For twenty years, the Caribbean Tales Film Festival (CTTF) has brought the best of Caribbean and diaspora cinema to global audiences. Running from September 3rd–13th, 2025, this year’s festival carried a powerful theme: “Stories that pulse with history, heart, and the undeniable energy of our people.” Every screening invited viewers to step into lives that span: cultures, communities, and continents with authenticity and soul.
One of the festival’s most anticipated traditions is the Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine Birthday Celebration and Fundraiser, now in its third year at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre Theatre. On Saturday, September 6th, 2025, the evening centered on the presentation of the Jean Augustine Award of Excellence to none other than Wendy Jones, celebrated Steelpan Ambassador and community leader.
Jones has spent decades shaping Canadian culture through her leadership of Pan Fantasy Steelband, which holds an astonishing record of winning eleven championships in a row. Her work has amplified the sound of pan across the country, mentoring more than 1,000 young people through the band’s ranks.
Before the award ceremony, the audience experienced three moving short films:
- XE’IL – Threads of Culture, Tradition and Community (Denise Speck): A vivid exploration of Indigenous Maya women in Southern Belize, told through embroidery.
- Shades (Lindsey Addawoo and Alexis L. Wood): A bold look at colourism in Black communities, blending interviews, dance, and performance.
- Good Girl (Sunita Miya Muganza): A gripping drama about a mother in Calgary fighting to protect her daughter from female circumcision.
Each film reminded the audience that storytelling is both art and activism.
The highlight of the evening was a breathtaking tribute to Wendy Jones by Earl Lapierre Jr. His steelpan performance (fiery, soulful, and deeply moving) brought the audience to its feet. His rendition of “How Great Thou Art” carried special weight, reflecting the bond he shared with Wendy over the years.
When Jones later surprised the crowd by performing alongside Pan Fantasy, the theatre erupted. Her brilliance as both leader and artist shone through, underscoring why she remains an irreplaceable force in Canada’s cultural landscape.
Dr. Jean Augustine, Canada’s first Black female MP and cabinet minister, reminded the audience of the deeper meaning of the evening. “It is not about me,” she said, stressing the importance of recognizing those who dedicate their lives to culture and education. She praised Jones’s 25 years of service to the Toronto Catholic District School Board and her tireless mentorship of students.
In her acceptance speech, Jones reflected on the challenges Pan Fantasy faced when it began in Toronto’s Jane-Finch community. She credited her brother Ian Jones, whose passing left a lasting mark, and paid tribute to her mentor Earl Lapierre Sr. With gratitude, she said, “To God be the glory, for the great things he has done.”
Her story is about resilience, community, and lifting others.
Dr. Augustine summed up the spirit of the evening in a message she shared on social media: “The celebration is about all of us who believe in the power of equity, education, and community.”
That sense of unity carried into the closing dinner and fellowship, where attendees left inspired and recommitted to nurturing Caribbean and African cultural voices in Canada and beyond.
The Caribbean Tales International Film Festival continues to prove that storytelling: shapes legacy, builds bridges, and amplifies voices too often overlooked.
For more information, visit caribbeantalesfestival.com.
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