More partners join in the festivities in celebration of Canada's largest
    cultural festival of its kind.TORONTO, April 21 /CNW/ - To launch the 2009 Scotiabank Caribana Festival
Calendar today, the Festival Management Committee (FMC) and Scotiabank
announced a three years sponsorship extension taking title sponsorship of the
event through 2012. The FMC also celebrated the 42nd annual Festival Calendar
launch by announcing new media partners and green initiatives for this year.
    "It is through the strength of partnerships and our network of supporters
that the Scotiabank Caribana Festival thrives," said Joe Halstead, Chair,
Festival Management Committee. "In 2008, the Festival attracted more than 1.3
million spectators and participants and we expect continued success in 2009."
    "The Scotiabank Caribana partnership has opened an exciting new chapter
for our Bank, our customers and employees," said Scotiabank District
Vice-President Christine Williams. "We are pleased to support Canada's largest
cultural festival, making a commitment to host the Scotiabank Caribana
Festival for years to come."
    Scotiabank Caribana's FMC also announced a new multi-year media
partnership with CTV and CP-24 which is scheduled to broadcast live from the
Scotiabank Caribana Parade on August 1st. CTV has previously sponsored the
event in 2007.
    Joining the 42nd annual Scotiabank Caribana as broadcast partner this
year is CFRB, long-time supporter of the festival; SWAY Magazine as magazine
sponsor; LIME.com as social media partner and Toronto SUN as print media
partner.
    Continuing their support and encouragement of this international cultural
fixture is the City of Toronto, Province of Ontario, Federal Government,
RIM/Blackberry (supporting the Scotiabank Caribana Gala), State Farm
Insurance, Tourism Toronto, GTAA, ROM, Liberty Grand, Westin Harbour Castle,
and the Caribbean Arts Group.
    Scotiabank Caribana's summer Festival Calendar includes a series of
events beginning with Calypso Tent Music Series, Jun 6 - Jul 5; Calypso
Monarch Finals and Junior Carnival, Jul 18; Scotiabank Caribana Art
Exhibition, Jul 23 - Aug 3; Scotiabank Caribana Gala, Jul 24; King and Queen,
Jul 30; Pan Alive, Jul 31; Scotiabank Caribana Parade, Aug 1; and De
Scotiabank Caribana Lime, Aug 2. This landmark festival is a key tourist
attraction for the City of Toronto.
    Scotiabank Caribana is a cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine,
revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Launched in 1967 as a
Centennial Project, the world famous festival has become a major international
event and an expression of Toronto's multicultural and multiracial society.
The Festival is now celebrating its 42nd anniversary. For more information,
please visit http://www.caribanafestival.com/events.html.

    Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live
and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally
and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic
activities, in 2008 the Bank provided about $43 million in sponsorships and
donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas of
healthcare, education, social services and arts and culture. Please visit us
at www.scotiabank.com.SEE ATTACHED BACKGROUNDER: 2009 PROGRAMME OF EVENTS


    Scotiabank Caribana
    2009 List of Events                             Feel De VIBE
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    Event          Event
    Name           Date        Venue       Time        Description
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Calypso Tent   Jun 6 -    various               The series runs 3 nights
    Music Series    Jul 5    locations      TBD     each week (Fri-Sun.) at
                                                    various venues in
                                                    Toronto, each night
                                                    featuring a different
                                                    cast of singers and
                                                    'live' bands performing
                                                    Calypso in its best
                                                    storytelling tradition -
                                                    social and political
                                                    commentary, humour and
                                                    wit.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Official                   Nathan     12:00pm   The official ceremony
    Launch         July 14    Phillips       -      launches the activities
                               Square     02:00pm   for the Scotiabank
                                                    Caribana Festival Season.
                                                    It is a snapshot of
                                                    what's in store over the
                                                    coming weeks.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Calypso                     Queen      7:00pm   This is where the Calypso
    Monarch        July 18    Elizabeth      -      Monarch is crowned. Come
    Finals                     Theatre,   12:00am   and see the best and
                                 CNE                biggest Canadian
                                                    Calypsonians battle for
                                                    the crown. From the
                                                    topical to the lyrical,
                                                    the sweet soca rhythms
                                                    will lift you out of your
                                                    seat and get you moving.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Junior                     Yorkgate   10:00pm   Junior Carnival provides
    Carnival       July 18       Mall        -      festival goers and the
                                          04:00pm   surrounding community the
                                                    opportunity to experience
                                                    the thrills and joys as
                                                    young masqueraders
                                                    participate in their
                                                    early festival years.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Art            Jul 23 -     Royal     12:00pm   The Association of
    Exhibition      Aug 3      Ontario       -      African Canadian Artists
                                Museum    09:00pm   presents original
                                           Daily    paintings and sculptures
                                                    that have been influenced
                                                    by the diversity of our
                                                    people.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Scotiabank     July 24    Liberty      6:30pm   An evening of elegance
    Caribana                   Grande               celebrating Carnival
    Gala                     Exhibition             Music and Arts.
                               Place
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    King & Queen   July 30    Lamport      7:00pm   On the Thursday night
    Show                      Stadium        -      before the Scotiabank
                                          12:00am   Caribana Parade, all the
                                                    Kings and Queens of the
                                                    Bands meet to do battle.
                                                    Like peacocks they will
                                                    primp and preen,
                                                    eliciting oohs and aahs
                                                    from the audience. It is
                                                    an honour for any reveler
                                                    to be enthroned the King
                                                    or Queen of his or her
                                                    band.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Pan Alive      July 31    Lamport      7:00pm   A thrilling evening
                              Stadium        -      showcasing the musical
                                          12:00am   and tonal qualities of
                                                    the steelpan, as members
                                                    of the Ontario Steelband
                                                    Association compete
                                                    before a panel of judges.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Scotiabank      Aug 1    Exhibition   10:00am   This showcase event
    Caribana                   Place         -      features an incredible
    Parade                       &        06:00pm   display of colours and
                             Lakeshore              pageantry. Toronto will
                                Blvd                come alive with the
                                                    sights and sounds of
                                                    Carnival.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    De              Aug 2     Olympic     12:00pm   This event will highlight
    Scotiabank                 Island        -      the various cultures of
    Caribana Lime                         08:00pm   all of the Caribbean
                                                    people. It's a
                                                    celebration of food,
                                                    song, dance, theatrical
                                                    drama and story telling.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------