Toronto, ON, Canada: Traditionally held two Saturdays before the main Caribana™ parade, the Scotiabank Caribana™ Junior Carnival Parade sponsored by Yorkgate Mall is highly anticipated by young Carnival masqueraders. This volunteer-driven event continues to grow from year to year! “For the first time, all 15 participating masquerade bands will be bringing a junior band,” says John Kam, 2008 Festival Producer.

Also referred to as Kiddies Carnival, it comprises masqueraders (or mas) players/dancers who range in age from toddlers to teens; many of whom go on to play in the main Caribana™ parade when they become adults. And just with adult bands, each junior band must portray a theme suitable of the Carnival masquerade tradition. Competition titles up for grabs include: Junior Band of the Year; Jr. King of the Bands; Jr. Queen of the Bands; Jr. Male Individual of the Year; and Jr. Female Individual of the Year. The afore-mentioned costumes are more elaborate than those of the average band members, and most often, are built through volunteer efforts with the involvement of its actual young portrayer.

“There are some slight changes to our parade route,” says Greta Best, Event Manager of the Junior Carnival Committee, “to help the parade flow better. But other than that, it will be the same wonderful parade it is every year. It really is a great opportunity for the younger set to enjoy their Carnival. The opening ceremony is at 10.45am, with the parade starting at 11am sharp. So we encourage everyone to come early so as to get a good spot along the parade route to see the Mas.

“All masqueraders are asked to join their respective band(s) at 9am in the assembly area located on Shoreham Drive off Jane,” says Best. “There is another entry point via Murray Ross Parkway off Steeles, like before. But, new for this year, is that we will have no parking access to either Black Creek Pioneer Village or Toronto Conservation Authority grounds.”

The parade will travel west on Shoreham Drive, past the judging point at 31 Shoreham Drive (in front of Shoreham Public School). The parade then turns south onto Jane Street where it will travel until Yorkgate Blvd. It will turn west on Yorkgate Blvd and travel south ending at Hullmar Drive. Once the parade is over, there will be entertainment, DJ music, food vendors, steelpan music and a market place in Yorkgate Mall’s car park.

Each band has three (3) marshals per twenty (20) masqueraders to ensure an orderly progress and good conduct along the parade route.

A panel of five volunteer judges will adjudicate all bands using the following criteria: Visual impact (max. 20 marks); Authenticity (10); Creativity (20); Mas on the Move (10); Clarity of Theme (10); Presentation (20); and Craftsmanship (10) for a total of 100 marks. The order of merit is determined by discarding the highest and lowest score per participant. The judges’ decision is final, and is announced at the end of the parade.

“This year, we’re expecting between 1600 to 2000 masqueraders in total,” says Best. “And we encourage anyone who wants his or her child to experience what Carnival is all about to go to any of the various mas camps and buy a costume. It’s that simple! You don’t have to belong to any special club or culture to join in the fun. All are welcome.”

The order of the bands – including the name of the band, its bandleader, its 2008 theme and contact info – is as follows:

Last year’s top three winners from the Junior Carnival competition were as follows:

2007 Caribana™ Junior Band of the Year
RANK – THEME – MAS BAND (BANDLEADER)
1st        VIVA LAS VEGAS – Toronto Revellers (Jamaal Magloire)
2nd       RHYTHM OF LIFE – Jessie Matthews & The Calabash Company (Jessie Matthews)
3rd       TRIBAL WARRIORS – Tribal Knights (Dexter Seusahai)

2007 Caribana™ Junior King of the Bands
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER – COSTUME’S NAME - MAS BAND (BANDLEADER)
1st        Andrew Ramsaroop – The Atlantean Prince – Borokeete Canada (Frank Ramsaroop)
2nd       Jameal Antoine – Casino Royale – Toronto Revellers (Jamaal Magloire)
3rd       Fabian Lee – Alexander’s Chariot – Callaloo (Marlon Singh)

2007 Caribana™ Junior Queen of the Bands
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER – COSTUME’S NAME - MAS BAND (BANDLEADER)
1st        Keyra Best – Keeper of the Coral Reef - Borokeete Canada (Frank Ramsaroop)
2nd (tie)            Tamika Thomas – Battle at the Granicius River – Callaloo (Marlon Singh)
2nd (tie)            Cherica Edwards – Queen of the Butterfly – Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club (Louis Saldenah)

2007 Caribana™ Junior Male Individual of the Bands
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER – COSTUME’S NAME - MAS BAND (BANDLEADER)
1st        Kishi King – Apache Warrior – Arnold Hughes & Associates (Arnold Hughes)
2nd       La Shaun Bernett – The Spirit of Trinidad & Tobago – Scarborough Caribbean (Alvin Adore)
3rd       Devante M. Jacobs – Guardian of the Oasis – Callaloo (Marlon Singh)

2007 Caribana™ Junior Female Individual of the Bands
RANK – MAS PORTRAYER – COSTUME’S NAME - MAS BAND (BANDLEADER)
1st (tie) Coryn Defreitas – Fly Pretty Butterfly Fly – Evolution Carnival (Andre & Ken Defreitas)
1st (tie) Chenez Power – The Atlantean Princess – Borokeete Canada (Frank Ramsaroop)
3rd Keleshaye Christmas-Simpson – The Amazon Princess – Arnold Hughes & Associates (Arnold Hughes)

Scotiabank Caribana™ is a cultural explosion of Caribbean music, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Launched in 1967 as a Centennial Project, this world famous festival has become a major international event and an expression of Toronto’s multi-cultural and multi-racial society.  The Festival is now celebrating its 41st anniversary. For more information, please visit www.caribanafestival.com.

Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities. In 2007, Scotiabank provided more than $43 million in sponsorships and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas of healthcare, education, social services and arts and culture. For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com.