CARIBANA™ Will Not Be Renamed – 2011 Festival in Serious Doubt

Put your plans on hold as CARIBANA™ 2011 is in serious doubt.  The CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG), festival owners, founders and trademark holders of CARIBANA™ have not been able to reach an agreement with the Festival Management Committee (FMC), after numerous attempts, causing this year’s festival to be in doubt.

Sponsors are advised to withhold committing to contracts with the unauthorized manager of the festival as an injunction to stop the FMC in its tracks from attempting to rename the festival created and owned by the CCC (now CAG) is pending before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Contrary to perception, the court did not order a name change for the Caribana Festival. At a hearing on May 12th, 2011, the court made it clear that the Caribana trademark cannot be used by the Festival Management Committee.  The ruling says, in part: R (Respondent) "will no longer use the trademark ‘Caribana’.”  It (FMC) “consents to an order preventing such use."  The CAG, creators and owners of the festival, did not seek to withdraw use of the Caribana name for the Festival. The idea to change the name was introduced by the FMC in a desperate attempt to circumvent CAG’s legal rights.

The judge’s decision was only part of an application by CAG to protect its trademark which includes the Caribana Festival. The proceedings to bar the FMC from attempting to re-name the festival are to continue in court as early as May 31^st 2011.  Changing the name of the festival is a desperate attempt by the FMC to avoid coming to mutually agreeable terms with the CAG.

Henry Gomez, Chair of the CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP advises, “Sponsors and patrons who pay for costumes in the masquerade bands should be very cautious about putting their money into a festival that might not happen this year, and bandleaders should also be cautious about promised seed money.”  He also stated, "Neither should they be aiding in the attempted theft of the Caribana Festival from our community, to profit a few individuals."

In keeping with the judge’s ruling, the CAG will return to court at month’s end with the details necessary to have an injunction which will prevent the FMC from holding a festival with the characteristics of Caribana on the Simcoe Day weekend.

 About CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG):

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG), formerly known as the Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC) was incorporated in 1967 as the Caribbean Committee for Cultural Advancement for the purpose of celebrating Canada’s Centennial. The CAG is the legal owner of the CARIBANA™ Festival and Trade Mark and is chaired by Henry Gomez.  In 2006, the City of Toronto appointed the Festival Management Committee to manage the CARIBANA™ Festival for one year only.  FMC was intended to be the management arm of the CARIBANA organization, but wants to report directly to the City of Toronto, and not acknowledge CAG as the legal owners of the Festival.

COURT ORDERS FMC TO STOP USING THE CARIBANA™ Trademark

The Ontario Superior Court Of Justice issued an Order on Thursday, May 12^th, 2011 forbidding the Festival Management Committee (FMC) from using the Trademark CARIBANA™ with immediate effect.

The ruling was handed down in response to an injunction sought by the CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG), the owners of the CARIBANA™ Festival and trademark.  The FMC has been temporarily managing the festival since 2006, based on an agreement brokered by the City of Toronto between the CAG and the FMC that expired December 31^st 2006.  As a result of the court order the FMC has been forced to shut down the website, www.caribanafestival.com.

CAG chairman Henry Gomez states assertively: "It is the Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC) now CAG that has conceptualized, nurtured, managed and produced the internationally recognized CARIBANA™ Festival for 39 years.  It is also the CCC, a not for profit volunteer organization, that transformed this Carnival Arts extravaganza into a

financial juggernaut that benefits the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario."

The Board of Directors of the CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG) has made innumerable attempts to negotiate and work with the FMC over the last five years, but the FMC reacted with intransigence and hubris.  The CAG was left with no other option but to seek injunctive relief from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

The CAG remains open to signing a Trademark Licence and Management Agreement with the FMC for 2011 that respects the rights of the CAG as the owner of the CARIBANA™ Festival and Marks.

The CARIBANA™ Festival was created in 1967 as the Caribbean contribution to Canada's Centennial celebrations. The CARIBANA™ AGM will be held this Saturday May 21, 2011 at Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Room 314, from 1:00p.m. - 3:30p.m.

