JUNIOR CARNIVAL MEDIA LAUNCH WITH 100 COSTUMED CHILDREN, STEEL PAN ORCHESTRA & JUNIOR CALYPSO SINGERS

SCOTIABANK DVP CHRISTINE WILLIAMS, MP JUDY SGRO AND COUNCILLOR MARIA AUGIMERI TO SPEAK

TORONTO, July 2, 2013 /CNW/ - This morning the media is invited to join Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto's CEO Denise Herrera Jackson, Christine Williams, Scotiabank's District Vice-President of Toronto East Region, Faye Roberts, Director General Motors Canada, MPP Judy Sgro (York West), city councillor Maria Augimeri, Ward 9, and members of the Caribbean Canadian community to preview this year's Junior Carnival and Family Day which will be held July 20, 2013 at Downsview Park.

The festival will be releasing key information about major changes to the children's parade route and the introduction of a Junior Soca and Calypso Showcase into the day-long event. For the first time, there will be a Junior Steelband Showcase, sponsored by the Canadian Federation of Steelpan.

This outdoor media preview will be both colourful and visually exciting. Approximately 100 children in costumes (with signed model releases) from a dozen mas camps will be showing their 2013 costumes for the first time!  There will also be Junior Calypso singers, a dance group and steel band performances at the Tuesday, July 2 event.

The media preview will be held at Downsview Park near where the actual parade will take place later this month.  The parade moved last year from Jane/Finch to Downsview because of traffic safety concerns and because of space limitations. This year over 2,500 children in mas costumes are expected to take part in the parade, making it the largest children's carnival parade in North America. The Family Day Event follows the Parade and runs until 8pm.

Who: Representative from our corporate sponsor and the event supporter: Scotiabank and Chevrolet. Spokespeople from the Festival Management Committee, MPPS, and councillors will speak at the press launch.

TMBA children in costumes will play mas for the cameras.  St. James Youth Centre Steel Orchestra to play. Pass the Torch calypso performances by Jaeden and Massada.

Dance performance by Just Dance.

When: 11.30 a.m to 12.30pm. TUESDAY, July 2, 2013

Where:  35 Carl Hall Road, east of the John Drury Drive (within Downsview Park - enter on John Drury Drive - off Sheppard Ave W) 

SOURCE: Scotiabank