By Stephen Weir If you don’t have a ticket for this Friday night’s (26th July) Toronto Caribbean Carnival Gala put your wallet away. Organizers of the “Beyond the Mas – A Celebration of Freedom” fete have told the Caribbean Camera that the 400-seat event is sold out. It is true that if you snooze you […]
Sure the parade is in its 52nd year and it is very much the same old same old. However, there are additions and changes to the grand old Grand Parade that spectators should be aware of in order to get the most out of the August 3rd world famous road march. First of all the […]
By Lincoln DePradine Officials of the Ontario Steelpan Association (OSA) say they expect patrons to be thrilled this year to enjoy two pan competitions on the same night as part of the 2019 Toronto Caribbean Carnival. OSA is reintroducing a non-calypso bands’ contest, traditionally referred to the “Bomb Tune’’ competition. As well, bands also will […]
By Stephen Weir You could tell that everyone was pumped to cheer on the children. A city ambulance stuck a Trinidadian flag on its hood. A Caribbean man donned a banana costume and walked the parade route handing out bananas to the junior revellers. Local politicians waved and cheered and parents cried for joy when […]
By Lincoln DePradine Since the festival was brought to Canada by Caribbean nationals, residents and visitors that enjoy carnival in Toronto expect the Caribbean to be amply represented in the festival activities, such as at the grand street parade and steelbands’ competition. This year, the Caribbean is being furher highlighted in a non-competitive show that […]
By Stephen Weir Carnival Island moving to Fort York for August 4th event The Carnival Island event was originally slated to be held on Hanlon’s Pont on the Toronto Island but is now heading for higher ground. “Due to Flooding on the Toronto Islands we are heading for the mainland,” organizer Akil Heywood told the […]
By Stephen Weir New venue. New vibe. New Super Cool costumes. The Junior King and Queen Showcase was held outdoors last Sunday afternoon at the Malvern Town Centre in Scarborough. The event attracted an estimated 2,000 people; many stayed all afternoon to see the new big costumes that will be worn in this Saturday’s Children’s […]
By Stephen Weir World travelling Trinidadian jazzman Etienne Charles is going to put the dingolay into this year’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival. Earlier this week the trumpeter called the Caribbean Camera from Spain to say that he was going to lead a guest Mas Band in the Carnival’s grand parade and hopes that revellers will jump […]
By Stephen Weir What a long August 3rd weekend it is going to be. Sweat to death on the road with Caribana on Saturday, then chill out in Brampton to the live sounds of Reggae on Sunday and catch a 50 million viewer Jamaican star in downtown Toronto on holiday Monday night! Jambana, the annual […]
By Stephen Weir Jagmeet Singh loves us. He said so as he danced on stage last Tuesday. Mayor John Tory said he loves us, but declined to soca– “because if you really want to know I can’t dance”. Liberal MP Adam Vaughan really really loves us — and so the love-in went on for over […]
