 August 23, marks the first official holiday celebrating the renaming of Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa Square in downtown Toronto.

The square was officially renamed on December 14, 2023, as part of the city’s efforts to confront its colonial legacy. This historic step followed months of public consultation and the recommendations of a community advisory committee reviewing city assets tied to Henry Dundas, a Scottish politician whose actions delayed the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade by 15 years.

The new name, Sankofa, originates from the Akan people of Ghana and means “to go back and get it”—a powerful reminder of the importance of learning from the past in order to build a better and more just future.

Sankofa also carries deep resonance in the African artistic and cultural imagination. The word was reintroduced into the Ethiopian and broader African diaspora landscape through the acclaimed film Sankofa by Ethiopian filmmaker Professor Haile Gerima, a work that has become a cultural landmark in redefining narratives of slavery, memory, and liberation.

For those of us of African descent, the renaming of this central Toronto landmark is not just symbolic—it is a call to be part of shaping inclusive public spaces and reclaiming our shared histories

Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square Renamed Sankofa Square

Toronto-born global music icon Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye was awarded the Key to the City by Mayor Olivia Chow on Saturday, July 26, in a heartfelt ceremony that recognized his artistic achievements, philanthropic leadership, and enduring connection to his hometown. The event coincided with the launch of his four-show homecoming concert series at Rogers Centre, electrifying fans and marking a major cultural moment for the city.

To celebrate this milestone, Mayor Chow also officially proclaimed July 26–27 as “Weeknd Weekend” in Toronto, honouring the artist’s deep roots in the city and his extraordinary rise from Scarborough to the world stage.

“Born in Toronto, Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye represents the best of our city,” said Mayor Chow. “From Scarborough to the global stage, he has reshaped modern music while using his platform to support health and humanitarian causes at home and around the world. I am proud to honour one of our city’s greatest artists with a Key to the City.”

A 2014 recipient of the Bikila Award, Tesfaye has been instrumental in supporting the development of Ethiopic Studies at the University of Toronto, helping to elevate Ethiopian cultural scholarship in Canada. His broader philanthropic legacy includes co-founding HXOUSE, a Toronto-based creative incubator, and donating over $10 million to humanitarian efforts globally—supporting education, food security, and racial justice.

In response to Saturday’s recognition, The Weeknd said:

“I’m deeply honored to receive the Key to the City. It feels good to be home. Toronto is where I found my voice, and I’m committed to helping the next generation find theirs. That’s why I’m proud to support the Boys & Girls Club of West Scarborough and my former high school, Birchmount Park, providing youth with the means to unlock their full potential.”

Tesfaye’s journey began in the east end of Toronto, with early performances at small local venues and anonymous uploads to YouTube that captured the city’s raw and diverse energy. His 2011 mixtape House of Balloons is now widely credited with shaping the sound of alternative R\&B, and in 2021, he became the first Canadian to solo headline the Super Bowl halftime show.

He’s one of the most-streamed artists in the world, and his ongoing dedication to Toronto—through music, community work, and cultural advocacy—continues to inspir



Toronto Honours The Weeknd with Key to the City and Declares “Weeknd Weekend”

Downtown Toronto came alive on July 19,2025 as Ethiopia’s legendary singer Aster Aweke delivered an unforgettable performance at the historic Masonic Hall (Concert Hall) at 888 Yonge Street. Overflowing with an enthusiastic Ethiopian Canadian audience from top to bottom, the venue pulsed with anticipation until the Queen of Ethiopian Soul finally took the stage.

From the moment Aster stepped into the spotlight, the energy was electric. Opening with a fan-favorite classic, she had the crowd instantly in sync with her vibrant presence and youthful energy—despite a career that spans over four decades.

Backed by the ever-solid Sekela Band and legendary saxophonist Girma Woldemichael, Aster performed a carefully curated setlist featuring hits from her acclaimed albums such as Hagere (1991), Ebo (2006), Fikir (2011), and Checheho (2013). Her performance stirred powerful emotions among attendees—evoking nostalgia, pride, and longing for home.

