Articles, Lifestyle, Travel

HiFive’s @ Halifax!

Enjoy business travel? Yes, No, Maybe so?

“Bleisure” travel, can be exciting if we piggyback vacation onto our business trips. That’s exactly, what we experienced when we went to #f55fsummit, a Conference hosted by our wonderful organization Freedom 55 Financial, in the beautiful city of Halifax.   It’s an absolute truth that nearly every destination has something worthwhile to see and experience.  Halifax offered us something more, beyond our expectations.

Here’s HiFive’s to the Top Five from my perspective:

  • Fall Colours: The coastal city Halifax becomes alive with colour as the day shortens and temperature begins to cool. The roadside was set ablaze with a magnificent display of autumn colours from yellow and orange to rust, red and brown. There was plenty of opportunity during our Conference days to catch the fall foliage in   the City’s scenic landscapes, parks and streetscapes. We basked in the city’s diverse tree   species like poplars, maples, oaks, hickories and willows. So, we made some time every morning and evening for Mother Nature and take in the beauty of Halifax’s stunning autumn colours.
  • Peggy’s Cove: We stayed in the Barrington, Halifax. during the tenure of the conference. Day One day was dedicated to Peggy’s Cove! Really marvelous!! A gorgeous, sunny day, with a bagpiper playing on the rocks surrounding the lighthouse, we truly felt we were in Scotland!! The waves of the Atlantic Ocean were crashing as clouds rolled in! The colorful village provided plenty of photo ops! We had delicious lunch at a restaurant and ducked into little shops that explained the history of the cove. If you are in Nova Scotia, do not miss Peggy’s Cove!!

Continue reading “HiFive’s @ Halifax!” →

Community, Lifestyle, Uncategorized

Dionne Brand wins Toronto Book Award for her novel ‘Theory’

Dionne Brand has been awarded the Toronto Book Award for her novel ‘Theory’, published by Knopf Canada. It’s the second time she has won the award. The announcement was made this evening at an awards ceremony held at the Toronto Reference Library. Brand also won the 2006 Toronto Book Award for her novel What We All Long For.

Commenting on the winning novel, the jury said: “In this novel of ideas, Dionne Brand dazzles with smart, jazz-like storytelling and the utterly engrossing voice of its narrator. Theory delivers a potent dose of meticulous attention to both humour and the seriousness of its subject, so that Toronto comes to each page anew. What many will recognize as love is turned into a dissertation, and by turns, the other way around. This protagonist is playful, cunning, honest and self-aware and the book surprises from cover to cover. With this wry, beautiful, profoundly philosophical novel, Brand accomplishes something reserved for the most masterful writers of our time.” Continue reading “Dionne Brand wins Toronto Book Award for her novel ‘Theory’” →

Global, Reel Spin

Hold your breath Busan!

A.R. Rahman to perform live at the Busan International Film Festival for his upcoming film 99 Songs

Grammy and Oscar-winning musician, A R Rahman thrilled his fans when he announced turning producer and writer with the film 99 Songs. On the heels of the news of the film’s screening at the Busan International Film Festival on 9th October, comes another exciting announcement of the maestro treating the festival’s audience to a glimpse of his musical love story by performing live at the festival. Rahman will be taking to the stage ahead of the red carpet screening of 99 Songs on the same day. Also present will be budding talent and lead actor of his film, debutant Ehan Bhat and director Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy.

Speaking on the development, AR Rahman said, “I am delighted to be a part of this amazing gathering of film enthusiasts and have the screening of our labour of love at BIFF. The film’s music is very special and so integral to its story that I feel compelled to introduce it to audiences at this very special event before the screening. I’m looking forward to bringing them this celebration of cinema and music and can’t wait for the reactions”. Continue reading “Hold your breath Busan!” →

Business, Community, India

India to showcase special trade exhibition in Mississauga
–Four-day free event to feature textiles, handicrafts, jewellery, fashion and much more

 For the first time ever, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), a Government of India Enterprise, with the support of the Consulate General of India in Toronto, brings to Canada, भारत – India Show, at Hall No. 3, The International Centre, Mississauga from 10-13 October 2019.

