Grand Bay native wins Madam Wob Dwiyet Canada 2011

Madam Wob Dwiyet Canada 2011. Photos by Robert Larocque

On Saturday October 8, at 6:30 p.m., at the Sts. Peter & Paul Banquet Hall in Toronto, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Ontario Association (CDOA) celebrated Dominica’s Independence with a cultural extravaganza featuring the CDOA’s 3rd Annual Madam Wob Dwiyet Canada Pageant and the CDOA’s 41st anniversary.

This event showcased Dominica’s cultural heritage, through traditional dances, folk songs and a colourful display of Dominica’s national dress the “Wob Dwiyet”.

The Madam Wob Dwiyet Canada 2011 Pageant was the highlight of the evening and featured eight contestants. Juliana Gregoire of Grand Bay won the competition with First Runner-up being Claudia Panther-Bannis (Portsmouth). The Second and Third Runners-up were Iris Shillingford (Dublanc) and Hetty Lawrence (Warner) respectively. Other contestants were Avonelle Pinard (Roseau) Bernadine Dinnard-Williams (Bath Estate) Natania Jno-Baptiste (Mahaut) and Magdalene Ashton (Wesley).

The winner will receive a trip to Dominica next year and more prizes will be awarded at the prize-giving ceremony to take place early next month in Toronto.

The evening’s audience was captivated by Keynote speaker, His Excellency Vince Henderson, who praised the CDOA for its contribution to Dominica and thrilled the audience with the news that a Consulate for Toronto was on the Government’s agenda.
The Dominican of Distinction Award went to Dr. Kwame Julius McKenzie, born and raised in England of Dominican parentage. Dr. McKenzie is a psychiatrist, researcher, policy advisor and broadcaster. He is the Director of the Canadian Institute of Health Research Social Aetiology of Mental Illness and a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He also sits on the Service System Advisory Committee of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

The President, Frances DelSol appealed to the community to continue to support their Association, one of the leading Caribbean organizations in Toronto. The Association she said, aims to be a cohesive, collaborative one, working in concert with all whose goals and objectives are aligned with that of the Association. The CDOA for the first time in its history, obtained funding to launch a successful Seniors program called The Sixty & Better Club.

Three scholarships, one sponsored by Western Union, were awarded to three deserving students entering university who had volunteered and continue to be volunteers with the CDOA and the community. Ms. DelSol thanked the numerous volunteers and the Madam Wob participants, for their display of courage and dedication that culminated in what has been labelled CDOA’s most successful event to date.

Nous Wive Dance Company from New York, Kamil Andre from Toronto and the CDOA Quadrille dancers thrilled the audience with performances throughout the evening that ended with dancing till 2:00am to DJ Japs International from Toronto.

For information on the Commonwealth of Dominica, Ontario Association, please email [email protected] or call 416 596 9386.

The participants

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29 Comments

  1. October 16, 2011

    congrates julie.representin us to the fullest in gbay.we are proud of u.go girl

  2. culture at its best
    October 16, 2011

    congrats to the ms. wob on your title and congratulations also to ms. iris shillingford on being the second runner up, we are still very proud of you and your mum, i know your mum would be over excited in sashing you since she was ms wob 2010 anyway hats off to tall the ladies for participating and contiue to keep the dominican culture alive out there

    • representing
      October 17, 2011

      correction culture at it best.. Iris Shillingford mom won the madam wob title in 2008 not 2010.

  3. Neg Gwanbay
    October 16, 2011

    Nuff respect Julie!!Thanks for putting grandbay in the news in a positive way.Perr miss that one wii pal.

  4. Sout Man
    October 15, 2011

    Congratulations, Juliana!! Keep up the good work, Frances and the CDOA. What a courageous group of beautiful ladies!!

  5. October 15, 2011

    Well done Dominicans in Canada.Congrats to all participants.

  6. October 15, 2011

    Big up to Julie and all those who took part ,And Commonwealth of Dominica Association association[CDOA]
    for for keeping our rich culture alive at the Big Gala to the world with Gam -Pride.

  7. Jbfox
    October 15, 2011

    National pride.

