Tuesday 30 July 2013

Bahamian Junkanoo Legends perform at the airport
MEDIA ADVISORY - SCOTIABANK CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL EVENTS
Tuesday & Wednesday
Airport Greeting and Underground Railroad Ride on the Red Rocket

Date: TUESDAY, July 30, 3pm -5pm
Caribbean Carnival is coming to Toronto Pearson! In celebration of the 46th annual event, on Tuesday, July 30 th, airport guests will experience some of the city's biggest celebration of all things Caribbean right in terminal! Here they will see some of the very best Caribbean culture has to offer, including music, dance, art and a moving parade to kick-off Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto .
Media and airport guests are invited to attend the fun-filled kick-off event taking place in Terminals 1 and 3 at Toronto Pearson (pre-security). Canadian calypso pioneer and Juno winner, the legendary "Pan Man Pat ", and the world renowned Bahamian Junkanoo Legends will perform and parade their way in true Caribbean style through the airport surprising guests.
  1. Performance by world-renowned Bahamian Junkanoo Legends starts at Terminal 3 International Arrivals and will parade its way to Departures in Terminal 3 before heading over to Terminal 1.
  2. Steel pan performance by legendary "Pan Man Pat " and his musical crew.
  3. Parade of masqueraders will tour through both terminals to entertain departing and arriving guests as well as airport staff.
  4. Caribbean-themed art exhibit on display in Terminal 1.
  5. Interviews with Toronto Pearson, Caribbean Carnival representatives and performers.
“THE UNDERGROUND FREEDOM TRAIN”
Tuesday 11.15 pm to Wednesday midnight.
On Wednesday Itah Sadu (host of the Caribbean Carnival Gala and the Calyspo Monarch Competition) is leading a memorial subway ride to note the anniversary of the abolishment of slavery in the British Empire and the 100th anniversary of the death of  Harriet Tubman.

People wanting to take the ride should be at Union Station 11.15pm this Wednesday NIGHT. They will board a special car to DOWNSVIEW. Arriving just before midnight. At midnight they will mark the August 1st anniversary of the Emancipation of the Slaves of the Caribbean. The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 ended slavery in the British Empire on August 1, 1834. Emancipation Day is widely observed in the Caribbean during the first week of August. In many countries the Emancipation Day celebration is a part of Carnival, as the Caribbean Carnival takes place at this time

Tubman was one of the driving forces of the Underground Railroad - bringing freed slaves to Canada. She lived for a number of years in St Catharines. She died  March 10, 1913.

This is how Itah Sadu describes the event:

 
“THE UNDERGROUND FREEDOM TRAIN” WEDNESDAY JULY 31st, UNION STATION @ 11:15PM SHARP!

Journey with members of the Caribbean Canadian community on the underground from Union Station to Downsview Station as we usher in Emancipation Day! Get on board the FREEDOM TRAIN for a train ride with special performances, special guests and YOU! Assemble at the TICKET BOOTH @ UNION STATION for 11:15pm SHARP!