November 1, 2024 • 38 mins
Maria Myers, the remarkable president of the Spice Isle Association, takes us on an inspiring journey from her roots in Venezuela, Trinidad, and Grenada to her impactful role in the Grenadian community of Toronto. Despite her career as an electronics engineer technician, Maria's passion for cultural connection and community work shines as she shares her experiences in transforming the Grenada Day Festival into a major celebration. Her story, filled with resilience and dedication, reveals the power of embracing one's heritage and making a difference far from home.
We dive deep into the complex relationship between community dynamics and law enforcement, shedding light on the historical challenges faced by neighborhoods like Jane and Finch. Through personal stories, we explore the racial tensions and shifts in police interactions, drawing intriguing comparisons between Canadian and U.S. experiences. Nostalgic memories of Maria's involvement with community radio at CHRY offer a unique perspective on the influential role of media in shaping views and fostering community spirit amid adversity.
The episode concludes with a vibrant exploration of Grenadian culture and the significance of events like Grenada Day and the Oil Down Festival. Maria's reflections on the vibrant culture of Grenada and the importance of financial literacy for future generations offer a hopeful vision for the community. Highlighting the upcoming feedback meeting on November 9th, we invite listeners to engage and support the ongoing efforts to preserve and celebrate Grenadian heritage. The episode is a celebration of culture, community, and the indomitable spirit of people like Maria, who work tirelessly to bring communities together.
Thanks for listening to Nutmeg Nation - I would like to thank my Editor Sean for helping with the audio of show, thanks to my Designer Yim for creating the logo and images for the show and thanks to my Guests!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
hi, I'm carlene, and this is not magnation.
I have with me on the showmaria myers and I'm so excited.
Maria is our first guest thisfall and we've been off the air
for a little bit, but I'm reallyexcited because I met you in in
september, right, yeah yeahyeah, the oil down festival and
(00:26):
you are like everyone wants totalk to you.
so I was lucky, I got like alittle bit of time and here we
are and we're going to talkabout like who you are,
basically what you've done forthe Grenada Day cultural
committee, and for those whodon't know who you are, just
just give us a little synopsis,like what do you do and who is
(00:48):
Maria?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Okay, so I am the president of two Grenadian-based
organizations right here inToronto Spice Isle Association
and the Grenada Day CultureAssociation.
Now, the first one that I wasinvolved in was Spice Isle
Association, in which themembers of that organization
started the Grenada Day Festivalwith presidents of the various
(01:10):
organizations.
So the presidents were KenroyGordon of the GBSS, Kay Baptiste
of the Caracol Association,Laura Henry of the Grenada
Association and myself, theSpice Owl Association
Association, and myself, theSpice Out Association, and
(01:30):
together we thought of To Do ADay which we now call the
Grenada Day Festival.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, so Grenada Day Festival.
I've been once before, yearsago.
It's been a long time comingthat you've been doing this
event.
And for those that have notbeen to Grenada Day, how has it
changed over the years?
I mean 14 years, wow.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, it's 17 years minus the two years of COVID
Right.
Yeah.
It's amazing, carlene.
It's something that grew from500 people to 5,000 people and
over 5,000 people actually, whatam I saying?
And it's a festival that, asthe police have described, it's
one of the best Caribbeanfestivals.
That's gearing towards theculture and heritage of Grenada,
(02:13):
but brings so many differentislands together, so many
different cultures together, tolearn about our petite Grenada,
caracou and petite Martiniqueislands, right.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
So, speaking of Grenada, Caracou and Petit
Martinique Island, Right.
So, speaking of Grenada Day,because you are the president
and you've obviously earned yourstripes, where are you from in
Grenada?
I think I saw I did a littledigging.
Is it St David's that's theparish you're from or no, St
George's, our family's fromBolio Boca.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
But I'll tell you a little secret I was actually
born in Venezuela.
Oh wow, my mother left Grenadato go and work and then from
Venezuela I came to Trinidad andthen Grenada, went to school in
Grenada and then from Grenadacame to Canada, where I learned
English here in Canada because,of course, spanish was my first
(03:04):
language.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Wow.
So how long did you live inGrenada for?
Like you lived in.
Obviously, venezuela is whereyour roots tie, so you're a bit
of both.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
but Like Venezuela, trinidadian and Grenadian.
So I came here when I was about10 years old and my mother from
the old old school grilledEnglish in me and she herself
knew Spanish, but she grilledthe English in me so for she was
scared, like I'm in a newcountry.
Now you got to learn Englishand you know she was scared that
(03:36):
I wasn't going to pick up thelanguage.
But you know, back then theydon't realize the importance of
having multiple languages tosocialize.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah, you know what?
You're right.
I stopped taking French ingrade 10.
And I think if I wasn't such akid that was like I don't like
my French teacher because I havethe same French teacher I would
have probably stayed on becauseyou're right, like knowing
another language is so important.
But from one Grenadian toanother, we all speak English
and then you know broken Englishis obviously the dialect or
(04:07):
whatever you want to call it.
But since you left Grenada whenyou were young, what made you
decide to become a part of thisassociation?
How did you?
How did you get to where youare now?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I worked in a community, not as a Grenadian,
just as community worker.
Besides my job, my full-timejob, had nothing to do with the
community.
The two titles are vastlydifferent.
So my field, my career, waselectronics engineer technician
at Bell Canada, and I loved alsoworking with youth, children
(04:44):
and our community to build abetter community.
So everywhere I was, whetherit's my children's school, I was
part of the PTA, so it's acommunity.
I see kids that are, you know,less fortunate, and not that I
was rich at all because I wasn't, I was just wanted to always
help.
So I have four biological kids,seven adopted kids, and they
call me mom to this day andtheir children call me grandma.
(05:07):
So from there I worked with theToronto police and I didn't like
the police at first because,coming from an area of Jane and
Finch too, I seen a lot ofthings that the police shouldn't
have done and I had no trust inthe police.
But it has since then beenreformed.
So I had a fabulous mentor itwas at that time he was.
(05:28):
He went up to deputy chief ofpolice, michael Federico, and he
actually changed my hand on howI look at police and he worked
with us 200%.
So while in the communityworking with the police and
doing a lot of things.
And it was my cousin that Isaid you know what you need to?
You're doing like such a greatjob in the community.
(05:48):
You need to go to your, yourroots, go back to your roots and
upbuild them, because I don'tsee that community being
uplifted or upbuilt.
So I said, oh, okay, okay,that's how.
I was going to Trinidad everyyear for carnival and I said I
don't know, I don't know.
So he brought me to one meetingand he says you know, this is
the girl that we can get, we canget a group going and build up
(06:12):
Grenada and that's Spice OwlAssociation.
We started with having arepresentation in Carabana where
we can have a Grenadian section.
So we started working withfamilies, grenadian families, to
be.
We started working withfamilies, grenadian families, to
be able to put their kids andthemselves into a section.
We work with Arnold Hughes,worked with a couple of bands,
(06:32):
but mainly it was Arnold Hughes.
And then we branched off todoing community events Family
Day, sports Day, children'sChristmas Party, which we still
do up to this day, and we workwith CHUM and the firefighters
and make sure to have a partyfor these kids.
And when we saw that theparties, the company parties,
(06:54):
was phasing out, we said no,these kids have to have a
Christmas party to go to.
And that's when we implementedthat Christmas party and to this
day we do that.
And that's how I got involved inthe Grenadian community and at
first it was a challenge becauseI didn't know how to like.
I knew how to upbuild because Iwas working in the community,
so it just came natural.
(07:15):
But there was the feedback thatwas coming back and stuff.
I had to like, stand back andsay what like.
Every culture, I think, has adifferent mentality and before I
stood back I kind of realizedand learned my own people over
again my culture, the heritageof what was liked, what was
disliked, what was how they are,how to work with them.
(07:37):
So and now it's like, yeah,yeah, um.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
So like you've said a lot of great things, like like
you know in terms of our culture, like I got to say that you
know what.
It's true, you're not alwaysgoing to get positive
reinforcements, like even when Istarted this podcast I started
it in 2020 and I had a fewpeople say some stuff to me too,
(08:02):
like why you like Grenada hasno podcast.
Like why are you even going tobother?
Like you know, and like whenyou're, you're always going to
get people that are going to bedifficult in everything that you
do.
That's outside of the norm, orlike you're trying to make a
difference.
But the one thing you said,going back to your mentor,
michael Federico, what did he dothat made you change your mind
(08:27):
on working with the Torontopolice?
