Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Scotiabank CARIBANA™ 2008 Schedule Announced

Luminat’eau: Carnival H2O (formerly “Carnivalissima”)
Friday June 13 - Sunday June 15, 2008; Noon - 6:00 p.m.
Harbourfront Centre
Luminato month long event closing at Harbourfront.

Calypso Tents Music Series
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from June 13 - July 13, 2008; 8:00 p.m. - Midnight
De Great Iron Pot, 55 Nugget Avenue, Scarborough Calypso City, 25 Cecil Street, Toronto

This is an exciting annual showcase of Canada's best Calypso and Soca original music for the Caribana Festival. The series runs three nights each week (Friday Sunday) at various venues in Toronto, each night featuring a different cast of singers and 'live' bands performing Calypso in its best storytelling tradition: social and political commentary, humor and wit.

Scotiabank CARIBANA™ Official Launch
Nathan Phillips Square, City Hall
Tuesday July 15, 2008; Noon - 2:00 pm

This official ceremony launches the activities for the 2008 Caribana Festival Season. Patrons can meet and mingle with Federal, Provincial and Municipal officials, Caribana representatives and sponsors while sampling Caribbean and international cuisine. It is a snapshot of what's in store over the coming weeks.

Scotiabank CARIBANA™ Junior Carnival
Shoreham Drive Yorkgate Mall
Saturday, July 19, 2008; 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Junior Carnival provides festival-goers and the surrounding community the opportunity to experience the thrills and joys as young masqueraders participate in their early festival years

Roots to Rhythm - Art Exhibition
Royal Ontario Museum
Thursday July 24 – Monday Aug 4, 2008; Noon - 9:00 pm

A Visual Art Exhibition – COLOURblind International – ‘Roots to Rhythm’ produced by the Association of African Canadian Artists. An intriguing collection of over 60 works that have been influenced by our journey.

Scotiabank CARIBANA™ Caribana Gala
Liberty Grand – Exhibition Place
Friday July 25, 2008; 7:00 pm – 1:00 am

An elegant evening of style and glamour, celebrating Caribana and paying tribute to its pioneers. Proceeds from this event will be directed to a Caribana Foundation.

'Kaiso 365' Calypso Monarch Finals
Leah Posluns Theatre, 4588 Bathurst Street, Toronto
Saturday July 26, 2008; 8:00 pm - 1:00 am

This is where the Calypso Monarch is crowned. Come and see the best and biggest Canadian Calypsonians battle for the crown. From the topical to the lyrical, the sweet Soca rhythms will lift you out of your seat and get you moving.

King & Queen Show
Lamport Stadium
Thursday July 31, 2008; 7:00 pm - Midnight

On the Thursday evening before Caribana Day the Kings and Queens of the Bands meet to do battle. Like peacocks they will primp and preen, eliciting “oohs” and “aahs” from the audience. It is an honour for any participant to be enthroned the King or Queen of Scotiabank Caribana 2008. The King and Queen symbolically have the keys to the city, freedom of the streets. Their movements are supposed to be uninhibited. Band members and onlookers alike are to give them the respect, even if mockingly, usually accorded to real-life royalty

Pan Alive
Lamport Stadium
Friday August 1, 2008; 7:00 pm - Midnight

A thrilling evening showcasing the musical and tonal qualities of the steelpan as members of the Ontario Steelband Association compete before a panel of judges. This Panorama of the North is the biggest opportunity to hear this wonderful instrument in all its glory. The evening is devoted entirely to the capturing rhythms of the steelpan.

Scotiabank CARIBANA™ Parade
Exhibition Place (Lake Shore Blvd)
Saturday August 2, 2008; 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

This showcase event features an incredible display of colour and pageantry, commencing at Exhibition Place and proceeding west along Lake Shore Boulevard. Exhibition Place and Lake Shore Boulevard will come alive with the sights and sounds of Carnival!

De CARIBANA™ Lime — Island Festival
Olympic Island
Sunday August 3, 2008; 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

This event features a full day of performances from a variety of artistes, highlighting the diverse cultures of all the Caribbean people. Activities include a food competition, song, dance, theatrical drama and storytelling.

Source: http://www.caribanafestival.com/

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Fourteen beauties unveiled at the Miss Queen of the sashing ceremony

2008 Miss Queen of the Islands Canada Pageant Delegates
Reigning Miss Queen of the Islands, Camille Lewis (centre) and the 2008 pageant delegates

Monday April 14th, 2008 - Toronto, ON, Canada - Fourteen beauties were sashed on Saturday at De Great Iron Pot Restaurant and Banquet Hall for the 2nd annual 'Miss Queen of the Islands' pageant, which will be hosted by NBA star Jamaal Magloire on July 5th.

According to event co-ordinator Roxanne Austin, the new 2008 hopefuls are a better representation of the islands compared to those from the inaugural year. “Last year’s pageant was dominated by Trinidadian delegates (8), but this year no one particular island permeates over the others.” The 2008 contestants will represent several Caribbean nations, including Dominca, Grenada, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guadeloupe and Trinidad and Tobago.

