June 15, 2005
Presenting: CARIBANA - Toronto's Huge Caribbean
Cultural Festival
I had a chance to talk with John Kam, Vice-Chair of the Board of
Directors, about one of Toronto's greatest special events and tourist
attractions: Caribana, the
city's hugely popular and internationally renowned festival of Caribbean
culture which is scheduled this year for July 15 to August 1, 2005.
1.Please tell us about Caribana – what type of festival
is it?
CARIBANA™ is a two-week festival of Caribbean culture that
includes a great variety of events, here are just a selected few:
from a media launch on June 23, to the popular Children's Carnival
on July 16, a Calypso-Soca Forum on July 16, an Interfaith Service
on July 17 at the St. James Cathedral, the King & Queen Extravaganza
on July 28, to the big CARIBANA™ parade on July 30 which is
followed up by the Arts and Cultural Festival on Olympic Island
on July 31 and August 1, 2005.
CARIBANA™ is a feast for the eyes and ears, and you will
be able to enjoy a great Caribbean celebration, complete with fabulous
music, exuberant dancing and delicious food.
CARIBANA™ is also the only surviving Arts Project launched
as part of the 1967, Canada B1-centennial celebrations. It has gone
on to become the cornerstone of Tourism in Southern Ontario.
2. Please tell us about the festival’s history, how
has it evolved?
The Caribbean Cultural Committee (“the CCC”, registered
trademark – CARIBANA™) is a non-profit, community-based
corporation created by a group of Pan-Caribbean academics, students
and professionals in 1967, under the name Caribbean Committee for
Cultural Advancement. The CCC was established in response to Canada’s
centennial celebration commemorating its diversity and the contributions
made to Canada from the various cultures that comprise the Canadian
mosaic. What began as an expression of the goals and aspirations
of the Caribbean community resident here—that the culture
of the Caribbean had pride of place in Canada—has blossomed
into the world-renowned festival of Carnival Arts, CARIBANA™.
3. How about all the colourful costumes? Who creates them?
What about the cost involved?
The masquerade costumes are designed by special artists after which
people with special craft-making skills are employed to actually
produce the costumes at what are called mas camps. The cost varies
from band to band but generally stays within the range of $75 to
$130 per costume.
4. Please tell us about the Caribana Marketplace.
The Caribbean Village is going to be set up on an elevated area
overlooking the parade route, on Lakeshore Boulevard. From there
patrons will be able to look down and see the spectacle of Caribana
as it unfolds while having another party going on nonstop! There
will be more than 50 top artistes from different islands of the
Caribbean performing during the course of the day from 10:00 a.m.
until 9:00 p.m. The artistes will come from Barbados, Grenada, Antigua/Barbuda,
Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent & The Grenadines and much,
much more. There will also be locally based Caribbean-bred performers
appearing during the all-day extravaganza. This is to be staged
on a cordoned off area knows as the Bandshell.
There will be Arts & Crafts booths from the different Caribbean
islands set up around the area with tasty Caribbean food on sale
throughout the day. All of is going to cost only $10.
The CARIBANA ™ 'Marketplace is where commerce meets culture,
and everyone walks away with a tasteful memory. Dine on festival-style
Caribbean cuisine, shop for an array of Arts & Crafts, and Festival
souvenirs and relish a toast of the brewmaster’s craft and
some of Niagara’s internationally acclaimed wines and spirits.
5. Please tell us about the musical entertainment offered
during Caribana?
The musical entertainment generally comes from various top Caribbean
artistes coming in from the Caribbean and of course locally based
Caribbean-bred artistes.
6. What type of food services are available during Caribana?
There are various types of food available during the festival each
year. On either side of the parade route on Caribana Day, authorized
vendors sell different types of Caribbean cuisine including Pelau
(Peas & Rice), Jerk Chicken, Bake & Shark (sandwiches) and
traditional drinks including Sorrel and Mauby (a drink made from
the bitter bark of a tree and sweetened with lots of sugar).
7. Please give us an idea of the sponsors who make this
big event happen.
The sponsors vary from year to year. This year the list includes
The City of Toronto, CTV News, The Toronto Star, Yorkgate Mall,
British West Indian Airways (BWIA), The Caribbean Camera and Breyers.
8. Roughly how many people visit Caribana and what economic
impact does it have on Toronto?
CARIBANA™ attracts according to research estimates from
DECIMA (1990) nearly one million spectators to the Greater Toronto
Area (GTA), generating, according to figures compiled and released
by the City of Toronto, $400 million annually for the Toronto economy.
9. What is the cost of attending Caribana? What events
require tickets, how much are they and where can I obtain tickets?
Some events require the purchase of tickets, while others don’t.
For instance the CCC/Yorkgate Mall Children’s Parade which
takes place on July 16, is FREE. So too is the Parade Day. However,
if on Caribana Day (the parade day), you wish to sit in the stadium
on the CNE Grounds that requires the purchase of a ticket. Different
events carry different admission fees. You will be able to get specific
information about the admission prices for the official Caribana
events by visiting the website: www.caribana.ca.
Thank you for giving us a preview of this colourful, exciting festival
and I look forward to a great party.
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