PROGRAMME FOR MONDAY'S MEDIA LAUNCH - KIDDIES PARADE AND FAMILY DAY

 

MEDIA LAUNCH – July 9, 2012

For Junior Carnival Parade and Family Day

Downsview Park (West of 35 Carl Hall Road)

Everybody takes pictures at our press conferences, even the models!!!

 

11:15am

Pan Fantasy Trio

Steelpan Music

11:30am	Junior Drummers from BEYOND SOUND	Lead the masqueraders from 40 Carl Hall Rd to the tent at 35 Carl Hall Rd
11:35am	MC, June Matthew-Lewis	Introduce Shamroy Parkinson to sing the Canada National Anthem
11:40am	Nativity Dance	Dance Performance, “All Together”
11:45am	Band Leaders Costume Presentation	§       Carnival Nationz, Empires – bandleader Marcus Eustace §       Blues Carnival Fusion, Apocalypse – bandleader Narissa Ali §       Carnival Revolution, Warriors come out and play bandleader Osei Brand §       Fantazia International, Wonders of the Enchanted Forest bandleader Will Morton §       Toronto Revellers, "The Jungle book meets Bollywood" – bandleader, Jamaal Magloire §       Callaloo, Adventures of Sinbad – bandleader Marlon Singh §       Renaissance Mas Productions, Gods and Goddesses bandleader Kathleen Noel
12:05pm	Pass the Torch	Calypso Presentation
12:10pm	MC, June Matthew-Lewis	Introduces in order of appearance: §       Hon. Judy A. Sgro, MP for York West §       Maria Augimeri, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 9, York Center §      Anthony Perruzza, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 8, York West §       Michael Lloyd, Scotiabank Branch Manager at Queen and Lansdowne §       P.A. B., Advertising Integration Manager, Of Parades New Corporate Sponsor!!!! §       Denise Herrera-Jackson, FMC CEO Acknowledges the presence of other Officials /Guests
12:25pm	DJ	Musical Finale

Media Preview of Children's Carnival on July 9th

MEDIA ALERT

Junior Carnival Queen Costume 2011

Monday July 9th 29th 11.30 am - 12.30pm

Media Launch to announce MAJOR changes to the 2012 FREE Junior Carnival Parade

Free Kiddies Parade and Family Day Event Moves to Downsview Park.  New Programmes. Kid Safe Route. Good TTC links

June 29, 2012  (Toronto) The media is invited to join Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto’s CEO Denise Herrera Jackson, local MPPs, city of Toronto councillors, and members of the Caribbean Canadian community for the releasing of information about this year’s Junior Carnival.  For the first time in a decade the parade will not be held along Jane Street, it will instead be held in Downsview Park on July 21st. 

The Festival Management Committee, members of the Toronto Mas Band Association and The Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes, will be releasing key information about this year’s Children’s Parade and Carnival.  As well children from several mas camps will be showing their new costumes for the first time!  There will also be Junior Calypso singers, a dance group and steelpan performances.

Why: There has been a major venue change and programme additions to this year’s Children’s Carnival.  Because of traffic safety concerns and because of space limitations, this growing event has had to find a new home! Over 2,000 children  in mas costumes are expected to take part in the parade, making it the largest children s carnival parade in North America. A Family Day Event follows the Parade until 8pm.

Who: Spokespeople from the Parade, MPPS, city councillors and Scotiabank will speak at the press launch. Children in costumes. Steel pan orchestra. Calypso singers

When: 11.30 a.m to 12.30pm

Where:   35 Carl Hall Road, east of the John Drury Drive (within Downsview Park - enter on John Drury Drive - off Sheppard Ave W)

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 45th 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, CTV, CP-24, FLOW fm, WinTV, WinRadio, General Motors, El Dorado Rum, 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, and Grace Kennedy Foods.

For more information about the programmes and events, please visit the festival’s official website at www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com. The Festival Office is NOW located at 19 Waterman Avenue. Contact info: Tel: 416-391-5608; Fax: 416-391-5693; Email: info@ torontocaribbeancarnival.com.

