Caribana Ignite returns to downtown Kitchener

Caribana Ignite brought the fun - and flavours - to downtown Kitchener. CTV's Karis Mapp has more on this celebration of Caribbean culture.

Caribbean culture was on full display in downtown Kitchener on Saturday with bold and brightly-coloured costumes, catchy beats and flavourful food.

“[There’s] a lot of energy, a lot of excitement,” said Damien Edwin, vice-chair of the Caribana Arts Group. “Folks are really happy [to join] with the Caribbean community to amplify this cultural experience.”

Caribana Ignite returned for its second year following the success of last summer’s parade. Organizers said approximately 15,000 people attended that event.

“This is the epitome of what it means to belong to a community,” explained Colleen James, a councillor for the Region of Waterloo. “You can see yourself represented, you can enjoy, you can learn about other cultures, and it is all about good vibes.”

Kitchener is the first city, outside of Toronto, to host a Caribana festival.

Nalisa Dhanraj said Saturday’s parade was the first one she dressed up for.

“I’ve obviously been to Caribana in Toronto and it’s always great, but here, it’s just so nice that you get to see all the kids, interact with everyone on the route and everyone’s so nice.”

Organizers said it was an easy decision to bring Caribana to Waterloo Region as it has one of the most diverse communities in the province.

“What we do, in terms of this kind of cultural expansion, is to ensure that everyone feels welcome,” explained Edwin.

His hope was that this celebration of Caribbean diversity continues for many more years to come.