Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  LIVE OR ON YOU TUBE, SANTA CAME TO TOWN WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS CARIBBEAN CANADIAN FRIENDS By Stephen Weir Pictures by Anthony Berot "On a brisk Toronto morning, Santa's sleigh may not have been pulled by reindeer, but it was certainly propelled by community spirit. With over 750,000 spectators lining the streets, the 120th anniversary of the Santa Claus Parade was nothing short of magical—despite the looming Grinch-like shadow of rising costs. As festive floats and marching bands paraded through Toronto’s downtown core , one thing was clear: Toronto’s beloved tradition is here to stay, at least for this year. But what happens when even Santa needs a little help from his friends next year?" Sunday’s The Original Santa Claus Parade, celebrating its 120th year, was a major success even though at times this Fall there were major money concerns that put the event, one of the world’s longest annual Santa’s parade, in a shaky position. But the city pulled it off and the p...

Mayor Chow and councillor Michael Thompson officially open the 2024 Grand Parade  at the start line in front of a sea of empty bleachers Shared with Public 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...

Costume Creators Unveil "A New Hope" for Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2024 By Stephen Weir, Photo by Anthony Berot Costume Creators Cultural Art showcased its much-anticipated "A New Hope" costume collection on Sunday, May 5th, in preparation for the upcoming Toronto Caribbean Carnival. The event, held at Mystic Resto & Lounge on Kennedy Rd South in Brampton, drew enthusiastic participants eager to join the festivities of the July 20th junior carnival parade and the August 3rd Grand Parade along the Lakeshore. The evening was a spectacle of colour and creativity as models of all ages graced the Mystic stage, showcasing this year's vibrant designs brightly coloured festival. From elaborate ensembles for adults to whimsical costumes for children, Costume Creators left no stone unturned in ensuring a memorable experience for carnival-goers. "A New Hope" received rave reviews from attendees, with many expressing admiration for Costume Creators founders W...

Louis Saldana’s One Two Grand Parade Costume Punch by Stephen Weir Early last week, Louis Saldenah promised the Caribbean Camera that he was planning to put on a “HUGE Launch Party” on Saturday night. When the doors opened at his 2024 costume launch at the Grand Cinnamon Banquet & Convention Hall in Scarborough, it was obvious he had kept his word (and then some). SECTION TAKE A BOW AT SATURDAY'S COSTUME “We had approximately 1,100 people attend our costume launch last Saturday night,” Saldenah told the Caribbean Camera. And Saldenah hasn’t stopped thinking big. Tonight (Thursday), Part Two hits the boards with the official opening of the Saldenah Mas Camp in Scarborough. This year, Saldenah Carnival has over 15 sections, and most had males and females showing their stuff at Saturday night’s event. The theme for the evening was Sky High, so it was fitting that the models who came flying were, for the most part, bedecked in colourful feathers. KING COSMOS ON STAGE (RIGHT) There...

  On de Road Again! But first a Mammoth Launch SALDENAH ON THE ROAD IN 2023 He is the man. And when Louis Saldenah says he is planning a huge launch party, you better believe it is going to be one of the largest carnival events this spring. The leader of SALDENAH CARNIVAL, the largest mas band in the annual Caribbean Carnival, has just announced that his 2024 costume launch will take place Saturday, April 20th, at the Grand Cinnamon Banquet & Convention Hall in Scarborough. “Even after Covid, over 5,000 people came out and played Mas with us. Our numbers continue to be in that range,” Louis Saldenah told the Caribbean Camera. “So we are expecting a large turnout for the Saturday night event. (The hall can be configured to accommodate over 2,000)” This year, Saldenah Carnival will have 16 sections, and at the April launch, each section will have 5 dancers/models on stage showing what they will be wearing at the Grand Parade.. We jokingly asked Saldenah if this year’s theme, "Fl...

2024 King and Queen and Panorama leaving Lamport Stadium? There it goes! Or is the Caribbean Camera reading this correctly? Is the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival King and Queen competition a goner after over twenty years at the Lamport Stadium? Earlier this week, the Festival Management Committee sent out an update on what is planned for this summer’s carnival. A copy landed on the desk of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, implying that the premier evening event of the Carnival, the King and Queen competition at the King Street stadium, might not be held there this year; instead, it will be incorporated into the daytime parade. The King and Queen competition has been selling out the Lamport Stadium since the last century. Politicians, entertainers, VIPs — this has always been the hardest ticket to get during Festival week. “The King and Queen show has traditionally kicked off the Toronto Caribbean Carnival weekend every year since the beginning. The leaders of Caribana Mas Bands will ...

