MEDIA ALERT: Children's Parade this Saturday - Jane / Finch Toronto

CLOSE TO 2,000 CHILDREN WILL TAKE TO THE STEETS
JANE/FINCH – YORKGATE JUNIOR PARADE

Saturday, July 17, 2010
Parade starts at 11am

Mobilicity – New Sponsor. TTC adds buses for spectators
Registration numbers make this the biggest children’s parade EVER!!!

What: Children from 15 masquerade camps (including a Toronto police Mas camp for kids band) will be in costume and marching down Jane Street. Close to 2,000 children and over 20 float trucks and sound vehicles will be taking part in the Yorkgate Mall Junior Parade. Followed by a party in the parking lot with music, performances and the winner of the Yorkgate Idol
Why: The Junior Parade is a volunteer driven parade designed to teach children about how to celebrate the Caribana Festival. Traditionally held two Saturdays before the main Caribana™ parade.
Who: Children, Children, Children. Check website www.caribanafestival.com for a list of the bands
When: Kids arrive at 10.00 am. Opening ceremonies scheduled to begin at 11.00. Children will begin arriving at theYorkgate Mall by 12.30.
Where: The parade travels west on Shoreham Drive, past the judging point at 31 Shoreham Drive (in front of Shoreham Public School). The parade then turns south onto Jane Street where it will travel until Yorkgate Blvd. It will turn west on Yorkgate Blvd and travel south ending at Hullmar Drive. Once the parade is over, there will be entertainment, DJ music, food vendors, steelpan music and a market place in Yorkgate Mall’s car park – northwest of the Jane Finch intersection.
News: TTC adds service to get spectators up the parade route. Mobilicity NEW corporate sponsor for the parade.

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Media Contact

Stephen Weir, Publicist Alicia Sealey, Publicist
stephen@stephenweir.com atchp@the-wire.com
(416) 489-5868 Cell:(416)801-3101 (416) 599-0664 Cell:(416) 500-4349

Media Alert

Metro Police to play mas with kids from Jane and Finch
Will open Mas Camp for kids
2nd floor, Yorkgate Mall

Monday May 31st, 11:00 am

Toronto, ON, 27.05.2010: Senior Officer Superintendent Sam Fernandez from 53 Division will be officially opening the Metro Toronto Police Force’s Mas Camp for Children on Monday May 31st at the Yorkgate Mall (Finch Avenue East at Jane St). He will be joined by children who are at the camp to learn how to make mas (masquerade) costumes for this summer’s Scotiabank Caribana/Yorkgate Mall Junior Carnival Parade. Brittany Dardaine, teenage pan artiste will be performing at the event.
In addition to the children and Sam Fernandez, members of the Toronto Mas Band Association, including NBA player Jamaal Magloire will be in attendance. Master costume designer Walter Elliott will be demonstrating to the children how to make costumes for the July 17th parade down Jane Street.

Scheduled to speak briefly at the Festival Management Committee morning event are:

• Superintendent Sam Fernandez
• Walter Elliott, master costume designer
• Denise Hererra-Jackson, co-chair - Scotiabank Caribana
• John Kam, Toronto Mas Band Assocation
• Teenage pannist Brittany Dardaine will perform

The Scotiabank Caribana Festival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Now in its 43rd 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, The Toronto Star, Sway Magazine, Eye Weekly, CTV, CP-24, The Canadian Federal Government, The Province of Ontario, the City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, Research In Motion (RIM)/BlackBerry, The Greater Toronto Airports
Authority, Ontario Place, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Ontario Science Centre, The Toronto Libraries, Yorkgate Mall, Liberty Grand, Caribana Arts Group and Grace Kennedy Foods.
This year the Official Launch for the Festival will take place at 12 Noon on Thursday July 15th. The Scotiabank Caribana/Yorkgate Mall Junior Carnival Parade will be held on Saturday July 17th from 11am to 4pm. The adult parade will be staged Saturday July 31st; 10 am to 6 pm. For complete listing information, visit www.caribanafestival.com the only official website for the Festival.
Scotiabank Caribana 2010 Festival Office is located at 263 Davenport Avenue. Lower Level, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Tel., 416-391-5608; Fax, 416-391-5693; Email: info@caribanafestival.com

CUTLINE: Two children in Mas Costumes at the 2009 Scotiabank Caribana/Yorkgate Mall Junior Carnival Parade

For further information contact:

Stephen Weir Alicia Sealey
Stephen Weir & Associates ATC Heirs Promotions
stephen@stephenweir.com atchp@the-wire.com
416-489-5868; 416-801-3101 416-599-0664