Canada has lost one of its fiercest, most uncompromising, contentious and passionate pursuers of justice and equality, Mr. Charles Roach. On October 2, Roach passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Of all his pursuits for a fairer and more just society, however, the most controversial of Roach's advocacy efforts was his push, since 1988, to get a Canadian court to recognize that it is a violation of individuals' constitutionally guaranteed freedom of conscience to require prospective Canadians to swear an oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II.

Just as has been happening for the past 45 years, last minute preparations are underway for this weekend's Caribbean Carnival. The King an...

Toronto has changed quite a bit since I was a kid in the 80s. For anybody brought up in the 80s/90s, jump into the 'way back' machine with me for a moment.