Carnival Quiz: What Jumps Up On The Road And Is Green All Over?

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Forget Kodachrome Colour, Photographer Jenny Baboolal will be Green all over at City Hall and at this summer’s Grand Parade

 By Stephen Weir

Photographer and long-time film maker Jenny Baboolal is not only showing her photography in Toronto’s City Hall, she will also be talking about her environmental concern around carnival celebrations at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival official launch at city hall and at the Grand Parade. 

The traditional Nathan Phillips Square launch for the annual carnival and parade usually attracts 5,000 to 10,000 fans who are interested in the Carnival Arts.  As well the annual parade can attract up to a million spectators gaga for all things Caribbean, takes place on August 3^rd this year along Lakeshore Blvd and at Exhibition Place.

 “Everyone is aware of the climate change crisis and wants to make a difference,” Jenny Baboolal told the Caribbean Camera. She is going Green during Carnival and has already formed a Go Green Mas band that will be taking part in events throughout the summer.

“ Our green masquerading band of revelers is here to promote the idea of being environmentally friendly whilst sharing and preserving the carnival traditions and engaging the community in a friendly way,” she continued. “On July 9^th our small group will be parading at the Toronto City Hall at the official afternoon launch of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival and of course I will be at the launch of the photography exhibition."

From Baboolal YouTube Video

The masqueraders will be wearing costumes that will be predominantly green in colour and represent traditional carnival characters. They will be dancing and strutting their stuff to Caribbean music and rhythms. Environmentally friendly messaging will be featured on the costumes.

Also, on August 3, 2019 the CNE will be home for the Festival and it’s Grand Parade of Bands. The “Going Green” masquerading band of revellers will be roving around the CNE grounds during the day as a stand-alone group and not in the large parade of bands.

Ms. Baboolal is hoping that fun loving, likeminded environmentally concerned revellers will don green and jump up with her.  She can be reached at: jennyb208@hotmail.com

Michael Williams

CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL MAS BAND MEDIA ALERT

July 1: Last costume launch of the season - the honors belong to Michael Williams' New Regulars and a Nigerian King

For Immediate Release

June 27, 2019 TORONTO:  Michael Williams has been fielding competitive mas bands for Caribana since the early seventies. This year his regulars will instead be a non-competitive band and they are skimpy skimpy costumes that most bands are promoting this year. 

"We are putting dignity into our designs" he said. "We are a Big People mas band and are making costumes that people of all sizes will be comfortable to go down the road in."

The New D'Regulars will stage the final costume launch of the Carnival season on July 1st. It is an all-day family friendly event with a classic Caribbean seafood breakfast and live Soca music. The doors open at 10 am with the all-day breakfast being served shortly thereafter. The costume show will preview all the outfits that the Mas Band will be wearing at the August 3^rd Carnival Parade.  This Mas Fashion show starts at 8pm and will run to 10 pm. The fete will take place in Scarborough's Spade Night Club ( 3500 McNicoll near Markham). 

"We are putting dignity into our designs" he said. "We are a Big People mas band and are making costumes that people of all sizes will be comfortable to go down the road in."

The New D'Regulars will stage the final costume launch of the Carnival season on July 1st. It is an all-day family friendly event with a classic Caribbean seafood breakfast and live Soca music. The doors open at 10 am with the all-day breakfast being served shortly thereafter. The costume show will preview all the outfits that the Mas Band will be wearing at the August 3^rd Carnival Parade.  This Mas Fashion show starts at 8pm and will run to 10 pm. The fete will take place in Scarborough's Spade Night Club ( 3500 McNicoll near Markham). 

The theme for the band launch "Straight Out of Africa, as a tribute to Ooni King Adeyeeye Babatunde Ogunwusi of Nigeria, who will be in Toronto to cut the ribbon with me at the start of the big parade!" Says Mr. Williams.

"We will also have live music with Moses Revolution," he continued. And when the Soca band is not performing The Soca Controllers DJs will take over. "

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Mas K Club Says Saturday Night (and early Sunday Morning) is Celebration Time in Toronto

Picture from last year's Mas K Club Launch - photo sweirsweir

HUGE COSTUME LAUNCH DROPS ON THE SIX!