Speaker 2 (08:30):
That's a very good question, carly.
Nobody has ever asked that.
I've always told them who's theone that turned me around, but
nobody asked.
What did he do?
What did he say?
What made a difference fromhating police to working with
them?
I was on the radio that time,myself and DJ Shears and I was
his co-host.
Yes, dj Shears is a well-knownDJ from the past, very good guy,
(08:54):
and he asked me to come onboard as his co-host and so it
was another plan to put Grenadaon the map and be recognized,
and I was all in for it.
I was like, okay, no problem.
And that's when I was cominginto the Grenada community and I
came in with such a force thateverybody's heads turned like
who's, who's this girl?
Who's where does she come from?
(09:14):
And so people were questioning,or you know, some wanted me
like because I was veryboisterous and and out there and
put Grenada out there.
And he was one of them.
And we had a radio show andMichael Federico I worked with
12 Division at that time and wesaid there was another girl
named Jennifer Huntley.
(09:34):
She was on another radiostation, same station but
different program and we wantedto do a police.
Black people don't trust police.
They don't like police.
And, yes, get the police on.
Get the police on and he was asuperintendent of 12 Division.
So I like try to set him up.
I must say I try to set him upin different ways, in terms of
(09:57):
he's going to fail, he's notgoing to, he's going to collapse
, he's not going to want to workwith us.
We're Black people who all ofthem say, start off saying yeah,
yeah, yeah, but then they endup they don't want to work with
us and stuff.
So we set him up.
We set him up and we broughthim to a radio station.
He came in CHRY.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
He came in.
Oh my gosh, I was just about toask you about CHRY.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yes, it was CHRY, it was, oh God, what was our show
called?
Spice, spice, something in themorning, right, and he came on
and me and Jennifer was justwaiting for him.
We did all.
We said all the things that oh,you're going to ask him this,
we're going to ask him that he'sgoing to get burned.
And we told him, I warned himbefore.
I said, yeah, you know.
So I put him up to that testand I assumed he was going to
(10:44):
fail the test.
Honestly, I feel I assume thathe's going to fail the test
because we're going to put himon.
So many people say, hey, lookout for just say the show is on
Thursday, look out, for Thursday.
We're going to haveSuperintendent Mike Federico
from 12 Division, which is adivision that's very on a hot
seat because it's on the BlackCreek and the Thuey Guys.
Get your questions ready, getanything you want ready,
(11:06):
anything you want to ask thisman, ask him.
Okay, we want answers, you guyswant answers, you know, and
everybody was calling in andsaying yeah, we're going to call
in, we can't wait for that showto come on, we're going to ask
him this, ask him that.
So, and then they were askingus and we're like no, no, no,
don't ask us, wait until hecomes on the show, you know.
(11:27):
And then the day when he cameon the show Carlene, I was I
left a changed person.
I came on the show and I wasready because I was like, yeah,
we're setting this guy up.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
He had no clue that we're setting him up.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
I just said you got to be strong, you have to have a
strong back because thesepeople are going to come after
you forcefully and they're goingto ask you all these questions.
And then, when Jennifer met him, jennifer said hi, you know,
nice to meet you.
Listen, I got to tell you, yougot to have your straw.
And she said the same thing.
I said to him he's like noproblem, ladies, no problem, I'm
ready.
I'm ready, because if they tellyou that they hate the police
(12:02):
and their guys are pigs and allthat kind of stuff, just be
prepared for all that andeverything that they were
calling us and telling us whatthey're going to tell him.
So we had some questionsprepared for him.
So I, you know, we said are youready?
And he goes yeah.
So we said hi, guys, the timeis here.
Superintendent Michael Federicois here from 12th division.
We started off, you know,introducing him.
(12:23):
He introduced himself and thenwe started off with asking him
the questions.
So he said okay, and then heanswered it Like he answered it
dead on.
And then we asked him, jenniferasked him between Jennifer and
myself.
We both asked him questions andand then, after I said to him,
I said, okay, it's time to openup the lines, right?
(12:44):
Yeah, let's open up the linesand let's have anybody else.
And then we said to him are youready?
And he's like yes.
And he's like, yes, you know,don't worry about it, don't
worry about it, you guys are,you know, worried.
So, anyway, we were worriedbecause we knew what they said
to us.
They're going to ask him thiswhen men are like police, when I
like police, you know all kindsof stuff.
(13:04):
We opened the lines and we lookat the lines, the lines went
dead, Like nobody called in.
So we're like, hey guys, theline is open now you guys can
call in Carlene.
Nobody called in.
So I said, OK, Wow, theaudience seemed to be a little
shy out there.
So we're going to just kind ofJennifer, what should we do?
He goes well, let's ask some ofthe questions that they call us
(13:26):
to ask.
Let's ask him.
So then maybe they would unwindand not be so shy.
I mean, they were calling inthat week leading up to it.
It was like every second theywere calling in asking this.
I said, well, don't ask us,Don't worry, Wait to the show.
There were so many peoplecalling in and then we asked him
the questions.
He answered it dead on and thenI turned around and I was
(13:47):
started to be harsh and Jenniferstarted to be harsh.
I said, OK, you know what,Really Like, I've seen things in
31 Division that was notsupposed to be and that's why I
myself did not like the police,because they did things and put
things on people just to chargethem.
But nothing like that went.
I was, we were taken into paddywagons for no reason.
(14:07):
Why?
Just to be in a basement party.
You know why.
Why you guys act like that.
Why is it?
And he's?
And he was very apologetic tothe police and said I'm very
sorry if you had to encountersomething like that.
And he was very apologetic tothe police and said I'm very
sorry if you had to encountersomething like that.
That's not acceptable.
I mean, you know what?
I know that there is officersout there that's not good.
I know that and I wish you guyswould tell me which one
(14:30):
pinpoint which one.
If they're in 12th Division,you let me know.
But I also know there'sofficers out there that's
extremely good and I don't wantto have these bad officers
rooting for the good officers.
Like he was just dead on andI'm looking at him like so like
what, what kind of stuff?
Speaker 1 (14:46):
you know, like police always get like a bad rap and
like you see it in the news,they're like we can go from back
in the day.
But like 12th division, likewhen you say that is it known
for.
Like so-called history withthis, like what is like the like
.
What's one thing that you guysdidn't like, or like the
(15:06):
community, cause you know Janeand Finch, like we all know,
jane and Finch gets a bad rap,like whenever I'm in that area
back and like I'd be there, I'dbe worried that something might
happen, cause you keep hearingstories like you know, yeah, 12
division.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
It is similar to Jane and Finch.
It was a lot of racism at thatpoint on 31 division a lot of
harassment, a lot of carding, alot of like hey, you, what's
your, where are you from?
What's your name like, are youSandra, are you so?
And so there was a lot ofthings like I remember I was in
a share tomorrow when it wasfirst built and they were asking
(15:42):
, they were calling out a nameand I didn't know it was me.
But then when I saw everybodylooking at me, I'm like what's
everybody looking at me for?
And then when I realized Iturned around and these officers
was asking hey, and I turnaround, I go, yes, is your name
Sandra, get over here.
And I go, my name is not Sandra, don't tell me to get over here
.
And I just scooted out of themall because fear.
(16:03):
And they said yo, get over here.
And I go, I'm not getting overhere, my name is not Sandra,
don't you dare embarrass me likethat again.
And I just ran out of the mallbecause I was figured that they
were going to grab me forsomething, because that's how
they were back then.
If you didn't, they didn't likeyou or you didn't adhere to
them.
It wasn't about protecting oror serving the community at all.
(16:23):
It wasn't like that, you know.
So it was things like that thatthey could have done, but they
don't do now.
They probably I say probably.
There is still racism anddiscrimination on the force,
like in any workplace, but it'shandled a little differently
because they cannot be upfrontlike how they used to be oh yeah
, like, like, I think.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
I think the one thing that we can say here is that
they say in the us it's in yourface, you see it, whereas here
it's more underneath the surface, like, like, they're not
blatantly going to be racist toyour face, they'll do it
discreetly or in a way where youdon't see it like face value,
right, is that what you'retrying to say?
Like I forgot the term they usefor that, but you said so many
(17:07):
things all at once that werejust like oh my gosh, chry,
maria, I interned there backthen and I used to work with
Millie Gordon.
Oh, millie Gordon, yes, andthen I, I, I actually, when I
volunteered at CHRY, that's howI knew I wanted to get into
radio because of the communityand everything, and like it's
(17:30):
like, if you ever get a chance,like go on YouTube and watch
some of the old footage, I swearI think there was a day they
closed down the radio stationand that was like the end, like
it was crazy.
