By Stephen Weir

There is a science to building large showcase King and Queen costumes, and no one knows that better than the Ontario Science Centre. For over ten years, the Ontario Science Centre has awarded the Innovation in Mas’ Award to the designers of the King and Queen Category adult costumes in the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

The Science Centre, an official sponsor of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, will not be awarding the Innovation Award this year. No, the museum hasn’t given up on awarding the best Mas costumes; they have just shifted their focus to a younger age group.

Vishnu Ramcharan, the lead special project visitor and community engagement at the Ontario Science Centre and one of the founders of the costume award, told the Caribbean Camera that they are now looking at costumes designed to be worn by the junior revelers.

“We are changing to a youth focus, shifting from the Innovation in Mas’ Award (IiMA) for the Adult King and Queen category to a youth opportunity connected to the

Toronto Caribbean Carnival,” said Ramcharan. “This award recognizes how areas like engineering and material science, along with the skills, attitudes, and behaviors of innovation, can be brought together to create artistic innovations in Carnival costume making.”

This award acknowledges the combination of engineering, material science, and innovation skills, attitudes, and behaviors in creating artistic innovations in Carnival costume making.

The Science Awards are the first of their kind in Ontario, and their study of designs continues to dominate. Dr. Rita Cox, a well-known member of the carnival community, has assisted in examining the junior costumes. Over the years, the award has stood as an example of the long-standing connections with communities that celebrate Carnival.

The Ontario Science Centre recently observed the junior King and Queen costumes worn last Sunday at the King and Queen Junior Competition at the Scarborough Town Centre. Regardless of their placings last Sunday, all the children who participated in the King and Queen category will receive a family membership to the Ontario Science Centre at the Stellar Membership level. Additionally, the competing youths and their class will be awarded a class field trip to the Ontario Science Centre, including a chartered bus and a specially created customized program developed in collaboration with the teachers.

“Looking to the future, the Ontario Science Centre would like to initiate conversations with Mas’ Camp leaders to explore partnership opportunities. We recognize that youth play an important role in the present and future of the Toronto Caribbean Festival, and we hope that this shift can open doors for youth engagement with the Ontario Science Centre.”

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