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 Stadium this year.

“That decision was driven mostly by cost – the cost of using the CNE,’’ OSA president Terrence Wilson told The Caribbean Camera.

He also said for many of the “mature crowd’’ that patronize the pan competition, “it was really challenging’’ for them to get to the CNE.

OSA, Wilson revealed, is attempting a novel move and “something useful’’ this year to attract new and additional patrons, in collaboration with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB).

“We have engaged with the TDSB and there will be members from school bands at the panorama competition. We will give students free tickets to be in the audience,’’ he said.

Lamport Stadium is “more like home’’ for pan players and their supporters, Wilson said.

“Everything is lot more intimate; whereas, in the CNE,’’ he said, “the bleachers were not conducive to proper viewing and setting up was more difficult. Mind you, we were happy with the ambience; we felt like we had an actual Panorama. But, we’re moving back to Lamport and we hope to have a grand time.’’

The 2025 panorama is Friday, August 1. Pan Fantasy is the champion. The steel orchestra has won every competition since 2012. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the panoramas of 2020, 2021 and 2022.

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