Antiguan Scholar Champions Steelpan in Education at Canadian Industry Conference

Antiguan researcher and music educator Dr. Zahra Lake brought both passion and purpose to the inaugural Canadian Steelpan Industry Conference (CSIC) last week, delivering a keynote address that urged greater recognition of the steelpan in formal education.

Dr. Lake, who recently guided newcomer Pandemonium Steel Orchestra to a second-place finish at the 2025 Antigua Carnival Panorama Competition, spoke on the theme “Driving Sustainability in the Steelpan Artform through Education.” She warned that without deliberate advocacy, steelpan risks being confined to cultural festivals rather than integrated into academic curricula.

“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.

Her appearance was made possible through sponsorship from the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority’s Canada Office. Director of Tourism for Canada, Tameka Wharton, said supporting Dr. Lake’s participation was part of a wider effort to promote Antiguan and Barbudan talent internationally.

“We see our job as not only bringing Canadian travellers to Antigua and Barbuda, but also to bring Antiguan and Barbudan excellence and professionals to a global stage,” Wharton said. “The fact that the Canadian Steelpan Industry Conference was organized by a daughter of the soil only made us prouder to support the initiative.”

The August 8–9 event, timed to coincide with World Steelpan Day (August 11), brought more than 100 participants to the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus. It was founded and produced by Joy Lapps, an accomplished steelpan artist and educator of Antiguan heritage, through her organisation Girl in the Yard.

Lapps said she launched CSIC to address a disconnect between Canadian steelpan practitioners and to ensure the instrument’s relevance for future generations.“This conference is just the beginning of efforts to keep the vibrant culture of steelpan alive by fostering a strong network among practitioners and enthusiasts for collaboration and creativity.”

In addition to her keynote, Dr. Lake took part in two panel discussions, “Steelpan Education in Canada” and “Elevating the Engine Room” alongside industry experts. Other sessions explored the steelpan’s Canadian legacy, preserving its history, and strategies for securing funding for pan-related initiatives.

Sponsors included the Canada Council for the Arts, the University of Toronto Scarborough, SoundLife Scarborough, and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.