Scotiabank Caribana Festival 2008 and the All New Salsa in Toronto Festival join forces to transform Toronto into Canada’s Dance Capital

Festival twinning project results in cross promotion between Toronto's venerable Caribbean party and fast growing Latin-themed celebration

TORONTO, July 2, 2008 – Get ready for Toronto’s hottest summer ever as the Scotiabank Caribana and Salsa in Toronto Festivals join forces for the very first time! The two organizations have agreed to create customized cross promotional ventures including a joint display promoting both festivals at Pearson International Airport over the next month. “Both Scotiabank Caribana and Salsa in Toronto Festivals showcase the cultural diversity that this city has to offer through music, food, and dance,” explained Scotiabank Caribana Festival Marketing Director Bobby Adore.  “It is the very fabric that is a part of Toronto and Canada in general.”

“The energy at the heart of our two festivals derives from core communities that are neighbours in the Caribbean,” said John Montesano, an organizer with the Salsa in Toronto Festival.  “These are communities that are neighbours here in Toronto as well and this is something we felt we could build upon.”

Scotiabank Caribana is a cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Launched in 1967 as a Centennial Project, the world famous festival has become a major international event and an expression of Toronto’s multicultural and multiracial society.  The Festival is now celebrating its 41st anniversary.  For more information, please visit http://www.caribanafestival.com/events.html.

The Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival shot onto the event scene like a cannon in 2005 uniting diverse cultures that share the passion and love for Latin culture. This year, the festival has been transformed into the Salsa in Toronto Festival and will feature the first ever Salsa at Ontario Place on July 10 and the 4th annual Salsa on St. Clair on St. Clair Avenue, west of Bathurst on July 12 and 13. For more information, please visit http://www.tlntv.com/salsa.