Salome Odeny, School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture student

By Samuel Getachew

Canada’s largest festival, Toronto’s Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival Toronto (Formally Scotiabank Caribana), will celebrate its 44th year this July.

For the second year in a row, Centennial College, through its award-winning School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture department, will be an integral participant in the widely popular event. According to the college, “the partnership allows students to fulfill important cultural components of the program with the expert guidance of a specialist in Mas costume design and construction.”

Sway caught up with Steve McKinnon, a student of Centennial, and Verona Barclay, Chair of School of Hospitality,Tourism and Culture at Centennial, the duo behind the initiative to participate in Toronto’s great cultural event.

SG: Tell us about the two-year-old partnership between Centennial and the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival?

This exciting partnership is the first time a college in Ontario has participated in the Caribbean Carnival in this manner. What is also unique about this partnership is that it is entirely a student initiative. Students from our School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture built a showpiece costume that stood almost two storeys tall, debuting at the King and Queen Show and marquee parade.

SG: What has been the reception like among students so far. I have heard of many students of many backgrounds enjoyed the first experience last year?

The students who participated tremendously enjoyed the experience.  They were from diverse cultural backgrounds, yet the Caribbean Carnival is inclusive…you do not have to be from the Caribbean islands to participate and enjoy. The students worked under the continuous guidance and support from the costume designers at Tribal Knights Mas Camp. The student volunteers, who included some international visa students from China, created a rainforest-themed costume, which they say aligns with the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture’s mission to promote responsible and sustainable cultural heritage tourism.

The Caribbean Carnival costume was worn by Salome Odeny, a third-year Hospitality and Tourism Administration student. Odeny, who is from Kenya, had been working out in a gym just to be able to carry the 200-pound costume. Although our team didn’t win the competition, they received plenty of accolades and applause from the massive crowds. They also garnered the attention of CP24, which mentioned the college’s submission in its July 29 broadcast. By all accounts, Centennial’s first entry in the King and Queen event was a great success.

SG: How did a mere student idea become a reality?

The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture’s Dean Shyam Ranganathan and Tribal Knights’ costume designer Dexter Seusahai met and discussed the idea of a project. Volunteers were sought and the assembled team came up with a theme. “It is a rain-forest theme,” said Norine Bedminster, one of the Centennial student volunteers. The chosen theme and design aligns with the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture’s mission to promote responsible and sustainable cultural heritage tourism.

The costume weighs a whopping 200 pounds. “I am working out just to be able to carry this costume around at the parade,” says Salome Odeny, the student masquerader who wore the costume last year. Odeny, who is from Kenya, is a third-year Hospitality and Tourism Administration student at Centennial College. Canadian and international students at Centennial College teamed up together on the project. With initiatives such as this one, students learn how to work in teams towards common goals. They also knew it was an opportunity for international college students to practice their English language skills outside of an academic setting. These are some of the reasons they wanted the idea to work.

SG: What is the main objective of the partnership and what are you hoping to achieve in the long term?

This partnership further enables us to actively engage our students and the College as a whole with the greater community. The history and contributions of the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival is profound and vital to the cultural diversity of Toronto. To look at its contributions and history is to be amazed to say the very least. The Festival – which celebrated its 43rd anniversary in 2010 – is the largest Caribbean festival in North America. Presented by the Festival Management Committee, the three-week festival attracts more than one million participants annually, including hundreds of thousands of American tourists. Drawing inspiration from the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival Festival falls around the anniversary of the emancipation from slavery in Trinidad on August 1, 1834. We are lucky to be its contributors.

SG – Any lasting words?

Last year’s chosen theme, titled “The Amazon Rainforest” aligned with the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture’s mission to promote responsible and sustainable tourism. Many students are even more excited with what this year has to offer them. This year’s theme for Centennial College with Tribal’s Knights will be the first time ever to be in a specific section “Legends of the Orient”. It will showcase our students craftsmanship, the ability to work together for a common goal and gives them the perspective on how to run a festival. For many of our international students, it has introduced them to the great rich diversity of Canada while helping them fulfill their promise as talented students.

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• 2011 Caribbean Carnival Toronto Keeps Jumpin’
• It’s no longer Caribana: Festival unveils its new name
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