But yeah, I used to co-hostwith this guy, fred Tay.
He had this show called AfricanSunsplash and that was like my
(17:51):
time at one time.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yes, I remember, I remember Fred, Fred sorry.
Yes, I remember, I rememberFred sorry, and there was
Experience Creole with Levi andThing.
There was.
Wow, small world.
You know all of us was.
You know we had it together.
Serby's still there, serby, andwe have so many Like, yeah, it
was all of us together as a teamand yeah, so everybody knew
(18:16):
where to go, where not to go.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
What a history, right ?
Oh, my goodness, From likewhere you're going, so like
growing up in that area.
So you grew up in Jane andFinch like.
What school did you go to Likeand and how do you feel that
impacted where you are now?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Right.
So I lived from Falstaff toChalk Farm and went up to where.
I was always there with my bestfriends in Shoreham and
Driftwood.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Oh my gosh, wow yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I went to Northview Secondary School, graduated then
I got pregnant but and then Iwent went took my grade 13.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
at that time it was grade 13 at CW Jeffries yeah and
um, so how old is your littleone now?
My the first born, yeah, 40.
Oh, wow, yes, your first bornis the same age as me.
That's crazy.
Um, so I'm like, is she part,did she?
Was she like part of the lastgrade 13?
(19:16):
Cause you say grade 13 and Iwas the last class, so I
graduated double cohort and itwas like that was the end of OAC
grade 13.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, that was yeah, she was the last.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Oh my goodness, yeah, yeah, like, yeah, wow, that's
so crazy.
You know now that I'm 40, I'mit's like, yeah, wow, that's so
crazy.
Now, you know, now that I'm 40,I'm it's like, wow, I can't
believe it.
Like my, when you look at thetime and everything that's
happened, it's like my babysister is 25 and, um, I'm the
oldest out of there's five girls, and so listening to you talk
about like your history, likeyour whole history, is like kind
(19:53):
of like in a way, for me too,because I grew up in like bad
areas too, like Lansdowne andBloor and like DuPont and Osler,
like that's where my parentshouse is, and like when you,
when you're a kid, you don'treally understand why it's
considered a bad area until you,like, you're older and you're
like, wow, this area is roughlike I walked through these
(20:15):
areas, like you know like likeeven you on Shoreham, there,
like people were like Shoreham,that's a bad area, late at night
don't walk through there, likeyou know.
So that was like our best years.
That was our best years youknow, yeah, but getting back to
what was the name of the radioshow that you were co-hosting on
(20:38):
and like what radio station wasthat CHOI?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Yeah, and it was called.
You know, I can't remember, itwas Spice.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
OK, so that was that show and that wasn't with DJ
Shores, dj Shears.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
DJ Shears, I did right.
He was the host of the show andI was the co-host.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Okay, Okay, Okay, yeah.
So I mean he's the one thatapproached you and like so how
long were you involved with CHRY?
Was that part of like thecommunity for you too?
Speaker 2 (21:08):
And he wanted someone to uplift the show, as he was
the one playing the music andyou know, getting some
interviews going and stuff andjust letting people know about
Grenada, right, so it was calledI think it was called Spice in
the Morning or something likethat, but I was my co-host, name
(21:30):
was Spicy, okay, so after theSpice Island.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Yes, yes, spice Girl, you know Spice.
We're from the island of Spiceand everything you know, that's
right.
That's right.
So do you know when you decided, like you know, I want to help
like Grenadians and Grenadiansin the community?
Like when, when did thattranspire?
Like I mean, obviously you saidyou it was Michael Federico,
(21:57):
and like working with theToronto police, but something
must have inspired you to get towhere you are now.
Like when did when did thathappen?
Speaker 2 (22:05):
like because you told me, like the building, yeah
yeah, when I went to Grenada onvacay and I realized there's so
many things that you can takefrom Grenada and bring it here,
I realized there was a manythings that you can take from
Grenada and bring it here.
I realized there was a lot ofundocumented people from Grenada
here and they couldn't kind ofreally come out, but they would
like to get together with theirpeople and feel good.
(22:26):
So my friends that did JamaicaDay, I said, well, I want to do
Grenada Day and I asked them acouple of pointers on what to do
and I saw the need by talkingto a lot of Grenadians, the need
to have Grenadians be broughttogether.
As a matter of fact, we had acommunity meeting and in our
Spice Owl called the Grenadiansand said hey, we just want to
(22:48):
know what can we do further foryou?
How could we make you feel goodhere, like, or what impact
would you want?
What activity would you want?
What activity would you want?
What anything?
One guy, his name is KyronLewis.
He said, well, go back to theother Grenadian organizations
because he does not feel wellrepresented.
He said go back to the otherorganizations, the active ones,
(23:10):
and see what you guys can comeup with to make me feel, make us
the Grenadians feel, wellrepresented.
So when I went to the othergroups, they really didn't know.
They just said, sure, they'reall in to do something, but they
didn't know what it was.
And at that time my friends wasdoing Jamaica Day and I said,
well, what about Grenada Day?
And they said, sure.
(23:31):
And I said, well, go back toyour members, the presidents, go
back to your members and bringit to your membership body and
let's do it.
And I didn't hear from them.
So what I did?
I just took an active role andcalled them and then called a
public meeting and that time itwas at Spice House Sports Bar on
Eglinton and Dufferin, and theleaders, the president, didn't
have had no clue what I wasdoing.
(23:52):
And I just called them together, called Grenadians, put the
word out there.
No clue what I was doing?
And I just called them together, called Grenadians, put the
word out there.
Here, come to Spice HouseSports Bar.
You know, let's have a bigmeeting, a community meeting.
A lot of people came and I justannounced we're going to have
Grenada Day and all thepresidents was looking at me
like what?
I mean, we talked about it butwe didn't plan it and I just put
it out there and it's like yeah, when?
(24:13):
And then they looked at me yeah, maria, when.
So I said July and one of thesix months to put this thing
together.
You think it's going to be puttogether in six months.
I said we can do it.
But that time I already had theexperience of working in a
community.
So I was going to bring all mysources the Toronto police, the
Frank from JJP Community Center,I was bringing all my leaders
(24:37):
that I was already working withto come and put this on, put it
together, and I knew I could doit.
And when I saw like the 500people, I thought that was a lot
.
I didn't.
My God, there's so muchCanadians here.
And I basically almost cried onthe stage saying oh, my God,
look what we've done for them.
They came together.
A lot of them, I know, was notdocumented and was experiencing
(25:00):
a lot of different things in adifferent workplace at that time
different agencies that theywere working with that sent them
to different jobs, non-paymentsof things, and they couldn't be
, they couldn't report itbecause they're not documented.
Like I learned, I go.
I said like what do you mean?
You don't have your papers,like I learned what it is,
because, of course, when I'mcoming here at 10 years old I
(25:21):
don't know nothing about mypapers.
I know my mother sponsored mebut I don't know anything about
papers.
But I learned in the communitywhat it was to be here without
papers, what they were goingthrough.
So I said, wow, they all cametogether.
So every year I just continueddoing it and it just got bigger
and bigger each year.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
You're listening to Nutmeg Nation.
Listen, learn and be a part ofGrenada.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Hi, I'm Carlene and this is Nutmeg Nation.
I have with me on Zoom thewonderful and talented Maria
Myers.
She is.
I didn't even know this.
We were talking about you andyour like, where you are now in
life and you don't even have towork anymore, Right.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Yeah.
Yeah, and I would encourageeverybody out there when you're
working especially in workingwith a large company and stuff.
Be prepared.
Be prepared for retirement.
Get prepared, because that'swhat I did.
I got prepared and you know Iwas one of the lucky ones
retired early and you did, ohwow yeah, wow, freedom 55.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
I mean, that is planning ahead and that's
something that we all have towork on.
I think us as a race like we'renot on financial, like just
planning, you know, puttingmoney aside for retirement.
That's one thing that I think.
Financial literacy, you know,like learning those things, I
think like we all have to, a lotof us have to teach ourselves,
(26:52):
Cause I don't remember my mombeing like, oh, you should put
save money for, like, retirementand all these things, but yeah
they don't.
But, yeah, that's amazing.
So before we stopped, you weretalking about, just you know,
the beginning of Grenada Day andhow it started with 500 people,
and how it just it brought you,you know, to tears to see that
(27:16):
you know this many people cameto the event.