  8. proud niece
    October 15, 2011

    So proud of my aunt for winning the show..I guess it runs in the family…congrates aunt and to all the other contestance cuz i know it takes good courage to do this …. :lol:

  9. STEPPY
    October 14, 2011

    8-O dOMINICA GOT TALENTED LADIES: BIG UP PASSE MORN-JOHN. SCOTTS HEAD, GOOD HOP, ROSEAU GOODWILL, HARLEM JAMCITY, LA POINT MICHELLE. VAKAV, LAUDAT, g, BAY, WAH GWAAN

  10. bernz
    October 14, 2011

    hey aunty congrats i am very proud of you good job (big up juli) royalty in the family again keep up the good work culture all the way. GRAND BAY AGAIN

  11. Anonymous
    October 14, 2011

    8-O wow ! tht’s Talent, shout-out to goodwill passe , G,bay, la rush, laplaine, , morn john, good hope, bells, bev hills, Harlem jam-city

  12. Proud Dominican
    October 14, 2011

    Congrats! All of Grand Bay is proud of you. Hoping more titles come to the cultural capital this independence season.

  13. me
    October 14, 2011

    SOUT CEETAY….YES I…. no surprise there.

  14. MIA
    October 14, 2011

    CONGRATS JULIE. I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE IT. SOUT’ ALL THE WAY,,,,,,,,,,,,ALL THE TIME. WE TAKE OUR TALENT WHEREVER WE GO. CONGRATS TO PAULA DELSOL FOR WORKING SO HARD AND TIRELESS. KEEP IT UP. ROYALTY IN THE HOUSE.

  15. Fun Lover
    October 14, 2011

    Big Up South City! :-D

  16. BA YO BWA
    October 14, 2011

    Very good effort to keep our culture alive internationally. I admire our spirit of national pride. I love to see original madras wob dwiyets, the real thing. The sousone clayway just does not work. Keep up the efforts people and I wish you success in the coming years.

  17. October 14, 2011

    Dominicans at home and abroad should remain united, positive and speak good of our country. Let us not allow DLP and UWP to divide us.

    • Anonymous
      October 14, 2011

      I wonder what is the basis for disliking this comment. Politics really has us by the nexks. Smh. You are quite right DA in Canada.

    • October 14, 2011

      I agree with the comment we have to rise above it and keep our lovely ISLAND in the four front The ladies look wonderful I felt so proud just looking at the 8 lovely ladies who lifted up DOMINICA and it’s culture for C’dians to see congratulation to all .

  18. shabine
    October 14, 2011

    BIG UP TO THE LADIES U ALLLDID EXECELLENTS I LOVE TO SEE THAT OUR FELLOW DOMINICAN IS KEEPING UP WITH THEIR CULTURE

    SPECIAL BIG UP TO MAGADELINE (AUDO) N HETTIE

    • DOMINICAN
      October 14, 2011

      good work one thing try your bet to pass it on to the younger ones please.

  19. Anonymous
    October 14, 2011

    I REALLY LOVE TO SEE THIS

  20. DOMINICAN AND PROUD
    October 14, 2011

    WAY TO GO GRAND BAY!!!!

    Congratulations to all who represented our Beautiful Dominica with pride.

    God Bless Dominica

  21. Nostalgia.
    October 14, 2011

    Congratulations ladies…. Job well done. Let’s all continue to promote our country in a positive way.
    Love to all.

  22. mindme
    October 14, 2011

    Beautiful display of culture. Love it!

  23. October 14, 2011

    Well, this is national pride, that should be highlighted.When Dominicans out there bigging up their country, they are getting bad mouth at home by “you know who”congratulation to the organisation. highlight the culture to bring Dominicans together, without fare or colour.We are all Dominicans together home and abroad, in culture and sports,

    • February 12, 2014

      Yes the CDOA with president Ms.Frances Delsol did a wonderful job and we have to recognize them for without them we wouldnt have seen our ladies display such great talents and showing off our culture hats off to the organisation.

  24. Phillis
    October 14, 2011

    Congratulation to all, wonderful

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