One major concern is non-masqueraders jumping into bands and destroying their production. Shareeda Ali of Time After Time suggests there are opportunities in all bands for new participants as masqueraders. Real honest spectators are deprived the privilege of admiring the costume and enjoying the spectacle when all these non-costumed people jump in the band.
"A person not playing mas but want to jump in the band, should become a member of a band," she advises. It is a simple, and possibly inexpensive process. All bandleaders would welcome them into their masquerade bands, where they can become volunteers and see how the costumes are made. This is a front seat view of the effort that goes into preparation for the big parade day and its accompanying competitions.
"If you participate and help you can see. It's going to cost a bit of money to get your costume but you feel a sense of gratification because you help also to make the costume and when you're out there playing in the band then you know the feeling when some people who haven't paid their money and don't know how the costumes are made and the time and effort that were put into this, come and jump in the band and push the members who paid their money," Ali noted.
The grand message from producers of these masquerade bands is rather simple: get involved in the cultural experience at very little cost. This would demonstrate respect and encourage growth in the body of masqueraders who come together for this carnival affair – rated among the top ten on the North American continent.
In the calypso arena popular calypsonian Dick Lochan linked Canadian immigration with a Trinidadian woman of East Indian descent who has a burning migratory desire to land in this country. Members of her family are poised to capture the first victim to fall in their path.
Lochan tells his story in song about meeting an anxious Subatee, an Indian girl from Caroni, in central Trinidad determined to leave the country. She wanted a husband so that she could secure permanent landed status in Canada. Subatee grabbed his hand and professed her love for him but he sensed something kinda fishy (tricky).
Subatee boasted about her ability to make good roti and invited him home to meet her mother where she could prepare him a meal. But it became clearer to Dick that the woman "jes want(ed) she Landed Card".
Without a doubt Toronto's claim of being world-class has been vividly displaying ingredients of the world community that has made the city its home. India, Africa, South America, Europe and other parts of the globe raise their heads and stake their claim to the Canadian multiculticultural milieu.
During the Muhtadi International Drumming Festival ongoing demonstration surfaced and there was little arguments that drums from every corner of the earth speak similar language; not only on stage but among patrons who moved and grooved whether they were enjoying African, Indian, Asian or Italian drumming.
As the 25th anniversary of TD Downtown Jazz Festival closed its curtain July 3, thousands of music lovers return home boasting about having a great time. Nick Brownman Ali, made his presence felt along with scores of other top class entertainers. With names like Aretha Franklin, Andrew Craig, Brandford Marsalis, Canefire Jon Maharaj and Jackie Richardson, if you failed to stop by the festival at least once then you have been unjust to yourself.
Don't spend the rest of the summer indoors, merely viewing television. It would only contribute to you reaching closer to being obese. And that's very bad.

By Arti Panday

Bollywood stars took over Toronto as the International Indian Film Academy Awards took place on Saturday, June 25. The streets were packed as hopeful fans waited outside the Rogers Centre to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars.
Countless actors and actresses were humbled by the amazing reception of excited Torontonians from the moment they arrived in the city. Stars arrived throughout the week leading up to the awards, attending IIFA buzz events and performing at sold out venues.
One buzz event that was held two weeks before the awards at Featherstone Park included the Miss Markham Bollywood pageant. A contestant for the pageant representing the Vedic Cultural Centre, 19-year-old Maneesha Gupta, was a finalist which led her to another IIFA buzz event held a week later. She was awarded first-runner up at the competition where her passion for dance shone through as she performed.
"I applied for Miss Bollywood Markham because it was a great platform to showcase my passion for dancing to the York Region community and winning first-runner up was a cherry on top of a good experience," said Maneesha.
After becoming first-runner up in the pageant, Maneesha was given the opportunity to be a part of the monumental event, serving as an assistant to the presenters. "The entire IIFA experience was extraordinary, but the one moment that tops my list is definitely walking to the main stage to present the IIFA award to the Guest presenters," she said as she recounted the evening.
The Rogers Centre was completely packed for the twelfth annual awards show which was held in North America for the first time. When tickets went on sale in January, they were sold out within an hour, leaving many searching high and low for admission. Some tickets close to celebrity seats were even priced at over $1000.
Bollywood heartthrobs took the stage throughout the night for performances and presentations. An array of actors and actresses graced the stage but not before Ontario Premier, Dalton McGuinty. To commence the show, McGuinty addressed the Indian community and introduced a performance that showcased the diverse talent present throughout the province.
Although the show began at 9 pm, an hour later than expected, fans could not help but scream at the top of their lungs for five hours straight as stars hit the stage one after another.
IIFA acknowledged a number of well-known faces in Bollywood for their outstanding achievements in the industry. Actor Dharmendra performed with his sons, Sonny and Bobby Deol before being honoured with the Achievement in Indian Cinema Award for his half century in the industry.
A medley of songs performed by Priyanka Chopra along with short clips showcasing Asha Bhosle's early life and career was a tribute to the playback singer's career. The audience was then treated to a snippet of her famous song O Mere Sona Re which she sang flawlessly after accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Big winners at this year's IIFA awards included the movie Dabangg which won a total of 10 awards including Best Film, Best Music, and Best Screenplay.
Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha were awarded Best Actor and Actress on Debut for their films Band Baaja Baraat and Dabangg respectively. "Despite skyrocketing to fame at a young age, Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha were very friendly in person, sharing their excitement and nervousness prior to their showtime performance," Maneesha said.
There were also a few familiar Hollywood faces including Academy Award Winner Hilary Swank, and Actors Cuba Gooding Jr. and Brian White who all presented awards.
Ending the night, Best Actor recipient Shahrukh Khan, worked around his fractured knee to provide the audience with a performance showcasing the simplicity of dance moves from a few Bollywood hits. As he compared dance moves to sweeping the floor and flushing the toilet, Khan had the audience on their feet dancing as he was joined on stage by other stars.