Will there be a Toronto Caribbean Carnival parade this August 1st?
Carnival Mas or Corona Mess? Not a Lot of Answers in this Time of Crisis
By Stephen Weir
Breaking News: I received a note from the SunLime Mas Band l this evening announcing that they have postponed their previously announced March 29th virtual launch "to a later date. We will keep you updated as time goes on".
We have also received a notice from the Toronto Revellers that their Saturday April 11th costume launch is being postponed until May. "Due to the current global crisis, we are postponing our band launch to a date in May (TBD)."
The picture above is from the SunLime's model shoot which was held two weeks ago. Although the SunLime band has embargoed pictures and videos from that costume photo shoot, I did get permission to use this photograph (again) with the model blurred to obscure the costume.
What the Mas Camps, Pan Bands and the Festival Management Committee need right now is the city’s biggest Crystal Ball. Something that will answer the burning question -- will there be a Toronto Caribbean Carnival this year?
A simple yes or no will have a major impact on the Caribbean Canadian community, Toronto’s tourism industry and the city’s economy.
“We have to know the status of the festival!” the Mas K Club’s Hayden Harbin told the Caribbean Camera yesterday. “To date we have already invested large sums of money in our preparation leading up to our Band Launch. We have to know if it’s going to be on if we are going to continue to put out more money for completion or if it’s a cancellation, so we can halt and send out a public notice to all our locals and (foreign-based customers.)”
The Camera communicated with city councilor Michael Thompson, five bandleaders, a pan orchestra, and people directly involved in the carnival industry. We also reached out to the Federal Government, and the Government of Ontario and, of course, the overseers of the carnival, the Festival Management Committee. We asked them all, will there be a parade or not.
Louis Saldena, Harbin’s partner in crime, want answers too. They have the largest band (5,000) on the road each year. A Saldenah launch is a BIG event for the city, it attracts 1,000+ ticket buyers and generates thousands of follow-on orders for new costumes.
“I am going to get together with my group on the 10th of April and we will decide what approach to take if the parade is still on,” Saldenah told the Camera yesterday. “ I strongly believe the safety of the people is priority Number One.”
“ With the Canadian border being closed and the uncertainty of when it will be re-opened, (we will need to set a new date for our launch)” said Akil Heywood, the Chairman of the Atlantic Mas Camp.
Atlantic Mas annually brings in top Soca performers to help with their spring costume launch at the huge Rebel Nightclub. This year Atlantic planned a massive April 3rd launch party with Trinidad stars Bunji Garlin and Fayann Lyons headlining on stage.
“With the Rebel closing its doors due to the Government’s cap of a maximum of 50 people at gatherings means (April 3rd can not happen)” he continued. “A new date for this show will be announced.”
“Be sure that we take safety first. And we have an amazing event waiting for the Carnival community as soon as this crisis passes. We will make sure to give everyone something that will bring back energy to the Carnival stay tuned for the new date.”
For Tribal Carnival’s Celena Seusahai, the shutdown of services and events in Ontario is a case of déjà vu all over again. She has just returned from the Cayman Islands where Tribal’s popular island costume launch was cancelled when the British government suddenly postponed of Cayman’s Batabano festival and parade until sometime in the fall.
Tribal has been planning a Toronto launch at the end of next month. “We currently are still deciding what to do but definitely we will not be having a physical band launch on April 24th.”
Tribal Carnival is reportedly considering holding a virtual costume launch (VCL). A VCL is basically a costume fashion show that is staged without a live audience; instead, carnival fans watch the fete on their computers, laptops and smart phones.
SunLime is ahead of the curve in terms of staging a carnival VCL. Earlier this week the Caribbean Camera attended a video and photo shoot in downtown Toronto for Sunlime’s up and coming online show.
Plans for their VCL have changed somewhat since Sunlime first announced the online presentation. The show will not be recorded live, but instead, use the footage and photographs filmed on Sunday on their closed set.
“Due to the current situation and the uncertainty as to what will transpires in the upcoming weeks and months, the Sunlime's Executive has decided to forgo the live virtual launch,” explained Dwayne Gunness. “We have move to a taped virtual launch in order to comply with new Health virus guidelines.”
“Sunlime is proceeding with our costume Reveal with optimism. However it should be noted that even before the Reveal date (March 29th) the dynamics of the virus pandemic could change and we might end up in a situation where we may not be able to proceed. A t this point we hope that everyone stays safe and heeds Government recommendation”.
It is not just Mas Bands that are in a holding pattern when it comes to planning for the 2020 Carnival. Pan orchestras are in limbo in terms of opening pan yards and preparing for the July 31st Pan Alive Competition slated for Lamport Stadium.
“ We are still a little early yet for Carnival in terms of opening the Pan Yard, but already things are beginning to fall out,” said Pan Fantasy’s Wendy Jones. “Other pan events are already impacted.”
“The Pan Arts Network is supposed to hold the 9th annual “Gospel Praise on Steel” at Scarborough’s Kingdom Ministries. With ticket holders and the performs combined we are looking at 800 in the hall – that puts us way over the new 50-person rule. (editor’s note: Gospel Praise has now been postponed.)”
Is Carnival a go or no go? Like almost everyone that the Camera communicated with this week, Wendy said they are “awaiting direction” from the Festival Management Committee.
The FMC runs the parade and communicates directly with the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario and the Federal Government. The three levels of Government are basically the sole funders of the annual event and have the power of turning off the money spigot at anytime; ending the 2020 carnival before it really begins.
Councilor Michael Thompson is well aware of the challenges this Virus is having upon the Carnival. As the only Caribbean Canadian on Council, he is the defacto voice of Carnival at City Hall. He is powerful voice, as he is the Chair of Toronto's Economic and Community Development Committee and is a member of the Mayor’s Executive Committee.
“There are no answers right yet in terms of whether Carnival will happen this year, or not, “ Thompson said last night to reporter Stephen Weir. “I think what is most helpful is to tell the folks that they should wait and see a little longer. Wait till the end of the first week in April to better understand what is happening (in terms of the success of the city’s response to the virus andemic).”
“ It is up to the members of the FMC (Festival Management Committee) and by then should know if they can safely put on some sort of Festival this year,” said Thompson.
The Scarborough councilor said that the Mayor and Premier Doug Ford are strong supporters of the annual fete and believe strongly it should continue unless it is decided that the public’s health will be put at risk if the August 1st Grand Parade happens. “Both of the Ford brothers have taken part in the parade over the years. Doug (the Premier) has gone down the road with Saldenah. He loves us.”
“ Right now the FMC has access to all our Health data and our best guesses for the summer,” he said “but it is up to the festival itself to decide where it is going this year. “
As for the FMC, when contacted by email, Chief Operating Officer Chris Alexander did not answer the Camera’s questions. He did though refer the paper to a statement the organization has posted on Instagram and Facebook sites.
“We are closely monitoring the developments of the COVID-19 virus and preparing for all scenarios,” reads the statement. “With guidance from public health authorities at all levels of government we will continue to work with our bandleaders and other stakeholders to ensure our preparedness and response measures are appropriate and adaptable. Thank you for your continued support, Toronto Caribbean Carnival.”
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