Caribana started in 1967 to celebrate Canada's Centennial.

Photographic Images of the festival are Priceless

Caribana 67 Photos on the LP of MAS players on Yonge Street

Photo Winslow, Shirley, Joyce, Jimmy and Vere

Parade on Yonge Street in 67.

Clorethe on Center Island in Caribana 67 parade.

Miss Lou highlighted on Caribana 67 album.

This picture is part of Caribana 67 Album.

Promoting Caribana 67 at mall in Scarborough.

First Yonge Street Caribana Parade

First Yonge Street Parade.

First Yonge Street Caribana Parade.

First Yonge Street Caribana Parade

First Yonge Street Caribana Parade

First Yonge Street Caribana Parade

First Yonge Street Caribana Parade

First Yonge Street Caribana Parade

First Yonge Street Caribana Parade.

First Yonge Street Caribana Parade

Caribana Parade after leaving Varsity.

Caribana Parade after leaving Varsity

Caribana Parade after leaving Varsity

Caribana Parade after leaving Varsity.

Caribana Parade after leaving Varsity

Caribana Parade after leaving Varsity.

First Yonge Street Caribana Parade.

First Yonge Street Caribana Parade.

MAS ON LAKESHORE:

STEEL IN 1994 PARADE

CARIBANA 1994 PARADE

SOCA STEEL AND DJ MIX

Caribana First Parade

Caribana 1994 Parade

Parade on University Ave

Becket -Barak Obama

Caribana Carnival

Toronto Carnival.

Toronto Carnival on Lakeshore

Toronto Parade

Carnival Nationz

Band on Lakeshore

Saldina Contribution

Saldina 2015 band in the parade

Carnival Nationz

Band on Lakeshore

MASS Band On Lakeshore

MASS Band On Lakeshore

These Caribana Archival Photographs Tell A Story of the Historical Journey of the Festival Since 1967!

Caribana 67 photo donated by Churchill.

Band produced by Keith Homer.

Photo from photographer Nicholas Austin collection.

People enjoying Caribana on University Avenue.

The Juice Man and Herman Silochan

Miss Caribana Contestants.

Caribana photo of Keith Homer's Band.

Chinese participating in Caribana Parade.

Picture donated by Horace.

My Kids playing Mas in Keith's Band.

Section of an African Band.

Nolan Baynes Miss Caribana 1972.

Mas bands on University Avenue during Caribana.

Junie Samuel being crowned in 1973 by Nolan.

Photo from photographer Nicholas Austin collection.

Photo from photographer Nicholas Austin collection.

Photo from Caribana 67 LP collection.

Pictures from photographer Nicholas Austin collection.

Pictures from photographer Nicholas Austin collection.

Picture of Miss Caribana Gontestants

Pictures from Horace Thorne Photo Archival Collection.

Sections of band costume displayed in Caribana Launch at City Hall.

Photo of band participants in Caribana Launch at City Hall.

Pictures from Horace Thorne Photo Archival Collection.

Photo of band participants in a Parade.

Caribana Quees Jo-Anne Degazon.

Picture of Miss Caribana Gontestants

Picture of Miss Caribana Gontestants

Judy Lewis Miss Caribana Contestant.

SVG contribution to Caribana by Keith Homer nephew to Alban Liverpool - Caribana 67 Leader.

Arrow one of Caribanas early entertainers who has left a Legacy in his hit song Hot! Hot! Hot!.

Mass Players.

King and Queen competitor during Caribana.

Pictures from Herman Silochan Photo Archival Collection.

Sections of band costumes displayed in Caribana Launch at City Hall.

Photo of band participants in Caribana Launch at City Hall.

Photo of players in Revellers band.

Pictures from photographer Nicholas Austin collection.

Tony Ishmael making adjustments to a costume.

Queen costume in the parade.

Miss Caribana Queen Contestants.

Susan Ishmael Queen of the Bands

Sam Cole one of Caribanas' pioneers.

Structure winner of calypso comptition.

What does the future hold for these children and grand-children of the pioneers who planted the seeds for the Caribana festival, an entity that generates over $400Million for this city, this province and this country.

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In 1966 two committees were established to plan an event to celebrate Canada's Centennial. The board of Governors was led by Alban Liverpool and the Executive committee was led by Sam Cole. ...

The committees came up with a plan of staging a Carnival festival to accomplish their idea of the celebration. That was the beginning of Caribana in 1967
For most of the people involved it was an easy task because many of the them were from islands where Carnival was part of their culture. The city Mayor Dennison was so impressed that he asked the group to stage the event again in 1968.

One article stated Cole was the one who sent a letter to the mayor asking for permission to stage the event. The same article later had Cole being asked by Mayor Dennison to stage the event again in 1968. However Cole's name didn't appear on the list of directors for the new organization called "The Caribbean Committee for Cultural Advancement". Cole was never heard from again throughout the entire life of Caribana

People from both committees came together and formed the new board chaired by Alban Liverpool. An article was published indicating that Liverpool the new chair expressed his appreciation to the Toronto Mayor, other government members and the police for their support and help in staging the 68 festival. The absence of Cole shows there were issues with the organization.

Ten islands were initially involved in Caribana. Many had representatives on the board. Later more islands were added and there were often boards consisting on close to twenty members. Caribana was chaired by people from various islands. The Caribbean people were proud of Caribana because it was part of their culture. No one island dominated the festival, until the 1980s and that's when the festival starting going downhill. Caribana has never been the same since and will never be the same until and unless it finds its roots.

Caribana needs to be reorganized so that it will remain the property of the Caribbean Community. The city would love to change the name so that it has no link to the Black Caribbean Community. Ironically, it won't go after the Chinese, Italian, Greek, Muslim, Hindu and other cultural entities and change their names.

My concerns about Caribana are: Who will the city pass the Caribbean golden goose to? Does the festival belong to the city so it can pass it to whoever it wants? Will the new organizers demand respect and don't move until all their needs are met? Can an Asian or White group take complete control of our Caribbean festival?

FMC group came through the back door and is leaving the same way, but with very little respect and concerned about a festival they thought they could handle. They were paid, but previous boards never received or claimed a cent for the festival they loved.Why should FMC be responsible for passing the festival to whomever it wants? This is unfair to the Caribbean Community the only owners of the festival.

I hope Joe will get all or most of the Caribbean associations in Toronto together to discuss a plan to move Caribana back to the community. This is an election year and the community groups should approcah the politicians and make demands base on their support for candidates and parties who would like to help.

The city can and should invite the various Caribbean organization to get involved in Caribana. just like it was in the 1960 to 1984. Each organization can be offered $400 - $500k to produce a Mas band. Many island have the talent to produce some very Mas. This would also return the festival to the Caribbean Community, instead of individual bandleaders playing the PUTIN role by reducing the mumber of bands participating in the parade.

I believe if the Mas bands are not offered money in advance, and show some respect, then they should not produce any band for the festival because this would take them back to the days of SLAVERY and they would become HOUSE NIGGERS.

Caribana created with for the Caribbean Community

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