Sherona Johnson – Hall, Dead at 59

Our tribute to
Sherona Johnson – Hall
April 26, 1948 – December 30, 2006

Community Leader, Activist, Mother, Friend First-born daughter of Harold Johnson and Clementina Gale, Sherona Hall grew up in a family of -5 brothers and sisters in Kingston, Jamaica. Witnessing the impoverished conditions within her community, she was inspired to take action. At an early age, she dedicated herself to promoting human and civil rights.

As a teen, so influenced was she by the body politic of the day in her native Jamaica that she became the co-founder and secretary of the Youth League of the People's National Party of Jamaica.

Additionally, Sherona supported the fight for independence in Southern Africa throughout the late 1970's by participating in seminars, open discussions and demonstrations, thus keeping the focus of the peoples struggle constant within the media - and on the minds of many concerned Canadians.

She always defended the aims and objectives of the youth throughout her community work as well. Sherona never wavered in her advocacy. Whether it was affordable housing for youth, employment issues or the struggles faced by youth caught up inside the criminal justice system, she always stood firm in the belief that political education and cultural awareness were seminal to youth achieving in this world.

She worked for over 30 years as a court reporter, the last two decades in her own firm, thereby creating a template for business entrepreneurship while opening doors for employment of young men and women pursuing this field. She struggled alongside her fellow sisters and brothers to help give a voice to African women and marginalized groups in a political context therefore providing a space for political dialogue to occur.

At the age of only 59, Sherona's decades of tireless, organizing, campaigning, personal sacrifice and boundless generosity leave an unforgettable legacy for thousands of people in Toronto, Jamaica, across Canada and around the world.

To cherish her memory, she leaves her son, Lowell Ruddy and brothers, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Sherona Johnson – Hall
April 26, 1948 – December 30, 2006

Crucible Awards 2006

Artist	Award	Year	Title	Country
Gyptian	#1 Dance Hall Single	2006	If You Really Love Me	Canada
Steel	#1 Single	2006	Confession	Canada
Cham & Alicia Keys	#1 Single, International	2006	Ghetto Story	Jamaica/USA
Jully Black	Artist of the Year Female	2006	This is Me	Canada
Sean Paul	Artist of the Year, International	2006		Jamaica
Leroy Brown	Artist of the Year Male	2006		Canada
Jay Douglas	CD/Lp of the Year	2006	Touch Of Magic	Canada
Tasha T	CD/Lp of the Year	2006	Tasha T	Canada
Dermott Williams	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Radio	Canada
JoJo Bennett	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Foundation Bassist /A&R	Jamaica
Leroy Sibbles	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Foundation Bassist /A&R	Jamaica
Milton Blake	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Radio	Canada
Pluggy Satchmo	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Dance	Canada
Prince Buster	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Preducer/Artist	Jamaica
Super V	Circle Of Distinction	2006	Radio	Canada
Bitty MCLean	Comeback Artist	2006		UK
Ghost	Comeback Artist	2006		Jamaica
Horace Martin	Comeback Artist	2006	Pozitive Vibez	Canada
Alaine	Crucible Mention	2006		Jamaica
Keith Poppin	Crucible Mention	2006	Get Togher	USA
LA Allen	Crucible Mention	2006		Canada
Orville (Wiz) Malcolm	Crucible Mention	2006		Canada
Otis I	Crucible Mention	2006	Nah Hear	Canada
Nana McLean	Gospel Album	2006	Breakthrough	Canada
Prince Everald	Longevity	2006		Canada
The Mighty Mystic	Longevity	2006		Canada
Walli Rich	Longevity	2006		Canada
Willie Williams	Longevity	2006		Canada
Explorer Productions	Producer of the Year	2006		Canada
Eddie Grant	Respect Due	2006		Canada
George Nooks	Respect Due	2006		Jamaica
Jimmy Reid	Respect Due	2006		Canada
Partick Roots	Respect Due	2006	Radio	Jamaica
Tipper	Respect Due	2006	Classic Review	Canada
Winston Richards	Respect Due	2006	Writer/Producer	Canada
Humble	Rising Star	2006		Canada
Michael Thompson	Rising Star	2006		Canada
Tami Chynn	Rising Star	2006		Jamaica/USA
Treson	Rising Star	2006		Canada

NEVILLE NEWTON MONTROSE WILLOUGHBY1937 - 2006

Wednesday, December 20th, 2006
Veteran Broadcaster,
Neville Willoughby is dead at age 69
1937 - 2006

"Mr. Willoughby dedicated his career to the highest standards of professionalism while being an active participant in the country's development through the arts in his capacity as a singer and song writer."

Jamaica's Prime Minister Simpson Miller

For more visit The Legendary Neville Willoughby

From The Jamaica Observer comes this excerpted story

... "While studying psychology at the University of Toronto in Canada, he sang with the Hart House Glee Club and took part in many musical performances on campus. He travelled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, but came back to Jamaica to launch his career in media. A task that would prove to be a lot harder than he initially thought, as former JBC General Manager, Peter Alien, rejected him for the position of announcer."

"Being an individual not willing to give up, Willoughby auditioned for RJR and was still not welcomed with open arms. But perseverance paid off as he sat in the RJR lobby many days waiting to be given a job, until finally the management of the station obliged him and allowed him to commence his broadcasting career."

His deceptively simplistic but accurate interviewing style allowed the ordinary listener to get to know what they wanted.

'

For the full story visit The Jamaica Observer.

Toronto Preschool Speech and Language Services

Toronto Preschool Speech and Language Services Toronto Preschool Speech and Language Services (TPSLS) provides two community based programs (Infant Hearing Program and Preschool Speech and Language Services) that provide information and services for infants, toddlers and preschool children.

Infant Hearing Program (IHP) A community program designed to identify infants born deaf or hard of hearing and provide follow up supports and services.

Preschool Speech and Language Services (PSLS) A community partnership designed to deliver speech and language services for preschool children, toddlers and preschool children.

Languages - Brochures Arabic, Chinese, French, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Polish, Ojicree, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Urdu, Vietnamese.

Visit Toronto Preschool Speech and Language Services

Settlement.Org: Education Newcomers' Guide to Elementary School (Public School Board)

This guide provides information and suggestions that will help you establish good communication with your child’s teacher and the school. Good communication makes it easier for the teacher to get to know your child and for you to understand what is happening in school.


Settlement.Org: Newcomers' Guide to Elementary School (Public School Board)

Redemption September 29 ... nice expression of fun & love

Great to see and feel the energy at the September 2006 Redemption!

DJs were on point!

Tony Rebel, the Special Guest, was an instant connect

Black Reaction gave a glimpse of their readiness to claim New York

There was a lot-a-love in the house!

Its just great to see people enjoying themselves!

It was also good to feel the music loud!

Next Redemption December

Manufacturing Consent, Noam Chomsky, Edward S. Herman excerpt, ThinkingPeace

Manufacturing Consent, Noam Chomsky, Edward S. Herman excerpt, ThinkingPeace: "The mass media serve as a system for communicating messages and symbols to the general populace. It is their function to amuse, entertain, and inform, and to inculcate individuals with the values, beliefs, and codes of behavior that will integrate them into the institutional structures of the larger society. In a world of concentrated wealth and major conflicts of class interest, to fulfill this role requires systematic propaganda. "