Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

D’New Regulars will be Off-Duty Next Sunday Night By Stephen Weir    When it comes to Carnival Canada’s longest serving Mas Man, Michael Williams ( pictured below ) he is never off duty, except next Sunday. He started the D’Regulars in 1973 and now 49-years later with a slightly different name, he will be presenting a costume launch for this year’s Mas Band. Canada’s Armed Forces generals are not probably going to like what William’s troop of models are going to be wearing on stage at the Spade Bar & Lounge. But given that the D New Regulars theme is “Off Duty”, enlisted or not, Soca party people will want to jump up and jump in.   “We have five sections of which four of them tie right into military uniforms,” explained Williams. Two sections have naval themed mas costumes (think male and female white navy uniform tops and of course skimpy bottoms)and two sections based on camo army fatigues.   “I designed all of the costumes and for the fifth section I looked ba...

  Two Faces For This Year And Next. Lateisha Williams And Celena Suesahai Meet  Lateisha Williams  and  Celena Seusahai , two well-known Toronto Mas Models and longtime Carnival organizers  At an online press conference earlier this week, both women were named the Face of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Festival –  Ms .  Williams for 2021  and  Ms Seusahai   for 2022 . Lateisha Williams (above and r) For the past eight years the Festival has each year chosen a woman to be the brand ambassador for the annual  Toronto Caribbean Carnival  (some years men have also been chosen to share Face of the Festival duties - but not this time). On Tuesday the Carnival held a press conference online to introduce both this year’s Face of the Festival and next year’s ambassador as well.  Even though the annual summer long weekend Parade has been cancelled for the second year in a row (because of the Covid shutdown), there are still several ...

Fantazia Junior Launch Was Fantaztic By Stephen Weir, photographs by Don Moreland For the kiddies who play Mas with Fantazia Carnival, the elements aren’t hurricanes and volcanoes; they are gentle breezes, friendly sunsets and warm blue water.   On the weekend the Fantazia Carnival held a launch party for junior revelers – the children that will be taking part in the July 21 Junior Carnival Parade. Will Morton, driving force behind Fantazia, has long been known for the uniqueness and beauty of the costumes.   This year he has chosen the Elements, as the inspiration for the costumes that will be worn on the road, be it the Kiddies Parade or Toronto Caribbean Carnival Grand Parade for adults on August 4 th . When it comes to the adults, the costumes based on ice, fire, wind and water, are sexy, basically being more feathers than fabric.   With the kids it is different. The costumes for the children are both modest and comfortable. ...

--> Make Way For Montano’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival Story and Photographs by Stephen Weir Forget Peeks, the name sponsor of the Grand Parade. This year the annual festival could well be called Machel Montano’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival. The 2018 Mas Camp Costume Launch season ended last Saturday evening at the Rebel nightclub when Atlantic Mas held the 11 th and final mas fashion show.   What a way to go -- the King of Soca, Machel Montano stood on stage and told Torontonians to go down the road with him this August 4 th .   “Get your costume from Atlantic Mas and join me as we party till 6 am” the Trinidad singer told the estimated audience of 1,000+ at the high-energy costume launch. The world’s most recognizable Soca performer jetted in from New York City on the weekend, to perform at the costume launch and introduce his own Atlantic Mas section. “I am going to be on the (Atlantic Mas) truck! And after the parade we party” he said from the...

Merman can’t dance, but has an Epic amount of fun trying BatGirl-weir photo By Stephen Weir for Caribbean Camera I don’t know anything about   Ryan Oldham (aka Farmer) aside from the fact that he dances worse than me (and I am the undisputed King of the Misstep). But early early Sunday morning his dancing stole the show at Epic Carnival’s Scarborough costume launch.   It was 1.30am and there were 500 people inside Hall C of the Chandni Grand Banquet Hall. The last of the night’s 10 sections – Myth of the Sea - was on stage. Raesha Sirois, the former Face of the Toronto Caribana Carnival, was the very last model to come on stage. She was wearing a striking ultra frontline lime green mermaid costume, complete with fishnet stockings, fish scales in her facial makeup, shells in in her headpiece and white and orange feathers. Can't dance but he stole the show All of the cameras and smart phones were recording her every move-- that was until Farmer started to ban...