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 (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

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