Toronto Set for Jump Up!
Canada’s largest city revelling in Caribbean culture

Toronto, ON – With last week’s official launch of Caribana, Caribbean communities across North America set to discover and re-discover Caribbean flavour in Toronto.  Caribana attracts close to one million visitors and spectators to the Greater Toronto Area. This year for its 40th anniversary, Caribana is expected to draw record crowds.

“Caribbean culture is ingrained in the fabric of the city. One only has to walk through the streets or visit our many neighbourhoods, such as Little Jamaica to step into the heart of Caribbean culture,” said David Whitaker, President and CEO, Tourism Toronto.  “Whether it’s cultural events, cuisine or festivals you can always feel the rhythms of the Caribbean pulsing in our city.”

The summer time is the most popular time of year for travellers from the Caribbean region to Toronto planned around Caribana.  As direct flights increase from the Caribbean, capacity and access to the Toronto area is growing. 

With close to 300,000 people, Toronto has the largest Caribbean population in Canada and a longstanding tradition of hosting culturally significant events such as Caribana.

As the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America, Caribana celebrates its 40th anniversary this year (July 10 – August 12). Inspired by the carnivals of Trinidad and Tobago, Caribana is one of the first Caribbean Carnivals to be held outside of the Caribbean region. Caribana’s main draw is its parade (Saturday August 4) and larger than life costume displays. The parade features colourful floats blasting reggae, calypso and soca music, steel-pan bands, salsa artists and thousands of brilliantly costumed dancers gyrating along the 3.6 kilometre parade route by Lake Ontario.  Please visit: www.caribanafestival.com

Additional Caribbean-inspired Events
Toronto celebrates Caribbean culture with the 6th annual Irie Fest happening August 3 -6th at Nathan Phillips square. The popular reggae and global music attraction includes dance presentations, art exhibitions, a tropical food fair, street performances and much more. Please visit: www.iriemusicfestival.com

Head to the Island Soul festival part of the World Routes celebrations at Harbourfront Centre from August 3 – 6. Explore the Caribbean’s finest cultural treasures; dance to the island rhythms of reggae, calypso, soca and salsa; bang the steel pan and savour the best-of-the-best roti and jerk! Please visit:  www.harbourfrontcentre.com/wr/

Culinary delights will be featured at the Hot and Spicy Food Festival taking place at Harbourfront Centre from August 10 – 12. Here Iron Chefs will battle for spicy food supremacy that includes tongue-tickling spices from the Caribbean. Visit:  www.harbourfrontcentre.com/wr/

Also, from September 26 – 30, 2007 Toronto will celebrate Caribbean Week in city. This festival will celebrate the sights, sounds, colours, cultural and unique attributes of the Caribbean while showcasing Caribbean artists, performers, celebrity chefs. Please visit: www.caribbeanweek.ca

About Tourism Toronto
Tourism Toronto is an industry association of more than 1,100 members established to strategically sell and market the Greater Toronto Region as a remarkable destination for tourists, convention delegates and business travelers around the globe. Tourism produces more than $4 billion in direct spending in the region and supports nearly 100,000 jobs.  For more information on Tourism Toronto, please visit, www.torontotourism.com.

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Note to editor: Jump up photos are available for publication.

For more information contact:
Michele Simpson
Manager, Media Relations
(416) 987-1738
msimpson@torcvb.com