And you know, even before youtalk about that, I remember,
like this is crazy, my sisterand I we went, we used to go to
Carabana all the time and Iremember that year we were so
excited because Bernada had asection and you're talking about
that section and it was a, itwas was a.
It wasn't a good ending to thatstory because, I mean, we went,
(27:38):
we were like so you know,lively and like Grenada's
performing, and then all of asudden you hear the gunshots and
yeah, yeah, I mean, my sister,we like ran.
I think we were with a friend, afamily friend, running, cause
everyone's running all over andthat's the thing that ruins it
for Carabana.
You know, like it it was yearsago, like, and my mom was like
(28:01):
you guys aren't going toCarabana anymore, like you know
she was just worried or paranoid, but it was.
It was one of those events thatwas like a happy time but also
a scary time when you're in themidst of all that.
Right, so yeah.
But on a happier note, renataDay is your baby, I guess.
Yeah, yeah, so it is.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
And you know what?
I'll give you the same adviceas I took myself.
And I had to step back myself.
And there's, there's a littlegroup.
I call it small group, butthey're huge, they have big
mouths and those are the onesthat would discourage you from
doing whatever you're doing.
Don't let the big mouthsdiscourage you because they're a
small group.
The larger group appreciateswhat you're doing and they love
(28:46):
it and they spread the word onwhat you're doing.
So where I was discouraged fromdoing Grenada Day, oh, somebody
tried and it's not going to work.
It's, you know.
You know who are you to do it.
It's not going to work.
And when I did, I listened tothat.
I said what?
Well, no, I'm not them.
I didn't even know what theydid, I don't even know how they
did it, but I'm going to do me.
(29:07):
I'm going to do it my way.
And here we are 17 years later.
You know, because I have to say17 years?
Because even during COVID wedid, I used my house to do drop
by brunch, like we had brunch,and we had the vendors set up
the tents in my, in my yard.
People just come, pick up their, their food and go.
And people appreciated thatbecause COVID just locked
(29:29):
everything down and nothing wasavailable, and we still made
things available for our people.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Yeah, Wow, yeah, you know what I wish I had come to?
You know the event it was, soit sound like like there was a
lot of people there and I'm like, oh, I missed that.
I wasn't following too muchsocial media.
I try to take a break and itseemed like this is probably
this year was probably maybeyour biggest.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
It was one of the best years.
Yeah, it was one of the bestyears ever.
Yes, and the prime minister wassupposed to come but due to
Hurricane Beryl, he had likecommitments, he had
cancellations and his wholeschedule got berserk.
So we totally understood why hecouldn't come and break his
commitment to come because hehad to look after, you know, our
(30:17):
sister island Karakul wasbasically destroyed.
Destruction hit it so he had tomake sure that, you know,
everything was good and get onboard to start rebuilding our
sister island Karakul.
So we totally understood.
The minister came down fromsports and culture minister,
Adrian Thomas.
He was excited, he loved whathe saw.
(30:39):
It was a good look.
So he can go back and make hisreports.
And when I'm in Grenada I havemy meetings.
I seek sponsors from Grenada toour festival.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
And everything is good.
Everything is good, Everythingis crisp.
You know in terms of, like, howthings have transpired you were
talking about, you know, notletting anybody discourage you
or stop you from what you'vedecided to do.
I mean the fact that you hadevents during COVID in your home
.
That goes to show, like, howmuch of a community base you
(31:16):
have.
Now, what is the message youwould like to share with
Grenadians about, and listenerswhoever's listening right now?
What would you like to shareabout Grenada and Grenada Day
and like what your, what yourimpact is?
Speaker 2 (31:32):
pretty much you know what's your message the message
I would like to share witheverybody Grenadians which is,
the converted and non-Grenadians, friends or family of which is
a non-converted um is thatGrenada is a beautiful island.
The people are very resilient.
We've gone through things ofinvasion with Morris Bishop to
(31:52):
major hurricanes Hurricane Janet, hurricane Ivan and now
recently Hurricane Beryl.
We're resilient, we have strongsense of spirituality and
togetherness In every island andevery set of people.
There's always the bad apples,you can say, but overall,
grenada and Grenada is noexception, you know.
But the island of Grenada,there's always the bad apples,
you can say, but overall,grenada and Grenada is no
(32:12):
exception, you know, but theisland of Grenada, it's one of
the most expensive islands to goto, but the crime rate is very,
very low and they have, under anew leadership right now which
is doing fabulous jobs to upliftand to get the emphasis of
education further in our peopleso they can further advance
(32:34):
themselves, which is very good,not keeping them in a rut,
advancing themselves and sendingthat message to them to work to
get what they want, and goingback to Morris Bishop where grow
what you eat, eat what you grow.
And so I would say that GrenadaDay offers a time for everybody
to get together.
You know, at least, if youdon't go out throughout the year
(32:54):
, you go out on Grenada Day andthe Oil Down Fest and see the
various people and connect onceagain.
And that connection is soimportant, especially.
It just seems like so manypeople these days are getting
sick or passing or, you know, itbecomes more of a mental health
or mental letdown and theuncertainty of people's lives
(33:15):
all around us.
And what do we hold on to?
So I would say let's hold on toeach other and let's keep
building up each other andshowing our children the future
of togetherness and strength inwhich we have inside of us.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Wow, that was beautiful.
Yeah, that's amazing.
It's so true in so many ways.
They always emphasize a lot ofpeople always say, oh, grenada
is a small island, but it's acommunity.
I haven't been back in a longtime but I have to say every
time I go back it's thefriendliness of the people and
they're so humble, I think evenpeople who have done so much or
(33:55):
they've become celebrity, likeyou know.
I have to say like one of themost amazing moments I've had
with this show is when I finallygot a hold of Karani James and
he was on the show and for methat was like like a pivotal
moment.
But he's so humble, like youwould, you would never think,
but like, even though he'sgotten to that place where he
(34:17):
wanted to be, like you know, andmade history or made that
impact, it didn't get to hishead.
And I think the same thing goesfor you.
I don't know how many peopleyou know now you obviously know
a lot of Grenadians, right?
Do you feel like you've leftyour mark, like in the community
, with the association?
Speaker 2 (34:34):
and oh, definitely, yeah definitely I've left, I
leave, I continue to leave mymark in the community.
People you know know that I'mretired but I'm still doing what
I'm doing and I tried to evenstep aside to say, okay, I'll
train somebody else, but nobodysays.
They say they don't want mywork.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
Right, right, it's a lot of work, Like you, to plan
Grenada Day, like you said.
You have a team Like I rememberyou saying that in your
interview it takes a team, Likeit's not just you.
You have a team of people whohelp make this event happen and
it's so many moving parts right,and so that's the glorious
(35:15):
thing about it.
And you know, I want to say assomeone I haven't been going to
Grenada Day every year, butthank you for doing that and I'm
glad I came to Oil DownFestival, Otherwise I wouldn't
have met you and it's just, it'sa highlight, Like I think
people are running on islandtime for sure with oil down
festival, Cause I was likewhere's everybody?
You know, what I mean Right.
(35:35):
But there's one thing I want toask how can people help with
the Grenada Day CulturalAssociation?
How can they help you?
Speaker 2 (35:46):
There's a very important meeting and we're the
only national that has, afterour, our annual event.
We do have this.
No other national has that Notthe Jamaicans, not the St
Vincent's, not the St Lucian's,even though they have their day.
We have, on November the 9th, afeedback this year is we also
(36:09):
incorporated our voting, becauseall of our, our team, we, we
serve for two years and then wejust get re-voted back in, or
I've seen it in the past whereour votes counts, where people
would vote others who stand upand say no.
I'd like to be in this position.
So, november the 9th, at Pithuiand Brookhaven, it's an
(36:33):
Orthodox church we provide freefood, refreshments and we give
you the allowance to let us knowyour feedback, bad or good.
We're here.
We're here to listen to it.
I get a lot of ideas from thesemeetings because they're going
to come and they're going tocome and come at us strong.
We're here to listen.
(36:54):
I always tell my team don't takeanything offensive.
Listen to them because they'repassionate of what they want
implemented.
Sometimes they may not say itthe right way, but if you read
between the lines, it'ssomething that maybe we need to
do.
So that's what I tell my teamand on November 9th, anybody
want to get involved and Iencourage you, carlene, to come,
(37:16):
and if you want, you know, comeand see what it is.
You know, the thing is is thatour Grenadian community don't
come.
Yeah, yeah, they don't come andthey'll talk to you on the
street.
