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by Susanne Pacher
June 15, 2005
I had a chance to talk with John Kam, Vice-Chair of the Board
of Directors, about one of Toronto's greatest special events
and tourist attractions: Caribana, the city's hugely popular
and internationally renowned festival of Caribbean culture which
is scheduled this year for July 15 to August 1, 2005.
1.Please tell us about Caribana – what type of festival
is it?
CARIBANA™ is a two-week festival of Caribbean culture
that includes a great variety of events, here are just a selected
few: from a media launch on June 23, to the popular Children's
Carnival on July 16, a Calypso-Soca Forum on July 16, an Interfaith
Service on July 17 at the St. James Cathedral, the King & Queen
Extravaganza on July 28, to the big CARIBANA™ parade on
July 30 which is followed up by the Arts and Cultural Festival
on Olympic Island on July 31 and August 1, 2005.
CARIBANA™ is a feast for the eyes and ears, and you will
be able to enjoy a great Caribbean celebration, complete with
fabulous music, exuberant dancing and delicious food.
CARIBANA™ is also the only surviving Arts Project launched
as part of the 1967, Canada B1-centennial celebrations. It has
gone on to become the cornerstone of Tourism in Southern Ontario.
2. Please tell us about the festival’s history, how has
it evolved?
The Caribbean Cultural Committee (“the CCC”, registered
trademark – CARIBANA™) is a non-profit, community-based
corporation created by a group of Pan-Caribbean academics, students
and professionals in 1967, under the name Caribbean Committee
for Cultural Advancement. The CCC was established in response
to Canada’s centennial celebration commemorating its diversity
and the contributions made to Canada from the various cultures
that comprise the Canadian mosaic. What began as an expression
of the goals and aspirations of the Caribbean community resident
here—that the culture of the Caribbean had pride of place
in Canada—has blossomed into the world-renowned festival
of Carnival Arts, CARIBANA™.
3. How about all the colourful costumes? Who creates them?
What about the cost involved?
The masquerade costumes are designed by special artists after
which people with special craft-making skills are employed to
actually produce the costumes at what are called mas camps. The
cost varies from band to band but generally stays within the
range of $75 to $130 per costume.
4. Please tell us about the Caribana Marketplace.
The Caribbean Village is going to be set up on an elevated
area overlooking the parade route, on Lakeshore Boulevard. From
there patrons will be able to look down and see the spectacle
of Caribana as it unfolds while having another party going on
nonstop! There will be more than 50 top artistes from different
islands of the Caribbean performing during the course of the
day from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. The artistes will come from
Barbados, Grenada, Antigua/Barbuda, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent
& The Grenadines and much, much more. There will also be locally
based Caribbean-bred performers appearing during the all-day
extravaganza. This is to be staged on a cordoned off area knows
as the Bandshell.
There will be Arts & Crafts booths from the different Caribbean
islands set up around the area with tasty Caribbean food on sale
throughout the day. All of is going to cost only $10.
The CARIBANA ™ 'Marketplace is where commerce meets culture,
and everyone walks away with a tasteful memory. Dine on festival-style
Caribbean cuisine, shop for an array of Arts & Crafts, and Festival
souvenirs and relish a toast of the brewmaster’s craft and
some of Niagara’s internationally acclaimed wines and spirits.
5. Please tell us about the musical entertainment offered
during Caribana?
The musical entertainment generally comes from various top
Caribbean artistes coming in from the Caribbean and of course
locally based Caribbean-bred artistes.
6. What type of food services are available during Caribana?
There are various types of food available during the festival
each year. On either side of the parade route on Caribana Day,
authorized vendors sell different types of Caribbean cuisine
including Pelau (Peas & Rice), Jerk Chicken, Bake & Shark (sandwiches)
and traditional drinks including Sorrel and Mauby (a drink made
from the bitter bark of a tree and sweetened with lots of sugar).
7. Please give us an idea of the sponsors who make this big
event happen.
The sponsors vary from year to year. This year the list includes
The City of Toronto, CTV News, The Toronto Star, Yorkgate Mall,
British West Indian Airways (BWIA), The Caribbean Camera and
Breyers.
8. Roughly how many people visit Caribana and what economic
impact does it have on Toronto?
CARIBANA™ attracts according to research estimates from
DECIMA (1990) nearly one million spectators to the Greater Toronto
Area (GTA), generating, according to figures compiled and released
by the City of Toronto, $400 million annually for the Toronto
economy.
9. What is the cost of attending Caribana? What events require
tickets, how much are they and where can I obtain tickets?
Some events require the purchase of tickets, while others
don’t. For instance the CCC/Yorkgate Mall Children’s
Parade which takes place on July 16, is FREE. So too is the Parade
Day. However, if on Caribana Day (the parade day), you wish to
sit in the stadium on the CNE Grounds that requires the purchase
of a ticket. Different events carry different admission fees.
You will be able to get specific information about the admission
prices for the official Caribana events by visiting the website:
www.caribana.ca.
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel
and Transitions (http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Here you
will find unconventional travel information and money-saving
advice, cross-cultural experiences, live travel stories, interviews
with travellers and other inspiring people. Submit your own travel
stories and win an exciting Amazon River cruise! "Life is
a Journey - Explore New Horizons"
Susanne Pacher may be contacted at http://www.travelandtransitions.com or sq@travelandtransitions.com
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