Young revellers enjoy Toronto kiddies mas' in Scarborough

July 20, 2022

Carnival Nationz captured the Junior Band of the Year crown and Toronto Revellers won three of the four individual titles in this year’s ‘Kiddies for Mas’ competitions in Scarborough.

To mark the Toronto Caribbean Carnival (TCC) 55th anniversary, the competitions were a separate festival for young revelers to showcase their colourful costumes and creativity.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the start of the Junior Carnival Parade at Malvern Community Centre on July 16.

“Thank you to the young people who are out celebrating and demonstrating how happy we are to be gathering in person once again,” he said. “This is one of the most incredible outdoor celebrations in the country, if not around the continent. The Black community has stepped up once again “

PM Justin Trudeau attended the start of this year’s Junior Carnival Parade in Malvern (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

Trudeau said the Black and Caribbean communities are an important part of Canada.

“It has been a tough time in that we have seen a rise in anti-Black racism and intolerance in the last few years,” the PM added. “On a day like this, we get to remind ourselves what it is to be Canadian. Canada is about standing up for each other and being there for each other. What better way to do that than on this glorious day celebrating our young people.”

Nearly 2,000 young masqueraders, ranging in age from toddlers to 16, participated in the revelry that ended at Neilson Park with the judging.

Carnival Nationz, whose band theme this year is ‘Queens and Goddesses’, finished ahead of Saldenah Carnival (Streets on Fire) and Toronto Revellers (Bon Voyage).

Deborah Chang Kit Minott played mas’ with Saldenah Carnival and was a section leader for that band along with Toronto Revellers before joining Carnival Nationz 12 years ago as the principal designer and producer of the band’s children costumes.

Deborah Chang Kit Minott (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

“We had three sections with traditional mas’ costumes and a bit of choreography provided by Martin Scott-Pascall and Andrea Douglas that told a story and really helped,” she said. “Also, where you place each section makes a big difference because it is like a story within the band. The presentation combined with the flow contributed to our winning outcome.”

Sadie Murphy of Carnival Nationz was the Junior Queen runner-up (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

A total of 12 bands took part in the competition.

The children’s carnival was introduced 45 years ago.

Festival Management Committee Chair Laverne Garcia (in blue dress) and local politicians cut the ribbon to open the Junior Carnival Parade (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

“Junior Carnival is so important to the Caribbean community,” said Festival Management Committee (FMC) Chair Laverne Garcia. “It provides a platform for our young people to express themselves through the carnival arts. It is a form of self-expression in that it teaches our young people how to engage with the world around them. We recognize that empowering our youth will strengthen our communities and build our young leaders for tomorrow.”

On July 10, Toronto Revellers’ London Christmas-Espinet and Angelina Leach were crowned Junior King and Queen respectively.

London Christmas-Espinet of Toronto Revellers was this year’s Junior King (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

Turning 14 in September, Christmas-Espinet – who portayed ‘Cabin Fever’ -- is the son of serial entrepreneur Ian Andre Espinet.

Portraying ‘Cairo: A Wonder of the World’, Leach, 16, has played mas’ the last four years.

Toronto Revellers Angelina Leach was this year’s Junior Queen (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

“I am happy that the hard work has paid off,” she added. “This was a team effort.”

Teammate Marquee St. Louis, 10, secured the Junior Male Individual award, portraying ‘The Chinese Traveller’.

Marquee St. Louis was the Junior Male Individual Award winner ({Photo by Ron Fanfair)

Naiya Jacob of Carnival Nationz, who portrayed ‘La Bella Rose: Queen of the Caribbean’, was the Female Individual winner.

Female Individual Award winner Naiya Jacob (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

One-year-old Solomon McNiven, son of nine-time Queen of the Band winner Joella Crichton, was the Under-Five Junior Male winner and Christopher Elahie and Myauna King-Thomas came out on top in the 6-10 category. The trio represented Carnival Nationz.