Maria, you should do this,maria, you should do this, maria
, you should do that.
But those that do come and arevery boisterous on giving us
suggestions of what to do andstuff like that, they, you know,
(37:36):
they do come.
We appreciate it, but we still,at the same time, we provide
food.
I'll send you that flyer so youcan send it around.
Okay, yeah, for sure, yeah,yeah, and it's something that's
very important and I keep sayingit every year.
For the last how many years?
We're the only ones thatreaches out to our people, and
it doesn't matter if 10 peoplecome, 15 people come, we still
(37:59):
have it every year.
And I remember one of mymembers saying why do we have
this?
Nobody comes.
It doesn't make no sense.
No, but you know what?
Those that do come.
It's appreciated.
Thank you for listening tonutmeg nation with carlene
humphrey.
hi, I'm carlene, and this is not magnation.
I have with me on the showmaria myers and I'm so excited.
Maria is our first guest thisfall and we've been off the air
for a little bit, but I'm reallyexcited because I met you in in
september, right, yeah yeahyeah, the oil down festival and
(00:26):
you are like everyone wants totalk to you.
so I was lucky, I got like alittle bit of time and here we
are and we're going to talkabout like who you are,
basically what you've done forthe Grenada Day cultural
committee, and for those whodon't know who you are, just
just give us a little synopsis,like what do you do and who is
(00:48):
Maria?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Okay, so I am the president of two Grenadian-based
organizations right here inToronto Spice Isle Association
and the Grenada Day CultureAssociation.
Now, the first one that I wasinvolved in was Spice Isle
Association, in which themembers of that organization
started the Grenada Day Festivalwith presidents of the various
(01:10):
organizations.
So the presidents were KenroyGordon of the GBSS, Kay Baptiste
of the Caracol Association,Laura Henry of the Grenada
Association and myself, theSpice Owl Association
Association, and myself, theSpice Out Association, and
(01:30):
together we thought of To Do ADay which we now call the
Grenada Day Festival.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Yeah, so Grenada Day Festival.
I've been once before, yearsago.
It's been a long time comingthat you've been doing this
event.
And for those that have notbeen to Grenada Day, how has it
changed over the years?
I mean 14 years, wow.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, it's 17 years minus the two years of COVID
Right.
Yeah.
It's amazing, carlene.
It's something that grew from500 people to 5,000 people and
over 5,000 people actually, whatam I saying?
And it's a festival that, asthe police have described, it's
one of the best Caribbeanfestivals.
That's gearing towards theculture and heritage of Grenada,
(02:13):
but brings so many differentislands together, so many
different cultures together, tolearn about our petite Grenada,
caracou and petite Martiniqueislands, right.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
So, speaking of Grenada, Caracou and Petit
Martinique Island, Right.
So, speaking of Grenada Day,because you are the president
and you've obviously earned yourstripes, where are you from in
Grenada?
I think I saw I did a littledigging.
Is it St David's that's theparish you're from or no, St
George's, our family's fromBolio Boca.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
But I'll tell you a little secret I was actually
born in Venezuela.
Oh wow, my mother left Grenadato go and work and then from
Venezuela I came to Trinidad andthen Grenada, went to school in
Grenada and then from Grenadacame to Canada, where I learned
English here in Canada because,of course, spanish was my first
(03:04):
language.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Wow.
So how long did you live inGrenada for?
Like you lived in.
Obviously, venezuela is whereyour roots tie, so you're a bit
of both.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
but Like Venezuela, trinidadian and Grenadian.
So I came here when I was about10 years old and my mother from
the old old school grilledEnglish in me and she herself
knew Spanish, but she grilledthe English in me so for she was
scared, like I'm in a newcountry.
Now you got to learn Englishand you know she was scared that
(03:36):
I wasn't going to pick up thelanguage.
But you know, back then theydon't realize the importance of
having multiple languages tosocialize.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah, you know what?
You're right.
I stopped taking French ingrade 10.
And I think if I wasn't such akid that was like I don't like
my French teacher because I havethe same French teacher I would
have probably stayed on becauseyou're right, like knowing
another language is so important.
But from one Grenadian toanother, we all speak English
and then you know broken Englishis obviously the dialect or
(04:07):
whatever you want to call it.
But since you left Grenada whenyou were young, what made you
decide to become a part of thisassociation?
How did you?
How did you get to where youare now?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I worked in a community, not as a Grenadian,
just as community worker.
Besides my job, my full-timejob, had nothing to do with the
community.
The two titles are vastlydifferent.
So my field, my career, waselectronics engineer technician
at Bell Canada, and I loved alsoworking with youth, children
(04:44):
and our community to build abetter community.
So everywhere I was, whetherit's my children's school, I was
part of the PTA, so it's acommunity.
I see kids that are, you know,less fortunate, and not that I
was rich at all because I wasn't, I was just wanted to always
help.
So I have four biological kids,seven adopted kids, and they
call me mom to this day andtheir children call me grandma.
(05:07):
So from there I worked with theToronto police and I didn't like
the police at first because,coming from an area of Jane and
Finch too, I seen a lot ofthings that the police shouldn't
have done and I had no trust inthe police.
But it has since then beenreformed.
So I had a fabulous mentor itwas at that time he was.
(05:28):
He went up to deputy chief ofpolice, michael Federico, and he
actually changed my hand on howI look at police and he worked
with us 200%.
So while in the communityworking with the police and
doing a lot of things.
And it was my cousin that Isaid you know what you need to?
You're doing like such a greatjob in the community.
(05:48):
You need to go to your, yourroots, go back to your roots and
upbuild them, because I don'tsee that community being
uplifted or upbuilt.
So I said, oh, okay, okay,that's how.
I was going to Trinidad everyyear for carnival and I said I
don't know, I don't know.
So he brought me to one meetingand he says you know, this is
the girl that we can get, we canget a group going and build up
(06:12):
Grenada and that's Spice OwlAssociation.
We started with having arepresentation in Carabana where
we can have a Grenadian section.
So we started working withfamilies, grenadian families, to
be.
We started working withfamilies, grenadian families, to
be able to put their kids andthemselves into a section.
We work with Arnold Hughes,worked with a couple of bands,
(06:32):
but mainly it was Arnold Hughes.
And then we branched off todoing community events Family
Day, sports Day, children'sChristmas Party, which we still
do up to this day, and we workwith CHUM and the firefighters
and make sure to have a partyfor these kids.
And when we saw that theparties, the company parties,
(06:54):
was phasing out, we said no,these kids have to have a
Christmas party to go to.
And that's when we implementedthat Christmas party and to this
day we do that.
And that's how I got involved inthe Grenadian community and at
first it was a challenge becauseI didn't know how to like.
I knew how to upbuild because Iwas working in the community,
so it just came natural.
(07:15):
But there was the feedback thatwas coming back and stuff.
I had to like, stand back andsay what like.
Every culture, I think, has adifferent mentality and before I
stood back I kind of realizedand learned my own people over
again my culture, the heritageof what was liked, what was
disliked, what was how they are,how to work with them.
(07:37):
So and now it's like, yeah,yeah, um.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
So like you've said a lot of great things, like like
you know in terms of our culture, like I got to say that you
know what.
It's true, you're not alwaysgoing to get positive
reinforcements, like even when Istarted this podcast I started
it in 2020 and I had a fewpeople say some stuff to me too,
(08:02):
like why you like Grenada hasno podcast.
Like why are you even going tobother?
Like you know, and like whenyou're, you're always going to
get people that are going to bedifficult in everything that you
do.
That's outside of the norm, orlike you're trying to make a
difference.
But the one thing you said,going back to your mentor,
michael Federico, what did he dothat made you change your mind
(08:27):
on working with the Torontopolice?
Speaker 2 (08:30):
That's a very good question, carly.
Nobody has ever asked that.
I've always told them who's theone that turned me around, but
nobody asked.
What did he do?
What did he say?
What made a difference fromhating police to working with
them?
I was on the radio that time,myself and DJ Shears and I was
his co-host.
Yes, dj Shears is a well-knownDJ from the past, very good guy,
(08:54):
and he asked me to come onboard as his co-host and so it
was another plan to put Grenadaon the map and be recognized,
and I was all in for it.
I was like, okay, no problem.
And that's when I was cominginto the Grenada community and I
came in with such a force thateverybody's heads turned like
who's, who's this girl?
Who's where does she come from?
(09:14):
And so people were questioning,or you know, some wanted me
like because I was veryboisterous and and out there and
put Grenada out there.
