Island Leaders, Chefs, Entertainers and More
Bring Taste of the Region
The Toronto area can expect a warm beginning to the fall season as the spirit and sunshine of the Caribbean islands head north for Canada’s first ever Caribbean Week, Sept. 26 to 30, 2007.
The week of events and entertainment has been arranged by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) in conjunction with the Caribbean Hotel Association, as a way to help Canadians celebrate the sights, sounds, colours, and vibrant culture of the Caribbean.
“The goal of the first-ever Caribbean Week in Canada is to both share our love and appreciation for our Canadian friends and give all who participate a taste of the region so they are inspired to visit and enjoy firsthand the excitement and diversity of the Caribbean,” said Hugh Riley, the CTO’s director of marketing, The Americas.
According to Riley, “Many Canadians can trace their heritage back to the Caribbean and the culture of our region is naturally imbedded into the multicultural framework that makes Canada so special. But even those Canadians with no connection to the Caribbean can appreciate our desire to offer them the type of visitor experience they deserve. We therefore decided to dedicate an entire week to showcase what we have to offer.”
Caribbean Week 2007 features a series of distinctive events highlighting the Caribbean vacation experience, food, and entertainment; it kicks off in the heart of downtown Toronto at Yonge-Dundas Square on Wednesday, Sept. 26 and closes out at the Toronto Travel Show at The Toronto International Centre on Sunday, Sept. 30.
Throughout the week participants can experience a variety of cultural aspects of the region – from tasting delicacies to music to dance demonstrations to art displays to travel seminars to an onsite Caribbean wedding and much more.
Caribbean Week 2007 events include:
Wednesday, Sept. 26 – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Yonge-Dundas Square – A Celebration of the Caribbean
(FREE OF CHARGE)
This all-day event will emulate the bright Caribbean sunshine with an exciting combination of the colour and culture, sumptuous food, entertainment and great music. Performers include Juno- and Grammy- award winners from Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Haiti, Turks & Caicos, and Cuba who will provide the entertainment as celebrity chefs demonstrate mouth-watering Caribbean cooking. In addition to Caribbean vacation giveaways, representatives from Caribbean destinations, airlines, tour operators, hotels and companies promoting the region will be on hand to give expert advice. Trinidad & Tobago’s King Cosmos and FLOW 93.5 radio personalities Dr. Jay and Spex will serve as co-masters of ceremony. A ribbon cutting ceremony also takes place at 9 a.m. officiated by the Honourary Chairman of Caribbean Week, David Singh, CEO of the Destiny Group of Companies, as well as dignitaries from the Caribbean including: the Chairman of the CTO, the Hon. Allen Chastanet; Secretary General of the CTO Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace; Ministers of Tourism and local political representatives.
Thursday, Sept. 27 – 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. International World Tourism Day – Ryerson University
This important event provides commentary on the status of sustainable tourism development. The theme for this year’s World Tourism Day focuses on women in travel and tourism. Panelists at this event include the Director General of the Bahamas, Vernice Walkine, and CTO’s Sustainable Tourism Product Specialist Mareba Scott.
Thursday, Sept. 27 – 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Caribbean Lifestyle Cooking Classes - LCBO Event Kitchens, Summerhill | The Kingsway | Bayview Village
Caribbean Week will feature three renowned chefs from world-class resorts of the Caribbean. These Lifestyle Cooking Classes will showcase distinctive Caribbean dishes from Antigua & Barbuda, Cuba and Turks & Caicos at the prestigious LCBO Special Event Kitchens. Chefs from Antigua & Barbuda, Cuba, Bahamas, Barbados and Turks & Caicos will also participate in various other culinary events during Caribbean Week.
Friday, Sept. 28 – 6 p.m. to midnight - First Annual Governments of the Caribbean Gala and Award Presentations – Liberty Grand, Governor’s Room
An elegant black-tie affair, at the Liberty Grand will feature the finest in Caribbean food and entertainment. The highlights of the event will be the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award and a Special Recognition Award. The Gala is a fundraiser for the CTO Foundation, providing scholarships for Caribbean students.
Saturday, Sept. 29 – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Caribbean Day at the Blue Jays – Roger’s Centre
The CTO will be celebrating the Caribbean and youth with the Jays. Specially designed Caribbean entertainment and holiday prize giveaways will feature prominently in the afternoon’s events surrounding the baseball game.
Saturday, Sept. 29 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. & Sunday, September 30 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Toronto Travel Show, Toronto International Centre
This year the CTO’s Caribbean Pavilion will be the highlight of the Toronto Travel Show – the largest and best-attended consumer travel show in Canada. The show has provided the most prominent location for the CTO Caribbean Pavilion that is further enhanced by Caribbean activities throughout the designated area and on the main stage. Vacation Specialists promoting travel packages are on hand with valuable information as well as “show-only” specials to the Caribbean.
One of the highlights of the weekend will be the results of a four month long Caribbean wedding contest in partnership with Today’s Bride that will culminate in the lucky couple being wed live onstage at the Toronto Travel Show.
For more information, please visit: www.caribbeanweek.ca
About The Caribbean Tourism Organization
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York, London and Toronto, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency and comprises membership of over 30 governments and a myriad of private sector entities.
The CTO’s mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people.
The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, information technology and sustainable tourism development. The CTO disseminates information on behalf of its member governments to consumers and the travel trade.
The CTO’s New York office is located at 80 Broad Street, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10004, USA; Tel: (212) 635-9530; Fax: (212) 635-9511; E-mail: ctony@caribtourism.com
CTO’s London office is located at 22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, England. Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057; Fax: 011 44 208 948 0067; E-mail: ctolondon@caribtourism.com
CTO Canada is located at 2 Bloor Street West, Suite 2601, Toronto, Ontario M4W 3E2, Canada. Tel: (416) 935 0767; Fax: (416) 935 0939. E-mail: ctotoronto@caribtourism.com
CTO Headquarters is located at One Financial Place, Collymore Rock, St. Michael, Barbados; Tel: (246) 427-5242; Fax: (246) 429-3065; E-mail: ctobarbados@caribtourism.com
For more information, please visit www.doitcaribbean.com or www.onecaribbean.org.
Media Contacts
Andrew Wilson/Katie McCall/Terence Gallagher
Lou Hammond & Associates
(212) 308-8880
andreww@lhammond.com; katiem@lhammond.com
Hugh Riley
Caribbean Tourism Development Company
(212) 635-9530
hriley@caribtourism.com
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