Canadian reggae, draped in the Jamaican flag, raised thousands of dollars for people affected by Hurricane Melissa during the ‘Hope For Jamaica’ show in Toronto on November 6.

Organisers estimate that almost 1,000 patrons turned up at the Jamaican Canadian Centre to watch performances by acts like Tasha T, Lazah Current, Exco Levi, Jimmy Reid, and Steele and participate in donating non-perishable items for shipment to areas destroyed by Melissa, a Category 5 force of nature that made landfall in Jamaica on October 28.

“There was a strong sense of solidarity — people of Jamaican heritage in Toronto and friends gathered not just to enjoy music. The energy was festive and cultural, the performances spanned reggae, gospel, spoken word [and] the crowd embraced the rhythms, the warmth of Jamaican culture and community,” said Dr Sylvanus Thompson, who coordinated the event.

Most of the funds raised came from the entry fee, with attendees also donating money collected by stewards at the gate. There were also raffles, including two tickets donated by Air Canada and a four-day stay at a Sandals resort in Jamaica.

Marsha Coore-Lobban, Jamaica’s high commissioner to Canada; Olivia Chow, mayor of Toronto; Kurt Davis, Jamaica’s consul general in Toronto; Member of Parliament Charmaine Williams; member of provincial parliament Tom Rakocevic; and King Nana Yaw Osam I of Ghana, were some of the dignitaries who attended ‘Hope For Jamaica’ show.

Hurricane Melissa is the most powerful hurricane to hit Jamaica. Its 185 miles per hour caused extreme damage to the parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and St James.

Other rural parishes including Clarendon, Manchester, St Ann, Hanover, and Trelawny also sustained considerable damage. The ministry of information has reported that Hurricane Melissa caused over 40 deaths in Jamaica.

The Greater Toronto Area has one of the largest Jamaican communities in North America. That region has also been a strong reggae colony since the 1970s.

— Howard Campbell