And he was one of them.
And we had a radio show andMichael Federico I worked with
12 Division at that time and wesaid there was another girl
named Jennifer Huntley.
(09:34):
She was on another radiostation, same station but
different program and we wantedto do a police.
Black people don't trust police.
They don't like police.
And, yes, get the police on.
Get the police on and he was asuperintendent of 12 Division.
So I like try to set him up.
I must say I try to set him upin different ways, in terms of
(09:57):
he's going to fail, he's notgoing to, he's going to collapse
, he's not going to want to workwith us.
We're Black people who all ofthem say, start off saying yeah,
yeah, yeah, but then they endup they don't want to work with
us and stuff.
So we set him up.
We set him up and we broughthim to a radio station.
He came in CHRY.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
He came in.
Oh my gosh, I was just about toask you about CHRY.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yes, it was CHRY, it was, oh God, what was our show
called?
Spice, spice, something in themorning, right, and he came on
and me and Jennifer was justwaiting for him.
We did all.
We said all the things that oh,you're going to ask him this,
we're going to ask him that he'sgoing to get burned.
And we told him, I warned himbefore.
I said, yeah, you know.
So I put him up to that testand I assumed he was going to
(10:44):
fail the test.
Honestly, I feel I assume thathe's going to fail the test
because we're going to put himon.
So many people say, hey, lookout for just say the show is on
Thursday, look out, for Thursday.
We're going to haveSuperintendent Mike Federico
from 12 Division, which is adivision that's very on a hot
seat because it's on the BlackCreek and the Thuey Guys.
Get your questions ready, getanything you want ready,
(11:06):
anything you want to ask thisman, ask him.
Okay, we want answers, you guyswant answers, you know, and
everybody was calling in andsaying yeah, we're going to call
in, we can't wait for that showto come on, we're going to ask
him this, ask him that.
So, and then they were askingus and we're like no, no, no,
don't ask us, wait until hecomes on the show, you know.
(11:27):
And then the day when he cameon the show Carlene, I was I
left a changed person.
I came on the show and I wasready because I was like, yeah,
we're setting this guy up.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
He had no clue that we're setting him up.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
I just said you got to be strong, you have to have a
strong back because thesepeople are going to come after
you forcefully and they're goingto ask you all these questions.
And then, when Jennifer met him, jennifer said hi, you know,
nice to meet you.
Listen, I got to tell you, yougot to have your straw.
And she said the same thing.
I said to him he's like noproblem, ladies, no problem, I'm
ready.
I'm ready, because if they tellyou that they hate the police
(12:02):
and their guys are pigs and allthat kind of stuff, just be
prepared for all that andeverything that they were
calling us and telling us whatthey're going to tell him.
So we had some questionsprepared for him.
So I, you know, we said are youready?
And he goes yeah.
So we said hi, guys, the timeis here.
Superintendent Michael Federicois here from 12th division.
We started off, you know,introducing him.
(12:23):
He introduced himself and thenwe started off with asking him
the questions.
So he said okay, and then heanswered it Like he answered it
dead on.
And then we asked him, jenniferasked him between Jennifer and
myself.
We both asked him questions andand then, after I said to him,
I said, okay, it's time to openup the lines, right?
(12:44):
Yeah, let's open up the linesand let's have anybody else.
And then we said to him are youready?
And he's like yes.
And he's like, yes, you know,don't worry about it, don't
worry about it, you guys are,you know, worried.
So, anyway, we were worriedbecause we knew what they said
to us.
They're going to ask him thiswhen men are like police, when I
like police, you know all kindsof stuff.
(13:04):
We opened the lines and we lookat the lines, the lines went
dead, Like nobody called in.
So we're like, hey guys, theline is open now you guys can
call in Carlene.
Nobody called in.
So I said, OK, Wow, theaudience seemed to be a little
shy out there.
So we're going to just kind ofJennifer, what should we do?
He goes well, let's ask some ofthe questions that they call us
(13:26):
to ask.
Let's ask him.
So then maybe they would unwindand not be so shy.
I mean, they were calling inthat week leading up to it.
It was like every second theywere calling in asking this.
I said, well, don't ask us,Don't worry, Wait to the show.
There were so many peoplecalling in and then we asked him
the questions.
He answered it dead on and thenI turned around and I was
(13:47):
started to be harsh and Jenniferstarted to be harsh.
I said, OK, you know what,Really Like, I've seen things in
31 Division that was notsupposed to be and that's why I
myself did not like the police,because they did things and put
things on people just to chargethem.
But nothing like that went.
I was, we were taken into paddywagons for no reason.
(14:07):
Why?
Just to be in a basement party.
You know why.
Why you guys act like that.
Why is it?
And he's?
And he was very apologetic tothe police and said I'm very
sorry if you had to encountersomething like that.
And he was very apologetic tothe police and said I'm very
sorry if you had to encountersomething like that.
That's not acceptable.
I mean, you know what?
I know that there is officersout there that's not good.
I know that and I wish you guyswould tell me which one
(14:30):
pinpoint which one.
If they're in 12th Division,you let me know.
But I also know there'sofficers out there that's
extremely good and I don't wantto have these bad officers
rooting for the good officers.
Like he was just dead on andI'm looking at him like so like
what, what kind of stuff?
Speaker 1 (14:46):
you know, like police always get like a bad rap and
like you see it in the news,they're like we can go from back
in the day.
But like 12th division, likewhen you say that is it known
for.
Like so-called history withthis, like what is like the like
.
What's one thing that you guysdidn't like, or like the
(15:06):
community, cause you know Janeand Finch, like we all know,
jane and Finch gets a bad rap,like whenever I'm in that area
back and like I'd be there, I'dbe worried that something might
happen, cause you keep hearingstories like you know, yeah, 12
division.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
It is similar to Jane and Finch.
It was a lot of racism at thatpoint on 31 division a lot of
harassment, a lot of carding, alot of like hey, you, what's
your, where are you from?
What's your name like, are youSandra, are you so?
And so there was a lot ofthings like I remember I was in
a share tomorrow when it wasfirst built and they were asking
(15:42):
, they were calling out a nameand I didn't know it was me.
But then when I saw everybodylooking at me, I'm like what's
everybody looking at me for?
And then when I realized Iturned around and these officers
was asking hey, and I turnaround, I go, yes, is your name
Sandra, get over here.
And I go, my name is not Sandra, don't tell me to get over here
.
And I just scooted out of themall because fear.
(16:03):
And they said yo, get over here.
And I go, I'm not getting overhere, my name is not Sandra,
don't you dare embarrass me likethat again.
And I just ran out of the mallbecause I was figured that they
were going to grab me forsomething, because that's how
they were back then.
If you didn't, they didn't likeyou or you didn't adhere to
them.
It wasn't about protecting oror serving the community at all.
(16:23):
It wasn't like that, you know.
So it was things like that thatthey could have done, but they
don't do now.
They probably I say probably.
There is still racism anddiscrimination on the force,
like in any workplace, but it'shandled a little differently
because they cannot be upfrontlike how they used to be oh yeah
, like, like, I think.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
I think the one thing that we can say here is that
they say in the us it's in yourface, you see it, whereas here
it's more underneath the surface, like, like, they're not
blatantly going to be racist toyour face, they'll do it
discreetly or in a way where youdon't see it like face value,
right, is that what you'retrying to say?
Like I forgot the term they usefor that, but you said so many
(17:07):
things all at once that werejust like oh my gosh, chry,
maria, I interned there backthen and I used to work with
Millie Gordon.
Oh, millie Gordon, yes, andthen I, I, I actually, when I
volunteered at CHRY, that's howI knew I wanted to get into
radio because of the communityand everything, and like it's
(17:30):
like, if you ever get a chance,like go on YouTube and watch
some of the old footage, I swearI think there was a day they
closed down the radio stationand that was like the end, like
it was crazy.
But yeah, I used to co-hostwith this guy, fred Tay.
He had this show called AfricanSunsplash and that was like my
(17:51):
time at one time.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yes, I remember, I remember Fred, Fred sorry.
Yes, I remember, I rememberFred sorry, and there was
Experience Creole with Levi andThing.
There was.
Wow, small world.
You know all of us was.
You know we had it together.
Serby's still there, serby, andwe have so many Like, yeah, it
was all of us together as a teamand yeah, so everybody knew
(18:16):
where to go, where not to go.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
What a history, right ?
Oh, my goodness, From likewhere you're going, so like
growing up in that area.
So you grew up in Jane andFinch like.