The next appearance for the Miss Queen of the Islands contestants will be at the Toronto Revellers Official CARIBANA Band Launch for 2008. The 2007 CARIBANA band of the year champions launch event takes place on Saturday May 10th at the Armenian Community Centre located at 45 Hallcrown Place (Victoria Park Ave and 401).

The crowning of 'Miss Queen of the Islands' takes place on Saturday July 5th at the Rembrandt Banquet Hall located at 930 Progress Avenue in Scarborough.

Corporate sponsors of the event include Butterfly Florist, Tourcan Vacations, Toronto-Lime.com and Palm Beach Hotel Group.

For tickets and information or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the committee at missqueen@rogers.com, 416-797-8040 or visit http://www.missqueenoftheislands.ca/.




2008 Miss Queen of the Islands Canada Pageant Delegates


Athena Bates - Miss Jamaica
Athena
Bates
Jamaica

Camille Langevine - Miss Guyana
Camille
Langevine
Guyana

Darnelle Charles - Miss Dominica
Darnelle
Charles
Dominica

Diana James - Miss Jamaica
Diana
James
Jamaica





Janelle James - Miss Guyana/Jamaica
Janelle
James
Guyana/Jamaica

Jenneillia Julius - Miss Trinidad and Tobago
Jenneillia
Julius
Trinidad & Tobago

Kenesha Lewis - Miss Jamaica
Kenesha
Lewis
Jamaica

Marsha Clyne - Miss Grenada
Marsha
Clyne
Grenada





Michelle Paul - Miss Dominica
Michelle
Paul
Dominica

Pabilita Thomas - Miss Guadeloupe
Pabilita
Thomas
Guadeloupe

Renee Forde - Miss Trinidad/Barbados
Renee
Forde
Trinidad/Barbados

Sarah Harding - Miss Jamaica
Sarah
Harding
Jamaica






Roanna Sinclair - Miss Guyana
Roanna
Sinclair
Guyana

Tramaine Cato - Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Tramaine
Cato
St. Vincent



WE Magazine lends its support to the Caribbean community by sponsoring two beauties in the Miss Queen of the Islands Pageant

WE Magazine sponsors Miss Queen of the Islands delegates
From left: Renee Forde (Miss Trinidad/Barbados), Jef Lo (WE Magazine Editor in Chief), Camille Langevine (Miss Guyana)

Monday April 14th, 2008 - Toronto, ON, Canada - Canada's premiere West Indian Entertainment magazine, WE announced today that it will be sponsoring two contestants competing in Jamaal Magloire’s 2nd Annual Miss Queen of the Islands beauty pageant taking place on July 5th.

Camille Langevine (Miss Guyana) is an HR student at Seneca College and Renee Forde (Miss Trinidad/Barbados) is a co-ordinator at OMNI TV. “Both girls are very bright ambitious young individuals and WE is pleased to be a contributor to such aspiring young women who will one day make a difference in our Caribbean community” says Jef Lo, Editor in Chief at WE Magazine. “Our hats off to the committee organizing this event, which not only focuses on the beauty and talent rising from the Caribbean, but it also provides a wonderful networking medium for young people reaching out in our community.”

The Miss Queen of The Islands Pageant takes place on July 5th at the Rembrandt Banquet Hall located at 930 Progress Avenue in Scarborough. For more information on the pageant and to view photos of all the 2008 delegates visit http://www.missqueenoftheislands.com/

You can read more about Renee Forde, who is the featured “WE GIRL” in the April issue of WE Magazine available in outlets now. Also look out for more on Camille Langevine in the upcoming June issue of WE.

About WE
WE Magazine is Canada's premiere monthly WEST INDIAN ENTERTAINMENT magazine. It is committed to inspiring readers while celebrating the vibrant arts, culture, history and natural beauty of the Caribbean. WE provides a unique and colourful perspective on West Indian entertainment and life with an emphasis on local West Indian Canadian content. WE Magazine seeks to accurately and creatively reflect the Caribbean community from which it came.WE magazine is available free at all major West Indian outlets throughout the GTA.

For more information visit http://www.wemagonline.com/.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

WE Magazine keeps the cover sexy for a 3rd time in the last three months



Canadian hottie ‘Jully Black’ graced the February cover and soulful Jamaican sisters ‘Brick and Lace’ donned the March cover. In April, WE keeps the pages burning with Trinidad’s most talked about female artist, Faye-Ann Lyons.

“Sexy seems to work for us” says Jef Lo (Editor in Chief of WE Magazine). “I couldn’t even find a copy of the March issue anywhere, they were gone so fast. With Faye-Ann on this months cover, we may have to print a few thousand extra copies.”

In this month’s ‘must read’ cover story, the 2-time Road March Queen (and obvious 2008 Soca Monarch favourite) speaks out against her critics. Faye-Ann gives very candid responses about the rise of her career, despite the naysayers and negative press over the last couple years.
The latest issue of WE will be available in outlets from April 11th.

For more information visit http://www.wemagonline.com/ or myspace.com/wemagonline