Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival helping to swear in new Canadians, media welcome to cover

Media Advisory

Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival welcome 60 new Canadians at a special citizenship ceremony at North York Civic Centre

What: 60 new Canadians from 33 countries and their families will come together for a special citizenship ceremony hosted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival.

Presiding official: Judge Raminder Gill
When: Thursday, July 28, 2011
8:30 a.m.

Where: North York Civic Centre - Council Chambers
5100 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON
M2N 5V7

Special guests: Chungsen Leung, Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism and MP Willowdale
David Zimmer, MPP Willowdale
Delores Lawrence, Order of Ontario and Chair of Operation Vote Canada
Chris Alexander, Chief Executive Officer, Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival

Media are invited to attend. Photography and audio-visual equipment are permitted.

For more information on Canadian citizenship ceremonies held across the country, please visit the Celebrate Citizenship section of Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s website at www.cic.gc.ca.

The Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine and arts. Now in its 44th year, it has become a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. For more information, please visit the festival’s website at www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com.


Media contacts:

Jen Burkholder
Media Relations, Ontario Region
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
416-954-2819
jen.burkholder@cic.gc.ca

Stephen Weir
Media Relations
Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival
416-489-5868
stephen@stephenweir.com

ScotCaribbean Carnival Kicks Off Celebration at Toronto Pearson

SCOTIABANK TORONTO CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL

ATTENTION:

City, Assignment, Photo, News, and Lifestyle Editors
Media Advisory/Invitation July 21, 2011
Caribbean Carnival Kicks Off Celebration at Toronto Pearson

- Chef Roger Mooking, the Bahamian Junkanoo Legends and Steel Pan Players Welcome Guests -

Toronto, ON – Get ready to jump up Toronto! In celebration of the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2011, Toronto Pearson is welcoming guests in style to the city’s world renowned celebration of Caribbean culture. On July 27, Toronto Pearson will transform into an island oasis, bringing the best of Caribbean music, food and culture to Canada’s premier airport.

As part of Toronto Pearson’s renewed focus on guest experience, media are invited to jump start the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival weekend while the airport surprises and delights guests arriving into Terminal 3 with Toronto chef Roger Mooking, and the world renowned Bahamian Junkanoo Legends from the Bahamas on hand to entertain Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival guests as they arrive in Toronto.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

1. Performance by world renowned Bahamian Junkanoo Legends from the Bahamas that starts at departures and will make its way to arrivals in Terminal 3. Band member John Zonicle will be onsite and available for interviews.

2. Sampling of Caribbean fare, including salt cod fritters prepared by one of Canada’s premier chefs, Roger Mooking, available for interviews by appointment after the demonstration

3. Steel Pan Players

4. Interviews with Toronto Pearson and the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival representatives

DATE: Wednesday, July 27
TIME: 3:45 p.m.

· 3:45pm – The Bahamian Junkanoo Legends start at Terminal 3 departures, performs en route to Terminal 3 arrivals

· 4:00-4:15pm – The Bahamian Junkanoo Legends arrive at stage area in Terminal 3 arrivals

· 4:15pm – Roger Mooking cooking/demo/sampling

WHERE: Toronto Pearson, Terminal 3, International Arrivals. For drivers, park in the Terminal 3 garage and you will be given a parking voucher at the event. Directions to Terminal 3 parking can be found here: http://www.torontopearson.com/en/toandfrom/directions/

WHO:

Roger Mooking has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s premier Chefs by developing a culinary philosophy built on perfect execution of globally inspired culinary traditions. As a third generation restaurateur and chef he began his formal training through the George Brown Culinary Management Program where he earned Top Student Honors diploma and is now the Chair of the Professional Advisory Committee.

Roger continued his training at Epic Dining Room in Toronto’s world renowned Royal York Hotel before co owning and consulting on many food and beverage operations.

He is the Host and Co-Creator of his own internationally broadcast television series Everyday Exotic. He is also the Co-host of the upcoming series Heat Seekers airing on Food Network Canada.

In addition he is the recording artist and creator of Soul Food; a unique food and music project released by Warner Music. For Roger, music and the epicurean world are seamless. One feeds the body, the other the soul; it is all food in all its various forms.

