Miss Lou’s Room to be Opened in Canada

A room dedicated to the memory of Jamaica’s cultural icon, Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley (Miss Lou), will be opened on July 26 at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Canada.
That day is the first anniversary of Miss Lou’s death, and the room will be opened by Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Hon. Mike Colle and the Chief Executive Officer of Harbourfront Centre, William Boyle.
Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Aloun Ndombet-Assamba are expected at the opening.
Miss Lou’s room houses photographs and the works of the Jamaican cultural giant, including videos, audiocassettes, DVDs and books. An interactive section where people can sing along with Miss Lou is also included in the room.
The room, which is on the second floor of Harbourfront Centre and overlooks Lake Ontario, was chosen because Miss Lou had performed in it many times.
Minister Colle, who donated Can$250,000 to Harbourfront Centre in February 2007 to create Miss Lou’s Room, said the room would be a permanent tribute to honour her for her legacy of storytelling and pioneering promotion of Jamaican culture worldwide.
He also pointed out that Miss Lou’s Room would serve to strengthen linkages and exchanges between Jamaica and Canada where Miss Lou lived for many years, prior to her passing.
Others expected to attend the ceremony include Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Canada, Her Excellency Evadne Coye and Consul General to Toronto, Anne-Marie Bonner.