Crooner Crowned 2025 Calypso Monarch at Kaiso 365 Finals The energy was high and the lyrics sharp on Saturday night as the Ontario Calypso Performing Artists hosted the annual Kaiso 365 competition at the Hungarian House in Toronto. Emerging victorious was Bill Newman, known on stage as The Crooner, who beat out five other talented […]
By Twyland Best Toronto Kiddies Carnival took to the streets last Saturday with a vibrant parade making its way from Malvern Community Centre to Neilson Park. This year’s Junior Band of the Year title was awarded to Carnival Nationz for its presentation, “A Jungle Story”. Ten bands showcased their sections in the following order: Toronto […]
Calypso Monarch competition adds Pan for a spicier evening This weekend, all roads lead to the elegant Hungarian Cultural Centre for KAISO 365, where the audience will witness a first for Canadian calypso and steelpan. Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) and Ontario Steelpan Association (OSA) have teamed up to present the Canadian Calypso Monarch […]
‘World Steelpan Day’ By Mahayah Lochan-Aristide Toronto’s summer will hit a high note this August as the city joins the global celebration of World Steelpan Day, honouring the Caribbean-born instrument that has become a powerful cultural symbol across nations. With the Ontario Steelpan Association (OSA) at the helm, and in partnership with Pan Trinbago, the […]
Carnivals drive culture connection creativity and commerce With the Toronto Caribbean Carnival just a week away, the city is preparing for one of North America’s most colourful and culturally rich events. But beyond the feathers, music, and revelry lies a deeper truth about carnivals: they are powerful engines of both social connection and economic growth, […]
Reclaiming Caribana from Corporate Control By Anthony Joseph There is a creeping tragedy unfolding in our midst. It is quiet but suffocating. It hides behind polished press releases, government funding, and public celebrations. But at its core lies a betrayal of community trust, cultural legacy and our right to self-determination. We, the Caribbean community in […]
Six named to vie for Calypso Monarch 2025 Last Sunday the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA), held its semi-finals for this year’s KAISO 365 at the Twilight Family Restaurant and Bar in Scarborough. And what was meant to be a tough time for the judges turned out to be a huge party where calypsonians […]
By Anthony Joseph After years of underfunding, the federal and provincial governments have finally stepped up. In response to a powerful advocacy campaign led by the Festival Management Committee (FMC), over $4.65 million in funding has now been committed to the Toronto Caribbean Carnival over the next two years, with $3.15 million coming directly from […]
By Lincoln DePradine For years, Lamport Stadium on King Street hosted “Pan Alive/Panorama’’, the carnival contest for supremacy among pan musicians in Canada. However, like other carnival events in 2024, the competition of the Ontario Steelpan Association (OSA) was moved to Exhibition Place at the CNE last year. OSA has decided to revert to Lamport […]
A grand Carnival launch By Lincoln DePradine More than two years of lobbying by the Festival Management Committee (FMC), organizer of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, have paid dividends, with pledges of $4.65 Million to the event from the federal and provincial governments. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government is committing to “an unprecedented amount of […]
