Lorenzo Evans and Tyrell MacLennan created Wi Deh'Ya after growing up in St. Catharines, Ont., feeling pulled between different parts of their identity. Their home lives were filled with Caribbean music, food and family traditions, but finding a wider space that reflected that experience was not always easy.
The two friends launched Wi Deh'Ya to build community for second-generation Caribbean Canadians who were looking for that same sense of belonging. The project was designed as more than just a social outing, centering shared culture and connection for people with similar backgrounds and experiences.
What began as an effort to create that kind of space has grown into something much bigger. According to the story, thousands now gather at Wi Deh'Ya's Caribbean-focused events, showing how strong the demand is for celebrations that bring culture, identity and community together.
Their success highlights a broader story about representation and belonging in Canadian cities outside the country's largest cultural hubs. For Evans and MacLennan, Wi Deh'Ya has become a way to turn a personal search for community into events that resonate with a much larger audience.
