A Lot About Nothing

Yesterday was Toronto’s popular Caribana parade, the highlight of the two-week celebration that brings a huge amount of tourism and Caribbean flavour to the city.

It was a gorgeous day on Saturday (after the morning rain let up at least), so I decided to make a last minute trip and head down to see the parade. I think I spent more time on transit than I actually did at the parade itself! Getting from any of the subways stations down to the Exhibition grounds was crazy. My friend and I were lucky enough to get a seat on the way down there and on the way back (makes a huge different walking to the previous stop). The bus was packed and there was a lot of traffic on the road heading down to to the parade.

Once along the Lakeshore, we were greated by wonderful sounds of steel pans, soca music and the smell of delicious Caribbean food. There were so many people, many of which were adorned in in a flag from their retrospective Caribbean nation, in costume (I guess they got all tired out from playing mas), or wearing as little as possible/dressed to impress. What sucked though that all the ‘real’ Caribbean food was on the lake-side of the parade, and there were fences sectioning off the parade from the other side that we were on: I couldn’t find a way to get the roti I was craving! Plus my friend had to head to work, so we walked around for a bit, took some photos, grabbed the most DELIOUS, sweet-tasting corn-on-the-cob ever (which was the most ‘Caribbean’ option available over hamburgers, fries, hot dogs and cotton candy) and headed home.

All in all, it was a fun day (especially the people-watching… if only we were fashion police). I was planning to go to Olympic Island today for the Island Festival, but I think I’m too late to buy tickets. Next year I’ll make better plans though, and make sure I get there early!

There will be no jumping up for me today at Toronto’s 40th annual Caribana Festival. I spent most of my day cleaning up my apartment. Right now my little sister is using my place as her own personal hair salon.

The party is probably still going on, and it’s a great day weather-wise for it, but Caribana just isn’t like it’s used to be in my opinion. Even though the wonderful Carribean music, delicious food and multicultural crowds are still there, Caribana has been marred in recent years with negative stereotypes. Caribanshouldn’t be viewed as some type of Mardi Gras festival with men filming women degradingly, or a place to be wary of possible gunfire.

Caribana has to be more than just a parade. More history and culture needs to be reflected on, especially by the youth. More than likely, I’ll probably end up going next year. I may even reach Caribana Village tomorrow (the event that normally took place on Olympic Island) at Ontario Place.

Aside from the actual parade going on today, Harbourfront is also hosting their Island Soul Festival this weekend (until Monday) as part of their World Routes event. There’ll be a reggae & dancehall dance showcase, tons of ethic food, and several concerts including Jamaica’s dubbed #1 reggae singer, Barrington Levy, performing with his band on Sunday night. Visit the Harbourfront website for more info.

I almost forgot about this fairly well-known event that happens the Friday night before the annual Caribana Parade. It should be properly titled the “Pick up greasy men in rented Hummers/Pick up underage women dressed in skimpy clothing and watch out for the video cameras Festival”.

Personally, I never walked aimlessly up and down Yonge Street on this specific night. Frankly, I don’t like putting myself in the position of being “pssssssstt” at men who obviously want only one thing. I hope the parents of some of these underage attendees know where there children are.

I may pass by the parade tomorrow though… you know, to pick up a roti.