MONTREAL - For those who like their parades full of colour, culture and mesmerizing dancers in meticulously-designed costumes, the Carifiesta parade was the place to be Saturday.
After a year's hiatus, the Carifiesta hits Rene-Levesque Blvd., launching from Fort St. at noon. The party lasted until 4 p.m. at Place du Canada, though various parties continued throughout town afterward, including a Jamaica Day party at Jean Drapeau Park.
The parade showcased as many as 500 elaborate Caribbean costumes, as well as dance and music styles from the islands.
Carifiesta was cancelled last year after two groups, one led by Everiste Blaize, another by Henri Antoine, could not agree on which should be in charge.
Organizers from the Caribbean Cultural Festivities Association said they had the legal right to promote the 36-year-old parade, as they have done the last 20 years, but the Montreal Carnival Development Foundation said it had the right to promote it as well.
The city decided the two organizing committees should work together on a single event, which neither party agreed on.
The dispute was settled in court earlier this year, putting the original organizers back in charge and 37-year-old parade is back on track.
"Sometimes you have to sleep to wake up, to figure out where you're going. So we don't look at it as a negative, we look at it as a fix-up," said Blaise.
Montreal's Executive Committee member Mary Deros said she's glad that the event has returned to the calendar.
"I hope their differences are now settled and everybody will come together to showcase the Caribbean," she said.
Some had fingered the city for having cancelled last year's parade, but Deros said it had no choice, as neither side could agree who should be in charge.
"Some tried to pin it on the politicians but a community has to get together to promote their culture. When there's infighting it doesn't do anybody good. I'm glad they're all going to be celebrating together," said Deros.
"It's wonderful," said Deros at the parade. "I'm very happy that the community has organized it and they've come together for this wonderful showcase of Caribbean culture."
