Interview with David Brunelle (Part One)

David Brunelle
Project Director
Southern Georgian Bay War of 1812 Bicentenntial Committee

With the War of 1812 Bicentennial celebrations fast approaching and many special activities happening along the way, I wanted to continue my research on the War of 1812 and find out as much as I could about it. It’s not often you get to speak with “1812” personally! That’s just what I did a few weeks ago, when I was treated to a conversation with Mr. David Brunelle, currently the Project Director of the Southern Georgian Bay War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee. Dave is well versed in the War of 1812 as he has been involved in re-enacting for about 20 years now. He tells me it that it was his love of history and the military that initially intrigued him into this life of re-enacting. It has kept him going all these years. Dave was introduced into the “hobby” while he working as an interpreter at Discovery Harbour. Mr. Brunelle is currently with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Bulger’s Company. It is now a Not-For-Profit/Charity group promoting living history. As I spoke to Dave, I began to realize just how much knowledge and information he had to share with me. For those of you who have been on the field in battle or at an encampment with Dave, or visited a re-enactment and have seen him in full uniform, you will see just how serious and professional he is while “in character”. I started my interview with him asking the question “how true to authenticity are you while participating in re-enactments?” Dave said, “as true as possible for all aspects, from all the equipment to the training, drilling and knowledge. Some encampments are out-of-public-sight, so the “authenticity” issue can have some leeway, as is doesn’t play such a role in the effects of the visual observation by the public audiences”. (My “Ten Foot Rule” applies here, I guess!) In seeing Dave at several re-enactments I noticed that he usually wears a particular uniform. It led me to ask him what his favourite “character” was while portraying in living history re-enactments.
(To be continued)

INTERVIEW WITH MELANIE FERNANDEZ (Part Three)

Melanie Fernandez

Director of Community and Educational Programmes

Toronto Harbourfront Centre

She claims … “great staff” and “great volunteers”. I also asked her how they keep the festival “fresh” … after all, the event is now 15 years old. Melanie tells me … “fresh people. We have an excellent team that keep striving for new ideas, new art and new festivals.” She says she and her staff like to “keep in touch with what’s going on in the city and beyond”. I laughed a little and asked Melanie … “aren’t you the people” (being the Harbourfront Centre is a major contributor and continues with its efforts to awareness and culture). Perhaps they are, but that doesn’t stop Melanie and her amazing team of their never ending search for new and innovative ideas and activities to offer to the public. Melanie acknowledges that Toronto offers a large variety of activities and entertainment at different locations, but points out that the Harbourfront Centre brings them all at one location. The KUUMBA festival is just one example of them putting everything together in an interesting way. It makes for a “diverse” experience for a great number of people. Speaking of many people, I know Harbourfront Centre is large, so I asked how many people were they expecting over the February celebration. Melanie told me that they expect approximately 10-12,000 people. Don’t worry, Melanie tells me that they have enough facilities (restrooms, parking, accessibility and food) for everyone. They will have great signs and volunteers roaming around (with badges on) for anyone needing assistance. There is just too much to tell you all they are planning, so again, Melanie suggests you check out their website. This way you can plan your day depending on you and your family’s likes and interests. The diversity of KUUMBA activities and events is amazing! You can listen to a reading by Shane DeRolf (poet) who will read “The Crayon Box". Children then get to create their own portrait after hearing the poem. In the workshop area, children can create their own Carnival head pieces. This is then followed by “the most vibrant, colourful and festive carnival parade in town”! I’m excited to see the Jaivah Nourel Expose Dance Troupe dance to traditional and contemporary music. They specialize in dance from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Congo, Southern Africa and Egypt. Then you might want to visit the Black in History Visual Arts Exhibitions! One music performance that I’m also looking forward to is, Amadou Kienou. He will be performing a varied repertoire of music that consists of songs, dance, and musical soundings of the Mandingue rhythms. Amadou was born in Ouagadougou at Burkina Faso to a tribe from the Mandingue Empire. His singing is referred to as Praise Singers (Griots) from father to son. KUUMBA and the Harbourfront Centre offer live performances of music, dance, visual and literary arts, workshops, film and free crafts and activities for children and families. Don’t forget to bring your ice skates! KUUMBA offers a fantastic ice-skating party called “Soca on Ice – with Dr. Jay De Soca Prince spinning hot Caribbean rhythms that will surely heat things up!” Melanie and her team at Harbourfront Centre have worked hard to schedule the activities so that there is little to no conflicting events. As an example, Melanie suggested that a visitor might want to participate in the family activities offered from 1-5, but also catch a film from 2-3 in between. With their schedule, this can be done! Speaking with Melanie has been a wonderful opportunity! You see ... if you ask the organizers … you too can get the "THE INSIDE SCOOP”!

