Her terrific book, Stay Black or Die has just been accepted by many professors throughout Canada as reading material for courses. It is available through Commodore Books.
Archive for December, 2007
Stay Black or Die
In Creative Writing, Culture, Writing (all kinds), book reviews on December 19, 2007 at 10:12Pathways to education (originally published with Pride Newsmagazine)
In Business, Culture, Education, Events, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:27
Pathways to Education
Regent Park is the oldest and largest public housing project in Canada. The average income is $18,000 per year, 50 per cent that of other Canadians. Over 80 per cent of residents are immigrants, many of who hold professional training diplomas, degrees and certificates from other countries that are not recognized in Canada. Englis is a second language for nearly 60 per cent of Regent Park adults and the region ahs twice the number of single parent families as the rest of Toronto. To top it off, there are no high schools in the community. It is no surprise that prior to Pathways the drop out rates was 56 per cent, twice Toronto’s average.
The Master Weaver (originally published with Pride Newsmagazine)
In Beauty, Business, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:26Rose Hibbert and Christos Cox creates magic with Donna Kakonge’s hair
The Master Weaver
With her 1992 red and black Volkswagen Jetta, Hibbert drove me up to Hair & Wigs on the Danforth in Toronto to get the 150 per cent real human cuticle hair for the makeover. Her sister Ingrid Hart, who is an actor and had a long-running role on “Train 48,” was seated in the back.
Hamilton Heroes (originally written for Young People’s Press and Big Brothers Big Sisters)
In Education, Technology, Writing (all kinds), travel on December 16, 2007 at 20:25Options for homes (originally published with New Dreamhomes and Condominiums Magazine
In Business, Home Decor, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:24
Mike Labbé – President of Options
Options for Homes – Making Home Ownership a Reality – October 2005 – published in New Dreamhomes and Condominiums Magazine
Bring a community together from the ground up and give them what they need to own a home seems to sum up the Options for Homes belief system.
How to make your mall experience a free one (originally published with The Shoestring.com)
In Business, Entertainment, Events, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:24How to Make Your Mall Experience a Free One
Being in a shopping mall can be an overwhelming experience – especially when you don’t have cash to spend. But, there are ways to have a good time without spending a cent.
Lawrence Hill
In Culture, Writing (all kinds), book reviews on December 16, 2007 at 20:22Lawrence Hill, Review of Black Berry, Sweet Juice
“The blacker the berry/The sweeter the juice/But if you get too black/It ain’t no use.”
Winterize your skin (published on Canoe.ca in 2001)
In Beauty, Business, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:21Winterize your skin
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Did you know that the sun can cause damage to your skin in the winter, as well as in the summer?
If you said yes, great. For those of you who said no, there can be grave consequences to not using sun protection in the winter. Even more damage can happen to your skin in winter than in the summer.
Perfume has gone to the dogs (published in Canoe.ca in 2001)
In Beauty, Business, Pets, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:20|
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Whoof! Whoof! |
Perfume has gone to the dogs
Oh my dog! Now pet owners can get even more intimate with their loved ones by wearing the same perfume with their cat and dog.
Dim sum for the Murmur Project aired on CBC Radio 3
In Entertainment, Health, Music, Radio Podcasts, Restaurant Reviews, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:20
Dim Sum & Friends
“Every time I see you falling, I get down on my knees and pray.”
The techno-rhythms and words of New Order blared in Sharon’s car as six teenagers were squeezed inside. We were going down to Kensington Market as part of our late 80’s ritual, coming from “Asiancourt.”
Kay McConney (originally published for Pride Newsmagazine)
In Business, Culture, Education, Events, Living, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:17
Kay McConney: leaving for other opportunities
Published in Pride Newsmagazine – June 29, 2005
By Donna Kay Kakonge
Kay McConney, the Consul General of Barbados, is leaving her post for other opportunities at the end of July. She has been the longest-running Consul General the consulate has ever had, beginning her diplomatic assignment on May 3rd, 1998.
Jully Black
In Beauty, Entertainment, Music, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:16
Jully Black – Home-grown Talent
The first time I met Jully Black was while she was working with the Princess of Wales show “Da Kink in my Hair.” I was walking out of a swanky store in the Eaton Centre of Toronto and she was walking in. With a huge smile on her face, she greeted me and said “hello.”