Speaking with EthioFidel after the show, fans described how Aster’s songs transported them to cherished memories of childhood, first love, weddings, and milestones from their lives in Ethiopia and the diaspora. One attendee shared, “Her voice is like a time machine—it brings back everything we’ve carried in our hearts.”

The evening’s magic was not Aster’s alone. Rising star Rahel Getu lit up the stage with her fresh talent and powerful vocals, while Abinet Girma—affectionately nicknamed “Junior Tilahun Gessesse” for his striking voice and stage charisma—kept the crowd dancing and cheering throughout his energetic set. Their performances beautifully complemented the night’s theme of celebrating both legacy and new voices in Ethiopian music.

Adding to the night’s energy, DJ Six curated a vibrant mix of tracks that had the audience moving in between acts, building momentum toward the main event. Attendees praised the venue, the crisp sound system, and the overall organization, calling the night one of the most memorable events in the community.

Aster Aweke, renowned for her soulful blend of traditional Ethiopian melodies with jazz, funk, and modern soul, continues to captivate audiences around the globe. With international tours, numerous awards, and honors—including recognition from the Ethiopian Fine Arts and Mass Media Prize Trust—she stands as one of the most influential voices in Ethiopian music history.

Alongside Aster, performers like Rahel Getu and Abinet Girma contributed to a night that transcended entertainment. For many, it was more than a concert—it was a cultural homecoming, a celebration of identity, and a tribute to the enduring power of Ethiopian music.


Aster Aweke: The Queen of Ethiopian Soul Shines in Toronto

Toronto, February 8, 2025

In a vibrant and well-attended community event, New Perspective አዲስቅኝት, an Ethiopian Canadian television series, was officially launched on January 11, 2025. The series, produced under the Bridge Entertainment banner, will begin airing on the Rogers Network's OMNI 2 Channel starting February 8, 2025.  

According to OMNI's program schedule, New Perspective አዲስቅኝት will air every Saturday at 1 PM, with additional broadcasts on Monday at 9 AM and Thursday at 2:30 PM.  

The series celebrates Ethiopian Canadian culture, featuring dynamic storytelling, community conversations, cultural highlights, and interviews that bridge cultures and foster understanding. It serves as a platform to showcase the stories and experiences of Ethiopian Canadians while engaging with the broader Canadian audience.  

Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities: 
Businesses interested in advertising or sponsoring the show can connect through the following website:  
👉 [https://shop.addisperspective.com/pages/virtual-studio-1](https://shop.addisperspective.com/pages/virtual-studio-1)  

The launch marks a significant milestone for Ethiopian Canadian media, providing a new platform for cultural expression, entertainment, and community engagement.  

Don’t miss the debut episode on February 8, 2025, at 1 PM! Stay tuned for inspiring stories and meaningful conversations.

New Perspective አዲስቅኝት Ethiopian Canadian TV Series Premieres on OMNI 2 Channel  


In a significant legal development, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has been found guilty of accepting bribes from Egyptian officials to exert pressure on Ethiopia. The senator's involvement in the scandal has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, revealing a web of corruption and foreign influence.

Three New Jersey businessmen have also been convicted in connection with the case. They were found guilty of accepting substantial bribes in the form of gold and cash and acting as agents of the Egyptian government to facilitate Menendez's actions against Ethiopia.

This verdict comes after a series of allegations against Senator Menendez, including accusations of abusing his power, obstructing justice, and participating in 16 other related crimes. The case underscores the severe consequences of corruption at the highest levels of government and the potential impact of foreign influence on U.S. domestic and foreign policy.

