Pan Fantasy strikes gold again at Toronto’s Panorama Pan Alive Steelpan spirit soars at Lamport Stadium and Neilson Park celebrations By Anthony Joseph The competition was fierce, but once again, Wendy Jones and Al Foster led Pan Fantasy to the top, repeating as Panorama Pan Alive champions in a show of musical mastery and community […]
Time for a change By Anthony Joseph The 2025 Toronto Caribbean Carnival, still fondly known to many as Caribana, is now in the books. Another year of feathers, music, celebration, and culture. And while we find pride in the ways our community continues to show up and shine, we must also confront the harsh truth: […]
Saying “thank you” may seem simple, but the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible work that made KAISO 365 a resounding success last Saturday at the Hungarian House. The event showcased the best of Canadian Calypso and crowned this year’s Calypso Monarch—Guyana-born The Crooner (Bill Newman)—whose song “The […]
By Kojo Despite sitting out of this year’s Panorama steelband competition, Toronto’s iconic steelband Afropan is not missing a beat. “We’re coming on the road as usual,” confirms Earl La Pierre Sr., founder and leader of Afropan. “We won’t be part of the competition this year, but we’ll still be playing for the people, because […]
The competition was stiff, but Wendy Jones and Al Foster have done it again, repeating as Panorama Pan Alive champions. Call it what you will: champions, legends, or simply the best! On Friday evening, Lamport Stadium was buzzing with the sweet sounds of steelpan. The atmosphere was electric, as pan lovers from all over gathered […]
Mas’ in the Six Twenty Years Strong and Still Changing the Game By Twylan Best This year marks a milestone for Toronto’s Carnival Nationz. Co‑band leaders Marcus Eustace and Bryce Aguiton are celebrating the band’s 20th anniversary, and they’re doing it in true CNz fashion, by making history once again. With their 2025 presentation “The […]
Time to reclaim our Caribana, with accountability, not intimidation By Anthony Joseph When I wrote an op-ed titled “Toronto Carnival: It’s Time to Deliver,” I did so with optimism. I praised the Festival Management Committee (FMC) for securing the largest government investment in the history of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, over $4.65 million. It was […]
Crooner crowned ‘Kaiso 365’ monarch By Kojo Toronto’s Hungarian House pulsed with rhythm, humour, and lyrical fire last Saturday night as six top-tier calypsonians vied for the coveted Canadian Kaiso crown at the 2025 Kaiso 365 Calypso Monarch Finals. At the end of a high-energy and musically rich evening, it was Crooner who walked away […]
All roads lead to Lamport Stadium for Panorama By Lincoln DePradine For a moment, it appeared that there will be no steelbands participating in this weekend’s culminating activities of the 2025 Toronto Caribbean Carnival. “Everything is good now,’’ Terrence Wilson, president of the Ontario Steelpan Association (OSA), said in an interview. He explained that OSA […]
The best way to Toronto Carnival is GO By Kojo For the past five years, I’ve made it a tradition to attend Carnival on the Lakeshore. But living in Ajax, driving downtown makes no sense, traffic, road closures, pricey parking, it’s a hassle. That’s why I always take the GO Train. There’s simply no better […]
