A public appeal to keep this iconic cultural event alive.

 

Today, on behalf of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Toronto Carnival), we are sending a heartfelt love letter to the Federal Government, City of Toronto, and our Caribbean Community.

 

Dear Government Partners and Community,

 

For 57 years, the people of the Caribbean who have made Canada our home, have demonstrated unwavering love and commitment to this country by sharing the vibrant culture of the Caribbean with millions of people. The Toronto Caribbean Carnival began as a gift, an act of love from the Caribbean community to Toronto and Canada in celebration of Canada’s Centennial. Since then, the Carnival has catapulted into North America’s largest cultural festival, a symbol of diversity and inclusivity, and a vital economic force for the country.

 

Each year, the Toronto Carnival, contributes $467 million to Canada’s GDP, generating $182.7 million in tax revenue for all three levels of government. The Carnival supports over 3,000 small businesses and creates more than 3,341 jobs, representing the best of Canada’s diversity and inclusion. The festival features over 10 major events (the majority of which are free) culminating in the King & Queen Showcase and Grand Parade. Despite these remarkable contributions, the Carnival remains woefully underfunded. This year the three levels of government awarded operational cost funding to the Carnival of $209,366.00 from the Federal government, $125,000.00 from the Provincial government, and $600,000.00 from the Municipal government. This amounts to less than $1 million combined from all three levels of government and falls drastically short of the $3 million needed to produce the month-long festival. Thankfully, the Provincial government is stepping up. Now, we’re asking you, the Government of Canada and City of Toronto, to do the same.

 

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival, which draws over 2 million visitors annually and serves as a catalyst for countless related events, businesses, marketplaces, and celebratory activities, is grappling with severe financial challenges driven by rising inflation and escalating production costs. We at the Festival Management Committee (FMC) have been working tirelessly to address these constraints. We have streamlined operations by consolidating several major events into one centralized venue at Exhibition Place, reduced costs from suppliers, increased event ticket prices, and introduced new revenue-generating initiatives. We also continue to increase private sector sponsorships and partnerships to offset the funding gaps. Despite these efforts, systemic underfunding continues to undermine the long-term sustainability of the Carnival.

 

Today, we are publicly appealing to you, the Municipal and Federal government, to appropriately fund this beloved festival and economic engine. We urgently need emergency funding to keep the Carnival alive, as well as multi-year funding to ensure its growth and sustainability. If Canada loses this festival, a significant tourism product and economic driver will be lost. The stakes are even higher for the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on this festival—artists, performers, small business owners, and vendors.

 

To our community, please help us to ensure that this iconic cultural festival not only survives but thrives. Show your love for the Carnival, as it has shown its love for you for decades, and let us continue to demonstrate why Canada is a beacon for cultural diversity and economic opportunities.

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The Festival Management Committee, organizers of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival has started a petition for funding, please sign our petition, here...

 

The Festival Management Committee

 

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