 Fantazia already dreaming about  making their Caribana costumes! costume launch 2013 by Parris Visuals You know that spring is right around the corner when Wiarton Willie doesn’t see his shadow, the kid’s snowman is now a puddle and Fantazia has posted posters for their Spring 2024 costume launch! The mas band is marking its 15th annual launch on April 14th this year at the Peter N Paul Banquet Hall in Scarborough (Milner Ave). And, while band leader Will Morton says it is a little early yet to let all the details of the coming fete, in a recent talk with the Caribbean Camera he let a few things slip out including the theme of the party. “We are coming a month earlier than last year,” said band co-leader Will Morton. “We hope to be bigger than in 2023. But don’t want to say too much right now about but as the picture on our website show, it is Uncut Gemz!” “We will be announcing our sections and the gemstones that they are (using for inspiration).” And yes, diamonds in the ...

  Celebrate the Spirit of the Caribbean at Carnival Winter Market and Parang Extravaganza on Saturday, December 2nd Princess Trinidad “The Carnival Winter Market and Parang Extravaganza is the work of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival,” explained the newly reconfirmed President of the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA) Henry Gomez (aka King Cosmos). “We are providing the evening’s entertainment.” Hosted by the charismatic King Cosmos, the Parang Extravaganza features performances by some of OCPA's artists, including Caribbean Monarch Macomere Fifi, Guney Cedeno, Princess Trinidad, and DJ Red X. In addition to his MC duties, King Cosmos will also be performing during the evening. Expect a joyful sound from the singers on stage because it has been a joyful year for the Calypso organization who have seen a rebirth to performing in the city. “We held the first Calypso Monarch competition this summer since 2016,” continued Gomez, “It was a sold-out event. There was also a C...

  Violence at Carnival But not at the 2023 Toronto Caribbean Carnival There is a disturbing video currently circulating throughout the British Isles, showing a white reveler attacking an unarmed black man with a machete during last weekend's Notting Hill Carnival. The London two-day festival includes a huge street parade considered to be the largest street festival in Europe and the second-largest carnival parade in the world. According to recent press reports, over 2 million people took part in the parade, but violent riots and vicious attacks plagued the festival, leaving eight people stabbed, with a 29-year-old man remaining in critical condition. There were 275 arrests across the two days of the carnival, with 165 arrests on parade Monday for a range of offenses, including possession of offensive weapons, assaults (including a sexual assault) on police officers, possession of drugs, and sexual offenses. According to the British Independent newspaper, "the Government has an...

Putting Carnival Spice into the Toronto Blue Jays Sagging Game July 28TH   The Blue Jays are about to get a big helping of Carnival Spice this Friday night and with any luck it will give the baseball team the jolt they need to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers.July 28 th  is the Toronto team will be celebrating  the  Blue Jays  Caribbean Carnival!   With performances by Toronto Caribbean Carnival pannists, models and dancers, the fans, and perhaps the players themselves, are expected to be immersed in the pulsating rhythms and colourful spectacles of the carnival. For the second consecutive year, the Sky Dome has invited the renowned Carnival Spice, Canada's top providers of Caribbean dance and Caribbean fitness classes, to elevate the atmosphere and energize the crowd. The festivities aim to bring the essence of Caribbean culture to the baseball diamond, setting the stage for an unforgettable match against the formidable Los Angeles Dodgers. The Blue Jays hav...

    Black Tape Or Not this Rated R Section Will Be Turning Heads on the Parade Route By Stephen Weir The biggest question of the spring wasn't about the revealing costumes that the Rated R section will be wearing on the road at this August's Grand Parade. It was whether anyone would be brave to actually sign-up and join in. Imagine revelers confidently dancing down the Lakeshore, cracking whips. They will be adorned in black and purple S&M-inspired fishnet costumes, with optional black X tape covering their nipples and super small silver codpieces to ensure legality. Their full-contact performance will be truly captivating. "Yes, of course we sold out!" exclaimed Thea Jackson, the leader of the R-Rated section. "We received a fantastic response and actually have about 60% American participation, which I love. It's evident that those who choose to wear this costume are incredibly comfortable in their own skin and enjoy pushing boundaries. However, we also ...

  Carnival Hopes That The Feds Are Listening. Public Safety At Stake Organizers of this year's Toronto Caribbean Carnival have their fingers and toes crossed and their ears to the ground, hoping to hear the sound of approaching government funding. They have reason to be hopeful. Early this week, the Feds announced an emergency grant of money to the country’s Pride Festivals to cover rising fixed costs. On Tuesday, Toronto Pride learned that it will be receiving money from the Federal government to cover the costs of added security measures at this year's Pride parades. The Feds is providing up to $1.5 million to Pride organizations across the country for increased security measures this year. Half of that money goes to Pride organizations in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Like Pride, the Toronto Carnival is facing a hefty increase in the cost of insurance, security, and other fixed costs this summer. However, to date, it has not received an increase in funding to pay the bil...