Jamaican firm confirms 3-year support of literary festival in Ontario
2015, March 21: The Palaver International Literary Festival has confirmed its first major partner. Jamaica National Building Society Toronto Representative Office (JNBS TRO) has confirmed its support of the festival for three years 2015 to 2017.

The Palaver International Literary Festival will have its inauguration with a two-day event in Wasaga Beach, Ontario on August 8 and 9, 2015. A family event to celebrate Caribbean culture, Palaver will present published authors and their works in three events over two days in one of the most beautiful towns in the Canadian province. The Jamaican firm was the first Caribbean entity to declare an intention to establish a solid partnership with the festival.
Chief Representative Officer for JNBS TRO, Jerrold Johnson, cited the potential of the event to bring “awareness of the literary and cultural arts of the Caribbean” to the people of Canada and its ability to convey and sustain “the rich traditions of Caribbean heritage” for the ultimate enrichment of all Canadians and the many from the Caribbean who now regard Canada as home.

In a written statement about his firm’s involvement in Palaver, Mr. Johnson acknowledged the tenacity of the festival’s founder, Mike Jarrett, stating: “The success of any venture must come with passion, persistence and partnership. We know the future of this festival is secure, for that very reason. We have noted your persistence in making your vision a reality. We know what it takes to bring something from just an idea to paper and then from paper to physical reality. Your persistence has done that. Partnership is a critical success factor in any endeavor and you have been able to garner many partners to make this dream a reality. You have our support and partnership in starting this great festival.”

Mr. Johnson noted that JNBS TRO seeks to connect with members of the Caribbean diaspora and their children and grandchildren and to foster a connection with the land of their heritage. “We believe that partnering with you in this endeavor will assist us in meeting that objective. We look forward to Palaver 2015 in Wasaga Beach”, he stated.

The JNBS Toronto Representative Office was opened in 1991 in Toronto, following overwhelming requests from the Jamaican diaspora living in Canada, for the establishment of a centre to facilitate a banking relationship with a Jamaican financial institution. For Jamaicans living in Canada, JNBS represented “a little piece of Jamaica”. Their desire to forge this relationship was also fuelled by the need to own a piece of Jamaica where they hoped to retire, along with a desire to access funds when they vacationed in the island.

Palaver 2015, the inaugural, gets underway with Books and Authors on Saturday, August 8, followed by a Sing-along party that evening at the Wasaga Beach RecPlex. On Sunday morning there will be brunch hosted by a well-known celebrity chef followed by dramatic story-telling in an event dubbed Ol’ Time Story. The theme for Sunday brunch at the inaugural Palaver festival is “Nineteenth Century Sunday Morning Breakfast”, featuring fare that graced the tables at plantation great houses across the Caribbean.

Copyright © M.S.L. JARRETT 2015-04-18