Caribbean festival coming back to Montreal this summer
Following the cancellation of the Montreal Carifiesta parade in 2023, a new coalition is coming together to celebrate Montreal's Caribbean communities.
This summer, the Caribbean Coalition Network of Montreal will hold a festival and parade celebrating nations such as Jamaica, Barbados, and Guyana.
Carimas spokesperson Kirk Bennett said the city has already invested in their plan.
"The city gave us this permit, gave us the go ahead to do this," he said. "We were granted $30,000 from the city for this project. Our projected budget is $105,000. So, right now we are in a fundraising phase of raising $75,000."
Carimas's vice president, Cynthia Waithe, said their proposal was accepted because the organizations backing it have been part of the Montreal Caribbean community for decades and have long-term plans.
"[It's] a sustainability proposal, and when I'm talking about sustainability, I'm talking about having a plan that's going to be in place for the next five years," said Waithe. "So we talk about the marketing, we talk about fundraising, we talk about maybe having a digital footprint."
The Caribbean associations say they have to work together to keep the event alive in Montreal, especially since it represents such a vibrant part of the city's culture.
"It is a community event and not a coalition event," said Carimas president Mark Henry. "So we are asking for your involvement, your support."
They also said that in a city where some festivals are in doubt, everyone is invited to make this one a success.
"Every organization - francophone, anglophone - that wants to be part of putting together a phenomenal event that the city has never seen before," said Waithe.
CTV News reached out to the organizers of the 2023 Carfiesta that was cancelled but did not hear back.
Carimas said festivities will begin in June and include pageants, a parade and a party in the park.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.