Destra and Michael Coteau at the King and Queen Competition

 

MEDIA ALERT

Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival’s King and Queen Competition Kicks Off The Big Weekend, Thursday Evening Lamport Stadium

 

King and Queen Competition - Anthony Berot

The media is invited to join Soca singing superstar Destra and Provincial Minister Michael Coteau (Immigration) at the first big event for this year's Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival. The King and Queen competition will be held the evening of August 1^st at Lamport Stadium in downtown Toronto.

This nighttime event showcases the elaborate costumes, which will be worn by the Kings and Queens in the Grand Parade.  Kings and Queens from 12 different Mas Camps will wear picturesque and oversized costumes (some 10+ metres tall 12+ metres wide) will dance in front of a SRO stadium as they vie for top honours at this year’s festival.

Doors open at 6pm for the outdoor competition.  At 7pm MPP Michael Coteau will officially open the event. Trinidad Soca singing superstar Destra will be in the stadium at 11.30 for the crowning of the King and Queen and the presentation of the Ontario Science Centre Innovation Award.

 This year marks the third year of the Ontario Science Centre Innovation Award that will recognize innovation in costume design at the celebration, widely known for its vibrant and dazzling costumes. The Award will shine a light on the intricate art and scientific merit of costume design by honouring the creators of these innovative masterpieces shown at the King and Queen competition.

The King and Queen Competition is considered the first big event of the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival weekend. On Friday evening Pan Alive, North America’s largest steel drum orchestra competition will be held at Lamport Stadium. On Saturday August 3^rd, the Grand Parade will be held along Lakeshore at Exhibition Place and on Sunday the Chutney Soca party will be held in Mississauga. 

About Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival

 

The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, and revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Now in its 46th year, it has become a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. As Carnival is an international cultural phenomenon, the great metropolis of Toronto and its environs will come alive as the city explodes with the pulsating rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands. The Festival Management Committee oversees the running of North America's largest outdoor festival.

Corporate sponsors of this year's festival include: Scotiabank, Chevrolet, The Toronto Star, CTV, CP-24, FLOW fm, Caribbean Connection, The Province of Ontario, City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, OLG. The Ontario Science Centre, Toronto Public Library, Eglinton Square Mall, and the Liberty Grand.

About Scotiabank 

Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank Bright Future.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $47 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

For more information about the programmes and events, please visit the festival's official website at www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com. The Festival Office is located at 19 Waterman Avenue. Contact info: Tel: 416-391-5608; Email: info@torontocaribbeancarnival.com.

For media inquires:

Stephen Weir
Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival Publicist
Phone 416-489-5868
Cell: 416-801-3101
Email: Stephen@stephenweir.com