What is Caribana?Caribana is a large festival that represents the West

Indian culture. Caribana has run annually since 1967, and it is held in Toronto, Ontario during the summer.

It was adapted from a festival held in Trinidad and Tobago called Carnival. Basically, a mass of people

joining together and enjoying the West Indian culture, song and dance. Each year it averages 1.3

million visitors and contributes approximately $300 million to the Canadian economy.

Caribana has run annually since 1967, in previous years the main Caribana events have been run by a non-profit Toronto-based organization named the Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC). In 2006 the Caribbean Cultural Committee ran into financial troubles and due to lack of financial accountability it was financially cut off from the City of Toronto. Due to the financial problems the festival had to temporarily change the name to the Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana) Festival.

Attendance at Caribana 2008

43%

57%

Female

Male

Canadian and International Vistors

Anyone is able to participate, young and old. However

if being a masquerader is

what you want to do getting started on your costumes

needs to begin once the previous festival finishes. Costumes take

many months to create and build.

Music is an important part of Caribbean culture. When you are watching the parade you can hear the excitement of calypso, steel pan and elaborate masquerade costumes. There are thousands of costumed masqueraders and dozens of trucks carrying live soca, calypso, steel pan, and reggae that march the parade route all day.

CitationsSteel Pan: http://www.minnews.org/images/Caribana-Parade-

steel-pan5.gifKing: http://www.dancecaribe.com/DSC_0215.JPGQueen:

http://www.caribanatoronto.com/CaribanaToronto/images/smallking2.jpg

Graph 2 & 3: http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=89-621-X2007007