RESEARCHER DR ZAHRA LAKE DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE INAUGURAL CANADIAN STEELPAN INDUSTRY CONFERENCE IN TORONTO

On the heels of leading newcomer Pandemonium Steel Orchestra to a second-place finish at the 2025 Antigua Carnival Panorama Competition, Dr Zahra Lake delivered the keynote address at the inaugural Canadian Steelpan Industry Conference (CSIC) in Toronto last week.

Speaking on the topic “Driving sustainability in the steelpan artform through education,” Dr Lake told the audience present that even in Canada, where multiculturalism is protected by policy, steelpan remains on the fringes outside of the classroom.

“Steelpan is a testimony to the spiritual strength of Caribbean people, but it is not immune to the pressures of modernity. If we are not vigilant, it risks becoming neglected, relegated to nostalgia or tokenism, just for carnival, and not respected in academia or integrated into formal education,” she said.

Dr Lake’s participation in the conference was sponsored and facilitated by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority’s Canada Office. Director of Tourism for Canada Tameka Wharton, said her office continues to take every opportunity to expose Antiguan and Barbudan talent globally, including recent efforts in the fashion, sports, and entertainment spaces.