Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  Doug Ford Promises Carnival Will Have More Money From The Province in 2025          Mayor Chow in her Mas parade costume Premier Doug Ford By Stephen Weir No Toronto Star. No Globe and Mail. No Toronto Sun. It is a big secret, as the Caribbean Camera is the only print newspaper in town that knows all about the Carnival’s good news. We showed up at 8:30 a.m. last Saturday for the official opening of this year’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival. CP24 was there covering it too so we both got dibs on the scoop of the summer. Standing on the stage in front of the nearly empty bleachers were the premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, councillor Michael Thompson, and mayor Olivia Chow. There were two NDP MPPs, the Calypso Monarch (King Cosmos), and, of course, Jennifer Hirlehey, the head of the Festival Management Committee (which runs the annual parade). Doug Ford wore an overstretched, grunge-style green T-shirt and seemed in a very good mood. Smiling, he took to the mic...

2019 CARNIVAL KICK-OFF By Stephen Weir The 2019 Toronto Carnival kicked off early early last Saturday morning, or late late Friday night (take your pick) with Tribal Carnival holding the first Toronto band launch of the season. A non-stop parade of stunning looking male and female models strutted across the Grande Luxe ballroom stage to show an enthusiastic audience what people will be wearing on the road August 3rd for the annual Caribbean Carnival Parade. Established in 2007 Tribal is one of the festival’s most successful touring Mas Bands. Tribal has not only competed successfully in Toronto’s annual festival but is also a driving force in the annual Cayman Islands’ spring Batabano Carnival. This past weekend’s costume launch attracted an estimated crowd of 500 revellers who came out to see Tribal’s costumes and sign up to play Mas with Tribal. Band founder Dexter Seusahai stood on stage and opened the show just before midnight with a silent tribute to people who...

King Cosmos on Ice Last Saturday at Mel Lastman Square.  Caribana Iced – Small Crowd. Warm Response By Stephen Weir There were no Triple Axels or  Salchows from  Calypsonian   King Cosmos (Henry Gomez) as he gingerly skated out onto the ice at Mel Lastman Square last Saturday.  What he lacked in skating finesse he made up for with his singing and his warm and friendly greeting to the people who came out Saturday to watch  Caribana on Ice . Wearing all black except a colourful feathered headdress with matching wristlets and ankle splashes.  Master of Ceremonies, King Cosmos told the family audience they were watching a first – a professional presentation of the Carnival Arts on Ice. Dance Skaters steps on ice “This is the first time this has been done in Toronto, “ he said to a cheering and clapping crowd standing on the edge of the large outdoor rink.  “I think it has to be the first time in North America.  We usuall...