  

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP Annual General Meeting - Saturday, May 21, 2011

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP will hold its Annual General Meeting of on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Metro Hall, 55 John Street (King Street West and John St.). The meeting will be held in Room 314 from 1:00 p. m. to 3:30 p m.

CAG members will have an opportunity to renew their memberships, and applications for new membership may be accepted at the meeting.

The membership fee is $25.00 and may be paid by cheque or money order to CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP. Among the agenda items for this meeting are the latest developments that may have an impact on the future of the CARIBANA™ Festival.

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP is the former Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC), a community volunteer organization. It is the creator, nurturer, producer and owner of the CARIBANA™ Festival and associated Trademarks. CCC was founded in 1967 to celebrate Canada's centennial.

  

Lynrod Douglas to Head CARIBANA™ Arts Foundation

In a move which signals a promising future for the CARIBANA™ Arts Foundation, its newly-minted board of directors announced that Canadian ethnic directories pioneer and Black Pages co-founder, Lynrod Douglas has been elected president.

The CARIBANA™ Arts Group (CAG) recently regained control of the Foundation and took immediate steps to put a reputable board in place. Other members of the board are Leslie Forbes, Secretary, Henry Gomez, Treasurer, and Renae Roberts. There is one vacant position on the board.

The organization is looking to Douglas, well known for his role in promoting and supporting the Black business community, to provide robust leadership that would see the Foundation emerge as a true catalyst for promoting Carnival Arts and Culture through education, scholarships, training and development programs and research.  Douglas said in a statement, “I’ve stood on the sidelines for years, passively watching the CARIBANA™ saga unfold. Now I see the Foundation as an effective community economic and social development vehicle with particular emphasis on our youth.   A proponent of the ‘corporative economics’ ideology, Douglas added “This Foundation will allow citizens of Canada and the world to give back to a community that has been, for the past forty four years, giving to them, this wonderful gift called CARIBANA™.”
According to Douglas, plans are underway to obtain charitable status for the Foundation. He also pointed out that one of the key goals of the Foundation is to secure a permanent home for the entire CARIBANA™ Arts Group family. The Foundation is planning its first fundraising event for early spring. Stay tuned. Further information can be found on the Foundation’s new website www.CaribanaArtsFoundation.com which Douglas referees to as a work in progress.

About the CARIBANA™ Arts Foundation 
The concept for the Foundation emerged from the restructuring plans of the Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC), founders of the CARIBANA™ Festival in 1967 and legal owners of the CARIBANA™ trademark. In 2004, the old CCC was transformed into the CARIBANA™ Arts Group, a policy-making body with oversight for two new subsidiaries: CARIBANA™ Festival Management Operations to manage and produce the CARIBANA™  Festival; and CARIBANA™  Arts Foundation, an arms-length body to serve as the charitable / fundraising arm of the CARIBANA™ family. The Mission of the Foundation is to fund, promote, facilitate and support artistic and cultural expressions embodied in the Carnival Arts of the Caribbean and the Americas.

About Lynrod Douglas

A pioneer of the multicultural marketing industry in Canada, Lynrod Douglas was CEO of Black Pages Canada for 16 years before selling the company to a multi-national newspaper publisher. In addition to the Black Pages directory, the company produced several watershed events including Expo International and Black Expo Canada. Douglas assisted the City of Toronto to develop a small business strategy and to include minority-owned business in the City’s procurement process. He was appointed Chair to the Investment Committee of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation to advise on the management of a $24 million endowment fund, and served as a small business advisor to the Government of Canada.     


For additional information, and to schedule interviews, please send an e-mail to L3Publicity@gmail.com or call 1-289-217-2800 (local call for media in Toronto).

www.caribanaartsfoundation.com

 

 

 

 

♠ HOTTT New Soca! ♠ Razor B - Jump Up and Down!

