Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

Poster for Swiss Caribana Music Festival By any other name would Caribana smell so sweet? By Stephen Weir Toronto’s annual Carnival has had many names since it burst out of the gate in 1967as Caribana.   Since then the summer street festival has been called, Scotiabank Caribana, Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Peeks Caribbean Carnival and the current Toronto Caribbean Carnival. No matter what you might see on the official logo, for the past 52 years the citizens of Toronto and visiting carnival tourists call this amazing festival and parade simply Caribana. Caribana Swimsuit Caribana is the name that just won’t go away. So embedded is the name in our collective psyche the first Monday in August is always been called the Caribana holiday.   There are Caribana parties, cruises and concerts.   Stores have Caribana specials; hair dresses have stay open late for Caribana treatments. There are even Caribana porno movies! So pervasive is the ...

WRAP UP OF CARNIVAL 2019 - GREAT FESTIVAL BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PARADE ANYWAY? By Stephen Weir (for the Caribbean Camera) Three months ago, plans for the 2019 Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana for all us old timers) had all the makings of a plan for a funeral parade. The festival had lost Peeks, its name-sponsor, and behind the scene sources said that the Smart Phone App had not ponied up the total monies promised for 2018 – meaning the Festival was already in the hole before the first Mas camp opened its doors. With no new major sponsors infusing big dollars into their empty piggy bank the FMC was broke. The owners of the festival were also hit by staffing issues early in 2019. The new CEO, Richard DeLima, only 6-months into the job, was dismissed even though he had been brought in to save the festival. Shortly thereafter, the number two man, Trinidad’s Gerard Weekes suddenly left the organization and the country (but he did come back to Toronto in time to be a spec...

--> Dance Caribe - the summer version March 2nd - Caribana On Ice -Free Show   By Stephen Weir The Caribana Arts Group (CAG) is planning to kick start the 2019 Carnival season in Toronto with Caribana On Ice , a free outdoor show   designed to compliment Black History Month celebrations .   Panman Pat   Caribana On Ice will be held at Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge Street) on March 2 , starting at 2 p.m.   Organizers say the show will be "a splash of culture, colour, mini Caribana TM  costumes, sweet sounds and lots of energy." “In the past, the CAG has held other Caribana On Ice events, albeit with a more informal approach," event programmer Amah Harris told the Caribbean Camera. “This year we have designed what one could described as a ‘mini’ Caribana on  the  ice presentation.” The show features Dance Caribe   and the Drumming Ensemble . Also on the showbill is veteran pannist/calyp...

Charles Roach’s name soon to take to the street. City of Toronto names St Clair West laneway after the father of Caribana By Stephen Weir Caribbean Camera In one week the late Charley Roach will have his name immortalized on a mid-town Toronto alley.    The City of Toronto is about to give name to a small laneway in the St. Clair Avenue West neighbourhood where the late prominent human rights lawyer, artist, musician and a founding father of Caribana, worked. The City will be holding the laneway celebration in the memory of Charley Roach on Wednesday, July 18th at 7pm.    Hosting the event will be local Councilor Joe Mihevc. The soon-to-be Charles Roach Lane, is just north of St. Clair Avenue and runs from Feel Good Lane east to Rushton Road.   Charley Roach was born September 18, 1933, in the community of Belmont in Trinidad and Tobago. He and his first wife, Hetty, immigrated to Canada in 1955 and settled in Sas...