Burla awards (originally published for Share Newspaper)
In Culture, Education, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:16
they are all winners but one takes prize
BURLA Awards Recognize Youth
Published December 15, 2006 in Share Newspaper
The 2nd annual BURLA awards at Burke’s Books and Picture Framing highlighted three young women for the first time last week, but in the end only one took home the prize. Crystal Hosannah of Oakwood Collegiate won for her essay on literature that was inspired by her Mom.
A sprint to a clothing line (originally published for Pride Newsmagazine)
In Beauty, Business, Entertainment, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:15
he has reached the finish line
A Sprint to a Clothing Line
Published in Pride Magazine – June 29, 2005
Ben Johnson, the fastest man in the world according to a 1988 World Record time of 9.79 seconds, is now in the clothing business.
Restaurant makeover (originally published for Pride Newsmagazine)
In Entertainment, Health, Restaurant Reviews, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:14
Before
After
The show “Restaurant Makeover” helps restaurant owners to makeover their businesses. All you need to do is to send in a letter or a call and they decide whether they’re going to take the project on. The show, which airs on the Food Network Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, matches the money that owners put into the renovations dollar-for-dollar.
Art for the fifth wall (originally published for New Dreamhomes and Condominiums Magazine)
In Business, Home Decor, Writing (all kinds) on December 16, 2007 at 20:13|
by Donna Kakonge
Alan Pourvakil’s accomplishments are luxurious, award-winning, and good for your health. He is the owner and designer of W Studio—a large, impressive building that houses fine carpets.
He was born in Iran, a country famous for its Persian rugs. He came to Canada in 1988 at the age of 20 and started working in the carpet business a year later. He had no experience at the time, but learned about the art of carpet making at the International Academy of Design.
In 1990, he started a rug warehousing business in Richmond Hill and hired a handful of designers. Six years later, he opened his own retail business. He started out selling mainly Persian rugs, but after about a year he realized that people were tired of repetition.
“We looked for things that were softer on the eyes, more open, that would fit into today’s lifestyle, things that were not necessarily made in Iran,” says Pourvakil. “My approach was different; I wanted to find out what someone needed and try to find that carpet. We have to…find out what they like and what is right for the room.”
Pourvakil says each rug has a soul; he calls it art for the fifth wall. “It’s the largest piece of art in a room. It’s the most important piece of art in a room. A carpet can take months, if not years, to be done…It does have lots of personality.
It not only has to reflect the user, it has to be right for the space.”
W Studio seems to be accomplishing its mandate. It has garnered over 30 national and international design awards. Another big project it has been involved in is the expansion of the new Royal Ontario Museum, with an exhibit on China, Korea, Japan, and the First Nations peoples. Pourvakil also been involved with the Textile and Carpet Museum and National Ballet School, and his charity work includes Fashion Cares, Reach for the Rainbow, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the Sick Kids Foundation.
Pourvakil has also made several television appearances including on HGTV, Life TV, and CityTV. Pourvakil uses only wool, silk, and cotton in his carpets—no synthetics. “We believe in the air quality of a room,” he says. “Sick buildings are a concern for [us]. It’s a healthy choice and people are so concerned about the air that we breathe. If you have young children you should stay away from broadloom or synthetic fabrics. Also the artistic part of the value is lost. You lose the soul of the rug. This is a craft that has been carried on for thousands of years.”
Nowadays people have a need for a big area rug and Pourvakil says that size is very important. A lot of floors are hardwood, granite, slate, or tile and you need something to cover the space in order to bring life to the room.
One of the most appealing things about carpets is their ability to reduce noise. “You definitely need that,” says Pourvakil. “For many people that’s exactly the reason [they buy a carpet], to reduce sound pollution.”
Pourvakil has high ambitions for his craft. “When I first started out I worked with a PR woman who asked me where you want this company to be, and I said I want this to be the biggest carpet business in the world with locations all over the world,” says Pourvakil.
“Her jaw dropped and she said I have big dreams. Yes, I have big dreams…You can’t mass produce something and expect to be the best. I want to be the best design house and the most socially conscious business.”
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Power pics
In Culture, Writing (all kinds), cars, travel on December 16, 2007 at 20:11Powerful Pics
He’s 29…he wears T-shirts about trucking companies and jackets about old diners called Dickie’s. He’s also an artist and an IT guru exhibiting at the Guerrilla Gallery on College Street.