 

As Trinidad Carnival draws closer (3 weeks away), artists are releasing their best chunes which includes music from Canada's best, Mr. Razor B who has recorded a HOTTT Soca chune called "Jump Up and Down!"

 

Produced by Mark Mosca for Razor B This mid tempo chune takes us to a club, or the parade route where men and women free up their inhibitions by letting loose and celebrating in the spirit Soca!

 

Catch Razor B's HOTTT Soca chune "Jump Up and Down" by clicking on the download link below:

 

 

>>>Razor B - Jump Up and Down!<<<

 

www.facebook.com/razorbent

 

 

 

♠ HOTTT New Soca! ♠ Shurwayne Winchester - Over N Over!

Greetings!

As soon as you cross over the ‘Christmas’ line, you officially step into the countdown to the

Carnival season which is ever closer (March 7^th and 8^th are the exact Trinidad Carnival). ).

Shurwayne Winchester has consistently released hit songs throughout 2010 and starts off

2011 with another hit song called “Over N Over!”

Produced on the SW Limited label, Shurwayne ishaving fun in the sun as he says:  “are you readyto go / hell no /  you want them stop de show / hellno … show them any season / any weather for any country in Carnival we play…!”

Broadcasting at 320kbps and 160 BPM, and with the understanding that this is only the beginning of a slew of hits we’ll be receiving from Shurwayne leading up to carnival, catch the stars latest chune “Over N Over” by clicking on title below:

P.S.  Make sure you request this song from your favourite Soca DJ's.  This song will increase your heart rate which means it will make you sweat which means you may experience weight loss the more you move to this and other Shurwayne Winchester songs!  

Shurwayne Winchester

Over N Over!

Winter Love - Pre-Carnival Edition 2010!

Canada's Music Queen, Ms. Natasha Von Castle has decided to start 2011 off in a gift giving mood!  She stopped by (in her royal chariot) to hand deliver her newest mix which is called 'Winter Love - Pre-Carnival Edition 2010' which is certified HOTTT!

Natasha was very tight lipped about her plans for the new year, but did say that people will receive updates via The Famous Face dot blogspot dot com and that 2011 will be all about the music.  Basically she gave us NO exclusive news!

We've previewed the mix and have to say that this mix is the kind that you can repeat ... it's that good!

Click on the title to download the mix.  As always, pass on your feedback so we can pass it on!

Winter Love - Pre-Carnival Edition 2010

♠ HOTTT New Groovy Soca! ♠ Shurwayne Winchester - Manic + Jammin'!

Greetings!

 

It may be shameful to admit this, but a year

ago, I didn't have as much appreciation for

Soca as I do now!  I LOVE it, and that's mainly

because of one man:  Mr. Shurwayne Winchester!

 

Shurwayne and the team at SW Limited continue

to produce hit records, the latest being:  "Manic"

and "Jammin'."

 

Both chunes are on the same riddim (sorry, I

don't have a riddim name), and both chunes will

make it hard to choose from so you have to play

both!  "Manic" is loosely based on the hit song

"Manic Monday" by the girl group the Bangles.

"Jammin'" hears a man talk about how HOTTT

his girl is and what he wants to do to her in a dance.

Both chunes feel good, accelerates the heart rate,

reduces weight and will have the phone line lit

like a Christmas Tree at the radio station.  It will

also have the dancefloor 'chipping' in a Fete!

*Goldman Smally we see you!

 

Broadcasting at 320kbps, catch "Manic" and "Jammin'"

from SW Limited here: 

 

 

Shurwayne Winchester - Manic + Jammin'

 

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG) Appreciation Brunch & Show!

Caribana™ Arts Group, (formerly Caribbean Cultural Committee) creators of North America’s largest Caribbean festival, announces its  annual Appreciation Brunch & Show honoring Sam Cole, the first Chair of Caribana, and Margaret Ayoung, past Chair of the King & Queen Committee.