The Bahamian Junkanoo Legends: born from a group of Bahamians missing Junkanoo music - the sweet sound of their home. This group simply wanted to share the most recognizable culture and distinct music from the country of their birth to their new home. After a 20 year absence from the Festival's parade, the Association of Bahamians in Canada have resurrected the core group with a contingency of 50 "Legends" flying up from the Bahamas.

About Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival

The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Now in its 44th 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, The Grid, CTV, CP-24, The Canadian Federal Government, The Province of Ontario, City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Ontario Place, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto Public Library, Yorkgate Mall, Liberty Grand, FLOW FM, The Caribbean Camera Newspaper, Toronto-Lime.Com, Urbanology Magazine and Grace Kennedy Foods.

For complete listing information, visit www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com, the only official website for the Festival. Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival Festival Office is located at 263 Davenport Avenue. Lower Level, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Tel., 416-391-5608; Fax, 416-391-5693; Email: info@torontocaribbeancarnival.com

About Toronto Pearson International Airport

The GTAA is the operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada's biggest airport and one of the largest airports in North America in terms of passenger and air cargo traffic. In 2010, Toronto Pearson handled an estimated 31.9 million passengers and is ranked 4th largest in international passenger traffic in North America. The focus of the GTAA continues to be on competitiveness, growing the airport's status as an international gateway, meeting the needs of our guests and ensuring the long-term success of the organization, our airline customers and the regional economy.
CUTLINE:
Top: Celebrity cook Roger Mooking hit it out of the park while cooking on CP24 (and shamelessly promoting the GTAA taste of the carnival.
Bottom: Mas Dancers stand behind Mooking's spread for Breakfast TV.

For more information, contact:

For Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival:
Stephen Weir
Stephen Weir & Associates
stephen@stephenweir.com
416-489-5868; 416-801-3101

Craigg Slowly
Stephen Weir & Associates
CraiggSlowly@gmail.com
416.333.6781

For Toronto Pearson International Airport:

Noor Marzook
Edelman
noor.marzook@edelman.com
416-849-8914


Issued By:

Stephen Weir
Stephen Weir & Associates | stephen@stephenweir.com
or sweir5492@rogers.com
2482 Yonge Street, Unit 45032, Toronto, ONT.
CANADA. M4P 3E3
Tel: 416-489-5868 | cell: 416-801-3101
www.stephenweir.com

The man in the Red Bra is our new Caylpso Monarch!

Structure Wins It All

The 2011 Calypso Monarch competition was held this evening at the Chinese Cultural Centre’s P.C. Ho Theatre in Scarborough. Structure beat out 8 other competitors in a 4-hour showdown amongst Canada's best Caylpso singers.

Structure (Bryan Thornhill) won the crown, besting last year's Queen, Macomere FeFe (Eulith Tara Woods) and long-time performer Panman Pat (McNeil). Woods and McNeil tied for second place.

Structure won the contest in part because of a song that he wrote and performed about a series of murders that occurred around Canadian Air Force Base Trenton. Structure wore a woman's pair of red underwear underneath a Canadian Forces' green jump suit, much as Russell Williams, the convicted Trenton murderer and fetish burgler, is known to have worn.

THE RESULTS

Calypso prize goes to Structure

Canada’s top calypso music prize – Kaiso 365 – was captured by Bryan Structure Thornhill before a capacity crowd in the P.C. Ho Theatre of the Chinese Cultural Centre. In a hotly contested battle between nine singers performing two songs each, Barbadian-born Structure also won the coveted People’s Choice Award and several other Special Awards for Lyrics, Melody, Presentation, Originality, Rendition and Humour.

