The
46th Annual Scotiabank
Toronto Caribbean Carnival returns with improvements to the Grand Parade route
and an expanded list of events
 |
| Images from the May 21st Media Launch for the Carnival Top - Pooja Handa CP 24 left - singer Dan Hill right MPP Laura Albanese |
May 28, 2013 (Toronto) The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival kicked off
today with music and dancing at the Ontario Science Centre. MPP
Laura Albanese, (York South-Weston) Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of
Tourism, Culture and Sport helped unveil the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival 2013
campaign this morning.
The
Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean
Carnival will run from July 9, 2013 to
August 4, 2013, and once again bring
the culture of the Caribbean to over a million spectators in downtown Toronto. The public launch will take
place on July 9, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. at Toronto's Nathan Phillip's Square, where dancers, musicians, and calypso singers will
get the city into the Carnival spirit.
"The
funding from our sponsors means that the Festival can continue to deliver new
and exciting events again this year,” said Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival CEO Denise
Herrera-Jackson. “We are changing
how the big parade will be run due to the construction on the CNE grounds which
will give more opportunities for spectators inside the park grounds to see our
colourful parade. Once again, funds
raised at our events will be donated to four community charities – The Children's Breakfast Club, The Caribbean
Children's Foundation, Prostate
Cancer Canada and Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario.”
“In 2008, we became title
sponsor of the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival -- the largest North
American Caribbean festival of its kind.
I’m proud to say that once again, Scotiabank has extended our partnership
for another three years,” said Christine Williams, Scotiabank Vice President,
Toronto East District. “This partnership started an exciting new chapter for
Scotiabank because the Caribbean is where the Bank’s international story began.”
“For the fourth year, we
are happy to sponsor the Ontario Science Centre Innovative Costume Award which
recognizes innovation in costume design,” said Lesley Lewis, CEO of the Ontario
Science Centre. “There’s a foundation of science behind the beauty and
creativity of each and every costume. From the mathematics involved in the
design, the physics involved in how the costumes move to the mechanics and
engineering involved in the structural integrity for the larger, more elaborate
pieces.”
The Toronto waterfront
Carnival parade, taking place on August
3rd, is
expected to draw over a million people down to Toronto’s CNE grounds. This year
the staging area for the 16,000 costumed masqueraders and floats is being moved
to the north-end of the CNE property.
The parade will travel the width of the CNE grounds before entering Lakeshore
Blvd, giving the festival more space to accommodate spectators.
Scotiabank Toronto
Caribbean Carnival events include:
- Junior Carnival Parade - July 20, 2013: The first big event, the Junior Carnival Parade, will take place at Downsview Park. In 2012, over 2,500 children performed for the judges and played Mas along the streets of the Downsview Park. Chevrolet supports the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Junior Carnival Parade.
- Festival Cup Match - July 20, 2013: Sport fans will want to watch the Canadian Rugby League take on the Jamaica Rugby League at Lamport Stadium. This is the third year for the Festival match – the Canadian team remains undefeated. Game starts at 7:00 p.m.
- NEW FREE EVENT: The Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Summertime BBQ JULY 25, 2013: Food, Soca music, costumes, and Moko Jumbies at the Eglinton Square Shopping Centre (Eglinton East / Victoria Park).
- The Annual Gala - July 26, 2013: The Annual Gala, a formal wear party to honour the rich history of the festival and to sample the Caribbean arts, will take place at the Liberty Grand Ballroom on the CNE grounds.
- Monarch Contest - July 28, 2013 Ontario’s best Calypso performers compete to see who will wear the crown as this country’s top Calypso singer. Evening competition to be held at the Chinese Cultural Centre’s P C Ho Theatre in Scarborough.
- The King and Queen Contest - August 1, 2013: This nighttime event showcases the elaborate costumes, which will be worn by the Kings and Queens in the Grand Parade. Due to overwhelming demand, the seating for Lamport Stadium is being increased to accommodate spectators at this year’s King And Queen competition.
- Pan Alive - August 2, 2013: Pan Alive is the largest outdoor steel pan orchestra competition in North America. Over a dozen orchestras from Ontario and Quebec will compete in an evening battle of the bands at Lamport Stadium.
- THE GRAND PARADE - August 3, 2013: Exhibition Place & Lakeshore Blvd. 10am – 6pm. Rain or Shine!
- Beyond Lime August 4, 2013: Music. Food. Performances. Traditional end to the Caribbean festival.
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, The Canadian Federal Government, The Province of Ontario, City
of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, 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;
For media inquires:
Stephen Weir
Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival Publicist
Phone 416-489-5868
Cell: 416-801-3101
Email: Stephen@stephenweir.com
Sheena Findlay
Scotiabank
Cell: 647-628-3501
