CARIBANA: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

This year the Toronto Caribbean carnival is celebrating its 50 anniversary.

Many of today’s mas’aficionados may not be aware of the origins of the carnival which was called Caribana.

The following is some historical information about the founders of the festival.

The information is taken from original documents dating back to

1967.

The group registered a not-for-profit organization on  July 28th 1967 and named it CARIBBEAN COMMITTEE FOR CULTURAL ADVANCEMENT.

The letters patent were signed by the Honourable Robert Welch, – Provincial Secretary and Minister of Citizenship. The LETTERS PATENT issued a Charter to the Persons, herein after named that is to say:

THE FIRST DIRECTORS  of the corporation to be:-

Samuel Archibald Cole-Teacher,

Eric Samuels Lindsay-Barrister,

Joseph Alban Liverpool-Physician,

Frank Myers-Insurance Underwriter,

Archibald Bastien – Public Engineer,

George Merton Lowe – Ontario Land Surveyor,

Peter Gregory Marcelline-Towm Planner,

Romain William Michael Pitt-Barrister,

Hugh Stennet Robertson – Barrister,

Billy Dey – Housewife.

Constituting them and any others who become members of the corporation hereby created a corporation without share capital under the name of

CARIBBEAN COMMITTEE FOR CULTURAL ADVANCEMENT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS – CARIBBEAN COMMITTEE FOR CULTURAL ADVANCEMENT

Dr. J,A.Liverpool, Chairman, MD                              Ms. J. Dunn, Legal Secretary

R.W.Pitt, Vice Chairman, Lawyer                               P. Marcelline, Town Planer

  1. Lowe, Treasurer, Ontario Land Surveyor Dr. S.A. Liverpool, Dental Surgeon

C.C. Roach, Secretary, Lawyer                                   Mrs. C. Huggins

G.I. Meikle, Financial Analyst                                     Mrs. S. Ward, Bank Account (Nova Scotia)

  1. Sheppard, Life Underwriter Miss H. Cohen, Executive Secretary

E.S. Lindsay, Lawyer                                                   Mrs. L. Patterson, Public Health Nurse

F.R. Myers, President (House of Jamaica)                  A. Coombs, Civil Servant (Ontario Gov.)

Dr. M.E. Bygrave, Dental Surgeon                            M. Martinez, Managing Dir. (B.W.I.A; Tor.)

  1. Robertson, Lawyer Miss T. Taylor, Executive Secretary
  2. McKenzie, Industry

 

 

 

REGISTERED OFFICIAL NAMES CHANGES – 1967 TO CURRENT DATE

 

Incorporated – July 28th 1967, CARIBBEAN COMMITTEE FOR CULTURAL  ADVANCEMENT

Recorded by E.F. Morton – Recording Officer; Provincial Secretary’s Office

Toronto Ontario.

 

January 15th 1969, name changed to CARIBBEAN CULTURAL COMMITTEE-CARIBANA™.   (from CARIBBEAN COMMITTEE FOR CULTURAL ADVANCEMENT)

Recorded February 4th 1969, by  E.F.Morton-Recording Officer; Provincial Secretary’s Office Toronto Ontario.

 

November 18th 2006, name changed to CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP

(from CARIBBEAN CULTURAL COMMITTEE-CARIBANA™)

         

(Transcribed from the original documents by Monica Pollard, Chairperson, Caribana™ Arts Group)