Carnival Culture is an ongoing series documenting the culture and spirit of Carnivals in the Americas.
A series documenting the Moments around Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival.
The Toronto Caribbean Carnival, formerly known as Caribana, is a festival of Caribbean culture and traditions held annually within the City of Toronto. The event is North America’s biggest street festival, bringing together nearly two million people each summer.
This series is a long-form project looks to document aspects of culture and community from Toronto Carnival to the world.
Toronto King & Queen Showcase (2023)
Jamal Magloire, former Canadian professional basketball player and band leader for Toronto Revellers checks in on the setup of customes for his mas camp at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase in Toronto's Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Team members from the Saldenah Carnival Mas band put together their costume for the individual male category at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival's King & Queen Showcase in Toronto's Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August, 03, 2023
Masquerader Nicole Brand of the Toronto Revellers Mas Band poses for the camera as she awaits her time on stage at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase at Toronto's Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Masquerader Caneisha Edwards from Tribal Carnival Mas Band works on her costume to compete in the female individual category for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase in Toronto’s Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Masquerader Caneisha Edwards from Tribal Carnival Mas Band poses for the camera as she awaits her time on stage at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase at Toronto's Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Masquerader J’Naya Ryan from the Carnival Nationz Mas Band and the recent winner of the under 16 Junior Female Individual title walks across the judging stage for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase in Toronto’s Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Masquerader Nicole Brand of the Toronto Revellers Mas Band performs in front of judges, as a contestant of the female individual category for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase in Toronto’s Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Masquerader Caneisha Edwards from Tribal Carnival mas camp performs in front of judges, as a contestant of the female individual category for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase in Toronto’s Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Masquerader Ayanna Sealey from the Carnival Nationz Mas Band performs in front of judges, as a contestant of the female individual category for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase in Toronto’s Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Masquerader from Saldenah Carnival Mas Band performs in front of judges, to compete in the female individual category for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase in Toronto’s Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Masquerader from Toronto Revellers Mas Band crosses the stage in front of judges, to compete in the male individual category for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase in Toronto’s Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Masquerader from Tribal Carnival performs infront of judges as rain beats down on the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase Festivities in Toronto’s Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Masquerader from Tribal Carnival performs infront of judges as rain beats down on the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase Festivities in Toronto’s Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Mas Band camps pack up their costumes in disappointment after thunderstorms brought the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase to an unanticipated halt at Toronto's Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Mas Bands pack up their costumes after thunderstorms brought the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase to an unanticipated halt at Toronto's Lamport Stadium, on Thursday August 03, 2023
Toronto Junior Carnival Parade (2023)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, stops for pictures with attendees at the Toronto Junior Carnival parade in Scarborough, Toronto, on Saturday July 22, 2023.
Youth masqueraders from Tribal Carnival perform in front of the judges at the Toronto Junior Carnival parade in Scarborough, Toronto, on Saturday July 22, 2023
Youth masquerader gets ready on the staging grounds of Malvern Park in anticipation for the Toronto Junior Carnival parade in Scarborough, Toronto on Saturday July 22, 2023.
The Toronto Revellers team sets up their floats in Malvern Park for the Toronto Junior Carnival parade in Scarborough, Toronto, on Saturday July 22, 2023.
Youth masquerader from the Toronto Junior Carnival poses for a picture during the parade in Scarborough, Toronto, on Saturday July 22, 2023
Toronto Junior Carnival youth masquerader gets ready to cross the showcase section of the parade in Scarborough, Toronto, on Saturday July 22, 2023.
Youth masquerader cools off with an ice cream to beat the heat at the Toronto Junior Carnival parade in Scarborough, Toronto on Saturday July 22, 2023.
Youth masqueraders from Toronto Revellers get ready to cross the showcase section of the Toronto Junior Carnival parade in Scarborough, Toronto, on Saturday July 22, 2023.
Junior queen masquerader from Toronto Revellers take stage at the Toronto Junior Carnival in Scarborough, Toronto, on Saturday July 22, 2023.
Junior king pageant winner Amari Bowen-Otchere from Tribal Carnival takes the stage in front of judges at the Toronto Junior Carnival parade in Scarborough, Toronto, on July 22, 2023.
Youth masqueraders take stage infront of judges at the Toronto Junior Carnival parade in Scarborough, Toronto, on Saturday July 22, 2023
Youth masqueraders from Saldenah Carnival take stage infront of the judges at the Toronto Junior Carnival parade in Scarborough, Toronto, on Saturday July 22, 2023
Toronto Junior Carnival parade packed with youth masqueraders, families and festival goers in Scarborough, Toronto, on Saturday July 22, 2023.
Shakera Martin, Carnival Spice Founder (2022)
Shakera Martin, co-founder of the fitness & entertainment company "Carnival Spice," get's ready for Toronto Caribbean Carnival grand parade in Toronto, on Saturday July 30th, 2022.
Shakera Martin, co-founder of the fitness & entertainment company "Carnival Spice," get's make up done in anticipation for Toronto Caribbean Carnival grand parade in Toronto, on Saturday July 30th, 2022.
A glue gun is being used to assemble jewels on the mas costume for Toronto Caribbean Carnival grand parade in Toronto, on Saturday July 30th, 2022.
Toronto Caribbean Carnival returns after a two years hiatus due to the pandemic. As an entrepreneur whose business is built around Carnival culture, Shakera Martin reflects on the past two years without the Toronto Caribbean Carnival parade in Toronto, on Saturday July 30th, 2022.
Shakera Martin, co-founder of the fitness & entertainment company "Carnival Spice," holds up two decorated pieces of her outfit for the grande parade in Toronto, on Saturday July 30th, 2022.
Saldenah Carnival Camp (2014)
