WILL THERE BE A 2025 CARIBANA PARADE? BROKE AGAIN

Mayor Chow and councillor Michael Thompson officially open the 2024 Grand Parade

 at the start line in front of a sea of empty bleachers

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Broke Again! Sign the petition

Stephen Weir

Well, the rumour mill that I reported on last week turns out to have been churning out the truth. Apparently, it’s official—the Toronto Caribbean Carnival is broke, with numerous bands, performers, and creditors still waiting to be paid.

How much is owed? A cool $2 million—and perhaps more. And how do we know? The Festival Management Committee (FMC), the organization responsible for putting on the annual summer carnival, has just launched an online petition addressed to the three levels of government, calling for the “Immediate Emergency Funding of $2 million to cover the operational costs from the 2024 Carnival.”

And, in that petition the ask for $1.5 million for the next couple of years to keep the parade going.

When my article about the carnival’s financial issues appeared in print and online two weeks , the community’s response was less than supportive of the FMC. Instead, it was largely one of condemnation.

“Why am I not surprised! Same kind of thing happening for how long now? And when people talk about it, people get mad,” posted Ravi on my Facebook account.

Another commenter, Jason, was more succinct: “The current administration is a mess. They don’t pay the people they hired to provide services for the parade. Now businesses want to be paid up front before they do anything. It could be a domino effect from the government not giving them money, but could the government be skeptical of giving them money? They never have money, but they end up getting bailed out every year, and the parade goes on. The FMC needs to be audited. Yeah, we need to hold our own accountable,” he wrote.

Some posts from members of the Mas bands owed money by the FMC—who must share all revenues, including event ticket sales, with the Mas Bands, Calypsonians, and Steel Pan bands that participate in carnival events—expressed concerns about the unpaid funds. Their negative comments, however, were quickly removed from Facebook shortly after posting.

“The Carnival costs over $3 million to produce annually, yet receives less than $1 million from all three levels of government combined,” explained FMC Chair Jennifer Hirlehey in the full-page petition that will be sent to the provincial, city, and federal governments. She further noted that tin '24 they "received less than $1M from all three levels of government combined."

One reader, Simonne, who posted on our Facebook account, was not shocked at the lack of interest from the Province. “This is not a year-round business with a constant flow of income, and it sounds like the government has a role to play this time. I’ve suspected that the current provincial leadership doesn’t like us, and sadly I am not surprised that the funds they promised haven’t been delivered. The abrupt closing of the Science Centre was a red flag.”

Premier Ford starts the Grand Parade in front of empty stands

So now, the big ask is circulating throughout the Caribbean community for people to sign. The FMC is requesting an immediate infusion of cash to cover the 2024 costs and is also seeking additional funding to create a cultural centre to preserve and promote Caribbean heritage in Toronto.

The petition argues that funding should be provided, noting that the festival generates millions of dollars for the city’s economy, benefits local businesses, and attracts tourism. Reputed to be one of the largest carnivals in North America and the Caribbean, there are still unanswered questions from the FMC.

The FMC claims that the Carnival attracts over 2 million visitors each year, with 2.3 million people attending the Grand Parade and other events, including the Kiddies Parade, the King and Queen competition, Pan Alive, and the Calypso Monarch. But was that estimate accurate in 2024? This reporter went “Down the Road” twice during the Grand Parade but didn’t see 2 million people. Lakeshore was jammed with revellers, floats, and stormers, but there were few spectators along the fences or in the stands inside the CNE grounds.

While the hotels were filled with Canadians, the Americans and Caribbean visitors who usually flock to the summer festival were noticeably absent.

The FMC promised to answer my questions last week but did not respond to my emails and phone calls. Even their answering service could not take our messages. We’ll keep trying. The questions remain: How many people actually attended this year? Will the management team resign? Will the debts to bands and performers be covered? And, crucially, will there be a festival in 2025?

NDP Jill Andrew has spoke up on FMC's behalf in the Provincial house, So far the Feds have been silent. Pictured are councillor Michael Thompson and Mayor Chow at the official start of 2024 parade. It was an early start, virtually no one was in the stands. Photos by Stephen Weir