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez Found Guilty in Bribery Scandal Linked to Egypt and Ethiopia

በወንዶች 3000 ሜትር መሰናክል ታዋቂው ኢትዮጵያዊው አትሌት ላሜቻ ግርማ ራሱን ስቶ የቀረው ይህ ክስተት በጭንቅላት ላይ ከፍተኛ ጉዳት በማስከተሉ እንደሆነ ከቦታው የወጣ መረጃ ያሳያል።

ግርማ ለተጨማሪ የህክምና እርዳታ በፍጥነት ወደ ሆስፒታል ተወሰደ። የአይን እማኞች እንዳረጋገጡት ወድቆ መጎዳቱን  ተከትሎ ራሱን ስቶ በመውደቁ በቦታው ለተመለከተው በጣም አስከፊ ነበር።

የአትሌቲክስ ማህበረሰቡ የግርማ ሁኔታ በጣም ያሳሰበው ሲሆን ለወርቅ ሜዳሊያው ይወዳደር ለነበረው ጎበዝ ሯጭ ፈጣን እና ሙሉ ማገገም ተስፋ አለኝ ሲል መግለጫ አውጥቷል።

በዚህ ፈታኝ ጊዜ ሀሳባችን እና ጸሎታችን ከለሜቻ ግርማ ጋር ነው ሲልም በመግለጫው አክሏል።

Tragic Fall in Men's 3000m Steeplechase: Ethiopian Athlete Lamecha Girma Suffers Serious Injury

Ethiopian athlete Lamecha Girma, a prominent figure in the men's 3000m steeplechase, suffered a severe fall and serious injury during the final event last night. The incident, which left him unconscious, resulted in a significant head injury.

Girma was promptly rushed to the hospital for further medical assistance. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the scene was dire as he fell unconscious following the fall. 

The athletic community is deeply concerned about Girma's condition and is hoping for a swift and full recovery for the talented runner, who was competing for the gold medal.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Lamecha Girma during this challenging time.


በወንዶች 3000ሜ መሰናክል አሳዛኝ የመውደቅ አደጋ በኢትዮጵያዊው አትሌት ለሜቻ ግርማ ላይ ከባድ ጉዳት አደረሰበት።

ኢትዮጵያዊው ካናዳዊ ምሁር ዶ/ር ቡሻ ታአ በጎንደር ዩኒቨርሲቲ የሶሺዮሎጂ የሙሉ ፕሮፌሰርነት ማዕረግ አግኝተዋል። እንደ ዩኒቨርሲቲው ገለጻ ፕሮፌሰር ቢኒያም ቻቂሉ ከህክምናና ጤና ሳይንስ ኮሌጅ፣ ፕሮፌሰር ቡሻ ታ ከማህበራዊ ሳይንስና ሂውማኒቲስ ኮሌጅ እና ፕሮፌሰር ሰፊነው አለሙ ከእንስሳት ህክምና እና እንስሳት ሳይንስ ኮሌጅ የደረጃ ዕድገት አግኝተዋል። 


Dr. Busha Taa, an Ethiopian Canadian academic, has been promoted to the rank of full professor of Sociology by the University of Gondar. According to the university, Prof. Binyam Chakilu from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Prof. Busha Taa from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Prof. Sefinew Alemu from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences have all been promoted to full professorship ranks.



ኢትዮጵያዊው ካናዳዊ ምሁር ዶ/ር ቡሻ ታአ ወደ ሙሉ ፕሮፌሰርነት አደገ/Ethiopian Canadian Scholar Dr. Busha Taa Promoted to Full Professor!

 Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, H.E. Ambassador Taye Atskeselase-Selassie, welcomed Canada's Minister of International Development, Hon. Ahmed Hussen, in a meeting today aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation. This significant engagement underscores the commitment of both nations to foster sustainable growth and mutual prosperity through collaboration in key areas such as peacebuilding, development, and economic opportunities.

During the discussions, Ambassador Taye Atskeselase-Selassie and Minister Ahmed Hussen explored various avenues to deepen their partnership. The meeting highlighted the following key points:

- Peacebuilding Initiatives: Both ministers emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. They discussed potential joint initiatives to support conflict resolution, strengthen democratic institutions, and promote social cohesion in Ethiopia and the surrounding region.
  
- Development Projects: The dialogue covered a range of development projects that could benefit from enhanced cooperation. Topics included infrastructure development, healthcare improvement, and educational programs designed to uplift underserved communities in Ethiopia.

