses the courage and came from somewhere at one point
faith which helped him achieve his or another,” Newland said. been a great
sporting successes.
Yearwood talks about her pride
To learn more, visit the site at
blog.canoe.ca/blackhistorymonth,
experience and
in heritage: “I would be born again which is regularly refreshed with very therapeutic
black if I had a say in it!” new content, or join the ongoing
But Holmes said he was particu- discussion at facebook.com/group. for me
larly impressed by Sadler’s dedica-
tion to the black community in Can-
php?gid=118884465343&ref=ts. If you
wish to contact the organizers, e-mail
personally”
ada. “It was like coming come for me,” blackhistory@canoe.ca. Mark Holmes
Vancouver going for gold in the cuppa-joe Olympics
CAMILLE BAINS because it rains a lot here,” said Kyle ers that include JJ Bean. So Olympic coffee forward in North America,” crafters, adding he and other baristas
The Canadian Press Straw, general manager of the busi- spectators on the hunt for a buzz will said Straw, who’ll soon be training make it a point to drop by and sam-
est Caffe Artigiano in town. have no shortage of places to choose for the World Barista Championship ple their competitors’ offerings.
VANCOUVER — The shot glasses The Vancouver company that from. Many of the smaller, estab- in London in June. Layla Osberg, director of training
behind the counter rarely get a break opened its first location in 1999, after lished coffee houses have been sat- Straw’s passion for coffee is evi- at the Blenz coffee shop, won two
as one drink after another is poured U.S.-based Starbucks gained a foot- isfying caffeine addicts for years on dent as he talks about the complex latte art championships in Seattle
for steely-eyed customers lined up at hold in the city, now boasts 14 loca- Commercial Drive in the city’s east florals and delicate balance that and Atlanta in 2007. She now trains
the bar in this downtown Vancouver tions, including one in Calgary. side, some run by several genera- make a good cuppa joe. other baristas and said the tradi-
establishment every morning, noon For visitors to the 2010 Winter tions of Italian families. “Coffee, flavour-wise or aromati- tional Italian designs that crown a
and night. Olympics, the ubiquitous sight of Straw said that while the coffee cally, is more complex than wine,” drink — a tulip, rosetta or heart — go
The music and the whirring sound locals toting cups of coffee like essen- culture is taking off in Toronto and he said. beyond making it look pretty.
of the espresso machine mingle tial accessories will soon become old Montreal and Calgary is emerging Java drinkers are becoming more “As an employee making mini-
with the rising voices of the seated hat in Canada’s coffee capital, where as the newest player with an active discerning about their daily dose, mum wage it’s a creative way to
patrons getting their caffeine fix in java joints routinely compete for top barista community and independ- Straw said, especially as independ- express yourself,” said Osberg.
a city that boasts more coffee shops spot. ent roasters, Vancouver is part of the ent cafes keep popping up and baris- At Olympic venues, only one
than anywhere else in Canada. Dozens of brew spots that are part Pacific Northwest coffee clan, along tas become known for their craft.“It’s brand of coffee, called Far Coast,
“I’m not sure why, but it may have of Vancouver’s indie coffee scene go with Seattle and Portland, Ore. a fairly small community. It’s a tight will be available, brewed by sponsor
something to do with the weather head to head with the bigger play- “The three centres are pushing community,” he said of the coffee Coca-Cola.