Stephen Weir Festival Publicist.
Phone 416-489-5868 Cell: 416-801-3101
Email: Stephen@stephenweir.com                                  

Journalist broadcaster finds Homolka in the Caribbean

 

Paula Todd tracks down Karla Homolka and discovers mother of three in the Caribbean for original ebook

(Toronto – June 21, 2012) This spring, investigative journalist Paula Todd boarded a plane to Guadeloupe, following an obscure lead that Karla Homolka, one of Canada’s most notorious serial killers, had been living there in hiding for several years. Incredibly, what she discovered after days of searching, was that Homolka, a woman who had killed three children in southern Ontario, was now married with three children of her own.

Finding Karla, the riveting and suspenseful story of how Todd came to spend an electrifying hour in Homolka’s apartment, is available on Kindle Singles, Kobo, iBooks and Nook for $2.99. The forty-six page ebook is published by the Canadian Writers Group.

In the early 1990s, Karla Homolka and her then-husband, Paul Bernardo, became known around the world as the “Ken and Barbie Killers” after the pair were convicted of crimes related to the rape and murder of two teenage girls. Homolka struck a deal with prosecutors in 1993 to serve twelve years in prison for manslaughter.
When she was released from prison in 2005, Homolka lived briefly in Montreal, where she was confronted by reporters. By 2007, she had disappeared. Some said Homolka had changed her name and left Canada for Haiti, France, or the Czech Republic. Others said she was living in the Bahamas with a bisexual porn actor named Luka Magnotta.

These rumours had Homolka in the news once again last month when Magnotta allegedly killed and dismembered a man in Montreal, mailing his body parts to the offices of two major Canadian political parties and to at least two schools on Canada’s west coast, making him the subject of an international manhunt.

Paula Todd

About Paula Todd:
Paula Todd is a writer, lawyer and an independent investigative journalist. She is a print and broadcast journalism professor in Toronto and sits on the board of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. Her bestselling book, A Quiet Courage: Inspiring Stories from All of Us, details the secrets of ordinary people around the world who survived and thrived after profound tragedy. Paula is currently at work on another non-fiction book, Inside Out, which documents the post-prison lives of violent criminals. She has worked for Canada’s largest broadcasters and newspapers, and is a frequent public speaker.

About Canadian Writers Group:
The Canadian Writers Group represents more than 100 of Canada’s top independent writers and journalists. To learn more about the agency and its writers, please visit our web site.

For interviews with Paula Todd and media information:

Stephen Weir
Stephen Weir & Associates | stephen@stephenweir.com
Tel: 416-489-5868 | cell: 416-801-3101

Fashion as Art: Exposed! (one night only at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection)

On the cover: The Group of Seven Fashion Designers Exhibit presents models wearing one-of-a-kind creations made especially for this event. Photo: Yuri Dojc  | Makeup: Glen E. Daniel, MAC | Model: Laura Vermeulen

The Group of Seven's New Clothes. The Fashion of Art

Gala drafts designers, Beker and Yuri Dojc to help out

Back in the early 70s, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute was Canada's incubator for the practical arts. Journalism, Radio. Television. Layout. Design. Fashion. Theatre. And, most importantly, Photography.

And while each discipline was taught in a different silo at the downtown Toronto campus, there was convergence at one place - The weekly Eyeopener newspaper.  I was self proclaimed poetry editor.  Christie Blatchford, Rosie DiManno, Paul Patterson, Dawna Lee Aprile and a host of others wrote amazing  news busting feature stories. It was the student paper in the country and it was the supreme  social moment for the volunteer writers, designers, illustrations and photographers of Rye High.

I can't remember anything I wrote, but I do remember the photographs.  They were outstanding. Cutting edge. No more so than  what came from the camera of Yuri Dojc.  He was our photo editor when I was at the Eyeopener.  Aside from trying to talk us all into posing in the nude, he didn't speak much English then, so, he made his camera do his talking for him.  His covers were works of art, clipped out and taped to the inside of lockers that lined the halls of the Quad.

