Talented Youth: Sir Sanford Fleming's First Annual "Fleming Idol" Competition

Babies are cute and kids are precocious, but teenagers are often dismissed or thought of as trouble-makers. June 5th's Fleming Idol competition at Sir Sanford Fleming Academy showed us all that if you get teenagers engaged in activities they enjoy, you will be more than pleased by their skills.

The First Annual Fleming Idol Talent Competition was produced and promoted by Canadian Reggae Music Award-winner, Jannett Scott (a.k.a Lady Luscious), who also works at the school. More than 20 teens took part in the competition which was divided into several categories: Singing, Drama, Rap, Dancing and Music (instrumental/vocal).

CONGRATULATIONS to Fleming Idol Winner, RAELENE BAILEY(Baby Jill Scott as we judges called her).

FLEMING IDOL TOP TEN

1. Amber Ing-Ducreay (Winner, Music (instrumental/vocal)
2. Deniqua Gerson-Dixon (Winner, Drama n/a CIUT interview)
   
3. Deshaya Luong-Rose (singer)
   
4. John Chikezie (singer)
   
5. Kevin Graham (Winner, Dance)
   
6. Michael Rose (singer)
   
7. Phillip Prince Jr. a.k.a “Hazzard” (Winner, Rap)
   
8. Raelene Bailey (Fleming Idol winner, plus Winner, Singing)
   
9. Sean Ing-Ducreay (drums)
   
10. Tamara Williams (singer, n/a CIUT interview)

As one of the 5 judges on the panel, I can honestly tell you that we were all impressed by the confidence of all who took the stage, and by the supportive nature of the audience (every contestant was enthusiastically encouraged by their peers).

Carrie Mullings from Rebel Vibez (from sister station CHRY 105.5 FM) hosted the event. On the judging panel with me were Jamaias DaCosta (from CIUT's Vibe Collective),Tanya Mullings (Reggae singer/Co-host Rebel Vibez), Mike Edgell (Global Television), and Ras Jockey. Farley Flex (Canadian Idol/Plasma Corporation) made a special appearance to give the Idols a motivational speech and pep talk before the show.

On June 13th, I had the pleasure of having 8 of the Top Ten Fleming Idols in the studio at CIUT. It was a crowded in the attic of 91 St. George Street, but everyone was cooperative and in high spirits for their live radio debut. Vocalists had a change to take the mic and show off their skills (even the Top 5 Dance category winner did a spontaneous rap), while non-vocal participants were given the opportunity to tell listeners about the process of putting their performance pieces together.

Fleming Idol was held in memory of Scott's daughter Aleisha Ashley and her best friend Monique McKnight. The two young women were killed a few years ago, when the taxi they were in was hit by a stolen car being driven by another teen (who also died). Jannett's song "See You Later My Friend" was sung by all the performers at the beginning of the talent show in memory of the two women.

Assisting Jannett with the youth-empowering event were Sir Sanford Fleming Academy's Principal, Arnold Witt who also showed off his singing chops, and Vice-Principal, Reiko Fuentes. Many hard-working, behind-the-scenes students and volunteers also participated in making the event a great success.

Yes, Jannett, I will be back next year.

Congratulations Jannett Scott aka Lady Luscious!

At the end of the show on Saturday, November 8th we decided to honour one lucky winner by drawing for one of the prizes. CONGRATULATIONS to Jannett Scott aka Lady Luscious on winning the Mooredale Concerts tickets.

Janett has won A PAIR OF TICKETS to Mooredale Concerts featuring Germany’s Kolja Lessing on violin and Anton Kuerti (recipient 2008 Governor General's Performing Arts Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award) on piano. Tickets courtesy of Mooredale Concerts.

CONGRATULATIONS also to Zabrina Chevannes, who won a $50.00 gift certificate courtesy of Harlem Restaurant. The gift certificate was a surprise donation brought to the station by publicist Kirk Cooper who was assisting me with the fundraising show. Thank you Kirk and thank you Harlem Restaurant for this wonderful surprise.

One lucky winner will be selected at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 15th for the remaining prizes in the exclusive show prize package.

All Female Guest Line Up for March 8th (IWD show)

March 8th Show

Hope you enjoyed my International Women's Day broadcast featuring Kelsey Matheson of the First Weekend Club and Jannett Scott (a.k.a. Lady Luscious of Women Ah Run Tings) and her daughter Cleoni Crawford . In case you missed it, I featured music by Queen Latifah (Order in the Court), and Canadian musicians Rita di Ghent (The Birth of Sprawl), Eleana Cuevas (Vidas) and Jannett Scott (Mystery Woman).

And speaking of Canadian, Kelsey and I talked about the importance of supporting Canadian film by going to see them on the first weekend that they hit the theatres. If a film does not do well on the Friday, Saturday, or Sunday screening it is pulled from the theatres. Think what this means to Canadian films that don't have the marketing millions of Hollywood films. So, if you hear about good Canadian film encourage your friends to see it that first weekend.

Sign up for a FREE membership at www.firstweekendclub.ca and find out more about their special screenings and events. It's also a great spot to see what films you've missed in the theatre, and what's available on DVD.

I introduced Jannett Scott by playing the title track from her solo CD "Mystery Woman". Jannett is nominated for a Canadian Reggae Music Award in the category "Top Dancehall Style D.J. (female)."

Joining in on the interview was Jannett's daughter, Cleoni Crawford who is in the process of launching a scholarship fund in memory of her sister Aleisha Ashley. Aleisha (17) and her best friend Monique McKnight (16) were killed when a stolen car being chased by the police slammed into their taxi. The two young women were on their way home from visiting Aleisha's aunt (not a night club as is commonly thought) when the accident occurred. Jannett talked about donating Aleisha's organs, and the importance of parents having a discussion about organ donation with their children.

Cleoni has teamed with Bereaved Families of Ontario-Toronto to create a scholarship for students from Downsview Secondary School, Westview Centennial Secondary School and Emery Collegiate Institute. One student from each school will be selected. A fundraising concert, "Gospel Arts & Praize", will be held on April 5th at Downsview Secondary School. For ticket information, donations and scholarship details please visit www.cleoni.ca