2011 “KAISO 365” CALYPSO MONARCH RESULTS

Winner Structure – Bryan Thornhill
2nd (tie) Macomere Fifi – Eulith Tara Woods
Pan Man Pat – Pat McNeilly
4th Beginner – Michael Moore
5th Spice – Denise Quammie Alexander
6th Mr. Wonderful – Steve Clarke
7th (tie) Newton P – Newton Phillips
Redman – Michael Thomas
8th King Smokey – Clieve Henry

2011 “KAISO 365” CALYPSO MONARCH – SPECIAL AWARDS

BEST LYRICS: Structure – Trenton Monster

BEST MELODY: Structure – Trenton Monster

BEST PRESENTATION:
(tie) Structure – Trenton Monster
Newton P – Old Age Pension

MOST ORIGINAL CALYPSO:
Structure – Trenton Monster

BEST RENDITION:
Structure – Trenton Monster

BEST COMPOSITION ON A LOCAL TOPIC:
Panman Pat – Stop The Gravy Train

MOST HUMOUROUS CALYPSO:
Structure – Trenton Monster

BEST ARRANGEMENT:
Michael “Skel” Redhead – Tackling The Issues(sung by Macomere Fifi)

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Structure
Structure has won the Calypso Monarch title in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
Structure will take home a cash prize of over $6,000.00 and will be sent to represent Canada in London, U.K in next year’s Notting Hill Carnival, as part of an exchange programme with the Association of British Calypsonians (ABC) that saw their 2010 Calypso Monarch Alexander D Great perform here as a Special Guest.
For more information contact OCPA at (416) 795-2722 or visit our website at
www.ocpacalypsoca.com


Cutline: some of the 8 other contestants stand behind the throne as Structure is crowned the 2011 Calypso Monarch.
Middle: Singer King Cosmos (Henry Gomez) strips Structure on stage revealing a set of red women's underwear.
Bottom: Structure sings his winning song to the media.

Read charities into this Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival

Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival announces programmes that benefit from Friday Night's Gala Fundraiser at the Liberty Grande (CNE Grounds)

(Toronto) – In partnership with the Toronto Public Library Foundation, STCC presents an evening to celebrate the Culture of Carnival, recognize 5 key contributors and to raise funds for the Dr. Rita Cox Endowment Fund. The Rita Cox Endowment Fund for Black and Caribbean Heritage supports The Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection at the Toronto Public Library. The Collection features more than 16,000 print and audiovisual materials for adults, children and teens about the black and Caribbean experience with special emphasis on Canadian material. The collection is available at convenient library locations across the city: Parkdale, Yorkwoods, Malvern and Maria A. Shchuka branches.

This year 4 STCC Tribute Awards will be presented to Glenda Bostic for her dedication and commitment to furthering calypso through the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes, John Kam – a veteran involved in production of the festival for over 25 years, Pat “Panman” McNeilly – a dynamic contributor to both calypso and steelband in Canada and the late Elton “Smokey” John who will remembered by all from inception of the festival in 1967 to the formation of the Toronto Symphony Steel Orchestra and the making of pans in Toronto. The Kathy Searles Volunteer award will be presented to Frances Lochan, Event Manager of the King & Queen event which takes at Lamport Stadium each year.

Host for this year’s gala dinner program is Itah Sadu – owner of A Different Booklist. Itah is an author and storyteller who shares the rich oral traditions of the Caribbean, Africa and Canada with her audiences and is well known to Toronto Public Library and the Dr. Rita Cox Endowment Fund. Entertainment include the reigning Calypso Monarch “Macomere FiFi”, D Juiceman, Hummingbird Tassa Group, Pan Fantasy Steel band. The jum-up starts at 9:30 pm featuring DJ Desmond Peters from Wack Radio in T&T and a live band “The Vibes”.

On Friday, July 22nd, the Liberty Grand Complex (Toronto’s CNE grounds) will be transformed into an island of sensational colour, rhythmic vibrations and exotic extravagance. It will be dinner for over 500 guests featuring the melodious sounds and culinary splendor of the Carnival through music, costumes, magnificent dinner program and fundraising activities such as silent auction, swag bags and CRA approved donations box.

Tickets are now available and can be purchased at the Festival Management Committee’s downtown offices 263 Davenport Avenue. Lower Level) or on-line at http://www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com . Doors open at 5.30 pm for cocktails and the sit-down dinner begins at 7.30 pm. Tickets - $160 / Table -$1,600.

About Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival

Produced by the Festival Management Committee, Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival Festival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. A major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America – Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean 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.