What school did you go to Likeand and how do you feel that
impacted where you are now?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Right.
So I lived from Falstaff toChalk Farm and went up to where.
I was always there with my bestfriends in Shoreham and
Driftwood.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Oh my gosh, wow yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
I went to Northview Secondary School, graduated then
I got pregnant but and then Iwent went took my grade 13.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
at that time it was grade 13 at CW Jeffries yeah and
um, so how old is your littleone now?
My the first born, yeah, 40.
Oh, wow, yes, your first bornis the same age as me.
That's crazy.
Um, so I'm like, is she part,did she?
Was she like part of the lastgrade 13?
(19:16):
Cause you say grade 13 and Iwas the last class, so I
graduated double cohort and itwas like that was the end of OAC
grade 13.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, that was yeah, she was the last.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Oh my goodness, yeah, yeah, like, yeah, wow, that's
so crazy.
You know now that I'm 40, I'mit's like, yeah, wow, that's so
crazy.
Now, you know, now that I'm 40,I'm it's like, wow, I can't
believe it.
Like my, when you look at thetime and everything that's
happened, it's like my babysister is 25 and, um, I'm the
oldest out of there's five girls, and so listening to you talk
about like your history, likeyour whole history, is like kind
(19:53):
of like in a way, for me too,because I grew up in like bad
areas too, like Lansdowne andBloor and like DuPont and Osler,
like that's where my parentshouse is, and like when you,
when you're a kid, you don'treally understand why it's
considered a bad area until you,like, you're older and you're
like, wow, this area is roughlike I walked through these
(20:15):
areas, like you know like likeeven you on Shoreham, there,
like people were like Shoreham,that's a bad area, late at night
don't walk through there, likeyou know.
So that was like our best years.
That was our best years youknow, yeah, but getting back to
what was the name of the radioshow that you were co-hosting on
(20:38):
and like what radio station wasthat CHOI?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Yeah, and it was called.
You know, I can't remember, itwas Spice.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
OK, so that was that show and that wasn't with DJ
Shores, dj Shears.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
DJ Shears, I did right.
He was the host of the show andI was the co-host.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Okay, Okay, Okay, yeah.
So I mean he's the one thatapproached you and like so how
long were you involved with CHRY?
Was that part of like thecommunity for you too?
Speaker 2 (21:08):
And he wanted someone to uplift the show, as he was
the one playing the music andyou know, getting some
interviews going and stuff andjust letting people know about
Grenada, right, so it was calledI think it was called Spice in
the Morning or something likethat, but I was my co-host, name
(21:30):
was Spicy, okay, so after theSpice Island.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Yes, yes, spice Girl, you know Spice.
We're from the island of Spiceand everything you know, that's
right.
That's right.
So do you know when you decided, like you know, I want to help
like Grenadians and Grenadiansin the community?
Like when, when did thattranspire?
Like I mean, obviously you saidyou it was Michael Federico,
(21:57):
and like working with theToronto police, but something
must have inspired you to get towhere you are now.
Like when did when did thathappen?
Speaker 2 (22:05):
like because you told me, like the building, yeah
yeah, when I went to Grenada onvacay and I realized there's so
many things that you can takefrom Grenada and bring it here,
I realized there was a manythings that you can take from
Grenada and bring it here.
I realized there was a lot ofundocumented people from Grenada
here and they couldn't kind ofreally come out, but they would
like to get together with theirpeople and feel good.
(22:26):
So my friends that did JamaicaDay, I said, well, I want to do
Grenada Day and I asked them acouple of pointers on what to do
and I saw the need by talkingto a lot of Grenadians, the need
to have Grenadians be broughttogether.
As a matter of fact, we had acommunity meeting and in our
Spice Owl called the Grenadiansand said hey, we just want to
(22:48):
know what can we do further foryou?
How could we make you feel goodhere, like, or what impact
would you want?
What activity would you want?
What activity would you want?
What anything?
One guy, his name is KyronLewis.
He said, well, go back to theother Grenadian organizations
because he does not feel wellrepresented.
He said go back to the otherorganizations, the active ones,
(23:10):
and see what you guys can comeup with to make me feel, make us
the Grenadians feel, wellrepresented.
So when I went to the othergroups, they really didn't know.
They just said, sure, they'reall in to do something, but they
didn't know what it was.
And at that time my friends wasdoing Jamaica Day and I said,
well, what about Grenada Day?
And they said, sure.
(23:31):
And I said, well, go back toyour members, the presidents, go
back to your members and bringit to your membership body and
let's do it.
And I didn't hear from them.
So what I did?
I just took an active role andcalled them and then called a
public meeting and that time itwas at Spice House Sports Bar on
Eglinton and Dufferin, and theleaders, the president, didn't
have had no clue what I wasdoing.
(23:52):
And I just called them together, called Grenadians, put the
word out there.
No clue what I was doing?
And I just called them together, called Grenadians, put the
word out there.
Here, come to Spice HouseSports Bar.
You know, let's have a bigmeeting, a community meeting.
A lot of people came and I justannounced we're going to have
Grenada Day and all thepresidents was looking at me
like what?
I mean, we talked about it butwe didn't plan it and I just put
it out there and it's like yeah, when?
(24:13):
And then they looked at me yeah, maria, when.
So I said July and one of thesix months to put this thing
together.
You think it's going to be puttogether in six months.
I said we can do it.
But that time I already had theexperience of working in a
community.
So I was going to bring all mysources the Toronto police, the
Frank from JJP Community Center,I was bringing all my leaders
(24:37):
that I was already working withto come and put this on, put it
together, and I knew I could doit.
And when I saw like the 500people, I thought that was a lot
.
I didn't.
My God, there's so muchCanadians here.
And I basically almost cried onthe stage saying oh, my God,
look what we've done for them.
They came together.
A lot of them, I know, was notdocumented and was experiencing
(25:00):
a lot of different things in adifferent workplace at that time
different agencies that theywere working with that sent them
to different jobs, non-paymentsof things, and they couldn't be
, they couldn't report itbecause they're not documented.
Like I learned, I go.
I said like what do you mean?
You don't have your papers,like I learned what it is,
because, of course, when I'mcoming here at 10 years old I
(25:21):
don't know nothing about mypapers.
I know my mother sponsored mebut I don't know anything about
papers.
But I learned in the communitywhat it was to be here without
papers, what they were goingthrough.
So I said, wow, they all cametogether.
So every year I just continueddoing it and it just got bigger
and bigger each year.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
You're listening to Nutmeg Nation.
Listen, learn and be a part ofGrenada.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Hi, I'm Carlene and this is Nutmeg Nation.
I have with me on Zoom thewonderful and talented Maria
Myers.
She is.
I didn't even know this.
We were talking about you andyour like, where you are now in
life and you don't even have towork anymore, Right.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Yeah.
Yeah, and I would encourageeverybody out there when you're
working especially in workingwith a large company and stuff.
Be prepared.
Be prepared for retirement.
Get prepared, because that'swhat I did.
I got prepared and you know Iwas one of the lucky ones
retired early and you did, ohwow yeah, wow, freedom 55.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
I mean, that is planning ahead and that's
something that we all have towork on.
I think us as a race like we'renot on financial, like just
planning, you know, puttingmoney aside for retirement.
That's one thing that I think.
Financial literacy, you know,like learning those things, I
think like we all have to, a lotof us have to teach ourselves,
(26:52):
Cause I don't remember my mombeing like, oh, you should put
save money for, like, retirementand all these things, but yeah
they don't.
But, yeah, that's amazing.
So before we stopped, you weretalking about, just you know,
the beginning of Grenada Day andhow it started with 500 people,
and how it just it brought you,you know, to tears to see that
(27:16):
you know this many people cameto the event.
And you know, even before youtalk about that, I remember,
like this is crazy, my sisterand I we went, we used to go to
Carabana all the time and Iremember that year we were so
excited because Bernada had asection and you're talking about
that section and it was a, itwas was a.
It wasn't a good ending to thatstory because, I mean, we went,
(27:38):
we were like so you know,lively and like Grenada's
performing, and then all of asudden you hear the gunshots and
yeah, yeah, I mean, my sister,we like ran.
I think we were with a friend, afamily friend, running, cause
everyone's running all over andthat's the thing that ruins it
for Carabana.
You know, like it it was yearsago, like, and my mom was like
(28:01):
you guys aren't going toCarabana anymore, like you know
she was just worried or paranoid, but it was.
It was one of those events thatwas like a happy time but also
a scary time when you're in themidst of all that.