Interview with Melanie Fernandez... (Part Two)

Melanie Fernandez

Director of Community and Educational Programmes

Toronto Harbourfront Centre

Harbourfront Centre is renowned for their free ongoing artist and literary programmes. Last year, Harbourfront Centre’s “big idea” was to programme events from a more diverse and global perspective. Melanie, being a cultural director and curator, states that curatorial ideas cross. Basically, what I believe Melanie was explaining, is that just because this festival “KUUMBA” takes place just in February, it is an ongoing venture designed to educate and promote Black History Awareness and Culture… “This is not just a single event, otherwise it would be a token, we have worked really hard over the years (40 approx.) to not just be a token.” I was at the Fortune Cooking Festival this past summer and I remember that the “Marketplace” was very diverse. I asked Melanie if this was part of their year-long efforts. She confirmed that I was correct in my observations and that they try to offer “a rich experience, diversity wise”. If you ever get the chance to visit Harbourfront, a stop at the Marketplace is a must! Getting back to the KUUMBA festival itself, I asked Melanie if she relied on volunteers to help make this festival such a success. I must say that I was surprised by her answer! I had no idea the magnitude of their operation. Harbourfront Centre relies on over 4,000 volunteers over the course of the year, with about 100 to help at KUUMBA. Being a volunteer myself, I am aware of the importance of making sure the volunteers are appreciated and cared for (they seem to keep coming back if you do). Melanie says that they just wrapped up their Christmas party, this being one of the four Volunteer Appreciation celebrations Harbourfront offers its volunteers over the year. They even have a Volunteer Newsletter, copies of which can be found on their website. Here’s more SCOOP. I asked Melanie how on earth she is able to pull off such an amazing event as KUUMBA?
(To be continued)

Interview with Melanie Fernandez... (Part One)

Melanie Fernandez
Director of Community and Educational Programmes
Toronto Harbourfront Centre

It is with great excitement, that I present my inaugural “THE INSIDE SCOOP” Blog article. I was privileged to spend some time talking with Melanie Fernandez, the Director of Community and Educational Programmes at the Harbourfront Centre in downtown Toronto. The Harbourfront Centre is preparing for the 15th year of their “KUUMBA” a celebration of Black History Month featuring, an all-ages festival celebrating African Diaspora. This will be an exciting, fun-filled event for the entire family. It takes place during the month of February on the weekends of February 5-6 and February 12-13, 2011. I didn't know exactly what African Diaspora meant, so I investigated it on the Harbourfront Centre’s wonderful website (http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/) and learned that “African Diaspora” means the movement of Black Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world. I also found out from Harbourfront website that … “During the first weekend of Kuumba presented by , Black in History, you will witness the historical footprints in time by the Indigenous Black Canadian and American experience. The second weekend, Carnival on Mass, witnesses the celebration and fusion of art, history and the energy of Caribbean culture culminating with playing mass”. All you need to know about this festival you can find on their website and Melanie recommends that you do explore it to find the activities best suited for you and your family.
The being "THE INSIDE SCOOP” though, is really what I am excited to share with. This was a rare opportunity to ask some questions that many of us may wonder about. I wanted to learn a little about Melanie Fernandez as she takes on her mammoth role as a Director of the Coomunity and Educational Programmes at Harbourfront Centre and as the organizer of the KUUMBA festival. This is, as I mentioned, the 15th year of this festival. Melanie has been with the Harbourfront Centre for the past 8 years. The KUUMBA festival is one of longest running festivals at the Harbourfront Centre. Melanie department produces the “FREE” summer programmes for which she is very proud. Melanie is interested and invested in the diverse communities in the city and beyond. To quote Melanie … “I feel privileged to have the opportunity to offer free quality programmes to the public. This is one of Harbourfront Centre's most important mandates”. Melanie believes in promoting the richness of cultural awareness, including a whole range of communities. I asked Melanie, with all this intense focus and awareness during the month of February, was it difficult at other times throughout the year to maintain the excitement, growth and ongoing contributions to the culture. She says … “how we work here is really important!" We discussed why we even need Black History Month and celebrations. She states that it is just a condensed period of time. February is a condensed month but the Harbourfront is committed to promoting Canadian/African and cultural awareness throughout the year.
(To be Continued)