Hope for Jamaica: Concert Unites Canadian Artists for Hurricane ReliefBy Anthony Joseph In the aftermath of the catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica has been left reeling. The storm tore through the island with unrelenting force, leaving homes flattened, communities displaced, and livelihoods shattered. Yet, amid the devastation, the indomitable Jamaican spirit remains unbroken, and […]
‘Tru Dynasty’ represented Toronto in style at Miami Carnival by Stephen Weir For the summer of 2025, it seemed as though Thea Jackson and her Tru Dynasty Mas Band had been constantly on the move. But come Thanksgiving break, Tru Dynasty wasn’t dancing along Toronto’s Lakeshore. This year, Jackson and her crew took Canadian carnival […]
Putting the Mas’ in Christmas By Stephen Weir On a brisk Toronto morning last November, Santa’s sleigh may not have been pulled by reindeer, but it was certainly propelled by Caribbean Canadian community spirit. With over 750,000 spectators lining the streets, the 120th anniversary of the Santa Claus Parade, the Festival Management Committee and their […]
Carnival bandleader Louis Saldenah retires By Anthony Joseph After leading one of Toronto Carnival’s most iconic mas’ bands for more than four decades, Louis Saldenah has officially announced his retirement. Speaking at a retirement party at the Grand Cinnamon Banquet Hall last Saturday, the legendary bandleader, who has defined Toronto’s Carnival landscape for 44 years, […]
The crescendo of Barbados’ Crop Over season came to a roaring finale on Grand Kadooment Day, where one anthem soared above the rest. Leadpipe, the veteran soca artist known offstage as Osvaldo Reid, has claimed the coveted Road March crown for 2025 with his commanding hit “Tek Charge” — a track that captured the heart […]
Darian Joseph’s mas journey to Toronto Carnival king For Toronto Revellers’ 2025 King, Early Roots in Mas Darian’s journey started at just two years old, playing with his uncles’ band, Arnold Hughes and Assoc. What began as a toddler in costume soon became a passion. By the time he entered junior competitions, he was already […]
Carrying a King Costume Defines Carnival Spirit Carnival has always been more than sequins, feathers and a parade down the road. It is joy, sacrifice, art and spirit all bound together in one rapturous release. Over the years, I have heard many say that playing mas’, especially carrying a king costume, is too strenuous, too […]
By Twylan Best For Saldenah Carnival’s Male Individual, Adam Ali, mas’ isn’t just about the costume you wear or the title you win. It’s a story he’s been writing since he was nine years old—one that began with beads, foil, and community hours for his older brother, but grew into a lifelong passion for […]
Born in Trinidad on October 11, 1960, Gerard “Gerry” Weekes died doing the one thing that he loved most – playing mas’. It is with profound sadness that the Caribbean community in Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and beyond mourns the passing of Weekes who died in Calgary on August 16 last. He died following a […]
Ten bands graced the stage at the Lamport Stadium in Toronto last Thursday evening for the annual King and Queeen show. The bands competed in four categories -King,Queen, Male Individual and Female Individual, each one telling a story through tbe artistry of big mas’. Some costumes rolled in on towering wheels, while others were carried […]