I haven't seem him in a long long time.  The gallery at the end of my street that carried his art has closed. My Dojc cover clips have faded and curled but still have a treasured spot in my Ryerson trunk. He is still making great art. Yes, and some of that art involves nudes.

D’Arcy Moses sketch for Gal

 I was a little surprised when I volunteered to help with the promotion of a June 16th gala for the McMichael Canadian Art Collection to find out that Yuri has supplied images for the self-billed Spiritual Home Group of Seven. Well it turns out that  the Fashion as Art: Exposed! is a coming out fundraising Gala for the McMichael, and Yuri's photograph is gracing the evening's printed programme.  It is a new era in Kleinburg, and Dojc photography, pictured above is leading the charge.

Fashion as Art: Exposed! celebrates the fusion of art and fashion with some of Canada’s leading fashion designers, artists and celebrities, including a private viewing of the cutting edge Fashionality: Dress and Identity in Contemporary Canadian Art exhibition with noted curator and fashion theorist, Julia Pine. 

The event is proudly being hosted by internationally renowned fashion personality Jeanne Beker. This unique evening provides guests the perfect combination of thought-provoking art and unique Canadian fashion. “I am thrilled to participate and support this incredible celebration of two of my greatest passions, fashion and art. Innovative fashion trends and art techniques have, and will continue to evolve over the years, however, both mediums are timeless with respect to their influence and impact reflected and presented in every culture worldwide. This unique collaboration of exceptional Canadian talent is an Avant Garde symbiosis that will portray fashion as art in an entirely new perspective to contemplate and enjoy,” says Beker. Fashionistas, recognized industry crème de la crème, and art lovers alike will be treated to a glamorous, red carpet evening filled with innovative design, gourmet cuisine and fabulous music.   

D’Arcy Moses sketch for Gala

The “Group of Seven Fashion Designers” for the evening are; Joeffer Caoc, Comrags, Greta Constantine, David Dixon, Thien Le, Lucian Matis, and D’Arcy Moses.Two of Moses' sketches are printed above.

Art will prevail through every detail of the evening, including provocative décor, cuisine by Via Allegro and entertainment from DJ Bellosound and Dr. Draw, and a live body-painting art performance by Toronto artist, JessGo.  
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the unveiling of these incomparable, art-inspired, designer creations.   Media interested in covering this one-of-a-kind event should contact me asap at stephen@stephenweir.com or at 416-489-5868.

The World's Richest Poetry Prize brings out the best (and table hoppers too))

L-R International winner. David Harsent, prize founder  Scott Griffin and the Canadian winner of the Griffin Poetry Prize  Ken Babstock  Photo Tom Sandler

 I swear I didn't know there was assigned seating 

Getting a polite bum's rush from Conrad Black's Table 6 at the Griffin Poetry Prize.

Bernard Gauthier (Bravo TV) and myself arrived early at last week's Griffin Poetry Prize Award dinner in Toronto.  The Distillery District hall doors had only been open for a few minutes.  We were one of the first to be welcomed by Scott and Krystyne Griffin, the founders and funders of  The Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry. The Prize is the largest annual award for a single book of poetry in the world. 

I had trouble hearing our hosts because of the Mexican mariachi band that had just begun to tune up.  I am sure I would have heard all the details about the seating arrangements if I leaned a little closer in.

We entered the large exposed brick space that was once used for the fermentation of millions of gallons of liquor.   The room soon began to fill with everyone I have read in the past 10 years.  Michael Ondaatje. Margaret Atwood. Christopher Dwedney.  Richard Gwyn. There were TV stars. Journalists. And, former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.

More and more people poured into the space. It was an elbows-up cocktail hour. This was going to be a sold-out show. Bernard and I worried we would get separated and not be able to sit together when the dinner bell rang.

We decided to stake a claim at one of the round dining tables.  Number 6.  I placed my car keys and glass of beer on the table. Bernard put his notes and bag on a chair beside me. We went our different ways, promising to meet up when the dinner began.

