The largest and certainly one
of the most colourful parades staged in Canada is the fabulous annual Caribana
Festival. Conducted each year during the summer in down town Toronto, nearly
a million people enthusiastically gather to hear the calypso music and
steel drums, to see the colour and to soak up the atmosphere of goodwill
and cheer. Initiated to coincide with Canada’s 1967Centennial celebrations,
Caribana is modelled on Trinidad's annual pre-Lenten celebration, “the
greatest frolic on earth.” A key musical instrument heard loud and clear
during the Caribana week of festivities is the steel drum which made its
first journey to Canada in 1954. “Pan” activity is now found across Canada,
especially on university campuses where it is a magical instrument producing
unique tone colours. Of course, the vibrant kaleidoscopic costumes, opposite,
area boon to the film processing industry as everyone brings a camera to
the parade and takes pictures galore. [Photo, courtesy the Caribbean Cultural
Committee]