The brunch takes place on Sunday October 3^rd, 2010 at the Scarlet Ibis Family Restaurant, 1880 O’Connor Drive from 12:00 p.m. ‘til?  The evening will also feature stand-up comedy by Marvin ‘Trini’ Ishmael, Steel Pan music by Pan Man Pat, Saxophone solo by Skel, Calypso (Ole Man Willie) by King Cosmos and dance by Dance Caribe.  Music will be supplied by DJ Gus.

“We consider it a duty to honour Caribana’s first Chair, and someone who played a major role in the production of Caribana’s King & Queen show for a number  of years,” says Henry Gomez, Chair of Caribana™ Arts Group. “This brunch is the first in a series that the Caribana™ Arts Group will be holding as the organization looks back and pays tribute to those who helped Caribana™ to become the world class festival it is today.”

The honorees will be entertained and presented with plaques for their service. In addition to the awards presentation, there will be raffles and door prizes.

Tickets are $20.00 in advance, and $25.00 at the door. 

For additional information call Abdullah @ 416-573-2949; Althea @ 416-783-4642 or Henry @ 416-266-2150.  E-mail inquiries may be sent to caribanaartsgroup@gmail.com.

About CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG)

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG), formerly known as the Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC) was incorporated in 1967 as the Caribbean Committee for Cultural Advancement for the purpose of celebrating Canada’s Centennial. The CAG is the legal owner of the CARIBANA™ Festival and Trade Mark and is chaired by Henry Gomez. In 2006, the City of Toronto appointed the Festival Management Committee to manage the CARIBANA™ Festival for one year. 

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG) Chair Speaks to 88.1 CKLN FM's Norman Otis Richmond

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG) Chair Speaks to

Norman Otis Richmond

 

 

The Caribana parade and festivities have come to an end, however, planning and public education have begun for next year's 44th anniversary.

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG) Chair, Henry ‘King Cosmos’ Gomez, will join Norman Otis Richmond on 88.1 CKLN on the show Saturday Morning Live.  From 12 to 1p.m. on Saturday August 7th, the two will discuss community response to this year's festival and to give a perspective on the Festival Management Committee.   The CAG Chair also plans to set the record straight and educate the public on the difference between the Festival Management Committee (FMC) and CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG), formerly the Caribbean Cultural Committee – CCC, who are the owner of the CARIBANA™ Trademark.

Norman Otis Richmond, whose program Saturday Morning Live has been on the air for many years, welcomes the discussion by saying “Caribana needs to be discussed because of its historic, economic and cultural importance to the Black and Caribbean community.”

Listen to the broadcast live by logging on to www.ckln.fm at 12pm EST, 5pm GMT, 9am PST.

About CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG)

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG), formerly known as the Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC) was incorporated in 1967 for the purpose of celebrating Canada’s Centennial. The CAG is the legal owner of the CARIBANA™ Festival, and is chaired by Henry Gomez. In 2006, the City of Toronto appointed the Festival Management Committee to manage the CARIBANA™ Festival for one year.

E-mail inquiries to: caribanaartsgroup@gmail.com or call 647-225-8977

VP Artists Shine in Toronto for Caribana™ Weekend!

VP Artists Shine in Toronto for Caribana™ Weekend!

 

 

During the Caribana™ season, Toronto is known for the sounds of soca music from Trinidad and Tobago , and other Caribbean islands; however Caribana™ 2010 saw a record turnout by fans to hear VP Recording artists!

 

Queen IFrica, whose album ‘Montego Bay’ was well received in Canada, packed center stage at Harbourfront with 3,000 fans crammed to take in the performance and essence Queen IFrica delivers.  “I drove all the way from Barrie, Ontario to see her perform”, said Kathleen.  “There is something about her that all people can relate to, and I just love her!”  Confirming this, Kathleen held up a copy of the Queen’s latest album she hopes to get autographed.

On the other side of the city, Busy Signal, whose album "D.O.B." was released three weeks ago, was scheduled to perform at Lamport Stadium, the same venue which sees the Caribana King and Queen of the bands competition judged.  This marks Busy’s second appearance in as many months, as the star was in the city in April for an event called ‘Redemption.’

