By Stephen Weir The people of Iqaluit should call it Arctic Mas after a weekend of Caribbean carnival costumes and live music in the city of snow (and more snow). And there are plans in the works for an Easter weekend redux! Earlier this month, costume maker and carnival leader Thea Jackson borrowed an oversized […]
By Stephen Weir Attention carnival revellers who are also baseball enthusiasts, the Toronto Blue Jays are set to bring a pair of Caribbean special events to Rogers Centre with their much-anticipated 2024 Blue Jays Caribbean Carnival night at the baseball stadium. This marks the third consecutive year for the Blue Jays Caribbean Carnival, scheduled for […]
By Oscar Wailoo I should have known that the Stars were aligned in my favour when, on my way to my first Trinidad Carnival, I cleared Caribbean Airlines check-in, Canadiancustoms, and was sitting at the departure gate at Pearson International Airport in no time flat. The good omen held when we took off on time, […]
It looks like Mississauga’s Black History Month will conclude with a significant event in 2024, set to take place this Sunday at the city’s Small Arms Inspection Building on Lakeshore Road. The Freedom Mas Band is wrapping up the month with the year’s first Carnival costume launch, which they’ve named the Black History Month Carnival […]
You know that spring is right around the corner when Wiarton Willie doesn’t see his shadow,the kid’s snowman is now a puddle and Fantazia starts putting up posters for its Spring 2024 costume launch. The mas’ band is marking its 15th annual launch on April 14th at the Peter N Paul Banquet Hall in Scarborough (Milner […]
By Stephen WeirYesterday, it was a sunny 17 degrees Celsius in Atlanta, Georgia, while Toronto experienced wet and snowy conditions with a temperature of minus 4 degrees. No wonder Toronto’s international costume designer, Thea Jackson, has Georgia on her mind these days. Jackson has recently returned from the Atlanta “Bandlaunch,” where she showcased her latest […]
New Orleans, aka The Big Easy has started its Mardi Gras countdown. New Orleans Carnival, like most around the world, is strongly linked to Christian and Roman Catholic traditions. The season begins on Jan. 6, the 12th day after Christmas, and continues until Mardi Gras, known as Fat Tuesday, which is the final day of […]
Kenneth Bhagan, a long-time member of the Ontario Steelpan Association, passed away on December 25. He was 77 years old. Mr. Bhagan will be remembered for the work he did with the St. James Town Youth Centre Steel Orchestra. Over the years, he had been the Executive Director of St. Jamestown Youth Centre Steel Orchestra. […]
By Stephen Weir Dr. Jay, Canada’s renowned Soca DJ has revealed his return to live radio with his signature show SocaTherapy airing on Flow 98.7 FM. Mark your calendars for Sunday, January 14th, from 6-9 pm, as Dr. Jay brings back the beats and vibes that make him the Prince of Soca. While his radio […]
Karen “Lady Mac” McIntosh-Bruce won her second St. Croix Calypso Monarch after the Calypso Monarch Finals on New Year’s night. The talented Lady Mac’s rendition of ‘Lend A Hand’ and ‘Puppet Man,’ earned her the title. “I’m elated because what I really focus on is putting on a good show for the people,” McIntosh-Bruce said […]
