Organizers of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival are excited to see it returning live this summer and in person, along with so many other festivals in the city.
It is the perfect time for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival formally known as Caribana to be back in action as it is reaching an important milestone, said Laverne Garcia Chair of Festival Management Committee.
“it’s been 55 years it’s our emerald anniversary. So we’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone else,” Garcia told Humber News.
The Toronto Carnival has been an important part of summer life in the city and the West Indian culture for many years. Having it cancelled to two-year in a row because of the COVID-19 pandemic was a disappointment to many.
“I was a little disappointed when in-person Carnival festivities were cancelled,” said Lisa Thomas a social work and regular participant for the Carnival.
“I still enjoyed the online Carnival events, however it is not the same than when it is in-person,” she said.
The event, which draws close to 2 million people, brings together people from all over the world.
Garcia said it is a celebration of freedom from oppression and all about diversity and inclusion.
“Everyone gets to celebrate the fact that in Canada, we’re free and we really do need to celebrate that for everyone,” she said
“We look at the Carnival as something that can bring us together as a culture and I mean a Canadian culture, because this is our expression of celebrating our roots.”
Thomas said the parade means the world to her since it stands for the multiculturalism that Toronto is all about.
“Toronto Caribbean Carnival to me is love, unity, family, emancipation and cultural food, creativity and costumes,” said Thomas.
“The remembrance of our freedom to dance how ever you want and celebrate the moments of togetherness that will last forever in our ancestral history,” she said.
For this year Carnival, there are going to be more days to celebrate than the four days in the previous years and list of events that officially launches on July 7. The grand parade will be held on July 30.
Garcia said she is thrilled to have parade and events back in person is also excited to for the future of Toronto Carnival.
“We’re excited to be able to be a part of bringing, Torontonians and Canadians all back together again. People come in from all over the world the Caribbean, the U.S., other parts of Canada,” she said.
“Celebrate with us!”