Time to FREE UP yourself in Toronto

More and more summer events are announced

By Stephen Weir

The summer Events List is filling up even though summer isn’t officially here.  The latest “must attend events” are taking place this weekend.

SugaCayne + Know your Caribbean: your roots will be showing

SugaCayne is a boutique Caribbean carnival costume design & production company that prides itself on unique handcrafted creations infused with innovation and advanced fabrication methods.

They bring a unique carnival design aesthetic and “mas-building” experience to local and international Caribbean carnivals.

This Friday night (May 27) they will be holding a costume launch at the Lula Lounge. Organizer ask guests to “leave their inhibitions at the door as they celebrate costumes, dance, and culture with Toronto’s newest carnival mas. band, SugaCayne!

The launch doors open at 7pm and the entertainment begins an hour later. The evening will be hosted by UK-based and international cultural ambassador, Fiona Compton from the popular @KnowYourCaribbean brand.

The Lulu Lounge will be serving a prix fixe for $39, standing room tickets cost $25. The club is located at 1585 Dundas St W, Toronto.

Guyana Kaieteur Falls 741ft sheer drop

Happy Birthday Guyana Party On May 28th

The Guyanese community will be marking Guyana’s birthday on Saturday! The South American Caribbean country Guyana became independent on 26 May 1966 and joined the British Commonwealth shortly thereafter.

The community is holding a fete at the Kaieteur Restaurant and Bar on Saturday night on Derry Road in Mississauga. There will be eleven DJs and musical performers signed up to provide entertainment for the evening. Doors open at 9pm and tickets cost as low as $10.00

 

 

 

Caribbean Tales Street Party

Cue Jean Augustine her movie is about to begin

The  Lavazza IncluCity Festival is a film festival that will be showing movies outdoors at The Distillery Historic District for much of the summer.  For the most part the cultural festival will be showing Italian movies nightly from June 27 to July16th, however, one important English language biopic seems to have snuck onto the bill.

Steadfast: The Messenger and the Message is a heartwarming movie that follows the life and career of 84-year old Dr Jean Augustine.

Born in Grenada, she is the first Caribbean Canadian woman to serve as a federal Minister of the Crown and Member of Parliament, Dr Augustine remains an immense source of pride and inspiration to the future young leaders of Canada

The film looks at her political career which spanned 12 years. She is widely recognized and applauded for the efforts she made toward equality, multiculturalism, and social justice advocacy here in Canada. The film has its Toronto debut on July 9th.

 

 

 

Bang the Drum slowly (and loudly) on June 4th

On Saturday June 4th the Pan Arts Networks will be warming up the Toronto GTA with an evening of live steel band music.  Their show dubbed A Splash of Steel is featuring the music of some of the city’s best bands.

The evening performance will features: the Gemini Pangroove Steelband, the Panatics Steelband Network, the Crawford Adventist East Campus Steelband, the New Dimension Steel Orchestra, and Pan Fantasy Steel.

In addition to the large bands there will be a special performance by musical youth soloist Eliana Sinclair. She will be playing pan while the Dance Caribe Performing Dance Company show their stuff.  The MC for the evening will be popular bookstore owner Itah Sadu.

The annual concert is in a new location this year. It will be held at the Toronto Pavilion Concert Hall, on Railside Rd near Victoria Park and Lawrence Avenue.

The show starts at 7pm.  Tickets, available from Ticket Gateway are $30.

Taste of the Caribbean. At Wonderland

The Wonderland Amusement Park is asking ticket holders to “Feast their senses at the lively and colourful Taste of the Caribbean food Festival” inside their grounds August 27-28th.

The festival and the steel drum music is free with admission to Wonderland. Guests should probably wait an hour after feasting the island fare from jerk chicken to seafood dishes, rum cake and coconut desserts, plus sweet summer drinks before getting on any of the stomach twisting roller coasters?