UTM Departments Host Annual “Caribbean Lyme” Event, Celebrating Caribbean Culture and Cuisine
Over 135 UTM faculty, staff, and students filled The Blind Duck to enjoy Caribbean dishes and compete in an island-themed trivia game.
On July 30, various University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) student services branches welcomed more than 135 UTM community members at The Blind Duck Pub and Patio, to the campus’ annual Caribbean Lyme event, a celebration of Caribbean culture, food, and music.
The event was hosted by numerous university organizations, including the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office (EDIO); the International Education Centre; the Wellbeing & Belonging Committee; Student Recruitment and Admissions; the Department of Management; the Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment; Connections and Conversations UTM; the Centre for Student Engagement (CSE); Black at UTM; and Accessibility Services. It was also sponsored by the CSE and U of T’s Hart House.
According to Entisar Yusuf, a Program Coordinator at the EDIO, and the event’s lead and key architect, the event was designed to engage the entire campus community, to celebrate and showcase “the richness and diversity of Caribbean communities and cultures,” while fostering connection and inclusion among Caribbean and non-Caribbean community members.
With the event beginning officially at noon, participants eagerly filed into the pub to engage in the festivities. Inside there were ten tables, some with board games, while plenty of seating on the patio allowed attendees to enjoy the near-perfect weather.
The event began with a meal catered by The Blind Duck, featuring their traditional Caribbean-themed menu: chickpea curry, rice and beans, and jerk chicken, along with fresh fruit, donut holes, and pop.
After everyone settled into their seats, fourth-year students Laila McFarlane and Chanelle Blair, the event’s masters of ceremonies, took to the stage and gave a land acknowledgement and a Caribbean ancestral acknowledgement. The MCs then led the crowd through an island shout-out, with various Caribbean islands being named and their respective affiliates responding in kind. Jamaica saw the loudest response!
After an introductory presentation for the event, a game of Caribbean trivia began on the interactive quiz platform, Mentimeter. The game featured copious questions pertaining to Caribbean geography, culture, and cuisine. Moreover, every participant received a raffle ticket at registration. The raffle was drawn multiple times throughout the event and winners received various gifts, including gift baskets featuring Caribbean spices and snacks, and gift cards for Wanda’s Caribbean Kitchen.
For some students, the event was an opportunity to engage with great culture and food, and an important initiative that contributes to the student-focused atmosphere on campus. “For me, being a student leader and seeing this event happening on campus right now, it feels really good… everything is so nice,” said incoming co-op student Aryan, who is double majoring in computer science and statistics. Aryan also commented on the Menti quiz’s inclusivity and expressed his desire to see the event return next year.
Speaking on the history of the program, Yusuf shared that the event is “becoming bigger and bigger every year,” and noted its increasing popularity among the UTM community. Yusuf stated, “There’s a higher demand for this event each year, especially among staff, as it’s a time for us to connect and unwind, and immerse ourselves in the music, the food, and learn more about the Caribbean culture on campus.”
Yusuf also noted how, over the years, she has cultivated a strong and meaningful relationship with Shane Madhani, the Blind Duck General Manager, whose continued support has played an important role in the success of the event. “We are deeply grateful for his ongoing commitment and support,” she expressed.
The event’s MCs, Macfarlene and Blair, also commented on specific aspects of the program and the impact the event has on its participants. “Throughout the event, we were able to highlight different parts of Caribbean culture, from the carnival that happened to the steel pan instrument,” said McFarlane. Blair spoke on the impact of the trivia game, sharing how, “everybody got a little snippet into the Caribbean.” She also shared that the game was a great way for those from the Caribbean to gain more knowledge of other Caribbean countries. It also served to represent all the islands, and not just the more well-known ones.
Martin Kengo, manager of Black Initiatives with the Office of the Vice-President and Principal at UTM, and Special Projects Officer for UTM’s Wellbeing and Belonging Department, touched on the broader vision guiding the event. “Here at UTM, we have a diverse student population, but also a diverse staff population. [This event] is a chance to appreciate, acknowledge, and celebrate that in a time when there’s so much divisiveness happening in the world.”
This year is the seventh year of the event. Kengo shared that when the event was first conceived, it was designed with the desire to bring “Caribbean and non-Caribbean, Black and non-Black identifying” folks together, to celebrate Caribbean and African culture together in the same space.
“It’s great to see many people amongst our staff and student community who don’t necessarily identify as Caribbean come out to appreciate the cultures… through the games, prizes and activities, and also to appreciate the vibes,” he said.
Kengo also highlighted the impact of the event, evidenced by its overflowing numbers which surpassed the initial registration count, and expressed his hope for continued institutional support from both the EDIO team and other UTM departments for this particular initiative.
News Editor (Volume 51); Associate News Editor (Volume 50) — Samuel is a second-year student at UTM studying Politics and English. He previously worked with The Medium as an Associate News Editor and currently serves as the publication’s News Editor. Samuel is passionate about employing the power of writing to enhance our student community and hopes to help nurture a bright future for The Medium this year. In his spare time, Samuel can be found working out, creating music on the piano and drums, or exploring nature.