Rounding out the VP take over was Gyptian who performed at the 9^th annual Irie Music Festival sponsored by TD Canada Trust.  The three-day festival featured performances by several notable Caribbean artists such as Fab 5, and Shurwayne Winchester as well as local artists Friendlyness and the Human Rights, Blessed and Melodic.

Gyptian, who attracted a record 4,000 people to the mid-sized park confirmed that the artist's popularity with fans in Toronto is solid.  In addition to topping i-Tunes sales (in Canada and abroad) for the single “Hold Yuh,” the star also tops charts on Canadian radio, has solid CD sales for his album of the same name, and is the most searched artist in North America according to Google.com.

“I brought my three-year old grand-daughter to see Gyptian perform,” said Margaret, a grandmother of four.  “She’s a huge fan of Gyptian and so am I!”

Additional VP Records artists in the city to perform included Anthony Cruz, Tinga Stewart and Byron Lee's Dragonaire's who all performed at Jambana.

VP’s artistic dominance continues as Queen IFrica is scheduled to perform in Europe as is Busy Signal and Gyptian between mid August through to the end of October.

For additional information on these, and other artists on the VP Records roster, log on to www.VPRecords.com.

About VP Records:

VP Records, based in Jamaica, Queens NY, is a pioneering force in the reggae music industry. From roots & culture to soca and dancehall, VP Records is the only record label that represents the full spectrum of Caribbean music. For the past 25 years, VP has stayed true to the grassroots from whence it came, always serving its core audience first, moving swiftly to keep up with the sounds of the street. At the same time, with the international success of artists like Sean Paul, Wayne Wonder, Elephant Man, and Tanto Metro & Devonte, amongst others, VP has expanded its leadership in the effort to present Caribbean culture to a mainstream audience as worldwide demand dancehall reggae rises to new heights.

     

Record Numbers for Toronto’s Caribana!

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG) reports a record 1.2 Million attendees at this year’s Caribana parade!

All along Toronto’s famed Lakeshore Boulevard West, from the CNE to Palais Royale, revelers and spectators celebrated the spirit of being free, and enjoyed energetic soca music as masqueraders danced, “chipped” and “jammed” in colourful costumes.  The parade, made up of steelbands, competing mas bands and guest bands, made its way along the three-kilometer parade route ensuring that spectators enjoyed the sights and sounds of Caribana.

 The parade, created by the CAG (formerly the Caribbean Cultural Committee), and now in its forty-third year, was opened with a blessing by a religious leader dressed in flowing African robes. He prayed for Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, Ontario’s Premier, Dalton McGuinty and Toronto’s Mayor, David Miller. He also noted the true meaning behind mas and Caribana, which is the emancipation of Africans from slavery. 

CAG Chair, Henry ‘King Cosmos’ Gomez said, “We are very pleased with the impact our festival of the Caribbean Carnival Arts has had on Toronto over the years. We are also proud to maintain our reputation of being the largest festival of its kind in North America, and to welcome others from around the world to have a taste of our distinctly Caribbean culture. However, going forward, the CAG would like to see relations improve with the FMC and the City of Toronto.”

Some of the dignitaries on hand for this year’s Caribana parade  included Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Federal Liberal party, Gerrard Kennedy, member of Parliament, George Smitherman and Rocco Rossi, mayoral candidates for the city of Toronto and Margaret Best, liberal MPP.

About CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG):

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG), formerly known as the Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC) was incorporated in 1967 for the purpose of celebrating Canada’s Centennial. The CAG is the legal owner of the CARIBANA™ Festival, and is chaired by Henry Gomez. In 2006, the City of Toronto appointed the Festival Management Committee to manage the CARIBANA™ Festival for one year.

E-mail inquiries to: caribanaartsgroup@gmail.com or call 647-225-8977

Pictured:  Henry 'King Cosmos' Gomez and Michael Ignatieff