The supper announcement was made and  I sat down at Table 6.  Soon I was joined by a man I had met at a Huffington Post party a week before. Recently released Conrad Black. He had out dressed me. He was joined by his wife Barbara Amiel, who I used to see when I helped out at Macleans 15-years ago.  Our table started to fill up. Murray Frum. An actress who's name I was told and promptly forgot. 

No one spoke to me.  One couple standing nearby glared. No Bernard.  I hung onto his seat as long as I could. 
But soon, the iron gaze behind me made it obvious that Table 6 was not an open seating spot. I gave up my chair (and Bernard’s too) to an annoyed elderly couple who seemed to know everyone at the table.

Not a bum's rush, but, I blushed none the same.  I grabbed Bernard's bag and made my escape.  We met up at the media table.  CBC. CP. Film makers. Photographer Tom Sandler.  They laughed at my story and one bun got tossed my way.  We had a good meal. A lot of laughs!

Seatmate Tom Sandler took the above picture of Scott Griffin with the winners of this year's Prize that was handed out when the 5-star meal ended. David Harsent's Night and Ken Babstock's Methodist Hatchet are the International and Canadian winners of the 2012 annual Griffin Poetry Prize. They each received $65,000 in prize money.

As we were leaving I handed Bernard back his bag. "Mon Ami" he said, "That is not my bag, where did you get it?"

It had been on the chair beside Lord Black.  I was going to return it to Table 6, but, you know, at the age 60, I try to only blush once a day.  I found one of the organizers, told her what had happened, gave her the satchel and very quickly disappeared into the night.

Large crowd cover Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto Media Launch

Full house at the Media Launch of this year's Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto festival. Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto

New events. New locations. New supporters.

Three weeks of reasons to Jump Up

May 29, 2012  (Toronto) –In Toronto the carnival season has just begun.  At a Tuesday morning press conference at the Royal Ontario Museum, the media was briefed on what is in store for Canada’s biggest annual outdoor event.  This is the 45^th year for the festival and the Festival Management Committee is preparing for a huge summer in the streets and parks of Toronto.

“This year we have moved a couple of the events – the children’s parade and the international Rugby Match – to new locations to answer the demands of a growing audience,” explained co-CEO Denise Herrera-Jackson. “And, this year we making sure that each and ever event that we manage donates to a different community charity, most noteably Sickle Cell Anemia.”

The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival is already getting ready for the big parade is August 4th.  This is the 45th year for the festival formally known as Caribana, and not only is going to be bigger; it has new events, new locations and additional corporate sponsors.

It all starts July 17th at Toronto’s Nathan Phillip’s Square. The City Hall square is jammed to see the Official Public Launch for the festival. Dancers, musician, calypso singers come out and perform to get the city and this always-huge crowd in the mood for Carnival.

  MPP Michael Couteau opens presser

On July 21st the first BIG event takes place at Downsview Park when the Junior Carnival Parade takes place. Think of it as a Kiddie’s version of the big parade.  Last year over 2,000 children performed for the judges and played Mas along the streets of the Jane Finch corridor. Downsview Park, better suited to handle the growing number of children taking part is the new location of the parade.

Sport fans will want to take in the Canada versus the best of the Jamaica Rugby League in a Festival Cup Match that will be held downtown at the Lamport Stadium on the 21st of July. Last year Canada won the match at a field in north Markham.

Dress for most Festival goings on is casual.  However, there is one event where formal wear is the rule of the evening.  The Annual Gala is a dress up affair to honour the rich history of the festival and to sample the Caribbean arts. This year it all happens on July 27th at the Liberty Grande Ballroom inside the CNE grounds.

Many of the world’s best Calypso performers live in Toronto.  They will be showing their stuff in the annual Monarch Contest on July 28th and then again on the 31st at the All-Star Showcase at Harbourfront. 

 

Jason Woodman (l), El Dorado Rum, the official  rum of Festival. 

