Obiturary for Calvin Taylor

 Festival stalwart has passed away

Written by Stephen Weir for the September 5, 2024 Caribbean Camera newspaper.

Amidst all the hubbub of the August carnival and its Grand Parade, the passing of Calvin Robert Taylor, one of the stalwarts of past parades, was missed by many within the carnival community. He died just days before the parade at the age of 70.

Calvin was deeply committed to the carnival community, both in Toronto and his hometown of Burlington/Hamilton.

“Calvin was a carnival stalwart,” reads his online obituary. He began his involvement in Caribana as a promoter, bringing music bands from Trinidad and managing their performances in North America, and ended his stint as a festival parade manager, responsible for parade logistics and the procession of bands along the parade route. He was particularly involved with the Caribana Parade Committee under the Festival Management Committee (FMC).

Mr. Taylor was born and raised in Trinidad. As a young man, he came to Canada in 1975, where he attended NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) in Edmonton. He soon moved to Toronto, where he studied at Sheridan College. He went on to build a successful career in technology sales, working with many well-known companies. He also had his own company, which he called Deployment Specialist.

Calvin Taylor is survived by his wife, Deborah Boyce-Taylor, and their two children, Ashley and Katelyn. He was predeceased by his son Justin and his siblings Elizabeth and Jeffrey.

According to his family, "During a long struggle with complications of diabetes, Calvin fought a good fight but eventually succumbed to the ravages of this disease. May he rest in eternal peace." Memorial contributions can be made in his name to Diabetes Canada.