The Carnival Nationz’s band, “Lil’ Nation,” was adjudged Band of the Year at the 2017 Junior Carnival and Family Day in the Malvern community in Scarborough on Saturday.

” Lil’ Nation,” led by Marcus Eustace, also won the Western Union People’s Choice Award.

“Venom Carnival”  placed second in the competition and third place went to “Toronto Revellers.”

Other winners were “Louis Saldenah Mas K-Club” and “Tribal Carnival “which placed fourth and fifth respectively.

More than 2000 young masqueraders from eleven bands took part in the Carnival Parade

which started at Malvern Community Centre and ended at Neilson Park.

Among the special guests at the official opening were Toronto  Mayor John Tory, Kirsty Duncan, Federal Minister of Science and MP for Etobicoke North, and Mitzie Hunter, Ontario  Minister of Education and MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood.

Hunter noted that “the 2017 Junior Carnival Parade and Family Day truly reflects Scarborough’s rich cultural diversity.

She said events like these ” bring children, their families and the broader community together in a spirit of joy as they celebrate the beauty and artistry of Caribbean culture.

“Thank you to all the parents, volunteers and the children who have worked tirelessly to make this day such a success,” she said.

Two Sundays ago,  two teen-aged mas’ players from Whitby were adjudged king and queen respectively at the  first Junior King and Queen competition to be held in the 50-year history of the Toronto Caribbean carnival.

Evan Murphy,13, from ” Venom Carnival,” who portrayed Centipede Bite,” won the Junior King title.

Winner of the Junior Queen title was Canesha Edwards, 15, from “Tribal Carnival, “who played “Beijia-Flor, The Samba Queen.