In recognition of his work on ending racial discrimination and promoting tolerance, Brampton teen Corey Sherwood was presented with a special award and scholarship from the province.

Sherwood was the proud recipient of the 2009 Lincoln Alexander Award, which was presented just recently at Brampton’s Queen’s Park. The award is given annually to 3 youths aged 16 to 25, as a way of honoring their efforts to reduce and eliminate racism and discrimination. The award is named after Lincoln Alexander, the Province of Ontario’s first black lieutenant governor. The awards ceremony has taken place each year since its beginnings in 1993.

Sherwood’s guidance counselor was the individual behind the young man’s nomination. To nominate a potential honoree, one must first submit a letter to the Provincial government.

Sherwood admits being surprised to be picked out of the many youths in Brampton. The 18-year-old graduate of St. Edmund Campion Secondary School was chosen for his exceptional contributions to Brampton’s community, as well as his tenacity in ending racial discrimination.

And Sherwood definitely knows what he’s fighting for. As a young black man growing up in the tough streets of Brampton, he’s experienced first hand what it feels like to be discriminated against just because of the color of his skin.

He hopes that many others try to follow his example.

Brampton’s Mount Chinguacousy is set to finally usher in the season for skiing and snowboarding on December 19.

Mount Chinguacousy is located in the park named after it here in Brampton. Each year, the mountain opens its gates to winter sports enthusiasts, with skiers and snowboarders from all over the country flocking in to try out the mountain’s majestic slopes. Tubing junkies however, will have to wait as the tube hill is not ready as of yet.

And don’t worry about the mountain not having enough snow. Chinguacousy Park officials have been busy blowing the white stuff over the past weeks, making sure that skiers and snowboarders have enough powder to satisfy their extreme needs

Furthermore, with the 2010 Winter Olympics just months away, numerous winter athletes are expected to try out Chinguacousy’s slopes.

But that’s not to say the park is exclusive to seasoned enthusiasts. The City of Brampton will also hold ski and snowboard lessons at the site, ensuring that children and novices have fun. In addition, holiday ski and snowboard programs will also be offered on December 21 to 24. After a short Christmas break, programs will resume on the 28th to the 31st.

For more information on Brampton’s skiing and snowboarding scene, log-on to www.brampton.ca.

Canadian funnyman and Brampton native Russell Peters recently had the chance to privately meet His Majesty Abdullah II, King of Jordan. The private audience was held at His Majesty’s Amman Palace, where Peters was doing a show with the Amman Stand-Up Comedy Festival.

The King, who admits to being a big fan of Russell Peters, personally invited him to a private audience after being unable to attend his gigs due to other official business.

Peters comments to being amazed by the King’s character and easy-going attitude. Apparently, His Majesty knows his comedy and is a big supporter of the yearly Amman Festival in Jordan.

And it’s no surprise. King Abdullah II is probably one of the most modern monarchs in the world today. In fact, he once moonlighted as an extra for Star Trek: Voyager. The King also acknowledges himself to be a film buff, proof of which can be seen in his creation of the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts in Agaba.

Peters along with his brother returned later that evening for an evening with King Abdullah and his wife, Queen Rania of Jordan.

Peters is known for his regular stand-up shows in Canada. He first started touring the comedy circuit in Ontario, later becoming one of the most recognized faces in stand-up comedy today.

The Annual Brampton Youth and Community Service Fair was nothing short of a smashing success as hundreds of local youths and families attended the event hosted by Parliament member Dr. Ruby Dhalla.

The fair gave local high school students, who need 40 hours worth of community service to graduate, the chance to look up potential volunteer work in their respective vicinities. The event was also graced by the presence of United Achievers, Mayor Susan Fennell’s Youth Team, the Brampton Springdale Youth Advisory Council, and the Brampton Neighbourhood Resource Centre.

Dr. Dhalla was privileged to have so many young people show up, saying that it’s inspiring to know that a lot youths are actually willing to help out their community.

She created the fair to invigorate and encourage the youth to volunteer for their communities and keep them away from bad influences like gangs, drugs, and the like. For years, Dr. Dhalla has been a strong believer in the power of the youth, and as the founder of the Youth Advisory Council for Brampton-Springdale, has given them the opportunity to speak for themselves and create solutions for the situations they usually deal with.

With the fair being a highly successful event, expect Dr. Dhalla and her peers to make a comeback next year.

It’s now Barrie’s time to shine this weekend as the Olympic Torch officially makes its way through the city on Friday, leaving on the morning of Saturday.

Residents are buzzing about the upcoming event, with many excited to be a part of this special occasion.

And Barrie officials certainly don’t want to disappoint the city’s residents as they have arranged for the Olympic Torch Relay to feature a good mix of local faces that are set to carry the flame from Queen Street in the east, to the downtown area on Friday evening.
Once the final torchbearer makes the final stop for the city, a community celebration is expected to take place, complete with music, food, and fireworks.

Other activities planned by Barrie’s government officials include:

• A parade to welcome the city’s torchbearers
• A special trampoline show for kids and adults alike
• On-stage entertainment
• Games and prizes

These are set to take place in Brampton’s Ken Whillans Square and Gage Park. Thousand of spectators from Brampton and its surrounding communities are expected to turn up to watch the historical event, as well as to take part in the festivities.