Right, so yeah.
But on a happier note, renataDay is your baby, I guess.
Yeah, yeah, so it is.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
And you know what?
I'll give you the same adviceas I took myself.
And I had to step back myself.
And there's, there's a littlegroup.
I call it small group, butthey're huge, they have big
mouths and those are the onesthat would discourage you from
doing whatever you're doing.
Don't let the big mouthsdiscourage you because they're a
small group.
The larger group appreciateswhat you're doing and they love
(28:46):
it and they spread the word onwhat you're doing.
So where I was discouraged fromdoing Grenada Day, oh, somebody
tried and it's not going to work.
It's, you know.
You know who are you to do it.
It's not going to work.
And when I did, I listened tothat.
I said what?
Well, no, I'm not them.
I didn't even know what theydid, I don't even know how they
did it, but I'm going to do me.
(29:07):
I'm going to do it my way.
And here we are 17 years later.
You know, because I have to say17 years?
Because even during COVID wedid, I used my house to do drop
by brunch, like we had brunch,and we had the vendors set up
the tents in my, in my yard.
People just come, pick up their, their food and go.
And people appreciated thatbecause COVID just locked
(29:29):
everything down and nothing wasavailable, and we still made
things available for our people.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Yeah, Wow, yeah, you know what I wish I had come to?
You know the event it was, soit sound like like there was a
lot of people there and I'm like, oh, I missed that.
I wasn't following too muchsocial media.
I try to take a break and itseemed like this is probably
this year was probably maybeyour biggest.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
It was one of the best years.
Yeah, it was one of the bestyears ever.
Yes, and the prime minister wassupposed to come but due to
Hurricane Beryl, he had likecommitments, he had
cancellations and his wholeschedule got berserk.
So we totally understood why hecouldn't come and break his
commitment to come because hehad to look after, you know, our
(30:17):
sister island Karakul wasbasically destroyed.
Destruction hit it so he had tomake sure that, you know,
everything was good and get onboard to start rebuilding our
sister island Karakul.
So we totally understood.
The minister came down fromsports and culture minister,
Adrian Thomas.
He was excited, he loved whathe saw.
(30:39):
It was a good look.
So he can go back and make hisreports.
And when I'm in Grenada I havemy meetings.
I seek sponsors from Grenada toour festival.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
And everything is good.
Everything is good, Everythingis crisp.
You know in terms of, like, howthings have transpired you were
talking about, you know, notletting anybody discourage you
or stop you from what you'vedecided to do.
I mean the fact that you hadevents during COVID in your home
.
That goes to show, like, howmuch of a community base you
(31:16):
have.
Now, what is the message youwould like to share with
Grenadians about, and listenerswhoever's listening right now?
What would you like to shareabout Grenada and Grenada Day
and like what your, what yourimpact is?
Speaker 2 (31:32):
pretty much you know what's your message the message
I would like to share witheverybody Grenadians which is,
the converted and non-Grenadians, friends or family of which is
a non-converted um is thatGrenada is a beautiful island.
The people are very resilient.
We've gone through things ofinvasion with Morris Bishop to
(31:52):
major hurricanes Hurricane Janet, hurricane Ivan and now
recently Hurricane Beryl.
We're resilient, we have strongsense of spirituality and
togetherness In every island andevery set of people.
There's always the bad apples,you can say, but overall,
grenada and Grenada is noexception, you know.
But the island of Grenada,there's always the bad apples,
you can say, but overall,grenada and Grenada is no
(32:12):
exception, you know, but theisland of Grenada, it's one of
the most expensive islands to goto, but the crime rate is very,
very low and they have, under anew leadership right now which
is doing fabulous jobs to upliftand to get the emphasis of
education further in our peopleso they can further advance
(32:34):
themselves, which is very good,not keeping them in a rut,
advancing themselves and sendingthat message to them to work to
get what they want, and goingback to Morris Bishop where grow
what you eat, eat what you grow.
And so I would say that GrenadaDay offers a time for everybody
to get together.
You know, at least, if youdon't go out throughout the year
(32:54):
, you go out on Grenada Day andthe Oil Down Fest and see the
various people and connect onceagain.
And that connection is soimportant, especially.
It just seems like so manypeople these days are getting
sick or passing or, you know, itbecomes more of a mental health
or mental letdown and theuncertainty of people's lives
(33:15):
all around us.
And what do we hold on to?
So I would say let's hold on toeach other and let's keep
building up each other andshowing our children the future
of togetherness and strength inwhich we have inside of us.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Wow, that was beautiful.
Yeah, that's amazing.
It's so true in so many ways.
They always emphasize a lot ofpeople always say, oh, grenada
is a small island, but it's acommunity.
I haven't been back in a longtime but I have to say every
time I go back it's thefriendliness of the people and
they're so humble, I think evenpeople who have done so much or
(33:55):
they've become celebrity, likeyou know.
I have to say like one of themost amazing moments I've had
with this show is when I finallygot a hold of Karani James and
he was on the show and for methat was like like a pivotal
moment.
But he's so humble, like youwould, you would never think,
but like, even though he'sgotten to that place where he
(34:17):
wanted to be, like you know, andmade history or made that
impact, it didn't get to hishead.
And I think the same thing goesfor you.
I don't know how many peopleyou know now you obviously know
a lot of Grenadians, right?
Do you feel like you've leftyour mark, like in the community
, with the association?
Speaker 2 (34:34):
and oh, definitely, yeah definitely I've left, I
leave, I continue to leave mymark in the community.
People you know know that I'mretired but I'm still doing what
I'm doing and I tried to evenstep aside to say, okay, I'll
train somebody else, but nobodysays.
They say they don't want mywork.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
Right, right, it's a lot of work, Like you, to plan
Grenada Day, like you said.
You have a team Like I rememberyou saying that in your
interview it takes a team, Likeit's not just you.
You have a team of people whohelp make this event happen and
it's so many moving parts right,and so that's the glorious
(35:15):
thing about it.
And you know, I want to say assomeone I haven't been going to
Grenada Day every year, butthank you for doing that and I'm
glad I came to Oil DownFestival, Otherwise I wouldn't
have met you and it's just, it'sa highlight, Like I think
people are running on islandtime for sure with oil down
festival, Cause I was likewhere's everybody?
You know, what I mean Right.
(35:35):
But there's one thing I want toask how can people help with
the Grenada Day CulturalAssociation?
How can they help you?
Speaker 2 (35:46):
There's a very important meeting and we're the
only national that has, afterour, our annual event.
We do have this.
No other national has that Notthe Jamaicans, not the St
Vincent's, not the St Lucian's,even though they have their day.
We have, on November the 9th, afeedback this year is we also
(36:09):
incorporated our voting, becauseall of our, our team, we, we
serve for two years and then wejust get re-voted back in, or
I've seen it in the past whereour votes counts, where people
would vote others who stand upand say no.
I'd like to be in this position.
So, november the 9th, at Pithuiand Brookhaven, it's an
(36:33):
Orthodox church we provide freefood, refreshments and we give
you the allowance to let us knowyour feedback, bad or good.
We're here.
We're here to listen to it.
I get a lot of ideas from thesemeetings because they're going
to come and they're going tocome and come at us strong.
We're here to listen.
(36:54):
I always tell my team don't takeanything offensive.
Listen to them because they'repassionate of what they want
implemented.
Sometimes they may not say itthe right way, but if you read
between the lines, it'ssomething that maybe we need to
do.
So that's what I tell my teamand on November 9th, anybody
want to get involved and Iencourage you, carlene, to come,
(37:16):
and if you want, you know, comeand see what it is.
You know, the thing is is thatour Grenadian community don't
come.
Yeah, yeah, they don't come andthey'll talk to you on the
street.
Maria, you should do this,maria, you should do this, maria
, you should do that.
But those that do come and arevery boisterous on giving us
suggestions of what to do andstuff like that, they, you know,
(37:36):
they do come.
We appreciate it, but we still,at the same time, we provide
food.
I'll send you that flyer so youcan send it around.
Okay, yeah, for sure, yeah,yeah, and it's something that's
very important and I keep sayingit every year.
For the last how many years?
We're the only ones thatreaches out to our people, and
it doesn't matter if 10 peoplecome, 15 people come, we still
(37:59):
have it every year.
And I remember one of mymembers saying why do we have
this?
Nobody comes.
It doesn't make no sense.
No, but you know what?
Those that do come.
It's appreciated.
Thank you for listening tonutmeg nation with carlene
humphrey.
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