Toronto’s Caribana (sort of)
This years Caribana (officially now the Toronto Caribbean Carnival) parade will be held on Saturday, August 5th from about 10am - late afternoon. You can get all the official information from their main website.
Unofficially however, I went and searched what Torontonians and our guests think or have thought about this festival. I suppose to try and gain some sort of consensus, especially as it seems all I hear people say at work (average age of 40 and mostly male) is that to go means to get shot at.
Interestingly enough the first Toronto based site I found said that another name for this event could have been “the why do 2 million black men cruise Yonge St on friday night trying to pick up clearly under age chicks, whose parents should whoop their asses for being out in such skimpy outfits so late at night, while running from gun shots and getting harassed by po po”
In my search of blogs that talk about Caribana I found that most were centred around 3 topics:
1. CCTV monitoring by the police of this years event.
2. How Caribana has been taken over by youngsters.
3. Arguments over the parade route and about those arguments that led to the name change.
I found some passing references to the shootings that occur (like in the quote above) and one Torontonian angrily saying that the main stream media are too afraid to point out that shootings always happen during Caribana.
The best quotable piece that I found though centred around another issue I hadn’t even considered. Let’s call it our Public Service Announcement:
Avoid going to Yonge St. unless you are looking to hang out with tourists in their rented cars or being “chopped,” as Torontonians like to say, by greasy men. I did the Yonge St. thing the first year but I don’t like the idea that I may have ended up on some dude’s vacation movies, filming my ass or something. - CrispysCorner
Related posts:
In response to my quote, yes one thing I don’t like about Caribana is the men that basically just come to “hook up.” But at the same time, some women want to hook up too. I don’t see it as being any different from how people behave on spring break so this behaviour is not specific to Caribana or Black men. You get a bunch of young people together in a party atmosphere in the summertime and bang! You get horny guys and scantily clad girls.
And I definitely don’t agree that the media is “afraid” to report on the shootings. We are living in an age of fear and the media plays a part in that by highlighting such things. Although I’ve heard about shootings, I’ve been going to Caribana for the last four years and the only guns I’ve seen have been on the cops.
I get the feeling that you were specifically looking for quotes that focus on the negatives to put in your post. I have to admit myself after rereading my own post that I did a lot of complaining too but I always complain about my bad dates and corny pickup lines.
Anyway, I enjoy Caribana despite my complaints about greasy men. There are some great free activities going on at Harbourfront and a bunch of parties if you want to dance the night away.
http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/wr/festivals/isMusic.php
http://www.toronto-lime.com/index.htm
“I suppose to try and gain some sort of consensus, especially as it seems all I hear people say at work (average age of 40 and mostly male) is that to go means to get shot at.”
You are correct RC, I was looking for only the negative opinions and comments (not that technically yours was nor Jdid’s. They were more humorous) because it seems the perception is that this is a violent event. (Again as I mentioned above, from 40 yr old [white] males at my work place.) I wanted to see what the “negative” feel really was out there.
In the end I only really found 3 negative sites. One that stated that the MSM won’t report on the violence for fear of being called racists. (On which I agree with you. The culture of fear is basically BRED by the MSM) The other 2 really just mentioned how the media hype this event as a gun violent touched one. Everyone else seemed to focus on those “3 things”. Which though negatives, do not take away from the event itself of course.
Thanks for the comment.
heh and here i was thinking it was all about the weed.
So Stephen, does that mean you’ll be “jumping and wining” this weekend then? ;-)
No.. sadly I have to work tomorrow!
And have a wedding coming up soon so, planning planning planning! DAMN people who don’t respond on time…
Pictures for Toronto Caribana festival 2006
http://maangchi.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the photos Maangchi! The costumes are absolutely magnificant!
Caribana should be banned. This event just brings ruffians to our nice Toronto. It is the type of event that should be held in Chicago or Detroit. There are more asians in Toronto, why don’t we have a giant festival for them downtown. They don’t insists on toting guns or representing the “gangster” attitude, which has no place in Toronto! I see no culture in Caribana anymore, it has been overrun by hooligans.
Did you go down this year and have a bad experience or are your thoughts based on something else John?
Something concrete?
“gangster” attitude
please. the only people who think that are the ones who never check it out.
fabulous caribana photos here:
http://keys.la/2006/06.html
enjoy.
Thanks for writing that Tomas.. I was hoping someone who went this year would respond to John’s comment. Nice photos too btw!
I think Toronto Caribana festival is awesome!
My friend living in Vancouver said he used to come down to see the parade from Montreal with all of his family when he was young.
He said his father came to see it this time,too. His family are from Trinidad.
Please try to be more open- minded.
I’m proud of having such a wonderful annual festival in Toronto where I’m living even though I’m not from the culture. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered to enjoy it. Were there any incidents concerned with crime?
http://maangchi.blogspot.com
I think Toronto Caribana festival is awesome!
My friend living in Vancouver said he used to come down to see the parade from Montreal with all of his family when he was young.
He said his father came to see it this time,too. His family are from Trinidad.
Please try to be more open- minded.
I’m proud of having such a wonderful annual festival in Toronto where I’m living even though I’m not from the culture. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered to enjoy it.
http://maangchi.blogspot.com
I didn’t hear about any criminal incidents. I agree with Tomas about the alleged “gangster attitudes.”
I actually found Caribana pretty tame this year! There seemed to be less people. And as far as bringing “ruffians” to Toronto, Caribana also generates a lot of money for Toronto so I highly doubt it’ll be banned anytime soon.
I have to say that this being my very 1st Caribana, it definatley wont be my last !! I loved it.I had an amazing time.I came with a friend from work ,it was a spur of the moment thing.I know my daughters would have loved it.Were all comming next year and this time were staying the whole weekend.The people of Toronto were so friendly and heplful with directions.It just finished not long ago and im excited about next year .I hope these organizers really think about the people that WANT to come back .I know im bringing my kids and more money ,,,,so watch out next year!!!!!!!!To the volunteers who helped to make MY time at Caribana a memorable one …I thank you!!
Thanks for the comments Candie. If you visit here again, where did you travel to Toronto from? It’s nice to again here more about this event. I have friends in Philly and the D who have heard so much about our city Caribana fest. Apparently word of this event reaches a lot of places in North A.