Thinking of joining in on the fun? You can log-on to www.bramptontorchrelay.ca or www.vancouver2010.com for more details on the torch relay, relay route for Brampton, and many more.

This Christmas, Brampton’s A.C.T. Productions has something special up its sleeve to share with the public. Taking place at Brampton’s Rose Theatre on December 16 to 20 is Scrooge! The Musical, a timeless Christmas tale spiced up and reinvigorated with music and singing.

Families, children, and all kind of spectators will be given a new insight into this Victorian Yuletide story, as A.C.T. takes the classic tale and adds a touch of local flavor filled with beautiful music, and witty lyrics.

Scrooge! The Musical is retold version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which was released in 1843. The story is about a grumpy, mean, and bitter Ebenezer Scrooge, who after being visited by four ghosts—his dead business partner, the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future—on the Eve of Christmas, learns to change his ways for the better, and embraces the Spirit of Christmas.

This time however, the story is told with music, a moving set, amazing costumes, elaborate backdrops, and many more.

Already, families from Brampton and its surrounding areas are purchasing their tickets in advance to have a memorable Christmas.

It’s not too late to score your tickets, call 905-874-2800 for inquiries, reservations, and additional information.

To celebrate the Spirit of Christmas, the annual Jordan Foundation toy drive once again takes place in Brampton, with the goal of gathering toys, cash donations, food items, and even household goods for the less fortunate. The fundraiser is wrapping up on Sunday, with organizers busy tending to the large number of donations.

Michelle Kopas is the kind soul behind the annual toy drive, which has been a regular thing for 9 years now. The annual toy drive is held each year in memory of her son Jordan, who was accidentally killed in a Barrie parking lot by a reversing automobile. Jordan was only 4-years-old during the incident.

Kopas notes that due to the economic crisis that has affected the region, a high number of families are in desperate need of financial help. For this year, the Jordan foundation aims to help four families from the Peel District School Board. Furthermore, a part of the donations will also be sent to TEAM, or Teenage Education and Motherhood, which is a program created to help teenage moms finish high school.

To donate and help the cause, please send your new or used toys, or any other items that would be of help to those in need to Dynamic Employment Solutions, which is located in Brampton.

Brampton has just been recently selected to be among the few lucky cities to host events that will coincide with the 2011 International Indian Film Academy (or IIFA) Awards. The prestigious awards show is widely regarded as Bollywood’s equivalent to Hollywood’s Oscar Awards, and the Greater Toronto Area could not be more proud to host such a huge event.

Brampton was among those invited to co-sponsor and co-host the annual show, and even now, organizers from the city are already buzzing about the awards night.

From June 16 to 19 2011, the IIFA Awards will be making its presence felt in the province, with people from all over the world gathering to witness the event.

The announcement that Ontario had won the bid was made by the International Indian Film Academy in Mumbai a few days ago on December 9. The Academy cited the province’s appreciation for films coming not just from the West, but also from different cultures around the world.

Each year, the awards show takes place in a different international city, with places like Johannesburg, Bangkok, Amsterdam, and Dubai having played host to the event in the past.

2011 looks to be a great time for you to come on up and visit us here in Brampton. Aside from the next year’s IIFA, the city boasts of plenty of cultural shows that take place on a regular basis, assuring tourists a rich and memorable experience.

Brampton’s Operation Red Nose officially went underway in Brampton, and the free rides the program offers are getting popular with the region’s residents.

The nation-wide program calls for volunteers to help those who are unable to drive themselves for reasons that range from drinking a bit too much, being ill or sick, or being disabled. Drivers give their clients a free ride by borrowing their cars to drive them home – all for free.

The program has been gaining a lot of momentum, and as of last weekend, the team of volunteer drivers has given some 36 clients free rides home, amounting to a total driving distance of 505 miles. The program has so far also received $602.50 in cash donations, all of which will be directed to youth charities in Brampton and its surrounding regions.

For those who want to be picked up, Operation Red Nose has designated a hotline, and although they have received a few prank calls, this hasn’t deterred them from doing their best to help the community in their own way.

To help the volunteers work better, program sponsors have provided food and other necessities – a crucial factor to enable the volunteers to keep up with their demanding tasks.

The program still has some two weekends to go, and organizers are still inviting sponsors to pitch in.

Thinking of ditching your so-called “holiday diet”? Then head down to Marriott Brampton for some good old Christmas day treats!

The folks from Brampton know what the words “good eats” mean, and Marriot Brampton certainly does not disappoint. Check out their Christmas Day Buffet, and have a taste of the wide variety of choices their menu has to offer.

If you want to start light, sample their fresh breads and assorted salads like Sea food Noodle Salad, Crisp Greek Salad topped with fresh olives and feta cheese, and their popular Creamy Potato Salad.

If you feel like taking a walk on the wild side, check out their unique dishes like Salmon Medallions mixed with a puree made of roasted peppers, Cajun style Red Skin Potatoes roasted in saffron, Mushroom Risotto, and Ham glazed with honey coupled with apricots and sweet potato chutney.

Of course, that’s just a sneak peek into the goodies and treats Marriott Brampton has to offer, there’s lots more food to choose from we assure you.

The buffet is a one time event that happens on the Big Day from 3 in the afternoon to 6 in the evening only, so mark your calendars and make sure you and your foodie friends leave some space in your filled tummies for some more good food!