Holiday Season!

As the holiday season quickly approaches we ask you to support your local businesses and remember those less fortunate than you. This is usually an opportune time to give something back to the community around you so that it may thrive.
Take the time to enjoy this season in whatever celebration you choose to have.

From the members of The Social Organization of Caribbean Cultural Activities wish you a Happy Holidays and a Prosperous 2012!

Check out some of the events happening around the city:

"Bridging the Gap"

On November 27, 2011 Club S.O.C.C.A will be embarking on another unique performance extravaganza. Over the last few years there has been lots of discussions about the disconnect between our children and our parents - (our referring to the sandwich generation). Gone are the days when it was common place to have many generations of families enjoying an evening out with other families. During our various events over the past few years we have acknowledged this fact and it has taken some time to create this initiative but we hope by bringing these two groups together it becomes a catalyst for a greater understanding, promotion, preservation and education not only of the various arts and cultures but of LIFE.


We would like to invite one and all to come spend the evening with us and see the amazing talent that nestle within the National Capital region and throughout the generations.

A November to Remember

Club S.O.C.C.A will be launching a new initiative this month so tune to CHUO on Saturday as we unveil yet another one of our family oriented projects. As the weather outside begins to cool-down we will be moving inside to bring you some of the best in entertainment!  

October- Breast Cancer Awareness Month

We are half way through the month and as an association that supports the Ottawa Hospital Foundation specifically in the area of cancer research we would like to remind you that this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So let us take a moment to visit some of the linked sites for more information on this disease and the recent advancement in treatments.

It affects us all!

Appreciation Soriee 2011

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011 Club S.O.C.C.A was able to show its appreciation to some of the people who give so generously of their time because without them nothing would be possible. 

It was a great pleasure to see so many of our supports come out to enjoy an evening of great food, conversation and excellent music. 

First we would like to say a heartfelt thanks to the SAW Club staff who were extremely accommodating, helpful and pleasant. We look forward to having another event at their location soon.
 

Our MC for the evening Ms. Coddett, who is one of Canada's community leaders and champions for change, acknowledged the work of the organization's President and reminded us all that without good leadership we would not be able to do what we do.

Mr. Bostic, President of Club S.O.C.C.A  continued the evening's proceeding by introducing the executive and expressing his thanks, to all for being there whenever needed. He was most pleased to see that they were attendees from across the generational spectrum, as this is one of the signs that events of this nature will carry-on.

The evening culminated with surprise birthday celebrations and excellent deserts which were all once again generously donated.

On behalf of the Social Organization of Caribbean Cultural Activities thanks to one and all who enable us to keeping going year after year.

 

5th Annual Community Family Fun Day & Kites 4 Cancer Fundraiser

Once again Club S.O.C.C.A is set to take over Petrie Island on Sunday,  July 24th,  2011 from 11:00 AM. This year's entertainment program is sure to impress. As per our mandate we strive to promote and educate families about Caribbean cultural.  One of the forgotten aspects of our culture in today busy world is the opportunity to congregate in an informal manner and share experiences. As an added attraction to our entertainment program this year we are having the "Senior Stars" grace our stage with some exceptional performances.

This portion of the day's local entertainment has been organized and sponsored by Chartwell REIT.

This is one of the first steps at bridging the generational gaps and passing on the culture.

Thank You - From Us to You

The Club S.O.C.C.A Board would like to thank all those who supported us this year with the costumed  masquerade band presentation " Mas is Mas", from conception to completion. We would like to thank our partners both in Toronto and Montreal for their support as well as our generous sponsors.

We will be looking forward to hitting the road to Montreal for Carifesta on July 9th, 2011 and participating with High Rollers Production (view costumes on our site- SOCCA Store). So if you haven't got your costume for the next in the series of Canadian-Caribbean  Carnival style parades please do not hesitate in contacting us for further details.

Next stop Montreal......!