And the events keep coming.  There is a huge outdoor Pan Alive battle of the steel pan orchestras planned for August 3^rd at Lamport Stadium.  The King and Queen contest, the day before on August 2nd is always a sell-out, so this year Lamport Stadium has been reconfigured to allow for almost 20,000 spectators – up from 11,000.

 The August 4th Parade along Toronto’s waterfront is still the largest outdoor event in Canada!  And this year people are invited to stay up all night.  After the parade has ended people are invited into Ontario Place to take part in the all-new night all night Fish Fry (10 pm – 4 am), and stay for daytime Sunday food festival. The festival includes a lime and breakfast on Ontario Place’s South Beach followed by a retro J’ouvert. This is Caribbean style parade party with Bahamian Jankanoo, French Creole Kompas and Zouk, and Grenadian ShortKnee performers.  As the day progresses, people will enjoy the live performers and steelpan music. Take an island hop to tasty morsels such as jerk cuisine and rum cocktails. Then everyone will wind-down at sunset with an exciting closing concert.

“We have expanded our programming in part because of we have expanded our corporate sponsorship base,” continued Denise Herrera Jackson. “ Scotibank is of course our keynote sponsor. CTV, CP-24, the Toronto Star and Sway Magazine continue to be our very generous and supportive media partners. We have added El Dorado Rum as the official sponsor of our Gala; FLOW radio is back and is taking a bigger role with the festival.  We have just added WIN TV and WIN Radio --a popular Caribbean radio and television station based in Trinidad -- as our Caribbean media sponsor and will be live streaming the parade back to Trinidad. “

CP-24's Stephen Ledrew interviews ROM curator live at even

 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 45th 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, CTV, CP-24, FLOW fm, WinTV, WinRadio, El Dorado Rum, 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, and Grace Kennedy Foods.

For more information about the programmes and events, please visit the festival’s official website at www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com. The Festival Office is NOW located at 19 Waterman Avenue. Contact info: Tel: 416-391-5608; Fax: 416-391-5693; Email: info@ torontocaribbeancarnival.com.

Stephen Weir Festival Publicist. Phone 416-489-5868 Cell: 416-801-3101 Email: Stephen@stephenweir.com                                                        

Third and Final Update: Carnival season in Toronto begins with the Media Preview tomorrow - Tuesday - with MPP Michael Couteau

 

THIRD  AND FINAL UPDATE: MEDIA ALERT

  Michael Couteau, fastest rising star at Queen's Park to assist with the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival’s 2012 Media Launch tomorrow!

Tuesday, May 29^th 11am – 12 noon

New Year. New Programmes. New Sponsors. Same Name

 
May 22, 2012  (Toronto) – The media is invited to join Don Valley South MPP Michael Couteau, one of only two Caribbean Canadians in the Provincial House, at the official media launch for this year’s Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival.  The Minister will be joined at the podium with new corporate and media sponsors, and festival executives at the Royal Ontario Museum.

What:             The Festival Management Committee will be releasing key information about this year’s Caribbean Carnival.

Why:              There have been major venue changes and programme additions to this year’s three week carnival. As well, there are new corporate sponsors and a new Caribbean media sponsor supporting the Carnival this year.

Who:              Spokespeople from key stakeholders including the Bank of Nova Scotia, the Festival Management Committee, new corporate sponsors and media partners.  There will be  live Pan music.

When:             11 am to 12.15 pm

Where:           Royal Ontario Museum, BRONFMAN HALLL. Enter through the Atrium doors on University / Queens Park Circle close to the subway station stairs.  (Bloor Street entrance closed due to temporary construction)

For more information about the programmes and events, please visit the festival’s official website at www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com. The Festival Office is NOW located at 19 Waterman Avenue, Toronto. Contact info: Tel: 416-391-5608; Fax: 416-391-5693; Email: info@ torontocaribbeancarnival.com. Stephen Weir    Festival Publicist. Phone 416-489-5868 Cell: 416-801-3101 Email: Stephen@stephenweir.com