- Economic Opportunities: Recognizing the potential for economic growth, the ministers explored ways to boost trade and investment between the two countries. They discussed opportunities for Canadian businesses to engage in Ethiopia’s emerging markets and for Ethiopian products to gain better access to Canadian markets.

Minister Hussen expressed Canada’s readiness to support Ethiopia’s efforts towards achieving its developmental goals. He reiterated Canada’s commitment to providing technical assistance and financial support to key sectors, particularly those that align with Ethiopia's strategic development plans.

Ambassador Taye Atskeselase-Selassie acknowledged Canada’s valuable contributions and stressed the importance of sustained international cooperation. He highlighted Ethiopia’s ongoing reforms and the country’s dedication to creating a conducive environment for foreign investment and international partnerships.

This meeting marks a significant step forward in Ethiopia-Canada relations. By focusing on peacebuilding, development, and economic collaboration, both nations are poised to achieve greater heights in their bilateral relationship. The strengthened partnership not only aims to benefit the people of Ethiopia and Canada but also to contribute positively to regional and global stability.

The discussions concluded with a mutual agreement to continue dialogue and explore further areas of cooperation. Both ministers expressed optimism about the future of Ethiopia-Canada relations and committed to working together to achieve shared objectives.



Ethiopia and Canada Strengthen Partnership on Peace and Development


As part of the Mental Health Week celebrations, a special documentary screening took place last Saturday, May 18th. The film, "Tesfaye (Hope)," captivated audiences with its compelling tale of migration and resilience. The event underscored the theme of this year's Mental Health Week, "Healing with Compassion," by highlighting personal journeys towards wellness and the healing power of storytelling. The community gathered to reflect, share experiences, and find strength in collective compassion and understanding.

Inspiring Documentary "Tesfaye (Hope)" Illuminates Community Event on May 18th

Nobel Laureate Alice Munro, Master of the Short Story, Dies at 92

May 14, 2024
Canadian author Alice Munro, the 2013 Nobel Prize winner for literature, passed away at her home in Port Hope, Ontario, on Monday night. She was 92. Munro, celebrated for her insightful and compassionate short stories about life in rural Canada, leaves behind a legacy that has deeply influenced readers worldwide.

Often likened to Anton Chekhov for the depth and empathy of her work, Munro's literary career spanned over six decades. Kristin Cochrane, CEO of Penguin Random House Canada, praised her as "a national treasure - a writer of enormous depth, empathy, and humanity whose work is read, admired, and cherished by readers throughout Canada and around the world."

Munro's first major success came with her 1968 short story collection, *Dance of The Happy Shades*, which won the Governor General's Award, Canada's highest literary honor. She went on to win this award twice more, solidifying her place in Canadian literature. Over her lifetime, she published thirteen collections of stories, a novel (*Lives of Girls and Women*), and two volumes of selected stories.

Born in 1931 in Wingham, Ontario, Munro's upbringing in a rural setting heavily influenced her writing. Her stories often reflected the people, culture, and life of the region. In her youth, she was named class valedictorian at her high school and received a scholarship to the University of Western Ontario, where she excelled in English.

Munro's stories began gaining wider recognition in the 1950s and 1960s, being broadcast on CBC and published in various Canadian periodicals. Her breakthrough in the United States came in 1977 when the New Yorker published *Royal Beatings*, a story drawn from her childhood experiences. This led to a long-standing relationship with the magazine.

Her storytelling prowess earned her numerous accolades, including the Man Booker International Prize for lifetime achievement in 2009. The judges remarked, "To read Alice Munro is to learn something every time that you never thought of before." They highlighted her ability to bring "as much depth, wisdom, and precision to every story as most novelists bring to a lifetime of novels."

Munro's impact on literature was further cemented when she received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013. The Nobel committee hailed her as a "master of the contemporary short story."

In her final collection, *Dear Life* (2012), Munro included several partly-autobiographical stories. She hinted in an interview with the National Post that it might be her last work, reflecting on her changing perspective on life.

Alice Munro's legacy endures through her powerful and moving stories that continue to resonate with readers. Her passing marks the end of an era for Canadian literature, but her influence will be felt for generations to come.