page_title: History of Caribana (1967–71)
section_title: 1970
hierarchical_section_title: History of Caribana (1967–71) / 1970
caption_attribution_description: The former ice surface at Maple Leaf Gardens, a former hockey arena in Toronto, Canada.
context_page_description: Now known as the Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Caribana began as a one-time celebration of the Canadian Centennial in Ontario's provincial capital city. Within the first five years, 1967 to 1971, the festival aimed to share West Indian culture with the community at large, and to fund the creation of a permanent West Indian cultural centre.
  During the era, the festival took an early shape, different from recent celebrations, growing and gaining the support of the City and Toronto's Protestant Caucasian majority. The event attracted Caribbean country leaders and top musical and stage acts to supplement the parade. In late 1968, a new festival called Carnival Toronto was proposed; receiving government funding, Caribana resisted their merger attempts, which sought to combine several existing festivals into one event. The event was largely unsuccessful, ending after one year. Four largely peaceful years were marred in 1971 by a car accident causing parade route deaths, and public transit fumbles which led to fighting.
context_section_description: By April, the Caribbean Cultural Committee had moved into new offices at 1079 Bathurst Street, near Dupont Street. The space was opened up for community use, including drama and dance lessons, with the performance practice area clearly visible to the community outside.
  St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts hosted a preview of Caribana on July 11, called "Caribana Kiddies Carnival Preview", a free show. The focus on kids' participation was established earlier in the year, with the announcement of a kids area. A Maple Leaf Gardens show on July 31, "Extravaganza '70", included Johnny Nash ("Cupid"), The Mighty Duke, The St. Vincent Police Steel Band, and Haitian master drummer Ti Wowo. Also included were the year's steel band competitions, calypso  competition, King and Queen of the Bands, and a jump up. The show was directed by Bertrand A. Henry. Marianne Skanks, 18, a student at Vaughan Collegiate, won Miss  Caribana '70.
  The "Caribana Island Show" went from August 1 to 9. Attendance goals were 100,000; favourable weather brought 25,000 on the opening weekend. Their only funding this year was gate admission. At its end, total attendance had sunk to 45,000 people from 54,000. Similarly, their goal of $80,000 towards a cultural centre was dashed by bills.
  The parade from Varsity Stadium to the docks on Bay Street was launched by Eric Gairy, premier of Grenada. Heading from Varsity to Bay Street, at Hayter Street it cut to Yonge Street. Travelling south on Yonge to Front Street, it then proceeded to the docks. "Thousands" lined the streets to watch. Police reported no incidents; "it was very peaceful. The people were just out to have a lot of fun."
  The day after the event, Caribbean Cultural Committee director John Cayonne told the Star that festival organizers "who worked at least 15 to 17 hours a day, were not allowed to go onto the ferry ahead of crowds, even though they had identification. There's a strong possibility we won't have Caribana '71 on the island." Metro Parks Commissioner Tommy Thompson expressed doubts that community groups should be charged for using public parks, and whether they in turn should be allowed to charge for events in public parks. Both issues were raised with relation to Caribana's $3,578 debt, that Thompson was asking be forgiven. East York Mayor True Davidson scolded council members for being "petty. This is a group that is doing a good thing both for their ethnic group and for Metro. It's created a real feeling of life and excitement. Let's stop carping and pay it."
caption: Maple Leaf Gardens hosted "Extravaganza '70", with performances by Johnny Nash and The Mighty Duke.
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