By Lincoln DePradine
They were all young – toddlers included. It was their show – the Junior Parade of the 2024 Toronto Caribbean Carnival in Malvern – and the adults, including parents and a slew of politicians, were spectators.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s attendance at last Saturday’s event coincided with an announcement of a pledge of up to $2 million in funding to support festivals in the City of Toronto.
The money will provide financial relief to special event organizers affected by “rising operating costs”, including insurance, health, safety, crowd management and other public security measures.
The cash is being disbursed from a one-time pilot grant program called, the Special Events Stabilization Initiative (SESI).
The SESI will be launched next month. Applications for funding will be accepted from 9 am on August 19.
According to city officials, applications “are due on September 30 at 5 pm”, and “organizations applying to SESI must meet all eligibility criteria to be awarded funding”.
Toronto, they pledged, “will continue to work with festival organizers to support their planning and success, while also advocating to other orders of government for long-term support for local festivals”.
Mayor Chow, who was among the list of officials that participated in the formal opening of the kids’ street carnival, followed the junior masqueraders on part of the route along Neilson Road.
The August 3 parade “is going to be exciting”, promised Adrian Charles, general manager of Toronto Caribbean Carnival (TCC).
Charles said that while the TCC is grateful for the support of politicians, carnival organizers would like additional financial assistance for the summer festival.
“We always have support from government officials. But, one of the things we always say is that we need more funding for this carnival,’’ he added.
Up to Tuesday, Toronto Caribbean Carnival had not announced the results “officially”, or posted them on its website.
The remaining schedule of carnival events includes the Calypso Monarch competition, 6 pm, Sunday, July 28, at East Town Banquet Hall, 2648 Eglinton Avenue East, Scarborough.
Exhibition Place, at 100 Princes Boulevard in Toronto, is the venue for the King & Queen Showcase on August 1; and the contest of steelbands in this year’s Panorama on August 2.
Masquerade costumed bands in the Grand Parade, on August 3, also will entertain spectators at Exhibition Place.
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter