JUMP AND WAVE: IT’S CARIBANA SEASON!
Celebrating Caribbean roots, resilience, and the queens who came before us.
“Caribana isn’t just a moment. It’s a movement. Keep the pride alive!”
It’s August, and you know what that means? Get out your flag and jump and wave—it’s Caribana!
Toronto’s streets will burst with colour, music, and the sweetest Caribbean vibes. From amazing costumes to nonstop soca and calypso beats, Caribana is our time to celebrate our culture with pride.
But Caribana is more than just a party—it’s history, pride, and resilience in motion. This month, let’s honour where Caribana comes from, celebrate how Caribbean culture has shaped Canada, and spotlight some Caribbean icons who have made a lasting impact.
Where the Vibes Begin: The Roots of Caribana
Caribana didn’t just appear—it rose from Carnival, a tradition born hundreds of years ago in Trinidad and Tobago. Carnival began as an act of resistance by enslaved Africans, a way to defy colonial rules and celebrate their culture. Even when colonial powers tried to erase their heritage, Caribbean people preserved it through storytelling, music, and masquerade.
Carnival became a powerful expression of freedom, creativity, and resilience. Our ancestors turned resistance into rhythm, pain into power, and struggle into pure joy.
That same spirit of pride and freedom came to Toronto in 1967 for Canada’s Centennial celebrations, when the Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC) created what we now know and love as Caribana.
How Carribean Culture Shaped Canada
Caribbean people have left an indelible mark on Canada—from music and food to activism and education. Caribbean culture is woven into the Canadian story.
Activism:
Caribbean Canadians helped lead the fight for civil rights in Canada. Activists like Dr. Jean Augustine (the first Black woman elected to Parliament) and Rosemary Brown (the first Black woman to be elected to a provincial legislature in Canada) paved the way for more inclusive leadership.
Education & Health:
Celebrate everything you’ve accomplished, survived, created, and carried. Read it out loud.
Food:
From jerk chicken and patties to roti and doubles, Caribbean flavours are now Canadian favourites.
Music:
Soca, reggae, calypso, and dancehall have enriched Canada’s soundscape—and Caribana is a Caribbean gift that has helped define Canada’s cultural identity.
CELEBRATE CARRIBEAN ICONS
Let’s celebrate a few Caribbean Queens who’ve made a lasting impact.
Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis (Trinidad & Tobago)
The “Mother of Calypso” and “Calypso Queen of the World,” she used music to champion Caribbean culture and women’s voices.
Una Marson (Jamaica)
Poet, playwright, activist, and the first Black woman at the BBC. She produced Caribbean Voices, spotlighting Caribbean literature and championing women’s rights.
Dame Nita Barrow, GCMG (Barbados)
Nurse, educator, diplomat, and first woman Governor-General of Barbados. A leader in global public health and a champion for women’s leadership.
Dame Eugenia Charles (Dominica)
Dominica’s first and only female Prime Minister, the island’s first female lawyer, and the first woman in the Americas elected head of government in her own right—known as the "Iron Lady of the Caribbean.
This Caribana, Don’t Just Celebrate Your Culture. Celebrate YOU.
You are part of this legacy. Taking care of your body, mind, and spirit. Here are some feel-good ideas to try this month:
Cook Up Your Roots:
Try making a traditional Caribbean dish you’ve never cooked before. Pour your love (and seasoning!) into it. Cooking can be meditative—and a beautiful way to honour your heritage.
Gratitude list with a Caribbean twist:
List five things you love about your heritage, family, or culture. A feel-good reminder of where you come from.
Story Time with Elders:
Call or visit an older relative to hear stories about “back home.” Sharing memories is self-care for you and them.
Do absolutely nothing (and Own It):
Take guilt-free rest. Your ancestors fought for your freedom—including the freedom to rest.
Create your own mini-mas:
Play your favourite soca or dancehall. Dance like nobody’s watching—except your ancestors, cheering you on.
Silence is Sacred:
Take 10 minutes for yourself. No phone, no noise. Just breathe and be.
Read:
Pick up a book that celebrates Caribbean culture. Try one of these:
BOOKS
Watch:
Kick back with a Caribbean-themed movie or TV shows. Try one of these:
MOVIES OR TV SHOWS
This August, celebrate your roots. Celebrate your culture. And most of all, celebrate YOU—today and every day.
Caribana is more than a moment. It’s a movement. Keep the pride alive! One Caribbean. One Caribana.
Mark your calendar for these August events:
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8:30am - 12:00pm
Centennial Park Gold Centre, 550 Centennial Park Boulevard Toronto, ON M9C 5R5
FREE
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Aug 8: 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Aug 9: 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Aug 10: 12:00pm - 8:00pmThe Esplanade Park, 1 The Esplanade, Pickering, Ontario
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7:00pm - 10:00pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street, South, Ajax, ON
FREE
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written by Nickisha RASHID