Louis Saldenah got it right, this long weekend is CELEBRATION TIME in Toronto. His Mas K Club and its hundreds and hundreds of supporters are going to be spending Saturday night and Sunday morning dancing, eating and watching a costume launch fashion show (and don't worry there is a bar).
"We have captured the Band of the Year 17-times," said Louis Saldenah. "We have brought the most spectacular parade presentations that Toronto has ever seen! This summer we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Carnival in Toronto and the 150th Anniversary of Canada."

Mas K is the largest carnival band in the country, bringing over 4,000 costumed revellers onto the parade route for the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival. This Saturday they will be holding a giant launch party to show people what costumes are available to order for the parade. There will be a lot of choice - 15 sections will take turns on stage, showing the new looks for 2017.
The doors open at 9am Saturday. The party and Costume Launch stage show will run until the wee hours of Sunday. The evening is hosted by well-known DJ Eman with music provided by Dr. Jay, the Soca Prince.
CELEBRATION TIME takes place at the huge (1,400+ capacity) Chandni Grand Ballroom in Scarborough. 3895 McNicoll Avenue.
Admin: $20 in advance and more at the door. Saldenah@hotmail.com
www.saldenahcarnival.com

MEDIA ADVISORY - SATURDAY GRAND PARADE - TORONTO CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Mitzie Hunter, Laura Albanese, Marco Mendicino, John Tory, Police Chief Saunders and many others will kick-off Saturday’s Grand Parade

 

The media are invited to join the Honourable Mitzie Hunter, MPP Minister of Education + Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism, Laura Albanese, MPP Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Michael Chan, MPP Minister of International Trade, MP Marco Mendicino, Mayor John Tory Police Chief Saunders, and many others for the 2016 Toronto Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade launch this Saturday.

 

The Grand Parade is the highlight of the three-week Festival and is expected to draw over a million people. This year ‘s Parade Route is the same as in 2915. The Parade will travel the width of the Exhibition Place before going west on Lakeshore Blvd. 

 

 

What:               The 2016 Toronto Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade ribbon cutting ceremony & start of Grand     Parade.

                        Significant lowering of fences along Lakeshore

 

Who:                12 masquerade bands with 16,000 revellers in costume

A million+ spectators and fans

 

When:              Saturday, July 30th

                         9.45 a.m. – Ribbon cutting ceremony            

                        10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Grand Parade

 

Where:             Exhibition Place (admission fees apply)

                         Lakeshore Blvd. (free)            

 

For more information about the Parade route, viewing areas and events, please visit the Festival’s official website at www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com. 

 

About Toronto Caribbean Carnival

 

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, and revelry as well as visual and performing arts. It is a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. As Carnival is an international cultural phenomenon, the city of Toronto and the Greater Toronto region will come alive with the pulsating rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Salsa, Zouk, Reggae, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands celebrating the Carnival of the Americas. The Festival Management Committee oversees the running of North America's largest outdoor festival.

Corporate sponsors / partners of this year's festival include: OLG, The Toronto Star, CTV, CP-24, the Federal Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, the City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, Grace Kennedy Foods, the Ontario Science Centre, Exhibition Place, Malvern Town Centre, and Porter Airlines.

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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, Toronto. Contact info: Tel: 416-391-5608;   Email: info@torontocaribbeancarnival.com.

 

Media Contacts

 

Stephen Weir

Toronto Caribbean Carnival Publicist

Phone 416-489-5868

Cell: 416-801-3101

Email: Stephen@stephenweir.com

 

Craigg Slowly

Toronto Caribbean Carnival Publicist

647-572-2314

 

So you always wanted to run a parade. Here is your chance

So, you always wanted to run a parade. Here is your chance. The Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival is looking for a Parade Manager for next summer. The job description is below. Please note I am in Iceland till Tuesday morning, so if you have questions please respond, by email, to my associate Margo Harris at margo@torontocaribbeancarnival.com.

 JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION:Parade Operations, Manager (5 months contract position April -August)

JOB SUMMARY:Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the incumbent is responsible for the efficient planning and execution of Parade for the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival and the events outlined in the Summary of Responsibilities.  The incumbent is also responsible for the management, supervision and execution of the of Junior Carnival Parade and Grand Parade activities.

This is a multi-dimensional position which requires an individual who is a self-starter, with strong written and verbal communications skills and the ability to relate to the many different entities involved in the planning and execution of the Festival.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. (a)The Junior Carnival, ensuring that:
• Liaise with Festival Administrator to ensure all permits and Licenses are obtained.
• Receive all non-competitive guest bands applications and fees and determine in conjunction with CAO which applications are to be accepted for the parade.
• Meetings with City of Scarborough, and all the relevant authorities e.g. Police, EMS, Fire Services, Transportation, Malvern Community, Parks Recreation and Forestry etc.
• Liaising with bandleaders relative to junior parade planning and execution.
• Work closely with the Events Logistics Execution Manager to ensure that Logistical arrangements are successfully completed and Executed.
• Prepare all approved entertainment contracts for the Jr. Carnival Parade
• Work closely with OCPA to present the Junior Showcase performance after the parade
• Responsible for communication to residents in the Scarborough and Toronto areas advising of the date and time of the event in writing and distribution of letters.
• Work closely with Festival Administrator and Event Manager assigned to Jr Carnival Parade.

(b)   The Carnival Grand Parade including:
• Liaise with the Festival Administrator all permits and Licenses pertinent to the parade are obtained.
• Receive all non-competitive guest bands applications and fees and determine in conjunction with CAO which applications are to be accepted for the parade.
• Meeting with the Police Special Events Unit, EMS, and Fire Department on matters of parade security.
• Liaising with bandleaders and steelbands relative to parade planning and execution.
• Parade staging including site plans pertaining to parade flow, preparation of facilities pertaining to parade flow, permits, judging, mas’ bands assembly crew, midpoint/steelband exit crew and related marshaling activities.
• Work Closely with Festival Administrator and Event Managers Assigned to the Grand parade.
• Responsible for communication to residents in the Scarborough and Toronto areas advising of the date and time of the event in writing and distribution of letters.
• Work closely with the Festival Events Logistics and Execution Manager to ensure that Logistical arrangements and supplies are successfully completed and Executed.

2. Represent FMC at the city Liaison Committee meetings and FMC and Stakeholder meetings when required to do so.
3. Interfacing with Stakeholder Organisations namely TMBA,  and OSA (this deliverable includes the rules and regulation document) In collaboration with the CAO, preparation and presentation of a high level pro-forma event plan no later than (14) fourteen days prior to each event listed
4. To provide to the CAO the ongoing operational reports comparing plan versus actual at predetermined intervals.
5. Prepare all approved entertainment contracts for the Parades.
6. At all times, to adhere strictly to FMC’s Methods, Policies and Procedures to prepare a comprehensive events report within 21 days after the completion of the final Toronto Caribbean Carnival event.
7. Ensure the following is adhered:    
1. Logistical deliverables met according to the agreed plan
2. All Parades started and ended according to the stipulated time
3. All performing bands, both mas’ bands and steelbands must exit the CNE Compound prior to 5.00pm on parade day on to the Lakeshore Blvd.
4. There must be a clear and smooth flow of bands along the parade route throughout parade day.

COMPETENCIES:

Self-starter, flexible, energetic and motivated.
Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, or other similar software package.
Strong Oral and written communication skills, demonstrating customer service orientation;
Strong organizational skills;
Ability to work under pressure with conflicting priorities.
Ability to exercise confidentiality and discretion in all matters;
Ability to work co-operatively with other staff to accomplish team and organizational objectives.

SALARY:Commensurate with Experience.

RESUME:

Interested applicants should submit their resume to the FMC office no later than November 30th 2014.

Resume can be email to margo@torontocaribbeancarnival.com attention Festival Administrator with the subject line “Parade Operations Manager”.