WHERE WERE THE CROWDS? WHERE IS THE MONEY?

The Same Old Story About FMC Finances

By Stephen Weir

It has been a few years, but here I am in October, and once again, the Caribbean Camera is running this story I have written about the financial woes of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival. This time, it’s based on rumours and innuendos because the Festival Management Committee (FMC) isn’t talking—for now. Word on the street is that the FMC doesn’t have the money to pay off its stakeholders: the Mas Bands, the Steel Drum orchestras, and Calypsonians who took part in the 2024 annual festival. The band leaders have apparently received letters telling them of this year’s cash crunch.

The FMC managed the 57th annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival, which they touted as “North America’s largest celebration of Caribbean culture.” According to their website, “The Toronto Caribbean Carnival remains a key economic driver, generating nearly half a billion dollars in economic impact. We are calling on the government, the business community, the broader community, and volunteers to join us in transforming the carnival into a premier cultural showcase, educational hub, and business powerhouse.”

This year it was a different looking carnival with many of the “big “ events moved onto the CNE grounds and out to the Scarborough Town Centre from Lamport Stadium and Nathan Phillips Square. The Grand Parade was incident free but it appears that this year the attendance numbers were in the low hundred thousands and not the 2.3 million the FMC predicted.

MAYOR OLIVIA CHOW AND COUNCILLOR MICHEAL THOMPSON

AT THE PARADE START WITH PREMIER FORD

In 2022, a new leadership team took over the carnival’s management when the FMC had money in the bank. The new FMC committee, as of August 1st, consists of seven members from the Caribbean Canadian community. It is led by lawyer Jennifer Hirlehey and CEO . Mischka CrichtonThere have been changes in the board, but over the last two years, members have included bandleader Louis Saldenah, Calypso singer Henry Gomez, Adrian Charles, Anne Marie Sutton, and pannist Terrence Wilson.

The FMC controls all aspects of the carnival: organizing events, managing volunteers, handling marketing, fundraising, and government relations with all three levels of government, and securing sponsors. It also is mandated by the city to share the revenue with the Mas Bands, Steelpan, and Calypso associations. However, despite millions of dollars flowing through FMC accounts, rumours suggest there is a financial shortfall, and partners don’t know if and when they will get paid!

“They had to take out a loan,” read an anonymous message sent to reporter Stephen Weir. “And the city has had to bail them out.”

Scarborough councillor Michael Thompson has not answered questions about this financial Carnival crunch. Mr. Thompson is often City Halls go-to-guy when it comes to the annual carnival.

“It’s happened before,” explained a former FMC member. “The three levels of government promise us large grants, and sometimes they increase the grant amount, but they don’t tell us when they will pay us. I believe, but I don’t know for sure, that the province hasn’t sent us a cheque yet. Nor have they told us when they will.”

The Ontario Legislature took an unprecedented summer break, beginning on June 5 and only ending last week (October 21, 2024).

The Mas Bands, which are owed the most money to cover costs including facility rentals, costumes, truck rentals, and parade security, don’t want to speak publicly about being told there’s no money in the kitty. The community is concerned about the shortfall but fears that going public with their worries could make things worse. The bands appear that they have also been left out of the debt decision-making and is receiving little information about the process.

The FMC rarely responds to reporter Weir’s questions, but Hirlehey did this time, saying she would answer the paper’s debt questions on Thursday after she handles a media event that the Camera is not a part of.

As we turn water cooler rumours into cold, hard facts, the questions that need answers are obvious: How broke is the Carnival? Will there be a Carnival in 2025? Will the Festival and parade still be held at the CNE? How many people came to the Feestival this year Are you staying with the FMC?

STORY BY WEIR IN THURSDAY'S CARIBBEAN CAMERA LEFT

And the biggest question? Will you be speaking to Doug Ford about the promise he made at the parade’s start this summer (I took this picture) to find more money for theFMC (as pictured)?

Assuming the meeting between myself and the FMC takes place, there will be a Part Two to this story.