Club S.O.C.C.A doing its part in the Ottawa Community

Mayor Jim Watson, centre, shares a laugh with Antoinette Smith, left, and Shelly Sawyers, who were promoting Carivibe, at the opening of the Quality Inn in Thursday.

Photograph by: Wayne Cuddington, The Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa Citizen

 

Thursday June 9, 2011 - Club S.O.C.C.A was proud to be at the opening of the new Quality Inn in Orleans, Ontario. It was a pleasure to be a part of this momentous occasion and show one of our costumes for next week's parade starting at 12:00 noon. 

We would like to thank the new owners and staff for their hospitality during this promotional event. On behalf of Club S.O.C.C.A we would like to wish the new Quality Inn full occupancy.

 

Club S.O.C.C.A - Orleans Festival

Club S.O.C.C.A display
Carivibe booth Orleans, ON Festival

June 4, 2011- Club S.O.C.C.A displayed some of its costumes at the Orleans Festival held at the Shenkman Arts Centre last Saturday. It was a fun filled day of displays, excitement and entertainment for all.

Out Takes - 2011

Costume production from conception to completion takes numerous hours but it is all worth it when you see this:

2011 Launch
Atomic Rooster, Ottawa

Photo Shoot 2011

 

Carnival Arts-A Brief History

Image via WikipediaCaribbean Carnival Arts or 'Mas' making as it is called in this region is a tradition that has been around for  hundreds of years. This tradition can be traced back to Italy where members of the Catholic religion held a costume party prior to the Lent. In keeping with the traditions surrounding Lent the name Carnival came from "carnavale" which loosely translated meant “to put away the meat". As the carnival became more famous in Italy it quickly spread to other European countries.


Modern day Caribbean carnivals are based more on the African tradition where parading and moving in circles through villages in costumes and masks was the norm. The circling of villages was believed to bring good fortune, to heal problems, and chill out angry relatives who had passed into the next world. Carnival traditions also borrowed from the African tradition of putting together natural objects such as bones, grasses, beads, shells, and fabric to create a piece of sculpture, a mask, or costume — with each object or combination of objects representing a certain idea or spiritual force. 

African dance and music traditions transformed the early carnival celebrations in the Americas (including the Caribbean), where African drum rhythms, large puppets, stick fighters, and stilt dancers began to make their appearances in the carnival festivities. 


Carnival fused with the arts offers all of us a dynamic tool for self-expression and exploration, a tool to seek out our roots, a tool to develop new forms of looking at the world and its cultures, and finally, a tool to unite the world, to discover what we all have in common, and to celebrate what makes us different. 

The power and creativity that underlies these art forms has the possibility of transforming the way in which we interact with each other. Therefore join us on June 18, 2011 in Orleans, Ontario for the second annual Carivibe parade and start the transformation.

2011 Theme for Carivibe Parade

Previous Carnival Celebration in Ottawa

2011 theme "Mas is Mas". Choosing such a broad theme was done so that we can be inclusive of all and not restricting anyone to the vision of the design. We have found that although people may have heard of Carnival they are not necessarily sure how are if they can participate. So as our mandate states we are here to help in the education and promotion of a strong Caribbean cultural heritage with a twist, called Carnival.

As the Caribbean Diaspora community living in one of the most multicultural countries in the world we have recognized that  the opportunity to be a part of the true essence of Carnival is to facilitate individuals or groups the ability to a dynamic way of self-expression by facilitating the wearing of traditional pieces that are representative of their cultural heritage or form of Carnival. 

Therefore we are asking members of the Ottawa community that celebrate Carnival/Carnavale/Fiesta/Karneval or whatever you may call it, as a part of their cultural heritage to join us on June 18, 2011 in a show of community spirit and celebration of our similarities.

Related articles

• Montreal's Carifiesta parade back after hiatus (cbc.ca)
• Other Carnival's (thecarnivalesque.wordpress.com)