At The Mas Camps

William Doyle Marshall tours Scarborough Mas Camps in Toronto's East end.

BRING A FLASHLIGHT

The Empty Factories of Scarborough are ablaze for just 2 months

 Costumes on display in the Blues Carnival Mas Camp, Howden Rd, Scarborough

There are  mothballed factories and warehouses in Toronto's east end (Scarborough) that stand empty for most of the year. But in June and July these empty spaces are filled with colour, music and art.  There are 17 Mas Camps up and running in Toronto in preparation for the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival ( i.e. Caribana).
On Thursday night journalist William Doyle Marshall (CHYR, Indo-Caribbean Journal etc) toured three of the Mas Camps to talk to the Mas men and women running the camps. The Camps are where the costumes that dancer wear while playing mas at the street parade are constructed.  As well the camps are gathering spots where people interested in Carnival can order costumes, volunteer their help and generally Lime (hang-out).
The Mas Camps pick their location based on price and space rather than on ease of being found! Finding the camps is really a matter of being in the know! Most camps have little or no signage, no street numbers and no lighting.  Mas camps are open most evenings, many have food and refreshments available for purchase.  Best way to find the camps is by visiting the festival's website www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com

Calaloo's costumes have a Native Americas theme

Mervyn Skeete in his Connection's showroom