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TORONTO – On the Emancipation Day long weekend, CUPE Ontario members were in full costume and dancing in the streets at Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival.
The annual event attracts about one million spectators and participants from across North America and is Canada’s largest annual cultural event. CUPE Ontario once again teamed up with Whitfield Belasco and Concept Costume Creators for a spectacular entry involving nearly 200 dancers in a colourful display that represented “diversity and unity.”
“Carnival is a tremendous celebration and our band is truly a community collaboration. Hundreds of people work for months to decide on the theme and create the costumes,” said CUPE Ontario Diversity Vice-President, Racialized Workers, Veriline Howe. “We join together to celebrate, but also to educate about the historic ties between Carnival and the end of slavery, and also to let people know how CUPE Ontario stands up for fairness for racialized workers.”
In Toronto, Carnival takes place on Ontario’s Emancipation Day long weekend. Emancipation Day marks the Slavery Abolition Act, which ended slavery across the British Empire on August 1, 1834. It coincides with Simcoe Day, named for Lt.Gov. John Graves Simcoe, who passed an Act Against Slavery 220 years ago in 1793, ultimately leading to the end of slavery in Upper Canada (now Ontario).
In addition to being a celebration, Carnival is also a judged competition. This year, our band placed first in its category for Overall Appearance and second for Band of the Year. Our “King” costume also placed fourth in the annual King and Queen competition.
To view more photos from this year’s Carnival, click here.
