Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

It is Costume Launch Season GO BIG AND GO HOME WITH BIG COSTUME By Stephen Weir for Caribbean Camera For the next six weeks, followers of carnival in Toronto are going to be staying up late, hear ear blasting new road songs and getting dazzled by the latest masquerade fashion statements. The Mas Camp Costume Launch season begins this Saturday night when Venom Mas unveils all the costumes that their camp members will be wearing on the street this summer for the 51st Toronto Caribbean Carnival parade. The Canadian Mas camps design and build themed costumes that will be worn in the parade here in Toronto and at carnivals around the world. The costume launches give people the first chance to see and buy costumes. This year the Mas camps are saying that Toronto’s interest in the 2018 launches is “intense” and “almost boiling over” - more people want to participate in the Toronto parade than ever before.” “ I think it is an issue of safety – Toronto’s parade continues to

By Stephen Weir, as published in the Caribbean Camera By all rights the Trinidad red, white and black flag should now have a small maple leaf stitched into it’s corner tin honour of Canada’s participation in the just concluded Trinidad Carnival. A large contingent of Canadians came to the island to supply costumes, pan music, inspiration, comedy and song to the world famous festival. From the King and Queen competition, to Panorama, to the J’ouvert and the actual parade, Canadian carnival experience was put to work. Hundreds more joined bands and jumped up in the street, or, simply stood on the sidewalk and took it all in. The annual event got off to a rocky start when reports of a possible terrorist plot became a much repeated news item across the Caribbean, The UK, and the US and in Toronto.    Last Thursday, according to the Trinidad Guardian “T&T Police Service revealed they had uncovered and prevented a threat to disrupt Carnival activities mere days before the fest

WINNER OF THE BAND COMPETITION AT THE JUNIOR CARNIVAL Results from Saturday's Junior Carnival Parade. Just in case you missed my Tweet from the Junior Carnival Parade on Saturday. Carnival Nationz is the band of the year at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival's Junior Carnival Parade. Jamaal Magloire's Toronto Revellers place second. Third place went to Louis Saldenah's Mas K Camp. JUNIOR CARNIVAL QUEEN Results from Saturday's Junior Carnival Parade. The Junior Carnival Queen this year is Kaia Cassell, for her portrayal of The Carian …. Spirit Of The Bird People. She is with Carnival Nationz. The Nest. Second Place honours go to Caneisha Edwards for her portrayal of The Flamingo Queen. She is with Dexter Seusahai's Tribal Carnival. Paradise. Third Place honours were won by Madison Defreitas-Robinson for her portrayal of The Locust and The Warrior. She is with Louis Saldenah's Mas-K Club. Outta Africa. Fourth Place was taken by Mellissa Perry as Tlalte