Corporate sponsors of this year's festival include: Scotiabank, The Toronto Star, CTV, CP24, Flow 93.5, Eye Weekly, The Federal Government of Canada, The Province of Ontario, The City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Ontario Place, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto Public Libraries, Yorkgate Mall, Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex & Liberty Entertainment Group, The Caribbean Camera Newspaper, Toronto-Lime.Com, and Grace Kennedy (Ontario) Inc.

Photo - Two CBC guests at the 2008 Gala.

MEDIA: You are welcome to cover BUT you are not guaranteed a meal. PLEASE confirm with Stephen Weir. 416-489-5868 . Ontario Minister Best and Federal Minister Kent will be speaking at the Gala.

For Further Information, contact

Stephen Weir Stephen Weir & Associates
stephen@stephenweir.com 416-489-5868; 416-801-3101

Singing Competition this Saturday evening in Scarborough - Calypso Monarch

2011 Calypso Monarch Competition
Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival

The Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) will hold the KAISO365 Calypso Monarch Competition, Saturday, July 23, 2011 to choose the top Calypso singer at the Chinese Cultural Centre, (P.C. Ho. Theatre) 5183 Sheppard Avenue, East, (Parking entrance on Progress Avenue).
Finalists this year are: Spice, King Smokey, Beginner, Newton P, Mr. Wonderful, Panman Pat, Structure, and Redman.
The nine finalists – eight plus last year's winner Macomere Fifi - will perform two newly composed calypsos before a panel of judges. Each song will be awarded points out of a maximum of 100 points divided into five (5) categories as follows:
Lyrics 30
Melody 30
Vocal Rendition 25
Originality 10
Presentation 5
In addition, there will be the following special awards categories: Most Original, Best Competition on a Local Topic, Most Humorous, Best Arrangement, Best New Artiste.
The Calypso Monarch Competition attracts singers from across the GTA and beyond and has been held annually in Toronto for the past 30 years. The 2010 first prizewinner was Macomere Fifi singing, “ Haiti will Rise Again” and “Your Turn To Die”. Macomere Fifi will be defending her crown.
The Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes is a non-profit organization whose offices are located at Suite 120 – 215 Spadina Ave., Toronto ON. M5T 2C7.

Invite to Gladstone Hotel opening of Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival art exhibition

Junior Carnival Parade Down Jane Street - Results

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE SCOTIABANK TORONTO CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL JUNIOR PARADE

Parade of the Bands

Rank Band Leader Band Theme Points
1. Jamaal Magloire, Toronto Revellers, Welcome to Oz, 261
2. Dexter Seusahai, Tribal Knights, Legends, 260
3. Marcus Eustace, Carnival Nationz, Mythical Creatures, 259

Male Individual

1. Jalen Gause, The Timid King, Jamaal Magloire/Toronto Revellers, Welcome to Oz
2. Maven Lee, Symphony of D’ Sea, Mark Deleon / Mas Toronto, Mas in Atlantis- A Carnival Mythology
3. Courtney St. Louis, Guardian of the Rainforest, Dexter Seusahai / Tribal Knights, Legends

Female Individual

1. Anastasia La Rose, Good Witch of the North Jamaal Magloire/Toronto Revellers, Welcome to Oz
2. Canisha Edwards, Lost Treasures, Dexter Seusahai/Tribal Knights, Legends
3. Sariah, Seon Jelly Jamboree – Shake and Wine, Mark Deleon / Mas Toronto, Mas In Atlantis A Carnival Mythology

Queen

1 Calena Seusahai, Cleopatra, Dexter Seusahai/Tribl Knights, Legends
2 Rebecca Martinez, Hope and Tranquility, Narisa Ali/Blues Carnival Fusion, Mirage of Drums
3. Shanisse Kaola Jackson, Arabian Dancer, Will Morton / Fantazia International, Come Dance With Me

King

1. Demeko Minott, The Gryphon, Marcus Eustace / Carnival Nationz, Mythical Creatures
2 Fabion Lee, Young King Neptune, Mark Deleon / Mas Toronto, Mas in Atlantis A Carnival Mythology
3 Ty Williamson, Tim Man, Jamaal Magloire / Toronto Revellers, Welcome to Oz