Over 40-50 exhibitors from India will display a range of products including handicrafts, giftware, textiles, home furnishings, carpets, gems and jewellery, leather goods, organic foods, spices, tourism and hospitality and several other ethnic goods during the four day FREE exhibition open daily from 10am to 8pm for visitors. Continue reading “India to showcase special trade exhibition in Mississauga” →

Global, Lifestyle

Uflex Announces Launch of New Global Initiative ‘Project Plastic Fix’

 –Screens ‘The Hudson Project’ Documentary with Plastic Patrol
Event Drew Attention to Worldwide Plastic Pollution Problem & Solutions to Address the Challenge

UFlex, one of the largest polymer plastic companies in the world, and Plastic Patrol, an international movement that combines crowdsourcing and community activism to address single-use plastic pollution, recently screened the short documentary “The Hudson Project” at the Core Club in New York City.  Along with the film screening, the event highlighted the importance of open and productive conversation around plastic pollution to help identify solutions; included a panel discussion between Anantshree Chaturvedi, Vice-chairman & CEO of FlexFilms International and environmentalist Lizzie Carr, founder of Plastic Patrol; and announced the launch of UFlex Group’s new global initiative, “Project Plastic Fix.” Continue reading “Uflex Announces Launch of New Global Initiative ‘Project Plastic Fix’” →

Global, Travel

‘Hands for Hunger’ to help those affected by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas
RIU Hotels & Resorts has partnered with the non-governmental organisation Hands for Hunger in a comprehensive aid plan for the thousands of people who have been relocated to the capital, of Bahamas, Nassau, after the wake of Hurricane Dorian , from other parts of the archipelago. New Providence, where Nassau and Riu Palace Paradise Island are located, was the least affected of all the islands by the devastating storm, and as a result its infrastructure and hotels are available to provide some of the emergency assistance needed. Together with H4H, as the NGO is known, RIU Hotels will spend 8 months helping to purchase supplies and essential items for those affected by the hurricane, funding the operations and the transport of food to all the authorised shelters, and it will provide for the volunteers. .

The essential items that Hands for Hunger will distribute, thanks to RIU Hotels’ contribution, include items for babies, thousands of bottles of water and non-perishable, high-energy foods such as cereals, rice, pasta, powdered milk, along with other dried foods that can be stored and cooked easily by the people affected.

New Providence Island, where the Riu Palace Paradise Island is located, was not affected by the hurricane and all of the local team is more than ready to receive all of the guests again. Tourism is the main economic activity in Bahamas. Its reactivation is key to the country’s recovery. Continue reading “‘Hands for Hunger’ to help those affected by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas” →
Articles, Community, Lifestyle

Erasing Borders Dance Festival Enthralls New York Audience

The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC)’s 11th Erasing Borders Dance Festival was held over three days this past weekend. The festival consisted of two shows in Queens and Manhattan boroughs of New York City and four workshops. The artists came from a variety of dance backgrounds from classical to contemporary.

On September 15th, the main show was held at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre in New York City with inaugural addresses by Sunil Hali, IAAC Executive Director, Dr.Nirmal Mattoo, IAAC Chair, Festival Director Deepsikha Chatterjee and Curator Uttara Coorlawala. The opening performance by Radhe Jaggi, a graduate of Kalakshetra Foundation, disciple of Leela Samson and also daughter of Sadhguru, enthralled the audience with a Bharatnatyam piece Sankara Srigiri choreographed by Leela Samson. This was followed by IndianRaga trio of Isha Parupudi, Swathi Jaisankar and Sophia Salingaros who performed a medley of their works – Shiva Shambho, Mohanakalyani Thillana, Depression and Kaa Vaa Vaa. Brinda Guha brought in her group Kalamandir Dance Company to perform urbanJATRA, a contemporary piece drawing from Kathak & other Indian Classical movements. In Parijat Desai‘s Pardon My Heart, which was the final performance, the choreography weaved together dance with recitation of contemporary verse and with Hindustani khayal and tarana music.

Post performance, the talk back was moderated by Parul Shah, dancer, choreographer and one of the curators at the festival. On the agenda were gender issues and contemporary interpretations as compared to classical dance forms. Continue reading “Erasing Borders Dance Festival Enthralls New York Audience” →