A grand Carnival launch

By Lincoln DePradine

More than two years of lobbying by the Festival Management Committee (FMC), organizer of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, have paid dividends, with pledges of $4.65 Million to the event from the federal and provincial governments.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government is committing to “an unprecedented amount of funding for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival—$3.15 Million over two years’’, Scarborough MP Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, announced last Saturday.

Anandasangaree was among representatives from the three levels of government, as well private sector representatives and sponsors of the annual festival, that attended the official launch of the 2025 Caribbean Carnival outdoors at the Scarborough Town Centre.

The carnival, which is in its 58th year, opened with the usual variety program of entertainment including singing, dancing and steelpan music.

Despite its success as a revenue-generator, organizers have constantly complained about inadequate government and private sector financial backing for the event since its inauguration in 1967 as “Caribana’’.

The complaint of the current organizers sparked an advocacy campaign that included visits to city, provincial and federal government officials by FMC CEO Mischka Crichton, executive chair Jennifer Hirlehey, and general manager

Adrian Charles.

They also embarked on a letter-writing campaign, saying that “each year, the Toronto Carnival contributes $467 million to Canada’s GDP, generating $182.7 million in tax revenue for all three levels of government. The Toronto Carnival supports over 3,000 small businesses and creates more than 3,341 jobs, representing the best of Canada’s diversity and inclusion’’.

In the words of city councillor Michael Thompson, in remarks on Saturday, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival “is a gift that continues to give’’.

The $3.15M from Ottawa over the two-year period “represents the single largest investment by the federal government in this festival; one that recognizes the incredible talent, the incredible work of the mas’ bands, the organizers, the Festival Management Committee, and the labour love by so many that work for months, day and night, to make sure that this is the largest and most successful festival in Canada’’, said Anandasangaree, who was joined on stage in making the announcement by fellow MPs Michael Coteau, Shaun Chen, Salma Zahid and Jean Yip.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s Conservative administration, represented at Saturday’s launch by Charmaine Williams, Raymond Cho, Aris Babikian and David Smith, is increasing its Toronto Caribbean Carnival contribution from $125,000 to $1.5M this year.

The Carnival is “more than an event’’ and brings benefits that are “not just important culturally but financially’’, said MPP Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social And Economic Opportunity.

“It’s a dynamic expression of Caribbean identity and pride through dance, music and cultural festivities,’’ she added.

Hirlehey expressed appreciation for the newly announced festival funding. “Thank you to all levels of government because you heard us. We advocated hard and you heard us,’’ she said.

Coteau, Liberal MP for Scarborough-Woburn, and Andrea Hazell, Liberal MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood, commended FMC officials on their efforts in putting on the festival.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done to keep our festival strong,’’ Coteau said. “Thank you so much for your advocacy.’’

This year’s carnival “is going to be exciting’’, FMC manager Charles told The Caribbean Camera. “We have something spectacular in show for everyone.’’

Among changes planned for this year’s carnival is extending the Grand Parade route to Coronation Park, where a “carnival village’’ will be hosted.

LJI reporter

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