HOSTED BY: CARA FULLERTON
Introducing our emcee, Cara Fullerton, a dynamic individual with a diverse background. With 14 years as a former TV broadcaster, Cara brings charisma and professionalism to the stage. Her journey spans various fields, from fitness coaching to airlines, and now in tech, as a Client Onboarding Specialist for the past four years. A huge advocate for fitness and healthy living, she inspires others with her passion. Alongside her main man, Jamie, Cara loves hosting dinner parties (but mostly attending) and traveling.
HONOUREE: ROSEMARY SADLIER
We will honour the achievements of the recipient of the Inaugural Social Justice Trailblazer Award. Her inspiring dedication to social justice has shaped our community.
Performances by
SYDONNE WARREN
Sydonne Warren, a Jamaican-born visual artist raised in Calgary, Alberta, captivates with vibrant, expressive portrait paintings. Having pursued studies in Architectural Technologies and Graphic Design at Sait, she delved deeper into Graphic Design at Public Art, initiating public space creations in 2020. Beyond her canvas, she founded a successful paint and sip business in 2021, empowering adults to craft their own expressive portraits. Her artistic prowess earned her the Diversity Magazines Artist of the Year Award, with her work showcased in numerous media platforms. Sydonne’s portraits, often featuring black women, fuse geometric elements with bold colors, drips, and spatters, intricately weaving her cultural journey into each stroke.
CHERYL FOGGO
Cheryl Foggo is a playwright, author and filmmaker, whose work over the last 35 years has focused on the lives of Western Canadians of African descent. Among her works are: Heaven, John Ware Reclaimed, John Ware Reimagined and Pourin’ Down Rain: A Black Woman Claims Her Place in the Canadian West. Cheryl is a past recipient of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Outstanding Artist Award, The Doug and Lois Mitchell Outstanding Calgary Artist Award, the Arts, Media and Entertainment Award from the Calgary Black Chambers, the Women Making History in Alberta Award, the Alberta Order of Excellence and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. Cheryl was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Mount Royal University in June of 2023.
IBRAHIM DIALLO
Ibrahim Diallo, born in Guinea Conackry, West Africa, came to Canada in the year 2000. He has been drumming since the age of 10, showcasing his talent all across Canada alongside his brother, Alpha Yaya Diallo, a three-time World Music Juno winner in Canada. Ibrahim also leads his own six-member band, Malala Production, based in Calgary, performing at various venues throughout the city and beyond.
$tik – DeSean Williams
$tik, born DeSean Williams in Calgary, Canada, is a 25-year-old rapper whose unique blend of lyricism and beats has made waves in his hometown. Inspired by the diverse culture of Calgary, $tik found solace in hip-hop from a young age, honing his skills as a wordsmith and storyteller. Alongside lifelong friends Black$tar and Deezy, $tik has performed at numerous venues, opening for artists like Kent Jones and Outlawz. His debut album, “Death of Prince,” dropped in August 2019, followed by a top 5 placement in the Vans Musicians Wanted competition for North America in 2020. Collaborating with a range of artists, $tik’s versatility shines through, which is evident in his ability to adapt across genres. With his dedication to pushing boundaries, $tik stands poised for a bright future in the Canadian hip-hop.
De-Anne Weekes
Igniting the Rhythmic Soul of Afro Caribbean Dance born in the vibrant heart of Trinidad and
steeped in the rich traditions of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. De-Ann Weekes carries a dance legacy as colorful as the islands that raised her. In 2003, she embarked on a journey that would set Calgary’s dance scene ablaze.
Driven by an unquenchable thirst for success, De-Ann ventured to Toronto, where she immersed herself in the
world of movement at Ballet Creole. There, she devoured the essence of Afro Jazz, West African, and Afro Caribbean
rhythms, crafting her body into an instrument of pure expression. A shining star in the dance universe, De-Ann’s talents earned her a coveted scholarship to the renowned Jacob’s Pillow, where she became an integral part of the Dunham revisited intensive, pushing the bound
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